The thirty eight newborn infants with periventricular leukomalacia who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Gil General Hospital from March 1, 1988 to June 30, 1991, were investigated for ultrasonographic findings, risk factors and neurological outcome. The results were as follows: 1) There were 38 cases of PVL including 21 echogenic flarings and 17 cystic PVL's. 2) Mean birth weight was 2,250 gm and mean gestational age was 35 week. 3) Mean detection timing was 4th day in echogenic flarings and 18th day in cystic PVL's. 4) PVL's were located in the parietal region in 1 case and fronto-parieto-occipital in 3 cases. 5) Mean cyst size was 6 mm. 6) Multiple logistic regression analysis for the risk factors of PVL showed that low birth weight, apnea and seizure were the most significant contributing factors (p<0.05). 7) In the follow-up study of cystic PVL's, 7 cases showed improvement, 7 cases developed into multicystic encephalomalacia and 3 cases developed into atrophy. 8) Neurodevelopmental outcome of cystic PVL's showed nomal; 6.2%, minor neurodevelopmental defect; 43.8%, major neurodevelopmental defect; 31.2% and death; 18.8%. 9) Neurosonographic predictability for neurodevelopemental sequelae by cystic PVL's showed sensitivity; 63.6%%, specificity; 98.0%, positive predictive value; 92.8% and accuracy; 88.2%. 10) Major neurodevelopmental defect was more frequent, cyst size being larger and location being more extensive (p<0.05).
Apnea ; Atrophy ; Birth Weight ; Encephalomalacia ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gestational Age ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Leukomalacia, Periventricular* ; Logistic Models ; Rabeprazole ; Risk Factors* ; Seizures ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Viridicatol (1) has previously been isolated from the extract of the marine-derived fungus Penicillium sp. SF-5295. In the course of further biological evaluation of this quinolone alkaloid, anti-inflammatory effect of 1 in RAW264.7 and BV2 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was observed. In this study, our data indicated that 1 suppressed the expression of well-known pro-inflammatory mediators such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and consequently inhibited the production of iNOS-derived nitric oxide (NO) and COX-2-derived prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in LPS stimulated RAW264.7 and BV2 cells. Compound 1 also reduced mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). In the further evaluation of the mechanisms of these anti-inflammatory effects, 1 was shown to inhibit nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) pathway in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 and BV2 cells. Compound 1 blocked the phosphorylation and degradation of inhibitor kappa B (IkappaB)-alpha in the cytoplasm, and suppressed the translocation of NF-kappaB p65 and p50 heterodimer in nucleus. In addition, viridicatol (1) attenuated the DNA-binding activity of NF-kappaB in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 and BV2 cells.
Cytokines ; Cytoplasm ; Dinoprostone ; Fungi ; Interleukin-1beta ; Interleukin-6 ; NF-kappa B* ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Penicillium* ; Phosphorylation ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; RNA, Messenger ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

No abstract available.
Biopsy* ; Pleural Effusion*

PURPOSE: Although there is an increasing incidence of upper third gastric cancers, the appropriate extent of resection for upper third gastric cancer is not known. This study was performed to analyze a 9-year experience with upper third gastric adenocarcinomas from one institution treated by either total gastrectomy (TG) or proximal gastrectomy (PG). METHODS: The records and survival data of 158 upper third gastric cancer patients who underwent curative TG (n=106) or PG (n=52) through an exclusively abdominal approach were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in age, sex, tumor gross type, tumor differentiation, and stage between the groups who underwent TG and those who underwent PG. In addition, there were no significant differences in hospital mortality, overall 5-year survival, and disease-free survival rates between PG and TG group. However, PG group showed higher rates of postoperative reflux esophagitis and anastomosis stricture than TG group. Regarding the main patterns of recurrence, local recurrence was dominant in PG group, whereas distant recurrence was dominant in TG group. CONCLUSION: The extent of resection for upper third gastric cancer does not affect long-term outcome, and both procedures can be accomplished safely. When the cancer is confined to upper third of the stomach without serosal invasion, PG combined with antireflux procedures can be indicated.
Adenocarcinoma ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Disease-Free Survival ; Esophagitis, Peptic ; Gastrectomy ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Incidence ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the direction for treatment and to evaluate factors influencing improvement by comparison of neurologic and functional outcomes of surgical treatment and conservative treatment for traumatic central cord syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 28 patients, who were available for follow-up for at least more than one year from January 2005 to December 2008, who were diagnosed as traumatic central cord syndrome were analyzed retrospectively. Fifteen patients underwent surgical treatment (group 1), and 13 patients received conservative treatment (group 2). Maximum canal compromise (MCC), and maximum spinal cord compression (MSCC) were used for radiologic assessment, and American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) motor score, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, and neck disability index (NDI) were used for assessment of functional outcomes. RESULTS: The mean MCC was 47.2%, mean MSCC was 20.0%, and mean ASIA motor scale was 92.0 (group 1: 92.9, group 2: 90.9) at the final follow-up. The mean JOA score was 12.8 (group 1: 14.0, group 2: 11.4) and mean NDI was 25.0 (group 1: 25.7, group 2: 24.3) at the final follow-up. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that if a patient with traumatic central cord syndrome is young, with a high energy injury combined with fractures, and has severe spinal compression and mild initial neurologic defect, early surgical treatment would be needed as soon as possible.
Asia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Central Cord Syndrome* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neck ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord Compression ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Spinal Injuries ; Treatment Outcome

During a survey of marine fungi from the waters surrounding Jeju Island, Korea, several Penicillium strains were isolated from seawater and marine sponges. Based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of the internal transcribed spacer and RNA polymerase subunit II, four strains were identified as Penicillium antarcticum, a fungus that, to the best of our knowledge, had not been previously reported in Korea. Here, we provide detailed descriptions of the morphological characteristics and extracellular enzyme activities of the four strains.
DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases ; Fungi ; Korea ; Penicillium* ; Porifera ; Seawater ; Water

Background: The quality of laboratory test results is crucial for accurate clinical diagnosis and treatment. Pre-analytical errors account for approximately 60%–70% of all laboratory test errors. Laboratory test results may be largely impacted by pre-analytical phase management. However, primary care clinics currently do not have pre-analytical quality management audit systems. We aimed to understand the current status of pre-analytical quality management in laboratory medicine in Korean primary care clinics. Methods: Questionnaires were designed to focus on essential components of the pre-analytical process of primary care clinics. An online survey platform was used to administer the survey to internal medicine or family medicine physicians in primary care clinics. Results: A total of 141 physicians provided a complete response to the questionnaire. In 65.2% of the clinics, patient information was hand-labeled rather than barcoded on the specimen bottles; 14.2% of clinics displayed only one piece of patient information (name or identification number), and 19.9% of clinics displayed two pieces of information. Centrifuges were not available in 29.1% of the clinics. Institutions carrying out the National Health Screening Program (NHSP) used more barcode system and had more centrifuges than institutions that did not carrying out the NHSP. Conclusions Pre-analytical quality management is inadequate in many primary clinics. We suggest implementation of a mandatory management system, allowing for a pre-analytical quality management to be carried out in primary care clinics.

BACKGROUND: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a clonal myeloproliferative disorder characterized by a progressive course outlined by the transition from the chronic phase (CP) to blastic crisis (BC). The course of CML-BC is still fatal, and in spite of various efforts in treatment, median survival remains short. The aim of the present study was to analyze the prognostic factors having an impact on response to treatment and survival in patients with CML-BC. We also investigated prognostic influence on survival in myeloid BC according to FAB classification. METHODS: All patients (N=35) with CML with onset of CML-BC between January 1992 and May 2002 were reviewed. RESULTS: The median survival for all patients after onset of CML-BC was 7 weeks, and probable survival rate at 24 months was 5.9%. The adverse prognostic factors for survival of CML-BC were high and intermediate risk of Hasford score at diagnosis of CML (P=0.05), normal serum LDH (P=0.016), bone marrow blasts > or =60% (P=0.092), no treatment at CML-BC (P=0.0056), platelet count <20x10(9)/L (P=0.13). Clonal evolution at diagnosis of CML-BC was associated with a shorter survival. Especially in our study, FAB subtype M4-7 (median survival, 4 weeks; 95% CI, 2~6) had shorter survival duration than M0-2 (median survival, 16 weeks; 95% CI, 5~27) in patients with myeloid CML-BC. CONCLUSION: The management of patients with CML-BC remains highly unsatisfactory. Once blast crisis has occurred, there are useful parameters to assess the prognosis for the individual patient and these may be of interest in planning therapy. Our experience suggests that FAB classification M4-7 are poor prognostic factor in patients with myeloid CML-BC.
Blast Crisis ; Bone Marrow ; Classification* ; Clonal Evolution ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive* ; Myeloproliferative Disorders ; Platelet Count ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies* ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: To investigate the short-term efficacy of topical immunosuppressive agents on the survival of cultivated allo-conjunctival equivalents. METHODS: Twenty-five eyes of New Zealand white rabbits were included. Temporal conjunctivae were trephined to a diameter of 7.5 mm, and then cultured allo-conjunctival epithelial cells on amniotic membrane were transplanted onto them. Various immunosuppressants including steroid, cyclosporine, and rapamycin were applied topically four times a day for a week. Epithelial defects and graft edema were graded daily. Numbers of inflammatory cells were measured in H&E. PKH26 and cytokeratin 4 and 7 were immunostained. RESULTS: Earlier epithelialization was observed in 1% steroid-treated eyes and defects persisted significantly in 0.5% CsA applied eyes. In histology, PKH26 positive cells considered as donor cells were only found in 1% steroid or 0.01% rapamycin applied eyes. 1% steroid- or 0.01% rapamycin-applied eyes both showed positive staining for keratin-4 and -7. Inflammatory cells were less found in 1% steroid or 0.01% rapamycin treated eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Topical steroid or rapamycin can help to suppress acute inflammation and enhance the acute survival of transplanted conjunctival cells.
Administration, Topical ; Animals ; Cell Count ; *Cell Transplantation ; Cells, Cultured ; Conjunctiva/*cytology ; Cyclosporine/pharmacology ; Epithelial Cells/metabolism/*transplantation ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Graft Survival/*drug effects ; Immunosuppressive Agents/*pharmacology ; Keratin-4/metabolism ; Keratin-7/metabolism ; Male ; Organic Chemicals/metabolism ; Prednisone/pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Sirolimus/pharmacology ; Transplantation, Homologous

The aim of this survey was to analyze the characteristics of musculoskeletal pain of Korean junior tennis players and its effect on games and psychology of players. Surveys were administered to 30 healthy male junior tennis players who took part in a 50th national junior tennis meet in 2015. We analyzed the incidence, location, cause and preferred prevention or treatment method of musculoskeletal pain, the correlation between training time and musculoskeletal pain as well as the effect of musculoskeletal pain on games and psychology of players. Overall, 22 out of 30 (73.3%) responded the experience of musculoskeletal pain. The incidence of lower extremity pain (16 out of 30, 53.3%) were higher than upper extremity pain (9 out of 30, 30%) and low back pain (8 out of 30, 26.7%). The long training hours per day (r=0.574, p=0.001) and old age (r=0.390, p=0.033) were correlated with intermittent back pain in univariate anlaysis. In multivariate ananlysis, the long training hours per day was a single risk factor of intermittent low back pain (p=0.038, odds ratio 10.01). 43.3% of players responded that the insufficent preventive conditioning program was thought to be the cause of musculoskeletal pain. The most preferred treatment or prevention method for musculoskeletal pain was rehabilitation (55.3%). Twelve players reported the negative affection of musculoskeletal pain to the performance in game. Six players experienced the frustration, 9 players experienced the loss of interest and 9 players experienced the emotional avoidance of games due to the musculoskeletal pain.
Adolescent ; Athletic Injuries ; Back Pain ; Frustration ; Humans ; Incidence ; Low Back Pain ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Musculoskeletal Pain* ; Odds Ratio ; Psychology ; Rehabilitation ; Risk Factors ; Tennis* ; Upper Extremity