No abstract available.
Alleles* ; Base Sequence* ; Clone Cells* ; Cloning, Organism* ; HLA-DR Antigens

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the long-term skeletal responses to hormone replacement therapy(HRT) with or without active vitamin D(VD) by using short-term changes of bone markers in postmenopausal women (PMW). METHODS: Biochemical markers of bone formation(osteocalcin,OC) and (&) resorption(deoxypyridinoline, Dpd ) at 3 months & lumbar bone mineral density(BMD) at 1 year were measured in 64 natural PMW taking HRT(n=41) & HRT with calcitriol 0.25 microgram/day(n=23). The correlation of percent changes of bone markers after 3 months of Tx with those in lumbar BMD after 1 year was evaluated. RESULTS: 1. serum-OC & urine-Dpd showed decrease of 20.9% & 30.1% at 3months respectively & BMD increase of 3.8% after 1 year of Tx. 2. Among 58 PMW with decreased u-Dpd change, 49 (84.5%) revealed increase in BMD, while 40 (81.6%) among 49 PMW with decreased serum-OC change showed increased BMD. 3. Bone gainers showed significant decrease in changes of serum-OC(18.1% vs 9.2% p<0.05) & urine-Dpd(32.6% vs 20.4%, p<0.05) compared with those of bone losers. 4. No correlations of change of serum-OC (r=-0.174 p>0.05) & urine-Dpd (r=-0.091 p>0.05) at 3month with BMD changes at 1year were seen in total PMW, but urine-Dpd changes in HRT without active VD group revealed significantly inverse correlation(r=-0.376 p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Short-term changes of bone markers did not precisely predict the long-term changes of BMD in total PMW except urine- Dpd in HRT without active VD.
Biomarkers ; Bone Density* ; Calcitriol ; Estrogen Replacement Therapy* ; Female ; Humans ; Osteocalcin ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

OBJECTIVE: We analyzed the clinical features of amniotic fluid embolism confirmed by autopsy or clinical dicision for making a plan of rapid diagnosis and intensive emergency care. STUDY DESIGN: We experienced 2 clincal cases in Ewha Mokdong Hospital and Severance Hospital at 1995, and reviewed the medical record & autopsy report of 15 cases in National Institute of Scientific Investigation from Jan, 1991 to Dec, 1995. RESULTS: The mean maternal age was 31+/-3 years. The mean gestational age was 40+/-1 weeks. The number of delivery were 1.4+/-0.8. The number of abortion history. were 2.6+/-2. The sexuality of fetus were six males (35 %), five females (29%), and unknown six cases (35 %) and the fetal mortality rate was 29 % (5 cases). The initial clinical symptoms and signs were hypotension (12 patients, 71%), vaginal bleeding(ll patients, 65%), cardiac arrest (6 patients, 35 %), dyspnea (5 patients, 29 %), and seizure (2 patients, 12%). In the case of normal spontaneous vaginal delivary (NSVD), the symptoms occurred during induction in 3 (18%), during delivery in 1 (6%), and after delivery in 9 (53%). In the case of Cesarean section, the symptoms occurred during section in 2 (12%), and after section in 1 (6%). There are one case whose symptoms occurred during 3rd gestational period. CONCLUSIONS: We should alert for the amniotic fluid embolism in the clinical findings of acute collapse and vaginal bleeding, respiratory symptoms, and seizure at any peripartum. With eary suspicion of this disease and aggressive intensive care we can reduce amniotic fluid embolism mortality rate and it's legal problem.
Abortion, Induced ; Amniotic Fluid* ; Autopsy ; Cesarean Section ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Embolism, Amniotic Fluid* ; Emergency Medical Services ; Female ; Fetal Mortality ; Fetus ; Gestational Age ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Critical Care ; Male ; Maternal Age ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Peripartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Seizures ; Sexuality ; Uterine Hemorrhage

No abstract available.
Breast Diseases* ; Breast*

The precore (G1896A) and core promoter (A1762T, G1764A) mutations of the hepatitis B virus gene are known to be associated with changes in immunologic phase or the progression to complicated liver disease in adults. We analyzed these mutations in chronically HBV-infected children. Serum was collected from 37 children with chronic HBV infection from March 2005 to September 2008. HBV DNA extraction and nested PCR were followed by sequencing of the PCR products. The children were 6.7 +/- 4.6 yr old. All of 37 children had HBV genotype C. Of the cohort, 31 (83.8%) were HBeAg-positive and 6 (16.2%) were HBeAg-negative; the former group comprised 18 (48.6%) who were in the immune-tolerance phase (ITP) and 13 (35.2%) in the immune-clearance phase (ICP). Most of the patients had HBV DNA levels of > 1.0 x 10(8) copies/mL. In the ITP group, only 1 (5.5%) had core promoter mutations, and none had the precore mutation. In the ICP group, only 2 (15.4%) had core promoter mutations; the remaining 6 patients had HBV DNA levels of < 2.0 x 10(3) copies/mL and no core promoter/precore mutations. The very low incidence of the precore/core promoter gene mutation, in children, suggests that these mutations may be the result of life-long chronic HBV infection.
Adolescent ; Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cohort Studies ; DNA, Viral/blood ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens/*genetics ; Hepatitis B virus/*genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/immunology/*virology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mutation ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

Radon, the primary constituent of natural radiation, is the second leading environmental cause of lung cancer after smoking. To confirm a relationship between indoor radon exposure and lung cancer, estimating cumulative levels of exposure to indoor radon for an individual or population is necessary. This study sought to develop a model for estimate indoor radon concentrations in Korea. Especially, our model and method may have wider application to other residences, not to specific site, and can be used in situations where actual measurements for input variables are lacking. In order to develop a model, indoor radon concentrations were measured at 196 ground floor residences using passive alpha-track detectors between January and April 2016. The arithmetic mean (AM) and geometric mean (GM) means of indoor radon concentrations were 117.86±72.03 and 95.13±2.02 Bq/m³, respectively. Questionnaires were administered to assess the characteristics of each residence, the environment around the measuring equipment, and lifestyles of the residents. Also, national data on indoor radon concentrations at 7643 detached houses for 2011-2014 were reviewed to determine radon concentrations in the soil, and meteorological data on temperature and wind speed were utilized to approximate ventilation rates. The estimated ventilation rates and radon exhalation rates from the soil varied from 0.18 to 0.98/hr (AM, 0.59±0.17/hr) and 326.33 to 1392.77 Bq/m²/hr (AM, 777.45±257.39; GM, 735.67±1.40 Bq/m²/hr), respectively. With these results, the developed model was applied to estimate indoor radon concentrations for 157 residences (80% of all 196 residences), which were randomly sampled. The results were in better agreement for Gyeonggi and Seoul than for other regions of Korea. Overall, the actual and estimated radon concentrations were in better agreement, except for a few low-concentration residences.
Background Radiation ; Exhalation ; Gyeonggi-do ; Korea ; Life Style ; Lung Neoplasms ; Methods ; Models, Theoretical ; Radon ; Seoul ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Soil ; Ventilation ; Wind

Radon, the primary constituent of natural radiation, is the second leading environmental cause of lung cancer after smoking. To confirm a relationship between indoor radon exposure and lung cancer, estimating cumulative levels of exposure to indoor radon for an individual or population is necessary. This study sought to develop a model for estimate indoor radon concentrations in Korea. Especially, our model and method may have wider application to other residences, not to specific site, and can be used in situations where actual measurements for input variables are lacking. In order to develop a model, indoor radon concentrations were measured at 196 ground floor residences using passive alpha-track detectors between January and April 2016. The arithmetic mean (AM) and geometric mean (GM) means of indoor radon concentrations were 117.86±72.03 and 95.13±2.02 Bq/m³, respectively. Questionnaires were administered to assess the characteristics of each residence, the environment around the measuring equipment, and lifestyles of the residents. Also, national data on indoor radon concentrations at 7643 detached houses for 2011-2014 were reviewed to determine radon concentrations in the soil, and meteorological data on temperature and wind speed were utilized to approximate ventilation rates. The estimated ventilation rates and radon exhalation rates from the soil varied from 0.18 to 0.98/hr (AM, 0.59±0.17/hr) and 326.33 to 1392.77 Bq/m²/hr (AM, 777.45±257.39; GM, 735.67±1.40 Bq/m²/hr), respectively. With these results, the developed model was applied to estimate indoor radon concentrations for 157 residences (80% of all 196 residences), which were randomly sampled. The results were in better agreement for Gyeonggi and Seoul than for other regions of Korea. Overall, the actual and estimated radon concentrations were in better agreement, except for a few low-concentration residences.
Background Radiation ; Exhalation ; Gyeonggi-do ; Korea ; Life Style ; Lung Neoplasms ; Methods ; Models, Theoretical ; Radon* ; Seoul ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Soil ; Ventilation ; Wind

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical applications of the Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate effervescent tablet as a routine root canal irrigant by performing several in vitro tests such as Cl- content, cytotoxicity, antimicrobial effect as well as its pH level compared to the equivalent concentration of sodium hypochlorite solution. 1. Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate demonstrated lower level of Cl- concentation than each dilution of sodium hypochlorite solution. Both solution has increased level of Cl- as the concentration of each solution increased. There was no significant change of Cl- concentration in sodium hypochlorite as time goes by. However, Cl- concentration in Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate was increased. 2. The antimicrobial effects of both solutions were increased when their concentrations were increased. One day after dilution, antimicrobial effect of Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate was slightly higher than sodium hypochlorite, however, there was no difference in 1 week dilution solution. One month dilution solution of sodium hypochlorite still retain its activity, but antimicrobial effect of Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate was drastically decreased 1 month after dilution. 3. The cytotoxicity of Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate was rather higher than same concentration of sodium hypochlorite solution until 1 week after dilution. Then in 1 month, cytotoxicity of Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate was decreased than that of 1 week dilution solution, especially 4% Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate solution has almost no toxicity. However, 1% and 2% sodium hypochlorite solution has unchanged moderate degree of cytotoxicity after the dilution. Furthermore, 4% sodium hypochlorite solution showed high level of toxicity. 4. The pH level of Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate showed that the solution was weak acid (pH5). On the other hand, sodium hypochlorite was revealed as a strong alkaline solution (pH12). There was no change in pH following the dilution of each solution. As results, Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate solution fully satisfy the basic requirements as a root canal irrigation solution. However, we strongly recommend to use this solution clinically in low concentration and try to apply into the root canal within 1 week after dilution.
Dental Pulp Cavity* ; Hand ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration* ; Sodium Hypochlorite ; Sodium*

Autoimmune diseases are occasionally associated with other autoimmune diseases in the same patients. Autoimmune Graves' disease has been associated with systemic rheumatic diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). And Graves' disease associated with idiopathic thrornbocytopenic purpura (ITP) has been reported many times in Korea. There is a special relationship between SLE and ITP, both of which are autoimmune diseases. Some patients with thrombocytopenic purpura, labeled as idiopathic at the onset, later develop a classical course of SLE, suggesting that ITP may be an early manifestation of SLE. The relationships among these three conditions and their pathogenesis are poorly undemtood, and the coexistence of these diseases at the same time has been reported very rarely, but it may be very probable that there are some relationships among them. We report a case of SLE associated with Graves' disease and ITP treated well by imunosup-pressive agent who had been suffering from recurrence by conventional treatments (antithyroid medication, corticosteroid, subtotal thyroidectomy and splenectomy).
Autoimmune Diseases ; Graves Disease ; Humans ; Korea ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Purpura ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic* ; Recurrence ; Rheumatic Diseases ; Thyroidectomy

PURPOSE: Late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) in aging males is a clinical and biochemical syndrome characterized by a decline in serum testosterone levels. LOH results in various physical and mental disabilities. We evaluated the relationship between serum testosterone levels and symptoms of LOH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During an andropause screening program, we examined responses to the Saint Louis university androgen deficiency in aging males (ADAM) questionnaire and results on the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) in terms of clinical symptoms and evaluated serum total testosterone levels for a biochemical diagnosis of LOH in healthy community-living volunteers aged over 40 years. RESULTS: The mean age of the 534 men was 59.1 years (range, 40 to 79 years), and their mean serum testosterone level was 464.1+/-171.9 ng/dL. The serum testosterone level decreased significantly with age. There was a 92.5% positive response rate to the ADAM questionnaire. The percentage of patients whose serum testosterone level was <350 ng/dL among those with a positive response to the ADAM questionnaire was 25.6% (137 patients). The mean serum testosterone level among patients with a positive or negative ADAM questionnaire was 472.4+/-198.5 ng/dL and 487.3+/-165.7 ng/dL, respectively (p>0.05). There was no significant correlation between IIEF-5 scores and serum testosterone levels. CONCLUSIONS: Among men over 40 years of age, 25.6% met the clinical and biochemical diagnostic criteria for LOH. There was no relationship between serum testosterone levels and symptoms of LOH.
Aged ; Aging ; Andropause ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Testosterone