No abstract available.
Exercise ; Health Behavior ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; *Motor Activity

OBJECTIVE: A growing body of literature has documented that job stress is associated with the development of cardiovascular disease. Nevertheless, the pathophysiological mechanism of this association remains unclear. Therefore, we tried to elucidate the relationship between job stress, heart rate variability and metabolic syndrome. METHOD: The study design was cross-sectional, and 169 industrial workers were recruited. A structured-questionnaire was used to assess the general characteristics and job characteristics (work demand, decision latitude). Heart rate variability (HRV) was recorded using SA-2000 (medi-core). HRV was assessed by time-domain and by frequency-domain analyses. Time domain analysis was performed for SDNN (Standard Deviation of NN interval), and spectral analysis for low-frequency (LF), high-frequency (HF) and total frequency power. Metabolic syndrome was defined on the basis of clustering of risk factors, when three or more of the following cardiovascular risk factors were included in the fifth quintile: glucose, systolic blood pressure, HDL-cholesterol (bottom quintile), triglyceride and waist-hip ratio. RESULTS: The results showed that job characteristics were not associated with cardiovascular risk factors. The high strain group had a less favorable cardiovascular risk profile with higher levels of blood pressure, glucose, homocysteine, and clotting factor than the lower strain group (low strain+passive+active group), but the difference was not statistically significant. The SDNN of HRV was significantly lower in the high strain group than in the low strain group. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the low strain, passive, active and high strain groups was 9.7%, 13.9%, 14.9% and 23.8%, respectively. In the high strain group, the metabolic syndrome was significantly related to a decreased SDNN. However, we could not find a significant association in LF/HF ratio. CONCLUSION: This result suggests that decreased HRV does not play a role in the development of disease; however, it can induce cardiovascular abnormalities or dysfunctions related to the onset of heart disease among high risk groups.
Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular Abnormalities ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Glucose ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Homocysteine ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Triglycerides ; Waist-Hip Ratio

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the causative organisms, clinical manifestations, and prognosis of pediatric patients with bacterial meningitis in Daejeon and Chungcheong area, occurred from 2006 to 2010. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients aged between 1 month and 15 years, diagnosed with bacterial meningitis at 8 university or general hospitals in Daejeon and Chungcheong area. The bacterial meningitis was defined by isolation of organism from cerebrospinal fluid(CSF). The data was collected from January 2006 to December 2010, and analyzed including patient's demographics, causative organisms, clinical presentation, laboratory findings and complications. RESULTS: During the 5-year study period, 24 patients were diagnosed with CSF culture-proven bacterial meningitis. The most common causative organism was Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae, 37.5%), and the others were group B streptococcus (GBS, 20.8%), Escherichia coli (E. coli, 16.7%), Neisseria meningitidis (N. meningitidis, 8.3%), Haemophilus influenzae (H. influenzae, 4.2%), respectively. They initially complained of fever (95.8%), vomiting (83.3%), anorexia (45.8%), seizure (29.2%), headache (20.8%). The leukocyte counts exceeding 1,000/mm3 in CSF was observed in 14 patients (58.3%). In 15 patients (62.5%), the glucose concentration in CSF was less than 50 mg/dL, 18 patients showed that the protein concentration in CSF was more than 100 mg/dL. Long-term neurologic sequelae were observed in 4 patients (16.7%) and described as hearing disturbance (2 patients), hemiparesis (1 patient) and endocrine dysfunction (1 patient). Ten patients (41.7%) showed abnormal neuroradiologic findings and the most common abnormalities was subdural effusion (25.0%). CONCLUSION: Compared to the previous study performed between 2001 and 2005, S. pneumonia continued to be the leading cause of the pediatric bacterial meningitis in Daejeon and Chungcheong area. The frequency of pneumococcal meningitis was not decreased, despite of the introduction of conjugated pneumococcal vaccination. On the other hand, H. influenzae meningitis was notably decreased.
Anorexia ; Demography ; Escherichia coli ; Fever ; Glucose ; Haemophilus influenzae ; Hand ; Headache ; Hearing ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Influenza, Human ; Leukocyte Count ; Medical Records ; Meningitis ; Meningitis, Bacterial* ; Meningitis, Pneumococcal ; Neisseria meningitidis ; Paresis ; Pneumonia ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures ; Streptococcus ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Subdural Effusion ; Vaccination ; Vomiting

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of lecithin, mono-glyceride and mono-diglyceride on apparent total tract and ileal nutrient digestibilities in nursery pigs. Twenty [(Landrace x Yorkshire) x Duroc] barrows were surgically fitted with simple T-cannulas. Dietary treatments included 1) CON (basal diet: soy oil), 2) LO (lecithin 0.5%), 3) MO (mono-glyceride 0.5%), 4) MG (mono-glyceride 1.0%) and 5) MDG (mono-diglyceride 1.0%). In apparent total tract nutrient digestibility, dry matter (DM) and gross energy (GE) digestibilities of MDG treatments were higher than LO and MG treatments (p<0.05). In nitrogen (N) digestibility, LO treatment showed the lowest compared to others (p<0.05). The digestibility of crude fat was higher in MDG treatment than CON and LO treatments (p<0.05). In apparent ileal nutrient digestibility, DM digestibility was higher in MDG treatment than LO and MG treatments (p<0.05). GE digestibility was higher in MDG treatment than LO, MO and MG treatments (p<0.05). N digestibility of MDG treatment was greater than LO treatment (p<0.05). Also, the digestibility of crude fat was higher in MDG treatment than CON and LO treatments (p<0.05). In conclusion, mono-diglyceride can increase apparent total tract nutrient and apparent ileal nutrient digestibilities of DM, GE, N and crude fat.
Lecithins ; Nitrogen ; Nurseries ; Swine

Background:From April to July in 2009 and 2010,unexplained severe hemorrhagic fever-like illnesses occurred in farmers from the Huaiyangshan mountains range.Methods:Clinical specimens (blood,urine,feces,and throat swabs) from suspected patients were obtained and stored.Mosquitoes and ticks in affected regions were collected.Virus was isolated from 2 patients and characterized by whole genome sequencing.Virus detection in additional patients and arthropods was done by virus-specific reverse transcription (RT) PCR.Clinical and epidemiological data of RT-PCR confirmed patients were analyzed.Results:An unknown virus was isolated from blood of two patients and from Haemaphysalis ticks collected from dogs.Whole genome sequence analysis identified the virus as a novel member of the family Bunyaviridae,most closely related to the viruses of the genus Phlebovirus within which it forms a separate lineage.Subsequently,infection was confirmed by RT-PCR in 33 of 58 suspected patients.The illness in these patients was characterized by fever,severe malaise,nausea,vomiting,and diarrhea.Prominent laboratory findings included low white cell- and platelet counts,coagulation disturbances,and elevation of liver enzymes.Hemorrhagic complications were observed in 3 cases,5 (15%) patients died.Conclusions:A novel tick-borne Bunyavirus causing life-threatening hemorrhagic fever in humans has emerged in the Huaiyangshan mountain areas of China.Further studies are needed to determine the epidemiology,geographic distribution and vertebrate animal ecology of this virus.

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to evaluate the change of [18F]fluoromisonidazole ([18F]FMISO) uptake in C3H mouse squamous cell carcinoma-VII (SCC-VII) treated with mild hyperthermia (42oC) and nicotinamide and to assess the biodistribution of the markers in normal tissues under similar conditions. METHODS AND MATERIALS: [18F]FMISO was producedby our hospital. Female C3H mice with a C3H SCC-VII tumor grown on their extremities were used. Tumors were size matched. Non-anaesthetized, tumor-bearing mice underwent control or mild hyperthermia at 42oC for 60 min with nicotinamide (50 mg/kg i.p. injected) and were examined by gamma counter, autoradiography and animal PET scan 3 hours after tracer i.v. injected with breathing room air. The biodistribution of these agents were obtained at 3 h after [18F]FMISO injection. Blood, tumor, muscle, heart, lung, liver, kidney, brain, bone, spleen, and intestine were removed, counted for radioactivity and weighed. The tumor and liver were frozen and cut with a cryomicrotome into 10-micrometer sections. The spatial distribution of radioactivity from the tissue sections was determined with digital autoradiography. RESULTS: The mild hyperthermia with nicotinamide treatment had only slight effects on the biodistribution of either marker in normal tissues. We observed that the whole tumor radioactivity uptake ratios were higher in the control mice than in the mild hyperthermia with nicotinamide treated mice for [18F]FMISO (1.56+/-1.03 vs. 0.67+/-0.30; p=0.063). In addition, autoradiography and animal PET scan demonstrated that the area and intensity of [18F]FMISO uptake was significantly decreased. CONCLUSION: Mild hyperthermia and nicotinamide significantly improved tumor hypoxia using [18F]FMISO and this uptake reflected tumor hypoxic status.
Animals ; Anoxia* ; Autoradiography ; Brain ; Extremities ; Female ; Fever* ; Humans ; Intestines ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lung ; Mice* ; Mice, Inbred C3H ; Myocardium ; Niacinamide ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Radioactivity ; Respiration ; Spleen

BACKGROUNDWater dropwort (Oenanthe javanica) as a popular traditional medicine in Asia shows various biological properties including antioxidant activity. In this study, we firstly examined the neuroprotective effect of Oenanthe javanica extract (OJE) in the hippocampal cornus ammonis 1 region (CA1 region) of the gerbil subjected to transient cerebral ischemia.

METHODSGerbils were established by the occlusion of common carotid arteries for 5 min. The neuroprotective effect of OJE was estimated by cresyl violet staining. In addition, 4 antioxidants (copper, zinc superoxide dismutase [SOD], manganese SOD, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase) immunoreactivities were investigated by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSPyramidal neurons in the CA1 region showed neuronal death at 5 days postischemia; at this point in time, all antioxidants immunoreactivities disappeared in CA1 pyramidal neurons and showed in many nonpyramidal cells. Treatment with 200 mg/kg, not 100 mg/kg, OJE protected CA1 pyramidal neurons from ischemic damage. In addition, 200 mg/kg OJE treatment increased or maintained antioxidants immunoreactivities. Especially, among the antioxidants, glutathione peroxidase immunoreactivity was effectively increased in the CA1 pyramidal neurons of the OJE-treated sham-operated and ischemia-operated groups.

CONCLUSIONOur present results indicate that treatment with OJE can protect neurons from transient ischemic damage and that the neuroprotective effect may be closely associated with increased or maintained intracellular antioxidant enzymes by OJE.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; therapeutic use ; Gerbillinae ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Ischemic Attack, Transient ; prevention & control ; Male ; Oenanthe ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; therapeutic use

BACKGROUNDOenanthe javanica (O. javanica) has been known to have high antioxidant properties via scavenging reactive oxygen species. We examined the effect of O. javanica extract (OJE) on antioxidant enzymes in the rat liver.

METHODSWe examined the effect of the OJE on copper, zinc-superoxide dismutase (SOD1), manganese superoxide dismutase (SOD2), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in the rat liver using immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to three groups; (1) normal diet fed group (normal-group), (2) diet containing ascorbic acid (AA)-fed group (AA-group) as a positive control, (3) diet containing OJE-fed group (OJE-group).

RESULTSIn this study, no histopathological finding in the rat liver was found in all the experimental groups. Numbers of SOD1, SOD2, CAT, and GPx immunoreactive cells and their protein levels were significantly increased in the AA-fed group compared with those in the normal-group. On the other hand, in the OJE-group, numbers of SOD1, SOD2, CAT, and GPx immunoreactive cells in the liver were significantly increased by about 190%, 478%, 685%, and 346%, respectively, compared with those in the AA-group. In addition, protein levels of SOD1, SOD2, CAT, and GPx in the OJE-group were also significantly much higher than those in the AA-group.

CONCLUSIONOJE significantly increased expressions of SOD1 and SOD2, CAT, and GPx in the liver cells of the rat, and these suggests that significant enhancements of endogenous enzymatic antioxidants by OJE might be a legitimate strategy for decreasing oxidative stresses in the liver.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Ascorbic Acid ; pharmacology ; Catalase ; metabolism ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver ; drug effects ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Male ; Oenanthe ; chemistry ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Background: and Purpose The rate of donepezil discontinuation and the underlying reasons for discontinuation in Asian patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are currently unknown. We aimed to determine the treatment discontinuation rates in AD patients who had newly been prescribed donepezil in routine clinical practice in Asia. Methods: This 1-year observational study involved 38 institutions in seven Asian countries, and it evaluated 398 participants aged 50–90 years with a diagnosis of probable AD and on newly prescribed donepezil monotherapy. The primary endpoint was the rate of donepezil discontinuation over 1 year. Secondary endpoints included the reason for discontinuation,treatment duration, changes in cognitive function over the 1-year study period, and compliance as assessed using a clinician rating scale (CRS) and visual analog scale (VAS). Results: Donepezil was discontinued in 83 (20.9%) patients, most commonly due to an adverse event (43.4%). The mean treatment duration was 103.67 days in patients who discontinued. Among patients whose cognitive function was assessed at baseline and 1 year, there were no significant changes in scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and Trail-Making Test–Black and White scores, whereas the Clinical Dementia Rating score increased significantly (p<0.001). Treatment compliance at 1 year was 96.8% (306/316) on the CRS and 92.6±14.1% (mean±standard deviation) on the VAS. Conclusions In patients on newly prescribed donepezil, the primary reason for discontinuation was an adverse event. Cognitive assessments revealed no significant worsening at 1 year, indicating that continuous donepezil treatment contributes to the maintenance of cognitive function.

Background: and Purpose The rate of donepezil discontinuation and the underlying reasons for discontinuation in Asian patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are currently unknown. We aimed to determine the treatment discontinuation rates in AD patients who had newly been prescribed donepezil in routine clinical practice in Asia. Methods: This 1-year observational study involved 38 institutions in seven Asian countries, and it evaluated 398 participants aged 50–90 years with a diagnosis of probable AD and on newly prescribed donepezil monotherapy. The primary endpoint was the rate of donepezil discontinuation over 1 year. Secondary endpoints included the reason for discontinuation,treatment duration, changes in cognitive function over the 1-year study period, and compliance as assessed using a clinician rating scale (CRS) and visual analog scale (VAS). Results: Donepezil was discontinued in 83 (20.9%) patients, most commonly due to an adverse event (43.4%). The mean treatment duration was 103.67 days in patients who discontinued. Among patients whose cognitive function was assessed at baseline and 1 year, there were no significant changes in scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and Trail-Making Test–Black and White scores, whereas the Clinical Dementia Rating score increased significantly (p<0.001). Treatment compliance at 1 year was 96.8% (306/316) on the CRS and 92.6±14.1% (mean±standard deviation) on the VAS. Conclusions In patients on newly prescribed donepezil, the primary reason for discontinuation was an adverse event. Cognitive assessments revealed no significant worsening at 1 year, indicating that continuous donepezil treatment contributes to the maintenance of cognitive function.