C-erbB-2, one of epidermal growth factor receptor gene family, may have an important role in progression of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC of the urinary bladder. We herein immunohistochemically examined 52 bladder TCC specimens for expression of c-erbB-2 gene product to investigate its prognostic value. Interrelationship between expression of c-erbB-2 and stage, grade, expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and clinical outcomes were analyzed. Overexpression of c-erbB-2 was significantly higher in invasive tumors as compared with superficial tumors and in high grade tumors as compared with low grade tumors (p<0.005). However, there were no significant correlations between the degree of expression of c-erbB-2 and progression-free survival in patients with superficial bladder TCC as well as actual-survival in patients with invasive bladder TCC. There also was no significant correlation between the expression of c-erbB-2 and PCNA. These results suggest that c-trbB-2 may be an important marker of malignant potentials and invasiveness of bladder TCC, but immunohistochemical study for its expression in bladder TCC may not provide additional prognostic information to stage and grade of the tumors.
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; Disease-Free Survival ; Genes, erbB-2 ; Humans ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder*

Background: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection is a common viral disease of the skin worldwide. HSV type 1 (HSV-1) has been associated with orofacial infections, while HSV type 2 (HSV-2) accounts for the main cause of genital herpes. However, a number of recent clinical studies have revealed that the epidemiology of HSV-1 and HSV-2 is changing. Objective: We performed the study to find out if there is any correlation between HSV subtypes and other multiple variables. Methods: We examined the results of HSV-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests performed in our hospital from July 2017 through June 2020. We analyzed the HSV subtypes of samples from 304 patients that showed positive HSV-PCR. Comparative analysis was performed to identify the correlation between HSV subtypes and other multiple variables. Results: HSV-1 was typed in 53.9% (164/304) and HSV-2 in 46.1% (140/304) of the patients during the study period. HSV-1 showed predilection for body area above the waist, whereas HSV-2 was dominant below the waist. There was a statistically significant correlation between the HSV subtypes and site of infection (p＜0.001). Female patients were more likely to acquire HSV-2 infection than male patients (p=0.027). The ratio of HSV-2 infection tended to get bigger as the age of patients increased (p＜0.001). There was not a significant difference in HSV subtypes among the groups defined according to immune status (p=0.333). Conclusion Our study provided abundant data concerning various aspects of epidemiology of HSV infection. They can be used to plan and evaluate strategies for management of patients.

Background: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection is a common viral disease of the skin worldwide. HSV type 1 (HSV-1) has been associated with orofacial infections, while HSV type 2 (HSV-2) accounts for the main cause of genital herpes. However, a number of recent clinical studies have revealed that the epidemiology of HSV-1 and HSV-2 is changing. Objective: We performed the study to find out if there is any correlation between HSV subtypes and other multiple variables. Methods: We examined the results of HSV-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests performed in our hospital from July 2017 through June 2020. We analyzed the HSV subtypes of samples from 304 patients that showed positive HSV-PCR. Comparative analysis was performed to identify the correlation between HSV subtypes and other multiple variables. Results: HSV-1 was typed in 53.9% (164/304) and HSV-2 in 46.1% (140/304) of the patients during the study period. HSV-1 showed predilection for body area above the waist, whereas HSV-2 was dominant below the waist. There was a statistically significant correlation between the HSV subtypes and site of infection (p＜0.001). Female patients were more likely to acquire HSV-2 infection than male patients (p=0.027). The ratio of HSV-2 infection tended to get bigger as the age of patients increased (p＜0.001). There was not a significant difference in HSV subtypes among the groups defined according to immune status (p=0.333). Conclusion Our study provided abundant data concerning various aspects of epidemiology of HSV infection. They can be used to plan and evaluate strategies for management of patients.

BACKGROUND: Acne is one of the most common dermatologic disorders of adolescence. Despite this, there have been few epidemiological studies conducted in Korea. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, severity, and clinical characteristics of acne. In addition, the perceptions regarding acne causation, exacerbating factors, treatments, and sources of information among middle school students were investigated. METHODS: In a middle school in Seoul, Korea, 629 students (all girls) in 2004 and 832 students (435 boys and 397 girls) in 2008 were asked to complete a questionnaire about the epidemiology, clinical features, and perceptions of acne. RESULTS: In 2004, the prevalence of acne was 66.1% for girls and in 2008, the prevalence was 57.9% and 67.8% for boys and girls respectively. The severity of acne was evaluated using the Korean Acne Grading System (KAGS) and the results showed severity rates of 38.2%, 38.2% and 49.1% for grade 1, 21.6%, 15.2% and 16.1% for grade 2, 5.7%, 4.1% and 2.3% for grade 3, 0.3%, 0.2% and 0.3% for grade 4 and 0.3%, 0.2% and 0% for grade 5 for girls in 2004, and for boys and girls in 2008, respectively. In 2008, the prevalence of acne was higher in girls than boys (p=0.004); however, overall KAGS grades were higher in boys than girls (p=0.034). Additionally, an earlier onset of clinical acne was observed in girls (age 12.08) than boys (age 12.78) (p<0.001). The onset of clinical acne tended to be at a younger age in girls with an earlier onset of the first menarche (p<0.01). In both 2004 and 2008, more than 98% of the students reported their first case of acne on the face alone; however, current sites tended to involve the trunk along with the face (p=0.009, p<0.001, respectively). In 2008, the most commonly involved first site for facial acne was the forehead that over 70% of boys and girls had acne on their foreheads. The students thought high stress (64.5%, 42.0%, 51.2%), lack of sleep (33.8%, 35.7%, 40.2%), and lack of cleansing (26.6%, 35.7%, 45.7%) were the most common aggravating factors of acne for the girls in 2004, and for the boys and girls in 2008, respectively. In both 2004 and 2008, only about 10% of all acne patients had any kind of treatment for acne. Additionally, the students responded that they received information about the treatment of acne mostly from the Internet. The survey showed that 'broadcasting' was the most important point to consider when choosing a hospital and 'efficacy' when choosing a treatment option. CONCLUSION: We evaluated the epidemiological and clinical features of acne in adolescents, and learned that despite the high prevalence of acne among adolescents, only a few had actually had any treatment. Therefore, it is worthwhile to better inform middle school students about acne and the necessity for treatment to reduce acne severity and its impact on those affected.
Acne Vulgaris ; Adolescent ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Female ; Forehead ; Humans ; Internet ; Korea ; Menarche ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the tear meniscus in aqueous tear-deficient dry eye patients using Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) and to investigate the clinical usefulness of tear meniscus values. METHODS: The present study included 79 aqueous tear-deficient dry eyes and 50 normal eyes. Tear meniscus height (TMH), tear meniscus depth (TMD), and tear meniscus area (TMA) were imaged using FD-OCT and measured with computer calipers. Schirmer's test, tear break-up time, and corneal fluorescein staining were also performed and the correlations between the tests were analyzed. Additionally, the diagnostic power of tear meniscus values was compared using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). RESULTS: Tear meniscus values were significantly decreased in the aqueous tear-deficient dry eye group (p < 0.05). TMH, TMD, and TMA were positively correlated with Schirmer's test and tear break-up time (p < 0.05), and TMH and TMD were negatively correlated with corneal fluorescein staining in the aqueous tear-deficient dry eye group (p < 0.05). The AUROCs of TMH, TMD, and TMA were 0.978, 0.788, and 0.957, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Tear meniscus values measured using FD-OCT were significantly lower in aqueous tear-deficient dry eyes and were correlated with Schirmer's test, tear break-up time, and corneal fluorescein staining. Tear meniscus measurements obtained using FD-OCT can be useful clinical parameters for the diagnosis and treatment of aqueous tear-deficient dry eye.
Diagnosis ; Fluorescein ; Humans ; ROC Curve ; Tears* ; Tomography, Optical Coherence*

No abstract available.
Hyperhidrosis* ; Thoracotomy*

We report the case of a giant hypothalamic hamartoma with a large intracranial cyst in a neonate. On ultrasonography, the lesion presented as a lobulated, mass-like lesion with similar echogenicity to the adjacent brain parenchyma, located anterior to the underdeveloped and compressed left temporal lobe, and presenting as an intracranial cyst in the left cerebral convexity without definite internal echogenicity or septa. The presence of a hypothalamic hamartoma and intracranial neurenteric cyst were confirmed by surgical biopsy. The association of a giant hypothalamic hamartoma and a neurenteric cyst is rare. Due to the rarity of this association, the large size of the intracranial cyst, and the resulting distortion in the regional anatomy, the diagnosis of the solid mass was not made correctly on prenatal high-resolution ultrasonography.
Anatomy, Regional ; Biopsy ; Brain ; Central Nervous System Cysts ; Diagnosis ; Hamartoma* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neural Tube Defects ; Temporal Lobe ; Ultrasonography

Background: and Purpose The Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) is widely used for assessing current level of sleepiness, but it has not been validated in South Korea. This study aimed to validate the KSS using the Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS), polysomnography (PSG), and electroencephalography (EEG). Methods: The sample consisted of 27 adult participants in this study aged 40.5±7.7 years (mean±standard deviation) and included 22 males. They completed questionnaires and underwent EEG recording and overnight PSG. The KSS was completed from 18:00 to 24:00 every 2 hours and following PSG (at 07:00). KSS scores changed over time and in particular increased with the time since waking, with the score peaking at 24:00. Results: Convergent validity of the KSS was verified by performing a Spearman correlation analysis between the KSS and SSS (r=0.742, p<0.01). Concurrent validity of the KSS was verified by performing a Spearman correlation analysis between the KSS administered before sleep and the sleep onset latency measured using PSG (r=-0.456, p<0.05). Alpha waves were measured 5 minutes before administering the KSS, and the KSS scores were compared with these alpha waves. There were no significant correlations observed between the KSS scores and alpha waves measured in the left occipital area (O1), left frontal area (F3), or left central area (C3). In addition, Spearman correlation analyses of the difference between KSS scores and alpha waves measured at O1, F3, and C3 produced no significant results. Conclusions This study verified the convergent validity and concurrent validity of the KSS, and confirmed the capabilities of this scale in assessing sleepiness changes over time.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the level of Person-centered Critical Care Nursing (PCCN) and the factors influencing PCCN for nurses in Intensive Care Units (ICU). Methods: This study was designed by cross-sectional descriptive correlational study. The participants included 147 ICU nurses in two general hospitals in Seoul, Korea. Demographic characteristics, PCCN, communication skills, professionalism, and work environment were measured. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis, independent t-test, One-way ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple linear regression with the SPSS/Win 25.0 program. Results: The average age of the participants was 29.6±4.7 years and the mean work experience in the ICU was 4.67±3.52 years. The level of PCCN was 3.70±0.41, which was moderate to high, and it significantly showed a positive correlation with therapeutic communication skills (r=.66, p<.001), global interpersonal communication competence (r=.42,p<.001), professionalism (r=.38, p<.001), and work environment (r=.16, p=.048). The factors influencing PCCN were identified as therapeutic communication skill and global interpersonal communication competence (Adj R 2 =.45, p<.001). Conclusion The findings of this study were confirmed that the strategies to promote PCCN are necessary to enhance therapeutic communication skill and global interpersonal communication competence. In addition, they may be particularly meaningful in providing basic data for nursing education and future intervention development research to promote PCCN for the ICU nurses. For improving PCCN for healthcare providers in ICU, further studies should be conducted to develop education and intervention programs.