BACKGROUND: For peripheral nerve regeneration, recent attentions have been paid to the nerve conduits made by tissue-engineering technique. Three major elements of tissue-engineering are cells, molecules, and scaffolds. METHODS: In this study, the attachments of nerve cells, including Schwann cells, on the nerve conduit and the effects of both growth factor and adhesion molecule on these attachments were investigated. RESULTS: The attachment of rapidly-proliferating cells, C6 cells and HS683 cells, on nerve conduit was better than that of slowly-proliferating cells, PC12 cells and Schwann cells, however, the treatment of nerve growth factor improved the attachment of slowly-proliferating cells. In addition, the attachment of Schwann cells on nerve conduit coated with fibronectin was as good as that of Schwann cells treated with glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). CONCLUSIONS: Growth factor changes nerve cell morphology and affects cell cycle time. And nerve growth factor or fibronectin treatment is indispensable for Schwann cell to be used for implantation in artificial nerve conduits.
Animals ; Attention ; Cell Cycle ; Fibronectins ; Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; Nerve Growth Factor ; Neurons* ; PC12 Cells ; Peripheral Nerves* ; Regeneration* ; Schwann Cells ; Tenascin

BACKGROUND: Influenza is one of the most important diseases that should be monitored for its activities and antigenic changes throughout the world. In Korea, there is a nationwide influenza surveillance system in which 649 sentinel clinics and hospitals (selected by the regional population distribution) have participated. However, there were a few crucial problems due to the low level of participation in the system and the time consuming process of collecting laboratory diagnosis results. To increase the participation and Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) case reporting rate, the internet reporting system of the influenza surveillance was introduced. METHODS: The surveillance data obtained through online were analysed and a questionnaire survey was conducted to sentinel physicians. RESULTS: The average annual participation rate was 53% in the season 2001-2002 and it was increased to 61.8% in 2002-2003. After we introduced the internet reporting system, the annual participating rate rose up to 74.0%. The average annual reporting rate of ILI was 6.9%, 6.6% and 11.4% in the season 2001-2002, 2002-2003 and 2003-2004, respectively. The utility rate of internet reporting system was 62.4%. According to the questionnaire survey (n=109), 57.8% of sentinels answered that the change of reporting system helped to promote the participation rate to the influenza surveillance attributing it to the public advertisement (46.0%) and the convenience of the internet reporting system (30.2%). CONCLUSION: By introducing the internet reporting system which enhances the influenza surveillance, higher rate of sentinel participation can be achieved.
Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; Influenza, Human* ; Internet* ; Korea ; Seasons ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Pathogenic gram-negatives that produce 16S ribosomal RNA methyltransferases (16S RMTases) have already been distributed all over the world. To investigate the predominance of aminoglycoside resistance associated with 16S RMTases in Korea, we collected a total of 222 amikacin resistant Gram-negative clinical isolates from patient specimens between 1999 and 2015 from three hospital banks across Korea. ArmA and rmtB were the predominant 16S RMTase genes responsible for aminoglycoside-resistant isolates circulating in Korean community settings although only one rmtA-producing isolate was detected in 2006.
Amikacin ; Humans ; Korea* ; Methyltransferases ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S

Pheochromocytoma is a catecholamine producing turnor and raise with less than 0.1% of hypertensive patients. It is developed, most commonly, in sporadic pheochromocytoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2. Therefore, when hypercalcitoninemia is found in a patient with pheochromocytoma, the possibility of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 or the ectopic secretion of calcitonin must be considered. Recently we experienced a 45 year old male patient with sporadic pheochrornocytoma. He also had hypercalcitoninemia and normocalcemia. After the removal of pheochromocytoma, serum calcitnnin level returned to normal. Secretion of calcitonin was confirmed by immunohisto- chemical stain.
Calcitonin ; Humans ; Male ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2a ; Pheochromocytoma

Glycogen storage disease type IV (GSD-IV) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by a deficient glycogen branching enzyme (GBE), encoded by the GBE1 gene, resulting in the accumulation of abnormal glycogen deposits in the liver and other tissues. We treated a 20-month-old girl who presented with progressive liver cirrhosis and was diagnosed with GSD-IV, as confirmed by GBE1 gene mutation analysis, and underwent living related heterozygous donor liver transplantation. Direct sequencing of the GBE1 gene revealed that the patient was compound heterozygous for a known c.1571G>A (p.Gly264Glu) mutation a novel c.791G> A (Arg524Gln) mutation. This is the first report of a Korean patient with GSD-IV confirmed by mutation analysis, who was treated successfully by liver transplantation.
1,4-alpha-Glucan Branching Enzyme ; Child ; Glycogen ; Glycogen Storage Disease ; Glycogen Storage Disease Type IV ; Humans ; Infant ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Transplantation ; Living Donors ; Tissue Donors

BACKGROUND: The concept of the ideal morphology for the alveolar bone form is an important element to reconstruct or restore the in maximizing esthetic profile and functional alveolar bone restoration. The purpose of this preliminary study is to evaluate the normal alveolar bone structure to provide the standard reference and guide template for use in diagnosing for implant placement, determining the correct amount of bone augmentation in actual clinical practice and producing prostheses based on three-dimensional imaging assessment of alveolar bone. METHODS: This study was included 11 men and 11 women (average age, 22.6 and 24.5 years, respectively) selected from among 127 patients. The horizontal widths of alveolar bone of maxilla and mandible were measured at the crestal, mid-root, and root apex level on MDCT (multi-detector computed tomography) images reconstructed by medical imaging software. In addition, tooth dimensions of the central incisors, canines, second premolars, and first molars of maxilla and mandible, including the horizontal width of the interdental alveolar bone crest, were also measured and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The horizontal alveolar bone width of the palatal side of maxilla showed a distinct increment from the alveolar bone crest to the apical region in both anterior and posterior areas. The average widths of the maxillary alveolar ridge were as follows: central incisor, 7.43 mm; canine, 8.91 mm; second premolar, 9.57 mm; and first molar, 12.38 mm. The average widths of the mandibular alveolar ridge were as follows: central incisor, 6.21 mm; canine, 8.55 mm; second premolar, 8.45 mm; and first molar, 10.02 mm. In the buccal side, the alveolar bone width was not increased from the crest to the apical region. The horizontal alveolar bone width of an apical and mandibular border region was thinner than at the mid-root level. CONCLUSIONS The results of the preliminary study are useful as a clinical guideline when determining dental implant diameter and position. And also, these measurements can also be useful during the production of prefabricated membranes and customized alveolar bone scaffolds.

BACKGROUND: Renovascular hypertension has variable etiologic diseases and therapeutic outcomes. We performed a retrospective analysis of the causes and treatment results of renovascular hypertension to elucidate long-term prognosis with respect to blood pressure and renal function. METHODS: We reviewed patients who were admitted to Seoul National University Hospital for evaluation of renovascular hypertension in period from January, 1983 to December, 2002. Diagnosis of renovascular hypertension was made by combination of positive functional studies such as captopril renal scintigraphy and/or captopril test and angiographic demonstration of significant stenoses in one or both of renal arteries. Patients who were followed up for more than six months were included and classified according to the etiologic disease and treatment modalities. Responses of blood pressure and renal function in each patient were periodically evaluated. RESULTS: Of 74 patients included, 37 were male and 37 were female. The median age of the patients was 40. Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis was the most common diagnosis (31, 41.9%), followed by Takayasu's arteritis (21, 28.4%) and fibromuscular dysplasia (14, 18.9%). Control of blood pressure and preservation of renal function were significant in medical, radiological, and surgical therapy group. There was no significant difference in response of blood pressure and renal function to treatment among treatment groups. Poor response of blood pressure and deterioration of renal function were observed more frequently in patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis than in those with Takayasu's arteritis or fibromuscular dysplasia. CONCLUSION: Atherosclerosis was the most common etiologic diagnosis of renovascular hypertension. Medical treatment showed satisfactory treatment results as compared to radiologic and surgical revascularization. Patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis showed poorer control of blood pressure and preservation of renal function.
Atherosclerosis ; Blood Pressure ; Captopril ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fibromuscular Dysplasia ; Humans ; Hypertension, Renovascular* ; Male ; Prognosis ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Renal Artery ; Renal Artery Obstruction ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Takayasu Arteritis

Transglutaminase 2 (TG2), a cross-linking enzyme, is involved in drug resistance and in the constitutive activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB). We investigated the association of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment efficacy with TG2 and NF-kappaB expression in 120 patients: 102 with adenocarcinoma and 18 with other histologic types. All patients underwent surgery; 88 received adjuvant chemotherapy, with 28 receiving platinum-based doublet chemotherapy as first-line treatment and 29 receiving epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy. Patients' TG2 and NF-kappaB expression values were calculated semiquantitatively. The median TG2 value was 50 (range, 0-300) and the median NF-kappaB value was 20 (range, 0-240). Disease-free survival did not differ between the low- and high-TG2 groups. Among patients who received palliative platinum-based doublet chemotherapy, progression free survival (PFS) was longer in the low-TG2 group than in the high-TG2 group (11.0 vs. 7.0 months; P=0.330). Among those who received EGFR-TKI therapy, PFS was also longer in the low-TG2 group than in the high-TG 2 group (11.0 vs. 2.0 months; P=0.013). Similarly, in EGFR wild-type patients treated with EGFR-TKI, PFS was longer in patients with low TG2 expression (9.0 vs. 2.0 months; P=0.013). TG2 expression levels can predict PFS in patients with NSCLC treated with EGFR-TKI.
Adenocarcinoma/*drug therapy/mortality/surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/*drug therapy/mortality/surgery ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; GTP-Binding Proteins/*biosynthesis ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/*drug therapy/mortality/surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; NF-kappa B/biosynthesis ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors/therapeutic use ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor/*antagonists & inhibitors/genetics ; Transglutaminases/*biosynthesis ; Treatment Outcome

Objectives: . Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine tumor, with rapidly increasing incidence worldwide. However, its transcriptomic characteristics associated with immunological signatures, driver fusions, and recurrence markers remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the transcriptomic characteristics of advanced papillary thyroid cancer. Methods: . This study included 282 papillary thyroid cancer tumor samples and 155 normal samples from Chungnam National University Hospital and Seoul National University Hospital. Transcriptomic quantification was determined by high-throughput RNA sequencing. We investigated the associations of clinical parameters and molecular signatures using RNA sequencing. We validated predictive biomarkers using the Cancer Genome Atlas database. Results: . Through a comparison of differentially expressed genes, gene sets, and pathways in papillary thyroid cancer compared to normal tumor-adjacent tissue, we found increased immune signaling associated with cytokines or T cells and decreased thyroid hormone synthetic pathways. In addition, patients with recurrence presented increased CD8+ T-cell and Th1-cell signatures. Interestingly, we found differentially overexpressed genes related to immune-escape signaling such as CTLA4, IDO1, LAG3, and PDCD1 in advanced papillary thyroid cancer with a low thyroid differentiation score. Fusion analysis showed that the PI3K and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways were regulated differently according to the RET fusion partner genes (CCDC6 or NCOA4). Finally, we identified HOXD9 as a novel molecular biomarker that predicts the recurrence of thyroid cancer in addition to known risk factors (tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and extrathyroidal extension). Conclusion . We identified a high association with immune-escape signaling in the immune-hot group with aggressive clinical characteristics among Korean thyroid cancer patients. Moreover, RET fusion differentially regulated PI3K and MAPK signaling depending on the partner gene of RET, and HOXD9 was found to be a recurrence marker for advanced papillary thyroid cancer.

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare disease, but it severely interrupts daily life activities and can sometimes be life-threatening. Therefore, early diagnosis and prompt treatment of HAE attacks are critical. Physicians should be aware of how to diagnose and manage HAE to prepare not to miss a diagnosis when treating HAE patients. Physicians must also carry out tests to confirm the diagnosis of HAEs caused by C1 inhibitor deficiency (type 1) or C1 inhibitor dysfunction (type 2) in patients with recurrent angioedema. In addition, recent studies revealed another type of HAE which is not related to C1 inhibitor (normal C1 inhibitor HAE). Once HAE is confirmed, patients and their caregivers should be given with short-term and long-term treatment plans to relieve or prevent HAE attacks. HAE requires life-long measures, including psychological support for patients and self-management education.