No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Pyelonephritis*

There is some evidence that soy isoflavone has beneficial effects on the concentration of blood lipids. In this study, we investigated habitual isoflavone intake levels and the relation among dietary isoflavone intake, blood pressure, and blood lipids of adult men (n = 149) and women (n = 205). Anthropometric measurements including blood pressure, dietary intake assessment using 24-hour recall method, and biochemical assessment using blood were conducted. The average age, height, weight, and BMI were 54.7 years, 168.5 cm, 67.3 kg, and 24.5 kg/m2 for men and 53.9 years, 153.8 cm, 59.2 kg, and 25.0 kg/m2 for women, respectively. The mean daily intakes of total food and energy were 1219.1 g and 1740.9 kcal for men and 1071.3 g and 1432.6 kcal for women, respectively. The mean daily isoflavones (daidzein + genistein) intake of men and women were 20.0 mg and 14.2 mg, respectively. Blood pressure of the subjects was 128.3/75.5 mmHg for men and 124.1/73.7 mmHg for women. Serum lipids of men and women were 180.2 and 184.9 mg/dL for total cholesterol, 160.8 and 137.6 mg/dL for triglyceride, 41.5 and 44.7 mg/dL for HDL-cholesterol, 106.6 and 112.7 mg/dL for LDL-cholesterol, and 3.5 and 3.3 for atherogenic index, respectively. Serum triglyceride and atherogenic index of men were significantly higher than those of women. In men, isoflavone intake and the level of total serum cholesterol were negatively (p < 0.05) correlated, after adjusted age. In women, there were significant correlations between isoflavone intake and blood pressure (systolic and diastolic), after adjusted age (p < 0.05). Based on these results, we concluded that higher isoflavone intake seemed to be related to a better lipid profile in men and lower blood pressure in women. But more epidemiological studies and controlled clinical trials would help to confirm the optimal amount required for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.
Adult ; Blood Pressure* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Isoflavones ; Male ; Triglycerides ; Young Adult*

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the safety of double plateletpheresis which has already become established among developed countries and to set the guidelines for the donor selection and the deferral period between blood donations for Korean blood donors METHODS: From October to November, 2003, double plateletphereses were done in 28 voluntary donors whose platelet counts were more than 200,000/microliter at the KRC Cenral, Nambu, and Dongbu blood centers. During the collection the citrate reaction and the collection time were recorded and regular cell counts were done after the collection to assess the recovery. The platelet count, pH test, and blood culture were done in all the collected platelets. RESULTS: The mean total processing volume was 4,312mL and the mean volume of the anticoagulant infused to donor was 373 mL. The average collection time was 97 minutes. Most donors complained 'slight' citrate reaction during procedures and felt the procedures 'a little boring' because of the long collection time. The platelet count counted immediately after procedures was decreased by 35.9% on the average and it took 14 days for 95% of donors to recover the 95% level of the original platelet count. The mean product volume was 501 mL and the mean platelet yield of products was 6.4 x 10 11 platelets. The pH measured at fifth day after collection was 7.3 and no aerobic bacteria was found in the culture. CONCLUSION: No significant adverse reaction was found in double plateletpheresis for Korean blood donors as compared with the existing one dose plateletpheresis. The guidelines for donor selection should include the minimum platelet count requirement with more than 200,000/microliter and the deferral period between donations should be or more 14 days.
Bacteria, Aerobic ; Blood Donors* ; Blood Platelets ; Cell Count ; Citric Acid ; Developed Countries ; Donor Selection ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Platelet Count ; Plateletpheresis* ; Tissue Donors

BACKGROUND: The incidence of atherosclerosis is well correlated with the progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus. High plasma glucose in uncontrolled diabetic patients evokes many vascular complications such as atherosclerosis. Specifically, high glucose was reported to induce thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), which activates matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and leads to the invasion of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) into the intima. Catechins with antioxidant effects are known to inhibit MMP-2 activity. Therefore, this study was aimed at revealing the effect of epicatechin, one of catechins, on high glucose-induced TSP-1 and the invasiveness of VSMCs. METHODS: VSMCs were primarily isolated from Sprague-Dawley rat aorta. The VSMCs were incubated with different doses (30, 100 and 300 micrometer) of epicatechin under high glucose concentration (30 mM). The TSP-1 protein and mRNA expressions were analyzed by performing Western blotting and Northern blot analyses, respectively. RT-PCR was performed to observe the MMP-2 mRNA expression. Gelatin zymography was performed for the measurement of MMP-2 activity. Invasion assays were performed to evaluate the invasiveness of VSMCs. RESULTS: Epicatechin inhibited the high glucose-induced TSP-1 expression and the MMP-2 activity in a dose-dependent manner. Also, epicatechin inhibited the high glucose-induced invasiveness of VSMCs across the matrix barrier in a dose-dependent fashion. CONCLUSION: Collectively, epicatechin may prevent the high glucose-induced proliferation and invasion of VSMCs by inhibiting the TSP-1 expression and the MMP-2 activity. Therefore, epicatechin appears to play a protective role in the development of atherosclerosis.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; Aorta ; Atherosclerosis ; Blood Glucose ; Blotting, Northern ; Blotting, Western ; Catechin* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Gelatin ; Glucose ; Humans ; Incidence ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; RNA, Messenger ; Thrombospondin 1*

BACKGROUND: The incidence of atherosclerosis is well correlated with the progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus. High plasma glucose in uncontrolled diabetic patients evokes many vascular complications such as atherosclerosis. Specifically, high glucose was reported to induce thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), which activates matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and leads to the invasion of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) into the intima. Catechins with antioxidant effects are known to inhibit MMP-2 activity. Therefore, this study was aimed at revealing the effect of epicatechin, one of catechins, on high glucose-induced TSP-1 and the invasiveness of VSMCs. METHODS: VSMCs were primarily isolated from Sprague-Dawley rat aorta. The VSMCs were incubated with different doses (30, 100 and 300 micrometer) of epicatechin under high glucose concentration (30 mM). The TSP-1 protein and mRNA expressions were analyzed by performing Western blotting and Northern blot analyses, respectively. RT-PCR was performed to observe the MMP-2 mRNA expression. Gelatin zymography was performed for the measurement of MMP-2 activity. Invasion assays were performed to evaluate the invasiveness of VSMCs. RESULTS: Epicatechin inhibited the high glucose-induced TSP-1 expression and the MMP-2 activity in a dose-dependent manner. Also, epicatechin inhibited the high glucose-induced invasiveness of VSMCs across the matrix barrier in a dose-dependent fashion. CONCLUSION: Collectively, epicatechin may prevent the high glucose-induced proliferation and invasion of VSMCs by inhibiting the TSP-1 expression and the MMP-2 activity. Therefore, epicatechin appears to play a protective role in the development of atherosclerosis.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; Aorta ; Atherosclerosis ; Blood Glucose ; Blotting, Northern ; Blotting, Western ; Catechin* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Gelatin ; Glucose ; Humans ; Incidence ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; RNA, Messenger ; Thrombospondin 1*

A well designed transplant software program with its database is a valuable tool in the management of transplant patients and transplant associated works. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to make the organ transplantation information system associated with Hospital Order Communicating System (OCS) and Korean Networking for Organ Sharing (KONOS) METHODS: We used the Hospital Order Communicating System in Asan Medical Center as a data capture source. Web EDI system was going to be used to connect the Korean Networking for Organ Sharing. RESULTS: Electronic link to Order Communicating System in our hospital can eliminate the necessity of double entry of data and eliminates the manual entry errors while increasing the efficacy of service. Multicentric accessibility to this new software system makes the data entry be easy. This program can capture the necessary data including text, numeric, scanned data at all stages of treatments, from the pretransplant to posttransplant follow-up using data transmission with Order Communicating System. The built-in tools for data analysis and other services can assist the coordinators in performing their daily tasks. Complying with timely reporting demanded by KONOS overburdened the transplant center staff and coordinators. We are already prepared to connect to KONOS reporting system using EDI system, and we are waiting for response of KONOS. CONCLUSION: Even though it was not simple to make the well designed transplant software because it involves several concerns, we were able to make the organ transplant information system linked to OCS successfully. We hope this system can be connected to KONOS in the near future.
Chungcheongnam-do ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hope ; Humans ; Information Systems* ; Organ Transplantation* ; Statistics as Topic ; Transplantation ; Transplants*

BACKGROUND: We introduce a new, simple portable inhalational induction device (PD) that provides co-operative inhalational induction of anaesthesia using N2O and subsequent sevoflurane in the preanaesthetic induction area in children. METHODS: Forty-five children (30 to 94 months old age, <35 kg) who were scheduled to undergo simple operations were assigned randomly to one of three regimens. Patients were encouraged by their parents to inhale N2O followed by sevoflurane (PD N2O-sevo group) or sevoflurane (PD sevo group) using a portable inhalational induction device in the preanaesthetic induction area until they were unable to respond to their names. They were then transferred to the operating room while maintaining inhalation of sevoflurane via the device. The control group underwent conventional inhalational induction in the operating room with the parents in attendance. RESULTS: Patients in the PD N2O-sevo group had a higher co-operative inhalation frequency than the patients in the PD sevo or the control group. Anaesthesia induction in the PD N2O-sevo and the PD sevo groups were faster than in the control group. Parent satisfaction score (0-100) was higher for the PD N2O-sevo group than for the control group. CONCLUSIONS: A new portable inhalational induction device allows faster induction in co-operation with parents present in the preanaesthetic induction area compared to conventional inhalational induction in the unfamiliar operating room with the parents in attendance.
Child ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Methyl Ethers ; Nitrous Oxide ; Operating Rooms ; Parents

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate the efficacy of early scheduled follow-up endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) after common bile duct (CBD) stone removal. METHODS: Patients who underwent endoscopic CBD stone removal and who had at least one risk factor for stone recurrence were enrolled. Six months after complete clearance of the CBD, patients underwent follow-up ERCP at an ambulatory care center, irrespective of symptoms. RESULTS: The incidence of symptoms and cholangitis at follow-up ERCP was significantly lower in Group A (ERCP at 6 months after stone removal) than that in Group B (ERCP at >6 months) (14.3% vs 71.4%, p=0.00; 9.5% vs 33.3%, p=0.02, respectively). However, the recurrence rates of CBD stones were not different between Groups A and B (33.3% vs 47.6%). When comparing the subgroups, Group AR (stone recurrence in Group A) displayed significantly fewer symptoms and lesser cholangitis and spent fewer days in the hospital than did Group BR (stone recurrence in Group B) (21.4% vs 70%, p=0.02; 14.3% vs 60%, p=0.02; 2.43+/-1.87 vs 6.10+/-3.35, p=0.00, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that, irrespective of symptoms, early scheduled follow-up ERCP for patients who are at a high risk of recurrence is effective and safe.
Ambulatory Care ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholangitis ; Common Bile Duct ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND: Use of single donor apheresis platelets and concerning for the quality of apheresis platelets has been rapidly increased. Apheresis platelets depleted white blood cell (WBC) are used to prevent or to reduce febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reactions, alloimmunization and cytomegalovirus infection. We compared COBE Spectra LRSTM (leukoreduction system) and COBE Spectra with PALL PXLTM8 in terms of the yield predictors, processing times, and WBC contamination. METHOD: Seventy-two single donors who visited Apheresis Unit (APU) in St. Mary's hospital were prospectively randomized into COBE Spectra LRSTM and COBE Spectra followed by PALL PXLTM8 between September 1997 and October 1998. We used Coulter counting for platelet and Nageotte hemocytometer for WBC count. Data were analyzed by independent t-test. RESULTS: The mean platelet yield per unit was 3.6 +/- 1.0X1011 with COBE spectra LRSTM compared to 2.9 +/- 1.1X1011 with COBE Spectra (p=0.002), and the mean WBC content per unit with COBE spectra LRSTM was 4.1X104 (0.4-23.5) compared to 3.7X104 (0.43-17.9) with PALL PXLTM8 (p=0.0728). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that COBE Spectra LRSTM has higher platelet yields than that of COBE Spectra, and similar WBC contamination compared to PALL PXLTM8. Therefore, this data suggests that COBE Spectra LRSTM is conveient than COBE Spectra with PALL PXLTM8 in clinical practice.
Blood Component Removal ; Blood Group Incompatibility ; Blood Platelets* ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; Humans ; Leukocytes* ; Prospective Studies ; Tissue Donors*