OBJECTIVE: Telomerase is an RNA-dependent DNA polymerase that synthesizes TTAGGG telomeric DNA. It has been detected in a variety of human malignancies, suggesting that it's activity may play a role in the tumorigenic process. Also, maintenance of telomerase activity is associated with increased resistance to apoptosis. Caspase-3 activation has been found to be essential components of the apoptotic pathway. METHODS: To determine whether telomerase is involved in carcinogenesis of uterine cervix and to analyze the relationship between telomerase RNA and caspase-3 expression according to cervical cancer stage, we performed in situ hybridization for telomerase RNA and immunohistochemistry for caspase-3. The materials were 10 normal cervical tissues, 12 low grade intraepithelial lesions (LSIL), 20 high grade intraepithelial lesions (HSIL), 17 microinvasive carcinomas, 19 invasive carcinomas. RESULTS: Telomerase RNA was weakly expressed in a few basal cells of normal squamous epithelium in uterine cervix. But, high expression rate was noted in squamous intraepithelial lesions and invasive carcinoma groups. Expression of telomerase RNA was demonstrated 5 (41.6%) of LSIL, 7 (35.0%) of HSIL, 6 (35.2%) of microinvasive carcinoma, and 11 (57.8%) of invasive carcinoma. Expression of caspase-3 was demonstrated 0% of LSIL, 13 (65.0%) of HSIL, 13 (76.4%) of microinvasive carcinoma, and 7 (36.8%) of invasive carcinoma. Relationship between telomerase RNA and caspase-3 expression according to stage was not seen. Telomerase RNA and caspase-3 expression showed weakly inverse correlation in invasive carcinoma group. Telomerase RNA and caspase-3 expression was not correlated with clinico-pathologic factors, including stage, tumor differentiation, invasion depth, and lymph node metastasis (p>0.05). But, weak correlation between telomerase RNA expression and tumor size was noted (p=0.05). CONCLUSION: These data indicate telomerase might be involved in carcinogenesis of uterine cervix. Distinct relationship between telomerase RNA and caspase-3 was not seen according to stage. Expression of telomerase RNA and caspase-3 had no correlation with clinico-pathologic factors.
Apoptosis ; Carcinogenesis ; Caspase 3* ; Cervix Uteri ; DNA ; Epithelium ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; RNA* ; RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase ; Telomerase* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

BACKGROUND: A clinical study of rosacea has never been reported in Korea. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the clinical observations of rosncea. METHODS: During a 5-year-period from Jan. 1990 to Dec. 1994, 133 patients were evaluated with regard to age, sex, location of skin lesions, clinical type, duration, and precipitating factors. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. Of the 7,787 cases amongst outpatients, 133 cases(1.7% ) were dignosed with rosacea. Of there 46 were male patients and 87 females, giving a sex ratio of 1:1.9 in favor of females. 2. The most common type of rosacea was vascular rosacea(60.2%) 3. The average duration of rosacea was 3.4 years. 4. Rosacea afflict persons aged 40-49 most frequently. 5. The predilection sites of the rosacea were : cheek(42.9%), nose(23.3%), entire face(11.3%), cheek & nose(9%), zygomatic area(6.8%), extra-facial area(3.8%), forehead(2.9%). 6, The aggravating factors of rosacea were : unknown cause(32.3%), coffee & tea(18%), alcohol(13.5%), emotional stress(10.5%), sun exposure(9.8%), multi-factoral(7.5%), drugs(steroids)4.6%).
Cheek ; Coffee ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Outpatients ; Precipitating Factors ; Rosacea* ; Sex Ratio ; Skin ; Solar System

The proportion of population vaccinated cannot be directly translated into the herd immunity. We have to account for the age-stratified contact patterns to calculate the population immunity level, since not every individual gathers evenly. Here, we calculated the contact-adjusted population immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in South Korea using age-specific incidence and vaccine uptake rate. We further explored options to achieve the theoretical herd immunity with age-varying immunity scenarios. As of June 21, 2021, when a quarter of the population received at least one dose of a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine, the contact-adjusted immunity level was 12.5% under the social distancing level 1. When 80% of individuals aged 10 years and over gained immunity, we could achieve a 58.2% contact-adjusted immunity level. The pros and cons of vaccinating children should be weighed since the risks of COVID-19 for the young are less than the elderly, and the long-term safety of vaccines is still obscure.

The proportion of population vaccinated cannot be directly translated into the herd immunity. We have to account for the age-stratified contact patterns to calculate the population immunity level, since not every individual gathers evenly. Here, we calculated the contact-adjusted population immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in South Korea using age-specific incidence and vaccine uptake rate. We further explored options to achieve the theoretical herd immunity with age-varying immunity scenarios. As of June 21, 2021, when a quarter of the population received at least one dose of a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine, the contact-adjusted immunity level was 12.5% under the social distancing level 1. When 80% of individuals aged 10 years and over gained immunity, we could achieve a 58.2% contact-adjusted immunity level. The pros and cons of vaccinating children should be weighed since the risks of COVID-19 for the young are less than the elderly, and the long-term safety of vaccines is still obscure.

BACKGROUND: Dermatologic emergency patients who visit the emergency room increase in number every year. But there is no report about the statistical analysis of such visits. OBJECTIVES & METHODS: We reviewed 326 new dermatologic emergency patients who uisited the emergency room of Dongsan Medical Center in Taegu from 1986 to 1995 to study the age, sex, monthly and yearly distributior, arrival time, length of visit, prevalence of common dermatoses, admission rate and death rate. RESULTS: The results are summarized as follows: 1. Of 326 patients, there were 151 males and 175 females. The sex ratio of male to female was 1: 1.15. The number of patients increased with each year. 2. In age distribution, there were 23(7%) under 10;46(14%) between 11-20,55(17%) between 21-30;49(15% ) between 31-40;33(10%) between 41 50; 62(19% ) between 51-60 years,39(12% ) between 61-70 and 19(6%) between 71-80 years. 3. In monthly and arrival time distribution, the peak month incidence occurred in August(24 %), and the lowest incidence in December(1%). The peak incidence of arrival time occurred PM 6-12 hours and the lowest incidence AM 0-6 hour. 4. In the distribution about length nf visit, 73% of patients stayed more than 10 hours, 23% 5-10 hours and 4% less than 5 hours. 5. Of the most common derrnatoses, acute urticaria was seen in 124 cases(38%), and herpes zoster. in 94 cases (29%). In age distribution, acute urticaria was most preualent between the age of 0-30 and herpes zoster between 50-70. 6. The admission rate was 43%(140 cases). The death rate was 1.2%(3 cases). CONCLUSION: Our study of e nergency patients revealed that dermatologic emergency patients who visited the emergency room had increased in number every year and the distribution of patients is quite different from that of outpatients.
Age Distribution ; Daegu ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Female ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Mortality ; Outpatients ; Prevalence ; Sex Ratio ; Skin Diseases ; Urticaria

Cutaneous metastases from Internal carcinomas are relatively rare. We report a case of cutaneous metastasis believed t.o originate from primary lung carcinoma in a 69-year-old male patient. The patient presented with localized well defined multiple variable sized, hard eryt,hematous papules, nodules and pustules on the right chest, back and upper arm. Biopsy specimens from the nodules upper chest revealed scatt,ered islands of tumor cells and fi brosis of the dermis. To evaluate the role of p53 protein in the development of skin tumors, we examed p53 expres sion at protein level by imnunoperoxidase stain using monoclonal antimouse human p53 antibody on paraffin embeded tissues The patient died after four months from the appearance of cutaneous lesions.
Aged ; Arm ; Biopsy ; Dermis ; Humans ; Islands ; Lung ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Paraffin ; Skin ; Thorax

BACKGROUND: Interleukin-4(IL-4) is a 20 kDa glycoprotein and is now known to possess fibrogenic activities. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of IL4 on the extracellular matrix gene expression. METHODS: Quantitation of collagenous protein synthesis, Northern and dot-blot hybridization, transfection experiments and CAT assay in normal human skin fibroblasts were done. RESULTS: Maximal elevation of collagen synthesis was presented at the concentration of IL-4 being S.Ong/ml. In Northern and dot-blot analysis, each level of type I collagens and fibronectin mRNA increased 3.0, and 2.8-fold, respectively in IL4 treated fibroblasts. In CAT to c assay, the percentage of acetylation was 8.3% in the untreated control group and 23.1% in 5.Ong/ml of the IL-4 treated group in normal fibroblasts. The promoter activity was in creased 2.8-fold in II.4(5.Ong/ml) treated fibroblasts compared to the control groups. CONCLUSION: IL4 might be a fibrogenic cytokine that could be important in promoting the biogenesis of collagen proteins. This could be due to increased transcription.
Acetylation ; Animals ; Cats ; Collagen ; Collagen Type I ; Extracellular Matrix* ; Fibroblasts* ; Fibronectins ; Gene Expression* ; Glycoproteins ; Humans ; Interleukin-4* ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin* ; Transfection

Healthcare-associated infections are a major concern in relation to patient safety. Of the numerous interventions for infection control, hand hygiene is the main factor that reduces the transmission of nosocomial pathogens. In this review, we cover the history of hand hygiene, evidence supporting its efficacy, and its importance. Then, we briefly introduce the 2017 hand hygiene guidelines of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Healthcare-associated infections are a major concern in relation to patient safety. Of the numerous interventions for infection control, hand hygiene is the main factor that reduces the transmission of nosocomial pathogens. In this review, we cover the history of hand hygiene, evidence supporting its efficacy, and its importance. Then, we briefly introduce the 2017 hand hygiene guidelines of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Hand Hygiene ; Hand ; Infection Control ; Korea ; Patient Safety

No abstract available.
Diabetes Mellitus* ; Humans ; Myositis* ; Renal Dialysis* ; Vasculitis