OBJECTIVES: Research into emotional or behavioral stress typically focuses upon the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. It is well established that the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis is subject to inhibitory control by opioids in a variety of animal species including pigs. Exposure to acute stress induces the upregulation of opioid receptors and the release of endogenous peptides which mediate the stress-induced analgesia. There is some literature substantiating that repeated stress can lead to changes in opioidergic neurotransmission. However, the changes are highly variable. This study was designed to observe the modulatory effect of repeated immobilization stress on opioidergic neurotransmission. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 150-200g were forced to suffer immobilization stress for 2 hours on each of 14 successive days. Then we examined the maximum binding capacity and affinity of each opioid subtypes(mu, delta, kappa). RESULTS: Repeated immobilization stress increased the binding of [3H]DPDPE on the delta-subtype opioid receptor in the striatum and hypothalamus. Saturation experiments followed by scatchard analyses of the results showed an increase in the density of delta-subtype opioid receptors, but the affinity of the delta-subtype opioid receptor remained unchanged. Repeated immobilization stress reduced enkephalin activity of striatum and hypothalamus. CONCLUSIONS: From these results, it could be concluded that repeated immobilization stress up-regulated the delta-subtype opioid receptors and reduced the activity of enkephalin, an endogenous ligand for the delta-subtype opioid receptor.
Analgesia ; Analgesics, Opioid ; Animals ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Enkephalins ; Humans ; Hypothalamus ; Immobilization ; Male ; Peptides ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Opioid ; Swine ; Synaptic Transmission* ; Up-Regulation

Relapsing polychondritis is a rare disease characterized by widespread destructive inflammatory lesions, involving cartilaginous tissue throughout the body. Commonly involved organs include the external ear, nose, joints, eyes, tracheobronchial tree, cardiovascular system and cutaneous tissues. Erythema nodosum or mesenteric panniculitis have sometimes been described in association with relapsing polychondritis, but cutaneous panniculitis is rarely reported in relapsing polychondritis. We report here a relapsing polychondritis patient who developed cutaneous panniculitis, which was resolved by corticosteroid therapy.
Cardiovascular System ; Ear, External ; Erythema Nodosum ; Humans ; Joints ; Nose ; Panniculitis* ; Panniculitis, Peritoneal ; Polychondritis, Relapsing* ; Rare Diseases

Cancer statistics shows a high risk and increasing incidence of cancer among Koreans. Considerable burdens related to cancer and its treatment causes significant psychosocial distress among cancer patients and their family. Due to early detection and progress in cancer treatments, cancer is becoming a chronic illness and the quality of life and long-term impact of cancer is receiving increasing attention. Psycho-oncology is a subspecialty of oncology that addresses a psychosocial dimension of cancer throughout 'the continuum of cancer care', viz. from prevention and early detection to palliative and end-of-life care. This paper reviews the development of psycho-oncology and its current status in international and national context so as to promote efforts toward an integrative cancer care in Korea.
Chronic Disease ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Quality of Life

OBJECTIVES: Gallium 67(Ga-67) scintigraphy has been used to diagnose inflammatory and neoplastic diseases. We undertook a study to determine the clinical value of Ga- 67 renal scan in patients with various glomerular diseases. METHODS: Ga-67 scintigraphy was performed in 48 patients with various biopsy proven forms of renal diseases. Renal uptake in 48 patients images was graded as follow: Grade 0 = not visualization at 48 hours: 1 = faintly visualize: 2 = equal to uptake in spine: 3 = greater than over the spine: 4 = greater than activity over the liver. RESULTS: 1) Of the 48 patients, 31 were male, and mean age was 32 years. 11 patients had hypertension and 29 patients had hematuria. 2) Positive scintigram were seen in 40 of 48(83%) cases. In results of renal biopsy, IgA nephropathy(IgAN) was 15 patients, minimal change disease(MCD) was 14, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) was 8, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) was 3, lupus nephritis(LN) was 3, poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis(PSGN) was 3 and membranous glomerulonephritis(MGN) was 2. 3) In 26 patients (54%) with nephrotic-range proteinuria, Grade 2 or higher renal uptake was observed in 9 (75%) of MCD, 5(100%) of FSGS, 2(100%) of LN and 3(75%) of IgAN. 4) In comparision nephrotics with non-nephrotics at biopsy, renal Ga-67 uptake in who patients had nephrotic-range proteinuria was correlated with clinical severity determined by serum albumin, serum total cholesterol and 24 hours urine protein excretion. CONCLUSIONS: Renal Ga-67 scintigraphy may be able to be a predictor in the assessment for severity of nephrotic syndrome.
Biopsy ; Cholesterol ; Gallium ; Glomerulonephritis ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative ; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Immunoglobulin A ; Liver ; Male ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Proteinuria ; Radionuclide Imaging* ; Serum Albumin ; Spine

Renal artery pseudoaneurysm after blunt renal trauma is an uncommon complication of delayed hemorrhage, and diagnostic difficulties are experienced due to its rarity. Delayed hemorrhage after renal trauma is a lifethreatening complication. Angiography is considered the gold standard to diagnose a traumatic renal artery pseudoaneurysm. We report here a case of delayed bleeding from a renal artery pseudoaneurysm that was diagnosed at 17 days after the injury and that was managed successfully with selective renal artery embolization without medical complication.
Aneurysm, False ; Angiography ; Hemorrhage ; Kidney ; Morphinans ; Renal Artery

In the current years, it has now become necessary to establish standards for micronutrient intake based on scientific evidence. This review discusses issues related to the development of the 2020 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (KDRI) for magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu), and future research directions. Following issues were encountered when establishing the KDRI for these minerals. First, characteristics of Korean subjects need to be applied to estimate nutrient requirements. When calculating the estimated average requirement (EAR), the KDRI used the results of balance studies for Mg absorption and factorial analysis for Zn, which is defined as the minimum amount to offset endogenous losses for Zn and Mg. For Cu, a combination of indicators, such as depletion/repletion studies, were applied, wherein all reference values were based on data obtained from other countries. Second, there was a limitation in that it was difficult to determine whether reference values of Mg, Zn, and Cu intakes in the 2020 KDRI were achievable. This might be due to the lack of representative previous studies on intakes of these nutrients, and an insufficient database for Mg, Zn, and Cu contents in foods. This lack of database for mineral content in food poses a problem when evaluating the appropriateness of intake. Third, data was insufficient to assess the adequacy of Mg, Zn, and Cu intakes from supplements when calculating reference values, considering the rise in both demand and intake of mineral supplements. Mg is more likely to be consumed as a multi-nutrient supplement in combination with other minerals than as a single supplement. Moreover, Zn-Cu interactions in the body need to be considered when determining the reference intake values of Zn and Cu. It is recommended to discuss these issues present in the 2020 KDRI development for Mg, Zn, and Cu intakes in a systematic way, and to find relevant solutions.

In our previous study, we have shown that berberine has both anti-adipogenic and anti-inflammatory effects on 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and the anti-adipogenic effect is due to the down-regulation of adipogenic enzymes and transcription factors. Here we focused more on anti-inflammatory effect of berberine using real time RT-PCR and found it changes expressions of adipokines. We hypothesized that anti-adipogenicity of berberine mediates anti-inflammtory effect and explored leptin as a candidate mediator of this signaling. We studied this hypothesis by western blot analysis, but our results showed that berberine has no effect on the phosphorylations of STAT-3 and ERK which have important roles on leptin signaling. These results led us to conclude that the anti-inflammatory effect of berberine is not mediated by the inhibition of leptin signal transduction. Moreover, we have found that berberine down-regulates NF-kappaB signaling, one of the inflammation-related signaling pathway, through western blot analysis. Taken together, the anti-inflammatory effect of berberine is not mediated by leptin, and berberine induces anti-inflammatory effect independent of leptin signaling.
Adipocytes ; Adipokines ; Berberine ; Blotting, Western ; Down-Regulation ; Inflammation ; Leptin ; NF-kappa B ; Phosphorylation ; Signal Transduction ; Transcription Factors

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to quantitatively assess the intensity of tumor budding in rectal carcinoma and to determine how it correlates with the malignant potential. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Intensities of the tumor budding at the invasive front of the surgical specimens from 90 patients (male, 51) with well- or moderately- differentiated rectal carcinoma were investigated. Differences in the budding intensity among pathologic variables were compared, and recurrences and survivals were analyzed in accordance with degree of the budding intensity. The patients ranged in age from 33 to 75 years (mean, 55.4) with the median follow-up being 43 months (range, 12~108). RESULTS: Tumor budding was identified in 89 patients (98.9%) with a mean intensity of 7.5+/-5.3. The budding intensity was significantly higher in tumors with lymphatic invasion (p=0.0081), blood vessel invasion (p<0.0001), and perineural invasion (p=0.0013) than in those tumor without these findings. It became significantly higher with the increase in nodal stage (p<0.0001). The intensity of tumor budding in patients with relapse (29 patients) was significantly higher than that in patients without relapse (6.2+/-5.0 vs. 10.2+/-4.9; p=0.0005), but this difference in the intensity was observed only for the node-positive patients (8.0+/-3.4 vs. 11.9+/-5.1; p=0.0064). When the patients were stratified into two groups on either side of the mean of the intensity, the higher intensity group showed a significantly less favorable disease- free (DFS) and overall survival (OS) (p=0.0026 and 0.0205, respectively). Based on the multivariate analysis, the nodal stage and the intensity of budding proved to be the independent variables associated with DFS (p=0.023 and 0.03, respectively). CONCLUSION: Tumor budding at the invasive margin is a reliable pathologic index that indicates a higher malignant potential and a less favorable prognosis for patients with advanced rectal carcinoma.
Blood Vessels ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prognosis ; Recurrence

Aminoglycoside has a broad-spectrum bactericidal activity and especially excellent effect on gram negative bacteria. But, its harmful effect is existed about kidney and ear. Among these, many studies were done about aminoglycoside nephrotoxicity. Until now, many authors have been reported its incidence was 4.45-45%. We needed parameters monitoring about nephrotoxicity. So, our study was done using 99mTc-DTPA renal scan to evaluate nephrotoxicity. We enrolled forty patients who admitted due to infection. 32 patients received Netilmicin and 8 patients Isepamicin. Mean duration and dosage were 8 days, 200mg daily. We accomplished 99mTc-DTPA renal scan, 24hr urine study and blood sampling before starting antibiotics. After mean 8 days, same procedure was repeated. Aminoglycoside nephrotoxicity(defined as 50% GFR reduction) was presented in only one patient. She didn't have risky factor, such as hepatic dysfunction, hypotension, previous renal problem. However, duration was longer than other patients(13 days). GFR was fallen by 25-50% in 6 patients. This finding represent nephrotoxic effects of aminoglycoside indirectly. Above 6 patients had not any characteristics compared to other 33 patients. In addition to renal scan, sodium excretion was increased compared to pre-antibiotics, and glomerular filtration rate using 99mTc-DTPA renal scan was positively correlated with 24hr urine creatinine clearance, GFR by Cockcroft & Gault equation. I conclude that aminoglycoside has nephrotoxic effect when used for longer period. Thus, I suggest that DTPA renal scan including other many renal monitoring method has usefulness in revealing aminoglycoside nephrotoxicity.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Creatinine ; Ear ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Incidence ; Kidney ; Netilmicin ; Pentetic Acid ; Sodium

The use of superselective embolization was assessed as a treatment for bleeding from arteriovenous fistulas and pseudoaneurysm after renal biopsy procedure. But unless it is sufficiently selective, the procedure results in loss of significant amount of renal parenchyme. We experienced one case of renal arterial pseudoaneurysm, which happened at 5days after percutaneous renal biopsy. Diagnosis of pseudoaneurysm was made by ultrasound examination with Doppler flow and was confirmed with arteriography. The rupture of pseudoaneurysm was occluded by transcatheter embolization with placement of a steel coli and polyvinlyl alcohol from the renal arterial approach. This procedure was allowed non surgical closure of the AV fostula and pseudoaneurysm without significant change of renal function.
Aneurysm, False* ; Angiography ; Arteriovenous Fistula ; Biopsy* ; Diagnosis* ; Hemorrhage ; Rupture ; Steel ; Ultrasonography