Association of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) single nucleotide polymorphisms with type 2 diabetes mellitus

The etiology and pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are not completely understood although it is often associated with other conditions such as obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is a key enzyme in human lipid metabolism that facilitates the removal of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins from the bloodstream. LPL hydrolyzes the core of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (chylomicrons and very low density lipoprotein) into free fatty acids and monoacylglycerol. To gain insight into the possible role of LPL in T2DM, nine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of LPL were analyzed for the association with T2DM using 944 unrelated Koreans, including 474 T2DM subjects and 470 normal healthy controls. Of the nine LPL SNPs we analyzed, a significant association with multiple tests by the false discovery rate (FDR) was observed between T2DM and SNP rs343 (+13836C>A in intron 3). SNP rs343 was also marginally associated with some of T2DM-related phenotypes including total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc), and log transformed glycosylated hemoglobin in 470 normal controls, although no significant association was detected by multiple tests. In total, our results suggest that the control of lipid level by LPL in the bloodstream might be an important factor in T2DM pathogenesis in the Korean population.

Chromosomal Information of 1,144 Korean BAC Clones

We sequenced 1,841 BAC clones by terminal sequencing, and 1,830 of these clones were characterized with regard to their human chromosomal location and gene content using Korean BAC library constructed at the Korean Science (KCGS). Sequence analyses of the 1,830 BAC clones was performed for chromosomal assignment: 1,144 clones were assigned to a single chromosome, 190 clones apparently assigned to more than one chromosome, and 496 clones to no chromosome. Evaluating gene content of the 1,144 BAC clones, we found that 706 clones represented 1,069 genes of which 415 genes existed in the BAC clones covering the full sequence of the gene, 180 genes covering a 50%~99%, and 474 genes covering less than 50% of the gene coverage. The estimated covering size of the KBAC clones was 73,379 kilobases (kb), in total corresponding to 2.3% of haploid human genome sequence. The identified BAC clones will be a public genomic resource for mapped clones for diagnostic and functional studies by Korean scientists and investigators worldwide.

Effects of Fentanyl or Clonidine on Postoperative Analgesia and Urinary Retention after Caudal Anesthesia / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Caudal administration of local anesthetics, opioids, and the alpha2 adrenergic agonists is effective for postoperative pain. Intrathecal and epidural opioids may commonly result in urinary retention. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of fentanyl or clonidine on postoperative analgesia and urinary retention. METHODS: Forty patients undergoing a hemorrhoidectomy were randomly assigned to receive 20ml of 2% lidocaine and 1 : 200,000 epinephrine plus clonidine 100 microgram (group C100, n = 10), clonidine 150 microgram (group C150, n = 10), fentanyl 50 microgram (group F50, n = 10), or fentanyl 100 microgram (group F100, n = 10) for caudal anesthesia. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were measured before anesthesia and immediately postanesthesia, and every 5 min after caudal administration for 30 min. The following variables were recorded: onset time, analgesic time, voiding time, and urinary retention. RESULTS: The MAP at 20, 25, and 30 min in group C150 (91 +/- 7, 91 +/- 6, and 90 +/- 7 mmHg, respectively) was less than in group F50 (99 +/- 4, 101 +/- 6, and 101 +/- 5 mmHg, respectively) (P < 0.05). There was no difference in HR and onset time of anesthesia among the groups. Analgesic times in groups C150, F50, and F100 (270 +/- 22, 265 +/- 23, and 323 +/- 82 min, respectively) were longer than in group C100 (207 +/- 59 min), (P < 0.05). The number of patients using a urinary catheter to void was much higher in group F100 (7 patients) than in the groups C100, C150, or F50 (4, 5, and 3 patients, respectively) (P < 0.05). The voiding time was longer in group C150 than in group C100 (369 +/- 122 min vs 266 +/- 83 min, P < 0.05). No side effects were reported. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that clonidine 150 microgram is adequate to provide effective analgesia and a low incidence of urinary retention during caudal anesthesia.

The Effect of Butorphanol on Propofol-N2O-O2 Anesthesia: Propofol Dose Requirements, Hemodynamic Responses, and Postoperative Recovery Profiles / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: This study was proposed to examine the effects of butorphanol on propofol dose requirements and hemodynamic responses during propofol-N2O-O2 anesthesia. In addition, the effects of butorphanol on the recovery time, sedation score and postoperative first analgesic request time were assessed. METHODS: Forty patients were allocated to 2 groups. Twenty patients received butorphanol (20 microgram/kg, group (B) and the others received an equal volume of placebo (group P) 3 minutes before induction with propofol. After induction, anesthesia was maintained with propofol (6 - 10 mg/kg, iv)-N2O (70%)-O2 (30%). Propofol doses for induction and maintenance and hemodynamic responses (blood pressure, heart rate) were checked. After surgery, sedation score, recovery profiles, and postoperative first analgesic request time were assessed. RESULTS: The induction doses of propofol were lower in group B than in group P. Diastolic pressure and heart rate decreased in group B compared to group P after endotracheal intubation and before skin incision. After skin incision, decreased diastolic pressure and heart rate returned to preanesthetic levels in group P, but the decreased level was sustained in group B. There were group differences in sedation score at 5 and 10 minutes after extubation. In group B, recovery was delayed and more time elapsed before the first analgesic request. CONCLUSIONS: Butorphanol co-administered with propofol reduces the induction dose of propofol and delays the first analgesic request time, but there are significant fluctuations in blood pressure and heart rate during endotracheal intubation and skin incision.

Selective Median Nerve Injury after Axillary Brachial Plexus Block / 대한마취과학회지

A 25 years old male received an emergency operation for tendon repair of the right 3rd. finger under axillary brachial plexus block using a paresthesia technique. He had no specific medical problem in hand function except limitation of the right 3rd. finger flexion. After the operation, he complained about hand numbness, especially around the palm side of the 3rd. finger, and a tingling sensation which originated from the axilla to the 3rd. finger. Those symptoms did not subside, thus the patient was advised to seek rehabilitation medicine. On the 21st post operative day, EMG (Electromyography) indicated a right median nerve injury at the median branch level of the brachial plexus. The complete withdrawal of the symptoms was reported at the 7th week after the operation. In this case, the highly suggestive cause of selective median nerve injury was a direct nerve injury by injection needle or intraneural injection of local anesthetic drug during the brachial plexus block procedure. However, we didn't completely rule out the possibility of nerve damage by tourniquet and improper position.