PURPOSE: To investigate the subjective health and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Haenyo. METHODS: Subjects were 100 elderly Haenyo in Jeju island who belonged to a fishing-village society. Main variables were activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental ADL (IADL), the HRQoL, subjective health, and depression. Subjective health and differences of HRQoL by variables were analyzed by t-test or ANOVA using IBM SPSS Statistics 23. Hierarchical multiple regression was executed to examine the effects of the major factors on the quality of life. RESULTS: The mean age was 69.9 years, the mean period for diving career was 51.5 years, and work hours per month were 37.8. Comorbidity of diseases was 2.74, and the common health problems were osteoporosis and headache/dizziness. HRQoL was significantly different by age (F=4.52, p=.013), education (F=6.10, p=.003), muljil work years (F=3.93, p=.050), depression (t=-3.04, p=.030), subjective health state (F=30.62, p < .01), and degenerative arthritis (F=-2.38, p=.019). In the final model by hierarchical multiple regression, ADL/IADL (β=.41, p < .001), depression (β=-.29, p < .001), and subjective health (β=.43~.51, p < .001) were significant and explained 63.5% of the total variance of HRQoL. CONCLUSION: Haenyo have specific health problems different from those of elderly women in general. ADL/IADL, depression and subjective health affected their HRQoL. It is clear that Haenyos' health problems need further study to improve their health.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged* ; Comorbidity ; Depression ; Diagnostic Self Evaluation* ; Diving ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Osteoarthritis ; Osteoporosis ; Quality of Life*

No abstract available.
Colon ; Hyperplasia

PURPOSE: We retrospectively investigated to find out the equation of calculating the probability of minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) using clinical parameters. We prospectively investigated to determine the usefulness of the mathematical model. METHODS: We retrospectively examined 56 patients with nephrotic syndrome (NS) (30 MCNS and 26 non-MCNS) diagnosed by kidney biopsy. A mathematical model for calculating the probability of MCNS was obtained through multiple logistic analysis in SAS statistics package. In addition, we prospectively studied 28 patients with NS. Clinical MCNS and non-MCNS were classified according to the probability of 85% in the mathematical model. Kidney biopsy was performed, and serum albumin and urinalysis were measured after 2 weeks of steroid treatment. RESULTS: In the retrospective study, the mathematical model was P=ea/(1+ea), a=17.2507 - 5.5777xON - 4.2256xALB-0.000579x24PROT - 1.2569xUBL+2.1703xUAL. The mode of onset (ON), 24 hours urine protein (24PROT), serum albumin concentration (ALB), the grade of hematuria (UBL) and proteinuria (UAL) were included as clinical parameters. At the probability of 85%, the sensitivity and specificity for predicting MCNS was 73.3% and 100% respectively. In the prospective study, the result of kidney biopsy was consistent with clinical MCNS and non-MCNS according to a mathematical model. All clinical MCNS showed negative proteinuria on urinalysis and a significant increase in serum albumin after 2 weeks treatment (1.85+/-0.30 g/dL to 2.88+/-0.26 g/dL, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: We conclude that the mathematical model for predicting the probability of MCNS may be useful in diagnosis of the MCNS.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Kidney ; Models, Theoretical* ; Nephrosis, Lipoid* ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Prospective Studies ; Proteinuria ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Serum Albumin ; Urinalysis

PURPOSE: Salivary fluid formation is primarily driven by Ca2+-activated, apical efflux of chloride into the lumen of the salivary acinus. The anoctamin1 protein is an anion channel with properties resembling the endogenous calcium-activated chloride channels. In order to better understand the role of anoctamin proteins in salivary exocrine secretion, the expression of the ten members of the anoctamin gene family in the mouse submandibular gland was studied. METHODS: Total RNA extracted from mouse submandibular salivary glands was reverse transcribed using primer pairs to amplify the full-length coding regions of each anoctamin gene and was subcloned into plasmid vectors for DNA sequencing. Alternative splice variants were also screened by polymerase chain reaction using primer pairs that amplified six overlapping regions of the complementary DNA of each anoctamin gene, spanning multiple exons. RESULTS: Multiple anoctamin transcripts were found in the mouse submandibular salivary gland, including full-length transcripts of anoctamin1, anoctamin3, anoctamin4, anoctamin5, anoctamin6, anoctamin9, and anoctamin10. Exon-skipping splicing in the N-terminal exons of the anoctamins1, anoctamin5, and anoctamin6 genes resulted in multiple alternative splice variants. No expression of anoctamin2, anoctamin7, or anoctamin8 was found. CONCLUSIONS: The predominant anoctamin transcript expressed in the mouse submandibular gland is anoctamin1ac. The chloride channel protein produced by anoctamin1ac is likely responsible for the Ca2+-activated chloride efflux, which is the rate-limiting step in salivary exocrine secretion.
Alternative Splicing ; Animals ; Chloride Channels ; Clinical Coding ; DNA, Complementary ; Exons ; Humans ; Mice* ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA ; Salivary Glands* ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Submandibular Gland

PURPOSE: HLA (human leukocyte antigen)-class I genes are highly polymorphic, play many roles in organ and bone marrow transplantation. HLA-B is the most polymorphic class I locus with 414 alleles. HLA-class I typing, which is based on serologic method, has been used until recently. The development of molecular biological techniques make it possible to define the genotypes of HLA genes. METHODS: Analyses of HLA-B genotyping on 1,000 UCB (Umbilical Cord Blood) samples which were considered to be HLA-B homozygote or blank were performed by ARMS-PCR (Amplification Refractory Mutation System-PCR) method and direct sequencing. RESULTS: We could identify HLA-B*5001 which was known to be absent in Koreans. CONCLUSION: It is strongly suggested that HLA-B homozygote should be confirmed to the DNA level especially in cases of donor selection for the unrelated bone marrow transplantation.
Alleles ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; DNA ; Donor Selection ; Fetal Blood ; Genotype ; HLA-B Antigens ; Homozygote ; Leukocytes

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hypothyroidism has been reported in 36~85% of patients treated with sunitinib for renal cell carcinoma or gastrointestinal stromal tumor. However, the mechanism behind this hypothyroidism is unclear. This study evaluated the effects of sunitinib, a multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitor, on the survival and proliferation of thyrocytes using FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells. METHODS: We examined the effect of sunitinib on cell proliferation in the presence and absence of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in a colorimetric assay. Effects on the cell cycle were evaluated by flow cytometry, and on apoptosis using an annexin V apoptosis assay kit and by immunoblotting for caspase-3. Immunoblotting was also used to evaluate changes in the levels of intracellular proteins associated with the G1-S phase of the cell cycle. RESULTS: Sunitinib suppressed the proliferation of FRTL-5 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. This suppressive effect was enhanced by the presence of TSH (1 mU/mL). Sunitinib was subsequently shown, in flow cytometric analyses, to arrest the cell cycle at the G1-S phase. Furthermore, it induced apoptosis at a high concentration (15 micrometer) by activating caspase-3. G1-S phase arrest was associated with the induction of p27(kip1) and p21(cip1), whose expression is suppressed by TSH under control conditions. Sunitinib also decreased intracellular levels of cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 2 in FRTL-5 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Sunitinib induced apoptosis in and suppressed the proliferation of FRTL-5 cells. Its suppression of proliferation was further enhanced by the presence of TSH. Sunitinib arrested the cell cycle in the G1-S phase by inducing the expression of p27(kip1)/p21(cip1), which are suppressed by TSH under normal conditions. Collectively, these findings suggest that sunitinib may interfere with TSH signaling pathways in normal thyrocytes.
Animals ; Annexin A5 ; Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin D1 ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2 ; Flow Cytometry ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Immunoblotting ; Indoles ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Proteins ; Pyrroles ; Rats ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyrotropin

Autoimmune chronic pancreatitis (AIP) typically manifests as diffuse pancreatic swelling and diffuse irregular narrowing of the main pancreatic duct. Recently, mass-forming focal-type AIP, which shows focal pancreatic swelling with mass and focal narrowing of the main pancreatic duct, has been reported. Since this type of AIP is difficult to differentiate from pancreatic cancer, the greater part of these cases have been treated surgically, with the diagnosis confirmed thereafter. Here we report a case of mass-forming focal-type AIP detected in the head of the pancreas; it has been successfully treated with steroids.
Head ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Pancreatitis ; Pancreatitis, Chronic

Therapeutic endoscopy in patients with pancreas divisum has continued to evolve with the availability of minor papilla endoscopic sphincterotomy, stenting, or sphinteroplasty. A combination of a sphincterotomy followed by balloon/basket deployment and emergency mechanical lithotripsy had facilitated the removal of impacted or large stones in the pancreatic and biliary ducts. The impaction of the basket with captured stones or rupture of the basket traction-wire during mechanical lithotripsy are rare complications. We report the successful retrieval of a center-severed and impacted lithotomy basket in the duct of Santorini in a 47-year-old patient with pancreas divisum. Endobiliary biopsy forceps were introduced into minor papilla, the basket was drawn and the stone was removed successfully after 2 months. To the best of our knowledge, this is a first report of the removal of a center-severed and impacted lithotomy basket in the pancreatic duct.
Biopsy ; Emergencies ; Endoscopy ; Humans ; Lithotripsy ; Middle Aged ; Pancreas* ; Pancreatic Ducts* ; Rupture ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic ; Stents ; Surgical Instruments

Adipogenesis in murine preadipocyte 3T3L-1 has been used as a model system to study anti-obese bioactive molecules. During adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, we found that capsanthin inhibited adipogenesis (IC₅₀; 2.5 μM) and also showed lipolytic activity in differentiated adipocytes from the preadipocytes (ED₅₀ ; 872 nM). We identified that the pharmacological activity of capsanthin on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 was mainly due to its adrenoceptor-β2-agonistic activity. In high-fat diet animal model study, capsanthin significantly enhanced spontaneous locomotive activities together with progressive weight-loss. The capsanthin-induced activation of kinetic behavior in mice was associated with the excessive production of ATP initiated by both the enhanced lipolytic activity together with accelerated oxidation of fatty acids due to the adrenoceptor β2-agonistic activity of capsanthin. Capsanthin also dose-dependently increased adiponectin and p-AMPK activity in high fat diet animals, suggesting that capsanthin has both anti-obesity and insulin sensitizing activities.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Adipocytes ; Adipogenesis* ; Adiponectin ; Animals ; Diet, High-Fat ; Fatty Acids ; Insulin ; Mice ; Mice, Obese* ; Models, Animal ; Weight Gain*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical characteristics, recurrence features, and treatment results of patients with autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) and to determine the clinical predictive factors associated with recurrence. METHODS: We analyzed the clinical, radiologic, laboratory, and recurrence features. We also evaluated treatment methods and outcomes, and clinical predictive factors associated with recurrence in 55 patients with AIP. RESULTS: AIP may be misdiagnosed as pancreatic cancer due to the following characteristic features: (1) clinical findings similar to those of pancreatic cancer including weight loss (60.0%), obstructive jaundice (54.5%), and recent-onset diabetes (29.1%) as the major symptoms; (2) a preponderance in elderly men (mean, 57.7 years old; male, 81.8%); (3) pancreatic mass in computer tomography (21.8%). Serum IgG/IgG4 was elevated in 67.4% of cases. Other organ involvements were noted in 43.6% of cases. All patients (52/52) received steroid treatment have shown complete resolution or marked improvement in the presenting manifestations for which steroids were instituted. After median observation period of 32.8 (1-106) months, 9 patients (3-year cumulative recurrence rate, 20.0%) recurred. There was no significant clinical predictive factor for the recurrence of AIP. However, elevated serum IgG4 preceded recurrence in all patients whose serum IgG4 levels were checked at recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: It is reasonable to understand AIP as a pancreatic lesion reflecting systemic disease, so called 'IgG4-related fibroinflammatory disease'. Steroid trial may be a practical diagnostic tool and a therapeutic one. Recurrence was not uncommon after the steroid treatment and serum IgG4 could be a monitoring marker for the recurrence in clinical practice.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use ; Autoimmune Diseases/*diagnosis/therapy ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G/blood ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatectomy ; Pancreatitis, Chronic/*diagnosis/pathology/therapy ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prednisolone/therapeutic use ; Recurrence ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome