BACKGROUND: Laminin, which is present in all basement membrane, is a multifunctional glycoprotein with diverse biological activities. Like fibronectin, it can influence cell adhesion, growth, morphology, differentiation, and migration as well as the assembly of the extracellular matrix. Laminin primarily affects cells of epithelial origin, and response varies depending on the cells. OBJECTIVE: Studies about the relationship of laminin and the pathogenesis or metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma(SCC). MEHTODS: In this study, we have examined the laminin B1 mRNA expression and localizing pattern of laminin in SCC, using Northern and slot-blot hybridization, in situ hybridization and immunoperoxidase stain. RESULTS: In Northern blot hybridization, 5.6Kb mRNA transcript was detected in control and SCC specimens. Slot-blot hybridization indicated theat amounts of laminin B1 mRNA expression in SCC was 677.0+/-268.5 densitometer absorbance unit, in control was 228.0+/-16.37 unit respectively. There is a 3-fold increase in SCC compared to control. In in situ hybridization, 35S-labeled laminin B1 cDNA-mRNA hybrid granules were detected along the basement membrane and adjacent cells of SCC. In immunoperoxidase stain, laminin has stained strongly and continuously along the basement membrane of the tumor nest in well differentiated SCC, and weakly and interrupted in poorly differentiated SCC. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that laminin might be related to the pathogenesisand metastasis of squamous cell carcinomas.
Basement Membrane ; Blotting, Northern ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cell Adhesion ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibronectins ; Glycoproteins ; In Situ Hybridization ; Laminin* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; RNA, Messenger* ; Skin*

Purpose: To evaluate the risk factors for the development of osteonecrosis in civilian professional divers by an epidemiologic study and to determine the correlation between osteonecrosis in divers and coagulopathy by analysis of serologic markers that are related to thrombophilia and hypofibrinolysis. Materials and Methods: Forty-two divers, who collected pen shells (Atrina pinnata), and among whom 10 had osteonecrosis (group 1), were compared with 32 divers without osteonecrosis (group 2). Both groups were evaluated based on the number of years of diving experience, number of dives per year, mean number of dives per day, mean diving time and depth, and diving methods. We determined any statistically significant differences among these variables. We measured the levels of serologic markers that were related to hyperlipidemia, thrombophilia, and hypofibrinolysis from the divers and a control group of 20 physicians (group 3). The levels of the serologic markers were compared between groups 1 and 2 and between the divers and the control group, in order to determine the relationship between the serologic markers and the development of dysbaric osteonecrosis. Results: None of the variables demonstrated any statistically significant differences, except for the mean diving time, in which group 1 had a mean diving time of 124 minutes and group 2 had a mean diving time of 62.1 minutes (P<0.05). In the analysis of the serologic markers, there were no statistically significant differences between groups 1 and 2; however, in comparison with the group 3, the divers demonstrated significantly decreased activity levels of proteins C and S (Protein C: P<0.05; Protein S: P<0.05), and an increase in the levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) (P<0.05). Conclusion: The divers with osteonecrosis had a longer mean diving time than did those divers without osteonecrosis. In the serologic marker analysis, the divers with osteonecrosis demonstrated significantly decreased activity levels of Proteins C, S and a significant increase in the levels of PAI-1, compared with the control group.
Biomarkers* ; Diving ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Epidemiology ; Hyperlipidemias ; Osteonecrosis* ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; Plasminogen Activators ; Protein S ; Risk Factors ; Thrombophilia

PURPOSE: Narcolepsy is a specific neurologic syndrome consisting of excessive daytime drowsiness, cataplexy, and the additional phenomena of sleep paralysis and intense dreamlike hallucinations at sleep-wake transitions. We are reporting a patient with narcolepsy whose repeated self-injury caused traumatic eyeball perforation. METHODS: A 26-year-old male with narcolepsy injured himself, which resulted in eyeball perforation in his both eyes. We diagnosed him as traumatic corneal laceration, traumatic cataract, and vitreous opacity due to lens material in vitreous in both eyes. RESULTS: After improvement of narcoleptic symptom and healing of corneal perforation, we performed cataract extraction and pars plana vitrectomy under local anesthesia. During operation, we found preretinal gliosis at superior portion of optic disc and subretinal hemorrhage in the right eye. We observed successful improvement in visual acuity through intraocular lens implantation.
Adult ; Anesthesia, Local ; Cataplexy ; Cataract ; Cataract Extraction ; Corneal Perforation ; Gliosis ; Hallucinations ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Lacerations ; Lens Implantation, Intraocular ; Male ; Narcolepsy ; Sleep Paralysis ; Sleep Stages ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy

No abstract available.
Animals ; Rats*

Purpose: This study was to investigate the operational status of the midwifery birthing centers (MBCs) and midwives’ job status (Phase 1) and to develop midwifery practice guidelines (MPG) (Phase 2) in Korea. Methods: In the first phase, the subjects were 15 midwives who operated 11 of 14 MBCs that were opened as of August 2018. The questionnaire consisted of items to measure the operational status of the MBC and midwives’ job status. In the second phase, the MPG was developed from literature review, interviews with five midwives opening their MBCs, surveys with 74 midwives, and a validity evaluation conducted by seven experts. Results: The distribution of operating MBCs was five in Gyunggi-do, two each in Seoul and Incheon, one each in Busan, Chungcheongbuk-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Gyeongsangnam-do and Jeju-do. The mean age of midwives was 54.3 and all were female. In 2017, a total of 762 births including 81 homebirths were performed by midwives. The job performance was highest in the order of neonatal care 3.81, childbirth care 3.56, and postpartal care 3.53, respectively. The MPG included seven areas of prenatal care, childbirth care, postpartal care, neonatal care, primary health care, law/ ethics, and administration, with 56 tasks and 166 task elements. Conclusion This study provides the valid basic data for the operational status of the MBC and the midwives’ job status. The MPG describes the midwife’s job and may be used as basic data for preparing policies for the development of midwifery practice in Korea.

To evaluate the influencing factors on pulmonary venous flow(PVF) pattern, we studied the relationship between PVF and left ventricular ejection fracton(EF), mitral annulus motion(MAM) and transmitral flow using pulsed doppler echocardiography in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy(DCMP), acute myocardioal infarction(AMI), left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH) and atrial fibrillation(AE). Ther results were as follows : 1) In the normal controls(13 cases), two forward flow during ventricular systole(VS) and diastole(VD) and one retrograde flow during atrial systole(AS) were observed. The peak velocity of VS, VD and AS flow was 45.9cm/s, 42.8cm/s and -18.3cm/sec, respectively. The peak VS/VD ratio was 1.1. 2) In patients with DCMP(11 cases), (a) compared to the noraml subjects, the peak velocity of VS flow and VS/VD ratio were were significantly reduced(p<0.005 and p<0.001, respectively) and were positively correlated with ejection fraction(r=0.8 and r=0.7, respectively) (b) in 2 DCMP cases with severe mitral regurgitation, systolic retrograde flow was observed in the pulmonary vein instead of forward VS flow. 3) In 12 AMI cases and 7 LVH cases with normal or slightly diminished left ventricular systolic function but with abnormal diastolic function. (a) the peak velocity of VS flow and peak VS/VD ratio were significantly increased(r<0.005 and p<0.01, respectively). (b) the peak velocity of VD flow is positively correlated with transmitral E/A ratio(r=0.8) and the peak VS/VD ratio was positively correlated with transmitral pressure half time(r=0.8). (c) the peak velocity of retrograde AS flow was significantly increased(p<0.001). (d) there was no correlation between doppler parameters of PVF and left ventricular ejection fraction. 4) In patients with atrial fibrillation(10 cases), VS flow was markedly diminished or absent and only VD flow was observed. Also, retrograde AS flow was not observed. These findings suggest that the pattern of PVF is influnced by LVEF, MAM, transmitral inflow and atrial contraction. However, main contributary factors in determining the pattern of PVF in each disease are diverse according to its main pathophysiology.
Deoxycytidine Monophosphate ; Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed ; Heart Diseases* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Pulmonary Veins ; Stroke Volume

BACKGROUND: Current status of external quality assessment (EQA) of laboratory tests for syphilis in Korea was analyzed to find out the problems that should be improved in the future. METHODS: Based on the data from the external quality assessment program performed twice a year by the Immunoserology Subcommittee of the Korean Association of Quality Assurance for Clinical Laboratory from the year 2004 to 2006, discordance rates were analyzed according to the test method and commercial kit used. RESULTS: Among the laboratories participating in the EQA program for syphilis test, about 90% of them used non-treponemal tests and about 55% treponemal tests. The non-treponemal tests included RPR (rapid plasma reagin) and VDRL tests used in 88% (363/412) and 11% (45/412), respectively, of the laboratories. The discordance rates were 2.2% for RPR test and 3.6% for VDRL. For the treponemal tests, Treponema pallidum hemagglutination assay (TPHA) was used in 60-76% and Immunochromatography assay (ICA) in about 30% of the laboratories in 2006. A high discordance rate of over 10% was reported in both TPHA and in ICA methods, possibly due to a low titer (1:1 in VDRL) of EQA samples in 2005. Analysis of the accumulated data from year 2004 to 2006 showed that the discordance rates of TPHA, ICA, and FTA-ABS were 4.6%, 3.7%, and 2.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: For syphilis tests, RPR test, TPHA, and ICA are mainly used in Korea. A high discordance rate is still reported in TPHA and ICA, especially when testing samples with a low titer. Further analysis of data and education of laboratory personnel are needed for the improvement of the EQA program.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; False Positive Reactions ; Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody-Absorption Test ; Humans ; Korea ; Quality Control ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; Syphilis/*diagnosis ; Syphilis Serodiagnosis/methods/*standards ; Treponema Immobilization Test

Sixty-four eyes in 65 patients received prophylactic treatment for retinal break and predisposing degeneration. During the follow-up period of 6 months or more, rhegmatogenous retinal detachment occurred in 2 eyes(3.0%). In one aphakic eye, new tear was responsible for the subsequent formation of retinal detachment but in the other eye, retinal detachment resulted from inadequate reaction around the treated retinal tear. One patient with bilateral multiple tears developed new retinal tear without detachment. Except these cases, no intra-or permanent post-operative complications were noticed.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Retinal Detachment* ; Retinal Perforations ; Retinaldehyde*

No abstract available.
Cyclic GMP* ; Cytomegalovirus* ; Gene Expression* ; Humans*

PURPOSE: Thyroid disease is the most common endocrine disease in childhood. Thyroid hormone has critical effects on growth and development, especially in childhood. We survey the prevalence, sex and age distribution, symptoms and thyroid function states of thyroid diseases in childhood. METHODS: Three hundred ninety one children who were diagnosed as having thyroid disease at department of pediatrics, St. Mary's hospital from Jan. 1987 to Dec. 1998 enrolled in this study. RESULTS: 1) The ratio between male and female patients was 1: 5.3. Age distribution was puberty, school age and infancy in their order of frequency. 2) The results of thyroid function tests showed normal function in 210 cases (53.7%), increased function in 95 cases(24.3%), and decreased function in 86 cases (22%). 3) Simple goiter, Graves disease, and chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis were the most common diseases in euthyroid, hyperthyroid, and acquired hypothyroid state, respectively. 4) The most common sign and symptom was goiter in euthyroid(100%), hyperthyroid(98.8%) and acquired hypothyroid state(96.2%). Forty of 68 cases(58.8%) with congenital hypothyroidism were detected by neonatal screening. CONCLUSION: Simple goiter, chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis and Graves disease were common acquired thyroid diseases in childhood, and goiter is the most common clinical manifestation in acquired thyroid disease. Recently, increasing number of congenital hypothyroidism was detected by neonatal screening test.
Adolescent ; Age Distribution ; Child ; Congenital Hypothyroidism ; Endocrine System Diseases ; Female ; Goiter ; Graves Disease ; Growth and Development ; Hashimoto Disease ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Neonatal Screening ; Pediatrics ; Prevalence ; Puberty ; Thyroid Diseases* ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyroid Gland*