BACKGROUND: The pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD) is dopaminergic cell death in the substantia nigra (SN), but the cause of cell death is unknown. 6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) is one of the neurotoxins used in experimental models of PD, and its use has led to greater understanding of the pathogenesis of PD. The present study examined the role of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in 6-OHDA toxicity. METHODS: An in-vitro study was performed using PC12 cells. After treatment with 6-OHDA, the poly(ADP-ribosyl) ation was monitored using a monoclonal antibody to poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) to examine the PARP activity. To evaluate the effect of the PARP inhibition in 6-OHDA-induced cell death, 3-aminobenzamide or nicotinamide was administered 30 minutes before 6-OHDA treatment. An in-vivo study was performed using a Parkinson rat model. 6-OHDA was stereotactically injected into the unilateral SN of rats. PAR immunolabeling was used to examine the time-dependent activation of PARP. The dopaminergic cell death in the SN was quantified using apomorphine-induced rotations and tyrosine hydroxylase- immunoreactive cell numbers in the SN 2 weeks after lesioning. RESULTS: Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation of nuclear proteins was maximal at 6 hr, and was still present 24 hr after 6-OHDA treatment. Pretreatment of 3-aminobenzamide or nicotinamide significantly attenuated the 6-OHDA-induced PC12 cell death. In 6-OHDA injected rats, PAR formation was seen 6 hr after 6-OHDA injection, peaked at 12 hr, and was still detectable at 24 hr. The dopaminergic cell death in the SN was significantly decreased by intraperitoneal injection of nicotinamide in 6-OHDA injected rats. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide evidence suggesting an involvement of the PARP in 6-OHDA-induced dopaminergic cell death, and inhibitors of PARP may have a protective benefit in PD.
Animals ; Cell Count ; Cell Death* ; Dopaminergic Neurons* ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Models, Animal ; Models, Theoretical ; Neurotoxins ; Niacinamide ; Nuclear Proteins ; Oxidopamine* ; Parkinson Disease ; PC12 Cells ; Poly Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose ; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases ; Rats ; Substantia Nigra ; Tyrosine

BACKGROUND: Our study group established "3H care" in 2002. The meaning of "3H care" attain and maintain adequate controls over hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetic patients. This study evaluated the achievement of target goals after one year or more of "3H care" by specialists in our diabetic clinic. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 200 type 2 diabetic patients who received "3H care" for one year or more in our diabetic clinic. We evaluated achievement of target goals for metabolic controls as suggested by the American Diabetes Association. RESULTS: Overall, 200 type 2 diabetes patients were enrolled, of whom 106 were males (53%) and 94 were females (47%). After one year of "3H care," the mean HbA1c was 7.2+/-1.5% and the percentage of patients achieving glycemic control (HbA1c <7%) was 51.8%. However only 32.2% of hypertensive patients achieved the recommended target. After one year of "3H care," the percentages of those who achieved the target value for dyslipidemia were 80.0% for total cholesterol, 66.3% for low density lipoprotein cholesterol, 57.9% for triglyceride, and 51.8% for high density lipoprotein cholesterol. The percentage that achieved all three targets level was only 4.4% after one year and 14.8% after two years. CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrate that only a minor proportion of patients with type 2 diabetes achieved the recommended goals despite the implementation of "3H care." It is our suggestion that better treatment strategies and methods should be used to control hypertension, hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia.
Achievement ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Disease Management ; Dyslipidemias ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertension ; Lipoproteins ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Specialization ; Treatment Outcome

Although parovarian cysts constitute 10-20% of all adnexal masses, malignant parovarian tumors are extremely rare. Due to the rarity of this lesion, there are controversies concerning the origin, clinical behavior, and prognosis of these tumors. Currently, it is suggested that these paovarian tumors should be treated similarly to their ovarian counterparts. We experienced one case of parovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma of borderline malignancy, and report this with a brief review of the literatures.
Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous* ; Female ; Parovarian Cyst ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVE: Gestational thrombocytopenia has a mild course as a common problem during pregnancy, whereas idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) presents with a chronic or moderate to severe course. Very few studies have been conducted so far to discriminate between the two diseases. This study was aimed to identify factors predictive of the subsequent development of ITP among pregnant women presenting with thrombocytopenia. METHODS: From January 1999 to June 2005, a total of 58 pregnant women newly diagnosed with thrombocytopenia were recruited for the study. Among them, 33 were finally diagnosed with gestational thrombocytopenia and the other 25 with ITP. The clinical factors for each of ITP and neonatal thrombocytopenia were evaluated, and final outcomes were also described. RESULTS: On multivariate analysis, thrombocytopenia diagnosed before 28 completed weeks and platelet count of less then 50 x 10(9)/L at the time of its presentation were found to be independently predictive of ITP (p<0.001 and p=0.004 respectively). In addition, platelet count of less then 20 x 10(9)/L at nadir during pregnancy was a significant risk factor for neonatal thrombocytopenia (p=0.013). CONCLUSION: The onset time of thrombocytopenia and platelet count at its presentation remain useful parameters to discriminate ITP from gestational thrombocytopenia. These findings may help in allowing an appropriate antenatal care and postpartum follow up.
Diagnosis, Differential* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Platelet Count ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; Risk Factors ; Thrombocytopenia* ; Thrombocytopenia, Neonatal Alloimmune

Recent research reveal that the diagnosis of gastric extraluminal compressions mimicking subepithelial tumor is increasing in numbers as esophagogastroduodenoscopy becomes widespread. Endoscopic ultrasonography is a very useful tool for differentiating extraluminal compressions from subepithelial tumors. Gastric extraluminal compressions are due to compression by either normal adjacent organs or pathologic conditions. Pathologic conditions are mainly benign, but some requires operation according to its size. We report a case of a 24-year-old female, who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy and was misdiagnosed with gastric subepithelial tumor. Endoscopic ultrasonographic findings showed anechoic cyst outside the gastric wall, which revealed to be a splenic cyst.
Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Endosonography ; Female ; Humans ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether polymorphism of CYP17 gene is associated with the risk of advanced endometriosis in Korean women. METHODS: The 194 endometriosis patients and 209 controls were enrolled. Blood samples were collected from 194 patients with endometriosis stages III and IV diagnosed by both pathologic and laparoscopic findings. The women undergoing laparoscopic surgery or laparotomy for non-malignant lesions were included in the control group. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of PCR products were done to determine all individuals' genotype. RESULTS: The heterozygous allele in CYP17 gene was most common genotypes in both endometriosis and healthy control groups (54.6% vs. 38.8%). In women with heterozygous A1/A2 genotype, there was increased endometriosis risk and this difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the CYP17 genetic polymorphism might be associated with advanced endometriosis risk in Korean women.
Alleles ; Endometriosis* ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Laparotomy ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase*

OBJECTIVE: In this retrospective study, we analyzed the clinical and pathological characteristics of immature teratoma of the ovary. METHODS: Between 1990 and 2003, 26 patients with immature teratoma of the ovary treated in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea were identified, and reviewed retrospectively for patient profiles, International Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetricians (FIGO) disease stage, mode of therapy, and length of survival. RESULTS: The mean and median age at diagnosis was 27.0 and 25.5 years (range 11-58 years), respectively. Tumors were 73.1% (19/26) stage I, 3.8% (1/26) stage II, 19.2% (5/26) stage III, and 3.8% (1/26) stage IV. Eighteen patients (69.2%) had pathologic grade 2 or 3. Twenty of 26 patients underwent the conservative surgery including unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, unilateral oophorectomy or cystectomy, and other patients were performed the total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. All except five patients received adjuvant combination chemotherapy. Second look operation following combination chemotherapy was done in nine cases. Two patients who had grade III tumors died. Follow-up was available for all the patients, with a mean duration of 43.9 months. No recurrence was observed during this period. CONCLUSION: Immature teratoma of the ovary is a potentially curable disease in today's practice. Low stage and low grade tumors have an excellent prognosis and conservative surgery and preservation of fertility is warranted in those cases.
Cystectomy ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Fertility ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Korea ; Obstetrics ; Ovariectomy ; Ovary* ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Teratoma*

Effects of FEMY-R7, composed of fucoidan and evening primrose extract, on the bacterial growth and intragastric infection of Helicobacter pylori as well as gastric secretion were investigated in comparison with a proton-pump inhibitor pantoprazole. For in vitro anti-bacterial activity test, H. pylori (1x10(8) CFU/mL) was incubated with a serially-diluted FEMY-R7 for 3 days. As a result, FEMY-R7 fully inhibited the bacterial growth at 100 microg/mL, which was determined to be a minimal inhibitory concentration. In addition, 6-hour incubation with H. pylori, FEMY-R7 inhibited urease activity in a concentration-dependent manner, showing a median inhibitory concentration of 1,500 microg/mL. In vivo elimination study, male C57BL/6 mice were infected with the bacteria by intragastric inoculation (5x10(9) CFU/mouse) 3 times at 2-day intervals, and simultaneously, orally treated twice a day with 10, 30 or 100 mg/kg FEMY-R7 for 7 days. In Campylobcter-like organism-detection test and bacterial identification, FEMY-R7 exerted a high bacteria-eliminating capacity at 30-100 mg/kg, comparably to 30 mg/kg pantoprazole. In contrast to a strong antacid activity of pantoprazole in a pylorus-ligation study, FEMY-R7 did not significantly affect gastric pH, free HCl, and total acidity, although it significantly decreased fluid volume at a low dose (10 mg/kg). The results indicate that FEMY-R7 eliminate H. pylori from gastric mucosa by directly killing the bacteria and preventing their adhesion and invasion, rather than by inhibiting gastric secretion or mucosal damage.
Animals ; Bacteria ; Gastric Mucosa ; Helicobacter pylori ; Homicide ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Male ; Mice ; Oenothera biennis* ; Urease

As the request of the authors, Acknowledgments section has been changed.
Oenothera biennis*