AIM: To investigate the effects of naringenin on laser-induced experimental choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in rat models,ocular blood flow in rabbit eyes and retinal function recovery after ischemic insults in rat eyes.membrane. Naringenin 10g/L(20mg/kg) was given once-daily through intraperitoneal injection for 4 weeks after laser treatment. The development of CNV was determined by fluorescein angiography(FA) performed on weeks 2 and 4. The colored microsphere technique and electroretinography method were used for the study of ocular blood flow and retinal function recovery,respectively.RESULTS: The choroidal blood flow in elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) rabbit eyes was significantly increased by 10g/L naringenin solution as compared to control group(P<0.05) . The retinal function recovery after ischemic insults in rat eyes indicated significant increase of b-wave recovery in treated group,as compared to control group(P<0.05).The intensity of fluorescein leakage from the photocoagulated lesions decreased significantly in treated group,compared to the control group(75.8%-95.0%,P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Naringenin could prevent the development of CNV on laser-induced experimental rat models,increase the choroidal blood flow in elevated IOP rabbit eyes and be beneficial on retinal function recovery in ischemic rat eyes.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Despite numerous studies on the relation of genetic polymorphisms with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), the results still remain inconclusive. The aim of this study was to assess the possible association between SLC6A4 serotonin transporter gene linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR), ADRA2A -1291C>G, GNB3 825C>T, CCK1R intron 779T>C and TRPV1 945G>C polymorphisms and IBS based on Rome III criteria in Korea. METHODS: Study subjects were prospectively recruited from visitors to Seoul National University Bundang Hospital between July 2009 and January 2014. Ninety-nine IBS patients and 171 healthy controls were enrolled. Polymorphisms of above-mentioned 5 genes were genotyped. Serum serotonin from 101 participants was measured by ELISA and compared according to SLC6A4 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms and IBS subtypes. RESULTS: Regarding SLC6A4 5-HTTLPR polymorphism, L/L genotype was significantly associated with the total IBS, constipation predominant IBS (IBS-C) and mixture of diarrhea and constipation IBS (IBS-M) (adjusted OR: 4.35, 95% CI: 1.04-16.67; adjusted OR: 11.11, 95% CI: 1.69-50.00 and adjusted OR: 5.56, 95% CI: 1.05-33.33, respectively). Carrying ADRA2A -1291G allele was significantly associated with total IBS and diarrhea predominant IBS (adjusted OR: 3.37, 95% CI: 1.16-9.77 and adjusted OR: 5.64, 95% CI: 1.18-27.01, respectively). IBS-C patients showed reduced level of serum serotonin compared to controls and patients with diarrhea predominant IBS (50.2 ng/mL vs. 69.0 ng/mL and 92.9 ng/mL, P = 0.017 and P = 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Genetic polymorphisms of SLC6A4 5-HTTLPR and ADRA2A -1291C>G could be one of the pathophysiological factors of IBS in Korea. Reduced serum serotonin shown in the IBS-C group suggested a role of serotonin in IBS, but large study is needed for confirming genotypic difference in serum serotonin level.
Alleles ; Constipation ; Diarrhea ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Genotype ; Humans ; Introns ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome* ; Korea ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Prospective Studies ; Receptors, Adrenergic ; Seoul ; Serotonin ; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins*

BACKGROUND: Despite the importance of burn-induced encephalopathy, cerebral hemodynamics after burn injury and during resuscitation remains undefined. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of a large cutaneous burn injury on the cerebral circulation. METHODS: Anesthetized sheep(n=8) were prepared with vascular catheters, a urinary catheter and a Richmond bolt for intracranial pressure monitoring. A scald injury was inflicted on 70% of total body surface area with hot water. Resuscitation was started 30 minutes after scald with Ringer's lactate to restore and then maintain baseline oxygen delivery. Resuscitation maintained blood pressure, cardiac output and urine output at normal levels. Brain blood flow was measured with colored microspheres. RESULTS: During resuscitation intracranial pressure rose slowly from 10.6+/-1.5 to 17.0+/- 4.0 mmHg(P<0.05) and cerebral perfusion pressure was reduced from 86.4+/- 6.8 to 64.1+/- 2.8 mmHg(P<0.05). During early resuscitation cerebrovascular resistance declined to maintain brain blood flow and oxygen delivery at baseline or better. After 6 hours, cerebrovascular resistance was inappropriately increased during a period of reduced cerebral perfusion pressure which resulted in brain blood flow being half the baseline levels. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that autoregulation maintains brain blood flow immediately after burn shock and early resuscitation, but autoregulation may be less effective as burn resuscitation proceeds.
Blood Pressure ; Body Surface Area ; Brain ; Burns* ; Cardiac Output ; Hemodynamics ; Homeostasis ; Intracranial Pressure ; Lactic Acid ; Microspheres ; Oxygen ; Perfusion ; Resuscitation* ; Shock ; Skin ; Urinary Catheters ; Vascular Access Devices ; Water

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to review the current telemedicine of the Korea and the telemedicine of the other countries. METHODS: This study reviewed several documents on telemedicine and summarized the documents on the initiation of the telemedicine of the Korea, the recent regulations of the government, the analytical research results, and the telemedicine of foreign countries. RESULTS: One of recent demonstration trials of telemedicine began in July 2015 in the Korea. The plan was to conduct an emergency telemedical treatment trial among the cooperative medical service centers until the end of February 2016. No telemedical services were provided at the level of local primary care clinics, and there was 1.2% provision at the hospital level. The Europe Union and the United States had more active telemedical services in comparison to the Korea. CONCLUSIONS: The introduction and usage of telemedicine in the Korea was behind those of other countries. It is necessary to develop a proactive support policy for telemedicine through a government implemented trial.
Emergencies ; Europe ; Korea* ; Primary Health Care ; Social Control, Formal ; Telecommunications ; Telemedicine* ; United States

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as glucose intolerance discovered or onset during pregnancy and attention is needed because of increased risk of perinatal morbidties and higher incidence of diabetes afterward. This study was performed to identify dietary factors associated with the development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Developed food frequency questionnaire containing 192 food items were used to assess nutritional status of 246 control subjects and 104 GDM subjects. Food habits of subjects were examined in the questionnaire. The more irregularity and less variety of meal were found in GDM group compared to control group and GDM group tended to eat rapidly and do not like vegetables and greasy foods. Total score of food habits in GDM was lower than control group, which suggests that GDM group have undesirable food habits. Mean daily energy and carbohydrate intakes of GDM group were higher than those of control group, and percent energy from protein was significantly higher in control. Nutrient density of protein, calcium, phosphorus and vitamin B1 of GDM group was significantly lower than those of control group. Therefore dietary quality of GDM group was lower than that of control group. Odds ratio for GDM was high when energy and carbohydrate intakes were high. And when the intakes of rice, noodle, shiruduk, hamburger, boiled egg, steamed pork shank were high, the odds ratio for GDM was high. These results indicate that the amount and frequencies of several foods and dish items were related with the occurrence of GDM subjects. On the whole, GDM subjects consumed more cereals and less vegetables and less legumes. From these results, pregnant women with GDM tended to have unhealthy food habits, and carbohydrate intake was important dietary factors on the onset of GDM.
Calcium ; Case-Control Studies ; Diabetes, Gestational ; Diet ; Edible Grain ; Fabaceae ; Female ; Food Habits ; Glucose Intolerance ; Humans ; Incidence ; Meals ; Nutritional Status ; Odds Ratio ; Ovum ; Phosphorus ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Steam ; Thiamine ; Vegetables

Radical gastrectomy combined with perioperative comprehensive treatment is the main curable strategy for gastric cancer patients, and postoperative complications are the issue that gastric surgeons have to face. Complications not only affect the short-term postoperative recovery, but also facilitate tumor recurrence or metastasis, thus resulting in poor prognosis. Therefore, unifying the diagnostic criteria for postoperative complications, bringing the surgeons' attention to complications, and understanding the potential mechanism of complications undermining long-term survival, will be helpful to the future improvement of the clinical diagnosis and treatment as well as prognosis for gastric cancer patients in China. Meanwhile, surgeons should constantly hone their operative skills, improve their sense of responsibility and empathy, and administer individualized perioperative management based on patients' general conditions, so as to minimize the occurrence of postoperative complications and their influence on prognosis.
Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology* ; Empathy ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/surgery* ; Prognosis ; Gastrectomy/methods* ; Postoperative Complications/etiology* ; Surgeons ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is the procedure of choice for treating large renal stones. Pneumatic lithotripsy (Lithoclast(R)) is effective regardless of the stones' composition, and ultrasonic lithotripsy allows the aspiration of small debris during lithotripsy. We investigated the efficacy and safety of PCNL via Lithoclast(R) alone or combined with ultrasonic lithotripsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-five (group A) and 39 (group B) patients underwent Lithoclast(R) PCNL and combination therapy, respectively, from May 2001 to March 2010, and the two groups were compared in terms of stone size, location, and composition; operative time; average number of treatments; hospital days; hemoglobin loss; ancillary procedures; rate of device failure; and initial and total stone-free rates. RESULTS: The two groups did not differ significantly in preoperative stone size, location, or composition; the average number of treatments; or the initial and overall stone-free rates. However, combination therapy was associated with a significantly lower operative time (181+/-50 vs. 221+/-65 min, respectively, p=0.004), number of hospital days (11.6+/-3.8 vs. 14.2+/-4.4 days, respectively, p=0.009), and average hemoglobin loss (1.12+/-0.61 vs. 1.39+/-1.02 g/dl, respectively, p=0.013). Transfusions were required in 6 patients (4 and 2 in each group, respectively), but there were no significant complications related to percutaneous access. There were 2 (5.7%) mechanical failures (Lithoclast(R) probe fracture) in the group A and 5 (12.8%) in the group B (2 cases of suction tube obstruction, 3 cases of overheating). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of ultrasonic lithotripter and Lithoclast(R) is more effective than Lithoclast(R) alone because it significantly decreases operative time, hemoglobin loss, and the hospital stay. This may reflect the superior power of Lithoclast(R) and the ability to aspirate the debris during ultrasonic lithotripsy.
Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Kidney Calculi ; Length of Stay ; Lithotripsy ; Nephrostomy, Percutaneous ; Operative Time ; Suction ; Ultrasonics

The leaner mouse carries a mutation in the gene encoding the alpha1A subunit of P/Q-type calcium channels. Leaner mice exhibit extensive cerebellar granule and Purkinje cell loss that results in cerebellar dysfunction. A previous study suggested that a small population of leaner Purkinje cells undergo apoptosis, however the cell death mode of the rest of degenerating Purkinje cells has not been identified. In order to investigate the mechanisms underlying leaner Purkinje cell death, gene arrays that contain 243 cell death related genes were carried out. To increase the chance of detecting Purkinje cell specific genes, laser capture microdissection was employed to obtain Purkinje cell enriched samples. The gene array analysis revealed several potential genes that are involved in autophagic cell death pathway including cathepsin D, a key lysosomal protease that triggers autophagic degradation. Further analysis on LC3, which is a hallmark for autophagic cell death showed that leaner Purkinje cells are degenerating via autophagic process. The present study provides evidence that calcium channel defects trigger different modes of neurodegeneration in the cerebellum.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Autophagy ; Calcium Channels ; Cathepsin D ; Cell Death ; Cerebellar Diseases ; Cerebellum ; Laser Capture Microdissection ; Mice ; Purkinje Cells

The leaner mouse carries a mutation in the gene encoding the alpha1A subunit of P/Q-type calcium channels. Leaner mice exhibit extensive cerebellar granule and Purkinje cell loss that results in cerebellar dysfunction. A previous study suggested that a small population of leaner Purkinje cells undergo apoptosis, however the cell death mode of the rest of degenerating Purkinje cells has not been identified. In order to investigate the mechanisms underlying leaner Purkinje cell death, gene arrays that contain 243 cell death related genes were carried out. To increase the chance of detecting Purkinje cell specific genes, laser capture microdissection was employed to obtain Purkinje cell enriched samples. The gene array analysis revealed several potential genes that are involved in autophagic cell death pathway including cathepsin D, a key lysosomal protease that triggers autophagic degradation. Further analysis on LC3, which is a hallmark for autophagic cell death showed that leaner Purkinje cells are degenerating via autophagic process. The present study provides evidence that calcium channel defects trigger different modes of neurodegeneration in the cerebellum.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Autophagy ; Calcium Channels ; Cathepsin D ; Cell Death ; Cerebellar Diseases ; Cerebellum ; Laser Capture Microdissection ; Mice ; Purkinje Cells

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the fetal fibronectin as a diagnostic method of preterm rupture of membanes and its clinical usefulness compared with standard tests. STUDY DESIGN: Seventy-eight women who had recieved antenatal care and complained of fluid leakage prior to 37 weeks were enrolled in this study. Standard tests-vaginal peculum examination, Nitrazine test, transabdominal sonography-were perfomed. Rupture of membranes was diagnosed if any two of the standard tests were positive. Fetal fibronectin in posterior vaginal fornix was determined qualitatively by ROM kit (Adeza Biochemical, Sunnyvale, USA). RESULTS: The sensitivity of fetal fibronectin for prediction of rupture of membranes in the women who complained of fluid leakage was 90.6% and its specificity, positive and negative predictive value were 65.7%, 76.4% and 85.1% respectively. 12 women were not diagnosed as rupture of membrane on standard tests but were positive for fetal fironectin. CONCLUSION: Fetal fibronectin would be a useful diagnotic method for rupture of membranes, especially in the women who complained of fluid leakage but not diagnosed by standard tests.
Female ; Fibronectins* ; Humans ; Membranes* ; Rupture ; Sensitivity and Specificity