Overwhelming evidences supports the idea that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is caused by a complex interplay between genetic alterations of multiple genes and an aberrant interaction with environmental factors. There is growing evidence that epigenetic factors can play a significant part in the pathogenesis of IBD. Significant effort has been invested in uncovering genetic and epigenetic factors, which may increase the risk of IBD, but progress has been slow, and few IBD-specific factors have been detected so far. It has been known for decades that DNA methylation is the most well studied epigenetic modification, and analysis of DNA methylation is leading to a new generation of cancer biomarkers. Therefore, in this review, we summarize the role of DNA methylation alteration in IBD pathogenesis, and discuss specific genes or genetic loci using recent molecular technology advances. Here, we suggest that DNA methylation should be studied in depth to understand the molecular pathways of IBD pathogenesis, and discuss epigenetic studies of IBD that may have a significant impact on the field of IBD research.
Biomarkers ; DNA Methylation ; Epigenomics* ; Genetic Loci ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases*

Overwhelming evidences supports the idea that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is caused by a complex interplay between genetic alterations of multiple genes and an aberrant interaction with environmental factors. There is growing evidence that epigenetic factors can play a significant part in the pathogenesis of IBD. Significant effort has been invested in uncovering genetic and epigenetic factors, which may increase the risk of IBD, but progress has been slow, and few IBD-specific factors have been detected so far. It has been known for decades that DNA methylation is the most well studied epigenetic modification, and analysis of DNA methylation is leading to a new generation of cancer biomarkers. Therefore, in this review, we summarize the role of DNA methylation alteration in IBD pathogenesis, and discuss specific genes or genetic loci using recent molecular technology advances. Here, we suggest that DNA methylation should be studied in depth to understand the molecular pathways of IBD pathogenesis, and discuss epigenetic studies of IBD that may have a significant impact on the field of IBD research.
Biomarkers ; DNA Methylation ; Epigenomics* ; Genetic Loci ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases*

Background/Aims: Overwhelming evidence suggests that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is caused by a complicated interplay between the multiple genes and abnormal epigenetic regulation in response to environmental factors. It is becoming apparent that epigenetic factors are significantly associated with the development of the disease. DNA methylation remains the most studied epigenetic modification, and hypermethylation of gene promoters is associated with gene silencing. Methods: DNA methylation alterations may contribute to the many complex diseases development by regulating the interplay between external and internal environmental factors and gene transcriptional expression. In this study, we used 15 tumor suppressor genes (TSGs), originally identified in colon cancer, to detect promoter methylation in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD). Methylation specific polymerase chain reaction and bisulfite sequencing analyses were performed to assess methylation level of TSGs in CD patients. Results: We found 6 TSGs (sFRP1, sFRP2, sFRP5, TFPI2, Sox17, and GATA4) are robustly hypermethylated in CD patient samples. Bisulfite sequencing analysis confirmed the methylation levels of the sFRP1, sFRP2, sFRP5, TFPI2, Sox17, and GATA4 promoters in the representative CD patient samples. Conclusions In this study, the promoter hypermethylation of the TSGs observed indicates that CD exhibits specific DNA methylation signatures with potential clinical applications for the noninvasive diagnosis of IBD and the prognosis for patients with IBD.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this animal and clinical study was to compare intra-arterial(IA) scintigraphy withangiography in the localization of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After sedation withintramuscularly administered ketamine, lower GI bleeding was induced in ten rabbits. Using inguinal cut-down, anarterial femoral 3F catheter was placed in the proximal mesenteric artery. Following abdominal incision to exposethe bowel, lower GI bleeding was caused by incising the antimesenteric border of the small bowel wall. Initialangiography was performed, and this was followed by Tc-99m pertechnetate IA scintigarphy. Tc-99m RBC IAscintigraphy involved two patients who had undergone selective mesenteric arterial catheterization for theevaluation of acute lower GI bleeding. RESULTS: Ten rabbits, bleeding at a mean rate of 0.7g/min, were studied.IA scintigraphy was superior to angiography in four cases and equal in six. The sensitivity of angiography was40%(4/10), and IA scintigraphy 80%(8/10). In one patient, Tc-99m RBC was administered directly into the superiormesenteric artery and ulcer bleeding in the transverse colon was identified. Prior to conventional angiography,the bleeding had been occult. In a second patient, in whom angiography had revealed a hypervascular mass,selective injection of Tc-99m RBC into the superior mesenteric artery revealed tumor(leiomyoma) bleeding in thejejunum. CONCLUSION: Selective IA scintigraphy was valuable for detecting intestinal bleeding, occult duringconventional studies and may be useful for detecting acute bleeding at the time of negative angiography.
Angiography ; Animals ; Arteries ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Colon, Transverse ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Ketamine ; Mesenteric Arteries ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Rabbits ; Radionuclide Angiography ; Radionuclide Imaging* ; Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m ; Ulcer

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell*

PURPOSE: Women with dense breast are known to be at high risk for breast cancer, but their prevalence and number of Korean women are unknown. The current study was to investigate the distribution of mammographic breast density by age of women undergoing screening mammography, and to estimate the prevalence of Korean women with dense breasts, quantitatively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For obtaining a nationwide representative sample, 6,481 mammograms were collected from 86 screening units participated in the National Cancer Screening Program for breast cancer. Based on the American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System classification, breast density was evaluated by six breast radiologists, qualitatively. We applied these breast density distributions to age-specific counts of the Korean women population derived to mid-year 2017 to estimate the number of Korean women with dense breasts. RESULTS: Overall, 54.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 52.9% to 55.8%) of women 40 to 69 years of age had heterogeneously or extremely dense breasts, and this proportion was inversely associated with age. Based on the age distribution of Korean women, we estimated that 6,083,000 women (95% CI, 5,919,600 to 6,245,600) age 40-69 years in Korean have dense breasts. Women aged 40-49 years (n=3,450,000) accounted for 56.7% of this group. CONCLUSION: More than half of Korean women aged 40 and over have dense breasts. To prevent breast cancer effectively and efficiently, it is necessary to develop a new personalized prevention strategy considering her status of breast density.
Age Distribution ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast ; Classification ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Female ; Humans ; Information Systems ; Korea ; Mammography ; Mass Screening ; Prevalence

Abdominal pregnancy, a rare type of ectopic pregnancy is difficult to be suspected at its first presentation. The diagnosis of this rare disease may often be delayed, since early symptoms are usually non-specific. In some cases, delayed diagnosis of abdominal preganacy can be associated with catastrophic hemorrhage secondary to placental separation. A 24-year old woman visited our emergency unit, presenting with a sudden-onset low abdominal pain. She had undergone uterine curettage 3 weeks before. Transvaginal sonogram of the cul-de-sac revealed complex fluid consistent with blood. On diagnostic laparoscopic operation, we found a ruptured cystic, conception-like structure near the right uterosacral ligament. Histology of the resected structure finally showed chorionic villi consistent with abdominal pregnancy. In this report, we present an unusual case of abdominal pregnancy. This case underscores the careful ultrasonic determination of gestational location at early pregnancy.
Abdominal Pain ; Chorionic Villi ; Curettage ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Diagnosis ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Hemoperitoneum ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Ligaments* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Abdominal* ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Rare Diseases ; Ultrasonics ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: This study was done to evaluate the formal education program provided by the Korean government for care workers for frail elderly people. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional survey in which 438 certified care workers who had completed the education program participated. Data were collected from June to October 2009, using a self-report questionnaire consisting of satisfaction with, and understanding of the education program. RESULTS: The participants had a mean age of 46.7 yr, 87.9% were female and 58.2% were high school graduates. For the theory part of the education, the highest score for understanding was for 'supporting household & activities of daily living' while the lowest score for understanding was for 'care for death and dying'. For the practical education, the highest score for understanding was for 'talking with the client' and the lowest score was for 'first aid & basic life support'. There was a significant difference in satisfaction and understanding of the theoretical and practical parts according to educational level. CONCLUSION: Continuing education programs are needed for care workers for elders, both in the theoretical and practical areas. Also the content of programs should address the weak points of this formal education program.
Adult ; Aged ; Caregivers/*education/psychology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Education, Nursing, Continuing ; Female ; Frail Elderly ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Program Evaluation ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea

BACKGROUND: Multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat fingerprinting (MLVF) is based on multiplex PCR, utilizing variable number tandem repeat. Our goal was to compare the performance of MLVF in distinguishing clinical Staphylococcus aureus isolates with that of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), which has traditionally been the gold standard. METHODS: Sixty-three clinically significant S. aureus isolates were tested using both PFGE and MLVF. Multiplex PCR for MLVF was performed using PCR primers for clfA, clfB, sdrCDE, sspA, and spa. PFGE was performed with genomic DNA fragments generated by SmaI endonuclease digestion. Banding patterns of MLVF or PFGE were analyzed using InfoQuestFP software. RESULTS: The hands-on time of our modified method was about 3 h, on average, for each of 18 isolates. PFGE (80% cutoff) or MLVF (75% cutoff) separated all of the 63 isolates into 13 and 12 types, respectively. Three types generated by PFGE were identical to those generated by MLVF. PFGE and MLVF yielded similar Simpson's diversity indices, indicating similar discriminatory power. The overall concordance between PFGE and MLVF was low, as represented by adjusted Rand indices (0.266-0.278). PFGE predicted MLVF type better than MLVF predicted PFGE type, as reflected by Wallace coefficients (PFGE cutoff 80% vs. MLVF cutoff 75%, 0.389 vs. 0.233). Analysis of the relationship between a pair of isolates showed 91.0% concordance between the PFGE (80% cutoff) and MLVF (75% cutoff). CONCLUSIONS: Our simple, low-cost, modified MLVF protocol can effectively discriminate between S. aureus clinical isolates. MLVF can replace PFGE for the hospital infection control of S. aureus.
Bacterial Typing Techniques/*methods ; *DNA Fingerprinting ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis ; *Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Genotype ; Humans ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Staphylococcal Infections/*microbiology ; Staphylococcus aureus/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification

BACKGROUND: Pores are the openings of the pilosebaceous unit or the apocrine gland. Increase in pore size or in the number of dilated pores may be a cosmetic problem. To date, epidemiological studies on the numbers of dilated pores have been rarely reported. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the distribution of pores and the factors affecting pores. METHODS: We compared the number of dilated facial pores on the face according to site, age group, and sex. The relations of pore counts to wrinkle severity and to the amount of hydration were also analyzed. Dermavision(TM), a device that can take cross-polarization, parallel polarization, and ultraviolet light images, was used. Parameters were measured at three points: the forehead, cheek, and nose. RESULTS: The results revealed that dilated pores were more common on the nose and forehead. The pore counts were increased with age, and the increment was significant between participants in their 30s and 40s. Moreover, dilated pore counts were affected by wrinkle severity. The amount of hydration did not affect the counts of dilated pores. CONCLUSION: In this study, the number of dilated pores differed depending on the location. Moreover, it was confirmed that pore counts were higher in older persons. The pore counts showed a correlation with wrinkle severity.
Aging ; Apocrine Glands ; Cheek ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Forehead ; Humans ; Nose ; Ultraviolet Rays