Apodemus agrarius has been using for experimental purpose to identifying the route of infection and pathogenesis of korean hemorrhagic fever. However, despite the increasing amount of information being published at present about the physiologic and ecologic characteristics of Apodemus, few data are availalle about the morphologic findings in the brain. The NADPH-diaphorase[NADPH-d] positive neurons, uniquely resistant to toxic insults and neurodegenerative diseases, have been colocalized with neurons in the brain and peripheral tissue containing nitric oxide synthase, which generates nitric oxide, a recently identified neuronal messenger molecule. In this study we used NADPH-d histochemistry to evaluate the distribution of neuropeptide Y-immunoreactive[NPY-IR] cells within neurons which contain nitric oxide synthase. In the cerebral cortex of Apodemus agrarius, NADPH-d positive and NPY-IR neurons were observed in all cortical layers, but they were concentrated in two bands layer II/III and V/VI extending into the subcortical white matter. Double labeling for NADPH-d and NPY showed colocalization of NPY with NADPH-d in numerous neurons of the cerebral cortex. The data obtained showed that about 74-79% of NPY-IR neurons contained NADPH-d in the neocortex and that 77-89% in the allocortex. The number of NPY-IR/NADPH-d positive neurons was about 10-13 per unit area [2,500,000 micrometer] in the neocortex and about 11-25 in the allocortex except retrosplenial cortex. In the retrosplenial cortex, the number of double labeled neurons was about 5 per unit area. NPY-IR and NADPH-d positive neurons were predominantly medium-sized with extended, multipolar or bipolar dendritic branches which belong to fusiform or stellate cell types. A moderately dense network of fine, varicose NADPH-d positive fibers was present throughout all cortical layers.
Animals ; Brain ; Cerebral Cortex* ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome ; Murinae* ; Neocortex ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Neurons* ; Neuropeptide Y* ; Neuropeptides* ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase

Background: Terminology is a good index of reflections in conceptional imaginations, trends and technological advances in the field of their own. The purpose of this study is to compare the similarity and difference of terms in periodontology to evaluate the communicability between South and North Korea. These result may be particularly helpful for making glossary, academic communication and social unity at the time of reunion. Methods: This study was carried out by searching northern periodontology terminologies used in literatures published in North Korea and comparing those terms with the southern terms. The standard northen terms were not able to be distinguished, so the terms used frequently were chosen as the standard northern terms. Results: The South and North both use terms that stem from Chinese characters, but this tendency is stronger in the South. The main differences between the South and North are due to the North Korea's effort in converting terms into the native languages. There are also some differences in inscription of foreign language, spelling and spacing, and so on. Conclusion: The terminology using in South and North Korea in the field of periodontology is somewhat different but both side can be capable of communication. Now the basic efforts in both parts must be taken, such as establishing new terms, in order to relieve these differences.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Democratic People's Republic of Korea* ; Humans ; Imagination ; Reunion

The relationship between hypercalcemic crisis and pancreatitis, first described in patients with hyperparathyroidism, still remains controversial. Acute pancreatitis may complicate the clinical course of hyperparathyroidism, particularly when the degree of hypercalcemia is severe. The incidence of hyperparathyroidism presenting as acute pancreatitis appears to be steadily decreasing, possibly reflecting the earlier diagnosis of asymptomatic hyperparaparathyroidism due to widespread application of screening methods. Here, we report two patients with primary hyperparathyroidism manifesting clinically as acute pancreatitis. One patient died of progessive pancreatitis and uncontrolled sepsis. The other patient was fullly recovered by emergent parathyroidectomy followed by medical management of hypercalcemia.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia ; Hyperparathyroidism* ; Hyperparathyroidism, Primary ; Incidence ; Mass Screening ; Pancreatitis* ; Parathyroidectomy ; Sepsis

BACKGROUND: Recently, missense mutation of the B3-adrenergic receptor gene has been shown to be associated with early onset of type 2 diabetes, abdominal obesity and an increased capacity to gain weight. This study was performed to investigate the effects of Trp64Arg mutation in the B3-adrenergic receptor gene on body fat distribution and weight loss in obese subjects. METHODS: Determination of the B3-adrenergic receptor gene mutation with restriction enzyme digestion method, anthropometry, various biochemical studies, including oral glucose tolerance test were performed in 99 obese and 35 control subjects. Body fat distributions were also evaluated by computerized tomography before and after weight-reduction program. RESULTS: I) There were no differences in the frequencies of Trp64Arg mutation in the B3-adrenergic receptor gene between obese and control subjects (15.2 vs 12.9 %). 2) The obese subjects with Trp64Arg mutation had higher waist to hip circumference ratio(WHR) (0.93 +/- 0.05 vs 0.87 +/- 0.04, p<0.001), visceral fat area (115.0 +/- 25.9 vs 86.4 +/- 41.4 cm, p=0.01), but decreased plasma free fatty acid (618.0 +/- 163.1 vs 817.5 +/- 248.2 pEq/L, p=0.001), and triglyceride level (118.7 +/- 36.2 vs 158.4 +/- 105.8 mg/dL, p=0.015) than those without mutation. 3) The obese subjects with Trp64Arg mutation had smaller decreases in weight (-3.4 vs -5.1 kg, p<0.001), body fat content (-2.1 vs -3.8 %, p<0.001), WHR (-0.01 vs -0.03, p=0.025), and abdominal fat masses (total, subcutaneous, and visceral fat) after weight-reduction program than those without mutation. CONCLUSION: Trp64Arg mutation in the B3-adrenergic receptor gene might be one of genetic loci contributing to central obesity and a predictor of difficulty in losing weight in obese subjects.
Abdominal Fat ; Adipose Tissue* ; Anthropometry ; Body Fat Distribution* ; Digestion ; Genetic Loci ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Hip ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; Mutation, Missense ; Obesity ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Plasma ; Triglycerides ; Weight Loss*

Background: Estrogen status is important for maintaining the homeostasis of bone. Estrogen has direct effects on bone cells, through binding to the high-affinity estrogen receptor. Several recent studies suggest that there might be genetically determined variations in biosynthesis and function of estrogen receptor in postmenopausal osteoporosis. Also the main cause of postmenopausal osteoporosis is decreased level of serum estrogen, whereas there had been some suggestion that the remaining estrogen have some effect on bone metabolism after menopause. We investigated the relationship between estrogen receptor gene PvulI polymorphism and bone mineral density(BMD), and the relationship between 18 urinary metabolites of estrogen and BMD in Korean postmeno- pausal osteoporosis. Methods: We examined the PvuII polymorphism of the estrogen receptor gene in 5' upstream region and the first intron by restrietion frapnent length polymorphism analysis in 62 postmeno- pausal wornen, BMD was measured by DEXA. The urinary estrogen metabolites were determined by GC/MS(Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry) at Korean Institute of Science and Techno- logy Doping Control Center. Results: BMD of the spine and the femoral neck correlated with body weight, height, body mass index as we expected. There was no polymorphism of PvuII restriction site on 5 upstream region of estrogen receptor gene. Whereas the prevalen~ee of the PP, Pp, pp genotype in the first intron of estrogen receptor was 12.9%, 45.2%, 41.9%, respectively. But, there was no correlation between PvuII genotype and the spinel and femoral neck BMD. 2(OH)E2 among 18 urinary metabolites of estrogen, showed a negative correlation with the spinal and femoral neck BMD(r =-0.2551, p<0.05, and r =-0.3341, p<0.01, respectively), and the ratio of 16a(OH)E2/2(OH)E1> revealed a positive correlation with the spinal BMD(r =0.3057, p<0.05). In stepwise multiple regression analysis, body weight, 2(OH)E2, 16a(OH)E1, 2(Meo)E1 were independent predictors of the spinal bone density, and body weight and 2(OH)E2 were independent predictors of the femoral neck bone density. Conclusion: These results suggested that restrietion fragment length polymorphism analysis of the estrogen receptor gene with PvuII restriction enzyme was not helpful for early detection of patients at risk of developing osteoporosis. However, the ratio of 16-hydroxylation to 2-hydroxylation of estrogen metabolism was reduced in postmenopausal women and high catecholestrogen formation might be a greater risk factor for osteoporosis.
Body Height ; Body Weight ; Bone Density ; Estrogens ; Female ; Femur Neck ; Genotype ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Introns ; Menopause ; Metabolism ; Miners ; Osteoporosis ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal ; Risk Factors ; Spine

BACKGROUND: Carolic restriction as a treatment for obesity causes catabolism of body protein stores and produces negative nitrogen balance. GH administration causes acceleration of lipolysis and promotion of nitrogen conservation. We evaluated the effects of GH treatment and caloric restriction on lipolysis, anabolic effects and body composition in obese subjects. METHODS: 24 obese (20% over IBW) subjects (22 women and 2 men; 22-46yr old) were fed a diet of 25kcal/kg IBW with 1.2g protein/kg IBW daily during treatment. The subjects were assigned at random to either treatment with recombinent human GH (n=12, 0.06U/kg IBW every other day) or placebo (n 12, vehicle injection) for 12 weeks. Body fat was assessed by impedence and abdominal fat, visceral fat area at the umbilicus level and muscle area of mid thigh level were measured using computed tomography. RESULTS: Fraction of body weight lost as fat lost was significantly greater in GH treatment than in placebo group (1.21+-0.48%/kg, vs 0.52+-0.28%/kg, p0.05). GH treatment caused significant decrease in visceral fat area (35.3% vs 28.5%, p<0.05). In placebo group, there were significant loss of muscle area (-4.8 +-2.6cm ) and lean body mass (-2.62 +-1.51kg) after treatment. In contrast, GH treatment group had more increase in muscle area (3.5+-2.3cm ) and lean body mass (1.13 +-1.04kg) and positive nitrogen balance (1.81+-4.06g/day). GH injections cuased a 1.6-fold increase in IGF-I, despite caloric restriction. GH responses to L-dopa stimulation were blunted in all subjects and GH responses were increased after treatment. Both group showed hyperinsulinemia during oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and after treatment, they had decreased in insulin secretion. However, GH treatmnent group had not significant decrease, because GH might induce insulin resistance. FFA response areas during OGTT markedly decreased after treatment in both group. In GH treatment group, more decrease of FFA responses might result from the antilipolytic effect by higher level of insulin or more decrease in amount of fat. CONCLUSION: This study has demonstrated that in obese subjects fed hypocaloric diet, GH accelerates body fat loss and exerts anabolic effects.
Abdominal Fat ; Acceleration ; Adipose Tissue ; Adult* ; Anabolic Agents ; Body Composition ; Body Weight ; Caloric Restriction ; Diet* ; Female ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Growth Hormone* ; Humans ; Hyperinsulinism ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; Levodopa ; Lipolysis ; Male ; Metabolism ; Nitrogen ; Obesity ; Thigh ; Umbilicus

No abstract available.
Bone Density* ; Gonads*

No abstract available.
Hyperuricemia* ; Kidney Transplantation*

No abstract available.
Hyperuricemia* ; Kidney Transplantation*

No abstract available.
Phlebography*