No abstract available.
Erythema Multiforme* ; Erythema* ; Lymphoma*

BACKGROUND: Pneumoconiosis is a parenchymal lung disease that results from the accumulation of coal dust in the lungs and the consequent tissue reaction. To evaluate the role of various personal factors in pneumoconosis and the significance of some serologic markers for assessing the disease activity related to pneumoconiosis, the Rheumatoid Factor(RF), α1-AT, C-Reactive Protein(CRT), ceruloplasmin and fibrinogen levels were measured. METHOD: All the patients were males, 45-76 years old, and the mean duration of coal dust exposure was 23.2 years. 51 patients were classified as having Simple Pneumoconiosis (SP), 59 had Progressive Massive Fibrosis (PMF). Fifty eight men with ages ranging from 26-70 years wer used as normal controls. The serum RF and CRT were titrated using an Autochemistry analyzer (HITACHI 7150 : Japan) and the α1-AT and ceruloplasmin levels were measured using a Nephelometer (Behring Nephelometer : Germany) and the fibrinogen levels were estimated by using and Autoanalyzer for hematologic coagulation. RESULT: There was a higher RF level in the SP, and PMF groups than in the control groups but there was no statistical difference. The CRP, α1-AT, and ceruloplasmin levels were also higher in the SP, and PMF groups. However, the fibrinogen concentration was within the normal ranges in both the SP and PMF groups. CONCLUSION: The CWP (Ed note : Define CWP) patients had significantly higher CRP, α1-AT, and ceruloplasmin levels compared to the control group. It is believed that these serologic changes could be used as a marker of the disease activity.
C-Reactive Protein ; Ceruloplasmin ; Coal* ; Dust ; Fibrinogen ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Male ; Pneumoconiosis* ; Reference Values ; Rheumatoid Factor

Purpose: Health examination is one of the methods to make the diagnosis of benign prostatic hyperplasia. To evaluate factors leading to the visit to the outpatient department (OPD) in patients at the health promotion center (HPC) who did not undergo urology treatment. Materials and Methods: This observational study was based on data from an HPC database of 2,700 patients who underwent transrectal ultrasound between March 2018 and February 2021. Of these, 264 patients visited OPD. Factors affecting OPD visits, such as colonoscopy at HPC and daily fluid intake, were evaluated. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent risk factors to predict the visit to OPD. Results: Age (p<0.001) and diagnosis of overactive bladder (p<0.001) were significantly correlated with the severity of the total International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS); however, colonoscopy evaluation at HPC and daily fluid intake did not correlate. Prostate volume (PV) (p=0.002) and total IPSS (p<0.001) were identified as predictive factors for the visit at OPD via HPC. The cutoff value of total IPSS and PV were 12 points and 26.7 cm3. The total IPSS (8–11) at HPC group presented higher total IPSS at OPD and the total IPSS (12–19) at HPC group showed lesser total IPSS at OPD (1.9±2.8 vs. -1.0±4.2, p=0.008). Conclusions Twelve or more total IPSS is a significant factor that determines the OPD visit. At HPC, the primary care physician should be considered to recommend OPD to patients who have 12 or more total IPSS and 26.7 cm3 or more PV at the same time.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: p53 mutation is the most common genetic abnormality in human cancers. However, although it has been reported that p53 overexpression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with the aggressive behavior of tumor, the prognostic significance of p53 overexpression in HCC remains controversial. The aims of the present study were to examine the correlations between p53 overexpression and the clinicopathologic parameters of HCCs, and to determine the prognostic significance of p53 overexpression in HCC. METHODS: Immunohistochemical analysis of p53 overexpression was performed in 105 consecutive cases of HCC who underwent curative hepatic resection. Survival curves were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and multivariate analysis of outcome predictors for HCCs was assessed by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: p53 overexpression was observed in 20 of 105 HCCs (19.0%). Multivariate analysis identified significant correlations between p53 overexpression and microvascular invasion (p=0.027), liver cirrhosis (p=0.035), 1-year survival rate (p=0.016), multiple tumors (p=0.014), and the presence of tumor capsule (p=0.010). The 2-year survival rate was poorer in patients without tumor capsule (p=0.043). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show a positive association between p53 overexpression and microvascular invasion in HCC, and indicate that p53 overexpression is a poor prognostic factor of survival, especially within 1 year after liver resection in HCC patients.
Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*metabolism/mortality/surgery ; Female ; *Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/*metabolism/mortality/surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/*metabolism

BACKGROUND: Tuberculous mediastinal lymphadenitis(TML) is a relatively commonly encountered in Korea. However, there were no datas available on TML without other combined tuberculous infections in Korea. We retrospectively analyzed clinical manifestations, radiologic findings, Chest CT scan findings, the duration of treatment, and follow up Chest CT scan findings of 23 cases who had only TML. METHOD: 23 cases from 1991 to 1997 with TML confirmed by biopsy and had no other combined tuberculous infections were studied retrospectively. RESULTS: Of the 23 cases, 7 cases were male and 16 female. The male to female ratio was 1:2.4. Mean age was 31 years and the most prevalent age group was the 3rd decade(43%). The most common presenting symptoms were fever(39%) followed by no symptom, cough, swallowing difficulty, and chest discomfort. On simple chest X-ray, mediastinal enlargement were noted in 20 cases(90%). The most frequently involved site was the paratracheal node in 11 cases with the right to left side involvement ratio being 4.6:1. On chest CT scan, the most commonly enlarged node was the paratracheal node(33%) followed by the subcarinal(20%), hilar(13%), tracheobronchial(8%), subaortic(8%), supraclavicular(8%) and ant. mediastinal nodes. 6 cases were dropt out due to incomplete follow up. 13 cases were treated with HERZ regimen and the mean durations of treatment was 14 months. Three cases were treated with a 2nd line drug regimen(Tarivid, Pyrazinamide, Streptomycin plus Ethambutol or Para-aminosalicylic acid) for 18 months. In HERZ groups, one case was recurred after 10 months later and retreatment was done by same HERZ regimen during 12 months. Follow up chest CT scan after completion of treatment were done in 13 cases and that revealed more than a 50% decrease in size in 77% of the cases and no interval change in 23% of the cases. CONCLUSION: In cases of TML without other combined tuberculous infection, the minimal duration of treatment was required 12 months by HERZ regimen and 18 months by a 2nd line regimen or more. Further studies will be needed to confirm the treatment duration for TML without other combined tuberculous infections.
Ants ; Biopsy ; Cough ; Deglutition ; Ethambutol ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Pyrazinamide ; Retreatment ; Retrospective Studies ; Streptomycin ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis, Lymph Node*

Atrophying pityriasis versicolor is a rare variant of pityriasis versicolor. Clinically, atrophying pityriasis versicolor is characterized by well defined, slightly scaly, depressed macules and patches with minimal symptoms. The etiology of the atrophy is unknown, though several hypotheses have been suggested, including immune reaction to antigens of Malassezia species. A 23-year-old male was presented with multiple, slightly brown colored macules and patches on the chest and back. In the potassium hydroxide preparation, lots of yeasts and hyphae were found. A histopathologic study showed multiple yeasts and hyphae on the stratum corneum, focal epidermal thinning, and perivascular lymphocytic infiltration on the upper dermis. The patient was treated with 100 mg itraconazole a day with topical antifungal agents. After 3 weeks of treatment, clinical improvement and mycological improvement were achieved. We present an additional case of atrophying piryriasis versicolor developed on the chest and back with the review of the relevant literature.
Antifungal Agents ; Atrophy ; Dermis ; Humans ; Hydroxides ; Hyphae ; Itraconazole ; Malassezia ; Male ; Pityriasis ; Potassium ; Potassium Compounds ; Thorax ; Tinea Versicolor ; Yeasts ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary thromboembolism is relatively frequent and potentially fatal. However, it is commonly misdiagnosed. The incidence of pulmonary thromboembolism is not decreasing despite advances in diagnosis and effective prophylatic measures. Its potential for significant sequela necessitates a prompt diagnosis and treatment. Unfortunately, there are many difficulties and problems regarding accurate diagnosis. There is a low prevalence of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary thromboembolism in Korea and only few reports on this subject are available. METHOD: The clinical features of 36 patients, who were diagnosed with pulmonary thromboembolism at the Korea University medical center, were reviewed. RESULTS: 1) There was no significant difference in prevalence between men an women, and the mean age was 50.9 years in men 59.2 years in women. 2) The frequent causes of pulmonary thromboembolism were malignancies (22.2%), surgery (22.2%), and heart disease(8.2%). Specific causes were not identified in 33.3%. 3) The most common symptom was dyspnea(72.2%), and the most common sign was tachypnea(61.1%). 4) The EKG findings were normal in 28.6%, and S1Q3T3 pulmonale pattern in 25.7%, ST or QRS changes in others. 5) The chest X-ray findings indicated pulmonary infiltation in 37.5%, cardiomegaly in 15.6%, pleural effusion in 12.5%, and normal in 27.8%. The perfusion lung scan showed a high probability in 66.7%, and intermediate or low probability in 33.3%. 6) The pulmonary arterial pressure(PAP) in the high probability groups was 57.9mmHg with a higher mortality rate(35%). CONCLUSION: Pulmonary thromboembolism is not uncommon in Korea and its clinical features do not differ greatly from those reported in the literature. When pulmonary thromboemblism of unknown causes are diagnosed, a search for an occult malignancy is recommended. Rapid diagnosis and treatment are achieved when thromboemblism is suspected.
Academic Medical Centers ; Cardiomegaly ; Diagnosis ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Heart ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Lung ; Male ; Mortality ; Perfusion ; Pleural Effusion ; Prevalence ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Thorax ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Venous Thrombosis

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate effect of alpha-lipoic acid on apoptotic cell death in rat hippocampal neuron following transient forebrain ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. METHODS: The four-vessel occlusion method was used to induce transient I/R injury in the forebrain of Sprague-Dawley rats. In the treatment group, alpha-Lipoic acid (LA) was administered subcutaneously at 50 mg/kg/day for 7 days before induction of I/R injury. RESULTS: Pretreatment with LA significantly reduced the number of TUNEL-positive neurons in the pyramidal cells layer of the hipocampal CA1 region 5 days after the ischemia, suggesting a marked reduction of apoptotic cell death. Pretreatment with LA also resulted in marked suppression at the transcript level of mRNA for caspase-3 at 24 hours, and decreased concentration of the active form of caspase-3 protein in the hippocampus at 1, 3, and 5 days after I/R injury. Furthermore, as indicated by western blot analysis, the concentration of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) in the hippocampus was reduced at 1 and 3 days after a transient I/R injury by pretreatment with LA. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that LA has the potential to prevent neuronal cell death in the hippocampus by inhibiting intracellular signaling pathways responsible for apoptosis following transient I/R injury.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Apoptosis Inducing Factor ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Death* ; Hippocampus* ; Ischemia ; Neurons ; Prosencephalon* ; Pyramidal Cells ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury* ; RNA, Messenger ; Thioctic Acid*

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to develop and test the validity of the Korean Nursing Delirium Scale (Nu-DESC) for older patients in hospital. METHODS: The Korean Nu-DESC was developed based on the Nu-DESC (Gaudreau, 2005), and revised according to nursing records related to signs and symptoms of older patients with delirium (n=361) and the results of a pilot study (n=42) in one general hospital. To test the validity of the Korean Nu-DESC, 75 older patients whom nurses suspected of delirium from 731 older patients from 12 nursing units were assessed by bedside nurses using the Korean Nu-DESC. A Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve of the Korean Nu-DESC was constructed with an accompanying Area Under the Curve (AUC). RESULTS: Specific examples such as irritable, kidding, sleeping tendency, which were observed by bedside nurses in Korea, were identified in the five features of signs and symptoms of delirium in the instrument. The Korean Nu-DESC was psycho-metrically valid and had a sensitivity and specificity of .81-.76 and .97-.73, respectively. The AUC were .89, .74. CONCLUSION: Results of this study indicate that the Korean Nu-DESC is well-suited for widespread clinical use in busy inpatients settings and shows promise as a research instrument.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Area Under Curve ; Behavior ; Communication ; Confusion ; Delirium/diagnosis/*nursing ; Female ; Hallucinations ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Illusions ; Male ; Pilot Projects ; *Program Development ; Psychomotor Performance ; Questionnaires ; ROC Curve ; Republic of Korea ; Translating

BACKGROUND: Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) should be correctly identified to the species level, because of different treatment plans among NTM species. This study was performed to assess the usefulness of real-time PCR and melting curve analysis in the identification of NTM. METHODS: One hundred fifty-two clinical NTM isolates were identified to the species level by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (PRA). Those strains were then identified by multiplex real-time PCR and melting curve analysis on the 16S rRNA gene and hsp65 gene. RESULTS: In the 16S rRNA gene fragment analysis, M. abscessus-M. chelonae group showed melting point at temperatures above 65 degrees C and M. avium complex (MAC; M. avium and M. intracelluare) below 48 degrees C, which differentiated M. abscessus-M. chelonae group and MAC from other NTM. In the hsp65 gene fragment analysis, M. abscessus-M. chelonae group was clearly divided into M. abscessus type I, M. abscessus type II, and M. chelonae according to the melting points at 61.25 degrees C, 66.06 degrees C, and 57.58 degrees C, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: With the multiplex real-time PCR and melting curve analysis of 16S rRNA and hsp65 genes, M. abscessus and M. chelonae were readily identified and MAC were differentiated from other NTM. Especially, M. abscessus and M. chelonae, which were not differentiated from each other with the 16S rRNA gene fragment analysis, were identified with hsp65 gene fragment analysis.
Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Chaperonins/genetics ; Computer Systems ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry ; Mycobacteria, Atypical/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Nucleic Acid Denaturation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/*methods ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics