One of the authors' names was included by mistake. The author list should be corrected as follows. Corrected Author List: Ki Won Ko, Soo Woong Kim, Du Geon Moon, Je Jong Kim, Duck Ki Yoon, Jae Young Park

BACKGROUND: The Apt test is used for differentiating neonatal blood from the maternal blood in the meconium. The test requires a sufficient amount of blood to be detectable to the naked eyes. But many of the specimens in the hospital laboratory contain only a small amount of blood and is not detectable to the naked eyes and usually the results are reported 'impossible to determine' due to the small amount of blood. We developed a latex agglutination test to solve this problem and to differentiate the neonatal blood from the maternal blood in a small amount that was not detectable with the naked eyes. METHODS: Latex reagents for hemoglobin A (Hb A) and hemoglobin F (Hb F) were made. Ten milligrams of meconium were dissolved in 1mL of deionized water (DW). Ten milligrams of meconium that had shown negative results for both of the above reagents were mixed, each with 10microL of whole blood (WB) from 10 pregnant women and 10 neonates who had various hemoglobin concentrations (10-17 g/dL). Each of the 20 mixtures was dissolved in 1 mL of DW (WB 10microL/mL). Then, serial dilutions were made at a ratio of 1:10 until the final concentration of 10 pL/mL. Each of the six dilutes were tested with the two latex reagents. RESULTS: The dilutes of WB 10microL/mL looked red, WB 1microL/mL looked pink and all other dilutes showed no colors to the naked eyes. The reagent for Hb A showed agglutination in dilutes from WB 1microL to 1 nL/mL DW from all of the 20 persons. The reagent for Hb F reacted with dilutes from WB 1microL to 1 nL/mL DW from the ten neonates but did not react with those from any pregnant women. CONCLUSIONS: The latex agglutination test can be applied to the specimen with no color detectable to the naked eyes after dilution. The specimen reacted with both the Hb A and Hb F reagents could be determined as fetal blood and the one that reacted with the reagent only for Hb A could be determined as maternal blood.
Agglutination ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; Fetal Hemoglobin ; Hemoglobin A ; Humans ; Indicators and Reagents ; Infant, Newborn ; Laboratories, Hospital ; Latex Fixation Tests* ; Latex* ; Meconium* ; Pregnant Women ; Water

BACKGROUND: There have been several studies showing that the angiotensin II and angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE) contributes to the apoptosis of alveolar epithelial cells in idiopathic interstitial pneumonia and the activation of fibroblasts during the process of pulmonary fibrosis. These results suggest that the pulmonary fibrosis can be inhibited by the angiotensin II receptor antagonist(AGIIRA). This study was performed to identify the therapeutic effect of AGIIRA in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF). METHOD: Thirteen patients with IPF, who were diagnosed with an open lung biopsy(6 patients) and furfilling the ATS criteria(7 patients) between March 1999 and October 2001 at the Gachon medical center, were enrolled in this study. Of these patients, eight patients were treated with a regimen including AGIIRA(AT group), and five were treated without AGIIRA(NT group). The pulmonary function tests and dyspnea(ATS scale) were measured at diagnosis and 1 year after treatment. All the data was collected to analyze the therapeutic effect of AGIIRA on the patients with IPF. RESULTS: The AT group contained 8 patients(M:F=4:4) and the NT group contained 5 patients (M:F=3:2). There was no significant difference in the serum angiotensin II level between the two groups(202.5+/-58.5 vs 163.7+/-47.3pg/ml, p>0.05). The AT group showed an upward trend in TLC(+3%), FVC(+4%), FEV1(+3%) and DLco(+2%) compared to the NT group(TLC(-14%), FVC(-3%), FEV1(-4%) except for DLco(+5%)). The dyspnea score in the AT group improved significantly but not in the NT group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the angiotensin II receptor antagonist may have an effect on stabilizing IPF.
Angiotensin II* ; Angiotensins* ; Apoptosis ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Epithelial Cells ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias ; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis* ; Lung ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; Receptors, Angiotensin* ; Respiratory Function Tests

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels can be affected by many factors and metabolic syndrome is also a candidate. This study examined the relationship between CEA levels and metabolic syndrome using the data of 32,897 healthy Koreans. Fecal occult blood tests were also performed. Subjects with colorectal carcinoma were excluded. Subjects were classified by their smoking status, metabolic syndrome and its components. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its all components showed a significant increase according to the quartile of serum CEA concentration (P < 0.001). Increased numbers of metabolic syndrome components showed a positive association with CEA levels (P-trend < 0.001). The odds ratios for the highest CEA quartile vs the lowest serum CEA quartile significantly increased in the presence of metabolic syndrome and its components. After adjusting for age, gender and smoking status, metabolic syndrome, low high density lipoprotein cholesterol and elevated blood pressure had higher odds ratios (OR) of the highest CEA quartile compared with the lowest serum CEA quartile (OR = 1.125, 95% CI = 1.030 to 1.222, P = 0.009; OR = 1.296, 95% CI = 1.195 to 1.405, P < 0.001; OR = 1.334, 95% CI = 1.229 to 1.448, P < 0.001, respectively). These results indicate that metabolic syndrome is associated with CEA value, which may lead to a misunderstanding of the CEA levels.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Pressure ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen/*blood ; Child ; Cholesterol, LDL/blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome X/*blood/epidemiology/pathology ; Middle Aged ; Occult Blood ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Smoking

OBJECTIVES: Arsenic (As) is ubiquitously distributed in the environment and is known as a human carcinogen. In this study, acute As toxicity at lethal dosage in rats and mice was evaluated, and As-induced hepatotoxicity was characterized. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats, male ICR mice and trivalent inorganic As, sodium arsenite, were used in this experiment. LD50 and LD100 were calculated from 24-hour lethality after the single subcutaneous administration of As into rats and mice. Serum and liver were collected from the surviving animals. The activities of ALT, AST and gamma-GT in serum were determined, and the concentrations of MDA, GSH and CYP450 in liver were analyzed. RESULTS: The LD50 and LD100 of sodium arsenite were calculated as 12 mg/kg and 13 mg/kg for rats, and 16.5 mg/kg and 19 mg/kg for mice, respectively. Thus, the rat was more susceptible than the mouse to the acute lethal toxicity of As. The histopathological changes induced by As were similar between rats and mice. AST was increased in high-dose As-treated rats and mice, whereas ALT was increased in high-dose As-treated mice but not in rats. gamma-GT was not significantly changed between the two animal groups. As increased lipid peroxidation, but decreased GSH and CYP450 in the liver of both rats and mice, in dose-dependent patterns. These results indicate that oxidative stress might be one of the mechanisms in As-induced hepatotoxicity. CONCLUSION: Rats were more susceptive than mice to acute As toxicity, and oxidative stress might play a part in liver injury induced by As.
Animals ; Arsenic* ; Humans ; Lethal Dose 50 ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Liver ; Male ; Mice* ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sodium

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D is an important factor in human health. Yet, vitamin D deficiency is very common. We aimed to confirm serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentration change after sunlight exposure and to elucidate the relationship between the amount of sunlight exposure and serum 25OHD level change by ambulatory lux meter and sunlight exposure questionnaire. METHODS: Twenty healthy young women were enrolled. They were educated to obtain 20 minutes of sunlight exposure during weekdays from October to November, 2010, during which they were to wear an ambulatory lux meter on an arm. All subjects completed a one-week recall sunlight exposure questionnaire at the end of the study. Before and after sunlight exposure, serum 25OHD level was measured. RESULTS: Mean pre-exposure serum 25OHD concentration was 11.01 ng/mL. The mean change of pre- and post-exposure 25OHD level was -0.62 ng/mL, but it was not statistically significant. The mean personal sunlight exposure recorded by ambulatory lux meter, 292.6 lux/s, showed no significant relationship with average change of 25OHD and average weekly sunlight exposure score, 11.9, calculated by the sunlight exposure questionnaire. However, the mean change of serum 25OHD level and weekly sunlight exposure score showed significant negative correlation (r = -0.469, P = 0.037). CONCLUSION: Change of serum 25OHD concentration after four weeks of sunlight exposure was not statistically significant in women with vitamin D deficiency. However, serum 25OHD concentration change was significantly negatively correlated with the sunlight exposure score by the questionnaire.
Arm ; Female ; Humans ; Sunlight ; Vitamin D ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; Vitamins ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVE: Human cervical cancer is caused by the high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV) such as HPV16, which possess the E6 and E7 oncogenes, whose expressions are a prerequisite for cancer development. We performed this study to compare the efficacy of antitumor activity by HPV siRNA which silences only E6 or both E6/E7. METHODS: We transfected siRNA 377 (HPV16 E6 siRNA), siRNA 3 (HPV16 E6 siRNA), and siRNA 198 (HPV16 E7 siRNA) into SiHa cell line (siRNA 377 silences only E6, and siRNA 3 and siRNA 198 silence both E6 and E7). We experimented cell counts and morphologic changes 24 and 48 hours after transfection and expressions of HPV16 E6/E7 mRNA by RT-PCR. RESULTS: siRNA 377, siRNA 3, and siRNA 198 suppressed the cell growth. siRNA 3 and siRNA 198 were more potent than siRNA 377 in cell growth suppression. siRNA 377 knocked down the expression of E6 mRNA, and both siRNA 3 and siRNA 198 knocked down the expression of E6/E7 mRNA. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that simultaneous suppression of E6 and E7 was more potent than E6-specific suppression in cancer cell growth.
Cell Count ; Cell Line ; Humans ; Oncogenes ; RNA, Messenger ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Transfection ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

OBJECTIVE: A constituent of green tea, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), has been known to possess anti-diabetes, anti-hypertension and anti-cancer properties. In this study, we investigated the anticancer effects of EGCG on human ovarian cancer cell lines. The growth inhibitory mechanism(s) and regulation of cell cycle-related proteins by EGCG were also evaluated. METHODS: To carry out cell counting assay to observe the anti-proliferative effects, we treated 25, 50, and 100 uM EGCG to both ovarian cancer cell lines SKOV-3 and OVCAR-3, respectively. Also, we treated EGCG to PA-1 cells with 6.25, 12.5 and 25 uM, respectively. Six days later, we examined the characteristics of apoptosis and changes in cell cycle regulation by cell counting assay, Annexin V-FITC staining and DNA fragmentation assay, and FACS analysis. In addition, protein and gene expression patterns in SKOV-3 cell were investigated by using cell cycle cDNA chip, RT-PCR, and Western blot analyses. RESULTS: Inhibition of cell growth by cell counts showed in SKOV-3 cells with 48.8%, 82.5%, 99.2% after six days of the treatment with 25, 50, 100 uM of EGCG, respectively. OVCAR-3 cells showed 53.9%, 84.8%, and 97.7% growth inhibition patterns. And PA-1 cells showed 17.1%, 48.4%, and 74.1%, as compared to control. When SKOV-3 cells were tested for EGCG-induced apoptosis, apoptotic cells were observed with 8.6, 11.4, and 23.3-fold at 25, 50, 100 uM EGCG, respectively. And PA-1 cells showed 1.7, 2.4, and 4.2-fold, as compared to control. In contrast, OVCAR-3 did not show EGCG-induced apoptosis. When SKOV-3 cells were tested for their gene expression using cell cycle cDNA chip after treatment with 24.5 uM of EGCG, up-regulations of p21, Bax and cyclin G were shown, while down-regulations of CDK6, E2F-4, and cyclin A were shown. In Western blot assay, up-regulations of Bax and p21 proteins were shown, while down- regulations of cyclin D1, Bcl-XL, Rb, CDK2, E2F-1, E2F-4, PCNA proteins were shown. CONCLUSION: These data support that EGCG can inhibit ovarian cancer cell growth through induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest as well as regulation of gene and protein expressions. Thus, EGCG likely provides an additional option for a new and potential drug approach for ovarian cancer.
Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Count ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Line* ; Cyclin A ; Cyclin D1 ; Cyclin G ; DNA Fragmentation ; DNA, Complementary ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Ovarian Neoplasms* ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Social Control, Formal ; Tea*

BACKGROUND: To determine the benefits of laparoscopic surgery compared with exploration, the clinical outcomes of open and laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy were compared. METHOD: From March 2005 to June2007, we studied 95 patients at Asan Medical Center. These patients had benign pancreatic disease in the distal pancreas, e.g. a cystic neoplasm. These patients underwent a distal pancreatectomy with or without spleen-preservation using laparoscopic or exploration surgery. We divided these patients into two groups i.e. laparoscopy (n=60) and exploration (n=35), and compared the outcomes of the two groups retrospectively. RESULT: There was no difference in demographic features between the two groups. Laparoscopic resection required a median time of 208 mins, compared with 190 mins for the open resection. (p>0.05) The laparoscopic patients started a liquiddiet on postoperative day three, and required a median hospital stay of 11 days, compared with 4.5 days and 16 days for the open resection surgery, respectively. (p<0.001) The overall postoperative complication rate was 28.3% for the laparoscopic group compared with 22.9% for the open group. (p>0.05) The pancreatic fistula rate was lower in the laparoscopic patient group than in the open group. (8.3% vs. 14.3%) (p>0.05) The rate of spleen-preservation was higher in the laparoscopy group than the open group. (25% vs. 5.7%), (p>0.05) CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that the laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy had a similar surgical time, an early start of the diet, a shorter hospital stay, and a higher spleensaving rate, compared to exploration surgery. Therefore, considering the benefits of laparoscopic surgery, it appears to be the preferred approach, with or without spleen-preservation, for treating benign distal pancreatic disease.
Chungcheongnam-do ; Diet ; Humans ; Laparoscopy* ; Length of Stay ; Operative Time ; Pancreas ; Pancreatectomy* ; Pancreatic Diseases ; Pancreatic Fistula ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: We investigated the influence of the location of the partial renal vein obstruction on the left kidney, the bilateral testes, and cauda epididymal sperm quality and determined whether this animal model is suitable for varicocele study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 25 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to three groups: group 1 (experimental varicocele by partial ligation medial to the internal spermatic vein for 8 weeks, n=8), group 2 (partial ligation lateral to the internal spermatic vein for 8 weeks, n=10), and group 3 (sham operation for 8 weeks, n=7). Rats in groups 1, 2, and 3 underwent a left nephrectomy and bilateral orchiectomy at 8 weeks after the operation. Histological changes and Johnsen score in both testes were analyzed. Fibrotic changes in the left kidney were assessed by quantitative image analysis. Numbers of sperm and proportions of motile sperm in the cauda epididymides were determined. RESULTS: Significant histological abnormalities and Johnsen score changes were observed in the testes in group 1. Renal fibrosis did not differ significantly among the groups. The proportions of motile sperm were significantly lower bilaterally in group 1 than in groups 2 and 3. However, the mean bilateral epididymal sperm count in group 1 was not significantly lower than in groups 2 and 3. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that experimental varicocele in the rat, induced by partial ligation medial to the internal spermatic vein, influences epididymal sperm quality without harmful effects on the left kidney. The present study certifies that this traditional animal model is suitable for varicocele research.
Adult ; Animals ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Kidney ; Ligation ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Nephrectomy ; Orchiectomy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Renal Veins ; Sperm Count ; Spermatozoa ; Testis ; Varicocele ; Veins