PURPOSE: Hyperhomocysteinemia has been identified as an independent risk factor in arterial and venous thrombosis. Mutations in genes encoding methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), involved in the metabolism of homocysteine, may account for reduced enzyme activity and elevated plasma homocysteine levels. In this study, we investigated the interrelation of MTHFR C677T genotype and level of homocysteine in patients with arterial and venous thrombosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 146 patients who were diagnosed as having arterial and venous thrombosis. We excluded patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. We examined routinely the plasma concentration of total homocysteine level and MTHFR C677T polymorphism for evaluation of thrombotic tendency in all patients. Screening processes of MTHFR C677T polymorphism were performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Investigated groups consisted of thrombotic arterial occlusion in 48 patients and venous occlusion in 63 patients. The distribution of the three genotypes was as follows: homozygous normal (CC) genotype in 29 (26.1%), heterozygous (CT) genotype in 57 (51.4%), and homozygous mutant (TT) genotype in 25 (22.5%) patients. There were no significant differences among individuals between each genotype group for baseline characteristics. Plasma concentration of homocysteine in patients with the TT genotype was significantly increased compared to the CC genotype (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: We observed a significant interaction between TT genotypes and homocysteine levels in our results. The results might reflect the complex interaction between candidate genes and external factors responsible for thrombosis.
Atrial Fibrillation ; Genotype ; Homocysteine* ; Humans ; Hyperhomocysteinemia ; Mass Screening ; Medical Records ; Metabolism ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)* ; Plasma* ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Thrombosis ; Venous Thrombosis

BACKGROUND: The aging process may be induced, at least in part, by reactive oxygen species(ROS). It has been though that the lung could be a good source of ROS because it has a high oxygen tension. In the present study, we invetigated the inducibility of the first and last lines against oxidative stress, superoxide dismutases (Cu/Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD) as a scavenger of O2- and metallothionein(MT) as a scavenger of OH·, respectively, in mouse lungs with age. METHODS: Oxidative stress was induced by paraquat, an intracellular superoxide generator, at 1, 4, 8, and 12 months of age and then SODs and MT mRNAs were determined by RT-PCR method. RESULTS: The steady-state level of Mn-SOD mRNA increased from 1 to 8 months but decreased thereafter. However, Mn-SOD mRNA was not induced by paraquat after 1 month. On the other hand, there was no change in the steady-state level of Cu/Zn/-SOD mRNA, which decrease abruptly at 12 months of age. Additionally, Cu/Zn/-SOD mRNA was not induced by paraquat at any age. There was no change in the steady-state level of MT mRNA with age whereas its inducibility by paraquat was intact at all ages. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that lack of induction of SODs with age may be one of the causative factors in the aging process while induction of MT may play an important role in the defense against oxidative stress. It is therefore implicated that the tissue antioxidant/proxidant balance could be one determinants of meal life span.
Aging* ; Animals ; Hand ; Lung* ; Meals ; Metallothionein* ; Mice* ; Oxidative Stress ; Oxygen ; Paraquat* ; RNA, Messenger ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Superoxides*

No abstract available.
Humans

BACKGROUND: It is well-known that dyspeptic symptoms in functional dyspepsia are related to psychological factors such as stress and mood disorder. But it is still controversial whether H. pylori infection is a important factor for functional dyspepsia. We conducted this study to investigate whether H. pylori infection or stress are related to dyspeptic symptom severity in functional dyspepsia. METHODS: From Mar. 1 1999 to Apr. 30 1999, attendees to a Health Screening Center and a Family Practice Center were eligible study subjects. The subjects were responded to questionnaire including dyspeptic symptom severity items and BEPSI-K(stress scale). And among eligible subjects, one hundred and thirty two diagnosed with functional dyspepsia by gastrofibroscopy were final study subjects. H. pylori infection was confirmed by antral biopsies & smear (Giemsa stain). RESULTS: In functional dyspepsia, high BEPSI-K score group(upper tertile) complained more severe dyspeptic symptom severity than low BEPSI-K score group(lower tertile) after adjusted for other variables(adjusted OR=8.389, 95% C.I.=2.232-31.231). But the dyspeptic symptom severity was not associated with H. pylori infection status (adjusted OR=1.514, 95% C.I.=0.567-4.046). CONCLUSIONS: The dyspeptic symptom severity in functional dyspepsia was associated with stress but not with H. pylori infection status.
Biopsy ; Dyspepsia* ; Family Practice ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Mass Screening ; Mood Disorders ; Psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the findings of magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) of posterior fossa hemangioblastoma and usefulness of contrast enhancement with Gd-DTPA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven patients with posterior fossa hemangioblastoma were studied with both pre- and post-enhanced MRI. The MR images were reviewed regarding the location, size, signal intensities of cysts and mural nodules, and their contrast enhancement pattern. RESULTS: Five tumors were located in cerebellar hemisphere, one in vermis, and one in posterior part of medulla. One patient with von HippeI-Lindau disease had a medullary hemangioblastoma with multiple pancreatic cysts. In 6 cases, the major portion of the tumor was cysts and had small mulkal nodules. The solid portion was relatiely lange in one case, cemprising half of the tumor Cysts were oval shaped and their sizes were 3--6.7cm in diameter. In five cases(71%), septations were noted within the cysts. Cysts were isointense or slightly hyperintense on Tl-weighted image and hyperintense on T2-weighted image compared with cerebrospinal fluid. Mural nodules were oval or rounded appearance in five cases and flattened appearance in two, and their size was 0.5--2.5cm in diameter. Mural nodules were isointense to gray matter. They were detected in five cases on Tl-weighted images and one case on T2-weighted images. In two cases, vascular signal void area was noted in mural nodules. On contrast-enhanced Tl-weighted images, all mural nodules were intensely enhanced. CONCLUSION: MRI proved to be a good diagnostic method to detect and characterize posterior fossa hemangioblastoma. The most common finding is Cystic posterior fossa lesion with enhancing mural nodule. Contrast enhancement is essential for specific diagnosis.
Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Diagnosis ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Hemangioblastoma* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Pancreatic Cyst

No Abstract Available.
Depression* ; Primary Health Care*

No Abstract Available.
Depression* ; Primary Health Care*

BACKGROUND: The relationship between abnormal body fat distribution and increased risks of morbidity and mortality is well established. Less is known about the impact on functional health status and subjective well-being. This study quantified the association between body fatness and health-related quality of life. METHODS: Health-related quality of life was measured by Catholic Medical Center Health Survey(CMCHS) V1.0. Tertiles of body mass index(BMI) and waist circumference in 484 adult persons visiting a university hospital-based Health Screening Center were compared. To estimate the relative risks of poor health in those with high BMI and large waist circumference, odds ratio and 95% confidence interval(CI) were determined by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Compared with the reference group (subjects with waist circumference in the lowest tertile), the odds ratios for men with waist circumference in tertile 3 were 2.24 (95% CI:1.15-4.36) for social function, and 2.5(95% CI:1.02-6.11) for change in health. Women in tertile 3 had odds ratio of 3.23(95% CI:1.05-9.97) for bodily pain. Statistical significance was not shown in other domains. The odds ratios of subjects with the largest BMI, compared with those in the lowest tertile, were not statistically significant in 10 domains. CONCLUSION: Large waist circumferences affects quality of life in the domains of social function and change in health for men, and bodily pain for women.
Adipose Tissue ; Adult ; Body Fat Distribution ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Mortality ; Odds Ratio ; Overweight ; Quality of Life* ; Waist Circumference*

No abstract available.
Humans

BACKGROUND: IL - 5 has been recognized as a potent proeosinophilic cytokine and IL-10 has been reported as an important anti - inflammatory cytokine in allergic inflammation. But the clinical roles of these cytokines in allergic asthma are still unclear. Objectives : We studied the clinical implications of IL - 5 and IL - 10 secretions from stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells ( PBMC ) in Dermatophagoides farinae ( DF ) atopic asthmatics ( BA ). METHODS: Thirty - six DF sensitized BA and 9 non - atopic BA were enrolled for this study. Twenty - seven out of 36 subjects were challenged by inhalation of DF crude allergen. The isolated PBMCs were cultured for 6 days with DF antigen and the stimulatory index ( SI ) and secretions of IL - 5, IFN - y and IL - 10 from PBMC were measured. We analyzed these parameters with clinical parameters. RESULTS: SI (4.2 +/- 1.0 vs. 1.3 +/- 0.3, p<0.05) and secretions of IL - 5 ( 19.9 vs. 1.7 g/L, p< 0.001 ) and IL-10 ( 185.5 vs. 34.3 g/L, p(0.05 ) from the atopic BA were significantly higher than those of non-atopic BA, but the secretion of IFN - r was not different between the two groups ( 56.6 vs. 47.3 ug/L ). No significant difference in secretions of IL - 5, IL - 10, IFN - r and SI of PBMC was found between responder and non - responder of DF inhalation challenge test. Among responders to antigen challenge test ( n = 17 ), the production of IL - 5 correlated with the productions of IL - 10 (r = 0.773, p< 0.01 ) and methacholine PC20 ( r = 0.503, p< 0.05 ). Production of IL - 5 from the PBMC of atopic mild intermittent BA ( n = 10 ) was higher than that of atopic per'sistent BA ( n = 27 ) ( p< 0.01 ), but no difference in IL - 10, IFN - r and SI was found between the two groups. Conclusions : Allergen specific productions of IL - 5 and IL - 10 from the PBMC may be specific for atopic subjects and secretion of IL - 5 from the stimulated PBMC may contribute to the pathogenesis of atopic BA. The severity of BA may be more influenced by other factors.
Asthma ; Cytokines ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Inflammation ; Inhalation ; Interleukin-10 ; Methacholine Chloride