No abstract available.
Evoked Potentials, Visual* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn*

No abstract available.
Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation*

No abstract available.
Iontophoresis* ; Musculoskeletal Diseases*

In systemic hypertension, capillary resistance is highly elevated and' contractility of vascular smooth muscle is elevated. This is due to increased calcium uptake into the sarcoplasmic reticulum of the vascular smooth muscle. Recently, nifedipine, an antihypertensive medication which inhibits calcium uptake into the vascular smooth muscle is commonly used. It decreases the contractility of the vascular smooth muscle and causes the vessels to relax, which in turn lowers the blood pressure. In 1987, according to Rodriguez-Sargent et al. the increased incidence of cataract in Dahl-salt sensitive rats(DSR) was due to increasd water and sodium contents and decreased potassium content. In this investigative study on hypertension, the water, Sodium and potassium contents in Spontaneous Hypertensive Rats(SHR) were measured. After treatment with nifedipine in SHR, we observed decreased blood pressure along with the changes in water, sodium and potassium contents of the lenses. The following results were obtained from our experiments. 1. In normal SDR, The blood pressure did not decrease with nifedipine injection. 2. After 3-7 days of nifedipine injection bidaily, the blood pressure of SHR did not decrease. 3. After 2 weeks of nifedipine injection bidaily, the blood pressure of the SHR decreased slightly and after 4 weeks of nifedipine injection bidaily, the blood pressure of SHR decreased significantly. 4. Water and sodium contents of SHR were higher than that of SDR and the potassium content was similar to that of SDR. 5. The elevated water and sodium contents of SHR decreased along with decrease of blood pressure, and after 2 weeks of nifedipine injection, showed similar level as the contents of SDR lenses. 6. Potassium contents of SHR lenses showed no change were similar to SDR lines except the 4 weeks nifedipine injection group which showed higher potasslum contents.
Animals ; Blood Pressure* ; Calcium ; Capillary Resistance ; Cataract ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; Nifedipine* ; Potassium ; Rats* ; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum ; Sodium ; Water*

Although selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been widely used in both psychiatry and other medicine, few cases have been reported SSRI-related hyperprolactinemia and/or galactorrhea. We experienced one case which showed both galactorrhea and hyperprolactinemia following treatment with paroxetine. In the case, a 37-year-old multiparous woman reported galactorrhea after 8-weeks paroxetine treatment for her depression. After 1 month prescription of bromocriptine, dopamine agonist, as well as switching medication from paroxetine to venlafaxine, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, both galactorrhea and hyperprolactinemia were disappeared. Both hyperprolactinemia and galactorrhea have not been observed even after the cessation of bromocriptine prescription.
Adult ; Bromocriptine ; Cyclohexanols ; Depression ; Dopamine Agonists ; Female ; Galactorrhea ; Humans ; Hyperprolactinemia ; Paroxetine ; Pregnancy ; Prescriptions ; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors ; Venlafaxine Hydrochloride

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary sea-tangle extracts on blood glucose levels, serum lipid levels, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and glutathione enzymes in diabetic rats treated with streptozotocin (STZ) Four groups of rats (Sprague-Dawley male rats, 180 - 200g) were consisted of normal rats fed control diet (C), diabetic rats fed control diet (CD), normal rats fed sea-tangl extracts diet (E), and diabetic rats fed sea-tangle extracts diet (ED). Diabetes was induced by single injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg B.W.). After 7 weeks, rats were sacrificed, serum glucose, serum total cholesterol, triglyceride levels and glutathione enzymes were measured. Urine was significantly higher in CD and ED groups than those of others (p < 0.05). Levels of amylase, calcium, uric acid, hemoglobin, cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol were different among four groups. But high density cholesterol (HDL)-cholesterol of ED group was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than other groups (C and E group) And the weekly change of serum glucose was decreased in the 3th,4th and 5th weeks. But serum triglyceride (TG) of diabetic rats fed sea-tangle extracts diet (ED) was lower than diabetic rats fed control diet (CD). Activity of hepatic microsomal G6Pase was significantly increased CD and ED groups higher than C and E group, but kidney was decreased ED group. Hepateic glutathione S-transferase (GST) of CD and ED group were significantly lower than C and E group (p<0.05), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) of E and ED group were significantly higher than C and CD group (p<0.05), glutathione reductase (GR) activities of ED group was significantly lower than other groups, malondialdehyde (MDA) of ED was lower than E and CD group, but kidney was increased significant in ED group compared to liver. These results suggested that dietary sea-tangle extracts reduce .hepatic disorders such as oxidant than kidney. In conclusion, dietary sea-tangle extracts groups reduced blood TG and hepatic MDA levels in STZ-induced diabetic rats.
Amylases ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Calcium ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; Glucose ; Glutathione ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Glutathione Reductase ; Glutathione Transferase ; Humans ; Kidney ; Lipoproteins ; Liver ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; Rats* ; Streptozocin ; Triglycerides ; Uric Acid

PURPOSE: Helicobacter pylori infection is probably acquired in childhood and persists as an asymptomatic infection for decades in most individuals. It is unclear why only a minority of those infected develop a clinical manifestation, even in childhood, such as peptic ulcer disease. H. pylori infection activates local immune responses and causes lymphocyte infiltration in the gastric mucosa. We have previously reported that both T and B cells in the lamina propria play important roles in the local immune response of H. pylori-infected children. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between H. pylori genotypes and gastric mucosal lymphocytes. METHODS: Twenty-five H. pylori-infected children (10 with peptic ulcer disease and 15 with gastritis) were enrolled in this study. We investigated the genotypes (cagA, cagE, vacA, and babA2) and evaluated the association with clinical manifestations, histopathology, and gastric mucosal lymphocytes. RESULTS: The prevalence of cagA, cagE, vacA s1m1, and babA2 was 80%, 60%, 84%, and 88%, respectively. The most prevalent (68%) combination of cagA, vacA, and babA2 genotypes was cagA+/ vacA s1m1+/babA2+. H. pylori genotypes were not associated with clinical manifestations, histopathology, or gastric mucosal lymphocytes. CONCLUSION: There was no association between the cagA, cagE, vacA, or babA2 status and gastric mucosal lymphocytes. The role of the host immune response in relation to H. pylori genotypes and disease potential in children needs further studies.
Asymptomatic Infections ; B-Lymphocytes ; Child ; Gastric Mucosa ; Genotype ; Helicobacter ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Mucous Membrane ; Peptic Ulcer ; Prevalence

PURPOSE: Kawasaki disease(KD) is a multisystemic inflammatory vasculitis of unknown etiology, but immunological abnormalities have been documented and implicated in the pathogenesis of KD. Matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs) have proteolytic activity against connective tissue proteins, and increased activity of MMPs and a quantitative imbalance between MMP and tissue inhibitor of MMP (TIMP) can result in several pathologic conditions. MMP and TIMP may also be involved in the formation of coronary arterial lesions in KD. METHODS: Serum levels of MMP1, MMP2, MMP9, TIMP1, TIMP2, interleukin(IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-alpha were measured in 27 KD patients(group I, 10 patients with normal coronary artery; group II, 17 patients with coronary arterial lesions) and 15 healthy children(group III). Blood samples from each study group were drawn before and after intravenous immunoglobulin(IVIG) therapy and in the convalescent stage. RESULTS: The MMP9 levels and MMP9/TIMP2 ratios before and after IVIG therapy were significantly higher in group II. The MMP9 levels were significantly higher before IVIG therapy, and decreased through the convalescent stage. The IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels were also significantly higher in group II than in the other groups. The serum MMP9 levels showed significantly positive correlation with the circulating leukocyte counts and IL-6 levels. CONCLUSION: The increased levels of MMP and the imbalance between MMP and TIMP increase the susceptibility to the coronary arterial lesions in KD. The cytokines including IL-6 and TNF-alpha are also important in the activation of MMP and formation of coronary arterial lesions in KD.
Connective Tissue ; Coronary Vessels ; Cytokines* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; Interleukin-6 ; Leukocyte Count ; Matrix Metalloproteinases* ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Necrosis ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Vasculitis

OBJECTIVES: Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental spectrum disorder with a strong genetic component. Previous neurochemical and genetic studies have suggested the possible involvement of the serotonin system in autism. Tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase(TDO2) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the catabolism of tryptophan, which is the precursor of serotonin synthesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the TDO2 gene and autism spectrum disorders(ASD) in a Korean population. METHODS: The patients were diagnosed with ASD on the basis of the DSM-IV diagnostic classification outlined in the Korean version of the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule. The present study included the detection of four single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) in the TDO2 gene(rs2292536, rs6856558, rs6830072, rs6830800) and the family-based association analysis of the single nucleotide polymorphisms in Korean ASD trios using a transmission disequilibrium test(TDT) and haplotype analysis. The family trios of 136 probands were included in analysis. 87.5% were male and 86.0% were diagnosed with autism. The mean age of the probands was 78.5+/-35.8 months(range: 26-264 months). RESULTS: Two SNPs showed no polymorphism, and there was no significant difference in transmission in the other two SNPs. We also could not find any significant transmission in the haplotype analysis(p>.05). CONCLUSION: We could not find any significant statistical association between the transmission of SNPs in the TDO2 gene and ASD in a Korean population. This result may not support the possible involvement of the TDO2 gene in the development of ASD, and further exploration might be needed to investigate other plausible SNP sites.
Appointments and Schedules ; Autistic Disorder* ; Child ; Autism Spectrum Disorder* ; Classification ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolism ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Serotonin ; Tryptophan

Dubin-Johnson Syndrome is a form of benign, familial idiopathic jaundice presenting with chronic intermittentconjugated hyperbilirubinnmia and a melamin-like pigment has been found in the parenchymal liver cells. This disorder is rarely diagnosed in the neonatal period. We report a case of Dubin-Johnson syndrome presenting with neonatal cholestasis.
Cholestasis ; Jaundice ; Jaundice, Chronic Idiopathic* ; Liver