To determine the hepatitis B virus infection rate of medical school students and appropriate time for immunization with hepatitis B vaccine, 385 students in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades of Medical School of Kyungpook National University who had not been vaccinated and volunteered to participate in this study were tested for HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc with radioimmunoassay method (Abbortt Lab. kit). A questionnaire was administered to ask the history of transfusion, acupuncture and surgery. HBsAg positive students were retested 16 months after the initial test. Overall HBsAg positive rate was 6.8% and the age adjusted rate for male (7.2%) was higher than that for female (4.9%). Anti-HBs positive rate was 35.8% (36.1% for male, 37.9% for male) and anti-HBc positive rate was 45.5% (46.5% for male, 44.7% for femaleP. Overall hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection rats was 49.1% and the infection rate for male (50.3%) was slightly higher than that for female (46.5%). HBsAg positive rate and infection rate were increased as the grade increased but it was attributed to the age distribution of the students. HBsAg positive rate for 20 years old students was 1.7%; 21 years, 6.6%; 22 years, 6.1%; 23 years, 12.2%; and 24 years and older, 6.4%. HBV infection rate showed an increasing trend as age increased; 45.8% for 20 years, 41.5% for 21 years, 49.5% for 22 years, 55.5% for 23 years and 59.6% for 24 years and older. The age differences in HBsAg positive rates and HBV infection rates did not reach the statistical significance level of 0.05. However, these findings and similar age differences in HBsAg positive rates and HBV infection rates observed in other study suggest that there is a significant age differences. Study of the same age group in other schools and different social classes is warranted to confirm the age difference. Clarification of the reason for such differences would provide a clue to identify the major route of HBV transmission in this age group. Among 26 HBsAg positive students in the initial test, only one student was active hepatitis patient. Out of 24 students who had follow-up test after 16 months 22 students were positive for HBsAg and two students became HBsAg negative and anti-HBs positive. It is obvious that nearly one-half of the medical school students were infected with HBV before 20 years of age and the HBV infection occurs in medical school. Thus, it is recommended to test all the students for HBV infection soon after the admission to the medical school and immunize all the susceptible students with hepatitis B vaccine and give booster as they start to practice at a hospital.
Acupuncture ; Age Distribution ; Animals ; Daegu* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Immunization ; Male ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Radioimmunoassay ; Rats ; Schools, Medical* ; Social Class ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the meaning of pregnant women's experiences with drinking alcohol during first trimester of pregnancy METHODS: The data were collected through in-depth interviews of 7 pregnant women who drank alcohol in the first trimester. Giorgi's phenomenological method was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Findings included 6 main themes and 14 themes. The main themes concerning pregnancy and drinking were: ‘Open attitude in drinking, History of drinking in family or spouse, Seeking information in how drinking affects pregnancy, Regret not doing planned pregnancy and not quitting drinking before pregnancy, Willing to stop drinking until the child birth, Awareness about importance of preconception care. CONCLUSION: The results of this study provide a deeper understanding of pregnant women's experiences of drinking alcohol during the first trimester of pregnancy. These results can be used in the development of strategies to prevent drinking alcohol during first trimester and to support preconception care and prenatal care.
Binge Drinking ; Child ; Drinking* ; Family Planning Services ; Female ; Humans ; Methods ; Parturition ; Preconception Care ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women* ; Prenatal Care ; Spouses ; Statistics as Topic

No abstract available.
Progeria*

PURPOSE: Ataxia Telangiectasia (AT) is a hereditary multi-systemic disease resulting from mutations of AT gene and is characterized by progressive neurodegeneration, cancer, immune system defects, and hypersensitivity to ionizing radiation. AT gene has a homologue sequence of PI3-kinase. The activity and cellular function of PI3-kinase in AT gene remains unclear. This study was undertaken to evaluate the function of AT gene through the effect on cell survival and differentiation by the inhibition of AT gene expression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: NH2-terminal portion of AT gene was isolated from MCF-7 cells by RT-PCR. The isolated DNA fragment was ligated in reverse orientation in pcDNA3. This antisense ATM expression vector was transfected to PC-12 cells by calcium phosphate method, and the transformed cells were selected using G418 and immunohisto- chemistry. To analyze the cell survival and differentiation, cells were cultured in serum free medium supplemented with/without NGF. We performed the immunoprecipitation for the p53 induction of cells after ionizing radiation, and the FACS for the apoptosis of cells after the exposure of wortmanin. RESULTS: PC-12 cells which down-regulated AT gene (like ATM, AT mutated) showed decreased survival and ceased differentiation with NGF. Also, PC-12 (ATM) cells showed increased apoptosis with wortmanin and reduced or delayed p53 induction after ionizingradiation. CONCLUSION: Results obtained from these studies suggest that AT gene regulates survival and differentiation of PC-12 cells through PI3-kinase activity. It seems that apoptosis is induced by the inhibition of AT gene expression.
Apoptosis ; Ataxia Telangiectasia ; Calcium ; Cell Survival ; Chemistry ; DNA ; Gene Expression ; Hypersensitivity ; Immune System ; Immunoprecipitation ; MCF-7 Cells ; Nerve Growth Factor ; Phenotype* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Radiation, Ionizing

No abstract available.

Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the most common nongenetic cause of sensorineural hearing loss and a major cause of visual, intellectual, and neurodevelopmental impairment worldwide. The seroprevalence of CMV among women of childbearing age in developing countries reaches almost 100%, and the incidence of CMV infection in neonates is 1%–2%. Approximately 87% of the infected neonates are asymptomatic at birth and 13% of them have permanent sequelae. The burden of congenital malformations due to congenital CMV infection is higher than that due to Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, and spina bifida. Nevertheless, there is little knowledge regarding congenital CMV pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. In this study, we report a case that showed sequential changes of fetal brain following CMV infection in pregnancy. Additionally, we reviewed the latest information on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of congenital CMV infection.

Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the most common nongenetic cause of sensorineural hearing loss and a major cause of visual, intellectual, and neurodevelopmental impairment worldwide. The seroprevalence of CMV among women of childbearing age in developing countries reaches almost 100%, and the incidence of CMV infection in neonates is 1%–2%. Approximately 87% of the infected neonates are asymptomatic at birth and 13% of them have permanent sequelae. The burden of congenital malformations due to congenital CMV infection is higher than that due to Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, and spina bifida. Nevertheless, there is little knowledge regarding congenital CMV pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. In this study, we report a case that showed sequential changes of fetal brain following CMV infection in pregnancy. Additionally, we reviewed the latest information on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of congenital CMV infection.

There is a growing interest in using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to obtain information on the risk and safety of drugs in pregnancy. Inadvertent drug exposure in pregnant women is inevitable in acute or chronic diseases, especially in unplanned pregnancies. According to the Korean mother safe counselling center database (2010-2023), many Korean pregnant women and their families asked about the teratogenicity of their exposed drugs. The most frequently used drug was topiramate (n=2,018), followed by isotretinoin (n=1,972), dexamethasone (n=1,279), and doxycycline (n=1,119). Unexpectedly, thalidomide, a notorious teratogen that causes phocomelia, was included. It has been withdrawn from general prescriptions since 1961, except for the treatment of multiple myeloma. Her partner used it for the treatment of multiple myeloma. In this study, we evaluated the usefulness of AI Chat generative pretrained transformer (Chat GPT) by comparing information between AI and a literature review on isotretinoin, a well-known teratogen to which Korean pregnant women are frequently exposed. Chat GPT provides general information on teratogenicity for pregnant women and medical providers rather than on their exposure. Thus, AI can induce unnecessary termination of pregnancy due to misinformation and misperception in cases of notorious teratogens such as isotretinoin. Therefore, counseling on the teratogenicity of medication exposure in pregnancy must be performed with Chat GPT, as well as a literature review. Further studies are required to obtain more individualized information using AI in the field of teratology.