Total 8,341 pregnant women who visited Obstetric Clinic Cheil General Hospital from Jaunary 1991 to July 1992 were screened for HBsAg. Sixty five women with positive HBsAg who delivered healthy babies during that period and their infants are included in the study. HBsAg, Anti-HBs, Anti-HBc, HBeAg and Anti-HBe were tested by radioimmunoassay and hepatitis B virus DNA were studied by polymerase chain reaction technique in both mothers' and babies serum. The results were as follow: 1) Among 8,341 pregnant women who were screened for HBsAg 374 were asymptomatic carriers(4.5%). 2) The newborn babies born to 65 mothers who were positive HBsAg showed HBsAg in 4.6%, HBeAg 75.0%, anti-HBc 98.4% and hepatitis B virus DNA in 26.2%. 3) It showed discordance of HBeAg/anti-HBe, with hepatitis B virus DNA in newborn infants. 4) Follow up study at 8~20 months showed HBeAg and hepatitis B virus DNA in 2 infants out of 20.
DNA ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Mothers* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Pregnant Women ; Radioimmunoassay

This study was performed to investigate the age-related changes of the lipid metabolism and thrombogenic capacity in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at the ages of 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 months old. Total lipid, triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol in plasma and liver, HDL-cholesterol concentration, and eicosanoid contents in plasma were measured. Lipid peroxides were determined by the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) in LDL fraction. Body weight was increased continuous until 16 months and decreased after 20 months. Epididymal fat pad (EFP) weight was increased continuously until 20 months and decreased at 24 months. Total lipid and TG concentrations in plasma were increased until 20 months and then rapidly decreased at 24 months but plasma cholesterol was increased continuously with aging. HDL-cholesterol level was increased continuously until 12 months, but decreased at 16 months and maintained there after. The TBARS levels in LDL fraction were the highest level at 24 months. Liver total lipid, TG, and total cholesterol concentrations were shown a tendency to increase with aging, and especially TG concentration was increased rapidly from 12 months to 16 months. Plasma thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 (6-keto-PGF1) contents did not change with aging, but the ratio of TXB2/6-keto-PGF1 was increased with aging, especially from 8 to 12 months. These results showed that lipid levels in plasma and liver, TBARS levels in LDL fraction, and TXB2/6-keto- PGF1 ratio were increased with aging.
Adipose Tissue ; Aging ; Animals ; Body Weight ; Child, Preschool ; Cholesterol ; Humans ; Lipid Metabolism* ; Lipid Peroxides ; Liver ; Plasma ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances ; Thromboxane B2 ; Triglycerides

The primary cause of tooth loss after 30 years of age is periodontal disease. Destruction of alveolar bone by periodontal disease is done by bone resorbing activity of osteoclasts. Understanding differentiation and activation mechanism of osteoclasts is essential for controling periodontal disease. The purpose of this study is to identify the possible effects of Vitamin D and cytokines affecting osteoclasts and its precursor cells. Four to six week-old mice were killed and humerus, radius, tibia and femur were removed aseptically and washed two times with Hank's solution containing penicillin-streptomycin and then soft tissue were removed. Bone marrow cells were collected by 22 gauge needle. Cells were cultured in Hank's solution containing 1 mg/ml type II collagenase, 0.05% trypsin, 4mM EDTA. Supernatant solution was removed 5 times after 15 minutes of digestion with above mentioned enzyme solution, and remained bone particles were maintained in alpha-MEM for 15 minutes and 4degrees C temperature. Bone particles were agitated for 1 minute and supernatant solution containing osteoclast precursor cells were filtrated with cell stainer. These separated osteoclast precursor cells were dispensed with 100-mm culture dish by 1x10(7) cells unit and cultured in alpha-MEM containing 20 ng/ml recombinant human M-CSF, 30 ng/ml recombinant human soluble osteoclast differentiation factor and 10% fetal calf serum for 2 and 7 days. Total RNA of osteoclast precursor cells were extracted using RNeasy kit. One microgram of total RNA was reverse transcribed in 42degrees C for 30 minutes using SuperScriptII reverse transcriptase. Expression of transcribed receptors of each hormone and cytokine were traced with 1 microliter of cDNA solution by PCR amplification. Vitamin D receptor was found in cells cultured for 7 days. TNF-alphareceptor was found in cells cultured for 2 days and amount of receptors were increased by 7 days. IL-1 type I receptor was not found in cells cultured 2 and 7 days. But, IL-1 receptor type II was found in cells cultured for 2 days. TGF-alpha,betatype I receptor was found in cells cultured 2 and 7 days, and amount of receptors were increased by 7 days of culture. These results implies Vitamin D and cytokines can affect osteoclasts directly, and affecting period in differentiation cycle of osteoclasts is different by Vitamin D and cytokines.
Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Collagenases ; Cytokines* ; Digestion ; Dihydroergotamine ; DNA, Complementary ; Edetic Acid ; Femur ; Humans ; Humerus ; Interleukin-1 ; Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor* ; Mice ; Needles ; Osteoclasts* ; Periodontal Diseases ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Radius ; RANK Ligand ; Receptors, Calcitriol ; RNA ; RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase ; Tibia ; Tooth Loss ; Trypsin ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

No abstract available.
Appendicitis* ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch*

The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of clinical nutrition services provided at tertiary hospitals and general hospitals in Korea. In total, 157 questionnaires were distributed to the departments of nutrition at hospitals on September 2013. The results of this study are as follows. The median number of beds was 607 and average length of stay was 8 days. 63.1% of dietitians had over 5 years of career experience. Nutritional screening rate was 97% in tertiary hospitals but only 67.2% in general hospitals (P<0.001). The rate of equipment with computerized nutritional screening system was 100% in tertiary hospitals but 71.9% in general hospitals (P<0.001). Hospitals with the best regarding nutritional care were hospitals accredited by JCI (Joint Commission International). On the other hand, hospitals not accredited by the JCI but KOIHA (Korea Institute for Healthcare Accreditation) showed the lowest performance rate of nutritional care. Nutrition support teams (NSTs) were established in all tertiary hospitals but in only 73% of general hospitals (P<0.001). The rate of actively operating NSTs was 89% in tertiary hospitals but only 62% in general hospitals (P<0.001). There is a need to provide proper standardized clinical nutrition services as a primary treatment and we observed large variations in the quality of nutritional service between hospitals. Therefore, local solutions are needed to implement nutritional programs and policies for improved service and care.
Cross-Sectional Studies* ; Delivery of Health Care ; Hand ; Hospitals, General* ; Korea ; Length of Stay ; Mass Screening ; Nutritionists ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tertiary Care Centers*

The aim of the present study was to examine the causal-effect of baseline (year 2004) serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) level with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in year 2008. The study was comprised of male workers who underwent a regular health check-up in 2004 and 2008. MS was diagnosed according to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) criteria. In the subgroup analysis according to serum GGT level, triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and total cholesterol (TC) showed a significant increasing tendency (p < 0.001). In addition, unexpectedly results were consistent in non-drinkers (p < 0.001). GGT level was significantly associated with risk factors of MS (waist circumference [WC]: r = 0.18, p < 0.001; fasting blood glucose [FBG]: r = 0.16, p < 0.001; TG: r = 0.29, p < 0.001). As the secondary biomarker, homeostasis model assessment of insulin sensitivity (HOMA-S) and TC had significant correlations with GGT level (HOMA-S: r = -0.14, p < 0.001; TC: r = 0.21, p < 0.001). In the 4-year prospective analysis, the predictive effect of baseline GGT concentrations on change in MS status was evaluated using Cox proportional model. Elevated GGT concentrations measured in 2004 were associated with the risk of MS incidence after 4 years (GGT: HR 1.7 [95% CI: 1.2-2.3]) (p < 0.01). This observation indicates that an elevated GGT level could be suggested as a subsidiary marker for MS and partially reflects dyslipidemia as a component of MS.
Blood Glucose ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Cohort Studies* ; Dyslipidemias ; Fasting ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase* ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Insulin Resistance ; Male* ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Triglycerides

OBJECTIVE: To monitor the changes of autonomic nervous function before and after foot bathing through autonomic function tests using electrophysiological instrument. METHOD: Twenty five healthy adults took a foot bathing through popular 'foot bath' for 30 minutes at 43degrees C. Autonomic tests were performed three times before foot bathing, immediately and 15 minutes after foot bathing. Sympathetic skin response (SSR) and blood pressure after sustained grip for sympathetic tone, heart rate variation during deep breathing and Valsalva maneuver for parasympathetic tone (Expiratory/Inspiratory (E/I) ratio, Valsalva ratio) were measured. RESULTS: SSR amplitudes in one hand decreased significantly during foot bathing (p<0.05) and did not return to their initial levels within 15 minutes after foot bathing. But, blood pressure after sustained grip, E/I ratio and Valsalva ratio did not show statistical difference (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Heat therapy through foot bathing in normal adults reduced sudomotor response to electrical stimuli, which can be considered as reduction of specific sympathetic nervous function. We propose that foot bathing could be promising one of partial heat therapies for pain without cardiovascular complications unlike conventional whole body bathing.
Adult ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Baths ; Blood Pressure ; Foot ; Galvanic Skin Response ; Hand ; Hand Strength ; Heart Rate ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; Respiration ; Skin ; Valsalva Maneuver

Hemangioblastomas are low-grade, highly vascular tumors that are usually associated with von Hippel-Lindau syndrome. Hemangioblastomas most commonly occur in the cerebellum, and intradural extramedullary hemangioblastoma of the cauda equina is very rare, especially in patients without von Hippel-Lindau syndrome. Herein, we report a case of intradural extramedullary hemangioblastoma of the cauda equina that was not associated with von HippelLindau syndrome, with a focus on its imaging characteristics and differential diagnoses. We compared the clinical presentation and imaging features of our case with those of previously reported cases in the review of the literature.

Hibernoma is a rare benign tumor that arises from vestiges of brown fat. Spinal intraosseous hibernoma has only recently been described in the literature, and only 12 cases have been reported to date due to its extreme rarity. Here, we report the case of a patient who was incidentally diagnosed with an intraosseous hibernoma in the thoracic spine, following a diverse imaging work-up and pathologic confirmation. We correlate the clinical presentation and imaging features of our case with those of previously reported cases during our review of the literature.

Hemangioblastomas are low-grade, highly vascular tumors that are usually associated with von Hippel-Lindau syndrome. Hemangioblastomas most commonly occur in the cerebellum, and intradural extramedullary hemangioblastoma of the cauda equina is very rare, especially in patients without von Hippel-Lindau syndrome. Herein, we report a case of intradural extramedullary hemangioblastoma of the cauda equina that was not associated with von HippelLindau syndrome, with a focus on its imaging characteristics and differential diagnoses. We compared the clinical presentation and imaging features of our case with those of previously reported cases in the review of the literature.