No abstract available.
Cerebrospinal Fluid*

No abstract available.
Cerebrospinal Fluid*

BACKGROUND: Several biologically plausible mechanisms have been proposed for estrogen-associated changes in lipid and bone metabolism. These effects are thought to be mediated via estrogen receptor (ER). Several polymorphisms in the gene encoding estrogen receptor alpha may modify the effects of hormone replacement therapy on lipid and bone density in postmenopausal women. METHODS: We examined 284 postmenopausal women for thymine-adenine (TA) repeat polymorphism at the ER gene locus and its relationship to lipid and bone density. Their mean age was 52.2+/-5.0 years. We also investigated the association between ER TA repeat polymorphism and changes in lipid and bone density after 3 months and 1 year of hormone replacement therapy. RESULTS: According to the mean number of TA repeats, the women were divided into two groups: group H, with higher number of repeats (TA>16)(n=110); group L, with lower number of repeats (TA Bone Density* ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Estrogen Receptor alpha ; Estrogens* ; Female ; Hormone Replacement Therapy* ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Receptors, Estrogen ; Triglycerides

Information on precise effects of deflazacort on bone cell function, especially osteoclasts, is quite limited. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to test effects of deflazacort on osteoclast-like cell formation in mouse bone marrow cultures and on the regulation of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and its ligand (RANKL) mRNA expressions by RT-PCR in the ST2 marrow stromal cells. TRAP-positive mononuclear cells increased after the treatment of deflazacort at 10(-9) to 10(-7) M alone for 6 days in a dose-dependent manner. Number of TRAP-positive multi-nucleated cells (MNCs) increased significantly with combined treatment of deflazacort at 10(-7) M and 1,25-(OH)2D3 at 10(-9) M compared to that of cultures treated with 1,25-(OH)2D3 alone (p<0.05). Exposure to deflazacort at 10(-7) M in the presence of 1,25-(OH)2D3 at 10(-9) M in the last 3-day culture had greater stimulatory effect on osteoclast-like cell formation than that of the first 3-day culture did. Deflazacort at 10(-10) -10(-6) M downregulated OPG and upregulated RANKL in mRNA levels in a dose-dependent manner. These observations suggest that deflazacort stimulate osteoclast precursor in the absence of 1,25-(OH)2D3 and enhance differentiation of osteoclasts in the presence of 1,25-(OH)2D3. These effects are, in part, thought to be mediated by the regulation of the expression of OPG and RANKL mRNA in marrow stromal cells.
Animal ; Bone Marrow Cells/*cytology ; Calcitriol/pharmacology ; Calcium Channel Agonists/pharmacology ; Carrier Proteins/*genetics ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dexamethasone/pharmacology ; Gene Expression/drug effects ; Glucocorticoids, Synthetic/pharmacology ; Glycoproteins/*genetics ; Immunosuppressive Agents/*pharmacology ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins/*genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Osteoclasts/*cytology ; Pregnenediones/*pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger/analysis ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/*genetics ; Stromal Cells/cytology

Background: /Aim: Abdominal ultrasonography (USG) is recommended as a surveillance test for high-risk groups for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to analyze the current status of the national cancer surveillance program for HCC in South Korea and investigate the effects of patient-, physician-, and machine-related factors on HCC detection sensitivity. Methods: This multicenter retrospective cohort study collected surveillance USG data from the high-risk group for HCC (liver cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis B or C >40 years of age) at eight South Korean tertiary hospitals in 2017. Results: In 2017, 45 experienced hepatologists or radiologists performed 8,512 USG examinations. The physicians had a mean 15.0±8.3 years of experience; more hepatologists (61.4%) than radiologists (38.6%) participated. Each USG scan took a mean 12.2±3.4 minutes. The HCC detection rate by surveillance USG was 0.3% (n=23). Over 27 months of follow-up, an additional 135 patients (0.7%) developed new HCC. The patients were classified into three groups based on timing of HCC diagnosis since the 1st surveillance USG, and no significant intergroup difference in HCC characteristics was noted. HCC detection was significantly associated with patient-related factors, such as old age and advanced fibrosis, but not with physician- or machine-related factors. Conclusions This is the first study of the current status of USG as a surveillance method for HCC at tertiary hospitals in South Korea. It is necessary to develop quality indicators and quality assessment procedures for USG to improve the detection rate of HCC.

No abstract available.
Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use ; Ascites/diagnosis/prevention & control/therapy ; Cholagogues and Choleretics/therapeutic use ; Fatty Liver/diagnosis/diet therapy ; Fatty Liver, Alcoholic/diagnosis/drug therapy ; Hemorrhage/prevention & control/therapy ; Hepatic Encephalopathy/diagnosis/prevention & control/therapy ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/diagnosis/drug therapy ; Hepatitis C, Chronic/diagnosis/drug therapy ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis/*diagnosis/drug therapy/pathology/*therapy ; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary/drug therapy ; Vasodilator Agents/therapeutic use