No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Streptococcus pneumoniae* ; Streptococcus*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although the mechanism of hepatocellular carcinogenesis still remains to be clarified, it has been suggested that persistent hepatic necrosis and resultant irregular regeneration might cause genetic mutations, such as activation of protooncogenes, inactivation of tumor suppressor genes and modulation of apoptosis-related genes, finally leading to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To elucidate the role of cell proliferative activity and apoptosis, a major mechanism of cell death, in hepatocellular carcinogenesis, we analyzed expression of proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), p53 protein and apoptotic cells in HCC and surrounding nonneoplastic hepatic parenchyma. METHODS: We performed immunohistochemical staining to detect P CAN, p53 protein, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labelling (TUNEL) method for the detection of apoptosis in 52 hepatocellular carcinomas and their adjacent nonneoplastic liver. We scored the expression of PCNA and p53, and apoptotic index by a 5 point scale' 0, 0%,1, 1-25%', 2, 25-50%, 3, 50-75%', 4, >76%, and analyzed the results with other clinicopathologic characteristics. RESULTS: p53 protein was expressed in 42.3% of the HCC, but was not evident in nonneoplstic liver. P53 overexpression was correlated with the histologic grade of HCC (p<0.05). PCNA labelling indices (LI) of HCC were correlated with those of liver cell dysplasia and normal liver (p<0.05). Leading edges of HCCs showed higher proliferative activity than the central part of HCC. Four cases of HCCs with high TUNEL also showed high proliferative activity. There was no difference of the TUNEL between HCC and surrounding nonneoplastic liver. Expression of p53, PCNA LI and TUNEL had no relationship with clinicopathologic parameters including viral markers, aFP elevation, tumor size and underlying cirrhosis. CONCLUSION: p53 overexpression in HCC and absence of p53 mutation in nonneoplastic liver indicates the active participation of p53 in hepatocellular carcinogenesis. Invasiveness and metastatic potential appear to be related with the strong expression of PCNA, but apoptosis in HCC has no direct implication in hepatocellular carinogensis.
Apoptosis* ; Biomarkers ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Cell Death ; Fibrosis ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Liver* ; Necrosis ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Regeneration

Hesitation wounds are tentative, superficial incised wounds around the fatal wound(s). This study aimed to investigate the frequency and characteristic features of hesitation wounds including ordinary incised wounds and knife tip injuries as hesitation marks from the autopsy cases of suicides using sharp force instruments. The subjects were 478 cases out of 3,131 suicide cases autopsied at the Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University in Daegu, from August, 2001 to 2013. 48 cases (approximately 10%) were suicides using sharp force instruments. In 27 cases (56.3%), the sharp force was successfully applied causing suicide; 17 cases (35.4%) were so called complex suicide cases, in which two or more different methods including sharp force injury were used; and the 4 remaining cases were suicides caused by other reasons. Overall hesitation wounds had a high frequency of 33/48 cases (68.8%). The frequency of cases in which knife tip injuries were found was lower, appearing in 13/33 cases (39.3%). The most preferred sites of knife tip injuries were the abdomen (9 cases), neck (4 cases), chest (3 cases), and face (1 case) in these 13 cases, including several overlapped cases. The average number of knife tip injuries was 14.6. A total of 88.2% of knife tip injuries was found near the incised hesitation wounds or fatal wounds. In conclusion, knife tip injuries may be a significant factor in identifying hesitation wounds, and they should be precisely examined and evaluated during autopsies to determine the manner of death.

Hesitation wounds are tentative, superficial incised wounds around the fatal wound(s). This study aimed to investigate the frequency and characteristic features of hesitation wounds including ordinary incised wounds and knife tip injuries as hesitation marks from the autopsy cases of suicides using sharp force instruments. The subjects were 478 cases out of 3,131 suicide cases autopsied at the Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University in Daegu, from August, 2001 to 2013. 48 cases (approximately 10%) were suicides using sharp force instruments. In 27 cases (56.3%), the sharp force was successfully applied causing suicide; 17 cases (35.4%) were so called complex suicide cases, in which two or more different methods including sharp force injury were used; and the 4 remaining cases were suicides caused by other reasons. Overall hesitation wounds had a high frequency of 33/48 cases (68.8%). The frequency of cases in which knife tip injuries were found was lower, appearing in 13/33 cases (39.3%). The most preferred sites of knife tip injuries were the abdomen (9 cases), neck (4 cases), chest (3 cases), and face (1 case) in these 13 cases, including several overlapped cases. The average number of knife tip injuries was 14.6. A total of 88.2% of knife tip injuries was found near the incised hesitation wounds or fatal wounds. In conclusion, knife tip injuries may be a significant factor in identifying hesitation wounds, and they should be precisely examined and evaluated during autopsies to determine the manner of death.
Abdomen ; Autopsy ; Daegu ; Forensic Medicine ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Neck ; Suicide ; Thorax ; Wounds and Injuries

No abstract available.
Down Syndrome* ; Leukemia*

Recently xenotransplantation has been thought as a final solution for the controi of donor organ shortage in allograft. In order to be a ciinicai entity, xenotransplantation has many obstacles such as hyperacute rejection and delayed xenogratt rejection as a potent immunologic reaction, zoonosis and ethical problems. We already reported the eariy immunoiogic events occuring soon after xenograft in animal model, in which natural antibody and complement have a crucial roie in rejection response. As a further step for the prolongation of graft survival, we used anticomplement agent (cobra venom factor, CVF) in the same model. Graft survival in discordant (guinea pig-to-rat) xenogratt was extended from 30.6 minutes to 2 days following singie injection of CVF, which showed similar pattern of rejection with the concordant xenogratt in terms of time of rejection response after grafting. In this setting antibody response in the blood did not show any difference between that of pre CVF and post CVF, even though IgM response was more pronounced than IgG. The complement activity in the blood showed marked suppression following CVF injection. Intragraft complement gene (C3 mRNA) expression in CVF injected discordant showed delayed response in a similar pattern like that of concordant xenograft. Interestingly enough intragraft anticomplement gene expression showed the simiiar pattern of response with the complement. From these results we can conclude that anticomplement agent (CVF) extended the graft survival in discordant xenograft upto the level of concordant xenograft by shifting the complement activation response from that of discordant to concordant xenograft.
Rats ; Animals

PURPOSE: Speech and language development is an useful indicator of the overall development of children. Since speech and language delay can lead to emotional, social, and learning problems, the early intervention is very important. We examined 137 children with speech or language problems including 22 children of functional articulation disorders of their clinical features. METHODS: 137 children with speech or language problems in the Department of Pediatrics, Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital from January 2004 to December 2007 were reviewed for sex, age, developmental and language test findings retrospectively. Especially, in 22 children diagnosed with functional articulation disorders, articulation test findings were analyzed. RESULTS: 1) The mean age of 137 children was 46.8 months, the ratio of male to female was 2.5:1, and the most frequent age group was 24-35 months. The chief complaints included language delay(67.2%), mispronouncing speech sound(27%), stuttering(3.6%), learning disability(2.2%). The diagnoses of them were developmental language disorder(70.8%), functional articulation disorders(16.1%), mental retardation(5.8%), stuttering(2.9%), tongue tie(0.7%), normal language pattern(3.6%). 2) The mean age of 22 patients with functional articulation disorders was 63 months, the ratio of male to female was 1.4:1, and the most frequent age group was 60-71 months. The mean percentage of consonant correct of Picture Consonant Articulation Test was higher in older age group. In the types of phonetic errors substitutions were most common. Distortions, omissions, and additions were followed in the order of frequency. Substitutions and distortions were common in word initial and medial but omissions in word final. It is appeared that the patients had the difficulties in pronouncing alveolar fricative, palatal affricate, liquid, and velar plosive which mature lately in older children. Mainly palatal affricate, alveolar fricative, and velar plosive were substituted for alveolar plosive and the liquid and alveolar fricative were distorted as gliding. CONCLUSION: Categorizing the cause of language and speech delay is essential to make an adequate treatment plans and decrease the late complications. The future studies for the early screening, more suitable tests in Korean, treatment guidelines or prognosis are needed.
Articulation Disorders ; Child ; Early Intervention (Education) ; Female ; Humans ; Language Development ; Language Development Disorders ; Language Tests ; Learning ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Pediatrics ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Tongue

The purpose of this study was to obtain basic data of nutrition education for obese children and to examine food habits, food behaviors, and nutrition knowledge. A convenience sample of 84(male:62, female:22) obese children was selected from "98 Children Nutrition Camp". The survey design employed a structured questionnaire. The results of this study were summarized as follows. 1. The percentage of the subjects who overestimated their body weight was higher in female compared to male. Only 35.9% of highly-obese subjects considered them as 'very fat'. The experience of weight control was higher in female than in male, and it was also higher moderately- or highly-obese subjects compared to mildly obese. 2. 64.3% of subjects reported that they regularly eat breakfast. The percentage of the subjects who indicated that they eat at regular meal time or they eat very irregularly was highest in the highly-obese subjects. 3. 34.5% of subjects reported that they eat very fast. The eating speed was slower in female compared to male, and in obese subjects. 55.4% of subjects reported that didn't eating out. 4. 80.9% of subjects had snacks, and most of them had snack between lunch and dinner. The reason the subjects eat snack was hunger. The most favorite snack was cookies. 5. The most preferred and distasteful food was meats(32.1%) and vegetables(67.1%), respectively. 6. The score of food behaviors was relatively low in most subjects. 7. The level of nutrition knowledge was in order of fair(83.1%), poor(9.6%), excellent(7.3%), and was higher in male compared to female. Consequently the results of this study showed to disagreement among food habits, food behaviors and nutrition knowledge, and feel keenly the necessity of education connecting of these. This education had to be practical education to change food behaviors.
Body Weight ; Breakfast ; Child* ; Eating ; Education ; Female ; Food Habits* ; Gyeongsangnam-do* ; Humans ; Hunger ; Lunch ; Male ; Meals ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Snacks

PURPOSE: We conducted a comparative study to evaluate the diagnostic values of Tl-201, Tc-99m MIBI and I-131 scans in the follow-up assessment after ablative I-131 therapy in differentiated thyroid cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 20 patients who underwent surgical removal of thyroid cancer and ablative radioactive iodine therapy, and followed by one or more times of I-131 retreatments (33 cases). In all patients, Tl-201, Tc-99m MIBI, diagnostic and therapeutic I-131 scans were performed and the RESULTS were analyzed retrospectively. Also serum thyroglobulin levels were measured in all patients. The final diagnosis of recurrent or metastatic thyroid cancer was determined by clinical, biochemical, radiologic and/or biopsy findings. RESULTS: Positive rates (PR) of Tc-99m MIBI, Tl-201, diagnostic and therapeutic I-131 scans in detecting malignant thyroid tissue lesions were 70% (19/27), 54% (15/28), 35% (17/48) and 63% (30/48), respectively. The PR in the group of 20 cases (28 lesions) who underwent concomitant Tl-201 and I-131 scans were in the order of therapeutic 131 scan 71%, Tl-201 scan 54% and diagnostic I-131 scan 36%. There was no statistically significant difference between Tl-201 and diagnostic I-131 scans (p>0.05). In the group of 20 cases (27 lesions) who underwent concomitant Tc-99m MIBI and I-131 scans, the PR were in the order of Tc-99m MIBI scan 70%, I-131 therapeutic scan 52% and I-131 diagnostic scan 33%. The PR of Tc-99m MIBI was significantly higher than that of diagnostic I-131 scan (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Tc-99m MIBI scan is superior to diagnostic I-131 scan in detecting recurrent or metastatic thyroid cancer following ablation therapy in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. Tl-201 scan did not showed significantly higher positive rate than diagnostic I-131 scan. Instead of diagnostic I-131 scan before the I-131 retreatment, Tc-99m MIBI scan without discontinuing thyroid hormone replacement would be a prudent and effective approach in the management of these patients.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Iodine ; Retreatment ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroglobulin ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms*

PURPOSE: Accurate diagnosis of group A streptococcal(GAS) pharyngitis and appropriate antimicrobial therapy are important, particularly to prevent nonsuppurative sequelae and to reduce the improper use of antibiotics. Because the clinical presentation of pharyngitis does not reliably predict the etiologic agent, when GAS infection is suspected, diagnosis should be based on the result of a throat swab culture or antigen-detection test with culture back-up. METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively the medical records of children diagnosed as GAS pharyngitis by throat swab culture from Jan. 1995 to Jul. 2000. Since Nov. 1998, specimens were also tested with the Abbott's Testpack+plus Strep A Kit. RESULTS: 121 patients were confirmed as GAS pharyngitis by throat culture. GAS pharyngitis predominantly occurred from 3 to 7 years of age with the peak incidence at 4 and 5 years of age. The disease was more frequent in late fall, winter and spring. Clinical manifestations were as follows; fever(89.9%), abnormal pharynx(94.3%), of which exudate in 33.6%, sore throat(85.3%), headache(78.1%), cervical lymphadenopathy(67.5%), abdominal pain(64.3%), and nausea or vomiting (55.0%). The sensitivity and specificity of rapid antigen test compared to throat culture were 96.4% and 95%, respectively. CONCLUSION: GAS pharyngitis occurred every year, and more frequently in late fall, winter and spring. It occurred with the greatest frequency in preschool children. The rapid antigen test can be a basis for clinicians to decide how to treat their patients before the culture results are proven, and can be helpful to judicious use of antibiotics as well.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnosis ; Exudates and Transudates ; Humans ; Incidence ; Medical Records ; Nausea ; Pharyngitis ; Pharynx ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Vomiting