• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.384-389
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• 2018

Background: Airway anastomotic complications are a leading cause of mortality after lung transplantation. Among the factors that cause airway complications, preoperative steroid use has been considered to be related with postoperative airway healing. We analyzed the influence of preoperative steroid use on postoperative airway complications. Methods: The medical records of 66 double-lung transplant recipients from January 2014 to December 2015 were reviewed. Forty patients were prescribed steroids preoperatively. The daily steroid dose was standardized using the patient's body mass index (BMI). Patients who received preoperative steroids were sub-divided into high-dose (HD) and low-dose (LD) groups (cut-off value, 1.6 mg/BMI/day). Results: Thirteen patients suffered from airway complications postoperatively (bronchopulmonary fistula, 9; bronchial stenosis, 4). There was a tendency for early development of airway complications in the steroid use group compared to the non-steroid use group, but it was not significant (percentage free from airway complications in year 1: non-steroid group, 90.9% vs. steroid group, 79.2%; p=0.43). The percentage of patients in the LD and HD groups who were free from airway complications in year 1 was not significantly different (84.0% vs. 77.8%, p=0.39). Conclusion: The airway complication rate did not vary significantly according to steroid use. Additionally, in patients who received preoperative steroids, the dose did not affect the rate of development of airway complications.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.130-137
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• 2001

Backbone dynamics of the catalytic residues in free and steroid-bound $\Delta$$^{5}$ -3- ketosteroid isomerase from Pseudomonas testosteroni has been examined by $^{15}$ N relaxation measurements. The relaxation data were analyzed using the model-free formalism to extract the model-free parameters (S$^2$, $\tau$$_{e}$, and R$_{ex}$). Tyr-34 and Asp-99 exhibit enhanced high-frequency (pico- to nanosecond) internal motions in the free enzyme, which are restricted upon ligand binding, while Asp-38 experiences severe restriction of the internal motions in the fee enzyme, suggesting that Tyr-14 and Asp-99 are more actively involved in the ligand binding than Asp-38. The results also indicate that the H-bond network in the catalytic cavity might be slightly strengthened upon ligand binding, which may have some implications on the enzyme mechanism.he enzyme mechanism.m.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.26-26
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• 2003

The backbone dynamics of ketosteroid isomerase, a homodimeric enzyme with 125 amino acid residues per subunit, has been studied in the presence/absence of a steroid ligand and 5％ trifluoroethanol (TFE) by $^{15}$ M relaxation measurements. The relaxation data were analyzed using the model-free formalism to extract the model-free parameters (S$^2$, $\tau$$_{e}$, and R$_{ex}$ ). The results show that a large number of the residues, particularly those involved in the dimer interaction, exhibit reduced order parameters (S$^2$) in the steroid-bound enzyme, indicating the increased high-frequency (pico- to nanosecond) motions in the interface region upon ligand binding. The results also show that that the presence of 5 ％ TFE in free enzyme causes little change or slight increase in the order parameters for a number of residues in the dimer interface region. However, the majority of the residues in free enzyme exhibit reduced order parameters in the presence of 5 ％ TFE, indicating that the increase in entropy is partially responsible for the increased stability of KSI by 5％ TFE.E.E.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.105-111
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• 2015

Purpose: Steroid dependent nephrotic syndrome (SDNS) is a chronic illness in childhood hard to treat. Steroid sparing drugs are often used, because long-term steroid therapy can cause severe side effects. We studied to compare efficacy between MMF and other drugs including cyclosporine and levamisole. Methods: This study was performed retrospectively on patients with SDNS, who were treated at Pusan National University Children's hospital. MMF group included 11 patients who were treated with MMF for at least six months between June 2012 and July 2014. As control groups, cyclosporine group (n=15) and levamisole group (n=18) included patients treated between January 2008 and July 2014. Number of relapse was analyzed in patients treated more than six months, and relapse free for one year was analyzed in patients treated more than one year. Results: In MMF group, ten were boys and mean age at onset was 5.8 years. Mean age at starting of MMF was 8.6 years. Number of relapse in MMF group was reduced significantly after treatment from 3.4 /year to 0.2 /year (P=0.003). There was no significant difference in number of relapse among groups (MMF: 0.2 /year, cyclosporine: 0.5 /year, levamisole: 0.5 /year). Comparing the early relapse within six months after treatment levamisole group was significantly higher than the other two groups (P=0.04). Conclusions: MMF which is used in SDNS significantly reduced the relapse and side effects were rare. In addition, MMF did not show any significant difference in comparison with the other two groups in number of relapse and relapse free for one year.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.590-598
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• 2023

Objective: To investigate whether the levels of inflammation detected by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) can predict disease relapse in immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) patients receiving standard induction steroid therapy. Materials and Methods: This prospective study analyzed pretherapy FDG PET/CT images from 48 patients (mean age, 63 ± 12.9 years; 45 males and 3 females) diagnosed with IgG4-RD between September 2008 and February 2018, who subsequently received standard induction steroid therapy as the first-line treatment. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify the potential prognostic factors associated with relapse-free survival (RFS). Results: The median follow-up time for the entire cohort was 1913 days (interquartile range [IQR], 803-2929 days). Relapse occurred in 81.3% (39/48) patients during the follow-up period. The median time to relapse was 210 days (IQR, 140-308 days) after completion of standardized induction steroid therapy. Among the 17 parameters analyzed, Cox proportional hazard analysis identified whole-body total lesion glycolysis (WTLG) > 600 on FDG-PET as an independent risk factor for disease relapse (median RFS, 175 vs. 308 days; adjusted hazard ratio, 2.196 [95% confidence interval: 1.080-4.374]; P = 0.030). Conclusion: WTLG on pretherapy FDG PET/CT was the only significant factor associated with RFS in IgG-RD patients receiving standard steroid induction therapy.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.638-646
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• 1997

The steroid 9${alpha}$-hydroxylase activity has been detected in cytosol fraction, $100,00{\times}g$ supernatant of cell free extract of Mycobacterium fortuitum. The activity was not linear with protein concentration in the assay suggesting 9${alpha}$-hydroxylase is a multicomponent enzyme. The 9${alpha}$-hydroxylase system was partially purified through fractional saturation of ammonium sulfate, strong anion exchange (Mono Q) column chromatography, gel filtration (Superose 12) column chromatography, and testosterone affinity gel chromatography. Ammonium sulfate 50~60% saturated fraction of the cytosol gave 9${alpha}$-hydroxylase activity. For further purification, the half-saturated ammonium sulfate fraction was applied to Mono Q, Superose 12, or affinity gel column. The purification factors of 9${alpha}$-hydroxylase containing fraction after Mono Q, Superose 12, and affinity gel chromatography was 13, 11, and 17 respectively.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1169-1175
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• 2018

Objective: The present study was conducted to investigate the impacts of active and passive immunization against synthetic inhibin and steroid-free bovine follicular fluid, respectively, on reproductive fecundity out of breeding season in Iraqi Awassi ewes. Methods: Follicular fluid was aspired from mature bovine follicles, treated with activated charcoal, and used for immunization of male rabbits for obtaining steroid free bovine follicular fluid (SFBFF) antiserum. Forty non-pregnant Awassi ewes were allocated into 4 groups (n = 10 each). At day 38 of experiment, ewes were treated with intra-vaginal MPA sponge (60 mg for 12 days). At days 0, 28, and 50, ewes were treated with 4, 2, and 2 mL of normal saline (control; C-ve), 400, 200, and $200{\mu}g$ of ovalbumin (C+ve), 400, 200 and $200{\mu}g$ of inhibin (SI group), respectively, and 4 mL of normal saline at day 0, and 4 and 2 mL of SFBFF antiserum at days 28 and 50, respectively, (AI group). After mating with Awassi rams, pregnancy and embryo number were diagnosed, at day 38 of pregnancy, using ultrasonography. Blood samples were collected at days 30, 60, 90, and 120 of pregnancy, for assessment of estradiol-$17{\beta}$ (E2) and progesterone (P4) levels. After parturition, numbers of delivered lambs were recorded. Results: The results revealed significant increase of P4 and significant decrease of E2 levels in SI and AI pregnant ewes than controls at days 30, 60, 90, and 120. Newborn number increased significantly in SI and AI treated than control ewes. Conclusion: Active or passive immunization against endogenous inhibin could augment reproductive fecundity out of breeding season in Iraqi Awassi ewes.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 2001

The activity of taurine transporter is affected by various extracellular stimuli such as ion, hormone and stress. To assess effects of steroid hormones antral cyclosporin A (CsA) on the taurine transporter activity, murine monocytic RAW264.7 cell line was stimulated with dexamethasone (DM), triamcinolone (TA), cortisone (CS), hydrocortisone (HCS), prednisone (PSN), prednisolone (PSL) and methylprednisolone (MPSL) in the presence of 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate(TPA). Treatment of TPA on the cell line led to significant reduction of taurine transporter activity. However, in case of stimulation of the cells with steroid hormones in the presence of TPA, all of them recovered TPA-induced reduction of the taurine transporter activity. Treatment of the cells with CsA led to significant reduction of the taurine transporter activity. Ionomycin (IM) recovered the reduced taurine transporter activity by CsA, but failed in the presence of EDTA, a calcium chelating agent. These results showed that glucocorticoid hormone recovered TPA-induced reduction of taurine transporter activity and that IM recovered CsA-induced reduction of the transporter activity by increasing intracellular free $Ca^{++}$ concentration.n.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.226-233
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• 2020

Background: We aimed to compare interlaminar epidural steroid injections (ILESI) and bilateral transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TFESI) on pain intensity, functional status, depression, walking distance, and the neuropathic component in patients with lumbar central spinal stenosis (LCSS). Methods: The patients were divided into either the ILESI or the bilateral TFESI groups. Prime outcome measures include the numerical rating scale (NRS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), Beck depression inventory (BDI), and pain-free walking distance. The douleur neuropathique en 4 questions score was used as a secondary outcome measure. Results: A total of 72 patients were finally included. NRS, ODI, and BDI scores showed a significant decline in both groups in all follow-ups. Third-month NRS scores were significantly lower in the ILESI group (P = 0.047). The percentages of decrease in the ODI and BDI scores between the baseline and the third week and third month were significantly higher in the ILESI group (P = 0.017, P = 0.001 and P = 0.048, P = 0.030, respectively). Pain-free walking distance percentages from the baseline to the third week and third month were significantly higher in the ILESI group (P = 0.036, P < 0.001). The proportion of patients with neuropathic pain in the bilateral TFESI group significantly decreased in the third week compared to the baseline (P = 0.020). Conclusions: Both ILESI and TFESI are reliable treatment options for LCSS. ILESI might be preferred because of easier application and more effectiveness. However, TFESI might be a better option in patients with more prominent neuropathic pain.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.90-97
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• 2017

Androgenic anabolic steroids (AASs) are synthetic derivatives of testosterone with a common structure containing cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene nucleus. Their use enhances the muscle building capacity and is beneficial during performance. The AASs are one of the most abused group of substances in horse doping. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry ($LC/MS^n$) has been successfully applied to the detection of anabolic steroids in biological samples. However, the saturated hydroxysteroids viz: nandrolone, $5{\alpha}-estrane-3{\beta}$, $17{\alpha}-diol$ exhibit lower detection responses in electrospray ionisation (ESI) because of their poor ionisation efficiency. To overcome this limitation pre-column chemical derivatization has been introduced to enhance their detection responses in $LC-ESI-MS^n$ analysis. The aim of present study was to develop a sensitive method for identification and confirmation of nandrolone and its metabolite in horse urine incorporating pre-column derivatization using picolinic acid. The method consists of extraction of targeted steroid conjugates by solid phase extraction (SPE). The eluted steroid conjugates were hydrolysed by methanolysis and free steroids were recovered with liquid-liquid extraction. The resulting steroids were derivatized to form picolinoyl esters and identification was done using LC-ESI-MS/MS in positive ionization mode. The picolinated steroid adduct enhanced the detection levels in comparison to underivatized steroids.