OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of chronic deprivation of estradiol on the serotonin level in Sprague-Dawley rat's cerebral cortex and hippocampus. METHODS: One hundred of female Sprague-Dawley rats were taken care for seven to eight weeks, then they were randomly assigned into two group; fifty rats underwent bilateral oophorectomy & the remaining rats were the control group. Six months after oophorectomy, brain tissue was extracted from cerebral cortex and hippocampus and then homogenated: this was done in the both groups. The upper layer of the homogenated substance was taken and frozen and finally dried up. The next process was marking with PITC, quantification through HPLC and comparing with authentic serotonin. Protein quantity was measured by using Bradford method. RESULTS: Comparison between the bilateral oophorectomy group and the control group for serotonin content in the cerebral cortex was 134.2+/-14.3 nmol/mg protein(mean+/-SEM) and 122.5+/-11.6 nmol/mg protein in each group. As for the serotonin content in the hippocampus was 148.8+/-13.9 nmol/mg protein and 132.9+/-13.7 nmol/mg protein in each group. It shows that, there was no significant difference in the serotonin level, in the two areas mentioned above. CONCLUSION: The effect of estradiol on the serotonin level may be dependent on the hormonal change duration. Chronic effect of hypoestrogenism might have no effect on tryptophan hydroxylase and monoamine oxidase, thus not changin the serotonin level. These data supported the previous findings that chronic hypoestrogenism had no effect on serotonin level.
Animals ; Brain ; Cerebral Cortex* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Estradiol ; Female ; Female* ; Hippocampus* ; Humans ; Monoamine Oxidase ; Ovariectomy* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley* ; Serotonin* ; Tryptophan Hydroxylase

The environmental water samples assayed by total culturable virus assay (TCVA) were evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and integrated cell culture-PCR (ICC-PCR) method for enteroviruses and reovirus since they are the usually detected virus groups by culture assays. The detection sensitivities of the TCVA, RT-PCR, and ICC-PCR were compared and the overall reliability of the detection was analyzed to confirm environmental samples for enteric viruses. A total of eight samples from different areas was analyzed by performing TCVA, RT-PCR, and ICC-PCR. Virus concentrations in surface water samples ranged from 1.03 to 47.3 most probable numbers of infectious units (MPN) per 100 liters. When primers specific for both enteroviruses and reoviruses were used in both RT-PCR and ICC-PCR, all the samples (100%) were positive for the viruses. Reoviruses were the most frequently detected ones among the samples. According to the sequence results of enteroviruses, five of the samples were contaminated by coxsackievirus type B3, and the rest by coxsackievirus type B6, echovirus type 30, or vaccine strain poliovirus type 3. It was observed that both enteroviruses and reoviruses were detected concurrently in all CPE-positive environmental water samples.
Enterovirus B, Human ; Enterovirus* ; Poliovirus ; Water*

The environmental water samples assayed by total culturable virus assay (TCVA) were evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and integrated cell culture-PCR (ICC-PCR) method for enteroviruses and reovirus since they are the usually detected virus groups by culture assays. The detection sensitivities of the TCVA, RT-PCR, and ICC-PCR were compared and the overall reliability of the detection was analyzed to confirm environmental samples for enteric viruses. A total of eight samples from different areas was analyzed by performing TCVA, RT-PCR, and ICC-PCR. Virus concentrations in surface water samples ranged from 1.03 to 47.3 most probable numbers of infectious units (MPN) per 100 liters. When primers specific for both enteroviruses and reoviruses were used in both RT-PCR and ICC-PCR, all the samples (100%) were positive for the viruses. Reoviruses were the most frequently detected ones among the samples. According to the sequence results of enteroviruses, five of the samples were contaminated by coxsackievirus type B3, and the rest by coxsackievirus type B6, echovirus type 30, or vaccine strain poliovirus type 3. It was observed that both enteroviruses and reoviruses were detected concurrently in all CPE-positive environmental water samples.
Enterovirus B, Human ; Enterovirus* ; Poliovirus ; Water*

BACKGROUND: Acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) is known as the easieat and most economical and the quality of autologous blood saved by it is the best of all methods of autotransfusion. To investigate the efficacy of ANH, we studied whether it could reduce the transfusion requirement in spinal surgery. METHODS: Forty patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. In the hemodilution group (n=20), 2 or 3 units of autologous blood were procured immediately before or after anesthetic induction while Ringer's lactate and pentastarch were infused to maintain normovolemia. All patients received deliberate hypotension induced by labetalol. Perioperative changes of hemoglobin, hematocrit and platelets, the transfusion requirement and the amount of postoperative drainage were compared between each group. RESULTS: Perioperative changes of hemoglobin, hematocrit and platelet showed no significant differences between each group. Less packed RBC were used in the hemodilution group (1.9 2.0 units) than in control group (5.9 6.8 units) (p<0.05). In the control group, 4 patients were transfused with fresh frozen plasma (mean 4.8 units), 3 patients with platelets (mean 13 units) and 1 patient with cryoprecipitate (10 units) while only one patient was transfused with 3 units of fresh frozen plasma in the hemodilution group. Postoperative drainage was significantly less in the hemodilution group (1,494 488 ml) than in the control group (2,476 1,730 ml). CONCLUSION: ANH seems to decrease the transfusion requirement in spinal surgery. Reduction of postoperative wound drainage appears to play an important role in that.
Blood Platelets ; Blood Transfusion, Autologous ; Drainage ; Hematocrit ; Hemodilution* ; Humans ; Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives ; Hypotension ; Labetalol ; Lactic Acid ; Plasma ; Wounds and Injuries

PURPOSE: The clinical characteristics and pathological findings of patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) receiving methylprednisolone pulse therapy (MP pulse therapy) according to the Mendoza protocol were studied to evaluate its therapeutic efficacy. METHODS: The clinical course and pathological findings of 12 patients that were diagnosed with FSGS and treated according to the Mendoza protocol from 2001 to 2006 were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Only three patients among the total twelve patients finished MP pulse therapy, who were diagnosed with minimal change nephrotic syndrome on the first renal biopsy and have preserved renal function at the recent follow-up. Among them, one patient (8%) achieved complete remission, but relapsed 28-months after the end of therapy, and one patient (8%) had a partial remission. Eight patients progressed to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and four regressed during therapy. All eight patients that were diagnosed with FSGS, on the first renal biopsy, progressed to ESRD and required hemodialysis or kidney transplantation. The frequency of ESRD in this group was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: MP pulse therapy according to the Mendoza protocol showed low therapeutic efficacy; it appeared effective in only 17% and most of the patients (67%) progressed to ESRD. There may be close correlation between the severity of glomerular sclerosis at biopsy and ESRD. These results suggest that the indications for MP pulse therapy according to the Mendoza protocol in nephrotic patients with FSGS requires further clarification.
Biopsy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Kidney Transplantation ; Methylprednisolone ; Nephrosis, Lipoid ; Renal Dialysis ; Sclerosis

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to provide a basis for non-humidified low flow oxygen by nasal cannula and to provide a guide for consistent care in nursing practice. METHODS: A methodological study on the development of guidelines with experts' opinions on collected items, framing PICO questions, evaluating and synthesizing texts which were searched with the key words (low flow oxygen, nasal cannula, humidification of oxygen, guideline) from web search engines. RESULTS: Of the 45 researched texts on the web, 9 texts relevant to the theme were synthesized and evaluated. All patients with humidified or non-humidified oxygen therapy reported that they had no discomfort. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that there are no tangible grounds for patients' perceived differences between the humidified and non-humidified oxygen under 4L/min supplied by nasal cannula. with oxygen. Therefore, non-humidification oxygen therapy is strongly advised when suppling under 4L/min oxygen by nasal cannula (recommended grade A).
Catheters ; Humans ; Oxygen

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis is a rare hip disorder that mainly occurs in pubertal children. Although the exact cause of this disorder is unknown, it is known to be associated with obesity, trauma, delayed sexual development, delayed bone maturation, chronic renal failure, genetic diseases, endocrine disorders (growth hormone deficiency, hypothyroidism, hypogonadism), growth hormone therapy, and gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRH agonist) therapy. We report 2 cases of slipped capital femoral epiphysis in adolescent females who were receiving growth hormone therapy. The first case is of a 16 year-old-girl with chronic renal failure and renal osteodystrophy. The second case is of an 11 year-old-girl with idiopathic precocious puberty who had received GnRH agonist and growth hormone therapy. Unilateral or bilateral slipped capital femoral epiphysis developed at 1 year 3 months after treatment in both the cases. The chief complaints were pain in the hip joint and lower extremities. Growth hormone and/or GnRH agonist therapy was stopped, and in situ screw fixations of the involved hip epiphyses were performed.
Adolescent ; Child ; Endocrine System Diseases ; Epiphyses ; Female ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Growth Hormone ; Hip ; Hip Joint ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Lower Extremity ; Obesity ; Puberty, Precocious ; Renal Osteodystrophy ; Sexual Development ; Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphyses

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is one of the most common and distressing complications after surgery. An identification of risk factors associated with PONV would make it easier to select specific patients for effective antiemetic therapy. We designed a case-controlled study to identify the risk factors for PONV in 5,272 surgical patients. At postoperative 2 and 24 hr, patients were visited and interviewed on the presence and severity of PONV. Thirty nine percent of patients experienced one or more episodes of nausea or vomiting. Five risk factors were highly predictive of PONV: 1) female, 2) history of previous PONV or motion sickness, 3) duration of anesthesia more than 1 hour, 4) non-smoking status, and 5) use of opioid in the form of patient controlled analgesia (PCA), in the order of relevance. The formula to calculate the probability of PONV using the multiple regression analysis was as follows: P (probability of PONV)=1/1+e(-Z), Z=-1.885+0.894 (gender)+0.661 (history)+0.584 (duration of anesthesia)+0.196 (smoking status) +0.186 (use of PCA-based opioid) where gender: female=1, male=0; history of previous PONV or motion sickness: yes=1, no=0; duration of anesthesia: more than 1 hr=1, less than or 1 hr=0; smoking status: no=1, yes=0; use of PCA-based opioid: yes=1, no=0.
Anesthesia/*statistics and numerical data ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care)/*methods ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting/*epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Prognosis ; *Proportional Hazards Models ; Reproducibility of Results ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Risk Assessment/*methods ; Risk Factors ; Sensitivity and Specificity

This report summarizes the 2019 survey results of the external quality assessment (EQA) scheme for the Transfusion Medicine Program (TMP) in Korea. Proficiency testing materials were prepared at the Asan Medical Center for the biannual distribution to participating laboratories. The average accuracy rates and number of participants (in parenthesis) for ten survey items were as follows: ABO typing, 99.4%–99.9% (N=875); RhD typing, 99.8%–100% (N=864); crossmatching, 90.8%–99.6% (N=760); ABO subtyping, 98.2% and 100% (N=58); Rh CcEe antigen testing, both 100% (N=55); weak D test, 97.9%–100% (N=232); antibody screening, 99.7%– 100% (N=316); direct antiglobulin test (DAT) using a polyspecific reagent, 99.6%–100% (N=273); DAT using an immunoglobulin-G monospecific reagent, both 100.0% (N=67); DAT using a C3d monospecific reagent, 95.6%–98.5% (N=67); antibody identification, 87.9%–99.2% (N=132); and ABO Ab titration, 85.7%–100% (N=134). The number of participants showed an average increase of 14% across the ten survey items, with the ABO antibody titration showing the highest increase at 83.6%. While results were generally excellent, antibody identification and ABO antibody titration results showed room for improvement. The 2019 EQA scheme for TMP has contributed to the improvement and maintenance of the participating laboratories to the program.

PURPOSE: With increasing prevalence of hypertension (HTN) in children and adolescent, pediatricians have become more interested in blood pressure (BP) measurements. The ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is known to be useful to differentiate true HTN and white coat HTN. The object of this study is to assess the clinical usefulness of ABPM in Korean children and adolescents. METHODS: A retrospective review of 51 patients in Kyungpook National University Hospital from January 2002 to February 2010 was done. All patients were 6-18 years old and underwent ABPM. We calculated the mean value of ABP, BP load, nocturnal dip and compared the results with the patients' diagnosis and characteristics. RESULTS: The mean age of the 51 patients was 17.8+/-1.8 years and 19 children were obese. 37 patients (72.5%) were truly hypertensive and 1 patient was diagnosed as masked HTN and 7 children (14%) as white coat HTN. The rest of the patients were normotensive. Among patients with white coat HTN, 5 were in a prehypertensive state. Mean systolic and diastolic BP load of patients with true HTN were significantly higher than non-hypertensive children (P<0.001). Although the nocturnal dip of all patients were below 10%, there was no statistical significance. The obese patients showed higher systolic and diastolic BP. Their systolic and diastolic BP load were significantly higher than non-obese patients (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: ABPM in children and adolescents seems to be a valuable tool in the assessment of white coat HTN and in the confirmation of true HTN. A considerable number of white coat HTN patients are revealed to be in a prehypertensive state and need close follow-up.
Adolescent ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory ; Child ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Masks ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies