PURPOSE: Cells of mammary gland as well as breast cancer uptake iodide through sodium/iodide symporter (NIS). The pathophysiologic importance of NIS is not evaluated well. The purpose of this study is to find relationships between the expression of NIS and other findings of breast cancer including ER, PR, C-erbB2, topoisomerase IIa, p53, and histologic grade of breast cancer. METHODS: Fresh frozen specimens from 21 female breast cancer patients (mean age 50 13 years) with breast cancer were examined by RT-PCR for NIS mRNA. Immunohistochemical staining for ER, PR, C-erb B2, topoisomerase IIa and p53. Staging and degree of differentiation of cancer cells were also performed to evaluate the biological behavior of breast cancer. RESULTS: NIS mRNA was expressed in 90% of the evaluated breast cancer tissues. The mean semiquantitative value of NIS mRNA in PR positive group was 2.02+/-0.35, which was higher than that of PR negative group (1.11+/-0.18; P=0.001). ER positive group showed higher value of NIS mRNA (2.02+/-0.35) than ER negative group (1.19+/-0.63; P=0.002). In addition, NIS mRNA values was significantly different according to differentiation of cancer cells (well differentiated type, 2.20+/-0.37 vs. less differentiated type, 1.39+/-0.63, P=0.01). However, there was no significant association between NIS mRNA levels and the other biologic characteriscs such as C-erb B2, topoisomerase IIa, and p53. CONCLUSION: The results showed that the expression of NIS in breast cancer may be associated with the presence of PR and ER as well as the degree of differentiation of breast cancer cells.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Female ; Humans ; Ion Transport* ; Mammary Glands, Human ; RNA, Messenger*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the merits of this technique and to provide a standard for comparison with futuretreatment alternatives. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 52 patients withdirect CCF treated at the Yonsei Medical Center between 1983 and 1997 by transarterial or transvenous embolizationusing detachable balloon(s) and/or coils. RESULTS: Among the 52 cases, 51 were traumatic in origin, while onlyone was the result of a ruptured aneurysm. The three most common presentations were chemosis, bruit, andpulsatile proptosis. Forty-five patients were successfully treated with detachable balloon(s) and/or coils andinternal carotid blood flow was preserved in 35. When coils were used (1993-7), the ICA preservation rate washigher than when they were not used (1983-92). To confirm statistical significance, however, more studies areneeded. Four patients who initially presented with incomplete occlusion showed spontaneous occlusion on follow upangiography. In two patients, surgical ligation was performed because embolization failed and there was incompleteocclusion of the fistula. We experienced complications such as transient 3rd and 6th cranial nerve palsy,migration of deflated balloons and coils to the lung, and loss of vision. CONCLUSION: Transarterial andtransvenous embolization with detachable balloon(s) and/or coils provides a high rate of fistula obliteration withlow morbidity. In particular, the use of coils led to an increased rate of ICA preservation, thus and isconsidered as a good treatment modality for CCF obliteration.
Aneurysm, Ruptured ; Cranial Nerves ; Exophthalmos ; Fistula* ; Humans ; Ligation ; Lung ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVES: Quality of life (QoL) was a important factor of treatment outcome in alcoholics. This study was to examine the relationship between family support and quality of life among alcoholics, to explore the moderating effect of abstinence self-efficacy on those relationship and to suggest practical implications for intervention services. METHODS: Data for this study were collected through the use of a survey instrument completed by 771 alcohol dependent admitted to inpatient treatment from 20 psychiatric hospital. Subjects were screened using the Family support, Drug Taking Confidence Questionnaire-8, World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument. Collected data were analysed by moderated multiple regression and simple slope analysis. RESULTS: Family support was directly associated with QoL. Also the abstinence self-efficacy had moderating effects on relationship between family support and QoL. Simple slope analysis showed that the effects of family support on QoL were significant at low and high levels of abstinence self-efficacy and especially the effects of family support on QoL were more higher at the high levels of abstinence self-efficacy. CONCLUSION: This findings suggest that abstinence self-efficacy is an important factor to QoL among alcohol dependents. Increasing self-efficacy, family support will be improve the QoL and recovering process. Based on these findings suggest practical intervention.
Alcoholics ; Alcoholism ; Hospitals, Psychiatric ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Quality of Life ; Treatment Outcome ; World Health Organization

We found a case of Ael for the first time in Korea. The patient was 28-year-old woman admitted for the delivery of her first baby. Patient's red cells were typed as O, while the serum typing was A. The red cells were agglutinated by anti-H, but not agglutinated by anti-A1 or anti-AB. Adsorption of anti-A by patient's RBC was confirmed on the adsorption-elution test. In the saliva, only H substance was demonstable. A substance was not demonstrated either in the serum or in the saliva. A transferase was not demonstrated in patient's serum. One of the patient's sister and her daughter, and the patient's son also had same Ael phenotype.
Adsorption ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Nuclear Family ; Phenotype ; Saliva ; Siblings ; Transferases

Background/Aims: New direct-acting antivirals have shown surprising success in the treatment of hepatitis C, not only in the general population, but also in difficult-to-treat cohorts. However, there is still limited data regarding direct-acting antivirals, including sofosbuvir (SOF), in the context of hemodialysis. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and outcome of administering full-dose SOF (400 mg/day) plus low-dose ribavirin (RBV, 100 to 200 mg/day) in hemodialysis patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2 (GT2) infection. Methods: Patients with chronic HCV GT2 infection and end-stage renal disease on maintenance hemodialysis treated with full-dose SOF plus low-dose RBV were retrospectively identified from a database of patients with HCV GT2 who were treated in Konkuk University Chungju Hospital between February 2017 and February 2018. Medical records were reviewed for demographics, medical history, laboratory data, and radiologic and electrocardiographic findings. Results: All nine patients completed a full course of 12 weeks of treatment with a full-dose SOF plus low-dose RBV regimen. Two had compensated cirrhosis. Seven patients were treatment-naïve, and two had a relapse following previous interferon-based therapy. All patients had a sustained viral response at 12 weeks post-treatment. There was no discontinuation of treatment because of side effects. Conclusions In hemodialysis patients with HCV GT2 infection, the full-dose SOF plus low-dose RBV regimen appears to be safe and well tolerated, and yields high rates of sustained virologic response.

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical and imaging findings of hepatocellular carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation, which is an extremely rare variant of hepatocellular carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected five patients who had histopathologically proven hepatocellular carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation, and described morphologic feature, enhancement pattern of tumors, extrahepatic manifestation and clinical findings. RESULTS: At CT, the tumor size ranged from 8 to 17 cm (mean : 12 cm) in maximum diameter. The tumor margin was well-defined and smooth in four patients and all tumors were heterogeneously hypoattenuating. Four tumor showed rim enhancement on arterial and portal phases. Local invasion to the portal vein, intrahepatic duct and gallbladder were seen. Extrahepatic manifestations included hepatic metastases, lymph node metastasis. At ultrasonography, the tumor showed heterogeneously hyperechoic in all patients and hypoechoic rim was found in four patients. Of four patients who were followed up, one survived for 16 months after initial diagnosis, while the other three died within 3 months after initial diagnosis. CONCLUSION: As described above, clinical and imaging findings of hepatocellular carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation were not specific. However, this rare variant of hepatocellular carcinoma could be considered when hepatic tumor is found in an advanced stage and shows persistent rim enhancement at CT.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine ; Gallbladder ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Portal Vein

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate what factors are affecting job-seeking stress in nursing students. METHODS: Subjects were 463 students from two 3-year and two 4-year colleges of nursing in K-Province in Korea. Data was collected from self-administered questionnaires. t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's and Spearman's correlation coefficients, and hierarchical multiple regression with dummy variables were used for statistical analysis of data. RESULTS: Job-seeking stress was significantly different by school system (t=2.76, p=.006), family economic status (F=3.40, p=.005), characteristics (t=1.99, p=.047), academic achievement (F=6.54, p=.002), current weight control status (t=2.23, p=.026), times of cosmetic surgery (r=.11, p=.022), self-esteem (r=-.47, p<.001) and appearance stress (r=.40, p<.001). However, after controlling for general characteristics, self-esteem, and perceived appearance stress, job-seeking stress was significantly different by grade (1st vs 3rd, beta=0.163, p<.001), academic achievement (low vs. high, beta=-0.121, p=.0321), self-esteem (beta=-0.224, p<.001), and appearance stress (beta=0.099, p<.001). The explanation power of self-esteem on job-seeking stress was greater compared with that of appearance stress. CONCLUSION: Results of this study suggest that it is necessary for nursing students to develop intervention program aimed at reducing job-seeking stress, and it would be effective to focus on improving self-esteem for them.
Humans ; Korea ; Nursing ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Students, Nursing* ; Surgery, Plastic

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although it is well known that mitral valve repair provides a better postoperative outcome than valve replacement for mitral valve prolapse with mitral regurgitation, there haven't been much studied the nature of remnant regurgitation and the change of heart function and structure by remnant regurgitation after mitral valve repair surgery. We tried to research for it. METHODS AND RESULTS: Retrospective analysis of echocardiographic data and medical records was done in patients who underwent repair surgery for mitral valve prolapse with significant mitral regurgitation at the Keimyung University Dong-san Medical Center from February 1996 to February 2000. Patients who underwent echocardiography before and after the surgery were selected for the analysis. Of patients who underwent mitral valve repair surgery for mitral valve prolapse with mitral regurgitation during that period, 30 patients (male 15, female 15) were included in this study. The average age of them was 44.30+/-14.30 year old. After surgery, heart chamber size was decreased significantly in all patients (e. g. LVDd 6.25+/-1.06 cm vs. 5.14+/-0.62 cm, LV mass 272.46+/-107.36 gm vs. 197.30+/-75.16 gm). Remnant mitral regurgitation after repair surgery was found in 22 patients (73.3%). Remnant mitral regurgitation above trivial flow was found in 10 patients. Such case as involving ant. leaflet was found in 5 patients (16.7%), as involving post. leaflet, in 2 patients (6.7%), as involving both leaflet, in 3 patients (10%) among 10 ones. Eccentric flow among remnant regurgitation, was observed in 2 patients who underwent repair surgery for ant. leaflet, 1 patient who underwent repair surgery for both leaflet. CONCLUSION: Mitral valve repair surgery reduce the left ventricular chamber size and left ventricular mass. Postoperatively, patients who involve ant. leaflet were much remnant regurgitation above trivial flow more than others.
Ants ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency* ; Mitral Valve Prolapse* ; Mitral Valve* ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Surgery

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Parathyroid gland tumor is a relatively rare disease in Korea. The purpose of our study is to assess the clinical features, diagnostic tools and therapeutic results. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Seven patients with parathyroid gland tumor were analyzed retrospectively. They were diagnosed and received surgical therapy in our hospital from 1995 to 1999. The patients were all female with mean age of 45.3 years (in the range of 21-64 years old). We used ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, parathyroid scan and 18F-FDG positron emission tomograph (PET) to identify the location of parathyroid gland neoplasm. RESULTS: All patients received proper surgical management. Three patients were diagnosed as parathyroid carcinoma, three as parathyroid adenoma and one patient as cavernous hemangioma. Two patients were found as recurrent tumor, Parathyroid carcinoma recurred in one patient, and parathyroid hyperplasia occurred in patient who was previously diagnosed as parathyroid adenoma. CONCLUSION: The results would he a useful guideline for better diagnostic strategies, proper surgical management and follow-up study for recurrence in the parathyroid gland tumor.
Electrons ; Female ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemangioma, Cavernous ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Korea ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Parathyroid Glands* ; Parathyroid Neoplasms ; Rare Diseases ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography

The principal aim of this study was to determine the effects of antipsychotics (haloperidol, sulpiride, and clozapine) on regulating dopamine (DA) D1 and D2 receptor mRNA levels in the rat caudate putamen (CPu), nucleus accumbens (NAc), and olfactory tubercle (OTu). Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats (250 g) were treated with haloperidol (1mg/mL), sulpiride (40 mg/mL), clozapine (20 mg/mL), and the control group received only water. Drugs were administered orally for 4 weeks. Antipsychotic drugs had differential effects on DA D1 and D2 receptor gene expression. Haloperidol and sulpiride induced an increase of DA D1 and D2 receptor mRNA levels in the rat CPu, OTu, and NAc; haloperidol caused a greater increase than sulpiride. However, clozapine treatment had less effect on DA receptor mRNAs levels in the same area. Antipsychotic drugs differentially upregulated the expression of DA D1 and D2 receptor mRNAs in the rat brain. These changes may be related, at least in part, to changes of DA concentration following antipsychotics treatment.
Animals ; Antipsychotic Agents* ; Brain* ; Clozapine ; Dopamine* ; Gene Expression ; Haloperidol ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Male ; Nucleus Accumbens ; Olfactory Pathways ; Putamen ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Dopamine ; RNA, Messenger* ; Sulpiride ; Water