No abstract available.
Nocardia* ; Pneumonia*

Human stem cells have been isolated from embryos as well as diverse somatic tissues. Much efforts have been made to apply those stem cells for therapeutic purpose. Molecular dissection of "stemness" and differentiation process will provide us a clue to further understanding of stem cell biology. The fate of stem cell is determined in part by internal regulation mediated by transcriptional control. A set of genes related to specific functions might be expressed and suppressed upon external or internal signaling. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the complete gene expression profile that defines the stem cell. Moreover, we should verify the potential of therapeutic stem cells regarding differentiation, specific function, tumorigenecity, and toxicity rigorously before the clinical application. At present we have only limited information on "stemness" and differentiation into specific lineages. In the genome era, we can draw a molecular portrait on these functional and morphologic changes along the differentiation, trans-differentiation as well as de-differentiation using the DNA chip technology. We need to accumulate database for gene expression at various steps of stem cell differentiation, which will enhance our knowledge for research on and medical application of stem cell.
Biology ; Embryonic Structures ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genome ; Genomics ; Humans ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Stem Cells* ; Transcriptome

The wrist joint is exposed to trauma easily which is a small portion of human body. Because there are many structures(tendons, vessels and nerves) in the wrist, it is necessary to examine carefully and treat properly when it is damaged. We have treated 230 cases of soft tissue injuries around the wrist and the result can be summarized as follows; 1. Among the 230 cases, the male ratio was 85% and the highest incidence was in the third decade. 2. Right side injuries were more than left and flexor surface injuries were more than extensor surface. 3, The main cause of injury was glass, 149 cases(64.8%) and the next on was knife, 37 cases(16%). 4. Injuries in the night were more than daytime. 5. Injuries in the summer were more than winter.
Glass ; Human Body ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; Tendons ; Wrist Joint ; Wrist

We conducted this cohort analytic study to determine whether women with unexplained elevations of maternal serum hCG at 15-18 weeks' gestation are at increased risk for pregnancy complications and adverse perinatal outcomes. The inclusion criteria were a singleton gestation, a confirmed gestational age, and an hCG level greater than 2.0 multiples of the median (MoM). The exclusion criteria were fetal anomalies, an abnormal karyotype, molar pregnancy, and an MSAFP level greater than 2.5 multiples of the median (MoM). A group of randomly selected women with hCG levels under 2.0 MoM served as controls. Patients with elevated levels of hCG had a significantly higher risk for PIH (17.9% versus 4.5%; P <.05) and preterm delivery (17.9% versus 3.5%; P<, 05) than control. But no significant differences were observed in the incidence of intrauterine growth restriction and low birth weight and in the newborn weight. We suggested that pregnancies with unexplained elevated hCG levels should be regarded as high-risk pregnancies. And these patients require careful monitoring with adequate obstetric management.
Abnormal Karyotype ; Chorionic Gonadotropin* ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans* ; Hydatidiform Mole ; Incidence ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; Pregnancy Outcome* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy, High-Risk

BACKGROUND: Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a relatively recently identified respiratory virus that induces respiratory symptoms similar to those of respiratory syncytial virus infection in children. The characteristics of hMPV-infected adults are unclear because few cases have been reported. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of hospitalized adult patients with a positive multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction assay result from 2012 to 2016 at a single tertiary referral hospital in South Korea. We analyzed clinical characteristics of the enrolled patients and divided patients into an acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) group and a non-ARDS group. RESULTS: In total, 110 adults were reviewed in this study. Their mean age was 61.4 years, and the majority (n = 105, 95.5%) had comorbidities or were immunocompromised. Most of the patients had pneumonia on chest X-ray (n = 88, 93.6%), 22 (20.0%) had ARDS, and 12 (10.9%) expired during hospitalization. The mortality rate for patients with ARDS was higher than that of the other patients (36.4% vs. 5.7%, P = 0.001). The risk factor for hMPV-associated ARDS was heart failure (odds ratio, 5.24; P = 0.044) and laboratory values were increased blood urea nitrogen and increased C-reactive protein. The acquisition site of infection was divided into community vs. nosocomial; 43 patients (39.1%) had a nosocomial infection. The risk factors for nosocomial infection were an immunocompromised state, malignancy and immunosuppressive treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that hMPV is one of the important respiratory pathogens important respiratory pathogen that causes pneumonia/ARDS in elderly, immunocompromised individuals and that it may be transmitted via the nosocomial route.
Adult* ; Aged ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; C-Reactive Protein ; Child ; Comorbidity ; Cross Infection ; Heart Failure ; Hospitalization ; Humans* ; Korea ; Metapneumovirus* ; Mortality* ; Pneumonia ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult* ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses ; Retrospective Studies* ; Risk Factors ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Thorax

No abstract available.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to provide a nationwide analysis on barriers to cervical cancer screening in Korea. METHODS: Data used for this study was obtained in a survey called Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2005, which collected data from 2,590 Korean women aged older than 21 years who had not had a hysterectomy and were eligible for Papanicolaou (Pap) smears. Multivariate analysis was adopted to control each demographic factor and unhealthy behavior variable. Demographic factors included age, education, income, job and region; health-related behavior factors were defined as current smoking, obesity, hormone replacement therapy and disability. RESULTS: The study found that cervical cancer screening rate was significantly positively associated with income (odds ratio [OR], 1.002; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.001 to 1.002), with education (OR, 1.324; 95% CI, 1.030 to 1.703), with job (OR, 1.420; 95% CI, 1.030 to 1.957), and with hormone replacement therapy (OR, 3.732; 95% CI, 2.354 to 5.916). Meanwhile, the age (OR, 0.977; 95% CI, 0.968 to 0.985), disability (OR, 0.358; 95% CI, 0.143 to 0.894) and smoking (OR, 0.447; 95% CI, 0.280 to 0.715) were significantly negatively associated with one's chances to take cervical cytology. CONCLUSION: In order to increase the rates of Korean women taking Pap test, cervical cancer screening programs will have to pay special attention to the elderly, low-income group, smokers, and the disabled.
Aged ; Demography ; Female ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nutrition Surveys ; Obesity ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; Vaginal Smears

According to previous reports, ankle arthrodesis is regarded as the best reconstructive procedure after limb salvage surgery for osteosarcoma of the distal tibia. Of the many arthrodesis options, vascularized fibular graft (VFG) is widely accepted as the most successful method. However, reconstruction using VFG is not always possible, because VFG is a complicated surgical procedure and is associated with high rates of morbidity at donor sites. The authors devised a novel reconstructive surgical procedure that exploits the osteogenic potential of the periosteum. A 10-year-old female patient with osteosarcoma of the distal tibia underwent limb salvage surgery and the ipsilateral distal fibula and periosteal sleeve were transported to the defect for ankle arthrodesis. The transported fibula and periosteal new bone formation acted as a dual strut bone graft providing better stronger stability than fibula alone transfer. The authors believe the proposed procedure is an easier alternative to the surgically demanding VFG method.
Animals ; Ankle ; Arthrodesis ; Child ; Durapatite ; Female ; Fibula ; Humans ; Limb Salvage ; Osteogenesis ; Osteosarcoma ; Periosteum ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Tibia ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants

PURPOSE: To determine the usefulness of three-dimensional CT angiography using multidetector-row CT (MDCT) for delineating the arterial anatomy of the liver. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hepatic arterial three-dimensional CT angiography was performed using MDCT (Lightspeed Qx/I; GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, Wis., U.S.A.) in 45 patients with HCC undergoing conventional angiography for transcatheter hepatic arterial chemoembolization. The scanning parameters during the early arterial phase were 2.5 mm slice thickness, 7.5 mm rotation of table speed, and a pitch of 3. Images were obtained by one radiologist using maximum intensity projection from axial CT images obtained during the early arterial phase. Two radiologists blinded to the findings of conventional angiography independently evaluated the hepatic arterial anatomy and the quality of the images obtained. RESULTS: Compared with conventional angiography, reader A correctly evaluated the hepatic arterial anatomy depicted at three-dimensional CT angiography. Reader B's evaluation was correct in 40 of 45 patients. Interobserver agreement was good (kappa value, 0.73), and both readers assessed the quality of three-dimensional CT angiography as excellent. CONCLUSION: Three-dimensional CT angiography using MDCT was accurate for delineating the arterial anatomy of the liver, and interobserver agreement was good. The modality may provide, prior to conventional angiography, valuable information regarding a patient's hepatic arterial anatomy.
Angiography* ; Hepatic Artery* ; Humans ; Liver

BACKGROUND: Pravastatin, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, has been known to be the most effective drug in patients with hypercholesterolemia. We studied the effectiveness and side effects of this drug. METHODS: We studied twenty four patients(8 males, 16 females), with pravastatin 5mg bid for 8 weeks, whose fasting serum total cholesterol levels were higher than 240mg/dl on the first visit. Lipid profiles were checked at 2 weeks interval for 8 weeks and compared with baseline level individually. RESULTS: Among lipid profiles, pravastatin significantly decreased the total cholesterol from 282.8mg/dL to 224.5mg/dL(reduction rate, 21%), the LDL cholesterol from 197.2mg/dL to 143.8mg/dL(27%), the total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio from 6.2 to 4.6(25%), and the LDL cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio from 4.1 to 2.7 (34%). These changes were statistically significant(p<0.05). Triglyceride and HDL cholesterol showed no significant changes compared to baseline levels during treatment. The clinical and laboratory findings after treatment did not show serious abnormalities except two patients who dropped out due to side effect such as constipation and skin eruption. CONCLUSION: Results from the present study show that short-term pravastatin therapy seems to be effective and safe in patients with hypercholesterolemia.
Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Constipation ; Fasting ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Hyperlipidemias* ; Male ; Oxidoreductases ; Pravastatin* ; Skin ; Triglycerides