The present study was to evaluate the protective effects of bromocriptine, which is known as D2 dopamine receptor agonist and used for the treatment of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), on 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced neurotoxicity in vitro and in vivo. Lipid peroxidation product (malondialdehyde; MDA) produced by the administration of 6-OHDA was profoundly reduced following the treatment of bromocriptine in a dose-dependent manner in rabbit brain homogenate. Quinone formation by 6-OHDA autoxidation was also attenuated, and its effect was as potent as other antioxidants. Pretreatment of bromocriptine reduced the cytotoxicity of 6-OHDA on SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell lines dose-dependently. The loss of striatal dopamine and its metabolite, DOPAC (dihydroxyphenylacetic acid) as well as increase of MDA production caused by intrastriatal injection of 6-OHDA was significantly recovered following the treatment of bromocriptine. The present study clearly showed that bromocriptine had a protective action against 6-OHDA-induced neurotoxicity. These results suggest that bromocriptine has the antioxidant properties, which could be another advantage for delaying the progress of Parkinson's disease.
3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid ; Antioxidants ; Brain ; Bromocriptine* ; Cell Line ; Dopamine ; Dopamine Agonists ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation* ; Neuroblastoma ; Oxidopamine ; Parkinson Disease

According to the Letournel classification, a transverse fracture is the only elementary fracture pattern that breaks both the anterior and posterior border of the innominate bone. A transverse acetabular fracture separates the innominate bone into two segments: the iliac segment and the ischiopubic segment. Therefore, minimally displaced transverse fractures can be stabilized by purchasing both segments with a large-diameter single screw. Although it is not a stable internal fixation construct compared with plates and screws, it provides sufficient stability to promote early mobilization and early weight-bearing while minimizing the risk of secondary displacement and preventing secondary complications associated with prolonged bed rest and immobilization. The authors successfully treated a case of minimally displaced transverse acetabular fracture with percutaneous column fixation using a retrograde fashion of a single anterior column screw. This report discusses the case with a literature review and deliberates the usefulness of the procedure.

OBJECTIVE: The mGluR1 (metabotropic glutamate receptor 1) gene, a G protein–coupled receptor, is known to mediate perceptions of umami tastes. Genetic variation in taste receptors may influence dietary intake, and in turn have an impact on nutritional status and risk of chronic disease. We investigated the association of mGluR1 rs2814863 polymorphism with lipid profiles and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, together with their modulation by macronutrient intake in Korean adults. METHODS: The subjects consisted of 8,380 Koreans aged 40-69 years participating in the Anseong and Ansan Cohort Study, which was a part of the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study (KoGES). Data was collected using self-administered questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, and blood chemical analysis. RESULTS: Carriers of C allele at mGluR1 rs2814863 was associated with decreased high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and increased triglyceride as compared to carriers of TT. Also, carriers of the C allele showed higher fat intake and lower carbohydrate intake than those with carriers of TT. After adjustment for multiple testing using false-discovery rate method, the significant difference of HDL-C, triglyceride, dietary fat, and carbohydrate across genotypes disappeared. Gene-diet interaction effects between rs2814863 and macronutrients intake were not significantly associated with HDL-C and triglyceride levels. However, carriers of C allele demonstrated significantly higher odds of CVD {odds ratio=1.13, 95% CI=1.02-1.25} compared with carriers of TT. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support significant associations between the mGluR1 rs2814863 genotype and CVD-related variables in Korean adults. However, these associations are not modified by macronutrient intake.
Adult* ; Alleles ; Blood Chemical Analysis ; Cardiovascular Diseases* ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Chronic Disease ; Cohort Studies ; Dietary Fats ; Epidemiology ; Genes, vif ; Genetic Variation ; Genome ; Genotype ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Methods ; Nutritional Status ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Receptors, Glutamate ; Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate* ; Triglycerides

BACKGROUND: To evaluate serological typing of T(epidemiologic marker) and M protein(major virulence antigen) is important to understand pathogenesis and epidemiology of streptococcal infection. The purpose of this study is to find out whether there were major difference in distribution of serotypes isolated from healthy school children and patients with pharyngotonsillitis, and to characterize the geographical differences in distribution of the serotypes. METHOD: Twenty-three strains of group A streptococci were isolated from healthy school children in two different areas(Dongdaemun-Ku and Kangsuh-Ku) in Seoul in April and July 1996. 23 strains came from patients living in Dongjak-Ku with pharyngotonsillitis in April 1996. All isolated were serotyped by T agglutination, M precipitation and opacity factor at the WHO Collaborative Center for Reference and Research on Streptococci, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. RESULTS: 89.1% of the strains were typable by T agglutination, 56.5% by M precipitation, and 52.2% were positive in opacity factor. T types 1, 25, 4, and 12 accounted for 65.2% of patients with pharyngotonsillitis, T types 12, and 25 accounted for 71.5% of healthy children in Dongdaemun-Ku, and T types 28, 6, and 3 accounted for 62.6% of healthy children in Kangsuh-Ku. T types 1, 25, 28, 12, 4 and M types 1, 75, 28, 4, 12 were typed in decreasing order. CONCLUSION: We characterized the differences in serotypes of group A streptocpcci between healthy children and patients. The periodic and seasonal serotyping analysis is important in monitoring and understanding of the epidemiologic patterns of group A streptococci.
Agglutination ; Child* ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Minnesota ; Seasons ; Seoul ; Serotyping* ; Streptococcal Infections ; Virulence

The demand for hospitalists is increasing due to decreasing numbers of clinical residents and increased concerns regarding patient safety. However, several limitations in the surgical hospitalist role exist. The personnel of the surgical hospitalist, rapid response team (RRT), surgical critical care, and trauma surgery teams were unified under the admission, critical care, and trauma surgery (ACTs) team at this institution. The ACTs target are patients with severe disease not undergoing general postoperative course, or patients with the potential for severe conversion. Two surgical intensivists are on duty once a week and oversee the intensive care unit (ICU), the back-up treatment of critically ill patients, and the immediate treatment of trauma patients. ACTs also participate in the surgical RRT and select patients with a high probability of severe exacerbation. Between 2019-2021, the cardiopulmonary resuscitation incidence per 1,000 hospitalized patients in the surgical department decreased significantly from 0.81 to 0.55. From March to December 2021, the ACTs team were involved with 101 of 158 surgical patients admitted to the ICU: 62 with postoperative status, 29 with severe trauma, and 10 transferred to the ICU via RRT screening. Based on our experience, the role of the ACTs team can help improve patient safety.

A thyroid storm is a rare complication of hyperthyroidism. Although a thyroid storm rarely presents with symptoms similar to those of an acute abdomen, and in cases where emergency surgery is needed, the thyroid function test is not performed routinely. In this study, we report a case in which hyperthyroidism was diagnosed after surgery in a patient with recurrent refractory peptic ulcer disease. Although peptic ulcer disease and hyperthyroidism rarely coexist, when the patient's initial condition was reviewed in the Emergency Department, the findings were reasonable for panperitonitis due to peptic ulcer perforation, which is considered as a condition suitable for a thyroid storm. This isolated case indicates a logical leap in the correlation between peptic ulcer and thyroid storm. In recurrent refractory peptic ulcer disease, the thyroid function test may be helpful as a routine laboratory test before emergency surgery.

Giant pulmonary bulla (GPB) is a rare manifestation of emphysema and usually enlarges gradually over time, occasionally resulting in complications. Hence, more often than not, the surgical intervention of a Bullectomy is the standard method of treatment for GPB. However, there are case reports that show the complete resolution of GPB after its inflammation process even without surgical intervention. A 51-year-old man was admitted to our clinic due to pleuritic pain. After a chest X-ray and CT scan, a new air-fluid level within the GPB was revealed in the right upper lobe of his lung. His clinical status had improved promptly with intravenous antibiotics. A one-year follow-up study showed the GPB was completely resolved.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Emphysema ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lung ; Methods ; Middle Aged ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: External quality assessment (EQA) uses a standard deviation index (SDI), based on a peer group, to evaluate laboratory performance. However, evaluations using peer group SDIs often have limited applicability, because they are not statistically valid unless the number of institutions in the same peer group is large. The present study proposes a statistical model for simultaneously evaluating the performance of all participating institutions, as well as the performance of instruments on the market. METHODS: By assuming that proficiency test results were affected by the manufacturer, the instrument, and the institution, the effects of those factors were estimated using a linear mixed model. We used these effect estimates to calculate manufacturer, instrument, and institution SDIs. Using simulation, we evaluated the false positive rates and efficiencies of the proposed linear mixed model. RESULTS: Simulations showed that the linear mixed model empirical type I error rates preserved the nominal significance level. This model was also more statistically efficient than the peer group SDI. Rates of unacceptability were lower when using institution SDI than they were when using peer group SDI. Additional outliers that could not be evaluated using the current system were detected by the institution SDI statistic. The instrument SDI statistic detected outliers among different instrument groups. CONCLUSIONS: Institution and instrument SDIs are robust and efficient tools for EQA, and they can replace the currently used system of peer group SDI.
Laboratory Proficiency Testing ; Models, Statistical ; Peer Group

PURPOSE: Emergency physicians usually perform ultrasound exams for patients with multiple injuries. Extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma (eFAST) can reveal injuries from chest to the abdomen immediately. However, in Korea, the curriculums of medical schools do not currently include eFAST. We have devised a study to assess the feasibility of the eFAST exam in medical school students. METHODS: This study was conducted in students in their fifth year out of six years of medical school, over 11 weeks. Four Emergency Medicine specialists trained the students over 4 hours, tested the students, and conducted a questionnaire. RESULTS: Average age of students was 25.9+/-2.6 years, and 24 were male and 20 were female. Mean success rate of 17 components on the eFAST exam was 95.9% (94.6%-97.4%). The success rate of transverse view of aorta, transverse view of bladder, lung sliding sign, and sea-shore sign of both anterior chest walls was 100%, scanning the spleen and attaching the probe to a body surface were 75%, 86.3%. Total time consumption was 449.0+/-22.2 seconds. The questionnaires showed that the eFAST exam for the splenorenal recess, spleen, and left upper quadrant lung was difficult. CONCLUSION: We found that medical students in Korea could perform the eFAST exam by themselves after 4 hours education. In the future, these findings can be helpful in development of an eFAST education program for medical students.
Abdomen ; Aorta ; Curriculum ; Education ; Emergencies ; Emergency Medicine ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung ; Male ; Multiple Trauma ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Schools, Medical* ; Specialization ; Spleen ; Students, Medical ; Thorax ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Bladder