Gender Differences in Relationship between Fat-Free Mass Index and Fat Mass Index among Korean Children Using Body Composition Chart

∙ The authors have no financial conflicts of interest. © Copyright: Yonsei University College of Medicine 2011 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Licens

Angiotensin II induced inflammation in the kidney and in the heart of double transgenic rats

BACKGROUND: We are investigating a double transgenic rat (dTGR) model, in which rats transgenic for the human angiotensinogen and renin genes are crossed. These rats develop moderately severe hypertension but die of end-organ cardiac and renal damage by week 7. The heart shows necrosis and fibrosis, whereas the kidneys resemble the hemolytic-uremic syndrome vasculopathy. Surface adhesion molecules (ICAM-1 and VCAM-1) are expressed early on the endothelium, while the corresponding ligands are found on circulating leukocytes. Leukocyte infiltration in the vascular wall accompanies PAI-1, MCP-1, iNOS and Tissue Factor expression. Furthermore we show evidence that Ang II causes the upregulation of NF-{kappa}B in our model. METHODS: We started PDTC-treatment on four weeks old dTGR (200 mg/kg sc) and age-matched SD rats. Blood-pressure- and albuminuria- measurements were monitored during the treatment period (four weeks). The seven weeks old animals were killed, hearts and kidneys were isolated and used for immunohistochemical-and electromobility shift assay analysis. RESULTS: Chronic treatment with the antioxidant PDTC decreased blood pressure (162 plus minus 8 vs. 190 plus minus 7 mm Hg, p = 0.02). Cardiac hypertrophy index was significantly reduced (4.90 plus minus 0.1 vs. 5.77 plus minus 0.1 mg/g, p < 0.001) compared to dTGR. PDTC reduced 24 h albuminuria by 85 % (2.7 plus minus 0.5 vs. 18.0 plus minus 3.4 mg/d, p < 0.001) and prevented death significantly. Vascular injury was ameliorated in small renal and cardiac vessels. PDTC inhibited NF-{kappa}B binding activity in heart and kidney. Immunohistochemical analysis shows increased expression of the p65 NF-{kappa}B subunit in the endothelium, smooth muscles cells of damaged small vessels, infiltrated cells, glomeruli, tubuli and collecting ducts of dTGR. PDTC markedly reduced the immunoreactivity of p65. CONCLUSION: Our data show that inhibition of NF-{kappa}B by PDTC markedly reduces inflammation, iNOS expression in the dTGR most likely leading to decreased cytotoxicity, and cell proliferation. Thus, NF-{kappa}B activation plays an important role in ANG II-induced end-organ damage

A novel polyrotaxane-based intracellular delivery system for camptothecin: In vitro feasibility evaluation

Camptothecin (CPT) is a naturally occurring alkaloid that shows promise in antitumor activity in vitro against various tumor cell lines. Its potential clinical uses, however, are hindered by a lack of reaction selectivity and poor water solubility. Presented herein is a novel polyrotaxane (PR)-based delivery system that could potentially lead to a highly effective yet less toxic CPT therapy. The approach involves the synthesis of the PR–CPT conjugates via hydrolyzable linkages. To enhance the therapeutic efficacy of CPT, a cell-penetrating peptide, LMWP, is linked to the conjugate to allow specific, intratumoral delivery of CPT. To avoid nonselective uptake of the conjugates by normal tissues following administration, the cell-penetrating function of LMWP on the conjugates is masked by heparin binding. This system was designed such that after accumulation at the tumor via the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect, protamine can be subsequently administered to unmask heparin inhibition on LMWP, permitting intracellular uptake of the LMWP–PR–CPT conjugates. Once inside the tumor, CPT molecules are detached from the PR chain by hydrolysis, yielding a sustained concentration of CPT within tumor cells. In this paper, we demonstrated the in vitro feasibility of this delivery system. The LMWP–PR–CPT conjugates yielded a sevenfold increase in the overall CPT solubility, as well as a sustained release of CPT over a period of more than 7 days. Intracellular uptake of these conjugates by A2780 human ovarian cancer cells and regulation of such uptake by heparin and protamine were tested by MTT assay and confocal/flow cytometric methods, respectively. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2008Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/57404/1/31452_ftp.pd

Modelling the impact of fiscal policy on non-oil GDP in a resource rich country: Evidence from Azerbaijan

This paper analyses the impact of public expenditures and tax revenues on non-oil economic growth in Azerbaijan for the period of 2000Q1-2015Q2 by employing OLS, ARDL, FMOLS, DOLS, CCR and Granger Causality techniques. Different cointegration methods result in consistent results. In this study, there is strong evidence of significant long-run positive contributions from public expenditures to non-oil sector output. Results also show that tax revenues significantly slow down non-oil economic growth in the long run. Granger Causality analysis finds the existence of a bidirectional short-run association between non-oil GDP and public expenditures, while tax revenues Granger Cause both variables. The research findings should be useful for Azerbaijan fiscal policy makers to consider now and in the future. Current plans in Azerbaijan for both public expenditure cuts and tax revenue increases are likely to cause contraction in the Azerbaijan's non-oil sector GDP

Use of the intraosseous screw for unilateral upper molar distalization and found well balanced occlusion

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to present a temporary anchorage device with intraosseous screw for unilateral molar distalization to make a space for the impacted premolar and to found well balanced occlusion in a case. CASE PRESENTATION: A 13-year-old male who have an impacted premolar is presented with skeletal Class I and dental Class 2 relationship. The screw was placed and immediately loaded to distalize the left upper first and second molar. The average distalization time to achieve an overcorrected Class I molar relationship was 3.6 months. There was no change in overjet, overbite, or mandibular plane angle measurements. Mild protrusion (0.5 mm) of the upper left central incisor was also recorded. CONCLUSION: Immediately loaded intraosseous screw-supported anchorage unit was successful in achieving sufficient unilateral molar distalization without anchorage loss. This treatment procedure was an alternative treatment to the extraction therapy

The Significance of Bladder Trabeculation in the Female Lower Urinary System: An Objective Evaluation by Urodynamic Studies

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between bladder trabeculation, urinary function, and the stage of pelvic organ prolapse (POP). The medical records of 104 patients with POP who underwent cystoscopies and urodynamic studies were reviewed retrospectively. Age, incidence of detrusor instability, stage and site of POP, and the parameters of urodynamic studies of patients with and without bladder trabeculation were compared. The difference in the incidence of bladder trabeculation was estimated between patients with and without a suspected bladder outlet obstruction. There were significant differences in the patients' age, stage of POP, and maximal voiding velocity. Patients with a suspected bladder outlet obstruction had a significantly higher incidence of bladder trabeculation. In addition, patients with advanced stages of POP were also found to have a higher incidence of bladder trabeculation

The Relationship between Maximal Urethral Closure Pressure and Functional Urethral Length in Anterior Vaginal Wall Prolapse Patients According to Stage and Age

MUCP (Maximal urethral closure pressure) is known to be increased in patients with vaginal wall prolapse due to the mechanical obstruction of the urethra. However, urethral function following reduction has not yet been completely elucidated. Predicting postoperative urethral function may provide patients with important, additional information prior to surgery. Thus, this study was performed to evaluate the relationship between MUCP and functional urethral length (FUL) according to stage and age in anterior vaginal wall prolapse patients. 139 patients diagnosed with anterior vaginal wall prolapse at Yonsei University Medical College (YUMC) from March 1999 to May 2003 who had underwent urethral pressure profilometry following reduction were included in this study. The stage of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) was determined according to the dependent portion of the anterior vaginal wall (Aa, Ba). (By International Continence Society's POP Quantification system) Patients were divided into one of four age groups: patients in their 40s (n=13), 50s (n=53), 60s (n=54), and 70 and over (n=16). No difference in MUCP was found between the age groups. The FUL of patients in their 40s was shorter than that of patient's in their 50s and 60s. Patients were also divided into stages: stage II (n=35), stage III (n=76), and stage IV (n=25). No significant difference in MUCP was found according to stage and FUL. However, a significant difference was noted between stage III and IV as stage IV was longer. Anterior vaginal wall prolapse is known to affect urethral function due to prolapse itself, but according to our study, prolapse itself did not alter urethral function. This suggests that, regardless of age and stage, prolapse corrective surgery does not affect the urethral function

The Relationship between the Level of Fatness and Fitness during Adolescence and the Risk Factors of Metabolic Disorders in Adulthood

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the current study was to investigate the association between the level of obesity and physical fitness (PF) during adolescence and the risk factors of metabolic disorders during adulthood. METHODS: In the current analysis, 3,993 Korean adults (mean age, 38.70 +/- 1.69 years) were recruited. The level of body index (BI) and PF were examined during adolescence through high school record, and their health examination data, including systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), fasting glucose (FG), total cholesterol (TC), and current body mass index (BMI) were obtained from National Health Insurance Corporation Data. Gender-specific analyses were administered to compare health exam data across the level of BI, the level of PF, and a mixed level of BI and PF. RESULTS: Most obese males during high school had statistically higher SBP, DBP, FG, and BMI in adulthood, and most obese females had higher BMI, as compared to most lean males or females. Least fit males during high school had statistically higher BMI in adulthood, and least fit females had statistically higher SBP, DBP, FG, TC, and BMI, as compared to most fit males or females. There was a significant relationship between the mixed level of BI and PF and SBP, DBP, TC and current BMI in both genders. CONCLUSION: Maintaining a healthy level of body weight and PF during adolescence is recommended to prevent the development of metabolic diseases in adulthood.ope