Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disorder commonly affecting young adults. Diagnosis is confirmed by evidence of non-caseating granuloma in more than one organ. A case is presented where the diagnosis was made on a bone marrow biopsy, the first case in Korea. A 54-year-housewife was admitted because of multiple variable sized, skin papules and macules, who showed pancytopenia and evidence of liver cirrhosis on ultrasound. We performed skin biopsy and bone marrow biopsy, which showed non-caseating granulomas. The chest CT, opthalmologic examination was performed and showed the involvement of sarcoidosis of mediastinal lymph nodes and uvea. Multiple joints of both hands and feet also seemed to be involved in view of simple X-ray. By this case, we emphasize the significance of bone marrow biopsy in the sarcoidosis with pancytopenia.
Biopsy ; Bone Marrow* ; Diagnosis ; Foot ; Granuloma ; Hand ; Humans ; Joints* ; Korea ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver* ; Lymph Nodes ; Pancytopenia ; Sarcoidosis* ; Skin* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography ; Uvea* ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have been limited to the use of cross sectional data to identify the relationships between nicotine dependence and smoking. Therefore, it is difficult to determine a causal direction between the two variables. The purposes of this study were to 1) test whether nicotine dependence or average smoking was a more influential factor in smoking cessation; and 2) propose effective ways to quit smoking as determined by the causal relations identified. METHODS: This study used a panel dataset from the central computerized management systems of community-based smoking cessation programs in Korea. Data were stored from July 16, 2005 to July 15, 2008. 711,862 smokers were registered and re-registered for the programs during the period. 860 of those who were retained in the programs for three years were finally included in the dataset. To measure nicotine dependence, this study used a revised Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence. To examine the relationship between nicotine dependence and average smoking, an autoregressive cross-lagged model was explored in the study. RESULTS: The results indicate that 1) nicotine dependence and average smoking were stable over time; 2) the impact of nicotine dependence on average smoking was significant and vice versa; and 3) the impact of average smoking on nicotine dependence is greater than the impact of nicotine dependence on average smoking. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the existing data obtained from previous research. Collectively, reducing the amount of smoking in order to decrease nicotine dependence is important for evidence-based policy making for smoking cessation.
Community Health Centers ; Health Policy ; Korea ; Nicotine ; Policy Making ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Smoking Cessation ; Tobacco Use Disorder

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have been limited to the use of cross sectional data to identify the relationships between nicotine dependence and smoking. Therefore, it is difficult to determine a causal direction between the two variables. The purposes of this study were to 1) test whether nicotine dependence or average smoking was a more influential factor in smoking cessation; and 2) propose effective ways to quit smoking as determined by the causal relations identified. METHODS: This study used a panel dataset from the central computerized management systems of community-based smoking cessation programs in Korea. Data were stored from July 16, 2005 to July 15, 2008. 711,862 smokers were registered and re-registered for the programs during the period. 860 of those who were retained in the programs for three years were finally included in the dataset. To measure nicotine dependence, this study used a revised Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence. To examine the relationship between nicotine dependence and average smoking, an autoregressive cross-lagged model was explored in the study. RESULTS: The results indicate that 1) nicotine dependence and average smoking were stable over time; 2) the impact of nicotine dependence on average smoking was significant and vice versa; and 3) the impact of average smoking on nicotine dependence is greater than the impact of nicotine dependence on average smoking. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the existing data obtained from previous research. Collectively, reducing the amount of smoking in order to decrease nicotine dependence is important for evidence-based policy making for smoking cessation.
Community Health Centers ; Health Policy ; Korea ; Nicotine ; Policy Making ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Smoking Cessation ; Tobacco Use Disorder

Although some reports have been published on the protective effect of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii surface membrane proteins, few address the inhibitory activity of antibodies to dense granular proteins (GRA proteins). Therefore, we performed a series of experiments to evaluate the inhibitory effects of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to GRA proteins (GRA2, 28 kDa; GRA6, 32 kDa) and surface membrane protein (SAG1, 30 kDa) on the invasion of T. gondii tachyzoites. Passive immunization of mice with one of three mAbs following challenge with a lethal dose of tachyzoites significantly increased survival compared with results for mice treated with control ascites. The survival times of mice challenged with tachyzoites pretreated with anti-GRA6 or anti-SAG1 mAb were significantly increased. Mice that received tachyzoites pretreated with both mAb and complement had longer survival times than those that received tachyzoites pretreated with mAb alone. Invasion of tachyzoites into fibroblasts and macrophages was significantly inhibited in the anti-GRA2, anti-GRA6 or anti-SAG1 mAb pretreated group. Pretreatment with mAb and complement inhibited invasion of tachyzoites in both fibroblasts and macrophages. These results suggest that specific antibodies to dense-granule molecules may be useful for controlling infection with T. gondii.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; *Antigens, Protozoan ; Female ; Fibroblasts/parasitology ; Host-Parasite Relations ; Immunization, Passive ; Macrophages/parasitology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Protozoan Proteins/*immunology ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Toxoplasma/*pathogenicity ; Toxoplasmosis/parasitology/*therapy

Background: Nurses play a central role in the process of blood transfusion because they have the closest interactions with patients. Providing nurses with the appropriate knowledge and competency through education can help ensure transfusion safety. This study investigated the effectiveness of the first nationwide transfusion-related education for nurses by analyzing questionnaires for a self-assessment of competency on transfusion-related knowledge before and after the education and general evaluation for the educational program. Methods: The education program was composed of four lectures and was conducted in seven regions in South Korea. One hundred and ninety-two nurses participated, and the questionnaires for 170 nurses were analyzed. Results: The participants consisted of 90 nurses (53.0%) from tertiary hospitals, 23 (13.5%) from general hospitals, and 57 (33.5%) from other hospitals. The majority of the participants (103/170, 60.6%) were from hospitals with ≥500 beds, and 69.4% had a work period of ≥10 years. The scores for pre-/post-education self-assessment of competency were as follows: blood components, 3.03/3.73; pretransfusion testing, 2.86/3.64; management of transfusion, 3.18/3.84; and transfusion reactions, 3.11/3.78. In all categories, there was a significant increase in the score after the education program. The majority of participants (99.4%) provided a positive response regarding the necessity of a transfusion-related education program. Conclusion South Korea’s first attempt at transfusion-related education for nurses showed a strong positive effect by improving participants’ transfusion-related competency. Considering the important role of nurses in blood transfusion, the educational program should continue and be expanded in the future.

Background: Nurses play a central role in the process of blood transfusion because they have the closest interactions with patients. Providing nurses with the appropriate knowledge and competency through education can help ensure transfusion safety. This study investigated the effectiveness of the first nationwide transfusion-related education for nurses by analyzing questionnaires for a self-assessment of competency on transfusion-related knowledge before and after the education and general evaluation for the educational program. Methods: The education program was composed of four lectures and was conducted in seven regions in South Korea. One hundred and ninety-two nurses participated, and the questionnaires for 170 nurses were analyzed. Results: The participants consisted of 90 nurses (53.0%) from tertiary hospitals, 23 (13.5%) from general hospitals, and 57 (33.5%) from other hospitals. The majority of the participants (103/170, 60.6%) were from hospitals with ≥500 beds, and 69.4% had a work period of ≥10 years. The scores for pre-/post-education self-assessment of competency were as follows: blood components, 3.03/3.73; pretransfusion testing, 2.86/3.64; management of transfusion, 3.18/3.84; and transfusion reactions, 3.11/3.78. In all categories, there was a significant increase in the score after the education program. The majority of participants (99.4%) provided a positive response regarding the necessity of a transfusion-related education program. Conclusion South Korea’s first attempt at transfusion-related education for nurses showed a strong positive effect by improving participants’ transfusion-related competency. Considering the important role of nurses in blood transfusion, the educational program should continue and be expanded in the future.

BACKGROUND: A pulmonary tuberculoma is one of the most common causes of a solitary pulmonary lesion. Treating a tuberculoma is still controversial and there are few reports on antituberculosis chemotherapy. In this study, the clinical findings and changes in the size of tuberculomas on a radiograph after completing antiuberculosis chemotherapy was investigated. METHODS: The medical records, an chest radiographs of 18 pulmonary tuberculoma patients who were admitted to the Gachon medical school, Ghil medical center between April 1998 and August 2001, were reviewed. The symptomatic changes were recorded and the size of the tuberculomasl following treatment were compared. To compare the size, the long distance of each tuberculoma on the chest radiographs were measured and the additional radiological findings of calcification, satellite nodules and cavities were investigated. RESULTS: Fifteen patients were men and 3 were women. The median age was 46(24-74). Among these 18 patients, 14 patients had clinical symptoms. The other 4 patients were diagnosed incidentally as during a routine chest radiograph. The mean size of the tuberculomas on the initial plain chest film was 4.3+/-2.3cm(range : 1.7-10cm)and after 6 months treatment, it had decreased to 1.68+/-2.00cm(range : 1.5-6.5cm)(P<0.05). At least 6 months of antituberculosis chemotherapy resulted in the findings of a tuberculoma with a disappearance in 9, a decreased size in 4, and no change in 5 on the chest radiograph. Calcifications were found in 3 patients on the initial chest film and the chest CT and all calcified tuberculomas had disappeared after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: A lthough a pulmonary tuberculoma can remain as an inactive lesion for a long time, if it is confirmed by pathological or bacteriological methods, antituberculosis chemotherapy will be beneficial despite the presence of calcification.
Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Records ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Schools, Medical ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculoma*

No abstract available.
Chickenpox* ; Child* ; Humans

Bronchial carcinoid tumors are uncommon, constituting approximately 5% of all primary lung cancers. Carcinoid tumors belong to the calss of neuroendocrine tumors that consist of cells that can store and secrete neuramines and neuropeptides. Neuroendocrine tumors of the lung include three pathologic types: a low-grade malignancy, the so-called "typical carcinoid", a more aggressive tumor, the "atypical carcinoid" and the most aggressive malignant neoplasm, the small-cell carcinoma. Atypical carcinoid tumor, have a higher malignant potential, is more commonly peripheral than is the typical carcinoid tumor. Histologic features would characterize a carcionoid as hitologically atypical: increased mitotic activity, pleomorphism and irregularity of neuclei with promonent nucleoli, hyperchromatin, and abnormal nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio, areas of increased cellularity with disorganization of architecture, and areas of tumor necrosis. Metastatic involvement of regional lymph nodes and distant organ is common. The prognosis is related to size of the tumor, typical or atypical appearance, endoluminal or extraluminal growth, vascular invasion, node metastasis. Pulmonary resection is the treatement of choice for bronchial carcinoid. We experienced one case of bronchopulmonary atypical carcinoid tumor. In the case, radiologic study showed solitary lung mass with liver metastasis and the level of 5-HIAA was elevated. There was no history of cutaneous flushing, diarrhea, valvular heart disease. The authors reported a case of brochopulmonary atypical carcinoid tumor with review of literatures.
Carcinoid Tumor* ; Diarrhea ; Flushing ; Heart Valve Diseases ; Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid ; Liver* ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lymph Nodes ; Necrosis ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; Neuropeptides ; Prognosis

Sirenomelia, characterised by a complete or incomplete fusion of the lower extremities, is a severe form of caudal defect affecting 1.5-4.2 in 100,000 births. Most cases of sirenomelia die within 5days after birth and are associated with abnormalities such as renal agenesis, urinary tract agenesis, single umbilical artery, etc. Third trimester ultrasonographic diagnosis is usually impaired by severe oligohydramnios whereas the amount of amniotic fluid may be sufficient to allow diagnosis in the early second trimester. We report a case of sirenomelius at 12 weeks of gestation using prenatal transvaginal ultrasonography.
Amniotic Fluid ; Diagnosis ; Ectromelia* ; Female ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Oligohydramnios ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Single Umbilical Artery ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Tract