PURPOSE: To evaluate whether factors related to lipid and glucose metabolism have a potential role in the progression of prostate cancer, we measured the mRNA levels of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR), fatty acid elongase (ELOVL), and two glycolytic enzymes in prostate cancer (CaP) tissues. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prostate tissues, obtained from radical prostatectomy (n=10) and transurethral resection of prostate (n=18), were quickly frozen in liquid nitrogen for RNA measurements. Transcript signals of PPAR alpha, PPAR gamma, ELOVL2, ELOVL5, phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PgK1) and phosphoglycerate mutase 2 (PgM2) were measured using a reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The transcript signals of PPAR alpha and PPAR gamma were down-regulated in CaP tissues. In addition, the mRNA level of PgM2 in CaP tissues was lower than that in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) tissues. However, the messages for ELOVL2, ELOVL5, and PgK1 were not significantly changed. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that lowering of the PPARalpha, PPARgamma and PgM2 messages may be involved in aberrant and uncontrolled prostate cell growth and differentiation.
Down-Regulation* ; Glucose ; Metabolism ; Nitrogen ; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors ; Peroxisomes* ; Phosphoglycerate Kinase ; Phosphoglycerate Mutase* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; PPAR alpha ; PPAR gamma* ; Prostate* ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate

Eight species belonging to two genera of the Laboulbeniales, parasitic on the family Carabidae and Staphylinidae of the order Coleoptera, were collected from Upo natural swamp in 1996-2001. They are as follows; Laboulbenia anoplogenii parasitic on Platynus daimio, L. cristata on Paederus parallelus, L. egens on Tachys laetifica, L. flagellata on Platynus daimio, L. pedicellata on Bembidion morawitzi, L. philonthi on Philonthus wuesthoffi, L. stenolophi on Acupalpus inornatus and Philonthus longicornis, and Peyritschiella biformis on Philonthus micaticollis. Among these species, the genus Platynus as the host of L. anoplogenii and the genus Acupalpus as the host of L. stenolophi are new to science. Bembidion morawitzi as the host of Laboulbenia pedicellata and Philonthus micanticollis as the host of Peyritschiella biformis are new to Korea.
Beetles ; Humans ; Korea ; Wetlands*

Recently, mini-implant is popular in the orthodontic treatment due to its simplicity and convenient surgical procedure. The objective of this study is to provide the anatomical guideline for mini-implant placement by analysing the cortical bone thickness in Korean. Hemi-sections of sixteen maxillae and twenty-two mandibles with normal teeth were used. Interdental areas between the 1st premolar and the 2nd premolar (Group 1), the 2nd premolar and the 1st molar (Gruop 2), and the 1st molar and the 2nd molar (Group 3) were sectioned and then scanned. After setting the axis of teeth, the cortical bone thickness was measured at the distance of 2 mm, 4mm, 6 mm, and 8 mm from alveolar crest. The mean thickness of cortical bone in the maxilla according to distance from alveolar crest was 1.30 +/- 0.63 mm (2 mm), 1.49 +/- 0.62 mm (4mm), 1.72 +/- 0.64 mm (6mm), and 1.90 +/- 0.90 mm (8 mm) at the buccal side and 1.33 +/- 0.47 mm, 1.31 +/- 0.45 mm, 1.37 +/- 0.55 mm, and 1.39 +/- 0.58 mm at the palatal side. In the mandible, that was 3.14 +/- 1.71 mm, 4.31 +/- 2.22 mm, 4.23 +/- 1.94 mm, and 4.30 +/- 1.57 mm at the buccal side and 1.98 +/- 0.88 mm, 2.79 +/- 1.01 mm, 3.35 +/- 1.27 mm, and 3.93 +/- 1.38 mm at the lingual side. The buccal cortical bone thickness in the maxilla was decreased from Group 1 to Group 3, while the thickness of palatal side was no change. In the mandible, it did not show a tendency at the buccal side and it was decreased from Group 1 to Group 3 without significant difference at the lingual side. Therefore, the buccal side of the Group 1 and Group 2 in both the maxilla and mandible seems to be the most appropriate site for a mini-implant placement with taking the stability and retention.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Bicuspid ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Molar ; Retention (Psychology) ; Tooth

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to develop the Korean version of the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (K-WEMWBS) and to examine its factorial structure, reliability, and convergent/discriminant validity. METHODS: In this study, the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS), a self-rating measure for assessment of mental well-being, was translated into Korean. It was completed by 222 respondents, including 117 healthy subjects and 105 psychiatric patients from both inpatient and outpatient clinics at Soonchunhyang University Hospitals in Bucheon, Cheonan, and Seoul. RESULTS: The K-WEMWBS showed good content validity. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a single factor structure. The Cronbach's alpha value for the K-WEMWBS was 0.944, which demonstrated good internal consistency. Test-retest reliability at 2-8 weeks was high (0.789). The K-WEMWBS showed high correlations with mental health, positive affect, and quality of life scales. Moderate negative correlation was observed between the K-WEMWBS and the negative affect scale. Discriminant validity was partially identified. Statistically significant differences in scores were observed between the psychiatric patient group and the control group. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that the K-WEMWBS is a reliable and valid instrument for assessment of mental well-being, particularly the positive aspects of mental health.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Mental Health ; Quality of Life ; Seoul ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate the drug survival rate of tacrolimus (TAC) and analyze the potential predictors of this rate in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in routine care. METHODS: 2018-01-16: In this retrospective longitudinal study, we enrolled 102 RA patients treated with TAC from April 2009 to January 2014 at a tertiary center in South Korea. The causes of TAC discontinuation were classified as lack of efficacy (LOE), adverse events (AEs), and others. The drug survival rate was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and the predictors of this rate were identified by Cox-regression analyses. RESULTS: TAC was discontinued in 27 of 102 RA patients (26.5%). The overall 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-year TAC continuation rates were 81.8%, 78.4%, 74.2%, and 69.1%, respectively and the median follow-up period from the start of TAC was 32.5 months. The number of TAC discontinuations due to LOE, AEs, and others were 15 (55.6%), 11 (40.7 %), and 1 (3.7%), respectively. The baseline high disease activity was a significant risk factor for TAC discontinuation after adjusting for confounding factors (hazard ratio [HR], 2.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16 to 5.35; p = 0.019). In addition, underlying interstitial lung disease was significantly associated with TAC withdrawal due to AEs (HR, 3.49; 95% CI, 1.06 to 11.46; p = 0.039). CONCLUSIONS In our study, TAC showed a good overall survival rate in patients with RA in real clinical practice. This suggests that the long-term TAC therapy has a favorable efficacy and safety profile for treating RA.

Purpose: To analyze the degree of psychological distress experienced pre- and postoperatively in patients who underwent radical prostatectomy after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. Materials and Methods: Patients diagnosed with prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy without history of psychiatric disorders were included in this study. The degree of psychological distress was evaluated using hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) and distress thermometer (DT) questionnaires preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Results: Distress was high preoperatively and decreased over the entire period. In addition, HADS-anxiety and HADS-depression scores showed an improved severity, shifting from an abnormal state to a borderline state in some patients. However, the DT score, including emotional problems, spiritual concerns, physical problems, family problems, and practical problems, was slightly higher at 1 month postoperatively compared to preoperatively. Furthermore, even at 12 months postoperatively, about one fifth of patients surveyed had a DT score of 4 or higher, requiring psychiatric intervention. Conclusions Before and after radical prostatectomy, a significant number of patients complained of distress such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia, and they needed help from a specialist because of psychological distress even 12 months postoperatively.Therefore, a close evaluation of the patient’s psychological distress and supportive treatment are needed during the entire pre- and postoperative period.

In systemic sclerosis, digital ulcers and gangrene are somewhat common clinical characteristics of obliterative vasculopathy. These manifestations increase morbidities, such as pain, infections, and acroosteolysis. However, patient responses to the appropriate treatments are often inadequate. We treated a patient with systemic sclerosis who had a refractory digital ulcer and gangrene with bosentan, an endothelin receptor antagonist, and observed improvement. Here we systematically review this case.
Acro-Osteolysis ; Gangrene* ; Humans ; Receptors, Endothelin ; Scleroderma, Systemic* ; Ulcer*

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to prove the effectiveness of professional maintenance care to the periodontal disease by non-surgical approach with the toothpick method to improve the periodontal health. METHODS: The patients of this study were composed of 46 patients( 18 men and 28 women), suffering from chronic adult periodontitis, who had visited the department of dental clinic center. All of the subjects were over 50years old and be treated just by non-surgical method. Professional maintenance care using the toothpick method was performed every 3 months, and evaluations were also done after 1, 2, and 3 year-professional maintenance care based on the indices such as plaque index(O' Leary index), periodontal probing pocket depth, bleeding on probing, tooth mobility, the number of tooth loss, and the rate of tooth loss representing the state of periodontal health. RESULTS: 1. The longer the maintenance care, the more the effectiveness of controlling plaque. The rate of decrease in the dental plaque index was 1.5%, 4.2%, and 6.5% in 1, 2, and 3 year maintenance groups respectively(P>0.05). 2. The periodontal pocket depth decreased depends on the severity of periodontal pocket depth in all groups the maintenance years(P<0.05). 3. On the evaluation of the bleeding tendency on probing, there was a significant difference in 1 year- maintenance group(P<0.05), but the other groups did not show any difference statistically(P>0.05). 4. Tooth mobility has decreased in the maintenance years, but did not show any difference statistically(P>0.05). 5. The number and the rate of tooth loss among the patients of 1year-maintenance group was 0.38, 1.44% respectively and that of 3 year-maintenance group was 0.44, 1.73% each. CONCLUSION: The results of this study mentioned above suggest that professional maintenance care should be operated effectively to prevent and to maintain the periodontal disease systematically on the purpose of proving the quality of life, and that it could be applied to the medical insurance system in other to try to make the most of the adult oral health care positively.
Adult ; Chronic Periodontitis ; Dental Clinics ; Dental Plaque Index ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Insurance ; Male ; Methods ; Oral Health ; Periodontal Diseases* ; Periodontal Pocket ; Periodontitis ; Quality of Life ; Tooth Loss ; Tooth Mobility

Hydatid disease is a parasitic infection caused by the Echinococcal species. Humans are intermediate hosts and become infected directly by contact with canines or indirectly by contact with food, water, and contaminated objects. This disease involves multiple organs, including liver, lung, heart, muscle, bone, kidney, and brain. Rupture of a hydatid cyst, which is the most common complication of this disease, can cause serious sequelae, including allergic reaction, secondary infection, biliary obstruction, and metastasis. The hydatid disease occurs principally in areas of cattle and sheep ranching. In Korea, this disease is rare, and only a few cases have been reported. We report a case of hydatid disease with anaphylactic shock and suggest that hydatid cyst complications must be kept in mind when dealing with patients who have a history associated with an endemic region.
Anaphylaxis ; Animals ; Brain ; Cattle ; Coinfection ; Echinococcosis ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Kidney ; Korea ; Liver ; Lung ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Rupture ; Sheep ; Shock*

PURPOSE: Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is an enzyme widly used in the diagnosis of acute liver disease. It is also highly sensitive in cases of myocardial infarction and muscular injury. This study is designed to ascertain the utility of AST for diagnosis in emergency room. METHODS: From July 2001 to September 2002, 98 patients with AST greater than ten times (400 U/L) the normal range were identified by the biochemistry laboratory in the Emergency Medical Center of Chonnam National University Hospital. The patients 'clinical records were studied to determine the diagnosis, the clinical course, the physical finding on arrival, the past history, other serological and imaging studies, etc. RESULTS: The most common cause of elevated AST level was hepatic in origin (74 cases, 75.5%). Other causes were soft tissue injury (13 cases, 13.3%) and myocardial infarction (11 cases, 11.2%). In group with hepatic causes for raised AST, 21 (28.3%) patients had pancreaticobiliary desease, 20 (27.0%) patients were in conditions producing hepatic ischemia, 18 (24.3%) patients had hepatocellular desease, 6 (8.1%) patients had traumatic liver injury, and 4 (5.4%) patients had malignancy. The hepatic ischemia was caused by sepsis (6 cases, 30.0%), heart failure (6 cases, 30.0%), hypoxia (5 cases, 25.0%), and prolonged hypotension (3 cases, 15.0%). CONCLUSION: The main cause of a notably increased serum AST level is known to be hepatocellular disease, but this study for emergency patients revealed that other causes, such as hepatic ischemia, traumatic liver injury, and muscular disease, were also remarkable. When the level of serum AST is abnormally high, the clinician must consider not only hepatocellular disease but also prolonged hypotension, circulatory collapse, hypoxia, traumatic liver injury, etc.
Anoxia ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Biochemistry ; Diagnosis ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Ischemia ; Jeollanam-do ; Liver ; Liver Diseases ; Muscular Diseases ; Myocardial Infarction ; Reference Values ; Sepsis ; Shock ; Soft Tissue Injuries