Simultaneous Bilateral Stenosis of the Vertebral Arteries Treated by Unilateral Decompression: A Case Report

A 56-year-old man presented with a 3-month history of progressive dizziness. His dizziness was aggravated when his head was rotated to the right side. Diagnostic angiography showed that a normal right-sided vertebral artery in the neutral position became an abnormal vertebral artery with two stenotic lesions at the C3–4 and C5–6 levels when the patient’s head was turned to the right. A normal left-sided vertebral artery also showed a stenotic lesion at the C2 level when the patient’s head was turned right. The axial dimensions of the bilateral vertebral arteries were similar. The patient was successfully treated with decompression of only one level (C5–6). We conclude that if a bilateral stenosis is found upon one directional head rotation and the bilateral vertebral arteries are similarly sized, a one-sided treatment may suffice.     

Effects of a problem‐solving counseling program to facilitate intensified walking on Koreans with type 2 diabetes

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the immediate and long‐term effects of a 12 week problem‐solving (PS) counseling program to facilitate intensified walking with machinery monitoring on persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Korea. Methods: The study used a quasi‐experimental design. The participants were 57 patients with diabetes from three endocrinology or internal medicine clinics in an urban city of South Korea. Moderate‐intensity walking and PS counseling were recommended to both groups. The difference between the two groups was whether the intensity of the exercise was monitored by an ambulatory heart rate monitor (experimental group) or was self‐regulated (comparison group). Those programs were evaluated in relation to BMI, glycemic control (blood glucose level, glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1c]), a vascular complication index (total cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, tissue plasminogen activator [t‐PA], plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 [PAI‐1], Parma Cardiovascular Risk Index), and coping strategies at 3 and 6 months. Results: The experimental group members showed dramatic decreases in their glucose and HbA1c levels at 3 months. The values of t‐PA decreased significantly at baseline, compared to at 3 months. The levels of PAI‐1 continuously declined and the Parma Cardiovascular Risk Index score did not change significantly from baseline to at 3 months, but showed significant effects at 6 months. Conclusion: A combined program of intensified walking, using a heart rate monitor, with PS counseling is more helpful to prevent complications than self‐regulated exercise for persons with type 2 diabetes in Korea.     

Mutational analysis of hypoxia‐related genes HIF1α and CUL2 in common human cancers

Park SW, Chung NG, Hur SY, Kim HS, Yoo NJ, Lee SH. Mutational analysis of hypoxia‐related genes HIF1α and CUL2 in common human cancers. APMIS 2009; 117: 880–5. Hypoxia is a general feature of solid cancer tissues. Hypoxia upregulates hypoxia‐inducible factor 1α (HIF1α) that transactivates downstream genes and contributes to cancer pathogenesis. HIF1α is upregulated not only by hypoxia but also by genetic alterations in HIF1α‐related genes, including VHL. Cullin 2 (CUL2) interacts with the trimeric VHL‐elongin B‐elongin C complex and plays an essential role in the ubiquitinated degradation of HIF1α. The aim of this study was to explore whether HIF1α and CUL2 genes are somatically mutated, and contribute to HIF1α activation in common human cancers. For this, we have analyzed the coding region of oxygen‐dependent degradation domain of HIF1α in 47 colon, 47 gastric, 47 breast, 47 lung, and 47 hepatocellular carcinomas, and 47 acute leukemias by a single‐strand conformation polymorphism assay. In addition, we analyzed mononucleotide repeat sequences (A8) in CUL2 in 55 colorectal and 45 gastric carcinomas with microsatellite instability (MSI). We found one HIF1α mutation (p.Ala593Pro) in the hepatocellular carcinomas (1/47; 2.1%), but none in other cancers. We found two CUL2 frameshift mutations in colon cancers (p.Asn292MetfsX20), which were exclusively detected in high MSI cancers (4.9%; 2/41). Our data indicate that somatic mutation of HIF1α is rare in common cancers, and somatic mutation of CUL2 occurs in a fraction of colorectal cancers (colorectal cancers with high MSI). The data suggest that neither HIF1α nor CUL2 mutation may play a central role in HIF1α activation in gastric, colorectal, breast, lung and hepatocellular carcinomas, and acute leukemias.     

中日韩三国大学生对残疾人印象的比较

目的:探讨中、日、韩3国大学生对智力残疾人和非智力残疾人印象的因子结构特征.方法:以中国(1106名)、日本(493名)、韩国(466名)的在读大学生为对象,采用语意分析法(SD法)对智力残疾人和非智力残疾人进行印象评价的问卷调查,并应用因子分析法及方差分析对结果进行结构分析和比较.结果:从中国的问卷回答中分别抽出了对智力残疾人印象的"社会性,能力,能力以外的评价,温和性,外向性"5个因子和对非智力残疾人印象的"能力以外的评价,亲近,希望-期待,社会性"4个因子;从日本的问卷回答中分别抽出了对智力残疾人印象的"融合性、外向性、评价"3个因子和对非智力残疾人印象的"接受、评价、外向性"3个因子;从韩国的问卷回答中分别抽出了对智力残疾人印象的"评价、承认-接受、温和性、活跃-外向、普通-社会"5个因子和对非智力残疾人印象的"评价、承认-接受、活力-生机、性情-性格"4个因子;从3国全体大学生的问卷回答中分别抽出了对智力残疾人印象的"社会亲和性、评价、外向性"3个因子和对非智力残疾人印象的"社会性,能力以外的评价,希望-期待"3个因子.结论:(1)3国大学生对非智力残疾人印象比对智力残疾人印象较为积极、好意.(2)3国大学生对智力残疾人和非智力残疾人印象的因素结构存在很大差异.(3)3国全体大学生对智力残疾人和非智力残疾人印象的因素结构不同.     

Reactive oxygen species in rats with chronic post-ischemia pain

Background: An emerging theme in the study of the pathophysiology of persistent pain is the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In the present study, we examined the hypothesis that the exogenous supply of antioxidant drugs during peri-reperfusion would attenuate pain induced by ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury. We investigated the analgesic effects of three antioxidants administered during peri-reperfusion using an animal model of complex regional pain syndrome-type I consisting of chronic post-ischemia pain (CPIP) of the hind paw.
Methods: Application of a tight-fitting tourniquet for a period of 3 h produced CPIP in male Sprague–Dawley rats. Low-dose allopurinol (4 mg/kg), high-dose allopurinol (40 mg/kg), superoxide dismutase (SOD, 4000 U/kg), N -nitro- l -arginine methyl ester ( l -NAME, 10 mg/kg), or SOD (4000 U/kg)+ l -NAME (10 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally just after tourniquet application and at 1 and 2 days after reperfusion for 3 days. The effects of antioxidants in rats were investigated using mechanical and cold stimuli. Each group consisted of seven rats.
Results: Allopurinol caused significant alleviation in mechanical and cold allodynia for a period of 4 weeks in rats with CPIP. Both SOD and l -NAME, which were used to investigate the roles of superoxide (O_2 ˙⁻) and nitric oxide (NO) in pain, also attenuated neuropathic-like pain symptoms in rats for 4 weeks.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that O_2 ˙⁻ and NO mediate IR injury-induced chronic pain, and that ROS scavengers administered during the peri-reperfusion period have long-term analgesic effects.     

Association between central venous pressure and blood loss during hepatic resection in 984 living donors

Background: Although low central venous pressure (CVP) anesthesia has been used to minimize blood loss during hepatectomy, the efficacy of this technique remains controversial. We therefore assessed the association between blood loss and CVP during hepatic resection, and examined significant determinants associated with intraoperative hemorrhage during hepatectomy in living donors.
Methods: Between April 2004 and April 2008, 984 living donors who underwent a hepatic resection were assessed retrospectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to explore the relationships between intraoperative blood loss and several variables including CVP.
Results: The mean intraoperative blood loss was 691.3 ± 365.5 ml. Only four donors required packed red blood cell transfusions (mean, 1.5 U). The mean duration of hepatic resection was 92.1 ± 26.3 min. The mean, maximum, and minimum values of CVP measured during hepatectomy were 4.6 ± 1.7, 5.3 ± 1.8, and 4.0 ± 1.8 mmHg, respectively, and were not significantly correlated with intraoperative blood loss. On multivariate analysis, predictors of hemorrhage were liver fatty change, gender, and body weight, but none of the mean CVP, surgeons, anesthesiologists, anesthesia duration, resected liver volume, hepatectomy type, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, or body temperature were significant.
Conclusions: CVP during hepatic resection was not associated with intraoperative blood loss in living liver donors, suggesting that CVP may not be an important factor in predicting blood loss during hepatectomy in healthy subjects.     

Bioflex系统治疗腰椎椎间盘退行性疾病

目的探讨Bioflex系统治疗腰椎椎间盘退行性疾病的临床疗效。方法2007年3月～2009年4月,行椎管减压、椎间融合（视椎间盘退变程度而定）联合Bioflex系统治疗腰椎椎间盘退行性疾病患者19例。记录视觉模拟评分（visual analog scale,VAS）、Oswestry功能障碍指数（Oswestry disability index,ODI）、节段活动范围（range of motion,ROM）及融合情况。结果患者均获随访,随访时间为9—25个月,平均16．8个月。术后及末次随访时患者VAS、ODI评分明显改善,与术前相比差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。术后和末次随访时非融合节段ROM明显减低,与术前相比差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;邻近节段ROM略有增加,与术前相比差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。融合节段的融合率为91．6％。结论使用Bioflex系统治疗腰椎椎间盘退行性疾病是一种安全、有效的新方法,它能够在提供稳定的力学环境的同时,在一定程度上保留手术节段的活动度,有利于缓解椎间盘退变,可能避免刚性内固定引起的邻近椎间盘退变。     

Nitric oxide expression in airway epithelial cells in response to tubercle bacilli stimulation

Abstract In order to investigate the role of airway epithelial cells in pulmonary tuberculosis, inducible nitric oxide synthetase (iNOS) expression and nitric oxide (NO) production were studied in A549 cells. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from normal volunteers were separated and cultured for 24h with LPS or tubercle bacilli (H37Rv, H37Ra). Thereafter, A549 cells were stimulated for another 24h with culture supernatant fluids of PBMC. iNOS messenger RNA (mRNA) expression was measured with Northern blot analysis and NO production was measured with the Griess reaction, which can measure nitrite concentration. iNOS mRNA expression and NO production were minimal in the control cells. iNOS mRNA expression and NO production were significantly increased with LPS ( P < 0.05) or tubercle bacilli ( P < 0.01) stimulation. However, there was no difference in iNOS mRNA expression and NO production between H37Rv and H37Ra stimulations. Interestingly, iNOS mRNA expression and NO production were greater in A549 cells stimulated with tubercle bacilli-conditioned media than in the cells stimulated with LPS-conditioned media. IL-1β, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interferon gamma concentrations were increased in culture supernatant fluids of PBMC stimulated with tubercle bacilli. These findings suggest that airway epithelial cells may play a certain role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary tuberculosis by producing NO. However, the role of airway epithelial cells, regarding the virulence of tubercle bacilli, was not clear in this study.