No abstract available.
Anemia, Iron-Deficiency* ; Iron*

No abstract available.
Leukemia*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Interleukin-2* ; Leukemia*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: TDI is known to be the most prevalent cause of occupational asthma ( OA ) in Korea. However, the pathogenesis of TDI - induced occupational asthma still remains to be further clarified. So, we evaluated clinical significance of serum specific IgG and IgE antibodies to TDI - HSA conjugate in TDI - induced occupational asthma. Subjects and METHODS: Serum specific IgG and IgE antibodies to TDI - HSA conjugate were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Serum was collected from 50 TDI- induced OA patients ( classified as group I ), and was compared with that from 13 asthmatic subjects with negative TDI - bronchoprovocation test ( BPT, group II ), allergic asthmatics ( group III ), and unexposed healthy controls ( group IV ). RESULTS: The prevalence of specific IgG was significantly higher in group I than in group II (p = 0.01) or group III (p <0.01). No significant difference was noted between group II and group III (p> 0.05). However, the prevalence of specific IgE was not different between group I and group II (p> 0.05 ) or group II and group III( p> 0.05 ). There was no significant difference in prevalence of specific IgG according to the asthmatic response during TDI bronchoprovocation test ( p> 0.05 ). No statistical significance was noted between specific IgG and IgE antibodies in group I subjects ( p> 0.05 ). CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that presence of specific IgG to TDI - HSA conjugate is closely related to TDI - BPT results and it may contribute to the development of TDI - induced asthma.
Antibodies* ; Asthma ; Asthma, Occupational* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans* ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Immunoglobulin G* ; Korea ; Prevalence ; Serum Albumin* ; Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate* ; Toluene*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the risk of vertebral compression fracture (VCF) after conventional radiotherapy (RT) for colorectal cancer (CRC) with spine metastasis and to identify risk factors for VCF in metastatic and non-metastatic irradiated spines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 68 spinal segments in 16 patients who received conventional RT between 2009 and 2012. Fracture was defined as a newly developed VCF or progression of an existing fracture. The target volume included all metastatic spinal segments and one additional non-metastatic vertebra adjacent to the tumor-involved spines. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 7.8 months. Among all 68 spinal segments, there were six fracture events (8.8%) including three new VCFs and three fracture progressions. Observed VCF rates in vertebral segments with prior irradiation or pre-existing compression fracture were 30.0% and 75.0% respectively, compared with 5.2% and 4.7% for segments without prior irradiation or pre-existing compression fracture, respectively (both p < 0.05). The 1-year fracture-free probability was 87.8% (95% CI, 78.2-97.4). On multivariate analysis, prior irradiation (HR, 7.30; 95% CI, 1.31-40.86) and pre-existing compression fracture (HR, 18.45; 95% CI, 3.42-99.52) were independent risk factors for VCF. CONCLUSION: The incidence of VCF following conventional RT to the spine is not particularly high, regardless of metastatic tumor involvement. Spines that received irradiation and/or have pre-existing compression fracture before RT have an increased risk of VCF and require close observation.
Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Compression* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Radiotherapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Spinal Fractures ; Spinal Neoplasms ; Spine*

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) provides high resolution images, which are useful in studying ultrastructure of cells and tissues. We have to use very thin section about 60~100 nm thickness due to poor penetration power of the conventional TEM at 100 kV. To overcome this limitation, TEMs using higher accelerating voltage have been developed. TEMs can be categorized into conventional TEM, intermediate TEM, high voltage TEM (HVEM), and ultrahigh voltage TEM according to their accelerating voltage. HVEM using 500~1,000 kV has an enough penetration power to observe thick specimen up to 3~4 micro, which is useful understanding 3 dimensional configuration of the cell and tissue. HVEM was built up in Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI, Daejeon, Korea) at 2004, maximum accelerating voltage is 1.3 MV in Korea. Many results showed up to the present various fields of science such as medical science, biology, agriculture and so on. Here, we briefly summarize recent biomedical applications of HVEM to provide an insight of HVEM for morphologist.
Agriculture ; Biology ; Electrons ; Korea ; Microscopy, Electron ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission

'Num-chin syndrome', isolated mental neuropathy, is a rare manifestaion of malignant hernatologic diseases, but important sign for early diagnosis and prediction of clinical course and prognosis. Here we report 7 cases of numb-chin syndrome; one in leukemic transformation of malignant lymphoma, one in blastic crisis of chronic myelogenous leukemia and 5 in acute leukemia Two cases of acute leukemia revealed the 'numb-chin sign' in early course of disease before the diagnosis of leukemia and other three in aggravating state of acute leukemia. The therapeutic response and prognosis was poor and 5 cases expired in a few months.
Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Hematologic Diseases* ; Leukemia ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; Lymphoma ; Prognosis

BACKGROUND: The prevalence and clinical characteristics of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in patients with psoriasis are not well described in Asian populations, including Koreans. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of PsA by using the classification of psoriatic arthritis (CASPAR) criteria on the basis of physical examination only, as well as its correlation with psoriasis severity and other medical conditions including nail psoriasis. METHODS: A single-center, cross-sectional observational cohort study was conducted, and the included patients were evaluated for PsA according to the CASPAR criteria. The psoriasis area severity index (PASI) and the nail psoriasis severity index (NAPSI) were calculated. RESULTS: The prevalence of PsA in patients with psoriasis in Korea was 13.5%. When performing logistic regression, hyperlipidemia and localized pustular psoriasis were found to be significant predictors of PsA. The PASI score was significantly higher in PsA patients than in those with psoriasis alone (p=0.014). Psoriatic nail involvement was found in 85.5% of the study population, and all PsA patients had nail psoriasis. The mean NAPSI score was higher in patients with PsA; however, the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: There was a close relation between psoriasis severity and PsA, although nail psoriasis severity was not related to PsA status. Dermatologists can diagnose PsA from current physical findings by using the CASPAR criteria. To validate the CASPAR criteria for PsA diagnosis, the definition of nail psoriasis clinical types and severity in the CASPAR criteria should be reviewed again.
Arthritis, Psoriatic* ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Classification ; Cohort Studies ; Dermatology* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Physical Examination ; Prevalence ; Psoriasis

BACKGROUND: The prevalence and clinical characteristics of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in patients with psoriasis are not well described in Asian populations, including Koreans. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of PsA by using the classification of psoriatic arthritis (CASPAR) criteria on the basis of physical examination only, as well as its correlation with psoriasis severity and other medical conditions including nail psoriasis. METHODS: A single-center, cross-sectional observational cohort study was conducted, and the included patients were evaluated for PsA according to the CASPAR criteria. The psoriasis area severity index (PASI) and the nail psoriasis severity index (NAPSI) were calculated. RESULTS: The prevalence of PsA in patients with psoriasis in Korea was 13.5%. When performing logistic regression, hyperlipidemia and localized pustular psoriasis were found to be significant predictors of PsA. The PASI score was significantly higher in PsA patients than in those with psoriasis alone (p=0.014). Psoriatic nail involvement was found in 85.5% of the study population, and all PsA patients had nail psoriasis. The mean NAPSI score was higher in patients with PsA; however, the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: There was a close relation between psoriasis severity and PsA, although nail psoriasis severity was not related to PsA status. Dermatologists can diagnose PsA from current physical findings by using the CASPAR criteria. To validate the CASPAR criteria for PsA diagnosis, the definition of nail psoriasis clinical types and severity in the CASPAR criteria should be reviewed again.
Arthritis, Psoriatic* ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Classification ; Cohort Studies ; Dermatology* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Physical Examination ; Prevalence ; Psoriasis