Involuntary physical activity induced by the avoidance of electrical shock leads to improved endurance exercise capacity in animals. However, it remains unknown whether voluntary stand-up physical activity (SPA) without forced simulating factors improves endurance exercise capacity in animals. We examined the eff ects of SPA on body weight, cardiac function, and endurance exercise capacity for 12 weeks. Twelve male Sprague-Dawley rats (aged 8 weeks, n=6 per group) were randomly assigned to a control group (CON) or a voluntary SPA group. The rats were induced to perform voluntary SPA (lifting a load equal to their body weight), while the food height (18.0 cm) in cages was increased progressively by 3.5 every 4 weeks until it reached 28.5 cm for 12 weeks. The SPA group showed a lower body weight compared to the CON group, but voluntary SPA did not affect the skeletal muscle and heart weights, food intake, and echocardiography results. Although the SPA group showed higher grip strength, running time, and distance compared to the CON group, the level of irisin, corticosterone, genetic expression of mitochondrial biogenesis, and nuclei numbers were not affected. These findings show that voluntary SPA without any forced stimuli in rats can eff ectively reduce body weight and enhance endurance exercise capacity, suggesting that it may be an important alternative strategy to enhance endurance exercise capacity.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Corticosterone ; Eating ; Echocardiography ; Hand Strength ; Heart ; Humans ; Male ; Organelle Biogenesis ; Motor Activity* ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Running ; Shock ; Weights and Measures

The purpose of the study was to assess the effects of a 12 weeks aged garlic extract (AGE) regimen with regular exercise on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in postmenopausal women. A total of 30 postmenopausal women (54.4 +/- 5.4 years) were randomly divided into the following four groups: Placebo (Placebo; n = 6), AGE intake (AGEI; n = 8), exercise and placebo (Ex + Placebo; n = 8), exercise and AGE (Ex + AGE; n = 8) groups. The AGE group consume 80 mg per day, and exercise groups performed moderate exercise (aerobic and resistance) three times per week. After 12 weeks of treatment, body composition, lipid profile, and CVD risk factors were analyzed. Body weight was significantly decreased in AGEI, Ex + Placebo, and Ex + AGE groups compared to baseline. Body fat % was significantly decreased in the AGEI and Ex + Placebo groups. Body mass index (BMI) was significantly decreased in the AGEI, Ex + Placebo, and Ex + AGE groups. Fat-free mass was significantly decreased in the AGEI group. Total cholesterol (TC) was significantly lower in the Ex + Placebo compared to the Placebo group. AGE supplementation or exercise effectively reduced low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C). Triglyceride (TG) was significantly increased in the AGEI group. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly decreased in the AGEI, Ex + Placebo, and Ex + AGE compared to the placebo group. AGE supplementation reduced homocysteine levels regardless of whether the women also exercised. The present results suggest that AGE supplementation reduces cardiovascular risk factors independently of exercise in postmenopausal women.
Adipose Tissue ; Aged ; Body Composition ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Female ; Garlic ; Homocysteine ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; Malondialdehyde ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: To evaluate the parameters affecting vaulting and correlation between preoperative crystalline lens rise and vaulting after implantable collamer lense (ICL) implantation. METHODS: A total of 53 eyes of 34 patients who underwent ICL implantation were examined retrospectively. White-to-white (WTW) and anterior chamber depth (ACD) were obtained from scanning topography (ORB scan) before surgery. Preoperative crystalline lens rise (CLR) and vaulting at 6 months after ICL implantation were measured using anterior segment optic coherence tomography (AS-OCT). Multiple regression analysis was performed to evaluate the factors affecting central vaulting. RESULTS: The mean preoperative crystalline lens rise was -120 +/- 219 microm, and mean central vaulting 6 months after surgery was 544 +/- 175 microm. Preoperative SE, WTW, ACD, and CLR were significantly correlated with vaulting at 6 months after surgery. With the use of meaningful variables, multiple regression analysis showed that CLR, WTW, ACD and SE, in that order of influence, had significant effects on vaulting and the multiple regression equation was obtained as follows: Vaulting (microm) = (160.913 x ACD (mm)) + (170.134 x WTW (mm)) + (-0.338 x CLR (microm)) + (-23.783 x SE (D)) - 2250.184. CONCLUSIONS: CLR had a stronger influence on vaulting after ICL implantation than the previously proven parameters: WTW, ACD, and SE. In addition to WTW, ACD and SE, CLR should also be considered a new criterion for estimating vaulting after ICL implantation.
Anterior Chamber ; Crystallins ; Eye ; Humans ; Lens, Crystalline ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Retrospective Studies

We report a case of intraocular gnathostomiasis diagnosed by western blot assay in a patient with subretinal tracks. A 15-year-old male patient complained of blurred vision in the right eye, lasting for 2 weeks. Eight months earlier, he had traveled to Vietnam for 1 week and ate raw wild boar meat and lobster. His best-corrected visual acuity was 20/20 in both eyes and anterior chamber examination revealed no abnormalities. Fundus examination showed subretinal tracks in the right eye. Fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green angiography showed linear hyperfluorescence of the subretinal lesion observed on fundus in the right eye. Ultrasound examination revealed no abnormalities. Blood tests indicated mild eosinophilia (7.5%), and there was no abnormality found by systemic examinations. Two years later, the patient visited our department again for ophthalmologic evaluation. Visual acuity remained 20/20 in both eyes and the subretinal tracks in the right eye had not changed since the previous examination. Serologic examination was performed to provide a more accurate diagnosis, and the patient's serum reacted strongly to the Gnathostoma nipponicum antigen by western blot assay, which led to a diagnosis of intraocular gnathostomiasis. This is the first reported case of intraocular gnathostomiasis with subretinal tracks confirmed serologically using western blot in Korea.
Adolescent ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Fundus Oculi ; Gnathostoma/*isolation & purification ; Gnathostomiasis/*diagnosis/parasitology ; Humans ; Male ; Retinal Diseases/*diagnosis/parasitology ; Travel ; Vietnam

PURPOSE: This clinical study evaluated the feasibility of needlescopic appendectomy (NA) in young patients with acute appendicitis, and we compare the outcome of this new technique with that of conventional laparoscopic appendectomy (LA). METHODS: Two groups of young patients who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy at Sanggye Paik Hospital between January 2009 and December 2009 were studied. In the first group, a 2-mm instrument appendectomy was performed in 13 patients. These patients were compared with the second group, which were 21 patients who underwent conventional laparoscopic appendectomy. Statistical significance was set at p values<0.05. RESULTS: The patient demographics and operative findings were similar in both groups. There was no conversion to open appendectomy in either group. Postoperative ileus was occurred in 3 patients who underwent LA, but there was no statistical difference between the both groups (p=0.154). The needlescopic group had a shorter mean operative time (p=0.65), but there was no statistically significance. The mean hospital stay was significantly shorter (p=0.026) in the needlescopic group than that in the conventional laparoscopic group. CONCLUSION: According to our experience, needlescopic laparoscopic appendectomy is a safe and feasible procedure as compared with that of conventional laparoscopic appendectomy in young patients.
Appendectomy ; Appendicitis ; Child ; Demography ; Humans ; Ileus ; Length of Stay ; Operative Time

Endometriosis is estrogen dependent disease in reproductive age. Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory gynecologic disease. Problems associated with endometriosis include dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and infertility. Postmenopausal endometriosis is rare. Also, malignant transformation in endometriosis is rare. There is no report in Korea about serous adenocarcinoma arising from endometriosis after menopause. The authors present a case of serous adenocarcinoma arising from endometriosis after menopause with brief review of the literature.
Adenocarcinoma ; Dysmenorrhea ; Dyspareunia ; Endometriosis ; Estrogens ; Female ; Genital Diseases, Female ; Infertility ; Korea ; Menopause

BACKGROUND: Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the major catechin in green tea, and has shown antiproliferative, antiangiogenic, antimetastatic and cell cycle pertubation activity in various tumor models. Hypoxia can be induced because angiogenesis is insufficient for highly proliferating cancer. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and its downstream target, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), are important for angiogenesis, tumor growth and metastasis. The aim of this study was to determine how hypoxia could cause changes in the cellular phenomena and microenvironment in a non-small cell culture system and to examine the effects of EGCG on a HIF-1alpha and VEGF in A549 cell line. METHODS: A549 cells, a non-small cell lung cancer cell line, were cultured with DMEM and 10% fetal bovine serum. A decrease in oxygen tension was induced using a hypoxia microchamber and a CO2-N2 gas mixture. Gas analysis and a MTT assay were performed. The A549 cells were treated with EGCG (0, 12.5, 25, 50 micromol/L), and then examined by real-time-PCR analysis of HIF-1alpha, VEGF, and beta-actin mRNA. RESULTS: Hypoxia reduced the proliferation of A549 cells from normoxic conditions. EGCG inhibited HIF-1alpha transcription in A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Compared to HIF-1alpha, VEGF was not inhibited by EGCG. CONCLUSION: HIF-1alpha can be inhibited by EGCG. This suggests that targeting HIF-1alpha with a EGCG treatment may have therapeutic potential in non-small cell lung cancers.
Actins ; Anoxia ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Catechin ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Oxygen ; RNA, Messenger ; Tea ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) has immuno-stimulatory effects. We hypothesized that GM-CSF plays an important role both in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and hemorrhage-induced acute lung injury (ALI). We also postulated that GM-CSF augments LPS-induced inflammation by priming neutrophils. ALI was induced in GM-CSF-/- or control C57BL mice either by LPS injection or by hemorrhage. Lung inflammation (by lung expression for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), interleukin- 6 (IL-6), and keratinocyte-derived chemokine) and lung injury (by myeloperoxidase and evans blue dye assay) were evaluated after ALI. Incremental doses of LPS (0, 1, 10, and 100 ng/mL) and GM-CSF (0, 1, 10, and 100 ng/mL) were added to bone marrow neutrophils. The expression of TNF-alpha, MIP-2, and IL-1beta was evaluated with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The mRNA expression of three cytokines, and the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF kappa-B) were evaluated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and electropnoretic mobility shift assay, respectively. GM-CSF -/- mice showed decreased neutrophil infiltration, less leakage, and lower expression of cytokines in the lung after LPS or hemorrhage. GM-CSF augmented LPS-induced protein and mRNA expression of TNF-alpha, MIP-2 and IL-1beta, which was mediated by increased intra-nuclear translocation of NF-kappa B. GM-CSF plays an important role in high-dose LPS and hemorrhage-induced ALI, which appears to be mediated by its priming effect on neutrophils.
Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells/cytology ; Chemokine CXCL2/metabolism ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor/metabolism/*physiology ; Interleukin-1beta/metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides/metabolism ; Lung/metabolism/pathology ; *Lung Injury ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Transgenic ; Neutrophils/*cytology/metabolism ; Peroxidase/metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism

In patients with situs inversus totalis, the superior vena cava is normally positioned on the left side and drains into a left-sided right atrium (RA). If right-side superior vena cava (RSVC) is also present, it should be thought of as a combined congenital anomaly. Here, we report a case of successful pacemaker lead insertion through the RSVC in a patient with situs inversus totalis. The left-side superior vena cava (LSVC) had been already used as a route for the first pacemaker lead insertion 15 years earlier. During the pacemaker lead revision, we found that the LSVC was obliterated, and used the RSVC as a route for a new pacemaker lead insertion.
Heart Atria ; Humans ; Pacemaker, Artificial ; Situs Inversus ; Vena Cava, Superior

There are few reports of the pleuropulmonary involvement of a non-typhi Salmonella infection in immunocompromised patients with AIDS, malignancy, collagen vascular diseases, extended use of corticosteroids, sickle cell disease, or diabetes. We report a case of a non-immunocompromised patient who presented with concomitant empyema and mediastinitis due to Salmonella without a comorbid disease. A 26-year-old male patient, with a history of pneumonia 5 years earlier and having lived abroad for several years, presented chronic cough and febrile sensation. Pneumonia, empyema and mediastinitis were noted in a chest CT scan and Salmonella enteritidis and beta-hemolytic streptococcus were identified from a culture of the pleural fluid. Initially, he was treated with cefepime, metronidazole and clarithromycin. He was cured clinically and radiographically after an 8 week treatment with antibiotics. In conclusion, this report suggests that S. enteritidis can cause empyema and mediastinitis, albeit rarely.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Adult ; Anemia, Sickle Cell ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cephalosporins ; Clarithromycin ; Collagen ; Cough ; Empyema ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Male ; Mediastinitis ; Metronidazole ; Pneumonia ; Salmonella ; Salmonella enteritidis ; Salmonella Infections ; Sensation ; Streptococcus ; Thorax ; Vascular Diseases