PURPOSE: To evaluate protective mechanism of melatonin against radiation damage and its relationship with apoptosis in mouse jejunum. MATERIALS AND METHODS:' 168 mice were divided into 28 groups according to radiation dose and melatonin treatment. To analysis crypt survival, microcolony survival assay was done according to Withers an (l Elkind's method. To analysis apoptosis, TUNEL assay was done according to Labet-Moleur's method. RESULTS: Radiation protection effect of melatonin was demonstrated by crypt survival assay and its effect was stronger in high radiation dose area. Apoptosis index with 8 Gy irradiation was 18.4% in control group and 16.5% in melatonin treated group. After 18 Gy, apoptosis index was 17.2% in control group and 15.4% in melatonin treated group. Apoptosis index did not show statistically significant difference between melatonin treated group and control group. CONCLUSION: Melatonin shows clear protective effect in mouse jejunum against radiation damage but it.', protective effect seems not to be related with apoptosis protection effect.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Cell Survival* ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Jejunum ; Melatonin* ; Mice* ; Radiation Protection

PURPOSE: To determine the prognostic significance of p53 mutations in advanced supraglottic cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six patients with pertinent tissue materials among 60 patients diagnosed as advanced supraglottic cancer in Kyung Hee university hospital and received total or partial laryngectomy followed by radiation therapy were enrolled. Immunohistochemical staining using DO7 monoclonal antibody was performed. Tumor specimens were analyzed for p53 mutations in exons 5 through 8 by using PCR-SSCP analysis followed by DNA sequencing of all variants. RESULTS: p53 mutations were present in 8 cases among 26 patiets. Mutations within exon 5 were 3 cases, exon 6 were 4 cases, and exon 7 was 1 case. Mean survival time was 70.2 months in patients without mutations, 61.3 months with mutations but there was no statistically significant differences (p=0.596). Mutations were 25% in stage III and 36% in stage IV but there was no statistically significant differences (p=0.563). Mutations were 25% in lymph node negative group and 42% in lymph node positive group but there was no statistically significant differences (p=0.437). CONCLUSION: The presence of a p53 mutation detected by PCR-SSCP is not associated with survival, stage and lymph node status.
Exons ; Humans ; Laryngectomy ; Lymph Nodes ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: It is now well recognized that reperfusion of ischemic tissues initiates a complex series of reactions that can paradoxically injure tissues. Apoptosis occurs in select cell populations during morphologic development and during cellular injury, including oxygen radical exposure, ischemia-reperfusion, and sepsis. Thus, in this study, we examined relation of the melatonin effect to the injection time and the dose, and role of melatonin in apoptosis. METHODS: Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury was induced in rats by clamping the superior mesenteric artery for 30 minutes. After reperfusion injury for 30 minutes, the experimental group was administered melatonin (10 mg/kg) intraperitoneally and the control group received saline and ethanol. At 30 minutes, 60 minutes, and 90 minutes, 1) pulmonary histological assessments (interstitial PMNs/10HPFs and lung (alveolar) injury score), 2) alveolar microvascular permeability assessments (wet-weignt to dry-weight ratio and lipid peroxidation activity, malondialdehyde, MDA), and 3) western blotting assessments (p53, p21, Bax, and bcl-2) were made. For comparison, long- time (60-minute) reperfusion and double- dosage melatonin (20 mg/kg) were also studied. RESULTS: The lung injury score was 1.00+/-0 in the melatonin group at 90 minutes and 3.28+/-0.30 in the saline group (p<0.01). The number of sequestered neutrophils was significantly higher in the control group at 90 minutes (34.38+/-16.76/10 HPFs) than in the melatonin-treated group (5.63+/-2.73/10 HPFs; p<0.01). In the melatonin group at 90 minutes, the wet-weight to dry-weight ratio was 4.69+/-0.16, and in the saline group, the ratio was 4.78+/-0.17 (p>0.05). A marked difference was found between the ischemia-reperfusion control group and the experimental group at 90 minutes regarding lipid peroxidation activity (Malondialdehyde, 16.45+/-0.19 micrometer vs 10.93+/-0.11 micrometer, p<0.01). In the melatonin group, p21 expressions were found to be much more than in the control group. But, p53, bcl-2, and Bax expressions were found to be in the control group. CONCLUSION: Melatonin injection within 60 min after reperfusion may promote recovery of reperfusion injury, but double-dose melatonin injection was inefficacious. Also, melatonin inhibit apoptosis by p21 expression.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Capillary Permeability ; Constriction ; Ethanol ; Intestines* ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Lung ; Lung Injury ; Malondialdehyde ; Melatonin* ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Neutrophils ; Oxygen ; Rats ; Reperfusion ; Reperfusion Injury ; Sepsis

BACKGROUND: Sometimes digoxin may be needed to be administered during anesthesia for the control of the ventricular rate and mitigation of lung congestion. For the lack of studies in surgical patients we wanted to determine digoxin pharmacokinetics (PK) in subjects undergoing a gastrectomy under enflurane anesthesia. METHODS: Over 72 hours, 16 serum samples from each of 14 subjects (ASA status 1 or 2) diagnosed with gastric cancer were collected after a single intravenous dose of digoxin 10ng/kg actual body weight for serum concentration measurements by fluorescence polarization immunoassay. Digoxin was injected 30 minutes after beginning surgery. Two, three and non-compartmental (TwC, ThC and NC, respectively) PK parameters were determined using WinNonln. The important parameters (AUC, Cl, Vss, t beta 1/2 [elimination half-life], Vc, MRT) of 3 PK's were statistically evaluated about which compartment PK was appropriate to the data here. The parameters of TwC PK of the surgical subjects were compared to those of nonsurgical ones which had already been published by other investigators. The postoperative outcomes (ambulation date, diet date, discharge date, complications, APACHE II and MOF [multiple organ failure]) in 19 patients (nondigoxin group) not treated with digoxin were compared with 19 patients (digoxin group) treated with digoxin 5ng/kg two times at 2 hour intervals during surgery. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in parameters between TwC and NC. Significant differences were observed in parameters of PK between ThC versus Twc and NC (P < 0.01). Cl and Vss of surgical subjects were larger than those of nonsurgical ones, and t beta 1/2 was similar. No significant effect of digoxin on postoperative outcomes was demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: The dosage of digoxin for surgical patients should be titrated to the bleeding amount and the severity of surgical trauma because of larger Cl and Vss. The effect of digoxin on postoperative outcomes remains to be studied.
Anesthesia* ; APACHE ; Body Weight ; Diet ; Digoxin* ; Dronabinol ; Enflurane* ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay ; Gastrectomy* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Lung ; Pharmacokinetics* ; Research Personnel ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Stomach*

Objective: This study compared soft tissue changes after extraction of the four premolars followed by maximum retraction of the anterior teeth according to the type of anterior teeth movement: tipping and translation. Methods: Patients who had undergone orthodontic treatment involving the extraction of four premolars were retrospectively selected and divided into either the tipping (n = 27) or translation (n = 26) groups based on the retraction of the incisor root apex and the axis changes of the incisors during the treatment period. Lateral pre- and post-treatment cephalograms were analyzed. Results: There were no significant differences between the tipping and translation groups before treatment. The retraction amounts of the root apex of the upper and lower incisors in the tipping group were 0.33 and 0.26 mm, respectively, and 5.02 and 5.31 mm, respectively, in the translation group (p < 0.001). The posterior movements of soft tissue points A and B in the tipping group were 0.61 and 1.25 mm, respectively, and 1.10 and 3.25 mm, respectively, in the translation group (p < 0.01). The mentolabial sulcus angle increased by 5.89° in the tipping group, whereas it decreased by 8.13° in the translation group (p < 0.001). Conclusions An increased amount of retraction of the incisor root apex led to the increased posterior movement of soft tissue points A and B, and this appeared more distinct in cases involving the lower incisor and lower lip.

The Fas (TNF receptor superfamily, member 6) (FAS)/FAS ligand (FASLG) interaction plays a central role in the regulation of programmed cell death. FAS and FASLG polymorphisms in promoter regions affect transcriptional activities. To investigate whether FAS and FASLG polymorphisms are associated with the development and clinical phenotypes of stroke, 2 promoter single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in FAS (rs1800682, -670C/T) and FASLG (rs763110, -844C/T) were selected and genotyped by direct sequencing in 220 stroke patients [107 ischemic stroke (IS), 77 intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and 36 subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)] and 369 control subjects. For the analysis of clinical symptoms, all stroke patients were divided into 3 clinical phenotypes according to the respective results of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Survey (NIHSS) and the Modified Barthel Index (MBI) and the presence or absence of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). The SNPStats, SNPAnalyzer, and Helixtree programs were used to analyze the genetic data. Multiple logistic regression models (codominant, dominant, and recessive) were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs), 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and p-values. The promoter SNP rs1800682 was associated with stroke in the codominant (OR=0.48, 95% CI=0.25-0.94, p=0.04) and dominant models (OR=0.51, 95% CI=0.30-0.87, p=0.011). However, a FASLG SNP (rs763110) was not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p<0.05). In the analysis of stroke types, rs1800682 was associated with IS in the codominant (OR=0.30, 95% CI=0.12-0.74, p=0.025), dominant (OR=0.44, 95% CI=0.23-0.88, p=0.018), and recessive models (OR=0.45, 95% CI=0.21-0.99, p=0.042). The genotype frequencies of rs1800682 were different between ICH and controls in the dominant model (OR=0.49, 95% CI=0.26-0.94, p=0.031) but not between SAH and controls. In the analysis of clinical symptoms, however, rs1800682 was not related to the 3 clinical phenotypes (NIHSS, MBI, and CRPS). These results suggest that a promoter SNP (rs1800682, -670C/T) in FAS may be associated with the development of stroke in the Korean population.
Cell Death ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Genotype ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; National Institutes of Health (U.S.) ; Odds Ratio ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Stroke ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pattern of right gastric venous drainage by use of digital subtraction angiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A series of 100 consecutive patients who underwent right gastric arteriography during transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma were included in this study. Angiographic findings were retrospectively analyzed with respect to the presence or absence of the right and aberrant gastric veins, multiplicity of draining veins, aberrant right gastric venous drainage sites, and the termination pattern of aberrant right gastric veins (ARGVs). We also compared the relative size of the right and left gastric veins. RESULTS: A total of 49 patients collectively had 66 ARGVs. The common drainage sites for the ARGVs included the hepatic segment IV (n = 35) and segment I (n = 15). The termination pattern of ARGV could be classified into 4 different types. The most common type was termination as a superficial parenchymal blush formation in small areas without demonstrable portal branches. A statistically significant difference was found for the dominancy of the right gastric vein in gastric venous drainage between the two groups with or without ARGV (p < 0.05, Fisher's exact test). In the group of patients without ARGV (n = 51), the right gastric vein was equal to (n = 9) or larger than (n = 17) the left gastric vein in 26 patients (26 of 51, 51%). CONCLUSION: The incidence of ARGV is higher than expected with four distinct types in its termination pattern. The right gastric vein may play a dominant role in gastric venous drainage.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction/*methods ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/therapy ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic/methods ; Contrast Media/diagnostic use ; Female ; Humans ; Iohexol/analogs & derivatives/diagnostic use ; Liver Neoplasms/therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stomach/*blood supply ; *Veins

The aims of this study were to investigate serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels at different clinical stages in patients with chronic HBV infection, and to determine the serum HBV DNA level that discriminated HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B(CHB) cases from inactive HBsAg carriers. In all, 222 patients, encompassing 68 HBeAg-positive CHB patients (HBeAg-positive, ALT-elevation), 89 HBeAg-negative CHB patients (HBeAg-negative, ALT-elevation), and 65 inactive HBsAg carriers (HBeAg-negative, ALT-normal), were tested. The ALT levels had been tested more than twice during the previous six months, and the serum HBV DNA levels were quantified by a polymerase chain reaction-based assay. The serum HBV DNA levels of the HBeAg-negative patients were significantly lower than those of the HBeAg-positive patients (median 2.7 x 10(4) vs. 1.6 x 10(8) copies/mL; p=0.000). In addition, the HBV DNA levels of the HBeAg-negative CHB patients were significantly higher than those of the inactive HBsAg carriers (median 2.2 x 10(5) vs. 3.2 x 10(3) copies/ mL; p=0.000). The optimal HBV DNA level for discriminating HBeAg-negative CHB cases from inactive HBsAg carriers was 2.0 x 10(4) copies/mL. The serum HBV DNA levels were lower than the cutoff value in 72.3% (47/65) of the inactive HBsAg carriers, and in 31.5% (28/89) of the HBeAg-negative CHB patients. The serum HBV DNA levels differed significantly between these two groups. However, the levels in the two groups overlapped extensively, preventing the definition of a differentiation cut-off value.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; DNA/chemistry ; DNA, Viral/*genetics ; False Positive Reactions ; Female ; Hepatitis B/metabolism/*pathology ; Hepatitis B Virus/*metabolism ; Human ; Liver/metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; ROC Curve

PURPOSE: Urine collection using a sterile adhesive bag for urinalysis has been used commonly in infants and young children. However, this method has had some drawbacks. So, this study was performed to evaluate the usage of disposable diapers as a substitute for the routine urine collection method. METHODS: 60 mL of self voided fresh urine was collected from 99 patients. Half of the urine was poured on the disposable diapers which did not contain absorbent gel beads. After 1 hr, we obtained the urine samples(extracted urine) by compressing the wet diapers using a 50 ml syringe. Routine, microscopic and biochemical analyses were performed on the other half of fresh urine and extracted urine. Then we compared each result by correlative analysis. RESULTS: 198 samples from 99 patients were evaluated. The results of routine urinalysis except WBC and biochemical urinalysis showed a significant correlation between the two groups(P<0.05). The relative coefficients of urine SG, pH, glucose, protein, blood and leukocytes between the two groups were 0.964, 0.938, 0.977, 0.956, 0.931 and 0.738, respectively. Those of urinary sodium, potassium, chloride and creatinine were 0.997, 0.998, 0.995 and 0.998, respectively. Microscopic examinations showed lower relative coefficients than the other results, 0.740 for RBC and 0.602 for WBC, but these were still significant(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of the urine analysis with extracted urine from diapers correlates well with that of fresh urine. This new method is very helpful and can be used as an alternative of urine collection, especially for infants and young children.
Adhesives ; Child* ; Creatinine ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Infant* ; Leukocytes ; Potassium ; Sodium ; Syringes ; Urinalysis ; Urine Specimen Collection*

PURPOSE: We often have patients who acquired incorrect medical information from the mass media. The purpose of this study was to evaluate credibility of articles in newspapers and medical counseling on websites about renal diseases. METHODS: Kidney information was searched in 6 newspapers for the past 10 years, and 4 portal websites and 17 internet health counseling sites for the past 5 years. We classified them according to information providers and evaluated credibility by giving points 3, 2, 1 to correct, mostly correct but ambiguous, and incorrect contents, respectively. We compared the credibility of the groups with each other. RESULTS: Sixty four articles from newspapers, and 789 and 506 medical counselings from portal websites and internet health counseling sites were selected, respectively. The kidney information providers in newspapers were medical journalists(doctors)(31.2%), kidney specialists(doctors) (23.4%) and so on. The consultants in the portal sites were doctors(49.1%)and anonymous reporters(49.9%). In internet health counseling sites, 91% of the consultants were doctors. All articles in the newspapers were credible. Doctors' answers were more credible than nonphysicians'(P=0.005) and anonymous contributors(P<0.001) in portal sites. In health counseling sites, doctors answered more reliably than nonphysicians. CONCLUSIONS: The kidney information in newspapers was credible. It is important for questioners to confirm the type of consultants in websites. We suggest that doctors, especially kidney specialists need to increase their roles in offering information to mass media.
Anonyms and Pseudonyms ; Consultants ; Counseling ; Humans ; Internet ; Kidney ; Mass Media ; Periodicals ; Specialization