BACKGROUND: In unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO), the obstructed kidney is characterized by interstitial fibrosis and an increase in transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1. Interstitial expression of TGF-beta1 is important in tublointerstitial fibrosis. The objectives of this study is to make new ribbon-type antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) for TGF-beta1 which are resistant to exonuclease and to examine the effcets of TGF-beta1 on reducing tubulointerstitial fibrosis of the kidney. METHODS: We introduced a new ribbon-type antisense ODN for TGF-beta1 in rats using the UUO model to block interstitial fibrosis by tail vein injection. A combination of one antisense sequences for TGF-beta1 was adopted to construct a large antisense molecule with a loop and stem. Artificial viral envelope (AVE)-type hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ)-liposomes were used as a vector system for the delivery of antisense ODN. RESULTS: The levels of TGF-beta1 mRNA was decreased more in the cultured mesangial cells treated with ribbon-type antisense ODN than in that of a linear-type antisense ODN for TGF-beta1. TGF-beta1 mRNA was increased markedly in the interstitium of untreated obstructed kidneys. Northem analysis revealed that the levels of TGF-beta1 mRNA were decreased in the obstructed kidneys treated with antisense ODN. The fibrosis of the obstructed kidneys treated with ribbon-type antisense ODN was dramatically less than that of the untreated group. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that the introduction of new ribbon-type antisense ODN for TGF-beta1 may be a potential therapeutic maneuver for preventing interstitial fibrosis.
Animals ; Fibrosis ; Kidney ; Mesangial Cells ; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides* ; Rats ; RNA, Messenger ; Sendai virus ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Transforming Growth Factors ; Ureter* ; Ureteral Obstruction* ; Veins

OBJECTIVES: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep-related breathing disorder that is characterized by repetitive collapse or partial collapse of the upper airway during sleep in spite of ongoing effort to breathe. It is believed that OSA is usually worsened in REM sleep, because muscle tone is suppressed during REM sleep. However, many cases showed a higher apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) during NREM sleep than during REM sleep. We aimed here to determine the characteristics of REM sleep-dependent OSA (REM-OSA) and NREM sleep-dependent OSA (NREM-OSA). METHODS: Five hundred sixty polysomnographically confirmed adult OSA subjects were studied retrospectively. All patients were classified into 3 groups based on the ratio between REM-AHI and NREM-AHI. REM-OSA was defined as REM-AHI/NREM-AHI > 2, NREM-OSA as NREM-AHI/REM-AHI > 2, and the rest as sleep stage-independent OSA (IND-OSA). In addition to polysomnography, questionnaires related to subjective sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and emotion were completed. Chi-square test, ANOVA, and ANCOVA were performed. RESULTS: There was no age difference among subgroups. The REM-OSA group was comprised of large proportions of mild OSA and female OSA patients. These patients experienced poor sleep and more negative emotions than other two groups. The AHI and oxygen desaturation index (ODI) were lowest in REM-OSA. Sleep efficiency and N3 percentage of REM-OSA were higher than in NREM-OSA. The percentage of patients who slept in a supine position was higher in REM-OSA than other subgroups. IND-OSA showed higher BMI and larger neck circumference and abdominal circumference than REM-OSA. The patients with IND-OSA experienced more sleepiness than the other groups. AHI and ODI were highest in IND-OSA. NREM-OSA presented the shortest total sleep time and the lowest sleep efficiency. NREM-OSA showed shorter sleep latency and REM latency and higher percentage of N1 than those of REM-OSA and the highest proportion of those who slept in a lateral position than other subgroups. NREM-OSA revealed the highest composite score on the Horne and Östberg questionnaire. With increased AHI severity, the numbers of apnea and hypopnea events during REM sleep decreased, and the numbers of apnea and hypopnea events during NREM sleep increased. The results of ANCOVA after controlling age, sex, BMI, NC, AC, and AHI showed the lowest sleep efficiency, the highest AHI in the supine position, and the highest percentage of waking after sleep onset in NREM-OSA. CONCLUSION: REM-OSA was associated with the mild form of OSA, female sex, and negative emotions. IND-OSA was associated with the severe form of OSA. NREM-OSA was most closely related to position and showed the lowest sleep efficiency. Sleep stage-dependent characteristics could provide better understanding of OSA.
Adult ; Animals ; Apnea ; Female ; Horns ; Humans ; Neck ; Oxygen ; Polysomnography ; Respiration ; Retrospective Studies ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive* ; Sleep, REM ; Supine Position

BACKGROUND:With the application of early reperfusion by thrombolysis after acute MI, the importance of nontransmural infarction is increasing. We evaluated 1) the changes of LV dimension, LV fibrosis and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) mRNA expression in a rat model of nontransmural infarction and 2) effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) and angiotensin II receptor blocker (ATRB) treatment after nontransmural infarction. METHOD AND RESULTS: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 45 minutes of coronary occlusion followed by reperfusion, and at 5 days after the operation, animals were randomized to untreated (MI-vehicle, n=19), captopril-treated (MI-captopril, n=15) and losartan-treated (MI-losartan, n=14) groups. LV dimension, measured by transthoracic echocardiography, was significantly increased at 26 days after MI, and both captopril and losartan treatment inhibited LV cavity dilatation (LV end-diastolic dimension (mm): MI-vehicle, MI-captopril, MI-losartan; 8.6 +/- 0.2, 7.8 +/- 0.2, 8.0 +/- 0.2, p<0.05 vs. MI-vehicle each). Interstitial fibrosis was reduced with both captopril and losartan treatment (p<0.05 vs. MI-vehicle). TGF-beta1 mRNA increased 2.6 fold at 10 days (p<0.05 vs. pre-MI), and normalized at 26 days after nontransmural MI. Captopril and losartan treatment blocked the induction of TGF-beta1 expression after nontransmural MI (p=S vs. pre-MI). CONCLUSION: After large nontransmural MI, ACEI and ATRB treatments attenuate LV remodeling and decrease interstitial fibrosis, at least partly by blocking the acute induction of TGF-beta1 mRNA expression.
Angiotensins* ; Animals ; Captopril ; Coronary Occlusion ; Dilatation ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Infarction ; Losartan ; Models, Animal ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Angiotensin ; Reperfusion ; RNA, Messenger ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Transforming Growth Factors ; Ventricular Remodeling*

PURPOSE: Long-term prognosis of Henoch-Schonlein purpura(HSP) is determined by the existence and severity of renal involvement. We evaluated the relationship between various clinical features of HSP and the development of renal involvement using univariate and multivariate analyses for early detection and proper management of HSP nephritis. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of 200 children who were diagnosed as HSP and were initially free from renal involvement, from 1998-2003. Clinical features of each patient as risk factors of renal involvement were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis. Significant risk factors proven by univariate analysis were paired and re-analyzed to see if there are any interactions between them. RESULTS: A univariate analysis showed that sex, previous disease, severe abdominal symptoms, persistent purpura and steroid administration were associated with developing renal involvement. Among them, severe abdominal symptoms, persistent purpura, and male sex were statistically significant when they were re-analyzed after pairing, and they also increased the risk of renal involvement in a multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Severe abdominal symptoms, persistent purpura, and male sex are independent risk factors of renal involvement in HSP and it is presumed that interaction between them could be another factor of HSP nephritis.
Abdominal Pain ; Child ; Humans ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis* ; Nephritis ; Prognosis ; Purpura ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors*

Schinzel-Giedion syndrome is a rare, distinct dysmorphic syndrome characterized by congenital hydronephrosis, skeletal dysplasia, and severe developmental retardation, likely to be inherited as an autosomal recessive trait, but not yet confirmed. This syndrome is characterized by coarse facial features such as midfacial retraction, bulging forehead, short nose with anteverted nostrils, low-set malformed ears, protruding large tongue, and hypertelorism. Skeletal and limb defects, choanal stenosis, simian creases, hypospadias, microphallus, hypertrichosis, and intractable seizures are the frequently associated clinical findings. Urogenital involvement is a major component of the syndrome, and this problem sometimes is associated with nephrocalcinosis and urinary tract infection in the clinical course of the disease. We report a 22 month-old girl with Schinzel-Giedion syndrome complicated by medullary nephrocalcinosis and urinary tract infection due to Klebsiella pneumoniae. This patient had also been suffering from postnatal growth deficiency, intractable seizure, spastic tetraplegia, delayed development and severe mental retardation.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Ear ; Extremities ; Female ; Forehead ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Hypertelorism ; Hypertrichosis ; Hypospadias ; Infant ; Intellectual Disability ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Male ; Nephrocalcinosis ; Nose ; Quadriplegia ; Seizures ; Tongue ; Urinary Tract Infections

Dysphagia aortica is a rare etiology of dysphagia resulting from extrinsic compression of esophagus by thoracic aortic aneurysm or tortuosity and elongation of thoracic aorta. The clinical findings resemble those of esophageal malignancy or esophageal motility disorders. Therefore, primary diagnosis of dysphagia aortica is very difficult. We, herein, report a case of dysphagia aortica aggravated by wearing the abdominal binder in a 70-year-old woman and review the literature pertaining to this condition. Dysphagia aortica should be considered in the differential diagnosis of dysphagia.
Abdomen ; Aged ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; Deglutition Disorders ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Esophageal Motility Disorders ; Esophagus ; Female ; Humans ; Manometry

Pregnancy outcomes for women uncontrolled diabetes mellitus are poor. Women with chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease, if pregnant, will develop pregnancy-related complications. In the case of severe renal failure and diabetes mellitus, the incidence of prematurity, low birth weight, and neonatal death increases. Despite these risks, there have been few reported cases of successful pregnancy outcomes for these women. Adherence to a schedule of strict glucose monitoring, blood pressure and volume control, correction of anemia, and intensive hemodialysis may play important roles in the management of these women. Successful pregnancy and childbirth in a patient with diabetic kidney disease receiving hemodialysis have not been previously reported in Korea, to our knowledge. Herein, we report a case of a successful pregnancy outcome in a patient with diabetic end-stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis.
Anemia ; Appointments and Schedules ; Blood Pressure ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Female ; Glucose ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Korea ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Renal Dialysis ; Renal Insufficiency ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic

OBJECTIVE: This study's aim was to develop and standardize a Korean version (SCoRS-K) of the Schizophrenia Cognition Rating Scale (SCoRS), which is used to evaluate the degree of cognitive dysfunction affecting the everyday functioning of people with schizophrenia. METHODS: Eighty-four schizophrenia patients with stable symptoms who were receiving outpatient treatment and rehabilitation therapy, and 29 demographically matched non-patient controls, participated in the study. Demographic data were collected, and clinical symptoms, cognitive function, and social function were evaluated to verify SCoRS-K's reliability and validity. Clinical symptoms were evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and the Clinical Global Impression-Schizophrenia Scale. Cognitive function was evaluated using a short form of the Korean Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Social function was evaluated using the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale, the Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale, and the Social Functioning Scale. RESULTS: Data analysis demonstrated SCoRS-K's statistically significant reliability and validity. SCoRS-K has high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha; patient 0.941, informant 0.905, interviewer 0.964); test-retest reliability [patient 0.428 (p=0.003), informant 0.502 (p<0.001), interviewer 0.602 (p<0.001); and global rating 0.642 (p<0.001)]. The mean scores of subjects were significantly higher than those of the controls (p<0.001), demonstrating SCoRS-K's discriminant validity. Significant correlations between the total scores and global rating score of SCoRS-K and those of the scales and tests listed above (except WCST) support SCoRS-K's concurrent validity. CONCLUSION: SCoRS-K is a useful instrument for evaluating the degree of cognitive dysfunction in Korean schizophrenia patients.
Adult ; Cognition* ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Neurobehavioral Manifestations ; Outpatients ; Quality of Life ; Rehabilitation ; Reproducibility of Results* ; Schizophrenia* ; Statistics as Topic ; Weights and Measures ; Wisconsin

BACKGROUND: Histamine is widely distributed in the lung. It increases capillary permeability and the P-selectin expression on vascular endothelial cell surfaces. We studied the role of endogenous histamine on the pathogenesis of endotoxin-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in rats. METHODS: We instilled either normal saline (control group) or lipopolysaccharide (3 mg/Kg, LPS group) to tracheas of Sprague-Dawley rats. H1-receptor blocker (mepyramine, 10 mg/Kg, H1RB group), H2-receptor blocker (ranitidine, 10 mg/Kg, H2RB group), and H3-receptor blocker (thioperamide, 2 mg/Kg, H3RB group) were administered through vein or peritoneum along with intratracheal LPS administration. Statistical significance was accepted at p<0.05. RESULTS: LPS increases the histamine level in BAL fluid significantly at 2 h after the treatment compared with control group. LPS significantly increases protein concentration, PMN cell count in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in the lung tissue at 6 h compared to control group. PMN cell count in BAL fluid and MPO activity in lung tissue were significantly lower in H2RB-group compared to LPS-group. However, protein concentration in BAL fluid showed no significant differences between the LPS alone and LPS with histamine receptor blockade. CONCLUSIONS: Endogenous histamine might be involved in the recruitment of PMNs in LPS-induced ALI via H2 receptor. However, its role in ALI would not be significant in this model.
Acute Lung Injury* ; Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Capillary Permeability ; Cell Count ; Endothelial Cells ; Histamine* ; Lung ; P-Selectin ; Peritoneum ; Peroxidase ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Histamine ; Trachea ; Veins

BACKGROUND: Histamine is widely distributed in the lung. It increases capillary permeability and the P-selectin expression on vascular endothelial cell surfaces. We studied the role of endogenous histamine on the pathogenesis of endotoxin-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in rats. METHODS: We instilled either normal saline (control group) or lipopolysaccharide (3 mg/Kg, LPS group) to tracheas of Sprague-Dawley rats. H1-receptor blocker (mepyramine, 10 mg/Kg, H1RB group), H2-receptor blocker (ranitidine, 10 mg/Kg, H2RB group), and H3-receptor blocker (thioperamide, 2 mg/Kg, H3RB group) were administered through vein or peritoneum along with intratracheal LPS administration. Statistical significance was accepted at p<0.05. RESULTS: LPS increases the histamine level in BAL fluid significantly at 2 h after the treatment compared with control group. LPS significantly increases protein concentration, PMN cell count in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in the lung tissue at 6 h compared to control group. PMN cell count in BAL fluid and MPO activity in lung tissue were significantly lower in H2RB-group compared to LPS-group. However, protein concentration in BAL fluid showed no significant differences between the LPS alone and LPS with histamine receptor blockade. CONCLUSIONS: Endogenous histamine might be involved in the recruitment of PMNs in LPS-induced ALI via H2 receptor. However, its role in ALI would not be significant in this model.
Acute Lung Injury* ; Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Capillary Permeability ; Cell Count ; Endothelial Cells ; Histamine* ; Lung ; P-Selectin ; Peritoneum ; Peroxidase ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Histamine ; Trachea ; Veins