No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cervix Uteri* ; Female ; Kidney*

Sa-Sang, one of the Korean traditional medicines, classifies people's constitution into 4 types, which are referred to as Tae-Yang-In, Tae-Eum-In, So-Yang-In and So-Eum-In. The purpose of this study was to examine demographic and dietary factors and to test any significant differences between Sa-Sang constitution and related factors. The participants were 483 college students and the data of 428 students were finally analyzed. Constitution was determined identically through both the questionnaire on Sa-Sang constitution and an inquiry by a Korean traditional medical doctor. Tae-Eum-In showed statistically significant higher BMI and higher smoking frequency. Tae-Eum-In also had significantly higher intakes in iron, potassium, sodium, vitamin B1, niacin, beta-carotene and vitamin E. So-Eum-In had significantly lower intakes in protein, phosphorous, and folate. From this study, we could expect to get some scientific, objective and accurate diet information on the types of constitution. Considering the fact that most chronic degenerative diseases could be developed by any lifestyle factors, it is necessary to conduct educational programs about lifestyles including the dietary habit for maintaining good health. Therefore, it will be better to continue a long-term follow-up study on any chronic degenerative disease based on the types of Sa-Sang constitution in the future.
beta Carotene ; Constitution and Bylaws* ; Demography ; Diet ; Folic Acid ; Food Habits ; Humans ; Iron ; Life Style ; Niacin ; Potassium ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Sodium ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Thiamine ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins

Recently, optical coherence tomography (OCT) has demonstrated considerable promise for the noninvasive assessment of biological tissues. However, OCT images difficult to analyze due to speckle noise. In this paper, we tested various image processing techniques for speckle removal of human and rabbit cartilage OCT images. Also, we distinguished the images which get with methods of image segmentation for OCT images, and found the most suitable method for segmenting an image. And, we selected image segmentation suitable for OCT before image reconstruction. OCT was a weak point to system design and image processing. It was a limit owing to measure small a distance and depth size. So, good edge matching algorithms are important for image reconstruction. This paper presents such an algorithm, the chamfer matching algorithm. It is made of background for 3D image reconstruction. The purpose of this paper is to describe good image processing techniques for speckle removal, image segmentation, and the 3D reconstruction of cartilage OCT images.
Cartilage ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Noise ; Tomography, Optical Coherence

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether gene expressions of VEGF and PlGF are different between the human placenta of normal and abnormal pregnancy. METHODS: Placenta was collected at each trimester of normal pregnancy, missed abortion, intrauterine growth retardation and pre-eclampsia. Total RNA was extracted from placenta. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) was performed using VEGF and PlGF primer. RESULTS: VEGF121, VEGF165 and VEGF189 were identified in normal pregnancy and missed abortion. In two cases of four IUGR and one case of three pre-eclampsia, four of isoforms (VEGF121, VEGF145, VEGF165, and VEGF189) were identified. The intensity of signal was strongest for VEGF165 in all cases. PlGF131 and PlGF152 were identified in all cases. However, the signal intensities of VEGF121, VEGF165, VEGF189, PlGF131 and PlGF152 were not different according to the gestational age. They were also not different between normal pregnancy and abnormal pregnancy. CONCLUSION: VEGF and PlGF were not only expressed at placenta but also overexpressed in part of IUGR and pre-eclampsia. The results suggest that VEGF may play a role in the induction of angiogenesis of placenta in normal pregnancy and its production may be increased under the hypoxic condition.
Abortion, Missed ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Gene Expression* ; Gestational Age ; Humans* ; Placenta* ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Protein Isoforms ; RNA ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the symptoms and interference of activities of daily living (ADL) of chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in patients receiving taxane and platinums. METHODS: 141 cancer patients were recruited in the cross-sectional survey design. The instruments used in the study was the Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy Assessment Tool (CIPNAT) developed by Tofthagen and colleagues. RESULTS: The patients experienced the symptom and interference of ADL of CIPN moderately. The most common symptom was nerve pain (70.2%) and the patients with high cumulative doses showed a significant of tingling sensation in the feet. Symptom severity increased substantially with cumulative dose of chemotherapeutic agents. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy increase due to repeated chemotherapy and nursing intervention is necessary to reduce symptom severity and interference of ADL of CIPN.
Activities of Daily Living* ; Bridged Compounds ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Drug Therapy ; Foot ; Humans ; Neuralgia ; Nursing ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases* ; Platinum* ; Sensation ; Taxoids*

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN 1) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by two or more tumors of the parathyroid gland, duodenum-pancreas, and anterior pituitary. Membranous nephropathy is the most common manifestation of paraneoplastic glomerulopathy. However, minimal change disease in patients with MEN 1 has yet to be reported. Here, we report a case of minimal change disease in a 59-year-old man with MEN 1, along with a review of the relevant literature.

Background: School-aged children born very preterm have been suggested to have worse cognitive and behavioral outcomes than children born full-term. Executive function (EF) is a higher level of cognitive function related to academic achievement. The present study aimed to evaluate the cognitive (including EF) and behavioral outcomes of Korean children born extremely preterm (EP) and to analyze any biological or socioeconomic risk factors for poor cognitive outcomes in this population. Methods: A total of 71 infants weighing < 1,000 g at birth or born before 30 weeks of gestation (EP group) who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit from 2008 to 2009 were included in this study and compared with 40 term-birth controls. The Korean Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition, Advanced Test of Attention (ATA), Stroop test, Children's Color Trails Test (CCTT), and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) were used.Additionally, the Korean Child Behavior Checklist (K-CBCL) and Korean ADHD Rating Scale (K-ARS) were completed. Perinatal and demographic data were collected and analyzed. Results: The mean full-scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) score in the EP group was significantly lower than that of the term control group (89.1 ± 18.3 vs. 107.1 ± 12.7; P < 0.001).In the EP group, 26 (37%) children had an FSIQ score below 85, compared to only one child (3%) in the control group. Furthermore, the EP group showed significantly worse EF test results (ATA, Stroop test, CCTT, WCST). Except for the higher social immaturity subscore in the EP group, the K-CBCL and K-ARS scores were not different between the two groups. EP children who received laser treatment for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) had an 8.8-fold increased risk of a low FSIQ score, and a 1-point increase in the discharge weight Z-score decreased the risk of a low FSIQ score by approximately half in this EP cohort. Conclusion This is the first Korean study to investigate the cognitive and behavioral outcomes of school-aged children born EP. In the study cohort, EP children exhibited significantly lower FSIQ scores and EF than their full-term peers, and 37% of them had cognitive problems. Nonetheless, except for social immaturity, the behavioral problems werenot different in EP children. Severe ROP and low discharge weight Z-score were identified as independent risk factors for low FSIQ score after adjusting for birth weight.

Background: School-aged children born very preterm have been suggested to have worse cognitive and behavioral outcomes than children born full-term. Executive function (EF) is a higher level of cognitive function related to academic achievement. The present study aimed to evaluate the cognitive (including EF) and behavioral outcomes of Korean children born extremely preterm (EP) and to analyze any biological or socioeconomic risk factors for poor cognitive outcomes in this population. Methods: A total of 71 infants weighing < 1,000 g at birth or born before 30 weeks of gestation (EP group) who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit from 2008 to 2009 were included in this study and compared with 40 term-birth controls. The Korean Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition, Advanced Test of Attention (ATA), Stroop test, Children's Color Trails Test (CCTT), and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) were used.Additionally, the Korean Child Behavior Checklist (K-CBCL) and Korean ADHD Rating Scale (K-ARS) were completed. Perinatal and demographic data were collected and analyzed. Results: The mean full-scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) score in the EP group was significantly lower than that of the term control group (89.1 ± 18.3 vs. 107.1 ± 12.7; P < 0.001).In the EP group, 26 (37%) children had an FSIQ score below 85, compared to only one child (3%) in the control group. Furthermore, the EP group showed significantly worse EF test results (ATA, Stroop test, CCTT, WCST). Except for the higher social immaturity subscore in the EP group, the K-CBCL and K-ARS scores were not different between the two groups. EP children who received laser treatment for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) had an 8.8-fold increased risk of a low FSIQ score, and a 1-point increase in the discharge weight Z-score decreased the risk of a low FSIQ score by approximately half in this EP cohort. Conclusion This is the first Korean study to investigate the cognitive and behavioral outcomes of school-aged children born EP. In the study cohort, EP children exhibited significantly lower FSIQ scores and EF than their full-term peers, and 37% of them had cognitive problems. Nonetheless, except for social immaturity, the behavioral problems werenot different in EP children. Severe ROP and low discharge weight Z-score were identified as independent risk factors for low FSIQ score after adjusting for birth weight.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate effectiveness of short-course administration of prophylactic antibiotics in elective cesarean section compared with multiple, long-course administration. METHODS: Forty women undergoing elective cesarean section had prophylactic antibiotics administration preoperatively and 2 times more within 24 hours after operation. Forty women was control group who had antibiotics administration postoperatively 5 or 6 times with multiple regimens and 7 days more per oral. Postpartum complications including febrile morbidity, endometritis, wound infection, urinary tract infection were recorded, as were the duration of hospital stay and need for therapeutic antibiotics. RESULTS: Postpartum complications including febrile morbidity, endometritis, wound infection and urinary tract infection had no difference between two groups significantly. Also, their hospital stay had no difference significantly. CONCLUSION: Prophylactic and short-course antibiotics administration in elective cesarean section is considered to have no difference in comparison with multiple, long-course post-operative administration. Short- course prophylactic antibiotics administration will reduce side effect of drugs and resistance. Also it will provide better cost effectiveness.
Anti-Bacterial Agents* ; Cesarean Section* ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Endometritis ; Female ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Wound Infection

Vallecular cyst is an uncommon but potentially dangerous condition causing stridor and has been associated with sudden airway obstruction resulting in death due to its anatomical location in neonates. It may also present with various degrees of feeding problems resulting in failure to thrive. When a vallecular cyst is suspected clinically, endoscopic laryngoscopy is necessary to visualize it. Other conditions leading to neonatal stridor such as laryngomalacia and other laryngotracheal abnormalities should be ruled out. Marsupialization with a CO2 laser is the most effective and safest treatment to prevent recurrence. We report a case of a 1-month-old male infant with a vallecular cyst synchronous with gastroesophageal reflux, and failure to thrive. He was referred to our hospital because of hoarseness, inspiratory stridor, feeding-cyanosis, chest retraction and failure to thrive. Diagnostic workup revealed a cyst at the tongue base, suggesting a vallecular cyst. The cyst was removed by laryngomicrosurgery with CO2 laser. After the surgery, the symptoms improved and the body weight increased steadily. We report a successfully treated case of neonatal vallecular cyst with symptoms of upper respiratory obstruction, gastroesophageal reflux, and failure to thrive.
Airway Obstruction ; Body Weight ; Cyanosis ; Failure to Thrive ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Hoarseness ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Laryngomalacia ; Laryngoscopy ; Lasers, Gas ; Male ; Recurrence ; Respiratory Sounds ; Thorax ; Tongue