The p53 gene is believed to play an important role through the mutation and overexpression in the progression of various human malignant tumors. The type IV collagenase (matrix metalloproteinase: MMP-2) initiates the degradation of the extracellular matrix, and consequently may play a role in the tumor invasion and metastasis. To investigate the correlation between clinicopathologic features of the colorectal adenocarcinomas and benign tumors and expression of p53 and MMP-2 proteins, we performed an immunohistochemical study on 40 colorectal adenocarcinomas, 20 adenomas and 20 hyperplastic polyps by using the antibodies to p53 and MMP-2 proteins. The positive expression rate of the p53 protein in adenocarcinomas was 62.5% and significantly higher than in benign tumors. The positive expression rate of the MMP-2 protein was 47.5% in adenocarcinomas, but there was no expression of MMP-2 protein in benign tumors. The difference in p53 and MMP-2 expression rates between malignant and non-malignant tumors was statistically significant. The positive expression rate of p53 protein in the non-metastatic and metastatic adenocarcinomas was 59.1 and 66.7%, respectively. The positive expression rate of MMP-2 protein in the non-metastatic and metastatic adencarcinomas was 45.5 and 50.0%, respectively. The correlation between several clinicopathologic features and expression of p53 and MMP-2 protein was not statistically significant, but the rate of positive MMP-2 immunoreactivity showed a statistically significant difference between Astler-Coller stage B1 C1 group and B2 C2 group of adenocarcinoma (p=0.0431). We concluded that the expression of p53 and MMP-2 protein contributes to the cancer development and MMP-2 may play a certain role in the invasiveness of the colorectal tumor. p53 and MMP-2 protein expression is not correlated with lymph node metastasis.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Adenoma ; Antibodies ; Collagenases ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Extracellular Matrix ; Genes, p53 ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Polyps

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of an information protocol for anxiety and nursing satisfaction of family caregivers. The caregivers were caring for a family member who had a CVA (cerebrovascular accident) and who had been admitted to the ICU (intensive care unit). METHOD: The research design was a non-equivalent control group non-synchronized design. Data were collected from April 1 to October 31, 2005 at D hospital in Busan City. The participants were 40 family caregivers of patients with a CVA admitted to the ICU. Caregivers in the experimental group participated in the information protocol for 30 min. Both groups were pre-tested before the intervention for two variables, anxiety and nursing needs. The post-test of both groups included anxiety and nursing satisfaction. The instruments used in this study were the Spielberger's state anxiety inventory (1976) and the nursing satisfaction scale developed by Molter (1979). RESULTS: Anxiety scores were significantly lower and nursing satisfaction scores were significantly higher for caregivers in the experimental group compared to those in the control group. CONCLUSION: The information protocol was effective in reducing anxiety and increasing the level of nursing satisfaction of family caregivers caring for an ICU patients with a CVA.
Anxiety* ; Busan ; Caregivers* ; Humans ; Nursing* ; Research Design ; Stroke*

OBJECTIVES: The present study aims to investigate the effects of physical illness on depression in North Korean Defectors. METHODS: One hundred forty-four North Korean Defectors(20 males, 124 females) and 376 South Koreans 133 males, 243 females) in Incheon Metropolitan areas participated the present study. Face-to-face interview was conducted for demographic information including presence of physical illnesses. To investigate depressive symptoms, all participants were required to complete the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale (CES-D). RESULTS: After controlling gender, age, marital status, educational year, employment status and physical illness, North Korean Defectors showed higher CES-D score than South Koreans(beta=0.449, p<0.001). Within North Korean Defectors, the presence of physical illnesses independently was related to higher CES-D score(beta=0.243, p<0.001). However, within South Koreans, the presence of physical illnesses did not significantly predict CES-D score. North Korean Defectors with physical illness have higher CES-D score than North Korean Defectors without physical illness(26.8+/-13.8 versus 19.7+/-12.7). However, there was no significant differences of CES-D score between South Koreans with physical illness and South Koreans without physical illness(10.3+/-9.8 versus 9.3+/-8.8). CONCLUSION: Compared to South Koreans, North Korean Defector showed higher depressive symptoms independently from gender, age, education, employment, marriage. In addition, only North Korean Defectors showed the relationship between depression and physical illness. Our study suggests that depression should be assessed when North Korean Defectors have physical illness.
Depression ; Employment ; Humans ; Male ; Marital Status ; Marriage

BACKGROUND: It is important to evaluate the patient presenting with non-traumatic chest pain in emergency department, and it is also difficult to classify appropriately. The purpose of this study is to predict probability of acute myocardial infarction(AMI) and assess the group for low probability of AMI that is target for observation-unit of chest pain in emergency department. METHODS: A prospective, clinical study was performed from March 1998 to August 1998 at the department of emergency medicine, Ewha Womans University Mokdong hospital. We classified high-probability group and low-probability group of AMI according to Goldman's algorithm and then compared with the final diagnosis. RESULTS: The study included 218 patients. 84 patients(39%) was the high-probability group and 134 patients(61%) was the low-probability group of AMI. As compared with final diagnosis, AMI was 47 patients(56%) among the high-probability group and 1 patient(0.7%) among the low-probability group. We observed sensitivity of 98%, specificity of 78% in predicting AMI. CONCLUSION: The classification according to Goldman's algorithm may be useful predictor of AMI and improve triage for emergency department patient with chest pain. It is also helpful for management of observation-unit of chest pain in emergency department.
Chest Pain* ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Medicine ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Female ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thorax* ; Triage

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to identify current health care management and barriers in health care management according to ecological systems, and to develop an ecological model for enhancing health care in child care centers. METHODS: Focus group interviews were conducted with directors and teachers of child care centers, and with parents of children enrolled in child care. Data were analyzed by the latent content analysis method. RESULTS: Twelve categories of health care management were identified. Barriers to child health care included knowledge deficit and lack of competence in health care by teachers, lack of useful health care manuals, non-existence of professional child health care personnel in child care centers, lack of mutual information sharing and disagreement on child health conditions between child care personnel and parents, lack of specific health related child care inspection criteria and time flexible child care centers with a lack of policy on collaboration with health care facilities. The ecological model developed included specific strategies to improve health care management in child care. CONCLUSION: The proposed ecological model to improve child health care management should be useful to plan future health care program considering both the immediate and indirect social environment surrounding children in child care.
Child ; Child Care ; Child Health ; Child, Preschool ; Cooperative Behavior ; Delivery of Health Care ; Ecology ; Ecosystem ; Focus Groups ; Humans ; Information Dissemination ; Mental Competency ; Parents ; Social Environment

We have expressed GFP in Sf9 and Bm5 cells or Bombyx by larvae by using Ac-Bm hybrid virus capable of replicating in both Bm5 and Sf9 cells. Genomic DNA of Ac-Bm hybrid virus expressing P-galactosidase was cotransfected with baculovirus transfer vector containing GFP gene, pBacPAK-GFP in Sf9 cells. The Ac-Bm hybrid virus harboring GFP was named as Ac-Bm hybrid virus-GFP. The Ac-Bm hybrid virus-GFP-infected insect cells were easily selected by detecting the emission of GFP from each well of cell culture dish on the UV illuminator. GFP produced by Ac-Bm hybrid virus-GFP in Sf9 and Bm5 cells or B. mori larvae was confirmed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis using GFP antibody. In addition, B. mori larvae infected with Ac-Bm hybrid virus-GFP was apparently appeared fluorescence from the whole body at 5 days postinoculation. The fluorescence of GFP from the hemolymph and fat body of B. mori larvae infected with Ac-Bm hybrid virus-GFP was also observed by fluorescence microscope. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that in baculovirus expression vector system, use of Ac-Bm hybrid virus have an additional advantage of expanded host range for producing recombinant proteins.
Animals ; Baculoviridae ; Blotting, Western ; Bombyx* ; Cell Culture Techniques ; DNA ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Fat Body ; Fluorescence ; Hemolymph ; Host Specificity ; Insects ; Larva* ; Recombinant Proteins ; Sf9 Cells ; Spodoptera*

In this study, the performance of a hematology analyzer, DxH 800 (Beckman Coulter, USA) was evaluated. The precision, carry-over, linearity, and comparison studies were performed according to the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. The test items were white blood cell, red blood cell, hemoglobin, red blood cell index, platelet, and reticulocyte counts. The 6C control and Retic-X cell control (Beckman Coulter) were used for precision evaluation. For the correlation study, the test results were compared with those obtained from the ADVIA 2120i (Siemens, USA) using 120 blood samples. The results of precision and carry-over evaluations were within acceptable range. The coefficient of determination (R 2) for linearity was good, being more than 0.99. The correlation coefficient (R) ranged from 0.945 to 0.996. DxH 800 was evaluated as an acceptable hematology analyzer for the automation of large volume of laboratory samples.
Automation ; Blood Platelets ; Erythrocytes ; Hematology* ; Leukocytes ; Reticulocyte Count ; Statistics as Topic

The use of an obturator prosthesis for patients with maxillary defects is a common treatment method to improve their oral function and achieve esthetic satisfaction. However, due to various difficulties and complexities, conventional methods for fabricating dental obturators continue to pose a challenge for dentists and patients, as well as laboratory technicians. CAD-CAM technologies may make it simple to fabricate maxillofacial prostheses including hollow obturators, which could improve comfort for clinicians by reducing burdensome manipulations. In addition, patients without a specialist in their vicinity will be able to be treated via cooperation between a nearby general practitioner and a distant prosthodontist. The aim of this clinical report is to investigate the possibility of using digitally fabricated maxillofacial prostheses that can be designed in one location, and manufactured in another in clinical situations.

Primary transitional cell carcinoma of ovary has been recently recognized as a separate subtype of epithelial cancer. It is unusual tumor and in which definite urothelial features are present, but no benign Brenner component is identified. These tumor are more aggressive and tend to present at a higher stage than malignant Brenner tumors, but they appear to respond better to chemotherapy than other type of ovarian epithelial cancer. We have experienced two cases of ptimary transitioaal cell carcinoma of ovary. So we report these cases with a brief review of literature.
Brenner Tumor ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Ovary*

BACKGROUND: Chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus(CCLE) is a well-known disease entity. But there has been no data about its clinical behavior and histopathologic features in Korea. OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to elucidate the clinical, laboratory, and histopathologic features of CCLE, and the relationship between CCLE and SLE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated 48 cases of CCLE that visited the department of dermatology at the Seoul National University Hospital from January 1990 to June 1997. Medical records and biopsy slides were reviewed.
Biopsy ; Dermatology ; Korea ; Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous* ; Medical Records ; Seoul