No abstract available.
Pigmentation*

No abstract available.
Pigmentation*

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Epithelial Cells* ; Porokeratosis*

The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence and risk factors for widespread pain and its influence on quality of life in residents of Korean communities. A rural and an urban community were selected, and 5,037 subjects were surveyed. Participants were asked if they had pain, aching, or stiffness in any of their joints on most days. Widespread pain was defined as pain above the waist, below the waist, on both sides of the body and in the axial region. The prevalence of widespread pain was 12% (16.2% and 5.5% in females and males, respectively). It was more frequent among females and increased with age in both genders. Age, female gender, and the presence of hand or knee arthritis were significantly associated with widespread pain after multivariate analysis. Except for mental health, all the items in the SF-12 were adversely affected in the widespread pain group after adjustment for confounding factors. Our findings show that the prevalence of widespread pain among residents of Korean communities is comparable to that reported among Caucasians. The significantly worse quality of life among subjects with widespread pain suggests that it may cause major health issues in the aging population.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Demography ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Pain/*epidemiology/psychology ; Prevalence ; *Quality of Life ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Rural Population ; Sex Factors ; Urban Population

No abstract available.
Encephalitis, Viral* ; Histiocytic Necrotizing Lymphadenitis*

OBJECTIVE: This study was to examine in vitro neural cell differentiation pattern of the genetically modified human embryonic stem cells expressing tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human embryonic stem (hES, MB03) cell was transfected with cDNAs cording for TH. Successful transfection was confirmed by western immunoblotting. Newly transfected cell line (TH#2/MB03) was induced to differentiate by two neurogenic factors retinoic acid (RA) and b-FGF. Exp. I) Upon differentiation using RA, embryoid bodies (EB, for 4 days) derived from TH#2/MB03 cells were exposed to RA (10-6 M)/AA (5x10-2 mM) for 4 days, and were allowed to differentiate in N2 medium for 7, 14 or 21 days. Exp. II) When b-FGF was used, neuronal precursor cells were expanded at the presence of b-FGF (10 ng/ml) for 6 days followed by a final differentiation in N2 medium for 7, 14 or 21 days. Neuron differentiation was examined by indirect immunocytochemistry using neuron markers (NF160 & NF200). RESULTS: After 7 days in N2 medium, approximately 80% and 20% of the RA or b-FGF induced Th#2/MB03 cells were immunoreactive to anti-NF160 and anti-NF200 antibodies, respectively. As differentiation continued, NF200 in RA treated cells significantly increased to 73.0% on 14 days compared to that in b-FGF treated cells (53.0%, p<0.05), while the proportion of cells expressing NF160 was similarly decreased between two groups. However, throughout the differentiation, expression of TH was maintained (~90%). HPLC analyses indicated the increased levels of L-DOPA in RA treated genetically modified hES cells with longer differentiation time. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that a genetically modified hES cells (TH#2/MB03) could be efficiently differentiated in vitro into mature neurons by RA induction method.
Antibodies ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Differentiation* ; Cell Line ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; DNA, Complementary ; Embryoid Bodies ; Embryonic Stem Cells* ; Humans* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Levodopa ; Neurons ; Transfection ; Tretinoin ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase* ; Tyrosine*

Neck pain is a common musculoskeletal condition, which causes substantial medical cost. In Korea, prevalence of neck pain in community based population, especially in elderly subjects, has scarcely been reported. We evaluated the prevalence, the severity and the risk factors of neck pain in elderly Korean community residents. Data for neck pain were collected for 1,655 subjects from a rural farming community. The point, 6-months and cumulative lifetime prevalence of neck pain was obtained in addition to the measurement of the severity of neck pain. The mean age of the study subjects was 61 yr and 57% were females. The lifetime prevalence of neck pain was 20.8% with women having a higher prevalence. The prevalence did not increase with age, and the majority of individuals had low-intensity/low-disability pain. Subjects with neck pain had a significantly worse SF-12 score in all domains except for mental health. The prevalence of neck pain was significantly associated with female gender, obesity and smoking. This is the first large-scale Korean study estimating the prevalence of neck pain in elderly population. Although the majority of individuals had low-intensity/low-disability pain, subjects with neck pain had a significantly worse SF-12 score indicating that neck pain has significant health impact.
Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mental Health ; Middle Aged ; Neck Pain/complications/*epidemiology ; Obesity/complications/diagnosis ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Rural Population ; Severity of Illness Index ; Sex Factors ; Smoking

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the group differences in contents of subjective memory problem and objective cognitive functions in late life depression and mild cognitive impairment. METHODS: 40 participants were classified into three groups [normal, amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and depression]. Differences in subjective memory complaints were examined using the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire. And the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease-Korean version neuropsychological assessment battery results were used for evaluating objective cognitive functions. Group differences were analyzed ANCOVA analysis. RESULTS: In post-hoc analysis, the questions "Do you fail to recognize a character in a radio or television show from scene to scene?" and "Do you forget something that you told a few minute before?" were significantly able to discriminate between the MCI and normal groups. In post-hoc analysis, late life depression group showed significantly higher score on the question "Do you intend to take something with you, before leaving a room or going out, but minutes later leave it behind, even though it's there in front of you?". CONCLUSION: The result demonstrates the presence of differences in the contents of subjective memory complaints according to groups. Subjectively reported memory complaints in MCI group are related to deficits in learning new information. In late life depression, memory complaints are more related to difficulty in executive functions.
Depression* ; Executive Function ; Learning ; Memory* ; Mild Cognitive Impairment* ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Prospective Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Retrospective Studies ; Self Report ; Television

PURPOSE: To determine the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after computed tomography (CT) inpatients with focal hepatic lesion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 100 patients with 103 focal hepaticlesions. The diagnosis of each lesion was made pathologically (n=19), or radiologically and clinically (n=84), andthe findings were as follows: he-mangioma (n=53), hepatocellular carcinoma (n=17), metastasis (n=10), cyst (n=5),regenerative nodule (n=3), and adenomatous hyperplasia (n=3). The patients underwent conventional CT (n=25),two-phase spi-ral CT (n=17) or three-phase spiral CT (n=61). MRI was performed using conventional T1- andT2-weighted imaging and dynamic contrast enhancement. The value of MRI after CT was assigned to one of fourgrades, according to the consensus of three radiologists: grade I (decisive), grade II (helpful), grade III (notadditional), or grade IV (confused). RESULTS: The outcome of MRI of 103 lesions was grade I in 14 cases(14%), IIin 34 (33%), III in 49 (48%), and IV in 6 (6%). MRI was not helpful (grade III or IV) in 40% (10/25), 47% (8/17),and 61%(31/61) of lesions after conventional, two-phase spiral, and three-phase spiral CT, respectively. Grade IIIor IV lesions were present in 45% of hemangiomas (24/53), 59% of hepatocellular carcinomas (10/17), and 80% ofcases in which metastasis had occurred(8/10). CONCLUSION: MRI after CT in patients with focal hepatic lesion washelpful in less than half of all cases. It was particularly valuable for patients who did not undergo three-phasespiral CT and in whom hemangioma was suspected.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Consensus ; Diagnosis ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Inpatients ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

We present a case of tuberculosis-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in a 14-year-old girl. The patient presented with weight loss, malaise, fatigue, prolonged fever, and generalized lymphadenopathy. Laboratory investigation revealed pancytopenia (white blood cells, 2,020 cells/microL; hemoglobin, 10.2 g/dL; platelets, 52,000 cells/microL), hypertriglyceridemia (229 mg/dL), and hyperferritinemia (1,420 ng/mL). Bone marrow biopsy showed a hypocellular bone marrow with a large numbers of histiocytes and marked hemophagocytosis; based on these findings, she was diagnosed with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with both the bone marrow aspiration and sputum samples revealed the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Antitubercular therapy with immune modulation therapy including dexamethasone and intravenous immunoglobulin was initiated. The results of all laboratory tests including bone marrow biopsy and PCR with both the bone marrow aspiration and sputum samples were normalized after treatment. Thus, early bone marrow biopsy and the use of techniques such as PCR can avoid delays in diagnosis and improve the survival rates of patients with tuberculosis-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.
Adolescent* ; Biopsy ; Blood Cells ; Bone Marrow ; Dexamethasone ; Diagnosis ; Fatigue ; Female ; Fever ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Hypertriglyceridemia ; Immunoglobulins ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic* ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Pancytopenia ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Sputum ; Survival Rate ; Tuberculosis ; Weight Loss