BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are group of evolutionary conserved proteins whose synthesis are greatly enhanced in cells following exposure to various stressors and play an important role in cellular protection and survival. The purpose of this study was to determine whether olfactory stimulation induces the synthesis of HSP72 in olfactory system of the rat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Animals were exposed to odorant stimuli using 2% propionic acid odorant stimuli and expression pattern of HSP72 in the olfactory system were detected by immunohistochemistry using anti-HSP72 antibody according to time course and by Western blotting. RESULTS: HSP72 immunopositive cells were expressed in the olfactory epithelium and in the olfactory bulb neurons and a 72 kD band was detected by Western blotting. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that expression of HSP72 in olfactory system of the rat following exposure to odor may serve as a marker for cellular stress and potential damage and may be involved in cellular protection against injuries.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Diethylpropion ; Heat-Shock Proteins* ; Hot Temperature* ; HSP72 Heat-Shock Proteins* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Neurons ; Odors* ; Olfactory Bulb ; Olfactory Mucosa ; Rats*

PURPOSE: Sialic acid-binding Ig-like lectin (Siglec) is an immune inhibitory receptor that plays a role in the negative regulation of the activation of immune cells. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of anti-Siglec-F on plasma and urinary histamine levels in ovalbumin (OVA)-challenged urinary bladder in mice. METHODS: Thirty BALB/c mice were used. In group I (control group, n=5), mice were sensitized with OVA and challenged with saline. In group II (OVA challenge group, n=5), OVA was used for intraperitoneal sensitization and intravesical challenge. The challenged mice in group III (control immunoglobulin G [IgG] group, n=5) and those in group IV (anti-Siglec-F group, n=5) were intraperitoneally pretreated with rabbit control IgG or anti-Siglec-F antibody, respectively. In groups V (N-acetylcysteine [NAC] in OVA challenge group, n=5) and VI (control NAC only, n=5), mice were pretreated with NAC. RESULTS: Urinary histamine concentrations were significantly higher 7 days after intravesical OVA challenge (P<0.01), whereas plasma histamine levels were not. Pretreatment with anti-Siglec-F antibody significantly prevented the increase in urinary histamine release (P<0.05), whereas pretreatment with the IgG antibody control did not. Also, pretreatment of the OVA challenge group with NAC did not affect the histamine concentration in either urine or plasma. CONCLUSIONS: Systemic anti-Siglec-F treatment showed anti-allergic effects at least on local histamine release, particularly in the lower urinary bladder.
Animals ; Histamine ; Histamine Release ; Immunoglobulin G ; Mice ; Ovalbumin ; Ovum ; Plasma ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Sialic Acid Binding Immunoglobulin-like Lectins ; Urinary Bladder

The cricoarytenoid joint is a diathrodial synovial joint and it can be affected by various diseases. The etiology includes infectious, rheumatic and degenerative diseases. Cricoarytenoid arthritis that's caused rheumatoid arthritis is the most well known, yet cricoarytenoid arthritis that's caused by ankylosing spondylitis is very rare. Hoarseness, dysphagia, throat discomfort, dyspnea and dyspnea on exertion are the major symptoms. If there was no severe airway obstruction, this condition can be managed by systemic steroid or intraarticular steroid injection. We experienced a case of a 47 years old man with ankylosing spondylitis and he presented with hoarseness, dyspnea on exertion and dysphagia. He was finally diagnosed with cricoarytenoid arthritis and he improved after etanercept administration. So we report here on this case along with a review of relevant literature.
Airway Obstruction ; Arthritis ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Deglutition Disorders ; Dyspnea ; Etanercept ; Hoarseness ; Immunoglobulin G ; Joints ; Pharynx ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor ; Spondylitis ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing

The prevalence of obesity is steadily increasing worldwide and is commonly associated with metabolic diseases including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and type 2 diabetes as well as increased mortality. Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment modality for patients with severe obesity and type 2 diabetes that are refractory to conventional treatments. We performed bariatric surgery (biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch) in a 23-year-old man with severe obesity and uncontrolled type 2 diabetes. Before surgery, the patient experienced continuous weight gain and aggravated glycemic control despite dietary restrictions, exercise, and medications including high dose insulin. After surgery, his weight was reduced by 17 kg and he was able to stop insulin treatment. This case suggests that bariatric surgery is an effective therapeutic option when severe obesity and type 2 diabetes are refractory to usual treatments.
Bariatric Surgery ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertension ; Insulin ; Metabolic Diseases ; Obesity ; Prevalence ; Weight Gain ; Young Adult

To estimate the incidence rate of coronary heart disease in Korea, of all residents of the Taegu city aged 25 or above, those who had an acute MI or fatal coronary event between 1 July 1996 and 30 June 1997 were registered. Seven hundreds and eight patients were registered during the study period(685 were identified at hospital and 23 were autopsy cases). Age-standardized annual incidence rate of men in city area was 93 per 100,000(95% CI; 61-142) and 33(95% CI; 16-67) in women(100 in men and 20 in women aged 35-64). The incidence was rapidly increased after age 40 in men, however, in women after age 60. Twenty-eight-days case fatality rate was 45% in men and 47% in women. However, in the age group of 45-59 case fatality rate in women was two times higher than that in men. In conclusion, crude annual incidence rate of CHD in city area was 73 per 100,000 in men and 33 in women. The age-standardized annual incidence of CHD in men(93 per 100,000) was 3.2 times higher than that in women (33 per 100,000) in Korea.
Autopsy ; Coronary Disease* ; Daegu ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Korea ; Male ; Mortality

BACKGROUND: The upper respiratory tract is the primary target organ of various airborne pollutants and is easily accessible part of the respiratory tract, and also is the predominant structure where chronic cough originates. The nasal peak inspiratory flow(PIFn), which is the peak inspiratory flow via nose with nasal mask and spirometry, could be a reliable parameter of nasal obstruction. The validity of PIFn has been evaluated in several studies by assessing the correlation between PIFn measurements and other parameters of nasal air flow. This study was designed to show the reproducibility of PIFn, the difference of PIFn between patients with chronic cough and normal subjects, and the usefulness of PIFn in the evaluation of nasal obstruction in patients with chronic cough. METHODS: PIFn was measured by spirometry with nasal mask, twice a day for 3 consecutive days in 7 young normal subjects to evaluate validity of the test. In 32 patients with chronic cough and 25 age-matched normal subjects, PIFn and pulmonary function test(FEV1, FEV1%pred, FVC, and FVC%pred) were measured at first visiting. RESULTS: Values of PIFn, FEV1, and FVC were nearly constant in 7 young normal adults. Patients with chronic cough were 32 (14 males and 18 females) and the mean age was 41.4+/-15.9 years. Normal subjects were 32 (22 males and 10 females) and the mean age was 39.8+/-18.6 years. There was no significant difference of age and pulmonary function test between patients with chronic cough and normal subjects(p<0.05). The PIFn values in patients with chronic cough was significantly lower than those of normal subjects(2.25+/-0.68 L/sec vs. 2.75+/-1.00 L/sec; p=0.02). The postnasal drip syndrome(PNDS) comprised the majority of patients with chronic cough(27). The PIFn in patients with PNDS was significantly lower than that of normal subjects(meanD; 2.18+/-0.66 vs. 2.75+/-1.00 L/sec, p=0.006). CONCLUSION: There was a significant difference of PIFn between patients with chronic cough and normal subjects. Among the patients with chronic cough, patients with PNDS showed the most significant difference with normal subjects in PIFn. The PIFn could be a useful parameter of nasal obstruction in patients with chronic cough, especially in patients with PNDS.
Adult ; Cough* ; Humans ; Male ; Masks ; Nasal Obstruction ; Nose ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Respiratory System ; Spirometry

PURPOSE: Stress has a deteriorating effect on hippocampal function. It also contributes to symptom exacerbation in many disease states, including overactive bladder and interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome. We investigated the effects of various types of stresses (restraint, noise, and cold) on short-term memory and apoptosis in relation with corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) expression. METHODS: Rats in the restraint stress group were restrained in a transparent Plexiglas cylinder for 60 minutes twice daily. Rats in the noise stress group were exposed to the 120 dB supersonic machine sound for 60 minutes twice daily. Rats in the cold stress group were placed in a cold chamber at 4degrees C for 60 minutes twice daily. Each stress was applied for 10 days. A step-down avoidance test for short-term memory, immunohistochemistry for caspase-3 expression, and western blot analysis for Bax and Bcl-2 expressions were conducted. RESULTS: Latency time was decreased and CRF expression in the hippocampal dentate gyrus and hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus were increased in all of the stress groups. The number of caspase-3-positive cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus was increased and the expressions of Bax and Bcl2 in the hippocampus were decreased in all of the stress groups. CONCLUSIONS: All of the stress groups experienced short-term memory impairment induced by apoptosis in the hippocampus. The present results suggest the possibility that these stresses affecting the impairment of short-term memory may also induce functional lower urinary tract disorders.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 3 ; Cold Temperature ; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Dentate Gyrus ; Hippocampus ; Immunohistochemistry ; Memory, Short-Term ; Noise ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; Rats ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive ; Urinary Tract