BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Chronic colitis is a risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC) development in both animals and humans. Previously, we reported that a diet rich in protein (with casein as the protein source) significantly increased the risk of mouse CRC development in a dose-dependent manner. In this study, we investigated the effects of different protein sources on the risk of colitis development.MATERIALS/METHODS: Balb/c mice were divided into 7 experimental groups: 20% casein (20C), 20C-dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), 40% casein-DSS (40CD), 40% whey protein-DSS (40WD), 40% soy protein-DSS (40SD), 40% white meat-DSS (40WMD), and 40% red meatDSS (40RMD). Mice were fed an experimental diet for 4 wk and received 3% DSS in their drinking water for 6 days during the 4th wk of the experimental period. RESULTS: Compared to other groups, the 40CD group showed the most aggravated colitis with increased disease activity and inflammatory markers. In the 40RMD group, interleukin (IL)-6 levels were the highest among all the groups. The 40SD group showed conflicting effects, for example, elevated mortality and disease activity but decreased nitric oxide (NO) levels. The 40WD group showed attenuated colitis with increased IL-10 levels and decreased NO levels. The 40WMD group showed conflicting effects, including decreased NO levels and elevated fecal lipocalin-2 and IL-6 levels. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that, at levels of 40% in the diet, casein and red meat exacerbate colitis, whereas whey protein mitigates it the most effectively.

PURPOSE: This study was done to evaluate the predictive value of aspects of the Transtheoretical model (TTM) of behavior change as applied to smoking cessation in a rural population. METHOD: A convenience sample was recruited from a public health center in a community. A total of 484 participants were recruited, including 319 smokers, 116 ex-smokers and 49 non-smokers. A cross-sectional and descriptive design was used in this study. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, frequency statistics, ANOVA and Logistic regression. RESULT: The major findings were 1) The participants were assessed at baseline for their current Stage of Change resulting in a distribution with 42.1% in Precontemplation, 24.1% in Contemplation, 9.7% in Preparation, 6.2% in Active, and 17.9% in the Maintenance stage. 2) There were statistically significant differences of processes of change, decisional balance and situational temptation across the stages of change. 3) The main factors that affect smoking cessation were age, number of years smoking, age when began smoking, self-liberation and negative/affective situations, which combined explained 33.2% of the smoking cessation. CONCLUSION: TTM variables measured prior to a smoking cessation program added little predictive value for cessation outcome beyond that explained by demographic and smoking history variables.
Tobacco Use Disorder/psychology/rehabilitation ; Smoking Cessation/*psychology ; Rural Population ; *Models, Psychological ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Korea ; Humans ; Female ; Aged ; Adult

Purpose: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) continues to increase worldwide, and blood glucose control may reduce mortality from diabetic complications and healthcare costs. Mulberry twig (MT) has been used as a herbal medicine in Asia, and its antidiabetic efficacy has recently been reported, but research in this area is still limited. This study examined the antidiabetic effects of water extracts of MT in diabetic animals. Methods: Six weeks old male ICR mice were divided randomly into three groups; normal control (NC, n = 10), DM control (DC, n = 10), and MT (n = 10). Streptozotocin (STZ, 50 mg/ kg/day) was injected intraperitoneally into mice in the DC and MT groups for 5 consecutive days. After 10 days of the last STZ injection, the mice in the MT group were administered orally with MT water extracts (5 g/kg body weight) for 16 days. Results: The MT water extracts ameliorated the swelling of the liver in the diabetic mice and reduced the elevated levels of fasting blood and plasma glucose, total cholesterol (T-CHO), low density lipoprotein-CHO, and the ratio of high density lipotrotein (HDL)-CHO/T-CHO. The liver triglyceride (TG) and glycogen contents were also significantly lower in the MT group mice than in the DC group. The small intestine disaccharidase activity was analyzed to understand the therapeutic effects and the mechanism of MT water extracts in diabetic animals. MT group mice showed reduced lactase and sucrase activity in the proximal part of the small intestine. On the other hand, body weight, plasma insulin, TG, HDL-CHO, and hepatic T-CHO levels were similar in the DC and MT groups. Conclusion These results suggest that MT water extracts have antidiabetic effects and can be developed as a functional source to reduce the postprandial blood glucose or to prevent DM incidence.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) has been attributed to higher intake of fat and protein. However, reports on the relationship between protein intake and CRC are inconsistent, possibly due to the complexity of diet composition. In this study, we addressed a question whether alteration of protein intake is independently associated with colonic inflammation and colon carcinogenesis. MATERIALS/METHODS: Balb/c mice were randomly divided into 4 experimental groups: 20% protein (control, 20P, 20% casein/kg diet), 10% protein (10P, 10% casein/kg diet), 30% protein (30P, 30% casein/kg diet), and 50% protein (50P, 50% casein/kg diet) diet groups and were subjected to azoxymethane-dextran sodium sulfate induced colon carcinogenesis. RESULTS: As the protein content of the diet increased, clinical signs of colitis including loss of body weight, rectal bleeding, change in stool consistency, and shortening of the colon were worsened. This was associated with a significant decrease in the survival rate of the mice, an increase in proinflammatory protein expression in the colon, and an increase in mucosal cell proliferation. Further, colon tumor multiplicity was dramatically increased in the 30P (318%) and 50P (438%) groups compared with the control (20P) group. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that a high protein diet stimulates colon tumor formation by increasing colonic inflammation and proliferation.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Carcinogenesis* ; Caseins ; Cell Proliferation ; Colitis ; Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Diet ; Dietary Proteins* ; Hemorrhage ; Incidence ; Inflammation* ; Mice* ; Sodium ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: The characteristics of hypoparathyroidism in patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) after total thyroidectomy are not well established. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between hypoparathyroidism and loss of parathyroid glands in patients with or without HT who underwent total thyroidectomy. METHODS: Patients who underwent total thyroidectomy were divided into two groups; with HT (n=166) and without HT (n=526). Clinicopathologic characteristics were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The mean numbers of parathyroid glands in specimens were significantly smaller in the with HT group than in the without HT group (0.34+/-0.51 vs. 0.42+/-0.58, P=0.003). The rate of transient hypoparathyroidism was significantly higher in the with HT group than in the without HT group (51.8% vs. 34.6%, P=0.000). Serum total calcium levels in patients who experienced transient hypoparathyroidism did not differ significantly between groups (P=0.335). The incidence of transient hypoparathyroidism of patients who preserved all four parathyroid glands or sacrificed one parathyroid gland was higher in the with HT group than in the without HT group, although that of patients who sacrificed two or more parathyroid glands was similar between groups. The incidence of permanent hypoparathyroidism in the two groups did not differ (P=0.546). CONCLUSION: Patients with HT had a higher rate of transient hypoparathyroidism after total thyroidectomy, particularly patients who preserved all four or three parathyroid glands. It is likely that the blood supply to the parathyroid gland might be vulnerable in patients with HT. Therefore, even though all parathyroid glands were preserved, careful monitoring of hypoparathyroidism is necessary after total thyroidectomy in patients with HT.
Calcium ; Hashimoto Disease* ; Humans ; Hypoparathyroidism* ; Incidence ; Parathyroid Glands ; Thyroidectomy*

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify factors affecting cognitive function in stomach cancer patients. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study designed to obtain data from stomach cancer patients. The Global Assessment of Recent Stress, Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale, Distress Thermometer, Korean version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and electronic medical records were used to assess stress, anxiety, depression, psychological distress, and cognitive function, respectively. RESULTS: Among 182 total participants, there were statistically significant differences in sex between the group of patients who received chemotherapy and those who did not (χ2=5.32, p=.029). There were statistically significant differences in stress and cognitive function between the two groups. The factors affecting cognitive function in stomach cancer patients included distress, stress, anxiety, and depression. CONCLUSION: Cognitive function should be examined with consideration of the psychological distress, stress, anxiety, and depression in patients with stomach cancer. Moreover, an improved program to manage cognitive function is needed, which includes mediation between psychological and physiological factors including stress, anxiety, and cognitive level.
Anxiety ; Cognition* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depression ; Drug Therapy ; Electronic Health Records ; Humans ; Negotiating ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Stomach* ; Stress, Psychological ; Thermometers

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of paraquat intoxication patients is poor and this makes the prediction of mortality important in administering aggressive treatment and admission. This article investigates the usefulness of simplified acute physiology score II (SAPS II), as a predictor of the mortality in paraquat intoxication. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 65 patients who were admitted in one hospital between January in 2005 and December in 2010. We calculated their SAPS II, serum paraquat level, and severity index of paraquat poisoning (SIPP) at the time of intensive care unit (ICU) admission. We investigated the relationship between each systems and the mortality. RESULTS: Overall mortality was 73.8%: 48 out of 65 patients died. Non-survived group (n = 48) had a higher SAPS II score (30.44 +/- 15.99) than survived group (n = 17 [15.7 +/- 6.26], p < 0.001). Serum paraquat level and SIPP were significantly higher in non-survived group than in survived group (p < 0.05, in all comparisons). By using the area under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC), the SAPS II system yielded equal discriminative power (AUC = 0.82) with serum paraquat level (AUC = 0.896) and SIPP (AUC = 0.865). Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test C indicated SAPS II score validated well in paraquat intoxication group (p = 0.33). CONCLUSIONS: Serum paraquat level is the best way for prediction of mortality in patients with acute paraquat intoxication. If checking serum paraquat level is impossible or delayed, SAPS II score can be an alternative tool for evaluating the prognosis in paraquat intoxication.
Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Paraquat ; Prognosis ; Research Design ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve

Parry Romberg Syndrome (PRS), also known as idiopathic progressive hemifacial atrophy, is a rare neurocutaneous disorder characterized by loss of skin and subcutaneous fat of face, muscles, and bones causing unilateral atrophy. Most patients require only soft tissue augmentation although syndrome has varying grades of severity. In the majority of reported cases, it has been treated with surgical flap or autologous fat transplantation. However, these treatments need complicated surgical skills which take a lot of time and cost. Herein we report the first case of PRS augmented by hyaluronic acid (HA) filler in a 42-year-old female patient to suggest that HA filler could be a safe, simple, and even rational economic alternative to surgical treatment.
Adult ; Atrophy ; Facial Hemiatrophy* ; Female ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid* ; Muscles ; Neurocutaneous Syndromes ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Surgical Flaps

An esophagomediastinal fistula is rare complication of nontuberculous mycobacterium infection. Here, we report the case of a patient with advanced acquired immunodeficiency syndrome who presented with a fever, cough, and dyspnea, and was eventually diagnosed with nontuberculous mycobacterium infection. Computed tomography revealed multiple lymphadenopathy with an esophagomediastinal fistula. The patient was treated with anti-mycobacterial medications and endoscopic fistula closure.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Cough ; Dyspnea ; Esophageal Fistula ; Fever ; Fistula* ; HIV* ; Humans ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous*

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Approximately 10%–15% of the CRC cases have defective DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes. Although the high level of microsatellite instability status is a predictor of favorable outcome in primary CRC, little is known about its frequency and importance in secondary CRC. Immunohistochemical staining (IHC) for MMR proteins (e.g., MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2) has emerged as a useful technique to complement polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses. METHODS: In this study, comparison between the MMR system of primary CRCs and paired liver and lung metastatic lesions was done using IHC and the correlation with clinical outcomes was also examined. RESULTS: Based on IHC, 7/61 primary tumors (11.4%) showed deficient MMR systems, while 13/61 secondary tumors (21.3%) showed deficiencies. In total, 44 cases showed proficient expression in both the primary and metastatic lesions. Three cases showed deficiencies in both the primary and paired metastatic lesions. In 10 cases, proficient expression was found only in the primary lesions, and not in the corresponding metastatic lesions. In four cases, proficient expression was detected in the secondary tumor, but not in the primary tumor. CONCLUSIONS: Although each IHC result and the likely defective genes were not exactly matched between the primary and the metastatic tumors, identical results for primary and metastatic lesions were obtained in 77% of the cases (47/61). These data are in agreement with the previous microsatellite detection studies that used PCR and IHC.