• Title/Summary/Keyword: growth disorders

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Normative data of penile length in Korean newborns (한국인 신생아 음경 길이에 대한 연구)

  • Kim, Sang Yeob;Jun, Jae Sung;Lee, Sang Geel
    • Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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    • v.51 no.9
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    • pp.944-949
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    • 2008
  • Purpose : As modern society has became more open, interest in healthy internal and external growth has increased, including that pertaining to penile length in children. A micropenis is defined as one where penile length is more than 2 SD (standard deviation) below the mean, and it can be traced back to chromosome and endocrine disorders. The authors executed this study to suggest guidelines for the study of the micropenis and standard information for penile length in Korean newborns. Methods : The subjects of this study were 168 male infants between 37 and 42 weeks of gestational age, none of whom had any complications during pregnancy or birth; each had been born in Daegu Fatima Hospital between February and June 2007. Penile length was measured using conventional stretched penile length measurement (CPLM) and syringe methods. Results : Penile length was $3.02{\pm}0.25cm$ (F=36.467, $R^2=0.180$, P<0.001) when measured with CPLM, and $3.29{\pm}0.26cm$ (F=9.149, $R^2=0.052$, P<0.001) with the syringe method. There was no statistically significant difference in the penile length of newborn infants as a result of taking measurements with the two methods, and both methods showed significance at 0.631 in terms of Pearson's correlation coefficient, at the level of P=0.01. Conclusion : In this study, penile length tended to be longer when gestational age was longer, and a micropenis can be assumed to be one less than 2.5 cm using CPLM and less than 2.8 cm using the syringe method. In the case of a concealed penis, the syringe method is helpful. When a micropenis is assumed, close observation by outpatient department personnel, and additional endocrine and chromosome studies should be undertaken after sufficiently consulting the parents.

Current Status and Future Perspective of PET (PET 이용 현황 및 전망)

  • Lee, Myung-Chul
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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    • v.36 no.1
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    • pp.1-7
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    • 2002
  • Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a nuclear medicine imaging modality that consists of systemic administration to a subject of a radiopharmaceutical labeled with a positron-emitting radionuclide. Following administration, its distribution in the organ or structure under study can be assessed as a function of time and space by (1) defecting the annihilation radiation resulting from the interaction of the positrons with matter, and (2) reconstructing the distribution of the radioactivity from a series of that used in computed tomography (CT). The nuclides most generally exhibit chemical properties that render them particularly desirable in physiological studies. The radionuclides most widely used in PET are F-18, C-11, O-15 and N-13. Regarding to the number of the current PET Centers worldwide (based on ICP data), more than 300 PET Centers were in operation in 2000. The use of PET technology grew rapidly compared to that in 1992 and 1996, particularly in the USA, which demonstrates a three-fold rise in PET installations. In 2001, 194 PET Centers were operating in the USA. In 1994, two clinical and research-oriented PET Centers at Seoul National University Hospital and Samsung Medical Center, was established as the first dedicated PET and Cyclotron machines in Korea, followed by two more PET facilities at the Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Ajou Medical Center, Yonsei University Medical Center, National Cancer Center and established their PET Center. Catholic Medical School and Pusan National University Hospital have finalized a plan to install PET machine in 2002, which results in total of nine PET Centers in Korea. Considering annual trends of PET application in four major PET centers in Korea in Asan Medical Center recent six years (from 1995 to 2000), a total of 11,564 patients have been studied every year and the number of PET studies has shown steep growth year upon year. We had 1,020 PET patients in 1995. This number increased to 1,196, 1,756, 2,379, 3,015 and 4,414 in 1996,1997,1998,1999 and 2000, respectively. The application in cardiac disorders is minimal, and among various neuropsychiatric diseases, patients with epilepsy or dementia can benefit from PET studios. Recently, we investigated brain mapping and neuroreceptor works. PET is not a key application for evaluation of the cardiac patients in Korea because of the relatively low incidence of cardiac disease and less costly procedures such as SPECT can now be performed. The changes in the application of PET studios indicate that, initially, brain PET occupied almost 60% in 1995, followed by a gradual decrease in brain application. However, overall PET use in the diagnosis and management of patients with cancer was up to 63% in 2000. The current medicare coverage policy in the USA is very important because reimbursement policy is critical for the promotion of PET. In May 1995, the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) began covering the PET perfusion study using Rubidium-82, evaluation of a solitary pulmonary nodule and pathologically proven non-small cell lung cancer. As of July 1999, Medicare's coverage policy expanded to include additional indications: evaluation of recurrent colorectal cancer with a rising CEA level, staging of lymphoma and detection of recurrent or metastatic melanoma. In December of 2001, National Coverage decided to expand Medicare reimbursement for broad use in 6 cancers: lung, colorecctal, lymphoma, melanoma, head and neck, and esophageal cancers; for determining revascularization in heart diseases; and for identifying epilepsy patients. In addition, PET coverage is expected to further expand to diseases affecting women, such as breast, ovarian, uterine and vaginal cancers as well as diseases like prostate cancer and Alzheimer's disease.

Evaluation of Agronomic Characteristics, Nutritional Contents, and Insect Response of the Transgenic Potato Resistant to Glufosinate Ammonium (제초제 저항성 형질전환 감자의 농업적 특성, 영양 성분 및 해충 반응성 평가)

  • Ahn, Soon-Young;Cho, Kwang-Soo;Seo, Hyeo-Won;Yi, Jeong-Yoon;Bae, Shin-Cheol;Cho, Ji-Hong;Park, Young-Eun;Kim, Ju-Il;Kim, Hyun-Jun;Cho, Hyun-Mook
    • Horticultural Science & Technology
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    • v.29 no.3
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    • pp.247-254
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    • 2011
  • The agronomic characteristics, nutritional contents, and insect response of the potato clones transformed with a glufosinate ammonium resistance gene were evaluated. Among the 4 transgenic potato clones, the Bar 3 clone was selected as a promising one for commercialization. The Bar 3 clone showed similar tuber yield capacity but higher herbicide resistance as compared with the non-transgenic potato cv. Dejima. The herbicide resistance of the Bar 3 clone was more than 5 times higher when tested with the herbicide concentration recommended by the producer. The major agronomic characteristics of the Bar 3 clone were not different from those of the non-transgenic Dejima. The annual variation in yields and agronomic characteristics showed similar tendency for 2 years from the third to fourth generation after transformation. The tubers of the Bar 3 clone also showed low occurrence in common scab and physiological disorders such as cracking and secondary growth. But the reasons for such results are yet to be studied. Also, it was considered that the Bar 3 clone have a potential of reducing not only common scab occurrence but also soil erosion during potato cultivation in field. The nutritional contents (mineral compound, vitamin C and amino acid) and response to Spodoptera exigua of the transgenic potato clones were not significantly different.

Inhibition of Viability and Genetic Change in Hypoxia-treated Lung Pericytes (허파혈관주위세포에서 저산소증에 의한 생존능의 억제와 유전자 발현의 변화)

  • Shin, Jong Wook;Kim, Kae-Young;Lee, Young Woo;Jung, Jae Woo;Lee, Byoung Jun;Kim, Jae-Yeol;Jo, Inho;Park, In Won;Choi, Byoung Whui
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.57 no.1
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    • pp.37-46
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    • 2004
  • Background : Lung pericytes are important constituent cells of blood-air barrier in pulmonary microvasculature. These cells take part in the control of vascular contractility and permeability. In this study, it was hypothesized that change of lung pericytes might be attributable to pathologic change in microvasculature in acute lung injury. The purpose of this study was how hypoxia change proliferation and genetic expression in lung pericytes. Methods : From the lungs of several Sprague-Dawley rats, performed the primary culture of lung pericytes and subculture. Characteristics of lung pericytes were confirmed with stellate shape in light microscopy and immunocytochemistry. 2% concentration of oxygen and $200{\mu}M$ $CoCl_2$ were treated to cells. Tryphan blue method and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction were done. Results : 1. We established methodology for primary culture of lung pericytes. 2. Hypoxia inhibited cellular proliferation in pericytes. 3. Hypoxia could markedly induce vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and smad-2. 4. Hypoxia-inducible factor-$1{\alpha}$(HIF-$1{\alpha}$) was also induced by 2% oxygen. Conclusion : Viability of lung pericytes are inhibited by hypoxia. Hypoxia can stimulate expression of hypoxia-responsive genes. Pericytic change may be contributed to dysfunction of alveolar-capillary barrier in various pulmonary disorders.

Cytoprotective Effects of Schisandrin A against Hydrogen Peroxide-induced Oxidative Stress in SW1353 Human Chondrocytes (SW1353 인간 연골세포에서 산화적 스트레스에 대한 schisandrin A의 세포 보호 효과)

  • Jeong, Jin-Woo;Choi, Eun Ok;Kwon, Da Hye;Kim, Bum Hoi;Park, Dong Il;Hwang, Hye Jin;Kim, Byung Woo;Choi, Yung Hyun
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.27 no.9
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    • pp.1070-1077
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    • 2017
  • Chondrocyte apoptosis induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. Schisandrin A, a bioactive compound found in fruits of the Schisandra genus, has been reported to possess multiple pharmacological and therapeutic properties. Although several studies have described the antioxidant effects of analogues of schisandrin A, the underlying molecular mechanisms of this bioactive compound remain largely unresolved. The present study investigated the cytoprotective effect of schisandrin A against oxidative stress (hydrogen peroxide [$H_2O_2$]) in SW1353 human chondrocyte cells. The results showed that schisandrin A preconditioning significantly inhibited $H_2O_2-induced$ growth inhibition and apoptotic cell death by blocking the degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase proteins and down-regulating pro-caspase-3. These antiapoptotic effects of schisandrin A were associated with attenuation of mitochondrial dysfunction and normalization of expression changes of proapoptotic Bax and antiapoptotic Bcl-2 in $H_2O_2-stimulated$ SW1353 chondrocytes. Furthermore, schisandrin A effectively abrogated $H_2O_2-induced$ intracellular ROS accumulation and phosphorylation of histone H2AX at serine 139, a widely used marker of DNA damage. Thus, the present study demonstrates that schisandrin A provides protection against $H_2O_2-induced$ apoptosis and DNA damage in SW1353 chondrocytes, possibly by prevention of ROS generation. Collectively, our data indicate that schisandrin A has therapeutic potential in the treatment of oxidative disorders caused by overproduction of ROS.

Analysis of 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D in the Aqueous Humor of Age-related Macular Degeneration Patients (습성 연령관련황반변성 환자에서 안구 방수 내 비타민 D 분석)

  • Song, Won Seok;Yoon, Won Tae;Kim, Yong-Kyu;Park, Sung Pyo
    • Journal of The Korean Ophthalmological Society
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    • v.59 no.11
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    • pp.1024-1029
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    • 2018
  • Purpose: We examined aqueous humor levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (vitamin D) in patients with age-related macular degeneration to investigate possible relationships between aqueous humor vitamin D levels and clinical manifestations. Methods: Patients > 50 years of age, 52 eyes of 34 patients with age-related macular degeneration, and 23 eyes of 17 patients treated with cataract surgery without retinal disease, were examined for aqueous humor vitamin D levels and compared. The experimental group was divided into two groups according to the median value of aqueous humor vitamin D levels. We compared the clinical manifestations of macular degeneration in both groups and identified relationships between aqueous humor vitamin D levels and clinical features. Results: Vitamin D levels in the aqueous humor were significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group (experimental, $10.03{\pm}10.1ng/mL$ vs. control group, $40.8{\pm}16.4ng/mL$; p < 0.001). Patients with high vitamin D levels in the macular degeneration group had a higher percentage of fibrovascular pigment epithelial detachments than those in the low grade group (high grade group, 65% vs. low grade group, 27%; p = 0.003). Multiple linear regression analysis showed a significant correlation between vitamin D levels and the total number of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor intravitreal injections within 6 months (standardize coefficient, ${\beta}=-0.336$). Conclusions: Patients with wet age-related macular degeneration had significantly lower vitamin D levels in the aqueous humor compared to control group subjects of similar ages. However, in patients with macular degeneration, low vitamin D levels were associated with a greater number of intravitreal injections, while higher levels of vitamin D may lead to more advanced forms of fibrovascular retinal pigment epithelium and related low vision. These relationships were not always constant, so further studies on the relationships between local vitamin D levels and ocular disorders are needed.

Preventive Effect of LS-RUG-com-a Mixture of Rubus crataegifolius, Ulmus macrocarpa, and Gardenia jasminoides-on Gastric Disorders in Animal Models (산딸기, 유백피, 치자 추출물의 임상용 복합제제의 동물 실험모델에서의 위 질환 억제활성)

  • Young Ik Lee;Ahtesham Hussain;Md Aziz Abdur Rahman;Ho Yong Sohn;Hye Jung Yoon;Jin Sook Cho
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.33 no.11
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    • pp.923-935
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    • 2023
  • Rubus crataegifolius (RC), Ulmus macrocarpa (UM), and Gardenia jasminoides (GJ) are well-known folk medicines in Asia used to treat various gastrointestinal disturbances. The present study evaluated the gastroprotective effect of LS-RUG-com, a mixture of commercially prepared powders of RC, UM, and GJ with a ratio of 3:1:2(w/w/w) against HCl/ethanol-induced gastritis, indomethacin-induced ulcers, and esophageal reflux-induced esophageal mucosal damage and Helicobacter pylori infections. In addition, TNF-α and IL-1β expressions were also determined and measured in esophageal tissue. As to HCl/ethanol-induced gastritis, the LS-RUG-com treatment at a dose of 150 mg/kg showed a remarkable anti-gastritis effect. Regarding indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers, the LS-RUG-com treatment had a significant anti-gastric ulcer effect. Furthermore, in the gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) model experiment, the LS-RUG-com treatment resulted in the histological recovery of stomach damage and mucosal injuries. Furthermore, the LS-RUG-com treatment led to an increase in gastric content pH, an increase in mucus protection, and a decrease in gastric pepsin output with a significant decrease in TNF-α and IL-1β. As to the Helicobacter pylori infected animal model, LS-RUG-com had a notable inhibitory effect on Helicobacter growth. The use of RC, UM, or GJ in isolation or the LS-RUG-com treatment as whole had good effects in terms of anti-oxidation, anti-neutralization, gastric acid secretion inhibition, and anti-lipid peroxidation, which supported the use of natural products as systemic gastric protective agents. Our results suggest that the LS-RUG-com might be a significant systemic gastroprotective agent that could be utilized for the treatment and/or protection from gastric disturbances and related damage.