A previous animal study has shown the effects of erythropoietin (EPO) and its non-erythropoietic carbamylated derivative (CEPO) on neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus. In the present study, we sought to investigate the effect of EPO on adult hippocampal neurogenesis, and to compare the ability of EPO and CEPO promoting dendrite elongation in cultured hippocampal neural progenitor cells. Two-month-old male BALB/c mice were given daily injections of EPO (5 U/g) for seven days and were sacrificed 12 hours after the final injection. Proliferation assays demonstrated that EPO treatment increased the density of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)-labeled cells in the subgranular zone (SGZ) compared to that in vehicle-treated controls. Functional differentiation studies using dissociated hippocampal cultures revealed that EPO treatment also increased the number of double-labeled BrdU/microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) neurons compared to those in vehicle-treated controls. Both EPO and CEPO treatment significantly increased the length of neurites and spine density in MAP2(+) cells. In summary, these results provide evidences that EPO and CEPO promote adult hippocampal neurogenesis and neuronal differentiation. These suggest that EPO and CEPO could be a good candidate for treating neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety associated with neuronal atrophy and reduced hippocampal neurogenesis.
Adult ; Animals ; Anxiety ; Atrophy ; Bromodeoxyuridine ; Dendrites ; Dentate Gyrus ; Depression ; Erythropoietin ; Hippocampus ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Neurites ; Neurogenesis ; Neurons ; Spine ; Stem Cells

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT), a monoamine neurotransmitter, regulates neurological functions such as mood, sleep, and appetite. Erythropoietin (EPO) is well known for erythropoiesis but has recently emerged as a therapeutic agent in brain diseases. However, the mechanisms that induce EPO in the brain remain unclear. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether the effects of 5-HT involve EPO in murine hippocampal neurons. 5-HT produced a significant increase in neuronal differentiation of hippocampal neural progenitor cells. Expression of erythropoietin was increased in 5-HT-treated cells as well. The actions of 5-HT and EPO appeared to be similar in neurite outgrowth and spine formation. In addition, we show that hippocampal expression of EPO was decreased by chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) and that antidepressant treatment to maintain 5-HT concentration in synaptic cleft reversed this effect. In conclusion, actions of antidepressants might involve EPO induction in the brain.
Animals ; Antidepressive Agents ; Appetite ; Brain ; Brain Diseases ; Depression ; Erythropoiesis ; Erythropoietin ; Hippocampus ; Mice ; Neurites ; Neurons ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Serotonin ; Spine ; Stem Cells

OBJECTIVE: Appearance of DSM-IV has influenced greatly on the nosological classification of mental disorder, not considered as revised one of DSM-III-R but a new criteria. DIS-IV has been developed after revision of DIS-III in consideration of various changes in DSM-IV. This study is to develop and validate the DIS-IV, Korean version to activate Korean psychiatric research much more and to modivate more frequent international collaborative study. METHOD: Translation committee produced DIS-IV, Korean version through all the procedures of translation, back-translation, confirmation of retained original meaning of the English version, adaptation to Korean linguistic usage and preliminary study. Four medical students were trained during DIS-IV training course that retained the same contents and methods as of Washington University. Inter-rater reliability was measured by comparison between two diagnoses made from two interviewer who rated one patient at the same time. Procedural validity was measured by comparison between lay-interviewer's diagnosis and psychiatrist's diagnosis which were made after independent DIS-IV using interview. Subjects were 124 patients who were being treated at two University Hospital and National Forensic Psychiatric Hospital between January, 2000 and August, 2000. RESULTS: Average kappa value of inter-rater reliability was 0.74. Diagnoses showing over 0.7 in kappa value were bipolar I disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, pain disorder, pathological gambling, post-traumatic stress disorder, specific phobia and almost all substance use disorder or substance- related disorder. Procedural validity, that compared lay-interviewer's diagnosis and psychiatrist's diagnosis, were as follows;For all diagnoses, sensitivity, specificity and kappa were 67.6%, 98.3% and 0.69. For diagnoses of substance use disorder or substance- related disorder, sensitivity, specificity and kappa were 79%, 98% and 0.77. For other diagnoses except substance use disorder or substance- related disorder, sensitivity, specificity and kappa were 60.5%, 98% and 0.64. This results are almost at the same level as that of Robins and her colleagues who first reported reliability and validity of DIS. CONCLUSION: We think that DIS-IV, Korean version has higher reliability and validity. It is very important that diagnoses of substance use disorder and substance-related disorder can be made reliably and validly by this instrument. We expect that it can help to improve diagnosability of mental disorder, activate clinical research and increase international scientific communication.
Anxiety Disorders ; Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders ; Classification ; Depressive Disorder ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Gambling ; Hospitals, Psychiatric ; Humans ; Linguistics ; Mental Disorders ; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder ; Phobic Disorders ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Somatoform Disorders ; Songbirds ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic ; Students, Medical ; Substance-Related Disorders ; Washington

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: We examined the chemical composition and the effect of fermented deer antler on hematopoietic factors in bone marrow cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: For the preparation of fermented deer antler extract (FAB), fermentation was carried out using Bacillus subtilis at 30degrees C for 7 days. The hematopoietic effect of FAB was investigated hematopoietic factors in marrow cells. RESULTS: The contents of total sugar, sulfated glycosaminoglycans, and uronic acid and the dry weight gradually increased with fermentation time. The sialic acid content (from 0.14 mg/mL to 0.54 mg/mL) was the highest on the 4th day of fermentation after which it decreased. The proliferating activity of bone marrow cells increased with fermentation times. The levels of various hematopoietic growth factors were determined to verify the beneficial effect of deer antler extract fermented by B. subtilis on hematopoiesis. FAB increased the number of stem cell factors and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in bone marrow cells. In addition, FAB augmented the burst-forming unit erythroid and total colonies in splenocyte-conditioned medium compared with non-fermented antler extract (NFA). However, FAB did not affect the mRNA levels of erythropoietin, an important factor for erythropoiesis. CONCLUSIONS: FAB, like NFA, did not directly affect hematopoiesis, but contributed to hematopoiesis by stimulating the production of hematopoietic factors.
Animals ; Antlers* ; Bacillus subtilis* ; Bacillus* ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Bone Marrow* ; Deer* ; Erythropoiesis ; Erythropoietin ; Fermentation ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Hematopoiesis ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; N-Acetylneuraminic Acid ; RNA, Messenger ; Stem Cell Factor

PURPOSE: Glomus tumors are neoplasms that are composed of modified smooth muscle cells of the glomus body and multiple glomus tumor comprises 10% of all glomus tumors. We report a case of disseminated multiple glomus tumors. METHODS: A 14-year-old boy presented with multiple subcutaneous purple nodules on the right cheek, back, right arm, right hand dorsum, right fourth finger, and left ankle. Nodules on the back and right fourth finger were completely excised under local anesthesia and histopathologic examination was followed. RESULTS: Histopathologic findings showed numerous dilated, cavernous-like, thin-walled vascular spaces surrounded by one or a few layers of glomus cells. On immunohistochemical examination, glomus cells stain for smooth muscle actin, and endothelial cells stain for CD31. Those revealed multiple glomangiomas. CONCLUSION: A review of Korean literature revealed only one reported case of disseminated multiple glomus tumors, so this is the second case to be reported in the Korean literature. In case of multiple soft tissue tumors, thorough physical examination and preoperative evaluation are needed.
Actins ; Adolescent ; Anesthesia, Local ; Animals ; Ankle ; Arm ; Cheek ; Endothelial Cells ; Fingers ; Glomus Tumor ; Hand ; Humans ; Muscle, Smooth ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Physical Examination

PURPOSE: In Korean rhinoplasty, alloplasts such as silicone rubber have been used for dorsal and tip augmentations. However, alloplasts have produced complications such as deviation, exposure, and infection. Although autogenous tissue is an ideal material, the amount of the cartilage in Korean is not sufficient. Therefore, the authors developed a method to harvest the maximum amount of the septal and conchal cartilage. The authors first performed a complete septal extension graft for short and retruded columella and then performed nasal augmentation using various autogenous tissues. METHODS: These surgical techniques were performed on 11 patients. Their average age was 27 years. An open approach with a V-shaped columellar labial incision was performed. At first, the complete septal extension graft was fixed on the entire caudal margin of the septum, and the alar cartilage was suspended to the septal extension graft to make the tip projected and the columella advanced caudally. A temporal fascial ball was used for radix augmentation. For dorsal augmentation, a batten-shaped septal cartilage graft wrapped with or without the temporal fascia or a diced cartilage graft wrapped with the temporal fascia was performed. For nasal tip augmentation, a shield graft and a cap graft or a folded conchal cartilage graft was performed. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 11.2 months. The overall results were natural and satisfactory. Two patients underwent slight absorption and caudal displacement. With the exception of these cases, no complications were observed. CONCLUSION: Korean rhinoplastic surgeons are accustomed to using the alloplasts despite of serious complications. When rhinoplasty using autogenous tissue was performed, some complications occurred such as the displacement of the diced cartilage graft wrapped with the fascia, but many of the complications of alloplastic rhinoplasty were avoided. Therefore, we propose that by this time Korean rhinoplastic surgeons need to change their preference from alloplastic rhinoplasty to autogenous rhinoplasty.
Absorption ; Cartilage ; Displacement (Psychology) ; Fascia ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Rhinoplasty ; Silicone Elastomers ; Succinates ; Transplants

Increasing evidence suggests an association between elevated serum aminotransferase level and the metabolic syndrome. However, the significance of relatively low levels of aminotransferase in relation to the metabolic syndrome has not been fully investigated in the general population. We investigated the association between serum amiontransferase level and the metabolic syndrome using data from a nationwide survey in Korea. We measured serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and metabolic conditions among 9771 participants aged 20 or more in the 1998 and 2001 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to NCEP-ATP III criteria with a modified waist circumference cutoff (men > 90cm; women > 80cm). Serum aminotransferase level, even within normal range, was associated with the metabolic syndrome independent of age, body mass index, waist circumference, smoking, and alcohol intake. Compared with the lowest level (<20IU/L), the adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) for an AST level of 20-29, 30-39, 40-49 and > or = 50IU/L were 1.10 (0.85-1.42), 1.37 (1.02-1.83), 1.62 (1.08-2.43), and 2.25 (1.47-3.44) in men, and 1.18 (0.99-1.41), 1.43 (1.29-1.83), 1.71 (1.09-2.68), and 2.14 (1.20-3.80) in women, respectively. Corresponding odds ratios for ALT levels were 1.27 (0.99-1.63), 1.69 (1.28-2.23), 2.17 (1.58-2.99), and 2.65 (1.96-3.58) in men, and 1.44 (1.22-1.70), 1.65 (1.26-2.15), 2.94 (1.93-4.47), and 2.25 (1.54-3.30) in women, respectively. In conclusion, elevated serum aminotransferase levels, even in the normal to near normal range, are associated with features of the metabolic syndrome.
Reference Values ; Middle Aged ; Metabolic Syndrome X/*blood ; Male ; Korea ; Humans ; Female ; Blood Chemical Analysis/*methods/standards ; Aspartate Aminotransferases/*blood ; Alanine Transaminase/*blood ; Adult

BACKGROUND: Trap-door deformity is a biophysical phenomenon in which U-, C-, or V-shaped linear scars tend to become depressed and the tissue circumscribed by them tends to bulge. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the efficacy of triamcinolone acetonide (TCA) injection and subcision as a first-line treatment for post-traumatic acute trap-door deformity. METHODS: In trap-door deformity patients, a subcision was made by cutting the fibrotic band along the scar line in the depression using a 22-gauge needle. TCA was administered. An intralesional injection was made along areas of scarring that were difficult to penetrate with the needle. Scar quality parameters were assessed at each follow-up by a single observer and the patient, using the patient and observer scar assessment scale (POSAS) with an additional question about bulging. RESULTS: The average POSAS score per question on the observer scale improved from 6.6±1.31 to 3.6±1.08, and the average POSAS score per question on the patient scale improved from 5.5±1.57 to 2.5±1.26. The average bulging score on the observer scale decreased from 6.0±0.98 to 3.0±0.83, and that on the patient scale decreased from 5.0±1.67 to 2.0±1.30. The average general opinion score on the observer scale decreased from 5.5±1.12 to 3.5±0.91, and that on the patient scale decreased from 6.0±1.84 to 2.0±0.79. CONCLUSIONS: Better outcomes can be obtained by using both TCA and subcision as the first-line therapy for post-traumatic acute trap-door deformity.
Biophysical Phenomena ; Cicatrix ; Congenital Abnormalities* ; Contracture ; Depression ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Injections, Intralesional ; Needles ; Triamcinolone Acetonide ; Triamcinolone*

3-(2-Carboxypiperazin-4-yl)propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CPP), a competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, produces rapid antidepressant-like effects in animal models of depression. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these behavioral actions remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that CPP rapidly stimulates histone deacetylase (HDAC) 5 phosphorylation and nuclear export in rat hippocampal neurons. These effects are accompanied by calcium/calmodulin kinase II (CaMKII) and protein kinase D (PKD) phosphorylation. Behavioral experiments revealed that viral-mediated hippocampal knockdown of HDAC5 blocked the antidepressant effects of CPP in stressed animals. Taken together, our results imply that CPP acts via HDAC5 and suggest that HDAC5 is a common regulator contributing to the antidepressant actions of NMDA receptor antagonists such as CPP.
Active Transport, Cell Nucleus ; Animals ; Depression ; Hippocampus ; Histone Deacetylases* ; Histones* ; Models, Animal ; N-Methylaspartate ; Neurons ; Phosphorylation* ; Phosphotransferases ; Protein Kinases ; Rats

BACKGROUND: The number of surgical risks recalled by a patient after surgery can be used as a parameter for assessing how well the patient has understood the informed consent process. No study has investigated the usefulness of a self-developed mobile application in the traditional informed consent process in patients with a nasal bone fracture. This study aimed to investigate whether delivery of information, such as surgical risks, through a mobile application is more effective than delivery of information through only verbal means and a paper. METHODS: This prospective, randomized study included 60 patients with a nasal bone fracture. The experimental group (n=30) received preoperative explanation with the traditional informed consent process in addition to a mobile application, while the control group (n=30) received preoperative explanation with only the traditional informed consent process. Four weeks after surgery, the number of recalled surgical risks was compared for analysis. The following six surgical risks were explained: pain, bleeding, nasal deformity, numbness, nasal obstruction, and nasal cartilage necrosis. RESULTS: The mean number of recalled surgical risks among all patients was 1.58±0.56. The most frequently recalled surgical risk was nasal deformity in both groups. The mean number of recalled surgical risks was 1.72±0.52 in the experimental group and 1.49±0.57 in the control group. There was a significant association between mobile application use and the mean number of recalled surgical risks (p=0.047). Age, sex, and the level of education were not significantly associated with the mean number of recalled surgical risks. CONCLUSION: This study found that a mobile application could contribute to the efficient delivery of information during the informed consent process. With further improvement, it could be used in other plastic surgeries and other surgeries, and such an application can potentially be used for explaining risks as well as delivering other types of information.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Education ; Epistaxis ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Informed Consent ; Mobile Applications* ; Nasal Bone* ; Nasal Cartilages ; Nasal Obstruction ; Necrosis ; Plastics ; Prospective Studies