No abstract available.
Diabetic Neuropathies*

BACKGROUND: The relation between clinical characteristics and a change of thymid functions in patients with hyperemesis gavidarum(HO) has not been well described. In order to clarify this characteristics, we evaluated thyroid function in patients with HG and compared the relationship to clinical characteristics of gestational thyrotoxicosis and hyperemesis. METHODS: From March, 1991, to April, 1997, 20 patients were admitted to the department of obstetrics in Chonbuk National University Hospital because of HG. We examined clinical characteristics of patients with HG(age, marrital age, levels of educations, obstetrical history, gestational duration, vomiting duration, degree of weight loss, infant's birth weights, duration of pregnancy). Thyroid functions, liver functions and serum electrolytes was measured. Also, we compared to the clinical characteristics of patients with HG according to thyroxine concentration. RESULTS: An increased free thyroxine concentration was observed m 65% of 20 pregnancies complicated by severe HG. The level of serum ALT was greater in thyrotoxicosis patients(91.2+-76.6 IU/L, mean +-SD) than normothyroxemic patients(20.3+-12.7 IU/L, P=0.027). Also, increased level of serum AST was observed in patients with HG. In patients with thyrotoxicosis, the long durations of vomiting was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Increased free thyroxine concentration is found in severe HG. Because the relatively higher risk for thyrotoxicosis, patients with severe hyperemesis, they must be evaluated about thyroid functions.
Birth Weight ; Electrolytes ; Humans ; Jeollabuk-do ; Liver ; Obstetrics ; Pregnancy ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyrotoxicosis ; Thyroxine ; Vomiting ; Weight Loss

Metformin is widely marketed medication for the treatment of diabetes, but its pharmacological effect on diabetic peripheral neuropathy remains unclear. In this study, the effect of metformin on peripheral nerves in diabetic rats was investigated using diverse neuronal parameters of nerve fibers.

Germ cell tumors(GCT) are not infrequently encounted tumor in pediartic age group. In order to study the clinical behaviors of the disease, we reviewed 29 cases of GCT diagnosed and treated at Kosin Medical Center in the period of 7 years form Jan. 1984 to Dec. 1991 and the results are summarized as follows: 1) The age distribution is the highest between 10 and 15 years(45%) and girls have 1.9 times higher frequency than that of boys. 2) The most frequent primary site of GCT was ovary(15). The next common primary site was testis(5), pineal body(4), sacrococcygeal region(2), retroperitoneum(1), soft palate(1), anterior mediastinum(1) in descending order of frequency. 3) In the pathological analysis of tumors, the most frequent type was mature teratoma(12). The next common type was endodermal sinus tumor(6), immature teratoma(5), dysgerminoma(3), mixed type(2), and choriocarcinoma(1)in descending order of frequency. 4) All the 5 cases of EST have elevated serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein. Two of the three dysgerminoma, one of the two mixed type tumors both of which have germinoma components, and one choriocarcinoma have elevated serum levels of beta-HCG above the age related physiological levels. 5) Among 17 cases of malignant GCT, 9 cases have metastatic areas such as regional lymph nodes, scrotum, pleura, retroperitoneum, omentum and lumbar spine. 6) All except on case of immature teratoma in the anterior mediastinum underwent surgery. Chemotherapy was given to 12 of 17 malignant GCT and radiotherapy was given to 4 of 17 malignant GCT. 7) Among the 4 expired cases within 12 months of follow up, three were originated from pineal body, which had been underwent simple V-P shunt or incomplete resection, and one case was metastatic immature teratoma of anterior mediastinum to the pleura which had not been undergone surgery. Finally, in review of literature and or cases, the survival of properly managed GCT except some of those difficult surgical access is relatively good. To continue the survival of children of GCT to be impoved, we should use all the treatment modalit properly with more positive outlook about the disease.
Age Distribution ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; Child* ; Choriocarcinoma ; Drug Therapy ; Dysgerminoma ; Endoderm ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Germ Cells* ; Germinoma ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Mediastinum ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal* ; Omentum ; Pineal Gland ; Pleura ; Pregnancy ; Radiotherapy ; Scrotum ; Spine ; Teratoma

BACKGROUND: Cardiac hypertrophy is the compensatory response of the myocadium to increased workload. Compensatory mechanisms come into play when the hypertrophied heart can no longer accommodate the increased demand or persistent stimuli. Although it has been reported that the molecular changes in hypertrophied hearts that initially mediate enhanced function may contribute to the development of heart failure, the structural/biochemical/molecular basis for myocardial contractile failure is still obscure. This study was aimed to clarify the structural basis for relation between hypertrophy and failure. METHOD: Nine pairs of rabbits were sacrificed at 8,12,24,48 hours and 1,2,4,6,8 weeks after experiment aortic constriction. There hearts were studied with routine histopathology. Each heart was weighed and compared with total body weight. Multiple sections were embedded in paraffin, sectioned at 5um, and stained with hematoxylin and cosin and Masson's trichrome and analysed. RESULTS: The heart weight to body weight ratio(g/Kg) increased progressively with time after aortic banding. Banding of the aorta in the rabbit resulted in multifocal areas of myofiber degeneration, necrosis and fibrosis through the wall of the left ventricle, in the papillary muscles of the left ventricle and in the left ventricular portions of the interventricular septum in rabbit of 6 and 8 weeks after aortic banding. By 4 weeks after banding, the foci of necrosis were not observed. CONCLUSION: There findings suggest that the increased necrosis, fibrosis in animals with cardiac hypertrophy induced by banding the aorta may play a role in progression to heart failure.
Animals ; Aorta ; Body Weight ; Cardiomegaly ; Constriction ; Fibrosis ; Heart Failure ; Heart Ventricles ; Heart* ; Hematoxylin ; Hypertrophy ; Necrosis* ; Papillary Muscles ; Paraffin ; Rabbits

BACKGROUND: The appearance of multiple-drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains has been seriously compromising successful control of tuberculosis. Rifampin-resistance, caused by mutations in the rpoB gene, can be indicative of multiple-drug-resistance, and its detection is of great importance. The present study aimed to develop an oligonucleotide chip for accurate and convenient screening of drug-resistance. METHODS: In order to detect point mutations in the rpoB gene, an oligonucleotide chip was prepared by immobilizing specific probe DNA to a microscopic slide glass by a chemical reaction. The probe DNA that was selected from the 81 bp core region of the rpoB gene was designed to have mutation sites at the center. A total of 17 mutant probes related to rifampin-resistance including 8 rifabutin-sensitive mutant probes were used in this study. For accurate determination, wild type probes were prepared for each mutation position with an equal length, which enabled a direct comparison of the hybridization intensities between the mutant and wild type. RESULTS: Mycobacterial genomic DNA from clinical samples was tested with the oligonucleotide chip and the results were compared with those of the drug-susceptibility test in addition to sequencing and INNO-LiPA Rif. TB kit test in some cases. Out of 15 samples, the oligonucleotide chip results of 13 samples showed good agreement with the rifabutin-sensitivity results. The two samples with conflicting result also showed a discrepancy between the other tests, suggesting such possibilities as existence of mixed strains and difference in drug-sensitivity. Further verification of these samples in addition to more case studies are required before the final evaluation of the oligonucleotide chip can be made. CONCLUSION: An oligonucleotide chip was developed for the detection of rpoB gene mutations related to drug-susceptibility. The results to date show the potential for using the oligonucleotide chip for accurate and convenient screening of drug-resistance to provide useful information in antituberculosis drug therapy.
DNA ; Drug Therapy ; Glass ; Mass Screening ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Point Mutation* ; Rifabutin ; Rifampin ; Tuberculosis

Backgrounds: Thyroid hormones play a fundamental role in the initiation and maintenance of somatic growth in mammalian species, and the insulin-like growth factors(IGFs) occupy a position of central importance in the growth of all tissues. To evaluate the changes in serum insulin-like growth factor-I(IGF-I) and insulin-like growth factor binding proteins in hyperthyroid and hypothyroid patients, sera was obtained from 19 hyperthyroid patients, 9 hypothyroid patients, and 10 healthy volunteers. Methods: IGF-I concentration was determined by radioimmunoassay, and changes in IGFBPs were assesed by Western Ligand Blotting. To evaluate the binding pattern of IGF-I & IGFBPs, autoradiographs were obtained. Results & Conclusion: IGF-I levels were increased significantly in hyperthyroid patients(mean ±SE, 267.88±9.80 ng/ml, p<0.05) and decreased significantly in hypothyroid patients(154.81±1.43 ng/ml, p<0.01) compaired to healthy control group(209.45±.60 ng/ml). Autoradiograph of serum IGFBPs from patients with hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism did not show any change in the intensity of IGFBP-3 bands(40-45 KD) and IGFBP-1 bands, but in hyperthyroid patients, it showed increased intensity of IGFBP-2 band compared to healthy control group and hypothyroid patients.
Equidae ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Hypothyroidism ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Radioimmunoassay ; Thyroid Hormones

Because the 'Tsunami of type 2 diabetes' is presently rolling on a global scale, owing to the ever-increasing prevalence of obesity, increasing physical inactivity, and aging populations worldwide, the economic burden of diabetes caused by increased health resource use and lost productivity increase rapidly. So prevention in general population and good glycemic controls become even more important with earlier diagnosis and more aggressive cardiovascular prevention and treatment. Diabetes requires continuing medical care and patient self-management education to prevent acute complications and to reduce the risk of long-term complications. Diabetes care is very complex and requires that many issues, beyond glycemic control, be solved by the active governmental policy. Lifestyle modifications are the cornerstones of management of type 2 diabetes. The progressive nature of type 2 diabetes requires use of one or more oral agents and eventually insulin, along with lifestyle modification and intensification. Rapid achievement of the target goals often prompts providers to consider combination therapy to target different pathogenic mechanisms and manage both fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels. Maintenance of glycemic control over the lifespan of a patient with diabetes is overwhelmingly likely to require combination therapy with oral diabetes medications. Ultimately, because of the progressive nature of the disease and the progressive decline in pancreatic beta-cell function, insulin therapy is almost always obligatory to achieve optimal glycemic goals.
Achievement ; Aging ; Blood Glucose ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Efficiency ; Fasting ; Health Resources ; Humans ; Insulin ; Life Style ; Obesity ; Prevalence ; Self Care

Many studies for LPS-induced cytokines, chemokines gene expressions have been reported, but results are highly diverse. The dose of LPS used, cell type studied or other technical factors may contribute to the differences. We investigated the cytokine mRNA expressions, interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-6, IL-10 and IFNr, on thioglycollate (TG) elicited-mouse peritoneal macrophages stimulated with various concentrations, 1 ng/ml, 10 ng/ml, 100 ng/ml, 1 ug/ml and 10 ug/ml, of LPS used by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and northern blot analysis. TG- elicited peritoneal macrophages expressed IL-6 and IFN-r mRNA in a dose-dependent manner. The expressions of IL-2 and IL-10 mRNA were dose-independent manner. In northern blot analysis, IL-6 mRNA expression was detected only in 10 ug/ml LPS concentration for short stimulation time (0.5 h), while IL-10 mRNAs were expressed evenly in all LPS concentrations. The expression of IL-6 mRNA was sustained until 72 h at 10 ug/ml concentration only, but IL- 10 mRNAs of all cases of LPS concentrations were sustained evenly until then. These results suggest that the concentration of LPS required for cytokine induction must be determined differently from gene to gene types, and although LPS concentration 10 ug/ml has not been used as an ordinary concentration in vitro cytokine study, 10 ug/ml of LPS might be more appropriate concentration in the study of IL-6 expression on mouse peritoneal macrophages.
Animals ; Blotting, Northern ; Chemokines ; Cytokines ; Gene Expression ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-6 ; Macrophages, Peritoneal* ; Mice* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA, Messenger*

No abstract available.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Diverticulum* ; Female* ; Humans ; Metaplasia*