No abstract available.
Animals ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Gene Expression* ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone* ; Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide* ; Rats*

No abstract available.
Humans* ; Keratosis, Seborrheic* ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

A clinical study was performed on 940 cases of essential hypertension observed at Dept. of Internal Medicine of Seoul National University Hospital during a period of last seven years from 1971 to 1977. The followings were the results: 1. The incidence of hypertensive patients was 13.8% among all medical in-patients and 68.2% among all cardiac in-patients. 2. The highest occurence was observed in sixth decade and accounted for 34.2% of all cases and least occurence was in second decade of life which accounted for 0.6% of all cases. No difference was found in age distribution between both sexes. The male to female ratio was 1.2:1. 3. The mean value of blood pressure was 178.1+/-21.8/107.4+/-12.3 mmHg and tended to increase with age at least over the decades from second to seventh and there was tendency to decrease after the eighth decade. No paticular difference in blood pressure levels was found in both sexes. 4. The most outstanding symptom was headache which was found in 51.5% of all cases. Dizziness, dyspnea and palpitation were the next orders in frequency. There was a general trend of the the subjective symptoms which were more pronounced in younger than older patients. 5. Hypertensive retinopathy was found in 83.3% of all cases. Hypertensive retinopathy of K-W grade II was found in 36.1% of all cases and was the most frequent finding among the Keith-Wagener grades. Malignant hypertension of K-W grade IV was found in 4.2% of all cases and the largest numbers were between the fourth and fifth decade of life. 6. The abnormal retinal finding was found to be rather proportional to the blood pressure levels. 7. Albuminuria was detected in 56.2% of all cases and it was more frequent in male than in female patients. 8. The appearance of albuminuria seemed to have a close correlation with hypertensive retinal change and blood pressure levels. 9. Electrocardiographic abnormalities were associated in 71.9% of all cases. The most frequent association among electrocardiographic abnormalities was left ventricular hypertrophy which accounted for 45.2% of all cases. There was the reverse correlation between the normal electrocardiogram and degree of blood pressures. The finding of left ventricular hypertrophy and degree of blood pressures were closely correlated. 10. Cerebrovascular accident, renal failure, congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation were four major complications. It was recorded in 26.5%, 10.4%, 5.4% and 2.0% of all cases respectively. The complications were common in men than in women. 11. Renal failure, congestive heart failure and myocardial infarction were closely corelated with hypertensive retinopathy.
Age Distribution ; Albuminuria ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Blood Pressure ; Dizziness ; Dyspnea ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Headache ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Hypertension, Malignant ; Hypertensive Retinopathy ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; Incidence ; Internal Medicine ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; Renal Insufficiency ; Retinaldehyde ; Seoul ; Stroke

OBJECTIVES: This study was to investigate the fertilization rate after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) or partial zona dissection (PZD) of human and hamster sperm into hamster oocyte in in vitro fertilization (IVF). In addition, the possibility of clinical application was evaluated by the comparison of usefulness and difference of these method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hamster immature oocytes were obtained from oviducts superovulated by PMSG and hCG, and hamster sperms were obtained from epididymis. The freezed human sperms were thawed before use. Fertilization were confirmed by two pronuclei, one pronucleus, swollen sperm head or/and two polar bodies at 7~8 hour after ICSI or PZD. RESULTS: The fertilization rates after ICSI and PZD of human sperm to hamster oocyte were 3.6%, 64.2%, 73.6%, and 55.6% for negative control, positive control, ICSI, and PZD respectively, suggesting that ICSI only showed improved fertilization rate (p<0.01). The fertilization rates after ICSI and PZD of hamster sperm to hamster oocyte were 11.1%, 51.2%, 39.6%, and 72.7% for negative control, positive control, ICSI, and PZD respectively, suggesting that PZD only showed improved fertilization rate (p<0.01). PZD showed significantly higher fertilization rate than ICSI (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: As for the fertilization rate by ICSI and PZD using hamster oocyte in IVF, ICSI technique was considered to be more useful for human sperm and PZD technique for hamster sperm. Therefore, ICSI technique was considered more appropriate for experimental application using human sperm and hamster oocyte.
Humans

OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of embryonic stage, cryoprotectant, and freezing-thawing method on the rates of survival and development of the cryopreserved mouse early embryo and finally to establish the cryopreservation method of surplus embryos obtained during assisted reproductive technology (ART). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two to eight cell embryos were obtained from oviducts of mated F1 hybrid female mice superovulated by pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Two-step 1,2-propanediol (PROH), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and 4-step PROH, DMSO were used as cryoprotectant and dehydration and rehydration method of embryos, and slow- cooling or rapid-cooling method was used as frozen program. The survival rates of embryos were measured after thawing and rehydration, and the developmental rates of embryos were compared and observed during culturing embryos for 24, 48, 72, 96 hrs. RESULTS: As for the survival and development rates of embryos according to embryonic stage, the survival rate of 2 cell stage in PROH and DMSO was significantly higher than 4-8 cell (64.5% versus 62.1%, 79.7% versus 73.2%) (p<0.01, p<0.01), but the development rates of 4-8 cell embryos in PROH and DMSO were significantly higher than 2 cell embryos for whole culture period (p<0.01) and the development rates of 4-8 cell embryos in PROH were significantly higher than 2 cell embryos in DMSO (p<0.01). As for the survival and development rates of embryos according to cryoprotectant, the survival rate of 2 cell embryo in DMSO was significantly higher than that in PROH (74.4% versus 64.5%) (p<0.01), whereas the development rate of embryos was not differ till 24 hrs. The development rate from morular to hatching blastocyst, however, was significantly higher in PROH than in DMSO during 48 hr (p<0.01). The survival rate of 4-8 cell embryo was 62.1% in PROH and 73.2% in DMSO. The development rates of embryo in PROH were significantly higher for whole culture periods (p<0.01, 0.05). In respect to the effect of freezing and thawing program on the survival and development rates of embryos, method of slow cooling and rapid thawing was more effective than that of rapid cooling and rapid thawing. CONCLUSIONS: The survival rate of embryo in 2 cell stage was higher than in 4-8 cell stage, and PROH appears more effective cryoprotectant than DMSO because PROH showed better development rates of embryos in 2 and 4-8 cell stage. Moreover, slow cooling and rapid thawing method was considered as the best cryopreservation program.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans ; Mice ; Animals

No abstract available.
Animals ; Embryonic Structures* ; Fertilization in Vitro* ; Humans* ; Mice* ; Quality Control*

No abstract available.
Dislocations*

BACKGROUND: As there are many teenagers being addicted to the Internet ever since the computer became one of the communication channels, similar addictive phenomena are expected to occur for mobile phone usage as it rapidly positions itself as a means of communication among teenagers. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to describe the pattern of mobile phone usage among high school students and to examine the association with psychological characteristics related to addiction such as depression, self-esteem and impulsiveness. METHODOLOGY: A survey was conducted for 501 high school students(254 males and 247 females), currently using mobile phones, in the Metropolitan Seoul area. The Questionnaire by Young for the evaluation of internet addiction was modified and supplemented incorporating the circumstances in Korea. For the psychological characteristics, following were used: Korean translation of the depression scale CES-D, the self-esteem scale and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale. Based on the total score on the mobile phone survey, the top 25% were categorized as the addicted user group (n=129) and the bottom 25% as the non-addicted user group(n=126). RESULTS: The addicted user group started using the mobile phone earlier, used their phones for longer durations and displayed higher purchasing frequencies than the non-addicted user group. Furthermore, the addicted group members scored higher in terms of average daily usage time, voice call duration, SMS exchanges, the number of contacts stored in the phone, experiences of using the phone during classes, and average monthly charges. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to assess associated factors of addicted mobile phone use. In terms of psychological characteristics, addicted mobile phone use was 10.2 times(OR=10.2, 95% CI 2.1~49.2) greater if the depression point is 51 or higher compared to 35 or less, and 6.3 times(OR=6.4, 95% CI 2.0~20.5) greater if the impulsiveness point is 61 or higher compared to 50 or less. CONCLUSION: These finding showed that there were differences between the addicted mobile phone user group and the non-addicted counterpart in terms of mobile phone usage patterns and psychological characteristics such as depression and impulsiveness. Further studies on the association between addicted use of mobile phone and psychological factors are needed.
Adolescent ; Cellular Phone* ; Depression ; Humans ; Internet ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Psychology ; Seoul ; Voice ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Immature myeloid cells, also known as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), include neutrophilic and monocytic myeloid cells, and are found in inflammatory loci and secondary lymphoid organs in mice with intestinal inflammation, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, and tumor tissues. However, the roles of MDSCs in IBD are not yet well understood, and there are controversies regarding their immunosuppressive functions in IBD. In addition, recent studies have suggested that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in intestinal epithelial cells, especially in Paneth cells, is closely associated with the induction of IBD. However, the ER stress in MDSCs accumulated in the inflamed tissues of IBD patients is not yet fully understood. In the current review, we discuss the presence of accumulated MDSCs in the intestines of IBD patients, and further speculate on their physiological roles in the inflammatory condition with interleukin 17-producing cells, including Th17 cells. In particular, we will discuss the divergent functions of MDSCs in ER stressed intestinal environments, including their pro-inflammatory or immunosuppressive roles, based on the consideration of unfolded protein responses initiated in intestinal epithelial cells by ER stress.
Animals ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Epithelial Cells ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* ; Interleukin-17 ; Interleukins ; Intestines ; Mice ; Myeloid Cells ; Neutrophils ; Paneth Cells ; Th17 Cells ; Unfolded Protein Response

Immature myeloid cells, also known as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), include neutrophilic and monocytic myeloid cells, and are found in inflammatory loci and secondary lymphoid organs in mice with intestinal inflammation, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, and tumor tissues. However, the roles of MDSCs in IBD are not yet well understood, and there are controversies regarding their immunosuppressive functions in IBD. In addition, recent studies have suggested that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in intestinal epithelial cells, especially in Paneth cells, is closely associated with the induction of IBD. However, the ER stress in MDSCs accumulated in the inflamed tissues of IBD patients is not yet fully understood. In the current review, we discuss the presence of accumulated MDSCs in the intestines of IBD patients, and further speculate on their physiological roles in the inflammatory condition with interleukin 17-producing cells, including Th17 cells. In particular, we will discuss the divergent functions of MDSCs in ER stressed intestinal environments, including their pro-inflammatory or immunosuppressive roles, based on the consideration of unfolded protein responses initiated in intestinal epithelial cells by ER stress.
Animals ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Epithelial Cells ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* ; Interleukin-17 ; Interleukins ; Intestines ; Mice ; Myeloid Cells ; Neutrophils ; Paneth Cells ; Th17 Cells ; Unfolded Protein Response