Recently, surmountable amounts of genes are being cloned without information about them and it has become neccessary to develop new techniques for discovering genes with more informaiion like as chromosomal location and possible functions. We have developed one such a method and applied it to search for genes that may be related with the neural development. The mRNAs were extracted from cerebral cortex of 18 week old human fetus, cDNAs were made by reverse transcription from these mRNAs and Uni-amp cDNAs having Uni-amp adapters at both ends were made for subsequent PCR. To observe the distribution of the Uni-amp cDNAs on the chromosome, fluorescent in situ hybridization was performed with biotin labeled Uni-amp cDNAs. Among the chromosome bands showing strong hybridization with the cDNAs, 7q22 was microdissected from the chromosome hybridized with unlabeled Uni-amp cDNAs and amplified by PCR with Uni-amp primers. These amplified cDNA fragment were subcloned to vectors and the nucleic acid sequences were analysed. As a result, 46 different clones were obtained. They were categorized as 12 clones of well characterized genes, 14 clones showing low homology with known genes, 13 clones of simply registered uncharacterized human cDNAs, 7 clones of unknown genes. In situ hybridization histochemistry of 34 novel genes, except 12 known genes, were performed on developing and adult rat tissue sections to see the tissue specificity and developmental expression of these genes. The expression of several novel genes were restricted to the nervous system. From these results, it may be suggested that our technique is very useful to clone the genes expressed in the developing human braine with confirmed chromosomal location. In addition, this cloning technique can be used to discover the new genes related with neural development in combination with functional screening methods.
Adult ; Animals ; Biotin ; Brain ; Cerebral Cortex ; Clone Cells ; Cloning, Organism ; DNA, Complementary* ; Fetus ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Mass Screening ; Microdissection ; Nervous System ; Organ Specificity ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rats ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA, Messenger

Angiogenesis is essential for tumor growth and metastasis, however, the prognostic value of neovascularization is undetermined. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prognostic significance of microvessel density (MVD) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in breast carcinomas. An immunohistochemical stains for CD 31 (DAKO) to estimate MVD and VEGF (Santa Cruz) were done on 40 cases of invasive breast carcinoma. MVD was calculated as an average count of vessels per 200 power field in the most vascularized areas. VEGF expression was interpreted according to staining intensity and number of positive cells. Mean MVD was 35, and MVD was not correlated with lymph node metastasis or histologic grade, but high MVD (mean MVD>35) showed an increasing tendency in cases with larger size, negative ER/PR, and positive cathepsin D. All of the cases showed VEGF expression, but VEGF expression was not correlated with tumor size, histologic grade, lymph node metastasis, ER/PR status, and cathepsin D expression. These results suggest that MVD and VEGF expressions are not reliable prognostic factors.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Cathepsin D ; Coloring Agents ; Lymph Nodes ; Microvessels* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

PURPOSE: To report clinical aspects of children diagnosed with refractive accommodative esotropia after wearing their first glasses to correct hyperopia accompanied with esodeviation. METHODS: The present study included 75 children followed up for at least 24 months. Age, spherical equivalent of refractive error, angle of deviation and presence of amblyopia were analyzed according to the duration between first wearing glasses and control of esotropia within 8 PD (< or =2 months vs. >2 months). RESULTS: The mean age was 4.48 +/- 2.08 years and mean follow-up was 50.17 months. Initial deviation angle without glasses was 25.43 +/- 10.07 PD at far, 27.72 +/- 11.45 PD at near, spherical equivalent was +4.86 +/- 2.41 D in right eyes, +5.05 +/- 1.06 D in left eyes and 8 of 75 patients (10.67%) had < or =2 D of hyperopia. Esotropia was controlled within 8 PD with hyperopic glasses in 61 of 75 children (81.3%) within 2 months, 6 (8%) within 3-6 months, 4 (5.3%) within 6-12 months and 4 (5.3%) after 12 months. In comparison, esotropia was controlled < or =2 months in 61 of 75 children (81.3%); 14 of 75 children (18.7%) requiring >2 months had less hyperopia (+4.02 D vs. 5.17 D), more severe esodeviation both at far (30.79 +/- 10.79 PD vs. 24.17 +/- 9.56 PD, p = 0.03) and at near distance (34.00 +/- 14.20 PD vs. 26.25 +/- 10.31 PD, p = 0.02) and higher initial amblyopia prevalence rates (71.5% vs. 47.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Several patients needed longer follow-up until esotropia was controlled within 8 PD after wearing hyperopic glasses considering the amount of hyperopia and angle of esodeviation.
Amblyopia ; Child ; Esotropia* ; Eyeglasses* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glass* ; Humans ; Hyperopia ; Prevalence ; Refractive Errors

Neurofibromatosis type 1(NF1) is one of the most common inherited disorders, clinically characterized by cafe-au-lait spots, Lisch nodules and neurofibromas. In addition, the affected individuals usually develop benign and malignant tumors of the nervous system. One of the most common tumors is the optic nerve glioma. NF1-associated glioma, however, rarely occurs in the cerebellum. Recently, we experienced a NF1-associated cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma in an 11 years old girl. She has a family history of NF1 and multiple cafe-au-lait spots over her whole body. We report herewith a case of NF1-associated cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma with a brief review of related literature.
Astrocytoma* ; Cafe-au-Lait Spots ; Cerebellum ; Child ; Female ; Glioma ; Humans ; Nervous System Neoplasms ; Neurofibroma ; Neurofibromatoses* ; Neurofibromatosis 1* ; Optic Nerve Glioma

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to estimate the medical expenditures for poisoning patients in Korea using data from National Health Insurance and the Korea Health Panel Survey. Methods: The operational definition of poisoning was the presence of Korean Standard Classification of Diseases codes from T36 to T65. The number of poisoning patients, the amount of legal copayments, and benefit and non-benefit costs were extracted from both databases. The frequency of emergency, inpatient, and outpatient treatment utilization by poisoning patients was determined, and medical expenses were calculated. Linear regression analyses were performed to investigate factors affecting the medical expenses of poisoning patients. Results: The number of poisoning patients increased from 97,965 in 2011 to 147,984 persons in 2020. Medical expenses also increased by 74% from Korean won (KRW) 30.1 billion to KRW 52.3 billion, and benefit costs also increased by 79%. The average outpatient cost per person was KRW 67,660, and the inpatient cost was KRW 1,485,103. The average non-benefit medical expenses were KRW 80,298, accounting for about 16.2% of the total expenses. Multivariable analysis showed that the total expenditure was associated with economic status and disabilities. Conclusion The average medical expenditure per poisoning patient was KRW 534,302 in 2020, and poisoning-related costs gradually increased during the study period. Further research on the economic burden of poisoning should include indirect costs and reflect disease-adjusted life years.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a rare but potentially lethal outcome caused by sudden discontinuation or dose reduction of dopaminergic agents. We report an extremely rare case of NMS after deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery in a cerebral palsy (CP) patient without the withdrawal of dopaminergic agents. A 19-year-old girl with CP was admitted for DBS due to medically refractory dystonia and rigidity. Dopaminergic agents were not stopped preoperatively. DBS was performed uneventfully under monitored anesthesia. Dopaminergic medication was continued during the postoperative period. She manifested spasticity and muscle rigidity, and was high fever resistant to anti-pyretic drugs at 2 h postoperative. At postoperative 20 h, she suffered cardiac arrest and expired, despite vigorous cardiopulmonary resuscitation. NMS should be considered for hyperthermia and severe spasticity in CP patients after DBS surgery, irrespective of continued dopaminergic medication.
Anesthesia ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Cerebral Palsy* ; Deep Brain Stimulation* ; Dopamine Agents ; Dystonia ; Female ; Fever ; Globus Pallidus* ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Muscle Rigidity ; Muscle Spasticity ; Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome ; Postoperative Period ; Young Adult

Treatment of pelvic malignancy persistent or recurrent after surgery, radiation therapy or chemot-herapy presents a difficult therayeutie challenge. Those patients with central recurrence can be considered as candidate for radical resection. However we must consider many factors for the choice of treatment modality for advanced or recurrent pelvic rnalignancy as follows; the size and location of the recurrent cancer, dose of radiation therapy given, general conditions of the patient and the experience of the surgeon. Pelvie exenteration, when appropriate, is suecessful treatment for recurrent or persistent pelvic malignancy; 5-year survivai has been reported to be as high as 50%. We experienced seven cases of pelvic exepteration for pelvic malignancy between Mar. 1990 and Feb. 1993, Accordingly we present the cases with a brief review of the literatures. Seung Kew Baik, et al..: PeIlvic Exenteration in Treatment of Pelvic Malignancy: 3 Years Experience
Humans ; Pelvic Exenteration* ; Recurrence

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate whether verbal and spatial working memory functions were impaired not only in patients with schizophrenia but also in people at ultra-high risk for first-episode psychosis. METHODS: Twenty-five patients (M 13, F 12) with schizophrenia (SPR), 21 people at ultra-high risk for psychosis (UHR)(M 10, F 11) and 19 normal controls (NC)(M 10, F 9) were recruited. The working memory was assessed by using the verbal and spatial n-back test. The working memory load increased incrementally from the 0-back to the 3-back condition. RESULTS: SPR performed significantly lower than NC and UHR in terms of hit rates of verbal and spatial n-back test. UHR subjects conducted significantly lower than NC and higher in trend-level than SPR in terms of hit rates of verbal and spatial n-back test. These differences were derived from the high working memory load (2-back and 3-back), not from the low working memory load (0-back and 1-back). There was no significant difference between the verbal and spatial n-back test across the three groups. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that verbal and spatial working memory dysfunction may be general rather than differential in terms of stimuli modality, and this working memory deficit may be an important trait factor in schizophrenia.
Humans ; Memory, Short-Term ; Psychotic Disorders ; Schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of epidural analgesia on the course of labor and delivery mode. METHOD: Three hundred eighteen term pregnant women with singleton fetus in vertex presentation were admitted for vaginal delivery at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, medical center Chung-ju hospital from January 1, 1998 to December 31, 1998. They were divided into two groups: epidural analgesia group and non-epidural analgesia group. Epidural analgesia group was 106 women (79 primiparas and 27 multiparas). Non-epidural analgesia group was 212 women (138 primiparas and 74 multiparas). Course of labor and delivery mode were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: 1. The duration of the first stage of labor was not significantly different between two groups (primiparas: 672+/-110 min vs 625+/-134 min, multiparas: 458+/-152 min vs 422+/-184 min), and that of the second stage of labor in the primiparas was significantly longer in epidural analgesia group than non-epidural analgesia group (62+/-25 min vs 42+/-20 min, p=0.03), but did not differ significantly in the multiparas groups (36+/-12 min vs 31+/-20 min).2. Cesarean delivery rates were not significantly different between two groups (19.8% vs 15.1%).3. Cesarean delivery rates due to failure to progress were not significantly different between two groups (85.7% vs 78.1%).4. Oxytocin augmentation rates were significantly higher in epidural analgesia group than in non-epidural analgesia group (primiparas: 42.3% vs 20.1%, p=0.008, multiparas: 38.5% vs 19.7%, p=0.01).5. The newborn birthweight, Apgar score and the incidence of meconium-stained amnionic fluid were not significantly different between two groups.6. The complication of the epidural analgesia were back pain (10.4%), shivering (7.5%), nausea and vomiting (1.3%), hypotension (0.9%), and voiding difficulty (0.9%). CONCLUSION: Though epidural analgesia prolonged second stage of labor in the primiparas and increased oxytocin augmentation rates but did not increased the cesarean delivery rates. So intrapartum epidural analgesia provided safe and effective pain control without undesirable effects on labor outcomes.
Amnion ; Analgesia ; Analgesia, Epidural* ; Apgar Score ; Back Pain ; Cesarean Section ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Female ; Fetus ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Nausea ; Obstetrics ; Oxytocin ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Shivering ; Vomiting