Effect of Amrinone, a Selective Inhibitor of Phosphodiesterase III, on PMNs-induced Cardiac Dysfunction in Ischemia/reperfusion

Ischemia followed by reperfusion in the presence of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) results in a marked cardiac contractile dysfunction. Amrinone, a specific inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 3, has an antioxidant activity against PMNs. Therefore, we hypothesized that amrinone could attenuate PMNs-induced cardiac dysfunction by suppression of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced fby PMNs. In the present study, we examined the effects of amrinone on isolated ischemic (20 min) and reperfused (45 min) rat hearts perfused with PMNs. Amrinone at 25microM, given to hearts during the first 5 min of reperfusion, significantly improved coronary flow, left ventricular developed pressure (P< 0.001), and the maximal rate of development of left ventricular developed pressure (P< 0.001), compared with ischemic/reperfused hearts perfused with PMNs in the absence of amrinone. In addition, amrinone significantly reduced myeloperoxidase activity by 50.8%, indicating decreased PMNs infiltration (p< 0.001). Superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide production were also significantly reduced in fMLP- and PMA-stimulated PMNs pretreated with amrinone. Hydroxyl radical was scavenged by amrinone. fMLP-induced elevation of [Ca2+]i was also inhibited by amrinone. These results provide evidence that amrinone can significantly attenuate PMN-induced cardiac contractile dysfunction in the ischemic/ reperfused rat heart via attenuation of PMNs infiltration into the myocardium and suppression of ROS release by PMNs.

Effect of Defibrotide on Rat Reflux Esophagitis

This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of defibrotide on the development of the surgically induced reflux esophagitis, on gastric secretion, lipid peroxidation, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) accumulation, polymorphonuclear leukocytes adherence, superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide production in PMNs, scavenge of hydroxyl radical and hydrogen peroxide, cytokine (interleukin-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha) production in blood, and intracellular calcium mobilization in PMNs. Defibrotide did not inhibit the gastric secretion and not change the gastric pH. Treatment of esophagitis rats with defibrotide inhibited lipid peroxidation, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in the esophagus in comparison with untreated rats. Defibrotide significantly decreased the PMN adherence to superior mesenteric artery endothelium in a dose-dependent manner. Superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide production in 1microM formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (fMLP) - or 0.1microgram/ml N-phorbol 12- myristate 13-acetate (PMA) -activated PMNs was inhibited by defibrotide in a dose-dependent fashion. Defibrotide effectively scavenged the hydrogen peroxide but did not scavenge the hydroxyl radical. Treatment of esophagitis rats with defibrotide inhibited interleukin-1beta production in the blood in comparison with untreated rats, but tumor necrosis factor-alpha production was not affected by defibrotide. The fMLP-induced elevation of intracellular calcium in PMNs was inhibited by defibrotide. The results of this study suggest that defibrotide may have partly beneficial protective effects against reflux esophagitis by the inhibition lipid peroxidation, PMNs accumulation, PMNs adherence to endothelium, reactive oxygen species production in PMNs, inflammatory cytokine production (i.e. interleukin-1beta), and intracellular calcium mobilization in PMNs in rats.

The prevalence of childhood obesity and risk factors associated with obesity in Asan city

BACKGROUND: Recently, childhood obesity has increased and became a major health concern in Korea. The aim of this study is to measure the prevalence of childhood obesity in rural city and to explore the risk factors of obesity including obesity of parents. METHODS: We made 13 convenience samples of elementary school and attached kindergarten located in Asan-city, ChungNam, in 2001. We surveyed children's height, weight, and risk factors of childhood obesity with a self-recorded questionnaire answered by parents. Children's obesity was evaluated by ideal body weight which is defined as the 50th percentile of weight for Korean children of the same height and sex in 1998. The criteria of parents' obesity was over 25 of BMI. RESULTS: The subjects were 1,558 children among 1870 respondents. The prevalence of childhood obesity was 9.4% and that of male children was 11.0% and that of female children was 7.9%. The older in both male and female, the higher the obesity prevalence was. Mother's age were significantly higher in obese children. Birth weight and family income were also significantly higher in obese children. There was a higher family history of obesity in obese children. Risk factors associated with childhood obesity were gender, age of child, mother's age, birth weight, number of siblings, family income, and family history of obesity. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of childhood obesity in Asan-city was 9.4%. Children whose father, mother, or parents were obese tended to be obese.

A Case of Hereditary Multiple Exostoses

The so-called "Hereditary Multiple Exostoses" disease is characterized by hard, irregular prominences appearing in the metaphyseal region of the bones. Though transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait, skipped generation are reported and presumably represent spontaneous mutations. We experienced one case of hereditary multiple exostoses of 15 years old male patient, whose father and one brother were also affected. A brief review of related literature is also presented.