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ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to assess changes in muscle mass and strength according to changes in bone mineral density (BMD) after alendronate-calcitriol therapy and to assess subsequent changes in common biomarkers for osteoporosis and sarcopenia to establish a common strategy against these coexisting conditions. METHODS: Thirty-eight women with osteopenia and without conditions affecting calcium metabolism, inflammatory cytokines, acute and chronic medical conditions, and regular endurance exercise completed the study. Appendicular lean mass and BMD were measured, and relative skeletal mass index was determined. Grip strength was measured with a JAMAR hand dynamometer. Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), protein carbonyl, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were measured as biomarkers related to bone and muscle mass before and after a 6-month combination therapy with alendronate (5 mg) and calcitriol (0.5 μg). RESULTS: Baseline serum IL-6 showed significant negative correlations with lumbar BMD and handgrip strength (r = -0.458, P = 0.01, and left hand; r = -0.387, P = 0.03, respectively), whereas serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D level was 13.97 (5.65) ng/mL, compatible with vitamin D insufficiency and inversely correlated with PTH level (r = -0.481, P = 0.005). The observation of secondary hyperparathyroidism in association with 25-hydroxy vitamin D deficiency was absent, in contrast with previous reports. After treatment, the mean IL-6 level decreased by 56.5% (8.9%) (P = 0.0032), lumbar BMD increased by 2.62% (2.87%; P = 0.0002), and average handgrip strength increased by 33.52% (8.34%; P = 0.0001). Posttherapy IL-6 level was not significantly correlated with posttherapy BMD and handgrip strength (r = 0.06, P = 0.76, and r = 0.156, P = 0.45, respectively). However, the degree of IL-6 changed by treatment displayed a significant negative correlation with initial lumbar BMD and a positive correlation with PTH levels. CONCLUSIONS: Improvement not only in lumbar BMD but also in handgrip strength (a representative parameter for sarcopenia) has been observed with 6 months of alendronate-calcitriol combination therapy. Initial IL-6 levels display an inverse relationship with pretreatment lumbar BMD and handgrip strength. The degree of change in IL-6 levels induced by the combination therapy is correlated with the initial degree of the catabolic status of the bone, indicated by markers such as PTH and the severity of lumbar BMD derangements.
Menopause (New York, N.Y.) 03/2013; · 3.08 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Units of available botulinum toxin preparations are not interchangeable, and the dose-conversion ratios between such preparations remain controversial.
To compare the efficacy and safety of four botulinum toxin type A preparations.
Murine gastrocnemius compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) were recorded before and after injecting the four botulinum toxin preparations (onabotulinumtoxinA, abobotulinumtoxinA, new botulinum toxin, and incobotulinumtoxinA).
In all preparations, CMAP amplitudes decreased until 4 days after receiving the injection and then gradually recovered. On postinjection day 84, the amplitudes returned to baseline in all groups except the high-dose groups. CMAP amplitude in the contralateral limb also decreased up to postinjection days 4 to 7 and then gradually returned to baseline by postinjection day 28.
The dose-conversion ratio between onabotulinumtoxinA and abobotulinumtoxinA was determined to be 1:2.6; previous reports of 1:3 were considered too high. A dose-conversion ratio between onabotulinumtoxinA and new botulinum toxin of 1:1 was deemed appropriate. OnabotulinumtoxinA and incobotulinumtoxinA demonstrated a dose-conversion ratio of 1:1.07. The efficacy of incobotulinumtoxinA was slightly lower than that of onabotulinumtoxinA. These dose-conversion ratios are applicable solely from an efficacy standpoint and not for safety. This study was conducted in mice, so it may not translate perfectly to human applications.
Dermatologic Surgery 01/2013; 39(1 Pt 2):155-64. · 1.80 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Objective: Caveolin 1 gene is known as a tumor promoter or suppressor, depending on the tumor type and/or tumor stage. We aimed to investigate the clinical significance of caveolin 1 protein (Cav1) expression in gastric cancer (GC). Methods: Immunohistochemistry was performed on tissue array slides containing 405 GC specimens. The relationships between Cav1 expression and clinicopathological factors, prognosis, focal adhesion kinase expression, mucin phenotypes and p53 expression were analyzed. Results: In non-neoplastic gastric mucosa, Cav1 was not expressed in the epithelial compartment. In GC, positive staining of Cav1 was shown in 22 (5.4%) of 405 cases and was significantly higher in the advanced GC group than in the early GC group (p = 0.037). Also, it was significantly associated with advanced pTNM stage (p = 0.027) and lymph node metastasis (p = 0.018). Moreover, survival analysis showed that Cav1 expression was an independent prognostic factor of poor survival (p = 0.028). In addition, the expression of Cav1 was positively correlated with that of focal adhesion kinase (p = 0.034). Conclusions: These results indicate that the expression of Cav1 is significantly correlated with cancer progression and poor prognosis in GC. Thus, Cav1 could supplement its protein expression for the diagnosis and treatment of GC.
Pathobiology 10/2012; 80(2):87-94. · 1.18 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To investigate the effect of axial length on the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) distribution and the risk of misdiagnosing normal subjects when using the instrument's built-in normative database.
Healthy young volunteers underwent ophthalmologic examinations including RNFL thickness analysis with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT), autorefraction, and axial length measurement. The average RNFL thickness values reported along the calculation circle for whole circle, quadrants, and clock hours were recorded and evaluated at the 5% probability level for significant disparities in comparison with the built-in RNFL database. Angular locations with maximal RNFL thickness in the superotemporal and inferotemporal RNFL humps were determined. The relationships of axial length with these variables were analyzed using both linear regression and logistic regression models.
A total of 485 eyes of 485 subjects were analyzed. The average 360° RNFL thickness became thinner as the axial length increased (r = -0.244, p < 0.001). As the axial length increased, the average RNFL thicknesses in the 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 12-o'clock hour sectors decreased whereas those of the 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11-o'clock hour sectors increased. In addition, as the axial length increased, two major RNFL humps were located more temporally and it became significantly more likely for the 1, 2, 5, 6, and 12-o'clock hour sectors to fall below the p < 0.05 significance limits for normal thickness.
Peripapillary RNFL thickness changes differently in different peripapillary locations as axial length increases. Because long eyes may lead to misleading findings of OCT parameters depending on the peripapillary location, their relationship to the axial length should be considered in the built-in RNFL thickness normative database of OCT.
Optometry and vision science: official publication of the American Academy of Optometry 01/2012; 89(1):4-11. · 1.53 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We hypothesized that the formation and differentialtion of osteoclasts are accelerated and the potential of bone resorption is increased in the hemiplegic bone marrow in the early stage of stroke. We randomly divided white female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (n = 30) into two groups, stroke (n = 15) and sham group (n = 15). On the 7th day after stroke, after cutting away the epiphyses of the femurs and tibias, diaphyseal channels were flushed using α-minimum essential medium (α-MEM) and bone marrow cells were collected. Bone marrow stem cells, which were extracted from the femur and tibia, were cultured on the 7th day after middle cerebral artery occlusion. We then estimated the ratio of non-adherent cells to total bone marrow cells that included osteoclast precursor cells. After culturing these cells separately, cells that tested positive on the tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) were counted and bone resorption was evaluated by using the OAAS™ plate. In comparison to the control group, the stroke group showed a higher increase of non-adherent cells in the hemiplegic side bone marrow. In addition, after the primary culture, the stroke group showed an increased number of TRAP positive cells and a higher degree of bone resorption estimated by OAAS™ plate. As a result, osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast differentiation are accelerated and the potential of bone resorption is increased in the hemiplegic bone marrow and these changes are detected as early as within the first week after middle cerebral artery occlusion in SD rats.
Journal of Korean medical science 01/2012; 27(1):84-8. · 0.84 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Focal myositis is a rare, benign inflammatory pseudotumor of the skeletal muscle of unknown etiology. In Korea, there is no case report of focal myositis, which is not combined with connective tissue disease. We present an unusual case of focal myositis with ankle contracture, involving more than two muscles. A 26-year-old man visited our clinic complaining of right ankle contracture and leg muscle pain. Physical examination revealed no muscle weakness or any other neurological abnormality. T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the right leg demonstrated diffuse high signal intensity of the right gastrocnemius, flexor digitorum longus, and tibialis anterior muscles. Needle electromyography showed profuse denervation potentials with motor unit action potentials of short duration and small amplitude from the involved muscles. All these findings suggested a diagnosis of focal inflammatory myositis and the patient was put under oral prednisolone and physical therapy.
Annals of rehabilitation medicine. 12/2011; 35(6):944-8.
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ABSTRACT: This study evaluated the nerve conduction study (NCS) parameters of the most distal sensory nerves of the lower extremities-namely, the medial dorsal cutaneous (MDC), dorsal sural (DS), and medial plantar (MP) nerves-in diabetic (DM) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) patients who displayed normal findings on their routine NCSs.
Standard NCSs were performed on healthy control (HC), DM, and IGT groups (N = 147). The bilateral NCS parameters of the MDC, DS, and MP nerves were investigated. The Toronto Clinical Scoring System (TCSS) was assessed for the DM and IGT groups.
The mean TCSS scores of the IGT and DM groups were 2.5 ± 2.3 and 2.8 ± 2.2, respectively. No significant differences between the two groups were observed. After adjustment of age and BMI, the DM group showed significant NCS differences in DS and MDC nerves compared with the HC group (P < 0.05). These differences were also exhibited in the left DS of the IGT group (P = 0.0003). More advanced NCS findings were observed in the DM group. Bilateral abnormal NCS responses in these distal sensory nerves were found in 40 and 16% of DM and IGT patients, respectively.
These results showed that the simultaneous assessment of the most distal sensory nerves allowed the detection of early NCS changes in the IGT and DM groups, even when the routine NCS showed normal findings.
Diabetes care 11/2011; 35(4):834-9. · 8.09 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Chondromyxoid fibroma is a rare benign tumor that usually occurs in the long bones. A 2-month newborn presented with huge masses in the both nasal cavities, which turned out to be chondromyxoid fibroma. The masses originated from both inferior turbinates. Total turbinectomy on the left side and submucosal mass excision on the right side were performed. No recurrence or new lesion was observed during the 2 years of follow up. We report here on a rare case of nasal cavity chondromyxoid fibroma in a neonate and we review the relevant literature.
Auris, nasus, larynx 11/2011; 39(4):422-4. · 0.58 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Congenital choanal atresia (CCA) is a rare disease entity. The prevention of restenosis has been the main concerns of choanoplasty. The authors retrospectively analyzed patients with CCA to investigate clinical features and factors affecting surgical outcomes.
Forty sides in 27 patients with CCA from 1987 through 2009 were reviewed with medical records that included symptoms, associated anomalies, laterality of atresia, types of the atretic plate, surgical approaches, uses of stent or mitomycin C, ages at operation, and surgical outcomes.
CHARGE association was the most commonly associated malformation in bilateral CCA and cleft lip and cleft palate in unilateral CCA. Age at operation was related to restenosis rate. The cases of bilateral CCA were operated on younger ages than those of unilateral CCA (4.9 months vs 11.5 years, respectively), and the restenosis appeared to be higher in bilateral cases than in unilateral ones. The use of stent did not improve preventive rate of restenosis: 42.9% of restenosis with stent and 47.4% without stent, respectively. Mitomycin C did not seem to be effective in preventing restenosis either. No significant difference in restenosis rate was observed in terms of symptoms, associated anomalies, types of the atretic plate, and surgical approaches as well.
Our study suggests that bilateral CCA, meaning early operation age, develops restenosis more frequently. However, the patency rate was not related to surgical approaches or postoperative use of stent and mitomycin C.
American journal of otolaryngology 09/2011; 33(3):308-12. · 0.77 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Kidney size is important for clinical assessment of kidney disease. This study was performed to determine the usefulness of radiologic methods for predicting direct measurements of kidney size.
Diagnostic test study.
139 living kidney donors were enrolled.
Body mass index, body surface area, and total-body water were estimated from body height and weight. Kidney lengths were estimated using ultrasound sonography (US) and computed tomography (CT), and kidney volumes were estimated from CT scans using the ellipsoid and voxel-count methods.
Kidney length and weight were measured directly after donor nephrectomy.
Mean measured kidney length and weight were 11.5 ± 0.9 cm and 188.5 ± 33.5 g, respectively. All body indexes correlated with measured size of the left kidney; the highest correlation was between body weight and measured kidney weight (γ = 0.54; P < 0.001). The difference between measured and estimated lengths was greater for US than for CT (-1.1 ± 0.9 cm for US [P < 0.001] vs -0.7 ± 0.7 cm for CT [P < 0.001]). Bland-Altman analysis showed that limits of agreement between CT estimates and measured kidney length (-0.62 to 2.75 cm) were narrower than those between US estimates and measured kidney length (-0.78 to 2.15 cm). Correlation coefficients between radiologic estimates and measured kidney weight were 0.41 and 0.49 for US and CT estimates of kidney length and 0.72 and 0.79 for volume estimates using the ellipsoid and voxel-count methods, respectively (all P < 0.01).
No direct measurement of kidney volume.
CT estimation of kidney length is more accurate than US estimation, and CT estimation of kidney volume using the voxel-count method is most useful to predict kidney weight.
American Journal of Kidney Diseases 05/2011; 58(2):266-71. · 5.43 Impact Factor
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Byung Ha Chung,
Ja Young Lee,
Seok Hui Kang,
In O Sun,
Sun Ryoung Choi,
Hoon Suk Park,
Ji-Il Kim,
In Sung Moon,
Young Shin Shin, Joo Hyun Park,
Cheol Whee Park,
Chul Woo Yang,
Yong-Soo Kim,
Bum Soon Choi
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical course of patients with failed allograft according to the type of renal replacement modality. Three hundred sixty-eight patients with failed allograft were included. Of these, 233 patients started hemodialysis (HD-PSKT), 64 patients started peritoneal dialysis (PD-PSKT), and 71 patients underwent second transplantation (ReKT). At baseline, age, sex, laboratory findings, and comorbidity did not differ significantly among three groups. Chronic rejection was the most common cause of allograft failure (81.6%) followed by acute rejection (10.7%). During the observation period, 96 patients died. The most common cause of death was cardiovascular disease (39.6%) followed by infection (34.4%) and malignancy (8.3%). Infection was important cause of death within 10 years from allograft failure, but cardiovascular disease and malignancy occupied significant portion of death after 10 years from allograft failure. Significant difference was not found among the three groups in the cause of allograft failure and the cause of death. The patient outcome was better in the ReKT than in the other two groups and it did not differ significantly between the PD-PSKT and HD-PSKT. In multivariate analysis, old age, hypoalbuminemia, and high comorbidity were proved to be the independent risk factors for mortality and the ReKT was still significantly superior to the HD-PSKT and PD-PSKT after adjustment for other confounding factors. In conclusion, second transplantation may result in survival benefit, and proper management of nutrition and comorbidity may help to improve outcome in patients with failed allograft.
Renal Failure 01/2011; 33(3):261-8. · 0.82 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Focal adhesion kinase, a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase, is known to be associated with tumor progression in various tumors. Because the clinical implications of focal adhesion kinase overexpression in gastric cancer have been inconsistent, we extended previous studies and evaluated focal adhesion kinase gene amplification as well as its protein expression. Immunohistochemical tissue array analysis showed that focal adhesion kinase immunoreactivity was present in both the cytoplasm and membrane of gastric cancer cells. Diffuse immunoreactivity of focal adhesion kinase protein in cytoplasm or membrane was found in 240 (54%) or 263 (59%) of 444 surgical samples, respectively, and positively correlated with tumor size, depth of tumor infiltration, nodal metastasis, distant metastasis, lymphatic invasion, and venous invasion (P < .001). Regarding focal adhesion kinase gene amplification, fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis showed focal adhesion kinase gene amplification in 34 (8.9%) of 384 gastric cancer specimens, whereas there was no amplification in any case of atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, or adenoma/dysplasia. Focal adhesion kinase gene amplification was positively associated with age (P = .012), tumor size (P = .007), nodal metastasis (P = .021), distant metastasis (P = .029), lymphatic invasion (P = .006), venous invasion (P = .032), and perineural invasion (P = .023). Focal adhesion kinase protein expression and gene amplification were positively correlated with each other, and each of them was found to be an independent poor prognostic factor (P < .01). In conclusion, our results showed that either focal adhesion kinase protein expression or focal adhesion kinase gene amplification was significantly correlated with cancer progression and poor prognosis in gastric cancer. Thus, focal adhesion kinase gene amplification could supplement its protein expression for the diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer.
Human pathology 12/2010; 41(12):1664-73. · 3.03 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We evaluated the efficacy of oral alendronate with different dosing regimens for non-nociceptive symptoms and osteoporosis in a sciatic nerve chronic constriction injury (CCI) model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=60) were subdivided into sham control (SC) group and CCI groups, which were divided according to dosage and time of oral alendronate administration: no treatment (NT), low dosage early (LE), high dosage early (HE), low dosage late (LL) and high dosage late (HL). We measured the thickness and temperature of the hind paw, bone mineral density (BMD) of the tibia, along with tibia bone strength. On the 14th day post-CCI, the HE group showed significant reduction in thickness and temperature (P<0.001). On the 42nd day post-CCI, the HE group showed significant reduction in temperature compared to the NT group (P<0.001). Also, both HE and HL groups showed statistically significant increased tibia BMD (P<0.001), along with increase of tibia bone strength compared to the NT group. Based on these findings, early alendronate in high dosages is effective in the non-nociceptive symptoms; early and late alendronate in high dosages, are effective in preventing bone dystrophic changes in a CCI model.
Journal of Korean medical science 06/2010; 25(6):938-44. · 0.84 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We describe a technique that records the sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) of the medial plantar proper digital nerve (MPPDN), which is the final sensory branch of the medial plantar nerve.
We obtained antidromic MPPDN responses from 118 healthy volunteers, with surface recording electrodes placed on the medial side of the first metatarsal head of the great toe, with electrical stimulation applied at the 40% distance of the heel to great toe reference line. Antidromic SNAP parameters were recorded and normative reference values were obtained.
The stimulation site that corresponded to 40% of the reference line was located at a mean distance of 8.7+/-1.2 cm from the recording electrodes. MPPDN responses were easily obtained in all but 9 limbs. The mean SNAP amplitudes obtained by our technique were 16.1+/-6.7 microV, and the lower and upper range values were 6.4 microV and 34.4 microV, respectively.
Antidromic stimulation of the MPPDN at a distance of 8-10 cm from the medial side of the first metatarsal head of the great toe yields in reliable SNAP responses.
This technique should be useful in the evaluation of the MPPDN involvement in Joplin's neuroma.
Clinical neurophysiology: official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology 02/2010; 121(7):1059-65. · 3.12 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Three hundred fourteen 14th-postoperative-day routine renal allograft biopsies were evaluated together with clinical data. Out of 314 biopsies, mesangial IgA deposits were positive in 122 biopsies (39%). According to Banff classification, the rate of acute rejection was significantly lower in mesangial IgA deposit-positive (IgA(+)) patients (7.4%) than in mesangial IgA deposit-negative (IgA(-)) patients (19.7%) on the 14th postoperative day. Thereafter, rate of biopsy-proven and clinical acute rejection was continuously lower for up to 12 months in IgA(+) patients than in IgA(-) patients. The detection rate of mesangial IgA deposits was significantly higher in human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-well-matched (HLA mismatch number was <3) patients than in HLA-poorly matched (HLA mismatch number was ≥3) patients. In HLA-well-matched patients, the serum creatinine levels were significantly lower in IgA(+) patients than in IgA(-) patients after 3 post-transplant months and up to 1 post-transplant year. Follow-up (mean interval: 13 months) allograft biopsies were performed in 34 patients out of 122 IgA(+) patients. In the follow-up biopsies, initially detected mesangial IgA deposits had disappeared in 22 patients (65%) out of 34 patients. Twelve patients (35%) still had mesangial IgA deposits, and all of them had clinical and pathological findings consistent with IgA nephropathy. Patients with continuous mesangial IgA deposits in the follow-up biopsies had a better renal function at 1 year and a higher 5-year graft survival rate compared with patients who lost the initially deposited IgA. The present study demonstrates that long-lasting mesangial IgA deposits in renal transplants prevent allografts from acute rejection, which leads to better graft outcome.
Nephrology 10/2008; 7(s3):S78 - S82. · 1.31 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to obtain the surgical therapeutic index (STI) of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) and transobturator tape (TOT) and compare it with the previously obtained result of Burch colposuspension.
The study population consisted of 121 patients who were diagnosed as having stress urinary incontinence, underwent TVT or TOT between January 1, 2000 and June 30, 2005 and were followed up for at least 1 year. Patients with detrusor overactivity, urinary tract infection, intrinsic sphincter deficiency and pelvic organ prolapse more than stage II according to the POP-Q system were excluded. The cure and complication rates were investigated, and the STI (median percent cure rate/median percent complication rate) of each operation was calculated.
Of the 121 patients, 61 underwent TVT and 60 received TOT. Patient characteristics and the results of preoperative urodynamic studies showed no significant difference between the two groups. The STI of TOT (2.72, 4.08, 4.23, 5.29) was higher than that of Burch colposuspension (1.19, 2.27, 2.89, 3.53) and TVT (2.77, 3.69, 3.23, 3.17) irrespective of follow-up months (at 1, 3, 6, 12 months).
TOT seems to be a more suitable surgical procedure for stress urinary incontinence with urethral hypermobility.
Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation 02/2008; 65(1):41-6. · 1.28 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to evaluate serum and urinary levels of vascular endothelial growth factors, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase (sFlt-1) in patients with endometriosis.
During surgery for pelvic pain, pelvic mass or infertility, serum and urine were collected. Of 70 patients, 46 had histology-proven endometriosis and 24 patients without endometriosis participated as controls.
Serum TNF-alpha levels and urinary sFlt-1 levels corrected for creatinine excretion were significantly increased in the endometriosis group (P=0.001 and P=0.011 respectively). Serum sFlt-1 levels and urinary sFlt-1 levels corrected for creatinine were significantly higher in patients with minimal-to-mild disease (P=0.014 and P=0.015 respectively), where serum TNF-alpha levels were increased in moderate-to-severe endometriosis (P<0.001).
The pathogenesis of minimal-to-mild endometriosis and moderate-to-severe endometriosis seems to be different. Increased sFlt-1 levels in serum and urine of minimal-to-mild disease indicate that sFlt-1 may have an important role in inhibiting angiogenic process of the disease.
American journal of reproductive immunology (New York, N.Y.: 1989) 12/2007; 58(6):497-504. · 3.05 Impact Factor
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Da-Jung Chung,
Hye-Yeon Kim,
Ki-Hyun Park,
Kyung-Ah Jeong,
Sung-Ki Lee,
Yu-Il Lee,
Sung-Eun Hur,
Min-Sun Cho,
Byung Seok Lee,
Sang Wook Bai,
Cheong Mee Kim,
Si Hyun Cho,
Ju Youn Hwang, Joo Hyun Park
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ABSTRACT: This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) and St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) in women with climacteric symptoms, and to assess their effects on vaginal atrophy, hormone levels, and lipid profiles.
In this double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter study, 89 peri- or postmenopausal women experiencing climacteric symptoms were treated with St. John's wort and black cohosh extract (Gynoplus), Jin-Yang Pharm., Seoul, Korea) or a matched placebo for 12 weeks. Climacteric complaints were evaluated by the Kupperman Index (KI) initially and at 4 and 12 weeks following treatment. Vaginal maturation indices, serum estradiol, FSH, LH, total cholesterol, HDL- cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were measured before and after treatment. From the initial 89 participants, 77 completed the trial (42 in the Gynoplus group, 35 in the placebo group).
Baseline characteristics were not significantly different between the two groups. Mean KI scores and hot flushes after 4 and 12 weeks were significantly lower in the Gynoplus group. Differences in superficial cell proportion were not statistically significant. HDL levels decreased in the control group from 60.20 +/- 16.37 to 56.63 +/- 12.67, and increased in the Gynoplus group from 58.32 +/- 11.64 to 59.74 +/- 10.54; this was statistically significant (p=0.04).
Black cohosh and St. John's wort combination was found to be effective in alleviating climacteric symptoms and might provide benefits to lipid metabolism.
Yonsei Medical Journal 05/2007; 48(2):289-94. · 1.14 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In the present study, whether the ADAM-8, -9, -10, -12, -15, -17, and ADAMTS-1 proteins might play a role in mouse uterus during periimplantation period was investigated. Immunoblotting analyses demonstrated that all ADAM proteins consistently appeared throughout days 1 to 8 of pregnancy but with a variation depending on the species of ADAM gene, the progression of pregnancy, and the site of the uterus. Immunohistochemical analyses indicated that ADAM proteins were localized in the luminal or glandular epithelial layers with a varying intensity depending on the species of ADAM and the progression of pregnancy. Particularly ADAM-8, -12, and -15, were predominantly located in the implantation site of the uterine tissues, whereas little or no protein was localized in the interimplantation site. Based upon these observations, it is suggested that the ADAMs might play an important role in the remodeling of the mouse uterus during the periimplantation period.
Yonsei Medical Journal 09/2006; 47(4):558-67. · 1.14 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Changes of bone metabolism begin from the initial stages of stroke; therefore, early prevention of these changes has become important. The most appropriate target for preventive therapy is to restrict the profound increase in osteoclastic bone resorption that occur soon after stroke. Oral bisphosphonates, which selectively target osteoclasts and their precursors, are appropriate drugs, but dysphagia or drowsiness after acute stroke can make it difficult to easily administer these compounds to stroke patients. The intravenous (IV) administration of bisphosphonates is an alternative method that can overcome these limitations. In order to determine the effect of IV bisphosphonates at the initial stages of stroke for preventing bone loss, an experiment using ischemic stroke rats was conducted.
Female Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 100) were randomly divided into four separate groups; sham surgery and vehicle-treated group (sham-vehicle), stroke and vehicle-treated group (stroke-vehicle), stroke with low-dose zoledronic acid treatment group (stroke-low) and stroke with high-dose zoledronic acid treatment group (stroke-high). Permanent occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery was performed, resulting in right hemiplegia. The bone mineral density (BMD) of the 4th and 5th lumbar vertebrae and the femur on the stroke side were measured in vivo on the day before stroke and on the 10th and 21st day after stroke. The osteocalcin and carboxy-terminal telopeptide blood levels were measured on the 10th and 21st day after stroke. The BMD of the excised proximal tibia and the maximum load of femoral neck were measured on the 21st day after stroke.
After 21 days of stroke, the BMD of the lumbar vertebrae, femur, and excised tibia and the maximum load of the femoral neck in the sham-vehicle, stroke-low, and stroke-high groups were significantly higher than those in the stroke-vehicle group (P < 0.05). The carboxy-terminal telopeptide levels in the sham-vehicle and stroke-high groups were significantly lower than those in the stroke-vehicle group (P < 0.05).
The results suggest that IV zoledronic acid treatment might prevent bone loss during the initial stages of stroke.
Bone 09/2006; 39(2):377-82. · 4.02 Impact Factor
