Evidences has been accumulated the difference of cardiovascular phenotypes in autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). To determine the genetic association between fibrinogen beta chain (FGB) gene and ASD in Korean population, we genotyped single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (rs4220, Arg478Lys, exon 8) in the FGB gene by using direct sequencing. Among nonsynonymous SNPs in the coding region of FGB, only one SNP's heterozygosity (rs4220) is more than 0.05. Therefore, we analyzed the association between rs4220 and ASD. Three hundred six control and 196 ASD subjects were evaluated. For the analysis of genetic data, SNPStats, SNPAnalyzer, and Helixtree programs were used. Multiple logistic regression analysis (codominant, dominant, and recessive models) was also used. The result showed that a SNP (rs4220) in the FGB gene was not significantly difference between ASD and controls in three alternative models. This result suggests that the FGB gene may have no relation to the development of ASD.
Clinical Coding ; Exons ; Fibrinogen ; Logistic Models ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

OBJECTIVE: The association of neurotrophic factors with the etiology of schizophrenia has been widely studied. Among them, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is known to promote the survival and differentiation of dopaminergic neurons. Considering dopamine hypothesis and neurodevelopmental theory, GDNF gene may be related with schizophrenia. In this study, we tried to clarify the association between schizophrenia and GDNF gene polymorphism. METHODS: Genotype and allele frequencies in the promoter and intron regions of GDNF gene were studied by using restriction fragment length polymorphism to compare 180 Korean schizophrenics with 105 Korean controls. RESULTS: We found significant differences between the schizophrenics and the controls in genotype and allele frequencies of BsaI polymorphism in the promoter region of GDNF gene (x2=18.208, df=2, p=0.0001/x2=11.264, df=1, p=0.0008). But no significant differences were found in intron region (p=0.06, p=0.984). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that polymorphism of GDNF gene might be related to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.
Dopamine ; Dopaminergic Neurons ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor* ; Introns ; Nerve Growth Factors ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Schizophrenia

OBJECTIVES: Recently, Korean psychiatrists have noticed the complaints from probands and family members that private health insurance companies do not pay for most psychiatric disorders. Furthermore, probands cannot even apply for insurance because of their medical record of psychiatric disorders. Authors investigated and reviewed contracts of Korean private insurance companies to find reasons for banning psychiatric disorders from insurance policies. METHODS: Authors reviewed more than 800 contracts from 48 insurance companies. RESULTS: Among all the psychiatric diagnoses, few of them-dementia and some other organic mental disorders-are guaranteed to be paid from insurance companies. Less then 10 contracts say they pay for psychiatric illnesses. Most insurance companies have contracts prohibiting F codes ; however, there are not enough reasons in these contracts. CONCLUSIONS: In the private health insurance system, psychiatric illnesses have almost no rooms. It is very urgent to add space for patients with psychiatric illnesses and psychiatrists in the insurance policies.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Insurance* ; Insurance, Health ; Korea* ; Medical Records ; Psychiatry

Two intracellular signal pathways mediated by cAMP and protein kinase C (PKC) were involved in the regulation of FN gene expression (Lee et al., Exp. Mol. Med. 30: 240, 1998). In this study, a possible involvement of protein phosphatase-dependent pathways in the regulation of FN gene expression was investigated by using protein phosphatase type 2B (PP2B) inhibitors, cyclosporin A and ascomycin. Both cyclosporin A and ascomycin increased the levels of FN mRNA in WI-38 human lung fibroblasts and the SV40-transformed WI-38 cells but not in MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts. The expression of FN appears to increase from six hours up to 48 hours after treatment suggesting that it is not an immediate effect. In addition, this effect required a new protein synthesis. Neither cyclosporin A nor ascomycin affects the phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-induced stimulation of FN gene expression and the same result occurred in vice versa suggesting the mechanism of PMA and cyclosporin A/ascomycin in the regulation of FN gene expression may share a common downstream pathway. Taken together, this study suggests that PP2B is involved in the regulation of FN gene expression in normal and transformed fibroblasts but not in osteoblasts.
Animal ; Calcineurin/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Cell Line, Transformed ; Cell Transformation, Viral ; Cyclosporine/pharmacology* ; Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology ; Fibroblasts ; Fibronectins/metabolism ; Fibronectins/genetics* ; Gene Expression Regulation* ; Human ; Lung/cytology ; Mice ; Osteoblasts ; Tacrolimus/pharmacology ; Tacrolimus/analogs & derivatives*

To evaluate the effect of Na-hyaluronic acid (Na-HA) on corneal epithelial wound healing, twenty admitted patients (twenty-four eyes) with corneal epithelial abrasion were randomly divided into 2 groups. 1% Na-HA was given 4 times daily to 12 treated eyes while 12 control cases received antibiotic ointment therapy. Epithelial defect area was photodocumented by 6-12 hours interval and individual healing rates were calculated by linear regression analysis. The healing rate of 1% Na-HA treated cornea was 1.02 +/- 0.26mm2/hour and that of the control eyes was 0.67 +/- 0.19 mm/hour(p<0.05). The result suggests that topically applied Na-HA enhances epithelial re~surfacing when compared to the antibiotics ointment.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cornea ; Epithelium, Corneal ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Wound Healing

PURPOSE: The effect of accelerated aging on color stability of various dual-cured self-adhesive resin cements were evaluated in this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Color stability was examined using three different brands of dual-cured self-adhesive resin cements: G-CEM LinkAce (GC America), MaxCem Elite (Kerr), and PermaCem 2.0 (DMG) with the equivalent color shade. Each resin cement was filled with Teflon mold which has 6 mm diameter and 2 mm thickness. Each specimen was light cured for 20 seconds using light emitting diode (LED) light curing unit. In order to evaluate the effect of accelerated aging on color stability, color parameters (Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage, CIE L*, a*, b*) and color differences (DeltaE*) were measured at three times: immediately, after 24 hours, and after thermocycling. The L*, a*, b* values were analyzed using Friedman test and DeltaE* values on the effect of 24 hours and accelerated aging were analyzed using t-test. These values were compared with the limit value of color difference (DeltaE*=3.7) for dental restoration. One-way ANOVA and Scheff's test (P<0.05) were performed to analyze each DeltaE* values between cements at each test period. RESULT: There was statistically signifi cant difference in comparison of color specifi cation (L*, a*, b*) values after accelerated aging except L* value of G-CEM LinkAce (P<0.05). After 24 hours, color difference (DeltaE*) values were ranged from 2.47 to 3.48 and L* values decreased and b* values increased in all types of cement and MaxCem Elite had high color stability (P<0.05). After thermocycling, color change's tendency of cement was varied and color difference (DeltaE*) values were ranged from 0.82 to 2.87 and G-CEM LinkAce had high color stability (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Color stability of dual-cured self-adhesive resin cements after accelerated aging was evaluated and statistically significant color changes occurred within clinically acceptable range.
Aging* ; Fungi ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; Resin Cements*

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) are associated with schizophrenia in Korean population. METHODS: Four SNPs (rs4648317, rs7131056, rs4936270, and rs1076562) of DRD2 were selected and genotyped by direct sequencing in 197 schizophrenia patients and 370 control subjects. SNPAnalyzer, SNPStats, and Haploview version 4.2 programs were performed to analyze the genetic data. Multiple logistic regression models (codominant1, codominant2, dominant, recessive, overdominant, and log-additive) were used to evaluate the odds ratios (ORs), 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and p values. For multiple testing, p values (pc) were re-evaluated by Bonferroni's correction. RESULTS: The genotype frequency of DRD2 rs4936270 SNP was associated with the development of schizophrenia (p=0.0007, OR=1.71, 95% CI=1.16-2.52 in the codominant1 model; p=0.011, OR=1.63, 95% CI=1.12-2.37 in the dominant model; p=0.035, OR=1.41, 95% CI=1.03-1.95 in the log-additive model). The allele frequency of rs4936270 was also associated with the development of schizophrenia (p=0.024, OR=1.45, 95% CI=1.05-1.98). After Bonferroni's correction, the genotype distribution of rs4936270 was still related to the development of schizophrenia (pc=0.0028 in the codominant1 model; pc=0.044 in the dominant model). A linkage disequilibrium block consisted of rs4648317, rs7131056, and rs4936270. The CAT haplotype frequency was different between schizophrenia and controls (p=0.039). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that DRD2 SNPs may be associated with the development of schizophrenia in Korean population.
Animals ; Cats ; Dopamine ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Logistic Models ; Odds Ratio ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Receptors, Dopamine ; Schizophrenia

Objective: Tacrolimus intrapatient variability (Tac IPV) has been considered a marker for post-graft risk. We investigated pre-transplant psychometric testing to predict Tac IPV after living kidney transplantation. Methods: Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) examined during pre-transplant evaluation by 102 recipients were analyzed. Subjects were divided into two groups, low IPV (L-IPV) and high IPV (H-IPV), by cutoffs of Tac IPV: median of 24 and value of 30. T-scores of MMPI-2 scales were used to analyze difference between L-IPV and H-IPV using independent t-tests. Stepwise multiple logistic regression was used to test whether MMPI-2 scales affected Tac IPV. Confusion matrix of logistic regression was used to explain statistical power. Cutoff values of significant scales for H-IPV were analyzed by constructing receiver operating characteristic curves. Results: Hysteria (Hy) and depression (D) scale scores and Tac IPV were associated in IPV 24 (odds ratio [OR]: 1.08, p<0.01 for Hy; OR: 0.93, p<0.01 for D) and IPV 30 models (OR: 1.09, p<0.01 for Hy; OR: 0.92, p<0.01 for D). Paranoia (Pa) scale scores were associated with Tac IPV in IPV 24 model (OR=1.10, p<0.01) and were significantly higher in H-IPV 24 (p<0.01). F1 scores of confusion matrix in IPV 24 and 30 models were 0.70 and 0.71, respectively. Cutoffs of Hy, D, and Pa scales were 51, 57, and 47, respectively. Conclusion MMPI-2 profile is suggested as a predictor for high Tac IPV after living kidney transplantation.

Authors experienced aspiration pneumonia during clozapine therapy in a 31 year-old woman patient with treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Development of aspiration pneumonia appeared to be related with side effects of clozapine including sedation, sialorrhea, and esophageal dysfunction. Each side effect seems to be mild, however it can cause fatal problems such as aspiration pneumonia if they appear simultaneously.
Adult ; Clozapine* ; Female ; Humans ; Pneumonia, Aspiration* ; Schizophrenia ; Sialorrhea

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The major mode of transmission of Helicobacter pylori is still uncertain. To investigate whether the oral cavity is a potential reservoir, dental plaques were cultured from patients with dyspeptic symptoms who underwent endoscopy. METHODS: Rapid urease test (CLO test), Giemsa stain, and culture were performed in 39 gastroscopic biopsy specimens from patients with peptic ulcer, chronic gastritis or gastric cancer. Ten gastric mucosal biopsy specimens and 39 dental plaque specimens were innoculated onto 5% sheep blood agar. RESULTS: Twenty patients (51%) were found to be H. pylori positive on antral histology or rapid urease test. Among ten patients, 8 patients (80%) were cultured for H. pylori from antral biopsies. However H. pylori was not isolated from any dental plaque regardless of their infective status and their oral hygiene or gingival status. CONCLUSIONS: We failed to isolate H. pylori from dental plaques in a group of dyspeptic patients with H. pylori-associated gastroduodenal disease. The findings strongly suggest that dental plaque is not an important reservoir of H. pylori and probably not a significant factor in the mode of transmission of H. pylori.
Agar ; Azure Stains ; Biopsy ; Dental Plaque* ; Endoscopy ; Gastritis ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Mouth ; Oral Hygiene ; Peptic Ulcer ; Sheep ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Urease