No abstract available.

Many investigators have reported that collagen gel contraction reflects the mechanism of wound contraction. In 1995, Tsai et al. reported that hypertrophic scar-derived fibroblasts in a connective tissue model possessed the greatest contraction potency when compared with those of normal skin and normal oral mucosa-derived CTMs. In this study, we studied the effect of collagen gel contraction by growth factors such as epidermal growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, transforming growth factor-bata1, and transforming growth factor-bata3, Skin fibroblasts used in this study were obtained from the explant of rat skin culture. Fibroblasts were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum. Growth factors were added per FPCL in the desired concentrations and we measured the collagen gel diameters in growth factor-treated FPCL on day 1,2,3, and 4 respectively after starting incubation. We examined the effects of EGF, PDGF, TGF-bata1, TGF-bata3 and the effects of combinations of TGF-bata1 + EGF, TGF-bata1 + PDGF, and TGF-bata1 + TGF-bata3 to contract a collagen gel. EGF has little influence on collagen gel contraction. TGF-bata1 and TGF-bata3 increase the collagen contraction. TGF-bata1 enhanced the contractility of collagen gel according to the concentrations. While TGF-bata3 alone had stimulatory contraction effects at low dose, high doses of TGF-bata3 decreased the potency of collagen gel contraction. A combination of TGF-bata1 and EGF minimally decrease TGF-bata1 activity. A combination of TGF-bata1and PDGF had an effect similar to TGF-bata1 activity. A combination of TGF-bata1 and TGF-bata3 decreased TGF-bata1 activity. According to reports that FPCL contraction is equivalent to the process of wound contraction, growth factors which enhance gel contraction may be related to wound contraction and wound healing. TGF-bata1 is reported to enhance scar formation in fetal wound. EGF accelerates wound healing and inhibits the promotion of hypertrophic scar formation. Compared to the effect of collagen gel contraction in this study, the combination of TGF-bata1 and TGF-bata3 that inhibited the promotion of collagen gel contraction are thought to diminish the formation of scar tissue. As well, EGF that has not enhanced collagen gel contraction is thought to diminish the production of scar tissue. We will study the interactive effects of TGF-bata3, EGF and TGF-bata1 on the contraction of collagen gels in the future.
Animals ; Cicatrix ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; Collagen* ; Connective Tissue ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; Fibroblasts ; Gels ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins* ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; Rats ; Research Personnel ; Skin ; Wound Healing ; Wounds and Injuries*

BACKGROUND: Whether the changes of risk factors (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, alcohol) can precipitate stroke remains unknown, and antecedent infection and psychologic stress are described inss case-control study, 113 consecutive patients with acute cerebrovascular disease (38 small vessel disease, 43 large vessel disease, 11 cardiogenic infarction, 4 infarction of undetermined cause, and 17 intracerebral hemorrhage) and 23 control subjects were evaluated. Changes of the risk factors (and their management) were interviewed. A sign/symptom based questionnaire was used to characterize the prevalence of recent prior infection and exposure to coldness. Psychologic stress was measured with the use of Social Readjustment Rating Scale. RESULTS: The negative change of alcohol drinking was significantly higher in the stroke group. However, there was no significant difference between stroke and control groups in the changes of thether risk factors. The prevalence of previous (within 1 month) infection was significantly higher in the stroke group compared with control subjects (p=0.03). However, there were no significant differences among the stroke subtypes in the prevalence of infection(p=0.08). Upper respiratory tract infections constituted the most common type of infection. The exposure to coldness was significantly higher in the stroke group compared with control subjects (p=0.002). The level of stress within the prior 1 month/1 year was significantly higher in the stroke group than control group (p=0.01). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that preceding infection, exposure to coldness, psychologic stress, and the negative change of alcohol drinking may be comm.
Alcohol Drinking ; Case-Control Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Infarction ; Moyamoya Disease* ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stress, Psychological ; Stroke

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is an immune-mediated polyneuropathy with a relaps-ing or progressive course. Although the occurrence of CIDP is very rare in childhood compared to the occurrence in adulthood, it does occur in children. In childhood CIDP, the main clinical features are somewhat different from that of adults, which includes a more precipitous onset of symptoms, a high frequency of gait abnormalities, and significant neurological dysfunction. Also, the response to immune-modulating therapy is more reliable and rapid in children than in adults. The recognition of childhood CIDP is important as it may mimic hereditary neuropathies which usually pre-sent with progressive gait disturbance associated with pes cavus deformity. A careful history, clinical examination, and electrophysiological study is crucial for the accurate diagnosis of this treatable disease. Here, we report a case of CIDP in a 13-year-old Korean girl whose initial clinical presentation strongly suggested hereditary motor-sensory neuropathy.
Adolescent* ; Adult ; Child ; Congenital Abnormalities* ; Diagnosis ; Female* ; Foot Deformities* ; Gait ; Humans ; Polyneuropathies* ; Polyradiculoneuropathy, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating

Roberts syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder accompanied by limb defects, craniofacial abnormalities, pre-and postnatal growth retardation. Patients with Roberts syndrome have characteristic premature separation of heterochromatin of many chromosomes and abnormalties in celldivision cycle. We have experienced a case of Roberts syndrome in an immature neonate The patients showed characteristic clinical features of multiple, severe facial mid-line clefts, and tetraphoco-amelia. The brief review of the literlature was made.
Craniofacial Abnormalities ; Ectromelia ; Extremities ; Heterochromatin ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were 1) to estimate prevalence rates of drinkers, two subtypes of drinkers-drinkers without dependence and drinkers with probable alcohol dependence(AD) using CAGE, and 2) to find out the correlates of sociodemographic variables and drinking patterns of the drinkers with probable AD by comparing those of the drinkers without dependence, 3) to analyse risk factors for the drinkers with probable AD. METHODS: Using data from face-to-face interviews conducted during 1995, we investigated the prevalence and characteristics of two subtypes of drinkers in a national probability sample of 1,695 drinkers 20 years of age and older. We defined drinkers with CAGE scores 2 and over as drinkers with probable AD, and scores less than 1 as drinkers without dependence. The comparisons of sociodemographic characteristics and drinking patterns between two subtypes of drinkers were examined through chi-square test using weighted data. Statistical analysis including multiple logistic regression analysis were done for each sex, respectively. Because of the large number of coefficients estimated, Bonferroni's method was used to compute p values. RESULTS: The results were as follows: 1) Prevalence of the drinkers was 33.7% in the total sample. Prevalence rate of male and female drinker were 26.3% and 7.40%, respectively. Prevalence of the drinkers with probable AD was 10.9%. For males the prevalence of the drinkers with probable AD was 9.99% and for females 0.94%. 2) According to sociodemographic variables between drinkers without dependence and drinkers with probable AD, males drinkers with probable AD were older, less educated, more depressive, married marital status and were more likely to have occupations of service section than male drinkers without dependence. Female drinkers with probable AD were less educated, more depressive and had less monthly income than drinkers without dependence. 3) As for the drinking patterns, male drinkers with probable AD drank more frequently, had more drinks, had more trying to quit drinking and preferred Soju. Female drinkers with probable AD drank more frequently, had more drinks, were more trying to quit drinking, too. 4) Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the risk factors for male drinkers with probable AD were lower education(< or =6 years) and depressive symptoms. For females, depressive symptoms and lower education(< or =6 years) were strongly indicative of risk factors though not reaching the statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of the drinkers with probable AD was 10.9%, and male to female ratio was 10.6:1, which was lower than previous results. Depressive symptoms and lower education proved to be strong predictors for alcohol dependence. This suggest that early detection and treatment of depression and public education for the lower education group should be important.
Adult* ; Alcoholism* ; Depression ; Drinking ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Marital Status ; Occupations ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors* ; Sampling Studies*

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association between Body Mass Index, suicide, perceived stress, and life dissatisfaction in a general population sample of Korean adults. METHODS: A total of 6,022 nationally representative adults aged 18 to 74 were selected using a multistage cross-sectional cluster sampling method. Questionnaires regarding suicide behaviors, perceived stress, and life satisfaction were completed by the participants. They also reported their heights and weights, which were used to calculate BMI. Psychiatric disorders were diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, using the Korean version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. RESULTS: The results showed that being underweight was associated with higher risk for suicide ideation [odds ratio (OR), 1.6; 95% confidence interval (Cl), 1.18–2.05] and suicide attempt (OR, 2.0, 95% Cl, 1.23–3.31). Likewise, obesity also increased the risk of suicide ideation (OR, 1.3; 95% Cl, 1.11–1.56) although not suicide attempt. Furthermore, underweight individuals were more likely to report severe level of perceived stress (OR, 1.7; 95% Cl, 1.26–2.17) and life dissatisfaction (OR, 1.3; 95% Cl, 1.07–1.68). All of the results remained significant after adjusting for age, gender, education, and psychiatric illnesses. CONCLUSION: This study found that being underweight is a significant risk factor for suicide and poor subjective wellbeing in Korea. It suggests that BMI status may be an important modifiable factor for improving mental health in Korea.
Adult ; Body Mass Index* ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Education ; Humans ; Korea ; Mental Health ; Methods ; Obesity ; Risk Factors ; Suicide* ; Thinness ; Weights and Measures

Aluminum (Al) accumulation increases with aging, and long-term exposure to Al is regarded as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. In this study, we investigated the effects of Al and/or D-galactose on neural stem cells, proliferating cells, differentiating neuroblasts, and mature neurons in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. AlCl3 (40 mg/kg/day) was intraperitoneally administered to C57BL/6J mice for 4 weeks. In addition, vehicle (physiological saline) or D-galactose (100 mg/kg) was subcutaneously injected to these mice immediately after AlCl3 treatment. Neural stem cells, proliferating cells, differentiating neuroblasts, and mature neurons were detected using the relevant marker for each cell type, including nestin, Ki67, doublecortin, and NeuN, respectively, via immunohistochemistry. Subchronic (4 weeks) exposure to Al in mice reduced neural stem cells, proliferating cells, and differentiating neuroblasts without causing any changes to mature neurons. This Al-induced reduction effect was exacerbated in D-galactose-treated mice compared to vehicle-treated adult mice. Moreover, exposure to Al enhanced lipid peroxidation in the hippocampus and expression of antioxidants such as Cu, Zn- and Mn-superoxide dismutase in D-galactose-treated mice. These results suggest that Al accelerates the reduction of neural stem cells, proliferating cells, and differentiating neuroblasts in D-galactose-treated mice via oxidative stress, without inducing loss in mature neurons.
Adult ; Aging ; Aluminum* ; Alzheimer Disease ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; Dentate Gyrus* ; Galactose ; Hippocampus ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Mice* ; Nestin ; Neural Stem Cells* ; Neurons ; Oxidative Stress* ; Risk Factors ; Superoxide Dismutase

PURPOSE: Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) is increasingly being detected in recent years with the more frequent use of computerized tomography (CT). The present study was performed to evaluate the clinico-radiologic characteristic presentation of PI and to determine the prognostic factors for mortality. METHODS: Fifteen patients who were diagnosed with PI on CT between June 2000 and May 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Age, sex, location of PI, presence of portal vein gas, time to diagnosis, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II), acidosis, shock, and other associated findings were analyzed for their association with outcome. RESULTS: Fifteen patients (7 males and 8 females, average age, 60.3 years) were diagnosed with PI. Mortality rate was 47% (7 patients). The mortality rate in patients with septic shock, APACHE II score (18), acidosis (pH<7.36) were all 100%, 87%, 100%, respectively (P<0.05). Age, sex, location of PI, portal vein gas, time to diagnosis, ASA classification, associated findings did not show statistical difference. CONCLUSION: Shock, APACHE II score (18) and acidosis were associated with high mortality in patients with PI. So, more intensive management and interest are recommended in patients with shock, APACHE II score (18), and acidosis due to PI.
Acidosis ; APACHE ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Portal Vein ; Retrospective Studies ; Shock ; Shock, Septic

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to examine the symptom characteristics of depression in the elderly who live alone. METHODS: This study is a community-based, cross-sectional study that included 915 elderly subjects aged 65 years and over without cognitive impairment. The Korean version of the Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form (SGDS-K) was used for the evaluation of depressive symptoms. Participants were classified into three groups ; 1) living with their spouse and other family members, 2) living without their spouse (separated, divorced, or widowed) but with other family members, 3) living alone. The odds ratios of each item of SGDS-K were evaluated by logistic regression using the first group as the reference group. Adjustments were done for age, sex, education years, insurance, presence of illness, drinking, smoking and exercise. RESULTS: The living-alone elderly were at increased risk of reporting 'hopelessness' (AOR 1.50, 95% CI 1.03-2.18, p=0.033) and 'boredom' (AOR 1.57, 95% CI 1.08-2.23, p=0.018). The depressive symptoms of the elderly who were living with family members other than spouse were not significantly different from those of the reference group. CONCLUSION: Living alone is related to depression in the elderly, especially to the symptoms of hopelessness and boredom.
Aged ; Boredom ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Divorce ; Drinking ; Humans ; Insurance ; Logistic Models ; Odds Ratio ; Residence Characteristics ; Sex Characteristics ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Spouses ; Suicide