The distribution of enkephalin, dynorphin, substance P and neurotensin in the periaqueductal gray[PAG] has been well established by immunohistochemical methods. However, there is little information about the regional distribution of these neuropeptide mRNA-containing neurons in the PAG. The present study was undertaken [1] to elucidate the distribution of these neuropeptide mRNA-containing neurons and to determine of the PAG, [2] to know how peptide expression relates to the proposed functional subdivisions of the PAG and [3] to know how neuropeptide mRNA levels in the PAG change following peripheral neuropathy The results obtained are as follows ; 1. Preproenkephalin[pENK] mRNA-containing neurons are found mostly in the ventrolateral portion at all levels of the PAG. 2. Prodynorphin[pDYN] mRNA-containing neurons are concentrated mostly in the ventrolateral portion at the caudal level of the PAG. 3. Preprotachykinin[pTAK] mRNA-containing neurons are localized mainly in the ventrolateral portion at all levels of the PAG. There is small numbers of pTAK mRNA-containing neurons in the dorsolateral and dorsal portion at all levels of the PAG. 4. Proneurotensin[pNT] mRNA-containing neurons are concentrated mostly in the medial part of ventrolateral portion of the caudal and mid PAG. 5. Peripheral neuropathy induces an increase of pNT mRNA levels in the PAG, while pENK, pDYN and pTAK mRNAs levels show no change. The present results indicate that the pENK, pDYN, pTAK or pNT mRNA-containing neurons are found mainly in the ventrolateral PAG, the area where analgesia is most easily produced and that neurotensin in the PAG may play an important role in modulating chronic neuropathic pain.
Analgesia ; Animals ; Dynorphins ; Enkephalins ; Gene Expression* ; In Situ Hybridization ; Neuralgia* ; Neurons* ; Neuropeptides* ; Neurotensin ; Periaqueductal Gray* ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Rats* ; RNA, Messenger ; Substance P

Large doses of acetaminophen (APAP) could cause oxidative stress and tissue damage through production of reactive oxygen/nitrogen (ROS/RNS) species and quinone metabolites of APAP. Although ROS/RNS are known to modify DNA, the effect of APAP on DNA modifications has not been studied systematically. In this study, we investigate whether large doses of APAP can modify the nuclear DNA in C6 glioma cells used as a model system, because these cells contain cytochrome P450-related enzymes responsible for APAP metabolism and subsequent toxicity (Geng and Strobel, 1995). Our results revealed that APAP produced ROS and significantly elevated the 8-oxo- deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) levels in the nucleus of C6 glioma cells in a time and concentration dependent manner. APAP significantly reduced the 8- oxodG incision activity in the nucleus by decreasing the activity and content of a DNA repair enzyme, Ogg1. These results indicate that APAP in large doses can increase the 8-oxodG level partly through significant reduction of Ogg1 DNA repair enzyme.
Acetaminophen/*metabolism ; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic/*metabolism ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA/metabolism ; DNA Damage ; DNA Glycosylases/*metabolism ; DNA Repair ; Deoxyguanosine/chemistry/*metabolism ; Glioma/*metabolism ; Glutathione/metabolism ; Humans ; Rats ; Reactive Nitrogen Species/metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism

This study aims to develop new potential therapeutic moracin M prodrugs acting on lung inflammatory disorders. Potential moracin M prodrugs (KW01-KW07) were chemically synthesized to obtain potent orally active derivatives, and their pharmacological activities against lung inflammation were, for the first time, examined in vivo using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury model. In addition, the metabolism of KW02 was also investigated using microsomal stability test and pharmacokinetic study in rats. When orally administered, some of these compounds (30 mg/kg) showed higher inhibitory action against LPSinduced lung inflammation in mice compared to moracin M. Of them, 2-(3,5-bis((dimethylcarbamoyl)oxy)phenyl)benzofuran-6-yl acetate (KW02) showed potent and dose-dependent inhibitory effect on the same animal model of lung inflammation at 1, 3, and 10 mg/kg. This compound at 10 mg/kg also significantly reduced IL-1β concentration in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of the inflamed-lungs. KW02 was rapidly metabolized to 5-(6-hydroxybenzofuran-2-yl)-1,3-phenylene bis(dimethylcarbamate) (KW06) and moracin M when it was incubated with rat serum and liver microsome as expected. When KW02 was administered to rats via intravenous or oral route, KW06 was detected in the serum as a metabolite. Thus, it is concluded that KW02 has potent inhibitory action against LPS-induced lung inflammation. It could behave as a potential prodrug of moracin M to effectively treat lung inflammatory disorders.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is very rare in young adults. Nephrotic syndrome is an uncommon cause of AMI in young adults and is characterized by excessive proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, hyperlipidemia, and generalized edema. The hypercoagulable state and accelerated atherosclerosis in patients with nephrotic syndrome may be associated with the development of AMI in young adults. We report herein a case of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction with sudden cardiac arrest in a young patient with minimal change disease.
Atherosclerosis ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Edema ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypoalbuminemia ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Nephrosis, Lipoid* ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Proteinuria ; Shock, Cardiogenic* ; Young Adult*

PURPOSE: After cataracts, eye injuries are the second leading cause of visual impairment worldwide. But most eye injuries are preventable simply by wearing appropriate eye protection. In this study we evaluate factors leading to eye injury in a sample of emergency department (ED) patients. METHODS: This study was conducted with 424 isolated eye injury patients who visited our ED from January to December of 2008. The following data were reviewed; date of visit, characteristics of subjects, existing use of eyewear, relationship of injury to work, causative activity, location where the injury occurred, type of injury, disposition at ED discharge, length of hospital stay, and the existence of sequelae. Severe eye injuries were classified based on the type of injury, disposition at ED, remaining visual loss, and sequelae. RESULTS: Among the total 424 isolated eye injury patients, 411 cases were analyzed. Eye injuries occurred most frequently at home (22.6%), in a factory workplace (21.2%), or an outdoor agricultural workplace (18.2%). The incidence of eye injuries peaked in the fifth decade of life. Among the 306 (74.5%) cases that were workplace unrelated, the main causative activities were assault (18.0%), injury associated with play (14.1%), sports (11.1%), and lawn mowing (9.2%). CONCLUSION: The most common location where the eye injury occurred was at home. Eye injuries prevention in the workplace is well promoted, but in fact, eye injuries were more common at home and during non-occupational activities. We suggest that public education programs which highlight non-occupational eye injury risk and prevention measures should be instituted to reduce preventable eye injuries.
Cataract ; Emergencies ; Eye ; Eye Injuries ; Humans ; Incidence ; Length of Stay ; Risk Factors ; Sports ; Vision Disorders

PURPOSE: This research was conducted to study whether the specific location of pelvic-bone fractures could increase the risk for injury to the urinary bladder, urethra, or lower gastrointestinal tract. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 234 patients with pelvic-bone fractures who visited the emergency department of Kyungpook National University Hospital from January 2004 to December 2006. The location of the pelvic-bone fracture was divided into 8 parts. The association of fracture location with injury to the urinary bladder, urethra, or lower gastrointestinal tract was analyzed with Fisher's-exact test and multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Nineteen(19) patients had urinary bladder injury, 8 had urethral injury, and 9 had lower gastrointestinal tract injury. The following fracture locations were found to be significant; urinary bladder: sacroiliac (SI) joint (p<0.001), symphysis pubis (p=0.011), and sacrum (p=0.005); urethra: SI joint (p=0.020); lower gastrointestinal tract: symphysis pubis (p=0.028). After the multiple logistic regression analysis, the primary and the independent predictors for each of the injuries were as follows; urinary bladder: sacroiliac joint (p=0.000, odds ratio [OR]=10.469); lower gastrointestinal tract: symphysis pubis (p=0.037, OR=7.009). CONCLUSION: Consideration of further workup for injuries to the lower gastrointestinal and urinary tract is needed for some locations of pelvic-bone fractures because certain pelvic-bone fracture locations, especially the sacroiliac joint and the symphysis pubis, are associated with increased risk for injury to the lower gastrointestinal and urinary tracts.
Emergency Service, Hospital ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Joints ; Logistic Models ; Lower Gastrointestinal Tract* ; Odds Ratio ; Pelvic Bones* ; Retrospective Studies ; Sacroiliac Joint ; Sacrum ; Urethra* ; Urinary Bladder* ; Urinary Tract

BACKGROUND: An objective and standardized interview process is important when screening for healthy blood donors. Our aims were to gather opinions of the interviewing nurses at blood centers on the current donor interview and to suggest improvements to the interview. METHODS: We conducted an anonymous survey consisting of five questions regarding the donor health questionnaire, which can be found on the reverse side of the donation record card. The survey targeted the interviewing nurses with more than 1 year of experience at collection sites of the Korean Red Cross and the Hanmaum blood centers. The survey was sent out and gathered via mail, fax or email between September and October of 2010. RESULTS: The average self-deferral rate of donors prior to interview was 7.4%, and 66.7% of the interviewing nurses considered 'taking medicine' as the most common reason for donor self-deferral. The past and current history of disorders was the hardest question for nurses to determine the eligibility of the donors. Having a history of blood transfusion, surgery, tattoo or a piercing procedure, etc. within a year was the most unacceptable reason for deferred donors. The nurses strongly recommended revision of redundant questions as well as re-examining the unsolvable dilemma of questions concerning malaria. CONCLUSION: According to the survey, this study outlines the perspectives of interviewing nurses at blood centers regarding the rate and reasons for self-deferral of blood donors, the difficulties and the suggestions for improving the current donor interview. The results will be helpful in the future when proposing modifications to the donor interview.
Anonyms and Pseudonyms ; Blood Donors ; Blood Transfusion ; Electronic Mail ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Postal Service ; Red Cross ; Tissue Donors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) has been used to protect neurological functions in cardiac arrest patient. Although Osborn wave is not pathognomonic of hypothermia, it is a well-known electrocardiogram finding of hypothermic patients. The cellular and ionic mechanisms of the Osborn wave have been suggested, and its relationship to tachyarrhythmias, such as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation, is being explored. This case highlights the arrhythmogenic potential of Osborn wave and individual difference in response of TH.
Electrocardiography ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Hypothermia* ; Individuality ; Tachycardia ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Ventricular Fibrillation*

PURPOSE: To compare differences in overall satisfaction with emergency department (ED) services with the results obtained 10 years previously, in order to study effects of several component factors on patients' willingness to re-visit and to give recommendations. METHODS: This study was performed with questionnaires from 318 patients and proxies who were admitted to the emergency ward through the emergency medical center from February 19th, 2007 to March 18th, 2007. Evaluation of data was by frequency analysis, chi-square test, t-test, multiple regression analysis, and path analysis. RESULTS: During a one month study period, 244 patients and proxies (77% of those eligible) completed on-site questionnaires. Sociodemographic factors had no statistically significant influence on satisfaction with ED services. In multiple regression analysis to evaluate the correlation of various factors with satisfaction, the regression coefficients were 0.435(p<0.001) for reliability, 0.248(p<0.001) for accessibility, 0.179(p<0.001) for kindness, and 0.133 (p=0.004) for environmental respectively. In path analysis, the direct effect of overall satisfaction on patient willingness for re-visit was 0.582. The direct effect of overall satisfaction reliability on willingness to give recommendations were 0.594, and 0.250 respectively. CONCLUSION: In slight contrast to the study performed 10 years previously, the factors with the most correlation to overall satisfaction with ED services in this study were environment, kindness of hospital personnel, accessibility, and reliability of medical personnel. We confirmed that overall satisfaction is the most important factor influencing willingness for re-visit and willingness to recommend services, but found that the component factors vary as the point of survey or hospital conditions changes.
Emergencies* ; Emergency Medical Services ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Personal Satisfaction ; Personnel, Hospital ; Proxy ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: The future health of our increasing senior population depends upon the interrelationship between the onset time of the first major disease, infirmity or disability and the time of death. Reduction of morbidity requires compressing the average period between two points and reducing the average level of morbidity during this period. In this article, authors demonstrated the change of mortality curve and estimated the mortality curve upto 2010. And we intend to use this result as basic data in the future for preventive health service, health promotion, and health policy for senior people. METHODS: In this study, the authors demonstrated the survival curve from 1970 to 1995. And we intended to estimate death rate according to age and year upto 2010 and construct a new forecasting model. By using this model, we can calculate the data upto 2010 and suggest mortality curve. RESULTS: According to the results, the relative and absolute rectangularization and the convergency of survival curves were observed, and all the Keyfitz's H, NH, SD and CV decreased while the life expectancy in creased in the period of 1970 to 2010. So we conclude that the hypothesis of mortality compression suggested by Fries explains the changing pattern of aged population in Korea very well. CONCLUSION: According to Fries theory, this study shows compression of mortality is exist in Korea But when we observe the tail of mortality curve, there are no evidence that life expectancy reaches to limitation in Korea and we expect life expectancy of Korean will continuously increase.
Forecasting ; Health Policy ; Health Promotion ; Korea* ; Life Expectancy ; Mortality ; Preventive Health Services