PURPOSE: While the rate of breast-feeding has been rising recently in many countries, it has been gradually falling in Korea. Accordingly, we took a survey in Jeon-ju to discover the actual state of breast-feeding and find a solution. METHODS: Eight hundred and sixty-four questionnaires of filled out by mothers who visited the seven local pediatric clinics and the clinic of pediatric department in the Presbyterian Medical Center(PMC) in Jeon-ju from January 1998 to June 1998 were analysed by ANOVA, cross analysis, frequency analysis and correlation analysis using SPSS program. RESULTS: In the case of six-months-old babies, the breast-feeding rate was 35.6%. The breast-feeding rate was higher when it came to a normal delivery, and was also related to the inperiority of infant birth order and lack of maternal academic background(P<0.05). The main reasons to switch from successful breast-feeding to formula-feeding before 6 months of age were insufficient breast-milk(49.3%). The survey shows the best thing for a infant's health is breast milk (86.0%). CONCLUSION: In order to increase the rate of breast-feeding, it's essential to educate people in school and it is necessary to create a hospital environment in which mothers can easily begin breast-feeding as soon as possible after delivery.
Birth Order ; Humans ; Infant ; Jeollabuk-do* ; Korea ; Milk, Human ; Mothers ; Protestantism ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the neuroprotective effect of anthocyanin, oxygen radical scavenger extracted from raspberries, after traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. METHODS: The animals were divided into two groups : the vehicle-treated group (control group, n=20) received an oral administration of normal saline via stomach intubation immediately after SCI, and the anthocyanin-treated group (AT group, n=20) received 400 mg/kg of cyanidin 3-O-beta-glucoside (C3G) in the same way. We compared the neurological functions, superoxide expressions and lesion volumes in two groups. RESULTS: At 14 days after SCI, the AT group showed significant improvement of the BBB score by 16.7+/-3.4%, platform hang by 40.0+/-9.1% and hind foot bar grab by 30.8+/-8.4% (p<0.05 in all outcomes). The degree of superoxide expression, represented by the ratio of red fluorescence intensity, was significantly lower in the AT group (0.98+/-0.38) than the control group (1.34+/-0.24) (p<0.05). The lesion volume in lesion periphery was 32.1+/-2.4 microL in the control and 24.5+/-2.3 microL in the AT group, respectively (p<0.05), and the motor neuron cell number of the anterior horn in lesion periphery was 8.3+/-5.1 cells/HPF in the control and 13.4+/-6.3 cells/HPF in the AT group, respectively (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Anthocyanin seemed to reduce lesion volume and neuronal loss by its antioxidant effect and these resulted in improved functional recovery.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Anthocyanins ; Antioxidants ; Cell Count ; Fluorescence ; Foot ; Horns ; Intubation ; Motor Neurons ; Neurons ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Oxygen ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Stomach ; Superoxides

BACKGROUND: Arginine vasopressin (AVP) is widely used as a vasopressor agent. Some recent studies have suggested that AVP may exert an immunomodulatory effect. However, the mechanism about the anti-inflammatory effect of AVP is not well known. We investigated the effect of AVP on the ihibitor of kappa B (IkappaBalpha)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) pathway in RAW 264.7 cells. METHODS: Cultured RAW 264.7 cells were pretreated with AVP and stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). To evaluate the effect of AVP on inflammatory cytokines, the concentration of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were assessed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. The expression of IkappaBalpha and nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB p65 were measured by Western blotting, and IkappaB kinase (IKK) activity was analyzed by an in vitro immune complex kinase assay. To confirm the AVP effect on IkappaBalpha/NF-kappaB cascade and via V2 receptor, we added tolvaptan (V2 receptor antagonist) after AVP pretreatment. RESULTS: The increase of IL-6 and TNF-alpha in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells was suppressed by a treatment with AVP. Pretreatment of AVP inhibited increasing of IKK activity and IkappaBalpha degradation induced by LPS in RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, LPS induced and NF-kappaB transcription was inhibited by AVP pretreatment. The observed changes in IKK activity, IkappaBalpha degradation and NF-kappaB transcription by AVP was abolished by tolvaptan treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that AVP showed anti-inflammatory effect on LPS-induced IkappaBalpha/NF-kappaB cascade in mouse macrophages via V2 receptors.
Animals ; Antigen-Antibody Complex ; Arginine Vasopressin ; Blotting, Western ; Cytokines ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; I-kappa B Kinase ; Interleukin-6 ; Macrophages ; Mice ; NF-kappa B ; Phosphotransferases ; Receptors, Vasopressin ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

In this study, we explored the potentiality of human arginine decarboxylase (ADC) to enhance the survival of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) against unfavorable milieu of host tissues as the low survival of MSCs is the issue in cell transplantation therapy. To address this, human MSCs overexpressing human ADC were treated with H2O2 and the resultant intracellular events were examined. First, we examined whether human ADC is overexpressed in human MSCs. Then, we investigated cell survival or death related events. We found that the overexpression of human ADC increases formazan production and reduces caspase 3 activation and the numbers of FITC, hoechst, or propidium iodide positive cells in human MSCs exposed to H2O2. To elucidate the factors underlying these phenomena, AKT, CREB, and BDNF were examined. We found that the overexpression of human ADC phosphorylates AKT and CREB and increases BDNF level in human MSCs exposed to H2O2. The changes of these proteins are possibly relevant to the elevation of agmatine. Collectively, our data demonstrate that the overexpression of human ADC stimulates pro-survival factors to protect human MSCs against H2O2 toxicity. In conclusion, the present findings support that ADC can enhance the survival of MSCs against hostile environment of host tissues.
Apoptosis/*drug effects ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/metabolism ; Carboxy-Lyases/genetics/*metabolism ; Caspase 3/metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein/metabolism ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide/*toxicity ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/cytology/drug effects/metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism

Among nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents, d-tubocurarine may cause blood pressure reduction due to ganglionic blockade and histamine release, while pancuronium and gallamine are associated with vagal blockade and heart rate acceleration. Metocurine, as a trimethylated derivative of d-tubocurarine synthesized by King in 1935, is known to have relatively long duration of action and produces little change in cardiovascular system. Despite its relative lack of cardiovascular effects, the accumulation of data with regard to human neuromus- cular pharmacology and the clinical use has been scant. One hundred and nine adult patients of either sex were anesthetized with thiopental sodium and 50% nitrous oxide with 1.5-2.5% enflurane. For evaluation of neuromuscular blocking effect of metocurine, train-of-four stimulation (2.0 Hz for 2 seconds) was applied at the wrist along the ulnar nerve distribution and the response was measured via ABM Datex. Systolic, diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were recorded continuously after administration of metocurine, d-tubocurarine or pancuronium. All data were analized by ANOVA, Scheffe test. The results are follows : 1) The mean onset times of metocurine 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 mg/kg groups were 119.5+/-40.0, 120.9+/-61.1, 84.8+/-61,1 seconds and the mean durations were 75.1+/-37.6, 104.9+/-42.1, 131.0+/-42.5 minutes respectively. 2) Single-bolus dose of metocurine 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 mg/kg did not cause significant cardiovascular changes from the control values, but d-tubocurarine 0.3 mg/kg decreased mean systolic blood pressure significantly from 116.6+/-15.7 to 99.0+/-10.9 mmHg 2 minutes after injection. 3) Systolic blood pressures of metocurine 0.2 mg/kg (107.2+/-11.7 mmHg) and d-tubocurarine 0.3 mg/ kg (100.4+/-12.9 mmHg) were significantly different from that of pancuronivm 0.06 mg/kg (127.8+/-16. 0 mmHg) after 1 minute, and 2 minutes after injection, systolic blood pressure of metocurine 0.2 mg/ kg (110.2+/-14.3 mmHg) and d-tubocurarine 0.3 mg/kg (99.0+/-10.9 mmHg) were different from that of pancuronium 0.06 mg/kg (125.3+13.1 mmHg). Five minutes after injection, systolic pressure of d- tubocurarine 0.3mg/kg group (101.110.2mmHg) was significantly different from that of pancur-onium 0.06 mg/kg group (118.7+/-11.0 mmHg). 4) Diastolic blood pressure of d-tubocurarine 0.3 mg/kg (63.4+/-12.9 mmHg) was significantly differ- ent from that of pancuronium 0.06mg/kg (84.2+/-13.3mmHg) after 1 minute, and 2 minutes after injection, diastolic blood pressure or d-tubocurarine 0.3 mg/kg (65.4+/-11.3 mmHg) was different from that of pancuronium 0.06mg/kg (83.1+/-11.6mmHg). There was no significant difference among the groups with respect to heart rate. In summary, metocurine has relatively rapid onset and long duration of action, and used in a dose sufficient to provide surgical relaxation, it produces little change in cardiovascular system in contrast to d-tubocurarine or pancuronium. 1t is therefore suggested that metocurine may be recommended as a muscle relaxant for patients having cardiovascular disease.
Acceleration ; Adult ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cardiovascular System ; Enflurane ; Gallamine Triethiodide ; Ganglion Cysts ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics* ; Histamine Release ; Humans ; Neuromuscular Blockade* ; Neuromuscular Blocking Agents ; Nitrous Oxide ; Pancuronium ; Pharmacology ; Relaxation ; Thiopental ; Tubocurarine ; Ulnar Nerve ; Wrist

PURPOSE: B1 field of birdcage RF (radiofrequency) coil that is used most for brain imaging in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) decreases toward endring from the coil center. We investigated how much RF B1 homogeneity effect the endcap shield brings form the coil center as it towards to endcap region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We compared RF B1 field distribution by each finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulations for lowpass, highpass and hybrid birdcage RF coils. We selected the highpass birdcage RF coil that was the highest RF B1 field condition as simulation result, and studied how much RF B1 homogeneity effect was occurred when endcap shield was applied to endring area. RESULTS: B1 field of the highpass birdcage RF coil was higher than other birdcage RF coil types as simulation result. However, the RF B1 homogeneity was lower than other coil types. RF B1 field of highpass birdcage RF coil with endcap shield is similar with RF B1 field of hybrid birdcage RF coil and the overall RF B1 homogeneity in sagittal direction was better. CONCLUSION: In this paper, proposed method can apply improving RF B1 homogeneity of RF coil in clinical examination.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neuroimaging

OBJECTIVES: Schizophrenic patients have been reported to be associated with abnormal performance on a broad range of neuropsychological tests. But it has been a persistent controversy in the neuropsychology of schizophrenia whether this disorder is characterized by generalized deficits or specific deficits. The purpose of this study was to investigate, using standardized Benton Neuropsychological Assessment(BNA), whether the specific pattern of neurocognitive deficits is found in schizophrenics. METHODS: The subjects were composed of (1) 30 schizophrenic inpatients who were diagnosed as paranoid subtype according to DSM-IV diagnostic criterior and (2) 30 normal subjects with matching demographic variables(i.e. age, sex, educational level). All tests of BNA were given to schizophrenic patients and normal subjects, and the performances of schizophrenic patients and normal subjects were compared on all aspects of BNA. Schizophrenic symptoms were assessed via Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS) to determine the relationship between clinical symptoms and schizophrenic cognitive deficits. RESULTS: Of 12 tests of BNA, schizophrenic patients' performances on Serial Digit Learning(SDL), Facial Recognition Test(FR), Tactile Form Perception(TFP), Finger Localization(FL) were significantly lower than those of normal subjects. In addition, schizophrenic patients showed significantly lower performances than those of normal subjects on Right Hand, Left Hand, Identification of two simultaneously touched fingers of FL, and more Peripheral Error on Visual Form Perception Test(VFPT). Finally, no significant correlation was found with respect to the relationships between total scores, positive symptom scores, negative symptom scores of PANSS, and all scores of BNA tests in schizophrenic patients. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that schizophrenic patients may have a specific pattern of neurocognitive deficits in verbal working memory, learning, attention, and complex sensory information processing in visual and haptic modality such as facial perception skills, tactile information processing, independent of psychotic symptoms. The pattern of deifcits is at least in partial, in agreement with many previous study results. On the tests of linguistic functions, visuospatial perception, and constructional abilities, schizophrenic patients' performances were not significantly different from those of normal subjects. The findings on visuospatial perception and constructional abilities imply that some posterior cortical zones may be relatively uncompromised in schizophrenia. Both poor performances on object recognition tests relative to normal performances on object location tests and verbal working memory dysfunction may be associated with the putative dysfunction of the reciprocal connections either (1) between the prefrontal and parietal cortex or (2) between the prefrontal cortex and hippocampal formation. This tentative explanation remains to be confirmed.
Automatic Data Processing ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Fingers ; Form Perception ; Hand ; Hippocampus ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Learning ; Linguistics ; Memory, Short-Term ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Neuropsychology ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Rabeprazole ; Schizophrenia*

OBJECTIVE: Notochordal cells in the intervertebral disc interact with nucleus pulposus (NP) cells and support the maintenance of disc homeostasis by regulation of matrix production. However, the influence of notochordal cells has not been evaluated in the annulus fibrosus (AF), which is the primary pain generator in the disc. We hypothesized that the notochordal cell has the capacity to modulate inflammatory mediators secreted by AF cells secondary to stimulation. METHODS: Notochordal and AF cells were isolated from adult New Zealand white rabbits. AF pellets were cultured with notochordal cell clusters or in notochordal cell-conditioned media (NCCM) for 24 or 48 hours with proinflammatory cytokines at varying concentrations. Gene expression in AF pellets were assayed for nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2, and interleukin (IL)-6 by real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: AF pellet in NCCM significantly decreased the iNOS and COX-2 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels compared to AF pellets alone and AF pellets with notochordal cells (p < 0.05). AF pellet resulted in dose-dependent iNOS and COX-2 expression in response to IL-1beta, stimulation, demonstrating that 1 ng/ml for 24 hours yielded a maximal response. AF pellet in NCCM significantly decreased the expression of iNOS and COX-2 in response to 1ng/ml IL-1beta, stimulation at 24 hours (p < 0.05). There was no difference in IL-6 expression compared to AF pellets alone or AF pellets with notochordal cell clusters. CONCLUSION: We conclude that soluble factors from notochordal cells mitigate the gene expression of inflammatory mediators in stimulated AF, as expected after annular injury, suggesting that notochordal cells could serve as a novel therapeutic approach in symptomatic disc development.
Adult ; Cytokines ; Gene Expression ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukins ; Intervertebral Disc ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Notochord ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; Rabbits ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA

BACKGROUND: Portable glucometers are often utilized at the patient's bedside in the ICU or operating room for frequent measurements of the blood glucose concentration. Many of these devices are based on a glucose oxidase method that may be influenced by PO2. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of a high PO2 of arterial blood on measured glucose values compared with venous blood. METHODS: Forty adult patients who underwent surgery with general anesthesia were included in this study. Each patient had a cannula inserted into the radial artery and a central venous catheter through the right internal jugular vein. Two hours after the induction of anesthesia, we drew arterial and venous blood and measured the blood glucose concentration using both a bedside glucometer based on a glucose oxidase method and a laboratory glucometer based on a hexokinase method. We also measured blood gas, electrolyte, and hematocrit values. Statistical analyses were performed with repeated measure ANOVA, multiple linear regression, and Bland-Altman's analysis. Data is expressed as mean +/- SD. RESULTS: The arterial blood glucose concentration measured by the glucose oxidase method (119.5 +/- 25.0 mg/dl) was significantly lower than the venous blood (133.5 +/- 24.8 mg/dl) and hexokinase method (134.2 +/- 27.1 mg/dl). There was no significant difference between the venous blood glucose concentration by the glucose oxidase method and hexokinase method. When we used the correction formula: corrected glucose value = arterial glucose value by glucose oxidase method + 0.1053 X PaO2 - 5.414, the bias improved from - 14.6 mg/dl to 1.0 mg/dl. CONCLUSIONS: The blood glucose concentration measured by the glucose oxidase method is more accurate in venous blood than oxygenated arterial blood. When we measure the blood glucose level using the glucose oxidase method, we should consider the influence of high oxygen tension.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Blood Glucose* ; Catheters ; Central Venous Catheters ; Glucose Oxidase* ; Glucose* ; Hematocrit ; Hexokinase ; Humans ; Jugular Veins ; Linear Models ; Operating Rooms ; Oxygen* ; Radial Artery

BACKGROUND: In order to evaluate the effects of the duration of hemodialysis on cell mediated immunity, we studied cellular immune responses in vitro in 12 patients on chronic hemodialysis and in 6 healthy volunteers with normal kidney function. METHODS: The patients on maintenance hemodialysis were divided into two subgroups according to the duration of the hemodialysis: Group 1 (within 5 years, n=6) and Group 2 (>5 yr and < or =10 yr, n=6). Group 3 include the normal control (n=6). The peripheral blood lymphocytes of each group were cultured in RPMI medium 1640 without/or with 3 microgram of phytohemagglutinin (=PHA) for 7 days. RESULTS: CD4 /CD8 ratio at 48hours was totally comparable between the uremic patients (Group 1 and Group 2) and the controls (Group 3). The proportions of CD25 T lymphocytes after 48 hours culture were abnormally high: 7.1+/-0.5% and 7.0+/-1.3% in the uremic patients as compared to 2.5+/-0.6 in the normal controls at the basal state and 66.7+/-2.6% and 68.8+/-1.9% in the uremic patients as compared to 78.3+/-4.6% in the normal controls at the PHA-stimulated condition. The spontaneous production of IL-2 (mean pg SEM) was significantly lower in hemodialized patients (Group 1: 34.5+/-6.0 pg/ml, Group 2: 33.8+/-6.2 pg/ml) as compared to the normal patients (Group 3: 58.8+/-10.4 pg/ml). The PHA stimulated IL-2 production was also significantly reduced in the hemodialized patients (Group 1: 53.2+/- 13.3 pg/ml, Group: 53.0+/-10.3 pg/ml) as compared to the normal patients (Group 3: 150.0+/-24.5 pg/ml). The mean proliferative response to PHA at each point in the hemodialized patients were significantly lower than those of the controls. CONCLUSIONS: These data show that there is no significant correlation between the level of the cell mediated immune response and the duration of hemodialysis. Several defects in the cell mediated immune response associated with uremia might start at an early phase of the hemodialysis.
Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular* ; Interleukin-2 ; Kidney ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Lymphocytes ; Renal Dialysis* ; T-Lymphocytes ; Uremia