Hypoglycemic effects of vanadium on alloxan monohydrate induced diabetic dogs

The hypoglycemic effects after oral administration of vanadium have been studied previously in many species such as rats, mice and even humans. However, there has been no prior report on the glucose lowering effect of vanadium on diabetic dogs. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the hypoglycemic effects of oral vanadium on diabetic dogs. Diabetes mellitus in the dogs studied was induced by alloxan monohydrate intravenous injection. The dogs were divided into two groups, one was the diabetic control (DC) group (n = 4) and the other was the vanadium treated (DV) group (n = 6). Fresh water was supplied to the dogs in the DC group, but sodium metavanadate solution (0.1~0.2 mg/ml) was given to the dogs in DV group from one week after the alloxan injection. The fasting glucose levels, fructosamine and serum chemistry profiles were compared between the two groups weekly for three weeks. The fasting blood glucose levels in DV group were significantly lower than those in the DC group (p < 0.01). Fructosamine levels in the DV group were also lower than those in the DC group (p < 0.05). The serum chemistry profiles were not significantly different in comparisons between the two groups. However, the cholesterol levels were significantly lower in the DV group compared to the DC group (p < 0.05). Our findings showed that oral vanadium administration had a hypoglycemic effect on chemically induced diabetic dogs

Focal Nodular Hyperplasia with Retraction of Liver Capsule: A Case Report

Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) is characterized by the presence a central scar with radiating fibrous septa. Our case had a capsular retraction, which was the result of an extension of the central scar to the surface. In addition, a hypointense scar on the T2-weighted image and a minimal enhancing central scar on the enhanced T1-weighted image, which was due to dense, sclerotic collagenous tissue, were observed. We report the first case of FNH with a capsular retraction

Balloon Dilatation for Corrosive Esophageal Strictures in Children: Radiologic and Clinical Outcomes

Objective: We retrospectively evaluated the effectiveness of the esophageal balloon dilatation (EBD) in children with a corrosive esophageal stricture. Materials and Methods: The study subjects included 14 patients (M:F = 8:6, age range: 17-85 months) who underwent an EBD due to a corrosive esophageal stricture. The causative agents for the condition were glacial acetic acid (n = 9) and lye (n = 5). Results: A total of 52 EBD sessions were performed in 14 patients (range 1-8 sessions). During the mean 15-month follow-up period (range 1-79 months), 12 patients (86%) underwent additional EBD due to recurrent esophageal stricture. Dysphagia improved after each EBD session and oral feeding was possible between EBD sessions. Long-term success (defined as dysphagia relief for at least 12 months after the last EBD) was achieved in two patients (14%). Temporary success of EBD (defined as dysphagia relief for at least one month after the EBD session) was achieved in 17 out of 52 sessions (33%). A submucosal tear of the esophagus was observed in two (4%) sessions of EBD. Conclusion: Only a limited number of children with corrosive esophageal strictures were considered cured by EBD. However, the outcome of repeated EBD was sufficient to allow the children to eat per os prior to surgical management.Doo EY, 2009, CLIN RADIOL, V64, P265, DOI 10.1016/j.crad.2008.10.001PARK JY, 2009, KOREAN J PEDIAT, V52, P446Hyoung J, 2008, J VASC INTERV RADIOL, V19, P736, DOI 10.1016/j.jvir.2008.01.015Ko HK, 2006, J VASC INTERV RADIOL, V17, P1327, DOI 10.1097/01.RVI.0000232686.29864.0AWeintraub JL, 2006, J VASC INTERV RADIOL, V17, P831, DOI 10.1097/01.RVI.0000217964.55623.19Wilkinson AG, 2004, PEDIATR RADIOL, V34, P414, DOI 10.1007/s00247-004-1164-1Huang YC, 2004, PEDIATR SURG INT, V20, P207, DOI 10.1007/s00383-004-1153-3Lan LCL, 2003, J PEDIATR SURG, V38, P1712, DOI 10.1016/S0022-3468(03)00638-9Fasulakis S, 2003, PEDIATR RADIOL, V33, P682, DOI 10.1007/s00247-003-1011-9Hamza AF, 2003, J PEDIATR SURG, V38, P828Kukkady A, 2002, PEDIATR SURG INT, V18, P486, DOI 10.1007/s00383-002-0798-zYEMING W, 2002, J PEDIATR SURG, V37, P398Jayakrishnan VK, 2001, PEDIATR RADIOL, V31, P98Lisy J, 1998, ACAD RADIOL, V5, P832Yararbai O, 1998, HEPATO-GASTROENTEROL, V45, P59KIM IO, 1993, RADIOLOGY, V189, P741HAN HY, 1993, J KOREAN RADIOL SOC, V29, P1181SONG HY, 1992, RADIOLOGY, V184, P373GUNDOGDU HZ, 1992, J PEDIATR SURG, V27, P767LOVEJOY FH, 1990, NEW ENGL J MED, V323, P668MAYNAR M, 1988, RADIOLOGY, V167, P703DELANGE EE, 1988, RADIOLOGY, V167, P45SATO Y, 1988, AM J ROENTGENOL, V150, P639MCLEAN GK, 1987, RADIOLOGY, V165, P35GOLDTHORN JF, 1984, RADIOLOGY, V153, P655LONDON RL, 1981, GASTROENTEROLOGY, V80, P173MUHLETALER CA, 1980, AM J ROENTGENOL, V134, P1137RAGHEB MI, 1976, SURGERY, V79, P494

Prevalence of Bartonella henselae and Bartonella clarridgeiae in cats and dogs in Korea

Blood, saliva, and nail samples were collected from 54 dogs and 151 cats and analyzed for the presence of Bartonella henselae with a novel nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Bartonella (B.) henselae was detected in feral cat blood (41.8%), saliva (44.1%), and nail (42.7%) samples. B. henselae was also detected in pet cat blood (33.3%), saliva (43.5%), and nail (29.5%) samples and in pet dog blood (16.6%), saliva (18.5%), and nail (29.6%) samples. Nine samples were infected with B. clarridgeiae and 2 were co-infected with B. henselae and B. clarridgeiae of blood samples of dogs. This report is the first to investigate the prevalence of B. henselae and B. clarridgeiae in dogs and cats in Korea, and suggests that dogs and cats may serve as potential Bartonella reservoirs

Effect of Chongkukjang on histamine-induced skin wheal response: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

AbstractBackgroundStudies in animals have demonstrated the antiallergenic properties of Chongkukjang (CKJ), a traditional Korean food made by fermentation of soybean with Bacillus subtilis. CKJ might therefore be used as an ingredient in a functional food designed to suppress allergies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of CKJ on histamine-induced skin wheal response in healthy participants.MethodsA randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted. Sixty participants (48 women and 12 men) were randomly assigned to one of two groups: One group received 35 g CKJ daily for 12 weeks, and the other received a placebo at the same dosing frequency. A skin prick test with histamine (10 mg/mL) was conducted on the ventral forearm 10 cm from the elbow, and assessed 15 minutes later. Outcomes included measurement of efficacy [skin wheal response, immunoglobulin E (IgE), histamine, interferon-gamma, interleukin-4, eosinophil, and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP)], and safety (adverse events, laboratory test results, electrocardiogram, anthropometric values, and vital signs).ResultsFifty-five participants (28 in the CKJ group and 27 in the placebo group) completed the study. After 12 weeks of supplementation, participants in the CKJ group showed a significant reduction in histamine-induced skin wheal areas compared with placebo group (p < 0.05). At 12 weeks, the CKJ group showed a significant improvement in percentage change from baseline in histamine-induced wheal area, compared with the placebo group (p < 0.05). CKJ did not influence blood levels of IgE, histamine, interferon-gamma, interleukin-4, eosinophil, or ECP.ConclusionOral administration of CKJ for 12 weeks resulted in a reduction of the skin wheal response to histamine, with no apparent adverse effects. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01402141

Current Trends in the Epidemiological and Pathological Characteristics of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors in Korea, 2003-2004

Despite remarkable progress in understanding and treating gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) during the past two decades, the pathological characteristics of GISTs have not been made clear yet. Furthermore, concrete diagnostic criteria of malignant GISTs are still uncertain. We collected pathology reports of 1,227 GISTs from 38 hospitals in Korea between 2003 and 2004 and evaluated the efficacy of the NIH and AFIP classification schemes as well as the prognostic factors among pathologic findings. The incidence of GISTs in Korea is about 1.6 to 2.2 patients per 100,000. Extra-gastrointestinal GISTs (10.1%) are more common in Korea than in Western countries. In univariate analysis, gender, age, tumor location, size, mitosis, tumor necrosis, vascular and mucosal invasions, histologic type, CD34 and s-100 protein expression, and classifications by the NIH and AFIP criteria were found to be significantly correlated with patient's survival. However, the primary tumor location, stage and classification of the AFIP criteria were prognostically significant in predicting patient's survival in multivariate analysis. The GIST classification based on original tumor location, size, and mitosis is more efficient than the NIH criteria in predicting patient's survival, but the mechanism still needs to be clarified through future studies