We investigated on how the nature of vehicles influenced on the efficacy of mo isturizer s, cutaneous hydrat,ion, physical property and roughness. Hydration was measured with corneometer, physical property with fermometer, and mughness with image analyser. Used vehicles were as follows : hydrous gel, vater in oil(W/0) emulsion, oil in water(0/W) emulsion. I.Jsed moisturizers were as follows . glycerine, polypeptide and sodium lactat,e, hyaluronic acid-triethanolamine, sodium lactate, pvopylene glycol, The results are summarized as follows : 1. The increment of the hydration effect according to vehicles was in this order. C/ W emulsion, W/0 emulsion, hydrous gel(After 2 hours). 2. The increment of extensibility as physical property was correlated to the in crcment, of hydration effcet(r=0.924). 3. It was shown that, the roughness was decreased after treatment of all mo isturizers except propylene glycol but, there was not significant st.atistically and alsa was no meaningful difference among the vehicles. 4. Among t,he moisturizers, glycerine was superior to other moisturizers on the hydration effect and extensihility. We conclude that 0/W emulsion was suitable vehicle on cutaneous hydration effect and hydration effect is proportion to the increment of flexibility.
Glycerol ; Pliability ; Propylene Glycol ; Sodium ; Sodium Lactate

Astrocytes are reported to have critical functions in ischemic brain injury including protective effects against ischemia-induced neuronal dysfunction. Na-K ATPase maintains ionic gradients in astrocytes and is suggested as an indicator of ischemic injury in glial cells. Here, we examined the role of the Na-K ATPase in the pathologic process of ischemic injury of primary cultured astrocytes. Chemical ischemia was induced by sodium azide and glucose deprivation. Lactate dehydrogenase assays showed that the cytotoxic effect of chemical ischemia on astrocytes began to appear at 2 h of ischemia. The expression of Na-K ATPase alpha1 subunit protein was increased at 2 h of chemical ischemia and was decreased at 6 h of ischemia, whereas the expression of alpha1 subunit mRNA was not changed by chemical ischemia. Na-K ATPase activity was time-dependently decreased at 1, 3, and 6 h of chemical ischemia, whereas the enzyme activity was temporarily recovered to the control value at 2 h of chemical ischemia. Cytotoxicity at 2 h of chemical ischemia was significantly blocked by reoxygenation for 24 h following ischemia. Reoxygenation following chemical ischemia for 1 h significantly increased the activity of the Na-K ATPase, while reoxygenation following ischemia for 2 h slightly decreased the enzyme activity. These results suggest that the critical time for ischemia-induced cytotoxicity of astrocytes might be 2 h after the initiation of ischemic insult and that the increase in the expression and activity of the Na-K ATPase might play a protective role during ischemic injury of astrocytes.
Adenosine Triphosphatases ; Astrocytes ; Brain Injuries ; Glucose ; Ischemia ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Neuroglia ; Neurons ; RNA, Messenger ; Sodium Azide

PURPOSE: To investigate the biological effects of preservative-free artificial tear drops on cultured human corneal epithelial cells in vitro. METHODS: The effects of the preservative-free artificial tear drops (Kynex(R) 0.1%, Kynex II(R) 0.18% [Alcon, Seoul, Korea] and Hyaluni eye drops(R) 0.15%, 0.3% [Taejun, Seoul, Korea]) on the human corneal epithelial cells were evaluated. An methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT)-based colorimetric assay was performed to assess the cellular metabolic activity and a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage assay was used to determine cellular toxicity. The eye drop ingredients were analyzed for electrolyte composition, pH, and osmolarity. We performed a scratch assay and cellular morphology test using electronic microscopy. RESULTS: The metabolic activity of corneal epithelial cells was higher than controls at 24 hours after exposure and then decreased at 48 and 72 hours after exposure (p < 0.05). The LDH titers of the 4 eye drops were higher compared with controls (p < 0.05). Sodium hyaluronate 0.18% contained lower concentrations of Na+ or Cl- and showed lower osmolarity values compared with the other eye drops. The cellular migration based on the scratch assay was more delayed and cellular damage such as loss of microvilli, rough endothelial reticulum (RER), and mitochondria dilatation was greater than controls based on electron microscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term exposure to preservative-free sodium hyaluronate eye drops may induce decreased metabolic activity and cellular damage. Thus, preservative-free artificial tears should be used carefully to prevent cellular toxicity.
Cornea ; Dilatation ; Epithelial Cells* ; Epithelium ; Humans* ; Hyaluronic Acid* ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Microscopy ; Microscopy, Electron ; Microvilli ; Mitochondria ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; Osmolar Concentration ; Reticulum ; Seoul ; Sodium* ; Tears

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of the use of sodium lactate and sorbitol (CISS) in the fluid resuscitation for shock in patients with major burns.

METHODSFifty - three adult patients with major burns (hospitalized within 6 hours after burns) were randomly divided into A (n = 24, with i.v. infusion of 50 g/L CISS, 2 000 ml per day) and B (n = 29, with i. v. infusion of 50 g/L glucose, 2 000 ml per day) groups. The amount of electrolytes and colloid as the main resuscitation fluids was calculated according to the formula in both groups. Meanwhile, additional electrolytes and insulin were supplemented to the patients in the B group. The result of combating shock, energy supply, and side effects in the two groups were observed. The changes in hepatic and renal function, and the changes in electrolytes were monitored. The amount of fluid supplementation and urinary volume were recorded. The level of blood glucose of each patient was determined at the admission time and 24, 48, and 72 hours after injury.

RESULTSNo obvious difference was found in control of shock and energy supply between A and B group. There was no side effects or damage to hepatic and renal function related to infused fluids in A group. But the patients of the B group required supplementation of exra electrolytes and insulin during the fluid resuscitation period in order to maintain the normal levels of electrolytes and blood glucose, and this was not necessary in group A. The diuretic effect in group A was better than that in group B (average urinary volume in the first two 24 hours: group A: 1.9 +/- 0.6 and 3.3 +/- 0.8 L; group B:1.0 +/- 0.5 and 2.3 +/- 0.8 L).

CONCLUSIONThe use of CISS during shock stage of the patients with major burns could be beneficial to the replenishment of blood volume, control of shock, promotion of diuresis and subsidence of edema. It could also provide electrolytes and energy, without the influence on the level of blood glucose.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood Glucose ; Burns ; complications ; therapy ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Fluid Therapy ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Shock ; etiology ; therapy ; Sodium Lactate ; therapeutic use ; Sorbitol ; therapeutic use

The Clinical Chemistry subcommittee of the Korean Association for Quality Assurance for Clinical Laboratory conducted external quality assessments in 2013. This included general chemistry and blood gas measurements as part of a scheme of six trials, comprising of three samples each. All control materials were sent at the same time. The overall response rates were 90.8% for general chemistry and 88.0% for blood gas. The parameters tested included sodium, potassium, chloride, blood urea nitrogen, glucose, calcium, phosphorus, uric acid, creatinine, bilirubin, total protein, albumin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, and gamma glutamyl transferase for general chemistry and pH, pCO2, and pO2 for blood gas assessment. Two types of reports were generated, namely, method summary reports including mean, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation, according to the test method as well as result summary reports of each participating laboratory, including mean, standard deviation and number of peer groups, and standard deviation index and variance index score of each laboratory. The overall quality performance in 2013 was similar to that of previous years, and as compared to results from 2012, the inter-laboratory variation had decreased. The requisite continual improvement in quality of clinical chemistry testing can be achieved through participation in similar proficiency testing programs.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Bilirubin ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Calcium ; Chemistry ; Chemistry, Clinical* ; Cholesterol ; Clinical Chemistry Tests ; Creatinine ; Glucose ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Korea ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Laboratory Proficiency Testing ; Peer Group ; Phosphorus ; Potassium ; Research Report ; Sodium ; Transferases ; Triglycerides ; Uric Acid

The Clinical Chemistry subcommittee of the Korean Association for Quality Assurance for Clinical Laboratory conducted external quality assessments in 2013. This included general chemistry and blood gas measurements as part of a scheme of six trials, comprising of three samples each. All control materials were sent at the same time. The overall response rates were 90.8% for general chemistry and 88.0% for blood gas. The parameters tested included sodium, potassium, chloride, blood urea nitrogen, glucose, calcium, phosphorus, uric acid, creatinine, bilirubin, total protein, albumin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, and gamma glutamyl transferase for general chemistry and pH, pCO2, and pO2 for blood gas assessment. Two types of reports were generated, namely, method summary reports including mean, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation, according to the test method as well as result summary reports of each participating laboratory, including mean, standard deviation and number of peer groups, and standard deviation index and variance index score of each laboratory. The overall quality performance in 2013 was similar to that of previous years, and as compared to results from 2012, the inter-laboratory variation had decreased. The requisite continual improvement in quality of clinical chemistry testing can be achieved through participation in similar proficiency testing programs.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Bilirubin ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Calcium ; Chemistry ; Chemistry, Clinical* ; Cholesterol ; Clinical Chemistry Tests ; Creatinine ; Glucose ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Korea ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Laboratory Proficiency Testing ; Peer Group ; Phosphorus ; Potassium ; Research Report ; Sodium ; Transferases ; Triglycerides ; Uric Acid

PURPOSE: To identify baseline prognostic factors for survival in patients with disease progression, during or after chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We pooled data from patients randomized between 2009 and 2012 in 2 phase III, global double-blind studies of ramucirumab for the treatment of advanced gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma following disease progression on first-line platinum- and/or fluoropyrimidine-containing therapy (REGARD and RAINBOW). Forty-one key baseline clinical and laboratory factors common in both studies were examined. Model building started with covariate screening using univariate Cox models (significance level=0.05). A stepwise multivariable Cox model identified the final prognostic factors (entry+exit significance level=0.01). Cox models were stratified by treatment and geographic region. The process was repeated to identify baseline prognostic quality of life (QoL) parameters. RESULTS: Of 1,020 randomized patients, 953 (93%) patients without any missing covariates were included in the analysis. We identified 12 independent prognostic factors of poor survival: 1) peritoneal metastases; 2) Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance score 1; 3) the presence of a primary tumor; 4) time to progression since prior therapy <6 months; 5) poor/unknown tumor differentiation; abnormally low blood levels of 6) albumin, 7) sodium, and/or 8) lymphocytes; and abnormally high blood levels of 9) neutrophils, 10) aspartate aminotransferase (AST), 11) alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and/or 12) lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Factors were used to devise a 4-tier prognostic index (median overall survival [OS] by risk [months]: high=3.4, moderate=6.4, medium=9.9, and low=14.5; Harrell's C-index=0.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.64–0.68). Addition of QoL to the model identified patient-reported appetite loss as an independent prognostic factor. CONCLUSIONS: The identified prognostic factors and the reported prognostic index may help clinical decision-making, patient stratification, and planning of future clinical studies.
Adenocarcinoma ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Appetite ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Clinical Decision-Making ; Disease Progression ; Double-Blind Method ; Drug Therapy ; Esophagogastric Junction ; Factor Analysis, Statistical* ; Humans ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Lymphocytes ; Mass Screening ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neutrophils ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Quality of Life ; Sodium ; Stomach Neoplasms*

BACKGROUNDDonor-pretreatment with ulinastatin may influence the liver graft during cold preservation. The aim of this research was to determine whether pretreatment of donor liver with Ulinastatin can attenuate cold preservation injury, and to explore the mechanism by which Ulinastatin affects the donor liver graft.

METHODSOne hundred and forty-four Wistar rats were divided into the Ulinastatin treatment group (T group) pretreated with Ulinastatin 50 000 U/kg and control group (C group) treated with 0.9% normal saline via peritoneal injection prior to the anesthetization. After the abdominal cavity was opened and perfused with cold Ringer's lactate solution, the liver was harvested. The harvested liver was preserved in cold Ringer's lactate solution for 0, 2, 6, 24 hours, at which time the liver tissue was sampled for determination of dry weight and wet weight, Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-ATPase activity, lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, lactic acid and malondialdehyde levels. Light microscopy and electron microscopy were used to observe liver morphology. The liver cold-preservation solution was taken for measurement of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels. Correlation between ATPase activity and lactic acid level was analyzed by SPSS 13.0 for Windows.

RESULTSThe morphology in the T group had improved cell boundaries vs. the C group at each time point. Dry weight to wet weight in the T group was lower than in the C group at 6 hours (P < 0.05), but the difference was not significant at 24 hours. ALT levels in the T group were lower than that in the C group at 6 hours (P < 0.05) and 24 hours (P < 0.01). AST levels in the T group were lower than those in the C group at 2 hours (P < 0.05), 6 hours (P < 0.01) and 24 hours (P < 0.01). Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity in the T group was higher than in the C group and the mean difference between two groups was significant at 0 hour (P < 0.05) and 2 hours (P < 0.05). Ca(2+)-ATPase activity in the T group was higher than in the C group with the mean difference between two groups significant at 2 hours (P < 0.05). The T group had increased lactic acid levels at 0 hour (P < 0.01) and 2 hours (P < 0.05) compared with the C group, but there was no influence on the LDH activity at the same time. There were no obvious differences in the levels of malondialdehyde between the two groups at any time point. A linear correlation between Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity and lactic acid levels (r = 0.295, P < 0.05) was found.

CONCLUSIONSDonor-pretreatment with ulinastatin may protect the cells in a liver graft from ischemia injury during cold preservation; the mechanism may be due to its promotion for cell glycolysis and its preservation of ATPase activity.

Animals ; Calcium-Transporting ATPases ; metabolism ; Cryopreservation ; methods ; Glycoproteins ; pharmacology ; Graft Survival ; drug effects ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Liver Transplantation ; methods ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Organ Preservation ; methods ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase ; metabolism ; Tissue Donors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX) on ischemic preconditioning and pharmacological preconditioning.

METHODSCultured rat neonatal cardiomyocytes were randomly divided into 6 groups: (1) ischemia/reperfusion group (9 h ischemia followed by 1 h reperfusion, I/R), (2) ischemic preconditioning group (1.5 h ischemia/1 h reperfusion + I/R), (3) pharmacologic preconditioning group, adenosine (10 micromol/L) pretreated for 1 h + I/R, (4) calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) inhibitor KN-93 (0.5 micromol/L for 0.5 h) + ischemic preconditioning group, (5) KN-93 + pharmacologic preconditioning group, (6) control group. The leakage of intracellular lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in various groups was determined by biochemical autoanalyzer. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was employed to measure the mRNA levels of sodium-calcium exchanger. Activity of sodium-calcium exchanger (Na(+)-dependent (45)Ca(2+) uptake) was measured by liquid scintillation counting.

RESULTS(1) Compared to the I/R group, the LDH leakages in both ischemic preconditioning group and pharmacologic preconditioning group were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) while significantly increased in the KN-93 + pharmacologic preconditioning group and the KN-93 + ischemic preconditioning group (P < 0.05). (2) The Na(+)-dependent (45)Ca(2+) uptake was significantly increased in the I/R group (P < 0.05) compared to control group and this increase could be significantly attenuated in ischemic preconditioning group and adenosine pretreatment group (P < 0.05). (3) The expression of NCX mRNA in I/R group was also significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the I/R group (P < 0.05) compared to control group and this increase could be significantly attenuated in ischemic preconditioning group and adenosine pretreatment group (P < 0.05), CaMKII inhibitor KN-93 significantly abolished these effects in preconditioning group (P < 0.05) and in adenosine pretreated group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONNCX mediated the cardioprotective effects of ischemic preconditioning and pharmacological preconditioning in the neonatal cardiomyocytes I/R model.

Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Cells, Cultured ; Ischemic Preconditioning, Myocardial ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; therapy ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sodium-Calcium Exchanger ; metabolism

BACKGROUND: Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is associated with high mortality and morbidity despite administering anti-tuberculous chemotherapy to the patients. Differential diagnosis between TBM and viral meningitis (VM) is difficult in some clinical situations. METHODS: We reviewed and analyzed records of adult patients who were admitted and diagnosed with TBM or VM at a tertiary hospital in Korea, between January 2006 and December 2015. Diagnostic criteria for TBM were categorized into three groups: definite, probable, and possible TBM. The VM group included patients with no evidence of other meningitis who achieved complete recovery with only conservative treatments. Clinical, laboratory and radiological findings, as well as outcomes, were compared between the TBM and VM groups. RESULTS: Ninety-eight patients were enrolled. Among the study patients, 47 had TBM and 51 had VM. Based on univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression, sodium < 135 mmol/L in serum (hyponatremia), lactate dehydrogenase > 70 (U/L) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), protein > 160 (mg/dL) in CSF, voiding difficulty, and symptoms of cranial nerve palsy were significant predictive factors for TBM in the final model. We constructed a weighted scoring system with predictive factors from multiple regression analyses. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses and decision tree analyses were plotted to reveal an optimum cutoff point as 4 with this scoring system (range: 0–13). CONCLUSION: For differential diagnosis between TBM and VM, we created a new weighted scoring system. This scoring system and decision tree analysis are simple and easy to apply in clinical practice to differentiate TBM from VM.
Adult ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Cranial Nerve Diseases ; Decision Trees ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Korea ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Logistic Models ; Meningitis ; Meningitis, Viral* ; Mortality ; ROC Curve ; Sodium ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Tuberculosis, Meningeal*