Small bowel malignancy consists 1~2% of overall gastrointestinal tract cancer and leiomyosarcomas of small intestine are 10~20% of small bowel malignancy. Small bowel leiomyosarcomas are rare in incidence and have no specific symptoms, signs or definite radiologic findings, so it is not easy to diagnose at early stage of disease. They are found occasionally by unknown origined gastrointestinal bleeding, abdominal pain, intestinal obstruction, perforation and palpable mass, and diagnosed mostly by operation. Recently annual case reports are increasing trend in Korea. We experienced two cases of small bowel leiomyosarcomas which was diagnosed finally by pathologic findings, so we report them with literatural review.
Abdominal Pain ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; Hemorrhage ; Incidence ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Intestine, Small* ; Korea ; Leiomyosarcoma*

The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of music therapy on anxiety of cesarean section wemen. The research design was a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design. The subjects of this study were 65 cesarean section wemen scheduled for surgery. The study was conducted from October 15, 1999 to January 5, 2000. Two groups consisted of subjects assigned : one the experimental group(33 wemen), and the other the control group(32 wemen). The music therapy was performed 3 times to experimental group just before surgery day, on surgery day. The level of anxiety was measured by State Anxiety Inventory, blood pressure, pulse rate, respiratory rate. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, x2-test, t-test, Repeated measures of ANCOVA. The results of study were as follows : 1) State anxiety scores were significantly different between the experimental group and the control group after music therapy. 2) Systolic blood pressures and diastolic blood pressures were significantly different between the experimental group and the control group after music therapy. 3) Pulse rates were significantly different between the experimental group and the control group after music therapy. 4) Respiratory rates were significantly different between the experimental group and the control group after music therapy. According to these results, music therapy can be regarded as an effective nursing intervention that relieves anxiety of cesarean section wemen.
Anxiety* ; Blood Pressure ; Cesarean Section* ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Music Therapy* ; Music* ; Nursing ; Pregnancy ; Research Design ; Respiratory Rate

Purpose: The vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in mature animals have implicated to play a major role in the progression of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. This study aimed at optimizing the protocol in culturing primary VSMCs (pVSMCs) from rat thoracic aorta and investigating the effect of cellular zinc (Zn) deficiency on cell proliferation of the isolated pVSMCs. Methods: The thoracic aorta from 7-month-old Sprague Dawley rats was isolated, minced and digested by the enzymatic process of collagenase I and elastase, and then inoculated with the culture Dulbecco Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) at 37°C in an incubator. The primary cell culture morphology was observed using phase-contrast microscopy and cellular Zn was depleted using Chelex-100 resin (extracellular zinc depletion only) or 3 µM N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-pyridinylmethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine (TPEN) (extracellular and intracellular zinc depletion). Western blot analysis was used for the detection of SM22α and calponin as smooth muscle cell marker proteins and von Willebrand factor as endothelial cell marker protein to detect the culture purity. Cell proliferation by Zn depletion (1 day) was measured by MTT assay. Results: A primary culture protocol for pVSMCs from rat thoracic aorta was developed and optimized. Isolated cultures exhibited hill and valley morphology as the major characteristics of pVSMCs and expressed the smooth muscle cell protein markers, SM22α and calponin, while the endothelial marker von Willebrand factor was hardly detected. Zn deprivation for 1 day culture decreased rat primary vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and this pattern was more prominent under severe Zn depletion (3 µM TPEN), while less prominent under mild Zn depletion (Chelexing). Conclusion Our results suggest that cellular Zn deprivation decreased pVSMC proliferation and this may be involved in phenotypic modulation of pVSMC in the aorta.

When the skin and soft tissue necrosis occurs due to extravasation of intravenously administrated biological active materials and drugs, no specific mode of treatment modality is known except for supportive management or debridement and skin graft. This experiment was designed to determine the effective dosage of hyaluronidase and triamcinolone acetonide on the extravasation necrosis caused by calcium gluconate and to establish the optimal time of administration of the antidotes. Initially 0.4 ml of 10% calcium gluconate was injected subcutaneously into the rabbit back. Study I was designed to observe the skin change in 8 groups including control group with no treatment and treated groups with normal saline, saline with hyaluronidase(dosage: 150, 300, 600 unit), saline with triamcinolone acetonide(1 mg, 2 mg), and 150 unit hyaluronidase and 1 mg triamcinolone acetonide (all in volume 0.2 ml, treatment delay: immediate, 15-minutes, 30-minutes, 1-hour, 3-hours delay). The sizes of skin necrosis and induration were measured and compared between each group. Study II was designed to examine the histologic findings of the skin and evaluate the effect of hyaluronidase and triamcinolone acetonide on tissue damage. The sizes of induration and necrosis are smaller in all treated groups than non-treated group and the statistically significant protective effect on reducing the size of necrosis was found in groups treated with the drugs within 15 minutes to 30 minutes(p < 0.05). The most effective protection was obtained by the immediate injection of 150 unit dosage of hyaluronidase with 1 mg triamcinolone acetonide. This study suggests that intralesional injection of hyaluronidase and triamcinolone acetonide within half hour delay for the treatment of extravasation necrosis of calcium gluconate is the most effective, probably due to their diffusion, antiinflammatory effect and role in facilitating the resorption of calcium in the tissue.
Antidotes ; Calcium Gluconate* ; Calcium* ; Debridement ; Diffusion ; Hyaluronoglucosaminidase* ; Injections, Intralesional ; Necrosis ; Skin ; Transplants ; Triamcinolone Acetonide* ; Triamcinolone*

PURPOSE: Zinc, a biomineral present within and outside cells, manages various cellular mechanisms. In this study, we examined whether zinc was involved in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) calcification via regulation of calcification inhibitor protein, osteopontin (OPN). METHODS: Rat aorta cell line (A7r5 cells) and primary vascular smooth muscle cells (pVSMCs) from rat aorta were cultured with phosphate (1-5 mM) and zinc (0-15 microM) as appropriate, along with osteoblasts (MC3T3-E1) as control. The cells were then stained for Ca and P deposition for calcification examination as well as osteopontin expression as calcification inhibitor protein was measured. RESULTS: Both Ca and phosphate deposition increased as the addition of phosphate increased. In the same manner, the expression of osteopontin was upregulated as the addition of phosphate increased in both cell types. When zinc was added, Ca and P deposition decreased in VSMCs, while it increased in osteoblasts. CONCLUSION: The results imply that zinc may prevent VSMC calcification by stimulating calcification inhibitor protein OPN synthesis in VSMCs.
Animals ; Aorta ; Cell Line ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular* ; Osteoblasts ; Osteopontin ; Rats ; Zinc*

PURPOSE: The aim of this review is to comprehensively summarize the definition of vitamin D as a nutrient as well as a hormone-like molecule and its new function in prevention of various chronic diseases. METHODS: The review was written by the method for systematic reivew writing. Literatures from the various sources, including research articles, book chapters, proceedings and electronic materials as appropriate, were screened first and then reviewed and analyzed for the review. RESULTS: Vitamin D was originally considered as the essential nutrient as a vital carbon compound and was first discovered among children with osteomalacia, also known as ricket disease, characterized by poorly calcified bones which were easily bent rather than broken. Since that time, vitamin D has been known as the key nutrient to improve bone health. However, recently emerging study findings have shown that vitamin D acts as the hormone-like nutrient since it is synthesized like a hormone when our body needs and this particular vitamin also acts like a cell signaling ligand which regulates gene expression of various proteins. So far positive effects of vitamin D have been suggested for the action of anticancer, anti-immune function, and anti-cardiovascular disease, as well as antidiabetic function, etc. In this review, the definition for vitamin D as a nutrient vitamin as well as a hormone-like molecule, cell signaling mechanism of vitamin D, and finally the potential role for the prevention of chronic diseases are discussed. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D is now being considered as a vital nutrient as a vitamin and as a potential substance for prevention of several chronic diseases.
Books ; Carbon ; Child ; Chronic Disease ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Osteomalacia ; Vitamin A ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins* ; Writing

It has been considered that high Na intake, and low Ca/K intake are related to the incidence of hypertension. In this preliminary study, dietary Na, K, and Ca intake and their urinary excretion in rural area in Kyungpook province were measured to recognize the relationship between those blood pressure-related minerals and blood pressure regulation in elderly people in rural area of South Korea. Sixty eight subjects (male 39, female 29) aged over 60 were randomly selected in rural area in South Korea. Blood pressure and soup saltness were measured, and dietary intake using 24 hours recall and urinary excretion of Na, K and Ca were measured. Depending on the blood pressure level, the data were analyzed using non-parametric ANOVA of Kruskal Wallis analysis on the basis of categorizing of one of four blood pressure groups, such as normal, high normal, hypertension I and hypertension II. Mean systolic (124.2+/-15.1 mmHg) and diastolic (79.0+/-10.2 mmHg) blood pressures were within the normal range. Soup saltiness and systolic pressure was positively correlated (p<0.05). Even without statistical significance, dietary Na intake was higher in the upper systolic blood pressure groups then in the lower ones, which suggested higher Na intake caused the increase of blood pressure. No consistency was shown between the urinary concentration of Na, K, Ca level and blood pressure level, respectively. From the results of this study, it is assumed that high Na intake might be related to the incidence of hypertension. Further study with large sample size is needed to supplement the limitation of this preliminary study.
Aged* ; Blood Pressure* ; Female ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Korea ; Minerals ; Reference Values ; Sample Size

This review is focused on analyzing the limits and shortage of zinc (Zn) for the 2020 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (KDRIs), and provides suggestions for the future establishment of the 2025 KDRIs for Zn. The 2020 KDRIs for Zn have been established to estimate the adequate requirement (EAR), recommended nutrient intakes (RNI), adequate intake (for only 0–5 mon) and tolerable upper intake level (UL). EAR was estimated in 2-stages: the first stage was to construct of the frame of analysis for Zn requirement and the second stage involved a factorial approach by considering the various factors which affect Zn requirement, such as intestinal and urine Zn loss, Zn requirement for growth and development, and Zn absorption rate. For a more precise and accurate establishment of the Zn requirement, we suggest for the following to be considered: 1) considering that Zn is present in minuscule amounts as a trace element in our body, the present values for Zn EAR (as 6–9 mg/d) should be expressed as a decimal point for more accurate DRIs; 2) the frame of analysis for Zn requirement has to be more specifically and should includes the factors which affect Zn requirement; 3) both, the factorial approach and extrapolation method need to be well reviewed and thoroughly understood for establishing precise Zn requirement; 4) currently, human clinical study and balance study (Zn intake, excretion and absorption rate) are limited and more human Zn subject studies are required. All these suggestions are provided to better establish the Zn requirement in the 2025 KDRIs.

PURPOSE: The Glycyrrhiza uralensis species (Leguminosae) as a medicinal biocompound, and one of its root components, isoliquritigenin (ISL), which is a flavonoid, has been reported to have anti-tumor activity in vitro and in vivo. However, its function in bone formation has not been studied yet. In this study, we tested the effect of Glycyrrhiza uralensis (ErLR) and baked Glycyrrhiza uralensis (EdLR) extracts on osteoblast proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and bone-related gene expression in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. METHODS: MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured in various levels of ErLR (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 µg/mL), EdLR (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 µg/mL), or ISL (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 µM) in time sequences (1, 5, and 20 days). Also, isoliquritigenin (ISL) was tested for comparison to those two biocompound extracts. RESULTS: MTT assay results showed that all three compounds (ErLR, EdLR, and ISL) increased osteoblastic-cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner for one day. In addition, both ErLR and EdLR compounds elevated the osteoblast proliferation for 5 or 20 days. Extracellular ALP activity was also increased as ErLR, EdLR, and ISL concentration increased at 20 days, which implies the positive effect of Glycyrrhiza species on osteoblast mineralization. The bone-related marker mRNAs were upregulated in the ErLR-treated osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells for 20 days. Bone-specific transcription factor Runx2 gene expression was also elevated in the ErLR- and EdLR-treated osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells for 20 days. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrated that Glycyrrhiza uralensis extracts may be useful for preventing osteoporosis by increasing cell proliferation, ALP activity, and bone-marker gene expression in osteoblastic cells.
Alkaline Phosphatase* ; Cell Proliferation* ; Gene Expression ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis* ; Glycyrrhiza* ; In Vitro Techniques ; Miners ; Osteoblasts* ; Osteogenesis ; Osteoporosis ; RNA, Messenger ; Transcription Factors

PURPOSE: Zinc (Zn) is an essential trace element for bone mineralization and osteoblast function. We examined the effects of Zn deficiency on osteoblast differentiation and mineralization in MC3T3-E1 cells. METHODS: Osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured at concentration of 1 to 15 µM ZnCl2 (Zn− or Zn+) for 5, 15 and 25 days up to the calcification period. Extracellular matrix mineralization was detected by staining Ca and P deposits using Alizarin Red and von Kossa stain respectively, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was detected by ALP staining and colorimetric method. RESULTS: Extracellular matrix mineralization was decreased in Zn deficiency over 5, 15, and 25 days. Similarly, staining of ALP activity as the sign of an osteoblast differentiation, was also decreased by Zn deficiency over the same period. Interestingly, the gene expression of bone-related markers (ALP, PTHR; parathyroid hormone receptor, OPN; osteopontin, OC; osteocalcin and COLI; collagen type I), and bone-specific transcription factor Runx2 were downregulated by Zn deficiency for 5 or 15 days, however, this was restored at 25 days. CONCLUSION: Our data suggests that Zn deficiency inhibits osteoblast differentiation by retarding bone marker gene expression and also inhibits bone mineralization by decreasing Ca/P deposition as well as ALP activity.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Calcification, Physiologic ; Collagen ; Extracellular Matrix ; Gene Expression* ; Methods ; Miners* ; Osteoblasts* ; Osteocalcin ; Osteopontin ; Receptor, Parathyroid Hormone, Type 1 ; Transcription Factors ; Zinc*