BACKGROUND: To identify the prevalence and related factors for vitamin D deficiency in the patients who admitted to the medical intensive care unit (ICU) of a Korean tertiary care hospital. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data from ICU patients requiring mechanical ventilation (MV) for a period of > 48 h to identify the prevalence and associated factors for vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level < 20 ng/mL. RESULTS: Among 570 patients admitted to the ICU, 221 were enrolled in the study, 194 in the vitamin D deficient group and 27 in the non-deficient group. Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in critically ill patients was 87.8%. The patient age was lower in the vitamin D deficient group compared with the non-deficient group (64.4 ± 15.4 vs. 71.0 ± 9.6 years, p = 0.049). A higher acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score (odds ratio [OR] 1.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10-1.37) and chronic illness (OR 3.12, 95% CI 1.08-9.01) were associated with vitamin D deficiency after adjusting for age and body mass index. Clinical outcomes of duration of MV, ICU stay, and 28- and 90-day mortality rates were not significantly different between the vitamin D deficient and nondeficient groups. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D deficiency was common in critically ill patients, particularly among younger patients. Higher APACHE II score and chronic illness were associated with vitamin D deficiency.
APACHE ; Body Mass Index ; Calcitriol ; Chronic Disease ; Critical Care ; Critical Illness* ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Mortality ; Prevalence* ; Respiration, Artificial ; Retrospective Studies ; Tertiary Healthcare ; Vitamin D Deficiency* ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

Wear of articular cartilage usually occurs at flexion zones (30°–60°) of the femorotibial articulation, which is demonstrable on the 45°posteroanterior (PA) weight-bearing view. The authors measured and evaluated the cartilage space on the non weight-bearing AP view, AP extension weight-bearing view and 45°PA flexion weight-bearing view, comparing operative findings in cases of 18 osteoarthritis, 7 rheumatoid arthritis and 2 spontaneous osteonecrosis of the lateral femoral condyle, who underwent total or hemiarthro plasty (1 case) of the knee. The results were as follows. l. Operative findings of 11 out of 18 osteoarthritis (61.1%) showed cartilage defect of middle 3/4–4/5 of the medial tibial condyle (sparing finger tip sized anterior & posterior edge) and corresponding femoral condyle. The cartilage space on the AP non weight-bearing, AP extension weight-bearing and 45°PA flexion weight-bearing view were normal to 20% decrease (4.1–5.0mm remained), 60–80% decrease (1.1–2.0mm remained) and 80–100% decrease (0–1.0mm remained), respectively, showing one grade increased cartilage space narrowing on the 45°PA flexion weight-bearing view comparing to AP extension weight-bearing view. 2. Uniform cartilage defect of medial compartment was found in 7(38.9%) osteoarthritic knees. The cartilage space on the non weight-bearing AP view were normal. Both AP & PA weightbearing views showed 60–80% decrease (1.1–2.0mm remained) in 3 knees & 80–100% decrease (0–1.0 mm remained) in 4 knees without any difference between the two views. 3. Uniform cartilage space narrowing of both medal & lateral compartment was noted in 7 rheumatoid knees. The cartilage space on the AP non weight-bearing view were 20–40% decrease (3.1–4.0mm remained) in all knees. The AP extension & 45°PA flexion view showed 40–60% decrease (2.1–3.0mm remained) in 2 knees, 60–80% (1.1–2.0mm remained) in 5 knees respectively without any difference between two groups. 4. The anterior horn of menisci was always intact. The presence of menisci didn't affect the radiological cartilage space. 5. The 45°PA flexion weight-bearing view functioned as a tunnel view showing bone defect and less than 20% decrease of cartilage space in cases of the spontaneous osteonecrosis of the lateral femoral condyle. From our results it was concluded that the radiologic cartilage space could be more accurately demonstrated with 45°PA flexion weight-bearing view in addition to the conventional AP extension weight-bearing view.
Animals ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Cartilage ; Cartilage, Articular ; Clothing ; Fingers ; Horns ; Knee ; Numismatics ; Osteoarthritis ; Osteonecrosis ; Weight-Bearing

No abstract available.
Humans ; Muscular Dystrophies*

No abstract available.
Muscle Spasticity* ; Paraplegia*

The nm23 gene was originally identified from murine melanoma cell lines of varying metastatic potential. A strong association has been observed between reduced expression of nm23 gene and acquisition of metastatic behavior in some tumor cells including breast cancer and melanoma, but not in others such as colon cancer, neuroblastoma, and cervical cancer. It was proposed that nm23 may function as a suppressor gene for tumor metastasis. It has recently been found that the sequence of nm23 and NDP-kinase(NDP-K) was identical. Mortality associated with human breast carcinoma is almost entirely due to subsequent metastasis, but the molecular basis of this metastasis is not understood. Elucidation of the genetic control of metastatic propensity of a tumor is important in determining prognosis and choice of therapy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of nm23 protein expression with axillary lymph node metastasis and other prognostic factors. Using an immunohistochemical technique and employing a polyclonal antibody to nm23 protein, we have determined nm23 expression in a series of 72 infiltrating ductal carcinomas of the breast. Immunostaining for the nm23 gene product have heterogenous cytoplasmic and nuclear staining in 61 patients(84.7%). Sections were scored according to relative abundance(1 = less than 25% of the cells, 2 = 26-75%, 3 = 76-100%). In 61 patients with positive immunostaining, the staining was scored as 1 in 41.6%, 2 in 18.0%, and 3 in 40.2%. The staining of tumor cells was greater than that in normal epithelial cells and stromal cells. No relationship was found between nm23 expression and lymph node metastasis, histologic grade, tumor size, estrogen receptors or progesterone receptors. Therefore, nm23 protein is increased in neoplastic tissues but no correlation with metastatic potential could be demonstrated. The biological mechanism of over-expression of nm23 in malignant cells and its role in tumor progression remain to be determined.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Ductal* ; Cell Line ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Cytoplasm ; Epithelial Cells ; Genes, Suppressor ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Melanoma ; Mortality ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neuroblastoma ; Prognosis ; Receptors, Estrogen ; Receptors, Progesterone ; Stromal Cells ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

The nm23 gene was originally identified from murine melanoma cell lines of varying metastatic potential. A strong association has been observed between reduced expression of nm23 gene and acquisition of metastatic behavior in some tumor cells including breast cancer and melanoma, but not in others such as colon cancer, neuroblastoma, and cervical cancer. It was proposed that nm23 may function as a suppressor gene for tumor metastasis. It has recently been found that the sequence of nm23 and NDP-kinase(NDP-K) was identical. Mortality associated with human breast carcinoma is almost entirely due to subsequent metastasis, but the molecular basis of this metastasis is not understood. Elucidation of the genetic control of metastatic propensity of a tumor is important in determining prognosis and choice of therapy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of nm23 protein expression with axillary lymph node metastasis and other prognostic factors. Using an immunohistochemical technique and employing a polyclonal antibody to nm23 protein, we have determined nm23 expression in a series of 72 infiltrating ductal carcinomas of the breast. Immunostaining for the nm23 gene product have heterogenous cytoplasmic and nuclear staining in 61 patients(84.7%). Sections were scored according to relative abundance(1 = less than 25% of the cells, 2 = 26-75%, 3 = 76-100%). In 61 patients with positive immunostaining, the staining was scored as 1 in 41.6%, 2 in 18.0%, and 3 in 40.2%. The staining of tumor cells was greater than that in normal epithelial cells and stromal cells. No relationship was found between nm23 expression and lymph node metastasis, histologic grade, tumor size, estrogen receptors or progesterone receptors. Therefore, nm23 protein is increased in neoplastic tissues but no correlation with metastatic potential could be demonstrated. The biological mechanism of over-expression of nm23 in malignant cells and its role in tumor progression remain to be determined.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Ductal* ; Cell Line ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Cytoplasm ; Epithelial Cells ; Genes, Suppressor ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Melanoma ; Mortality ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neuroblastoma ; Prognosis ; Receptors, Estrogen ; Receptors, Progesterone ; Stromal Cells ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

A nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was applied to detect and identify pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis. We used photochemical postamplification procedure with 8-methoxypsoralen to control carryover contamination. Using the ail and inv gene, the sensitivity and specificity of DNA amplification by nested PCR was considerably improved. The amplified fragment sizes were 298 bp for the ail gene and 295 bp for the inv gene. Amplification was successful when the template was derived from three sources: purified DNA, aliquots of boiled bacterial suspension and aliquots of lysed bacterial suspension. The detection limits were 10 fg of DNA and 2 * 10 colony forming units (CFU) for Y. enterocolitica and 10 fg DNA and 2 CFU for Y. pseudotuberculosis.
DNA ; Limit of Detection ; Methoxsalen ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stem Cells ; Yersinia enterocolitica* ; Yersinia pseudotuberculosis* ; Yersinia*

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for detection of the pathogenic Yersinia pestis from other Yersinia spp. was developed. Five Y. pestis strains, ninety-two other Yersinia species and twenty-four Enterobacteriaceae strains were collected in Korea and from other countries. Oligonucleotide primers were designed from pathogenic gene of antiphagocytic protein capsule gene (fra 1) and plasminogen activator gene (pla). The 428 bp DNA fragment was amplified from five Y. pestis which contained the fra I gene. No product was amplified from other Yersinia species and other strains of the Enterobacteriaceae. The 439 bp DNA fragment was amplified from three K pestis which contained the pla gene. No product was amplified from two Y. pestis, other Yersinia species and other strains of the Enterobacteriaceae. These showed that the designed primers were specific for detection of Y. pestis among other Yersinia species and Enterobacteriaceae strains. Amplification was successful whether the template was derived from purified DNA or from aliquots of boiled bacterial suspension. The detection limits were 100 pg of DNA and 100 colony forming units (CFU) for fra I and 100 pg DNA and 10 CFU for pla, respectively. Our results prove that the PCR method using specific primers for Y. pestis is a rapid and convenient procedure for routine clinical detection and identification of Y. pestis.
DNA ; DNA Primers ; Enterobacteriaceae ; Korea ; Limit of Detection ; Plasminogen Activators ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Stem Cells ; Yersinia pestis* ; Yersinia*

Implant overdentures are widely used as a treatment method to restore oral function in completely edentulous or partially edentulous patients with severe bone resorption. Using a milled bar, it is mechanically advantageous as the implant fixtures are splinted. Applying additional attachments to the bar has the advantage of dispersing the stress applied to the implant. In this case, a patient who used implant overdentures using 4 implants wanted to fabricate a new prosthesis due to repeated fractures of the denture and weakened retention. Milled bar with ADDTOC attachment and zirconia prosthesis were fabricated by CAD-CAM method and mechanically and aesthetically satisfactory results were obtained.

No abstract available.
Blepharoptosis*