Several studies have previously reported that exposure to stress provokes behavioral changes, including antinociception, in rodents. In the present study, we studied the effect of acute cold-water (4°C) swimming stress (CWSS) on nociception and the possible changes in several signal molecules in male ICR mice.Here, we show that 3 min of CWSS was sufficient to produce antinociception in tailflick, hot-plate, von-Frey, writhing, and formalin-induced pain models. Significantly, CWSS strongly reduced nociceptive behavior in the first phase, but not in the second phase, of the formalin-induced pain model. We further examined some signal molecules' expressions in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and spinal cord to delineate the possible molecular mechanism involved in the antinociceptive effect under CWSS.CWSS reduced p-ERK, p-AMPKα1, p-AMPKα2, p-Tyk2, and p-STAT3 expression both in the spinal cord and DRG. However, the phosphorylation of mTOR was activated after CWSS in the spinal cord and DRG. Moreover, p-JNK and p-CREB activation were significantly increased by CWSS in the spinal cord, whereas CWSS alleviated JNK and CREB phosphorylation levels in DRG. Our results suggest that the antinociception induced by CWSS may be mediated by several molecules, such as ERK, JNK, CREB, AMPKα1, AMPKα2, mTOR, Tyk2, and STAT3 located in the spinal cord and DRG.

Several studies have previously reported that exposure to stress provokes behavioral changes, including antinociception, in rodents. In the present study, we studied the effect of acute cold-water (4°C) swimming stress (CWSS) on nociception and the possible changes in several signal molecules in male ICR mice.Here, we show that 3 min of CWSS was sufficient to produce antinociception in tailflick, hot-plate, von-Frey, writhing, and formalin-induced pain models. Significantly, CWSS strongly reduced nociceptive behavior in the first phase, but not in the second phase, of the formalin-induced pain model. We further examined some signal molecules' expressions in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and spinal cord to delineate the possible molecular mechanism involved in the antinociceptive effect under CWSS.CWSS reduced p-ERK, p-AMPKα1, p-AMPKα2, p-Tyk2, and p-STAT3 expression both in the spinal cord and DRG. However, the phosphorylation of mTOR was activated after CWSS in the spinal cord and DRG. Moreover, p-JNK and p-CREB activation were significantly increased by CWSS in the spinal cord, whereas CWSS alleviated JNK and CREB phosphorylation levels in DRG. Our results suggest that the antinociception induced by CWSS may be mediated by several molecules, such as ERK, JNK, CREB, AMPKα1, AMPKα2, mTOR, Tyk2, and STAT3 located in the spinal cord and DRG.

Apoptosis is a physiologic or programmed cell death process which is controlled by genes. It is essential for the function and the appropriate development of multicellular organism. It is also thought to be one of the main mechanisms of cell death in ischemic tissues. The effect of prostaglandin E1(PGE1) is proven to be useful in the recovery of ischemic changes by inducing vasodilation of peripheral vessels and platelet disaggregation. PGE1 is also known to suppress apoptosis in human liver sinusoidal endothelial cell from ischemia-reperfusion injury. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of PGE1 on the apoptosis in the ischemia reperfusion injury of rat intestine. Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were used. In control group(N=15), superior mesenteric artery was occluded for 60 minutes and after removing the vessel clamp, it was reperfused for 60 minutes and harvested. In experimental group(N=15), a jejunal flap was also made as in the control group except for the intraarterial administration of the PGE1 right after clamping the artery and removing the clamp. H&E, TUNEL and immunohistochemical stains for p53, bax, and bcl-2 were performed. There were ischemic changes in gross and microscopic findings in both groups. The apoptotic index was significantly lower in the experimental group(1.29+/-0.82(p=0.003)) than in the control group (2.33+/-0.95). The rat intestinal ischemia apoptosis by ischemia-reperfusion was partly related to the modulating of bcl-2, bax, and p53 expression. Our results indicate that PGE1 suppresses the apoptosis in the ischemic jejunal flap and this effect is probably the result of a increase in expression of bcl-2.
Alprostadil* ; Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Arteries ; Blood Platelets ; Cell Death ; Coloring Agents ; Constriction ; Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Intestinal Mucosa* ; Intestines ; Ischemia* ; Liver ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury* ; Vasodilation

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide and a typical hypervascular tumor. Therefore, it is important to find factors related to angiogenesis in the process of HCC malignancy. In order to find angiogenesis-related factors in HCC, we used combined methods of in silico prediction and an experimental assay. We analyzed 1457 genes extracted from cDNA microarray of HCC patients by text-mining, sequence similarity search and domain analysis. As a result, we predicted that 16 genes were likely to be involved in angiogenesis and then the effects of these genes were confirmed by hypoxia response element(HRE)-luciferase assay. For instant,we classified osteopontin into a potent angiogenic factor and coagulation factor XII into a significant anti-angiogenic factor. Collectively, we suggest that using a combination of in silico prediction and experimental approaches, we can identify HCC-specific angiogenesis-related factors effectively and rapidly.
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; Anoxia ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Computational Biology ; Computer Simulation* ; Factor XII ; Humans* ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Osteopontin

BACKGROUND: It is known that there is a pronounced circardian periodicity for the time of onset of acute myocardial infarction(AMI), with prominent increase in incidence of onset in the morning hours. However, the characteristic circardian variability in AMI is blunted in patients receiving beta-blockers or aspirin therapy before their presentation with AMI. These findings are attributed to the increase in platelet aggregability, blood coagulability, and plasma catecholamine that change coronary tone and myocardial oxygen demand. We hypothesize that, in addition to above physiologic and biochemical parameters, morphologic patterns of the coronary artery lesions are related to the development of circardian variation in AMI. METHOD: Subjects were 160 patients with AMI(male 92, female 68, mean age 56.9 +/-10.5 years old). Patients were classified by the time of onset of typical chest pain(AMI) by 6-hour interval from mid-night. Circardian variability of onset of AMI was compared with clinical findings and coronary angiographic findings. RESULTS: Incidence of onset of AMI was most frequent in the morning hours(6AM-noon,42.5%). There was no difference in degree of stenosis, lesion length, incidence of intraluminal thrombus, among 3 subgroups of AMI according to time of attack. Morning hour group had more frequent ulceration of coronary lesion than that of other groups(22.4% vs. 5.4%, p<0.01), and less frequent calcified lesion than that of other groups(3.0% vs 5.4%, p<0.05). Normal or minimal coronary artery lesion, that is Iess than 25% stenosis, was more frequent in the morning hour group comparing to that of other groups(11.9% vs. 9.78%). Eccentric stenosis(15.7% vs, 11,1%) and diffuse irregular lesion(25.5% vs. 16.7%) tended to be more frequent in the morning hour group. There were no differences in sex, age, incidence of hypertension, cigarette smoking, diabetes, degree of alcohol ingestion, ejection fraction, maximal CK value, preinfarction angina duration, past history of MI, and in incidence of arrhythmia. CONCLUSIONS: There were more ulcerative coronary atherosclerotic lesions, but fewer calcified coronary lesions in the morning group than in afternoon and night group. These findings indicate that morphology of coronary artery lesions may play a role in causing circardian variation in AMI.
Angina, Unstable ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Aspirin ; Blood Platelets ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Vessels* ; Eating ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Oxygen ; Periodicity ; Plasma ; Smoking ; Thorax ; Thrombosis ; Ulcer

BACKGROUND: It is known that there is a pronounced circardian periodicity for the time of onset of acute myocardial infarction(AMI), with prominent increase in incidence of onset in the morning hours. However, the characteristic circardian variability in AMI is blunted in patients receiving beta-blockers or aspirin therapy before their presentation with AMI. These findings are attributed to the increase in platelet aggregability, blood coagulability, and plasma catecholamine that change coronary tone and myocardial oxygen demand. We hypothesize that, in addition to above physiologic and biochemical parameters, morphologic patterns of the coronary artery lesions are related to the development of circardian variation in AMI. METHOD: Subjects were 160 patients with AMI(male 92, female 68, mean age 56.9 +/-10.5 years old). Patients were classified by the time of onset of typical chest pain(AMI) by 6-hour interval from mid-night. Circardian variability of onset of AMI was compared with clinical findings and coronary angiographic findings. RESULTS: Incidence of onset of AMI was most frequent in the morning hours(6AM-noon,42.5%). There was no difference in degree of stenosis, lesion length, incidence of intraluminal thrombus, among 3 subgroups of AMI according to time of attack. Morning hour group had more frequent ulceration of coronary lesion than that of other groups(22.4% vs. 5.4%, p<0.01), and less frequent calcified lesion than that of other groups(3.0% vs 5.4%, p<0.05). Normal or minimal coronary artery lesion, that is Iess than 25% stenosis, was more frequent in the morning hour group comparing to that of other groups(11.9% vs. 9.78%). Eccentric stenosis(15.7% vs, 11,1%) and diffuse irregular lesion(25.5% vs. 16.7%) tended to be more frequent in the morning hour group. There were no differences in sex, age, incidence of hypertension, cigarette smoking, diabetes, degree of alcohol ingestion, ejection fraction, maximal CK value, preinfarction angina duration, past history of MI, and in incidence of arrhythmia. CONCLUSIONS: There were more ulcerative coronary atherosclerotic lesions, but fewer calcified coronary lesions in the morning group than in afternoon and night group. These findings indicate that morphology of coronary artery lesions may play a role in causing circardian variation in AMI.
Angina, Unstable ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Aspirin ; Blood Platelets ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Vessels* ; Eating ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Oxygen ; Periodicity ; Plasma ; Smoking ; Thorax ; Thrombosis ; Ulcer

PURPOSE: Photogrammetry has been introduced as an alternative to direct measurement to obtain facial distances for a variety of anthropometric applications. The aim of this study is to establish morphological and functional value of an eye in Korean youths using specially designed computer software with digital photographic images. METHODS: Authors measured anthropometry of an eye in Korean youths 1,449 individuals(622 males, 827 females) and analyzed stastically them. RESULTS: The mean measurements are as follows. The diameter of cornea was 11.6+/-0.9mm in males and 11.3+/-0.9mm in females. The vertical dimension of palpebral fissure was 7.4+/-1.7mm in males and 8.2+/-1.6mm in females. The intercanthal width was 35.8+/-3.2mm in males and 34.4+/-2.9mm in females. The biocular width was 90.4+/-5.7mm in males and 87.4+/-5.3mm in females. The endocantion-superior margin of palpebral fissure distance was 12.7+/-1.4mm in males and 11.6+/-1.4mm in females. The horizontal dimension of palpebral fissure was 28.5+/-2.2mm in males and 27.4+/-1.9mm in females. The slant of palpebral fissure was 10.7+/-2.6degrees in males and 11.3+/-3.0degrees in females. The height of upper eyelid was 10.6+/-2.3mm in males and 10.7+/-2.3mm in females. The width of double fold was 2.0+/-0.7mm in males and 1.9+/-0.6 mm in females. A double fold was seen in 21.9% of males and 44.9% of females. The most frequent shape of the double fold was type IV. The most common type of epicanthal fold was type III in both males and females. CONCLUSION: Photogrammetic measurement of large population using specially designed software could offer reliable data and these data could be useful reference for preoperative consultation, surgical planning and anthropometic study of eye.
Adolescent* ; Anthropometry ; Cornea ; Eyelids ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Photogrammetry ; Vertical Dimension

PURPOSE: Photogrammetry has been introduced as an alternative to direct measurement to obtain facial distances for a variety of anthropometric applications. The aim of this study is to establish morphological and functional value of an eye in Korean youths using specially designed computer software with digital photographic images. METHODS: Authors measured anthropometry of an eye in Korean youths 1,449 individuals(622 males, 827 females) and analyzed stastically them. RESULTS: The mean measurements are as follows. The diameter of cornea was 11.6+/-0.9mm in males and 11.3+/-0.9mm in females. The vertical dimension of palpebral fissure was 7.4+/-1.7mm in males and 8.2+/-1.6mm in females. The intercanthal width was 35.8+/-3.2mm in males and 34.4+/-2.9mm in females. The biocular width was 90.4+/-5.7mm in males and 87.4+/-5.3mm in females. The endocantion-superior margin of palpebral fissure distance was 12.7+/-1.4mm in males and 11.6+/-1.4mm in females. The horizontal dimension of palpebral fissure was 28.5+/-2.2mm in males and 27.4+/-1.9mm in females. The slant of palpebral fissure was 10.7+/-2.6degrees in males and 11.3+/-3.0degrees in females. The height of upper eyelid was 10.6+/-2.3mm in males and 10.7+/-2.3mm in females. The width of double fold was 2.0+/-0.7mm in males and 1.9+/-0.6 mm in females. A double fold was seen in 21.9% of males and 44.9% of females. The most frequent shape of the double fold was type IV. The most common type of epicanthal fold was type III in both males and females. CONCLUSION: Photogrammetic measurement of large population using specially designed software could offer reliable data and these data could be useful reference for preoperative consultation, surgical planning and anthropometic study of eye.
Adolescent* ; Anthropometry ; Cornea ; Eyelids ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Photogrammetry ; Vertical Dimension

Non incisional blepharoplasty, so called buried double fold operation in Asia, although a common procedure, has a some complications such as inclusion cyst or granuloma or loss of crease. To obviate this problem, we tried to modify existing suture method. Three sutures(medial, middle, lateral) were located on the skin crease site as superficial as possible to anchor the dermis for secure fixation, and we've located suture knot on the orbicularis oculi muscle as deep as possible. Between January 2001 and February 2004, 162 patients were operated with these procedure by one surgeon, we could trace 63 patients for postoperative follow-up, there were no postoperative findings of inclusion cyst or granuloma or loss of fold crease except 1 case of short crease. This simple suture operation could be one of useful non-incisional methods for Asian blepharoplasty.
Asia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Blepharoplasty ; Dermis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Skin ; Sutures