No abstract available.
Biopsy* ; Brain*

The present study was designed to observe the expression patterns of NF-kappa B and AP-1, redox-sensitive transcription factors, and Bcl-2 and Bax, apoptosis repressing and promoting factors, respectively, upon repetitive cycles of short ischemia and reperfusion. Nine and thirty five weeks old Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to the 3, 6, and 10 cycles of the ischemic process for 5 minutes followed by reperfusion for 5 minutes. The rats were divided by 5 groups, according to the time after treatment, such as 0, 3, 6, 24 and 72 hours. For short ischemia and reperfusion, left common iliac artery was occluded 3, 6, and 10 times for 5 minutes of ischemia followed by 5 minutes of reperfusion using rodent vascular clamps and left rectus femoris muscles were removed. The expression profiles and distribution of NF-kappa B, AP-1, Bcl-2, and Bax which were observed using immunohistochemical staining methods with 6 microgram thick paraffin sections of the rectus femoris tissue were as follows: The distribution of NF-kappa B was increased as the cycles of ischemia and reperfusion increased up to 3 hours after treatment. This phenomenon was prominent in 35 weeks-old rats. The distribution of AP-1 was increased as the cycles of ischemia and reperfusion increased up to 3 hours after treatment. This phenomenon was prominent in 9 weeks-old rats. The distribution of Bcl-2 was decreased as the cycles of ischemia and reperfusion increased up to 3 hours after treatment. The extent of such reduction was more prominent in 35 weeks-old rats than 9 weeks-old rats. The distribution of Bax was increased as the cycles of ischemia and reperfusion increased up to 3 hours after treatment. After 3 hours of treatment, Bax positivity was gradually decreased in 9 weeks-old rats, but increased in 35 weeks-old rats to reach a peak at 24 hour after reperfusion. The extent of enhancement in 9 weeks-old rats was higher than that in 35 weeks-old rats. In summary, multiple episodes of short ischemia and reperfusion altered the expression profiles of NF-kappa B, AP-1, Bcl-2, and Bax in the rectus femoris muscle at the similar extents in 9 and 35 weeks-old rats. Such alterations were more more increased when the episodes were more repeated.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Iliac Artery ; Ischemia* ; Muscles* ; NF-kappa B* ; Paraffin ; Quadriceps Muscle* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion* ; Rodentia ; Transcription Factor AP-1* ; Transcription Factors

Corneal and conjunctival squamous epithelial cells have been known to express the mucin MUC1. We attempted to reveal the expression and localizational characteristics of the membrane-spanning mucin MUC1 as a component of the mucous layer in the human corneal epithelium. An antibody to the MUC1 was used to detect the MUC1 on the corneal epithelium by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescent staining. In situ hybridization was performed to determine the distribution of MUC1 mRNA in the ocular surface. Immunohistochemically, the MUC1 mucin was observed along the apical membranes of the corneal epithelium. According to immunofluorescent staining, cells varied in the amount of mucin MUC1. Expression of MUC1 mRNA was observed in all layers of the corneal epithelium. The MUC1 mucin synthesized by the corneal epithelia exists on the apical membrane of the superficial cells. The amount of MUC1 may vary with the vertical migration and the activity of the cells.
Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium, Corneal* ; Humans* ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization ; Membranes ; Mucin-1 ; Mucins ; RNA, Messenger

Background: This study investigated a safe and effective bolus dose and lockout time for patient-controlled sedation (PCS) with dexmedetomidine for dental treatments. The depth of sedation, vital signs, and patient satisfaction were investigated to demonstrate safety. Methods: Thirty patients requiring dental scaling were enrolled and randomly divided into three groups based on bolus doses and lockout times: group 1 (low dose group, bolus dose 0.05 µg/kg, 1-minute lockout time), group 2 (middle dose group, 0.1 µg/kg, 1-minute), and group 3 (high dose group, 0.2 µg/kg, 3-minute) (n = 10 each). ECG, pulse, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, end-tidal CO2 , respiratory rate, and bispectral index scores (BIS) were measured and recorded. The study was conducted in two stages: the first involved sedation without dental treatment and the second included sedation with dental scaling. Patients were instructed to press the drug demand button every 10 s, and the process of falling asleep and waking up was repeated 1-5 times.In the second stage, during dental scaling, patients were instructed to press the drug demand button. Loss of responsiveness (LOR) was defined as failure to respond to auditory stimuli six times, determining sleep onset. Patient and dentist satisfaction were assessed before and after experimentation. Results: Thirty patients (22 males) participated in the study. Scaling was performed in 29 patients after excluding one who experienced dizziness during the first stage. The average number of drug administrations until first LOR was significantly lower in group 3 (2.8 times) than groups 1 and 2 (8.0 and 6.5 times, respectively). The time taken to reach the LOR showed no difference between groups. During the second stage, the average time required to reach the LOR during scaling was 583.4 seconds. The effect site concentrations (Ce) was significantly lower in group 1 than groups 2 and 3. In the participant survey on PCS, 8/10 in group 3 reported partial memory loss, whereas 17/20 in groups 1 and 2 recalled the procedure fully or partially. Conclusion PCS with dexmedetomidine can provide a rapid onset of sedation, safe vital sign management, and minimal side effects, thus facilitating smooth dental sedation.

The mucous layer located on the cornea epithelial surface is mainly composed of mucin.It is unique in being composed of a central protein back bone surrounded by an outermost dense oligosaccharide matrix, yet its pre-cise composition is still unknown. Conjunctival goblet cells have been known to express the mucin MUC5AC. We attempted to reveal the presence of the secretory mucin MUC5AC as a component of the mucous layer in the rabbit corneal tear film. An antibody to a MUC5AC peptide was used to detect the MUC5AC mucin present in the tear film by immunohistochemistry. Human conjuncti-val impression cytology and immunohistochemistry were done with the same antibody. The MUC5AC mucin was observed in the precorneal tear film and con-junctival goblet cells by immunohistochemistry.The MUC5AC mucin is a component of the mucous layer and is produced by the goblet cells of con-junctiva.
Cornea ; Goblet Cells ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mucins ; Tears*

PURPOSE: To compare short-term clinical results of LASEK and epi-LASIK. METHODS: Fifteen subjects (30 eyes) underwent uncomplicated LASEK on one eye and uncomplicated epi-LASIK on the other eye by a single surgeon, and uncorrected visual acuity, refractive change, postoperative pain, and postoperative satisfaction were compared at postoperative week one, at one month, and at three months. RESULTS: Postoperative uncorrected visual acuities were 0.68+/-0.20, 0.96+/-0.22, and 1.05+/-0.17 for LASEK and 0.75+/-0.21, 0.92+/-0.14, and 1.01+/-0.21 for epi-LASIK at one week, one month, and three months, respectively. Epi-LASIK showed faster improvement in visual acuity at one week, while LASEK showed faster improvement afterward. However, no statistical significance was found. Spherical equivalet of LASEK was -0.66+/-1.28D and that of epi-LASIK was -0.61+/-0.92D at postoperative week one, implying faster refractive recovery for epi-LASIK, but after one month, LASEK was faster in refractive recovery and all these changes were not statistically significant. Durations of postoperative pain were 3.13+/-1.25 days for LASEK and 3.02+/-1.32 days for epi-LASIK. Pain scores (0~10 point scale), however, were also lower for LASEK by 0.33 point, 0.57 point, and 0.45 point for postoperative day 1, 2, and 3, respectively. No statistical significance was noted in either pain duration or pain score. When asked for overall satisfaction, six subjects preferred LASIK, four subjects preferred epi-LASIK, and five subjects showed no preference. CONCLUSIONS: Both LASEK and epi-LASIK are effective for surgical correction of myopia, and no significant difference in visual recovery, refractive change or degree of postoperative pain was noted in this study.
Eye ; Keratectomy, Subepithelial, Laser-Assisted ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ ; Myopia ; Pain, Postoperative ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To compare nerve growth factor (NGF) levels in tears and on the ocular surface of normal controls with those of non-Sjogren type keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) subjects, and investigate the effect of 0.1% prednisolone eye drops on NGF levels in KCS patients. METHODS: Baseline tear NGF levels were measured in 41 KCS patients and 23 healthy control subjects using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). KCS patients received 0.1% prednisolone drops in one eye, and 0.1% hyaluronic acid drops in the other eye, three times daily for 28 days. Impression cytology (IC) and immunostaining for NGF on conjunctival epithelium was performed for both groups. RESULTS: KCS patients were found to have higher baseline tear NGF concentrations compared to age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects (65.9+/-14.5 vs. 122.1+/-45.3, p<0.0001). In KCS patients, prednisolone treatment for 28 days resulted in a decrease in tear NGF levels, symptom scores and IC scores, whereas hyaluronic acid treatment had no such effect (68.2+/-25.0 pg/microgram vs. 108.0+/-43.4 pg/microgram, p<0.0001 for tear NGF/TP ratio; 2.16+/-1.01 vs. 3.39+/-1.50, p=0.0014 for symptom scale; 1.05+/-0.67 vs. 1.61+/-0.86, p=0.0317 for IC). Measurements taken at both 14 and 28 days indicate that neither prednisolone nor hyaluronic acid treatment affected BUT or Schirmer values. CONCLUSIONS: KCS patients showed elevated levels of tear NGF, which were decreased by treatment with 0.1% prednisolone. These data suggest that the ocular surface NGF may play an important role in ocular surface inflammation processes associated with dry eyes.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epithelium ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid ; Inflammation ; Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca* ; Keratoconjunctivitis* ; Nerve Growth Factor* ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; Prednisolone*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Vasospastic angina (VA) is a specific type of coronary artery disease and develops as a result of coronary artery spasm. Recently, a few studies have revealed that VA caused by coronary artery spasm is related to genetic traits. The objective of this study was to use the recently developed technique of array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) to screen the genetic aberrations of VA. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: To identify candidate genes that might be causally involved in the pathogenesis of VA, genomic deoxyribonucleic acids were extracted from whole blood of 28 patients with VA who presented at Department of Cardiology at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Seoul, Korea. The copy number profiles of these patients was then analyzed using array CGH and reverse transcriptase (RT) quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Array CGH revealed gains in 31 different regions, with losses in the 4q35.2, 7q22.1, 10q26.3, 15q11.2, 16p13.11, 17p11.2 and 19q13.3 regions (more than 32% aberration in these regions). Several loci were found to be frequently including gains of 5p and 11q (50% of samples). The most common losses were found in 7q (54% of samples). Copy number aberrations in chromosomal regions were detected and corresponding genes were confirmed by RT quantitative PCR. The fold change levels were highest in the CTDP1 (18q23), HDAC10 (22q13.33), KCNQ1 (11p15.5-p15.4), NINJ2 (12p13.33), NOTCH2 (1p12-p11.2), PCSK6 (15q26.3), SDHA (5p15.33), and MUC17 (7q22.1) genes. CONCLUSION: Many candidate chromosomal regions that might be related to the pathogenesis of VA were detected by array CGH and should be systematically investigated to establish the causative and specific genes for VA.
Cardiology ; Coat Protein Complex I ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; DNA ; Humans ; Korea ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase ; Spasm

The carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common entrapment neuropathy. Several treatment modalities are available at present time. Surgical methods vary from open surgery, alternative surgical method using retinaculatome, and endoscopic surgery. Ten patients with carpal tunnel syndrome were treated with Agee endoscopic carpal tunnel release system in our institute from Nov. 1996 to Jan. 1998. The sensory conduction velocity of the median nerve were delayed or the sensory evoked potential were not evoked in all patients preoperatively. Preoperative plain radiographs of hands(including carpal tunnel view) showed normal bony structures of the carpal tunnel in all. Symptoms were immediately relieved after surgery and complete alleviation of symptoms were observed in all but one after a follow up of three months. Although small in number of patients treated, this method seems to be a better than the other treatment modalities.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ; Evoked Potentials ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ligaments* ; Median Nerve

Gua Sha is a traditional Asian medicine with different names in many Asian countries. It is a treatment to scrape the petechiae of the skin with ointment. It has generally been administered to patients with upper respiratory infections, heat syndrome, and pain. Herein, we report the case of a 31-year-old Cambodian man who was found dead at a farm accommodation. During the autopsy, multiple linear intradermal hemorrhages without subcutaneous damage were observed in the upper chest and both shoulders. The cause of death was sudden unexpected nocturnal death syndrome because he was a young Asian man who died while sleeping without specific findings. Since it is an unfamiliar traditional medicine in Korea compared to other Asian countries, forensic officers without background knowledge about Gua Sha initially suspected that he was severely assaulted or pressed against a particular object enough to cause crush asphyxia. Because of the difficulty of going to the hospital during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, Gua Sha was used to treat headaches and mild fever. Therefore, this case shows that understanding the culture of other countries could be helpful for investigations especially with the increase of multicultural families in Korea.