Renal cell carcinoma is the most common primary cancer of the kidney. The tumor stage is a reliable prognostic marker in renal cell carcinoma which is significantly associated with patient survival. But assessment of other prognostic factors has produced varying and often conflicting results. We reevaluated the significance of varied prognostic parameters in 33 cases of renal cell carcinoma; clinical stage, cell type, histologic pattern, DNA ploidy, Ki-67 labeling index, and bcl-2 oncoprotein expression. We could not statistically prove that DNA ploidy and bcl-2 expression were related to any examined parameters. Cell type was not related to clinical stage nor nuclear grade but there was a significant correlation (p=0.002) between cell type and histologic pattern. Nuclear grade (p=0.007) and Ki-67 labeling index (p=0.036) were significantly related to clinical stage, suggesting their value as complementary prognostic markers for renal cell carcinoma.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; DNA ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; Ploidies

Renal cell carcinoma is the most common primary cancer of the kidney. The tumor stage is a reliable prognostic marker in renal cell carcinoma which is significantly associated with patient survival. But assessment of other prognostic factors has produced varying and often conflicting results. We reevaluated the significance of varied prognostic parameters in 33 cases of renal cell carcinoma; clinical stage, cell type, histologic pattern, DNA ploidy, Ki-67 labeling index, and bcl-2 oncoprotein expression. We could not statistically prove that DNA ploidy and bcl-2 expression were related to any examined parameters. Cell type was not related to clinical stage nor nuclear grade but there was a significant correlation (p=0.002) between cell type and histologic pattern. Nuclear grade (p=0.007) and Ki-67 labeling index (p=0.036) were significantly related to clinical stage, suggesting their value as complementary prognostic markers for renal cell carcinoma.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; DNA ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; Ploidies

DNA content of 25 cases of breast carcinoma was analyzed by flow cytometry in both fresh and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue. Aneuploidy in fresh tissue and paraffin-embedded tissues was 72% and 32%, respectively. There was a 52% agreement in analysis of DNA ploidy between fresh and paraffin-embedded tissues. Most of the discrepancies resulted from loss of aneuploid peaks on the histograms of paraffin-embedded tissue. Mean S-phase fraction was slightly higher in a paraffin-embedded tissue than that in the fresh tissue; 19.2 9.1% versus 16.1 8.8% and there was no significant correlation between the S-phase fractions. In statistical analysis, the histologic and nuclear grades were not correlated with ploidy or mean S-phase fraction. Therefore it is strongly recommended to use the fresh tissue in flow cytometric DNA content analysis of breast cancer.
Aneuploidy ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; DNA* ; Flow Cytometry ; Ploidies

Mutation of p53 tumor suppressor gene is now recognized as the most frequent genetic alteration in human neoplasms. Although meningiomas are common intracranial tumors, little is known about the clinical significance of p53 abnormalities in meningiomas. We studied 31 cases of meningioma to investigate the significance of p53 protein expression in meningiomas and its relationships with histological and clinical parameters and proliferative activity. Classical and atypical meningiomas were 16 (51.6%) and 15 cases (43.4%), respectively. p53 protein expression was detected in 4 (25.0%) of 16 classical, and 12 (80.0%) of 15 atypical meningiomas. p53 protein expression was correlated with Ki-67 staining index, atypical type, high histologic score, sheet pattern of the neoplastic cells, vascular proliferation, and male patient (p<0.05). In conclusion, immunohistochemical evaluation of p53 protein and histologic score of meningiomas are useful in assessing the prognosis.
Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Humans ; Male ; Meningioma* ; Prognosis

Werniche's encephalopathy is clinically characterized by the acute onset of global confusion, ataxia, gaze paresis, and nystagmus. It result from a deficiency in thiamine, an essential coenzyme in intermediate carbohydrate metabolism. The prompt use of thiamine prevents progression of the disease and reverses those lesions that have not yet progressed to the point of fixed structural change. We experienced a case of Wemiches encephalopathy associated with hyperemesis gravidarum, which happens to the patient who are injected only dextrose without thiamine. Therefore, we emphasize the need of thiamine replacement in hyperemesis gravidarum.
Ataxia ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Female ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hyperemesis Gravidarum ; Paresis ; Pregnancy ; Thiamine

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is an important health concern among the postmenopausal women. Therefore, it is necessary to find out acceptable screening tools for osteoporotic patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Risk Index by OSTA as a screening test for osteoporosis. METHODS: The study population was 322 naturally caused menopausal women in Korea. Their was of femoral neck and lumbar spine BMD measured by DEXA. Risk Index by OSTA, based on weight and age, was calculated and the sensitivity and specificity for osteoporosis and osteopenia were evaluated. To find out the proper cut-off point for osteoporosis and osteopenia among the postmenopausal women in Korea, we also compared the sensitivity and specificity of each Risk Index value. RESULTS: The mean age and ages at menopause were 59.1(+/-6.2) and 50.7 (+/-2.7) years, respectively. The prevalence of osteoporosis was 9.6% with femoral neck BMD. For oeteoporosis, using a cut-off point of -1 yielded a sensitivity of 74.3% and a specificity of 52.2% with femoral neck BMD. Using a cut-off of -2 yielded a sensitivity of 87.3% and a specificity of 70.9%. The ROC curve showed an AUROC 0.88 for Risk Index in identifying osteoporosis. CONCLUSION: The Risk Index is an acceptable, simple and useful method in the diagnosis of osteoporosis with a Risk Index of -2 in Korean postmenopausal women.
Bone Diseases, Metabolic* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Femur Neck ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening* ; Menopause ; Osteoporosis* ; Prevalence ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spine

Pheochromocytoma is an unusual tumor in pediatric age group and there are several different aspects from adult counterparts. Children have fewer malignant, more extra-adrenal, and greater bilaterality and multiplicity of tumor. We present a case of 14-year old boy with pheochromocytoma who has symptoms such as episodic headaches, vomiting, seizure and paroxysmal hypertension which is less common in children. Although the duration of preoperative preparation was not long enough, we decided to remove the tumor because symptoms were disappeared rather rapidly after alpha and beta adrenergic blocker treatment. The patient was managed with continuous epidural block and light general anesthesia but extra use of adrenergic receptor blocker and vasodilator were demanded during tumor manipulation. The patient has remained well postoperatively but long-term follow up is essential because of the possibilities of recurrence.
Adolescent ; Adrenergic Antagonists ; Adult ; Anesthesia, General ; Child ; Follow-Up Studies ; Headache ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male ; Pheochromocytoma* ; Receptors, Adrenergic ; Recurrence ; Seizures ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B vaccination schedule commonly used in Korea is divided largely into 0, 1, 2 month scheduled vaccination group(0, 1, 2 group) and 0, 1, 6 month scheduled vaccination gorup(0, 1, 6 group). The only difference bet.ween two groups is the interval from 2nd dose to 3rd dose. This st,udy had been carried out, to find whether t.he difference of vaccination interval influence the vaccination complet,ion rate or not. METHODS: Study objects are 135 persons over 20 years old who had heptitis B vaccination more than once in injection room of Dongkuk University Kyong-ju Hospital from Jan. 1st in 1996 to Dec. 31th in 1996. Data about vaccination completion were gathered from record book of injection room and telephone interview. RESULTS: Hepatitis B vaccination completion rate is 73.8% in 0, 1, 2 group and 72.5% in 0, 1, 6 group. The reasons for incomplete vaccination are forgetting vaccinat.ion date(36.4% in 0, 1, 2 group and 50% in 0, 1, 6 group), having no time to spare for vaccination(54.5% in 0, 1, 2 group and 43% in 0, 1, 6 group) and knowing positive HBsAb before completion of scheduled vaccination(9.1% in 0, 1, 2 group and 7% in 0, 1, 6 group). CONCLUSIONS: There is no difference in Hepatitis B vaccination complet,ion rate bet.ween 0, 1, 2 group and 0, 1, 6 group.
Appointments and Schedules ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Korea ; Vaccination* ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Coronary Vessels* ; Fistula*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors influencing quality of life of married immigrant women in Korea. METHODS: The participants included 508 married immigrant women who met the eligibility criteria and agreed to participate in the study. Participants were evaluated for subjective assessment of married immigrant-related constructs using a self-report questionnaire, for self-esteem, self-efficacy, and quality of life (QOL). The analysis was done using SPSS for Windows, version 10.1, and included stepwise regression. RESULTS: The major findings were as follows; 1) There were significant relationships between marital satisfaction (r=.39, p=.001), violence by the husband during the couple's arguments (r= -.24, p<.001), satisfaction with life in Korea (r=.39, p<.001), self-esteem (r=.16, p<.001), self-efficacy (r=.51, p<.001) and quality of life. 2) Marital satisfaction, self-efficacy, education level and satisfaction life with in Korea were significant factors, which explained 53% of the variance in quality of life (F=43.97, p<.001). Multiple regression analysis revealed that a powerful predictor of QOL for married immigrant women was self-efficacy. CONCLUSION: Developing nursing interventions to enhance self-efficacy toward improvement of QOL among married immigrant women is recommended.
Emigrants and Immigrants/*psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Marriage ; *Quality of Life ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Self Concept ; Self Efficacy