Psoriasis is characterized by disregulation of keratinocyte growth with profound epidermal hyperplasia. Keratinocyte hyperplasia in psoriasis may be expained in part by overproduction of growth factor, and by altered metabolism of the epidemal growth factor receptors (EGFR) in affected skin. The expression of epidermal growth f ictor receptor was investigated by Northern blot and slot-blot analysis of total RNA extrated from biopsies of normal skin and psoriatic lesions. In Northern blot analysis, EGFR-specific mRNA transcripts from psoriatic tissues demonstrated the specificity of hybridizarion with a EGFR mDNA probe. The size of EGFR mRNA transcript was 6.7kb in psoriasis lesions which showed no change of quality. In slot-blot analysis, the levels of EGFR mRNA in poriasis revealed a 1.2 fold to 4.1 fold elevation when compared to normal skin. EGFR were present in all epidermal layers by immunoperoxidase staining, whereas in normal skin they were primarily present in the stratum basalis. These results indicate that the increased expresion of the EGFR gene may be, in part, responsible for the hyperproliferation of the epider nis and that retained EGFR may reflect incomplet; abnormal differentiation in active porasis. This altered process of EGFR metabolism may be involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.
Biopsy ; Blotting, Northern ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Genes, erbB-1 ; Hyperplasia ; Keratinocytes ; Metabolism ; Psoriasis* ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Receptors, Growth Factor ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Pertechnetate ( Tc) has been widely employed for thyroid imaging. While pertechnetate and radioiodide have usually similar results in identifying thyroid nodules, occasionally differences have been noted. We intended to observe that the thyroid nodules which appeared to be hot on pertechnetate and to compare them with the images by radioiodide. METHODS: 'I scan was performed to thirty-eight cases (mean age: 48.9 +/- 13.2) presenting as hot nodule on Tc scan. Thyroid function test and pathologic diagnosis were obtained in all patients. RESULTS: Of the 38 patients, 24 had euthyroidism, 13 had hyperthyroidism, and 1 had hypothyroidism. Thirty patients had adenomatous goiter, 4 papillary carcinoma, 3 Hashimotos thyroiditis, and 1 had HQrthle cell tumor. 28 of 38 patients showed similar images, but the remaining 10 patients(26.3%) revealed discordant images on Tc and 131I scan. Among the concordant cases, 23 had adenomatous goiter, 3 had papillary carcinoma, and 2 had Hashimotos thyroiditis. Among the discordant cases, 7 had adenomatous goiter, 1 had papillary carcinoma, 1 had Hashimotos thyroiditis, and 1 had HQrthle cell tumor. The incidence of malignancy was 10.7% of concordant cases, and 20% of discordant cases and was revealed statistically insignificant (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: We observed higher incidence of malignancy in patients presenting hot nodules on 99mTc scan than ever reported. Fine needle aspiration should be performed to all patients with hot nodules and the 'I scan would not be recommended for further diagnostic study.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Diagnosis ; Goiter ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Hypothyroidism ; Incidence ; Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Nodule ; Thyroiditis

No abstract available.
Cytogenetics*

BACKGROUND: After total thyroidectomy the presence of detectable serum thyroglobulin(Tg) concentration is an index of residual or metastatic thyroid tissue and is usually well correlated with positive I whole body scan. However, it is not rare to find a patient with detectable serum Tg levels but without any uptake on I whole-body scan. At present it is not certain how to manage such patients. We performed whole body scan after administration of therapeutic dose of 131I to evaluate the usefulness of radioactive iodine therapy in the above setting. METHODS: Fifteen patients (4 males and 11 females, ranging in age from 17 to 74 years) were studied. They had been previously treated with total thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid cancer followed by therapy with 131I for ablation of their thyroid residue. Tg levels were determined by immunoradiometric assay method. 131I (100-200 mCi) therapy was administered and whole body scan was performed. 99mTc MIBI scans were taken in 9 patients. Follow up data of Tg were available in 12 patients at time interval of 6 12 months from the first study and treatment. RESULTS: Tg(on) levels of these patients were in a range of 2.2210 ng/mL (mean 36.1 +/- 59.1 ng/mL) and Tg(off) levels were 17.3 1,592 ng/mL (mean 197.3 +/- 400.3 ng/mL). After radioiodide therapy, Tg(on) levels were in 1.48.5 ng/mL (mean 11.0 +/- 13.5 ng/mL), Tg (off) were 11.9 478.0 ng/mL (mean 159.3 +/- 159.8 ng/mL). The Tg (on) levels were decreased significantly after RAI therapy, but Tg (off) levels had no significant difference, In 8 of the 15 patients (53.3%), posttreatment whole body scan showed definite positive uptakes which were not evident in pretreatment diagnostic scan. There were local recurrence in 3 cases, regional lymph node metastasis in 4 cases, and lung in I case. Diffuse hepatic uptake was definitely seen in 7 cases. The MIBI scan showed abnorml uptakes in 4 of 9 cases. CONCLUSION: The therapeutic usefulness of 100 to 200 mCi of 131I treatment in patients with 131I scan-negative and Tg-positive was unclear. And the MIBI scan was only partially effective. Further studies with other diagnostic and therapeutic approachs are required to evaluate the exact lesions and to improve prognosis.
Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunoradiometric Assay ; Iodine* ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroidectomy ; Whole Body Imaging

PURPOSE: This study was done to examine the relation of self-reported adult attachment style, perceived parental rearing styles and anger in undergraduate students. METHOD: The six hundred and fifty undergraduate students participating in this descriptive correlational design study were conveniently sampled from K University and S College located in Seoul, Korea. The instruments were Spielberger's state-trait anger expression inventory - Korean version(Chon, Han, Lee & Spielberger, 1997), the instrument for measuring attachment styles by Hazen and Shaver (1987), and Hong's instrument for measuring parental rearing style(2001). Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, chi-square-test, ANOVA, and cluster analysis using pc-SAS(version 8.0e) program. RESULTS: The mean scores for trait anger and anger-in were higher in undergraduate students with insecure and ambivalent attachment style compared to students with a secure attachment style. The mean score for anger-control was highest in undergraduate students with a secure attachment style. The parental rearing styles by cluster analysis were grouped as Neglect, Permissive, Democratic, and Protective-control. The mean scores for trait anger, anger-in, and anger-out were higher in undergraduate students with 'Neglect' parental rearing style than in those with 'Democratic' and 'Protective-control' rearing styles. CONCLUSION: Trait anger and anger expression might be related to an attachment style and/or a parental rearing style.
Adult* ; Anger* ; Humans ; Korea ; Parenting ; Parents* ; Seoul

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks in nursing facilities can easily lead to a high rate of infection and fatality. A surge in newly infected cases in the first quarter of 2020 in Gyeongsan-si, in the Republic of Korea, was followed by several outbreaks in nursing facilities in the same area. The aim of this study is to report on the epidemiological investigation and the management to reduce the infection rate in nursing facilities for older adults.

PURPOSE: Apoptosis is a process of natural cell death that can occur under both normal and neoplastic conditions and increased apoptosis in neoplastic conditions is a feature of the increasing malignant potential. We investigated the possible relationship between the apoptotic index(AI) and Gleason grade, T stage of prostatic carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 31 patients with untreated prostatic carcinoma diagnosed by TURP, transrectal needle biopsy and radical prostatectomy was evaluated. We used in situ end labeling method for apoptotic staining. AI was compared with Gleason grade and T stage. RESULTS: The values of mean AI according to Gleason grade were grade I, 1.3+/- 0.13, II, 1.38+/-0.11, III, 1.92+/-0.20, IV, 2.0+/-0.20, V, 2.01 +/-0.28. A positive correlation was noted between apoptotic index and Gleason grade, but not between apoptotic index and T stage. CONCLUSIONS: We found a positive correlation between AI and Gleason grade and the possibility that AI may serve as an important morphological marker to predict the behavior of prostatic carcinoma.
Apoptosis ; Biopsy, Needle ; Cell Death ; Humans ; Prostate* ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate

The origins of medullary carcinoma and papillary carcinoma of thyroid are embryologically different. We report a case of simultaneous occurrence of medullary carcinoma and papillary carcinoma of the thyroid in the same thyroid gland. In this case, the occurrence of the two tumors may be a coincidence, does not have embryological or genetical significance.
Carcinoma, Medullary ; Carcinoma, Papillary* ; Thyroid Gland*

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify differences in measurement methods for blood pressure (Direct measurement, HP automatic indirect measurement, and SE 7000 Korean made indirect measurement), and to evaluate the clinical trial of the Korean made automatic indirect blood pressure measurement. MATERIAL & METHODS: From June, 1999 to February, 2000, fifty five consecutive patients were randomized into hypertension group (n=20), normotension group (n=20), and hypotension group (n=15). Measuring blood pressure by indirect methods (HP NIBP M 1008B and SE 7000 NIBP Korean made) was done simultaneously in the same arm with arterial line for direct blood pressure measurement (HP M1006A). The procedures were repeated ten times at intervals of 2 minutes. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (version 8.0 for windows) software package. Values were expressed as means and standard deviation and means were compared using t-test. Statistical significance was considered present with a p value less than 0.05. RESULTS: In the hypertension group and noromotension group, the disparity between HP direct measurement and indirect SE 7000 NIBP did not show any differences compared to the disparity between HP direct measurement and indirect HP NIBP. In the hypotension group, the disparity in the diastolic pressure between HP direct measurement and indirect SE 7000 NIBP was significantly different compared to the disparity between HP direct measurement and indirect HP NIBP (p<0.001), however, disparities in systolic pressure did not showed any differences. CONCLUSION: Direct blood pressure measurement (HP M1006A) can be replaced with indirect blood pressure measurements (HP NIBP M 1008B & SE 7000 NIBP) in normotension and hypertension patients. Korean made indirect measurement was found to be more accurate compared to HP indirect measurement in hypotension patients, but more study is needed.
Arm ; Blood Pressure* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypotension ; Vascular Access Devices

PURPOSE: A survey was done on knowledge and attitude toward CPR and provision of CPR education to nurses on general wards. METHOD: A survey of 280 nurses on general wards in four university hospitals with 700 beds or more in the city of Pusan was done. The data were collected from September 10, to September 22, 2007. RESULTS: The mean score for knowledge of Basic Life Support was 12.71 (mean converted to 100: 63). About 76% of the nurses believed that they had a responsibility to perform CPR, but 53.3% of the nurses were not confident to perform CPR. About 94% of the nurses had received education on CPR but 32.3% of those took it 6 to 12 years ago. About 41% of the nurses spent 3-4 hours for the education and 73.2% of those took simulation education. CONCLUSION: Although most of the nurses had received CPR education, they were not knowledgeable or confident. Therefore, better CPR education programs including up-dated knowledge are needed. More reinforced education should be offered every six months or on a yearly basis in order to enhance lasting efficiency.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Hospitals, University ; Patients' Rooms