OBJECTIVE: To clarify how participation in leisure activities and exercise by chronic stroke survivors differs before and after a stroke. METHODS: Sixty chronic stroke survivors receiving community-based rehabilitation services from a health center in Seongnam City were recruited. They completed a questionnaire survey regarding their demographic characteristics and accompanying diseases, and on the status of their leisure activities and exercise. In addition, their level of function (Korean version of Modified Barthel Index score), risk of depression (Beck Depression Inventory), and quality of life (SF-8) were measured. RESULTS: After their stroke, most of the respondents had not returned to their pre-stroke levels of leisure activity participation. The reported number of leisure activities declined from a mean of 3.9 activities before stroke to 1.9 activities post-stroke. In addition, many participants became home-bound, sedentary, and non-social after their stroke. The most common barriers to participation in leisure activities were weakness and poor balance, lack of transportation, and cost. The respondents reported a mean daily time spent on exercise of 2.6+/-1.3 hours. Pain was the most common barrier to exercise participation. CONCLUSION: Chronic stroke survivors need information on leisure activities and appropriate pain management.
Surveys and Questionnaires ; Depression ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Leisure Activities* ; Pain Management ; Quality of Life ; Rehabilitation* ; Social Welfare ; Stroke* ; Survivors* ; Transportation ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The information of species and quantity of enteric viruses in surface water, finished water, and tap water is important in helping understand the pathogenesis of viruses, providing information about health and hygiene, improving handling technique of drinking water, and establishing the standards of water quality. Using standard total culturable virus assay-most probable number (TCVA-MPN) method, we tried to detect infectious enteric viruses in surface water, finished water, and tap water samples that were collected and evaluated according to the information collection rule (ICR). The results obtained with TCVA method were compared to the results from both reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and integrated cell culture-RT-PCR (ICC-RT-PCR) method. Five of 86 samples (5.8%) were positive as determined by the TCVA-MPN method. Two of 86 samples (2.3%) were positive for reovirus as determined by the RT-PCR and ICC-RT-PCR, and contained infectious reovirus. One of 86 samples (1.7%) was positive for coxsackievirus type B3 as determined by the RT-PCR and ICC-RT-PCR.
Drinking Water ; Hygiene ; Water Quality ; Water*

OBJECTIVE: Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) is known to have potent anti-vascular activity and significantly suppress solid tumor growth. The present study was conducted to investigate the vascular shutdown effects of a novel arsenic compound, tetraasrsenic oxide (As4O6), in comparison with As2O3 using cervical cancer animal model. METHODS: Mice tumor challenge model was used C57BL/6 mice transplanted with TC-1 cells. After the growth of tumors was reached up 200~250 mm3, mice were divided into 3 groups randomly for control and treatment of either As2O3 or As4O6. As2O3 and As4O6 was treated by i.p. injection. The tumor size was caliperated in twice for weeks and anti-vascular effect were assessed by Evans blue extraction assay and Hoechst 33342 staining. In tumor tissue, histopathological feaure was obserevd by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. RESULTS: In mice treated with either As2O3 and As4O6 (i.p.), both of As2O3 and As4O6 was significantly suppressed the tumor growth compared with control group. Moreover, effect of As4O6 is more pronounced. These tumor growth inhibition is led to the massive necrosis and vacular shutdown in tumor tissue. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that As4O6 may have potential anticancer activity via vascular shutdown in C57BL/6 mice transplanted with TC-1 cells.
Animals ; Arsenic ; Arsenicals ; Benzimidazoles ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Evans Blue ; Hematoxylin ; Mice ; Models, Animal ; Necrosis ; Oxides ; Transplants ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

On page 173, the incorrect image which was not submitted by the author was mistakenly printed for Fig. 5 by a system error of the editing company.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The time interval between the onset of the mitral inflow and the mitral annulus velocity (TE'-E) has been proposed as a new index for representing the left ventricular (LV) relaxation and this is related to the LV filling pressure. This index has been reported to be a preload independent parameter in an experimental canine model. However, the impact of the preload on this index has not been studied in humans. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty-five patients (29 men, mean age: 51+/-14 years old) who had end-stage renal disease underwent echocardiography immediately before and after hemodialysis (HD). The two-dimensional and Doppler parameters were measured, including the peak early (E) and late (A) transmitral inflow velocity. The mitral annulus velocity (E') at the septal, lateral, anterior and inferior corners of the mitral annulus, as accessed by Doppler tissue imaging (DTI), and the flow propagation velocity (Vp), as accessed by color M-mode, were also measured. The time intervals between the peak of the R wave and the onset of the mitral E velocity and also between the peak R wave and the onset of E' at the four corners of the mitral annulus were measured. RESULTS: The mean ejection fraction was 62+/-16%. The average weight reduction by the HD was 2.9+/-1.1 kg. The dimensions of the LV end-diastole, left atrium and inferior vena cava were significantly reduced. After the HD, the peak E, A and E/A ratio, the average peak E' and the Vp were significantly decreased. The TE'-E did not change significantly after the HD regardless of the LV systolic function. CONCLUSION: A new parameter for the diastolic function, i.e., the time interval between the onset of mitral inflow and the mitral annulus velocity, appears to be preload-independent in the patients with a normal or decreased LV systolic function.
Diastole ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Male ; Relaxation ; Renal Dialysis ; Vena Cava, Inferior ; Weight Loss

Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the development of neuronal disorders including brain ischemic injury. Thioredoxin 1 (Trx1), a 12 kDa oxidoreductase, has anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic functions in various cells. It has been highly implicated in brain ischemic injury. However, the protective mechanism of Trx1 against hippocampal neuronal cell death is not identified yet. Using a cell permeable Tat-Trx1 protein, protective mechanism of Trx1 against hydrogen peroxide-induced cell death was examined using HT-22 cells and an ischemic animal model. Transduced Tat-Trx1 markedly inhibited intracellular ROS levels, DNA fragmentation, and cell death in H 2O 2-treatment HT-22 cells. Tat-Trx1 also significantly inhibited phosphorylation of ASK1 and MAPKs in signaling pathways of HT-22 cells. In addition, Tat-Trx1 regulated expression levels of Akt, NF-κB, and apoptosis related proteins. In an ischemia animal model, Tat-Trx1 markedly protected hippocampal neuronal cell death and reduced astrocytes and microglia activation. These findings indicate that transduced Tat-Trx1 might be a potential therapeutic agent for treating ischemic injury.

Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the development of neuronal disorders including brain ischemic injury. Thioredoxin 1 (Trx1), a 12 kDa oxidoreductase, has anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic functions in various cells. It has been highly implicated in brain ischemic injury. However, the protective mechanism of Trx1 against hippocampal neuronal cell death is not identified yet. Using a cell permeable Tat-Trx1 protein, protective mechanism of Trx1 against hydrogen peroxide-induced cell death was examined using HT-22 cells and an ischemic animal model. Transduced Tat-Trx1 markedly inhibited intracellular ROS levels, DNA fragmentation, and cell death in H 2O 2-treatment HT-22 cells. Tat-Trx1 also significantly inhibited phosphorylation of ASK1 and MAPKs in signaling pathways of HT-22 cells. In addition, Tat-Trx1 regulated expression levels of Akt, NF-κB, and apoptosis related proteins. In an ischemia animal model, Tat-Trx1 markedly protected hippocampal neuronal cell death and reduced astrocytes and microglia activation. These findings indicate that transduced Tat-Trx1 might be a potential therapeutic agent for treating ischemic injury.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the clinical significance of reciprocal ST segment depression on the presenting electrocardiogram (ECG) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI), in particular, this study focuses whether there is any difference according to the time interval between the onset of symptoms and initial ECG. METHODS: ECG findings in 198 patients with acute MI were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were classified into 4 subgroups based on the infarct region and reciprocal ST depression. The clinical data and angiographic finding were compared in each region. We also explored whether any differences could be recognized according to the time interval. RESULTS: Of 78 anterior MI, 16 (21%) showed a reciprocal ST depression and 62 (80%) did not. Of 120 inferior MI, 50 (41%) displayed a reciprocal ST depression and 70 (59%) did not. In each region, a reciprocal ST depression made no difference between the two groups. However, when divided by the time interval, a reciprocal ST depression more than 4 hours after MI predicted a high incidence of multivessel disease [anterior MI 5/6 (83%), 10/12 (83%): p<0.05 for each]. CONCLUSION: There was a high incidence of multivessel disease when a reciprocal ST segment depression continued for more than 4 hours after MI. The meaning of a reciprocal ST depression can be interpreted differently according to the duration after MI.
Depression* ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Incidence ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Retrospective Studies

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) possesses various biological activities such as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic activities. In the present study, we examined the effect of CGA on the transduction efficiency of PEP-1-ribosomal protein S3 (PEP-1-rpS3) into cells and brain tissues, and its neuroprotective potential against ischemia/reperfusion. We found that, in the presence of CGA, the transduction efficiency of PEP-1-rpS3 into astrocytes and the CA1 region of the hippocampus was enhanced, compared to its transduction in the absence of CGA. Also, cell viability data demonstrated that the sample treated with CGA + PEP-1-rpS3 exhibited improved cell viability against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced toxicity more significantly than the sample treated with PEP-1-rpS3 alone. Also, in a gerbil ischemia model, data demonstrated that following the ischemic insult, the group treated with PEP-1-rpS3 + CGA showed markedly enhanced protection of neuron cells in CA1 region of hippocampus, compared to those treated with CGA or PEP-1-rpS3 alone. Taken together, these results suggest that CGA may improve the transduction efficiency of protein transduction domain (PTD) fusion proteins into target cells or tissues, thereby enhancing their therapeutic potential against various diseases.
Astrocytes ; Brain ; Cell Survival ; Chlorogenic Acid ; Gerbillinae ; Hippocampus ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Ischemia ; Neurons ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Proteins

Isolated pancreatic trauma and secondary obstructive jaundice in the pediatric population is unusual. Biliary tract obstruction can be a major cause of acute pancreatitis. We report a case of obstructive jaundice secondary to isolated traumatic acute pancreatitis in a previously healthy 32-month-old girl. In our case, secondary obstructive jaundice aggravated the pancreatic inflammation and was successfully treated with percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD).
Biliary Tract ; Drainage ; Inflammation ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; Pancreatitis ; Preschool Child