Helicobacter pylori, loss of basement membrane, atrophy, type III intestinal metaplasia, adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene mutations and altered p53 function were believed as a factor to develop the gastric adenocarcinomas. To investigate the incidence and prevalence of Helicobacter pylori, intestinal metaplasia and atrophy, 120 gastrectomy specimens collected from patients with gastric adenocarcinoma (100 cases) and non-neoplastic conditions (20 cases) were studied. Intestinal metaplasia can be classified as type I (complete), type II (incomplete, sulfomucin-negative) and type III (incomplete, sulfomucin-positive) by Filipe and Jass. The incidence of intestinal metaplasia of gastric adenocarcinoma was 96% compared with the incidence of 75% in non-neoplastic conditions. The type I and type II were more common than type III and were present in both non-neoplastic conditions (75%) and adenocarcinoma (74%). In contrast, type III intestinal metaplasia was seen in only 20% of intestinal metaplasia-positive cases, all of which (22 of 22) were from patients with adenocarcinoma. The high specificity of type III intestinal metaplasia might be acceptable for screening purposes, but its sensitivity of 22% for gastric adenocarcinoma is low. Helicobacter pylori were detected in 96% of adenocarcinoma cases and 100% of non-neoplastic cases. Atrophy was detected in 50% of non-neoplastic cases and in 57% of adenocarcinoma cases. The data thus confirms a significant relation between incomplete sulfomucin-secreting intestinal metaplasia (type III) and gastric carcinoma, especially intestinal type (p<0.01). Thus, the type III intestinal metaplasia should be considered a risk factor and its presence in a biopsy specimen should prompt close surveillance.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenomatous Polyposis Coli ; Atrophy ; Basement Membrane ; Biopsy ; Gastrectomy ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mass Screening ; Metaplasia* ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: Leptin is the product of the of gene secreted by adipocyte. The serum leptin concentration reflects the amount of adipose tissue in the body. We investigated whether leptin concentration was detectable in cord blood of newboms and assessed the effect of gestational age, birth weight, birth length, placental weight, body mass index and ponderal index on cord blood leptin concentration in full-term and preterm newboms. METHODS: Eighty-two newboms were enrolled in this study. Standard growth curves were used to categorize infants as appropriate (AGA), large (LGA), or small for gestational age (SGA). Gestational age, birth weight, length and placental weight were measured. Maternal age, weight and height were measured. Cord blood and maternal venous samples were collected and serum was separated and stored at -70C. Leptin was measured by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: The mean leptin concentration in full term babies was 8.9+/-9.6 ng/ml compared with 3.5+/-0.6 ng/ml in preterm babies. Leptin concentrations in cord blood of full term babies were significantly increased in cornparison with those in cord blood of preterm babies. Mean serum leptin concentration of SGA infants was significantly lower than in AGA infants and that of LGA was higher than in AGA infants. In full-term and preterm neonates, there was significant positive correlation of leptin concentrations with birth weight, gestational age, birth length, BMI, ponderal index and placental weight. No gender differences were found in cord blood leptin. Maternal age, maternal body mass index, matemal weight at baseline (before pregnancy) and at birth were not significantly correlated with leptin concentration of full-term and preterm neonates. There was no significant correlation between leptin concentration of cord blood and matemal leptin concentration. CONCLUSION: The serum leptin concentration is highly correlated to the size of adipose tissue mass of newborn infant. Leptin may be responsible for regulation of body mass of human neonates and can be used as marker of the nutritional status and growth of fetal and neonatal period.
Adipocytes ; Adipose Tissue ; Birth Weight ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Fetal Blood* ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Leptin* ; Maternal Age ; Nutritional Status ; Parturition ; Radioimmunoassay

BACKGROUND: Congenital hypotrichosis is a non-specific, descriptive term for structural abnormalities of hairs showing variable clinical features. We recently have encountered a group of eleven patients exhibiting abnormal hairs showing similar patterns. OBJECTIVES: Our purpose was to clarify the entity of this structural hair disorder. METHODS: Dermatologic examination with routine histopathology, trichograms along with scanning electron-microscopic examination and laboratory studies were undertaken. RESULTS: All cases except one were female, and hair abnormalities had developed at birth or within a year. Diffuse distribution of thin, sparse, soft and hypopigmented hairs were noticed. On hair mounts, four patients showed tapering of roots. The majority of the patients exhibited cuticular changes, as well as pitting and longitudinal axial twisting by scanning electron-microscopic examination; one case demonstrated trichorrhexis nodosa, and another, trans-verse fracture. CONCLUSION: Although our cases bear some similar points with woolly hair, some differences were noted between this type of congenital hypotrichosis and other previously described syndromes.
Female ; Hair ; Humans ; Hypotrichosis* ; Parturition

BACKGROUND: The classical in vitro method for researching the fibroblast metabolism is a mono layer culture system. But there are a lot of facts that artificial influence of monolayer culture situations do not resemble the in vivo conditions. Recently three-dimensional culture method of fibroblast in collagen gel was developed and in this system fibroblasts seem to behave like in vivo situations. OBJECTIVE: So we examined the effects of ascorbic acid. TGF-beta, and IFN-gamma on fibroblast in collagen gel culture system and then compared these effects with those in monolayer culture system. We also studied the regulatory mechanism of collagen gene by ascorbic acid, TFG-beta, and IFN-gamma by Northern blot analysis in monolayer culture system. METHODS: Using fibroblasts of the neonatal foreskin, we measured the collagen synthesis after treatment of ascorbic acid, TGF-b, and IFN-r in three-dimensional culture and monolayer culture system. We aslo checked the change of mRNA of collagen after treatment in monolayer culture. RESULTS: The relative levels of collagenase-digestible protein synthesis in the three-dimensional culture seemed to be lower than those in the monolayer system. However, difference of fold in crease was not statistically significant. The expression of collagen mRNA was increased after treatment of TGF-beta and decreased after IFN-gamma treatment. CONCLUSION: From these results, fibroblasts in the three-dimensional culture system might resemble the in vivo conditions The molecular level of regulation of collagen synthesis by TGF-beta. and IFN-gamma was thought to be transcriptional. The three-dimensional culture system could be a good model of culture system of fibroblast in studying of aging process or the role of cytokine in wound healing.
Aging ; Ascorbic Acid* ; Blotting, Northern ; Collagen* ; Fibroblasts* ; Foreskin ; Humans* ; Metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Wound Healing

BACKGROUND: With the rapid growth of the elderly population, osteoporosis has become a major health problem worldwide. Although health knowledge and self-efficacy are important assets to facilitate healthy behaviors and disease prevention, such information as it relates to individuals and their bone health is limited. The purpose of this study was to assess the levels of knowledge, self-efficacy, and health behaviors on promoting bone health in middle-aged Korean women. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional survey study. A convenience sampling of middle-aged women (> or =40 years) was done at a community health center in Korea. Bone mineral density was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry with the DEXXUM T. The level of knowledge was measured with the Knowledge of Osteoporosis Scale, and self-efficacy with the Osteoporosis Self-efficacy Scale. A questionnaire for bone health behaviors was developed for this study. Collected data were analyzed through descriptive methods, independent t-test, analysis of variance, and Pearson's correlation analysis. RESULTS: A total of 150 middle-aged women whose mean age was 59.8+/-11.5 years participated in the study. Most (74%) were menopausal. Less than one-quarter of participants (22.7%) had osteoporosis and less than half (42%) had osteopenia based on the T-score at the left femur neck site. Level of knowledge (mean score, 10.35) and self-efficacy (mean score, 47.67) ranged from low to moderate. Intake of calcium and vitamin D-rich foods was insufficient in our subjects. Bone health behaviors had significant positive relationships with knowledge (r=0.22, P=0.008) and self-efficacy (r=0.29, P<0.001) on promoting bone health. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that educational interventions are needed to enhance knowledge and confidence and to encourage middle-aged women to engage in bone health behaviors.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Aged ; Bone Density ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Calcium ; Community Health Centers ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Femur Neck ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis ; Self Efficacy ; Vitamins

The increased potential for the lifespan of a child with cancer is largely due to advance in drug treatment, radiation treatment, and surgical techniques. In this generation cancer has become associated with chronic illness. Therefore supportive nursing intervention for children with cancer is needed to promote normal growth and development. This study was designed to develop and test the supportive nursing intervention program for promoting body image and self-esteem of children with cancer. The supportive nursing intervention program involved emotional, physical, informational, and social support. The subjects were 41 children with cancer(20 in intervention group, 21 in control group) in K city. Measurements were taken concerning body image and self-esteem from both groups during pre and post test. The data were analyzed using Cronvach's alpha, x2-test, paired t-test and t-test. The results were as follows: The intervention group had a more positive body image as measured by the Body Cathexis Scale(t=2.436, p=.020) and a more self esteem as measured by the Cpopersmith self-inventory (t=2.768, p=.009) than the control group at post test. According to this study, the supportive nursing intervention program was effective for promoting the body image and self-esteem of children with cancer. Repeated research is needed to develop a refined supportive nursing intervention program for children with chronic illness.
Body Image* ; Cathexis ; Child* ; Chronic Disease ; Growth and Development ; Humans ; Nursing* ; Self Concept*

Most of the malignant tumors of the pancreas are adenocarcinomas arising from the ductal epithelium. Primary leiomyosarcoma of the pancreas, even though it is the most common sarcoma of the pancreas, is very rare. We present a case of leiomyosarcoma of the pancreas, probably primary, with metastases to the stomach, lymph nodes, and abdominal wall. A 52-year-old woman visited the hospital with vague right upper abdominal pain and weigh loss of 6 kg for 2 months. The radiological and endoscopic examination revealed that she had a large heterogeneous mass, 11 cm in size, in the pancreatic body and tail, a 4 cm-sized mass in the paraaortic area, and a 3 cm-sized polypoid mass in the stomach. Histologically, they were all similar to one another and composed of markedly pleomorphic cells. Immunohistochemical and electron microscopic studies showed definite smooth muscle differentiation of the tumor cells. Two months later, the patient underwent an excision of a new 3 cm mass in the right lower abdominal wall, showing features of well differentiated leiomyosarcoma.
Abdominal Pain ; Abdominal Wall ; Adenocarcinoma ; Epithelium ; Female ; Humans ; Leiomyosarcoma* ; Lymph Nodes ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Smooth ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pancreas* ; Sarcoma ; Stomach

Explosive burns following inhalation of butane gas rarely occurred in the past, but recently it has brought about a social problem among groups of teenagers. This constitutes 1.6% of admissions due to flame burn in the burn unit of Hallym Medical Center. A retrospective review during a five-year period identified 48 patients. The male to female ratio was 3:1. The mean age was 16 years and 8 months. The place of accidents were commonly bedrooms or motel rooms. There were nine group settings of 27 patients at the time of the accident. The pneumothorax(n=3) and respiratory difficulty(n=12) were noted on admission. The average burn area was 28.5% of the total body surface area. All patients sustained burn injury on the face, arms and hands, and 24 patients among them had extended burn areas on the trunk and/or lower extremity. Twenty-two patients(mean hospital stay; 51.6%) required skin grafting, and 12 patients (mean hospital stay; 22.3 days) were treated with conservative management. The mortality rate was 10.4 percent. Explosive burns following inhalation of butane gas can result in mortality as well as major burn injuries.
Adolescent ; Arm ; Body Surface Area ; Burn Units ; Burns* ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Inhalation* ; Length of Stay ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Mortality ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin Transplantation ; Social Problems

BACKGROUND: Chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus(CCLE) is a well-known disease entity. But there has been no data about its clinical behavior and histopathologic features in Korea. OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to elucidate the clinical, laboratory, and histopathologic features of CCLE, and the relationship between CCLE and SLE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated 48 cases of CCLE that visited the department of dermatology at the Seoul National University Hospital from January 1990 to June 1997. Medical records and biopsy slides were reviewed.
Biopsy ; Dermatology ; Korea ; Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous* ; Medical Records ; Seoul

The secretary meningioma is a distinct variant of meningioma that revealed characteristic light microscopic, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural features of epithelial and secretary differentiation, which was named as a distinct subtype of meningioma by Alguacil-Garcia et al in 1986. We experienced 2 cases of secretary meningioma. One was a 53-year-old female who had suffered from sudden onset of dizziness for I day. The computerized tomography revealed a sharply marginated well enhanced mass in temporal lobe. The other was a 59-year-old female who had suffered from dizziness for 8 years. The computerized tomography revealed a well demarcated lobulated mass in petrosal ridge. In both cases, multiple hyaline inclusions were scattered in the background of meningothelial meningioma. They were PAS positive, diastase resistant, stained yellow with van Gieson, and did not stain with reticulin in contrast to Psammoma bodies. The immunohistochemistry revealed positive reaction for EMA, CEA, a-FP and cytokeratin. T'he electron microscopic study revealed interdigitation with desmosomes and abundant intracellular lumina. They were lined by numerous microvilli and filled with granular material which was composed of electron dense homogenous material, me branous material, and small membrane-bound vesicles. Microvilli were filled with electron dense material identical to the material in the lumina, and some of them were interconnected with electron dense material in the lumina. It was concluded that secretary activity of the meningothelial cells and degenerated microvilli were involved in the pathogenesis of hyaline inclusions.
Female ; Humans ; Meningioma