No abstract available.
Infant, Newborn ; Meconium Aspiration Syndrome* ; Meconium*

No abstract available.

Expression of the nm23 and E-cadherin proteins has been studied in a number of tumors. Reduced expression of the nm23 and E-cadherin proteins seems to be associated with metastasis or disease progression in some tumors, including breast carcinoma. To assess the role of nm23 and E-cadherin in tumor differentiation and metastasis of breast carcinoma, immunohistochemical staining for the nm23 and E-cadherin proteins was performed in paraffin embedded tumor samples from 86 breast carcinomas. The results were as follows: 1) Expression of the nm23 protein in breast carcinoma was strong positive in 32 cases (37.2%), weak positive in 26 cases (30.2%), and negative in 28 cases (32.6%) of the cases. Expression of the nm23 protein in breast carcinoma decreased according to histological grade and lymph node metastasis, but was not statistically significant. 2) Expression of the E-cadherin protein in breast carcinoma was strong positive in 50 cases (58.1%), weak positive in 24 cases (27.9%), and negative in 12 cases (14%) of the cases. Expression of the E-cadherin protein in breast carcinoma decreased according to histological grade and lymph node metastasis, but was not statistically significant. 3) There was a statistically significant correlation between the expression of the nm23 protein and the E-cadherin protein in breast carcinoma (p<0.05). These results suggest that the expression of the nm23 and E-cadherin proteins is related to tumor differentiation, and may also be an useful prognostic factor in breast carcinoma.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Cadherins* ; Disease Progression ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Paraffin

This study was designed to identify the factors relating to the retrieval of medical information from the Internet by patients at a general hospital in Seoul. A questionnaire survey was carried out for 440 inpatients and outpatients who visited the general hospital by 20 educated nurses between 24 and 25 October, 2002. The collected data were analyzed to evaluate the relationship between socioeconomic characteristics and Internet use, and opinions about medical information on the Internet and Internet use, by t-tests or chi-square tests. A logistic regression analysis was applied to find models explaining the factors affecting Internet use and the search for medical on the Internet. According to our logistic regression analysis, the younger, better educated, higher income, and singles showed a higher Odds ratio for Internet use. Age, education period, income and confidence level of the Internet contents were statistically significant in the search for medical information on the Internet(p< 0.05). The results showed the customers characteristics, needs, and problems with using the Internet in medical area on the customer s views. These results would be useful for building marketing strategies using the Internet as a way of servicing and communicating with the patients.
Education ; Hospitals, General* ; Humans ; Information Storage and Retrieval* ; Inpatients ; Internet ; Logistic Models ; Marketing ; Odds Ratio ; Outpatients ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seoul*

We investigated the sero-prevalence of toxocariasis among healthy Korean adults in 1999. A total of 314 sera from normal inhabitants in Whachon-gun, Gangwondo, Korea was examined for specific antibody levels against excretory-secretory products of second stage larvae of Toxocara (TES). The presence of cross-reactions with other helminthiases such as cysticercosis, paragonimiasis, sparganosis or clonorchiasis was also checked by specific IgG ELISA. Sera showing positive reaction against TES were also tested by IgG immunoblot and by IgE ELISA. Out of 314 subjects, 16 was found to be positive by TES IgG ELISA and immunoblot, among whom 12 were also positive by TES IgE ELISA. Among the 16 seropositive samples, two sera showed positive reaction against Paragonimus and sparganum antigen, respectively. These results inferred that cross-reactions were negligible between toxocariasis and other helminthiases. Toxocariasis seroprevalence among Korean rural adults was detected to be approximately 5%.
Adolescent ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Animals ; Antibodies, Helminth/blood ; Cross Reactions ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Human ; Korea/epidemiology ; Larva Migrans, Visceral/*epidemiology/immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Toxocara/immunology

No abstract available.
Hyperplasia*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the correlation of HPV infection and E6 oncoprotein expression with carcinogenesis and prognostic role of cervical carcinoma METHODS: Paraffin embedded tissues were obtained from 35 invasive cervical carcinoma, 15 carcinoma in situ, 12 dysplasia of cervix and 20 patients with benign uterine disease as control. HPV type was determined by polymerase chain reaction using type specific primers. E6 oncoprotein expression was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining using C1P5 mouse monoclonal antibody. RESULTS: 1. The positivity of HPV type 16 PCR in invasive cervical carcinoma was 77.1% and it was significantly higher than carcinoma in situ(53.3%), cervical dysplasia(25%), and control (10%). But the positivity of HPV type 18 was not correlated between above groups. 2. The positivity of HPV type 16/18 in cervical carcinoma was not correlated to patient's age. 3. The positivity of HPV in cervical carcinoma was correlated to clinical stage of cervical carcinoma but the positivity of HPV in cervical dysplasia was not correlated to the degree of dysplasia. 4. The positivity of E6 oncoprotein expression was 77.1% in invasive cervical carcinoma, 66.7% in carcinoma in situ and 20% in control group. E6 oncoprotein was not decteted among the cases which negative was for HPV 16/18. The E6 oncoprotein expression in 35 cases of invasive cervical carcinoma was negative in 8, weakly positive in 7, positive in 12, and strong positive in 8 ases. But in 20 cases of normal control group, there was no case of strong positive or posirive E6 oncoprotein expression. 5. The E6 oncoprotein expression was significantly correlated to the clinical stage and lymph node metastasis. The incidence of lymph node metastasis increased and the stage became higher as the E6 oncoprotein expression increased. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that HPV is one of the most important factors in the carcinogenesis of cervical carcinoma and the E6 oncoprotein expression may be associated with biological aggressiveness of cervical carcinoma.
Animals ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma in Situ ; Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Humans* ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes ; Mice ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Paraffin ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms* ; Uterine Diseases

It is been known that the deltoid ligament of the ankle joint plays an important role in the stabiliy of the ankle joint. In cases of deltoid ligament rupture, associated with lateral malleolar fractures, cannot be maintained the integrity of the mortise and the stability of the talus. Controversy remains about the treatment of deltoid ligament injuries. Many authors advocate an operative repair for deltoid ligament ruptures for optimal reduction of lateral malleolar fracture. However, according to recent cadaveric studies and many satisfactory results of clinical studies, excellent results have been reported regarding the ankle joint stability by anatomical reduction of the lateral structure, but only without surgical repair of the medial structure. Fourteen patients with lateral malleolar fractures with associated deltoid ligament injuries treated at Sun General Hospital between January 1990 and June 1995. There were examined clinically and radiologically. We concluded that deltoid ligament repairs should be considered unnecessary as long as fibular fracture are stabilized anatomically with normal medial joint space. However, in cases with higher fracture levels of lateral malleolus, associated with syndesmotic injury, we recommend syndesmotic screw fixation or deltoid ligament repair.
Ankle ; Ankle Injuries ; Ankle Joint ; Cadaver ; Fibula* ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Joints ; Ligaments* ; Rupture ; Solar System ; Talus

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether polymorphisms of gene encoding CYP1B1 is associated with the risk of endometriosis in Korean women. METHODS: We investigated 199 patients with histopathologically confirmed endometriosis rAFS stage III/IV and 183 control group women who were surgically proven to have no endometriosis. The genetic distribution of four different CYP1B1 polymorphisms at G119-T, G432-C, T449-C, and A453-G were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism of PCR products. RESULTS: We found no overall association between each individual CYP1B1 genotype and the risk of endometriosis. The odds ratio of genotype GG/GC+GG/TC+TT/AA compared to GG/CC/CC/AA (reference) was calculated as 2.06 with a 95% confidence interval of 1.003~4.216. CONCLUSIONS: This results suggest that CYP1B1 genetic polymorphism may be associated with development of endometriosis in Korean women.
Endometriosis* ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Odds Ratio ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

BACKGROUND: Minimal flow anesthesia preserves the moisture content of CO2 absorbents and seems to be a factor inhibiting carbon monoxide generation. In order to assess the safety of minimal flow anesthesia, we studied carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) level in minimal flow anesthesia. METHODS: Forty women, ASA physical status I or II, undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy were randomly allocated to one of two groups with N2O-enflurane anesthesia. Anesthesia was maintained with O2 2 l/min and N2O 2 l/min (group 1) or O2 0.3 l/min and N2O 0.2 l/min (group 2). The arterial COHb levels were measured immediately after induction (T1), 45 min after induction (T2), 75 min after induction (T3), and after recovery from anesthesia (T4). RESULTS: Although there was no statistically significant change in both groups, the COHb level at T3 and T4 increased more than that at T1 in group 1, and that at T3 and T4 decreased more than that at T1 in group 2. There was a significant difference in the COHb level at T4 between group 1 (0.93 0.31%) and 2 (0.68 0.36%) (P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results show that minimal flow anesthesia does not increase the COHb level and may be performed safely.
Anesthesia* ; Carbon Monoxide ; Carboxyhemoglobin* ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy