OBJECTIVES: REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) has received little attention in epidemiologic studies. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of probable REM sleep behavior disorder (pRBD) in the elderly population and its clinical features. METHODS: A random sample of 1,588 was selected from a roster of 14,050 elderly population living in Osan city. The subjects were asked to fill out the REM sleep behavior disorder screening questionnaire (RBDSQ). Subjects whose score were 5 or higher on RBDSQ underwent a diagnostic phase of person-to-person assessment by experts in RBD. RESULTS: Among 1,588 subjects, 886 elderly subjects participated in the screening phase and 123 subjects were assessed in the diagnostic phase. Eleven subjects were diagnosed as having pRBD, so prevalence was 1.5% (95% CI=0.70-2.30%). The frequency of depression and cognitive decline was significantly increased in patients with pRBD compared to subjects without pRBD, and there was no difference in sleep disturbances between two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Probable REM sleep behavior disorder is not rare in the elderly but frequently under-recognized. More attention should be paid to evaluation and treatment of RBD.
Aged ; Depression ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; REM Sleep Behavior Disorder ; Sleep, REM

BACKGROUND: Recent advance in tissue engineering in the biomedical field shed light on the replacement or regeneration of various organs with synthetic substitutes. Currently emerging cartilage tissue engineering therapies involve artificial cartilage fabricated from three dimensional cultures using appro-priate scaffolds. It is mandatory to expand or proliferate the chondrocytes in vitro to prepare the artificial cartilage. The purpose of this study was to find out the most favorable culture conditions for chon-drocyte viability in vitro. METHODS: Articulr chondrocytes or cartilage explants were isolated from the patellofemoral groove of adult pigs. And then we standardized the size and thickness of the cartilage explants as well as preparing alginate-chondrocyte beads for three-dimensional cultures. The cartilage explants, including 10% fetal bovine serum for 10 days, 36 days and passage 6. Cellualr viability was measured by methylthiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay on monolayer, alginate bead and cartilage explant. SPSS 11.5 was used for data anaylsis. RESULTS: Chondrocytes cultured on monolayers in vitro showed no significant difference in cellular viability until passage 6 following isolation from the patellofemoral groove of adult pigs (P>0.05, n=4). Chondrocyte viability was markedly increased by day 16 both in the monolayer (148%) and three dimensional cultures (245%), and then slightly decreased 126% and 200%, respectively, at day 36. Three dimensional cultures using alginate bead were more favorable for chodrocyte viability than monolayer culture in chondrocyte primary culture (P=0.003, n=6). Chondrocyte viability in the algi-nate bead was increased 300% during 36 days' incubation period (P=0.001, n=3). Cellular viability in the cartilage explant culture was decreased after day 4 in both MTT score (P=0.022, n=10) and MTT OD (P=0.039, n=10). CONCLUSIONS: Three dimensional cultures using alginate bead were the most favorable for chon-drocyte viability in chondrocyte primary cultures.
Adult ; Cartilage ; Cartilage, Articular* ; Chondrocytes* ; Humans ; Regeneration ; Swine ; Tissue Engineering

Overlap syndrome is used to describe patients who have two or more well-defined connective tissue diseases. Although a variety of overlap syndromes are now recognized, the coexistence of the progression of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is uncommon. We describe a patient who had typical deforming polyarthritis, who years later developed SLE.
Arthritis ; Arthritis, Juvenile* ; Connective Tissue Diseases ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic*

BACKGROUND: Near-infrared light (NIR, 0.8-1.5 micrometer light) has been used in therapeutic devices for various injuries such as infected, ischemic and hypoxic wound. NIR-emitting technology has been developed recently in Korea. We hypothesized that NIR may have an anti-inflammatory effect and investigated the effect of NIR-irradiated media on cell culture. METHODS: Three kinds of cell lines, CAPE (vascular endothelial cell), NIH3T3 (fibroblast), and RD (smooth muscle cell) cells were cultured for 4 days in 10% FBS-containing media (1x10(4) cells/well), which were irradiated or not irradiated (control) by Eco-NFIR Drive (Model #0210, Ecowavetech, Korea). The cells were stimulated by 10 mcg/mL of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Cellular proliferation was measured by methylthiazol tetrazolium assay. Expression of interleukin (IL)-1 beta and nitric oxide was measured by ELISA. Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was measured by immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: NIR-irradiated medium was favorable for CAPE cell proliferation (N=8, P=0.000). IL-1 beta secretion from LPS-stimulated NIH3T3 cells incubated in the NIR medium was below that of control medium (N=4, P=0.026). Nitrate production seemed to be low in NIR-irradiated medium although statistically insignificant (N=4, P=0.076). Expression of iNOS of the LPS-stimulated cells was decreased in NIR medium, however, Cox-2 expression was not different between the two media. CONCLUSIONS: NIR-irradiated medium supported vascular endothelial cell proliferation and showed an anti-inflammatory effect on fibroblast culture. These results can be used as basic data for future research on the clinical application of NIR.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/*chemistry ; Cattle ; Cell Line ; *Culture Media ; Cyclooxygenase 2/metabolism ; Humans ; *Infrared Rays ; Interleukin-1beta/metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/metabolism

PURPOSE: Synthetic absorbable monofilaments offer excellent glide characteristics and cause minimal tissue trauma as a result of their smooth monofilament structure and gradual absorption within the healing tissues. For these reasons, these suture materials are commonly used in various surgical fields such as gastroenterology, urology, gynecology, and plastic surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and usefulness of a new synthetic absorbable monofilament, Glycoside-epsilon-caprolactone-trimethylene carbonate interpolymer (GCT), in gastrointestinal anastomosis and closure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 55 gastrointestinal anastomoses and closures using GCT (MONOSYNR, B. Braun, Germany) in 47 patients who underwent gastric surgery between December 2001 and May 2002 at Seoul National University Hospital. Patient's characteristics, operative procedure, surgeon's opinion of handling properties of GCT, and suture-related complications were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 34 males and 13 females (M:F= 2.6:1) with an average age of 54.2 years old. Forty-five cases of gastrointestinal anastomosis (20 gastrojejunostomies and 25 jejunojejunostomies) and 10 cases of intestinal closure (7 gastrostomy closures and 3 duodenal stump closures) were performed in 41 cases of stomach cancer, three of peptic ulcer disease, two of GIST, and one MALToma. The handling properties of GCT according to the criteria of knot breaking load, knot security, and placing property were always scored with 7 to 9 points (10=excellent, 1=very poor). Two cases of postoperative complications (3.6%) were noted. One was a leak of the gastrojejunostomy site which was successfully managed conservatively, and the other was a stricture of the gastrojejunostomy site which was managed by reoperation (side-to-side jejunojejunostomy). CONCLUSION: GCT seems to be an applicable suture material for various gastrointestinal anastomoses and closures.
Absorption ; Carbon* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Female ; Gastric Bypass ; Gastroenterology ; Gastrostomy ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Male ; Peptic Ulcer ; Postoperative Complications ; Reoperation ; Seoul ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Surgery, Plastic ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Sutures ; Urology

Abscess ; Adolescent ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Classification ; Colonic Diseases ; Crohn Disease ; Diagnosis ; Europe ; Fistula ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Korea ; Male ; Pediatrics ; Phenotype ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: This study was performed to investigate the relationship between cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and apoptosis/angiogenesis in inflammatory and noninflammatory benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (PC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study involved 64 BPH and 57 PC patients. The BPH histopathologies were classified by the presence of chronic inflammation as follows: noninflammatory BPH (NI-BPH; n=23) and inflammatory BPH (I-BPH; n=41). The association between the expression of COX-2, expression of Bcl-2, the apoptotic index (AI), expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and microvascular density (MVD) in the prostate was investigated. RESULTS: An overexpression of COX-2, Bcl-2, and VEGF was observed in cases of PC compared with cases of BPH. In PC, the AI was lower and MVD was higher than in BPH. In NI-BPH, I-BPH, and PC, the overexpression of COX-2, Bcl-2, and VEGF gradually increased. The AI was high in I-BPH, but did not differ significantly between the NI-BPH and I-BPH groups or between the NI-BPH and PC groups. MVD was significantly high in PC, but no significant difference was found between NI-BPH and I-BPH. A significant correlation was shown between the overexpression of COX-2 and Bcl-2, and COX-2 and VEGF. However, the AI was not correlated with the overexpression of COX-2 or Bcl-2. MVD was correlated with the overexpression of COX-2 and VEGF. CONCLUSIONS: COX-2 overexpression in PC is correlated with a decrease in apoptosis and an increase in angiogenesis. Chronic inflammation in BPH causes an overexpression of COX-2, which induces the increased expression of Bcl-2 and VEGF. It is likely that chronic inflammation plays a role in the intermediate step of carcinogenesis in the prostate.
Apoptosis ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

BACKGROUND: The overall rate of renal complications after surgery on the suprarenal aorta remains high. Possible mechanisms are, a reduction and maldistribution of renal blood flow, activation of the renin-angiotensin system, and the release of various mediators. In this study, changes in renal blood flow, local renal perfusion, the oxygen extraction ratio, and in renal function by furosemide following supraceliac aortic cross clamping and unclamping were observed. METHODS: A total of 13 mongrel dogs were divided into two groups; a control group (n = 7), and a furosemide group (n = 6). For aortic cross clamping the supraceliac aorta was exposed and a doppler flowmeter probe was placed on the left renal artery. A thermal diffusion microprobe was also inserted in the renal parenchyme to measure local renal perfusion. Sixty minutes after aortic cross clamping, systemic hemodynamic data, renal blood flow, and local renal perfusion were measured. These parameters were also repeatedly measured at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 hours after unclamping. Biomarkers of renal dysfunction and injury (renin activity, creatinine, and Cystatin-C) were measured. RESULTS: No differences were observed between the two groups in terms of renal blood flow, local renal perfusion, and oxygen extraction ratio. Renal blood flow and perfusion did not recover to the baseline level after unclamping in either group. Plasma renin activity significantly reduced in the furosemide group 3 hours after clamping, but serum creatinine, and Cystatin-C concentrations were similar in the tow groups. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the administration of furosemide after supraceliac aortic unclamping to improve renal function is not effective in experimental dogs.
Animals ; Aorta ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Biomarkers ; Constriction* ; Creatinine ; Dogs* ; Flowmeters ; Furosemide* ; Hemodynamics ; Oxygen ; Perfusion ; Plasma ; Renal Artery ; Renal Circulation ; Renin ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; Thermal Diffusion

BACKGROUND: The analysis of ACE gene expression in vital to study the role of angiotensin conveting enzyme(ACE) in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. Traditionally, levels of individual mRNA expression have been analyzed by semiquantitative Northern blotting, which requires a large quantity of tissue. Therefore, gene expression of a little biopsy specimen from the human heart or atherectomy specimen from the blood vessel cannot be measured easily. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) is very effective, sensitive and rapid method of detecting the method of quantitative RT-PCR(QRT-PCR) using recombinant RNA template as internal standard to measure the expression of ACE. METHOD: Recombinant RNA(rcRNA) was designed to yield PCR product which differs in size by about 200bp from that of the target RNA. Initially, spacer gene, which was composed of ACE sense primer, antisense primer, T7 promotor and poly(dT) tail with glutathione transferase(GSTM) gene of 180bp in the middle, was constructed. Then, standard rcRNA was obtained by in vitro transcription. Target RNA was mixed with rcRNA and amplified by PCR, togather with P-dCTP. PCR products were analyzed by gel electrophoresis. For quantitation, either gel was cut and radioactivity was counted or gel was dried and exposed to X-ray film and density was measured using image densitometer. We carried out semiquantitative RT-PCR to study the modulation of ACE expression in vascular smooth muscle cell(VSMC) by dexamethasone and basis FGF(bFGF). RESULT: The size difference of PCR products from the standard RNA and the extracted target RNA was matched as designed. By using QRT-PCR, there was 1.7*10(8) ACE mRNA molecules in 1 ng of rat lung total RNA. bFGF and dexamethasone upregulated ACE mRNA expression in cultured VSMC. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that RT-PCR using rcRNA as internal standard is a very useful method for quantitation or semiquantitation of ACE mRNA from a small amount of tissue or cultured cells. Expression of ACE in VSMC can be modulated by various stimuli such as basic FGF and dexamethasone. QRT-PCR could be widely used in the studies of expression of specific human genes.
Angiotensins* ; Animals ; Atherectomy ; Biopsy ; Blood Vessels ; Blotting, Northern ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cells, Cultured ; Dexamethasone ; Electrophoresis ; Gene Expression ; Glutathione ; Heart ; Humans ; Lung ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Radioactivity ; Rats ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger* ; X-Ray Film

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that all components of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) are present in the vascular wall and that the vascular RAAS modulates vascular tone and vascular hypertrophy. One of the catalytic step in the RAAS cascade is the local conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II (Ang II) by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE). One of the major sources of ACE in the vasculature is vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). Here, we provide insight into the intrinsic mechanisms by which the components of RAAS regulate gene expression of ACE in cultured smooth muscle cells of the rat and we also investigated the effects of cytokines on ACE mRNA. METHODS: RNA was extracted from the primary cultured VSMCs. We analyzed the expression levels of ACE by competitive reverse transcription-PCR using recombinant RNA as an internal standard. RESULTS: 1) ACE mRNA level was increased markedly by aldosterone in a dose- and time-dependent manner, indicating that there exists positive feedback mechanism within RAAS. 2) The induction of ACE mRNA by aldosterone was inhibited by spironolactone. 3) Aldosterone-stimulated expression of ACE was also inhibited by Ang II, which shows that Ang II acts as a negative regulator of the expression of ACE in RAAS cascade. 4) Interleukin-1beta or TNF-alpha did not induce ACE mRNA expression. 5) However, mixture of interleukin-1betaand TNF-alpha(CytoMix) significantly increased the expression of ACE. It was also shown that CytoMix increased aldosterone-stimulated ACE mRNA expression in an additative manner. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the expression of ACE in smooth muscle cells is modulated by the components of RAAS and cytokines. The intrinsic positive and negative feedback controls of RAAS would play an important role in the pathogenesis of vascular diseases.
Aldosterone* ; Angiotensin I ; Angiotensin II ; Angiotensins* ; Animals ; Cytokines* ; Gene Expression ; Hypertrophy ; Interleukin-1beta ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular* ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A* ; Rats ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Spironolactone ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha* ; Vascular Diseases