OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the job stress level of post-graduate students in schools of natural sciences and engineering in order to evaluate the relationship between temperament, character and job stress. METHODS: All the 254 subjects were interviewed by means of a structured questionnaire, KOSS-SF and TCI-RS. Among them, only 220 were eligible for analysis. Statistical methods used included chi-square test, independent t-test, Mann Whitney test, ANOVA test, correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis with PASW ver.18. RESULTS: Age, degree course, working hours per week, work tenure, smoking habits, exercise, and disease history were associated with job stress and hours worked per week, smoking being associated with TCI-RS subscales. For job demand, interpersonal conflict scores were higher than Korean standard. In multiple linear regression analyses, R2 scores of temperament subscales on job stress were 0.099~0.312 and those of character subscales on job stress were 0.056~0.249. CONCLUSIONS: Job stress was associated with the unique traits of individuals, temperament and character. In order to manage job stress, the personality, as well as work environment, was found to be important considerations.
Humans ; Linear Models ; Natural Science Disciplines ; Questionnaires ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Temperament

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to understand farmers' health status by general characteristic, and to find out the related factors. METHODS: All the 984 subjects were interviewed by means of a structured questionnaire and SF-12. Among them, only 812 were eligible for analysis. Statistical methods used included frequency, t-test, ANOVA, binary logistic regression with SPSS 19.0. RESULTS: In binary logistic regression, marital status, smoking, regular exercise and monthly day off were associated with physical component score. Marital status, smoking and score of pesticide protective device wearing were associated with mental component score. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that effort to develop health promotion programs for workers of agricultural industry considering these results can improve their perceived health status.
Health Promotion ; Logistic Models ; Marital Status ; Protective Devices ; Smoke ; Smoking

PURPOSE: The survival of patients with metastatic breast cancer has not substantially improved during the last decade. Serum tumor markers, such as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), the mucin associated cancer antigen (CA15-3) and the tissue polypeptide specific antigen (TPS) have been used for monitoring and detecting recurrences in patients with diagnosed breast cancer. However, their precise role in the management of patients with breast carcinoma has not yet been firmly established. METHODS: CEA, CA15-3 and TPS were measured serially in a consecutive series of 136 patients (56 patients with recurrent cases and 70 patients with no evidence of recurrence) with breast cancer. Relationships between tumor marker levels and sites of recurrent disease were evaluated. The mean follow-up period was 38 months. RESULTS: Among the recurrent patients, local recurrences accounted for 16 cases (28.6%), bone metastasis for 10 cases (21.4%) and multiple metastasis for 18 cases (32.2%). Tumor markers in cases of organ or multiple metastases were higher than in cases of local recurrence. The sensitivity and the specificity of the tumor markers in patients with breast carcinomas were 44.6 and 94% for CEA, 51.8 and 99% for CA15-3, and 66.07 and 94% for TPS, respectively. CONCLUSION: Serial measurements of plasma CEA, CA15-3 and TPS are a cost-effective method to detect recurrence in breast carcinoma patients.
Biomarkers, Tumor ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mucins ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Plasma ; Recurrence ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: Mucins are members of the glycoprotein family expressed in benign and malignant epithelial cells. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationships between the expression of mucins in breast ductal carcinoma and clinicopathologic parameters. METHODS: We constructed tumor microarrays based on 240 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma and 40 cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) using formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissues. We examined the expressions of MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC, and MUC6 by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: MUC1 demonstrated cytoplasmic, membranous, apical, and combinative expressions. Other mucins demonstrated cytoplasmic expression. In invasive ductal carcinoma, MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC, and MUC6 were expressed in 93.6%, 6.2%, 4.8%, and 12.4% of cases, respectively; these rates were slightly, but not significantly, higher than observed in cases of DCIS. MUC1 expression was associated with estrogen receptor (ER) expression and negative MUC1 expression was associated with triple negativity. MUC6 expression was correlated with higher histologic grade, lymphatic invasion, lymph node metastasis, and HER2 positivity. No associations with any other clinicopathologic parameters were observed. CONCLUSION: Most invasive ductal carcinomas of the breast express MUC1, and this expression is associated with ER expression. MUC6 expression is correlated with some clinicopathologic parameters that are indicators of poor prognosis. To evaluate the role of MUC6 as a potential biomarker, further studies are warranted.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Carcinoma, Ductal ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating ; Cytoplasm ; Epithelial Cells ; Estrogens ; Formaldehyde ; Glycoproteins ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Mucins ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Paraffin ; Prognosis

PURPOSE: The molecular mechanisms that are responsible for the initiation and progression of breast cancers are largely unknown. This study was to analyze the cyclin B1, cdc2, p53 and p16 tumor suppressor genes in human breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To investigate the role of cyclin B1, cdc2, p53 and p16 in the pathogenesis and progression of breast carcinomas, 98 cases of breast cancers were examined by immunohistochemical method. The correlations of cyclin B1, cdc2, p53 and p16 expression with various clinico-pathologic findings were analysed. RESULTS: In the normal breast tissues, cyclin B1, cdc2 and p16 were weakly expressed, while p53 was not expressed. On the other hand, cyclin B1, cdc2, p53 and p16 were overexpressed in breast cancer, showing correlation between the expression of cyclin B1 and cdc2 and breast cancers (p=0.00). The overexpressions of cdc2 and p16 were correlated with an infiltrative tumor border pattern and this was statistically significant (p<0.05). In addition, the overexpression of cdc2 was correlated with histologic high grade carcinomas (p=0.00). CONCLUSION: Cyclin B1 and cdc2 appeared to be involved in the genesis or progression of breast cancers. In addition, the overexpressions of p16 and p53 may play important roles in more aggressive tumor and the overexpression of cdc2 is associated with progression of tumor to a higher grade of breast carcinomas. The deranged overexpressions of cyclin B1, cdc2, p16 and p53 may play an important role in human breast carcinogenesis.
Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms/*genetics/metabolism/pathology ; Cyclin B/*genetics/metabolism ; Cyclin B1/*genetics/metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16/*genetics/metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Middle Aged ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/*genetics/metabolism

Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is common in childhood and often self-limiting. There have been limited studies on elderly-onset HSP nephritis (HSPN). A 76-yr-old man was transferred to our hospital with a 1-month history of oliguria, abdominal pain, edema and palpable purpura in the legs. Three months ago, he was admitted to another hospital with jaundice, and consequently diagnosed with early common bile duct cancer. The patient underwent a Whipple's operation. Antibiotics were administrated because of leakage in the suture from the surgery. However, he showed progressive renal failure with edema and purpura in the legs. Laboratory investigations showed serum creatinine 6.4 mg/dL, 24-hr urine protein 8,141 mg/day, myeloperoxidase anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (MPO-ANCA) 1:40 and C3 below 64.89 mg/dL. Renal biopsy showed crescentic glomerulonephritis, as well as mesangial and extracapillary Ig A deposition. We started steroid therapy and hemodialysis, but he progressed to end-stage renal failure and he has been under maintenance hemodialysis. We describe elderly onset HSPN with MPO-ANCA can be crescentic glomerulonephritis rapidly progressed to end stage renal failure.
Aged ; Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic/*analysis ; Common Bile Duct Neoplasms/complications/surgery ; Complement C3/analysis ; Creatinine/blood ; Edema/drug therapy ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Glomerulonephritis/pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch/*diagnosis/drug therapy ; Renal Dialysis ; Renal Insufficiency/etiology/pathology ; Steroids/therapeutic use

The current tissue sampling techniques for subepithelial tumors (SETs) of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract have limited diagnostic efficacy. We evaluated the diagnostic yield and safety of forceps biopsies after small endoscopic submucosal dissection (SESD biopsies) in the diagnosis of gastric SETs. A total of 42 patients with gastric SETs > 10 mm were prospectively enrolled between May 2013 and October 2014. A dual knife was used to incise the mucosa and submucosa and forceps biopsies were then introduced deep into the lesion. To compare SESD biopsies with EUS-FNA, we used the retrospective data of 30 EUS-FNA cases. The diagnostic yield of SESD biopsies was comparable to that of EUS-FNA (35/42, 83.3% vs. 24/30, 80.0%, P = 0.717). The mean procedure time of SESD biopsies was shorter than that of EUS-FNA (10 vs. 37 minutes, P < 0.001). There were no procedure-related adverse events in the both group. The pathological diagnoses in SESD biopsies group included 15 leiomyomas, 7 GISTs, 10 heterotopic pancreases, 2 lipomas, and one other lesion. SESD biopsies are an easy, effective and safe technique for the diagnosis of gastric SETs and its diagnostic yield is comparable to that of EUS-FNA. This technique may be a reliable alternative to conventional EUS-FNA (Clinical trial registration No. KCT0000730).
Biopsy* ; Diagnosis* ; Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration ; Humans ; Leiomyoma ; Lipoma ; Mucous Membrane ; Pancreas ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgical Instruments*

No abstract available.
Acute Disease ; Adult ; Antigens, CD4/metabolism ; Antigens, CD45/metabolism ; Antigens, CD56/metabolism ; Bone Marrow Cells/cytology ; Flow Cytometry ; Hematologic Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology ; Humans ; Interleukin-3 Receptor alpha Subunit/metabolism ; Lymph Nodes/metabolism/pathology ; Male ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening using stool DNA was recently found to yield good detection rates. A multi-target stool DNA test (Cologuard®, Exact Sciences), including methylated genes has been recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The aim of this study was to validate these aberrantly methylated genes as stool-based DNA markers for detecting CRC and colorectal advanced adenoma (AA) in the Korean population. METHODS: A single-center study was conducted in 36 patients with AA; 35 patients with CRC; and 40 endoscopically diagnosed healthy controls using CRC screening colonoscopy. The methylation status of the SFRP2, TFPI2, NDRG4, and BMP3 promoters was investigated blindly using bisulfate-modified stool DNA obtained from 111 participants. Methylation status was investigated by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Methylated SFRP2, TFPI2, NDRG4, and BMP3 promoters were detected in 60.0%, 31.4%, 68.8%, and 40.0% of CRC samples and in 27.8%, 27.8%, 27.8%, and 33.3% of AA samples, respectively. The sensitivities obtained using 4 markers to detect CRC and AA were 94.3% and 72.2%, respectively. The specificity was 55.0%. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that the SFRP2, TFPI2, NDRG4, and BMP3 promoter methylation analysis of stool sample DNA showed high sensitivity but low specificity for detecting CRC and AA. Because of the low specificity, 4 methylated markers might not be sufficient for CRC screening in the Korean population. Further large-scale studies are required to validate the methylation of these markers in the Asian population and to find new markers for the Asian population.
Adenoma ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; DNA ; Feces ; Genetic Markers ; Humans ; Mass Screening* ; Methylation* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; United States Food and Drug Administration

Glycogen storage disease type IV (GSD-IV) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by a deficient glycogen branching enzyme (GBE), encoded by the GBE1 gene, resulting in the accumulation of abnormal glycogen deposits in the liver and other tissues. We treated a 20-month-old girl who presented with progressive liver cirrhosis and was diagnosed with GSD-IV, as confirmed by GBE1 gene mutation analysis, and underwent living related heterozygous donor liver transplantation. Direct sequencing of the GBE1 gene revealed that the patient was compound heterozygous for a known c.1571G>A (p.Gly264Glu) mutation a novel c.791G> A (Arg524Gln) mutation. This is the first report of a Korean patient with GSD-IV confirmed by mutation analysis, who was treated successfully by liver transplantation.
1,4-alpha-Glucan Branching Enzyme ; Child ; Glycogen ; Glycogen Storage Disease ; Glycogen Storage Disease Type IV ; Humans ; Infant ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Transplantation ; Living Donors ; Tissue Donors