Sleep-disordered breathing was common in chronic pain patients on opioids. The dose-response relation of sleep apnea to methadone and benzodiazepines calls for increased vigilance.

NCP may be one of the leading causes of orthostatic proteinuria, and non-invasive renal Doppler US may be a useful diagnostic tool in the screening of NCP. In the future, the diagnostic criteria of NCP must be redefined in children.

Anopheles sinensis Wiedemann (63.3%) was the most abundant Anopheles mosquito captured at cowshed resting collections in malaria high-risk areas (northern Gyeonggi Province) near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in Korea during 2005, followed by Anopheles kleini Rueda (24.7%) and Anopheles pullus M. Yamada (8.7%). At cowshed resting collections in malaria low-risk areas (Jeonnam and Gyeongnam provinces), An. sinensis accounted for 96.8% of all Anopheles spp. collected, followed by An. kleini Rueda (2.7%), whereas no An. pullus were collected. Three species, An. kleini (50.9%), An. pullus (29.0%), and An. sinensis (13.8%), accounted for nearly all of the 224 Anopheles spp. captured by New Jersey light trap near the DMZ. In addition, An. pullus and An. kleini captured by New Jersey light trap near the DMZ and assayed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite antigen concentrations were higher than An. sinensis sensu stricto (s.s.), indicating higher levels of sporozoites. In laboratory studies of four concurrent artificial membrane feedings on malaria-infected blood from patients, F1 progeny of An. kleini and An. pullus had higher infection rates (8.8 and 7.5%, respectively) than An. sinensis s.s. (4.2%). These data suggest that An. kleini and An. pullus and An. sinensis are vectors of malaria in Korea. Further studies are required to determine the role of these species in the transmission of P. vivax in the Republic of Korea.

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Objectives. Ginger rhizomes have a long history of human use, especially with regards to their anti-inflammatory properties. However, the mechanisms by which ginger acts on lipopolysaccharide-(LPS-)induced inflammation have not yet been identified. We investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of dried Zingiber officinalis (DZO) on LPS-induced hepatic injury. Methods. ICR mice were given a DZO water extract (100, 1000 mg/kg) orally for three consecutive days. On the third day, they were administered by LPS intraperitoneally. To investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of DZO, histological, cytokine expression, and protein factor analyses were performed. Results. Oral administration of DZO significantly reduced pathological changes in the liver and proinflammatory cytokines including interferon-(IFN-)γ and interleukin-(IL-)6 in the serum. In addition, DZO inhibited LPS-induced NF-κB activation by preventing degradation of the IκB-α, as well as the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, SAPK/JNK, and p38 MAPKs. These were associated with a decrease in the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxyenase-2 (COX-2). Conclusions. Our data provide evidence for the hepatoprotective mechanisms of DZO as an anti-inflammatory effect. Furthermore, use of DZO to treat could provide therapeutic benefits in clinical settings.

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Since 1998, mass urine screening tests have been performed on Korean school children. We have analyzed those patients who showed abnormal urinary findings in the school screening program. Between January 1998 and January 2000, 452 children with abnormal urinary findings visited the Pediatric Kidney Center, Kyung-Hee University Hospital. Sex, age, 24-h urine creatinine clearance, ultrasonography, Doppler scans and renal biopsies were reviewed retrospectively. Results of initial urinalysis are divided into three groups: solely hematuria group (228 cases, 50.4%), solely proteinuria group (98 cases, 21.7%), and combined hematuria and proteinuria group (79 cases, 17.5%). Among the biopsied cases, the proportions representing renal parenchymal diseases were as follows: IgA nephropathy 11.3%, mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis 21.9%, others 3.8%. Among the three groups, the combined hematuria and proteinuria group had more frequent chronic renal disease (57.7%) than the other groups. Chronic renal disease was detected in 36.9% of all visiting subjects. In the school screening program a significant number of patients showed abnormal urinary findings, which were associated with chronic renal diseases especially in the combined hematuria and proteinuria group. In conclusion, mass urine screening tests should be mandatory to detect asymptomatic chronic renal disease in school children.

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