BACKGROUND: Nowadays, decreased physical activity is considered to be a contributor to increase the prevalence of many diseases such as obesity, coronary heart disease and so on. Many researches demonstrated that regular physical activity reduce all cause mortality. To increase the physical activities of the population, accurate estimation of the activities is needed. Actical and actigraph are confirmed as accurate tools to measure physical activities. But the target populations of the validity studies were not Asian people. Therefore, the accuracy of the accelerometers should be confirmed in Asian people. The accuracy of the tools could be different. Therefore head to head comparison study between the tools would be needed. METHODS: Thirty volunteers from the community, ages over 20 yrs, were recruited. The participants put on the two accelerometers (Actical, Actigraph) on the waists, secured with elastic belts, and performed a session of rest and three structured activities (two walking speeds, 4 km/hr and 6 km/hr, and one jogging speed, 8 km/hr). During each activity, expired respiratory gases were collected, and oxygen consumption (VO2) was measured by indirect calorimetry (Model Quark beta2(R)). The calories measured by gas analyzer and two accelerometers were compared by correlation analysis using SPSS program. RESULTS: Pearson correlation coefficient between gas analyzer and two accelerometers was calculated at three structured activities. The r in Actical was 0.747, 0.785, and 0.677, at speed of 4, 6, 8 km/hr, respectively (P<0.05), and the same measures in Actigraph was 0.617, 0.737, and 0.530 (P<0.05), respectively. Pearson correlation coefficient was also calculated between the two accelerometers, and the r was 0.881, 0.927, and 0.824, at each speed. CONCLUSION: The Actical and Actigraph are valid tools for measuring physical activities in Korean people.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Calorimetry, Indirect ; Coronary Disease ; Gases ; Head ; Health Services Needs and Demand ; Humans ; Jogging ; Motor Activity ; Obesity ; Oxygen Consumption ; Prevalence ; Walking

PURPOSE: To identify the characteristic ultrasonographic findings of the normal appendix in children in order to detect it more easily and so to exclude acute appendicitis from a diagnosis with more confidence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 64 patients presenting with right lower quadrant pain, 44 patients, excluding 15 patients diagnosed as acute appendicitis and 5 patients with non-visualization of the appendix due to severe ileus and obesity, were evaluated for the point of incidence, the thickness and the presence of folding of the inner hypoechoic band of the normal appendix. The age of the patients ranged from 3 to 15 years with a mean age of 6.5 years. Two patients were operated on and we correlated the preoperative ultrasonographic findings with the histologic findings. RESULTS: In all the cases of the 44 patients with normal appendix, the inner hypoechoic band was discovered, which was seen as a linear structure without folding along the whole length of appendix. This measured as 0.75 mm (0.3-1.5 mm) for the mean thickness. The inner hypoechoic band corresponded to the mucosal layer that had abundant lymphoid tissue on the histologic examination. CONCLUSION:For the pediatric normal appendix, the inner hypoechoic band without folding is present, and this corresponds to the mucosal layer with abundant lymphoid tissue.
Appendicitis ; Appendix* ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Ileus ; Incidence ; Lymphoid Tissue ; Obesity ; Ultrasonography*

In northern China, annual epidemics of acute-onset flaccid paralysis diagnosed clinically Guillain-Barre syndrome have been observed for at least 20 years. These patients had a distinctive pattern that shares clinical and cerebrospinal fluid findings with demyelinating Guillain-Barr syndrome. But it was different from Guillain-Barr syndrome physiologically and pathologically. Electrodiagnostic studies showed normal motor distal latencies and limb conduction velocity, but reduced compound muscle action potential amplitude. When sensory nerve action potentials are elicitable, F waves are within the range of normal. This disorder was named acute motor axonal neuropathy characterized pathologically by motor nerve fiber degeneration of variable severity and by sparing of sensory fibers. Recovery is usually complete. We experienced a case of acute axonal motor neuropathy, and reported the case with a review of literature.
Action Potentials ; Axons* ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; China ; Extremities ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome ; Humans ; Nerve Fibers ; Paralysis

OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety and efficacy of intravaginal misoprostol versus oral dinoprostone for labor induction at term. METHODS: One hundred of patients at term were randomized to receive either 50microgram of misoprostol vaginally every 4 hours or dinoprostone 0.5mg orally every 1 hour for the maximum of six doses. Intravenous infusion of oxytocin was administered under such circumferences as the patient did not go into active labor after maximum dose, SROM was developed without an adequate contraction pattern, or the patient had arrest of dilatation(no change in cervical dilatation for 2 hours). We compared the frequency of oxytocin augmentation, administration to delivery interval, vaginal delivery rate within 12 hours and 24 hours, intrapartum complications, induction failure, mode of delivery, neonatal outcomes, and maternal complications between two groups. RESULTS: The average interval from administration to delivery was shorter in the misoprostol group(739.4+/-372.4min vs 1087.7+/-765.1min, p<0.05), but the interval from administration to vaginal delivery of each group was similar(724.3+/-375.4min vs 800.3+/-697.0min). Regarding the frequency of vaginal delivery within 24 hours, however, misoprostol group was higher than dinoprostone group(88% vs 56%, p<0.001). And oxytocin augmentation of labor occurred less commonly in misoprostol group than in dinoprostone group(20% vs 76%, p<0.05). Any statistically significant difference in intrapartum complications, mode of delivery, and neonatal or maternal adverse outcome was not appeared between these two group. CONCLUSION: Vaginal misoprostol is as effective and safe as oral dinoprostone for cervical ripening and induction of labor at term. In addition, vaginal misoprostol contributes the curtailment of labor induction expenditure due to its moderate price; misoprostol costs 100 won per 50microgram.
Cervical Ripening ; Dinoprostone* ; Female ; Health Expenditures ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Labor Stage, First ; Misoprostol* ; Oxytocin ; Pregnancy

An adenosquamous carcinoma of the penis is an exceedingly rare, highly malignant tumor, with histological features of a squamous cell carcinoma and an adenocarcinoma, which originates in the penile surface epithelium, and possibly in embryologically misplaced mucus glands of the perimeatal region of the glans mucosa. We report a case of an adenosquamous carcinoma of the penis in a 73-year-old man who had been suffering from a painful ulcerative mass on his penis for 2 years.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Adenosquamous* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Epithelium ; Humans ; Male ; Mucous Membrane ; Mucus ; Penis* ; Ulcer

Angiogenesis is considered to be an integral process to the growth and spread of solid tumors. Anti-angiogenesis therapy recently has been found to be one of the most promising anti-cancer therapeutic strategies. In this study, we provide several lines of evidences showing that KR-31831, a new benzopyran derivative, has anti-angiogenic activities. KR-31831 inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion and tube formation of bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs), and suppressed the release of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) of BAECs. KR-31831 also inhibited in vivo angiogenesis in mouse Matrigel plug assay. Furthermore, the mRNA expressions of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), fibroblast growth factor receptor-2 (FGFR-2), and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) were decreased by KR-31831. Taken together, these results suggest that KR-31831 acts as a novel angiogenesis inhibitor and might be useful for treating hypervascularized cancers.
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2/metabolism ; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2/metabolism ; Neovascularization, Physiologic/drug effects ; Neovascularization, Pathologic/*drug therapy ; Models, Biological ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2/metabolism ; Male ; Ischemia/drug therapy ; Imidazoles/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2/metabolism ; Endothelial Cells/drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Cell Movement/drug effects ; Cattle ; Benzopyrans/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Animals ; Angiogenesis Inhibitors/*pharmacology/therapeutic use

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine in vitro development of early preimplantation mouse embryos in various kind of serum-free conditioned media (SF-VCM) manufactured from DMEM cultured with Vero Cells. METHODS: A total of 846 two-cell mouse embryos were cultured in different kind of SF-VCM. SF-VCMs were divided into SF-VCM-10, -30 and -50 by media volume using DMEM #1 media, and divided into SF-VCM #1, #2 and #3 by controlled concentration of glucose and pyruvate (manufactured by DMEM #1: mixed three volume of DMEM-G (DMEM with glutamine without glucose and pyruvate) and one volume of DMEM-GGP (DMEM with glutamine, glucose, pyruvate), #2: mixed same volume of DMEM-G and DMEM-GGP and #3: mixed one volume of DMEM-G and three volume of DMEM-GGP, respectively). Experimental groups were mainly added 10% SSS, and 20% hFF was added to only Control group co-cultured with Vero cells. Development of embryos was observed every 24 hours. Results between different groups were analyzed using Chi-square test, and considered statistically significant when P-value was less than 0.05. RESULTS: In vitro developmental rate by each cleavage stages of mouse embryos cultured in SF-VCMs with a various volumes were significantly (P<0.05) higher in SF-VCM-30 (morula< or =: 97.2%, Blastocyst (BL)< or =: 97.2%, Hatching BL< or =: 82.2%) than other groups. In the rate of development on in vitro co-culture vs. a various SF-VCMs manufactured by DMEM controlled concentration of glucose and pyruvate, Group I (SF-VCM #1) was higher than other groups in each cleavage stages (morula< or =: 98.1%, Blastocyst (BL)< or =: 97.1%, hatching BL< or =: 81.7%, respectively). Moreover, specially, in the developmental rate into the hatching blastocyst < or = after 96 hours in vitro culture, Group I (81.7%) was significantly higher than control group (67.6%, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: SF-VCM #1 manufactured by volume of 30 mL DMEM #1 media cultured in vitro for 48 hours in 250 mL flask was the most effective on in vitro developmental rate of mouse preimplantation embryos. Therefore, it is expected that SF-VCM #1 has application to human IVF-ET.
Animals ; Blastocyst ; Coculture Techniques ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; Embryonic Structures ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Glucose ; Glutamine ; Humans ; Mice ; Pyruvic Acid ; Vero Cells

PURPOSE: Isosulfan blue dye has been widely used for localizing sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in breast cancer patients. The use of methylene blue has recently been applied for localizing SLNs. We compared the use of each dye to investigate the effectiveness of methylene blue for the localization of SLNs. METHODS: From January to December of 2005, 326 patients underwent surgery for breast cancer at Samsung Medical Center. In 86 patients, only a blue dye was used for SLN localization. Isosulfan blue and methylene blue were randomly given. Each dye (5 mL) was given by subareolar or peritumoral injection. The injection site was gently massaged with a warm gauze for 5 min. A frozen biopsy was performed for all SLNs, and an axillary dissection was done for positive frozen biopsy cases or cases in which axillary metastasis was clinically suspected. RESULTS: Fifty-eight cases (61.1%) had been treated with isosulfan blue and 37 cases (38.9%) had been treated with methylene blue. Blue nodes were found in 96.6% of samples in the isosulfan blue group and 86.5% of samples in the methylene blue group. The mean number of SLNs was 2.10 in the isosulfan blue group and 2.27 in the methylene blue group (p>0.05). The frozen biopsy was positive for malignant cells in 16 of 56 cases in the isosulfan blue group and 4 of 32 cases in the methylene blue group. Axillary lymph node dissection was performed in 23 cases in the isosulfan blue group and 19 cases in the methylene blue group. CONCLUSION: There are no significant differences in the success rate, the mean number of SLNs found and the false negative rate between the use of isosulfan blue and methylene blue for localization of SLNs in breast cancer patients.
Biopsy ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes* ; Methylene Blue* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We assessed twelve cases of suspected chronic pesticide intoxication, with medically unexplained physical symptoms. METHODS: Complete blood cell count (CBC), blood chemistry, routine urinalysis, chest X-ray, ECG, gastrofiberscopy, abdominal ultrasonography, neuroselective sensory nerve conduction threshold, and psychological assessment were performed on 12 farmers who believe themselves to have suffered from chronic pesticide intoxication. RESULTS: No specific abnormalities were observed on CBC, routine urinalysis, chest X-ray, ECG, gastroscopy, abdominal ultrasonography, or peripheral nerve conduction velocity test. They persistently manifested helplessness, depression, and anxiety. The results of both psychological assessment and general physical examination revealed the following clinical features: depression (8 cases), multiple chemical hypersensitivity syndrome (2 cases), alcoholism (1 case), and religious preoccupation (1 case). CONCLUSION: In those living in the western rural area of South Korea, depression is a prominent ongoing presentation in pesticide-exposed farmers, in addition to unexplainable physical symptoms.
Aged ; Agricultural Workers' Diseases/*diagnosis/psychology ; Chronic Disease ; Environmental Illness/*diagnosis/psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Observation ; *Occupational Exposure ; Pesticides/*poisoning ; Psychological Tests

An association study with Korean schizophrenic patients(N=84) and normal controls(N=87) was performed to find the relationship between catechol-o-methyltransferase(COMT) gene polymorphism and schizophrenia using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. When we compared the allele and genotype frequencies of Bg/I COMT gene polymorphism in schizophrenics and normal controls, there was no significant difference between two groups. Our results do not support an association between the Bg/I polymorphism of COMT gene and schizophrenia.
Alleles ; Genotype ; Schizophrenia