OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to identify alcohol pharmacokinetics and to investigate the correlations between various factors for alcohol metabolism of healthy Korean males. METHODS: The 101 recruited volunteers were randomized into two groups as one group provided 0.35 mg/mL/kg and 0.7 mg/mL/kg, the other. Blood alcohol concentration was measured and analyzed in enzymatic methods eight times from drinking point. RESULTS: Alcohol elimination rate (beta) was found to be -0.0083%/h for low dose group and -0.0157%/h for the high dose group. The results indicate discrepancy in the legal criteria of alcohol elimination rate (-0.008%/h). The measured alcohol pharmacokinetic properties were following : mean time to reach maximum alcohol concentration in blood was 30 minutes, absorption rate was 0.0197%, maximum alcohol concentration in blood was 0.4930%, and Area under the curve was 59.25. Also, alcohol elimination was not affected by age, smoking, total body water, drinking capacity, body mass index, blood cholesterol, body fat, and body fat ratio. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that legal limitation could be adjusted in Korean males. Also the research should be extended including female and senior citizens for statistical significance of the research. These findings have contributed to our knowledge of the alcohol pharmacokinetics in Korean male.
Absorption ; Adipose Tissue ; Adult* ; Body Mass Index ; Body Water ; Cholesterol ; Drinking ; Female ; Humans ; Male* ; Metabolism ; Pharmacokinetics* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Volunteers

This paper reviews the global effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the mental health of children and adolescents in South Korea, the U.S., Japan, and China. We reviewed research on deteriorated mental health, including increased suicide, suicidal thoughts, and self-harm. Various studies have shown that students’ mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, have worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the number of students who committed suicide has significantly increased in the U.S. and Japan. Factors such as prior mental health status, change in daily routine, reduced physical activity, excessive screen time, overuse of electronic devices, and reduced social support have been reported to have a significant effect. The chain of deteriorating mental health among the youth began at the onset of COVID-19, social distancing, and school closure. As youths began to stay at home instead of going to school, they lost opportunities to connect with their friends or teachers, who could provide support outside of their homes. Young people spent less time on physical activity and more time online, which damaged their sleeping schedule and daily routine. In preparing for the post-pandemic phase, we should thoroughly analyze the long-term effects of the pandemic on youth mental health, while simultaneously tackling current imminent issues.

Anatomic variations in the biliary tree may not be detected until adulthood and they can cause unexplained jaundice and biliary pain. Recognition of these anatomic variations is important to avoid an incorrect diagnosis and significant ductal injury during biliary surgery. Although there are numerous anatomic bile duct variations, an accessory cystic duct draining into the right hepatic duct is rare. We report a case of an accessory cystic duct draining into the right hepatic duct with cholelithiasis, in which the abnormality was identified by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography and confirmed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Bile Ducts ; Biliary Tract ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic ; Cholecystitis ; Choledocholithiasis ; Cholelithiasis ; Cystic Duct* ; Diagnosis ; Hepatic Duct, Common ; Jaundice

Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair is a safe, durable, and effective procedure. However, complications could occur with stent graft devices. When the renal ostia become obstructed by this device, renovascular hypertension may result. In general, renal artery occlusion secondary to stent graft impingement remains uncommon. We herein describe a patient with renal atrophy, new-onset hypertension, and elevated serum renin and aldosterone levels following endovascular aneurysm repair. Blood pressure and the levels of renin and aldosterone were normalized by renal artery stenting.
Aldosterone ; Aneurysm ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal* ; Atrophy ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis ; Endovascular Procedures ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertension, Renovascular ; Renal Artery Obstruction ; Renal Artery* ; Renin ; Stents

STUDY DESIGN: This is an in-vitro experiment using rabbit intervertebral disc (IVD) cells and growth factors. OBJECTIVES: We wanted to determine the effect of types I, and II atelocollagen and growth factor gene therapy for matrix regeneration of rabbit IVD cells. SUMMARY OF THE LITERATURE REVIEW: Adenovirus-medicated growth factor gene therapy is efficient for matrix regeneration of the IVD. Atellocollagen has provided a favorable environment for matrix synthesis. However, a combined approach using gene and cell therapy in an atelocollagen scaffold has not yet been attempted. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rabbit IVD cells were transduced with Ad/TGF-beta1 and Ad/BMP-2. The cells were then implanted to the atelocollagen scaffold. The [methyl-3H]thymidine incorporation for DNA synthesis and the [35S]sulfur incorporation for proteoglycan synthesis were measured. RT-PCR was performed for assessing the aggrecan, collagen type I, collagen type II and osteocalcin mRNA expressions. RESULTS: The rabbit IVD cells with Ad/TGF-beta1 and that were cultured in type I atelocollagen showed a 130% increase in new proteoglycan synthesis, while the rabbit IVD cells with Ad/TGF-beta1 and that were cultured in type II atelocollagen showed a 180% increase in new proteoglycan synthesis (p<0.05). The rabbit IVD cells with Ad/BMP-2 and that were cultured in type I atelocollagen showed a 70% increase in new proteoglycan synthesis, while the rabbit IVD cells with Ad/BMP-2 and that were cultured in type II atelocollagen showed a 95% increase (p<0.05). Rabbit IVD cells with Ad/TGF-beta1 and Ad/BMP-2 and that were cultured in type I and II atelocollagen demonstrated increased collagen type I and II mRNA expressions without an osteocalcin mRNA expression (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Cell and gene therapy in an atelocollagen scaffold provided a efficient mechanism for chondrogenic matrix regeneration of rabbit IVD cells.
Aggrecans ; Collagen ; Collagen Type I ; Collagen Type II ; DNA ; Genetic Therapy ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Intervertebral Disc ; Osteocalcin ; Proteoglycans ; Regeneration ; RNA, Messenger ; Tissue Engineering ; Tissue Therapy ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and reversible airway obstruction. Methacholine (MCh) is widely used in broncho-provocation test to evaluate airway resistance. For experimental investigation, ovalbumin-induced sensitization is frequently used in rodents (Ova-asthma). However, albeit the inflammatory histology and AHR in vivo, it remains unclear whether the MCh sensitivity of airway smooth muscle isolated from Ova-asthma is persistently changed. In this study, the contractions of airways in precision-cut lung slices (PCLS) from control, Ova-asthma, and IL-13 overexpressed transgenic mice (IL-13TG) were compared by analyzing the airway lumen space (AW). The airway resistance in vivo was measured using plethysmograph. AHR and increased inflammatory cells in BAL fluid were confirmed in Ova-asthma and IL-13TG mice. In the PCLS from all three groups, MCh concentration-dependent narrowing of airway lumen (DeltaAW) was observed. In contrast to the AHR in vivo, the EC50 of MCh for DeltaAW from Ova-asthma and IL-13TG were not different from control, indicating unchanged sensitivity to MCh. Although the AW recovery upon MCh-washout showed sluggish tendency in Ova-asthma, the change was also statistically insignificant. Membrane depolarization-induced DeltaAW by 60 mM K+ (60K-contraction) was larger in IL-13TG than control, whereas 60K-contraction of Ova-asthma was unaffected. Furthermore, serotonin-induced DeltaAW of Ova-asthma was smaller than control and IL-13TG. Taken together, the AHR in Ova-asthma and IL-13TG are not reflected in the contractility of isolated airways from PCLS. The AHR of the model animals seems to require intrinsic agonists or inflammatory microenvironment that is washable during tissue preparation.
Airway Obstruction ; Airway Resistance ; Animals ; Asthma ; Interleukin-13 ; Lung* ; Membranes ; Methacholine Chloride* ; Mice* ; Mice, Transgenic ; Muscle, Smooth* ; Rodentia

Background/Aims: As the novel coronavirus (coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]) outbreak progresses rapidly, staying home is recommended for suspected patients; however, the safety of this recommendation is uncertain. In Korea, non-hospital facilities called “living and treatment centers (LTCs)” have been established since 5 March 2020. The LTCs provided a unique opportunity to evaluate the safety of selection criteria for low-risk groups. Methods: Between 5 March and 9 April 2020, patients with COVID-19 who met the following criteria were admitted to the LTC; alert, age below 65 years old, no underlying disease or well-controlled underlying disease, body temperature below 38.0°C, whether taking antipyretics or not, and no dyspnea. Patients were closely observed by doctors or nurses’ interviews twice a day and transferred to hospitals when symptoms worsened. Results: A total of 113 patients were admitted to the LTC; 52.2% were female, with a median age of 25 years (interquartile range, 21.5 to 39.5). Of 113 patients, 54 (47.8%) were asymptomatic at diagnosis, and 15 (13.3%) had no symptoms until they were released from isolation. During the follow-up period, two (1.8%) patients were transferred to a hospital but did not progress to severe status during hospitalization. Conclusions The risk of progression was negligible in COVID-19 patients who met the admission criteria for LTC at the time of diagnosis. LTCs could be a safe alternative considering shortage of hospital beds.

Purpose: Liver grafts from donors with HBV infection contributed to expanding the donor pool under the hepatitis B immunoglobulin and antiviral agents (nucleos(t)ide analogues) in the HBV-endemic area. We report long-term outcomes of liver transplantations (LTs) using grafts from donors with active or chronic HBV infection. Methods: Overall, 2,260 LTs performed in 3 major hospitals in Seoul from January 2000 to April 2019 were assessed for inclusion. Twenty-six grafts (1.2%) were obtained from HBsAg (+), HBeAb (+), or HBcAb (+) donors, and recipient outcomes were retrospectively reviewed. Donor and recipient demographics and transplantation outcomes were analyzed. Results: Sixteen deceased donor LTs were performed using active HBsAg (+) grafts. Ten other LTs were sourced from 10 living donors. There was no significant difference in survival in patients who received deceased donor LTs compared with that in those who underwent LT with non–hepatitis virus-infected grafts. Fourteen patients who were followed up for >5 years were stable, and no difference in hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence rate was observed 5 years after transplantation between transplants from donors with and those without HBV. Conclusion Considering long-term outcomes, liver grafts from donors with active HBV replication can be safely used for LT.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-infected pneumonia emerged in Wuhan, China in December 2019. In this retrospective multicenter study, we investigated the clinical course and outcomes of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) from early cases in Republic of Korea. Methods: All of the cases confirmed by real time polymerase chain reaction were enrolled from the 1st to the 28th patient nationwide. Clinical data were collected and analyzed for changes in clinical severity including laboratory, radiological, and virologic dynamics during the progression of illness. Results: The median age was 40 years (range, 20–73 years) and 15 (53.6%) patients were male. The most common symptoms were cough (28.6%) and sore throat (28.6%), followed by fever (25.0%). Diarrhea was not common (10.7%). Two patients had no symptoms. Initial chest X-ray (CXR) showed infiltration in 46.4% of the patients, but computed tomography scan confirmed pneumonia in 88.9% (16/18) of the patients. Six patients (21.4%) required supplemental oxygen therapy, but no one needed mechanical ventilation. Lymphopenia was more common in severe cases. Higher level of C-reactive protein and worsening of chest radiographic score was observed during the 5–7 day period after symptom onset. Viral shedding was high from day 1 of illness, especially from the upper respiratory tract (URT). Conclusion The prodromal symptoms of COVID-19 were mild and most patients did not have limitations of daily activity. Viral shedding from URT was high from the prodromal phase. Radiological pneumonia was common from the early days of illness, but it was frequently not evident in simple CXR. These findings could be plausible explanations for the easy and rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the community.