Background: White matter hyperintensity (WMH) is a risk factor for dementia and ischemic stroke. The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) is a simple and cost-effective marker for the prediction of various vascular diseases. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between AIP and WMH in adults without cerebrovascular accidents. Methods: We analyzed the data of 281 adults, aged ≥26 years, who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the health promotion center of an education hospital between January 2014 and December 2018. Participants were divided into three categories according to tertiles of the AIP scores (T1: <0.20; T2: 0.20–0.48; and T3: >0.48). WMH was defined as a modified Fazekas scale score of 1–3 on brain MRI. A cubic spline curve was used to determine the linearity of the relationship between AIP and WMH. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between the AIP and WMH. Results: The prevalence of WMH was 45.7% in T1, 57.0% in T2, and 66.0% in T3 (T3 vs. T1, P for post-hoc analysis=0.005). The increased odds of WMH were associated with increased AIP. The odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) for WMH of T2 and T3 compared with T1 were 1.57 (0.88–2.80) and 2.30 (1.28–4.14), respectively. After adjusting for confounding variables, the OR with a 95% CI for WMH in the T2 and T3 groups vs. the referent T1 were 1.55 (0.76–3.13) and 2.27 (1.06–4.84), respectively. Conclusion AIP is independently and positively associated with WMH in a healthy population.

PURPOSE: Kawasaki disease can cause cardiovascular complications if not properly treated from the beginning. Recently, serum amyloid A(SAA) was reported to be a predictive factor of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, it was examined whether the existence of coronary artery abnormality in Kawasaki disease can be predicted in acute stage. METHODS: Forty nine patients who were diagnosed with Kawasaki disease between October, 2006 and May, 2007 at Yonsei University, Wonju College of Medicine were selected for this study. We reviewed results of CBC, AST, ALT, CK, LDH, total bilirubin, albumin, CRP, CK-MB, troponin-I, LDL, HDL, SAA, ESR. We divided the patients into two groups: Group A consisting of patients with coronary artery lesions, and group B consisting of patients without coronary artery lesions. RESULTS: CRP was significantly higher in group A (group A 11.0+/-7.0 mg/dL vs group B 5.3+/-5.3 mg/dL, P=0.030). SAA was slightly higher in group A but did not show any statistical significance (group A 283.8+/-357.3 microgram/mL vs group B 133.2+/-293.4 microgram/mL, P=0.128). Binary regression analysis was used to identify the significance of SAA as a predictor of coronary artery abnormality but did not find any significance (SAA OR=1.000, 95% CI=0.998-1.002, P=0.950). CONCLUSION: SAA are not significant predictors of coronary artery abnormality in Kawasaki disease but are non specific factors which increase in the acute stage.
Amyloid ; Bilirubin ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Coronary Vessels* ; Gangwon-do ; Humans ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Serum Amyloid A Protein* ; Troponin I

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to assess whether uterine intraendometrial or intramyometrial arterial blood flow impedance in Doppler sonography is related to the outcomes of IVF-ET cycles. METHODS: A total of 24 patients undergoing IVF-ET was recruited for the study. All patients received controlled ovarian hyperstimulation(COH) with GnRH agonist and gonadotropins. Doppler sonographic examinations were performed by using Combison 530(Medison) with 5.5 MHz transvaginal probe. Pulsatility index(PI) was evaluated for uterine, radial, and spiral arteries on the days of hCG administration, oocyte retrieval, and embryo transfer(ET). Serum E2 level was assayed on the hCG day. RESULTS: The overall pregnancy rate after IVF-ET was 29.2%(7/24). There was no significant difference in PI of uterine artery between pregnant and nonpregnant groups, No pregnancy occurred in 4(16.7%) patients without intraendometrial or subendometrial blood flow. Compared with nonpregnant group, PI of radial artery on the hCG day and PI of spiral artery on the hCG and oocyte retrieval days were significantly lower in pregnant group. There were no significant correlations between Serum E level on the hCG day and Pl of any three arteries. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the Doppler sonographic parameter, PI, of intraendometrial and intramyometrial arteries are more useful than that of uterine artery not only in predicting the success of IVF-ET, but also in assessing the endometrial receptivity.
Arteries* ; Electric Impedance ; Embryo Transfer* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Fertilization in Vitro* ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Gonadotropins ; Humans ; Oocyte Retrieval ; Pregnancy Rate ; Pregnancy* ; Radial Artery ; Serum ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Doppler* ; Uterine Artery

PURPOSE: To identify differences in ultrasonography (US) feature, clinical and pathological characteristics including immunohistochemical characteristics between small breast cancer (pathologic size ≤ 5 mm) and large breast cancer (> 5 mm). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 528 invasive breast cancer lesions in 475 patients were included. US features with clinical and pathological characteristics were evaluated according to pathologic size. US Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System findings and final assessments were recorded for each lesion. Standard references were based on surgical pathologies. RESULTS: Of 528 invasive breast cancer lesions, 62 were small breast cancers. Small breast cancers showed a higher rate of oval, round shape, parallel orientation; circumscribed margin; and iso/solid and cystic echo pattern, with no posterior feature. The final assessment of category 4 was also a dominant factor in small breast cancer. Early stage, asymptomatic state, and extensive ductal carcinoma in situ component were associated with small breast cancers. CONCLUSION Our results show that small breast cancers have less suspicious US features than large breast cancers.

OBJECTIVE: The change of claudin expressions, integral transmembrane proteins for tight junction, might be related to progression of cervical premalignancy or malignancy. The aim of this study was to verify the tendency of expressions of claudin-1 and -7 according to the progression of cervical pathology of uterus. METHODS: There were 162 tissues obtained at AA institute. 25 tissues were normal, 26 were cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 1, 30 were CIN2, 44 were CIN3, 25 were microinvasive cervical carcinomas, and 12 were invasive squamous cervical carcinomas (ISCC). H and E and immunohistochemical staining were done. RESULTS: Among normal tissues, 52% showed no expression, 48% weak expressions at claudin-1, and 28% no expression, 56% weak expressions at claudin-7. Among CIN3, 20% showed weak expressions, 41% showed moderate expressions at claudin-1, and 14% weak expressions, 52% moderate expressions at claudin-7. Among ISCC, 42% showed moderate expressions, 50% strong expressions at claudin-1, and 33% moderate expressions, and 33% strong expressions at claudin-7. These data shows the increasing tendency of claudin-1 and claudin-7 expressions according to the severity of lesions (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The expressions of claudin-1 and claudin-7 were increased more according to the progression of cervical lesions.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; Claudin-1* ; Pathology ; Tight Junctions ; Uterus

OBJECTIVE: The change of claudin expressions, integral transmembrane proteins for tight junction, might be related to progression of cervical premalignancy or malignancy. The aim of this study was to verify the tendency of expressions of claudin-1 and -7 according to the progression of cervical pathology of uterus. METHODS: There were 162 tissues obtained at AA institute. 25 tissues were normal, 26 were cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 1, 30 were CIN2, 44 were CIN3, 25 were microinvasive cervical carcinomas, and 12 were invasive squamous cervical carcinomas (ISCC). H and E and immunohistochemical staining were done. RESULTS: Among normal tissues, 52% showed no expression, 48% weak expressions at claudin-1, and 28% no expression, 56% weak expressions at claudin-7. Among CIN3, 20% showed weak expressions, 41% showed moderate expressions at claudin-1, and 14% weak expressions, 52% moderate expressions at claudin-7. Among ISCC, 42% showed moderate expressions, 50% strong expressions at claudin-1, and 33% moderate expressions, and 33% strong expressions at claudin-7. These data shows the increasing tendency of claudin-1 and claudin-7 expressions according to the severity of lesions (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The expressions of claudin-1 and claudin-7 were increased more according to the progression of cervical lesions.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; Claudin-1* ; Pathology ; Tight Junctions ; Uterus

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Because detection and removal of colonic adenoma provided an opportunity to prevent colorectal cancer, advanced adenoma (>10 mm, villous or high grade dysplasia) should be the major target of screening. In this study, we assessed the diagnostic sensitivity of one- or two-time immunochemical fecal occult blood test (i-FOBT), flexible sigmoidoscopy and their combination in patients with advanced adenoma or non-advanced adenoma. MEHTODS: From January to October 2002, we performed colonoscopy with i-FOBT using latex agglutination method in 879 individuals. Among these, we diagnosed 234 polyps in 93 patients with advanced adenoma and 179 polyps in 109 patients with non-advanced adenoma. After the diagnosis of adenoma, second i-FOBT was done before polypectomy. Based on these data, we evaluated the diagnostic sensitivities of i-FOBT, flexible sigmoidoscopy and their combination for patients with advanced adenoma or non-advanced adenoma. RESULTS: The diagnostic sensitivity of one- or two-time i-FOBT, flexible sigmoidoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy with two-time i-FOBT in patients with advanced adenoma vs.non-advanced adenoma were 17.2% vs. 18.3%, 28.0% vs. 29.4%, 70.1% vs. 66.1% and 81.7% vs. 78.0%. Although repeated application of i-FOBT enhanced diagnostic sensitivity for colon adenoma, this test or combination with flexible sigmoidoscopy did not differentiate advanced adenoma from non-advanced adenoma. CONCLUSIONS: Although it fails to detect one fifth of colon adenoma, combined two-time i-FOBT testing with flexible sigmoidoscopy is an effective and feasible screening modality for advanced colon adenoma.
Adenoma* ; Agglutination ; Colon* ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Latex ; Mass Screening ; Occult Blood ; Polyps ; Sigmoidoscopy*

The objective of this study was to develop a pre-clinical large animal model for the in vivo hemodynamic testing of prosthetic valves in the aortic position without the need for cardiopulmonary bypass. Ten male pigs were used. A composite valved conduit was constructed in the operating room by implanting a prosthetic valve between two separate pieces of vascular conduits, which bypassed the ascending aorta to the descending aorta. Prior to applying a side-biting clamp to the ascending aorta for proximal grafting to the aortic anastomosis, an aorta to femoral artery shunt was placed just proximally to this clamp. The heart rate, cardiac output, Vmax, transvalvular pressure gradient, effective orifice area and incremental dobutamine stress response were assessed. A dose dependant increase with dobutamine was seen in terms of cardiac output, Vmax, and the peak transvalvular pressure gradient both in the native and in the prosthetic valve. However, the increment was much steeper in the prosthetic valve. No significant differences in cardiac output were noted between the native and the prosthetic valves. The described pre-clinical porcine model was found suitable for site-specific in-vivo hemodynamic assessment of aortic valvular prosthesis without cardiopulmonary bypass.
Adrenergic beta-Agonists/pharmacology ; Animals ; Aorta/pathology ; Aortic Valve/*pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dobutamine/pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Heart Rate ; *Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Male ; Pressure ; *Prosthesis Implantation ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Swine ; Thoracic Arteries/pathology

BACKGROUND: This study examined the effect of corticosteroids as a short-term treatment for patients with hemoptysis that requires conservative treatment including bed rest, antitussives and antibiotics. METHODS: From February 2005 to August 2006, 78 consecutive patients who visited the emergency room because of hemoptysis were enrolled in the study. Patients with hemoptysis due to lung cancer, active pulmonary tuberculosis, and pneumonia were excluded. The 78 patients were divided randomly into a corticosteroid medication group (n=37) and a control group (n=41). The mean control time of hemoptysis, mean in-hospital days, and complications of treatment were investigated prospectively. RESULTS: For the etiology of hemoptysis, inactive pulmonary tuberculosis alone or its associated complications (bronchiectasis and/or aspergilloma) were the most common causes (51%); bronchiectasis alone and bronchitis were the next most common causative diseases (15%, respectively). The patients' characteristics and symptoms in the corticosteroid medication and control groups were similar. The steroid medication group showed a significantly lower mean control time of hemoptysis than the control group (4.0+/-2.7 days, 6.1+/-4.8 days, respectively) (p=0.022) and had a lower mean number of in-hospital days (5.8+/-3.4 days, 7.9+/-4.8 days, respectively) (p=0.036). There were no significant complications, such as hospital-acquired pneumonia or gastrointestinal bleeding, related to the use of corticosteroids. CONCLUSION: The use of corticosteroids as a conservative treatment for hemoptysis due to bronchitis, bronchiectasis, inactive pulmonary tuberculosis and its related complications safely reduces the control time of hemoptysis as well as the number of in-hospital days.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Antitussive Agents ; Bed Rest ; Bronchiectasis ; Bronchitis ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Hemoptysis* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Pneumonia ; Prospective Studies ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

Hepatic adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to certain drugs may differ within each country, reflecting different patterns of prescription, socioeconomic status, and culture. The purpose of this study was to assess the suspected cause of hepatic ADRs using the spontaneously reported pharmacovigilance data from Korea. A total of 9,360 spontaneously reported adverse drug events (ADEs) from nine Pharmacovigilance Centers were analyzed. Risk of hepatic ADEs was assessed by calculating the reporting odds ratio (ROR). Of the 9,360 cases, 567 hepatic ADEs were reported. The most frequently prescribed drug classes inducing hepatic ADEs were anti-tuberculotics, cephalosporins, valproic acids, penicillins, quinolones, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), anti-viral agents, and statins. ROR values were especially high in anti-tuberculosis drugs, systemic antifungal drugs for systemic use, anti-epileptics, propylthiouracil, and herbal medicines. Underlying diseases such as tuberculosis (6.9% vs 0.9%), pneumonia (4.9% vs 1.7%), intracranial injury including skull fracture (4.5% vs 0.9%), HIV (3.4% vs 0.4%), subarachnoid hemorrhage (2.8% vs 0.5%), and osteoporosis (2.4% vs 1.4%) were significantly more common in hepatic ADE group. In conclusion, anti-infective drugs, anti-epileptics, NSAIDs and statins are the most common suspects of the spontaneously reported hepatic ADEs, in Korea. Careful monitoring for such reactions is needed for the prescription of these drugs.
Adult ; *Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems/statistics & numerical data ; Aged ; Anti-Infective Agents/adverse effects ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/adverse effects ; Anticonvulsants/adverse effects ; Drug Monitoring ; Drug-Induced Liver Injury/*epidemiology/*etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors/adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Pharmacovigilance ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors