Antioxidant enzymes levels were determined in monocytes during phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-induced differentiation. PMA induced the differentiation of a human monocytic leukemia cell line THP-1 into macrophage-like cells as indicated by activity of acid phosphatase and morphological changes. The level of Mn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) was selectively increased in PMA-treated THP-1 cells after one day of culture, while the levels of Cu/Zn-SOD and catalase were progressively decreased by Western blot analysis. In contrast, levels of Cu/Zn-SOD and catalase protein and enzyme activitiy remained unchanged in THP-1 cells after transforming growth factor-p, treatment. Cu/Zn-SOD is oxidatively inactivated by exposure to H,O, which is produced by PMA-treated THP-1 cells, and then the inactivated enzyme undergoes proteolysis and fragmentation as analyzed by radiolabeled method. Thus monocytes have a coordinated system for synthesis and degradation of antioxidant enzymes during PMA-induced differentiation.
Acid Phosphatase ; Blotting, Western ; Catalase ; Cell Line ; Humans ; Leukemia ; Monocytes* ; Proteolysis ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate

This study was conducted to examine the predicting factors for the intention of breastfeeding with The Theory of Planned Behavior. The questionnaires were distributed to 131 primigravidas who were in their third trimester of pregnancy in Seoul, Kyonggido, Kyongsangbukdo, and Kyongsnagnamdo. Descriptive statistics, Pearsons Correlation and Multiple Regression were used to analyse the data. The subjects showed strong intention of breastfeeding. The subjects showed favorable attitudes toward breastfeeding. This fact showed significant correlation with the belief that their breastfeeding intention was due to the advantage of breast milk for the infant with regard to allergy prevention, disease protection, contribution to intellectual development, psychological closeness between mother and infant, convenience, cost, and the reduction of breast cancer risk and weight of the mother. No item of outcome evaluation did showed significant correlation with behavioral intension. The subjects were influenced about breastfeeding by their referents such as siblings and friends with breastfeeding experience, their mothers and husbands, and mothers-in-law. Most items of the control beliefs had a significant influence on the intention of breastfeeding. The subjects felt they could not control the situation ie. "when I have to breastfeed in public". However they felt they could control the situation ie. "when I suffer from mastitis", "when I have to cut down on coffee, alcohol, and smoking", "when I have Caesarean section", "when I need to maintain breast condition", and "when the infant hates to suck my nipple". Regression analysis revealed that control beliefs and attitudes toward breastfeeding could predict the behavioral intention of breastfeeding. Control beliefs were the most important factor in predicting behavioral intention. Therefore, nutrition education is needed to enhance the ability to cope with difficult situations while breastfeeding and increase faborable attitudes toward breastfeeding.
Breast ; Breast Feeding* ; Breast Neoplasms ; Coffee ; Education ; Female ; Friends ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hate ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Infant ; Intention* ; Milk, Human ; Mothers ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Seoul ; Siblings ; Spouses ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Ulcer*

Most patients with hypertension and no definable cause are said to primary or essential hypertension, while other patients with hypertension and specific causes are siad to secondary hypertension. Approximately 5% fo patients with hypertension have specific causes. The patients of secondary hypertension should not be ignored for the reason: The elimination of cause for hypertension can normalize the blood pressure. Juxtaglomerular cell tumor is a rare condition of secondary hypertension, with only approximately 70 cases reported to date. The higher the level of blood pressure, the most likely that various cardiovascular diseases will develop prematurely through acceleration of atherosclerosis. But Acute myocardial infarction in young hypertensives has been reported rarely. We describe the rare case of a young patient with acute myocardial infarction associated with secondary hypertension by renal juxtaglomerular cell tumor.
Acceleration ; Atherosclerosis ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Myocardial Infarction*

We report a case of methimazole-induced acute hepatic failure, which occurred 4 days after initiation of drug in a 51-year-old man with hyperthyroidism. Liver function was evaluated before taking methimazole, total bilirubin was 14.2 mg/dL. This finding suggested toxic hepatitis d/t herbal medication or unknown liver disease. He was treated with methimazole with increasing doses from 15 to 45 mg/day, he developed liver failure gradually, despite of suspending methimazole. From the time of admission, his liver function test was abnormal and liver cirrhosis was suspected by liver sonography. With aggravated liver function, he died of renal failure, sepsis of unknown origin and respiratory failure. Fulminant hepatitis rarely occurs in methimazole users, and spontaneous recovery is expected. But this case shows that methimazole-induced hepatotoxicity with possible underlying liver disease could increase the risk of poor outcomes. And in case of continued deterioration of liver function, prompt liver transplatation should be considered.
Bilirubin ; Drug-Induced Liver Injury ; Graves Disease ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Diseases* ; Liver Failure ; Liver Failure, Acute* ; Liver Function Tests ; Liver Transplantation ; Methimazole* ; Middle Aged ; Renal Insufficiency ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Sepsis

BACKGROUND: Recovery from anesthesia, postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting are very important after pediatric tonsillectomy surgery. We compared the effects of supplemented opioids (remifentanil, meperidine) combined with sevoflurane on the recovery and side effects. METHODS: Patients were randomized to receive meperidine (group M, n = 41) or remifentanil (group R, n = 43). Group R received a bolus dose of normal saline, and group M 1 mg/kg of meperidine. A continuous infusion of normal saline was followed in the group M, and remifentanil 0.25micro/kg/min in the group R. In all patients, signs of inadequate anesthesia were treated with an increase of sevoflurane concentration. Intraoperative hemodynamics, recovery profiles, and side effects were assessed. RESULTS: Supplemented remifentanil resulted in significantly lower systolic blood pressure and heart rate during operation (P < 0.05). The emergence from anesthesia was not different between groups. Although the patients in the group R had early recovery characteristics at recovery room, time to discharge at recovery room was longer in the group R than in the group M (P < 0.05). The incidence of retching and vomiting was not different between groups. Supplemented meperidine resulted in less analgesic requirements than the other group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Supplemented remifentanil was associated with hemodynamic stability, however it provided later discharge time at recovery room. Postoperative analgesic requirements were reduced by the supplemented meperidine without increasing postoperative nausea, vomiting.
Analgesics, Opioid ; Anesthesia* ; Blood Pressure ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Incidence ; Meperidine ; Nausea ; Pain, Postoperative ; Pediatrics* ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting ; Recovery Room ; Tonsillectomy* ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Abdominal ultrasonography is useful for the detection and diagnosis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aims of this study were to establish a predictive model for the selection of subjects for abdominal ultrasonography for the diagnosis of NAFLD and to assess validity of the model. METHODS: The subjects included 901 people who visited the health examination center of the Busan Medical Center. We conducted multiple logistic regression analyses of potential risk factors to identify independent risk factors for NAFLD, and developed an index system. RESULTS: Four independent risk factors were identified. The index system was developed by assigning 1 clinical scoring point to approximately 0.7 logistic regression coefficients to each factor as follows: alanine aminotransferase/aspartate aminotransferase ratio >1.5 (odds ratio [OR], 2.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21-4.07; P=0.010), 1 point; gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase >50 (OR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.13-4.07; P=0.019), 1 point; triglyceride >150 mg/dL (OR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.14-3.24; P=0.015), 1 point; 23 kg/m2< or =BMI<25 kg/m2 (OR, 3.68; 95% CI, 2.05-6.63; P<0.001), 2 points; and BMI 25 kg/m2 (OR, 7.65; 95% CI, 4.29-13.62; P<0.001), 3 points. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve was 0.797 (95% CI, 0.751-0.842), and when 3 points was used as a cut-off value, the sensitivity and specificity were 71.7% and 75.9%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: NAFLD can be predicted through the clinical application of the index system established herein. If abdominal ultrasonography is used for high-risk patients, NAFLD will be diagnosed and managed in its early stage.
Adult ; Aged ; Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Area Under Curve ; Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood ; Body Mass Index ; Fatty Liver/*diagnosis/ultrasonography ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Risk Factors ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Severity of Illness Index ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase/blood

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Patient education has been shown to be beneficial in several diseases. To properly educate patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), it is necessary to understand how much they already know about their disease. However, no study has examined the degree of disease knowledge in Korean patients with GERD. Therefore, we conducted this study to assess the degree of knowledge in such patients. METHODS: This multicenter prospective study was conducted from January 2014 to January 2015. A total of 746 patients (mean age, 52 years; 57.6% female) were enrolled from 7 hospitals in Korea. Inclusion criteria were diagnosis of GERD and ability to properly complete a survey. Degree of disease knowledge was assessed using the translated, validated Korean Urnes questionnaire, which consists of 22 items related to GERD. RESULTS: Mean percentage of correct answers was 46.3% and mean GERD knowledge score was 9.6. Degree of knowledge (mean percentage of correct answers) regarding etiology, prognosis, and treatment of GERD were 49.5%, 36.7%, and 37.5%, respectively. Degree of disease knowledge differed significantly according to age (P < 0.001), education (P < 0.001), income (P = 0.028), and occupation (P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, using multiple logistic regression, the higher knowledge score group tended to have higher education and professional occupation. CONCLUSIONS: The surveyed Korean patients had relatively low disease knowledge, suggesting that a GERD educational program may be beneficial in Korea. Formulation of a program is underway.
Diagnosis ; Education ; Gastroesophageal Reflux* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Logistic Models ; Multivariate Analysis ; Occupations ; Patient Education as Topic ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common problems in gastrointestinal disorders. With the increase in our understanding on the pathophysiology of GERD along with the development of proton pump inhibitors, the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to GERD have changed dramatically over the past decade. However, GERD still poses a problem to many clinicians since the spectrum of the disease has evolved to encompass more challenging presentations such as refractory GERD and extraesophageal manifestations. This has led to significant confusion regarding the optimal approach to these patients. This article aims to discuss current issues on GERD.
Alginates/therapeutic use ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Esophageal pH Monitoring ; GABA-B Receptor Agonists/therapeutic use ; Gastroesophageal Reflux/*diagnosis/drug therapy/pathology ; Humans ; Metoclopramide/therapeutic use ; Proton Pump Inhibitors/therapeutic use

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is an uncommon disease that is characterized by inflammation and destruction of cartilaginous structures. When tracheobronchial tree is involved, respiratory obstructive symptoms can occur. A 35-year-old man, with a previous diagnosis of RP, was scheduled for rigid bronchoscopy to relieve dyspnea, caused by subglottic stenosis. After laser splitting of the subglottic web, the spontaneous respiration of the patient was insufficient, and hypercarbia developed progressively even with assisted ventilation. After 20 minutes of aggressive hyperventilation to reduce end-tidal CO2 level, sudden extreme tachycardia and hypotension developed. Ventilation rate was reduced and prolonged expiration time was allowed to alleviate a near-tampon status from dynamic hyperinflation. After the hemodynamic status was stabilized, the patient was transferred to the ICU for mechanical ventilation. He received ICU care for 30 days, and now, he was on supportive care on a ward, considering Y stent insertion to prevent luminal collapse from tracheobronchomalacia.
Adult ; Bronchoscopy* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hyperventilation ; Hypotension ; Inflammation ; Laryngostenosis ; Phenobarbital ; Polychondritis, Relapsing* ; Respiration ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Insufficiency* ; Stents ; Tachycardia ; Tracheobronchomalacia ; Ventilation