No abstract available.
Breast* ; Jaundice* ; Milk, Human*

PURPOSE: To examine the expression of Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF) in osteosarcoma and to evaluate its role in osteosarcoma invasion and proliferation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The mRNA expression of CTGF from 23 patient-derived osteosarcoma cell lines was examined, and the role of CTGF in cell invasion and proliferation was examined using siRNA transfection. RESULTS: The over-expression of CTGF mRNA was observed in 17 cell lines (74%). CTGF-specific siRNA transfection into SaOS-2 and MG63 cell lines resulted in efficient knockdown of CTGF expression on Western blot analysis. siRNA transfected cells showed decreased migration on Matrigel invasion assay and decreased cell proliferation on WST-1 assay. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that the CTGF expression may play an important role in osteosarcoma progression, and may be a therapeutic target of osteosarcoma.
Blotting, Western ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; Osteosarcoma* ; RNA, Messenger ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Transfection

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The status of tumor suppression gene can be assessed indirectly by analyzing the loss of heterozygosity. Hepatoblastoma is a malignant liver tumor in childhood. To find the molecular carcinogenetic mechanism of hepatoblastoma, loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of p73, APC and p53 was studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hepatoblastoma tissues from thirty-three cases were collected by lobectomy or tumorectomy. On H- stained sections, normal and tumor cells were microdissected separately and LOH analysis was perfomed using 8 markers: six of p73, one of APC and one of p53. RESULTS: Number of cases showing at least one LOH in six p73 markers was four out of twenty- six (15.4%): each LOH frequencies in D1S160, D1S170, D1S199, D1S228, D1S243 and D1S253 were in order of 7.7%, 0%, 9.1%, 0%, 12.5% and 0%. LOH frequency of APC was 41.7% and that of p53 was 13.3%. CONCLUSION: Low LOH frequency of p73 related markers indicates that p73 gene may not be implicated in carcinogenesis of hepatoblastoma.
Carcinogenesis ; Hepatoblastoma* ; Liver ; Loss of Heterozygosity*

The aim of this study was to characterize the morphology of a polycystic kidney which was found in 100% of the transgenic mice homozygous for inv mutation and to gain insight into the pathogenesis of inherited polycystic kidney disease during the pre- and postnatal periods. The fetal and postnatal kidneys from the homozygous and heterozygous transgenic mice were examined by the light, transmission and scanning electron microscopes, image analyzer, and an immunohistochemistry utilizing the antibodies specific for each segment of the renal tubules (Tetragonolobus purpureas, Arachis hypogaea, Tamm-Horsfall protein, AE1/AE3, EMA, vimentin, Phaseolus vulgaris) was performed to determine the site of origin of renal cysts. Two developmental phases of a cystic disease were identified. The first phase, seen in fetal kidneys, was characterized by dilatation mainly of the proximal tubules and a few distal tubules. The later phase, in postnatal period, was characterized by progressive enlargement of the kidneys due to mainly cystic change of the collecting ducts, which distorted the normal architecture of both cortex and medulla and almost completely replaced the renal parenchyma. The cystic dilatation involved all segments of the nephron and the collecting duct as well as the Bowman's spaces of glomeruli. The epithelial cell hyperplasia was found as a micropolyp formation within the renal cysts and an increase in PCNA positive cells. These findings suggest that a cyst is not simply a ballooning of a renal tubule and the stretching of cells, formerly thought to be due to an altered compliance of an abnormal basement membrane, but indeed the result of increased numbers of tubular epithelial cells.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Arachis ; Basement Membrane ; Compliance ; Dilatation ; Epithelial Cells ; Hyperplasia ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kidney ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic* ; Microscopy, Electron ; Nephrons ; Phaseolus ; Polycystic Kidney Diseases* ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Uromodulin ; Vimentin

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of an exercise program using isometric and isotonic thera band exercises. METHODS: Data were collected from 30 total knee replacement patients hospitalized in the orthopedics department at 'B' hospital (control=15, experimental=15). The control group performed isometric exercises for one week while the experimental group performed three or more rounds of both isometric and isotonic exercises, including Thera-Band(R) exercises, everyday for four weeks. RESULTS: The experimental group improved significantly in muscular strength (Z=-1.99, P=0.047) and self-efficacy (Z=19.48, P=0.000), and showed lower levels of depression than the control group (Z=8.60, P=0.003). However, no difference was found in pain experience between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Exercise programs using the isometric and Thera-Band(R) resistance training improve muscular strength and self-efficacy and relieve depression in total knee replacement patients.
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Depression ; Exercise ; Humans ; Orthopedics ; Resistance Training

The purpose of this study was to provide basic data useful to the training of hospice care members. For this study carried out to investigate the degree of death orientation of hospice care members. The subjects of study were 22 nurses, 85 clergies, 59 volunteers who registered on Hospice Education Programs. The data were analysed by descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA, Duncan test and Person's correlation coefficient. The results of the study can be summarized as follows; 1. The degree of death orientation were 85.95 in nurses group, 73.05 in clergies group, and 88.49 in volunteers group. So, clergies group has more positive death orientation than others. 2. The degree of death orientation showed significant differences between age group(F=4.62, p=.004), education program group(F=27.25, p=.000), and religiosity(t=3.77, p=.000). There were no significant differences between the degree of death orientation and the others general characteristics of hospice care members. In conclusion, the urgent need for educational preparation of death orientation and spiritual care of hospice care team, especially volunteers group and nurses group is emphasized. Furthermore, all of the hospice care members those who complete the hospice education program, should be performed efficient hospice care intervention for dying patients and their families.
Clergy ; Education ; Hospice Care* ; Hospices* ; Humans ; Volunteers

PURPOSE:The natural course of Hashimoto' thyroiditis (HT) is so dynamic that the disease progresses to overt hypothyroid or spontaneous recovery. The authors reviewed the clinical course of this disease and analysed the possible predicting factors regarding remission. METHODS:Thirty nine patients with HT (38 girls and 1 boy) were studied retrospectively. Of these patients, 30 were followed for more than 2 years. The possible remission factors were analyzed at initial diagnosis and during follow-up period. RESULTS:The mean age at the diagnosis was 11.8+/-.1 years. Initial thyroid function was euthyroid in 38.5%, compensated hypothyroid in 35.9%, overt hypothyroid in 23.1%, and hyperthyroid in 2.6% of patients. Antithyroglobulin antibody (ATA) was positive in 94.7%, and antimicrosomal antibody (AMA) was positive in 74.4%. The overall remission rate was 53.3% during the follow-up period (51+/-7 months). Initial goiter size, thyroid function status, and autoantibody titer had no relation to the remission rate statistically. Follow-up autoantibody titers in remission group were marginally lower than those in nonremission group (P<0.1), and follow-up AMA titer was significantly higher than initial titers in nonremission group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: We could not find any predictable remission factors from the initial clinical and autoantibody status. But, during follow-up period, patients with lower autoantibody titers showed slight higher remission, and those with increasing AMA titer showed less remission. Above results suggest that we should monitor antithyroid antibody titer as well as thyroid function regularly.
Adolescent* ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Goiter ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroiditis*

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the frequency and characteristics of needlestick/sharps injuries (NSIs) in nursing students in Korea. METHODS: The study was based on a survey of questionnaires completed by 341 nursing students who had sustained at least one NSI during clinical practice in hospitals. RESULTS: The NSI incidence rate was 36.4%. Approximately half of the students reported two to four NSIs. Most (90.2%) of the NSIs occurred on the fingertips and were caused by a hollow-bore needle (46.8%) or lancet (45.8%). Some students were exposed to used needles contaminated with unknown pathogens (37.3%), HBs Ag (2.3%), Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) (0.8%), or HIV (0.6%). Students cited the reason for injury as carelessness, inexperience, hastiness, or recapping. Almost two-thirds of students who reported having experienced an NSI knew about post-exposure treatment. However, only one-third of the students with NSIs completed an official report. CONCLUSION: Korean nursing students lack knowledge about injury prevention, report procedures, and treatment after NSI. A revised educational approach with emphasis on occupational risk, skill development, and injury reporting is necessary to prevent NSI and to ensure that students obtain post-exposure prophylaxis.
Dietary Sucrose ; HIV ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Needles ; Needlestick Injuries ; Post-Exposure Prophylaxis ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases ; Students, Nursing ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Female ; Germ Cells* ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal* ; Ovary*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of head nurses' authentic leadership and empowerment on job satisfaction, and nursing performance of nurses and to identify the mediating effect of empowerment in the relationships of head nurses' authentic leadership, with nurses' job satisfaction, and nursing performance. METHODS: The sample for this study was 149 nurses from 2 general hospitals located in Busan. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires and the SPSS/WIN 23.0 program was used for analysis. Mediation analysis was performed according to the Baron and Kenny method and Sobel test. RESULTS: Head nurses' authentic leadership showed positive correlations with empowerment, job satisfaction, and nursing performance. Empowerment showed partial mediating effects in the relationship between head nurses' authentic leadership and nurses job satisfaction, and a perfect mediating effect in the relationship between head nurses' authentic leadership and the performance of nursing. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that it is necessary to develop strategies and applications to enhance nurses' empowerment for improved job satisfaction and nursing performance.
Busan ; Head ; Hospitals, General ; Job Satisfaction ; Leadership ; Methods ; Negotiating ; Nursing ; Power (Psychology) ; Work Performance