The protein nutritive value of anchovy, mackerel and canned sardine samples together with casein as a reference formulation were evaluated. Proximate composition, protein quality and protein digestibility were determined. Procedures for evaluation included Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER) using the rat bioassay and in vivo Apparent Digestibility (AD). Rats fed with canned sardine diet had the highest mean body weight (154.8±12.28g) while rats fed with anchovy diet had the lowest mean body weight (145.27±15.89g) with significant differences between all the groups. Mean body weight of rats fed with selected fish diet was higher compared to rats fed with casein diet. For PER value, canned sardine has the highest value (2.48), followed by anchovy (2.46) and mackerel (2.34). PER value for all selected fish is lower than that for casein (3.14). Mackerel had the highest value of in vivo AD (96.99%), followed by casein (96.96%), canned sardine (96.88%) and anchovy (91.29%). In conclusion, among the types of fish compared, sardine had the highest protein quality while mackerel showed the highest digestibility.
Proteins ; Diet ; Caseins ; Protein measurement ; Rattus norvegicus

Prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome requires an invasive test in women considered to be at high risk after screening. At present, there are variable screening tests. For a 5% false-positive rate, the sensitivities are approximately 20-30% for maternal age alone, 60-70% for maternal age and second-trimester maternal serum markers, 85% for maternal age with fetal nuchal translucency and maternal serum free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) at 11-14 weeks, and 94% for maternal age with fetal nuchal translucency and maternal serum free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) at 11-14 weeks following second-trimester maternal serum markers. This article examines the studies of screening for Down syndrome and summarizes the results from major studies reporting on the implementation of this method.
Biomarkers ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; Down Syndrome* ; Female ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Maternal Age ; Nuchal Translucency Measurement ; Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A ; Prenatal Diagnosis*

BACKGROUND: We investigated the effects of pre-emptive administration of ketamine and norBNI on pain behavior and the expression of DREAM, c-Fos, and prodynorphin proteins on the ipsilateral side of the rat spinal cord at 2 and 4 hours after formalin injection. METHODS: Eighty-four male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 4 major groups consisting of control rats (C) (n = 12), rats given only formalin injections (F) (n = 24), and rats treated with pre-emptive administration of either ketamine (K+F) (n = 24) or norBNI (N+F) (n = 24). The non-control groups were further divided into subgroups consisting of rats that were sacrificed at 2 and 4 hours (n = 12 for each group) after formalin injection. Pain behavior was recorded for 1 hour. After 2 and 4 hours, the rats were sacrificed and the spinal cords (L4-L5 sections) were removed for immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. RESULTS: The pain behavior response was reduced in the K+F group compared to the other groups during the second phase of the formalin pain response. We detected an increase in the nuclear DREAM protein level in the K+F group at 2 and 4 hours and a transient decrease in the N+F group at 2 hours; however, it increased at 4 hours after injection. Fos-like immunoreactivity (FLI) and Prodynorphin-like immunoreactivity (PLI) neurons decreased in the K+F group but increased in the N+F group at 2 hours after injection. While FLI decreased, PLI increased in all groups at 4 hours after injection. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that NMDA and kappa opioid receptors can modulate DREAM protein expression, which can affect pain behavior and protein transcriptional processes at 2 hours and bring about either harmful or protective effects at 4 hours after formalin injection.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Enkephalins ; Formaldehyde ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Ketamine ; Male ; N-Methylaspartate ; Neurons ; Pain Measurement ; Protein Precursors ; Proteins ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Opioid, kappa ; Spinal Cord

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to assess the health-related quality of life (HRQOL), to examine the correlation among each measurement, and to identify the predictor for HRQOL in Korean patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: The HRQOL and clinical and laboratory parameters were assessed by Short Form Health Survey-36 (SF-36), EuroQol5 Dimensions (EQ-5D), time trade off (TTO) and standard gamble (SG) using computer software, Centers for Epidemiologic StudiesDepression (CES-D), social support, self-efficacy scale, Korean Health Assessment Questionnaire (KHAQ), functional class, radiologic classification, morning stiffness, Ritchie index, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and c-reactive protein (CRP) respectively from 100 outpatients with RA. And the data of the SF-36 and EQ-5D in RA patients were compared with those in 228 healthy controls. RESULTS: Of the 100 subjects with RA, 93 (93 %) were women with mean age of 51.7+/-9.8 years. The mean years of disease onset were 11.16+/-9.23. The mean scores of SF-36 global health (GH), mental component summary (MCS) and physical component summary (PCS) were 51.5+/-20.6, 61.6+/-26.6, and 47.1+/-24.1, respectively. The mean EQ-5D utility and visual analog scale (VAS) score were 0.58+/-0.3 and 61.7+/-20.5, respectively. The mean scores of the TTO and SG were 0.56+/-0.58 and 0.51+/-0.39. The SF-36 and EQ-5D scores in RA patients were significantly lower than those in healthy controls. The mean scores of 8 KHAQ disability index and visual analog pain scale were 0.83+/-0.65 and 50.0+/-23.7, respectively. The mean scores of CES-D, self-efficacy scale, social support, and social network were 9.67+/-6.76, 68.2+/-15.2, 2.37+/-0.19, and 2.19+/-0.55, respectively. The KHAQ mean score was negatively correlated with the scores of SF-36 GH, MCS, PCS, EQ-5D utility, EQ-5D VAS score, social support, social network (r=-0.62, r=-0.47, r=-0.64, r=-0.60, r=-0.39, r=-0.26, r=-0.36, respectively, all p's<0.001), and self-efficacy scale (r=-0.24, p=0.02), and positively correlated with the CES-D (r=0.61, p<0.001). In multivariate models, the predicting variables of SF-36 GH were KHAQ and self-efficacy scale. The predicting variables of SF-36 MCS were age, KHAQ, and self-efficacy scale and the predicting variables of SF-36 PCS were age, income, KHAQ, and self-efficacy scale. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that HRQOL in Korean patients with rheumatoid arthritis is significantly lower than healthy control. The age, HAQ, CES-D, self-efficacy scale were meaningful variables that was significantly correlated with HRQOL. Therefore, the efforts to improve HRQOL may be designed to improve the self-efficacy and the depression in addition to conventional treatment.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; C-Reactive Protein ; Classification ; Depression ; Erythrocyte Indices ; Female ; Humans ; Outpatients ; Pain Measurement ; Quality of Life* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Visual Analog Scale

Fetal nuchal translucency (NT) is an echolucent space between the dorsal edge of soft tissue of the fetal neck and the linear echo of the skin observed in a midsagittal image measured at 11 to 13(+6) weeks of gestation. Increased NT (>95 percentile) is highly associated with fetal aneuploidy and congenital structural anomalies including congenital heart defects. In combination with maternal serum PAPP-A and free beta-hCG, increased NT has been demonstrated to provide efficient Down syndrome risk assessment, with a detection rate of 80-87% (5% false-positive rate), and it also allows earlier diagnosis of fetal aneuploidy. Even in the absence of aneuploidy, increased NT is still associated with an increase in adverse perinatal outcome including abortion, fetal death and a variety of fetal malformations. This paper will review the mechanism of increased NT, correct measurement of NT, and recent evidences for interpretation and management for the fetuses with increased NT.
Aneuploidy ; Down Syndrome ; Fetal Death ; Fetus ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Neck ; Nuchal Translucency Measurement ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A ; Risk Assessment ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Antinociceptive anti-inflammatory drugs have many adverse effects. The goal of this investigation is to study the probable anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of verapamil and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in experimental rats. METHODS: Adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups in the antinociceptive study, each containing 6 rats; the normal control group, which received saline (1 mL/kg); the diclofenac group, which received diclofenac sodium (5 mg/kg); the NAC group, which received NAC (125 mg/kg); and the verapamil group, which received verapamil (8 mg/kg). In the anti-inflammatory study, 5 groups were used, the 4 previous groups with the addition of an edema control group, received saline and were subjected to formalin test. Hot plate latency time was recorded for antinociceptive evaluation. Paw edema thickness and biochemical parameters were recorded for anti-inflammatory evaluation. RESULTS: Administration of NAC showed significant prolongation of hot plate latency time at 1 hour when compared to the control group while verapamil showed a significant prolongation of hot plate latency time at 1 and 2 hours when compared to the control group and NAC group values. Administration of NAC and verapamil significantly decreased paw edema thickness at 2, 4, and 8 hours when compared to edema control values. Regarding biochemical markers, NAC and verapamil significantly decreased serum nitric oxide synthase, C-reactive protein, and cyclooxygenase-2 levels compared to the edema control value. In accordance, a marked improvement of histopathological findings was observed with both drugs. CONCLUSIONS: NAC and verapamil have antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects comparable to diclofenac sodium.
Acetylcysteine ; Adult ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; Biomarkers ; C-Reactive Protein ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; Diclofenac ; Edema ; Humans ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Pain Measurement ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Verapamil

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to determine the efficacy of nuchal translucency in combination with free beta-hCG, PAPP-A in the first trimester screening for chromosomal anomaly in general population. METHODS: Between April 1998 and December 1999, we evaluated 263 pregnant women undergoing first trimester screening test for fetal chromosomal anomaly using nuchal translucency combined with free beta-hCG, PAPP-A. We confirmed the pregnancy outcomes through chorionic villi sampling, amniocentesis or term delivery. We excluded 15 pregnant women because of their obscure pregnancy outcomes. Statistical analysis was considered significant when P value was lower than 0.05. RESULTS: With a risk cut-off of 1 in 400, 24 pregnancies(9.7%) of 248 cases were screen positive and 224 pregnancies(90.3%) were screen negative. 2 cases of Down syndrome and 1 case of Turner syndrome were detected in screen positive group. No chromosomal anomalies were detected in screen negative group. CONCLUSION: In this study, 8.57% of false positive rate and 12.5% of positive predictive value were obtained in the first trimester screening for chromosomal anomaly using nuchal translucency and serum markers.
Amniocentesis ; Biomarkers ; Chorionic Villi Sampling ; Down Syndrome ; Female ; Humans ; Mass Screening* ; Nuchal Translucency Measurement* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Trimester, First* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A* ; Pregnant Women ; Turner Syndrome

This study was aimed to investigate the mechanisms of the modulation effect of activation of spinal Mas-related gene C (MrgC) receptors on hyperalgesia induced by intraplantar (i.pl.) injection of (Tyr6)-γ2-MSH-6-12 (MSH) or complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). Paw withdrawal latency test and immunohistochemistry were used to observe the effect of intrathecal (i.t.) administration of MSH or BAM8-22, two selective agonists of MrgC receptor, in hyperalgesia in rats. The results showed that i.t. administration of MSH inhibited acute hyperalgesic response induced by i.pl. application of MSH, while did not change thermal nociceptive threshold in naïve rats. The i.t. administration of MSH also attenuated CFA-induced inflammatory hyperalgesia. However, i.t. administration of the μ-opioid receptor (MOR) antagonist CTAP blocked the induction of delayed anti-hyperalgesia by MSH. The i.t. injection of BAM8-22 at a dose of 30 nmol evidently reduced the number of CFA-evoked nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-positive neurons and the expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-immunoreactivity positive nerve fibers at L3-L5 segments of the spinal cord. These results suggest that the activation of MrgC receptor in CFA-induced inflammation reduces inflammatory hyperalgesia through inactivation of NOS neurons and down-regulation of CGRP expressions, and generates delayed but long-lasting anti-nociception through the endogenous activation of MOR via indirect mechanisms. Agonists for MrgC receptors may, therefore, represent a new class of antihyperalgesics for treating inflammatory pain because of the highly specific expression of their targets.
Animals ; Down-Regulation ; Freund's Adjuvant ; pharmacology ; Hyperalgesia ; drug therapy ; Inflammation ; metabolism ; Injections, Spinal ; Pain Measurement ; Peptide Fragments ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; metabolism ; Spinal Cord ; metabolism ; gamma-MSH ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to review the screening performance of combined test at the Ewha Womans University Mokdong hospital. METHODS: All women admitted for routine antenatal care between January 1st 2008 and December 31st 2012 with a known pregnancy outcome were included in this study, totaling 1,156 women with singleton pregnancies presenting at 10 to 13 weeks of gestation. Women were offered screening using a combination of maternal serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A, free β-human chorionic gonadotropin and fetal nuchal translucency thickness. Those with an estimated risk of ≥1 in 250 of carrying a fetus with trisomy 21 or ≥1 in 300 risk of trisomy 18 were offered genetic counseling with the option of an invasive diagnostic test. RESULTS: The median of gestational age was 11+3 weeks, the median of crown-rump length was 47.1 mm, and the median age of the women was 31 years. The detection rate was 80% for trisomy 21 (4 of 5) and 100% for trisomy 13 and 18 (all 2). The false-positive rate was 7.73% for trisomy 21 and 1.21% for trisomy 18. CONCLUSION: This study was the first large population study performed with the aim of analyzing the performance of the combined test in Korea. This study demonstrated that the detection rates and other figures of the first trimester combined test are comparable to the results reported in other papers worldwide. Consequently, if strict conditions for good screening outcomes are achieved, the first trimester combined test might well be the earliest detectable screening, improving detection rates without increasing karyotyping or economic and other implications that inevitably ensue.
Chorionic Gonadotropin ; Chromosome Aberrations* ; Crown-Rump Length ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Down Syndrome ; Female ; Fetus ; Genetic Counseling ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening* ; Nuchal Translucency Measurement ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Trimester, First* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Trisomy

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to review the screening performance of combined test at the Ewha Womans University Mokdong hospital. METHODS: All women admitted for routine antenatal care between January 1st 2008 and December 31st 2012 with a known pregnancy outcome were included in this study, totaling 1,156 women with singleton pregnancies presenting at 10 to 13 weeks of gestation. Women were offered screening using a combination of maternal serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A, free β-human chorionic gonadotropin and fetal nuchal translucency thickness. Those with an estimated risk of ≥1 in 250 of carrying a fetus with trisomy 21 or ≥1 in 300 risk of trisomy 18 were offered genetic counseling with the option of an invasive diagnostic test. RESULTS: The median of gestational age was 11+3 weeks, the median of crown-rump length was 47.1 mm, and the median age of the women was 31 years. The detection rate was 80% for trisomy 21 (4 of 5) and 100% for trisomy 13 and 18 (all 2). The false-positive rate was 7.73% for trisomy 21 and 1.21% for trisomy 18. CONCLUSION: This study was the first large population study performed with the aim of analyzing the performance of the combined test in Korea. This study demonstrated that the detection rates and other figures of the first trimester combined test are comparable to the results reported in other papers worldwide. Consequently, if strict conditions for good screening outcomes are achieved, the first trimester combined test might well be the earliest detectable screening, improving detection rates without increasing karyotyping or economic and other implications that inevitably ensue.
Chorionic Gonadotropin ; Chromosome Aberrations* ; Crown-Rump Length ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Down Syndrome ; Female ; Fetus ; Genetic Counseling ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening* ; Nuchal Translucency Measurement ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Trimester, First* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Trisomy