Evidence for involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) in the regulation of glucose metabolism dates back to the 19th century, although the majority of the research on glucose metabolism has focused on the peripheral metabolic organs. Due to recent advances in neuroscience, it has now become clear that the CNS is indeed vital for maintaining glucose homeostasis. To achieve normoglycemia, specific populations of neurons and glia in the hypothalamus sense changes in the blood concentrations of glucose and of glucoregulatory hormones such as insulin, leptin, glucagon-like peptide 1, and glucagon. This information is integrated and transmitted to other areas of the brain where it eventually modulates various processes in glucose metabolism (i.e., hepatic glucose production, glucose uptake in the brown adipose tissue and skeletal muscle, pancreatic insulin and glucagon secretion, renal glucose reabsorption, etc.). Errors in these processes lead to hyper- or hypoglycemia. We here review the current understanding of the brain regulation of glucose metabolism.

In this study, among intermittent exotropia cases, 38 cases indicating sensory anomaly of diplopia and 27 cases indicating sensory anomaly of suppression, and tried to compare the results of operation. Cases of diplopia ranged from 3 years of age to 21 years of age averaging 4.5 years of age, and the follow up period after operation ranged from 2 months to 18 months averaging 6.5 months. The success rate of operation in cases of diplopia was 92%(35/38), and that in cases of suppression was 74%(20/27). Consequently, among intermittent exotropia patiens indicating sensory anomaly the case of diplopia can be said to be higher in the success rate of operation than that of suppression.
Diplopia ; Exotropia* ; Follow-Up Studies

BACKGROUND: The early diagnosis of invasive candidiasis is the most important for reducing of morbidity and mortality rates in the immunocompromised patients. The study of antigen detection was performed by Cand-Tec kit, but antibody detection by Western blot, had not been reported. OBJECTIVE: We reviewed 62 cases of suspected invasive candidiasis(10), immunocompromised patients with leukemia, leukopenia, pneumonia, et al(44) and normal colonization control(8) in the urine and sputum for the immunological diagnosis of invasive candidiasis by Cand-Tec and Western blot assays. METHODS: The antigen and antibody detection were done by both Cand-Tec kit and Western blot assay, in the sera of the patients collected from several hospitals. RESULTS: The sera from 4(40%) and 8(80%) of 10 suspected invasive candidiasis had a threshold positive titers of > or = 1:4 by latex agglutination (Cand-Tec) and the results of positive antibody to the immunodominant antigen (47KDa) of Candida spp. by Western blot assay, each other. Both antigen and antibody we.e detected from 21(47%) of 44 patients in the immunocompromised group and 1(12%) of 8 cases with normal flora, separately, but the antibodies from 3(18%) of 16 healthy controls were detected by Western blot analysis, only. CONCLUSION: This study confirm that the Western blot method of detecting antibody against immunodominant antigen(47KDa) of Candida spp. was more effective than antigen detection by Cand-Tec method for immunodiagnosis of invasive candidiasis.
Agglutination ; Antibodies ; Blotting, Western ; Candida ; Candidiasis, Invasive* ; Colon ; Diagnosis* ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Immunologic Tests ; Latex ; Leukemia ; Leukopenia ; Mortality ; Pneumonia ; Sputum

A nationwide survey was performed to know the distribution and prevalence of human Gymnophalloides seoi infection on western and southern coastal islands in the Republic of Korea. A total of 4,178 fecal specimens were collected from residents on 45 (24 western and 21 southern) islands, and examined by Kato-Katz and formalin-ether sedimentation techniques. Eggs of G. seoi were detected from 160 (3.8%) people living on 22 (13 western and 9 southern) islands. The prevalence varied by the location of islands; higher on western islands than on southern islands. The highest prevalence was found on Amtaedo (25.3%), followed by Cheungdo (25.0%), and Anchwado (20.9%) (Shinan-gun). A little lower prevalence was observed on Munyodo (13.3%), Shinshido (12.9%), and Sonyudo (10.3%) (Kunsan-shi). Of the remaining islands, the regions showing the prevalence greater than 5% included Kohado, Dallido (Mokpo-shi), Pyeongildo, Kogumdo (Wando-gun), and Keogumdo (Kohung-gun). A strong age predilection was noted (P < 0.05); 95% of the infected people were over 40 years old. Females showed a little higher prevalence than males. The results indicate that human G. seoi infection is more widely distributed than previously considered. Nine of 11 islands (excluding the 2 known areas Munyodo and Sunyudo) that showed greater prevalence than 5% are regarded as new endemic foci of G. seoi.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Animals ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Human ; Infant ; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/*epidemiology ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Sex Factors ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Trematode Infections/*epidemiology

BACKGROUND: Intrathecal (IT) neostigmine produces analgesia in animal and human. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of IT neostigmine for post-cesarean section analgesia. METHODS: Forty-five women undergoing cesarean section under spinal anesthesia were randomly assigned into 3 groups to receive; normal saline 0.2 ml, or neostigmine 12.5 microgram, or neostigmine 25 microgram intrathecally with 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine 12 mg. Degrees of sensory and motor blocks, maternal hemodynamic changes, and side effects were recorded. Apgar scores and umbilical vein blood gas analysis (UVBGA) were checked for evaluation of fetal status. Postoperative analgesia was provided by intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) using fentanyl 500 microgram and ketorolac 150 mg in 100 ml. Pain scores with 10-cm visual analogue scale (VAS), time to first PCA use, cumulative PCA consumptions, and side effects were assessed at 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 hr after IT injection. RESULTS: There were no significant differences among the three groups in characteristics of spinal anesthesia, maternal blood pressure and heart rate, Apgar scores, and UVBGA data. Compared to saline group, IT neostigmine significantly prolonged time to first PCA use and decreased 24 hr- and 48 hr-PCA consumptions (P<0.05). Pain scores in neostigmine groups were significantly lower than those in saline group for first 4 hr after which there were no differences among the three groups. There were significantly higher incidences of nausea and vomiting in neostigmine groups than in saline group. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that IT neostigmine can be an alternative postoperative analgesic without adverse fetal effects for cesarean section. However, high incidence of nausea and vomiting seem to limit its clinical usefulness. Further studies are necessary to enhance its analgesic effects and to decrease its adverse effects.
Analgesia* ; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Animals ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Blood Pressure ; Bupivacaine ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Fentanyl ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Incidence ; Ketorolac ; Nausea ; Neostigmine* ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Pregnancy ; Umbilical Veins ; Vomiting

During February 1982 to Septemner 1983, a total of 105 domestic ducks (Anas platyrhynchos var. domestica Linnaeus) were collected from Ichon Gun, Puasn City, Chunchon City, Yanggu Gun, Taejeon City and unknown areas in Korea. In the results, six trematode and one nematode species of helminth parasites were obtained and described as follows: Amphimerus anatis Yamaguti, 1933, Echinostoma miyagawai Ishii, 1932, Echinochasmus japonicus Tanabe, 1926, Cryptocotyle sp., Notocotylus attenuatus (Rudolphi, 1809) Kossack, 1911, Apatemon sp, and nematode species, Heterakis gallinarum Schrank, 1788. From this collection, Amphimerus anatis Yamaguti, 1933, Echinochasmus japonicus Tanabe, 1926, Genus Cryptocotyle Luhe, 1899 and genus Apatemon Szidat, 1928 were firtstly recorded in Korea.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda ; duck ; Anas platyrhyncos var. domestica ; epidemiology ; Amphimerus anatis Echinostoma miyagawai ; Echinochasmus japonicus ; Cryptocotyle sp. ; Notocotylus attenuatus ; Heterakis gallinarum ; Amphimerus anatis

Efficacy of praziquantel (Cesocide injection) by intramuscular (I.M.) route against cestode infections was evaluated. Total 93 domestic or laboratory animals such as dogs, cats, rats, mice, goats, deers and chickens were used. Animals were infected with Dipylidium caninum, Spirometra sp., Taenia pisiformis, Taenia taeniaeformis, Hymenolepis nana, Moniezia expansa, Moniezia sp. or Raillietina sp. A single dose of praziquantel, 6 mg/kg of body weight, was highly effective (97.9%) against cestodes of various kinds disregarding the host species or their intensity of infection. At high dose above 6 mg/kg, the cure rate was 100%. All the cestodes treated were expelled from the host within 48 hours. The discharged proglottids were damaged severely except Hymenolepis nana and Moniezia expansa. Intramuscular injection of this drug evoked a brief pain response in a dog, but no other side reactions were observed.
parasitology-helminth-cestoda ; Dipylidium caninum ; Spirometra sp. ; Taenia pisiformis ; Taenia taeniaeformis ; Hymenolepis nana ; Moniezia expansa ; Moniezia sp. ; Raillietina sp. ; dog ; cat ; rat ; mouse ; goat ; deer ; chicken ; chemotherapy ; praziquantel ; intramuscular injection ; animals ; tapeworms ; cestodes

Medicolegal autopsy is a vital tool for obtaining reliable injury mortality data. This study statistically analyzed data obtained from medicolegal autopsies performed in Korea in 2013. The aim of this study was to analyze various aspects of the 4,861 deaths that were categorized as unusual in Korea in 2013. A total of 4,861 deaths were analyzed by gender, age, manner of death, and cause of death. Of the 4,861 deaths, 3,542 (73.3%) were of men and 1,302 (26.7%) were of women. With respect to the manner of death, 54.4% were recorded as unnatural deaths, 38.8% were natural deaths, and 6.9% had unknown causes. Of the 2,642 unnatural deaths, 45.0% were determined to be accidental deaths, 26.3% suicidal, 16.9% homicidal, and 11.8% undetermined. Of the total number of unnatural deaths, 42.1% were trauma-related deaths, for which falling down accounted for 33.8%. Asphyxiation accounted for 16.0% of unnatural deaths, and of these, the predominant cause was hanging (58.8%). In addition, 14.4% of deaths were due to drowning, 12.9% poisoning, 11.0% thermal injuries, 1.8% complications arising from medical procedures, and 0.8% electrocution, starvation, or neglect. Among the 1,886 natural deaths, heart diseases accounted for 52.0% and vascular diseases accounted for 16.9%. Of the 196 deaths among children under the age of 10 years, 41.8% were recorded as unnatural deaths, 45.1% were natural deaths, and 1.5% had unknown causes.
Autopsy* ; Cause of Death ; Child ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Drowning ; Female ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Mortality ; Poisoning ; Starvation ; Vascular Diseases

The applicability of indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was compared with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in sera from 163 cases of confirmed neurocysticercosis, 101 other neurologic and parasitic diseases and 100 normal controls. As antigen, frozen sections of a Taenia solium metacestode from a human brain was used in IFAT and cystic fluid was used in ELISA. For the detection of specific IgG antibody, IFAT was equally sensitive (89. 6%) and specific (85. l%) as ELISA. The antibody titers by IFAT were correspondingly increased with mean absorbance of ELISA. The corresponding rate of positivity in the two techniques was 90.8%. Except for the difficulty in detecting antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), IFAT was concluded to be very useful for the serodiagnosis of human neurocysticercosis.
parasitology-helminth-cestoda ; Taenia solium ; cysticercus ; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ; cerebrospinal fluid ; brain ; IgG ; immunofluorescence ; immunology

PURPOSE: To estimate the reporting rate of tuberculosis in one medium-sized city in Korea. METHODS: Data claimed by national health insurance corporationand notification data of KTBS (Korea Tuberculosis Surveillance System) were compared through medical record-linkage method. Regarding the cases that were claimed medical care fee as tuberculosis but not notified to KTBS, we reviewed medical charts of the patients and investigated the reasons of failure to notify. RESULTS: Number of cases claimed health insurance fee as tuberculosis occurrences in Cheonan was 2,331 in 2007, while 956 cases were matched as notified cases to KTBS after electronic record-linkage by personal identifier. Among remaining 1,375 cases that were not matched, real missed cases through medical record review survey were found to be 104. The reasons of failure to notify were because of 'not tuberculosis patients' (500, 36.4%), 'notified in 2006' (421, 30.6%), 'diseases coding error' (341, 24.8%) and 'notified as other diseases' (9, 0.7%). Therefore, the corrected reporting rate was calculated at 93% (95% CI: 91.6% - 94.2%). Notably, reporting rate of clinics (58.1%) was significantly lower than those of hospitals (93.4%) or general hospitals (96.6%). CONCLUSIONS: All cases of tuberculosis diagnosis, which were claimed and not notified, were verified, the reporting rate was not as low as that of the data known through media. However, to reach the goal of tuberculosis elimination (reporting rate over 95%), more effort into improvement of the reporting system is necessary.
Clinical Coding ; Disease Notification ; Electronics ; Electrons ; Fees and Charges ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Insurance, Health ; Mandatory Reporting ; Medical Record Linkage ; Medical Records ; National Health Programs ; Private Sector ; Tuberculosis