To identify the central innervating the mammary nerve, viral retrograde transneuronal labelling methods were employed. Pseudorabies virus 6 microliter was injected into the mammary nerve of adult female Sprague-Dawley rats. After 4 days of survival, the animals were perfused with 4% paraformaldehyde-lysine periodate and their brains were processed for immunohistochemistry and double immunofluorescent staining of Pseudorabies virus or oxytocin using polyclonal antibodies. Several nuclei in brain were retrogradely labelled with Pesudorabies virus.Only a few magnocellular neurons of the paraventricular nucleus throughout whole brain showed double immunoreactivity to Pseudorabies virus and oxytocin. Approximately 11 percent of the oxytocinergic cells of the paraventricular nucleus,especially in three subnuclei[dorsomedial cap, lateral magnocelluar part and ventral part] showed double positive reaction to both Pseudorabies virus and oxytocin. These data demonstrate that some CNS cells projecting to the mammary nerve contained oxytocin and it may acts as a neurotransmitter in this pathway and a hormone targeting milk production and secretion.
Adult ; Animals ; Antibodies ; Brain ; Female ; Herpesvirus 1, Suid ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Milk ; Neurons ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Oxytocin ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus ; Pseudorabies ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Congenital laryngeal cleft is a rare anomaly, which can cause serious problems of airway and repeated aspiration pneumonia. It is due m failure of fusion of the posterior cricoid cartilage lamina. Dysphagia with aspiration of food is commonly seen w1h resultant bouts of pneumonia. Detection of an unsuspected minor cleft may be difficult, but the pediatrician should suspect the possibility of deft from the clinical features. This paper includes. a detailed case report of one patient with congenital laryngeal cleft and the review of literatures.
Cricoid Cartilage ; Deglutition Disorders ; Humans ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Aspiration

Background: Elevated γ-glutamyl transferase (γ-GTP) levels are associated with metabolic syndrome. We investigated the association of cumulative exposure to high γ-GTP with the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a large-scale population. Methods: Using nationally representative data from the Korean National Health Insurance system, 1,640,127 people with 4 years of consecutive γ-GTP measurements from 2009 to 2012 were included and followed up until the end of 2019. For each year of the study period, participants were grouped by the number of exposures to the highest γ-GTP quartile (0–4), and the sum of quartiles (0–12) was defined as cumulative γ-GTP exposure. The hazard ratio for CVD was evaluated using the Cox proportional hazards model. Results: During the 6.4 years of follow-up, there were 15,980 cases (0.97%) of myocardial infarction (MI), 14,563 (0.89%) of stroke, 29,717 (1.81%) of CVD, and 25,916 (1.58%) of death. Persistent exposure to high γ-GTP levels was associated with higher risks of MI, stroke, CVD, and death than those without such exposure. The risks of MI, stroke, CVD, and mortality increased in a dose-dependent manner according to total cumulative γ-GTP (all P for trend <0.0001). Subjects younger than 65 years, with a body mass index <25 kg/m2, and without hypertension or fatty liver showed a stronger relationship between cumulative γ-GTP and the incidence of MI, CVD, and death. Conclusion Cumulative γ-GTP elevation is associated with CVD. γ-GTP could be more widely used as an early marker of CVD risk, especially in individuals without traditional CVD risk factors.

OBJECTIVE: To compare, in terms of their demonstration of tears of the anterior glenoid labrum, oblique axial MR arthrography obtained with the patient's shoulder in the abduction and external rotation (ABER) position, with conventional axial MR arthrography obtained with the patient's arm in the neutral position. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR arthrography of the shoulder, including additional oblique axial sequences with the patient in the ABER position, was performed in 30 patients with a clinical history of recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation. The degree of anterior glenoid labral tear or defect was evaluated in both the conventional axial and the ABER position by two radiologists. Decisions were reached by consensus, and a three-point scale was used: grade 1=normal; grade 2=probable tear, diagnosed when subtle increased signal intensity in the labrum was apparent; grade 3=definite tear/defect, when a contrast material-filled gap between the labrum and the glenoid rim or deficient labrum was present. The scores for each imaging sequence were averaged and to compare conventional axial and ABER position scans, Student's t test was performed. RESULTS: In 21 (70%) of 30 patients, the same degree of anterior instability was revealed by both imaging sequences. Eight (27%) had a lower grade in the axial position than in the ABER position, while one (3%) had a higher grade in the axial position. Three whose axial scan was grade 1 showed only equivocal evidence of tearing, but their ABER-position scan, in which a contrast material-filled gap between the labrum and the glenoid rim was present, was grade 3. The average grade was 2.5 (SD=0.73) for axial scans and 2.8 (SD=0.46) for the ABER position. The difference between axial and ABER-position scans was statistically significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: MR arthrography with the patient's shoulder in the ABER position is more efficient than conventional axial scanning in revealing the degree of tear or defect of the anterior glenoid labrum. When equivocal features are seen at conventional axial MR arthrography, oblique axial imaging in the ABER position is helpful.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Arthrography ; Cartilage, Articular/*injuries ; Comparative Study ; Female ; Human ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods ; Male ; Movement ; Recurrence ; Shoulder/*injuries ; Shoulder Dislocation/*etiology

PURPOSE: In this study, we evaluated the effects of training for survival prediction of terminally ill patients in terms of medical professionals' confidence, accuracy and knowledge of survival prediction. METHODS: Twenty-nine participants completed a self-administered questionnaire where they scored their confidence, accuracy and knowledge of survival prediction before and after the training session. The training was provided in July 2009 at a university hospital located in Gyeonggi province, Republic of Korea. The participants were instructed by a professor of family medicine specialized in hospice palliative medicine to predict survival of a case using the palliative prognostic score and objective prognostic score. The training was provided in the form of a PowerPoint presentation for 40 minutes. RESULTS: Participants' confidence in survival prediction significantly increased from 4.00+/-1.73 (mean+/-SD) (0~10, visual analogue scale) to 5.83+/-1.71 after the training (P<0.001). Before training, participant's level of confidence significantly correlated with their age (P=0.04). The training significantly improved the correlation between the confidence level and the number of terminal cancer patients whom they have experienced (P=0.005 before training, P=0.017 after training). Participant's accuracy in survival prediction also significantly improved from 14 of 29 (48%) to 27 of 29 (93.1%) (P<0.001). The change in knowledge of survival prediction was too small to be statistically analyzed. CONCLUSION: After training, the confidence and accuracy scores significantly improved. Further study with a greater number of participants is needed to generalize this finding.
Hospices ; Humans ; Palliative Care ; Prognosis ; Republic of Korea ; Terminally Ill ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: This study determined the dose of remifentanil to use during insertion of a Classic(TM) laryngeal mask airway (LMA, The Laryngeal Mask Co., Nicosia, Cyprus) in elderly patients during emergency airway management when combined with a single dose of propofol. METHODS: Patients aged 65-80 years were enrolled. Anesthesia was induced with propofol 1 mg/kg, and then a blinded dose of remifentanil was infused over 30 s after confirming the patient's loss of consciousness. The dose of remifentanil was determined using Dixon's up-and-down method, starting at 0.5 microg/kg (a step size of 0.1 microg/kg). Insertion of the LMA was attempted 60 s after loss of consciousness. RESULTS: In total, 23 patients were recruited and the mean age +/- standard deviation was 72 +/- 3 years. The effective dose for successful LMA insertion in 50% of the patients (ED50) was 0.20 +/- 0.05 microg/kg. No patient needed more than 0.3 microg/kg. CONCLUSIONS: Remifentanil 0.20 +/- 0.05 microg/kg with propofol 1 mg/kg resulted in excellent LMA insertion in 50% of elderly patients without significant hemodynamic changes during emergency airway management.
Aged* ; Airway Management* ; Anesthesia ; Emergencies* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Laryngeal Masks* ; Propofol* ; Unconsciousness

Primary aldosteronism is characterized by hypertension, hypokalemia, and metabolic alkalosis, associated with excessive aldosterone production and suppressed plasma renin activity. Hypokalemia-induced rhabdomyolysis has been rarely reported in primary aldosteronism patients. This paper reports a case of primary aldosteronism presented with rhabdomyolysis due to severe hypokalemia. A 48-year-old male with a three-year history of hypertension presented himself at the authors' hospital with generalized weakness and myalgia in both legs over a period of several days. His laboratory findings showed hypokalemia (1.8 mEq/L) with elevations of his serum creatine phosphokinase and serum myoglobin. His plasma aldosterone level was also elevated, and his plasma renin activity was reduced. An abdominal computed tomography revealed a 2.0 cm hypodense mass in the left adrenal gland, which suggested adrenal adenoma. The accordingly underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy. Three months later, his plasma potassium level and blood pressure became normal without the use of medications.
Adenoma ; Adrenal Glands ; Adrenalectomy ; Aldosterone ; Alkalosis ; Blood Pressure ; Creatine Kinase ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; Hypertension ; Hypokalemia ; Leg ; Male ; Myoglobin ; Plasma ; Potassium ; Renin ; Rhabdomyolysis

Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) have been used for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with the aim of controlling synovitis and reducing radiologic progression. Although methotrexate (MTX) is one of the most effective DMARDs, it may cause severe adverse effects. Especially, hematologic toxicity including leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and fatal pancytopenia is reported in patients with impaired renal function, since renal excretion constitutes the major route of MTX elimination. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) inhibitors are well-established biologic agents for the treatment of RA and their clinical efficacy and safety are already demonstrated. But there were few reports on the efficacy and safety in dialysis patients. We described a case of hemodialysis patient with refractory RA that was successfully treated with etanercept, and discussed with literature review.
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

BACKGROUND: The Modality of Insulin Treatment Evaluation (MOTIV) study was performed to provide real-world data concerning insulin initiation in Korean type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with inadequate glycemic control with oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs). METHODS: This multicenter, non-interventional, prospective, observational study enrolled T2DM patients with inadequate glycemic control (glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1c] > or =7.0%) who had been on OHAs for > or =3 months and were already decided to introduce basal insulin by their physician prior to the start of the study. All treatment decisions were at the physician's discretion to reflect real-world practice. RESULTS: A total of 9,196 patients were enrolled, and 8,636 patients were included in the analysis (mean duration of diabetes, 8.9 years; mean HbA1c, 9.2%). Basal insulin plus one OHA was the most frequently (51.0%) used regimen. After 6 months of basal insulin treatment, HbA1c decreased to 7.4% and 44.5% of patients reached HbA1c <7%. Body weight increased from 65.2 kg to 65.5 kg, which was not significant. Meanwhile, there was significant increase in the mean daily insulin dose from 16.9 IU at baseline to 24.5 IU at month 6 (P<0.001). Overall, 17.6% of patients experienced at least one hypoglycemic event. CONCLUSION: In a real-world setting, the initiation of basal insulin is an effective and well-tolerated treatment option in Korean patients with T2DM who are failing to meet targets with OHA therapy.
Body Weight ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents* ; Insulin* ; Korea ; Observational Study ; Pragmatic Clinical Trials as Topic ; Prospective Studies

BACKGROUND: A peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probe-based real-time PCR (PNAqPCR(TM) TB/NTM detection kit; PANAGENE, Korea) assay has been recently developed for the simultaneous detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in clinical specimens. The study was aimed at evaluation of the performance of PNA probe-based real-time PCR in respiratory specimens. METHODS: To evaluate potential cross-reactivity, the extracted DNA specimens from Mycobacterium species and non-mycobacterial species were tested using PNA probe-based real-time PCR assay. A total of 531 respiratory specimens (482 sputum specimens and 49 bronchoalveolar washing fluid specimens) were collected from 230 patients in July and August, 2011. All specimens were analyzed for the detection of mycobacteria by direct smear examination, mycobacterial culture, and PNA probe-based real-time PCR assay. RESULTS: In cross-reactivity tests, no false-positive or false-negative results were evident. When the culture method was used as the gold standard test for comparison, PNA probe-based real-time PCR assay for detection of MTBC had a sensitivity and specificity of 96.7% (58/60) and 99.6% (469/471), respectively. Assuming the combination of culture and clinical diagnosis as the standard, the sensitivity and specificity of the new real-time PCR assay for detection of MTBC were 90.6% (58/64) and 99.6% (465/467), respectively. The new real-time PCR for the detection of NTM had a sensitivity and specificity of 69.0% (29/42) and 100% (489/489), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The new real-time PCR assay may be useful for the detection of MTBC in respiratory specimens and for discrimination of NTM from MTBC.
Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/microbiology ; DNA Probes/chemistry/metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/*analysis ; Humans ; Molecular Typing/*methods ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Peptide Nucleic Acids/chemistry/*metabolism ; *Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Respiratory System/*microbiology ; Sputum/microbiology