Fear-related behaviors are rigidly controlled by the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). The mPFC is activated by the prosocial hormone oxytocin, which plays an important role in social buffering. We used a slice patch current-clamp recording in single- and pair-exposed rats who were subjected to electric shocks, to determine the cellular mechanism of the action of oxytocin in the mPFC under social buffering conditions. Pair-exposed rats showed a significant reduction in both freezing and passive avoidance behaviors compared to single-exposed rats. It was observed that input resistance in pyramidal neurons decreased in both single- and pair-exposed rats than naïve rats, but input resistance in interneurons increased in pair-exposed rats than single-exposed rats. We found that the number of action potential (AP) spikes in the mPFC pyramidal neurons decreased significantly in pair-exposed rats than in single-exposed rats. The pyramidal neurons in the mPFC were similarly regulated by oxytocin in singleand pair-exposed rats, while the number of AP spikes in interneurons by oxytocin decreased in single-exposed rats, but there was no significant change in pair-exposed rats. Therefore, our findings reveal that a decrease in mPFC pyramidal neuronal activity in pair-exposed rats through social interaction induces a reduction in fear-related behavior via obstruction of fear-memory formation; however, no such reduction was observed in single-exposed rats. Moreover, we suggest that the oxytocin-mediated decrease in neuronal activity in the mPFC could facilitate social buffering.

We report a pair of atypical rhomboideus muscles which originated higher than normal observed in a 49-year-old Korean male. Rhomboid muscles were not paralleogram shape but trapezoid with rhomboideus tertius attached inferior to the rhomboideus major muscles. Rhomboideus minor originated as tendon from the ligamentum nuchae of fourth and sixth cervical vertebrae level. The upper end of the origin of the rhomboideus major was the ligamentum nuchae between fifth and sixth cervical vertebrae level on the left side and the ligamentum nuchae at the sixth cervical vertebra level on the right side. The lower end of the origin of the rhomboideus major was the spinous process of the fourth thoracic vertebra on the left side and the spinous process of the second thoracic vertebra on the right side. The upper end of the origin of the rhomboideus tertius were the same as the lower end of the rhomboideus major and the lower end of the origin of the rhomboideus tertius were the spinous process of the fifth thoracic vertebrae on both sides. Whole rhomboideus muscle spanned over nine vertebrae. We compared these rhomboidei with previously reported variations and discussed its embryological and clinical significance.
Cervical Vertebrae ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscles* ; Spine ; Tendons ; Thoracic Vertebrae

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of coffee in diabetic rats in order to prevent hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia, and to improve antioxidant enzyme activity in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. METHODS: Thirty two male Sprague-Dawley rats (body weight 200 +/- 5 g) were divided into two groups; diabetic and nondiabetic groups. The groups were each randomly divided into two subgroups; fed control and coffee (5 g coffee powder/kg diet) diets. Diabetes was induced by intramuscular injection of 50 mg streptozotocin/kg body weight. Rats with blood glucose concentrations > or = 300 mg/dL were considered diabetic for these experiments. All rats were fed an experimental diet and deionized water ad libitum for 4 weeks. RESULTS: The results of this study indicate that body weight gain was significantly lower in diabetic groups than in nondiabetic groups regardless of diet. Mean food intake was significantly higher in diabetic groups than in nondiabetic groups, and significantly higher in the coffee group than in the control group in diabetic rats. Food efficiency ratio (FER) was significantly lower in diabetic groups than in nondiabetic groups regardless of diet. The fasting blood glucose of coffee supplemented groups was significantly lower compared with the control group in diabetic and nondiabetic rats. The levels of serum LDL-cholesterol and atherogenic index were significantly lower in the coffee group than in the control group in diabetic and nondiabetic rats, and serum HDL-cholesterol was significantly higher in the coffee group than in control groups. The contents of hepatic triglyceride were significantly lower in the coffee group than in the control group in diabetic and nondiabetic rats. The lipid peroxidation of malondialdehyde (MDA) contents was significantly lower in the coffee group than in the control group in diabetic and nondiabetic rats. Activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase in liver was not significantly different by experimental diets among all groups. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, effects of 0.5% coffee powder supplemented diet were beneficial on blood glucose and lipids in diabetic rats.
Animals ; Blood Glucose* ; Body Weight ; Catalase ; Coffee* ; Diet ; Eating ; Fasting ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Hyperlipidemias ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Liver* ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Streptozocin ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Triglycerides ; Water

The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the feasibility of using digital pictures to assess individuals' nutrient intakes from school lunch. The subjects for the study were 29 male students and 40 female students from two classes in a middle school located in Daejeon Metropolitan City, Korea. The school lunch service was self-operated and the students were allowed to portion the foods by themselves. The teacher in charge of each class took digital pictures of every student's lunch plate that was tagged with an i.d. number, before and after eating for two consecutive days. The researchers estimated the amount of food, which an individual actually consumed by comparing pre- and post-pictures of their plate with reference food pictures for better visual estimation of the food amounts. Individual energy and nutrient intakes were calculated using CAN-Pro (ver 3.0) using the food intake data visually estimated from the digital pictures and school lunch recipes. The teachers in charge reported that about 10~15 additional minutes were needed to take the pictures used for the study and this additional time did not place much burden on the service process during the lunch period. The results showed that the students' actual energy and nutrient intakes from the same school lunch menus were quite varied as the serving portions were not regulated and left-overs were not prohibited. This pilot study suggests that examination of individual nutrient intake using digital picture is a feasible method in the context of school lunch service.
Eating ; Fees and Charges ; Female ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Korea ; Lunch ; Male ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Pilot Projects

The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between the levels of foodservice management activities and job satisfaction of the dietitians in elementary schools. Out of 130 questionnaires distributed to elementary school dietitians in In-cheon, 127 were returned and analyzed (98% response rate). The questionnaire included two multipleitem scales for measuring foodservice management activities and job satisfaction, respectively. All the items in the scales were coded 1 to 5 for 'certainly no', 'no', 'neutral', 'yes', and 'certainly yes' and grouped by using factor analyses. Most of the responding dietitians were working for schools in urban areas and have independently managed on-site kitchens. The 19 items on food service management activities were grouped into 6 factors and the mean scores of the levels of Personnel Hygiene Management, Education & Training, Sanitation & Safety Management, Menu Quality Management, Service Management, and Environment Management were 4.76, 4.26, 4.24, 4.05, 3.61 and 3.39, respectively. The 23 items on job satisfaction were grouped into 4 factors and the mean scores of the satisfaction levels of Systematic Environment, Job Duty, Job Condition, and Physical Environment were 3.38, 2.83, 2.53, and 2.08, respectively. Overall, the levels of food service management activities and job satisfaction were positively associated with a correlation coefficient of 0.254 (p < 0.01). In particular, satisfaction levels on job duty itself and systematic environment were positively associated with the levels of overall management activities. The results suggest that improving dietitians' job satisfaction could increase the levels of management activities of school foodservice dietitians, resulting in quality improvement of school food service.
Education ; Food Services ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Incheon ; Job Satisfaction* ; Nutritionists ; Quality Improvement ; Safety Management ; Sanitation ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND: Decreased left atrial (LA) reservoir function is reported to be associated with elevated left ventricular (LV) end diastolic pressure and LV diastolic dysfunction. Echocardiographic parameters that reflect LA reservoir function include LA total emptying fraction [(maximum LA volume - minimum LA volume) / maximum LA volume], peak LA longitudinal strain (PLALS) at systole, and LA stiffness index (E/E´/PLALS). We aimed to investigate the long-term outcomes of LV diastolic function in children with a history of Kawasaki disease (KD) (KDHx group) by assessing LA reservoir function. METHODS: Retrospectively, echocardiograms performed at a mean follow-up period of 5 years after the acute phase of KD in 24 children in the KDHx group were compared to those from 20 normal control subjects. LA total emptying fraction, PLALS, LA stiffness index, LV peak longitudinal systolic strain (ε), and strain rate (SR) were evaluated with conventional echocardiographic parameters. RESULTS: The mean age at long term follow-up echocardiography in children in the KDHx group was 6.8 years. Five children (20.8%) had coronary artery lesions (CALs) in the acute stage of KD. No children showed CALs at a mean follow-up period of 5 years after the acute phase of KD. There were no significant differences in the conventional echocardiographic parameters and in LA total emptying fraction, PLALS, LA stiffness index, LV peak longitudinal systolic ε, and SR, between the children in the KDHx and control group. CONCLUSION: LV diastolic function assessed by LA reservoir function parameters at long-term follow-up in children in the KDHx group appears to be favorable.
Atrial Function ; Blood Pressure ; Child* ; Coronary Vessels ; Echocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Systole

OBJECTIVE: To report the latest long-term outcome of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and to analyze the predictors of prognosis. METHODS: Subjects who were diagnosed with ALS between January 2005 and December 2009 at a single institute were followed up until death or up to December 2014. Data regarding age, sex, date of onset, date of diagnosis, presence of bulbar symptoms on onset, date of initiation of non-invasive ventilation (NIV), and the date of tracheostomy were collected. Survival was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariate analyses of the risk of death were performed using the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: Among 212 suspicious subjects, definite ALS was diagnosed in 182 subjects. The survival rate at 3 and 5 years from onset was 61.5% and 40.1%, respectively, and the survival rate at 3 and 5 years post-diagnosis was 49.5% and 24.2%, respectively. Further, 134 patients (134/182, 73.6%) were initiated on NIV, and among them, 90 patients (90/182, 49.5%) underwent tracheostomy. Male gender and onset age of ≥65 years were independent predictors of adverse survival. CONCLUSION: The analysis of long term survival in ALS showed excellent outcomes considering the overall poor prognosis of this disease.
Age of Onset ; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Noninvasive Ventilation ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Survival Rate ; Tracheostomy

BACKGROUND: In developed countries, food-born diseases have decreased and hospital laboratory have taken more simple method rather than complex enrichment-selective methods. But detection rate of pathogenic bacteria in stool culture was not so high. METHODS: We mixed 4 pathogenic bacteria (S. typhi, S. flexneri, V. cholerae and Y. enterocolitica) with 3 stool specimens from healthy persons (for Y. enterocolitica, 5 specimens) and innoculated directly or after enrichment (105 bacteria/plate). After proper incubation, we counted suspected colonies and calculated true positive rate after identification of each colonies. RESULTS: For S. typhi, in the case of direct innoculation on the MacConkey, XLD and SS agar, positive rate of selected colonies were below 36.6%. After enrichment in SF broth for 8 hours, the rate were 80.0%, 83.0% and 70.0% respectively. For S. flexneri, the rates were 86.7%, 100%, 93.3% in direct innoculation, and were highest after enrichment in GN broth for two hours (93.3% in MacConkey and 100.0% in both XLD and SS agar). For V. cholerae, inspite of screening by catalase and oxidase tests, positive rate of selected colonies were 0% (0/7 colonies) in direct innoculation on the MacConkey. After enrichment in APW about 1 day and on TCBS agar, the rate were 100%. For Y. enterocolitica, after incubation at room temperature for 2 days, most selected colonies were Y. enterocolitica on CIN media. CONCLUSION: For more efficient detection of pathogenic bacteria in stool culture, combination of direct innoculation on MacConkey agar and on one or two selective media after proper enrichment process, should be considered.
Agar ; Bacteria ; Catalase ; Cholera ; Developed Countries ; Humans ; Laboratories, Hospital ; Mass Screening ; Oxidoreductases ; Salmonella ; Shigella ; Vibrio ; Yersinia

PURPOSE: This study examined and compared the associations of the iron status and food intake with the blood lead, mercury, and cadmium concentrations among Korean adolescent girls, premenopausal women, and postmenopausal women. METHODS: The data from the 2010~2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) was used. The subjects were classified into three groups: adolescent girls (n = 268), premenopausal women (n = 1,157), and postmenopausal women (n = 446). The iron status was assessed by hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum ferritin, and iron concentrations, as well as the total iron binding capacity (TIBC). The food intake was estimated by a food frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: The blood heavy metal concentrations and poisoning rate in postmenopausal women were higher than in the other groups. The iron status in the adolescent girls and postmenopausal women was higher than that in the premenopausal women. In the adolescent girls, the iron status was inversely associated with the blood cadmium concentration. The dairy food intake was inversely related to the blood lead and cadmium concentrations. In premenopausal women, the iron status was inversely associated with the cadmium concentrations. The fish and shellfish food intakes were positively associated with the mercury concentrations. In postmenopausal women, the iron status was positively associated with the mercury and cadmium concentrations. Fast foods and fried foods were inversely associated with the lead concentration. CONCLUSION: The premenopausal women showed a lower iron status than the adolescent girls and postmenopausal women. The associations of the iron status with the blood heavy metal concentrations were different among the adolescent girls, premenopausal women, and postmenopausal women. In addition, the relationships of the food intakes with the blood heavy metal concentrations differed among adolescent girls, premenopausal women, and postmenopausal women. Further studies will be needed to confirm these findings.
Adolescent* ; Cadmium ; Eating* ; Fast Foods ; Female* ; Ferritins ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Iron* ; Korea* ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Poisoning ; Shellfish

CHARGE syndrome has been estimated to occur in 1:10,000 births worldwide and shows various clinical manifestations. It is a genetic disorder characterized by a specific and a recognizable pattern of anomalies. The major clinical features are ocular coloboma, heart malformations, atresia of the choanae, growth retardation, genital hypoplasia, and ear abnormalities. The chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 7 (CHD7) gene, located on chromosome 8q12.1, causes CHARGE syndrome. The CHD7 protein is an adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent chromatin remodeling protein. A total of 67% of patients clinically diagnosed with CHARGE syndrome have CHD7 mutations. Five hundred twenty-eight pathogenic and unique CHD7 alterations have been identified so far. We describe a patient with a CHARGE syndrome diagnosis who carried a novel de novo mutation, a c.3896T>C (p. leu1299Pro) missense mutation, in the CHD7 gene. This finding will provide more information for genetic counseling and expand our understanding of the pathogenesis and development of CHARGE syndrome.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; CHARGE Syndrome* ; Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly ; Coloboma ; Diagnosis ; Ear ; Genetic Counseling ; Heart ; Humans ; Mutation, Missense ; Nasopharynx ; Parturition