Recent advances in stem cell biology, including the development of optimized cell type-specific culture systems, and the broader understandings of biochemical and molecular signals involved in cell self-renewal and differentiation have brought cell-based therapy closer to practical application. As of now, at least 250 adult stem cell therapies are being used or tested in clinical situations. Stem cells have two important properties that distinguish them from other types of cells; they can both proliferate without changing their phenotypes indefinitely, and they also can differentiate into one or more new kinds of cells depending on their culture conditions. Thus, stem cell therapy could be most effective for treating the diseases that are marked by the loss of cells. The typical examples are Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, heart failure, blindness, spinal cord injury, and stroke. Additionally, stem cell derivatives can be used in drug discovery as well. In the last decade, various types of stem cells have been identified from preimplantation stage embryos, fetuses, placentas, and adult tissues. Moreover, it is now almost a common practice to produce induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells from various adult somatic cells using only a few defined factors. Thus, it is feasible that patient-specific stem cells will be generated with less controversy in the near future. However, human embryonic stem (ES) cells firmly remain "the gold standard" because of their greatest potential to become any type of cell in the body. The vast knowledge obtained from human ES cell research in the past decade has made cell-based therapy more promising than ever. Even the recent establishment of iPS cell technology is the culmination of human ES cells research. In our laboratory, interesting human cardiovascular cells including endothelial precursor cells and beating myocardiac cells, artificial blood cells, and retinal pigment epithelial cells were successfully differentiated and their therapeutic potential was confirmed after cell transplantation into animal models. Thus, here, the current research status of human embryonic stem cell-based therapy will be introduced and the future directions of stem cell applications in clinical trials will be discussed.
Adult ; Adult Stem Cells ; Alzheimer Disease ; Artificial Cells ; Biology ; Blindness ; Blood Cells ; Cell Transplantation ; Drug Discovery ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; Embryonic Structures ; Epithelial Cells ; Fetus ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells ; Models, Animal ; Parkinson Disease ; Phenotype ; Placenta ; Retinaldehyde ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Stem Cells ; Stroke ; Transplants

PURPOSE: To evaluate the MR appearance of the accessory hepatic veins. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 87 consecutive patients for whom abdominal MR images were obtained. The subjects who had liver lesion or hepatic vascular abnormalities were excluded. Couinaud classified accessory hepatic veins into inferior and middle right hepatic veins. Our major interests were evaluation of the incidence, morphology, and location of the accessory hepatic vein. RESULTS: Inferior right hepatic vein was demonstrated in 43 out of 87 patients(49%). The morphology was linear in 35 patients(80.5%), and V-shaped in 8 patients(19.5%). In 40 patients(93%), the inferior right hepatic vein was located in the posteroinferior aspect of the right lobe. Middle right hepatic vein was demonstrated in 7 out of 87 patients(8%). All were single linear in morphology, combined with the inferior right hepatic vein, and located between the right hepatic vein and inferior right hepatic vein. CONCLUSION: The accessory hepatic vein was demonstrated in 49% among the Korean adult population, and was located in posteroinferior portion of the liver, in 93%.
Adult ; Hepatic Veins* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the pattern of distant lymph node metastasis in colorectal carcinoma and its correlation with distant organ metastasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed abdominal CT scans of 46 patients with pathologically proven colorectal carcinoma. RESULTS: The incidence of distant lymphadenopathy in colorectal carcinoma was 30.4%(14/46). The most commonly involved distant lymph node was the left paraortic lymph node below the renal hilum(9/25). The most common type of distant lymphadenopathy was solitary type(7/14) and all of these lymphadenopathies were noted in the left paraortic lymph node below the renal hilum. Six cases of left sided colorectal carcinoma showed left paraortic lymphadenopathy with solitary type. The incidence of distant organ metastasis was 17. 4%(8/46) and markedly increased if distant lymphadenopathy was multiple and confluent, or confluent type(5/7). CONCLUSION: The incidence of distant lymphadenopathy in colorectal carcinoma was not high and the most common lymphadenopathy was the left paraaortic lymph node with solitary type below the renal hilum. The possibility of distant organ metastasis was high if distant lymphadenopathy was multiple and confluent, or confluent type.
Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes* ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop a tool to evaluate the nursing competency of ambulatory nurses and to verify the reliability and validity of the developed tool for use in general hospitals. METHODS: The evaluation tool for ambulatory nursing competency was developed through a literature review and tests for validity and reliability. RESULTS: Subsequent to a review of the literature on nursing performance of ambulatory nurses, a 12 item questionnaire was developed. Through factor analysis, 12 items in a 2 factor solution were derived. Cronbach's α coefficient of the final instrument was .86. CONCLUSION: The assessment tool developed in this study allows for objective assessments of nursing competencies in relation to the competencies expected of ambulatory care nurses. It is hoped that the assessment tool can be used for empirical verification and to provide basic data for establishing the necessary policies to secure outstanding human resources.
Ambulatory Care* ; Hope ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Nursing ; Reproducibility of Results

Musculoskeletal ultrasound has evolved as the essential tool to diagnose and guide intervention procedures in people with neuromusculoskeletal conditions. Image optimization and understanding device operations are core components for ultrasound guided intervention procedure training. All ultrasound machines share the common operative features and there are various buttons for the features in the device control panel. Ultrasound “knobology” refers to the thorough understanding of imaging optimization. This review addressed basic information for the transducers, depth setting, gain and focus control, different modes focusing on brightness and doppler modes.

Musculoskeletal ultrasound has evolved as the essential tool to diagnose and guide intervention procedures in people with neuromusculoskeletal conditions. Image optimization and understanding device operations are core components for ultrasound guided intervention procedure training. All ultrasound machines share the common operative features and there are various buttons for the features in the device control panel. Ultrasound “knobology” refers to the thorough understanding of imaging optimization. This review addressed basic information for the transducers, depth setting, gain and focus control, different modes focusing on brightness and doppler modes.

Ultrasonography is an essential imaging tool to diagnose and treat the musculoskeletal pathologies of the elbow. In this review article, ultrasound findings of common elbow pathologies were described according to the pain areas. In addition, various injections such as steroids, biologics (platelet-rich plasma and autologous whole blood), dextrose, and botulinum toxin were explained focusing on lateral epicondylitis of the elbow.

No abstract available.
Cholecystectomy* ; Common Bile Duct* ; Humans

PURPOSE: This study was to describe the burden of aged parents caring for adult children with disabilities and related factors. METHODS: The subjects were 123 caregivers aged over 65 who were caring for 18-year-old or older children with disabilities. The research tool of this study was a structured questionnaire on family burden. Data were collected from June 3 to 25, 2010, and analyzed by Cronbach's alpha, mean, standard deviation, t-test, and ANOVA using SAS 9.2 program. RESULTS: The major findings of this study were as follows. Elderly parents caring for adult children with disabilities perceived a moderate level of burden. The burden from concern over their children's future was highest, and economic and physical burdens were higher when the parents were younger. Burden was significantly different according to parents' characteristics such as gender, perceived health status, disease, the costs of caring for disabled children, and children's characteristics such as disability rating, health status, and ADL. CONCLUSION: In order to reduce the burden of elderly parents caring for adult children with disabilities, we need to improve their health status and assess comprehensive policies.
Activities of Daily Living ; Adolescent ; Adult Children* ; Adult* ; Aged ; Caregivers ; Disabled Children ; Humans ; Parents* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The dysfunction of either or both noradrenaline and serotonin system are important in the pathophysiology of depression. Previous reports have suggested that there may be an important interaction between these two systems. Recently, some investigators have suggested that the combination of tricyclic antidepressants(TCAs and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs would produce a rapid synergistic effect on down-regulation of either or both of these two systems and that this combination may produce a more rapid and absolute antidepressant effect. We compared the treatment efficacy, treatment associated side effects, treatment satisfaction, and the quality of life between the combination therapy of dothiepin-sertraline as well as the therapy of dothiepin alone in the treatment of major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder. In our study, the combination therapy of dothiepin and sertraline produced a more rapid and absolute antidepressant effect than dothiepin alone. And the patients with combination therapy experienced relatively high treatment satisfaction than the patients with dothiepin therapy. The patients quality of life improved more rapidly in the combination therapy, especially, in the health perception, social behavior, and life satisfaction, that dothiepin alone. These results support the hypothesis that the combination of TCA an SSRI may produce a rapid synergistic effect on either or both norepinephrine and serotonin system, and more rapid antidepressant effect and high treatment satisfaction.
Depression ; Depressive Disorder* ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Dothiepin* ; Down-Regulation ; Dysthymic Disorder ; Humans ; Norepinephrine ; Quality of Life ; Research Personnel ; Serotonin ; Sertraline ; Social Perception ; Treatment Outcome