Purpose: We investigated the effects of cold water immersion (CWI) treatment during half-time break on performance related physiological indices during second half soccer match. Methods: Twenty-two collegiate soccer players participated in the study. Subjects undertook 3 minutes head out seated with whole body immersion at 19 o C to 21 o C. Total four venous blood samples were collected and analyzed for markers of ionic regulations and inflammatory (interleukin [IL]-1b, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α , and vascular endothelial growth factor) and immune functions (immunoglobulin [Ig] G, IgG2, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgA, and IgM). Results: Partial oxygen concentration and %SO 2 level was lowered in CWI. Hemoglobin and hematocrit values were not significantly different between experimental groups. While there was no notable effect was shown in Na ＋ and Ca 2＋ , K ＋ concentration was higher in CWI during second half match. There were no effects in any of inflammatory and/or anti-inflammatory cytokines and Ig. Conclusion These results suggest that CWI during half time break exert positively affects in buffering capacity and promote oxygen delivery to the actively recruited skeletal muscle, possibly results in improve soccer performance during second half match.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the adherence rate to Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System version 2 (PI-RADS v2) minimum technical standards of prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in Korean medical institutions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 103 prostate MRI examinations from 85 outside medical institutions performed from March 2015 to January 2018. The difference in adherence rate to minimal technical standards of PI-RADS v2 was compared using a Fisher's exact test between subgroups divided by the magnetic strength of MRI machine, type of medical institution and presence of genitourinary radiologist. RESULTS: Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) was obtained frequently in examinations performed in a 3-T machine, in university hospitals and in medical institutions where genitourinary radiologist work in than the others (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.003). Many minimum technical standards of PI-RADS v2 showed significantly lower adherence rate in a 1.5-T machine, in a non-university hospital and in a medical institution without genitourinary radiologist than the others. CONCLUSION The frequency of obtaining DWI and the adherent rate to some of the PI-RADS v2 minimum technical standards were significantly higher in 3-T machines, university hospitals and medical institutions with a genitourinary radiologist.

The purpose of this study was to investigate that the effect of dietary fatty acid composition on pro- and macro-glycogen utilization and resynthesis. The analyses were further extended for different muscle fibers (type I, type II, & type IIb ) as well as tissues (i.e., liver & heart ). Total one hundred sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were used, and rats were randomly allocated into four experimental groups :animals fed standard chow diet (n =40 ), animals fed saturated fatty acid diet (n =40 ), animals fed monounsaturated fatty acid (n =40 ), and animals fed polyunsaturated fatty acid (n =40 ). Animals in each groups were further divided into five subgroups :sacrificed at REST (n =8 ), sacrificed at immediately after 3 hr swim exercise (P-0HR, n =8 ), sacrificed at one hour after 3 hr swim exercise (P-1HR, n =8 ), sacrificed at four hour after 3 hr swim exercise (P-4HR, n =8 ), and sacrificed at twenty-four hour after 3 hr swim exercise (P-24HR, n =8 ). Soleus (type I ), red gastrocnemius (type IIa ), white gastrocnemius (type IIb ), liver, and heart were dissected out at appropriated time point from all animals, and were used for analyses of pro- & macro-glycogen concentrations. After 8 weeks of dietary interventions, there was no significant difference in body mass in any of dietary conditions (p >.05 ). After 3 hr swim exercise, blood lactate level was higher compared to resting conditions in all groups, but it was returned to resting value after 1 hr rest (p <.05 ). Free fatty acid concentration was higher in all high fat fed groups (regardless of fatty acid composition )than CHOW consumed group. At rest, pro- & macro-glycogen concentration was not different from any of experimental groups (p >.05 ). Regardless of forms of glycogen, the highest level was observed in liver (p <.01 ), and most cases of supercompensation after 3hr exercise observed in this study were occurred in CHOW fed tissues. Except heart muscle, all tissues used in this study showed that pro- and macro-glycogen concentration was significantly decreased after 3 hr exercise. Based on these results, two conclusions were made :first, there is no different level of glycogen content in various tissues regardless of types of fatty acids consumed and second, the highest mobilization rate would be demon-strated from CHOW fed animals compare to animals that consumed any kinds of fatty acid diet if prolonged exercise is applied.
Animals ; Diet ; Fatty Acids ; Glycogen ; Heart ; Lactic Acid ; Liver ; Muscle, Skeletal* ; Myocardium ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the association between small-dense low-density lipoprotein (sdLDL) and diabetic nephropathy (DN) in type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS: A total of 172 type 2 diabetic patients (95 men and 77 women) who had not taken lipid-lowering agents were enrolled in this study. Measured LDL cholesterol fractionates into seven parts (LDL1 through 7) according to the size and the extent of charge. Using this system, we analyzed mean LDL particle size and the proportion of sdLDL (the percent of LDL3 through 7 over whole LDL). DN was defined as the albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) ≥30 mg/g after excluding other causes of proteinuria. RESULTS: The mean LDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol size, proportion of sdLDL and ACR did not differ significantly between males and females. The presence of DN was negatively correlated with mean LDL size (r=-0.33, p value=0.02) and positively correlated with the proportion of sdLDL (r=0.34, p value=0.01) in females but not in males. After adjusting for other confounding factors related to DN, mean LDL size and proportion of sdLDL remained independent risk factors for DN in females [for mean LDL size, Odds ratio (OR)=0.86, 95% Confidence interval (CI)=0.77-0.96, p=0.01; for proportion of sdLDL, OR=1.07, 95% CI: 1.10-1.12, p=0.01], but not in males. CONCLUSION: sdLDL is closely related to DN in female type 2 diabetic patients. Further studies are necessary to clarify the association of sdLDL and DN with gender.
Cholesterol, LDL ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* ; Diabetic Nephropathies* ; Female* ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; Male ; Odds Ratio ; Particle Size ; Proteinuria ; Risk Factors

The risk posed to human health by environmental manganese (Mn) exposure is unknown. The purpose of this study is to establish if subclinical effects related to Mn exposure and examine the factors influencing psychoneurobehaviral outcomes of Mn exposed workers. This study involved 121 male workers of welding, alloy furnace, and manufacturing of welding stick. Study investigations include: a questionnaire covering demographic characteristics, job and exposure history and medical symptoms and conditions, monitoring workplace air for personal exposure to respirable and inhalable manganese, analysis of blood and urine samples. psychoneurobehaviral test(neurobehaviral core test battery (NCTB), signal change on magnetic resonance imaging (MRJ) scans, minimental state and neurological examination). The main results of this study were as follows: 1. Preliminary results showed that, with increasing manganese exposure, neurobehaviral performance was poorer and signal change on MRI scans increased. 2. The results of examination revealed significant relations on psychoneurobehaviral out-comes (neurobehaviral performance, signal change on MRI scans, and neurological features). 3. In multiple regression, age and educational status as demographic variables and exposure level were significantly related to 4neurobehaviral test. Also exposure level and serum Mn concentrations were positively relatel to signal change on MRI scans and neurological features affected by Mn on the brain (signal change). 4. Psychoneurobehaviral outcomes from Mn exposure were related to neurobehaviral performance, signal change on MRJ scans, neurological features and profile of mood states (POMS), and influnced positively with age, alcohol and smoking history, and duration of Mn exposure, negatively with educational status. Serum Mn concentrations in combination with brain MRI scans, and perhaps a battery of neurobehaviral tests, appear to be the best way to monitor excessive exposure to Mn. These results are consistent with our knowledge on Mn action on the brain and are similar to the type of neurobehaviral dysfunction. They suggest that there may be age, educational status, and life style (alcohol and drinking history) differences with chronic environmental exposure. These findings suggest further evaluation, particularly on relationships between Mn exposure, aging, and susceptibility factors.
Aging ; Alloys ; Brain ; Drinking ; Educational Status ; Environmental Exposure ; Humans ; Life Style ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Manganese* ; Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Welding

Authors report a first Korean case of polyneuropathy in an acrylamide producing factory together with an environmental and epidemiologic survey for the ten workers of the same workplace and 46 workers in the production and manufacturing acrylamide in Ulsan, Korea. The case is 30 years old man who worked in the prcduction of the acrylamide for two years. In August, 1997, he had a weakness of the lower extremity with loss of body weight of 15 Kg which progressed to paresthesia of the limbs, the loss of vibration sense, difficulty in walking, speech disturbance, dysuria, constipation, difficulty in erection and swallowing difficulty. Neurologic examination showed a complete loss of vibration and position sense, and loss of deep tendon reflex in all the limbs. There was a contact dermatitis-like skin lesion on the feet. Electrodiagnostic test showed a generalized polyneuropathy of moderate degree involving motor and sensory component of peripheral and cranial nerves. After 8 months' cessation from exposure and supportive care, his symptoms were completely resolved, but abnormality in electrodiagnostic test and vibrotactile perception threshold still persisted, although much improved than before. There were 11 workers in the same workplace of the case, producing acrylamide by microorganism as a catalyst. Environmental monitoring of the workplace revealed air-borne concentration of the acrylamide to be from 0.05 to 0.23 mg/m(3) by personal sampling and from 7.65 to 11.65 mg/m(3) by area sampling during filter exchanging process, which far exceeds TLV-TWA of 0.03 mg/m(3). However acrylamide was not detected from the plasma of the workers. Symptom questionnaire showed a markedly higher complain of neurologic symptoms, compared to the workers of the other acrylamide producing companies. Electrodiagnostic test showed a several workers are in the lower normal range without definite abnormality. Vibrotactile perception threshold by Vibratron II showed a significantly increased threshold in the workers of the same workplace compared to the other acrylamide workers and significantly decreased test score of color vision compared to normal controls. After improvement of the production process and strict wearing of the protective device, most workers reported the improvement of clinical symptoms, but vibrotactile perception threshold was not improved. These result suggests the need for the effective environmental monitoring together with a periodic biological monitoring. Development of effective screening test is urgently needed to control and assess the skin absorption of acrylamide.
Acrylamide* ; Adult ; Body Weight ; Color Vision ; Constipation ; Cranial Nerves ; Deglutition ; Dysuria ; Environmental Monitoring ; Extremities ; Foot ; Humans ; Korea ; Lower Extremity ; Mass Screening ; Neurologic Examination ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Occupational Exposure* ; Paresthesia ; Plasma ; Polyneuropathies* ; Proprioception ; Protective Devices ; Questionnaires ; Reference Values ; Reflex, Stretch ; Skin ; Skin Absorption ; Threshold Limit Values ; Ulsan ; Vibration ; Walking

We aim to investigate the effect of fronto-temporal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the interactions among functional networks and its association with psychotic symptoms. In this pilot study, we will determine possible candidate functional networks and an adequate sample size for future research. Seven schizophrenia patients with treatment-refractory auditory hallucinations underwent tDCS twice daily for 5 days. Resting-state fMRI data and measures of the severity of psychotic symptoms were acquired at baseline and after completion of the tDCS sessions. At baseline, decreased functional network interaction was negatively correlated with increased hallucinatory behavior. After tDCS, the previously reduced functional network connectivity significantly increased. Our results showed that fronto-temporal tDCS could possibly remediate aberrant hallucination-related functional network interactions in patients with schizophrenia.
Hallucinations ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neuroimaging ; Pilot Projects ; Sample Size ; Schizophrenia ; Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

PURPOSE: Eosinophilic inflammation is a key component of severe asthma (SA). However, there has been no reliable serum biomarker for the eosinophilic inflammation of SA. We hypothesized that serum eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) could predict the eosinophilic inflammation of SA in adult asthmatics. METHODS: Severe asthmatics (n = 235), nonsevere asthmatics (n = 898), and healthy controls (n = 125) were enrolled from Ajou University Hospital, South Korea. The serum levels of EDN and periostin were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and compared between severe and nonsevere asthmatics. Their associations with total eosinophil count (TEC) and clinical parameters were evaluated; clinical validation of the K-EDN kit for the measurement of serum EDN was evaluated. RESULTS: Severe asthmatics were older and had longer disease duration with significantly lower levels of forced expiratory volume in 1 second and methacholine PC20 than nonsevere asthmatics. Significant differences were found in TEC or sputum eosinophil count (%) between the groups. The serum levels of EDN and periostin were significantly higher in severe asthmatics than in nonsevere asthmatics and in healthy controls (all P < 0.05). Although significant correlations were found between serum EDN levels measured by the 2 kits (ρ = 0.545, P < 0.0001), higher correlation coefficients between serum EDN levels measured by the K-EDN kit and TEC were higher (ρ = 0.358, P < 0.0001) than those between serum EDN levels measured by the MBL kit and TEC (ρ = 0.319, P < 0.0001) or serum periostin level (ρ = 0.222, P < 0.0001). Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that serum EDN levels measured by the K-EDN kit predicted the phenotype of SA (P = 0.003), while 2 other biomarkers did not. CONCLUSIONS: The serum EDN level may be a useful biomarker for assessing asthma severity in adult asthmatics.
Adult ; Asthma ; Biomarkers ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Eosinophil-Derived Neurotoxin ; Eosinophils ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Korea ; Methacholine Chloride ; Phenotype ; Sputum

The gut microbiota has an important role in the gut barrier, inflammation and metabolic functions. Studies have identified a close association between the intestinal barrier and metabolic diseases, including obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Recently, Akkermansia muciniphila has been reported as a beneficial bacterium that reduces gut barrier disruption and insulin resistance. Here we evaluated the role of A. muciniphila-derived extracellular vesicles (AmEVs) in the regulation of gut permeability. We found that there are more AmEVs in the fecal samples of healthy controls compared with those of patients with T2D. In addition, AmEV administration enhanced tight junction function, reduced body weight gain and improved glucose tolerance in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced diabetic mice. To test the direct effect of AmEVs on human epithelial cells, cultured Caco-2 cells were treated with these vesicles. AmEVs decreased the gut permeability of lipopolysaccharide-treated Caco-2 cells, whereas Escherichia coli-derived EVs had no significant effect. Interestingly, the expression of occludin was increased by AmEV treatment. Overall, these results imply that AmEVs may act as a functional moiety for controlling gut permeability and that the regulation of intestinal barrier integrity can improve metabolic functions in HFD-fed mice.