PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of estrogen on the expression of calcium-activated potassium (KCa) channels in an overactive bladder rat model. To this end, mRNA and protein levels of KCa channel subtypes in the bladder of ovariectomized rats were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively. METHODS: Ten-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into 3 groups: sham-operated control group (n=11), ovariectomy group (n=11), and the group treated with estrogen after ovariectomy (n=12). Rats in the last group were subcutaneously injected with 17β-estradiol (50 µg/kg) every other day for 2 weeks, whereas rats in the other 2 groups received vehicle (soybean oil) alone. Two weeks after treatment, the whole bladder was excised for mRNA and protein measurements. RESULTS: Protein levels of the large-conductance KCa (BK) channels in the ovariectomy group were 1.5 folds higher than those in the sham-operated control group. However, the protein levels of the other KCa channel subtypes did not change significantly upon bilateral ovariectomy. Treatment with 17β-estradiol after ovariectomy restored BK channel protein levels to the control value. In contrast, BK channel mRNA levels were not significantly affected by either ovariectomy alone or 17β-estradiol treatment. The small-conductance KCa type 3 channel (SK3) mRNA and protein levels decreased to 75% of control levels upon 17β-estradiol treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that 17β-estradiol may influence urinary bladder function by modulating BK and SK3 channel expression.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Estrogens ; Female ; Humans ; Models, Animal ; Ovariectomy ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Potassium ; Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA, Messenger ; Urinary Bladder* ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive

No abstract available.
Emergencies* ; Humans ; Prospective Studies*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Cricetinae* ; Mice*

No abstract available.
Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome*

This study was aimed to elucidate the relationship between combinations of treadmill speed-grade and oxygen consumption(Vo2). Twenty athetic and 20 non-athletic male college students aged 19-24yr were employed to exercise on a treadmill using 4 speeds(4.02, 5.47, 6.76 and 8.05km/h) and 5 grades(0, 8, 12, 16 and 20%). A fixed speed was selected for each session with the grade increased every 3 min. The Vo2, heart rate, stride frequency and stride length were measured during the last min of each 3-min stage. Vo2increased linearly with increasing speed and grade showing significant multiple correlations in nonathletes(Vo2=3.64x+0.831y+0.031xy-7.03, R=0.98, P<0.01) and athletes(Vo2=3.48x+0.324y+0.112xy-5.74, R=0.99, P<0.01). Stride frequency and length tended to increase with increasing speed except for the transition from walking to runnig at 8.05Km/h at which the stride frequency ran up much higher with the stride length getting lower than at 6.76Km/h. Heart rate increased linearly with increasing Vo2. The rate of increase was higher during walking than during running. These results indicate that athletes have higher rate of increase in Vo2than nonathletes at near-maximal exercise and may be used as a guideline in predicting maximum oxygen comsumption and in prescribing exercise intensity.
Athletes* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Male ; Oxygen Consumption* ; Oxygen* ; Running ; Walking

Anatomy of the pancreaticobiliary ductal system is so variable that one should think of its normal anatomy as nonexistent. But exact location of the termination of the common bile duct in important to the biliary surgeon when performing transduodenal exploration of the common bile duct, to the physician and radiologist when diagnosing pancreaticobilijary disease by ERCP. We report a case of Lnomalous termination of the common bile duct into thii. duadenal bulb diagnosed by ERCP and operative cholangiogram.
Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Common Bile Duct*

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to examine body image satisfaction and perception according to weight status, and to investigate those associations with dietary habits and nutritional status among preadolescent children. METHODS: Body image and dietary habits and intake were assessed in 134 elementary school students in grade 4. Children were categorized according to normal and overweight or obese groups. Figure rating scales were used to assess body image perception (identification of perceived current body size) and dissatisfaction (difference between perceived current body size and ideal body image). RESULTS: There were sex differences in body image perceptions. Normal-weight girls, overweight or obese girls and boys were more likely to desire a leaner body size than their perceived body size compared with normal-weight boys. Body image satisfaction and perception showed an association with weight status. More overweight or obese children indicated dissatisfaction or underestimation of body image than normal-weight children. Children with body image dissatisfaction due to heavier perceived body size than ideal body image showed lower frequencies of consumption of meals and vegetables, compared to those who were satisfied with their body image. Children who underestimated their body image were more likely to have a lower frequency of breakfast and meal regularity and a higher frequency of eating out of home or food deliveries than those with accurate body image perception. In addition, body image underestimation showed an association with lower intakes of protein, dietary fiber and calcium, and the higher percentage of calories derived from fat. CONCLUSION: Body image dissatisfaction as well as underestimation in children before puberty showed an association with overweight or obesity, and was also related to unhealthy dietary habits. These findings highlight the importance of accurate perception and satisfaction with body image in preadolescent children in order to prevent development of obesity in adolescents and adults.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Body Image* ; Body Mass Index* ; Body Size ; Breakfast ; Calcium ; Child ; Dietary Proteins ; Eating ; Female ; Food Habits* ; Humans ; Meals ; Nutritional Status ; Obesity ; Overweight ; Puberty ; Sex Characteristics ; Vegetables ; Weights and Measures

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine how the mRNA and protein levels of calcium activated Kchannel (K(Ca)) and connexin (Cx) change in association with overactive bladder in the bladder mucosae of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty SUI patients were included in our study. Bladder mucosae were obtained, with using cold cup biopsy forceps, from the patients suffering with genuine stress urinary incontinence (group 1, n=7), from the patients suffering with SUI along with urgency and frequency (group 2, n=6), and from the patients suffering with mixed incontinence (group 3, n=7). RESULTS: The mRNA transcripts of type 2 (SK2) and type 3 (SK3) small conductance K(Ca), Cx26, and Cx43 were highly expressed in the bladder mucosa. The message of large conductance K(Ca)(BK) was significantly decreased in group 3 compared with that in the controls. The SK2 and Cx26 messages in group 3 were also lower than those in groups 1 and 2. In the presence of urge incontinence, the BK and SK2 protein levels were decreased and the Cx26 protein expression was significantly increased in the bladder mucosa of the SUI patients. In contrast, there were no significant differences in the mRNA and protein levels of K(Ca)s and Cxs between groups 1 and group 2. CONCLUSIONS: Downregulation of both BK and SK2 and upregulation of Cx26 in the bladder mucosa of MI patients may contribute to the alterations of urothelial instability, and this correlate with the symptom severity of bladder instability in SUI patients.
Biopsy ; Calcium ; Connexin 43 ; Connexins ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane* ; Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated* ; RNA, Messenger ; Surgical Instruments ; Up-Regulation ; Urinary Bladder* ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive* ; Urinary Incontinence* ; Urinary Incontinence, Stress ; Urinary Incontinence, Urge ; Urothelium

No abstract available.
Body Weight* ; Cholesterol*

PURPOSE: This study was conducted in order to investigate the protective effects of ethanolic extract of Acanthopanax koreanum Nakai (AE) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver injury in rats. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups in order to receive the following experimental diets with intraperitoneal injection of CCl4 (2.0 mL/kg body weight, 20% solution 0.65 mL) for eight weeks (n = 8 per group): CCl4 control (CON), CCl4 + AE 1% (AE1), CCl4 + AE 3% (AE3), or CCl4 + acanthoic acid 0.037%, which is equivalent to AE 3% (AA). RESULTS: Highest serum ALT activity and albumin level were observed in the CCL4 control group, but showed a significant decrease by either AE or AA supplementation in a dose-dependent manner (p = 0.0063 and 0.0076, respectively). Both hemotoxylin and eosin staining and Masson's staining indicated remarkable prevention of CCl4-induced liver damage in the AE3 group. TNFalpha and IL-6 production were significantly lowered in the AE treated groups, but not in the AA group (p = 0.0016 and p = 0.0002, respectively). The effects of AE3 were greater than those of AA for inflammation and liver toxicity biomarkers. CONCLUSION: Taken together, the results suggested that ethanolic extract of Acanthopanax koreanum Nakai provided hepa-toprotective effects, leading to the reduction of inflammatory response. In addition, the effect of AE was superior to that of single compound AA.
Eleutherococcus* ; Animals ; Biomarkers ; Body Weight ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Carbon* ; Diet ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Ethanol ; Hematoxylin ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Interleukin-6 ; Liver* ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha