Estrous cycle -related histological and histochemical changes in the vaginal epithelium of mature female rats were studied with PAS (periodic acid Schiff) alcian blue pH 2.5 and biotinylated lectins (DBA, SBA, PNA, BSL -1, sWGA, UEA -1, RCA -1, Con A and LCA).The prominent characteristic changes that occured during the estrous cycle were mucinous transformation in proestrus and cornification in estrus. In proestrus, the superficial mucinous cells of the epithelium were increased in number and enlarged in size, and the amount of acid and neutral mucosubstances was more increase in proestrus than in diestrus and metestrus. About the binding pattern of all lectins examined to the superficial mucinous cells, in diestrus, the binding pattern of these cells showed a similar affinity as in metestrus with intense DBA and UEA -1 reactivity. In proestrus, however, these cells were reactive with seven lectins examined except LCA and PNA, and DBA, SBA, BSL -1, RCA -1 and UEA -1 reacted more strongly than in diestrus and metestrus. In estrus, the superficial cornified cell layers showed a weak reactivity of SBA, BSL -1 and PNA. In diestrus and metestrus, the mucinous cells in the intermediate layers of the basal portion of vaginal fold stained with eight lectins examined except LCA and showed the same binding pattern to the superficial mucinous cells. About the distribution of glycoconjugates in the intermediate layer, the upper spindle cells showed different binding pattern according to the estrous stages. In diestrus, estrus, and metestrus, these cells showed a affinity for all lectins examined. In proestrus, however, DBA and PNA staining were not observed, and stained more intensely with sWGA, SBA and UEA -1, and less intensely with BSL -1 and RCA - 1. In estrus, DBA and PNA reactivity reappeared as trace, and RCA -1 and sWGA reactivity increased. In metestrus, sWGA reactivity reduced and BSL -1 and UEA -1 increased continually. The lower rounded cells of the intermediate layers stained with all lectins examined in estrus, with six lectins examined except Con A, DBA and UEA -1 in proestrus and with five lectins examined except DBA, UEA -1, sWGA and BSL -1 in diestrus and metestrus. BSL -1 reactivity for the layers increased in proestrus, estrus and metestrus, and PNA reactivity increased in estrus and reduced in metestrus. The basal layer of the vaginal epithelium showed different binding pattern to the different portion of vagina, and showed faint staining of BSL -1, SBA and RCA -1, and moderately staining of BSL -1 in proestrus and estrus. In conclusion, alpha /-N -acetyl -D -galactosamine, alpha /-D -galactose and alpha -L -fucose participate in the mucinous transformation of the vaginal epithelium, and beta -N -acetyl -D -glucosamine participates in the cornification of the vaginal epithelium.
Alcian Blue ; Animals ; Diestrus ; Epithelium* ; Estrous Cycle* ; Estrus ; Female ; Glycoconjugates ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Lectins ; Metestrus ; Mucins ; Proestrus ; Rats* ; Vagina

This study investigated the effects of type D personality, depression and stress on quality of life in migraine patients and aimed to identify factors that affected their quality of life. Methods: In this descriptive study, the participants were 132 outpatients who were diagnosed with migraine at the Department of Neurology at J National University Hospital. The data were collected from June 20 to December 30, 2021, and analyzed using descriptive statistics, the independent t-test, the x2 test, one-way analysis of variance, the Scheffé test, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression. Results: The factors affecting quality of life in migraine patients were found to be type D personality (β=.58 p<.001) and depression (β=-.30 p<.001), and the explanatory power of the model was 53.0% (F=22.07, p<.001). Conclusion: It is necessary to develop a strategy for improving the quality of life for migraine patients that would consist of first identifying patients with type D personality and then offering them an intervention that addresses both physical symptoms and psychological health issues, such as depression.

No abstract available.

BACKGROUND: Facial involvement of psoriasis requires a different approach than that used for typical plaque psoriasis on other skin areas. Calcitriol ointment may improve lesions on the face without atrophy or other local side effects associated with the use of topical corticosteroids. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine the efficacy and tolerability of calcitriol 3 microgram/g ointment for the treatment of facial psoriasis. METHODS: In the psoriasis clinic of Seoul National University Hospital, a total of 53 patients were treated with calcitriol 3 microgram/g for 8 weeks. Efficacy was evaluated by an investigator's assessment of the area and a severity index score of facial psoriasis at the 2nd, 4th, and 8th week. Global assessment was also determined at the 8th week. RESULTS: A total of 10 patients discontinued prematurely from the study, due to disappearing during follow-up treatment (n=9) and combined use of topical corticosteroids (n=1). The remaining patients showed the following response to treatment; excellent (n=10), good (n=14), fair (n=11), and poor (n=8). After 8 weeks of treatment with calcitriol ointment, clinical improvement was achieved in 81.4% of the patients. Among them, 55.8% showed excellent (23.3%) or good effect (32.5%) with calcitriol ointment. Five patients (11.6%) showed a local adverse reaction such as erythema, exfoliation, or an itching sensation, and 2 patients discontinued treatment due to adverse reactions. However, no patient showed telangiectasia, skin atrophy, or systemic side effects. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that calcitriol ointment is an effective and tolerable agent for treatment of psoriasis on the face.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Atrophy ; Calcitriol* ; Erythema ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Pruritus ; Psoriasis* ; Sensation ; Seoul ; Skin ; Telangiectasis

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine whether the enuresis subtype, on the basis of nocturnal hypercalciuria, can be generally accepted. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Since 2003, 58 children visited our clinic for nocturnal enuresis, and were enrolled in this study. Patients were followed to evaluate the treatment response after three months medical treatment. Patients were divided into 3 groups; group 1 had nocturnal polyuria, group 2 had non-nocturnal polyuria and group 3 did not have nocturnal enuresis. The urine creatinine, osmolarity and calcium were measured in urine obtained both during the day and night. Hypercalciuria was defined as a urinary calcium to urinary creatinine ratio greater than 0.20. The treatment response was measured as a full, partial or non-response in the nocturnal hypercalciuria and non-nocturnal hypercalciuric groups. Statistical evaluation was performed using Pearson correlation, chi-squared, Student's t-test (paired) and ANOVA tests. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the calciuria to urinary creatinine ratios between the groups in the urine obtained during the night. There were no significant differences in urinary Ca/kg/12 hours between the groups, with the exception of a significant increase at night in group 1. There were no statistically significant correlations between nocturnal polyuria and nocturnal calciuria between the three groups. During the 3 months after medical therapy, there were no significant differences in the response rates between the nocturnal hyperclaciuria and non-nocturnal hypercalciuria groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, no evidence could be for hypercalciuria affecting nocturnal polyuria, including the treatment response results. Therefore, as the first diagnostic method of enuresis, the hypercalciuria measurement can not be recommended. Further study is necessary to classify the enuresis subtype on the basis of nocturnal hypercalciuria.
Calcium ; Child ; Creatinine ; Deamino Arginine Vasopressin ; Enuresis* ; Humans ; Hypercalciuria* ; Nocturnal Enuresis ; Osmolar Concentration ; Polyuria ; Prospective Studies*

In response to invading pathogens, the body immune system develops an immediate defense mechanism, i.e., innate immune response, which is detected in almost all living organisms including mammals, plants, insects, etc. Recent studies have identified numerous innate immune receptors that are able to recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns and transduce the essential intracellular signaling cascades to mount early and successful host defenses against infectious challenge. Among innate immune receptors, we will focus on two important receptors, toll-like receptors (TLRs) and nucleotide binding oligomerization domain (Nod)-like receptors, and their major intracellular signaling pathways that culminate to activate innate immune effectors and inflammatory mediators during pathogen infection. In this review, we address the recent advances of understanding intracellular signaling mechanisms by which TLRs and NLRs activate host immune defense and inflammation. The role and regulatory mechanisms by which a subet of NLRs-associated inflammasome activation induce interleukin-1beta secretion and their relevance with host defense will be also discussed. Both TLR- and NLR-mediated intracellular signaling networks serve crucial roles in mounting resistance to bacterial and viral infection through synthesis of immune mediators and antimicrobial chemicals during infection.
Immune System ; Immunity, Innate ; Inflammation ; Insects ; Interleukin-1beta ; Mammals ; Toll-Like Receptors*

BACKGOUND: Narrow-band ultraviolet B (NBUVB) phototherapy has appeared to be effective in clearing psoriatic lesions. Calcipotriol has been combined with a number of the systemic antipsoriatic treatments, improving efficacy or reducing the systemic treatment required. OBJECTIVE: We performed calcipotriol-NBUVB combination therapy to evaluate the clinical efficacy and the safety in Korean psoriasis patients. METHOD: In the psoriasis clinic at Seoul National University Hospital, 69 psoriasis patients were treated with calcipotriol-NBUVB. Phototherapy was given once daily, three times a week, and the dose was gradually increased. Calcipotriol ointment was applied twice a day. The PASI score was used to evaluate the effects of the treatment and the patients were classified according to clearance, improvement, or failure. RESULTS: The therapeutic results showed 53.6% for clearance, 31.9% for improvement and 14.5% for failure. The total number, duration, final and cumulative doses to achieve grade IV were 16.1, 41.8days, 1487.3mJ/cm2, and 15234.5mJ/cm(2) respectively. Of 69 patients, 44 patients experienced variable adverse effects, but there was no significant adverse effect to discontinue the therapy. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that using calcipotriol ointment with NBUVB phototherapy is an effective therapeutic method for psoriatic patients.
Humans ; Phototherapy* ; Psoriasis ; Seoul

Duodenal web is a very rare congenital anomaly which usually causes clinical features of intestinal obstruction from early infancy. It shows characteristic findings in the radiologic contrast study or endoscopy. But in the cases with large openings, preoperative diagnosis of web is difficult and often is overlooked until adolescence or adulthood because of delayed onset of symptoms. Duodenal web is usually single near the ampulla of Vater and may be multiple. Only a few cases of double duodenal webs have been reported in the literature. We experienced a case of double duodenal web in a 15 year-old girl who complained of peptic ulcer-associated symptoms including epigastric pain and bloody stool. She had suffered from longstanding abdominal symptoms, malnutrition and iron-deficiency anemia. We propose that duodenal web should be kept in mind for patients with a history of chronic gastrointestinal obstructive symptoms and atypical peptic ulcer.
Adolescent ; Ampulla of Vater ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; Diagnosis ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Malnutrition ; Peptic Ulcer*

Decreased number of the Neuropeptide-Y[NPY] immunoreactive neurons in the corpus striatum and primary motor cortex of aged rat was detected by the immunohistochemical method. The animals were categorized into control and aged group and we used 10 Sprague-Dawley rat weighing 250-300gm for control group. 10 Sprague-Dawley rat weighing over 600gm for aged group. The number of NPY-immunoreactive neurons in corpus striatum and primary motor cortex were counted under the light microscope and the following results were obtained. 1. The NPY-immunoreactive neurons were evenly distributed in corpus striatum and in the primaty motor cortex, the NPY-immunoreactive neurons were concentrated within the layer II, III and layer V, VI. The typical NPY-immunoreactive perikarya was multipolar shape. 2. Decreased number of NPY-immunoreactive neurons were detected in some areas of corpus striatum and primary mortor cortex of the aged rat. 3. Decrease of NPY-immunoreactive neurons were most prominent in the caudate-putamen and there were moderate decrease of NPY-immunoreactive neurons in the primary motor cortex, mild decrease of NPY-immunoreactive neurons in the nucleus accumbens but the NPY-immunoreactive neurons were not observed in the globus pallidus in both control and aged rat. NPY is supposed to act as a neurotransmitter of local circuit neurons in the striatum and may exert its potent vasoconstrictor effects on cerebral vessels which influences on the microcirculation of cerebral cortex and striatum. So our results seems to provide an important data on change of the function in the striatum and primary motor cortex of aged rat brain.
Aging ; Animals ; Brain ; Cerebral Cortex ; Corpus Striatum* ; Globus Pallidus ; Microcirculation ; Motor Cortex ; Neurons* ; Neuropeptide Y* ; Neuropeptides* ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Nucleus Accumbens ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUND: In Korea, the effort to control the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has succeeded, but we have to maintain vigilance against SARS and other infectious diseases, because many experts warn that SARS may return or that other infectious agents could spread globally. The purpose of this study is to describe the degree of knowledge of hospital employees, assuming full responsibility for treating and attending to SARS suspected case, and to elucidate the attitude to SARS using questionnaires. METHOD: All employees of Kangwon university hospital were eligible for this study. We used validated questionnaires to survey demographic characteristics, the degree of knowledge of SARS, intention of treating and attending suspected cases, influence and effects of SARS on the community, and acquisition of information about SARS. RESULT: Based on the 251 completed surveys, out of 280 returned the score for knowledge about SARS was 72.0+/-13.7, 50.6% responded positively about joining a SARS team, and 23.1% were opposed to the designation for quarantining. There was no relationship between the degree of knowledge of SARS and the attitudes to it. Most employees wanted to know how to manage SARS patients and how to prevent SARS. CONCLUSION: The attitudes to SARS were not affected by the level of knowledge of SARS. We suggest that national policies about SARS and other infectious diseases should be promulgated using the mass media and internet to provide information on rapidly spreading infectious agents, especially about the proper protocol for treating suspected cases and the appropriate steps to prevent or reduce the risk.
Communicable Diseases ; Gangwon-do ; Humans ; Intention ; Internet ; Korea ; Mass Media ; Quarantine ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome