• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.54-61
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• 2011

Introduction: Bisphosphonates is used widely for the treatment of the Paget's disease, multiple myeloma, bone metastases of malignant tumors with the prevention of pain and their pathological fracture. However, it was recently suggested that bisphosphonates related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) is a side effect of bisphosphonate use. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four individuals, who were referred to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery, Dankook University Dental Hospital, were selected from those who had exposed bone associated with bisphosphonates from January, 2005 to December, 2009 according to the criteria of American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) for BRONJ. The patients group consisted of 7 males and 17 females between the age of 46 to 78 years (average 61.8 years). Each patient had panoramic imaging, computed tomography (CT), whole body bone scanning performed for a diagnosis and biopsy sampling from the necrotizing tissue. C-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX) level of patients who had undergone surgical intervention was measured 7 days before surgery. Results: The main cause of bone exposure was post-extraction (15), chronic periodontitis (4), persistent irritation of the denture (3). Twenty people had undergone BRONJ treatment for two to eight months except for 4 people who had to maintain the bisphosphonates treatment to prevent a metastasis and bone trabecular pain with medical treatment. When the bisphosphonate treatment was suspended at least for 3 months and followed up according to the AAOMS protocols, the exposed necrotizing bones were found to be covered by soft tissue. Conclusion: Prevention therapy, interruption of bisphophonates for at least 3 months and cooperation with the physician for conservative treatment are the essential for treating BRONJ patient with high risk factors. The CTX level of BRONJ patients should be checked before undergoing surgical intervention. Surgical treatments should be delayed in the case of a CTX level <150 pg/mL.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.265-270
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• 2010

Objective : The purpose of this study is to identify the relationship between asymptomatic urinary tract infection (aUTI) and postoperative spine infection. Methods : A retrospective review was done in 355 women more than 65 years old who had undergone laminectomy and/or discectomy, and spinal fusion, between January 2004 and December 2008. Previously postulated risk factors (i.e., instrumentation, diabetes, prior corticosteroid therapy, previous spinal surgery, and smoking) were investigated. Furthermore, we added aUTI that was not previously considered. Results : Among 355 patients, 42 met the criteria for aUTI (Bacteriuria ${\geq}\;10^5\;CFU/mL$ and no associated symptoms). A postoperative spine infection was evident in 15 of 355 patients. Of the previously described risk factors, multi-levels (p<0.05), instrumentation (p<0.05) and diabetes (p<0.05) were proven risk factors, whereas aUTI (p>0.05) was not statistically significant. However, aUTI with Foley catheterization was statistically significant when Foley catheterization was added as a variable to the all existing risk factors. Conclusion : aUTI is not rare in elderly women admitted to the hospital for lumbar spine surgery. The results of this study suggest that aUTI with Foley catheterization may be considered a risk factor for postoperative spine infection in elderly women. Therefore, we would consider treating aUTI before operating on elderly women who will need Foley catheterization.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.52-57
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• 2018

Purpose: Rhabdomyolysis is a metabolic disorder in which the content of damaged muscle cells is released into plasma. Its manifestations include asymptomatic, myalgia, gross hematuria, and complications of acute kidney injury. Because of limited data on rhabdomyolysis in children, we performed this study to determine clinical characteristics of rhabdomyolysis in children. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients with rhabdomyolysis who were treated at the Pusan National University Children's hospital from January 2011 to July 2016. The diagnostic criteria were serum myoglobin level of ${\geq}80ng/mL$, exclusive of acute myocardial injury, cardiac arrest, and brain damage. Results: Forty-five patients were enrolled; mean age, $116{\pm}68$ months. Of these, 35 were boys and 10 were girls. Twenty-six patients experienced myalgia and 12 patients showed gross hematuria. Among these, seven patients initially had both myalgia and gross hematuria. The most common causes of rhabdomyolysis were infection, physical exertion, prolonged seizures, metabolic abnormalities, and drug addiction. Acute kidney injury (AKI) was the most common complication, followed by disseminated intravascular coagulation. Thirty-seven patients improved with sufficient fluid supply but two patients underwent hemodialysis due to deterioration of kidney function. Gross hematuria, positive occult blood test, and positive urine protein were more common in patients with AKI than in those without AKI. Conclusions: In children, infection was the most common cause of rhabdomyolysis. Most patients recovered by sufficient fluid therapy. However, in severe cases, especially in patients with underlying kidney disease, hemodialysis may be necessary in the present study.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.233-239
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• 2001

Local drug delivery by using biocompatible polymers has been developed in the treatment of periodontitis for many years. In the field of dental therapy, doxycycline is usually a first choice because of its broad-spectrum antibiotic activity. The strip releases antibiotics for a week, and the polymer should be degradable after a week. In this study, we prepared and evaluated the chitosan strips and nanoparticle strips containing doxycycline hydrochloride, and studied their antiacterial activity, dissoultion, and degrability in vitro. The weight of cast strip containing a 5 mg of doxycycline hydrochloride and a 45 mg of chitosan polymer was $57.67{\pm}0.17\;mg$. The release rate of doxycycline hydrochloride from the strip was measured by HPLC. The drug released from chitosan strip and nanoparticle strip was shown to be $50\;{\mu}g/mL$ in first 24 hours. In antibacterial test showed growth inhibitory activity after 24 hrs anaerobic incubation. In vitro degradability showed demolished weight of $93.74{\pm}0.08%$ chitosan strip, $82.48{\pm}1.29%$ chitosan nanoparticle strip, $2.47{\pm}1.99%$ polycarprolactione strip (control). These results showed that, with this doxycycline hydrochloride strip, it is feasible to obtain a sustained release of the drug within the periodontal pocket for seven days which may be improve for local drug delivery system for treatment of periodontal disease.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.7-10
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• 2012

Objectives: The root of Lithospermum erythrorhizon Sieb. et Zucc. (Lithospermi Radix, LR) is a kind of heat clearing and blood cooling medicinal herbs. It can clear away heat and cool the blood, reduce toxins and disperse maculae. LR has long been used as efficacious therapy for inflammation, burns, frostbite and skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis. Methods: In the present study, we investigate anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects of LR by using the 1-fluoro-2, 4- dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)-induced contact dermatitis mouse model. Results: Topical application of 10 mg/mL of LR effectively inhibited skin lesions induced by repeated paintings with DNFB. Topical application of LR also inhibited hyperplasia, edema, spongiosis and infiltrations of mononuclear cells. In addition, production levels of total immunoglobulin and IgG1 in serum were decreased by using LR in vivo. Conclusions: These data suggest that LR acts as an antiinflammatory agent, improving skin lesions in CD mice.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.1067-1073
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• 2003

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is a non-toxic, hydrophilic bile acid in widespread clinical use mainly for acute and chronic liver disease. Recently, treatment with UDCA in hepatic graft-versus-host disease has been given in immunosuppressive therapy for improvement of the biochemical markers of cholestasis. Moreover, it has been reported that UDCA possesses immunomodulatory effects by the suppression of cytokine production. In the present study, we hypothesized that UDCA may inhibit the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, IL-1$\beta$, and nitric oxide (NO) in microglia. In the study, we found that 100 $\mu$ g/mL UDCA effectively inhibited these two pro-inflammatory factors at 24 hand 48 h, compared to the $A\beta$42-pretreated groups. These results were compared with the LPS+UDCA group to confirm the UDCA effect. As microglia can be activated by several stimulants, such as $A\beta$42, in Alzheimers brain and can release those inflammatory factors, the ability to inhibit or at least decrease the production of IL-1$\beta$ and NO in Alzheimers disease (AD) is essential. Using RT-PCR, ELISA and the Griess Reagent System, we therefore found that UDCA in $A\beta$42 pre-treated cultures played a significant role in suppressing the expression or the production of IL-1$\beta$ and NO. Similarly, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) did not activate microglia in the presence of UDCA. Moreover, we found that UDCA exhibits a prolonged effect on microglial cells (up to 48 h), which suggests that UDCA may play an important role in chronic cell damage due to this long effect. These results further imply that UDCA could be an important cue in suppressing the microglial activation stimulated by massive AD peptides in the AD progressing brain.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.1 s.61
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• pp.46-58
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• 2005

Objective : This study on Sipimikwanjung-tang was undertaken to evaluate its antioxidant capacities and antiperoxidation activities in rat liver tissues. Sipimikwanjung-tang which has been one of the prescriptions in sasang constitutional medicine is usually applied for the therapy of various liver diseases. It is elucidated that Sipimikwanjung-tang has antioxidants on liver tissue of rat and the cytotoxic effects on human hepatoblastoma Hep G2 cells. Methods: Sipimikwanjung-tang extract in antioxidant effects of Hep G2 cells is evaluated by MTT assay, DAPI staining, DNA fragmentation assays and FACS can analysis. Results: Sipimikwanjung-tang induced apoptosis in Hep G2 cells, and induced G1 and G2M arrest of the cell cycle as well as a significant increase in PARP and caspase-3 activity. It induced an increase in $H_2O_2$ generation and the subsequent $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation and also induced cell apoptosis through the caspase-3-dependent pathways in the low concentration of Sipimikwanjung-tang extracts. However, the high dose of Sipimikwanjung-tang extract in Hep G2 cells inhibited $TGF-{\beta}l-induced$ apoptosis via increase in cellular $H_2O_2$, formation and $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation in human hepatoblastoma Hep G2 cells. Conclusion: From this study, the possibility that Sipimikwanjung-tang extracts apply to antioxidant and apoptotic treatment of disease is revealed.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.222-230
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• 2019

Intestinal barrier dysfunction always accompanies cirrhosis in patients with advanced liver disease and is an important contributor facilitating bacterial translocation (BT), which has been involved in the pathogenesis of cirrhosis and its complications. Several studies have demonstrated the protective effect of Vitamin D on intestinal barrier function. However, severe cholestasis leads to vitamin D depletion. This study was designed to test whether vitamin D therapy improves intestinal dysfunction in cirrhosis. Rats were subcutaneously injected with 50% sterile $CCl_4$ (a mixture of pure $CCl_4$ and olive oil, 0.3 mL/100 g) twice a week for 6 weeks. Next, $1,25(OH)_2D_3$ ($0.5{\mu}g/100g$) and the vehicle were administered simultaneously with $CCl_4$ to compare the extent of intestinal histologic damage, tight junction protein expression, intestinal barrier function, BT, intestinal proliferation, apoptosis, and enterocyte turnover. Intestinal heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression and oxidative stress were also assessed. We found that vitamin D could maintain intestinal epithelial proliferation and turnover, inhibit intestinal epithelial apoptosis, alleviate structural damage, and prevent BT and intestinal barrier dysfunction. These were achieved partly through restoration of HO-1 and inhibition of oxidative stress. Taken together, our results suggest that vitamin D ameliorated intestinal epithelial turnover and improved the integrity and function of intestinal barrier in $CCl_4$-induced liver cirrhotic rats. HO-1 signaling activation was involved in these above beneficial effects.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 2019

Purpose: We studied the pathogens and trends in antibiotic sensitivity pattern in children with urinary tract infection (UTI) over 8 years in order to evaluate adequate treatment. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of medical records of children with UTI from January 2009 to December 2016 in Daegu Fatima Hospital. Uropathogens and antibiotic sensitivity patterns were selected. Only 1 bacterial species with a colony count of ${\geq}105CFU/mL$ was considered a positive result. We compared 2 periods group (A: 2009~2012, B: 2013~2016) to investigate trends of antibiotic sensitivity pattern. Results: During the 8 year period, 589 cases are identified (E. coli was cultured in 509 cases, 86.4%). Among all patients, this study investigated the antibiotic sensitivity of E. coli. Antimicrobial susceptibility to ampicillin was steadily low for both periods (A: 32.6%, B: 40.1%, P=0.125), and to amikacin was consistently high for both periods (A: 99.4%, B: 99.3%, P=1.000). Antibiotic sensitivity to third-generation cephalosporin decreased from period A to B (A: 91.7%, B: 75.5%, P=0.000). Antibiotic sensitivity to quinolone significantly decreased from A to B (A: 88.4%, B: 78.2%, P=0.003). The prevalence of extended-spectrum ${\beta}$-lactamase-producing E. coli increased from period A to B (A: 6.1%, B: 17.1%, P=0.000). Conclusion: This study showed that conventional antibiotic therapy for the treatment of pediatric UTI needs to be reevaluated. A careful choice of antibiotic is required due to the change in antibiotic sensitivity and the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.250-262
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• 2022

Purpose: Elevated iodine intake is related to a higher prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH). We investigated the short-term effect of dietary iodine restriction on thyroid function in patients with SCH with high iodine intakes. Methods: The iodine levels in 64 SCH patients with serum TSH levels from 4.0 to 10.0 mIU/L and normal serum fT4 levels (n = 64) were assessed using 24-hour urine iodine test results and iodine intake levels calculated using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Dietary iodine restriction was not recommended for patients with an iodine intake in the normal range (group A, n = 13), but seaweed restriction was recommended for patients with high iodine intakes (group B, n = 33). Thyroid functions and iodine levels were rechecked after three months. Another eighteen patients were prescribed thyroid hormone replacement therapy according to clinical criteria. Results: Median baseline iodine intake for the 64 patients was 290.61 ㎍/day, and median 24-hour urine iodine was 33.65 µmol/g of creatinine. The major source of dietary iodine was seaweed, which accounted for 72.2% of median baseline intake. Urine iodine and calculated iodine intake levels were positively correlated with serum TSH levels (p < 0.001 and p = 0.027, respectively), and calculated iodine intakes were significantly correlated with urine iodine levels (p = 0.001). In group B, iodine restriction significantly decreased urine iodine (p = 0.042) and TSH levels (p = 0.004), and conversion to euthyroid status was achieved in 16 of the 33 patients (48.5%). Conclusion: Iodine intake and urine iodine levels are correlated with thyroid function in SCH patients, and dietary iodine restriction can aid functional thyroid recovery in patients with elevated iodine intakes.