Chronic actinic dermatitis is an uncommon disabling ecxematous photosensitive eruption. The skin lesion is characterized by persistent eczematous eruptions on sun exposed skin with possible extension into nonexposed areas. The phototest shows decreased minimal erythema doses (MED) to UVB and possibly UVA. Histological features demonstrate chronic eczema with or without the presence of lymphoma like changes. The present cases showed pruritic erythematous patches and plaques on sun exposed areas and showed decreased minimal erythema doses to both UVB and UVA. We herein report three cases of chronic actinic dermatitis treated with systemic PUVA therapy.
Eczema ; Erythema ; Lymphoma ; Photosensitivity Disorders* ; PUVA Therapy* ; Skin ; Solar System

Disinfectants ; Fixatives ; toxicity ; Formaldehyde ; toxicity ; Paraffin Embedding ; Tissue Fixation

Background: We analyzed whether a maternity waiting home (MWH) for pregnant women in an obstetrically underserved area of Gangwon-do in Korea, which has been in operation since August 2018, has improved the accessibility of a maternity hospital and pregnancy outcomes. Methods: We compared and analyzed the accessibility of maternity hospitals for 170 pregnant women who applied for the MWH from August 2018 to May 2022. Among the 170 participants, 64 were MWH users and 106 non-users. The effect on pregnancy outcomes between MWH users and non-users was analyzed in the 160 people who achieved a pregnancy outcome. Results: Although the average distance and travel time from the pregnant women’s residence in the obstetrically underserved area to a maternity hospital were 56.4 ± 1.6 km and 63.4 ± 1.4 minutes, respectively, the average distance between the MWH and the MWH users’ maternity hospital was 2.7 ± 0.2 km, and the travel time was 10.7 ± 0.6 minutes. The distance was 55.6 km closer on average and the travel time 54.1 minutes shorter. MWH users gave birth at a significantly later gestation age (38.9 ± 0.2 vs. 38.3 ± 0.15 weeks, P = 0.024) and to infants with heavier birth weights (3,300 ± 60 vs. 3,100 ± 50 gm, P= 0.024) compared with non-users. The rate of Cesarean section was significantly higher in the MWH users (47.5% vs. 44.6%, P = 0.047). The MWH users tended to be associated with a lower rate of neonatal intensive care unit admission (5.1% vs. 11.0%, P = 0.204), lower birth weight (< 2.5 kg) (1.7% vs. 8.0%, P = 0.155), and lower fetal death rate in the uterus (0% vs. 1.0%, P = 1.0) compared with non-users, but the differences were not significant. Conclusion The MWH helped pregnant women in obstetrically underserved areas by improving accessibility to a maternity hospital and lengthening gestation. As a result, neonatal birth weight was heavier for MWH users than non-users. MWHs in Korea can provide an alternative way to improve accessibility to maternity healthcare for pregnant women in obstetrically underserved areas, where it is difficult to establish maternity hospitals, and thereby will improve their pregnancy outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the health information such as the general health information, the health product information, and the hospital information, and we wanted to identify the association between internet health information and the health related behavior by analyzing the process after people search the Internet. METHODS: A telephone survey with structured questionnaire was performed by trained surveyors. The respondents were sampled proportionate to the Korean demographic distribution with considering the city size and the populations' ages and gender. The survey was conducted from October 2006 to November 2006. RESULTS: Out of 3,758 successfully connected persons of age 20 or more, 871(23.2%) respondents had used Internet health information during the last year. The purposes of searching the Internet for health was, 1) to get general health information (717 cases, 81.0%), 2) shopping for health product (109 cases, 12.3%) and 3) seeking information about hospital selection (59 cases, 6.7%). Our research showed that the process after searching the Internet for health information depends on the purpose of the search. 68.8% of the searchers for general health information, 67% of the searchers for health product shopping and 64.4% of the searchers seeking information to guide hospital selection were satisfied with their Internet search. However one third of the respondents reported not being satisfied with the result of the search. CONCLUSIONS: Unsatisfied consumers with internet health information tended to ask lay referrals from others or they gave up seeking health information. The health information system should be improved to increase the accessibility and to provide reliable and effective information. Also, a more user-centric community is needed in order to strengthen the effective role of lay referrals among the internet users.
Adult ; Consumer Health Information/*methods ; *Consumer Satisfaction ; Educational Status ; Female ; *Health Behavior ; Health Status ; Humans ; *Internet ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Residence Characteristics

BACKGROUND: The G1/S phase proteins of the cell cycle play critical roles in tumorigenesis and tumor progression. Our aim was to investigate the significance of p53, cyclin D1 and c-myc expressions in thyroid tumors. METHODS: The expressions of these proteins were examined in 217 cases of thyroid tumors and tissues using immunohistochemistry. The results were correlated with lymph node metastasis. RESULTS: p53 expression was seen in 75.5, 47.5, 66.7, and 50% of papillary carcinomas (PC), follicular carcinomas (FC), undifferentiated carcinomas (UC) and follicular adenomas (FA), respectively. There was a significant difference between these expressions in these tumors and the results in nodular hyperplasia (NH) and normal tissues. Cyclin D1 expression was noted in 80.0, 68.4, 66.7, 61.1 and 79.5% of PC, FC, UC, FA and NH, respectively. c-myc expression was seen in 80.0, 94.2, 66.7, 66.7 and 52.3% of PC, FC, UC, FA and NH, respectively. There was a significant association between the expressions in these tumors and the results in normal tissues. The expressions of p53, cyclin D1 and c-myc were not correlated with lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest the expressions of p53, cyclin D1 and c-myc may act in the early stage, and participates in tumorigenesis and promoting cell growth.
Adenoma ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Cell Cycle ; Cyclin D1* ; Cyclins* ; Hyperplasia ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Thyroid Gland*

We have observed the seropositive rate of Taenia solium cysticercosis in residents at Nabo Village, Tiandong County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The village had been found to be a relatively high endemic area of porcine cysticercosis among roaming pigs. Of 202 persons examined four males aged 15, 25, 35 and 41 year-old exhibited absorbance (abs) at 0.18, 0.20, 0.35 and 0.55, respectively. In addition, two females whose ages were 35 and 39 years revealed specific antibody levels of abs 0.26 and 0.41 in their sera. Overall positive rate among the people was 2.97%. All of these persons agreed that they had ingested the pork infected with T. solium metacestode (TsM), while history of proglottid discharge was not noticed from all of them. Three males and one female complained of intermittent headache. Our findings reinforced not only that the prevalence of cysticercosis might be related with roaming pigs infected with TsM but also that behavioral and environmental practices in local community constituted risk factors for transmission of the infection.
Taenia solium/*isolation & purification ; Swine Diseases/parasitology ; Swine ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Rural Population ; Neurocysticercosis/*epidemiology/parasitology/transmission ; Middle Aged ; Meat/parasitology ; Male ; Immunoblotting ; Humans ; Female ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; China/epidemiology ; Child ; Antibodies, Helminth/blood ; Animals ; Adult ; Adolescent

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to elucidate the relationship between the CD44s and CD44v6 expression level and the biological characteristics of a gastric carcinoma. METHODS: CD44s and CD44v6 expression was investigated in 56 gastric carcinomas, 18 dysplasias, and 22 normal mucosae by immunohischemical staining. RESULTS: The CD44s and CD44v6 expression rates in gastric carcinomas, dysplasia, and normal mucosae were 80.3% and 83.9%, 72.2% and 77.8%, and 13.6% and 4.5%, respectively. Statistical analysis showed significant difference after comparing a gastric carcinomas and dysplasia to the normal mucosae (p<0.001). The CD44s and CD44v6 expression rates in the cases with invasion to the muscle proper and serosa were 60.7% and 57.1%, and 82.4% and 88.2%, respectively. Both showed a significant statistical difference compared to the expression rates in the cases with invasion to the mucosae and submucosae. The CD44s and CD44v6 expression rates in gastric carcinomas with a lymph node metastasis showed a statistically significant difference compared to those without a lymph node metastasis (p<0.001 and p<0.01, respectively). CD44s and CD44v6 were also expressed in the normal basal cells around gastric carcinomas. CONCLUSIONS: The CD44s and CD44v6 expression showed a significant relationship with gastric carcinogenesis, toward an aggressive biologic behavior.
Carcinogenesis ; Lymph Nodes ; Mucous Membrane ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Population Characteristics ; Serous Membrane

Korea has entered a stage of low fertility, with a total fertility rate of 1.178 in 2002 and 0.92 in 2019. The low birth rate has led to the closure of obstetric hospitals and clinics from 1,371 maternity health facilities in 2003 to 541 in 2019, which is 39.5% compared to 2003. Since 2011, the Ministry of Health and Welfare has been operating an “Obstetrically Underserved Areas Support Project,” however, a shortage of obstetrician-gynecologists (OB/GYNs) who can participate in labor and delivery is a major problem. In 2019, there were 5,800 OB/GYNs practicing. Of these, 4,225 (72.8%) were working in obstetrics-gynecology hospitals, each responsible for 2,855 fertile women. Their average age was 51.8 years. A total of 2,659 (45.9%) worked in clinics and 3,110 (73.6%) were working in metropolitan districts. Only 124 OB/GYNs (2.9%) worked in vulnerable rural areas. OB/GYNs working in obstetric hospitals were responsible for 113.8 newborns in 2019. Their average age was 50.1 years. Of them, 67.4% were working in hospitals, 74.1% in urban areas, and only 60 specialists (2.3%) were working in rural areas. To establish a safe childbirth environment during an era of low fertility, it is important to have obstetricians in charge of childbirth. The government should establish a comprehensive long-term plan to resolve the shortage of OB/GYNs.

Korea has entered a stage of low fertility, with a total fertility rate of 1.178 in 2002 and 0.92 in 2019. The low birth rate has led to the closure of obstetric hospitals and clinics from 1,371 maternity health facilities in 2003 to 541 in 2019, which is 39.5% compared to 2003. Since 2011, the Ministry of Health and Welfare has been operating an “Obstetrically Underserved Areas Support Project,” however, a shortage of obstetrician-gynecologists (OB/GYNs) who can participate in labor and delivery is a major problem. In 2019, there were 5,800 OB/GYNs practicing. Of these, 4,225 (72.8%) were working in obstetrics-gynecology hospitals, each responsible for 2,855 fertile women. Their average age was 51.8 years. A total of 2,659 (45.9%) worked in clinics and 3,110 (73.6%) were working in metropolitan districts. Only 124 OB/GYNs (2.9%) worked in vulnerable rural areas. OB/GYNs working in obstetric hospitals were responsible for 113.8 newborns in 2019. Their average age was 50.1 years. Of them, 67.4% were working in hospitals, 74.1% in urban areas, and only 60 specialists (2.3%) were working in rural areas. To establish a safe childbirth environment during an era of low fertility, it is important to have obstetricians in charge of childbirth. The government should establish a comprehensive long-term plan to resolve the shortage of OB/GYNs.

BACKGROUND: PM is known to induce various pulmonary diseases, including asthma, cancer, fibrosis and chronic bronchitis. Despite the epidemiological evidence the pathogenesis of PM-related pulmonary diseases is unclear. METHODS: This study examined the effects of PM exposure on the secretion of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in the cultured alveolar macrophages. The cultured primary alveolar macrophages were treated with the medium, PM (5~20 microgram/cm2), LPS (5ng/ml), and PM with LPS for 24h and 48h respectively. ELISA was used to assay the secreted TNF-alpha and IL-beta in the culture medium. Western blotting was used to identify and determine the level of proteins isolated from the culture cells. The cells cultured in the Lab-Tek(R) chamber slides were stained with immunocytochemical stains. RESULTS: PM induced TNF-alpha and IL-1beta secretion in the culturing alveolar macrophages, collected from the SPF and inflammatory rats. However, the effects were only dose-dependent in the inflammatory macrophages. When the cells were co-treated with PM and LPS, there was a significant synergistic effect compared with the LPS in the both cell types. CONCLUSION: PM might be play an important role in the induction and/or potentiation of various lung diseases by oversecretion of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta.
Animals ; Asthma ; Blotting, Western ; Bronchitis, Chronic ; Coloring Agents ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fibrosis ; Lung Diseases ; Macrophages ; Macrophages, Alveolar* ; Rats ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*