Background: s: This study was performed to analyze the main key words of newspaper articles related to COVID-19 in 2020 for each category of quarantine measures according to the epidemic period of COVID-19. Methods: We analyzed articles related to COVID-19 in three major newspapers of Korea between February 17 and December 31, 2020. We targeted the front page articles on mondays and thursdays. The analysis of the relationship between the two variables was confirmed through the chi-square test. Results: As a result of analyzing the main key words for each category of quarantine measures, non-pharmaceutical intervention were the most common at 54.3%, followed by 3Ts(test, tracing, treatment and vaccine) at 31.9%. In the category of non-pharmaceutical intervention, social distancing was the most common at 33.9%. In the categories such as 3Ts(test, tracing, treatment) and vaccine, diagnostic tests were the most common at 41.8%. Conclusions It was identified that non-pharmaceutical intervention were the most common, and there was a difference in the reporting of main key words by category of quarantine measures for each epidemic period related to COVID-19 in 2020.

OBJECTIVE: It has been known that the posterior pedicle screw fixation provides good mechanical stability in unstable burst fracture. But, posterior fixation without anterior column support may not be adequate to withstand the axial load and to keep the corrected kyphotic angle. We present results of one stage fixation by posterior approach in unstable burst fracture. METHODS: Nine patients with unstable burst fracture were treated with posterior fixation and intervertebral fusion using titanium mesh cages and pedicle screws. The canal decompression was achieved by laminectomy and partial pediculectomy through the posterior approach. In all cases, the short segment fixation and anterior column support with cage were performed on the one stage operation. RESULTS: Of nine patients, seven was satisfied with excellent clinical results except two cases of the Frankel's grade A. All patients had good stabilization of spinal column and enough decompression without any neurological complications. It was possible to maintain the corrected kyphotic angle with the circumferential stabilization(three column fixation). CONCLUSION: The anterior and posterior column fixation through the posterior approach provides good stability and decompression in the patients with unstable burst fracture.
Decompression* ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Spine* ; Titanium

Macrophages play a key role in iron metabolism by recycling iron through erythrophagocytosis. Ferroportin-1 (FPN1) is a transporter protein that is known to mediate iron export from macrophages. Since divalent metals often interact with iron metabolism, we examined if divalent metals could regulate the expression of FPN1 in macrophages. J774 macrophage cells were treated with copper, manganese, zinc, or cobalt at 10, 50, or 100 microM for 16 to 24 h. Then, FPN1 mRNA and protein levels were determined by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot analyses, respectively. In addition, effects of divalent metals on FPN1 promoter activity were examined by luciferase reporter assays. Results showed that copper significantly increased FPN1 mRNA levels in a dose-dependent manner. The copper-induced expression of FPN1 mRNA was associated with a corresponding increase in FPN1 protein levels. Also, copper directly stimulated the activity of FPN1 promoter-driven reporter construct. In contrast, manganese and zinc had no effect on the FPN1 gene expression in J774 cells. Interestingly, cobalt treatment in J774 cells decreased FPN1 protein levels without affecting FPN1 mRNA levels. In conclusion, our study results demonstrate that divalent metals differentially regulate FPN1 expression in macrophages and indicate a potential interaction of divalent metals with the FPN1-mediated iron export in macrophages.
Blotting, Western ; Cobalt ; Copper ; Gene Expression ; Ions ; Iron ; Luciferases ; Macrophages ; Manganese ; Metals ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Recycling ; RNA, Messenger ; Zinc

No abstract available.
DNA, Mitochondrial* ; Essential Tremor* ; Humans ; Parkinson Disease*

Cadmium intoxication has been associated with the dysregulation of iron homeostasis. In the present study, we investigated the effect of cadmium on the expression of ferroportin 1 (FPN1), an important iron transporter protein that is involved in iron release from macrophages. When we incubated cadmium with J774 mouse macrophage cells, FPN1 mRNA levels were significantly increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, the cadmium-induced FPN1 mRNA expression was associated with increased levels of FPN1 protein. On the other hand, cadmium-mediated FPN1 mRNA induction in J774 cells was completely blocked when cells were co-treated with a transcription inhibitor, acitomycin D. Also, cadmium directly stimulated the activity of the FPN1-promoter driven luciferase reporter, suggesting that the cadmium up-regulates FPN1 gene expression in a transcription-dependent manner. Finally, cadmium exposure to J774 macrophages increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels by ~ 2-fold, compared to untreated controls. When J774 cells were co-treated with antioxidant N-acetylcystein, the cadmium-induced FPN1 mRNA induction was significantly attenuated. In summary, the results of this study clearly demonstrated that cadmium increased FPN1 expression in macrophages through a mechanism that involves ROS production, and suggests another important interaction between iron and cadmium metabolism.
Animals ; Cadmium ; Cation Transport Proteins ; Gene Expression ; Hand ; Homeostasis ; Iron ; Luciferases ; Macrophages ; Mice ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; RNA, Messenger

The gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumors (GIMTs) form a heterogenous group with controversy centering on both the cell of origin and the prediction of clinical behavior. They include a small group of tumors with mature smooth muscle or Schwann cell differentiation and a larger group with inconsistent or no evidence of differentiation. Tumors in the latter are now referred to as gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). A clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study was performed on 53 cases of GIMTs to identify cellular differentiation and predictors of clinical behavior. Fifty three cases of GIMTs could be histologically and immunophenotypically divided into three categories, 6 leiomyomas (11.3%), 4 schwannomas (7.6%), and 43 GISTs (81.1%). All leiomyomas (SMA desmin ) and schwannomas (S-100 ) were located in stomach and negative for CD34 and CD117. Thirty nine cases of GISTs were either CD34 (n=26) or CD117 (n=23) immunoreactive. Of these 39 GISTs, 26 were negative for myoid (SMA, desmin) and neural marker (S-100), 10 SMA desmin-S-100-, two SMA-desmin-S-100 , and one SMA desmin-S-100 . Two out of 4 GISTs, which were negative for CD34 and CD117, were immunohistochemically considered leiomyosarcoma (SMA desmin ). GISTs of small intestine had a tendency to be malignant than those of stomach. Pathologic grade of GISTs was not correlated with cellular differentiation. In 29 GISTs with clinical follow-up information, tumor size, mitotic counts, Ki-67 labelling index, tumor necrosis, mucosal invasion, and CD34 expression were significantly correlated with metastasis/recurrence.
Cell Differentiation ; Desmin ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; Intestine, Small ; Leiomyoma ; Leiomyosarcoma ; Muscle, Smooth ; Necrosis ; Neurilemmoma ; Stomach

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study measured the effects of a taste education program developed in Korea on food neophobia and willingness to try novel foods in school children. SUBJECTS/METHODS: One-hundred and twenty school children (aged 7-9 years) residing in Seoul participated in 12 sessions of a taste education program for 3 months. The Korean taste education program was adapted from "Les classes du goût" by J. Puisais and modified to suit a Korean education environment. The study subjected school children to pre- and post-programs on food neophobia and willingness to try novel foods (WTNF), in addition to children's food neophobia in their parents. A total of 101 survey data were analyzed using SPSS 18.0. RESULTS: Regarding the effects of taste education, scores of food neophobia significantly decreased (P < 0.01) in the posttest, mean (m) score (4.10 ± 1.19) decreased compared to the pretest (4.39 ± 1.00), and WTNF significantly increased (P < 0.001) in the pretest (m) score (0.48 ± 0.33) compared to the pretest (0.32 ± 0.34). This result indicates verification of the study hypothesis. CONCLUSIONS: Food neophobia scale (FNS), an index that measures personal food preference [1,2], showed a very weak correlation with behavioral willingness to taste novel foods (WTNF). Therefore, it is expected that the two scales measure different things. However, considering that the traits of food neophobia are not easily changed, the taste education program was administered in a remarkably effective manner.
Child* ; Education* ; Food Preferences ; Humans ; Korea ; Parents ; Seoul ; Weights and Measures

Jacobsen syndrome is a rare condition associated with the deletion of the long arm of chromosome 11. Though several authors reported prenatal sonographic findings of the Jacobsen syndrome, there are no common disease-specific features. The majority of affected cases were identified postnatally by chromosomal analysis of the dysmorphic or mentally retarded patients. We present a prenatal case of Jacobsen syndrome with a brief review of literature. A routine scanning in a 32-year-old primigravida at 17.3 weeks' gestation showed abnormal ultrasonographic findings consistent with increased nuchal thickening and subtle cardiac abnormalities (levorotated heart axis of greater than 60 degrees and thickened ventricular wall). The patient underwent amniocentesis, and the karyotype showed deletion of the long arm of chromosome 11, 46,XX, del (11) (q23.1q24). The fetal autopsy performed following medical termination confirmed the prenatal findings. The present case represents that the prenatal sonographic detection of the nuchal thickening and subtle cardiac abnormality should warrant a careful assessment of fetal anatomy and prompt cytogenetic analysis looking for chromosomal aberrations.
Adult ; Amniocentesis ; Arm ; Autopsy ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11 ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; Heart ; Humans ; Jacobsen Distal 11q Deletion Syndrome* ; Karyotype ; Mentally Disabled Persons ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Ultrasonography

Acute cholecystitis as a complication of malarial disease is a rare condition, especially with Plasmodium vivax infection. A 62 year-old-female was admitted via emergency room (ER) due to high fever (40.3degrees C) and epigastric pain. Initial abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) scan showed edematous gallbladder with stone, which suggested acute calculous cholecystitis. Emergency percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) was done with systemic antibiotic therapy. The clinical course, however, unusually worsened with hypotension and intensive care unit (ICU) management was done. Four days after admission multi-focal splenic infarction was developed and Plasmodium vivax infection was diagnosed afterward. The clinical symptoms and laboratory results, including fever and epigastric pain, improved dramatically after anti-malarial treatment and cholecystectomy was done. The resected gallbladder (GB) specimen shows vasculitis pattern with capillary red blood cell (RBC) engorgement, which suggests the cause of cholecystitis was due to Plasmodium vivax rather than GB stone.
Capillaries ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystitis ; Cholecystitis, Acute* ; Drainage ; Emergencies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Erythrocytes ; Fever ; Gallbladder ; Hypotension ; Intensive Care Units ; Plasmodium vivax* ; Plasmodium* ; Splenic Infarction ; Ultrasonography ; Vasculitis

OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to examine the expression of matriptase, and its inhibitor, HAI-1, in epithelial ovarian cancer and to assign clinicopathological correlations and to discuss the matriptase/inhibitor (HAI-1) system in the context of ovarian cancer and to examine the possibility that this system might be a useful therapeutic target in this disease. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed in 51 patients with primary epithelial ovarian cancer staged over Ic who have been diagnosed and treated at Kyung Hee university medical center from Jan. 1991 to Mar. 2003. They were managed with cytoreductive surgery and chemotherapy. This study was performed in paraffin embedded blocks of primary epithelial ovarian cancer of 51 patients by means of immunohistochemistry. In addition, to validate protein expression data at the gene level, matriptase/HAI-1 mRNA expression was evaluated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on frozen specimens from 10 ovarian cancers. Statistical analyses of immunohistochemistry (IHC) expression data with clinicopathological parameters and survival were then performed. RESULTS: Of 51 ovarian tumors tested, 25 (49%) and 37 (72.5%) were positive staining for matriptase and HAI-1 by IHC, respectively. Of 18 stage I/II tumors, 11 (61.1%) stained positive for matriptase, and 15 (83.3%) stained positive for HAI-1; Of 18 stage I/II tumors, 10 (55.6%) tumors showed coexpression. Of 33 stage III/IV tumors, 14 (42.4%) stained positive for matriptase and 22 (66.7%) stained positive for HAI-1; Of 33 stage III/IV tumors, 11 (33.3%) tumors showed coexpression. CONCLUSION: No relationship was found between the expression of either matriptase or HAI-1 with clinicopathological parameters and survival. However, stage I/II ovarian tumors are more likely to express matriptase and HAI-1 than are the more advanced disease stage III/IV tumors. Correspondingly, the low frequency of matriptase and HAI-1 coexpression is more likely to be associated with stage III/IV tumors than stage I/II tumors. Such an imbalance in the matriptase: HAI-1 ratio could promote the proteolytic activity of matriptase and, consequently, a more invasive phenotype in the advanced tumors.
Academic Medical Centers ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Ovarian Neoplasms* ; Paraffin ; Phenotype ; Retrospective Studies ; RNA, Messenger ; Serine Proteases* ; Serine*