BACKGROUND: The perceived risks of blood transfusions are important to be considered in creating a blood service policy. We surveyed the perception of blood transfusion risks among Korean laypeople. METHODS: A one-month nationwide telephone survey was conducted in September, 2007. The questionnaire was designed to assess the demographics of respondents, their responses to the term 'blood transfusion', and the perceived risks of a transfusion. A total of 500 interviews were completed. RESULTS: The words evoked by the term 'blood transfusion' included blood, donation, AIDS, help, and patients. About one third (33.6-35.8%) of the respondents gave a moderate to high rating for the perceived risks of blood transfusions. More than half (55.6%) of the respondents agreed that the blood supply in Korea is safe, and 81.6% of the respondents agreed to be transfused when transfusion is needed. The perceived risk of a blood transfusion was greater in women than in men and in people who never had a transfusion than those who had. More men than women agreed that the blood supply in Korea is safe, and the proportion of respondents who agreed to be transfused when needed was higher in men and in less educated people. The relative perceived transfusion risk (scale of 10) was 4.5+/-2.3. CONCLUSIONS: The Koreans in the survey had a tendency of positive thinking about blood transfusions, and previous transfusion experiences appear to decrease the fear about transfusions. These results will be useful in understanding how Koreans think about the risks associated with transfusions.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Blood Transfusion/*psychology ; Demography ; Female ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Perception ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors

PURPOSE: To evaluate outcome and morbidity in patients with vulvar cancer treated with radiotherapy, concurrent chemoradiotherapy or postoperative radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of 24 patients treated with radiotherapy for vulvar cancer between July 1993 and September 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients received once daily 1.8-4 Gy fractions external beam radiotherapy to median 51.2 Gy (range, 19.8 to 81.6 Gy) on pelvis and inguinal nodes. Seven patients were treated with primary concurrent chemoradiotherapy, one patient was treated with primary radiotherapy alone, four patients received palliative radiotherapy, and twelve patients were treated with postoperative radiotherapy. RESULTS: Twenty patients were eligible for response evaluation. Response rate was 55% (11/20). The 5-year disease free survival was 42.2% and 5-year overall survival was 46.2%, respectively. Fifty percent (12/24) experienced with acute skin complications of grade III or more during radiotherapy. Late complications were found in 8 patients. 50% (6/12) of patients treated with lymph node dissection experienced severe late complications. One patient died of sepsis from lymphedema. However, only 16.6% (2/12) of patients treated with primary radiotherapy developed late complications. CONCLUSION: Outcome of patients with vulvar cancer treated with radiotherapy showed relatively good local control and low recurrence. Severe late toxicities remained higher in patients treated with both node dissection and radiotherapy.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymphedema ; Pelvis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis ; Skin ; Treatment Outcome ; Vulvar Neoplasms

The purpose of this study was to investigate the nationwide prevalence of childhood asthma, eczema and other allergic diseases in Korean school-age children (8-11 yr old) and to assess the difference between residential areas. Among 6,279 elementary schools, 427 schools were randomly selected according to residential area (metropolitan, provincial, rural, and industrial area) by the cluster sampling method. Parents of students completed a modified Korean version of a questionnaire formulated by the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Among 50,200 subjects, 31,026 (61.8%) responded, and 30,893 (99.6%) were analyzed. The 12-month prevalence of wheeze, flexural rash, and allergic rhinitis symptoms were 4.8%, 15.3%, and 32.9%, respectively. The prevalence of diagnosis of allergic diseases in boys was higher than that in girls, with the exception of eczema. In both boys and girls, the difference of the prevalence of allergic diseases among industrial, metropolitan and provincial areas was not statistically significant, but the differences between rural area and other areas were significant. Our results support the importance of contextual effect associated with residential area as causative agents of allergic diseases among Korean school-age children.
Child ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Eczema/epidemiology ; Exanthema/epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity/*epidemiology ; Male ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Respiratory Sounds ; *Rural Population ; Schools ; Sex Distribution ; *Urban Population

Transient pancytopenia preceding acute lymphoblastic leukemia is an infrequent but well-known event, especially in childhood. We report a case of childhood acute leukemia preceded by transient pancytopenia and hepatitis. A seven-year-old boy presented with pancytopenia and hepatomegaly. He had suffered from fever, generalized rash, and jaundice for one week. His clinical symptoms and laboratory data normalized within two weeks. One and a half months later, however, he developed multiple lymphadenopathy and hepatomegaly, and follow-up bone marrow study revealed acute leukemia. The blasts were counted up to 92% of all nucleated cells in bone marrow, and showed lymphoid feature confirmed by the cytochemical reactions. Immunophenotypically, it was acute biphenotypic leukemia with positivity of CD13, CD33, CD19, CD10, CD34, HLA-DR, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase. In conclusion, this is the first report of childhood leukemia preceded by pancytopenia in Korea, characteristically with the biphenotypic feature and the rare association with hepatitis.
Bone Marrow ; DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase ; Exanthema ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis ; Hepatomegaly ; HLA-DR Antigens ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Korea ; Leukemia* ; Leukemia, Biphenotypic, Acute ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Male ; Pancytopenia* ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma

Cis-AB (A2B3) is a rare genotype resulting from the inheritance of both A and B genes on one chromosome. Among possible genotypes of cis-AB, in individuals with O/cis AB and A1/cis-AB, the B antigen is usually weakly expressed. Study on a blood sample from a 13-year-old Korean girl showed a discrepancy between red blood cell and serum typing. The blood type was identified as AweakB on the red cell test, while weak anti-B was detected in the serum. Cis-AB (A2B3) was suspected, however, known blood types of her father and mother were A and O, respectively. In the repeated test, the propositus was typed as group A2B3. Her mother was typed as normal group O. Her father was typed as group A1 in cell typing, but in his serum, anti-B was very weakly detected. In the saliva test and adsorption and elution studies of the father, B substance was not detected. Finally, ABO genotyping was performed and ABO genotypes of the patient, mother and father were cisAB/O, O/O and cisAB/A1, respectively. This was the first reported case of A1/cisAB with phenotype A1. ABO genotyping technique will resolve problems encountered in association with unusual phenotype expression of cis-AB trait.
Adolescent ; Adsorption ; Child* ; Erythrocytes ; Fathers* ; Female ; Genotype ; Genotyping Techniques ; Humans ; Mothers* ; Phenotype* ; Saliva ; Wills

BACKGROUND: Peritoneal fibrosis is one of the major causes of technical failure in patients on peritoneal dialysis. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of the peritoneum is an early and reversible mechanism of peritoneal fibrosis. Human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs) have their own renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), however, it has not been investigated whether aldosterone, an end-product of the RAAS, induces EMT in HPMCs, and which mechanisms are responsible for aldosterone-induced EMT. METHODS: EMT of HPMCs was evaluated by comparing the expression of epithelial cell marker, E-cadherin, and mesenchymal cell marker, alpha-smooth muscle actin after stimulation with aldosterone (1-100nM) or spironolactone. Activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were assessed by western blotting and 2',7'-dichlorofluororescein diacetate staining, respectively. The effects of MAPK inhibitors or antioxidants (N-acetyl cysteine, apocynin, and rotenone) on aldosterone-induced EMT were evaluated. RESULTS: Aldosterone induced EMT in cultured HPMCs, and spironolactone blocked aldosterone-induced EMT. Aldosterone induced activation of both ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK from 1 hour. Either PD98059, an inhibitor of ERK1/2, or SB20358, an inhibitor of p38 MAPK, attenuated aldosterone-induced EMT. Aldosterone induced ROS in HPMCs from 5 minutes, and antioxidant treatment ameliorated aldosterone-induced EMT. N-acetyl cysteine and apocynin alleviated activation of ERK and p38 MAPK. CONCLUSION: Aldosterone induced EMT in HPMCs by acting through the mineralocorticoid receptor. Aldosterone-induced generation of ROS followed by activation of ERK, and p38 MAPK served as one of the mechanisms of aldosterone-induced EMT of HPMCs.
Actins ; Aldosterone* ; Antioxidants ; Blotting, Western ; Cadherins ; Cysteine ; Epithelial Cells ; Humans ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Peritoneal Fibrosis ; Peritoneum ; Phosphotransferases ; Protein Kinases ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Receptors, Mineralocorticoid ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; Spironolactone

Combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy have contributed to the successful treatment of various cancer patients. But the development of second malignancies is an inevitable complication of long-term cytotoxic treatment. The most serious and frequent of such complications is acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Therapy-related leukemia is generally fatal. Since the number of patients exposed to chemotherapy is increasing each year, the clinical significance of this entity cannot be underestimated. There have been many investigations of therapy-related leukemia, but in Korea published reports are rare. We describe four such cases, involving one older female with lung cancer and three children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and malignant lymphoma. Alkylating agents were used for chemotherapy, and in one case, topoisomerase II inhibitor. Irrespective of the causative agents, the latency periods were relatively short, and despite induction chemotherapy in two, all survived for only a few months. During the follow-up of patients treated for primary malignancies, the possibility of therapy-related leukemia should always be borne in mind.
Adolescence ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating/therapeutic use* ; Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating/adverse effects ; Carcinoma, Small Cell/radiotherapy ; Carcinoma, Small Cell/drug therapy ; Case Report ; Child ; DNA Topoisomerase (ATP-Hydrolysing)/antagonists & inhibitors ; Fatal Outcome ; Female ; Human ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Acute, L1/drug therapy ; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute/etiology ; Leukemia, Myelocytic, Acute/etiology* ; Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Acute/etiology* ; Lung Neoplasms/radiotherapy ; Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy ; Lymphoma, B-Cell/radiotherapy ; Lymphoma, B-Cell/drug therapy ; Male ; Neoplasms, Second Primary/etiology*

BACKGROUND: To assess the association between ambient particulate matter and cardiovascular death in seven cities in the Republic of Korea during the period of 2002-2008. METHODS: A time-stratified case-crossover design was used to examine association between particulate matter and deaths from cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease; hypertensive disease 12,821, ischemic heart disease 39,577, cardiac arrhythmia 1,627, cerebrovascular disease 88,047. Mortality data was obtained from National Statistical Office, and hourly mean concentrations of particulate matter < or = 10 microm in aerodynamic diameter and meteorological data were obtained from the Ministry of Environment. The percent increase in the risk of death associated with an interquartile range increase in particulate matter was determined by conditional logistic regression analysis after adjusting for national holidays and meteorological factors. RESULTS: The largest association was a 0.8% increase (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.1-1.6) in death risk related to an interquartile range increase in particulate matter < or = 10 microm (average of 0 to 2 days prior to the day of death). Classified as the cause of death, the association was a 1.2% increase (95% CI, 0.2-2.2) in death from cerebrovascular disease related to an interquartile range increase in particulate matter < or = 10 microm. But others were statistically not significant. After stratification of death cases by year of death, statistically significant associations were a 2.3% increase (95% CI, 0.1-4.4) in death risk from ischemic heart disease in 2002-2004 and 2.0% increase in death from cerebrovascular disease (95% CI, 0.3-3.8) in 2006-2008. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that ambient air pollution increases the risk of deaths from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease in the Republic of Korea.
Air Pollution ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cause of Death ; Cerebrovascular Disorders ; Cross-Over Studies ; Holidays ; Logistic Models ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Particulate Matter ; Republic of Korea

Bacterial infection after implantation of bone tissue engineering scaffolds is still a serious clinical problem. Ag-nano-hydroxyapatite/polyamide66 (Ag-nHA/PA66) antibacterial composite scaffold were prepared with phase-inversion method in this study. The scaffolds were mineralized in saturated calcium phosphate solution at 37 degrees C for 1 day. The microstructure and the newly formed nano-apatite deposition on the scaffolds before and after mineralization were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In order to investigate the release behaviors of Ag+, the Ag-nHA/PA66 scaffolds were immersed into 5 ml PBS at 37 degrees C for a different period between 3 h and 168 h before and after mineralization. Then the samples were cultured with E. coli (8099) to test the antibacterial effect of the scaffolds. The results showed that, after mineralization, Ag-nHA/PA66 porous scaffolds still possessed a good inter-connection and a new apatite layer was formed on the surface of the scaffolds. The average macropore size was 626.61 +/- 141.94 microm, the porosity was 76.89 +/- 8.21% and the compressive strength was 2.94 +/- 1.12 MPa. All these physical parameters had no significant difference from those of the un-mineralized scaffolds. The Ag+ release of the scaffolds with and without mineralization was fast within 1 day and then kept slow and stable after 1 day. The antibacterial test confirmed that after mineralization the scaffolds had good antibacterial effects on E. coli.
Biocompatible Materials ; Bone Substitutes ; chemistry ; Durapatite ; chemistry ; Nanocomposites ; chemistry ; Nylons ; chemistry ; Porosity ; Silver ; chemistry ; Surface Properties ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds ; chemistry

OBJECTIVES: To assess the availability of the glycophorin A (GPA) assay to detect the biological effect of ionizing radiation in workers exposed to low-doses of radiation. METHODS: Information on confounding factors, such as age and cigarette smoking was obtained on 144 nuclear power plant workers and 32 hospital workers, by a self-administered questionnaire. Information on physical exposure levels was obtained from the registries of radiation exposure monitoring and control at each facility. The GPA mutant assay was performed using the BR6 method with modification by using a FACScan flow cytometer. RESULTS: As confounders, age and cigarette smoking habits showed increasing trends with GPA variants, but these were of no statistical significance. Hospital workers showed a higher frequency of the GPA variant than nuclear power plant workers in terms of the NO variant. Significant dose-response relationships were obtained from in simple and multiple linear regression models. The slope of the regression equation for nuclear power plant workers was much smaller than that of hospital workers. These findings suggest that there may be apparent dose-rate effects. CONCLUSION: In population exposed to chronic low-dose radiation, the GPA assay has a potential to be used as an effective biologic marker for assessing the bone marrow cumulative exposure dose.
Biomarkers* ; Bone Marrow ; Glycophorin* ; Linear Models ; Nuclear Power Plants ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Radiation, Ionizing ; Registries ; Smoking