This study examined the effects of excess intake of calcium(Ca) and iron(Fe) supplements on iron bioavailability, liver and kidney functions in anemic model rats. Seven-week-old female rats were first fed and Fe-deficient diet for ten weeks, and then fed one of nine experimental diets for an additional eight weeks, containing three levels of Ca, normal (0.5%) or high(1.5%) or excess (2.5%) and three levels of Fe, normal(35ppm) or high(210 ppm) or excess(350ppm). In anemic model rats, serum Fe, total iron binding capacity(TIBC), hemogolin(Hb), hematocrit(Hct) and liver Fe contents were significantly decreased. Apparent Fe absorption significantly increased with increasing dietary Fe levels, and decreased with increasing dietary Ca levels. serum Fe concentration significantly increased in rats fed a high- and excess-Fe diet, and decreased in rats fed a excess-Ca diet. TIBC was decreawed in rats fed a excess-Ca diet, and transferrin saturation(%) increased in rats fed ahigh- and excess-Fe diet. Hb and Hct were decreased in rats fed an excess-Ca diet regardless of dietary Fe levels. Fe and thiobarbituric acid reactin gsubstance(TBARS) Contents of liver significantly increased in rats fed a high- and excess0-Fe diet, and decreased in rats fed a high- and excess-Ca diet. Fe content of the spleen showed similar results. Urinary creatinine and GFR increased in rats fed an excess-Ca diet regardless of dietary Fe levels. GOT, GPT and LDH were not significantly affected by dietary Ca and Fe levels. These results suggest that excess intake of Fe may increase liver Fe deposits and TBARS, and excess intake of Ca may decrease Fe bioavailability and kidney function leading to potential health problems in anemic model rats.
Absorption ; Animals ; Biological Availability* ; Calcium* ; Creatinine ; Diet ; Female ; Humans ; Iron* ; Kidney* ; Liver* ; Rats* ; Spleen ; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances ; Transferrin

The health-related habits dietary behaviors and nutrient intakes of the elderly living in Cheongju were investigated by interviews with a questionnaire from August to September in 1996. The responses of 169 free-living elderly aged over 65(male 91, female 78) were analyzed. Thirty-six percent of the subjects smoked currently, 33%, drank alcoholic beverages, and 52% exercise regularly. Exercise was mostly in the from of walking for 1/2-1 hour. Significantly higher proportions of males smoked, drank, and exercised as compared to females. Food groups eaten at every meal were examined on a 5-point scale, and the consumption scores were compared with groups according to sex, age, smoking, drinking, and exercise habits. The elderly who exercised regularly got significantly higher scores in their calcium intakes and the variety of the 6 food groups than the elderly who did not exercise. The dietary assessment data showed that the energy intakes of males and females were 81.9% and 72.8% of the RDAs, respectively. The proportions of the elderly consuming less than 75% of RDAs of vitamin A and calcium were 96.5% and 91.1% of the total subjects, respectively. Higher educational status, more pocket money and regular exercise had positive effects on nutrient intakes, while smoking and drinking among females, but not males, had negative effects. Therefore, to improve nutritional status of the elderly, intake of vitamin A-and calcium-rich food such as milk with regular exercise should be emphasized on the education program.
Aged* ; Alcohol Drinking ; Alcoholic Beverages ; Calcium ; Chungcheongbuk-do* ; Drinking ; Education ; Educational Status ; Female ; Food Habits* ; Humans ; Male ; Meals ; Milk ; Nutritional Status* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Vitamin A ; Vitamins ; Walking ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Fertilization in Vitro* ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone*

PURPOSE:Ghrelin is an endogenous ligand of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor, and stomach is the major site of ghrelin secretion. The purpose of this study is to compare the serum ghrelin concentrations between patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and normal adults. We studied also whether serum ghrelin levels in the patients with type 2 DM are correlated with body mass index (BMI), serum insulin, lipid profiles, and creatinine levels. METHODS:Forty patients with type 2 DM and forty normal adults were included in this study. We measured heights and weights of the subjects and calculated their BMIs. Blood samples were obtained to measure the ghrelin concentration and their sera were stored at -20degreeC until used. In all subjects, serum ghrelin levels were measured using the commercially available Ghrelin(human) EIA kit. RESULTS:No differences of mean values were detected between the control group and the type 2 diabetic group for age, body weight, BMI, and the levels of serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, and creatinine. But ghrelin level of the type 2 diabetic group (71.1+/-30.5 ng/L) was significantly lower than the control group (139.7+/-36.9 ng/L). In the control group, the ghrelin level showed positive correlation with HDL cholesterol (Pearson's correlation coefficient=0.37, P<0.05). In the diabetic group, the ghrelin level showed weakly positive correlation with insulin concentration. However, there was no significant relationship between serum ghrelin and various parameters in the diabetic patients group. CONCLUSION: In this study, ghrelin concentration in type 2 diabetic patients was lower than that in the control group. In the control group, serum ghrelin concentrations were positively correlated with HDL cholesterol. In the type 2 diabetic group, there was no significant correlation between insulin and ghrelin concentrations.
Adult ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Creatinine ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* ; Ghrelin* ; Humans ; Insulin ; Receptors, Ghrelin ; Stomach ; Triglycerides ; Weights and Measures

The develop a simple screening test for identifying Korean elderly at risk of undernutrition, the data of the health-related habits, dietary behaviors and nutrient intakes of the elderly in Chongju were analyzed. Two risk indicators, mean adequacy ratio (MAR) and the respondents perceived health, were used to detect the undernutrition risk of the elderly. In order to select a list of questions for the test, factors a affecting nutritional status and items investigated in previous nutrition surveys of the elderly were considered, and 21 questions were primarily selected. A multiple regression and stepwise regression analysis were used to take out the weak predictors of poor nutrient intake, and to give item weights to the strong predictors, and a list of 17 questions was finally adopted. To determine the cut-point of the test score, sensitivity, and positive predictive values were calculated. The Simple Screening Test developed in this study is a brief, easily scored tool to predict poor nutrient intake and the perceived health status of the elderly. The test may provide a basis of further comprehensive nutritional assessment or intervention planning, if necessary, for those who are diagnosed ad "high risk". The test, however, needs to be independently validated by other groups of individuals.
Aged* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Food Habits ; Humans ; Malnutrition* ; Mass Screening* ; Nutrition Assessment ; Nutrition Surveys ; Nutritional Status ; Weights and Measures

The develop a simple screening test for identifying Korean elderly at risk of undernutrition, the data of the health-related habits, dietary behaviors and nutrient intakes of the elderly in Chongju were analyzed. Two risk indicators, mean adequacy ratio (MAR) and the respondents perceived health, were used to detect the undernutrition risk of the elderly. In order to select a list of questions for the test, factors a affecting nutritional status and items investigated in previous nutrition surveys of the elderly were considered, and 21 questions were primarily selected. A multiple regression and stepwise regression analysis were used to take out the weak predictors of poor nutrient intake, and to give item weights to the strong predictors, and a list of 17 questions was finally adopted. To determine the cut-point of the test score, sensitivity, and positive predictive values were calculated. The Simple Screening Test developed in this study is a brief, easily scored tool to predict poor nutrient intake and the perceived health status of the elderly. The test may provide a basis of further comprehensive nutritional assessment or intervention planning, if necessary, for those who are diagnosed ad "high risk". The test, however, needs to be independently validated by other groups of individuals.
Aged* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Food Habits ; Humans ; Malnutrition* ; Mass Screening* ; Nutrition Assessment ; Nutrition Surveys ; Nutritional Status ; Weights and Measures

Seasonal variations of nutrient intake ware evaluated through a 3-day dietary records in 196 Korean adolescents(86 males, 108 females) aged 13 - 15 years and living in urban and rural areas of Chungnam. The seasonal differences of nutrient intake were tested by repealed measure ANOVA. Comparing nutrient intakes among flour seasons using repealed measure ANOVA, mean values of daily intakes were higher in winter and autumn for most nutrients, and were the lowest in summer in the urban areas and in spring in rural areas. Girls recieved the largest amount of nutrients, except Ca and vitamin B/sub 12/, in winter and the lowest amount in summer, while in boys significant differences were not observed among the four seasons for meet nutrients, except fats, Mg, and vitamin E. Interestingly, the seasonal differences for many nutrients were more evident in rural areas than in urban areas. Vitamin A intake in urban areas was higher in winter and spring, while in rural oreas, in summer. Mean values of daily intakes as a percent of the RDA throughout the year in boys and girls ware 82.2% and 84.2% for energy and 88.9% and 82.7% for protein, respectively. Ca and vitamin A intakes were as low as 32.4% and 24.2% of the RDA in boys and 39.7% and 30.6% in girls. Intakes of Fe, Zn, folic acid and vitamin B/sub 12/ ranged from 40 - 60% of the RDA. The nutrients which showed the largest seasonal difference in the percent of RDA were vitamin E in boys and vitamin C, vitamin E, and Fe in girls. The index of nutritional quality(INQ) for Fe was significantly lower in autumn in both genders. The INQ for vitamin C in girls of both areas was much higher in winter. Annual mean adequacy ratio(MAR), an index of overall nutritional quality, ranged from 0.57 - 0.69, which was higher in winter than in other seasons. Conclusively, nutrient intakes of Korean adolescents showed seasonal variations, particularly in girls and in rural area. Thus, seasonal variations should be considered in the assessing nutritional status, particularly ill the rural areas of Korea.
Adolescent* ; Ascorbic Acid ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Diet Records* ; Fats ; Female ; Flour ; Folic Acid ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Nutritional Status ; Nutritive Value ; Seasons* ; Vitamin A ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins

Rotor syndrome is a rare disease of hereditary hyperbilirubinemia transmitted with autosomal recessive trait. In general, Rotor syndrome shows direct hyperbilirubinemia and there has been several reports since Sons's report in 1966, in Korea. A 34-year-old female was admitted with the chief complaint of intermittent icteric sclera for 24 years. There was no family history of jaundice. Rotor syndrome was diagnosed by oral cholecystogram, BSP retention test, 99mTc-DISIDA scan, liver biopsy and electron microscopy study of liver biopsy specimen. We report this case with brief review of the literature.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia ; Hyperbilirubinemia, Hereditary* ; Jaundice ; Korea ; Liver ; Microscopy, Electron ; Rare Diseases ; Sclera ; Technetium Tc 99m Disofenin

Systemic air embolism occurs when air enters the pulmonary venous system as a result of a positive gradient caused by low pulmonary venous pressure or increased airway pressure, or both. Systemic air embolism has been frequently reported after penetrating thoracic trauma and can induce life-threatening complications. In blunt thoracic trauma, systemic air embolism has been rarely diagnosed. Because air embolism associated with blunt trauma is more insidious, diagnosis is usually not appreciated unless special circumstances allow discovery of air in major vessels or coronary arteries, such as during emergency resuscitative thoracotomy. We report a case of systemic air embolism in an 18-month-old girl after accidental thoracic blunt trauma and review related literature.
Child* ; Coronary Vessels ; Diagnosis ; Embolism, Air* ; Emergencies ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Thoracotomy ; Venous Pressure