No abstract available.
Cardiovascular Diseases* ; Estrogens*

Acromelanosis progressiva is a peculiar progressive pigmentary disorder characterized by intensely dark and sharply demarcated hyperpigmentation over the dorsa of fingers and toes, and the pigmentation rapidly spread proximally. A 19-year-old female had sharply demarcated symmetric dark aroarn macules on the dorsa of her hands and feet, forearms, lower legs, face and neck. These pigmentations at first appeared at the age of 5 on the dorsa of her fingers and toes, thereafter these pigmertatons spread progressively to the proximal portion of her body. Histologically, a proliferation of mela biocyte at the epidermal-dermal junction was seen, associated with mild hyperkeratosis. She was othervise normal on physical examination and had no family historv of consanguinity.
Consanguinity ; Female ; Fingers ; Foot ; Forearm ; Hand ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Leg ; Neck ; Physical Examination ; Pigmentation ; Toes ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Arthroplasty* ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip* ; Head* ; Hemiarthroplasty* ; Necrosis*

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for detection of the pathogenic Yersinia pestis from other Yersinia spp. was developed. Five Y. pestis strains, ninety-two other Yersinia species and twenty-four Enterobacteriaceae strains were collected in Korea and from other countries. Oligonucleotide primers were designed from pathogenic gene of antiphagocytic protein capsule gene (fra 1) and plasminogen activator gene (pla). The 428 bp DNA fragment was amplified from five Y. pestis which contained the fra I gene. No product was amplified from other Yersinia species and other strains of the Enterobacteriaceae. The 439 bp DNA fragment was amplified from three K pestis which contained the pla gene. No product was amplified from two Y. pestis, other Yersinia species and other strains of the Enterobacteriaceae. These showed that the designed primers were specific for detection of Y. pestis among other Yersinia species and Enterobacteriaceae strains. Amplification was successful whether the template was derived from purified DNA or from aliquots of boiled bacterial suspension. The detection limits were 100 pg of DNA and 100 colony forming units (CFU) for fra I and 100 pg DNA and 10 CFU for pla, respectively. Our results prove that the PCR method using specific primers for Y. pestis is a rapid and convenient procedure for routine clinical detection and identification of Y. pestis.
DNA ; DNA Primers ; Enterobacteriaceae ; Korea ; Limit of Detection ; Plasminogen Activators ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Stem Cells ; Yersinia pestis* ; Yersinia*

No abstract available.
Kidney Transplantation* ; Pregnancy*

No Abstract Available.
Animals ; Cats* ; Endothelium, Corneal*

Recent The Korean Society of Bone Metabolism guidelines recommended bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women; in women during the menopausal transition with clinical risk factors for osteoporosis; in premenopausal women with amenorrhea longer than 6 months; in men aged 70 and older; in men under age 70 with clinical risk factors for osteoporosis; in adults with a fragility fracture; in adults with diseases or taking medications associated with secondary osteoporosis; in anyone being considered for pharmacologic therapy; and in anyone being treated, to monitor treatment effects. Several interventions to reduce osteoporotic fracture risk can be recommended to the general population. A calcium intake of at least 1,200 mg per day and vitamin D supplementation of at least 800 IU per day should be recommended. Regular weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercise to reduce the risk of falls and fractures. Also, advice patients to avoid tobacco smoking and recognize and treat patients with excessive alcohol intake. The Korean Society of Bone Metabolism guidelines recommended pharmacologic therapy in postmenopausal women and men aged 50 and older with hip or vertebral fracture; with a T score below -2.5; and with a T score between -1.0 and -2.5 with either other prior fractures or secondary causes associated with high risk of fracture.
Adult ; Aged ; Amenorrhea ; Bone Density ; Calcium ; Female ; Hip ; Humans ; Male ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; Osteoporosis ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; Vitamin D ; Weight-Bearing

No abstract available.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cystatin C ; Humans

PURPOSE: To evaluate the predictive value of the early response of 18F-flurodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) during concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: FDG PET was performed before and during CCRT for 13 NSCLC patients. Maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) were measured and the changes were calculated. These early metabolic changes were compared with the standard tumor response by computed tomograms (CT) one month after CCRT. RESULTS: One month after the completion of CCRT, 9 patients had partial response (PR) of tumor and 4 patients had stable disease. The percent changes of SUVmax (%DeltaSUVmax) were larger in responder group than in non-responder group (55.7% +/- 15.6% vs. 23.1% +/- 19.0%, p = 0.01). The percent changes of SUVmean (%DeltaSUVmean) were also larger in responder group than in non-responder group (54.4% +/- 15.9% vs. 22.3% +/- 23.0%, p = 0.01). The percent changes of MTV (%DeltaMTV) or TLG (%DeltaTLG) had no correlation with the tumor response after treatment. All the 7 patients (100%) with %DeltaSUVmax > or = 50% had PR, but only 2 out of 6 patients (33%) with %DeltaSUVmax < 50% had PR after CCRT (p = 0.009). Likewise, all the 6 patients (100%) with %DeltaSUVmean > or = 50% had PR, but only 3 out of 7 patients (43%) with %DeltaSUVmean < 50% had PR after CCRT (p = 0.026). CONCLUSION: The degree of metabolic changes measured by PET-CT during CCRT was predictive for NSCLC tumor response after CCRT.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Chemoradiotherapy* ; Glycolysis ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Tumor Burden

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to provide evidence for the relationship between health risks and selfreported absenteeism and presenteeism. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of 496 employees of an electric company was conducted. Participants responded to a self-questionnaire including the assessment of 7 health risks (obesity, current smoking, problem drinking, lack of exercise, chronic disease, depressive mood, high stress) and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment - General Health Questionnaire (WPAI-GH). Logistic regression analyses were used to determine the significance of health risks on work impairment. RESULTS: As a result of the analysis of all the participants, problem drinking (absenteeism) and high stress (absenteeism and presenteeism) were significantly associated with work impairment. In the analysis of a sub-group, current smoking (presenteeism), lack of exercise (absenteeism), and high stress (presenteeism and absenteeism) were significantly associated with reduced productivity among the blue-collar workers. However, the analysis of the white-collar workers showed no significant relationship between health risks and work impairment. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation suggests that employees who have more health risks will experience more absenteeism and presenteeism than employees with fewer risks, and this association is affected by employment type.
Absenteeism* ; Chronic Disease ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Drinking ; Efficiency ; Employment ; Logistic Models ; Questionnaires ; Smoke ; Smoking