No abstract available.
Drug Therapy*

beta-amyloid peptide (Abeta) consisting of 40 to 42 amino acid is the principle constituent of senile plaques in Alzheimer's disease. Although, the hypothesis that deposition of AP triggers a cascade of events leading to the pathology of Alzheimer's disease has been widely accepted, direct evidence for triggering accumulation of phosphorylated tau in paired helical filament is rare. In this study, we examined neurotoxicity induced by 3 kinds of beta-amyloid peptides 1 ~28, 25~,35 and 1~40 to elucidate the way of mechanism trading to neuronal cell death caused by Abeta using cultured hippocampal neurons. For this purpose, we measured lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the culture media after treatment with Abeta combined with anti-oxidant drug, trolox, or not. By histochemical and TUNEL method, we studied the change of immunoreaction to anti-MAP-2 (microtubule associated protein -2, the main component of neuritis) and detected apoptotic cells, respectively, in the hippocampal neurons treated with Abeta. To investigate whether tau phosphorylation involve neurotoxicity induced by Abeta, we immunostained the neurons with anti-SMI-31 to recognize phosphorylated Ser 396/404 of tau. From our data, we suggested that Abeta1-40 and Abeta25-35 induced marked neurodegenerative changes, and the mechanism responsible for cell death caused by Abeta -neurotoxicity was associated with the apoptosis. Because Abeta-neurotoxicity was not inhibited by anti-oxidant, trolox, we suggested that anti-oxidant did not protect the neuronal cells against the damage induced by Abeta in ou. expo.imental envi.onment. Finally, we suggested that AP treatment did not potentiate the immunoreactivity to anti-phosphorylated tau antibody and we speculated that Abeta-neurotoxicity led hippocampal cells to apoptosis without tau phosphorylation.
Alzheimer Disease ; Apoptosis* ; Cell Death ; Culture Media ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Neurons* ; Pathology ; Peptides* ; Phosphorylation* ; Plaque, Amyloid

A case of systemic cytomegalovirus infection in a newborn baby is reported. This female baby was born after 36 weeks gestation to a 30 year-old mother who had no prenatal problem except for breech presentation and placenta previa for which Caesarian section was given. The mother has two healthy children. The clinical course of this baby was characterized by repeat spells of apnea, cyanosis and edema, that progressed to deepening jaundice and generalized petechiae. She died 58 hours after birth. A characteristic linear calcification along the ventricular wall of the brain enabled us to suggest congenital nature of cytomegalic inclusion disease in the patient. Postmortem exmaination showed numeorous cystomegalic inclusions in kidneys, pancreas, liver and thyroid. There was subependymal and periaqueductal calcification together with hydrocepalus and cerebellar hypoplasia.
Adult ; Apnea ; Autopsy* ; Brain ; Breech Presentation ; Child ; Cyanosis ; Cytomegalovirus Infections* ; Edema ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Jaundice ; Kidney ; Liver ; Mothers ; Pancreas ; Parturition ; Placenta Previa ; Pregnancy ; Purpura ; Thyroid Gland

No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Maternal Age*

The purpose of this study is to examine the validity of the College of Dentistry transfer system. The study focused on the correlation between entree examination results and class achievement of transfer students and double major students, grades difference according to school year and their major of previous schools. Also, there was the comparison of school life satisfaction among the transfer students, double major students and ordinary students of dentistry school. The result of the research is as follows; First, there was no significant relation between the entree examination results and class achievement of transfer students and double major students, suggesting the entree examination results cannot be a reasonable prediction for class achievements. Second, there was no significant difference in the grades according to school year and their major of previous schools, showing that students can well adjust themselves no matter what their majors are. Third, there was a significant difference in transfer and double major students' grades, and showed higher achievement as their school year passed. Fourth, the transfer and double major students were more satisfied in school life than the ordianry students. On the basis of the above findings we can conclude the transfer student system of college of dentistry was successful, but needs some improvements in such as student selection, welfare facilities and school culture.
Dentistry* ; Humans ; School Admission Criteria

PURPOSE: We compared the intraocular pressures (IOPs) measured by the Corvis ST (CST), Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT), and Rebound tonometer (RBT) and correlated the measured IOPs with the corneal center thickness (CCT). METHODS: The IOPs were measured in 34 eyes of 34 normal subjects using the CST, GAT, and RBT by independent examiners. Comparisons between the IOPs measured by the CST and other tonometers were made using paired t-tests and Bland-Altman plots and Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to correlate the measured IOPs with the CCTs. RESULTS: The IOP measured by the CST (C-IOP; 14.57 ± 2.37 mmHg) was significantly higher than that measured by the GAT(13.56 ± 2.25 mmHg) and RBT (13.57 ± 3.26 mmHg) (p < 0.05). The biomechanically corrected C-IOP (C-bIOP; 13.40 ± 2.06mmHg) showed no difference from the GAT-IOP and RBT-IOP (p > 0.50). In analyzing the correlation with CCT, RBT-IOP (R =0.34; p = 0.705) showed a lower correlation than the GAT-IOP (R = 0.49; p < 0.01) and C-IOP (R = 0.48; p < 0.01). The C-bIOP showed no correlation with the CCT (p = 0.74). CONCLUSIONS The IOP measurements using the C-IOP were significantly higher than the RBT-IOP and GAT-IOP but the C-bIOP showed no difference from the RBT-IOP and GAT-IOP. C-IOP, RBT-IOP, and GAT-IOP were significantly correlated with corneal thickness, but there was no correlation between CCT and C-bIOP. C-bIOP may therefore be considered clinically useful.

OBJECTIVES: This study attempted to compare adolescents' dietary behaviors and perceptions by gender in order to recommend useful strategies for nutrition interventions. METHODS: Subjects were 2,363 middle school (MS) and high school (HS) students. They completed a self-administered questionnaire on their interest in diet and health, dietary perceptions, nutrition knowledge, dietary practices, and dietary environment at home. Data were analyzed using t-test, χ2-test, and simple regression analysis by gender and by school groups. RESULTS: Overall, girls obtained higher scores than boys did for "interest" (MS: p<0.001; HS: p<0.01), "dietary perceptions" (MS: p<0.001; HS: p<0.01), and "knowledge" (MS: p<0.01; HS: p<0.001). Regarding "dietary practices," no gender differences were observed among MS students, however, among HS students, boys obtained higher scores-reflecting good practices-than girls did (p<0.01). In all subjects, dietary environment at home was strongly associated with dietary practice than other variables (MS boys: β=0.435, p<0.001; MS girls: β=0.492, p<0.001, HS boys: β=0.271, p<0.001; HS girls: β=0.429, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We observed gender differences in some of the variables such as knowledge and perception among adolescent students. Educational programs and core strategies that consider these gender differences need to be developed. Specifically, for girls, educational programs should focus on facilitating dietary recommendation adherence, whereas for boys, the program could focus on improving dietary knowledge and perceptions.
Adolescent ; Diet ; Female ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Since better understanding of the associations between blood pressure and blood lipids may provide insight into the mechanisms by which hypertension is associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease, this study is aimed to explore the associations of blood pressure with serum lipids, BMI, age, FBS and life style factors. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, 20,826 men and 10,209 women were included for the assessment of the cross-sectional relations of blood lipids, BMI, Blood pressure and Life style factors. Stratified analyses and multivariable methods were used to control for potential confounding anthropometric and lifestyle variables. Total cholesterol and Triglyceride levels increased significantly with increasing systolic or diastolic blood pressure in both sexes. Men of 20-29 years old had steeper regression slopes for blood pressure by total cholesterol level than did women of similar age. In men, the association between blood pressure and total cholesterol level decreased with age, whereas in women, no change was observed regarding age. Body mass index modified the relation, whereas smoking, exercise, and alcohol consumption had little influence on the association. HDL cholesterol level had little influence on blood pressure. In the group of age <40, age accounted more than BMI for hypertension, whereas in group of age > or =40, BMI accounted more. In the group of age < 40, other variables ,besides age and BMI, are suggested to influence more on male hypertension than female hypertension. CONCLUSION: These results provides evidence that there are interrelations between blood pressure, blood lipids and life style factors that may influence the mechanisms of coronary heart disease.
Adult* ; Alcohol Drinking ; Blood Pressure* ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Coronary Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Life Style ; Male ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Triglycerides

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of nutrition education using materials based on social cognitive theory. Education topics focused on improving health-related and dietary self-awareness and behavior capability in adolescents. METHODS: Participants were recruited from a middle school for girls; 67 students (educated group, n=34 and control group, n=33) participated. The education group received 12 lessons in club activity class. Self-administered surveys were conducted for each group before and after the nutrition education program. The questionnaires consisted of variables such as self-efficacy, outcome expectation, outcome expectancy, knowledge, and dietary practices based on the social cognitive theory. Education satisfaction was evaluated using a five-point Likert scale for two sections: a) teaching and learning and b) education results. The data were analyzed using a t-test and Chi Square-test (significance level: p < 0.05). RESULTS: In the education group, post-education, there were significant differences in self-efficacy (p < 0.05), knowledge (p < 0.01), and dietary practices (p < 0.05), whereas outcome expectation and expectancy did not show any significant differences. None of the variables showed any significant differences in the control group. Educational satisfaction scores were 4.38 ± 0.12 (teaching and learning) and 4.14 ± 0.15 (education results). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that improving adolescent's awareness and behavior capability has a positive effect on their dietary practices. Moreover, this study suggested that a theory-based determinant should be considered to improve dietary behavior among adolescents.
Adolescent ; Education* ; Female* ; Humans ; Learning

Orientia tsutsugamushi, a causative pathogen of Scrub typhus, is a gram-negative intracellular bacterium. Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are produced from the membrane of bacteria and play many roles related to the survival of the pathogen. However, there have been no reports confirming whether O. tsutsugamushi indeed produce OMVs. O. tsutsugamushi boryong was cultured in ECV-304 cells for the purification of OMVs. Western blot analysis and immunoenrichment using anti-O. tsutsugamushi monoclonal antibody and electron microscopy were employed for identification and characterization of OMVs. We confirm the presence of OMVs derived from O. tsutsugamushi, and also found that those OMVs contain a major surface antigen of 56-kDa protein and variant immunogenic antigens.
Antibodies, Monoclonal/*immunology ; Antigens, Bacterial/*immunology ; Antigens, Surface/*immunology ; Cell Line ; Cell Membrane/immunology ; Humans ; Microscopy, Electron ; Orientia tsutsugamushi/*immunology/metabolism ; Scrub Typhus/diagnosis/microbiology ; Secretory Vesicles/*immunology