Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a potent mitogen and angiogenic protein that may function as an autocrine growth regulator in a variety of malignancies. However, the prognostic value of bFGF expression in bladder cancer has not been adequately studied. We examined tumor tissues of 22 superficial and 25 invasive bladder cancers to define the prognostic value of bFGF expression. We performed immunohistochemical staining of bFGF in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded bladder tissue sections using rabbit polyclonal antibody. Microvessels were identified by immunohistochemistry using antibodies to endothelial marker, factor VIII-related antigen. The staining of bFGF were significantly correlated with grade and T stage (p<0.05). The elevated expression of bFGF in patients with invasive bladder cancer was significant correlated with recurrence and 2 year survival (p<0.05). However, no significantly correlation was observed between level of bFGF and vascular counts in frozen sections derived from bladder cancers. These results suggest that the bFGF expression has an important prognostic value in patients with bladder cancer. Immunohistochemical study for bFGF may become a valuable method to predict long-term survival and necessity for adjuvant therapy in patients with bladder cancer.
Antibodies ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2* ; Frozen Sections ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microvessels ; Recurrence ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder* ; von Willebrand Factor

The Health Interview Survey in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey is a major source for planning and evaluating the national health promotion policy. The aim of the study is to find the areas for improvement of the current Health Interview Survey in light of its stated purpose and to propose possible means for the improvement. In terms of the survey content, there were several areas that needed improvement: the lack of comparability across the waves, the limit of the number of questions due to the Nutrition Survey and the Examination Survey, non-availability of seasonal statistics, and the dearth of evidence on socioeconomic position variables. To make improvements in the survey content, there is a need to clarify the purpose of the HIS in the KNANES. Second, more items need to be developed to produce the indicators of the Health Plan 2010. Third, core questions and elective questions should be defined. Fourth, multi-level socioeconomic position indicators need to be developed. In terms of the survey methods, the difficulty of managing interviewers and the inefficiency of data input and processing were found to be the areas for improvement. Possible solutions include a survey through the year and the introduction of the CAPI system. In addition, we suggest that a two-year survey period to better synchronize with the local health interview surveys which should be the major data source for the community health promotion plan.
Information Storage and Retrieval ; Health Promotion ; Health Surveys ; Nutrition Surveys ; Seasons

We encountered a case of neonatal altoimmune thrombocytopenia(NAIT) due to anti-HLA-B7+B60+B61. Bilateral cephal hematoma and umbilical hematoma were noted at the time of birth. Purpura developed at the third day. Platelet count was 110,000 at birth and decreased to 66,000/micro liter at the day 4. Prothrombin time and partial prothrombin time were within normal limit. The mother's platelet count was 220,000/micro liter and she had no history of abnormal bleeding. Platelet antibody tests empolying mixed passive hemagglutination and immunofluorescence revealed that the mother's serum was reactive against the platelets from the father and the neonate, but was not reactive with her own platelets. Platelets from eight volunteer group 0 donors were tested with the mother's serum; seven were reactive and one was negative. The positive reactions were lost after chloroquine treatment of platelets. Antigen capture ELISA(ACE) and modified antigen capture ELISA employing monoclonal antibodies against platelet glycoproteins In, IIa, IIb, and IIIa were negative. Mother's serum was tested for lymphocytotoxicity against 49 donor ]ymphocytes and the specificity was found to be anti-HLA-B7+B60+B61. At the 9th day, one unit of platelet concentrate from the mother was transfused and the platelet count of the neonate rose up to 340,000/micro liter. The neonate was discharged at the day of sixteenth and the platelet count remained high thereafter.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Blood Platelets ; Chloroquine ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fathers ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Hemagglutination ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Mothers ; Parturition ; Platelet Count ; Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins ; Prothrombin Time ; Purpura ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thrombocytopenia* ; Tissue Donors ; Volunteers

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Attic cholesteatoma which develops from the papillary or retracted from progresses through various anatomic sites such as the mesotympanium, the mastoid process and the epitympanium. Although the most common site for attic cholesteatoma is the lateral attic space, it has also been found frequently in the medial attic space. We hoped to understand the pathogenesis of attic cholesteatoma through clinical analyses in order to contribute to the cholesteatoma treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We chose 60 attic cholesteatoma patients showing attic retraction or perforation. These cases of attic cholesteatomas were classified into either the lateral or the medial types depedning on the main site of occurence. They were further classified into anterior, posterior and inferior types according to the direction of cholesteatomatic progression. CONCLUSION: The accurate assessment and clear understanding of the pathogenesis of different forms of cholesteatoma enabled a successful operation and helped to minimize the operative field.
Cholesteatoma* ; Hope ; Humans ; Mastoid

A 64-year-old male patient presented with hand numbness and gait disturbance. He had undergone cervical artificial disc replacement (C-ADR) at another hospital nine years earlier. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a protruded disc at the surgical level compressing the spinal cord. The implant and protruded disc were removed. Fusion was then performed. This case report highlights the importance of long-term follow-up of patients who have undergone C-ADR, and the need to be aware of the potential for late complications.In addition, it is important to ensure as complete a disk removal as possible during C-ADR.

Primary prevention of atherosclerosis is important for reducing morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease. As modifiable risk factors for atherosclerosis which appears and progresses in early life, obesity and hyperlipidemia are related with each other. Especially hyperlipidemia during adolescent period is closely related to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in later life, but the association between anthropometric changes in growth period and lipids level in adolescence is not known yet. Therefore we investigated the effect of anthropometric changes in growth period on adolescent lipids level among 615 high school students in rural area of Korea. The study results were as the followings; In childhood, the weight and the height of boys didn't differ from those of girls, however, began to exceed them at 14 and 15 years old respectively. The body mass index(BMI) of both genders was appeared to increase with age. The BMI increase of girls was greater than that of boys from twelve years of age. The BMI slope (annual average increment of BMI; coefficient of regression line) of girls was greater than that of boys(t-test, p<0.01). The proportion of high obesity tracking group was 13.1%(82 persons). In multivariate analysis, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were positively correlated with obesity tracking in boys; BMI slope and BMI at 7 years old in girls. The HDL-cholesterol didn't show any significant association with those factors. The triglyceride was related to BMI slope and obesity tracking in boy, but nothing in girls. In this study, the obesity at 7 years old, the BMI slope, and the obesity tracking are associated with adolescent serum lipid level. For primary prevention of cardiovascular disease, it is needed to develop more active prevention or health promotion program for children and adolesecents in Korea.
Adolescent* ; Atherosclerosis ; Body Mass Index ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Child ; Cholesterol ; Female ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Korea* ; Male ; Mortality ; Multivariate Analysis ; Obesity ; Primary Prevention ; Risk Factors ; Triglycerides

This study aimed to estimate nationwide prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and to identify its association with cardiovascular diseases. The data on a national representative sample of 6,147 adults from 1998 Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey were analyzed. The syndrome was determined according to two kinds of modified definition from ATP III, in which abdominal obesity was determined by waist circumference (WC) standard for Asians and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). Based on the former, prevalence was 22.1% in men and 27.8% in women. However, based on the latter, prevalence was 28.6% and 27.8%, respectively. Although age-specific prevalence was higher in men than in women among the younger group, it became higher in women among the older group because of its steeper rise with age. In multiple logistic regression, the syndrome was found to be positively associated with cardiovascular diseases (adjusted odds ratios (ORs)1.97 by WC and 1.48 by WHR in men, and 1.54 and 1.31 in women). Moreover, its effect size exceeded that of total cholesterol (adjusted ORs 1.21 in men, and 1.08 in women) or LDL cholesterol (1.58 in men and 1.22 in women). It is obvious that the metabolic syndrome prevails in Korea, and its importance regarding cardiovascular diseases is considerable. Prevention strategies should be implemented immediately to avoid cardiovascular epidemic in the near future.
Adult ; Aged ; Body Constitution ; Cardiovascular Diseases/*epidemiology ; Female ; Human ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome X/*epidemiology ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

OBJECTIVES: To identify the psychosocial well-being status in a rural community, and examine the association between the psychosocial well-being status and adverse lipid profile. METHOD: In 2001, we surveyed 575 subjects in Yangpyoung, Kyounggido, including medical examination, fasting-blood sample and questionnaires for the psychosocial well-being status, socioeconomic position and behavioral risk factors. The logistic regression analysis was used to examine explanatory factors of the psychosocial well-being status, and association between the psychosocial well-being status and adverse lipid profiles. RESULT: The association between the psychosocial well-being status and adverse lipid profiles was not strong. The total cholesterol and triglyceridelevels were associated with psychosocial well-being. The adjusted odds ratio for moderate psychosocial well-being relating to total cholesterol was 1.90 (95%CI, 0.82-4.04), but that for triglyceride was 0.65 (95%CI, 0.36-1.21). The HDL-Cholesterol and LDL-Cholesterol level were not associated with the psychosocial well-being status. CONCLUSION: The total cholesterol and psychosocial well-being status were weakly associated, but the between the psychosocial well-being status and adverse lipid profiles were not consistent.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Logistic Models ; Methods ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors ; Rural Population ; Social Class ; Triglycerides

PURPOSE: Femorofemoral crossover bypass (FCB) is a good procedure for patients with unilateral iliac artery disease. There are many articles about the results of FCB, but most of them were limited to 5 years follow-up. The purpose of our study was to analysis the results of FCB with a 10-year follow-up period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1995 and December 2010, 133 patients were operated in Samsung Medical Center (median follow-up: 58.8 months). We retrospectively analysed patient characteristics, the preoperative treatment, the operative procedure, and material used. RESULTS: The indications for FCB were claudication in 110 and critical limb ischemia in 23 patients. Three patients were died due to myocardiac infarction, intracranial hemorrhage, and acute respiratory failure within 30 days after surgery. The one-year primary and secondary patency rates were 89% and 97%, the 5-year primary and secondary patency rates were 70% and 85%, and the 10-year primary and secondary patency rates were 31% and 67%. The 5-year and 10-year limb salvage rates were 97% and 95%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our long term analysis suggests that FCB might be a valuable alternative treatment modality in patients with unilateral iliac artery disease.
Extremities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Iliac Artery ; Infarction ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Ischemia ; Limb Salvage ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Transplants* ; Vascular Patency

OBJECTIVES: To estimate mumps incidence during the study period and to evaluate the completeness of case reporting. METHODS: Capture-recapture methods, originally developed for counting wildlife animals, were used. The data sources were 1) the National Notifiable Communicable Disease Reporting System (NNCDRS; 848 cases), 2) the School Health Reporting System, temporarily administered by the Division of Education (SHRS; 1,026 cases), and 3) a survey of students (785 cases). We estimated the number of unobserved mumps cases by matching the three data sources and fitting loglinear models to the data. We then determined the estimated total number of mumps cases by adding this to the number of observed cases. Completeness was defined as the proportion of observed cases from each source to the total of estimated cases. RESULTS: The total number of observed cases was 1,844 and the total number of estimated cases was 1,935 (95% CI: 1,878-2,070). The overall completeness was 43.8% of the NNCDRS, 53.0% of the SHRS, and 40.6% of the survey. However, completeness varied by area and age. CONCLUSION: Although the completeness of NNCDRS data appeared higher than in the past, it is difficult to generalize this result. In Korea, it is possible to estimate the size of health hazards relatively cheaply and quickly, by applying capture-recapture methods to various data using a multiple data collection system.
Animals ; Communicable Diseases ; Information Storage and Retrieval ; Education ; Humans ; Incidence ; Jeju-do* ; Korea ; Mumps* ; School Health Services