No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Epilepsy*

No abstract available.
Hyponatremia

BACKGROUND: The diabetic milieu augments the expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) in mesangial cells, which, in turn, stimulates the accumulation of extracellular matrix in glomeruli. Accordingly, mesangial cells have been shown to produce increased amount of TGF-beta1 when exposed to high glucose concentrations in vitro. METHODS: In the present study, we examined the effects of antisense TGF-beta1 gene transfer on the expressions of several cytokines implicated in kidney fibrosis. The DNA fragment containing bases -162 to +168 of rat TGF-beta1 sequence was isolated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT- PCR) from rat kidney tissue. This PCR product was ligated in the xbaI-KpnI restriction sites of a shuttle vector in forward and reverse orientations and replication defective recombinant adenoviral vectors containing either the sense or antisense TGF-beta1 genes under the control of a cytomegalovirus promoter - rAdTGFbeta1S and rAdTGFbeta1AS, respectively - were generated. Rat mesangial cells infected with recombinant adenoviruses were grown in normal (NG, 100 mg/dL) or high glucose (HG, 450 mg/dL) media for six days, and mRNA expressions of the monolayers were evaluated by RT-PCR. RESULTS: An adenoviral vector containing the antisense TGF-beta1 gene significantly downregulated the gene expressions of TGF-beta1, collagen, fibronectin and PDGF-B in cultured rat mesangial cells. CONCLUSION: The expression of fibrogenic molecules were significantly attenuated by adenoviral vectors with antisense TGF-beta1, and such results should be confirmed in the future study of animal models of diabetic nephropathy or chronic kidney diseases.
Adenoviridae ; Animals ; Collagen ; Cytokines ; Cytomegalovirus ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; DNA ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibronectins ; Fibrosis ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; Glucose ; Kidney ; Mesangial Cells* ; Models, Animal ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rats* ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; RNA, Messenger ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Blood Transfusion* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature*

PURPOSE: Automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) is increasingly used due to freedom from daytime exchanges and flexibility of prescription. In this study, we compared APD with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) to assess the influence of mode of PD on various measures of clinical performance. METHODS: We followed 26 APD patients prospectively over a 12-month period and compared them with 16 CAPD patients in whom examinations of dialysis dose and residual renal function (RRF) at least twice during the 1st one year after dialysis were done. Weekly Kt/V urea (Kt/V) and standard creatinine clearance (SCCr) of PD, and RRF (24hr urine creatinine clearance) were measured at 1st month, 6th month and 12th month after start of dialysis. In addition, serial biochemical tests were analyzed every three months during this period. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences in baseline characteristics, RRF, SCCr and Kt/V were observed between APD and CAPD patients. Serum concentrations of bicarbonate, hemoglobin, and calcium tended to be higher in the APD group and actually serum bicarbonate levels at 9 months, calcium levels at 12 months and hemoglobin levels at 6 and 9 months were significantly higher in APD patients (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in serum sodium concentrations and peritonitis rate between the two groups. CONCLUSION: No significant differences were observed between APD and CAPD in Kt/V, SCCr and RRF for one year after start of PD. APD, however, may be advantageous in improving several biochemical markers such as blood levels of hemoglobin, bicarbonate, and calcium compared to CAPD.
Biochemistry ; Biomarkers ; Calcium ; Creatinine ; Dialysis ; Diphosphonates ; Freedom ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory ; Peritonitis ; Pliability ; Prescriptions ; Prospective Studies ; Sodium ; Urea

This study was designed to investigate the effect of no-smoking on the pattern of medication for 30 re-admitted psychotic patents in the no-smoking(smoking-prohibited) ward, who had been admitted and medicated previously in the smoking (smoking-allowed) ward, in Wonju Christian Hospital, by comparing daily mean dosage of antipsychotics, benztropine mesylate, and propranolol administered in smoking state and in no-smoking state of the same patients. The results were as follows: 1) The mean hospital stay was reduced to 46.0 days in no-smoking ward compared to 61.1 days in smoking-allowed ward. This means mean admission period was reduced significantly(p<0.05) and over two thirds of all subjects experienced reduction of hospital stay from 2 days to 92 days. 2) A statistically significant difference was fecund in the dosage of antipsychotics in all subjects. Calculated in terms of chlorpromazine equivalent, the daily mean was 296.8+/-180.7mg in no-smoking state, and 395.0+/-232.2mg in smoking state(p<.01), 3) In schizophrenics(n=13), the daily mean dosage of benztropine mesylate was 0.56+/-.62mg in no-smoking state and 0.14+/-0.21mg in smoking state, showing a significant difference(p<.05). In bipolar group, the mean dosage in no-smoking ward was also smaller than in smoking ward, though not significant. 4) The difference of the daily mean dosage of propranolol between two states was not significant. In conclusion, in no-smoking state psychotic patients required less hospital stays and significantly lower dosage of antipsychotics, and the schizophrenics required significantly higher dosage of benztropine mesylate for extrapyramidal symptoms. The authors suggest that psychiatric patients should be encouraged to stop smoking and recommend that psychiatrists monitor smoking state of their psychotic patients for proper and efficient drug therapy.
Antipsychotic Agents* ; Benztropine* ; Chlorpromazine ; Drug Therapy ; Gangwon-do ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Propranolol* ; Psychiatry ; Smoke ; Smoking

Background/Aims: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are secreted from various types of cells and have specific functions related to their origin. EVs are observed in the small intestinal lamina propria (lpEVs), but their function remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of lpEVs. Methods: LpEVs were isolated from antigen (ovalbumin [OVA])-fed mice (lpEVs/OVA), and administrated to the naïve mice for 5 days before induction of lung inflammation. Afterwards, the mice were sensitized and challenged with OVA to evaluate the role of lpEVs/OVA in the regulation of immune tolerance. Results: The isolated lpEVs/OVA were sphere-shaped, bi-layered vesicles of approximately 50 to 100 nm in size. The vesicles expressed CD81, A33 antigen, and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II on the surface. When administrated to naïve mice, the lpEVs/OVA migrated to the spleen. Intraperitoneal lpEVs/OVA administration to naïve mice decreased the immune response against sensitized antigen in a CD4+FoxP3+T cell-dependent manner. Conclusions EVs are actively secreted from small intestinal epithelial cells to deliver information about orally administered antigens to immune cells, which will facilitate the modulation of the immune response by acting as an intercellular communicasome.

In many aging individuals, dermatochalasis and involutional ptosis appear together. Therefore, for functional and aesthetic purposes, ptosis correction and upper blepharoplasty are performed together. The aim of this article is to investigate factors that should be considered in order to achieve good results when simultaneously performing involutional ptosis correction and upper blepharoplasty in aging patients. Involutional ptosis is usually corrected through aponeurosis advancement in mild cases. In moderate or severe ptosis, the Muller muscle and aponeurosis are used together to correct ptosis. Using the two muscles together has the advantages of reducing lagophthalmos and increasing the predictability of outcomes after surgery. Broadly speaking, the surgical method used for involutional ptosis varies depending on the specific case, but unlike congenital ptosis, it is often not necessary to perform overcorrection. In particular, if there are problems such as severe dry-eye symptoms or risk of lagophthalmos, undercorrection should be considered. When performing ptosis correction, the surgeon should be careful not to overdo skin excision; instead, limited excision should be performed. After ptosis surgery, the brow may descend and the double fold may look too small. However, in order to make the double eyelids look larger, the surgeon should consider making the double eyelid design high rather than excising an excessive amount of skin. In some cases, to obtain more natural double eyelids and favorable results, it may be necessary to perform a sub-brow lift or forehead lift before or after involutional ptosis surgery.

OBJECTIVE: A prospective, randomized, controlled clinical study is performed to verify the effectiveness of epidural dexamethasone-soaked gelatin sponges to reduce postoperative pain following lumbar microdiscectomy. METHODS: Twenty-three patients (10 men and 13 women) undergoing lumbar microdiscectomy were included. Five pieces of gelatin sponge measuring 1 x 1 cm (Gelfoam; Pharmacia & Upjohn, Kalamazoo, MI, USA), soaked with either 5mg dexamethasone or an equal amount (2 mL) of saline, were left on the decompressed nerve root after unilateral hemilaminectomy, flavectomy and discectomy. RESULTS: Subjective visual analog scale(VAS) scores of leg pain in the dexamethasone group on the first, third and fifth postoperative days (2.5, 2.5, 1.7, respectively) were significantly lower than in the control group (5.0, 4.8, 3.6) ( P<0.05). No side effects related to the dexamethasone-soaked gelatin sponges were observed. CONCLUSION: The intraoperative application of dexamethasone-soaked gelatin sponges during lumbar microdiscectomy can provide effective postoperative analgesia without complications.
Analgesia ; Dexamethasone ; Diskectomy ; Gelatin* ; Humans ; Leg ; Male ; Pain, Postoperative ; Porifera* ; Prospective Studies