No abstract available.
Gestational Age* ; Humans ; Infant*

BACKGROUND: Regular blood donation can lead to iron deficiency. Serum ferritin is sensitive indicator of body iron depletion. The aim of this study is to evaluate serum ferritin reagents using the turbidimetric immunoassay (TIA) and to establish a reference range in first time blood donors in Korea. METHODS: The study was prospectively conducted, between Feb. 2011 and Apr. 2011, on 120 male and 120 female blood donors at five blood centers. Serum ferritin was determined by TIA using two brands of reagents (Beckman Coulter Inc., USA; HBi, South Korea) and two automated chemistry analyzers (AU640, Beckman Coulter Inc.; Hitachi7180, Hitachi High-Technologies Corp., Japan). Precision, linearity, limit of detection, analytical measurement range and correlation with chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) were evaluated. A reference range for serum ferritin in first time donors was established. RESULTS: The coefficients of variation of precision were less than 4%. Linearity was observed up to 312.7~450 microg/L depending on which reagent used. Both reagents had good correlation with CLIA results. Serum ferritin levels for first time donors showed left skewed distribution. The reference ranges for males and females were 34.1~385.9 microg/L and 6.8~121 microg/L using Beckman Coulter (AU) reagent, and 18.7~271.3 microg/L and 4~83.7 microg/L using HBi (AU) reagent, and 15.2~274.7 microg/L and 6~84 microg/L using HBi (Hitachi) reagent. CONCLUSION: A reference range for serum ferritin in first time donors in Korea was established using automated chemistry analyzers with inexpensive TIA reagents.
Blood Donors ; Female ; Ferritins ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Indicators and Reagents ; Iron ; Korea ; Limit of Detection ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Reference Values ; Tissue Donors

No abstract available.
Abortion, Spontaneous* ; Chorion* ; Chorionic Villi* ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: The aim of study was to analyze obstetric and neonatal causes of Korean neonatal deaths. METHODS: The study subjects are a cohort of infants who were born during 1996 and who died before their first birthday. The data were collected through three stages of the study: the collection of existing data, a national infant mortality survey at medical facilities, and data integrating and adjusting process. The sources of existing data were health insurance data and the resident registration data. The National infant mortality survey was conducted by both 'Ministry of Health and Welfare' and 'Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs'. 3930 medical and health facilities where obstetrics services are available were surveyed during November 1998. The survey results were computerized to match data sets, and any overlap among different data sets were filtered. Causes of deaths were grouped according to the KCD (Korean Standard Classification of Diseases). Causes of neonatal death were further analyzed using composite causes combining obstetric and neonatal conditions. RESULTS: Causes of 2,433 neonatal death were known out of 2,856 deaths. "Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period" comprised 77.1% of neonatal death, being the most common cause. The next common cause was 'congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities', constituting 15.7% of neonatal death. Among the 'certain conditions originating in the perinatal period', 'respiratory distress of newborn' constituted 17.1% of neonatal deaths and 'disorders related to short gestation and low birth weight', constituted 15.6% of neonatal deaths. Neonatal sepsis constituted 14.8% of neonatal death. Among congenital malformations 'congenital malformation of the heart' was most common, constituting 6.2% of neonatal death. 'Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period' was more important cause of preterm neonatal death. Of the related maternal condition, idiopathic preterm birth, multifetal pregnancy, premature rupture of the membranes and hypertensive diseases during pregnancy were common conditions. Congenital malformation was the most important cause of term neonatal death. CONCLUSION: Prematurity-related condition was more important cause of preterm neonatal death while congenital malformation was the most important cause of term neonatal death.
Cause of Death ; Classification ; Cohort Studies ; Dataset ; Gestational Age ; Health Facilities ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Mortality ; Insurance, Health ; Membranes ; Obstetrics ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Premature Birth ; Rupture ; Sepsis

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a worldwide health-care burden. Prevalence rates vary and the distribution of genotypes depends on geographical location. Here, the recent prevalence of HCV infections and distribution of HCV genotypes among Korean blood donors were studied. METHODS: Between February 2005 and December 2009, a total of 11,064,532 donors were screened for anti-HCV and 11,412,690 donors were screened for HCV RNA. HCV genotyping was conducted for 748 blood donors with HCV RNA by using the line probe assay (VERSANT HCV Genotype 2.0 Assay, Bayer Healthcare, USA) after amplification of the 5'-untranslated and core regions of the genome. RESULTS: The anti-HCV prevalence was 0.16% (17,250/11,064,532). HCV RNA was detected in 959 out of the 11,412,690 donors (8.4/100,000). HCV RNA was more prevalent among women, donors who resided at harbor sites, and first-time donors. In addition, the prevalence of HCV RNA increased with age. The genotypes of 740 out of the 748 tested donors (98.9%) were identified. HCV genotype 1b (47.7%) and 2a/2c (35.0%) were dominant. Genotypes 2 (7.6%), 2b (2.3%), 3a (1.6%), 1a (1.3%), 1 (0.9%), 2v (0.5%), 1v (0.1%), and 3 (0.1%) were also identified. Genotype 4a/4c/4d (0.1%) was detected for the first time in one Korean blood donor. CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of HCV genotypes in Korea has not changed remarkably, with the exception of genotype 4a/4c/4d. A periodic study to monitor the prevalence of HCV infections and the distribution of HCV genotypes is required to identify emerging genotypes in Korea.
5' Untranslated Regions ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood Donors ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepacivirus/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Hepatitis C/*epidemiology/virology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Viral/analysis ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Young Adult

The mature cystic teratoma is the most common ovarian neoplasm arising in young women and comprises approximately 10-20% of all ovarian tumors. But malignant transformation is an uncommon complication in a mature cystic teratoma(dermoid cyst) of ovary, usually being reported in about 2% of cases. Among those rare tumors with malignant change in a mature cystic teratoma, 80% are squamous cell carcinoma, 7-8% are sarcomas of various types, 6-7% are adenocarcinoma, and the remainder include thyroid carcinomas, carcinoids, and melanomas, and choriocarcinomas, and mixed malignancies. We experienced a case of adenocarcinoma arising in mature cystic teratoma of the ovary and report this case with a brief review of literatures.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Carcinoid Tumor ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Choriocarcinoma ; Female ; Humans ; Melanoma ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Ovary* ; Pregnancy ; Sarcoma ; Teratoma* ; Thyroid Neoplasms

PURPOSE: We investigated whether psychological factors could influence on the symptoms of chronic prostatitis based on general population that have not previously been examined or treated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between August and November 2000, we randomly selected 100 male residents in the area of Chung-nam including Daejoen city. The participants completed self- administered questionnaires. Based on our inclusion criteria, 87 participants were included in this study. RESULTS: Scores of Beck Depression Inventory of participants with higher pain and urinary symptoms domain scores were significantly higher than those with lower pain and urinary symptoms domain scores of the National Institutes of Health-chronic prostatitis symptom index (p=0.001 and p=0.028, respectively). However, anxiety did not influence on the symptoms of chronic prostatitis based on the results of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Based on the results of Bem Sex Role Inventory, masculinity score of participants with higher urinary symptoms domain scores were significantly lower than those with lower urinary symptoms domain scores (p=0.042). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that psychological problems may involve in an early stage of chronic prostatitis and have a causative role in chronic prostatitis.
Academies and Institutes ; Anxiety ; Depression ; Gender Identity ; Humans ; Male ; Masculinity ; Prostatitis* ; Psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Osteopetrosis is an uncommon hereditary bone disorder whose prominent radiologic feature characterized by increased bone density. The authors reported a 7-year-old male patient who referred from local dental clinic for dental problems such as early exfoliation of deciduous teeth(#54,73,83) and delayed eruption of permanent teeth(#31,41,36,46). The patient appeared as a poorly developed. Dental X-ray films showed early exfoliation of deciduous teeth, delayed eruption of permanent teeth, and rampant caries. Lateral view of skull demonstrated increased opacity of calvarium, facial bones, and skull base. Generally the skeletal density is greatly increased throughout all bones. Facial CT showed poor development of paranasal sinuses and mastoid air cells. No hematopoietic and neurologic complications such as anemia, thrombocytopenia, blindness and deafness were found. Also mental retardation was not found. The final diagnosis of this case was a osteopetrosis tarda. Sometimes patient with osteopetrosis tarda may be developed dental problems prior to severe systemic symptoms. The dentist can be the first clinician to see the patient. It is very important for the dentist to have the knowledge of the osteopetrosis and to care the patient's dental problems to prevent complication such as osteomyelitis of jaws.
Anemia ; Blindness ; Bone Density ; Child ; Deafness ; Dental Clinics ; Dentists ; Diagnosis ; Facial Bones ; Growth Disorders ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability ; Jaw ; Male ; Mastoid ; Osteomyelitis ; Osteopetrosis* ; Paranasal Sinuses ; Skull ; Skull Base ; Thrombocytopenia ; Tooth ; Tooth Eruption ; Tooth, Deciduous ; X-Ray Film

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore suicidal ideation among adolescents and to identify the factors that may increase the likelihood of suicidal ideation among adolescents. The factors included depression, individuality, relatedness, cognitive deconstruction, social desirability, and alexithymia. METHODS: The data were collected from March 4 to May 29, 2009 from 1,519 adolescents who were conveniently selected from five different middle and high schools in Seoul. The data were analyzed and interpreted using descriptive statistics, correlation, and stepwise multiple linear regression with the SPSS/WIN program. RESULTS: The major findings of this study were: 1) More than 30% of the participants had a history of having suicidal ideation while 6.3% had attempted suicide. 2) Suicidal ideation was positively related to depression, alexithymia, and cognitive deconstruction and negatively related to relatedness and social desirability. 3) Regression analysis showed 29% of variance in suicidal ideation can be explained by depression, individuality, cognitive deconstruction, living with father, living alone, and living with relatives. CONCLUSION: Adolescents with depression, higher individuality, cognitive deconstruction, and not living with their parents require more attention to prevent suicide. It is necessary to develop programs to prevent adolescents' suicide.
Adolescent* ; Affective Symptoms ; Depression ; Fathers ; Humans ; Individuality ; Linear Models ; Parents ; Psychology* ; Seoul ; Social Desirability ; Suicidal Ideation* ; Suicide ; Suicide, Attempted

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence and characteristics of the hypoechoic halo sign in peripheral cholangiocarcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventeen sonograms of 17 patients with peripheral cholangiocarcinoma histologically proven by either percutaneous needle biopsy (n=16) or surgical biopsy (n=1) were retrospectively reviewed. The size, margin, homogeneity and internal echogenicity of the masses as well as their peritumoral ductal dilatation and intratumoral calcification were ascertained, and the presence of a hypoechoic halo, and if present, its thickness and type, were also determined. We arbitrarily defined a 'thin' and 'thick' halo respectively, as one with a thickness less than of less than 3 mm, and 3 mm or more, and classified halos as 'intratumoral', 'extratumoral', or 'mixed'. RESULTS: Tumor diameter ranged from 4 to 13.5 (mean, 7.3) cm, and the margin was well-defined in 15 cases (smooth: n=2; lobulated: n=13) and irregular in two. Echogenicity was slightly heterogeneous in 11 cases, severely heterogeneous in three, and homogeneous in three, while the central portion was hyperechoic in eight cases, isoechoic in seven, and hypoechoic in only two. A hypoechoic halo was detected in 10 of 15 tumors(67%) with isoechoic centers. In evaluating the halo, two cases in which the mass was hypoechoic were excluded. All ten hypoechoic halos were at least 3 (range, 4-13; mean, 8.3) mm thick; in two cases the presence of a halo was equivocal, and in three there was no halo. Eight of ten halos were the mixed type, two were intratumoral, and none were extratumoral. Peritumoral ductal dilatation was seen in four cases (24%), but no internal calcification was observed. CONCLUSION: US showed that the margins of peripheral cholangiocarcinomas were mostly well-defined and smooth (12%) or lobulated (76%), and that masses were mainly heterogeneous (64%). A hypoechoic halo, which in all cases was thick and in 80% of cases was mixed, was noted in 67% of tumors with a hyper (47%) or isoechoic (41%) center. A halo of this kind may be useful in isoechoic mass detection and also in the differentiation of hyperechoic peripheral cholangiocarcinoma from hepatic hemangioma, the most common hyperechoic benign tumor.
Biopsy ; Biopsy, Needle ; Cholangiocarcinoma* ; Dilatation ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies