Objectives: In this study, we investigated the validity and effectiveness of biomarkers and oral microbiome analysis for evaluation of periodontal status following scaling intervention. Methods: The study included 15 participants who were selected based on inclusion/exclusion criteria. Periodontal indices, including the plaque index, probing depth, modified sulcus bleeding index, and calculus index were measured to evaluate clinical periodontal status and disease progression.Pre- and post-scaling gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) was obtained from 12-20 sites per patient to measure changes in the odontogenic ameloblast-associated protein (ODAM) concentration using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Additionally, pre- and post-treatment salivary samples were obtained for quantitative analysis of oral microbiome distribution. Results: All clinical parameters showed significant differences in pre- and post-scaling values and significant changes in the ODAM concentration in the GCF in patients with initial and moderate periodontitis. Quantitative analysis performed after scaling intervention revealed changes in eight oral disease-causing bacteria associated with periodontal disease, including Aggregatibacter, Porphyromonas, Tannerella, Treponema, Prevotella, and Fusobacterium. Specifically, Tannerella forsythia and Fusobacterium nucleatum (well-known major periodontal pathogens) numbers were significantly decreased following non-surgical periodontal therapy. However, no significant association was observed between changes in the salivary oral microbiota and ODAM concentration in the GCF, following treatment. Conclusions Based on the findings of this study, we propose the use of ODAM protein and quantitative analysis of periodontal disease-associated bacteria as objective and quantitative biomarkers for evaluation of improvement in periodontal disease following scaling intervention.

PURPOSE: Protein tyrosine kinase(PTK), protein kinase C(PKC), oxidase, as a mediator, have been known to take a role in signal transduction pathway of angiogenesis. The authors confirmed that PKC is the most noticeable mediator for abnormal proliferation of vascular endothelial cells through in vitro study model using the inhibitors, targeting the formation of three co-enzymes. In this study, we would investigate which isoform of PKC play an important role in abnormal angiogenesis of vascular endothelial cell. METHODS: In 96 well plates, 10(4) HUVECs(human umbilical vein endothelial cells) were evenly distributed. Two groups were established; the control group without administration of DMH(1,2-dimethylhydrazine) and the DMH group with administration of 7.5x10(-9)M DMH. RNA was extracted from vascular endothelial cell of each group and expression of the PKC isoform was analyzed by RT-PCR(reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction) method. RESULTS: RT-PCR analysis showed that PKCalpha, -betaI, -betaII, -eta, -micron and -zeta were expressed in vascular endothelial cells of each group. DMH incresed the expression of PKCalpha and PKCmicron, and decreased PKCbetaI, PKCbetaII expression dominantly. CONCLUSION: Based on the result of this study, it was suggested that PKCalpha and PKCmicron may have significant role in abnormal proliferation of vascular endothelial cell.
1,2-Dimethylhydrazine* ; Cell Proliferation ; Dimenhydrinate ; Endothelial Cells* ; Oxidoreductases ; Protein Kinase C* ; Protein Kinases* ; RNA ; Signal Transduction ; Tyrosine ; Umbilical Veins

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Humans ; Technetium Tc 99m Dimercaptosuccinic Acid* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon* ; Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract*

OBJECTIVE Licorice is used throughout the world as a traditional herbal remedy. Ac-cording to Chinese traditional medicine licorice alone can be used to treat inflammation.Although there have been some studies investigated the anti-inflammatory ingredients of licorice, but for the potency of flavonoid glycoside and their aglycones on inflammation are not evaluated.This study was designed to assess the contributions of licorice flavonoid glycosides and their aglycons to its anti-inflammatory and hypnotic effects. METHODS For the flavonoid aglycone's enrichment, the extract of licorice (EL) was fermented in submerged culture of the edible fungus Grifola frondosa HB0071 mycelia which can produce β-glucosidase and catalyze the flavonoid glycosides to aglycones.EL and fermented extract of licorice (FEL) were used in this study. The anti-inflammation test was carried out in arachidonic acid (AA)-induced ear edema model and the hypnotic test was performed by using electroencephalogram (EEG)analysis method in normal freely moving SD rats.The chemicals constituents were analyzed by HPLC.RESULTS During fermentation,the falvonoid glycosides of licorice were hydrolyzed by the time process.Along with fermentation time,the concentration of the major flavonoid glycosides,liquiritin and isoliquiritin were decreased obviously, and simultaneously their aglycons, liquiritigenin and isoliquiriti-genin were remarkably increased in FEL.Moreover,the content of another major constituent glycyrrhi-zic acid and glycyrrhetinic acid were not changed after the fermentation. In AA-induced mice ear ede-ma test,after topical application,FEL(effective dose range:5-20 μg·ear-1)showed more potent inhibito-ry activity than EL(effective dose range:25-100 μg·ear-1).On the other hand,oral administration of EL and FEL exhibited the same hypnotic potency and both enhanced the total sleep time including rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-REM sleep time. CONCLUSION These results suggested that the enrichment of flavonoid aglycons such as liquiritigenin and isoliquiritigenin enhanced the anti-inflam-matory potency of licorice extract,and this potentiation has nothing to do with glycyrrhizic acid or glycyr-rhetinic acid.In addition,enrichment of flavonoid aglycones did not alter the hypnotic effect of licorice.

No abstract available.

OBJECTIVES: Rapidly progres s ive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) is a clinico- pathologic entity characterized by extens ive crescent formation(usually involving 50% or more of glomeruli) as the principal his tologic finding and a rapid deterioration of kidney function, which can lead to end s tage renal disease within a few weeks. T he etiology and incidence of RPGN has been well defined in Europe and North America, however, there has been no report of a large series in Korea. T he aim of the present s tudy was to analyze the etiology and clinico- pathologic features of 26 patients with RPGN, seen during 1983-1997. METHODS: T wenty-six patients with RPGN(crescents in > 50% of glomeruli) were obs erved during a period of las t 14 years. Male to female ratio was 1:1.4, and the mean age was 30(6-75) years. Mean time from the initial symptoms to the ESRD was 3.1 months . RESULTS: The incidence of RPGN in our series was 2.1% of primary glomerulonephritis. Immunecomplex mediated disease was presented in 14 cases (54%), including 6 sys temic lupus erythematos us, 3 post- streptococcal glomerulonephritis, 3 Henoch- Schonlein purpura, and 2 IgA nephropathy. Pauci- immune disease was presented in 12 cases (46%), including 3 Wegener' s granulomatos is, one necrotizing crescentic glomerulonephritis, and 8 idiopathic crescentic glomerulonephritis. However, there was none of anti-GBM- mediated disease in our s tudy. ANCA were found in 6 patients. All 3 patients with WG were C- ANCA pos itive, whereas one patient with PSGN, necrotizing cres centic GN, and idiopathic crescentic GN were P- ANCA pos itive, respectively. Initial clinical and laboratory features included edema(80%), hypertens ion(72%), oliguria(68%), a decreased renal function(serum creatinine > 5mg/dL, 35%), and gros s hematuria(36%). Renal biopsy showed large crescents more than 80% of the glomeruli in 14 cases (54%) which were predominantly fibrocellular. Fifteen patients (58%) were treated with prednis olone alone, and 12 of them received puls e doses of corticosteroids. Five patients were treated with prednisolone and cyclophos phamide IV pulse. Two cases received plasma exchange. During the mean follow-up of 31+/-37 months, 18 patients (69%) developed inexorable progression of renal failure, three(12%) showed recovery of renal function, and two(8%) showed partial improvement, which is followed by varying degrees of renal insufficiency. During follow-up, three patients died : two from res piratory failure with severe pulmonary hemorrhage and one from opportunistic pulmonary infection during immunosuppressive therapy. Poor prognos is is as sociated with hypertension, increased serum creatinine level at the time of diagnosis, large crescents more than 85% of glomeruli, and glomerular scleros is . CONCLUSION: We conclude that an earlier diagnos is including kidney biopsy and the more aggressive treatment are essential in the management of RPGN.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic ; Biopsy ; Creatinine ; Diagnosis ; Europe ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glomerulonephritis* ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Immune System Diseases ; Incidence ; Kidney ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Korea ; Male ; North America ; Plasma Exchange ; Prednisolone ; Purpura ; Renal Insufficiency ; Systemic Vasculitis

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to figure out the characteristics and differences of therapeutic environment by classifying into closed-ward inpatient, open-ward inpatient and community residence outpatient environment and comparing objective and subjective quality of life of each group. METHODS: The subjects consisted of 67 open-ward chronic inpatients, 58 closed -ward inpatients in the National Naju Mental Hospital and 85 outpatients living in Naju. We measured objective and subjective quality of life using semi-structural interview by Leman's quality of life scale and compared the 3 groups. We used one-way ANOVA and chi-square test to analyze the differences of the 3 groups. RESULTS: Open-ward inpatients who have autonomy and various community service program were more satisfied with their general life than the others. Community residence outpatients spent more money and less assaults experience but their leisure activities and social contact frequencies were lower than in the inpatients. Outpatients were less satisfied with their health, finances and leasure activities. Inpatients had more leisure activities and higher social contact frequency than outpatients. They were more satisfied with their finances despite of spending less the money monthly than the outpatients. They experienced violence and damage more often for the past one year and were more satisfied with their health. CONCLUSION: The quality of life reported by chronic mental patients differed according to the characteristics of therapeutic environment. The life-quality of open-ward inpatients were the highest among the 3 groups. It is necessary to serve various community service program so that we can improve the life-quality of community residence outpatients.
Hospitals, Psychiatric ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Jeollanam-do ; Leisure Activities ; Mentally Ill Persons* ; Outpatients ; Quality of Life* ; Social Welfare ; Violence

No abstract available.
Agenesis of Corpus Callosum*

No abstract available.
Agenesis of Corpus Callosum*

BACKGROUND: Transient global cerebral ischemia can cause selective hippocampal lesion and spatial learning impairment. To evaluate whether some commonly used laboratory animal anesthetics, pentobarbital, ketamine and xylazine, can affect ischemic brain injury, the effects of the anesthetics on Morris water maze task following transient global ischemia were investigated in Mongolian gerbils. METHODS: The ischemia was induced by bilateral carotid artery occlusion for 2 or 5 min. Morris water maze task was started 3 days later and performed for 15 days. RESULTS: Every animal acquired Morris water maze task as trial proceeded and there was no difference in the latency time on the last (15th) trial. However the ischemic groups (2 min and 5min) showed delayed acquisition of a Morris water maze task and the longer the ischemic time was the more the acquisition delayed. There were no differences in the acquisition of the maze task among pentobarbital-, ketamine- and ketamine/xylazine-anesthesia in either sham- or 2 min-ischemic group, but ketamine/ xylazine anesthesia significantly reduced the acquisition delay in 5 min-ischemic group compared with pentobarbital- or ketamine-anesthesia. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that ketamine/xylazine anesthesia have more neuroprotective effect on ischemia-induced brain injury, compared with pentobarbital- or ketamine-anesthesia, in gerbil global ischemia.
Anesthesia ; Anesthetics ; Animals ; Animals, Laboratory ; Brain ; Brain Injuries ; Brain Ischemia ; Carotid Arteries ; Gerbillinae* ; Ischemia* ; Ketamine* ; Learning* ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Pentobarbital* ; Sympathetic Nervous System ; Xylazine*