• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1626-1632
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• 2008

Among patients who are receiving treatments at an oriental medical hospital for various symptoms and diseases, patients whose main disease is accompanied by metabolic syndrome with abnormal liver function. This research was performed in order to observe the progression of changes in the liver function and serum lipid profile after the oriental medical treatments to patients who have been receiving oriental medical treatment for various other diseases and have been diagnosed as having metabolic syndrome at their first visit to the hospital based on NCEP ATP III diagnosis criteria and WHO Asia Pacific region criteria. Total number of subject patients were 39cases(mean age:55.58${\pm}$2.09 years) which had 20 male and 19 female. For the references for hepatic enzyme levels and blood lipid profile were measured in before treatment and four times after treatments(every 2.31${\pm}$06.17 weeks). Serum AST was 48.86${\pm}$7.46 IU/L before oriental medical treatment. After the treatment, 40.63${\pm}$4.69, 43.12${\pm}$5.46, 37.82${\pm}$4.52 IU/L were measured where although the level decreased to the normal level compared to pre-treatment, the value was not significant statistically(P>0.05). ALT was 66.26${\pm}$11.01 IU/L before oriental medical treatment. After the treatment 62.10${\pm}$8.20, 61.10${\pm}$8.76, 43.79${\pm}$5.68 were measured where although the level decreased, abnormally high level was maintained. The last result was significant statistically(P<0.05) compared to pre-treatment. ALP was 193.06${\pm}$14.20 IU/L before oriental medical treatment. After the treatment, 176.80${\pm}$6.48, 177.46${\pm}$11.81, 162.41${\pm}$9.06 where although compared to pre-treatment the last result was significant statistically(P<0.05), the change was within the normal range. ${\gamma}$-GGT was 87.83${\pm}$12.59 IU/L before oriental medical treatment. After the treatment, progressively near normal level was achieved with 118.73${\pm}$46.45, 85.03${\pm}$17.12, 70.64${\pm}$10.93 and the last result was statistically significant compared to pre-treatment (P<0.05). Blood triglyceride was 217.63${\pm}$32.18 mg/dL before oriental medical treatment. After treatment 215.09${\pm}$22.18, 189.93${\pm}$22.44, 191.22${\pm}$18.51 where abnormal values continued even after treatment although results was not statistically significant compared to pre-treatment(P>0.05). Total-cholesterol was 197.28${\pm}$9.24 mg/dL before oriental medical treatment, after treatment 201.55${\pm}$11.13, 186.87${\pm}$8.77 and 186.68${\pm}$7.61 were measured that results were not statistically significant compared to pre-treatment(P>0.05). HDL-cholesterol was 41.88${\pm}$2.38 mg/dL before oriental medical treatment, after treatment 48.75${\pm}$4.22, 44.10${\pm}$1.91, 48.00${\pm}$2.06 the results were not statistically significant compared to pre-treatment(P>0.05). LDL-cholesterol was 111.66${\pm}$13.08 mg/dL before oriental medical treatment, after treatment 109.94${\pm}$10.18, 101.79${\pm}$8.63, 104.00${\pm}$6.98 the results were not statistically significant compared to pre-treatment(P>0.05). With such results, even if common oriental medical treatments were given to metabolic syndrome patients with abnormal liver function, the liver function was confirmed not to be aggravated, and the concentration of lipids in the blood was confirmed not to be affected in most patients.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.101-109
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• 2013

Purpose: Pediatric urolithiasis is uncommon in children but is a cause of significant morbidity and damage to the kidney. Although much information on adult urolithiasis is available in the literature, large studies on the pediatric population are still scarce. In this report, we review our experience with pediatric urolithiasis over 22 years at a tertiary referral center. Method: We retrospectively reviewed the records of children with newly diagnosed urolithiasis between January 1991 and May 2013. We assessed the age, sex, family history, initial symptoms, location of stones, underlying cause, stone analysis, treatment, and recurrence among the patients. Results: In total, 137 patients (96 male, 41 female) were assessed. The age range was 0-17 years (mean age, 6.0 years). Forty-three (31%) children were aged <1 year, and 37% (16/43) had a history of intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Thirteen patients (9.5%) had a family history of stones. The most common symptoms at presentation among the patients were gross hematuria (56/137, 41%) and flank or abdominal pain (46/137, 34%). The stones were located in the kidney (85/137, 62%), ureter (29/137, 21%), bladder (2/137, 1.4%), and multiple locations (20/137, 15 %). Congenital abnormalities of the genitourinary (G-U) tract, with or without metabolic abnormality, or urinary tract infection (UTI) was detected in 26 children (19%). Ninety-one patients (66%) underwent metabolic examination, and 38% of these patients exhibited an abnormality. UTI, with or without abnormalities of the G-U tract, or metabolic abnormality was detected in 26 children (19%). Of the 35 stones analyzed, the majority were calcium stones (20/35, 57%), followed by infected stones (5/35, 14%), uric acid stones (4/35, 11%), carbonate apatite stones (3/35, 7%), cystine stones (2/35, 6%), and phosphate stones (1/35, 3%). Five patients (4%) required open procedures, with or without non-open procedures, whereas 77 patients (56%) were managed conservatively; the remaining 55 patients (40%) received some other form of intervention. Eighteen patients (13%) had stone recurrence during the follow-up period. Conclusions: Pediatric urolithiasis is commonly associated with abnormalities of the G-U tract and/or metabolic disorders and/or UTI. Half of the patients will pass their stones spontaneously, and all the techniques of minimally invasive surgery are applicable in the treatment of children with stones. As the recurrence rates are high among this population, long-term follow-up is recommended and the complete clearance of stones is important.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.28-39
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• 1999

Purpose: We investigated the difference of glucose metabolism of medial and lateral temporal lobes of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) utilizing quantitative comparison of regional metabolic activities using asymmetric index. Materials and Methods: We studied 19 pathologically proven mesial TLE and 25 lateral TLE patients. Lateral TLE patients were either normal on magnetic resonance imaging (cryptogenic: n=14) or had structural lesions (lesional: n= 11). Asymmetric index (ASI) was calculated as [(ipsilateral-contralateral)/(ipsilateral+contralateral)]${\times}200$. Results: ASI of medial and lateral lobes of mesial TLE was decreased ($-16.4{\pm}8.3$ and $-12.1{\pm}5.5$, respectively). In cryptogenic lateral TLE, ASI of lateral temporal lobe was decreased ($-11.8{\pm}4.7$), whereas that of medial temporal lobe was not decreased ($-4.6{\pm}6.3$). ASI of medial lobe of lesional lateral TLE was $-7.3{\pm}9.1$, which was significantly different from that of mesial TLE (p<0.05). Patients with lesional lateral TLE had evident metabolic defects or decrease (ASI: $-22{\pm}10.5$) in lateral temporal lobe. While we could not find the difference of metabolic activity in lateral temporal lobes between cryptogenic lateral TLE and mesial TLE patients, the difference of metabolic activity was significant in medial temporal lobes which was revealed by ASI quantitation. Conclusion: Asymmetric decrease of metabolic activity in both medial and lateral temporal lobes indicates medial temporal epilepsy. Symmetry of metabolic activity in medial temporal lobe combined with asymmetry of that in lateral temporal lobe may give hints that the epileptogenic zone is lateral.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.55-58
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• 2015

Tetrahydrobiopterin ($BH_4$) can normalize blood phenylalanine (Phe) levels in $BH_4$ deficiency, but typically not in phenylketonuria (PKU). In 1999, Kure et al. reported that some PKU patients showed decreased blood Phe levels after $BH_4$ loading, and thereafter, those PKU patients were identified by neonatal PKU screening. A natural cofactor for phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) is a 6R-isomer of $BH_4$, which is first synthesized in Japan as Sapropterin dihydrochloride (Biopten$^{(R)}$) in 1982. In Japan, Biopten$^{(R)}$ is first approved for the treatment of $BH_4$ deficiency in 1992, and then for $BH_4$-responsive PAH deficiency (BPKU) in 2008. The discovery of BPKU has vast clinical implications. After Biopten$^{(R)}$ (Kuvan$^{(R)}$) is available for the treatment of BPKU, the QOL of both patients and their families were improved very much, since the serum phenylalanine levels were controlled within 4 mg/dL by $BH_4$ mono-therapy with a normal diet or $BH_4$ combined use of mild phenylalanine-restricted diet. Biopten$^{(R)}$ therapy in patients with BPKU is highly efficacious (70%) at maintaining serum Phe levels within recommended control range and provides excellent safety at least average use period of 10 years (range, 1-17 years) with no unwarranted side effects in Japan. In addition it has been confirmed that sapropterin therapy initiated before 4 years of age was very effective to maintain plasma Phe levels within the favorable range and was safe in Japanese patients with BPKU.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.89-94
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• 2002

Purpose : This study was performed to determine the safety and efficacy of recently developed specific formulas for phenylketonuria(PKU) patient by observing the growth and developmental pattern and serum phenylalanine level. Methods : We observed 14 patients diagnosed with PKU at Soon Chung Hyang University Hospital fed with formula for 1 year by checking daily diet diary and plasma aminoacids, Hb, Hct, WBC, Platelet count, ferritin, GOT, GPT, protein, albumin, globulin and urinalysis. Results : The 14 patients all liked the formula and height, weight and head circumference showed normal growth. Hemoglobin levels were in normal range, but 4 out of the 14 patients showed ferritin level lower than 12 ng/mL and needed iron supplements. Serum albumin, liver enzyme levels, urinalysis showed within normal range. The plasma phenyalanine levels were normal ranged 0.7-15.6 mg/dL. Adverse reactions such as rash, diarrhea or constipation were not observed. Conclusion : We confirmed that the specific formulas for PKU patients developed in Korea, PKU-1 and PKU-2 showed favorable results In development and treatment of PKU patients and could be used safely to children.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.762-770
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• 2011

Osteoprotegerin (OPG) plays a core role in bone reformation by antagonizing the effect of receptor activator of nuclear factor ${\kappa}$-B ligand (RANKL), and mediates vascular calcification in cardiovascular disease patients. Thus, we aimed to examine the relationship between serum OPG levels and cardiovascular factors and inflammatory markers in metabolic syndrome patients (MS). This cross-sectional study included 96 men who visited the diet clinic between May and July 2011. Patients were classified into 2 groups based on NCEP-ATP guidelines: normal and with MS (n = 50 and 46, respectively). Physical measurements, biochemical assay were measured. Serum OPG and IL-6, diponectin and hs-CRP were assessed. MS were aged $50.02{\pm}10.85$ years, and normal patients $52.07{\pm}9.56$ years, with no significant differences. Significant differences were not observed in BMI between the 2 groups. Moreover, significant differences were not observed in serum OPG, however, the serum OPG level ($4.41{\pm}1.86pmol/L$) differed significantly between an overweight MS (BMI > 25) and normal patients. OPG was correlated to age (r = 0.410, p = 0.000), HDL-cholesterol (r = 0.209, p = 0.015), and log adiponectin (r = 0.175, p = 0.042). Multiple regression analyses using the enter method showed that age (${\beta}$ = 0.412, p = 0.000) and BMI (${\beta}$ = 0.265, p = 0.000) considerably affected OPG. In conclusion, out study showed that serum OPG levels are correlated with cardiovascular risk factors, such as BMI, HDL-cholesterol and adiponectin in MS and adiponectin, suggesting that serum OPG has potential as a cardiovascular disease indicator and predictor.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.143-152
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• 2022

Galactosemia is a rare genetic metabolic disease caused by galactose and its metabolites generated during carbohydrate metabolism, which is relatively rare in Asian countries, including Korea. Patients with galactosemia should be treated with a galactose-restricted diet. However, information is lacking about the exact content of galactose in food, and dietary guidelines for patients with galactosemia in Korea. This study aims to recognize the difficulties faced by parents and clinical experts of patients with galactosemia, and understand their demands. Totally, 5 parents of children diagnosed with galactosemia and 5 clinical professionals participated in the focus group interviews. The parents' interview focused on the daily life of the patient, which included diet and social difficulties. The clinical experts mainly answered about medical care, including the number and status of patients, and their suggestions for effective treatment. Most parents were worried about social isolation due to conflicts in the family as well as in society due to a lack of understanding of the disease. The clinical experts stated the absence of a disease management system as the greatest problem. An integrated support system for patients with galactosemia, which includes appropriate dietary guidelines by considering the domestic environment, is required.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.260-267
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• 2024

Objective: This study investigated the metabolic status of the spent culture media from embryos of patients with repeated implantation failure (RIF) undergoing in vitro fertilization-intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles in comparison with the embryos from healthy fertile women. Methods: Metabolite levels in spent culture media were assessed and compared between embryos from RIF patients (n=35) and oocyte donors as controls (n=15). Protein levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) were determined using Western blotting. Concentrations of glucose, pyruvate, and lactate were measured using spectrophotometry. Ionic colorimetric assay kits were utilized to analyze the concentrations of sodium, chloride, calcium, and magnesium ions. High-performance liquid chromatography was employed to measure the concentrations of glutamic acid, aspartic acid, methionine, phenylalanine, and histidine. Results: Glucose consumption and lactate secretion were higher in the control group than in the RIF group. The magnesium concentration was significantly higher in the control group than in the RIF group, but glutamic acid and aspartic acid concentrations were lower in the control group than in the RIF patients (p<0.05). The levels of IGF-1, sodium, calcium, chloride, methionine, histidine, and phenylalanine did not show statistically significant differences between the two groups. Conclusion: The metabolic profile of the culture medium of the embryos in the RIF group differed from that of the control group. These findings suggest potential factors that may affect implantation capacity in RIF patients and provide a new perspective on embryo selection.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8173-8176
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• 2016

Cancer patients frequently experience malnutrition. Cancer and cancer therapy effects nutritional status through alterations in the metabolic system and reduction in food intake. In the present study, fifty seven cancer patients were selected as subjects from the oncology ward of Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Silchar, India. Evaluation of nutritional status of cancer patients during treatment was carried out by scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA). The findings of PG-SGA showed that 15.8% (9) were well nourished, 31.6% (18) were moderately or suspected of being malnourished and 52.6% (30) were severely malnourished. The prevalence of malnutrition was highest in lip/oral (33.33%) cancer patients. The study showed that the prevalence of malnutrition (84.2%) was high in cancer patients during treatment.

• The Journal of the Korean life insurance medical association
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.4-6
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• 2010

The life expectancy of HIV-infected subjects has improved dramatically since the introduction of highly-active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Considering that patients with HIV infection are living longer, treatment plans should include those for the accompanying co-morbidities such as cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, malignancy, etc. This review discusses the impact of HAART on the epidemiology of survival and co-morbidities (malignancy and cardiovascular diseases) among HIV-infected subjects.