Smoking is one of the most harmful causes of disease. Many previous researches have shown that cigarette smoking leads to cardiovascular, respiratory, oncologic, and cerebrovascular diseases. In addition to such adverse effects, the literature indicates that cigarette smoking can worsen sleep quality and induce sleep disorders. This review focuses on the relationship between smoking/nicotine and sleep and sleep disorders of insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, and restless legs syndrome. Because smoking is a behavioral pattern that can be changed, it is important to quit smoking to improve overall health and sleep.
Cerebrovascular Disorders ; Nicotine ; Restless Legs Syndrome ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Sleep Wake Disorders ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tobacco Products

BACKGROUND: Simple renal cyst is the most common cystic deformation found in adults. However, there were a few systematic Korean reports for the clinical symptoms and complications of simple renal cysts. The author's purpose was to determine the relationship between simple renal cysts diagnosed by abdominal ultrasonography and hypertension. METHODS: Among 13,482 persons who took a routine physical examination at Ulsan University Hospital in 2002, 5,127 persons who took medical examinations again in 2010 were selected. We excluded persons who had renal cyst, hypertension, diabetes, liver cirrhosis, kidney disease, thyroid disease, and cancer in 2002. Analysis was conducted for 505 subjects with newly diagnosed simple renal cyst and 2,744 subjects without renal cyst in 2010. The simple renal cyst group was compared to a control group without renal cyst. RESULTS: Among 3,249 subjects, simple renal cyst and hypertension were newly diagnosed in 505 subjects and 503 subjects. The subjects who had simple renal cysts had significantly higher hypertension incidence (odds ratio [OR], 1.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20 to 1.94). Significant hypertension incidence was observed especially when the subjects had cysts located on both kidneys (OR, 3.48; 95% CI, 2.12 to 5.71), two (OR, 3.08; 95% CI, 1.84 to 5.15) or more cysts (OR, 3.12; 95% CI, 1.38 to 7.04), and larger cysts more than 1 cm in diameter (OR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.16 to 2.07). CONCLUSION: The presence of simple renal cysts was significantly positively related to the incidence of hypertension. Bilateral distribution, two or more number, and larger size than 1 cm diameter were the characteristics of simple renal cyst related to hypertension.
Adult ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Incidence ; Kidney ; Kidney Diseases ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Physical Examination ; Thyroid Diseases ; Ulsan ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Galectin-3 is a beta-galactoside binding protein that has been reported to be implicated in numerous biologic and pathologic functions including cell growth, cell adhesion, inflammation, neoplastic transformation, and apoptosis. Most previous studies in thyroid tissue have found galectin-3 expression to be a feature of malignant and not of benign or normal tissue. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of galectin-3 in 57 thyroid lesions, to assess its potential as a marker in the diagnosis and classification of thyroid malignancy. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: The followings were studied: 19 cases of papillary carcinomas, 8 of follicular carcinomas, one anaplastic carcinoma, one medullary carcinoma, 16 follicular adenomas, and 12 nodular hyperplasia. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded thyroid tissues were stained immunohistochemically for galectin-3. RESULTS: Galectin-3 expression was found in all cases, however, it was strong in papillary carcinomas than in follicular carcinomas or adenomas. In nodular hyperplasia, galectin-3 expression was very weak and focal. A significant difference was not found in the expression of galectin-3 between follicular carcinomas and follicular adenomas. CONCLUSION: Galectin-3 is a reliable marker of papillary carcinoma but not useful in identifying follicular carcinoma.
Adenoma ; Apoptosis ; Carcinoma ; Carcinoma, Medullary ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Carrier Proteins ; Cell Adhesion ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Galectin 3* ; Hyperplasia ; Immunohistochemistry ; Inflammation ; Thyroid Gland*

PURPOSE: We evaluated whether aminoguanidine could inhibit VEGF mRNA expression in the retinal pigment epithelial cells cultured at various glucose concentrations. METHODS: Human retinal pigment epithelial cells were cultured in the culture media containing 5.5 mM, or 11 mM, or 16 mM glucose for 5 days, or 7 days, or 14 days respectively. To evaluate an inhibitory effect of aminoguanidine on VEGF mRNA expression, 1 micro M, or 3 micro M, or 10 micro M aminoguanidine was added in the culture media. The VEGF mRNA expression was assayed by northern blot analysis. RESULTS: The VEGF mRNA expression of the cultured retinal pigment epithelial cells increased proportionally with media glucose concentration in culture media. At each glucose concentration of the media, VEGF mRNA expression increased with a prolongation of incubation period. An aminoguanidine inhibited the expression of VEGF mRNA by concentration-dependent manner in 5 day and 7 day incubation, but not in 14 day incubation. CONCLUSIONS: The aminoguanidine could inhibit a new vessel formation in the diabetic retina, and be useful for therapeutic or preventive drug in the diabetic retinopathy.
Blotting, Northern ; Culture Media ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Epithelial Cells ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Retina ; Retinaldehyde ; RNA, Messenger ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

Malacoplakia is a rare, chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by abnormal macrophage function and cell infiltration into normal tissues. We report a 72 year old male with bilateral renal parenchymal malacoplakia who presented with high fever and acute renal failure. The patient had anemia, leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia and bilateral nephromegaly with reduced renal function. Blood and urine cultures showed no micro-organisms. A kidney biopsy revealed diffuse interstitial histiocytic infiltration with intracellular inclusion bodies(Michaelis-Gutmann body). He was treated with antibiotics, and bethanechol, ascorbic acid without improvement. Following treatment with an intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy, clinical improvement was made. Renal parenchymal malacoplakia should be considered in the differential diagnosis when presented with high fever, enlarged kidneys and acute renal failure.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Aged ; Anemia ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Ascorbic Acid ; Bethanechol ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fever* ; Humans ; Kidney ; Leukocytosis ; Macrophages ; Malacoplakia* ; Male ; Methylprednisolone ; Thrombocytopenia

Malacoplakia is a rare, chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by abnormal macrophage function and cell infiltration into normal tissues. We report a 72 year old male with bilateral renal parenchymal malacoplakia who presented with high fever and acute renal failure. The patient had anemia, leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia and bilateral nephromegaly with reduced renal function. Blood and urine cultures showed no micro-organisms. A kidney biopsy revealed diffuse interstitial histiocytic infiltration with intracellular inclusion bodies(Michaelis-Gutmann body). He was treated with antibiotics, and bethanechol, ascorbic acid without improvement. Following treatment with an intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy, clinical improvement was made. Renal parenchymal malacoplakia should be considered in the differential diagnosis when presented with high fever, enlarged kidneys and acute renal failure.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Aged ; Anemia ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Ascorbic Acid ; Bethanechol ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fever* ; Humans ; Kidney ; Leukocytosis ; Macrophages ; Malacoplakia* ; Male ; Methylprednisolone ; Thrombocytopenia

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated that enalapril or lovastatin seems to ameliorate the renal injury in several animal models with glomerulonephritis. The aim of this study was to examine whether enalapril or lovastatin was still beneficial in tubulointerstitial injury induced by protein-overload proteinuria in rats. METHODS: Enalapril(200mg/L in the drinking water) or lovastatin(16mg/kg, subcutaneously) was administered to uninephrectomized rats which received a daily intraperitoneal injections of bovine serum albumin(BSA, 1/100g body weight)(each n=6). Six rats were served as normal control. After 2 weeks, renal cortical pathologic findings, including immunohistochemistry for macrophage were examined and renal cortical osteopontin, MCP-1, endothelin-1, TGF-beta and procollagen alpha1(I) mRNA expression were examined by Northern blot analysis. RESULTS: Renal cortex in rats with protein-overload proteinuria showed infiltration of inflammatory cells including macrophages, tubular dilatation and atrophy. Renal cortical mRNA expression of osteopontin, MCP-1 and endothelin-1 were increased in rats with protein-overload proteinuria. There were no changes in TGF-beta and procollagen alpha1(I) mRNA expression. Enalapril decreased the macrophage infiltration significantly and inhibited the mRNA expression of osteopontin, MCP-1 and endothelin-1. However, lovastatin had no significant effects on the macrophage infiltration and cortical mRNA expression. CONCLUSION: Enalapril showed beneficial effects in tubulointerstitial injury induced by protein-overload proteiuria in rats by inhibition of macrophage infiltration and the cortical mRNA expression of osteopontin, MCP-1 and endothelin-1. However, lovastatin had no significant effects.
Animals ; Atrophy ; Blotting, Northern ; Dilatation ; Drinking ; Enalapril* ; Endothelin-1 ; Glomerulonephritis ; Immunohistochemistry ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Lovastatin* ; Macrophages ; Models, Animal ; Osteopontin ; Procollagen ; Proteinuria* ; Rats* ; RNA, Messenger ; Transforming Growth Factor beta

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated that enalapril or lovastatin seems to ameliorate the renal injury in several animal models with glomerulonephritis. The aim of this study was to examine whether enalapril or lovastatin was still beneficial in tubulointerstitial injury induced by protein-overload proteinuria in rats. METHODS: Enalapril(200mg/L in the drinking water) or lovastatin(16mg/kg, subcutaneously) was administered to uninephrectomized rats which received a daily intraperitoneal injections of bovine serum albumin(BSA, 1/100g body weight)(each n=6). Six rats were served as normal control. After 2 weeks, renal cortical pathologic findings, including immunohistochemistry for macrophage were examined and renal cortical osteopontin, MCP-1, endothelin-1, TGF-beta and procollagen alpha1(I) mRNA expression were examined by Northern blot analysis. RESULTS: Renal cortex in rats with protein-overload proteinuria showed infiltration of inflammatory cells including macrophages, tubular dilatation and atrophy. Renal cortical mRNA expression of osteopontin, MCP-1 and endothelin-1 were increased in rats with protein-overload proteinuria. There were no changes in TGF-beta and procollagen alpha1(I) mRNA expression. Enalapril decreased the macrophage infiltration significantly and inhibited the mRNA expression of osteopontin, MCP-1 and endothelin-1. However, lovastatin had no significant effects on the macrophage infiltration and cortical mRNA expression. CONCLUSION: Enalapril showed beneficial effects in tubulointerstitial injury induced by protein-overload proteiuria in rats by inhibition of macrophage infiltration and the cortical mRNA expression of osteopontin, MCP-1 and endothelin-1. However, lovastatin had no significant effects.
Animals ; Atrophy ; Blotting, Northern ; Dilatation ; Drinking ; Enalapril* ; Endothelin-1 ; Glomerulonephritis ; Immunohistochemistry ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Lovastatin* ; Macrophages ; Models, Animal ; Osteopontin ; Procollagen ; Proteinuria* ; Rats* ; RNA, Messenger ; Transforming Growth Factor beta

BACKGROUNDS AND OBJECTIVE: It has been known that tumor size, regional neck metastasis state and tumor thickness are the prognostic factors of oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer. Additionally, DNA flow cytometry has also been reported to be one of the pronosic factors. We would like to evaluate the prognostic value of DNA flow cytometry in early oral cavity or oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the relation between tumor thickness or neck metastasis and survival rate in 59 patients with early oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer. Among those patients, DNA flow cytometry was performed in 28 cases and the prognostic value of the parameters of DNA flow cytometry was analyzed. RESULTS: Overall, a 2-year survival rate of the patients was 90.1%. Neither tumor thickness nor neck metastasis state was related to the overall survival rate. Tumor thickness was not related to neck metastasis state, either. Of the parameters of the DNA flow cytometry, only the S phase fraction of aneuploidy was related to the overall survival rate (p=0.0288). Also the total proportion of aneuploidy was weakly related to the state of neck metastasis (p=0.0518). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that DNA flow cytometry can be used as a good complementary factor for predicting the overall survival or neck metastasis in patients with early primary oral cavity or oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
Aneuploidy ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; DNA* ; Flow Cytometry* ; Humans ; Mouth* ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms ; S Phase ; Survival Rate

Recently IgA nephropathy(IgAN) in transplanted kidney have been reported a more grave prognosis of the disease, which account for progressive allograft loss as 12-16%. But, the studies for the clinical significance and the prognostic factors of IgAN developed in transplanted kidney were not sufficient. We analyzed the frequency and the prognostic factors of IgAN developed in patients who underwent Kidney transplantation(KT) between January 1990 and October 1998. Total 231 renal biopsies was done. IgAN was diagnosed in 31 cases, and it was 13.4% of total cases and 24.4% of cases that acute rejection(AR) were excluded. After the 3 patients of IgAN was excluded due to combined AR, 28 patients were followed. The allograft dysfunction, which defined as serum creatinine at last follow-up was above 2.0 mg/dL, was observed in 10 patients(35.7%) and 4 patients(14.3%) of them had graft failure and restarted hemodialysis. The serum crcatinine and creatinine clearance at renal biopsy were significantly correlated with allograft dysfunction, also interstitial fibrosis, tubular atrophy and vascular fibrous intima1 thickening showed similar correlation with prognosis. In conclusion, when allograft dysfunction was developed, IgAN in transplanted kidney should be considered and if the evidences of elevated serurn creatinine and decresed creatinine clearence at biopsy, severe interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy, severe vascular fibrous intimal thickening were present, more closer follow-up and careful treatment should be taken.
Allografts* ; Atrophy ; Biopsy ; Creatinine ; Fibrosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A* ; Kidney ; Prognosis ; Renal Dialysis ; Transplants