The expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms in the ovaries of pigs was examined to study the involvement of nitric oxide, a product of NOS activity, in the function of the ovary. Western blot analysis detected three types of NOS in the ovary, including constitutive neuronal NOS (nNOS), endothelial NOS (eNOS) and inducible NOS (iNOS); eNOS immunoreactivity was more intense compared with that of iNOS or nNOS. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated the presence of nNOS and eNOS in the surface epithelium, stroma, oocytes, thecal cells, and endothelial cells of blood vessels. Positive immunoreactions for nNOS and iNOS were detected in the granulosa cells from multilaminar and antral follicles, but not in those of unilaminar follicles. iNOS was detected in the surface epithelium, oocytes, and theca of multilaminar and antral follicles. Taking all of the findings into consideration, the observed differential expression of the three NOS isoforms in the ovary suggests a role for nitric oxide in modulating reproduction in pigs.
Animals ; Blotting, Western/veterinary ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry/veterinary ; Nerve Tissue Proteins/*biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase/*biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; Ovarian Follicle/*enzymology/growth&development ; Swine/*physiology

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Based on the results of well designed clinical studies, intensive insulin therapy has been established to improve glycemic control in newly diagnosed diabetes. However, discrepancies exist between the findings of clinical trials and experiences in general practice. Furthermore, the efficacy of an early insulin therapy (EIT) - commonly used in general practice - on long-term glycemic control has not been established. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of EIT on pancreatic beta-cell function and glycemic control using insulin-based methods widely employed in general practice. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study that initially involved reviewing patients' medical records. Following a thorough review, 61 patients who received either biphasic or prandial EIT at the time of diagnosis were enrolled. We then evaluated changes in beta-cell function and glycemic control during a 48-month follow-up period. RESULTS: Mean HbA1c decreased significantly as a result of EIT from 10.7 +/- 1.8% to 6.2 +/- 1.1% (p < 0.001). On average, 2.6 months was required to achieve an HbA1c value < 7%. EIT significantly improved the insulinogenic index. Glycemic control was well maintained for 48 months. More than 70% of patients were able to maintain glycemic control following lifestyle modifications or treatment with oral antidiabetic drugs. No significant differences were identified between patients receiving biphasic EIT and prandial EIT in terms of glycemic control or pancreatic beta-cell function. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that regardless of the method of delivery, EIT significantly improves beta-cell function and facilitates long-term glycemic control in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Administration, Oral ; Adult ; Blood Glucose/metabolism ; Cohort Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/blood/diagnosis/*drug therapy/*physiopathology ; Female ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated/metabolism ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents/administration & dosage ; Insulin/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use ; Insulin Resistance ; Insulin-Secreting Cells/*drug effects/*physiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

Galectin-3, a member of the beta-galactoside-binding protein family, has been implicated in mammalian sperm maturation. We examined galectin-3 expression in the testis and epididymis of sexually mature and immature bulls. Western blot analysis showed varying levels of galectin-3 in the bull testis and epididymis, and galectin-3 immunoreactivity was higher in the mature testis and epididymis than in immature organs. Galectin-3 was primarily localized in interstitial cells of the immature bull testis and in the peritubular myoid and interstitial cells of the mature testis. In the immature epididymis head, galectin-3 was primarily in the principal and basal cells of the epithelium. In the mature epididymis head, moderate levels of galectin-3 were detected in the sperm, while low levels were found in the stereocilia, epithelium and connective tissue. In the immature epididymis body, moderate protein levels were detected in the principal cells, while lower levels were found in the basal cells. The mature epididymis body showed moderate levels of galectin-3 immunostaining in the stereocilia and epithelium, but low levels in the connective tissue. In the immature epididymis tail, only low levels of galectin-3 staining were found in the epithelium, whereas the mature epididymis tail showed high levels of galectin-3 in the principal cells, moderate levels in the basal cells and low levels in connective tissue. These findings suggest that galectin-3 expression plays a role in the maturation and activation of sperm in bulls.
Aging/physiology ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cattle ; Epididymis/*metabolism ; Galectin 3/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation/physiology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Sexual Maturation/*physiology ; Testis/*metabolism

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Due to recent increases in the disease burden of diabetes mellitus, the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) of Korea implemented a quality assessment of the treatment of diabetes to improve patient care. The present study was conducted to identify any changes after the implementation of the diabetes quality assessment (DQA). METHODS: The present study evaluated eight quality assessment indicators that were proposed by the HIRA in all patients with diabetes who visited a university hospital in Korea between 2009 and 2014. The indicators were statistically compared according to the characteristics of the subjects. RESULTS: There were several significant differences in the indicators among the subjects according to their demographic characteristics. Female patients had a higher continuity of treatment (COT) than that of male patients, and the insulin-treated group had a higher COT than that of the non-treated group, as well as a higher rate of undergoing the diabetes complication tests (DCTs). Patients between 40 and 80 years of age had the highest COT, while patients under 40 years of age had the lowest COT but the highest rate of taking the DCTs. Patients receiving treatment from an endocrinologist exhibited higher numbers of DCTs performed but displayed lower proportions for the prescription indicators. CONCLUSIONS: The present analysis of the DQA findings revealed that endocrinologists combine prevention and management of diabetes complications with measures for glycemic control. Thus, the effective management of diabetes likely entails systematic joint treatment regimens that involve an endocrinologist.
Diabetes Complications ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Endocrinology ; Female ; Humans ; Insurance, Health ; Joints ; Korea* ; Male ; Patient Care ; Prescriptions ; Quality Improvement ; Quality of Health Care

Erythropoietin (EPO) is known to have numerous biological functions. While its primary function is during haematopoiesis, recent studies have shown that EPO plays important role in cytoprotection, immunomodulation, and antiapoptosis. These secondary functions of EPO are integral to tissue protection following hypoxic injury, ischemia-reperfusion injury, and spinal cord injury in the central nervous system. This review focuses on experimental evidence documenting the neuroprotective effects of EPO in organ-specific autoimmune nervous system disorders such as experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN). In addition, the immunomodulatory role of EPO in the pathogenesis of EAE and EAN animal models of human multiple sclerosis and Guillain-Barre syndrome, respectively, will be discussed.
Autoimmune Diseases ; Central Nervous System ; Cytoprotection ; Encephalomyelitis ; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental ; Erythropoietin ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome ; Hematopoiesis ; Humans ; Immunomodulation ; Models, Animal ; Multiple Sclerosis ; Nervous System Diseases ; Neuritis, Autoimmune, Experimental ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Reperfusion Injury ; Spinal Cord Injuries

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between somatostatinergic tone (SST) and the size of growth hormone (GH)-producing pituitary tumors. GH levels of 29 patients with newly diagnosed acromegaly were measured using a 75-gram oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), an insulin tolerance test (ITT), and an octreotide suppression test (OST). Differences between GH levels during the ITT and the OGTT (DeltaGH(IO)), and between the OGTT and the OST at the same time point (DeltaGH(OS)) were compared according to the size of the tumor and the response pattern to the OST. DeltaGH(IO) of macroadenomas (n=22) was non-significantly higher than those of microadenomas while DeltaGH(OS) of macroadenomas were significantly higher than those of microadenomas. According to further analyses of macroadenomas based on the response pattern to the OST, GH levels during the ITT were significantly higher in non-responders. DeltaGH(OS) showed near-significant differences between responders and non-responders. In conclusion, as the size of the pituitary tumor increases, the effect of glucose on SST appears to be attenuated. Macroadenomas that are non-responders to the OST possess a portion of GH secretion exceeding the range of regulation by SST.
Acromegaly/*diagnosis/*pathology ; Adenoma/drug therapy/*pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal/therapeutic use ; Female ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Human Growth Hormone/*blood/secretion ; Humans ; Insulin/blood ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I/analysis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Octreotide/therapeutic use ; Pituitary Neoplasms/drug therapy/*pathology

No abstract available.
Receptors, Somatostatin* ; Somatostatin*

The expression of osteopontin (OPN) in boar testis was studied. Western blot analysis detected 66- and 32-kDa OPN immunopositive bands in the testes of adult boars. In postnatal piglets, the 66-kDa OPN band was detected in the testes, but not the 32-kDa band. In the newborn testis, OPN immunostaining was seen in gonocytes and in some supporting cells in the seminiferous tubules, as well as in interstitial Leydig cells. In the adult boar testis, OPN immunoreactivity was detected in seminiferous tubules with varying intensities. Intense OPN immunostaining was seen in the residual bodies and acrosomes in the spermatids while, occasionally, OPN immunostaining was seen in spermatogonia and various stage of spermatocytes but in few Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubules. In addition, Leydig cells in adult boars were weakly immunostained with OPN. These findings suggest that OPN is detected in the majority of germ cells and is involved in spermatogenesis in boar testis.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Blotting, Western/veterinary ; Immunohistochemistry/veterinary ; Leydig Cells/metabolism ; Male ; Osteopontin/*biosynthesis ; Sertoli Cells/metabolism ; Spermatogenesis/physiology ; Spermatozoa/metabolism ; Swine/*metabolism ; Testis/cytology/*metabolism

Trimethyltin chloride (TMT) has been used as a neurotoxin for inducing brain dysfunction and neuronal death. Neuronal death in the hippocampus by TMT may generate excessive nitric oxide, but there are few studies about nitric oxide synthase enzyme involved in the synthesis of nitric oxide. The purpose of present study is to analyze the TMT toxicity in each region of rat hippocampus. To evaluate the involvement of nitric oxide, we analyzed the effects of aminoguanidine known as a selective inhibitor for inducible nitric oxide synthase on behavioral changes and the hippocampus of rat by TMT toxicity. 6-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered with a single dose of TMT (8 mg/kg b.w., i.p.) and the control group was similarly administered with distilled water. TMT + aminoguanidine-treated groups were administered with aminoguanidine (10 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg b.w., i.p.) for 3 days prior to TMT injection. The rats were sacrificed 2 days after TMT administration. In the TMT-treated group, a number of cell losses were seen in CA1, CA3 and the dentate gyrus. In the TMT + aminoguanidine-treated group, neuronal death was seen in CA1 and CA3, but reduced in the dentate gyrus compared to the TMT-treated group. Western blot analysis showed that cleaved caspase-3 expression was increased in the TMT-treated group compared to the control group. However, the expression significantly declined in the TMT + aminoguanidine-treated group. The present findings suggest that inducible nitric oxide synthase is involved in neuronal death induced by TMT.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Brain ; Caspase 3 ; Dentate Gyrus ; Guanidines ; Hippocampus ; Humans ; Male ; Neurons ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Trimethyltin Compounds ; Water

BACKGROUND: AVP (arginine vasopressin) shows unique hemodynamic characteristics, as a vasopressor. AVP has been tried in many cathecholamine refractory vasodilatory situations, and sometimes resulted in effective hemodynamic improvement. In this study, we hypothesized that low dose AVP infusion could recover the decreased SVR (systemic vascular resistance) induced by milrinone infusion with minimal effect on PVR (pulmonary vascular resistance). METHODS: Sixteen patients undergoing OPCAB participated in this study. After a loading dose milrinone was infused, low dose vasopressin infusion was started and titrated until the systemic blood pressure increased by 20%. During the study, hemodynamic factors including pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and cardiac output were measured using a continuous thermodilution technique with a Swan-Ganz catheter. RESULTS: Milrinone infusion reduced both SVR and PVR. And vasopression infusion increased SVR, but show relatively less effect on PVR. CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose vasopressin infusion could be used to recover the SVR decrease caused by milirinone infusion with little effect on PVR.
Blood Pressure ; Cardiac Output ; Catheters ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Milrinone* ; Pulmonary Wedge Pressure ; Thermodilution ; Vasopressins*