Due to the great deal of effort that has gone into the study of osteoclastic differentiation and activation over the last few decades, the mechanisms of these two events have been discovered gradually. Nitric oxide(NO-), which is produced from arginine by a nitric oxide synthase, opened up a new area of biological research. Recently, it has been reported that NO- is produced by osteoblasts stimulated by lipopolysaccharide and several other cytokines. In this study, the effect of sodium nitroprusside(SNP), a donor of nitric oxide(NO-), on osteoclast-like cell formation and on mature osteoclast function was examined. To determine the mechanism of the inhibitory effects of SNP decreased not only the basal 45Ca release but also thee bone resorption induced by PTH and l,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (I ,25[OH]2D3). The inhibitory effect of SNP on bone resorption induced by PTH appeared 2 days after treatment, whereas SNP effect on inhibiting bone resorption induced by l,25[OH]2D3 appeared at the third days. When chicken and rat osteoclasts were cultured on dentin slices, treatment of 300micronM SNP resulted in a significant decrease in dentin resorption by osteoclasts in terms of total resorption area and average individual area. We also examined the effect of SNP on formation of osteoclast-like cells that is TRAP-positive multinucleated cells from chicken and rat bone marrow cells in the presence or absence of 10(-8)M l,25[OH]2D3. The addition of 300 micronM SNP inhibited the formation of TRAP-positive multinucleated cells. The present data suggest that SNP, possibly as a NO- donor, inhibits the osteoclastic differentiation and osteoclastic activity.
Animals ; Arginine ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Bone Resorption ; Chickens ; Cytokines ; Dentin ; Humans ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitroprusside* ; Osteoblasts ; Osteoclasts* ; Rats ; Sodium* ; Tissue Donors

The present study was performed to investigate the role catecholamine in the genesis of reperfusion injury of ischemic heart. The possible involvement of catecholamine in the xanthine oxidase-linked production of oxygen free radicals was studied. langendorff preparations of rat hearts were made ischemic for 60 min followed by reperfusion. Upon reperfusion norepinephrine(NE) was significantly released into the coronary effluent regardless of oxygenation of the perfusion solution. Both the increased releases of creatine phosphokinase(CPK) and malondialdehyde(MDA) and the production of superoxide anion in the ischemic-reperfused hearts were significantly reduced by the treatment with either reserpine, a catecholamine depletor, or propranolol, a beta-adrenergic receptor blocker. In the reserpinized hearts, infusion of exogenous NE reversed the releases of CPK and MDA and the superoxide anion production to the original higher levels. The releases of CPK and MDA as well as the production of superoxide anion induced by NE in the reserpinized hearts were significantly depressed either by allopurinol, a specific competitive inhibior of xanthine oxidase(XOD), or by the calcium removal from the perfusion solution. Compared with the XOD activity of control ischemic hearts, that of the hearts treated with reserpine or propranolol showed lower activity in the oxygen radical producing 0-form and higher activity in D/0-form. In the reserpinized ischemic hearts, infusion of exogenous NE increased 0-form, but decreased D/0-form of XOD. The changes in XOD activities induced by exogenous NE was prevented by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride(a serine protease inhibitor) and pimoxide(a calmodulin inhibitor) as well as by calcium removal from the perfusion solution. It is suggested from the results that in the inchemic-reperfused heart of rat catecholamine participates in D/0 to 0-form conversion of XOD by promoting the calcium-calmodulin-dependent proteolysis and plays a contributing role in the production of oxygen free radical.
Allopurinol ; Animals ; Calcium ; Calmodulin ; Creatine ; Free Radicals ; Heart* ; Oxygen ; Perfusion ; Propranolol ; Proteolysis ; Rats* ; Reperfusion Injury* ; Reperfusion* ; Reserpine ; Serine Proteases ; Superoxides ; Xanthine Oxidase* ; Xanthine*

No abstract available.
Cytomegalovirus* ; DNA* ; Glomerulonephritis* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction*

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of nasogastric tube on swallowing function in stroke patients with dysphagia. METHOD: Twelve stroke patients with dysphagia were included in this study. We evaluated the Functional Dysphagia Scale using videofluoroscopic swallowing study. Swallowing tasks were composed of swallowing 5 cc of thick food and same volume of fluid on nasogastric tube insertion state and then nasogastric tube removal state. RESULTS: As the result of measuring oral phase score before and after removing nasogastric tube, all of 12 patients showed no significant difference. There was statistically significant increase in score of residue in piriform sinuses on thick food swallowing after removing nasogastric tube (p<0.05). After removing nasogastric tube, aspiration was decreased on fluid swallowing in cases of 2 patients, while aspiration on thick food swallowing was increased in cases of 2 patients, compared with nasogastic tube insertion state. CONCLUSION: As the result of this study, the stroke patients with dysphagia on nasogastric tube were increased on fluid aspiration due to rapid descending and inhibition of epiglottic closure compared with the removal state of nasogastric tube. And there was significant increased in scores of residue in piriform sinuses on thick food swallowing and aspiration pneumonia after removing nasogastric tube.
Deglutition Disorders* ; Deglutition* ; Humans ; Pneumonia, Aspiration ; Pyriform Sinus ; Stroke*

BACKGROUND: It is important to evaluate the patient presenting with non-traumatic chest pain in emergency department, and it is also difficult to classify appropriately. The purpose of this study is to predict probability of acute myocardial infarction(AMI) and assess the group for low probability of AMI that is target for observation-unit of chest pain in emergency department. METHODS: A prospective, clinical study was performed from March 1998 to August 1998 at the department of emergency medicine, Ewha Womans University Mokdong hospital. We classified high-probability group and low-probability group of AMI according to Goldman's algorithm and then compared with the final diagnosis. RESULTS: The study included 218 patients. 84 patients(39%) was the high-probability group and 134 patients(61%) was the low-probability group of AMI. As compared with final diagnosis, AMI was 47 patients(56%) among the high-probability group and 1 patient(0.7%) among the low-probability group. We observed sensitivity of 98%, specificity of 78% in predicting AMI. CONCLUSION: The classification according to Goldman's algorithm may be useful predictor of AMI and improve triage for emergency department patient with chest pain. It is also helpful for management of observation-unit of chest pain in emergency department.
Chest Pain* ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Medicine ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Female ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thorax* ; Triage

Acanthamoeba spp. are single-celled protozoan organisms that are widely distributed in the environment. In this study, to understand functional roles of a mannose-binding protein (MBP), Acanthamoeba castellanii was treated with methyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside (mannose), and adhesion and cytotoxicity of the amoeba were analyzed. In addition, to understand the association of MBP for amoeba phagocytosis, phagocytosis assay was analyzed using non-pathogenic bacterium, Escherichia coli K12. Amoebae treated with mannose for 20 cycles exhibited larger vacuoles occupying the most area of the amoebic cytoplasm in comparison with the control group amoebae and glucose-treated amoebae. Mannose-selected amoebae exhibited lower levels of binding to Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Exogenous mannose inhibited >50% inhibition of amoebae (control group) binding to CHO cells. Moreover, exogenous mannose inhibited amoebae (i.e., man-treated) binding to CHO cells by <15%. Mannose-selected amoebae exhibited significantly decreased cytotoxicity to CHO cells compared with the control group amoebae, 25.1% vs 92.1%. In phagocytic assay, mannose-selected amoebae exhibited significant decreases in bacterial uptake in comparison with the control group, 0.019% vs 0.03% (P<0.05). Taken together, it is suggested that mannose-selected A. castellanii trophozoites should be severely damaged and do not well interact with a target cell via a lectin of MBP.
Acanthamoeba castellanii/drug effects/metabolism/*pathogenicity ; Amebiasis/*parasitology ; Animals ; CHO Cells ; Cell Adhesion/drug effects ; Cell Survival ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Escherichia coli K12/metabolism ; Female ; Mannose/*pharmacology ; Mannose-Binding Lectin/*metabolism ; Phagocytosis ; Protozoan Proteins/metabolism

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to examine differences in depression and smartphone addiction among four styles of perceived parenting, and determine whether the perceptions of paternal and maternal parenting are associated with depression and smartphone addiction among college students. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive correlational design was used. A convenience sample of 378 undergraduate students responded to the survey. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression with IBM SPSS statistics version 21. RESULTS: Levels of depression and smartphone addiction were significantly different according to the four styles of perceived parenting (optimal parenting, affectionate constraint parenting, affectionless control parenting, and neglectful parenting). Scores of depression and smartphone addiction in the group with perceived affectionless control parenting were higher than those in the other groups. In a regression model, maternal care and paternal overprotection were significantly associated with depression. Also, maternal overprotection was the only significant predictor of smartphone addiction. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that students who perceive that both fathers and mothers are low in care, warmth, and support; but high in overprotection, control and intrusiveness are vulnerable to depression and smartphone addiction. Targeted interventions to change and reframe students' perception of paternal and maternal parenting in a positive way may reduce their depression and smartphone addiction.
Smartphone ; Depression* ; Fathers ; Humans ; Mothers ; Parenting* ; Parents* ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between satisfaction in major, career decision-making self-efficacy and career identity of nursing students. METHODS: Data were collected from 543 students by means of self reported questionnaires about satisfaction in major, career decision-making self-efficacy and career identity from November 26 to 30, 2012. RESULTS: The average score of satisfaction in major, career decision-making self-efficacy and career identity of nursing students was 3.56 on a 5 point-scale, 3.28 on a 5 point-scale, and 2.65 on a 4 point-scale respectively. There were significant correlation between satisfaction in major, career decision-making self-efficacy and career identity of nursing students. Career identity could be explained 26.2% by satisfaction in major, career decision-making self-efficacy, admission motivation, and school grade. CONCLUSION: Career identity was correlated with satisfaction in major and career decision-making self-efficacy in nursing students. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an effective intervention program to improve nursing students's satisfaction in major, career decision-making self-efficacy and career identity.
Humans ; Motivation ; Nursing ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Self Report ; Students, Nursing*

No abstract available.
Ligaments* ; Patella* ; Patellar Ligament* ; Posterior Cruciate Ligament*

Severe irradiation on head may result functional alterations of central nervous system. In this study, the irradiation effect on the cerebellar cortex following heavy X-irradiation on head was studied ultrastructurally. Radiation was produced with the linear accelerator ML-4MV[Mitshubishi Co.], and rats weighing about 200gm each were exposed their heads within the radiation areas of 30cm x 30cm, under the radiation distance of 80cm, and with the radiation depth of 1.2 cm. Radiation doses were 3,000rads or 6,000rads, respectively. Animals were sacrificed on 6 hours, 2 days or 6 days following the radiation. Under anesthesia, animals were perfused with 1% glutaraldehyde-1% paraformaldehyde solution. Two hours after the perfusion, brain were taken out and refixed over night in the perfusion fixative. Small blocks of cerebellar hemispheric cortices were refixed 2 hours in 2% osmium tetroxide solution. Fixed tissues were dehydrated in alcohol, embedded in araldite mixture, and cut with ultratome. Ultrathin sections were contrasted with uranyl acetate and lead citrate solutions, and observed with electron microscope. The results obstained were as follow : 1. On 6th hour following X-irradiations, many cerebellar cortical neurons showed increased electron densities, more complicated nuclear infoldings, depletion of synaptic vesicles, expansion of astroglial territories, etc. 2. On 2nd day following X-irradiations, many organelle-rich cells such as Purkinje cells and Golgi cells were darkly degenerated. Numerous myelin figures formed by the cisternal fusions of Golgi apparatus or granular endoplasmic reticula were observed. Cytoplasmic processes of activated astroglial cells were expanded around capillaries and between granule cells. 3. On 6th day following X-irradiations, morphology of neuropil and neurones in the cerebellar cortex was generally restored, except the expanded territories of astroglial cells. From the above results, it was concluded that the release ofneurotransmitters and transcapillary leakage of blood substance were occurred on 6 hours after heavy X-irradiations. And severe alterations were produced on 2 day after X-irradiation, but the condition was generally restored on 6th day following X-irradiation.
Anesthesia ; Animals ; Brain ; Capillaries ; Central Nervous System ; Cerebellar Cortex* ; Citric Acid ; Cytoplasm ; Golgi Apparatus ; Head ; Myelin Sheath ; Neurons ; Neuropil ; Osmium Tetroxide ; Particle Accelerators ; Perfusion ; Purkinje Cells ; Radiation Effects* ; Rats* ; Synaptic Vesicles