BACKGROUND: This study was designed to evaluate the antihypertensive efficacy and safety of benidipine hydrochloride, a Ca(++)-channel blocker, in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. METHODS: Benidipine was administered in 2-8mg once daily for 10 weeks in 16 hypertensive patients with diastolic blood pressure over 95mmHg and adverse effects were checked every two weeks after benidipine administration. Chest X-ray, ECG, funduscopy, and laboratory examination were performed before and after benidipine administration. RESULTS: The antihypertensive effect of benidipine was evaluated in 15 patients and the safety in 16 patients. The blood pressure significantly reduced from 170+/-12mmHg/102+/-5mmHg to 137+/-15mmHg/86+/-8mmHg at 10-week administration of benidipine and the overall effective rate was 100%. Heart rate was not affected by benidipine. The slight increase of total protein, BUN, potassium, and glucose was observed at 10 weeks of benidipine administration. Four cases of headache and 1 case of frequent urination were observed and the medication was discontinued in one patient due to headache. CONCLUSION: Benidipine proved effective and safe in the treatment of essential hypertension.
Blood Pressure ; Electrocardiography ; Glucose ; Headache ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Potassium ; Thorax ; Urination

The aim of this study was to assess the current status of pediatric dental consultations at Seoul Asan Medical Center and to explore ways to improve pediatric oral health and dental care. From 2021 to 2023, 4947 patients visited this department, among whom 873 (18%, 492 males and 381 females) referred from other departments. At the time of referrals, 44% of the patients were aged 0 ‒ 4 years, with a mean age of 6.2. Out of 1,145 consultations, 716 (63%) occurred during hospitalization and 429 (37%) in outpatient settings. Inpatients received treatment within an average of 3.7 days, whereas outpatients waited an average of 54.6 days. To date, 272 (31%) patients are still attending the pediatric dentistry, and 46 (5%) have died. Approximately 30% of referrals came from the Pediatric Hematology Oncology, 12% from the Neonatology, and 10% from the Medical Genetics Center. The most common reasons for referrals were oral examinations (37%). Dental caries were found in 272 patients (31%), of whom 43% received caries treatments. Out of all treatments, 751 (66%) cases were oral examinations, 128 (11%) were caries treatments, and 35 patients received treatments under general anesthesia. Pediatric dentists must be equipped with the appropriate skills to promote oral health, which is closely linked to the overall health of pediatric patients. Additionally, it is hoped that active collaboration between pediatric dentistry and pediatrics will enhance dental care and treatment for these patients.

The aim of this study was to assess the current status of pediatric dental consultations at Seoul Asan Medical Center and to explore ways to improve pediatric oral health and dental care. From 2021 to 2023, 4947 patients visited this department, among whom 873 (18%, 492 males and 381 females) referred from other departments. At the time of referrals, 44% of the patients were aged 0 ‒ 4 years, with a mean age of 6.2. Out of 1,145 consultations, 716 (63%) occurred during hospitalization and 429 (37%) in outpatient settings. Inpatients received treatment within an average of 3.7 days, whereas outpatients waited an average of 54.6 days. To date, 272 (31%) patients are still attending the pediatric dentistry, and 46 (5%) have died. Approximately 30% of referrals came from the Pediatric Hematology Oncology, 12% from the Neonatology, and 10% from the Medical Genetics Center. The most common reasons for referrals were oral examinations (37%). Dental caries were found in 272 patients (31%), of whom 43% received caries treatments. Out of all treatments, 751 (66%) cases were oral examinations, 128 (11%) were caries treatments, and 35 patients received treatments under general anesthesia. Pediatric dentists must be equipped with the appropriate skills to promote oral health, which is closely linked to the overall health of pediatric patients. Additionally, it is hoped that active collaboration between pediatric dentistry and pediatrics will enhance dental care and treatment for these patients.

The aim of this study was to assess the current status of pediatric dental consultations at Seoul Asan Medical Center and to explore ways to improve pediatric oral health and dental care. From 2021 to 2023, 4947 patients visited this department, among whom 873 (18%, 492 males and 381 females) referred from other departments. At the time of referrals, 44% of the patients were aged 0 ‒ 4 years, with a mean age of 6.2. Out of 1,145 consultations, 716 (63%) occurred during hospitalization and 429 (37%) in outpatient settings. Inpatients received treatment within an average of 3.7 days, whereas outpatients waited an average of 54.6 days. To date, 272 (31%) patients are still attending the pediatric dentistry, and 46 (5%) have died. Approximately 30% of referrals came from the Pediatric Hematology Oncology, 12% from the Neonatology, and 10% from the Medical Genetics Center. The most common reasons for referrals were oral examinations (37%). Dental caries were found in 272 patients (31%), of whom 43% received caries treatments. Out of all treatments, 751 (66%) cases were oral examinations, 128 (11%) were caries treatments, and 35 patients received treatments under general anesthesia. Pediatric dentists must be equipped with the appropriate skills to promote oral health, which is closely linked to the overall health of pediatric patients. Additionally, it is hoped that active collaboration between pediatric dentistry and pediatrics will enhance dental care and treatment for these patients.

OBJECTIVES: Self-rated health is a comprehensive measure of health. As gender difference in self-rated health is found, identifying gender-specific factors related to self-rated health is important. Poor executive functioning negatively affects an individual's independence and healthy lifestyle, but it is unknown relationships between executive function and self-rated health and gender differences in these relationships. Therefore, gender differences were examined in the relationship between executive function and self-rated health in the community. METHODS: Individuals completed questionnaires about their health status and subjective decline in executive function. Neuropsychological tests were also performed to assess objective executive functioning. Two separate multivariable linear regression analyses were conducted by gender. RESULTS: Better objective executive function was related to greater self-rated health scores (better self-rated health) in men alone (βs = 0.341), while better subjective executive function was significantly associated with greater self-rated health scores in both men and women (βs = 0.385 and 0.443, respectively). CONCLUSION: Gender differences are important when reporting perceived health status, in particular the different effects of subjective and objective executive function on self-rated health across genders. Clinicians need to be aware of the potential value of subjective executive function complaints when evaluating health status.
Executive Function ; Female ; Humans ; Life Style ; Linear Models ; Male ; Neuropsychological Tests

No abstract available.
Cranial Nerve Diseases ; Granuloma, Plasma Cell* ; Polychondritis, Relapsing*

Translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO) is a mitochondrial protein highly expressed on reactive microglia and astrocytes, and is considered as a biomarker for neurodegeneration and brain damage, especially neuroinflammation. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are closely related with inflammatory responses of microglia and astrocytes and these signaling pathways regulate neuroinflammation. Previous reports have identified the anti-inflammatory effects of TSPO ligands, however study of their effects in relation to the TLR signaling was limited. Here, we investigated the effects of five representative TSPO ligands on microglia and astrocytes following activation by various TLR ligands. Our results show that TSPO ligands reduce the pro-inflammatory response elicited by the TLR ligands with more profound effects on microglia than astrocytes.
Astrocytes* ; Brain ; Ligands* ; Microglia* ; Mitochondrial Proteins ; Toll-Like Receptors

Circadian rhythm is a 24-hour cycle of behavioral and physiological changes. Disrupted sleep-wake patterns and circadian dysfunction are common in patients of Alzheimer Disease (AD) and are closely related with neuroinflammation. However, it is not well known how circadian rhythm of immune cells is altered during the progress of AD. Previously, we found presenilin 2 (Psen2) N141I mutation, one of familial AD (FAD) risk genes, induces hyperimmunity through the epigenetic repression of REV-ERBα expression in microglia and bone marrow-derived macrophage (BMDM) cells. Here, we investigated whether repression of REV-ERBα is associated with dysfunction of immune cell-endogenous or central circadian rhythm by analyses of clock genes expression and cytokine secretion, bioluminescence recording of rhythmic PER2::LUC expression, and monitoring of animal behavioral rhythm. Psen2 N141I mutation down-regulated REV-ERBα and induced selective over-production of IL-6 (a well-known clock-dependent cytokine) following the treatment of toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands in microglia, astrocytes, and BMDM. Psen2 N141I mutation also lowered amplitude of intrinsic daily oscillation in these immune cells representatives of brain and periphery. Of interest, however, the period of daily rhythm remained intact in immune cells. Furthermore, analyses of the central clock and animal behavioral rhythms revealed that central clock remained normal without down-regulation of REV-ERBα. These results suggest that Psen2 N141I mutation induces hyperimmunity mainly through the suppression of REV-ERBα in immune cells, which have lowered amplitude but normal period of rhythmic oscillation. Furthermore, our data reveal that central circadian clock is not affected by Psen2 N141I mutation.

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapy using gene delivery systems has been suggested for degenerative diseases. Although MSC-based clinical applications are effective and safe, the mode of action remains unclear. Researchers have commonly applied viral-based gene modification because this system has efficient vehicles. While viral transfection carries many risks, such as oncogenes and chromosomal integration, nonviral gene delivery techniques are less expensive, easier to handle, and safe, although they are less efficient. The electroporation method, which uses Nucleofection technology, provides critical opportunities for hard-to-transfect primary cell lines, including MSCs. Therefore, to improve the therapeutic efficacy using genetically modified MSCs, researchers must determine the optimal conditions for the introduction of the Nucleofection technique in MSCs. Here, we suggest optimal methods for gene modification in PD-MSCs using an electroporation gene delivery system for clinical application.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) poses significant health risks to both mothers and newborns, requiring rigorous self-management and frequent medical consultations. Advances in information and communications technology (ICT) have shown promising results in reducing the number of in-person visits for GDM management. ICT enhances patient self-care engagement, with some studies reporting reductions in average blood glucose and HbA1c levels. ICT for GDM management has demonstrated benefits such as fewer in-person visits, improved adherence to self-monitoring of blood glucose, increased global user satisfaction, and maintenance of blood glucose control and perinatal outcomes. Common barriers to ICT for GDM include technological literacy, inadequate education, limited technical support, the additional burden of non-customized applications, and restricted interoperability. Further research is needed on the impact of technology on GDM management to optimize digital health solutions.