No abstract available.
Fever*

BACKGROUND: Allergen-specific immunotherapy ( IT ) can be an important adjunctive therapy in the treatment of allergic disorders. Although a number of studies have shown that cytokine production by T cells may be modified by IT, IT-induced chsnges at the single cell level in allergen -specific Th ( T helper ) and Tc ( cytotoxic T ) responses have not been reported. Objective : The objectives of the present study were ( 1 ) to demonstrate differences in the house dust mite(HDM)-induced cytokine production patterns of Th and Tc cells between untreated and treated HDM allergic patients and ( 2 ) to determine whether there are differences between child and adult patients in Th and Tc cell responses to HDM. METHOD: This study included twenty Dermatophagoides farinae (Df)-sensitive asthmatics ( ten children and ten adults ), of which five children and five adults received immunotherapy to Df over a 1.5- to 3-year period. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells ( PBMC ) were isolated from peripheral blood of each patient and cultured in the presence of IL-2 ( 10ng/ml ) and Df extract (100ug/ml) for 6 days. After harvesting cultured cells, Th and Tc cell frequencies were determined by a multiparameter cytokine flow cytometric assay that allows simultaneous determination of intracellular IFN-r and IL-4 in CD4+ or CD8+ cells. RESULTS: Predominant Th2 responses to Df were observed in all untreated child patients, three untreated adult patients, and two treated adult patients. On the other hand, predominant Thl responses to Df were observed in all treated child patients, two of untreated adult patients, and three of treated adult patients. Predominant Tcl responses to Df were observed in all groups of patients. However, Tcl responses were more prominent in adults than in children and in treated adult patients than in untreated adult patients. In children, there were no differences in predominant Tcl responses except in one treated child, in whom more prominent Tcl response was observed.
Adult ; Cells, Cultured ; Child ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Dust ; Hand ; Humans ; Immunotherapy* ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 ; T-Lymphocytes

No abstract available.
Chorionic Gonadotropin* ; Female ; Humans ; Humans* ; Hypertension* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second* ; Pregnancy*

The evaluation of the proliferative potential of malignant neoplasm is of major interest for predicting their biological behavior. MIB-1, a monoclonal antibody against the Ki-67 antigen, is a marker of cell proliferation, which is widely applied to human cancers recently. To assess the growth potential of uterine endometrial carcinoma, we performed immunohistochemical staining of MIB-1 in 34 cases of endometrial adenocarcinoma (endometroid type) from the paraffin sections. We evaluated its correlation with p53 overexpression and known prognostic factors including FIGO grade, nuclear grade, myometrial invasion, and estrogen and progesterone receptors. As a result, the MIB-1 labelling index was significantly correlated with FIGO grade, nuclear grade and myometrial invasion (p<0.05) and there was no significant correlation between MIB-1, ER or PR status. The expression of p53 protein showed significant correlation with FIGO grade and nuclear grade (p<0.05) and there was no significant correlation among p53 protein, myometrial invasion, ER and PR status. The MIB-1 labelling index revealed striking difference between p53 positive and p53 negative group (p<0.05). We concluded that MIB-1 labelling index is associated with poor prognostic parameter in endometrial adenocarcinoma, and may be a useful marker for predicting tumor of high grade and deep myometrial invasion, if MIB-1 labelling index is more than 50% and is accompanied by p53 overexpression.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Cell Proliferation ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; Estrogens ; Female ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; Paraffin ; Receptors, Progesterone ; Strikes, Employee

Purpose: This study comprehensively examined the experiences of breast cancer survivors' while accessing healthcare facilities for developing nursing intervention programs to enhance and maintain patients' health. Methods: As part of this qualitative study, focus group interviews were conducted with six breast cancer survivors from December 30, 2020, to April 30, 2021. Results Qualitative data analysis revealed four themes and nine sub-themes using a medical institution after diagnosis in breast cancer survivors. Four themes were ‘burden that individuals still have to bear’, ‘hospital situation that is not patient-centered’, ‘alternative ways to get information and support from the other resources’, and ‘the journey of long-term treatment and management’. Discussion: To improve the quality of life in breast cancer survivors, it is vital to establish medical services that consider the characteristics of each stage of the disease, in addition to support hospitals and social policy programs that can address the unmet needs of the survivors.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The status of tumor suppression gene can be assessed indirectly by analyzing the loss of heterozygosity. Hepatoblastoma is a malignant liver tumor in childhood. To find the molecular carcinogenetic mechanism of hepatoblastoma, loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of p73, APC and p53 was studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hepatoblastoma tissues from thirty-three cases were collected by lobectomy or tumorectomy. On H- stained sections, normal and tumor cells were microdissected separately and LOH analysis was perfomed using 8 markers: six of p73, one of APC and one of p53. RESULTS: Number of cases showing at least one LOH in six p73 markers was four out of twenty- six (15.4%): each LOH frequencies in D1S160, D1S170, D1S199, D1S228, D1S243 and D1S253 were in order of 7.7%, 0%, 9.1%, 0%, 12.5% and 0%. LOH frequency of APC was 41.7% and that of p53 was 13.3%. CONCLUSION: Low LOH frequency of p73 related markers indicates that p73 gene may not be implicated in carcinogenesis of hepatoblastoma.
Carcinogenesis ; Hepatoblastoma* ; Liver ; Loss of Heterozygosity*

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the evidence for the effectiveness of different isolation policies in reducing the incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in hospital in-patients. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated the effectiveness of an isolation policy on transmission of MRSA in the 745-beds hospital. First period, all patients with MRSA (March - July 2000) were not isolated Second period, strict isolation policies were performed (August 2000 - January 2002). All patients with MRSA were isolated in separated room, hand hygiene using alcohol handrub, gowning and g1oving, apply of MRSA notice sticker, criteria in isolation remove, separated disinfection and wastement. Third period, semi strict isolation policies were performed (February 2002 - August 2005). Some patients with MRSA were isolated in separated room and others were admitted in general ward for bed shortage. Only some practices were performed in hand washing and separated disinfection in general ward. RESULTS: The rates of MRSA nosocomial infection per patients during 1st, 2nd, and 3rd surveillance were reported 0.56, 0.23, and 0.42 (P<0.05). Patient-days rate of MRSA nosocomial infection during 1st, 2nd, and 3rd surveillance were reported 0.62, 0.27, and 0.38 (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: With many different isolation policies, it was possible to reduce nosocomial infection of MRSA. In this study, strict isolation policies (2nd period) were the most effective practices in reducing MRSA infection.
Cross Infection ; Disinfection ; Hand Disinfection ; Hand Hygiene ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infection Control ; Methicillin Resistance* ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus* ; Patients' Rooms ; Prospective Studies

Mycotic aneurysm of the abdominal aorta is a rare disease. Despite intensive antibiotic therapy, rupture leads to a high mortality rate, so early diagnosis and treatment is very important. Rupture is the most common complication of abdominal aortic aneurysm, while renal artery stenosis is very rare. We report the radiologic findings of mycotic aneurysm of the suprarenal abdominal aorta leading to right renal artery stenosis induced by mass effect and renovascular hypertension.
Aneurysm, Infected* ; Aorta, Abdominal* ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Early Diagnosis ; Hypertension, Renovascular ; Mortality ; Rare Diseases ; Renal Artery Obstruction ; Rupture

BACKGROUND: Direct observation of healthcare workers is commonly used in hospitals to investigate hand hygiene compliance. However, the hand hygiene compliance rate may increase due to the Hawthorne effect, which is the modification of behavior simply because subjects become aware that they are being observed. The objective of this study was to investigate the occurrence of the Hawthorne effect when directly observing hand hygiene compliance in intensive care unit (ICU) healthcare personnel. METHODS: A total of 87 staff members from the coronary care unit and cardiac surgery ICU of a general hospital in Seoul were included in this study: 24 residents and interns, 55 nurses, and 8 nursing assistants. Both covert and overt observations, where subjects were either unaware or aware of any direct observation, were performed on separate occasions. RESULTS: A total of 1,052 covert and 1,336 overt observations were documented over 30 and 34 occasions, respectively. Overall hand hygiene compliance was significantly higher with overt observation than with covert observation (1,041/1,336, 77.9% vs. 659/1,052, 62.6%, P<0.001). The Hawthorne effect was present in all professions and behaviors, with the exception of nursing assistants, and prior to touching a patient. CONCLUSION: Direct observation of hand hygiene compliance was associated with the Hawthorne effect when observations were made overtly and this was likely to contribute to an overestimation of compliance rate.
Compliance ; Coronary Care Units* ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Effect Modifier, Epidemiologic* ; Hand Hygiene* ; Health Personnel ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units* ; Nursing ; Seoul ; Thoracic Surgery*

PURPOSE:In infants born intrauterine growth retardation(IUGR), there may be persistent short stature in childhood and adulthood, although most IUGR infants show some degree of catch-up growth. The purpose of this study was to describe the postnatal growth status in order to determine the incidence of catch-up growth. METHODS:This study was carried out with the 260 IUGR infants(birth weight<2,500gm) born at Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital, from October 1989 to March 1995. RESULTS: 1)Mean gestational age was 38.3+/-.6weeks, mean birth weight was 2.3+/-.2kg and mean birth length was 46.1+/-.7cm. 2)Mean height standard deviation score(height SDS) was 0.02+/-.03. Height SDS was -0.002+/-.71 at 1 year of age, 0.03+/-.14 at 2 years of age, -0.03+/-.71 at 3 years of age, 0.01+/-.24 at 4 years of age, 0.16+/-.24 at 5 years of age, -0.08+/-.43 at 6 years of age. 3)Of the entire study group of the 260 children, 16 children (6%) were below 10 percentile in height. 1 of 36 (2.8%) was below 10 percentile in height at 1 year of age, 5 of 86(5.8%) at 2 years of age, none at 3 years of age, 6 of 44 (13.6%) at 4 years of age, 1 of 25 (4.0%) at 5 years of age, 3 of 17 (17.6%) at 6 years of age. 4)Height SDS significantly correlated with gestational age (r=0.57, p<0.01), birth weight (r=0.17, p<0.01) and midparental height (r=0.72, p<0.01). 5)Birth length and midparental height showed significant differences between catch-up group and non-catch-up group (p<0.01). Condusions:In summary, of the infants born IUGR, 94% showed catch-up growth. Birth length and midparental height were significantly lower in non- catch-up group.
Birth Weight ; Child ; Fetal Growth Retardation* ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant* ; Parturition