No abstract available.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Collagen* ; Insulin* ; Rats* ; Streptozocin*

BACKGROUND: Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is a genetic disorder of the melanin pigment system in which melanin synthesis is reduced or absent in the skin, hair, and eyes. OCA is classified into two major types, and tyrosinase-related OCA can be produced by mutations of the structural gene for tyrosinase enzyme (TYR gene). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the segregation of mutant alleles of the TYR gene in tyrosinase-negative and tyrosinase-positive Korean OCA patients and families. METHODS: We amplified exon I, II, and III of the TYR gene of Korean OCA patients and their families by polymerase chain reactions (PCR), and analyzed the mutations by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis in exon I and single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analyses in exon II and exon III. RESULTS: Two tyrosinase-negative cases showed mutations in exon I. Four tyrosinase-nega-tive cases and one tyrosinase-positive case showed mutations in exon II, and one tyrosinase-neg- ative case showed mutations in exon III. In summary, we found three kinds of mutation in four tyrosinase-negative OCA patients and one tyrsinase-positive OCA patient. CONCLUSIONS: RFLP and SSCP analysis can provide a basis for a rapid and sensitive screening system to detect TYR gene mutations of Korean OCA patients and their families.
Albinism, Oculocutaneous* ; Alleles ; Exons ; Hair ; Humans ; Korea* ; Mass Screening ; Melanins ; Monophenol Monooxygenase ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; Skin

PURPOSE: Single-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy may result in postoperative complication in patients with cholecystitis. An additional right subcostal port could make laparoscopic surgery safe in these patients. We suggest the transumbilical laparoscopic cholecystectomy with additional port, which can be performed safely regardless of cholecystitis. METHODS: Consecutive 291 patients underwent transumbilical laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the Department of Surgery by a single surgeon. We have usually used the globe port in the transumbilical area and an additional right subcostal port. RESULTS: The mean operation time was 44.0+/-15.2 min (range: 20-140). The mean hospital stay after operation was 4.0+/-2.3 days (range: 1-9). Postoperative complications were umbilical hernia (n=7) and bile leakage (n=3). There was no in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSION: Transumbilical laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be performed in patients with most of benign gallbladder disease. And, an additional right subcostal port could be helpful in ensuring safe transumbilical laparoscopic cholecystectomy, even in patients with cholecystitis.
Bile ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic* ; Cholecystitis ; Gallbladder Diseases ; Hernia, Umbilical ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Postoperative Complications

PURPOSE: Since endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) was first introduced in 1991, it has undergone rapid technical and quantitative developments. We analyzed the characteristics and trends of EVAR research through bibliometric analysis. METHODS: Comprehensive online searches focused on EVAR were performed from January 1994 to August 2017. The following information was collected: title, year of publication, countries' contribution, authorship, subspecialty, institution, subject category, and top 10 cited articles. RESULTS: A significant increase was demonstrated globally in the number of annual publications on EVAR. The highest number of publications was from the United States (n = 849, 35.08%), followed by England (n = 343, 14.17%), and the institutions with highest number of publications were Stanford University (n = 61, 2.52%) and Skane University Hospital Malmo (n = 45, 1.86%). The Journal of Vascular Surgery published approximately one quarter of the total publications. Vascular surgeons produced the most publications (n = 1871, 78.14%), followed by radiologists (n = 377, 15.58%) and cardiologists (n = 73, 3.02%). The most studied topics on EVAR were complications and procedures. The number of publications on complex EVAR and EVAR in juxtarenal aneurysm has increased more from 2013 to 2017 (5.1%, 9.5%) compared with from 1998 to 2002 (2.1%, 1.8%). CONCLUSION: Our bibliometric analysis showed the characteristics and trends of publications on EVAR over a period of 25 years. The results of the bibliometric analysis revealed the quantitative improvements of publications and the qualitative improvements in challenging EVAR.
Aneurysm ; Authorship ; Bibliometrics ; Endovascular Procedures ; England ; Publications ; Surgeons ; United States

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to test the reliability and validity of the Korean version of Interpersonal Reactivity Index (K-IRI). METHODS: A total of 484 participants were included in this study. Internal consistency and test/retest reliability (n=35) were examined. Criterion validity of the K-IRI was assessed against Affective Dimension of the 3D-Wisdom Scale. Factor analyses were also performed using principal component analysis with varimax rotation. RESULTS: The internal consistency of the K-IRI was 0.80, and test-retest reliability was 0.76. Criterion validity was evaluated by correlating the K-IRI with the Affective Dimension of 3D-Wisdom Scale (r=0.31). Factor analyses revealed factor structures similar to the original IRI. CONCLUSION: The K-IRI appeared to be a reliable and valid instrument for assessing empathy in the Korean population. This suggests that this scale may be applicable in clinical trials, research, and clinical practice.
Empathy ; Principal Component Analysis ; Reproducibility of Results

PURPOSE: Most men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) have bothersome lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). This study aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of high-performance system (HPS) laser photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) for the treatment of BPH in men with detrusor underactivity (DU). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 2009, 371 patients with BPH were divided into 2 groups according to the findings of preoperative urodynamic study: 239 (64.4%) patients with bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) and 132 (35.6%) patients with bladder outlet obstruction with detrusor underactivity (BOO+DU). 120 W HPS laser PVP was performed to resolve the BOO. The perioperative data and postoperative results at 1 month and 12 months, including the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), maximum urinary flow (Qmax), and postvoid residual urine (PVR) values, were evaluated. RESULTS: Compared with the preoperative parameters, significant improvements in IPSS, Qmax, and PVR were observed in each group at 1 and 12 months after the operation. In addition, IPSS, Qmax, and PVR were not significantly different between the BOO and BOO+DU groups at 1 and 12 months after the operation. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery to relieve BOO in the patients with BPH seems to be an appropriate treatment modality regardless of the existence of DU.
Humans ; Laser Therapy ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Male ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction ; Urodynamics ; Volatilization

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of anthocyanins extracted from black soybean, which have antioxidant activity, on apoptosis in vitro (in hormone refractory prostate cancer cells) and on tumor growth in vivo (in athymic nude mouse xenograft model). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The growth and viability of DU-145 cells treated with anthocyanins were assessed using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and apoptosis was assessed by DNA laddering. Immunoblotting was conducted to evaluate differences in the expressions of p53, Bax, Bcl, androgen receptor (AR), and prostate specific antigen (PSA). To study the inhibitory effects of anthocyanins on tumor growth in vivo, DU-145 tumor xenografts were established in athymic nude mice. The anthocyanin group was treated with daily oral anthocyanin (8 mg/kg) for 14 weeks. After 2 weeks of treatment, DU-145 cells (2x106) were inoculated subcutaneously into the right flank to establish tumor xenografts. Tumor dimensions were measured twice a week using calipers and volumes were calculated. RESULTS: Anthocyanin treatment of DU-145 cells resulted in 1) significant increase in apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner, 2) significant decrease in p53 and Bcl-2 expressions (with increased Bax expression), and 3) significant decrease in PSA and AR expressions. In the xenograft model, anthocyanin treatment significantly inhibit tumor growth. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that anthocyanins from black soybean inhibit the progression of prostate cancer in vitro and in a xenograft model.
Animals ; Anthocyanins/*pharmacology ; Apoptosis/*drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Nude ; NAD/metabolism ; Prostate-Specific Antigen/metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms/genetics/*pathology ; Receptors, Androgen/metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism ; *Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein/genetics/metabolism

OBJECTIVES: Abnormalities in various subcortical regions have been reported in previous structural neuroimaging studies for schizophrenia. To understand the subcortical abnormalities as a whole, all subcortical regions should be explored in each subject unlike most previous studies. Here, we explored major subcortical structures using volume measurement and shape analysis for schizophrenic patients (SZ), their unaffected siblings (Sib) and healthy controls without affected sibling (HC). METHODS: Structural magnetic resonance images were acquired from 24 SZ, 24 Sib and 19 HC. Both segmentation and shape analysis for subcortical structures was performed using FMRIB Integrated Registration and Segmentation Tool integrated within the FSL software. The group comparison of subcortical volumes was performed with multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). RESULTS: In SZ group, shape deformities were observed in the left nucleus caudates, left thalamus, left putamen and bilateral pallidus were increased compared with HC group. In Sib group, shape deformities were observed in the left pallidus, left putamen and left putamen was decreased compared with HC group. In Sib group, left nucleus accumbens was increased compared with SZ group. CONCLUSION: The result of this study using volume measurement and shape analysis suggest that subcortical structural abnormalities in cortico-striato-pallido-thalamic and reward circuits are related with both the pathology of schizophrenia and genetic predisposition.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neuroimaging ; Nucleus Accumbens ; Putamen ; Reward ; Schizophrenia ; Siblings ; Thalamus

PURPOSE: Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) recipients are vulnerable to invasive infection by Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (Sp). This study was performed to evaluate immune responses after Hib and Sp vaccination in Korean pediatric HCT recipients. METHODS: Patients were prospectively enrolled at Samsung Medical Center during 2009-2011. ELISA tests to detect anti-PRP IgG antibody and antibodies to Sp serotypes 4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F, and 23F were performed at the Center for Vaccine Evaluation and Study, Ewha Medical Research Institute. RESULTS: Ten patients (two allogeneic, eight autologous recipients) with median age 5.4 years (range 2.7-12.2 years) were enrolled. Before Hib vaccination, 60% of patients' anti-PRP IgG titers were below 0.15 microg/mL. After vaccination, 100% of patients' anti-PRP IgG titers increased above 0.15 microg/mL (cut-off value for detection) and 1.0 microg/mL (cut-off value for seroprotection). For pneumococcus, in 2-5 year-old patients, pre-vaccination geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) of IgG for six serotypes (4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, and 23F) were below 0.35 microg/mL and at 5 months post-vaccination GMCs of IgG for all seven serotypes increased to above 0.35 microg/mL. In patients older than 5 years, pre-vaccination GMCs of IgG for four serotypes (4, 9V, 14, and 23F) were below 0.35 microg/mL and at 3 months post-vaccination GMCs of IgG for all seven serotypes increased to above 0.35 microg/mL. CONCLUSION: Most HCT recipients had low or no protective antibodies to Hib and Sp before vaccination, but showed good immune responses to protective levels after vaccination.
Academies and Institutes ; Antibodies ; Antibody Formation* ; Cell Transplantation* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Haemophilus influenzae type b* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Prospective Studies ; Streptococcus pneumoniae* ; Transplants* ; Vaccination*

The safety and effectiveness of extraperitoneal C/S are controversial, so it has been performed for the purpose of training for selected cases . But we think this procedure have some benefit in selected cases. This study was based on retrospective investigation of 300 cases of extraperitoneal cesarean section among 332 cases at Eul Ji Medical hospital, during from January, 1995 to December, 1996. The results were as follows: 1. The most prevalent age distribution was seen in the age group of 26~30. 2. The indication for extraperitoneal cesarean section were dystocia(38.3%), previous cesarean section(32.6%), elderly primigravida(12.6%) in orders. 3. In the type of the anesthesia, general anesthesia was 70.7%, epidural anesthesia was 15% and spinal anesthesia was 14.3%. 4. The most common group of operation time was 36~40minute(34.3%). 5. The post operative complications and maternal morbidities were breast engorgement(21%), peritoneal opening(19.6%), endometritis(4.3%) in orders. 6. Of all cases, the blood transfusion rates was 6%. 7. The most common group of hospital stay was 5~6 days(82%). 8. In the body weight distribution of infants, the group of 3,000~3,499gm was the most common(80.7%). 9. Of extraperitoneal cesarean sections, cases of the 5minute Apgar score more than 7 were the most common(99%). 10. The most common failure factor was abdominal and pelvic 11. There was no maternal death case.
Age Distribution ; Aged ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Apgar Score ; Blood Transfusion ; Body Weight ; Breast ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Length of Stay ; Maternal Death ; Methods ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies