No abstract available.
Humans

OBJECTIVE: Thyroid nodule is frequent and occurs in about 5+ACU- of the general population. In contrast, thyroid cancer is much less frequent and occurs in about 5-10+ACU- of thyroid nodules. Distinguishing between benign and malignant lesions is an important task that is best accomplished by fine needle aspiration. Recently, Chiappetta et al. reported that the expression of the high mobility group (HMG) I(Y) proteins correlates with the malignant phenotype of human thyroid neoplasia, and suggested that the detection of the HMG I(Y) proteins might be a valid tool for an easy and sensitive discrimination assay between benign and malignant neoplastic thyroid disease. METHODS: We evaluated the expression of the HMG I(Y) mRNA in 39 frozen thyroid tissues from patients with thyroid nodule by semiquantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS: The expression of the HMG I(Y) mRNA was low in all of 10 normal thyroid tissues. In all of 3 adenomatous goiters, 6 follicular adenomas and 2 Hurthle cell adenomas, the HMG I(Y) mRNA expression level was low. In 11 of 13 papillary carcinomas and all of 5 follicular carcinomas, the HMG I(Y) mRNA expression level was high. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that there is a correlation between the expression of HMG I(Y) and the malignant phenotype of thyroid cancer, suggesting that these proteins may be useful as a marker in thyroid cancer.
Biopsy, Needle ; Comparative Study ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; High Mobility Group Proteins/analysis+ACo- ; Human ; Male ; Probability ; RNA, Messenger/analysis+ACo- ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thyroid Neoplasms/genetics+ACo- ; Thyroid Neoplasms/diagnosis+ACo- ; Thyroid Nodule/genetics+ACo- ; Thyroid Nodule/diagnosis+ACo- ; Tumor Markers, Biological/analysis+ACo-

High Mobility Group I(HMG-I) proteins are nuclear proteins that are required for induction of the human IFN-beta gene by virus and for the regulation of the tumor necrosis-beta factor and rRNA genes. Proteins I and Y result from alternative splicing of a single functional gene named HMGI(Y). In several studies, elevated expressions of the HMGI proteins (HMGI, HMGY, and HMGI-C) have been used as markers in thyroid cancer, but not in adenomas, goiters, and normal thyroid tissues and cells. Here, we try to demonstrate the elevated expression of the HMGI(Y) proteins in thyroid carcinomas by using semi-quantified RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription and Polymerase Chain Reaction). In cases of thyroid carcinomas 4 of 5(80%) were positive, in 10 cases of adenomas, goiters, and normal thyroid tissues, 1(10%) was positive. These results suggest that the semi-quantified RT-PCR is useful preoperative diagnostic tool for differentiating thyroid tumors.
Adenoma ; Alternative Splicing ; Genes, rRNA ; Goiter ; HMGA1a Protein ; Humans ; Nuclear Proteins ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Hydronephrosis* ; Radioisotope Renography*

The purpose of this study was to develop the CORE Program for sex offenders and to determine its effectiveness. The CORE Program was designed with an aim to achieve cognitive restructuring, improve the ability to empathize in interpersonal relationships, and enhance self-esteem and intimacy. We conducted this program over 48 sessions for 28 sex offenders. The effectiveness of the program was evaluated using the Interpersonal Responsiveness Index (IRI), Self-esteem Questionnaire (SEQ), UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLALS), Coping Using Sex Inventory (CUSI), Rape Myth Acceptance Scale (RMAS), and Wilson's Sex Fantasy Questionnaire (WSFQ). The data were analyzed using paired t-tests. Our results showed no significant changes in the SEQ, UCLALS, and IRI scores after the treatment program. However, the scores for the CUSI, RMAS, and WSFQ significantly improved after this program. In this paper, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the CORE Program for sex offenders. We also discuss the limitations of our study and provide suggestions for future research. Our findings indicate that this treatment program should be provided to sex offenders for preventing recidivism.
Criminals ; Fantasy ; Humans ; Loneliness ; Paraphilic Disorders ; Rape ; Surveys and Questionnaires

By means of hospital-based data over 8 years we sought to evaluate the clinical indications and incidence of emergency peripartum hysterectomy by demographic characteristic and reproduction history. From the obstetric record of all deliveries at Chung Goo Hospital between Jan. 1, 1990, and Nov. 31, 1997, we identified all women undergoing emergency cesarean hysterectomy, calculated incidence rates, conducted statistical tests of linear trends and heterogenety, and observed the clinical indicatons preceding the onset of this procedure. There were 16731 deliveries during this period, Cesarean hysterectomy was performed in 24 of 5993 cesarean sections(0.40%) and in 10 of 10738 vaginal deleveries(0.09%), so more frequently after cesarean section than vaginal delivery. The age of patients varied from 22 to 40 years old. The higher the age and the parity of patients, the higher incidence of cesarean hysterectomy was noted. The most common indication of cesarean hysterectomy was uterine atony(52.94%) followed by placental disorders(41.18%), uterine myoma with pregnancy(2.9%) and uterine rupture (2.9%). All patients who had hysterectomy received transfusion from 1 pint to 57 pints. The postoperative complications were bladder injury, febrile morbidity, disseminated intravascular coaguolopathy and wound disruption. There were three maternal deaths, the cause was disseminated intravascular coaguolopathy and amniotic embolism. The data identifiy uterine atony as the primary cause for gravid hysterctomy. The data also illustrated how the incidence of emergency peripartum hysterectomy increases significantly with increasing parity, especially when influenced by a current placenta previa or a prior cesarean section. Maternal morbidity remained high.
Adult ; Cesarean Section ; Embolism ; Emergencies ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Incidence ; Leiomyoma ; Maternal Death ; Parity ; Peripartum Period* ; Placenta Previa ; Postoperative Complications ; Pregnancy ; Reproduction ; Urinary Bladder ; Uterine Inertia ; Uterine Rupture ; Wounds and Injuries

Rapid progress in the development of communication devices has enabled us to use various and tremendous medical information regardless of time or place. Today, in Korea there are many homepages on the web which provide medical information, hospital information, and counseling on medical fields, but more detailed recent medical information, better quality control, and a greater variety of communication skills are needed. We analysed the data about breast cancer clinic on web from November 1998 to October 1999. The frequent questions were breast mass44%, breast pan 29%, and counseling on breast cancer 25%. The most frequent users were in their 3rd decades 55%, 4th decades 8%, and unknown cases 23%. The average number of visitors on wed was 454 per month. In near future, we believe that the use of the web as a information source will grow rapidly and we everyone will use internet in Korea. So, we should realize the virtual space is a reality, and we should use it as a proper education system for the people.
Breast Diseases* ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Counseling* ; Education ; Internet* ; Korea ; Quality Control

PURPOSE: To evaluated the effectiveness of abdominal ultrasonography as the initial diagnostic method in blunt renal trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was undertaken to compare computerized tomography with abdominal ultrasonography in radiographic staging of blunt renal trauma(Renal Injury scale grade I-V by Moor) except vascular injury. During 3-years period(May 1994 to March 1997), emergency computerized tomography was performed in 66 patients with blunt renal trauma, simultaneously 34 patients among 66 patient were scanned by abdominal ultrasonography. RESULTS: Gross hematuria were present 48% of renal trauma cases. The degree of hematuria showed not correlation with the severity of renal injury(p-value=0.213, by Chi-square test). In diagnostic agreement of abdominal ultrasonography compared to computerized tomography, the diagnostic agreement of minor renal injury(x=0.544, by k2 statistics) was higher than that of major renal injury(r=0.375, by k2 statistics). The overall diagnostic agreement of abdominal ultrasonography in detecting adjacent organ injury was 0.321 (k value). CONCLUSIONS: In ultrasonography imaging, we concluded that minor blunt rectal trauma is not necessary other radiologic evaluation, but major blunt renal trauma should be evaluated by computerized tomography for proper diagnosis of combined injury and diagnostic staging of renal trauma. Renal trauma associated Intraabdominal injury should undergo with ultrasonography-guided paracentesis. Based under result of our study, we suggest the use of abdominal ultrasonography as the initial diagnostic method in blunt renal trauma compatible for prompt diagnosis and treatment.
Diagnosis ; Emergencies ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Paracentesis ; Ultrasonography* ; Vascular System Injuries

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the spectrum of MR characteristics of cystic acoustic neurinomas and to correlate with pathologic findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the MR findings of 12 patients with cystic acoustic neurinomas. The signal intensity and enhancement pattern of the cystic components as well as the location relative to the tumors were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 30 cysts were found in 15 acoustic neurinomas;28 were intratumoral cysts and the remaining two were extratumoral cysts. The signal intensity of all 28 intratumoral cysts was higher than that of CSF on Tl-weighted images, and isointense to CSF on T2-weighted images, while the signal intensity of the two extratumoral cysts was same as CSF on both Tl-weighted and T2-weighted images. Rim enhancement was seen in 27 of 28 intratumoral cysts but in none of the two extratumoral cysts. CONCLUSION: We concluded that intratumoral cyst was due to tumoral necrosis, hemorrhage or degenerative change and extratumoral cyst due to secondary arachnoid cyst formation.
Acoustics* ; Arachnoid ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Neuroma, Acoustic* ; Retrospective Studies

Adenomyoepithelioma is a rare benign tumor which occurs mainly in the skin, salivary gland and very rarely in the breast, in case of malignant adenomyoepithelioma of the breast is a rare lesion characterized by malignant proliferation of epithelial and myoepithelial cells that show characteristic histology and immunohistochemical features. We report two cases of adenomyoepithelioma, one was benign occuring in the outer upper quadrant of the right breast (48-year-old female), and the other was malignant adenomyoepithelioma occuring in the peri-areolar of the left breast (46-years-old female). We confirmed with both H&E stain and immunohistochemistry. We report benign and malignant adenomyoepithelioma of the breast occurred in middle aged women.
Adenomyoepithelioma* ; Breast* ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Middle Aged ; Salivary Glands ; Skin