Due to the great deal of effort that has gone into the study of osteoclastic differentiation and activation over the last few decades, the mechanisms of these two events have been discovered gradually. Nitric oxide(NO-), which is produced from arginine by a nitric oxide synthase, opened up a new area of biological research. Recently, it has been reported that NO- is produced by osteoblasts stimulated by lipopolysaccharide and several other cytokines. In this study, the effect of sodium nitroprusside(SNP), a donor of nitric oxide(NO-), on osteoclast-like cell formation and on mature osteoclast function was examined. To determine the mechanism of the inhibitory effects of SNP decreased not only the basal 45Ca release but also thee bone resorption induced by PTH and l,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (I ,25[OH]2D3). The inhibitory effect of SNP on bone resorption induced by PTH appeared 2 days after treatment, whereas SNP effect on inhibiting bone resorption induced by l,25[OH]2D3 appeared at the third days. When chicken and rat osteoclasts were cultured on dentin slices, treatment of 300micronM SNP resulted in a significant decrease in dentin resorption by osteoclasts in terms of total resorption area and average individual area. We also examined the effect of SNP on formation of osteoclast-like cells that is TRAP-positive multinucleated cells from chicken and rat bone marrow cells in the presence or absence of 10(-8)M l,25[OH]2D3. The addition of 300 micronM SNP inhibited the formation of TRAP-positive multinucleated cells. The present data suggest that SNP, possibly as a NO- donor, inhibits the osteoclastic differentiation and osteoclastic activity.
Animals ; Arginine ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Bone Resorption ; Chickens ; Cytokines ; Dentin ; Humans ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitroprusside* ; Osteoblasts ; Osteoclasts* ; Rats ; Sodium* ; Tissue Donors

BACKGROUND: The proper management of the patients with hypotention remains a difficult clinical problem. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of gepefrin in the treament of symptomatic hypotensive patients in outpatient clinic of university hospital. METHODS: Thirty milligrams of Gepefrin was given twice daily for 4 weeks in 30 patients with hypotension(6 males, 24 females ; 23-60 years of age). Blood pressure, heart rate, subjective symptoms and side effects were checked before medication and at the end of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th week of medication. RESULTS: 1) Grpefrin increased sitting systolic blood pressure significantly(p<0.05) by the end of 1st week and thereafter. 2) Hypotensive symptoms were improved in 76% of hypotensive patients and overall rate of usefulness was 70%. 3) Heart rate did not change significantly. 4) One patient complained of loose bowel movement and another one, of anorexia among 30 study patients and all laboratory parameters were within normal limits before and after drug treatment, thus the rate of safety was 93%. CONCLUSION: Results from this study suggests that gepefrin 60mg daily increases the blood pressure mildly and improves the symptoms moderately in symptomatic hypotensive patients.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Anorexia ; Blood Pressure ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypotension* ; Male ; Quality of Life

PURPOSE: This study was to identify the correlations among climacteric symptoms, knowledge of menopause and health promoting behavior in middle-aged women. METHOD: 1,360 women between 40-60 years of age living in Incheon, were asked to complete a questionnaire on their health. The data was collected between October 10th and October 30th, 2002. The data was analyzed using T-test, ANOVA and Pearson's correlation coefficients with SPSS/pc program. RESULT: The variables significantly affecting climacteric symptoms, knowledge of menopause and health promoting behavior were education, perceived health status and family health problems. The relationship between knowledge of menopause and health promoting behavior was statistically significant with a positive correlation. CONCLUSION: The knowledge of menopause by middle aged women was in positively correlated with health promoting behavior. Therefore, based on this study, we plan to develop a health education program to promote knowledge of menopause and health promoting behavior.
Climacteric* ; Education ; Family Health ; Female ; Health Education ; Humans ; Incheon ; Menopause* ; Middle Aged ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The statistical analysis is an essential procedure ensuring that the results of researches are based on evidences rather than opinion. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the statistical methods and errors in JKPRS and to propose improvement plan.We reviewed 326 articles published in JKPRS between 1996 and 1999. We evaluated the validity of used statistical methodology with our own checklist based on "Guideline for statistical reporting in articles for medical journals" by "International committee of medical journal editors". Among 326 articles, case(series) report and original articles were 167(51.2%) and 156(47.9%) respectively. In 159(48.8%) papers statistical method was not used. In 94 (28.8%) papers, only descriptive methods were used, while in 73 papers(22.4%) descriptive and inferential methods were used. The papers published in 1999 used more statistical methods than in 1996. Among the papers which used descriptive method, 90 papers(53.0%) showed appropriate central tendency and dispersion. But, in papers which used inferential method, 24 papers(33.0%) applied appropriate methods and only 4 papers(5.5%) were satisfactory in utilization of statistical methodology. It is suggested that more consultation of investigators with bio-statisticians, a basic training on statistical methods in resident programs, and more extensive statistical refereeing are needed.
Checklist ; Humans ; Research Personnel

Duplication of the renal pelvis and ureter is the most common congenital anomaly of the upper urinary tract. The three most important abnormalities associated with duplicated kidney are vesicoureteral reflux, ectopic ureter and ureterocele. Herein we present three cases of unilateral, complete duplicated ureter in children associated with ectopic ureteral orifice, vesicoureteral reflux and ectopic ureterocele, respectively, with review of related literatures. They have suffered from urinary incontinence with normal voiding since birth, recurrent urinary tract infection and protruding mass from the urethral meatus on straining respectively. Two cases of them were treated with partial nephrectomy and ureterectomy, the third was performed partial nephrectomy, ureterectomy and ureterocelectomy.
Child* ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kidney Pelvis ; Nephrectomy ; Parturition ; Ureter* ; Ureterocele ; Urinary Incontinence ; Urinary Tract ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux

Moyamoya disease is a cerebrovascular condition that results in the narrowing of the vessels of the circle of Willis and collateral vessel formation at the base of the brain. Although relationships between Graves' disease and cerebrovascular accidents in Moyamoya disease are obscure, the coexistence of the two diseases is noteworthy. Moyamoya disease has been rarely reported in adolescent patients with thyrotoxicosis. Recently, we encountered two adolescent Korean patients with Moyamoya disease associated with Graves' disease who presented with episodic right-sided hemiparesis and syncope. These two girls who had Graves' disease had no history of other diseases or head trauma. A thyroid function test revealed a euthyroid state and a high thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor antibody titer at that time. The patients were diagnosed with Moyamoya disease based on brain magnetic resonance angiography and cerebral four-vessel angiography. The patients underwent cranial revascularization by encephalo-duroarterio-synangiosis as soon as a diagnosis was made, which resulted in successful symptom resolution. They fared well and had no additional neurological symptoms as of their last follow-up visits. Here, we report these two cases of confirmed Moyamoya disease complicated by Graves' disease with a review of the literature, and discuss the possible association between the two diseases. To our knowledge, this is the first report in South Korea on Moyamoya disease associated with Graves' disease in adolescents with a euthyroid.
Adolescent* ; Angiography ; Brain ; Circle of Willis ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Graves Disease* ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Korea ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Moyamoya Disease* ; Paresis ; Stroke ; Syncope ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyrotoxicosis ; Thyrotropin

Since Brown first described the eosinophilic cystitis in 1959, 42 cases has been reported in the literature. In Korea, only 1 case was reported from the National Medical Center a couple of years ago. Eosinophilic cystitis is characterized histologically by infiltration of eosinophils into the mucosa, submucosa and muscularis of the bladder and cystoscopically by elevated erythematous mucosal lesions. These lesions have been mistakenly diagnosed as bladder tumors prior to biopsy. Clinically, it presents with dramatic and recurrent episodes of dysuria and hematuria. It can occur in two different clinical setups. The first is seen in women and children and is often associated with allergic disorders and eosinophilia. The second presents in older man and is usually associated with bladder injury related to other conditions of bladder and prostate. We herein add two cases of eosinophilic cystitis, review etiologic theories and outline management.
Biopsy ; Child ; Cystitis* ; Dysuria ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils* ; Female ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Korea ; Mucous Membrane ; Prostate ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms

Estrogen replacemetn therapy is known to reduce the incidence of cardio-ascular disease in postmenopausal women, and its beneficial effect is thought to be mediated in part by favorable changes in serum lipoprotien levels. However, the long-term effects on serum lipoproein levels of estrogen in low doses currently used have not been precisely evaluated in Korea. In postmenopausal women with uterus, progestogen should be added to protect the endometrium from the hyperplasia or carcinoma induced by unopposed estrogen. However, progestogens may adversely influence the beneficial effects of oral estrogen. To evaluate the impacts of progestogen on the lipid and lipoprotein levels during estrogen replacement therapy, we conducted the 1-year trial of conjugated equine estrogen(Premarine, 0.625mg/day) with or without cyclic prgoestogen(medroxy-progesterone acetate: MPA, 10mg/day for 12 days) in 120 postmenopausal women. Serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol levels in fasting state were measured in all subjects before treatment and at 12 months during treatment. The value of post-treatment levels were compared with that of baseline levels. In patients who received either premarine only or premarine plus MPA, serum HDL cholesterol levels increased significantly. While premarine plus MPA group showed a smaller increase in HDL cholesterol than premarine only group. And premarine plus MPA group showed a significant decrease in LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglyceride. While premarine only group showed a significant decrease in LDL cholesterol, but no statistical significance in total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. These results suggest that the addition of MPA at the daily dose of 10mg for 12 days cyclically in estrogen repalcement treatmetn appears to lessen the change to lipid and lipoprotein levels induced by unopposed estrogen, therefore maintain the longterm favorable effects on serum lipoprotein levels in postmenopausal women.
Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Endometrium ; Estrogen Replacement Therapy* ; Estrogens* ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Fasting ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Incidence ; Korea ; Lipoproteins* ; Menopause ; Progestins ; Triglycerides ; Uterus

PURPOSE: This study was to evaluate the casual relationship between the factors in the Pender's model and to explain health promoting behaviors among middle-aged women in order to facilitate nursing interventions for this population group. METHOD: 116 women between 40~60 years old living in Incheon were asked to complete a questionnaire about their health. The data was collected between March and November, 2003. The data was analyzed by descriptive statistics and the correctional analysis SPSSWIN 11.5 program. The LISREL 8.12 program was used to find the best fit model which explained a causal relationship of the variables. RESULTS: The climacteric symptoms of middle-aged women negatively correlated with health promoting behaviors. However, marital satisfaction positively correlated with health promoting behaviors. CONCLUSION: Marital satisfaction and climacteric symptoms had an effect on health promoting behaviors. Therefore, based on this study, we plan to develop a health education program to decrease climacteric symptoms and to promote marital satisfaction for health promotion.
Socioeconomic Factors ; Middle Aged ; Korea ; Humans ; *Health Behavior ; Female ; Climacteric ; Body Mass Index ; Attitude to Health ; Adult

PURPOSE: Differentiation of true hermaphroditism (TH), from mixed gonadal dysgenesis (MGD), in patients presenting with ambiguous genitalia and asymmetric gonad, is mandatory. However, clinical features, including chromosomal, hormonal, biochemical and radiological findings are not helpful in the differential diagnosis between these conditions, so histopathological diagnosis of the gonads is essential. We reviewed the clinicopathological features of TH and MGD to investigate the important histopathological criteria for the differential diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of 38 patients with ambiguous genitalia were retrospectively reviewed. 8 patients had been diagnosed as TH or MGD, so their histological slides were reevaluated. We also studied the normal gonadal histology for the prenatal period in order to get basic knowledge on the histological features of premature testis and ovaries in infancy. RESULTS: To make a clear diagnosis between TH and MGD, the histological features of the ovarian compartment are important. The well-formed primordial, primary or mature follicles, with primary oocytes in TH, were distinguishable from the primitive germ cells in the ovarian-type stroma and primitive sex-cord like structures in MGD. On the contrary, the testicular compartment under both conditions was not critical for the differential diagnosis. A streaky gonadal portion should be examined to avoid missing the diagnosis of a streak-testis. CONCLUSIONS: The differential diagnosis between TH and MGD depends on the interpretation of the histological features of the gonads. For the purpose of a differential diagnosis, we have to understand the normal gonadal histology at the infantile period, and apply strict criteria to the gonads, such as testis, ovary, streak gonad and streak-testis through examination of the entire tissue.
Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Disorders of Sex Development ; Female ; Germ Cells ; Gonadal Dysgenesis, Mixed* ; Gonads ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Oocytes ; Ovary ; Ovotesticular Disorders of Sex Development* ; Retrospective Studies ; Testis