NAG activity has been measured in the urine of hypertension, diabetes mellitus and renal disease subjects. Results have shown significantly higher levels of Urinary NAG in hypertension, diaetes and renal disease subjects compared to normal control Subjects group(P<0.001). Urinary NAG measurement is simple and accurate and it provides a valuable information in the early detection of renal dysfunction in hypertension and diabetes subjects and also in the follow up of these patients.
Acetylglucosaminidase* ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertension*

No abstract available.
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2

PURPOSE: To evaluate a role as over 35 years, maternal serum markers, and a false positive screen for Down syndrome were the predictor of adverse pregnancy outcome. Materials and METHODS: From Mar.1994, through Feb.1996, 5284 women were screened triple test to detect Down syndrome in the second trimester and were delivered Samsung Cheil hospital. The values of each maternal serum markers were measured with radioimmunoassay. And then, the screen positive of Down syndrome was calculated using alpha-software Version 4.0. The adverse outcome of the fetus and the mother included low birth weight(LBW) ( <2500gm), prematurity( <37 gestational weeks), placenta previa, preterm premature rupture of membranes(PPROM), pregnancy induced hypertension(PIH),abruptio placenta, and intrauterine fetal death(IUFD). The predictor markers included over 35years, elevated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), elevated human chorionic gonadotropin(hCG), lowered unconjugated estriol (uE3), and a false positive screen for Down syndrome. RESULTS: Mean age and mean gestational weeks in the study were 30+/-4.8 years and 17.1 weeks respectively. The adverse pregnancy outcomes were 357 LBW(6.8%), 253 prematurity(4.8%), 108 placenta previa(2.0%), 68 PPROM(1.3%), 66 PIH(1.3%), 24 abruptio placenta(0.5%), and 20 IUFD(0.4%). In univariate analysis, over 35 years was significantly associated with abruptio placenta, prematurity, and placenta previa, elevated MS-AFP( >2.0 MoM) associated with IUFD, LBW, PIH, prematurity, and PPROM , elevated MS-hCG (>3.0 MoM) associated with IUFD, LBW, PIH, prematurity, and placenta previa, lowered uE3 (<0.75) associated with IUFD, abruptio placenta, LBW, and prematurity.(P <0.05). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, IUFD was significantly associated with only elevated MS-AFP, LBW associated with elevated MS-AFP, elevated MS-hCG, and lowered uE3, PIH associated with only elevated MS-AFP, PPROM only elevated MS-AFP, prematurity only elevated MS-AFP, and placenta previa over 35 years, elevated MS-hCG.(P <0.05). However, abruptio placenta was not significantly associated with predictor markers.(P >0.05) CONCLUSIONS: Some predictors such as over 35 year, elevated hCG, lowered uE3, a false positive screen for Down syndrome were significantly associated with adverse pregnancy outcome. Also in multivariate analysis, we identified especially elevated AFP to be the most reliable predictor for adverse pregnancy outcome.
alpha-Fetoproteins ; Biomarkers ; Chorion ; Down Syndrome ; Estriol ; Female ; Fetus ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Mothers ; Multivariate Analysis* ; Parturition ; Placenta ; Placenta Previa ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome* ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Pregnancy* ; Radioimmunoassay ; Rupture

BACKGROUND: Irbersatan, an orally active antihypertensive agent, effectively reduce blood pressure by directly blocking angiotensin II receptors without any significant adverse effects. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of irbesartan in patients with mild to moderate hypertension. METHODS: This study enrolled 83 patients who had diastolic pressure above 95 mmHg and below 110 mmHg on two measurements. Sixty eight patients were administered 150mg of irbesartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker, daily for four weeks as an initial dosage. If the sitting diastolic pressure was equal to or greater than 90 mmHg after a 4 week treatment period, the dosage was doubled until the end of 8 weeks. Baseline pressures, antihypertensive effect, side effects, laboratory findings were compared before and after treatment. RESULTS: Fourty two patients out of 53 patients having completed this study showed decreased blood pressure equal to or more than 5 mmHg of the sitting diastolic pressure (response rate=79%). Twenty one patients out of 53 patients showed normalized blood pressure below 90 mmHg of the sitting diastolic pressure (normalization rate=40%). The extent of decrease in diastolic and systolic blood pressure after eight week treatment was an average 11.7+/-10.1 mmHg and 16.3+/-18.9 mmHg, respectively (p<0.05). Nineteen ontoward side effects was observed in 17 patients out of 68 patients with medication (frequency of ontoward effects=25%). Only one case with headache was considered to be related to the medication. Abnormal laboratory findings were observed in eight patients, and only one case with elevation of bilirubin and ALT levels was considered to be related to the medication. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, irbesartan is a safe and effective antihypertensive drug in patients with mild to moderate hypertension with tolerable side effects.
Bilirubin ; Blood Pressure ; Headache ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Receptors, Angiotensin

BACKGROUND: Aging population correspond with an increase in the numbers of dementia patients. Dementia decreases the quality of life of patients and care-givers. However, current pharmacological treatment is limited by modest efficacy and adverse effect. Nonpharmacological treatment for dementia has been considered to be a substitute treatment. Recently we developed a special planned program for dementia with depression. The aim of this study was to evaluate therapeutic effect of this program. METHODS: We included patients aged 65 and older who diagnosed dementia with depression in a geriatric institution from April to June, 2006. We surveyed their sex, age, education period, and histories of hypertension, smoking, and alcohol intake. Patients in experimental group carried out our program, including cooking, painting, recreation, and activity, 9 times for 60 minutes a session. All included patients were checked Korean Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) and Korean Form of Geriatric Depression Scale (KGDS) before starting program and after 3 months when programs finished. RESULTS: There was no difference in demographic factors between two groups. K-MMSE was significantly improved in experimental group compared with control group (P = 0.01). And, the KGDS was significantly improved in experimental group compared with control group (P = 0.00). CONCLUSION: Multidivisional program for social skill improvement was effective on treatment for patients of dementia with depression. Nonpharmacological treatment for dementia with depression would be developed and studied to enhance the qualities of life of patients and care of dementia.
Aged ; Aging ; Alzheimer Disease ; Cooking ; Dementia ; Demography ; Depression ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Paint ; Paintings ; Quality of Life ; Recreation ; Smoke ; Smoking

Multiple primary cancer for the colon and rectum was reported in numorous literature. Therefore, complete preoperative evaluation of patients presenting with colorectal cancer seems to be essential. In addition, it is fundamental that patients who have been treated for colorectal cancer require careful follow up evaluation. When symptoms and signs of tumor develop in a patient who has been treated for an initial colorectal cancer, the possibility of a localized and curable second, third primary cancer should be considered and evaluated. We report 2 cases of metchronous triple primary cancer with a review of literature.
Colon ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Humans ; Rectum

PURPOSE: Structural alterations of p53 and overexpression of the p53 protein are the most common genetic abnormalities in various kinds of human cancers. In this study, we examined the mutational status and the frequency of p53 mutations in head and neck squamous cell carcimona (HNSCC) cell lines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 7 human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines were included in this analysis. Using polymerase chain reaction(PCR), single strand confonmation polymorphism(SSCP) and PCR-DNA sequencing analysis, we tested the mutational status of 7 cell lines. Exon 4~9 of the p53 gene was amplified for the direct DNA sequencing analysis. RESULTS: Our results showed 100% nuclear p53 immunostaining and 3 electrophoretic abnomalities by PCR-SSCP in three cancer cell lines and mutations of the p53 gene including 2 base substitutions and 1 base deletion were detected in 3 cancer cell lines using PCR directed DNA sequencing analysis. CONCLUSION: 7 HNSCC cell lines examined in this study provide excellent systems for study of gene therapy using p53 gene.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cell Line* ; Exons ; Genes, p53 ; Genetic Therapy ; Head* ; Humans ; Neck* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

Cardiac Tamponade/etiology* ; Female ; Humans ; Pericardial Effusion/etiology*

PURPOSE: As the functional demands for activities in elderly patients are increasing according to their life extension, the need for surgical treatment is also increasing in elderly patients with displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures. In addition to the extensile lateral approach (ELA), which is a surgical procedure that showed good results on intra-articular calcaneal fractures, the minimally invasive approach (MIA) also showed an outstanding result. This study compared the radiological and clinical results of intraarticular calcaneus fractures in elderly patients in two groups: ELA and MIA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients aged over 65 years with intra-articular calcaneus fractures, who could be followed-up more than 14 months, were included in this study. Thirteen patients of the MIA group and 17 patients of the ELA group were analyzed retrospectively using radiological and clinical assessments. RESULTS: No significant difference in union time, posterior facet reduction accuracy, subtalar osteoarthritis frequency, Bohler angle, calcaneal width, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score, visual analogue scale score, 36-item short form survey, and foot function index was observed between the two groups. The p-value of the average height of the calcaneus correction, average length of calcaneal correction, and average loss of correction length were <0.001, 0.005, and 0.015, respectively. The incidence of complications, including soft tissue necrosis and bone infection, were 23.1% in the ELA group and none in the MIA group. CONCLUSION: The clinical outcomes were similar in the two groups. The degree of reduction of fracture showed a better result in the MIA group than the ELA group. Furthermore, there were no complications in the MIA group, whereas the ELA group showed some complications.
Aged ; Ankle ; Calcaneus ; Foot ; Humans ; Incidence ; Life Expectancy ; Necrosis ; Osteoarthritis ; Retrospective Studies

Initially described in young Japanese women, Kikuchi's disease predominantly produces histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis of the cervical lymph nodes along with fever; it always follows a benign course with excellent outcomes. Kikuchi's disease is rarely associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the microscopic features of Kikuchi's disease can be similar to lupus lymphadenitis. Patients with Kikuchi's disease should be assessed for SLE and have long-term follow-up evaluations for the development of SLE. We present a 21-year-old woman with tender multiple cervical lymphadenopathy and the clinical manifestations of SLE.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Female ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Histiocytic Necrotizing Lymphadenitis* ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphadenitis ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Young Adult