No abstract available.
Adolescent* ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Drug Substitution*

No abstract available.
Cyclic GMP* ; Cytomegalovirus* ; Gene Expression* ; Humans*

The third complementarity determining region (CDR3) of the immunoglobulin (Ig) kappa () chain is known to be located at the center of antigen binding groove and critical for antibody specificity. Ig chain has been characterized by limited junctional diversity due to the absence of N-region addition resulting in relative conservation of CDR3 lengths with 9 or 10 amino acids. CDR3 region of 11 amino acids is only possible with N-region addition. Recently, x transcripts with 11 amino acids CDR3 was found to be expressed in normal individuals, and in autoimrnune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, the fraction of 11 amino acids CDR3 of humkv325-derived chains was overexpressed compared to conventional adult peripheral B cells. However, the significance of this bias is difficult to interpret without a clear understanding of normal repertoire of CDR3 length during development. The purpose of this study is to determine whether developmental regulation of CDR3 amino acids codon lengths exists in chains expressed in the fetal liver, cord blood, and adult peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). Lymphocytes were seperated from fetal liver, cord blood and adult PBL and cDNA was generated from extracted mRNA. PCR-based CDR3 finger- printing assay was performed with VI-IV family specific primers. CDR3 length diversity of Ig x chain increases as the development proceeds. The length diversity most frequently occured in Vlll family derived transcripts including 11 amino acids CDR3. transcripts with 11 amino acids CDR3 were consitently expressed in both fetal and adult Ig repertoire. These results support the hypothesis that v chain CDR3 length is developmentally regulated and implicates the diversity of antigen-antibody specificity generation.
Adult ; Amino Acids ; Antibody Specificity ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; B-Lymphocytes ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Codon ; Complementarity Determining Regions ; DNA, Complementary ; Fetal Blood ; Humans* ; Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains* ; Immunoglobulins* ; Liver ; Lymphocytes ; RNA, Messenger ; Sensitivity and Specificity

No abstract available.
Endometrial Neoplasms* ; Female

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested that regular exercise may increase bone mineral density. However, the effects on bone mineral density are different depending on the types of exercises and recent studies on the effects of different exercises on bone mineral density are insufficient. This study was conducted to assess the effects of 2 different exercises(Judo, Taekwondo) and physical fitness(back muscle strength, grip strength, broad jump, vertical jump, flexibility, sit ups) on regional BMD. METHODS: Subjects were healthy adults female volunteers aged 19 to 22 years and consisted of eight Judo athletes, twelve Taekwondo athletes, and eight nonathletic controls. We measured their bone mineral density of lumbar spine, femoral neck, femoral greater trochanter, Wards triangle, femoral shaft and distal radius using dual energy X ray absorptiometry and assessed their physical fitness. We investigated the mean differences of regional bone mineral density between the groups and the relationships between physical fitness and regional bone mineral density. RESULTS: ANCOVA revealed that there were significant differences in the regional bone mineral density between the groups. The Judo athletes group had significantly higher bone density of greater trochanter, femoral shaft, distal radius, femoral neck and lumbar spine than the control group and had significantly higher bone density of greater trochanter, femoral shaft and distal radius.than the Taekwondo atheletes group. There were no significant differences of bone density in all the regions between the Taekwondo atheletes and the control groups. Partial correlation coefficients between the back muscle strength and the bone density of Wards triangle, greater trochanter, distal radius, femoral neck, femoral shaft, and lumbar were 0.581, 0.570, 0.526, 0.502, 0.424, and 0.418, Respectively (P<0.05). Correlation coefficients between the broad jump and the bone density of femoral neck, greater trochanter, and femoral shaft were 0.577, 0.539, and 0.457, respectively(P<0.05). Correlations of the grip strength, flexibility, sit ups and vertical jump with bone density of all regions were not high(r< or=0.5). CONCLUSIONS: Different types of exercises showed different effects of bone density. The back muscle strength among the physical fitness factors was considered to be the most important predictor of bone density. In the future, further studies are necessary for the effects of other exercises on bone density.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Adult ; Athletes* ; Back Muscles ; Bone Density* ; Exercise* ; Female* ; Femur ; Femur Neck ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Martial Arts ; Muscle Strength ; Physical Fitness ; Pliability ; Radius ; Spine ; Volunteers ; Young Adult*

In the surgery of central area, identifying the motor cortex in front of central sulcus is imperative to prevent loss of motor function. Twenty five patients with tumors or intractable epilepsy near the central sulcus were operated on at the Department of Neurosurgery of Chonbuk National University Hospital, from September. 1991 to December 1993. An estimated localization of lesions was performed with Callosal Grid System, which is a methodolgy made available by the development of high quality of magnetic resonance imaging, digital subtraction angiography and high resolution computerized tomography. This system allowed us to be oriented to the motor cortex as well as permitted assessment of the extent of resection. This was further delineated by direct electrical stimulation, which confirmed the functional motor cortex and made it possible to maximized the tumor resection near and in the motor cortex. The combination of direct cortical stimulation(functional mapping) and the use of the Callosal Grid System(anatomical mapping) allowed us to identify the spatial relationship between them as well as to maximize the tumor resection in most cases without injury to the central area, so that the better outcome is guaranted.
Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Brain Neoplasms ; Electric Stimulation ; Epilepsy ; Humans ; Jeollabuk-do ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Motor Cortex ; Neurosurgery

No abstract available.
Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute*

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to elucidate which factors affected left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) on ECG in middle-aged normotensive healthy men. METHODS: A total of 436 normotensive office workers who visited the health examination center of St. Mary's Hospital of Catholic University in Korea from August 1 to October 30, 2002, were divided into two groups; 138 with LVH on ECG were grouped as LVH and 298 who showed no LVH on ECG were grouped as non-LVH. Questionnaires on history of smoking, drinking and exercise were filled out, and body fat, body mass index, blood pressure and biochemical markers were measured. Related factors with LVH on ECG were statistically analyzed with Chi-square test, t-test and logistic regression. RESULTS: The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure and mean alcohol intake (g/day) were significantly elevated in the LVH group (P<0.005). The non-LVH group had a tendency to show increased pulse rate (P=0.058), a higher percentage of people who did not exercise at all, and a lower percentage of people who exercised regularly (P=0.056). The smoking history, BMI and other biochemical markers showed no significant differences (P>0.1). On logistic regression analysis, there was a significant increase in odds ratio for LVH with increase in diastolic blood pressure (adjusted OR 1.048, 95% CI 1.019~1.077), with exercise more than 3 times a week (adjusted OR 2.317, 95% CI 1.258~4.269) and with increased alcohol intake (adjusted OR 1.010, 95% CI 1.001~1.019). In contrast, odds ratio for LVH decreased as the pulse rate per minute increased (adjusted OR 0.974, 95% CI 0.952~0.997). In detailed analysis comparing those who exercised regularly more than 3 times a week with those who exercised less than 3 times a week, the increase in diastolic blood pressure was a significant factor which increased the odds ratio for LVH in both groups. A significant increase in the odds ratio by mean alcohol intake per day was shown only in a group who exercised less than 3 times a week. CONCLUSION: As a result of this study, in normotensive middle-aged men with LVH on ECG, patients should be monitored for regular exercise and increase in diastolic blood pressure should be regarded as a risk factor for LVH on ECG irrespective of exercise. In those who do not do exercise regularly, diastolic blood pressure as well as alcohol intake should be evaluated as risk factors for LVH
Adipose Tissue ; Biomarkers ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Drinking ; Electrocardiography* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular* ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: In 2026, the elderly population (age> or =65 years) in Korea is projected to be 20.8% of the total population. Along with this rise will be the rise in need for medical care in geriatric hospitals. Geriatric inpatients are vulnerable to infections because of functional disabilities and comorbidities. We investigated the clinical features of pneumonia in the elderly at these facilities. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study based on medical records looking at pneumonia, which was identified in 63 inpatients >65 years admitted to a geriatric hospital from October 2013 to December 2014. RESULTS: In-hospital mortality was 31.7%(20/63) and the 30-day mortality was 17.5%(11/63) of the total number of patients. Median age was 83 years (range, 67-94 years). Univariate analysis showed that the following factors were significantly different between survivors and nonsurvivors, number of comorbidities, history of antibiotics therapy in preceding 90 days, clinical improvement in 72 hours, alteration of mentality, respiration rate, serum albumin level, and peripheral blood leukocyte count. Multivariate analysis showed that the independent factors for predicting increased mortality were number of comorbidities > or =4 (odds ratio [OR], 9.803; p=0.030), failure to improve clinically in 72 hours (OR, 6.150; p=0.046), respiration rate> or =30/min (OR, 9.370; p=0.021), and serum albumin level< or =3.0 g/dL (OR, 32.022; p=0.010). CONCLUSION: When elderly inpatients with pneumonia have factors such as comorbidities greater than 4, failure to improvement clincally in 72 hours, tachypnea (> or =30/min), and hypoalbuminemia (< or =3.0 g/dL), escalation of empiric antibiotics or transfer to an acute care setting is necessary to reduce mortality.
Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Comorbidity ; Geriatrics ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Hypoalbuminemia ; Inpatients ; Korea ; Leukocyte Count ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pneumonia* ; Respiration ; Respiratory Rate ; Retrospective Studies ; Serum Albumin ; Survivors ; Tachypnea