No abstract available.
T-Lymphocytes* ; Transplantation*

Major depressive disorder(MDD) is one of the most common diseases with serious health consequences such as increased morbidity, disability, and mortality. Electroconvulsive therapy(ECT) has been used as a treatment for mental disorder since the 1930s. A growing number of recent publications support the conclusions that ECT is an effective and safe treatment for depressed patients. Dosing strategies, frequency, safety, side effects and efficacy of ECT in MDD will be considered. ECT may be an alternative to treatment with antidepressants.
Antidepressive Agents ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Electroconvulsive Therapy ; Humans ; Mental Disorders

Depression has been causing huge direct and indirect losses to people's health because of its high prevalence, various clinical patterns, drug reaction and diverse courses different among individuals, but its treatment has not been systematic but dependent on individual clinicians'experience and knowledge. To correct this problem, it has been highly necessary to develop clinical guidelines defined as"systematically developed statements to assist practitioners'and patients'decisions about appropriate healthcare for specific clinical circumstances." Currently, countries throughout the world are making efforts to establish evidence-based guidelines among different levels of guidelines and to evaluate and test them. Although such efforts have been unsatisfactory in Korea because of several constraints including lack of high-quality RCT, the Korean Depression Clinical Practice Guideline has started to develop evidence-based guidelines, which are established through strictly designed processes. Thus, the present study purposed to review methods adopted in the development processes and to present the processes of developing the evidence-based guidelines clearly and transparently.
Delivery of Health Care ; Depression ; Korea ; Prevalence

BACKGROUND: The dopaminergic genes have been implicated with some personality traits. Many recent studies indicated that there is a correlation between D2 dopamine receptor gene(DRD2) polymorphisms and the personality traits. The purpose of this study is to investigate a possible association between DRD2 gene (TaqI A, TaqI B) polymorphism and personality traits. METHODS: The subjects were consisted of 173 blood-unrelated young female Koreans with a mean age(+/-SD) of 13.88(+/-0.29) years. These volunteers were recruited from one of the junior high schools in Seoul and were tested by the Korean version of the Temperament and Character Inventory(TCI). Genotyping of the DRD2 polymorphisms by PCR methods were carried out. Two DRD2 gene polymorphisms were classified and individually assessed as follows: TaqI A1+ vs A1-, TaqI B1+ vs B-. The associations between the TCI scores and TaqI A, TaqI B polymorphisms were assessed by Student's t-test. RESULTS: In the 173 subjects, the allele frequencies of the DRD2 TaqI A1, TaqI B1 alleles ranged from 0.42 to 0.43, and these results are quite different from the ranges of 0.15-0.20 in the case of a Caucasian population. The genotype frequencies of DRD2(TaqI A1, TaqI B1) variants showed no significant deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. RD4(dependence vs. independence) of Cloninger's TCI, a sub-dimension of Reward Dependence, was significantly higher in the subjects having DRD2 less frequent alleles than those without these alleles. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the female subjects carrying the less frequent DRD2 alleles exhibited higher reward-dependent personality trait compared to those without these alleles.
Alleles ; Dopamine* ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, Dopamine* ; Reward* ; Seoul ; Temperament ; Volunteers

The serotonin 6(5-HT6) receptor gene is a candidate gene for influencing the clinical response to treatment with antidepressants. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the C267T polymorphism in the 5-HT6 receptor gene and the treatment response to citalopram in a Korean population with major depressive disorder(MDD). METHODS: Citalopram was administered for 8 weeks to the 90 patients who completed study. 21-item Hamilton depression rating scale(HAMD-21) was used as a outcome measure. RESULTS: We found that the genotype, allele, and allele-carrier distributions did not differ significantly between MDD patients and normal controls. A main effect of an interaction of genotype with time on the decrease in the HAMD-21 score during the 8 weeks study period was not found. ANOVA revealed no significant effects of the C825T polymorphism on the decrease in the HAMD-21 score at each time period. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the C267T polymorphism in the 5-HT6 receptor gene is not associated with the treatment response to citalopram.
Alleles ; Antidepressive Agents ; Citalopram* ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder, Major* ; Genotype ; Humans ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Serotonin

Gliomas, the most common primary tumors of the human central nervous system, are usually malignant and virtually incurable. They can be classified according to their cellular differentiation:astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, and ependymoma. The majority of these brain tumors are astrocytomas, which typically progress through three histopathologically defined stages with the passage of time:one premalignant stage, low-grade astrocytoma, and two malignant stages, anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme. Recent studies on the molecular mechanisms of carcinogensis have demonstrated a possible role for two classes of genes in neoplastic transformation:tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes. Tumor suppressor genes are wild-type alleles of genes that are believed to function normally in the cell to suppress cellular proliferation. Inactivation of both copies of suppressor gene may contribute to neoplastic transformation by removing a normal constraint to cell growth. The well characterised suppressor genes are RB gene and p53 gene. Gliomas, like most other cancers, are associated with several genetic changes, including oncogenes and suppressor genes. In an attempt to further our knowledge of tumor suppressor genes contributing glioma development and progression, restriction fragment length polymorphism(RFLP) analysis was done to determine loss of heterozygosity(LOH) on chromosome 10. 13q(RBI), 17p, and 22q containing putative tumor suppressor genes in 36 cases of human gliomas with various malignancy grades. And to detect p53 gene mutations at exon 5, 6, and 7 in 23 cases of malignant gliomas, polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphisms(PCR-SSCP) analysis was performed. Loss of heterozygosity for loci on chromosome 10 were found in four of 5(60%) informative cases of glioblastoma multiforme and one of 2(50%) cases of anaplastic astrocytomas. Loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 17p was found in eight of 17(47%) informative cases of malignant gliomas, including 2 cases of anaplastic oligodendroglioma. There was no allelic loss of chromosome 10 and 17 in benign gliomas. Deletions on RBI locus were seen in six of 10(60%) informative cases of glioblastoma multiforme and two of 5(40%) informative cases of low-grade astrocytomas, suggesting that RBI gene may have a role associated with the early events in tumorigenesis. In PCR-SSCP analysis, six of 23(26%) cases of malignant gliomas, including one case of anaplastic oligodendroglioma, showed mobility shifts on exon 5 or 7 of p53 gene which suggest point mutations of this gene. There was no LOH at IGLC2 locus on chromosome 22. On the basis of the data presented here, it is possible to associate certain molecular abnormalities with gliomas of increasing grades of malignancy, deletion of RB gene, loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 17p, p53 gene mutation, and loss of allele on chromosome 10.
Alleles ; Astrocytoma ; Brain Neoplasms ; Brain* ; Carcinogenesis ; Cell Proliferation ; Central Nervous System ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 10* ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22 ; Ependymoma ; Exons ; Genes, p53* ; Genes, Retinoblastoma ; Genes, Suppressor ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Glioblastoma ; Glioma* ; Humans* ; Loss of Heterozygosity* ; Oligodendroglioma ; Oncogenes ; Point Mutation ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

Gliomas, the most common primary tumors of the human central nervous system, are usually malignant and virtually incurable. They can be classified according to their cellular differentiation:astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, and ependymoma. The majority of these brain tumors are astrocytomas, which typically progress through three histopathologically defined stages with the passage of time:one premalignant stage, low-grade astrocytoma, and two malignant stages, anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme. Recent studies on the molecular mechanisms of carcinogensis have demonstrated a possible role for two classes of genes in neoplastic transformation:tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes. Tumor suppressor genes are wild-type alleles of genes that are believed to function normally in the cell to suppress cellular proliferation. Inactivation of both copies of suppressor gene may contribute to neoplastic transformation by removing a normal constraint to cell growth. The well characterised suppressor genes are RB gene and p53 gene. Gliomas, like most other cancers, are associated with several genetic changes, including oncogenes and suppressor genes. In an attempt to further our knowledge of tumor suppressor genes contributing glioma development and progression, restriction fragment length polymorphism(RFLP) analysis was done to determine loss of heterozygosity(LOH) on chromosome 10. 13q(RBI), 17p, and 22q containing putative tumor suppressor genes in 36 cases of human gliomas with various malignancy grades. And to detect p53 gene mutations at exon 5, 6, and 7 in 23 cases of malignant gliomas, polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphisms(PCR-SSCP) analysis was performed. Loss of heterozygosity for loci on chromosome 10 were found in four of 5(60%) informative cases of glioblastoma multiforme and one of 2(50%) cases of anaplastic astrocytomas. Loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 17p was found in eight of 17(47%) informative cases of malignant gliomas, including 2 cases of anaplastic oligodendroglioma. There was no allelic loss of chromosome 10 and 17 in benign gliomas. Deletions on RBI locus were seen in six of 10(60%) informative cases of glioblastoma multiforme and two of 5(40%) informative cases of low-grade astrocytomas, suggesting that RBI gene may have a role associated with the early events in tumorigenesis. In PCR-SSCP analysis, six of 23(26%) cases of malignant gliomas, including one case of anaplastic oligodendroglioma, showed mobility shifts on exon 5 or 7 of p53 gene which suggest point mutations of this gene. There was no LOH at IGLC2 locus on chromosome 22. On the basis of the data presented here, it is possible to associate certain molecular abnormalities with gliomas of increasing grades of malignancy, deletion of RB gene, loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 17p, p53 gene mutation, and loss of allele on chromosome 10.
Alleles ; Astrocytoma ; Brain Neoplasms ; Brain* ; Carcinogenesis ; Cell Proliferation ; Central Nervous System ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 10* ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22 ; Ependymoma ; Exons ; Genes, p53* ; Genes, Retinoblastoma ; Genes, Suppressor ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Glioblastoma ; Glioma* ; Humans* ; Loss of Heterozygosity* ; Oligodendroglioma ; Oncogenes ; Point Mutation ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

BACKGROUND: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been reported to be useful in treating nonmelanoma skin cancers and a variety of benign skin conditions including warts. However, only one case of condyloma acuminata treated with PDT has been reported in Korea. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the complete response rate and side effect of PDT, using light emitting diode (LED) device and 20% 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) to treat recalcitrant verruca. METHODS: We treated 8 cases of recalcitrant verruca (3 cases of verruca vulgaris, 3 cases of verruca plana, 2 cases of condyloma acuminata) with PDT, using ALA and a 630+/-50nm LED device. The light intensity was 30-50mW/cm2 and the light dose was 50-120J/cm2. RESULTS: After treatment, two cases of verruca plana showed complete response, and one case of verruca plana, two cases of verruca vulgaris, and two cases of condyloma acuminata showed partial response. However, one case of verruca vulgaris showed no response. There was only burning sensation and/or wheals during treatments. CONCLUSION: Topical PDT may be an alternative therapy in the treatment of verruca, especially of verruca plana.
Burns ; Korea ; Photochemotherapy* ; Sensation ; Skin ; Skin Neoplasms ; Warts*

No abstract available.
Cell Line* ; Glioma*

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the indications, clinical features, cytogenetic results and complications of amniocentesis and to determine the efficacy of antenatal genetic amniocentesis. METHODS: We analyzed retrospectively maternal age, gestational age, indications, transplacental puncture, frequency, discoloration of amniotic fluid, karyotype and complications in 325 cases of prenatal genetic amniocentesis performed at Chungnam National University Hospital from January 2000 to December 2002. RESULTS: The most common age group was from 30 to 34 (31.4%) and mean age was 32.7 years old. 85.3% of cases were performed at 16th-20th gestational weeks. Abnormal maternal serum markers were the most common indication of amniocentesis (56.0%) and the second most common indication was maternal age over 35 (33.2%). Abnormal karyotypes were found in 12 cases (3.6%) and normal variants were 21 cases (6.5%). Numerical aberration were 9 cases (2.7%) and structural aberration were 3 cases (0.3%). Among the autosomal aberrations, Down syndromes were 5 cases and Edward syndrome was 1 case. Among the sex chromosomal aberrations, 47,XXX were 2 cases and Turner syndrome was 1 case. As the increasing maternal age, the incidence of abnormal karyotype was increased. Procedure-related complications occurred in 11.7% of cases and fetal loss rate was 7.4%. No significant associations were found between procedure-related complications and maternal age, gestational age, transplacental puncture, frequency, discoloration of amniotic fluid, and antibiotic treatment. CONCLUSION: Amniocentesis is useful for prenatal genetic diagnosis in pregnancies with increasing risk of chromosome aberrations, such as advanced maternal age, abnormal maternal serum markers or abnormal US findings. Further studies are necessary to identify risk factors of complications after invasive procedure.
Abnormal Karyotype ; Amniocentesis* ; Amniotic Fluid ; Biomarkers ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Cytogenetic Analysis* ; Cytogenetics* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Incidence ; Karyotype ; Maternal Age ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second* ; Punctures ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Turner Syndrome