OBJECTIVE: We investigated the expression of TSP-1 and -2 in eutopic endometrium of advanced endometriosis and control patients. METHODS: The 33 endometriosis patients and 32 controls were enrolled. Endometrial samples were obtained from 65 premenopausal women aged 29-44 years, undergoing laparoscopic surgery or hysterectomy for non-malignant lesions. Sufficient samples were collected from 33 patients with endometriosis stage III and IV and 32 controls without endometriosis confirmed by laparoscopic surgery. The mRNA expression from eutopic endometrium for TSP-1 and -2 were analyzed by RT-QC PCR. RESULTS: The mRNAs of TSP-1 and -2 were expressed in eutopic endometrium from endometriosis and normal controls throughout the menstrual cycle. There were no significant differences in expression of TSP-1 and TSP-2 in eutopic endometrium between controls and endometriosis patients. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that TSP-1 and -2 had no crucial role compared to other molecules in the regulation of angiogenesis. These findings also suggest that dysregulation of other angiogenic regulators would be concerned in pathophysiologic role in endometriosis development.
Endometriosis* ; Endometrium ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Laparoscopy ; Menstrual Cycle ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger* ; Thrombospondin 1 ; Thrombospondins

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the expression of uPA and uPAR in eutopic endometrium of advanced stage endometriosis and control patients. METHODS: The 33 endometriosis patients and 32 controls were enrolled. Endometrial samples were obtained from 65 premenopausal women aged 29~44 years, undergoing laparoscopic surgery or hysterectomy for non-malignant lesions. Sufficient samples were collected from 33 patients with endometriosis stage III and IV and 32 controls without endometriosis confirmed by laparoscopic surgery. The mRNA expression of uPA and uPAR from eutopic endometrium were analyzed by RT-QC PCR. RESULTS: The mRNAs of uPA and uPAR were expressed in eutopic endometrium from endometriosis and normal controls throughout the menstrual cycle. Uterine endometrium from women with endometriosis expresses significantly (p<0.05) higher levels of u-PA mRNA than endometrium from normal women without endometriosis in the proliferative phase. There were no significant differences in expression of uPAR in eutopic endometrium between controls and endometriosis patients. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that eutopic endometrium from endometriosis patients may be more invasive and prone to peritoneal implantation because of greater u-PA mRNA expression than endometrium from women without endometriosis. Thus, increased proteolytic activity may be one etiology for the invasive properties of the endometrium resulting in the development of endometriosis.
Endometriosis* ; Endometrium* ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Laparoscopy ; Menstrual Cycle ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Proteolysis ; RNA, Messenger* ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether polymorphisms of gene encoding CYP1B1 is associated with the risk of endometriosis in Korean women. METHODS: We investigated 199 patients with histopathologically confirmed endometriosis rAFS stage III/IV and 183 control group women who were surgically proven to have no endometriosis. The genetic distribution of four different CYP1B1 polymorphisms at G119-T, G432-C, T449-C, and A453-G were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism of PCR products. RESULTS: We found no overall association between each individual CYP1B1 genotype and the risk of endometriosis. The odds ratio of genotype GG/GC+GG/TC+TT/AA compared to GG/CC/CC/AA (reference) was calculated as 2.06 with a 95% confidence interval of 1.003~4.216. CONCLUSIONS: This results suggest that CYP1B1 genetic polymorphism may be associated with development of endometriosis in Korean women.
Endometriosis* ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Odds Ratio ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

PURPOSE: To identify perceived importance and performance frequency of nursing interventions with nursing activities of 5 nursing interventions from the physiological domains of NIC used in the home health care nursing. METHOD: Five nursing interventions in the physiological domain of NIC were selected based on the previous finding. Data were collected from 85 nurses working in 54 home health care centers between August and October, 2004 using mailing survey(return rates : 41.5%). The questionnaire consisted of 96 nursing activities in 5 interventions with definitions, asking perceived importance and performance frequency of them. RESULT: Skin surveillance was perceived as the most important(3.52+/-0.36) intervention and also performed most frequently(4.43+/-0.45). All the nursing activities in skin surveillance appeared to be used frequently, which was rated over 4 out of 5 point Likert, while only 4 nursing activities in exercise therapy: joint mobility did. Correlations between perceived importance and performance frequency of 5 interventions were all significant (r=0.591-0.718, p=0.000). CONCLUSION: Identifying the use of particular interventions and nursing activities will help nurses simplify documentations and to deliver better care to the patients in home health care nursing.
Delivery of Health Care ; Documentation ; Exercise Therapy ; Home Health Nursing* ; Humans ; Joints ; Nursing* ; Postal Service ; Skin ; Surveys and Questionnaires

To date, various clinical procedures have been used to restore periodontal apparatus destroyed by periodontal disease. And then, many experimental approaches have been proceeded to develop treatment methods to promote periodontal regeneration. Mechanical, chemical treatments to enhance the attachment of periodontal tissue cells as changing the physical properties of root surfaces, bone graft procedure, and treatments for guided tissue regeneration have been used for periodontal regeneration. However, recent studies have revealed that biologic factors such as growth factors promote biologic mechanism associated with periodontal regeneration. This study was done to enucleate how ELF stimulus affect the periodontal regeneration. We can have following conclusions from this experimental results. The influence of low frequency(ELF) electric stimulus (30HZ at 10micronA) known to promote bone formation in vivo, was evaluated for its ability to affect bone cell function in vitro. After 12 hour exposure of ELF stimulus at most appropriate densities (5x10(4) cells/cm2) to increase osteoblastic cells normally, rat calvarial cells were incubated for 60 hours were used in this study. We have found ELF stimulus suppress calvarial cell proliferation and the ability of protein synthesis, enhance the alkaline phosphatase activity significantly.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Biological Factors ; Cell Proliferation ; Guided Tissue Regeneration ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis ; Periodontal Diseases ; Rats ; Regeneration ; Skull* ; Transplants

PURPOSE: This study was done to test the effects of Oketani breast massage on breast pain and breast milk pH of mothers, and sucking speed of neonates. METHODS: A nonequivalent control group and a pretest-posttest design was used. Postpartum mothers complaining of breast pain were recruited at a postpartum care center. The application of Oketani breast massage by an Oketani massage therapist was the experimental treatment. The control group received the conventional massage technique from a nurse at the postpartum care centre. The collected data were analysed using a chi2-test and a t-test with the SPSS WIN 12.0 program. RESULTS: The participants were homogeneous in age, gestation period, and birth weight. Breast pain (t=8.384, p<.001) was significantly relieved, and breast milk pH (t=4.793, p<.001) was significantly increased in the experimental group compared to the control group. The sucking speed of the neonates in the experimental group was significantly increased compared to the control group (t=9.920, p<.001). CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that Oketani breast massage is effective in relieving breast pain and increasing breast milk pH as well as the sucking speed of neonates.
Birth Weight ; Breast ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Infant, Newborn ; Massage ; Mastodynia ; Milk, Human ; Mothers ; Postnatal Care ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to estimate health service weight for resource allocation and performance monitoring using Basic Priority Rating System. METHODS: The Health service would be classified according to New Health Plan 2010, and Burden of disease collected from preceding studies. The data of severity of health problem and effectiveness of intervention were collected through the survey of experts' suggestion. The health service weight was estimated in the formula which is Basic Priority Rating System. RESULTS: In the result of analysis, the health service weight of Infectious disease was ranked highest at 58.97% followed by Anti-smoking campaign(14.07%), Hypertension(3.87%), Diabetes mellitus(3.40%), Cancer(2.90%), Cardiovascular-Cerebrovascular diseases(2.86%), Physical activity(2.10%), Moderate drinking(2.07%), Medical examination(1.92%), Mental health promotion(1.72%), Serious mental illnesses(1.62%), Nutrition(1.52%), Oral health promotion(1.15%), Oral diseases(1.10%), Addiction(0.73%). CONCLUSIONS: We think the result of this study provides a rational basis for resource allocation and performance monitoring of health service.
Communicable Diseases ; Health Services ; Mental Health ; Oral Health ; Resource Allocation

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of work conditions on job stress of social workers in Seoul. METHOD: For this survey, a self-reported questionnaire was administrated to 1,000 social workers working in all of organization for social welfare practice in Seoul. The number of responded questionnaires was 431. Multiple linear regression analysis was used for job stress as the dependent variables and control variables. RESULTS: The result of multiple linear regression analysis indicated that regular rest breaks had significantly effect on job stress level but long working hours did not. When regular rest breaks was guaranteed job stress of social workers significantly lowered 8.4 point. In addition standardized regression coefficients and partial R2 of regular rest breaks was the highest score among the variables. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that it is the most important to guarantee regular rest breaks in the work schedule in order to alleviate job stress of social workers.
Appointments and Schedules ; Linear Models ; Social Welfare ; Social Workers ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether polymorphism of CYP19 gene is associated with the risk of advanced endometriosis in Korean women. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 202 endometriosis patients and 221 controls. The patients with endometriosis of stages III and IV diagnosed by both pathologic and laparoscopic findings to according modified AFS classification. The women undergoing laparoscopic surgery or laparotomy for non-malignant lesions were included in the control group. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of PCR products were done to determine all individuals' genotype. RESULTS: The heterozygous allele in CYP19 gene was the most common genotypes in both endometriosis and healthy control groups (52.0% vs. 46.1%). CYP19 gene polymorphisms did not show the significant differences between the control group and endometriosis group. CONCLUSION: The results suggested that the CYP19 genetic polymorphism was not associated with a risk of advanced endometriosis in Korean women.
Alleles ; Aromatase* ; Classification ; Endometriosis* ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Laparotomy ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

PURPOSE: Little data is currently available on the use of the impulse oscillometry system (IOS) parameter in analyzing the lung function of young children with cough-variant asthma (CVA) and classic asthma. The aims of this study were to evaluate the bronchial responsiveness between patients with CVA and those with classic asthma using dose-response slope and various cutoff values. METHODS: A methacholine challenge test and a pulmonary function test were performed in 43 children with classic asthma and 26 children with CVA using IOS, and the respiratory resistance (Rrs) and reactance (Xrs) were obtained. The bronchial responsiveness were assessed by provocative concentration causing an 80% fall from baseline in reactance at 5 Hz (PC80_Xrs5) and a 40% increase in resistance at 5 Hz (PC40_Rrs5) and calculating from the degree of dose-response slope (DRS) for airway resistance and reactance. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in base lung function between the two groups. However, the mean DRS_Xrs5 and the number who showed more than an 80% fall in reactance were significantly higher in classic asthma group than those in CVA group (P=0.040 and P=0.040, respectively). CONCLUSION: The use of DRS in oscillatory reactance at 5 Hz is useful for the differential diagnosis of classic asthma and CVA based on bronchial hyperresponsiveness.
Airway Resistance ; Asthma* ; Bronchial Hyperreactivity ; Child* ; Cough ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Lung ; Methacholine Chloride ; Oscillometry ; Respiratory Function Tests