OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to examine blood pressure and other characteristics of a high sodium intake group assessed with 24-hr urine analysis and the dietary factors related to the risk of high sodium intake among Korean adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with adults aged 20-59 years. Subjects who completed 24-hr urine collection (N = 205) were divided into 3 groups (tertile) according to the sodium intake estimated with 24-hour urine analysis. We compared the blood pressure, BMI and dietary related factors of the 3 groups (low, medium, high sodium intake group) with General Linear Model (GLM) and Duncan's multiple range test (p < 0.05). The risk factors related to high sodium intake were assessed with odds ratio (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The sodium intake (mg/day) of the 3 groups were 3359.8 +/- 627.9, 4900.3 +/- 395.1 and 6770.6 +/- 873.9, respectively, corresponding to daily salt intake (g/day) 8.5, 12.4 and 17.2, respectively. High sodium group showed significantly elevated age, BMI and systolic/diastolic blood pressure. Being male gender was associated with significantly increased risk of sodium intake (OR = 1.972; 95%CI: 1.083-3.593). The other factors related to high sodium intake were higher BMI (> or = 25) (OR = 2.619; 95% CI: 1.368-5.015), current alcohol consumption (OR = 1.943; 95%CI: 1.060-3.564), and having salty soybean paste with salt percentage > 14% (OR = 3.99; 95% CI: 1.404-6.841). The dietary attitude related to increased risk of high sodium intake included 'enjoy dried fish and salted mackerel' (p < 0.001) and 'eat all broth of soup, stew or noodle' (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Because high sodium intake was associated with higher blood pressure, nutrition education should focus on alcohol consumption, emphasis on related dietary factors such as using low salt soybean paste, improvements in the habit of eating dried fish and salted mackerel or eating all broth of soup, stew or noodle.
Adult* ; Alcohol Drinking ; Blood Pressure* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Eating ; Education ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Male ; Odds Ratio ; Perciformes ; Risk Factors* ; Sodium* ; Soybeans ; Urine Specimen Collection

This study was performed to assess the sodium intakes of Korean adults using a 24-hr urine analysis and dish frequency questionnaire (DFQ) according to each dish group and the regional area. The subjects of this study were comprised of 552 adults (male: 267, female: 285), aged 20-59yr residing in the metropolitan area (N = 200), Chungcheng-Do (N = 117), Jeolla-Do (N = 117), and Gueongsang-Do provinces (N = 118). The subjects were recruited from the residents who once participated or are participating in the various health programs offered by the public health center. The number of subjects who completed the 24-hr urine collection was 205 (male : 110, female : 95).The mean age and BMI of the subjects were 39.0+/-11.7 y and 23.1+/-2.9 kg/m2, respectively. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure was 119.5+/-15.4 mmHg, and 77.1+/-11.1 mmHg, respectively. Eighteen percent of the subjects responded that they are currently smoking, 36% drinking and 50.4% exercising. Twenty point six percent of the subjects were assessed as having hypertension according to their systolic or diastolic blood pressure(SBP > or = 140 mmHg or DBP > or = 90 mmHg) measurements in the present study. Salt intake of the subject estimated with 24-hr sodium excretion was 12.7 g/d (male : 13.4 g/d, female : 12.1 g/d) based on the sodium excretion rate as 82%. Salt intake estimated with DFQ was 14.7 g/d (male : 16.2 g/d, female : 13.4 g/d), 2 g more than the salt intake estimated with 24-hr urine analysis. The four dish groups that contributed most to the sodium intake in order were kimchi (I1571.4mg), soup and stew (1260.5 mg), fish and shellfish (706.3 mg) and noodle and ramyeon (644.3mg). Salt intake estimated with DFQ was the highest in the subjects of Gueongsang-Do (17.0 g/d), second highest Chungcheong-Do (16.4 g/d) and the lowest in the metropolitan area (13.0 g/d). Subjects of Gueongsang-Do showed the highest sodium intakes in most of the dish group, whereas subjects of the metropolitan area showed the lowest. Residents of Chuncheong-Do revealed the highest sodium intake with kimchi and ofJeolla-Do the higher sodium intake with the main dish (meat, fish and beans). The highest salt percentage of kimchi (3.0+/-0.8%) and soybean paste (14.5 +/-5.1%) were observed in Gueongsang-Do, whereas individuals of the metropolitan area were observed as having kimchi (1.6 +/-0.5%) and soybean paste (7.4 +/-1.6%) with the lowest salt percentage. Men were observed as having more salty kimchi (2.4 +/-0.1%) than women (2.1 +/-0.1%).
Adult* ; Blood Pressure ; Drinking ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male ; Public Health ; Shellfish ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Sodium* ; Soybeans ; Urine Specimen Collection

Extra-ovarian yolk sac tumor arising in the omentum is extremely rare. As yolk sac tumor originated from the omentum has been rarely reported, its clinical information is very limited. The authors encountered a case of yolk sac tumor originated from the omentum, and reported the case herein. A 32-year-old woman was presented with developed low abdominal distension for a month. Magnetic resonance imaging findings were suggestive of ovarian malignancy with ascites and peritoneal seeding nodules. Explorative laparotomy was performed and then the findings from frozen biopsy of omentum were suggestive of poorly differentiated tumor though whether it was primary or metastatic was uncertain. Thus, staging laparotomy were performed. Histopathology confirmed that the tumor was a yolk sac tumor of omentum origin. Then, 6 cycles of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy at intervals of 3 weeks were performed using bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin regimen. Four-year outpatient follow-up thereafter showed no relapse.
Adult ; Ascites ; Biopsy ; Bleomycin ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Cisplatin ; Endodermal Sinus Tumor* ; Etoposide ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Omentum* ; Outpatients ; Rare Diseases ; Yolk Sac

PURPOSE: We'd like to evaluate the relationship between the degree of cardiac damage and that of cardiac function according to the total injected dose of doxorubicin. METHODS: 12 rabbits(body weight : 2.0-3.2 kg) were used and 30 mg/m2/week of doxorubicin hydrochloride was injected intravenously. The cardiac function was checked under anesthesia, after which the thorax was opened and cardiac samples were evaluated with light and electron microscopics. RESULTS: Regardless of total injected dose of doxorubicin, there was no difference between the general appearance, sizes and thickness of both atria and ventricles of doxorubicin injected rabbits and those of normal control. The rabbits with total cumulative dose <180 mg/m2 showed no differences with the rabbits of normal control in the cardiac histology. The rabbits with cumulative doses of 210 mg/m2 had an increased number of vacuoles in the interspaces of the myofibrils and glucogen granules in myocytes. The rabbits with the cumulative dose of 240 mg/m2 had focal necrosis and degeneration of myocytes with fibrous cells infiltration. The rabbits with cumulative doses of 300 mg/m2 demonstrated severe and diffuse degenerations with markedly decreased numbers of myocytes and increased intracellular vacuoles. All the rabbits with total cumulative doses <240 mg/m2 showed no difference in the aortic pressure, left ventricular(LV) maximal dP/dt and left ventricular end diastolic pressure(LVEDP) compared to normal control. The rabbit with total cumulative doses of 300 mg/m2 showed no difference in the aortic pressure and LV maximal dP/ dt, but revealed significantly elevated LVEDP compared to normal control. CONCLUSION: These results showed doxorubicin induced cardiotoxicity is dose related and may be certain at total cumulative dose >200 mg/m2, although cardiac function is normal.
Anesthesia ; Arterial Pressure ; Doxorubicin* ; Muscle Cells ; Myofibrils ; Necrosis ; Rabbits* ; Thorax ; Vacuoles ; Ventricular Function, Left*

PURPOSE: Assessment of the diameters of the aortic arches in the human fetus may be helpful in the prenatal diagnosis of aortic arch anomalies. The purpose of this study is to construct valuable reference ranges of fetal aortic arch for various fetal growth parameters in an unselected Korean population. METHODS: A prospective, cross-sectional study was performed in 98 normal singleton fetuses between 20 and 38 weeks of gestation. The transverse aortic arch diameter (TAD) and distal aorta isthmus diameter (AID) were measured in the longitudinal view during systole. The bi-parietal diameter (BPD), head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC) and femur length (FL) were obtained at the same time. Ultrasound examinations were performed with a 2.0-6.0 MHz convex probe by abdominal ultrasound. RESULTS: TAD and AID as a function of gestational age (GA) was expressed by the regression equation TAD= -1.246+0.168 X GA, and AID = -1.341+0.180 X GA; TAD and AID are expressed in millimeters and GA in weeks. TAD and AID as a function of BPD was expressed by the regression equation TAD= -1.147+0.664 X BPD, and AID = -1.152+0.696 X BPD. TAD and AID as a function of HC was expressed by the regression equation TAD = -1.187+0.182 X HC, and AID = -1.350+0.198 X HC. TAD and AID as a function of AC was expressed by the regression equation TAD = -0.528+0.173 X AC, and AID = -0.533+0.183 X AC. TAD and AID as a function of FL was expressed by the regression equation TAD = -0.519+0.799 X FL, and AID = -0.601+0.860 X FL; BPD, HC, AC and FL are expressed in centimeters. Correlations were found to be highly statistically significant in relation to GA, BPD, HC, AC, and FL respectively (P<0.0001 in all). Normal mean of TAD and AID per GA, BPD, HC, AC and FL and 95% prediction limits were also defined, respectively. CONCLUSION: New reference ranges of fetal aortic arch related to other fetal bio-parameters representing fetal growth were obtained successfully. The normative date will be helpful in the prenatal accurate diagnosis of aortic anomalies and abnormal growth of fetal aortic arches in Korea.
Aorta ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Echocardiography ; Femur ; Fetal Development ; Fetus ; Gestational Age ; Head ; Humans ; Korea ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Prospective Studies ; Reference Values ; Systole

Peribiliary cysts involve cystic dilatation and necroinflammatory change in the peribiliary glandular tissue of the larger biliary tree in association with portal hypertension or severe hepatobiliary disease. They are usually asymptomatic and found incidentally. However, rare cases causing symptoms or the mass effect of bile duct compression require differential diagnosis. They may be benign or malignant lesions resulting from narrowing of the bile duct and involving dilatation of the proximal intrahepatic bile duct. We recently encountered a case of peribiliary cysts associated with intrahepatic duct dilatation, and confirmed by surgery, and present the imaging and pathologic findings. Sonography and CT revealed the presence of multiple cystic lesions along the hepatic hilum, and the larger left portal tract and left intrahepatic ducts were dilated. Histopathologic examination indicated that the cysts were compressing the central bile duct.
Bile Ducts ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic* ; Biliary Tract ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Dilatation ; Hypertension, Portal

This study was conducted in order to perform efficient extraction of lignocellulolytic enzymes amylase (EC 3.2.1.1), cellulase (EC 3.2.1.4), laccase (EC 1.10.3.2), and xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8) from spent mushroom compost (SMC) of Pleurotus ostreatus, P. eryngii, and P. cornucopiae. Optimal enzyme recovery was achieved when SMCs were extracted with 50 mM sodium citrate (pH 4.5) buffer at 4degrees C for 2 hr. Amylase, cellulase, and xylanase activities showed high values in extracts from P. ostreatus SMC, with 2.97 U/g, 1.67 U/g, and 91.56 U/g, respectively, whereas laccase activity and filter paper degradation ability were highest in extracts from P. eryngii SMC, with values of 9.01 U/g and 0.21 U/g, respectively. Enzymatic activities varied according to the SMCs released from different mushroom farms. The synthetic dyes remazol brilliant blue R and Congo red were decolorized completely by the SMC extract of P. eryngii within 120 min, and the decolorization ability of the extract was comparable to that of 0.3 U of commercial laccase. In addition, laccase activity of the SMC extract from P. eryngii was compared to that of commercial enzymes or its industrial application in decolorization.
Agaricales* ; Amylases ; Cellulase ; Citric Acid ; Coloring Agents ; Congo Red ; Laccase ; Ostreidae* ; Pleurotus* ; Sodium ; Soil*

Laccases (EC 1.10.3.2) are copper-containing polyphenol oxidases found in white-rot fungi. Here, we report the cloning and analysis of the nucleotide sequence of a new laccase gene, fvlac7, based on the genomic sequence of Flammulina velutipes. A primer set was designed from the putative mRNA that was aligned to the genomic DNA of F. velutipes. A cDNA fragment approximately 1.6-kb long was then amplified by reverse transcriptase-PCR using total RNA, which was subsequently cloned and sequenced. The cDNA sequence of fvlac7 was then compared to that of the genomic DNA, and 16 introns were found in the genomic DNA sequence. The fvlac7 protein, which consists of 538 amino acids, showed only 42~51% identity with 12 different mushroom species containing two laccases of F. velutipes, suggesting the fvlac7 is a novel laccase gene. The first 25 amino acids of Fvlac7 correspond to a predicted signal sequence, four copper-binding sites, and four N-glycosylation sites. Fvlac7 cDNA was heterologously overexpressed in an Escherichia coli system with an approximate expected molecular weight of 60 kDa.
Agaricales ; Amino Acids ; Base Sequence ; Clone Cells ; Cloning, Organism ; DNA ; DNA, Complementary ; Escherichia coli ; Flammulina ; Fungi ; Introns ; Laccase ; Molecular Weight ; Oxidoreductases ; Protein Sorting Signals ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger

Background: Focal adhesions (FAs) is the most important process in the first step of osseointegration between preosteoblasts andtitanium (Ti). FAs improvement and pre-osteoblasts cell proliferation leads to successful Ti-based dental implants. This study aimed to confirm the applicability of rosmarinic acid (RA) as a functional substance for improving FAs and cell proliferation of MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts on Ti surfaces during the first stage of osseointegration for successful Ti-based dental implants. Methods: We used MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts on Ti discs incubated in a medium supplemented with or without 14 µg/ml to decipher the effects of RA on FAs and cell proliferation. FAs and proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells on Ti discs were assessed via MTT assay.Actin-labeled cells and paxillin contacts were observed and imaged by fluorescent microscopy, and the associated signaling pathways were revealed through western blot analysis. Results: In RA-treated MC3T3-E1 cells on Ti discs, FAs between MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts and Ti surfaces and the expression offocal adhesion kinase (FAK), phosphorylated FAK and paxillin proteins and filamentous-actin formation increased. RA increased the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts on the Ti surface as well as the expression of Grab2, Ras, pERK1/2, and ERK1/2. In addition, the expression of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor and thymosin b4, known as nanomolecules that enhance the interaction between implanted Ti materials and preosteoblasts in the RA-treated MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts, increased. RA not only increased the FAs of MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts on the Ti surface through the FAK/Paxillin signaling pathway, but also increased cell proliferation and mitosis through the FAK/Grab2/Ras/ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Conclusion RA can be applied as an effective functional substrate to improve the FAs and proliferation of MC3T3-E1 preosteoblatson Ti surfaces, which are essential in the first step of osseointegration between implanted Ti and bone tissue for the clinical success of Ti based dental implants.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of naltrexone, an opioid antagonist, on secretion of catecholamines (CA) evoked by cholinergic nicotinic stimulation and membrane-depolarization from the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland and to establish the mechanism of its action. Naltrexone (3x10 (-6) M) perfused into an adrenal vein for 60 min produced time-dependent inhibition in CA secretory responses evoked by ACh (5.32x10 (-3) M), high K+ (5.6x10 (-2) M), DMPP (10 (-4) M) and McN-A-343 (10 (-4) M). Naltrexone itself did also fail to affect basal CA output. In adrenal glands loaded with naltrexone (3x10 (-6) M), the CA secretory responses evoked by Bay-K-8644, an activator of L-type Ca2+ channels and cyclopiazonic acid, an inhibitor of cytoplasmic Ca2+-ATPase, were also inhibited. However, in the presence of met-enkephalin (5x10 (-6) M), a well-known opioid agonist, the CA secretory responses evoked by ACh, high K+, DMPP, McN-A-343, Bay-K-8644 and cyclopiazonic acid were also significantly inhibited. Collectively, these experimental results demonstrate that naltrexone inhibits greatly CA secretion evoked by stimulation of cholinergic (both nicotinic and muscarinic) receptors as well as that by membrane depolarization. It seems that this inhibitory effect of naltrexone does not involve opioid receptors, but might be mediated by blocking both the calcium influx into the rat adrenal medullary chromaffin cells and the uptake of Ca2+ into the cytoplasmic calcium store, which are at least partly relevant to the direct interaction with the nicotinic receptor itself.
(4-(m-Chlorophenylcarbamoyloxy)-2-butynyl)trimethylammonium Chloride ; 3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester ; Adrenal Glands ; Adrenal Medulla* ; Animals ; Calcium ; Catecholamines ; Chromaffin Cells ; Cytoplasm ; Dimethylphenylpiperazinium Iodide ; Enkephalin, Methionine ; Membranes ; Naltrexone* ; Rats* ; Receptors, Nicotinic* ; Receptors, Opioid ; Veins