The author investigated serum immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, and IgM) and complements (C3) of cord blood in 74 cases of normal fullterm infants and 50 cases of premature infants. Serum immunogloblin and complement levels were measured by the single radial immunodiffusion method. The following results were obtained; 1) The mean seru IgG levels of cord blood in 74 cases of the normal full term infants was 1407.3+/-230.5mg/dl. 2) The mean serum IgG levels of cord blood in 50 cases of the premature infants was 675.2+/-329.4mg/dl. In comparison of serum IgG levels between the premature infants and the normal full term infants, serum IgG levels in the premature infants was significantly lower than that level of the normal infants (P< 0.05). 3) The serum IgA levels were measured in 28 (37.8%) of 74 cases of the normal full term infants and in 6 912%) of 50 cases of the premature infants. The serum IgA levels measured ranged from 0.4mg/dl to 3.7mg/dl in the normal full term infants and ranged from 0.4mg/dl to 2.4mg/dl in the prematre infants. 4) The mean serum IgM levels of cord blood in 74 cases of the normal full term infants was 4.05+/-3.53mg/dl and that in 50 cases of the premature infants was 2.20+/-2.15mg/dl. 5) The mean serum C3 levels of cord blood in 74 cases of normal full term infants was 49.7+/-18.1mg/dl and those of the premature infants was 30.9+/-10.5mg/dl. In comparison of serum C3 levels between the premature infants and the normal full term infants, the mean levels of serum C3 in the premature infants was significantly lower A statistically significant increase of IgG and C3 levels of cord blood in newborn infants were observed in accordance with the increase of the gestational age. It has been suggested that decreased IgG levels among premature infants may provide a rationale for prophylactic gamma globulin administration.
Complement System Proteins* ; Fetal Blood ; gamma-Globulins ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Immunodiffusion ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Immunoglobulins* ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn* ; Infant, Premature

BACKGROUND: It is well known that neuronal degeneration can occur after a brief deprivation of energy source. To investigate whether glial astrocyte can induce a phenomenon of delayed cell death after transient energy loss and to see how different are the effects of nifedipine, lidocaine, carnosine and hypothermia on delayed toxicity in astrocyte. METHODS: Human astrocytoma cells (U1242MG) were used in this study. To assess the astrocyte survival during post-ischemic period after transient histotoxic hypoxia, 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl]-2,5, diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) test was used. Compared to MTT test, tryphan blue test was also used to demonstrate membrane damage of affected cells. Studies on intracellular calcium dynamics during ischemic and post-ischemic period were carried out with fluo-3 and flow cytometry system. RESULTS: The percentage survival of astrocyte during post-ischemic period was decreasing with time. Calcium channel blocker nifedipine, sodium and calcium channel blocker lidocaine and free radical scavenger carnosine could not prevent post-ischemic cell damage. But, hypothermia was only an effective method in ameliorating post-ischemic cell death. Intracellular calcium increase during ischemia and post-ischemia was dependent on extracellular calcium influx. CONCLUSIONS: Only hypothermia was effective in reducing astrocyte death during post-ischemia after transient energy depletion. Intracellular calcium alterations during post-ischemia was from extracellular space.
Anoxia* ; Astrocytes* ; Astrocytoma ; Calcium ; Calcium Channels ; Carnosine ; Cell Death ; Extracellular Space ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Hypothermia* ; Ischemia ; Lidocaine ; Membranes ; Neurons ; Nifedipine ; Sodium

We studied thirteen, all male, patients who had trans-scaphoid perilunar dislocation(stage I, 5 cases) and dislocation of lunate(stage IV, 8 cases). Age of patient was ranged from 25 years to 49 years(avr. 36 years)and the most common cause of injury was fall down(6 cases, 46%). Seven acute cases, diagnosed and treated within 3 weeks from injury, were treated by open reduction and K-wire fixation(5 cases), and K-wire fixation and bone graft(1 case) and Herbert screw for fracture of scaphoid(1 case). Six chronic cases diagnosed and treated after 3 weeks from injury were treated by open reduction and K-wire fixation(1 case), K-wire fixation and bone graft(1 case), removal of lunate(2 cases), and arthroplasty using muscle after removal of lunate(2 cases). Thirteen cases were followed up for average 33 months(from 13 months to 81 months). Grip power was evaluated as excellent or good in 8 cases and fair in 5 cases. Range of motion of wrist joint was decreased 21 degrees in flexion, 22 degrees in extension, 4 degrees in ulnar deviation, and 5 degrees in radial deviation of wrist joint, compared with uninjured side. Carpal height and carpal height ratio were decreased to 33.1 and 0.51, compared with normal 35.8(p=0.001) and 0.55(P < 0.001), respectively. Between 2 groups of acute and chronic cases, no significant differences were noted in carpal height or carpal height ratio. The surgical treatment of perilunar fracture-dislocation has not simple option, therefore, we would recommend the early diagnosis and exact anatomical reduction.
Arthroplasty ; Dislocations ; Early Diagnosis ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Male ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Wrist Joint

Two cases of traumatic bilateral anterior and posterior dislocation of hip are reported. Dislocations were developed by a traffic accident as a passenger injury in truck. In both cases, the fractued femoral heads appeared posteriorly dislocated on x-ray examination and one of them was removed through posterior approach. Primary arthroplasty for operated hip was not attempted because the patient was young and the defect seemed to be unrelated to weight bearing surface. Extreme rarity of its incidence and curious uncertain mechanism of injury urge to report these cases.
Accidents, Traffic ; Arthroplasty ; Dislocations ; Head ; Hip ; Humans ; Incidence ; Motor Vehicles ; Weight-Bearing

The cumulative incidence of breast cancer in Korea is low, being about one-fifth of that in the United States. This low incidence has been mainly explained by environmental factors, and recently, however, racial variations in the disease-causing genes should also be considered. The BRCA1 is one of the common genes involved in early-onset breast cancer and/or ovarian cancer in the United States and Northern Europe. However, the involvement of BRCA1 in Korean'breast cancer patients are still unclear. We performed germline mutation screening of the BRCA1 gene by DNA single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. We examined 27 breast cancer patients who were diagnosed less than 35 years by age including two cases with family history of breast cancer. Our study showed no germline mutation at the exons 2, 11 and 20, which were known as the supreme susceptible regions of BRCA1 mutations. Even though our cases did not fulfilled the criteria of familial breast/ovarian cancer, the proprotion of families who inherit the mutated BRCA1 allele seems to be very small and might be negligible among Korean population. Therefore, it is considered that the BRCA1 itself cannot be a major susceptibility gene and the contributions of other genes might be important for the breast cancer.
Alleles ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; DNA ; Europe ; Exons ; Genes, BRCA1 ; Germ-Line Mutation* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; United States

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection can result in extrapulmonary and respiratory manifestations. The direct invasion by MP and the indirect invasion by immune-mediated response have been suggested as the pathogenesis of extrapulmonary manifestations. Neurologic manifestations are the most common among the extrapulmonary manifestations associated with MP infection. We report the case of a 4-year-old previously healthy boy with encephalitis accompanied by MP pneumonia. The patient's respiratory manifestations appeared 14 days before the neurological manifestations. Leukocytosis was observed in the patient's cerebrospinal fluid, but the result of the MP polymerase chain reaction was negative. The magnetic resonance imaging of the patient's brain showed high signal intensity at bilateral basal ganglia. The chest radiograph confirmed the presence of lobar pneumonia. The serological test on MP-specific immunoglobulin M titer revealed a positive result. The clinical course improved with the administration of immunomodulatory therapies, but the patient subsequently developed spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. MP is a common pathogen in children and may induce aggravating neurologic diseases. Thus, MP should be considered a causative agent of encephalitis in children. Immunomodulatory drugs are the recommended therapeutic option for severe MP encephalitis.
Basal Ganglia ; Brain ; Cerebral Palsy ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Child ; Child, Preschool* ; Encephalitis* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; Immunomodulation ; Leukocytosis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male* ; Muscle Spasticity ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae* ; Mycoplasma* ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Serologic Tests

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to identify the mediating effect of organizational citizenship behavior between job embeddedness and turnover intention in hospital nurses. METHODS: Data were collected from 241 nurses in 3 tertiary hospitals and 2 secondary hospitals in Daegu and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations and structural equation model (SEM) with the PASW 18.0 and AMOS 18.0 program. RESULTS: There were negative relationships between job embeddedness and turnover intention (r=-.53, p<.01), and organizational citizenship behavior and turnover intention (r=-.39, p<.01) but a positive relationship between job embeddedness and organizational citizenship behavior (r=.39, p<.01). There was a partial mediating effect of organizational citizenship behavior between job embeddedness and turnover intention (chi2=91.02, p<.001). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that organizational citizenship behavior has a mediating effect on the relationship between job embeddedness and turnover intention in hospital nurses, suggesting that enhancing organizational citizenship behavior is required. in order to promote job embeddedness and reduce turnover intention.
Intention ; Negotiating ; Tertiary Care Centers

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare and examine gender role identity and sexual attitude according to sex among college students. METHOD: The subjects consisted of 1,118 college students. The tool for gender role identity and sexual attitude was the Korea Gender Role Identity Inventory(KGRII) of Lee, Kim and Koh(2002) and the Sexual Attitude Scale of Koh, Kim and Lee(2005). The collected data was analyzed using descriptive analyzed statistics, chi-square test, Lamda, t-test, ANOVA, Sheffe and Pearson correlation with the SPSS WIN 12.0 program. RESULT: For male students, undifferentiated role identity type, 36.5%, was the most common but for female students, an androgynous role identity type, 39.3%, was most common. The sexual attitude score according to gender role identity type was 2.9 for the undifferentiated type as the highest score. Of both male and female students, the highest sexual attitude score was the undifferentiated type. Sexual attitude according to general characteristics for male students had a significant difference in major field of study and height and for female students weight. Sexual attitude was significantly related to age, height and weight. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that gender role identity and sexual attitudes are different between the sexes. This study result contributes to providing basic data for sex education and nursing interventions for college students.
Female ; Gender Identity* ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Nursing ; Sex Education

OBJECTIVES: The present study aims to investigate the effects of physical illness on depression in North Korean Defectors. METHODS: One hundred forty-four North Korean Defectors(20 males, 124 females) and 376 South Koreans 133 males, 243 females) in Incheon Metropolitan areas participated the present study. Face-to-face interview was conducted for demographic information including presence of physical illnesses. To investigate depressive symptoms, all participants were required to complete the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale (CES-D). RESULTS: After controlling gender, age, marital status, educational year, employment status and physical illness, North Korean Defectors showed higher CES-D score than South Koreans(beta=0.449, p<0.001). Within North Korean Defectors, the presence of physical illnesses independently was related to higher CES-D score(beta=0.243, p<0.001). However, within South Koreans, the presence of physical illnesses did not significantly predict CES-D score. North Korean Defectors with physical illness have higher CES-D score than North Korean Defectors without physical illness(26.8+/-13.8 versus 19.7+/-12.7). However, there was no significant differences of CES-D score between South Koreans with physical illness and South Koreans without physical illness(10.3+/-9.8 versus 9.3+/-8.8). CONCLUSION: Compared to South Koreans, North Korean Defector showed higher depressive symptoms independently from gender, age, education, employment, marriage. In addition, only North Korean Defectors showed the relationship between depression and physical illness. Our study suggests that depression should be assessed when North Korean Defectors have physical illness.
Depression ; Employment ; Humans ; Male ; Marital Status ; Marriage

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to verify the effects of the Qigong training program on the anxiety and labor pains of primipara. METHOD: The research subjects were a total of 60 primipara who consulted a doctor regularly concerning their antenatal care. Among them, 30 people were the experimental group, and the other 30 people were the control group, and were selected as homogeneous with the experimental group. The degree of anxiety and labor pains were measured by State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI) and Graphic Rating Scale(GRS). SPSS WIN 11.0 was used for data analysis. Obstetric and general characteristics between experimental and control groups, and a homogeneity test of state and trait anxiety were done by both X2 test and t-test. The hypothesis testing was analyzed by ANCOVA with a covariate of pretest value. RESULT: The first hypothesis, 'Primipara who join the Qigong training program have lower anxiety than those who do not join' was supported (F=28.8, p<.000). The second hypothesis, 'Primipara who join the Qigong training program have lower labor pain than those who do not join' was unsupported. CONCLUSION: It was verified that the Qigong training program was effective in alleviating anxiety; however it did not have any effect on relieving labor pain, so more in-depth research is needed later on.
Anxiety* ; Education* ; Female ; Humans ; Labor Pain* ; Pregnancy ; Qigong* ; Research Subjects ; Statistics as Topic