No abstract available.
Diet, High-Fat

Metabolic syndrome, a constellation of cardiovascular disease risk factors, is a global pandemic. Over 30% of the adult population in both South Korea and the United States are currently classified as having metabolic syndrome. Vascular endothelial function is a precursor of future atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Conduit artery flow-mediated dilation using ultrasonography is considered the non-invasive, gold standard for assessing nitric oxide-mediated vascular endothelial function. Patients with metabolic syndrome commonly exhibit increased insulin resistance and hyperglycemia, which are thought to impair vascular endothelial function by increasing oxidative stress and reducing nitric oxide bioavailability in the vascular endothelium and in smooth muscle cells. Previous findings have indicated that long-term aerobic exercise has a positive effect on impaired vascular endothelial function in metabolic syndrome patients, but the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, further studies are needed that will apply different exercise modalities and intensities with the goal of improving vascular endothelial function in patients with metabolic syndrome, as well as investigation of the associated mechanisms. Ultimately, well-designed future studies will help to establish and develop exercise prescription and/or exercise therapy programs that can reduce cardiovascular disease risk and improve cardiovascular health in metabolic syndrome patients.
Adult ; Arteries ; Biological Availability ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Endothelium, Vascular ; Exercise ; Exercise Therapy ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Insulin Resistance ; Korea ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Nitric Oxide ; Oxidative Stress ; Pandemics ; Prescriptions ; Risk Factors ; Ultrasonography ; United States

BACKGROUND: This study was planned to evaluate the influence of propranolol and esmolol on cerebral circulation and to estimate clinical implications and usefulness. METHODS: This study was designed to measure vital signs, cerebrospinal fluid pressure, cerebral perfusion pressure and blood flow velocity of common carotid artery. This was measured by Doppler Flowmeter after intravenous administration of propranolol 12.5, 25, 50 microgram/kg (P-12.5, P-25, P-50, respectively), and esmolol 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 mg/kg (E-0.5, E-1.0, E-2.0 group, respectively) at 1 or 2 minute intervals for 14 minutes. RESULTS: In the propranolol group (P-12.5, P-25 and P-50), the systolic blood pressure (SBP) significantly decreased since postinjection 1 minute and this decreased pressure continued throughout the entire experiment. But in esmolol group (E-0.5, E-1.0 and E-2.0), the SBP decreased significantly and rapidly recovered within 4 minutes. Heart rate significantly decreased in the propranolol group and continued throughout the experiment, but in the esmolol group the heart rate decreased and rapidly recovered within 10 minutes. The duration of the decreased heart rate in the esmolol group was shortened by decreasing the dosage. The blood flow velocity of the common carotid artery significantly decreased at 1 to 14 minutes after the injection of propranolol, but in group E-1.0, it was significantly decreased at 1 to 2 minutes, and in group E-2.0 at 1 to 3 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: The esmolol group showed less changes of SBP, heart rate and common carotid artery flow, and shorter duration of effect than the propranolol group. Mean blood pressure, cerebrospinal fluid pressure and cerebral perfusion pressure had no significant differences between propranolol and esmolol groups.
Administration, Intravenous ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Blood Pressure ; Carotid Artery, Common* ; Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure ; Flowmeters ; Heart Rate ; Perfusion ; Propranolol* ; Rabbits* ; Vital Signs*

Purpose: Exercise is known to reduce proinflammatory cytokines production and apoptosis. We investigated the effect of treadmill running on spatial learning memory in terms of activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway in Alzheimer disease (AD) rats. We also evaluated the effect of treadmill running on proinflammatory cytokine production and apoptosis. Methods: Using the stereotaxic frame, amyloid-β (Aβ) was injected into the lateral ventricle of the brain. The rats belong to treadmill running groups were forced to run on a motorized treadmill for 30 minutes per a day during 4 weeks, starting 3 days after Aβ injection. Morris water maze task was done for the determination of spatial learning memory. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, immunohistochemistry for cleaved caspase-3, and western blot for NF-κB, inhibitory protein of NF-κB (IκB), MAPK signaling pathway, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β were done. Results: Induction of AD increased proinflammatory cytokine secretion by activating the NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway. These changes induced apoptosis in the hippocampus and reduced spatial learning memory. In contrast, treadmill running inactivated the NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway and suppressed proinflammatory cytokine production. These changes inhibited apoptosis and improved spatial learning memory. Conclusions Current results showed that treadmill running promoted spatial learning memory through suppressing proinflammatory cytokine production and apoptosis via inactivation of NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway. Treadmill exercise can be considered an effective intervention for symptom relieve of AD.

Purpose: Exercise is known to reduce proinflammatory cytokines production and apoptosis. We investigated the effect of treadmill running on spatial learning memory in terms of activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway in Alzheimer disease (AD) rats. We also evaluated the effect of treadmill running on proinflammatory cytokine production and apoptosis. Methods: Using the stereotaxic frame, amyloid-β (Aβ) was injected into the lateral ventricle of the brain. The rats belong to treadmill running groups were forced to run on a motorized treadmill for 30 minutes per a day during 4 weeks, starting 3 days after Aβ injection. Morris water maze task was done for the determination of spatial learning memory. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, immunohistochemistry for cleaved caspase-3, and western blot for NF-κB, inhibitory protein of NF-κB (IκB), MAPK signaling pathway, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β were done. Results: Induction of AD increased proinflammatory cytokine secretion by activating the NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway. These changes induced apoptosis in the hippocampus and reduced spatial learning memory. In contrast, treadmill running inactivated the NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway and suppressed proinflammatory cytokine production. These changes inhibited apoptosis and improved spatial learning memory. Conclusions Current results showed that treadmill running promoted spatial learning memory through suppressing proinflammatory cytokine production and apoptosis via inactivation of NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway. Treadmill exercise can be considered an effective intervention for symptom relieve of AD.

Cysticercosis is a hardly manageable parasitic infestation of the central nervous system because of its diversity in clinical manifestation and unsatisfactory result in treatment. Leptomeningeal cysticercosis, less frequent clinically than parenchymatous or ventricular type has rarely been diagnosed preoperatively with conventional diagnostic procedures. We have recently experienced a case of cysticercosis in a large cisterna magna diagnosed with an aid of CT scan.
Central Nervous System ; Cisterna Magna* ; Cysticercosis* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

The authors report 3 cases of primary intramedullary glioblastoma multiforme which is relatively rare among spinal cord tumors. They were located at the thoracolumbar, cervical and conus medullaris region respectively. Clinical, radiographic and pathological material are presented and the literature is discussed.
Conus Snail ; Glioblastoma* ; Prognosis ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms

Meningeal tumor obstructing the foramen magnum is relatively rare, moreover occurrence of such a tumor in children has rarely been reported. This tumor shows various characteristic clinical manifestations, partly from anatomical standpoint and partly from unknown mechanism. In addition, not uncommon remitting and relapsing clinical course often presents diagnostic conflicts. We experienced a case of basilar groove meningioma presenting many difficult problems in the diagnosis and treatment, which was confirmed at operation and subsequent autopsy in a child.
Autopsy ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Foramen Magnum ; Humans ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; Meningioma*

Suprasellar germinomas have been defined as a distinct group from the clinical as well as therapeutic points of view. Germinomas of such location constitute less than a third of the total intracranial tumors of similar nature. The tumor has a tendency of direct infiltrative growth and distant drop metastasis through the cerebrospinal fluid pathway. Occasionally it metastasizes outside central nervous system. We experienced a case of suprasellar germinoma with intrasellar extension and brain stem involvement in a 25 year old man, which could be diagnosed with CT scan before autopsy.
Adult ; Autopsy ; Brain Stem* ; Brain* ; Central Nervous System ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Germinoma* ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Two cases of cerebral infestation with Paragonimus westermani complicating obstructive hydrocephalus are presented. The diagnosis was aided by brain CT scan and Conray ventriculogram. Both cases showed a strong positive intradermal test with relevant histories of eating crayfishes in roast form. In simple skull X-ray, one showed characteristic shell-like calcifications over the temporo-occipital region and the other showed multiple round calcifications over the suboccipital region. Brain CT scan demonstrated much more characteristic calcifications with marked ventricular dilatation. Conray ventriculogram disclosed obstructive hydrocephalus in both cases, one at the level of the cerebral aqueduct and the other at the level of the fourth ventricle outlet. Both patients were subjected to ventriculoatrial shunts and concomitant Bithionol therapy with marked improvement. The case involving the cerebellum and the fourth ventricle outlet was submitted to the posterior fossa exploration to be verified as a rare cerebellar paragonimiasis.
Astacoidea ; Bithionol ; Brain ; Cerebellum ; Cerebral Aqueduct ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation ; Eating ; Fourth Ventricle ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus* ; Intradermal Tests ; Paragonimiasis ; Paragonimus westermani ; Skull ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed