We evaluated the effect of the pregnane X receptor agonist, pregnenolone 16 alpha-carbonitrile (PCN) on the expression levels of plasma monoamine transporter (PMAT) in the intestine. Male C57/BL6 mice were divided into two 2 groups: mice in the PCN group (n=3) were administered PCN once a day for 4 days, while those in the control group (n=3) received the same volume of vehicle once a day for 4 days. After the mice were killed 24 h after administration of the last dose of PCN or vehicle, and the expression levels of PMAT in the intestine tissues were isolated and measured the expression level of PMAT using immunohistochemical and western blotting analyses. The expression level of PMAT expression levels in the small intestine increased after PCN treatment. These results suggest that the induction of PMAT may play a clinically significant role by increasing intestinal absorption of PMAT substrates such as metformin.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Membrane* ; Humans ; Intestinal Absorption ; Intestine, Small ; Intestines ; Male ; Metformin ; Mice ; Plasma ; Pregnenolone Carbonitrile

Pro-oxidant properties of ascorbate have been studied with uses of brain tissues and neuronal cells. Here we address potential mechanism of ascorbate coupling with glutamate to generate oxidative stress, and the role which oxidized ascorbate (dehydroascorbate) transport plays in oxidative neuronal injury. Ascorbate in neurones can be depleted by adding glutamate in culture medium since endogenous ascorbate can be exchanged with glutamate, which enhances ascorbate/ dehydroascorbate transport by depleting ascorbate in the neurons with the glutamate-heteroexchange. However, ascorbate is known readily being oxidized to dehydroascorbate in the medium. Glutamate enhanced the dehydroascorbate uptake by cells via a glucose transporter (GLUT) from extracellular region, and cytosolic dehydroascorbate enhanced lipid peroxide production and reduced glutathione (GSH) concentrations. Iso-ascorbate, the epimer of ascorbate was ineffective in generating the oxidative stress. These observations support the current concept that the high rates of dehydroascorbate transport via a GLUT after the release of ascorbate by glutamate leads to peroxidation, the role of glutamate on ascorbate/ dehydroascorbate recycling being critical to induce neuronal death via an oxidative stress in the brain injury.
Animals ; Ascorbic Acid/analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; Biological Transport/drug effects ; Cerebral Cortex/*drug effects/*metabolism ; Cytochalasin B/pharmacology ; Dehydroascorbic Acid/*metabolism ; Glutamic Acid/*pharmacology ; Glutathione/metabolism ; In Vitro ; Lipid Peroxidation/*drug effects ; Male ; Oxidation-Reduction/drug effects ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances/metabolism

No abstract available.
Epinephrine* ; Tonsillectomy*

No abstract available.
Polyps*

No abstract available.
Cholesteatoma* ; Otitis Media* ; Otitis* ; Temporal Bone*

PURPOSE: The Purposes of this study are to identify the circulating etiologic viruses of acute lower respiratory tract infection in children and to understand the relation with clinical diagnosis. METHODS: We obtained a total of 418 nasopharyngeal aspirates from children admitted for their acute lower respiratory tract infections at three tertiary hospitals in Seoul from September 2008 to March 2009. We performed multiplex RT-PCR to identify 14 etiologic viruses and analyzed their emerging patterns and clinical features. RESULTS: Average age of patients was 16.4 months old and the ratio of male to female was 1.36. Viruses were detected in 56.2% of a total of 418 samples. Respiratory syncytial virus (35%) was the most frequently detected and followed by human rhinovirus (22%), human bocavirus, adenovirus, human metapneumovirus, parainfluenza virus, influenza virus and human coronavirus. Co-infection reached 21.9% of positive patients. CONCLUSION: When we manage the patients with acute lower respiratory infectious diseases, we should remind the role of various viral pathogens, which might be circulating by seasons and by local areas.
Adenoviruses, Human ; Child ; Coinfection ; Communicable Diseases ; Coronavirus ; Female ; Human bocavirus ; Humans ; Male ; Metapneumovirus ; Orthomyxoviridae ; Paramyxoviridae Infections ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses ; Respiratory System ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Rhinovirus ; Seasons ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Viruses

Purpose: To compare the visual outcomes and corneal aberrations between wavefront-optimized (WFO) and corneal wavefront-guided (WFG) photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in low to moderate myopia. Methods: Twenty-seven eyes treated with WFO and 29 eyes treated with WFG PRK using a Schwind Amaris 750S Excimer laser were included after 6 months of postoperative follow-up. Uncorrected distance visual acuity, corrected distance visual acuity, refractive errors, corneal higher-order aberrations (HOA) and corneal thickness obtained using a Scheimpflug system, and central ablation depth and volume were evaluated during the preoperative period and again at the postoperative 6-month visits. Results: Postoperatively, uncorrected distance visual acuity, corrected distance visual acuity, manifest spherical equivalent, and refractive astigmatism were improved in both groups, and there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. There was no significant difference in safety, efficacy, or predictability of the refractive outcome. Postoperative total corneal HOA root mean square (RMS), coma RMS, and spherical aberration were significantly increased in both groups. Among these, only spherical aberration showed a significant difference between the two groups, with greater increase in the WFO group at 6 months postoperatively. The changes in corneal HOA RMS and spherical aberration were smaller in the WFG group, and this benefit was marked in eyes with high HOA RMS (≥0.4 μm) and spherical aberration (≥0.2 μm). Even though ablation volume in the WFG group was much larger than that of the WFO group, there was no significant difference in postoperative central and peripheral corneal thickness between the two groups. Conclusions Both WFO and WFG PRK using a Schwind Amaris 750S laser for low to moderate myopia were safe and effective at improving visual and refractive outcomes. However, WFG PRK induced fewer spherical aberrations than WFO PRK and may be more advantageous for eyes with high HOA root mean square or spherical aberration.

Intramural pregnancy is one of the rarest forms of ectopic pregnancy. The pathologic diagnosis of the intramural ectopic pregnancy requires that the myometrium surrounds the products of conception separated from the endometrial cavity or fallopian tubes. Because the early diagnosis is very difficult, most cases are found after the onset of complications such as a uterine rupture or hemoperitoneum. The previous histories of curettage, cesarean section, myomectomy, salpingectomy and manual removal of the placenta are known as possible etiology of the intramural pregnancy. We have recently experienced a case of intramural pregnancy after 10 times of curettages and are reporting with a brief review of the literatures.
Animals ; Cesarean Section ; Curettage ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Fallopian Tubes ; Female ; Fertilization ; Hemoperitoneum ; Mice ; Myometrium ; Placenta ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Salpingectomy ; Uterine Rupture

PURPOSE: We compared the ocular aberration and clinical outcome between different aspheric intraocular lenses (IOL) in both eyes. METHODS: This prospective randomized controlled study was comprised of patients with bilateral cataract who received two different aspheric IOLs implanted in both eyes: negatively aspheric Tecnis® ZCB00 and spherically neutral Akreos® MI60. Total and corneal aberrations computed by Wavescan® and Pentacam® were assessed at 6 months to investigate the effects of the IOL's spherical aberration on the eye and to analyze the incidence and degree of posterior capsule opacification. By using spherical aberration of the cornea and the IOLs, values calculated via Ray-tracing software and Wavescan® were compared. Total spherical aberration was analyzed by the MATLAB program and converting the pupil size to 6.0, 4.5, 3.0 mm. RESULTS: A total of 25 patients were included. Regarding pre-operative corneal aberration, ZCB00 group was 0.232 ± 0.119 µm while MI60 group was 0.240 ± 0.117 µm, and there was no difference between the two IOLs. At 6 months after total ocular spherical aberration, MI60 group (pupil size 6.0 mm; 0.296 ± 0.097 µm, 4.5 mm; 0.094 ± 0.032 µm, 3.0 mm; 0.019 ± 0.006 µm) had more positive values than ZCB00 group (pupil size 6.0 mm; 0.051 ± 0.105 µm, 4.5 mm; 0.009 ± 0.034 µm, 3.0 mm; 0.002 ± 0.007 µm) (p < 0.001). When calculated using the ray tracing method, based on the results after surgery, MI60 group's total spherical aberrations were higher than ZCB00 group. However, from 1 month to 6 months after surgery, the uncorrected distance visual acuity, spherical equivalent and posterior capsule opacification showed no differences between the two IOLs. CONCLUSIONS: In eyes with aspheric IOLs with negative spherical aberration, spherical aberration was lower than spherically neutral aspheric IOLs. Regarding postoperative visual acuity, spherical equivalent and posterior capsule opacification, there were no significant differences between the two groups.
Capsule Opacification ; Cataract ; Cornea ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lenses, Intraocular* ; Methods ; Prospective Studies ; Pupil ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: Vogt's striae are defined as vertical stress lines that occur deep in the affected stroma of keratoconus. The purpose of this study was to report a case of horizontal Vogt's striae in keratoconus. METHODS: A 21-year-old male without history of trauma or contact lens wearing presented with decreased visual acuity in both eyes. He complained of chronic habitual eye rubbing due to ocular itching. The best corrected visual acuity of his right eye was 20/30 and was 20/40 in his left eye. A scissoring reflex was seen in both eyes upon retinoscopic examination. On slit lamp examination, multiple and fine parallel horizontal lines in the deep stroma and Descemet's membrane were noted in his left eye. Corneal topography showed bilateral inferotemporal steepening with corneal thinning. The horizontal lines, which disappear after pressing the eyeball, are thought to be stress lines resembling Vogt's striae. RESULTS: To our knowledge, there have been no reports demonstrating horizontal stress lines resembling Vogt's striae in keratoconus patients. Here, we report a case of horizontal Vogt's striae in a keratoconus patient.
Corneal Topography ; Descemet Membrane ; Humans ; Keratoconus* ; Male ; Pruritus ; Reflex ; Visual Acuity ; Young Adult