Global incidence of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) is rapidly increasing, but the diagnosis of these diseases at their early stage is challenging. Therefore, the availability of reproducible and reliable biomarkers to diagnose such diseases is more critical than ever. In addition, biomarkers could be used not only to diagnose diseases but also to monitor the development of disease therapeutics. Urine is an excellent biofluid that can be utilized as a source of biomarker to diagnose not only several renal diseases but also other diseases because of its abundance in invasive sampling. However, urine was conventionally regarded as inappropriate as a source of biomarker for neurodegenerative diseases because it is anatomically distant from the central nervous system (CNS), a major pathologic site of NDD, in comparison to other biofluids such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma. However, recent studies have suggested that urine could be utilized as a source of NDD biomarker if an appropriate marker is predetermined by metabolomic and proteomic approaches in urine and other samples. In this review, we summarize such studies related to NDD.

As a part of plan to construct a multifunctional hospital information system, We planned to develop a chemotherapy order system. First, a software developing team was established which is composed of hematooncology staffs, special pharmacists and programmer who are responsible for OCS. We set up an outline of this system after collecting various kinds of sources such as foreign examples, gathered protocol that are used for chemotherapy, and organized these protocol in programming the chemotherapy order system. This project is expected to provide accurate prescription, to shorten the time to prepare prescription, to standardize the protocol of chemotherapy within the medical center, to manage an effective dispensing schedule and to be used as a source for education and research.
Appointments and Schedules ; Drug Therapy* ; Education ; Hospital Information Systems ; Humans ; Pharmacists ; Prescriptions

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy in patients with the clinical findings of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis usually demonstrate crescentic glomerulonephritis (CrGN). It is characterized by mesangial immune complex deposits containing IgA and is rarely associated with ANCA. The following case report illustrates a CrGN with mesangial & capillary wall IgA deposits by immunofluorescence (IF) and mesangial & endocapillary electron dense deposits by electron microscopy (EM) in patient with positive ANCA serology. A 54-year-old male visited due to the discomfort of right flank. Blood pressure was 150/90 mmHg. BUN and serum Creatinine was 40 mg/dL, 4.4 mg/dL respectively. Urinalysis revealed protein 2+, >30 RBC's/ HPF (dysmorphic), 24hr urine protein 1,612 mg/day and creatinine clearance 19 mL/min/1.73m2. Serological P-ANCA was positive by indirect immunofluorescence & ELISA. The histologic findings showed global scleorsis and fibrocelluar crescent without hypercellularity on LM, mesangial IgA deposition on IF, mesangial and subendothelial electrone dense material depositions on EM. After treatment (Methylprednisolon 500 mg/day for 3 days and then prednisolone 60 mg/day), Serum creatinin level, proteinuria and ANCA titer were decreased.
Antibodies ; Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic* ; Antigen-Antibody Complex ; Blood Pressure ; Capillaries ; Creatinine ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Glomerulonephritis ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A* ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron ; Middle Aged ; Prednisolone ; Proteinuria ; Urinalysis

Osteogenesis imperfecta is a heterogeneous group of disorders that are characterized by connective tissue defects resulting in bone fragility, blue sclera, impaired hearing, defective dentition, and hyperlaxibility of the joints. The overall incidence of osteogenesis imperfecta is estimated at 1/25,000. We recently experienced a case of osteogenesis imperfecta type II diagnosed in uterus by ultrasonogram and confirmed after termination of pregnancy and autopsy. We report a case here with a brief review of the literature.
Autopsy ; Connective Tissue ; Dentition ; Diagnosis* ; Hearing ; Incidence ; Joints ; Osteogenesis Imperfecta* ; Osteogenesis* ; Pregnancy ; Sclera ; Ultrasonography* ; Uterus*

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted in order to determine the validity and reliability of the Korean Version of the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scales-42 items & 26 items (K-CAARS-42 & K-CAARS-26) in nonclinical adult subjects. METHODS: The K-CAARS-42 & K-CAARS-26 was tested in non-clinical (n=270) native Korean-speakers. Internal consistency reliability was calculated using Cronbach's alpha and test-retest reliability was measured using Pearson correlations. To see validity, we performed the confirmatory factor analysis for determination of whether the four-factor model fit the data. RESULTS: The results showed that the subscales had acceptable internal consistency reliability and high test-retest reliability ; and the second-order scores showed significant correlation with the Korean version of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11-Revised and Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire. The Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a four-factor structure of both K-CAARS-42 and K-CAARS-26. CONCLUSION: The K-CAARS-42 & K-CAARS-26 is reliable and has possible utility for symptom assessment of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder in nonclinical adult subjects. Further research is needed in order to determine the cutoff score for administration of the K-CAARS-42 & K-CAARS-26 to clinical adult subjects.
Adult* ; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity* ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Humans ; Memory ; Prospective Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Reproducibility of Results* ; Retrospective Studies ; Symptom Assessment

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted in order to determine the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11-Revised (K-BIS-11-R) in Nonclinical Adult Subjects. METHODS: The K-BIS-11-R was tested in non-clinical (n=270) native Korean-speakers. Internal consistency reliability was calculated using Cronbach's alpha and test-retest reliability was measured using Pearson correlations. To see external validity, we performed confirmatory factor analysis for determination of whether the three-factor model, proposed by the previous report, fit the data. RESULTS: According to the results, the K-BIS-11-R had an acceptable test-retest reliability and internal consistency reliability. In addition, the K-BIS-11-R total score and second-order subscale score showed significant correlation with Conners' Adult attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder Rating Scale-Korean and Buss & Durkee Hostility Inventory. In addition, no significant difference was observed between the K-BIS-11-R total score and demographic variables. Thus, the K-BIS-11-R total score was transformed to standard score. CONCLUSION: K-BIS-11-R is a reliable and valid measure and has possible utility for assessment of impulsiveness in nonclinical adult subjects. Further research is needed in order to determine the cutoff score for administration of K-BIS-11-R to clinical adult subjects.
Adult ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Hostility ; Humans ; Reproducibility of Results

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate the possibility of prolonged culture of human embryonic stem cells (hESC; SNUhES2) on human amniotic fluid cells (hAFC), which had been storaged after karyotyping. METHOD: The hAFC was prepared for feeder layer in the presence of Chang's medium and STO medium (90% DMEM, 10% FBS) at 37degrees C in a 5% CO2 in air atmosphere. Prior to use as a feeder layer, hAFC was mitotically inactivated by mitomycin C. The hESCs on hAFC were passaged mechanically every seven days with ES culture medium (80% DMEM/F12, 20% SR, bFGF). RESULTS: The hAFC feeder layer support the growth of undifferentiated state of SNUhES2 for at least 59 passages thus far. SNUhES2 colonies on hAFC feeder appeared slightly angular and flatter shape as compared with circular and thicker colonies observed with STO feeder layer and showed higher level with complete undifferentiation in seven days. Like hESC cultured on STO feeders, SNUhES2 grown on hAFC expressed normal karyotype, positive for alkaline phosphatase activity, high telomerase activity, Oct-4, SSEA-3, SSEA-4, Tra-1-60 and Tra-1-81 and formed embryoid bodies (EBs). CONCLUSION: The hAFC supports undifferentiated growth of hESC. Therefore, these results may help to provide a clinically practicable method for expansion of hESC for cell therapies.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Amniotic Fluid* ; Atmosphere ; Embryoid Bodies ; Embryonic Stem Cells* ; Feeder Cells ; Female ; Humans* ; Karyotype ; Karyotyping ; Mitomycin ; Telomerase

BACKGROUND: Recently, liquid-based cytology (LBC) has been introduced as an alternative to the conventional smear (CS) technique in thyroid fine needle aspiration, due to its diagnostic convenience. METHODS: We assessed 77 cases of thyroid fine needle aspiration using the SurePath(TM) method (SP) as LBC and CS via split-sample techniques. BRAF mutation tests were carried out via polymerase chain reaction and pyrosequencing immediately after diagnosis or a delay of more than one year. RESULTS: In a comparison between SP and CS, the rate of concordance between SP and CS was as high as 84.4% (kappa value, 0.754). In comparison with histologic diagnosis, the overall sensitivity was 100% for both. The specificity was 62.5% for SP and 56.3% for CS. Relative to CS, papillary carcinomas on SP slides revealed more accentuated nuclear irregularities, nucleoli, and reduced nuclear size. In contrast to CS, the delayed BRAFV600E mutation test using SP slides after 1-2 years failed. The use of new primers amplifying shorter product size could help the delayed test achieve success. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in the diagnostic efficacy of SP and CS were negligible. The failure of the delayed BRAF mutation test on the SP slides might be associated with DNA degradation.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; DNA ; Needles ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thyroid Gland

Esophageal neuroendocrine carcinomas are very rare and have a poor prognosis. In addition, the optimum treatment has not been established due to the rarity of the condition. An accurate differential diagnosis is important because treatments and clinical courses differ from those of esophageal squamous cell carcinomas. We report a case of a 61-year-old female who underwent endoscopy for dysphagia and was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine carcinoma of the esophagus, which was successfully resected by esophagectomy.
Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Deglutition Disorders ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Endoscopy ; Esophagectomy ; Esophagus ; Female ; Humans ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; Prognosis

Existence of Y derived chromosome in Turner patients is significant due to the risk of gonadoblastoma development, but cytogenetic analysis may fail to detect low levels of Y chromosomal materials. Recent studies using PCR based methods showed higher sensitivity to detect Y-specific sequences, in patients who were Y chromosome-negative cytogenetically. In this study PCR was performed on 44 Turner patients with no Y chromosome by cytogenetic analysis to detect the SRY, AMELY, ZFY, and DYZ1 sequences. Of seven patients whose karyotypes were 45,X/46,X,+mar, three patients were positive for SRY, ZFY, and AMELY. DYZ1 sequences was negative in them. And any of SRY, ZFY, AMELY, and DYZ1 sequences was detected in the remaining 37 patients. This result shows that PCR analysis for Y-specific sequences in Turner patients, especially in patients who have marker chromosome is a significant effort.
Cytogenetic Analysis ; Genes, sry ; Gonadoblastoma ; Humans ; Karyotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Turner Syndrome* ; Y Chromosome