The cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A subfamily is estimated to participate in the biotransformation of 50% of the currently prescribed drugs. Four members of the CYP3A subfamily have been identified in humans: CYP3A4, CYP3A5, CYP3A7, and CYP3A43. Initial data suggested that CYP3A5 accounts for only a small proportion of the total hepatic CYP3A in about 20% of samples, but it was later revealed that CYP3A5 represents more than 50% of the total CYP3A amount in some individuals. Several genetic variants have been described for the CYP3A5 gene, of which the CYP3A5*3 allele (gA6986G), the most common form and leading to the loss of CYP3A5 activity, has been extensively investigated in the aspect of pharmacokinetics and disease risk. This review summarized the molecular characteristics of the CYP3A5 gene, and discusses the association of the CYP3A5*3 polymorphism with disease risks such as cancer and hypertension, along with its role in the pharmacokinetics of CYP3A substrates.
Alleles ; Biotransformation ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Pharmacogenetics ; Pharmacokinetics

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Serum levels of highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), a vascular inflammatory marker, may predict the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are at greater risk for type 2 diabetes and CVD. The aim of this study was to compare hsCRP levels between normal weight women with PCOS and controls with a normal menstrual cycle and to determine the factors associated with serum hsCRP levels. METHODS: Thirty-nine lean PCOS patients and 24 healthy, regular cycling women were enrolled in this study. We performed anthropometric measurements, fat computed tomography (CT), and blood sampling to determine blood chemistry and levels of hsCRP, gonadotropins, testosterone, and sex-hormone binding globulin. We also conducted 75-g oral glucose-tolerance test and euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp to assess insulin sensitivity. RESULTS: Serum hsCRP concentrations were higher in women with PCOS than in women with regular mensturation. However, this difference was no longer significant after adjusting for body mass index (BMI). hsCRP levels were correlated with waist circumference (r=0.46, p<0.01), BMI (r=0.46, p<0.01), visceral fat area (r=0.45, p<0.01), and systolic (r=0.42, p<0.05) and diastolic blood pressure (r=0.39, p<0.05). hsCRP also tended to be negatively associated with insulin-mediated glucose uptake (IMGU) (r=-0.31, p=0.07). A multiple regression analysis revealed that BMI (beta=0.29, p<0.05), systolic blood pressure (beta=0.39, p<0.01), and IMGU (beta=-0.31, p<0.05) predicted serum hsCRP levels in women with PCOS. CONCLUSIONS: PCOS by itself does not seem to be associated with increased hsCRP levels, whereas known CVD risk factors affect serum hsCRP levels in PCOS.
Adult ; Body Mass Index ; C-Reactive Protein/*analysis ; Cardiovascular Diseases/etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/*blood/complications ; Regression Analysis

The main objectives of this study were: to provide a computerized program for Patients with Cesare an Sec tion in predicting lengths of stay, and to evaluate the model of Automated Critical Pathway in Hospital information System. ; The Results of this study had shown the accessibility to the development of Automated Critical Pathway and can be contributed to aid developing the Automated Critical Pathway for other DRGs. The application of developed Automated Critical Pathway in clinical areas will induce easiness for the users and the substantial effect.
Cesarean Section* ; Critical Pathways* ; Diagnosis-Related Groups ; Female ; Hospital Information Systems ; Humans ; Pregnancy

Trichoblastic fibroma is a benign trichogenic tumor that has both epithelial and mesenchymal components and exhibits partial follicular induction. We studied 4 cases of trichoblastic fibroma and reviewed their clinical and histologic features. Two tumors were present in the face. The remaining two were in the vulva and perianal area, respectively. The age of the patients ranged from 53 to 68 years, with an average age of 62. All were female. Histologically, the lesions showed a well circumscribed mass, located at dermo-subcutaneous junction in three patients and subcutaneous in one. They demonstrated mesenchymal induction evidenced by hair germ-like structure and perifollicular sheath. There was no connection between the tumor and epidermis. Differentiation toward hair structure led to the formation of the infundibulum through inner root sheath. Trichoblastic fibroma may be confused clinically and/or histologically with basal cell carcinoma. Identification of the mixed epithelial and mesenchymal components, and the absence of epidermal connection and cleft within the stroma are important in differentiating this benign neoplasm from basal cell carcinoma.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Epidermis ; Female ; Fibroma* ; Hair ; Humans ; Vulva

This study examined three women, AHN Soo-kyung, KIM Youngheung and KIM Hae-ji, who were officially licensed as doctors for the first time in Joseon. I wanted to find a new “starting point” of women’s medicine history by scrutinizing their home environment, medical classes, graduation and medical license, and life after becoming doctors. The parents of KIM Young-heung and KIM Hae-ji might have been enlightened and Christians. AHN Soo-kyung did not have a Christian family. Her father, AHN Wang-geo, who was both an educator and a poet, was aware of the need for women’s education or modern education. Female medical missionaries such as Rosetta S. Hall and Mary Cutler also worked hard to get them admitted to the medical class.
They went to school with a female guardian and a brother and adapted to school life safely. After graduating from Kyongsung Medical College they obtained doctors’ licenses and continued their medical activities at the hospital.
KIM Young-heung actively engaged in social activities as a female intellectual by giving public lectures. She worked as a doctor in Kyongsung, Pyongyang, and Incheon. KIM Hae-ji did medical work and got married in Pyongyang. However, she had a hard time due to her husband’s death and a medical accident. In the end, she seems to have left the medical field by returning her medical license.
AHN Soo-kyung had been working at Dongdaemun (East Gate) Women’s Hospital for more than 20 years and was willing to participate in what she could do as a woman, doctor and intellectual. Therefore, she established a free maternity clinic in the hospital. She defended Joseon’s students and hospitals in protest of the controversy of nursing school and the move to abolish Dongdaemun Women’s Hospital. She quietly participated in the Dong-Ah Women’s Association and 6.10 the Independence Movement by doing anything she could do to help. She had a shy personality, but she faithfully fulfilled her duty as a doctor with a strong professional sense that saving people was her calling.

This study examined three women, AHN Soo-kyung, KIM Youngheung and KIM Hae-ji, who were officially licensed as doctors for the first time in Joseon. I wanted to find a new “starting point” of women’s medicine history by scrutinizing their home environment, medical classes, graduation and medical license, and life after becoming doctors. The parents of KIM Young-heung and KIM Hae-ji might have been enlightened and Christians. AHN Soo-kyung did not have a Christian family. Her father, AHN Wang-geo, who was both an educator and a poet, was aware of the need for women’s education or modern education. Female medical missionaries such as Rosetta S. Hall and Mary Cutler also worked hard to get them admitted to the medical class.
They went to school with a female guardian and a brother and adapted to school life safely. After graduating from Kyongsung Medical College they obtained doctors’ licenses and continued their medical activities at the hospital.
KIM Young-heung actively engaged in social activities as a female intellectual by giving public lectures. She worked as a doctor in Kyongsung, Pyongyang, and Incheon. KIM Hae-ji did medical work and got married in Pyongyang. However, she had a hard time due to her husband’s death and a medical accident. In the end, she seems to have left the medical field by returning her medical license.
AHN Soo-kyung had been working at Dongdaemun (East Gate) Women’s Hospital for more than 20 years and was willing to participate in what she could do as a woman, doctor and intellectual. Therefore, she established a free maternity clinic in the hospital. She defended Joseon’s students and hospitals in protest of the controversy of nursing school and the move to abolish Dongdaemun Women’s Hospital. She quietly participated in the Dong-Ah Women’s Association and 6.10 the Independence Movement by doing anything she could do to help. She had a shy personality, but she faithfully fulfilled her duty as a doctor with a strong professional sense that saving people was her calling.

BACKGROUND: Sulfonylurea drugs have been used for many decades as one of the main families of drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Even though there are many opportunities to medicate sulfonylurea drugs concomitantly with many other drugs, and furthermore there have been several case reports on drug interactions with sulfonylurea drugs, there has been no clear demonstration revealing the mechanisms that cause these interactions. We therefore evaluated inhibitory potential of sulfonylurea drugs, including glibenclamide, glipizide and gliclazide, on the cytochrome P450 (CYP)-catalyzing enzymes using human liver microsomes. METHODS: The inhibitory effects of glibenclamide, glipizide and gliclazide, on the CYP-catalyzing reaction, were evaluated for CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 using human liver microsomes, and probe drugs for each. RESULTS: Glibenclamide showed relative potent inhibitory effects on the CYP2C9- and CYP3A4-catallyzed reaction (IC50; 11.3 ( microM and 59.0 ( microM). The other CYP isoforms tested showed only weak inhibitory effects by due to glibenclamide (IC50 > 112 ( microM). Glipizide showed potent inhibitory effect on CYP3A4-catalyzed reaction only (IC50; 11.2 ( microM), and weak, or no, inhibitory effects on each on the other CYP isoforms tested (IC50 > 276 ( microM). CONCLUSION: The sulfonylurea drugs showed inhibitory potential on the CYP-catalyzing reaction in human liver microsomes. The results obtained in the present study provide insights into the potential of the drug interaction to ward drugs co-administered with sulfonylureas. It will be necessary to take into consideration the control of blood glucose, as well as therapeutic drug monitoring, to reduced toxicities when sulfonylurea drugs are co-administered with drugs of a narrow therapeutic range, or with severe dose-dependent toxicities.
Blood Glucose ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; Cytochromes* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Drug Interactions ; Drug Monitoring ; Gliclazide ; Glipizide ; Glyburide ; Humans* ; Liver* ; Microsomes, Liver* ; Protein Isoforms

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with pseudophakic negative dysphotopsia after cataract surgery and to analyze the risk factors of pseudophakic negative dysphotopsia as well as the postoperative effects on patient's satisfaction. METHODS: This study included 1,020 eyes of 690 patients who underwent phacoemulsification and posterior chamber lens insertion between January 2010 and March 2012. Retrospective chart review was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of negative dysphotopsia according to the site of clear corneal incision during cataract surgery and the type of implanted intraocular lens (IOL). The clinical outcome of Neodymium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser anterior capsulotomy in negative dysphotopsia patients was evaluated. Using a telephone survey, patients were asked to subjectively answer 18 questions regarding satisfaction after cataract surgery, the severity of visual symptoms and the effect of negative dysphotopsia in their daily life. RESULTS: Negative dysphotopsia developed in patients who underwent uneventful cataract surgery and successful implantation of IOL in the bag. The patients' vision was corrected up to 20/20 (0.00 log MAR) and HVF P60-4 showed no abnormality in their visual field. There were significantly more patients with the SN60WF IOL who reported negative dysphotopsia but no other factors associated with the prevalence of negative dysphotopsia. During the telephone survey, patients complained of difficulties in their daily life related to the negative dysphotopsia symptoms and reported decreased satisfaction after cataract surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Although negative dysphotopsia can decrease the patient's satisfaction after cataract surgery, the genesis of negative dysphotopsia and an objective method to test for negative dysphotopsia is necessary. Therefore, a prospective large study should be conducted to evaluate the cause and treatment of negative dysphotopsia.
Cataract ; Humans ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Phacoemulsification ; Prevalence ; Pseudophakia ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Telephone ; Visual Fields

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with pseudophakic negative dysphotopsia after cataract surgery and to analyze the risk factors of pseudophakic negative dysphotopsia as well as the postoperative effects on patient's satisfaction. METHODS: This study included 1,020 eyes of 690 patients who underwent phacoemulsification and posterior chamber lens insertion between January 2010 and March 2012. Retrospective chart review was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of negative dysphotopsia according to the site of clear corneal incision during cataract surgery and the type of implanted intraocular lens (IOL). The clinical outcome of Neodymium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser anterior capsulotomy in negative dysphotopsia patients was evaluated. Using a telephone survey, patients were asked to subjectively answer 18 questions regarding satisfaction after cataract surgery, the severity of visual symptoms and the effect of negative dysphotopsia in their daily life. RESULTS: Negative dysphotopsia developed in patients who underwent uneventful cataract surgery and successful implantation of IOL in the bag. The patients' vision was corrected up to 20/20 (0.00 log MAR) and HVF P60-4 showed no abnormality in their visual field. There were significantly more patients with the SN60WF IOL who reported negative dysphotopsia but no other factors associated with the prevalence of negative dysphotopsia. During the telephone survey, patients complained of difficulties in their daily life related to the negative dysphotopsia symptoms and reported decreased satisfaction after cataract surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Although negative dysphotopsia can decrease the patient's satisfaction after cataract surgery, the genesis of negative dysphotopsia and an objective method to test for negative dysphotopsia is necessary. Therefore, a prospective large study should be conducted to evaluate the cause and treatment of negative dysphotopsia.
Cataract ; Humans ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Phacoemulsification ; Prevalence ; Pseudophakia ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Telephone ; Visual Fields

PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare the performance of shear-wave elastography (SWE) for breast masses using the local shear wave speed (m/sec) vs. Young modulus (kPa). METHODS: A total of 130 breast lesions in 123 women who underwent SWE before ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy or surgical excision were included. With the region-of-interest placed over the stiffest areas of the lesion on SWE, the quantitative mean, maximum, and standard deviation (SD) of the elasticity values were measured in kPa and m/sec for each lesion. The SD was also measured with the region-of-interest including the whole breast lesion (wSD). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity of each elasticity value measured in kPa and m/sec were compared. RESULTS: Of the 130 lesions, 49 (37.7%) were malignant and 81 (62.3%) were benign. The AUCs for the mean, maximum, and SD of the elasticity values using kPa and m/sec did not differ significantly: mean, 0.974 vs. 0.974; maximum, 0.960 vs. 0.976; SD, 0.916 vs. 0.916. However, the AUC for wSD showed a significant difference: 0.964 (kPa) vs. 0.960 (m/sec) (P=0.036). There was no significant difference in the sensitivity and specificity of the mean, maximum, and wSD of the elasticity values. However, the specificity of the SD was significantly different between the two different measurements: 95.1% (kPa) vs. 87.7% (m/sec) (P=0.031). CONCLUSION: The quantitative elasticity values measured in kPa and m/sec on SWE showed good diagnostic performance. The specificity of the SD and AUC of the wSD measured in kPa were significantly higher than those measured in m/sec.
Area Under Curve ; Biopsy, Large-Core Needle ; Breast* ; Elastic Modulus* ; Elasticity ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques* ; Female ; Humans ; ROC Curve ; Ultrasonography, Mammary