OBJECTIVE: To estimate the difference in gene expression related to carcinogenesis between HPV 16 positive squamous cell carcinoma and HPV 16 positive adenocarcinoma of cervix. METHODS: We used cDNA microarray technology to identify alterations in gene expression of human cervical cancers. Gene expression of three cell lines, CaSki and SiHa (HPV 16 positive squamous cell carcinoma) and HeLa (HPV 16 positive adenocarcinoma) were compared with HT3 (HPV 16 negative squamous cell carcinoma). The microarray contains twin spots for 344 cancer-associated genes. RESULTS: The analysis showed several interesting findings: (1) In all three squamous cell lines, CD4, CSF1, MMP15 and TNFR6 were increased, whereas SLC3A2 were decreased, (2) Only in adenocarcinoma cell line HeLa, CDC25A, CDK2, CDK9, IL2, PF4, MAD, FCER2, MAP4K1 and MS4A1 were increased, and PLAU, IL8, IL9R and ATK were decreased. (3) In both squamous cell carcinoma cell lines CaSki and SiHa, 61 genes which belong to chemokine, cell cycle, growth factor, interleukin, adhesion molecule, protein kinase and TNF were increased, whereas 10 genes which are associated with apoptosis and cytokine were increased only in SiHa, and 97 genes which are associated with a variety of cell functions were increased only in CaSki. CONCLUSION: We suggest that there might be common, but also different carcinogenic mechanisms involved in HPV 16 related cervical cancers according to the histologic subtypes and different tumors.
Adenocarcinoma ; Apoptosis ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line* ; Cervix Uteri ; DNA, Complementary* ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Human papillomavirus 16 ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-8 ; Interleukins ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis* ; Protein Kinases ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

Near-infrared spectroscopy is a device used to determine whether traumatic intracranial hemorrhage has occurred and is primarily used for screening in emergency situations. In this study we examined the applicability of this equipment in postmortem inspection. This study included 124 autopsy cases and 59 postmortem inspection cases performed in the National Forensic Service from July 2017 to October 2018. We carried out the test using Infrascanner Model 2000 (Infrascan Inc.). Autopsy cases were divided into four groups (epidural hemorrhage or subdural hemorrhage group, traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage or cerebral contusion group, nontraumatic intracerebral hemorrhage group, and control group) and analyzed. There was no difference in the test results according to the presence and type of intracranial hemorrhage. The possibility that variables related to postmortem change affected the test results was considered. In conclusion, this study confirmed that near-infrared spectroscopy is not suitable for the detection of traumatic intracranial hemorrhage in postmortem inspection.

Near-infrared spectroscopy is a device used to determine whether traumatic intracranial hemorrhage has occurred and is primarily used for screening in emergency situations. In this study we examined the applicability of this equipment in postmortem inspection. This study included 124 autopsy cases and 59 postmortem inspection cases performed in the National Forensic Service from July 2017 to October 2018. We carried out the test using Infrascanner Model 2000 (Infrascan Inc.). Autopsy cases were divided into four groups (epidural hemorrhage or subdural hemorrhage group, traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage or cerebral contusion group, nontraumatic intracerebral hemorrhage group, and control group) and analyzed. There was no difference in the test results according to the presence and type of intracranial hemorrhage. The possibility that variables related to postmortem change affected the test results was considered. In conclusion, this study confirmed that near-infrared spectroscopy is not suitable for the detection of traumatic intracranial hemorrhage in postmortem inspection.

Near-infrared spectroscopy is a device used to determine whether traumatic intracranial hemorrhage has occurred and is primarily used for screening in emergency situations. In this study we examined the applicability of this equipment in postmortem inspection. This study included 124 autopsy cases and 59 postmortem inspection cases performed in the National Forensic Service from July 2017 to October 2018. We carried out the test using Infrascanner Model 2000 (Infrascan Inc.). Autopsy cases were divided into four groups (epidural hemorrhage or subdural hemorrhage group, traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage or cerebral contusion group, nontraumatic intracerebral hemorrhage group, and control group) and analyzed. There was no difference in the test results according to the presence and type of intracranial hemorrhage. The possibility that variables related to postmortem change affected the test results was considered. In conclusion, this study confirmed that near-infrared spectroscopy is not suitable for the detection of traumatic intracranial hemorrhage in postmortem inspection.

Antibiotic resistance has emerged as a global threat to modern healthcare systems and has nullified many commonly used antibiotics. β-Lactam antibiotics are among the most successful and occupy approximately two-thirds of the prescription antibiotic market. They inhibit the synthesis of the peptidoglycan layer in the bacterial cell wall by mimicking the D-Ala-D-Ala in the pentapeptide crosslinking neighboring glycan chains. To date, various β-lactam antibiotics have been developed to increase the spectrum of activity and evade drug resistance. This review emphasizes the three-dimensional structural characteristics of β-lactam antibiotics regarding the overall scaffold, working mechanism, chemical diversity, and hydrolysis mechanism by β-lactamases. The structural insight into various β-lactams will provide an in-depth understanding of the antibacterial efficacy and susceptibility to drug resistance in multidrug-resistant bacteria and help to develop better β-lactam antibiotics and inhibitors.

PURPOSE: We aimed to translate the Test for Respiratory and Asthma Control in Kids (TRACK) instrument into Korean, with subsequent linguistic validation. METHODS: The multistep process of forward translation, reconciliation, back-translation, cognitive debriefing, and proofreading of the Korean version of the TRACK was completed. RESULTS: Two bilingual medical personnel independently translated the original English version of the TRACK into Korean one. After moderating the translation into a single reconciled one, 4 other bilingual persons were invited to translate the Korean draft back into an English one. Discrepancies between the original English version and the back-translated one were reviewed, and the need to modify the reconciled Korean draft was discussed. Twenty caregivers of asthmatic children took part in interviews that examine the appropriateness of the Korean version of the TRACK. The feedback from caregivers were then reviewed by a panel of pediatric allergists and reflected in the final Korean version. The document was finally proofread to check the spelling, grammar, layout and formatting. CONCLUSION: Translation and linguistic validation of the Korean version of the TRACK instrument were completed.
Asthma* ; Caregivers ; Child ; Humans ; Linguistics* ; Translations

OBJECTIVE: Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is a systemic vasculitis, characterized by small-vessel leukocytoclastic vasculitis with the deposition of immune complexes containing IgA. It is the most common acute vasculitic disorder affecting children but is relatively uncommon in adults. We investigated the clinical features and factors affecting the prognosis of adult HSP in Korea. METHODS: From 1996 to 2011 seventy patients over 15 years of age with HSP were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty eight patients (54.3%) were female and the age at disease onset ranged from 15 to 75 years (35.0+/-15.8 years). Purpuric skin rash was observed in all patients and arthralgia was present in 34 patients (48.6%). GI symptoms and kidney involvements were observed in 28 patients (40.0%) and 34 patients (48.6%), respectively. Complete remission was achieved in 46 patients (65.7%). The remission group showed a lower incidence of hematochezia (p=0.044), hematuria (p=0.008), and proteinuria (p=0.011) at diagnosis than the no remission group. About 10% of adult HSP patient progressed to chronic kidney disease (CKD), which showed higher a incidence of nephrotic range proteinuria. Only nephrotic range proteinuria at diagnosis was a significant risk factor for CKD (OR=16.7, p=0.008, 95% CI=2.1~133.1). CONCLUSION: Hematochezia, hematuria and proteinuria at the diagnosis of HSP are important prognostic factors in predicting remission. In addition, HSP patients with nephrotic range proteinuria at diagnosis have an increased risk of renal failure.
Adult ; Antigen-Antibody Complex ; Arthralgia ; Child ; Exanthema ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Incidence ; Kidney ; Korea ; Prognosis ; Proteinuria ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch ; Renal Insufficiency ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Systemic Vasculitis ; Vasculitis ; Vasculitis, Leukocytoclastic, Cutaneous

Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan parasite that can cause toxoplasmosis in a wide range of warm-blooded animals including humans. In this study, we analyzed seroprevalence of T. gondii among 467 school children living in the rural areas of Pyin Oo Lwin and Naung Cho, Myanmar. The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii among school children was 23.5%; 22.5% of children were positive for T. gondii IgG, 0.4% of children were positive for T. gondii IgM, and 0.6% of children were positive for both T. gondii IgG and IgM. Geographical factors did not significantly affect the seroprevalence frequency between Pyin Oo Lwin and Naung Cho, Myanmar. No significant difference was found between males (22.2%) and females (25.0%). The overall seroprevalence among school children differed by ages (10 years old [13.6%], 11–12 years old [19.8%], 13–14 years old [24.6%], and 15–16 years old [28.0%]), however, the result was not significant. Polymerase chain reaction analysis for T. gondii B1 gene for IgG-positive and IgM-positive blood samples were negative, indicating no direct evidence of active infection. These results collectively suggest that T. gondii infection among school children in Myanmar was relatively high. Integrated and improved strategies including reinforced education on toxoplasmosis should be implemented to prevent and control T. gondii infection among school children in Myanmar.
Animals ; Child ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Male ; Myanmar ; Parasites ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Toxoplasma ; Toxoplasmosis

PURPOSE: There are few reports from Asian countries about the long-term results of aromatase inhibitor adjuvant treatment for breast cancer. This observational study aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of letrozole in postmenopausal Korean women with operable breast cancer. METHODS: Self-reported quality of life (QoL) scores were serially assessed for 3 years during adjuvant letrozole treatment using the Korean version of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast questionnaires (version 3). Changes in bone mineral density (BMD) and serum cholesterol levels were also examined. RESULTS: All 897 patients received the documented informed consent form and completed a baseline questionnaire before treatment. Adjuvant chemotherapy was administered to 684 (76.3%) subjects, and 410 (45.7%) and 396 (44.1%) patients had stage I and II breast cancer, respectively. Each patient completed questionnaires at 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 months after enrollment. Of 897 patients, 749 (83.5%) completed the study. The dropout rate was 16.5%. The serial trial outcome index, the sum of the physical and functional well-being subscales, increased gradually and significantly from baseline during letrozole treatment (p<0.001). The mean serum cholesterol level increased significantly from 199 to 205 after 36 months (p=0.042). The mean BMD significantly decreased from −0.39 at baseline to −0.87 after 36 months (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: QoL gradually improved during letrozole treatment. BMD and serum cholesterol level changes were similar to those in Western countries, indicating that adjuvant letrozole treatment is well tolerated in Korean women, with minimal ethnic variation.
Aromatase ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bone Density ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Cholesterol ; Consent Forms ; Female ; Humans ; Observational Study ; Quality of Life*

Objective: Recently, rational polypharmacy approaches have been proposed, regardless of the lower risk and cost of monotherapy. Considering monotherapy as first-line treatment and polypharmacy as rational treatment, a balanced attitude toward polypharmacy is recommended. However, the high prevalence of polypharmacy led the Japanese government to establish a polypharmacy reduction policy. Based on this, the association between the policy and psychiatrists’ attitude toward polypharmacy has been under debate. Methods: We developed an original questionnaire about Psychiatrists’ attitudes toward polypharmacy (PAP). We compared the PAP scores with the treatment decision-making in clinical case vignettes. Multiple regression analyses were performed to quantify associations of explanatory variables including policy factors and PAP scores. The anonymous questionnaires were administered to psychiatrists worldwide. Results: The study included 347 psychiatrists from 34 countries. Decision-making toward polypharmacy was associated with high PAP scores. Multiple regression analysis revealed that low PAP scores were associated with the policy factor (β=-0.20, p=0.004). The culture in Korea was associated with high PAP scores (β=0.34, p<0.001), whereas the culture in India and Nepal were associated with low scores (β=-0.15, p=0.01, and β=-0.17, p=0.006, respectively). Conclusion Policy on polypharmacy may influence psychiatrists’ decision-making. Thus, policies considering rational polypharmacy should be established.