To evaluate the expression of ras, neu oncoprotein a.nd epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) on uterine cervieal carcinoma, imimunohistochemieal staining was performed on 9 cases of dysplasia, 39 cases of careinoma in situ(CIS), 32 cases of microinvasive earcinoma(WIC) and 60 cases of frankly invasive carrinoma(FIC). The results obtained were as follows: Ras p21 protein was positive in 29.5% of total cases, and it was very low in dysplasia lesion(12. 5%) and CLS(17.9%) while it was high in MIC(31.3%) and FIC(38.9%). In CIS, parabasal cell type showed positive reaction in only 8.7%, but pleomorpkic type showed 60.0% positivity. Invasive carcinoma showed no significant differences between histolegic types. Expression of neu protein was very high in caneerous group(around 95%) and slight,ly lower in dysp]asia(75.0%). No differences were found depending on histologic types and stages. EGFR was expressed in 51.8% of total cases; 12.5% of dysplasia; 54.2% of all cases of carcinoma. Keratinizing type of CIS showed highest positive reaction(90,0%), of which tendency were also noted in keratinizing type of i.nvasvie cinoma(76.2%). The results suggested that ras and EGFR could be used as a factor of prognostic value.
Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor*

OBJECTIVES: Psychiatry in North Korea is believed to seem very different from psychiatry in South Korea. However, there is nearly no information regarding psychiatry in North Korea until now. Our study aimed to get information about North Korean psychiatry. METHODS: Three North Korean defectors in South Korea, whose clinical experience as medical doctors in North Korea was over 10 years, were recruited. They underwent the semi-structured interview, content of which included the clinical experience with psychiatric patients, the details of psychiatry, the treatment of psychiatric patients, the stigma of mental illness, and the suicide, in North Korea. RESULTS: In North Korea, psychiatric department was called as 49th(pronounced as Sahsip-gu-ho in Korean). Only patients with vivid psychotic symptoms came to psychiatric department. Non-psychotic depression or anxiety disorders usually were not dealt in psychiatry. The etiology of mental illness seemed to be confined to biological factors including genetic predisposition. Psychosocial or psychodynamic factors as etiology of mental illness appeared to be ignored. Psychiatry was apparently separated from political or ideological issues. The mainstay of psychiatric treatment is the inpatient admission and out-of-date therapy such as insulin coma therapy. Stigma over mental illness was common in North Korea. Suicide is considered as a betrayal to his/her nation, and has been reported to be very rare. CONCLUSION: The situation of psychiatry in North Korea is largely different from that of South Korea. Although some aspects of North Korean psychiatry are similar to psychiatry in former socialist countries, North Korean psychiatry is considered to have also its unique characteristics.
Anxiety Disorders ; Biological Factors ; Convulsive Therapy ; Democratic People's Republic of Korea ; Depression ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Porphyrins ; Republic of Korea ; Suicide

It is well established that mast cell proliferation and maturation are regulated by two principle cytokines, IL-3 and the c-kit ligand stem cell factor (SCF). Previous reports have demonstrated that bone marrow-derived IL-3-dependent mast cells exhibit the characteristic apoptosis on removal of IL-3. To know how the number of mast cells is controlled, we observed the effects of nitric oxide (NO) on the murine bone marrow-derived cultured mast cells (BMCMC). Apoptosis was measured by the analysis of flow cytometric data and electrophoretic evidence of DNA fragmentation. Our data showed that sodiurn nitroprusside (SNP)-a NO releasing substance- induced apoptosis in BMCMC. Cell cycle analysis showed that the number of the G,/G, and S phase decreased markedly, while the percentage of cell in G,/M phase was increased. Also, SNP alone induced cell death, whereas SNP in combination with SCF markedly decreased cell death of BMCMC. SNP-induced apoptosis was partially inhibited by the treatment of BMCMC with SCF. Our results suggest that NO might have sorne role in the regulation of the number of mast cells.
Apoptosis ; Bone Marrow* ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Death ; Cytokines ; DNA Fragmentation ; Interleukin-3 ; Mast Cells* ; Nitric Oxide* ; Nitroprusside ; S Phase ; Stem Cell Factor

Electrical burn is thought to be similar to crushing injury in that it usually involves skin, muscle and neurovascular structure simultaneously. Especially in extremity, there are many occasions that amputations are inevitable. Since the demarcation between viable and non-viable tissue tends to be obscure, electrical burn greatly differs from other types of injury in detailed methods of treatment, such as the level, the timing and the technique of amputation. During the past 10 years from January, 1978 to December, 1987, authors experienced 285 amputations in 181 cases of electrical burn at Orthopedic Department of Hanil Hospital. The clinical data of our experience were reviewed and analysed. The results were as follows ;l. Amputation rate in electrical burn was 22.4%. 2. Out of total 285 amputations, the number of upper extremity was 187 (65.6%) and it was 1.9 times more than that of lower extremity. Right forearm was 1.8 times more than left forearm. 3. Multiple limbs amputation were performed in 83 cases (45.9%). 4. Among 285 stumps, more than one operation were done in 74 stumps because of infection (50%), necrosis of stump end (35.1%), bony overgrowth at stump end (8.1%) and neuroma(6.8%).
Amputation ; Amputees ; Burns ; Extremities ; Forearm ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Necrosis ; Orthopedics ; Skin ; Upper Extremity

Purpose: Nrf2 regulates antioxidant protein expression and protects against drug toxicity and oxidative stress, whereas Keap1 controls Nrf2 activity. The Keap1-Nrf2 pathway affects the prognosis of various cancers, however, its effect on cholangiocarcinoma chemoresistance and prognosis remains unclear. This study aimed to determine whether the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway affects chemoresistance and prognosis of distal cholangiocarcinoma. Methods: We investigated the correlation between Nrf2 and Keap1 expression and clinical characteristics and prognosis in 91 patients with distal cholangiocarcinoma who underwent curative surgery. Immunohistochemical staining was performed on paraffin blocks using primary antibodies against Nrf2 and Keap1. The relationship between Keap1 and Nrf2 protein expression levels, and clinical characteristics and prognosis was examined. Results: Nrf2 expression was not associated with overall survival in patients who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy (P=0.994). Among patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy, the Nrf2 low expression group had a significantly longer median overall survival than the Nrf2 high expression group in Kaplan-Meier survival analysis (P=0.019). In multivariate analysis, high expression of Nrf2 was confirmed as an independent poor prognostic factor in the group receiving adjuvant chemotherapy (P=0.041). Conclusion This study suggests that Nrf2 overexpression reduces the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy in distal cholangiocarcinoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ability of percutaneous ethanol ablation in the treatment of benign cysts of the liver and kidney, and to decide the need and the time of retreatment when the cysts remain on the follow-up ultrasonogram. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty benign cysts(8 hepatic and 12 renal cysts) in 18 patients diagnosed or confirmed either by ultrasound, CT or cytology were treated with percutaneous ethanol injection(PEI). After evacuation of cystic fluid, 15-900ml(amount corresponding to 40-50% of the volume of aspirated fluid) of absolute ethanol(99.9%) was injected into the cysts through the aspiration catheter. rln large cysts, two or more PEIs were done in one session. Follow-up ultrasonographic studies during the period of 12 months with 1-2 months interval after PEI were performed for evaluation of the therapeutic effect. RESULTS: Nine cysts(45%) disappeared completely within 2 months after initial PEI. Although 11 cysts(55.5%) recurred 2 months after initial PEI, 8 of them disappeared within 6 months and one within 8 months after inital PEI without additional PEI. As a result, 18 of 20 cysts(90%) disappeared within 8 months after initial PEI and most of the recurrent cysts disappeared within 6 months without additional PEI. No major complications were encountered concerning PEI, although transient abdominal pain, elevation of body temperature, and drowsiness were noted in 8 patients. CONCLUSION: PEI is an effective and safe modality for the treatment of benign hepatic or renal cysts and the apparent recurrence within 6 months after initial PEI might be mostly a transient, reactive or inflammatory fluid collection rather than real recurrence.
Abdominal Pain ; Ameloblastoma* ; Ameloblasts ; Body Temperature ; Catheters ; Dentigerous Cyst ; Ethanol* ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lung ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence ; Retreatment ; Retrospective Studies ; Sleep Stages ; Tooth, Unerupted ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVES: Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a serious and sometimes irreversible adverse effect that may develop during long-term antipsychotics treatment. Previous studies have suggested that brain serotonergic systems are related to TD vulnerability and tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) is the rate limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of serotonin. This study aimed to investigate the association between TPH2 gene -703G/T polymorphism (rs4570625) and antipsychotic-induced TD in the Korean schizophrenia patients. METHODS: We investigated whether TPH2 gene -703G/T polymorphism is associated with antipsychotic-induced TD in 280 Korean schizophrenia patients. The subjects with TD (n=105) and without TD (n=175) were matched for antipsychotic drug exposure and other relevant variables. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the distribution of genotypic (chi2=3.00, p=0.223) and allelic (chi2=0.19, p=0.661) frequencies between patients group with TD and without TD. There was no significant difference in total Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale score (F=1.95, p=0.362) among the genotype groups, either. CONCLUSIONS: The present study does not support that TPH2 gene -703G/T polymorphism is involved in TD of the Korean schizophrenia subjects.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Brain ; Dyskinesias ; Genotype ; Humans ; Movement Disorders ; Schizophrenia ; Serotonin ; Tryptophan ; Tryptophan Hydroxylase

OBJECTIVES: Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a serious and sometimes irreversible adverse effect that may develop during long-term antipsychotics treatment. Previous studies have suggested that brain serotonergic systems are related to TD vulnerability and tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) is the rate limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of serotonin. This study aimed to investigate the association between TPH2 gene -703G/T polymorphism (rs4570625) and antipsychotic-induced TD in the Korean schizophrenia patients. METHODS: We investigated whether TPH2 gene -703G/T polymorphism is associated with antipsychotic-induced TD in 280 Korean schizophrenia patients. The subjects with TD (n=105) and without TD (n=175) were matched for antipsychotic drug exposure and other relevant variables. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the distribution of genotypic (chi2=3.00, p=0.223) and allelic (chi2=0.19, p=0.661) frequencies between patients group with TD and without TD. There was no significant difference in total Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale score (F=1.95, p=0.362) among the genotype groups, either. CONCLUSIONS: The present study does not support that TPH2 gene -703G/T polymorphism is involved in TD of the Korean schizophrenia subjects.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Brain ; Dyskinesias ; Genotype ; Humans ; Movement Disorders ; Schizophrenia ; Serotonin ; Tryptophan ; Tryptophan Hydroxylase

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to assess the long-term results of laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) and validate its effectiveness as a primary treatment modality for CBD stone. METHODS: A retrospective review of the medical records of 157 patients who underwent LCBDE from 1997 to 2011 was conducted. All LCBDE were performed by choledochotomy. Clinical demographics, operative outcome, recurrence rate of CBD stones, and long-term bile duct complications were analyzed. The mean follow-up period was 51.9 months. RESULTS: LCBDE was completed in 152 patients (96.8%) and 5 patients (3.2%) had open conversion. The male/female ratio was 78/79 and mean age was 67.3 years. Stone clearance was successful in 149 of 152 patients (98.0%). Nonlethal complications were noted in 11 patients (7.2%), including bile leakage in 6 patients (3.9%). Recurrent CBD stones developed in 9 of 152 patients (5.9%). Preoperative endoscopic sphincterotomy (P = 0.492) and choledochotomy repair type (T-tube drainage vs. primary closure, P = 0.740) were not significantly related to stone recurrence. There were no signs of any type of biliary injury or stricture observed in any of the patients during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: LCBDE can be performed without increased risk of long-term complications such as bile duct stricture and recurrent CBD stones. LCBDE is a safe and effective treatment option for choledocholithiasis in terms of long-term outcome as well as short-term outcome.
Bile ; Bile Ducts ; Choledocholithiasis* ; Common Bile Duct* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Demography ; Drainage ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Medical Records ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the recurrence factors of choledocholithiasis after common bile duct (CBD) exploration. Methods: From January 2000 to December 2018, we retrospectively reviewed 253 patients who underwent CBD exploration surgery. We excluded 100 cases who had residual stone, combined major surgery, or follow-up loss after surgery. Total of 153 patients were included, and we investigated the recurrence factors of choledocholithiasis. Various variables such as patients’ demographics, gallstones, preoperative endoscopic treatment, and laboratory data were analyzed to find factors related to recurrent choledocholithiasis. Results: The median follow-up period was 20.6 months (range 4.7–219 months), and 27 patients (17.6%) had experienced recurrent choledocholithiasis. Univariate analysis showed that the following variables were associated with recurrence of choledocholithiasis; preoperative leukocytosis (white blood cell ≥ 11,000/µL), open procedure, T tube insertion, long hospital duration, and long operation time. Logistic regression multivariate analysis identified preoperative leukocytosis (odds ratio [OR], 3.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21–9.73; p = 0.021), open procedure (OR, 5.54; 95% CI, 4.73–6.35; p = 0.037), and T-tube insertion (OR, 2.82; 95% CI, 1.04–7.65; p = 0.042) as independent predictors of recurrent choledocholithiasis. Conclusion Because of delayed recurrence of choledocholithiasis, it is recommended to continue follow-up of patients after CBD exploration surgery. Laparoscopic surgery was observed to be associated with a reduction in recurrence. The preoperative leukocytosis and clinical conditions in which open surgery is performed could be associated with recurrence of choledocholithiasis. However, further study is necessary to validate the result.