No abstract available.
Female ; Mosaicism* ; Ovary*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of gabapentin and clonidine on neuropathic pain in an experimental pain model. METHOD: 24 male adult rats were anesthetized and the sciatic nerve was exposed. Each exposed nerve was electrically injured with 10 volts for 10 seconds by two needle electrodes. Rats were divided into three groups by treating with gabapentin, clonidine and sham. Gabapentin and clonidine were given orally from post operation day 3 to 7 in gabapentin and clonidine groups respectively. To evaluate the presence of mechanical allodynia, withdrawal frequency was tested by Von Frey hair in the same days. After post operation day 7, all the medications were discontinued and mechanical allodynia was evaluated at post operation day 14. RESULT: Neuropathic pain was developed after electrical injury in all the rats. Withdrawal frequency is more decreased in gabapentin and clonidine groups than sham group in post operation day 4 to 7. The withdrawal frequency was 2.88+/-0.83, 2.75+/-0.89, 3.13+/-0.99, 3.25+/- 1.28 in gabapentin group and 3.38+/-0.92, 4.50+/-2.20, 3.25+/-1.17, 3.50+/-0.93 in clonidine group in post operation day 4, 5, 6, 7, respectively. In post operation day 14, withdrawal frequency was increased and showed no difference compared to the sham group. CONCLUSION: Gabapentin and clonidine can suppress the neuropathic pain in an experimental pain model. There was no different effect on the neuropathic pain suppression between gabapentin and clonidine.
Adult ; Animals ; Clonidine* ; Electrodes ; Hair ; Humans ; Hyperalgesia ; Male ; Needles ; Neuralgia* ; Rats ; Sciatic Nerve

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to develop a new neuropathic pain model in the rat. METHOD: Each male adult rat was anesthetized and the sciatic nerve was exposed. Each exposed nerve was injected with 0.03 cc of 1% phenol solution. Normal saline 0.03 cc was injected to the placebo group. Rats were tested for the presence of mechanical allodynia by von Frey hair. Spontaneous pain behavior (paw shaking, paw elevation) was examined for 5 minutes in the cage. RESULTS: Phenol injected group developed allodynia after the second post-injection day for up to 1 month. Allodynia was also observed in the contralateral legs of phenol injected group. The control group did not develop allodynia. Spontaneous pain behavior was not observed in either group. CONCLUSION: Neuropathic pain model was developed by 1% phenol solution injection to the rat sciatic nerve. This study suggests an easier method for making the neuropathic pain model.
Adult ; Animals ; Hair ; Humans ; Hyperalgesia ; Leg ; Male ; Neuralgia* ; Phenol* ; Rats* ; Sciatic Nerve*

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to develop a new neuropathic pain model in rat. METHOD: Twenty Sprague-Dawley adult male rats, 10 for control and 10 for experimental, were anesthetized and their sciatic nerves were exposed. In an experimental group, exposed nerve was injured with 10 volts electrical current for 10 seconds. The mechanical and thermal allodynia and pain behavior were evaluated in pre-electrical injury and post-injury 1, 2, 3 days, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 weeks. The mechanical allodynia was evaluated by the frequency of response to 5 stimulations of von Frey hairs (4.31 and 4.56) and the thermal allodynia was tested by withdrawal latency to stimulation with radiant heat. Spontaneous pain behavior (paw shaking, paw elevation) was observed for 5 minutes in the cage. RESULTS: The experimental group exhibited significantly higher withdrawal frequency to mechanical stimulation: from post-injury 3 days to 6 weeks for von Frey hair 4.31 and from 2 days to 4 weeks for von Frey hair 4.56 (p<0.05). There was no difference between two groups in withdrawal latency to radiant heat stimulation. The experimental group showed spontaneous pain behavior but control group did not. In electron microscopic finding, prominent myelin destruction and axonal sprouting were observed in experimental group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that a new neuropathic pain model can be made by 10 volts electrical injury for 10 seconds to rat sciatic nerve.
Adult ; Animals ; Axons ; Hair ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Hyperalgesia ; Male ; Myelin Sheath ; Neuralgia* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sciatic Nerve*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: DA-9701 is a newly developed drug made from the vegetal extracts of Pharbitidis semen and Corydalis tuber. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of DA-9701 on colorectal distension (CRD)-induced visceral hypersensitivity in a rat model. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to neonatal colon irritation (CI) using CRD at 1 week after birth (CI group). At 6 weeks after birth, CRD was applied to these rats with a pressure of 20 to 90 mm Hg, and changes in the mean arterial pressure (MAP) were measured at baseline (i.e., without any drug administration) and after the administration of different doses of DA-9701. RESULTS: In the absence of DA-9701, the MAP changes after CRD were significantly higher in the CI group than in the control group at all applied pressures. In the control group, MAP changes after CRD were not significantly affected by the administration of DA-9701. In the CI group, however, the administration of DA-9701 resulted in a significant decrease in MAP changes after CRD. The administration of DA-9701 at a dose of 1.0 mg/kg produced a more significant decrease in MAP changes than the 0.3 mg/kg dose. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of DA-9701 resulted in a significant increase in pain threshold in rats with CRD-induced visceral hypersensitivity.
Analgesics/administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Animals ; Arterial Pressure/drug effects ; Colon, Descending/physiology ; Dilatation/methods ; Gastrointestinal Agents/administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Male ; Pain Threshold/drug effects ; Plant Preparations/administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Visceral Pain/physiopathology/*prevention & control

The predictive role of lactate in patients with nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB) has been suggested. This study evaluated several lactate parameters in terms of predicting outcomes of bleeding patients and sought to establish a new scoring model by combining lactate parameters and the AIMS65 score. A total of 114 patients with NVUGIB who underwent serum lactate level testing at least twice and endoscopic hemostasis within 24 hours after admission were retrospectively analyzed. The associations between five lactate parameters and clinical outcomes were evaluated and the predictive power of lactate parameter combined AIMS65s (L-AIMS65s) and AIMS56 scoring was compared. The most common cause of bleeding was gastric ulcer (48.2%). Lactate clearance rate (LCR) was associated with 30-day rebleeding (odds ratio [OR], 0.931; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.872–0.994; P = 0.033). Initial lactate (OR, 1.313; 95% CI, 1.050–1.643; P = 0.017), maximal lactate (OR, 1.277; 95% CI, 1.037–1.573; P = 0.021), and average lactate (OR, 1.535; 95% CI, 1.137–2.072; P = 0.005) levels were associated with 30-day mortality. Initial lactate (OR, 1.213; 95% CI, 1.027–1.432; P = 0.023), maximal lactate (OR, 1.271; 95% CI, 1.074–1.504; P = 0.005), and average lactate (OR, 1.501; 95% CI, 1.150–1.959; P = 0.003) levels were associated with admission over 7 days. Although L-AIMS65s showed the highest area under the curve for prediction of each outcome, differences between L-AIMS65s and AIMS65 did not reach statistical significance. In conclusion, lactate parameters have a prognostic role in patients with NVUGIB. However, they do not increase the predictive power of AIMS65 when combined.
Hemorrhage* ; Hemostasis, Endoscopic ; Humans ; Lactic Acid* ; Mortality ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Ulcer

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), a new and potentially curative method for treating gastrointestinal neoplasms, may have longer procedure time and the risk of complications when compared to conventional endoscopic mucosal resection. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of ESD in patients with comorbid diseases. METHODS: The outcomes of 337 patients who underwent ESD for early gastric cancer at Samsung Medical Center from April 2003 to December 2006 were analyzed retrospectively. The Charlson comorbidity scale was used to divide the patients into low-risk (no risk factor) and high-risk (at least one risk factor) groups. The outcomes and complications were compared between the high- and low-risk groups. RESULTS: The low- and high-risk groups comprised 240 and 97 patients with mean ages of 61.1 and 64.7 years, respectively (p=0.002). Tumor location, tumor size, depth of invasion, procedure duration, and rates of en bloc resection, complete resection, complication, and recurrence did not differ significantly between the two groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: ESD may be a safe and effective treatment for early gastric cancer in patients with comorbid diseases.
Comorbidity ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms

The isolation of a causal pathogen from pear fruits showing lesions of blue mold was carried out, which were preserved in the packinghouse of Anseong for the export to the United States. When the lesion of pears (Pyrus pyrifolia Niitaka) was checked in packinghouse, their fruit epidermis over decayed parts varied from light tan to dark brown. Also, the decayed flesh was soft and watery, and separated easily from the healthy tissue. Based on the cultural and morphological characteristics, the fungus (IL-12 isolate) was identified as Penicillium aurantiogriseum. This is the first report associated with blue mold of pear caused by P. aurantiogriseum in Korea.
Epidermis ; Fruit ; Fungi* ; Gyeonggi-do ; Korea* ; Penicillium* ; Pyrus* ; Triacetoneamine-N-Oxyl ; United States

BACKGROUND/AIMS: A diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is based on the typical symptoms, such as acid regurgitation and heartburn. However, there is a very high inter-observer variation in the evaluation of GERD patients. METHODS: The endoscopic images of forty-two cases with reflux symptoms (2 still images and 15-second video images per case) were analyzed by 18 experienced endoscopists and 22 trainees. The findings were classified into the following: (1) 6 groups (modified LA classification: 4 LA groups, minimal, and normal), (2) erosinve and non-erosive, and (3) confluent erosive and others. The level of inter-observer variation is expressed as a kappa value. RESULTS: The level of inter-observer agreement of the 18 experienced endoscopists for classifying the patients into 6 groups was fairly low (kappa=0.364). However, when the findings were classified into the 2 groups suggested in the Genval workshop (NERD, A, or B versus C or D), the level of inter- observer agreement increased substantially (kappa=0.710). The kappa value of the 22 trainees for classifying the patients into 6 groups was 0.402. CONCLUSIONS: Modified LA classification with minimal change lesions showed a fairly low level of agreement. The problem caused by inter-observer variations decreased significantly when the findings were classified into two groups.
Classification ; Diagnosis* ; Education ; Gastroesophageal Reflux* ; Heartburn ; Humans ; Observer Variation*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for tumors occurring in the remnant stomach is technically difficult to perform because of limited working space and severe fibrosis and staples present around the suture line. We aimed to elucidate the feasibility and clinical outcomes of performing ESD for tumors in the remnant stomach. METHODS: Between December 2007 and January 2013, 18 patients underwent ESD for tumors (six adenomas and 12 differentiated-type early gastric cancers [EGCs]) occurring in the remnant stomach after distal gastrectomy. Clinicopathologic features and clinical outcomes after ESD were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Two-thirds of the lesions were located on the body, and half were located on the suture line. En bloc resection, R0 resection, and en bloc with R0 resection rates were 88.9%, 100%, and 88.9%, respectively. Curative resection rate for EGC was 91.7%. Perforation occurred in one patient (5.6%) and was successfully managed by endoscopic closure with metallic clips and conservative management. There was no significant bleeding after ESD. During a median follow-up of 47.5 months, no local, metachronous, or extragastric recurrence was seen for either EGC or adenoma lesions. CONCLUSIONS: ESD is a feasible and effective treatment modality and can be considered a primary intervention for early gastric neoplasia occurring in the remnant stomach.
Adenoma ; Fibrosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrectomy* ; Gastric Stump* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Sutures