The investigation of the embryonic development of the cerebellum has a long history. The postnatal normal development of the cerebellum in rodents and other animals became a popular topic for morphological investigations nearly a century ago. However, surprisingly, only a few studies are available regarding the prenatal normal development of the rodent cerebellum, especially in guinea pigs. Cell proliferation is essential for the development of the nervous system. The assessment of cell proliferation can be achieved by using various methods. In this study, we investigated the cell proliferation of the cerebellar cortex in guinea pigs at different stages of pregnancy and in postnatal life. Fetuses were obtained by cesarean section at 50 or 60 days of gestation (dg). Immunohistochemistry was performed with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) antibody in the cerebellum. Strong PCNA immunoreactivity was observed in the external granular layer (EGL), which is a neurogenic zone in the cerebellum. The proportion of PCNA-IR cells was greater at 1 week than at 60 dg in lobule I, but not lobule VIII. After 50 dg, the width of the EGL continued to decline until 1 week, due to the maturation of the EGL cells. These results demonstrate the pattern of PCNA immunoreactivity in the developing cerebellum of guinea pigs. This serves as a guideline to study abnormal cerebellum development.
Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Cerebellar Cortex ; Cerebellum ; Cesarean Section ; Embryonic Development ; Female ; Fetus ; Guinea Pigs ; Guinea ; Immunohistochemistry ; Neocortex ; Nervous System ; Pregnancy ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Rodentia

Initially, acute loss of smell (anosmia) and taste (ageusia) was not considered important symptoms for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). To determine the prevalence of these symptoms and to evaluate their diagnostic significance, we (approximately 150 physicians of the Daegu Medical Association) prospectively collected data of cases of anosmia and ageusia from March 8, 2020, via telephone interview among 3,191 patients in Daegu, Korea. Acute anosmia or ageusia was observed in 15.3% (488/3,191) patients in the early stage of COVID-19 and in 15.7% (367/2,342) patients with asymptomatic-to-mild disease severity. Their prevalence was significantly more common among females and younger individuals (P = 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). Most patients with anosmia or ageusia recovered within 3 weeks. The median time to recovery was 7 days for both symptoms. Anosmia and ageusia seem to be part of important symptoms and clues for the diagnosis of COVID-19, particularly in the early stage of the disease.

Shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes) hold high nutritional and medicinal value as they con tain an abundance of health-promoting compounds. However, the effect of long-term post harvest storage on the variation in the levels of health-promoting compounds has not been extensively studied. In this study, we investigated the changes in the levels of phenolic com pounds, antioxidants, eritadenine, and ergothioneine in shiitake mushrooms stored at three different temperatures (1, 3, and 5℃ C) for 4 weeks. Compared to mushrooms stored at lower temperatures, those stored at 5℃ C exhibited a higher level of total phenolics in their pileus after 2 weeks of storage; however, storage at 5℃ C also increased the deterioration of the fruiting body of these mushrooms. In mushrooms stored at all temperatures, the eritadenine content in the pilei tended to increase up to 2 weeks of storage. In contrast, the ergothio neine content in the pileus decreased during storage, with a significantly lower level detected in mushrooms stored at 5℃ C for 4 weeks. Together, these results suggest that the mechanisms underlying the accumulation of phenolics and eritadenine may be related to mushroom deterioration during storage. Our findings indicate that the levels of health-pro moting compounds in shiitake mushrooms are influenced by storage temperature, suggest ing the potential to control adjustments of specific bioactive compounds by regulating storage conditions

INTRODUCION: Cardiovascular disease has the potential to lead to sudden in-flight incapacitation and permanent grounding. The aims of this study are to examine the relationships between lifestyle, job stress and blood lipid levels of male aircrew personnel of a Korean airline and to identify which factors influence their hyperlipidemia. METHODS: Two hundred sixteen male aircrew personnel completed a questionnaire by self-report and consented to participate in the study. The questionnaire collected data related to job stress, life style, serum cholesterol levels and general characteristics of the aircrew. The cholesterol levels of the subjects were collected from their most recent health check-up records. Subjects were divided into two groups (the desirable group and the risk group) based on their serum cholesterol level, 200 mg/dl. RESULTS: Mean age and marital status were significantly different between the two groups. More subjects in the risk group had habits of eating high lipid foods, while more subjects in the desirable group exercised more frequently than the risk group. In logistic regression analysis, after controlling age and marital status, types of working situation (domestic duty or international duty, odds ratio=.390, p=.018), diet (odds ratio=.429, p=.037), and exercise (odds ratio=.320, p=.055) were influencing factors on aircrew's serum cholesterol levels. CONCLUSIONS: The cholesterol level of aircrew personnel is closely related to their lifestyle, such as lipid diet and exercise. The type of work situations, e.g. staying in an airplane for long periods of time or staying abroad, may influence these diet patterns and exercise habits.
Stress, Psychological/*physiopathology ; Risk Factors ; Occupational Diseases/*physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Logistic Models ; *Life Style ; Korea/epidemiology ; Hyperlipidemias/epidemiology/etiology/*prevention & control ; Humans ; Cholesterol/blood ; Aerospace Medicine ; Adult

PURPOSE: To obtain basic information for studies of female sexual dysfunction, we investigated the sexual activities and attitudes of young Korean women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a questionnaire survey via the Internet. From July 2004 to August 2004, we sent e-mail to 43,000 women who registered with an internet research company. The recipients of the e-mail were asked to join our study if they had stable sexual activities more than once a month for the most recent 6 months. RESULTS: A total of 508 subjects completed the questionnaire, a response rate of 24.7%. Among 423 questionnaires analyzed, 176 women were single and 247 were married. The mean frequency of coitus per month was 5.5 3.9. About 40% of the women had experienced masturbation, and 112 women (26.5%) had masturbated regularly, even though they had stable sexual activities with their partner(s). Among the 423 subjects, 349 had no plan to have a baby; however, only 287 subjects (67.8%) had used a contraceptive method(s). Among those who used contraceptive methods, 183 subjects (63.8%) used methods with low success rates, such as menstrual timing or extra-vaginal ejaculation. Most of the women answered that they have a positive attitude toward sex (3.4 0.8 point on a 5 point scale) and their sex life has great importance in their life. CONCLUSIONS: Via an Internet survey, we investigated the sexual life and attitudes of young Korean women. An Internet survey requires less manpower, a shorter study period, and less research funds than classical survey methods such as mail or interview surveys. The study results obtained will be useful as basic data for studies of female sexual function in Korean women.
Coitus ; Contraception ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Ejaculation ; Electronic Mail ; Female ; Financial Management ; Humans ; Internet* ; Male ; Masturbation ; Postal Service ; Sexual Behavior

Architectural changes in healthy muscle after denervation have not yet been reported. This study aimed to investigate architectural changes in the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle (GCM) after aesthetic tibial nerve ablation in healthy adults using ultrasonography (US). The effects of tibial nerve ablation were verified by visual observation and surface electromyography analysis. US images of medial GCMs were taken by one trained physician using B-mode and real-time US with a linear-array probe before nerve ablation, at 1 week after nerve ablation and at 3 months after nerve ablation in an anatomic standing position with the feet about shoulder-width apart in 19 healthy adults (17 females and 2 males). Muscle thickness was significantly reduced on the left side at 1 week and 3 months after the procedure and on the right side at 3 months after the procedure (p<0.050). Although fascicle length was not significantly changed, pennation angle was significantly reduced on both sides at 3 months after the procedure (p<0.050). Muscle thickness and pennation angle of the muscle fascicle were significantly reduced, although fascicle length was not significantly changed, after tibial nerve ablation in the medial GCM of healthy adults.
Adult ; Denervation ; Electromyography ; Female ; Foot ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Head ; Humans ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Posture ; Tibial Nerve ; Ultrasonography

Arytenoid cartilage dislocation is one of the most common mechanical causes of vocal fold immobility. The most common etiologies are intubation and external trauma, but its incidence is lower than 0.1%. Its symptoms include dysphonia, vocal fatigue, loss of vocal control, breathiness, odynophagia, dysphagia, dyspnea, and cough. Although there are some reports of arytenoid cartilage dislocation in adults, there are only few reports on its occurrence in children. It is particularly difficult to detect the symptoms of arytenoid cartilage dislocation in uncooperative pediatric patients with brain lesions without verbal output or voluntary expression. We report a case of arytenoid cartilage dislocation with incidental findings in a videofluoroscopic swallowing study performed to evaluate the swallowing function.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although the role of capsule endoscopy (CE) in Crohn's disease (CD) has expanded, CE is not used routinely for diagnosing and evaluating CD in Korea. We aimed to investigate current patterns of practice and evaluate the clinical significance of the use of CE in CD in Korean patients. METHODS: Among 651 CE procedures performed for various indications, we retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients who underwent CE in 57 cases of suspected CD (sCD) and 14 cases of established CD (eCD). RESULTS: In the sCD group, CE was most commonly used for the initial diagnosis of CD (54.4%). Capsule retention was found in only 1 patient in the eCD group (1/71, 1.4%). In the sCD group, 28.1% of patients were diagnosed with CD on the basis of CE findings; other diseases diagnosed included tuberculous enteritis (7.0%), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced enteropathy (5.3%), and other enteritis (17.5%). Only 11.5% of patients with eCD (14/122) underwent CE. The indication for CE in the 14 patients with eCD was to assess disease extent and activity. The overall diagnostic yield of CE was 59.7%. Therapeutic strategies were changed in 70.2% of patients in the sCD group and 50% of those in the eCD group based on CE findings. CONCLUSIONS: In clinical practice, CE was most commonly indicated for the initial diagnosis of CD and was not generally performed in patients with eCD. CE appears to be an effective diagnostic modality for evaluating sCD and is useful for determining therapeutic strategies for patients with sCD and those with eCD.
Capsule Endoscopy* ; Crohn Disease* ; Diagnosis ; Enteritis ; Humans ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies

Purpose: Smoking cessation intervention is one of the key components of successful lung cancer screening program. We investigated the effectiveness and related factors of smoking cessation services provided to the participants in a population-based lung cancer screening trial. Materials and Methods: The Korean Lung Cancer Screening Project (K-LUCAS) is a nationwide, multi-center lung cancer screening trial that evaluates the feasibility of implementing population-based lung cancer screening. All 5,144 current smokers who participated in the K-LUCAS received a mandatory smoking cessation counseling. Changes in smoking status were followed up using a telephone survey in 6 months after lung cancer screening participation. The lung cancer screening’s impact on smoking cessation is analyzed by variations in the smoking cessation interventions provided in screening units. Results: Among 4,136 survey responders, participant’s motivation to quit smoking increased by 9.4% on average after lung cancer screening. After 6 months from the initial screening, 24.3% of participants stopped smoking, and 10.6% of participants had not smoked continuously for at least 6 months after screening. Over 80% of quitters stated that participation in lung cancer screening motivated them to quit smoking. Low-cost public smoking cessation program combined with lung cancer screening increased the abstinence rates. The smokers were three times more likely to quit smoking when the smoking cessation counseling was provided simultaneously with low-dose computed tomography screening results than when provided separately. Conclusion A mandatory smoking cessation intervention integrated with screening result counselling by a physician after participation in lung cancer screening could be effective for increasing smoking cessation attempts.

Radiation is the most useful treatment modality for cancer patients. It initiates a series of signal cascades such as DNA damage response (DDR) signaling for repairing damaged DNA, arresting the cell cycle, and inducing cell death. Until now, few genes have been found to be regulated by radiation, which explains the molecular mechanisms of cellular responses to radiation. Although the transcriptional changes caused by radiation have been widely investigated, little is known about the direct evidence for the transcriptional control of DDR-related genes. Here, we examined the radiosensitivity of two non-small cell lung cancer cell lines (H460 and H1299), which have different p53 status. We monitored the time-dependent changes of 24 DDR-related gene expressions via microarray analysis. Based on the basal expression levels and temporal patterns, we further classified 24 DDR-related genes into four subgroups. Then, we also addressed the protein levels of several DDR-related genes such as TopBP1, Chk1 and Chk2, confirming the results of microarray analysis. Together, these results indicate that the expression patterns of DDR-related genes are associated with radiosensitivity and with the p53 statuses of H460 and H1299, which adds to the understanding of the complex biological responses to radiation.
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/genetics ; Cell Cycle Proteins/genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival/radiation effects ; DNA Damage/*radiation effects ; DNA Repair Enzymes/genetics ; DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/*radiation effects ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Radiation Tolerance/genetics ; Signal Transduction