An evaluation of web-based informations about gastroesophageal reflux diseases in Korea]

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Internet has become an important source of medical information not only for medical personnels but also for patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of internet based medical information about 'gastroesophageal reflux' or 'reflux esophagitis' in Korea. METHODS: The first 15 internet sites using the key words 'gastroesophageal reflux' or 'reflux esophagitis' were retrieved from the 7 most frequently used internet search engines. The quality of information from a total of 108 websites was evaluated using a checklist. RESULTS: Among total 108 sites related to 'gastroesophageal reflux' or 'reflux esophagitis', fifty-six sites (51.8%) were made by hospitals or clinics and 94 sites (87.0%) were made for patients. Of the 108 sites, eleven web sites (10.1%) had more than three JAMA benchmarks (authorship, references, currency, and disclosure). Higher quality sites (at least three JAMA benchmarks) were less likely to contain inaccurate information than lower quality sites (fewer than three JAMA benchmarks)-3/11 (27.2%) vs. 60/97 (61.9%) (p<0.01). Despite the fact that articles in the literature emphasized an insufficient evidence to support an association between the lifestyle, dietary behaviors, and GERD, such guidelines continue to be recommended as first-line therapy in most websites. CONCLUSIONS: Informations about gastroesophageal reflux disease were incomplete in the majority of medical web sites. These would bring about confusion to patients seeking for an information about GERD through the internet. There is a need for better sources in evidence based informations about gastroesophageal reflux diseases on the web.     

Long-term preservation of human saphenous vein by green tea polyphenol under physiological conditions

Polyphenolic compounds are well known as a functional food with various bioactivities. However, less attention has been paid to the effect of phenolic antioxidants on the preservation of blood vessels. In this study, the possible effects of green tea polyphenolic compounds (GTPCs) on the longterm preservation of the human saphenous vein (HSV) were investigated under physiological conditions. HSV segments were pretreated with GTPCs (0.5 or 1.0 mg/mL) for 1 day and then incubated for 1, 2, 4, or 8 weeks. After incubation, cellular viability, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression level, biomechanical properties, and vein histology were evaluated. When HSV segments were incubated without GTPC treatment, endothelial cell viability was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced with incubation time, and none of the endothelial cells expressed eNOS after 2 weeks. Furthermore, nontreated veins demonstrated appreciable inferiority in such mechanical properties as failure strength, elastic modulus, and compliance, compared with fresh veins. These results were confirmed by histological observations, which showed severe structural changes in nontreated veins. On the other hand, these phenomena were markedly prevented by preincubating veins with GTPCs (1.0 mg/mL) at 37 degrees C in a CO(2) incubator for 1 day. GTPC-pretreated veins could be preserved for at least 2 weeks under physiological conditions, retaining cellular viability and eNOS expression level and maintaining both biomechanical properties and vascular structures without any morphological alterations. These results demonstrate that GTPC treatment may be a useful method for preserving the HSV and could be exploited to craft strategies for the long-term preservation of other tissues under physiological conditions.     

Biocompatibility and charge injection property of iridium film formed by ion beam assisted deposition

Iridium thin film formed by electron-beam evaporation with simultaneous bombardment of Ar ion beam was evaluated for a stimulating neural electrode. The electrochemical behavior of as-deposited Ir film on Ni-Ti sample was almost identical to bulk Ir by producing much higher open-circuit corrosion potential and much lower anodic current density than the uncoated Ni-Ti in both 1N sulfuric acid and saline solution. The charge injection capability of Ir film was compared with that of Pt electrode currently used mostly as a stimulating neural electrode. The charge density of Pt was small and unchanged with increasing number of activating cycles in 0.1M H(2)SO(4), whilst the Ir film continuously produced increases in charge density. The charge injection density of Ir film in physiological solution was higher for the more activated sample under the identical stimulating condition. Attachment and proliferation with PC12 cells on Ir-coated CP Ti without applying electrical stimulation was similar to the polished CP Ti. A network of neurons and extending axons were formed on Ir film.     

No negative symptoms in healthy volunteers after single doses of amisulpride, aripiprazole, and haloperidol: a double-blind placebo-controlled trial

Noncompliance and poor outcome in patients with schizophrenia are closely related to the negative symptoms secondary to antipsychotics. No controlled study has evaluated whether amisulpride and aripiprazole induce negative symptoms. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of single doses of amisulpride, aripiprazole, haloperidol, and risperidone in healthy volunteers. Seventy-eight young volunteers took part in this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel study of four antipsychotics: 400 mg amisulpride, 10 mg aripiprazole, 3 mg haloperidol, and 2 mg risperidone. Assessments of negative symptoms were done 4 h after administration using both subjective rating scales (Neuroleptic Induced Deficit Syndrome Scale and Subjective Deficit Syndrome Scale) and an objective rating scale (Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms). Risperidone only produced significant increases on the avolition score of the Neuroleptic Induced Deficit Syndrome Scale and blunted affect and alogia scores of the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms compared with placebo. The effect on blunted affect persisted after controlling for mental sedation. Amisulpride, aripiprazole, and haloperidol did not induce negative symptoms. Aripiprazole and risperidone induced mild extrapyramidal symptoms. The most common adverse events were somnolence and cognitive slowing. These data indicate that a single risperidone dose induces negative symptoms in normal volunteers, whereas amisulpride, aripiprazole, and haloperidol do not. These characteristics of antipsychotics should be considered when choosing optimal drugs for patients with psychosis.     

Psychometric properties of the Korean version of the Short Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Rating Interview (K-SPRINT)

Aims:  The Short Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Rating Interview (SPRINT) is a validated, eight-item, brief global assessment scale for PTSD. This report investigated the psychometric properties of the Korean version of the SPRINT (K-SPRINT).
Methods:  Eighty-seven PTSD patients, 47 other psychiatric patients, and 63 healthy control subjects were enrolled in the study. All subjects completed a psychometric assessment package that included the K-SPRINT and the Korean versions of the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).
Results:  The K-SPRINT showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.86) and test–retest reliability ( r  = 0.82). K-SPRINT showed moderatecorrelations with CAPS ( r  = 0.71). An exploratory factor analysis produced one K-SPRINT factor. The optimal diagnostic efficiency (91.9%) of the K-SPRINT was found at a total score of 15, at which point the sensitivity and specificity were 90.8% and 92.7%, respectively.
Conclusions:  The present findings demonstrate that the K-SPRINT had good psychometric properties and can be used as a reliable and valid instrument for the assessment of PTSD.     

The association between serotonin-related gene polymorphisms and panic disorder

Dysfunction of the serotonergic system has been hypothesized to play an important role in panic disorder. We investigated the 5-HT2A receptor (5HTR2A) and tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) genes for an association with panic disorder (PD). Patients with PD (n=107) and control subjects (n=161) were genotyped for 5HTR2A 1438A/G, 5HTR2A 102T/C, and TPH218 A/C. The severity of their symptoms was measured using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS), Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI), Acute Panic Inventory (API), and Hamilton's Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD). There were no significant differences in the genotype distributions or allelic frequencies in the three serotonergic polymorphisms between PD patients and normal controls. However, we found a significant difference in symptom severity among the genotypes of both the 5HTR2A 1438A/G and 102T/C polymorphisms. Although there were no significant differences in the genotype and allele distributions, we found a significant association between panic symptom severity and the serotonin 2A receptor gene. This result suggests that 5HTR2A 1438A/G and 102T/C polymorphic regions can be associated with the phenotype or the pathogenesis of panic disorder.     

Microsatellite instable double primary cancers of the colorectum and stomach exhibit less favorable outcome

AIM: To ascertain the adequacy of the microsatellite instability (MSI) as a prognostic indicator by assessing MSI status of patients with double primary gastric and colorectal cancer (DPGCC). METHODS: Sixteen patients were studied, all of whom exhibited sporadic DPGCC, and had no family history of hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer, according to the Amsterdam criteria. A total of 32 cancers from 16 DPGCC patients, and 216 single primary CRC, were assessed for MSI in 5 microsatellite loci, BAT25, BAT26, D2S123, D5S346, and D17S250. RESULTS: MSI was observed in 6 (37.5%) of 16 GC and 4 (25.0%) of 16 CRC. Thirty tumors (13.9%) out of 216 single primary CRC and one tumor (16.7%) out of 6 double primary CRC were found to be microsatellite unstable. Of the 6 GC with MSI in DPGCC, 5 (31.3%) were MSI-high and one (6.3%) was MSI-low. In 5 of 16 DPGCC patients, the cancer recurred in or adjacent to the anastomosis or metastasized to the kidney or lung. The MSI-high DPGCC cases were associated with a younger age of onset (47.5 years vs62.5 years), higher frequency of lymph node metastasis (100% vs 25%), and advanced Dukes stage (C, 100% vs 41.7%), as well as a higher frequency of recurrence or metastasis (100% vs 8.3%). Only recurrence or metastasis showed statistical significance by Fisher's exact test. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that MSI may play an important role in the development of DPGCC, and that it may be used clinically as a molecular predictive marker for recurrence or late metastasis of DPGCC.     

Prevention of reactive oxygen species-induced oxidative stress in human microvascular endothelial cells by green tea polyphenol

The potential protective roles played by green tea polyphenol (GTP) against the injurious effects of reactive oxygen species in human microvascular endothelial cells (HUMVECs) were investigated. Oxidative stress was induced in cultured HUMVECs, either by adding 10 mM H2O2 or by the action of 10 U/l xanthine oxidase (XO) in the presence of xanthine (250 microM). Both treatments produced a significant reduction (to 68% and 71%, respectively) in HUMVEC viability, as assessed by fluorescence double staining method followed by flow cytometric analysis. On the microscopic observations, the morphological changes and necrotic detachment were appreciably induced by both treatments. The H2O2-induced alterations were completely prevented by pre-incubating the ECs with 10 microg/ml GTP for 1 h. When the oxidative stress was induced by XO, the cell viability and morphology were also significantly maintained at the same GTP concentration. These results demonstrate that GTP can act as a biological antioxidant in a cell culture experimental model and prevent oxidative stress-induced cytotoxicity in ECs.