BACKGROUND: Intracoronary stent implantation is a promising modality for establishing the blood flow of complex coronary arterial stenosis. However, previous studies have demonstrated that the angiographically visible thrombus is a high risk factor for possibility of stent thrombosis. So many investigators avoided stent implantation traditionally for thrombus containing lesion because of the potency of thrombogenecity of stent. But recently, advanced rapidly growing technique for stenting and powerful antithrombotic regimens make stent thrombosis rare. Stent implantantion has already been showed a acceptable method for bailout procedure of thrombotic occlusion in patients with angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction and also effective in intimal dissection, suboptimal results and arterial recoil. Accordingly, we investigated the effectiveness of stent implantation in the presence of intracoronary thrombus. METHODS: Eighteen patients(AMI 14, Unstable angina 4) underwent PTCA & stent implantation on culprit arterial lesion in all successfully. The stent group was comprised of Palmatz-Schatz stent 10, Cordis 2, Cook 5 and Jo-Med stent 1. Stent implanted to the lesion of remained thrombus visualization on coronary angiography after PTCA. RESULTS: No major complications were developed during hospitalization in all 18 patients. In all patients no stent thrombosis have occurred within 2 weeks after stent implantation. But one patients have showed intracoronary stent thrombus persistently, so we used intracoronary urokinase infusion for 36 hours but there was no visible thrombus after modified anticoagulation and antithrombotic regimen CONCLUSIONS: We harvested good preliminary results of intracoronary stent implantation in the setting of thrombus containing lesion.
Angina, Unstable ; Angioplasty ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Research Personnel ; Risk Factors ; Stents* ; Thrombosis* ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

OBJECIVE: Although incidence of the cervical cancer has been very high, it is possible to detect the early cervical cancer with screening methods. Among the screening methods of cervical cancer, Papanicolaou smear has lower sensitivity and higher false negative rate. The goal of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of cervicography in cervical cancer screening. METHODS: The data of Papanicolaou smear and cervigram has been obtained from 292 patients. The age range varied between 20 and 78 years with the average age of 42. Histologic specimens were obtained from patients whose abnormalities were detected by either Papanicolaou smear or cervigram. A total of 101 patients received a biopsy. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, negative predictive values, false negative rates and false positive rates. RESULTS: Results for Papanicolaou smear are as follows; sensitivity, 60.8%, specificity, 93.4%, positive predictive values, 66.0%, negative predictive values, 91.8%, false negative rates, 39.2% and false positive rates, 6.6%. In cervicography, sensitivity, 70.1%, specificity, 85.5%, positive predictive values, 56.3%, negative predictive values, 94.5%, false negative rates, 23.5% and false positive rates, 11.6%. Results for the combined methods are sensitivity with 82.4%, specificity with 92.5%, positive predictive values with 51.9%, negative predictive values with 97.0%, false negative rates with 11.8% and false positive rates with 16.2%. CONCLUSION: Cervicography is an effective method to screen cervical cancer. When cervicography is used with Papanicolaou smear, the detection rate of cervical cancer will be increased.
Biopsy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mass Screening* ; Papanicolaou Test ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

In connective tissue diseases, autoantibodies cause pulmonary interstitial inflammation and fibrosis, and patients require treatment with an immunosuppressive agent such as a steroid. Dermatomyositis is an incurable, uncommon form of connective tissue disease that occasionally causes diffuse pulmonary inflammation leading to acute severe respiratory failure. In such cases, the prognosis is very poor despite treatment with high-dose steroid. In the present case, a 46-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with dyspnea. He was diagnosed with dermatomyositis combined with cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) with respiratory failure and underwent treatment with steroid and an immunosuppressive agent, but the COP was not improved. However, the respiratory failure did improve after treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin, which therefore can be considered a treatment option in cases where steroids and immunosuppressive agents are ineffective.
Autoantibodies ; Connective Tissue Diseases ; Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia* ; Dermatomyositis* ; Dyspnea ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins* ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Inflammation ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia ; Prognosis ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Steroids

In this immunohistochemical study we applied a monoclonal antibody(mAb) to evaluate the expression pattern of lymphocyte functionassociated antigen 3(LFA-3) in rabbit`s corneas before and after intracorneal injection of Candida albicans. Ten right eyes were induced to get immunocompromized cornea with subconjunctival injection of 2mg of dexamethasone once a day for 3 days(group I), and 10 left eyes had normal cornea without subconjunctival injection of dexamethazone(group II). Each 2 corneas in both group I and II were resected at 3, 12, 24 and 72 hours after intracorneal injection of C. albicans. Each 2 corneas without intracorneal injection of C. albicans in both groups were used as a control. The results were as follows: LFA-3 was expressed weakly on corneal epithlium in control of group I and group II. Expression of LFA-3 on vascular endothelium of group II was somewhat stronger than that of group I, LFA-3 was expressed moderately on vascular endothelium, and was detected on corneal stroma at 3 hors after intracorneal injection in both groups. Expression of LFA-3 on corneal stroma was slightly increased in both group II, and markedly increased in group I at 12 hours after intracorneal injection. Group II showed slightly increased LFA-3 expression on corneal and II to be expressed on corneal endothelium and inflammatory cells at 24 hours after injection. Its expression on corneal epithelium, stroma and endothelium was more increased in group II than in group I at that time. Group I showed moderate LFA-3 expression on corneal epithelium, corneal endothelium and inflammatory cells, and strong expression on corneal stroma and vascular endothelium at 72 hours after infection. Otherwise, LFA-3 expression in group II was weak to moderate n corneal epithelium, corneal endothelium and inflammatory cell, and moderate on corneal stroma and vascular endothelium. In this study, it was found that expression of LFA-3 in group I was weaker than that in group II in control and at 3 hours after intracorneal injection of C. albicans, but group I showed more strong LFA-3 expression than group II after 12 hours of intracorneal injection.
Antigens, CD58 ; Candida albicans* ; Candida* ; Cornea ; Corneal Stroma ; Dexamethasone ; Endothelium ; Endothelium, Corneal ; Endothelium, Vascular ; Epithelium, Corneal ; Lymphocytes ; Rabbits*

PURPOSE: Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Tyr p) is known as the third most common mite following Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) and Dermatophagoides farina (Der f) in Korea. And it is an important allergen in allergic diseases, but there have been no reports on its sensitization rate in Korean children. The aim of this study was to evaluate its sensitization rate and the relationship between Tyr p and other parameters related to allergy. METHODS: This study included 662 allergic patients who visited the allergy clinic of Severance Children's Hospital between 2005 and 2008. Patients consisted of 472 asthmatic children, 102 patients with allergic rhinitis, 59 patients with atopic dermatitis, 7 patients with chronic urticaria and 22 patients with other diseases. Skin prick tests with 32 common allergens and measurements of peripheral blood eosinophil counts, serum total IgE level and eosinophil cationic protein were performed in subjects. RESULTS: Of the 662 patients, 592 (89.4%) showed positive responses to more than one allergen. The number of patients sensitized to Tyr p was 129 (19.5%). The wheal size induced by Tyr p was positively related to age (r=0.102 P=0.009) as well as the wheal size induced by house dust (r=0.298 P<0.001), Der p (r=0.272, P<0.001) and Der f (r=0.272, P<0.001). The wheal size induced by Tyr p was also positively related to serum total eosinophil counts (r=0.101,P=0.015) and IgE (r=0.153, P<0.001) and number of positive skin prick test (r=0.272, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Sensitization to Tyr p is prevalent in children with allergic disease. Therefore, this result should be considered when evaluating allergic children. Further studies are needed to elucidate the clinical significance of sensitization to Tyr p.
Allergens ; Child ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ; Dust ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Korea ; Mites ; Prevalence ; Pyroglyphidae ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; Skin ; Urticaria

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether polymorphism of Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene is associated with the risk of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in Korean women. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-six PCOS patients and eighty four controls were enrolled. Blood samples were collected from the patients diagnosed according to the 2003 revised criteria of the Rotterdam ESHRE/ASRM-sponsored PCOS consensus workshop group. Age matched women with regular menstruation from same geographic region were recruited as control subject. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of PCR products were done to determine all individuals' genotype. RESULTS: In women with COMT(LL) genotype, there was decreased PCOS risk and this difference was statistically significant (OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.11~0.51). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the COMT(LL) genetic polymorphism might be associated with PCOS risk in Korean women.
Catechol O-Methyltransferase ; Consensus Development Conferences as Topic ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Menstruation ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

PURPOSE: Following legal reform in 2013, the annual number of asylum seekers entering South Korea has increased from 1,143 in 2012 to 5,711 in 2015. We interviewed six African refugee mothers of young children regarding their health needs and barriers to access maternal child health services. METHODS: We recruited mothers who had visited a clinic for immigrants between July 2013 and August 2015. Participants were African refugee women, aged over 18 years, who had given birth in Korea within the previous 5 years and had come to Korea over a year before recruitment. Interview questions examined participants' experiences in pregnancy and childbirth and concerns regarding their child's health status. Initial data analysis involved all researchers' immersion in the entire collection of transcripts. We then noted recurrent topics and themes and identified similar issues. RESULTS: At the time of giving birth, 5 participants were asylum seekers and one had undocumented status. The following barriers impeded their access to maternal child healthcare: socioeconomic factors (unstable social identity, low economic status, difficulty obtaining health insurance), language barriers (lack of linguistically appropriate health information, limited access to translation services), and cultural barriers (religious and cultural differences). Weak social support also hindered access to healthcare soon after migration; however, social links with the community emerged as a key coping strategy following settlement. CONCLUSION: We identified barriers to maternal and child healthcare and coping strategies among African refugee mothers in Korea. Future research should assess refugees' health status and improve health access and literacy among refugee mothers.
Child ; Communication Barriers ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Female ; Health Services Accessibility ; Humans ; Immersion ; Infant ; Korea* ; Literacy ; Maternal-Child Health Services ; Mothers* ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Refugees* ; Social Identification ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Statistics as Topic

In connective tissue diseases, autoantibodies cause pulmonary interstitial inflammation and fibrosis, and patients require treatment with an immunosuppressive agent such as a steroid. Dermatomyositis is an incurable, uncommon form of connective tissue disease that occasionally causes diffuse pulmonary inflammation leading to acute severe respiratory failure. In such cases, the prognosis is very poor despite treatment with high-dose steroid. In the present case, a 46-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with dyspnea. He was diagnosed with dermatomyositis combined with cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) with respiratory failure and underwent treatment with steroid and an immunosuppressive agent, but the COP was not improved. However, the respiratory failure did improve after treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin, which therefore can be considered a treatment option in cases where steroids and immunosuppressive agents are ineffective.
Autoantibodies ; Connective Tissue Diseases ; Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia ; Dermatomyositis ; Dyspnea ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Inflammation ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia ; Prognosis ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Steroids

Complete resection of submucosal invasive colorectal cancer (SICC) showing favorable histology is regarded as curative. We report on two cases of SICC showing recurrence within 5 years despite complete resection. The first patient was a 68-year-old woman with well differentiated rectal adenocarcinoma invading the superficial submucosa, which recurred after 4.7 years. The second patient was a 53-year-old man with pT1N0 moderately differentiated colonic adenocarcinoma. He developed widespread tumor recurrence after 3.9 years. Retrospective pathologic review of the original tumors showed multiple foci of tumor budding at the invasive front. Immunohistochemical staining for D2-40 of deeper levels of the paraffin blocks showed rare foci of small lymphatic invasion. Tumor budding at the invasive front may be an important indicator for SICC aggressiveness or may reflect early lymphatic invasion. More aggressive pathologic examination and follow-up is required for patients with SICC showing tumor budding, even in the absence of unfavorable histologic findings.
Female ; Male ; Humans ; Adenocarcinoma

Complete resection of submucosal invasive colorectal cancer (SICC) showing favorable histology is regarded as curative. We report on two cases of SICC showing recurrence within 5 years despite complete resection. The first patient was a 68-year-old woman with well differentiated rectal adenocarcinoma invading the superficial submucosa, which recurred after 4.7 years. The second patient was a 53-year-old man with pT1N0 moderately differentiated colonic adenocarcinoma. He developed widespread tumor recurrence after 3.9 years. Retrospective pathologic review of the original tumors showed multiple foci of tumor budding at the invasive front. Immunohistochemical staining for D2-40 of deeper levels of the paraffin blocks showed rare foci of small lymphatic invasion. Tumor budding at the invasive front may be an important indicator for SICC aggressiveness or may reflect early lymphatic invasion. More aggressive pathologic examination and follow-up is required for patients with SICC showing tumor budding, even in the absence of unfavorable histologic findings.
Female ; Male ; Humans ; Adenocarcinoma