PURPOSE: It is not clear that the development of glomerular injury and aggravation by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) is related to intrarenal or serum concentration of TNF-alpha. So, we studied the relationship between the concentration of TNF-alpha and aggravation of glomerular damage in the Henoch-Schonlein nephritis(HSN) and idiopathic nephrotic syndrome(INS). METHODS: We collected the sera and urines of 21 patients with Henoch-Schonlein purpura(HSP) and 22 patients with INS visited Chungbuk National University hospital from March 1998 to March 2001. The concentration of TNF-alpha in the sera and urines were measured by sandwich ELISA. RESULTS: Serum TNF-alpha levels in the HSP patients with renal involvement were significantly higher than those without renal involvement(P=0.009). But urine TNF-alpha levels have no correlation with renal involvement(P=0.088). In the HSN patients, proteinuria have a significant correlation with serum TNF-alpha levels(P=0.004) but less correlation with urine TNF-alpha levels(P=0.053). Otherwise, proteinuria have no correlation with serum TNF-alpha levels(P=0.763) but have a significant correlation with urine TNF-alpha levels(P=0.007) in INS. CONCLUSION: These result suggest that the serum concentration of TNF-alpha would be important to glomerular involvement in HSP. And, it is interesting that proteinuria shows a significant relation with serum TNF-alpha levels in the HSN, but with urine TNF-alpha levels in the INS. This means the major production of TNF-alpha may be originated by extrarenal inflammation in the HSN and by intrarenal tubulo-interstitial damage due to proteinuria in the INS.
Chungcheongbuk-do ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Nephritis* ; Nephrotic Syndrome* ; Proteinuria* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

No abstract available.
Dapsone* ; Hand* ; Neutrophils* ; Skin Diseases*

No abstract available.
Dapsone* ; Hand* ; Neutrophils* ; Skin Diseases*

Voglibose, an α-glucosidase inhibitor, inhibits breakdown of complex carbohydrates into simple sugar units in intestine. Studies showed that voglibose metabolism in the liver might be negligible due to its poor intestinal absorption. Numerous microorganisms live in intestine and have several roles in metabolism and detoxification of various xenobiotics. Due to the limited information, the possible metabolism of voglibose by intestinal microbiota was investigated in vitro and in vivo.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common arthritis which leads to chronic disability. Because patients usually present at medical care at an advanced stage of disease, research on pathogenesis of OA using human subjects is difficult. Therefore, animal models of OA are used extensively in search of pathogenesis of degenerative joint disease and in search of potential disease modifying anti-OA drugs. For induction of OA, chemical and surgical methods have been employed widely due to several advantages, such as faster onset of disease and reproducible induction of arthritic change. Intra-articular injection of a chemical such as monosodium iodoacetate or collagenase can cause the degeneration of cartilage and the development of osteoarthritis by inhibition of the activity of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in chondrocytes or by induction of synovial inflammation and degeneration of supporting structure and resultant instability, respectively. Surgical induction involves destabilizing the knee joint by transection of the cranial cruciate ligament, collateral ligaments, or meniscotibial ligament with or without removing all or part of the meniscus. Surgical models are used not only in small animals but also in larger animals such as rabbits, sheep and dogs. Additionally, genetically modified mouse models offer opportunities to look into a specific role of a molecule or signaling pathway in the joint degradation. On the other hand, whether these models, chemically or surgically induced, or genetically modified, properly represent human OA is a critical question. Except for a limited number of cases, most human OA develops insidiously over decades without significant antecedent knee injury. In this sense, spontaneous model which develops in mice and guinea pigs might more closely resemble human OA. In this review, widely used animal models of OA are presented, focusing on the methods of its induction, their use for determining the pathophysiology of OA, and advantages and limitations of its use.
Animals ; Arthritis ; Cartilage ; Chondrocytes ; Collagenases ; Collateral Ligaments ; Dogs ; Guinea Pigs ; Hand ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Injections, Intra-Articular ; Joint Diseases ; Joints ; Knee Injuries ; Knee Joint ; Ligaments ; Mice ; Models, Anatomic ; Models, Animal ; Osteoarthritis ; Oxidoreductases ; Rabbits ; Sheep

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to analyze 1,068 cases of prenatal genetic amniocentesis and to compare the results with reported studies. METHOD: We analyzed 1,068 cases of midtrimester prenatal genetic amniocenteses from September 1994 to February 1999, and investigated the fetal chromosomal abnormality, obstetric outcomes and complications by the indications of genetic amniocentesis and prophylactic antibiotic use at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ajou University School of Medicine. RESULTS: Abnormal maternal serum markers were the most common indication of amniocentesis (57.7%) and the most common age distribution was 25-29 years (39.2%). One case of early amniocentesis (14 gestational weeks) was performed. The overall incidence of chromosomal aberration was 5.2% (56/1,068), of which there were 28 cases (50.0%; 28/56) of numerical aberrations and 28 cases (50.0%; 28/56) of structural aberrations. There were 50 cases (4.7%) of autosomal chromosomal aberrations and 6 cases (0.6%) of sex chromosomal aberrations. The pregnancy outcome was full-term delivery in 86.5%, preterm delivery in 7.6%, termination of pregnancy in 4.0%. There were no cases of serious complications including fetal death except for a case of self-limited amniotic fluid leakage(high leakage) in which the pregnancy was maintained. There were no significant differences between prophylactic antibiotics user group and non-user group in obstetric complications and outcomes. CONCLUSION: We could confirm that the trend in the indication of genetic amniocentesis had changed from advanced maternal age(35 year-old) toward abnormal maternal serum marker(triple test), and we recognized the importance of genetic amniocentesis according to the various antenatal screening tests of maternal serum marker, antenatal ultrasound, past history of fetal anomaly or family history of fetal chromosomal anomaly in the younger age groups(< 35 year-old) that are involved in more than half of the chromosomal anomaly. Further study will be needed to elucidate the efficacy of using prophylactic antibiotics in amniocentesis.
Age Distribution ; Amniocentesis* ; Amniotic Fluid ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Biomarkers ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Female ; Fetal Death ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Obstetrics ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Chronic cough is a common clinical problem to which various etiologies are attributable; postnasal drip, asthma, gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and chronic bronchitis, However, in some cases, no particular etiology can be confirmed. OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to evaluate cough sensitivity and the clinical manifestations of patients with idiopathic chronic cough. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited 70 non-smoking patients who had been coughing for more than 3 weeks without any history, symptoms or signs of rhinitis, sinusitis, typical asthma, GER or recent upper respiratory infection episodes. Nineteen healthy controls were also enrolled. Bronchial provocation tests with methacholine, capsaicin and distilled water (DW) were performed. RESULTS: Thirteen patients were positive to rnethacholine test (PC20 < 25mg/ml) and defined as cough variant asthma. The others are classified into idiopathic chronic cough. By capsaicin and DW challenge tests, idiopathic cough patients could be divided into two groups, i.e., increased cough sensitivity (ICS) and normal cough sensitivity (NCS) groups. DW- induced cough counts were negatively correlated with C7 (lowest capsaicin concentration inducing continuous 7 or more coughs) (r=-0.739, p<0.001). No difference was found in clinical features such as age, sex, atopy, or peripheral eosinophil counts between these two groups but cough counts per cough burst were significantly higher in the ICS group. CONCLUSION: The heterogeneity in cough sensitivity of idiopathic chronic cough patients may refiect different pathophysiologic mechanisms. It is unclear whether patients with NCS merely have habitual or psychogenic cough or not. These suggest that different therapentic strategies should be established on idiopathic chronic cough patients according to cough sensitivity.
Asthma ; Bronchial Provocation Tests ; Bronchitis, Chronic ; Capsaicin ; Cough* ; Eosinophils ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Humans ; Methacholine Chloride ; Population Characteristics ; Rhinitis ; Sinusitis ; Water

PURPOSE: This study was designed to determine the predictors of postpartum depression. METHOD: One hundred- sixty one women within one year after delivery from one public health center located in the northern area of Seoul were used in this study. The instruments were a survey of general characteristics, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, recent life events index, perceived social support from family, Quality of marriage index, parenting stress index, and Rosenberg's self-esteem inventory. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients, and logistic regression. RESULT: The average item score of the EPDS was 6.67. 12.4% of respondents, who scored above a threshold 12, were likely to be suffering from a depression of varying severity. The fitness of the model for explaining postpartum depression from six variables, plan for pregnancy, family support, quality of marital relation, perceived social support, life events, childcare stress, and self-esteem, was statistically significant and the predictive power of these variables was 90.9%. The significant predictors of postpartum depression were family support and child care stress. CONCLUSION: Further research is needed to identify the prevalence rate of postpartum depression using more reliable sampling methods from a large general population. Nursing interventions need to be developed for promoting family support and reducing childcare stress.
Adult ; Child ; Child Care ; Depression, Postpartum/*diagnosis/psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Marriage ; Pregnancy ; Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Social Support ; Stress, Psychological

BACKGROUND: Pleural effusion is a common disease in clinical practice but its effect on pulmonary function and altered pulmonary mechanics after removal of effusion are not still largely understood. Previous studies have shown that there is little or a relatively small improvement in pulmonary function and arterial blood oxygenation after therapeutic thoracentesis. The present study was designed to assess the effect on pulmonary function of pleural effusion and to test whether there was a significant improvement in pulmonary function and arterial oxygenation after thoracentesis and to observe long term effect after thoracentesis. METHOD: We examined flow-volume curve, body box and arterial blood gas analysis according to severity of effusion, present symptom, and symptom duration. Then, we measured changes of pulmonary function after thoracentesis and observed longterm effect after thoracentesis. RESULT: 1) Pleural effusion cause restrictive pulmonary insufficiency. Not only functional impairment of small airway but also large airway is provoked. 2) MMFR, FEV1, Raw, PO2 are earlier improved than FVC and TLC after thoracentesis and patients without complication have mild restrictive pulmonary insufficiency after longterm observation 3) FVC, FEV1, & TLC are similarly restricted as severity of pleural effusion and PO2 is relatively decreased. 4) Cases with symptom duration 1 week or less and cases with dyspnea have more severe pulmonary insufficiency than others. 5) The flow volume curves show a relatively greater improvement in flow rates at large lung volumes than small airway. 6) Significant relationship is shown between first thoracentesis amount and changes of FEV1, FVC, TLC. CONCUSION: Pleural effusion cause restrictive pulmonary insufficiency and not only functional impairment of small airway impairment but also large airway is provoked. Then, Pulmonary function is progressively improved after thoracentesis and remained mild restrictive pulmonary insufficiency after recovery
Blood Gas Analysis ; Dyspnea ; Humans ; Lung ; Maximal Midexpiratory Flow Rate ; Mechanics ; Oxygen ; Pleural Effusion* ; Tuberculosis, Pleural*

OBJECTIVE: Uterine leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a rare and aggressive disease with poor outcome. Due to its rarity and conflict of data, investigation on finding prognostic factor is challenging. The aim of the study was to investigate the prognostic significance of preoperative ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in uterine LMS. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational cohort study in 3 tertiary referral hospitals. We retrospectively evaluated data from patients with pathologically proven uterine LMS who underwent preoperative ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT scans at 3 institutions. The prognostic implication of PET/CT parameters and other clinico-pathological parameters on disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) was evaluated. RESULTS: Clinico-patholgical data were reviewed for 19 eligible patients. In the group overall, median DFS and OS were 12 and 20 months, respectively. As for the recurrence, large tumor size, and high tumor maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) were demonstrated as risk factors of recurrence. As for the OS, high tumor SUVmax was demonstrated as the unique risk factor. There were significant differences in tumor size, mitotic count, SUVmax, and DFS between patients with and without recurrence. Also, there were significant differences in tumor size, SUVmax, DFS, and OS between 2 subgroups stratified by cut-off SUVmax. CONCLUSION: SUVmax at preoperative ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT was associated with worse outcome in patients with uterine LMS. In the preoperative setting, SUVmax can be a valuable non-invasive prognostic marker. Additionally, SUVmax can help identify highly aggressive uterine LMS and may help in adjusting standard treatment toward an individualized, risk-adapted treatment.
Cohort Studies ; Disease-Free Survival ; Electrons ; Fibrinogen ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Humans ; Leiomyosarcoma* ; Positron-Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography* ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Uterine Diseases