No abstract available.
Bone Marrow* ; HL-60 Cells* ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma*

Operators of hospital sterilizers who use ethylene oxide (EtO) were studied to determine the exposure of EtO level and the frequency of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) from June 12 to July 20, 1997. To evaluate SCEs in the peripheral blood cells, we selected 22 workers at the central supply room of 4 university hospitals and 22 unexposed workers at the same hospitals according to match sex, age, and smoking habit and also did questionnaires. The mean air concentrations (8-hr TWA) of EtO at 4 university hospitals were less than 1 ppm. The SCE frequencies in exposed workers to EtO and controls were normally distributed. The SCE frequencies in exposed workers to EtO and controls were 6.42+/-.63, 5.86+/-.69, respectively and their differences were statistically significant (p=0.0093). But there were no statistically significant differences in smoking, alcohol intake, coffee drinking. Especially smokers who exposed to EtO were increased SCE statistically significant than the exposed group who did not smoke.
Blood Cells ; Coffee ; Drinking ; Ethylene Oxide* ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Occupations* ; Questionnaires ; Siblings* ; Sister Chromatid Exchange* ; Smoke ; Smoking

PURPOSE: In spite of curative surgery and early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy, the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer involving the serosal surface is poor. The aim of this study was to analyze p53 protein overexpression in these patients and to clarify the usefulness of p53 mutation as a prognostic indicator. METHODS: p53 protein overexpression was assessed by immunohistochemistry in 123 gastric cancer specimens. The correlation between p53 protein overexpression and clinicopathologic parameters and prognosis of the patients were analyzed. RESULTS: Overexpression of p53 protein was identified in 67 (54.5%) tumors and was more frequent in differentiated tumors than in undifferentiated tumors (67.4% vs. 46.8%; P=0.026). However, there were no statistically significant differences in the frequency of p53 protein overexpression according to age, sex, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, pathologic stage, and Lauren classification. There was no statistically significant difference in 5-year survival rate according to the p53 protein overexpression (P=0.565). CONCLUSION: Overexpression of p53 protein could not predict the effectiveness of early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Therefore, it could not be used as a prognostic indicator in patients with advanced gastric cancer who underwent gastrectomy and early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy.
Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53

Arthroplasty ; Diagnosis ; Ear Canal ; Hearing Disorders ; Hearing ; Humans ; Male ; Mouth ; Noise ; Temporomandibular Joint

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of carpal tunnel syndrome in diabetic patients. METHOD: Electrodiagnostic study was performed to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome and polyneuropathy in 266 (male 151, female 115) diabetic patients. General charateristics, diabetes related factors, anthropometric factors were compared between non-carpal tunnel syndrome and carpal tunnel syndrome groups to identify the risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome. RESULTS: Prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome in diabetic patients was 16.2 % (43 subjects). Female, farming, wrist depth width ratio (>or=0.7) were associated with carpal tunnel syndrome in diabetic patients. In right hand, odds ratio was 12.82 (95% confidence interval: 2.97~55.3) in female, 5.15 (95% confidence interval: 1.17~22.7) in farming, 28.53 (95% confidence interval: 1.80~451.1) in wrist depth width ratio (>or=0.7). The similar results were also observed in left hand. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that occupation, sex, and anthropometric factor like wrist shape were more associated with carpal tunnel syndrome in diabetic patients than diabetes mellitus itself.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Occupations ; Odds Ratio ; Polyneuropathies ; Prevalence* ; Risk Factors* ; Wrist

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the perinatal outcomes in pregnancies complicated by preterm premature rupture of membranes (PROM) during the second trimester. METHODS: Thirty-two consecutive pregnancies with PROM at 20-28 weeks of gestation were studied retrospectively. The goals of management were to prolong the pregnancies to 32 weeks through active expectant management and to avoid fetal compromise through close monitoring and active intervention. All medical records of mothers and neonates were reviewed. RESULTS: Total 30 pregnant women with rupture of membranes at 20-28 weeks were included. Rupture of membranes occurred at 20-25 weeks(mean 24.2) in 14 women and at 26-28 weeks(mean 27.2) in 16 women. The median latency periods to delivery were 309 hours and 234 hours when rupture of membranes occurred at 20-25 weeks and at 26-28 weeks, respectively. Overall incidences of clinical and histologic chorioamnionitis were 10% and 72%. There were no fetal deaths and 8 neontal deaths. When rupture of membranes occurred at 20-25 weeks and at 26-28 weeks, the perinatal survival rates were 50% and 94%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Active expectant management of second-trimester PROM offers better perinatal survival than previously thought.
Chorioamnionitis ; Female ; Fetal Death ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Latency Period (Psychology) ; Medical Records ; Membranes* ; Mothers ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Pregnant Women ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture* ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: The potential therapeutic application of the tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM), was recently proposed. However, there have been some problems with the use of TRAIL, due to the appearance of TRAIL-resistant cells in MM. The effect of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) on the rate of apoptosis induced by TRAIL was evaluated in MM cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using TRAIL-sensitive (RPMI- 8226) and TRAIL-resistant (ARH-77 and IM-9) MM cell lines, the cell viability, induction of apoptosis, and change in the caspases were examined after treatment with TRAIL alone, or in combination with various concentrations of As2O3. RESULTS: Incubating the cell lines with As2O3 augmented the TRAIL-induced apoptosis in the MM cell lines, according to the As2O3 concentration. Apoptosis was mediated through caspase activation. When TRAIL was used alone, caspase8 was activated in the RPMI-8226 cell lines, but not in the ARH-77 and IM-9 cell lines. When As2O3 was added to TRAIL, caspase-9 was activated in the ARH-77 and IM-9 cells. CONCLUSION: The use of As2O3, in combination with TRAIL, would help enhance the level of TRAIL-induced apoptosis, and overcome the TRAIL-resistance, in MM cells.
Apoptosis* ; Arsenic* ; Caspase 9 ; Caspases ; Cell Line* ; Cell Survival ; Multiple Myeloma* ; Necrosis*

Objectives of this study is to determine the effect of a critical pathway on hospital stays and outcomes after cleft lip and palate repair. During a period of eleven months from March 2000 to January 2001, twenty six cases to applied by critical pathway for cleft lip and palate were followed up. Comparisions were made between the precritical pathway and postcritical pathway groups. The results of this study showed that expenses of treatment for cleft lip and palate was reduced to 20%, 30% respectively, after critical pathway. After critical pathway, hospital stays for cleft lip and palate was reduced to from 7 days to 4 days, from 9 days to 6 days, respectively. Postoperative complications was not increased. Patient satisfactions was increased because of the detailed explanations and reduced hospital stays. Conclusively, significant decreases in length of hospital stay are seen, and cost reductions can be realized after critical pathway.
Cleft Lip* ; Critical Pathways* ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Palate* ; Postoperative Complications

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The combination therapy of peginterferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin is the standard treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, few trials have involved patients with cirrhosis. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the efficacy and safety of treatment with PEG-IFN and ribavirin in patients with cirrhosis associated with HCV infection. METHOD: A total of 65 patients were treated with PEG-IFN alpha-2a/ribavirin (n=32) or PEG-IFN alpha-2b/ribavirin (n=33). PEG-IFN alpha-2a and PEG-IFN alpha-2b were administered at doses of 180 microg/week and 1.5 microg/kg/week, respectively, and ribavirin was administered orally at doses of 800-200 mg. Patients with HCV genotype 1 and genotype non-1 were treated for 48 and 24 weeks, respectively. The treatment response was assessed based on the sustained virologic response (SVR). RESULTS: The early virologic response (EVR), end-of-treatment response (ETR), and SVR were 70.0%, 52.0%, and 24.0%, respectively, in genotype 1 (n=50). In genotype non-1 (n=15), the ETR was 53.3% and the SVR was 33.3%. The overall SVR did not differ with genotype (1 vs non-1, 24.0% vs. 33.3%; P=0.471) or between decompensated cirrhosis and compensated cirrhosis (20.0% vs. 27.3%, P=0.630). Ten patients developed cirrhotic complications during the treatment, and 11 stopped treatment due to treatment-related adverse events. CONCLUSION: The combination therapy of PEG-IFN and ribavirin exhibited a low efficacy in cirrhotic patients with HCV infection and was associated with frequent serious complications. However, with careful management of complications, the therapy may have a considerable efficacy in some patients with cirrhosis and HCV infection.
Aged ; Antiviral Agents/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepatitis C, Chronic/complications/*drug therapy ; Humans ; Interferon Alfa-2a/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Interferon Alfa-2b/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Liver Cirrhosis/*complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neutropenia/etiology ; Platelet Count ; Polyethylene Glycols/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; RNA, Viral/blood ; Retrospective Studies ; Ribavirin/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Severity of Illness Index ; Treatment Outcome

Reconstruction of upper lip defects presents a challenge to the facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons. Flatness, shortness, and retrusion of the upper lip of cleft patients are caused by a combination of the initial maxillary hypoplasia, the subnormal maxillary growth, and the lack of upper lip soft tissue. Although the routine use of Abbe flaps has been questioned, various modifications of the flap have been used for the repair of deficient upper lip soft tissue. Between 1991 and 2000, the author performed a variety of Abbe flaps in 10 patients. The patients consisted of 5 males and 5 females (3 unilateral clefts, 3 bilateral clefts, 2 cancers and 2 traumas). Mean age at the time of the procedures was 28.5 years (from 16 to 48 years). The pedicles of the flaps were divided 10 to 14 days postoperatively. The follow-up period ranged from 9 to 27 months (mean=17 months). To evaluate the outcome of Abbe flaps objectively, an anthropometic ratio was measured in preoperative and postoperative photographs. This values were compared with the values found in non-cleft patients. Each patient showed a more natural contour of the upper lip. We have found that Abbe flaps were clinically useful, and our results were functionally and cosmetically acceptable. This study indicates that the lips are in better harmony postoperatively than they were preoperatively.
Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lip* ; Male ; Plastics