BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress contributes to vascular diseases in patients with diabetes. As the mechanism of development and progression of diabetic vascular complications is poorly understood, this study was aimed to assess the potential role of hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and to determine whether the oxidative stress is a major factor in hyperglycemia-induced migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). METHODS: We treated primary cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells for 72 hours with medium containing 5.5 mM D-glucose (normal glucose), 30 mM D-glucose (high glucose) or 5.5 mM D-glucose plus 24.5 mM mannitol (osmotic control). We measured the migration of VSMCs and superoxide production. Immunoblotting of PKC isozymes using phoshospecific antibodies was performed, and PKC activity was also measured. RESULTS: Migration of VSMCs incubated under high glucose condition were markedly increased compared to normal glucose condition. Treatment with diphenyleneiodonium (DPI, 10 micromol/L) and superoxide dismutase (SOD, 500 U/mL) significantly suppressed high glucose-induced migration of VSMCs. Superoxide production was significantly increased in high glucose condition and was markedly decreased after treatment with DPI and SOD. High glucose also markedly increased activity of PKC-delta isozyme. When VSMCs were treated with rottlerin or transfected with PKC-delta siRNA, nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) staining and NAD(P)H oxidase activity were significantly attenuated in the high glucose-treated VSMCs. Furthermore, inhibition of PKC-delta markedly decreased VSMC migration by high glucose. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that high glucose-induced VSMC migration is dependent upon activation of PKC-delta, which may responsible for elevated intracellular ROS production in VSMCs, and this is mediated by NAD(P)H oxidase.
Acetophenones ; Animals ; Antibodies ; Benzopyrans ; Diabetic Angiopathies ; Glucose ; Humans ; Immunoblotting ; Isoenzymes ; Mannitol ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; NADPH Oxidase ; Onium Compounds ; Oxidative Stress ; Oxygen ; Protein Kinase C ; Rats ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Superoxides ; Vascular Diseases

No abstract available.
Glomerulonephritis, IGA* ; Immunoglobulin A*

Cordyceps is a fungus used as a traditional medicine in China, Japan, and Korea. Paecilomyces (P.) japonica is a new cordyceps that was recently cultivated on silkworm pupae in Korea. The present study evaluated the toxicological effects of P. japonica in rats. Forty rats were treated with oral doses of P. japonica (0, 20, 100, or 500 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks. Twenty additional rats were treated with 0 or 500 mg/kg/day of P. japonica for 4 weeks and then maintained for 2 weeks without treatment. Clinical signs, body weight, food and water consumption, and organ weight as well as hematology, serum biochemistry, and histopathology data were examined. Body weight gain of the group treated with 500 mg/kg/day was significantly reduced. Microscopically, karyomegaly, single cell necrosis, and mitosis were observed in the renal tubular epithelium of all treated groups. In conclusion, P. japonica caused a reduction of body weight and renal injury in rats. The no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of P. japonica was less than 20 mg/kg/day.
Animals ; Biochemistry ; Body Weight ; Bombyx ; China ; Cordyceps ; Drinking ; Epithelium ; Fungi ; Hematology ; Japan ; Korea ; Medicine, Traditional ; Mitosis ; Necrosis ; No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level ; Organ Size ; Paecilomyces* ; Pupa ; Rats*

Erythema ab igne is a relatively uncommon skin lesion caused by chronic exposure to low levels of infrared heat from open fires or stoves, and is characterized by reticulated hyperpigmentation on the exposed skin. Recently, exposure to various 'new' heat sources, such as heated furniture, car heaters, or even laptop computers, has been reported to cause this condition. We present a case of 31-year-old Korean woman with reticulated hyperpigmentation on her feet, which had occurred due to bathing her feet in hot water on a daily basis.
Adult ; Baths* ; Erythema* ; Female ; Fires ; Foot* ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Interior Design and Furnishings ; Skin ; Water*

Cutaneous horn is a nonspecific clinical description and may arise from a variety of benign and malignant lesions. A 46-year-old Korean man presented with a 1-year history of an extensively hyperkeratotic nodule on his left foot. Following an initial diagnosis of dermatofibroma with underlying cutaneous horn by wedge biopsy, the tumor was completely removed by excision with 5 mm margin. When excisional surgery was performed, the size of the dermal tumor mass was found to be 1.3 cm in length on the axis and 0.6 cm in depth on section. On histopathologic examination, the tumor was characterized by spindle-shaped cells arranged in storiform pattern, epidermal hyperplasia, and an overlying compact hyperkeratotic mass. The tumor cells did not express CD34. Cutaneous horn of dermatofibroma may be the product of epidermis-dermal tumor interaction. Although we performed a wide excision for complete removal of the tumor, Mohs micrographic surgery could have been another option.
Animals ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Foot ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous* ; Horns* ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Middle Aged ; Mohs Surgery

Dermatofibroma is a common fibrohistiocytic tumor of the skin. It generally occurs as a solitary lesion. However, some cases of multiple dermatofibromas in immune-compromised patients or patients with abnormal immune status have been reported, hence this phenomenon has been thought to be associated with altered immunity. We present a case of multiple dermatofibromas which developed in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus, plus a review of the literature.
Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous* ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Skin

To investigate the effect of intrathecal fentanyl,36 ASA physieal status 1 or 2 parturients who underwent cesarean section with apinal anesthesis using 0.25% bupivacaine in 5.0% dextroae with 0.25mg morphine were studied. Patients were randomly allocated to receive either saline 0.2ml (group 1, n=17) or fentanyl 10ug(group 2, n=19) in 3.525ml volume mixed with the bupivacaine with morphine. Spinal anesthesia was performed in sitting position using a 25 guage spinal needle. At the completion of injection, patients immediately turned supine with left uterine diaplacement. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of the hypotension between groups. The progress of sensory and motor blocks was similar in the two groups. The times from drug injection ta the onset to maximal sensory blockade and complete motor blockade, complete recovery of sensation and motor power were not different between groups. post delivery,the incidence of visceral pain were significantly less in group 2, as 2 of 19 patients(10%) in group 2 compared to 8 of 17 patients(47%) in group 1(p< 0.05). The effective analgesia time was no significant different: 31.7+/-2.5 hour in group 1 compared to 28.6+/-5.6 hour in Group 2. The ineidence of patients not requiring narcotics until discharge was similar in two groups. No patient showed any evidence of respiratory depression. The incidence of other side effects,such as nausea,vomiting and pruritus was not different between groups. No neonate had an Apgar score below 7.
Analgesia ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Apgar Score ; Bupivacaine* ; Cesarean Section* ; Female ; Fentanyl* ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Morphine* ; Narcotics ; Needles ; Pregnancy ; Pruritus ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Sensation ; Visceral Pain

To investigate the effect of intrathecal fentanyl,36 ASA physieal status 1 or 2 parturients who underwent cesarean section with apinal anesthesis using 0.25% bupivacaine in 5.0% dextroae with 0.25mg morphine were studied. Patients were randomly allocated to receive either saline 0.2ml (group 1, n=17) or fentanyl 10ug(group 2, n=19) in 3.525ml volume mixed with the bupivacaine with morphine. Spinal anesthesia was performed in sitting position using a 25 guage spinal needle. At the completion of injection, patients immediately turned supine with left uterine diaplacement. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of the hypotension between groups. The progress of sensory and motor blocks was similar in the two groups. The times from drug injection ta the onset to maximal sensory blockade and complete motor blockade, complete recovery of sensation and motor power were not different between groups. post delivery,the incidence of visceral pain were significantly less in group 2, as 2 of 19 patients(10%) in group 2 compared to 8 of 17 patients(47%) in group 1(p< 0.05). The effective analgesia time was no significant different: 31.7+/-2.5 hour in group 1 compared to 28.6+/-5.6 hour in Group 2. The ineidence of patients not requiring narcotics until discharge was similar in two groups. No patient showed any evidence of respiratory depression. The incidence of other side effects,such as nausea,vomiting and pruritus was not different between groups. No neonate had an Apgar score below 7.
Analgesia ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Apgar Score ; Bupivacaine* ; Cesarean Section* ; Female ; Fentanyl* ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Morphine* ; Narcotics ; Needles ; Pregnancy ; Pruritus ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Sensation ; Visceral Pain

PURPOSE: Although the nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) is more commonly used because of relatively higher accuracy, the nasal swab (NS) is a less painful and easier method than NPA. A few recent reports have shown that NS is more effective than NPA for the detection of respiratory virus using immunofluorescence or viral culture. The objective of the present study was to compare the results of NPA and NS sampling specimens in children for respiratory viruses detection using multiplex RT-PCR. METHODS: From December 2008 to June 2009 Paired NPA and NS specimens were collected from 250 children admitted with symptoms of acute respiratory infections at the Department of Pediatrics, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Cheonan, Korea. The sensitivity and agreement of virus detection between NPA and NS using multiplex RT-PCR were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: The median age of the subjects was 1.3 years (range, 20 days to 16.5 years), and 228 patients (91.2%) were under the age of 5 years. The agreement of virus detection between NPA and NS was excellent (Cohen's kappa >0.8) for parainfluenza virus type 3 or substantial (0.6 to 0.8) for rhinovirus A, RSV A and RSV B, moderate (0.4 to 0.6) for adenovirus and metapneumovirus and poor (<0.4) for influenza A. The overall sensitivity of detection of respiratory viruses was significantly higher in NPA (0.96) than in NS (0.59, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: We recommend NPA may be more accurate specimen for detection of respiratory viruses in hospitalized children. NS might be used in limited cases at a office setting or for larger epidemiological studies. However, results obtained from NS for influenza virus type A, metapneumovirus and adenovirus, should be interpreted carefully.
Adenoviridae ; Child ; Child, Hospitalized ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Influenza, Human ; Korea ; Metapneumovirus ; Orthomyxoviridae ; Parainfluenza Virus 3, Human ; Pediatrics ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Rhinovirus ; Viruses

PURPOSE: Although the nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) is more commonly used because of relatively higher accuracy, the nasal swab (NS) is a less painful and easier method than NPA. A few recent reports have shown that NS is more effective than NPA for the detection of respiratory virus using immunofluorescence or viral culture. The objective of the present study was to compare the results of NPA and NS sampling specimens in children for respiratory viruses detection using multiplex RT-PCR. METHODS: From December 2008 to June 2009 Paired NPA and NS specimens were collected from 250 children admitted with symptoms of acute respiratory infections at the Department of Pediatrics, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Cheonan, Korea. The sensitivity and agreement of virus detection between NPA and NS using multiplex RT-PCR were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: The median age of the subjects was 1.3 years (range, 20 days to 16.5 years), and 228 patients (91.2%) were under the age of 5 years. The agreement of virus detection between NPA and NS was excellent (Cohen's kappa >0.8) for parainfluenza virus type 3 or substantial (0.6 to 0.8) for rhinovirus A, RSV A and RSV B, moderate (0.4 to 0.6) for adenovirus and metapneumovirus and poor (<0.4) for influenza A. The overall sensitivity of detection of respiratory viruses was significantly higher in NPA (0.96) than in NS (0.59, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: We recommend NPA may be more accurate specimen for detection of respiratory viruses in hospitalized children. NS might be used in limited cases at a office setting or for larger epidemiological studies. However, results obtained from NS for influenza virus type A, metapneumovirus and adenovirus, should be interpreted carefully.
Adenoviridae ; Child ; Child, Hospitalized ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Influenza, Human ; Korea ; Metapneumovirus ; Orthomyxoviridae ; Parainfluenza Virus 3, Human ; Pediatrics ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Rhinovirus ; Viruses