No abstract available.
Humans ; Microsporum* ; Siblings* ; Tinea Capitis* ; Tinea*

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: The prognosis of hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with cirrhosis is worse than in those without cirrhosis. In Korea, the hepatitis B virus prevalence rate is higher than in other countries. Therefore, we investigated patients' clinicopathologic and metabolic factors that affect the postoperative outcomes of hepatic resection for HCC in our hospital in Korea. METHODS: From August 2000 to December 2012, 171 HCC patients underwent hepatic resections at our institution. Two operative mortality cases and two short-term follow up cases were excluded. Data was collected from a retrospective chart review. There were 133 males (79.6%) and 34 females (20.3%), with a mean age of 58.2+/-10.2 years (range, 22-81 years), and the relationship between clinicopathologic and metabolic factors and the prognosis of patients with HCC undergoing hepatic resection were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Hypertension, major surgery, perioperative transfusion, resection with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or cryoablation, and resection margin were risk factors for overall survival, and hypertension, albumin, resection with RFA or cryoablation, perioperative transfusion, and tumor size were risk factors for disease-free survival. CONCLUSIONS: We found that hypertension, perioperative transfusion, and resection with RFA or cryoablation were risk factors for both disease-free and overall survival after hepatic resection in HCC patients. Further study is required to clarify the influence of metabolic and other clinicopathologic factors on the prognosis of HCC.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Catheter Ablation ; Cryosurgery ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis B virus ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Korea ; Male ; Mortality ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prevalence ; Prognosis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVES: To identify the effects of supplemental private health insurance on health care utilization and expenditure under the mandatory National Health Insurance(NHI) system in Korea. METHODS: The data were collected by the National Cancer Center in Korea. Cancer patients who were newly diagnosed with stomach (ICD code, C16), lung(C33-C34), liver (C22), colorectal cancer(C18-C20) or breast(C50) cancer were included as study subjects. Data were gathered using a structured questionnaire from face-to-face interviews, the hospital Order Communication System (OCS) and medical records. Clinical, socio-demographic and private health insurance related factors were also gathered. The differences of health care utilization and expenditure were compared between those who have private health insurance and those who do not using t-test and multivariable regression analysis. RESULTS: Individuals with private health insurance spent larger inpatient costs than those without, but no differences were found in utilization in other service such as hospital admissions, hospital days and physician visits. CONCLUSIONS: We found that private health insurance exerts a significant effect on the health care expenditure in inpatient service. These study results can provide a rational basis to plan a national health policy regarding private health insurance. Further studies are needed to investigate the impacts of private health insurance on cancer patients' outcomes and survival rates.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Health Expenditures ; Health Services/economics/*utilization ; Humans ; Insurance, Health/*statistics & numerical data ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms/economics/*therapy ; *Private Sector ; Socioeconomic Factors

Several methods have been used for regeneration of tissue lost by periodontal disease. Subepithelial connective tissue graft technique, one of the technniques of mucogingival surgery, is used for the regeneration in esthetic problems such as recession, and denuded root coverage. This study is performed to evaluate the healing process and the regeneration and reattachment of periodontal tissue, including the reconstruction of junctional epithelium, and connective tissue. Alveolar defects in five adult dogs were treated with periodontal surgery and were attained by removing the marginal alveolar bone by 4x3mm from CEJ in the labial side of incisors, and root surfaces were planed. The experimental sites were divided into two groups as follows. 1. root planing alone(control group) 2. with connective tissue graft(Experimental Group) In the two groups flaps were positioned and sutured tightly, the healing processes were observed and were histologically compared with each other after 2days, 4days, 1week, 2weeks, 4weeks. The results were obtained as follows : 1. In the two groups blood clots were observed as early as 2 and 4 days, and were resorbed at 1 week. 2. In the two groups moderate inflammation was observed as early as 2 and 4 days, decreased at 1 and 2 weeks, and disappeared at 4 weeks. 3. Junctional Epithelium migration was more significant in the control group, and was restrained by graft materials in the experimental group. 4. Features of connective tissue fiber attachment partially showed the parallel pattern in the two groups from 2 weeks, and entirely from 4weeks. 5. Anastomosis, between graft and connective tissue, appeared from 4 days in the experimental group and the border between them was not discriminated at 4weeks.
Adult ; Animals ; Connective Tissue* ; Dogs* ; Epithelial Attachment ; Humans ; Incisor ; Inflammation ; Periodontal Diseases ; Regeneration ; Root Planing ; Tooth Cervix ; Transplants* ; Wound Healing* ; Wounds and Injuries*

In September 2013 and 2014, a significant number of kenaf plants showing symptoms of leaf spots with approximately 50% incidence were found in experimental plots in Iksan and Namwon, Korea. Leaf spots were circular to irregular, more or less vein-limited, reaching to 10 mm in diameter. The spots were initially uniformly brown to reddish brown, turning pale brown with a purplish margin and showing grayish patches on the lesion due to heavy fructification. The causative agent of the leaf spot disease was identified as Cercospora malayensis. The pathogenicity test was conducted with similar results, which fulfilled Koch's postulates. This is the first report of C. malayensis infection of kenaf in Korea.
Hibiscus* ; Incidence ; Jeollabuk-do ; Korea ; Virulence

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory skin disease triggered by diverse factors. Microbes are one of the crucial risk factors for AD development or exacerbation. However, the effect of a fungal burden on AD has been overlooked compared to bacteria. Objective: This study aimed to comparatively analyze cutaneous fungal distribution between AD patients and healthy individuals by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based analysis. Methods: Skin samples of AD outpatients and healthy individuals collected at the ChungAng University were analyzed. Representative AD-associated fungal genera, Candida, dermatophytes, and Malassezia, were analyzed using specific primer and amplification methods. Amplicons were sequenced, and the fungal distribution of both groups were compared. Results: Totally, 211 patients and 23 healthy individuals were studied. Of the 211 patients, 10.90% (23/211) had Candida species, whereas 0% (0/23) healthy individuals showed its presence. The most frequently detected species in patients was Candida albicans (5.21%) followed by Candida parapsilosis (3.79%). For dermatophytes, 1.42% (3/211) of patients showed positive results, whereas 0% (0/23) healthy individuals showed positive results. Malassezia species were identified in 20.85% (44/211) and 8.70% (2/23) in patients and healthy individuals, respectively. Malassezia restricta was the most frequently identified species in the AD patient group, and the only species found in the healthy control group. Conclusion The distribution of Candida spp., dermatophytes, and Malassezia spp. are altered with AD development.

The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of using fibrin glue polymer designed to produce tissue-engineered cartilage by in vitro culture and to determine the optimal fibrinogen and chondrocyte concentrations required to generate cartilage and to evaluate the biomechanical properties of the generated cartilages. The most favorable fibrinogen and chondrocyte concentrations were determined by measuring the volume and weight gains, evaluating the histologic changes and measuring the biomechanical properties after construction of 12 different chondrocyte-fibrin glue constructs. The results are as follows. 1. The fibrin glues without chondrocytes degraded during 8 weeks of culture period. 2. The construct gains more weight in those with higher chondrocyte and fibrinogen concentration. 3. Histologic analysis of the generated cartilage showed nearly homogeneous cartilage when using 80 mg/cc fibrinogen and 4 x 10(7) chondrocyte/cc at 8 weeks in vitro culture. 4. The compressive modulus is higher in constructs with higher fibrinogen concentration and is 35.4 -36.8% of the normal joint cartilage. 5. The yield stress is higher in constructs with higher fibrinogen concentration and is 11% of the normal joint cartilage. This study demonstrates that fibrin glue is a suitable polymer for generation of cartilage by in vitro culture method. The construct with 80 mg/cc fibrinogen and 4 x 10(7) chondrocyte/cc yields the best quality of cartilage at 8 weeks when analyzed by weight and volume changes, histology and biomechanical properties. The compressive modulus and yield stress of the generated cartilage are lower than those of normal joint cartilage, and may still be adequate for the purpose of craniofacial reconstruction which seeks more pliant cartilage not requiring weight bearing strength.
Adhesives ; Cartilage* ; Chondrocytes ; Fibrin Tissue Adhesive* ; Fibrin* ; Fibrinogen ; Joints ; Polymers ; Weight Gain ; Weight-Bearing

Catamenial hemoptysis is syndrome characterized by bleeding from the bronchial trees and lungs that occurs synchronously with the female menstrual cycle. Etiologic mechanism of pulmonary endometriosis is still controversial, and the diagnosis is usually made on the basis of the clinical history and exclusion of other causes of recurrent hemoptysis. Serial computed tomograms of the chest during and in the interval between menstruations have been proved to be a useful confirmatory test. We experienced a 33-year-old female patient who had been previously diagnosed as pelvic endometriosis pathologically, experienced cyclic hemoptysis during menstruations. The diagnosis of pulmonary endometriosis was made based on her history and changes in the character of the lesions as documented on radiologic studies of the chest. She was treated successfully with GnRH analogue and there is no evidence of recurrence.
Female ; Humans

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, efficacy and safety of percutaneous thromboaspiration with a Desilets-Hoffman Sheath compared with the previously established percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy technique in cases of occluded dialysis graft. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and sixty eight patients (103 women, 65 men; mean age, 54.7 years; mean graft age, 20.9 months) with 225 episodes of dialysis graft thrombosis underwent percutaneous thromboaspiration with a 7F Desilets-Hoffman sheath using the crossing catheter or single puncture technique. The technical success rate, procedure time, and complication and patency rates were analyzed. RESULTS:Technical success was achieved in 200 of the 225 procedures (88.9%). The average duration of the intervention was 74.3+/-35 minutes. The primary patency rate was 63.1% at 3 months, 44.2% at 6 months and 26.3% at 1 year. Major complications occurred in 4% of the cases (4 venous ruptures; 4 arterial embolisms; 1 arterial rupture) and minor complications occurred in 13.8% of the cases (26 minor venous ruptures; 4 intragraft ruptures; 1 venous dissection). These results were quite similar to those obtained with the previous mechanical thrombectomy technique. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous thromboaspiration of occluded dialysis grafts with a Desilets-Hoffman Sheath is an effective and safe method.
Catheters ; Dialysis ; Embolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Punctures ; Renal Dialysis* ; Rupture ; Thrombectomy ; Thrombosis ; Transplants*