No abstract available.
Gastric Emptying*

OBJECTIVE: The Id family of helix-loop-helix proteins are thought to affect the balance between cell growth and differentiation by negatively regulating the function of basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcriptional factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression pattern of Ids (Id-1,-2,-3, and -4) in preimplantation mouse embryos at mRNA and protein levels. METHODS: Oocytes and preimplantation embryos were collected from reproductive organs of female ICR mice following superovulation. RT-PCR was performed to investigate the mRNA expression patterns of Id genes and their protein were localized by immunofluorescence analysis. RESULTS: Id-1 and Id-3 mRNAs were strongly expressed at the germinal vesicle (GV) oocyte and the blastocyst stages. Id-2 mRNA was expressed throughout preimplantation embryo development, but Id-4 was not expressed. Immunofluorescence showed that Id-1 and Id-2 were predominantly localized in cytoplasmic region, but the immunofluorescence signal of Id-3 was weak throughout preimplantation embryo development. CONCLUSION: These data show for the first time that Ids are expressed in preimplantation mouse embryos and suggest that Ids may play an important role in early preimplantation embryo development and uterine physiological changes.
Animals ; Blastocyst ; Cytoplasm ; Embryonic Development ; Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Mice* ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Oocytes ; Pregnancy ; RNA, Messenger ; Superovulation

PURPOSE: In this study cardiovascular health status and health behavior of Korean women based on their household income were explored. METHODS: For this cross-sectional study, 91 women residing in the community were recruited to complete survey questionnaires and biophysical tests including blood pressure (BP), body mass index (BMI), body fat rate, waist circumference (WC), and blood chemistry tests. RESULTS: Compared to non-low income women (NLIW), low income women (LIW) were more likely to be older, less educated, and jobless, and further more LIW were postmenopause and reported having been diagnosed with hypertension or hypercholesterolemia. Significant differences were found in systolic BP, triglyceride level, BMI, body fat rate, and WC between the groups. Two fifths of the LIW had indications for metabolic syndrome. Their 10-yr risk estimate of myocardioal infarction or coronary death demonstrated a higher probability than that of NLIW. Although these significant differences were due to age gap between the groups, advanced age is known to be one of the key characteristics of LIW as well as a non-modifiable risk factor. CONCLUSION: Effective community programs for vulnerable women at risk of cardiovascular disease should be based on strategies targeting unhealthy behaviors and modifiable risk factors.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Chemical Analysis ; Blood Pressure ; Body Fat Distribution ; Body Mass Index ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; *Health Behavior ; *Health Status ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia/*diagnosis/economics ; Hypertension/*diagnosis/economics ; Income/*statistics & numerical data ; Middle Aged ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors ; Waist Circumference

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore status and relationships of anger and its expression type to biopsychosocial health in Korean adolescents. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used four reliable survey questionnaires that measure anger, depression, resilience, and psychosomatic symptoms. Data were collected from 18,752 students of 36 middle schools and 23 high schools located in 23 administrative districts in Seoul, Korea. RESULTS: The Korean adolescents who completed the questionnaires indicated moderate level of trait anger. 45% of them demonstrated using one of three undesirable types of anger expression such as dysfunctional anger-in and anger-out, high level anger-in, or high level anger-out. Also, level of trait anger and types of anger expression were significantly associated with resilience, depression, and psychosomatic health status. CONCLUSION: School-based mental health education such as anger management programs for Korean adolescents might be necessary to help them develop desirable and effective coping skills and strategies.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Adolescent* ; Anger* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depression ; Education ; Humans ; Korea ; Mental Health ; Psychophysiologic Disorders ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seoul

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore status and relationships of anger and its expression type to biopsychosocial health in Korean adolescents. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used four reliable survey questionnaires that measure anger, depression, resilience, and psychosomatic symptoms. Data were collected from 18,752 students of 36 middle schools and 23 high schools located in 23 administrative districts in Seoul, Korea. RESULTS: The Korean adolescents who completed the questionnaires indicated moderate level of trait anger. 45% of them demonstrated using one of three undesirable types of anger expression such as dysfunctional anger-in and anger-out, high level anger-in, or high level anger-out. Also, level of trait anger and types of anger expression were significantly associated with resilience, depression, and psychosomatic health status. CONCLUSION: School-based mental health education such as anger management programs for Korean adolescents might be necessary to help them develop desirable and effective coping skills and strategies.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Adolescent* ; Anger* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depression ; Education ; Humans ; Korea ; Mental Health ; Psychophysiologic Disorders ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seoul

No abstract available.
Animals ; DNA, Complementary* ; Estrogens ; Laser Capture Microdissection* ; Mice* ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis* ; Uterus*

No abstract available.
Animals ; DNA, Complementary* ; Estrogens ; Laser Capture Microdissection* ; Mice* ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis* ; Uterus*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Blastocyst* ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2* ; Mice* ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor*

Duodenal choriocarcinoma, either primary or metastatic, is very rare. Early diagnosis and prompt initiation of chemotherapy improve the prognosis of this neoplasm. We herein present, together with the referred literatures, a case of a 47-year-old female patient who visited to our hospital with upper intestinal bleeding. She was diagnosed as duodenal choriocarcinoma by operation. Brain metastasis was found soon after the operation and combination chemotherapy was done.
Brain Neoplasms/*secondary ; Choriocarcinoma/*diagnosis/secondary ; Duodenal Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Middle Aged

Megacolon is an uncommon condition in which the bowel is persistently of increased diameter and it is always associated with long-standing constipation. Two main groups are recognized according to whether or not ganglia are present in the intermuscular plane of the rectal wall. Their complete absence, even along a short segment of rectum, denotes Hirschspurung's disease. If ganglia are present, the dilated bowel may be secondary to some predisposing factor such as a stricture, a congenital anorectal abnormality, a cauda equina lesion etc. In other instances, however, there may be no apparent organic reason as to why the bowel should be so dilated. This latter condition is termed "idiopathic megacolon". We report the case of one female patient with idiopathic megacolon. During medical treatment, she was complicated with a sigmoid volvulus, we performed subtotal colectomy and cecorectal anastomosis and she improved without any complication.
Cauda Equina ; Causality ; Colectomy ; Colon, Sigmoid* ; Constipation ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Female ; Ganglia ; Humans ; Intestinal Volvulus* ; Megacolon* ; Rectum