BACKGROUND: An inverse relationship between cholesterol level and the degree of depressive symptoms was found in several studies targeted to Westerners. But, other studies failed to replicate this finding, giving diverse opinion on this matter. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between the degree of depressive symptomps and lipid level, total calorie intake and fat intake respectively in adults screened in a health promotion center in Korea. METHOD: The study group consisted of 352 men and women who visited the Health Promotion Center of Seoul National University Hospital from June to August in 1998. Their depressive symptoms were measured by Korean version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale(CES-D). Lipid level was measured by enzymatic methods with fasting blood specimen. Total calorie and fat intake were calculated from a self-reported questionnaire on the types and amount of food. RESULTS: Depressive symptoms were not significantly related to lipid levels, total calorie intake, fat intake, age, exercise, BMI, smoking or alcohol consumption(p>0.05). But sex(P<0.05), marital status(P<0.05), educational level(P<0.05) and average income(P<0.05) were significantly related to depressive symptoms in the whole study group(n=352). Educational level(P<0.05), menopausal status(P<0.05) and LDL cholesterol(P<0.05) were significantly related to depressive symptoms only in women(n=185). However in multivariate models which adjusted for confounding factors these associations were not found(p>0.05). CONCLUSION: In contrast to the results of previous studies, no significant association between the degree of depressive symptoms and lipid levels, total calorie intake and fat intake respectively were found in Korean adults after adjusting for several factors related to health.
Adult* ; Cholesterol ; Depression* ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Fasting ; Female ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Seoul ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: Verapamil is one of the most extensively characterized modulators of P-glyco- protein (P-gp) mediated multi-drug resistance (MDR), but its plasma concentration required to reverse MDR can cause cardiovascular toxicity. KR-30035 is a newly synthesized verapamil analogue with more potent cytostatic effects, but has lower cardiovascular effects than verapamil. We have assessed the MDR reversing effects of KR-30035 by measuring Tc-99m MIBI uptake in cultured tumor cells and in nude mice bearing human tumor xenografts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In-vitro uptake of Tc-99m MIBI was measured in murine leukemia cells (L-1210) and those MDR-positive variants after incubation with different concentrations of KR-30035. Results were compared to those with verapamil. Organ and tumoral uptake of Tc-99m MIBI was compared between P-gp (+) human colon cancer (HCT15 cells) and P-gp (-) lung cancer (A549 cells) in nude mice, treated with either KR-30035 or verapamil. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in in-vitro uptake of Tc-99m MIBI between verapamil and KR-30035 group at any concentrations. MIBI uptake in P-gp (+) cells continuously increased either with verapamil or KR-30035 in a dose-dependent manner. Tc-99m MIBI uptake ratios of the tumor [P-gp (+' tumor uptake divided by P-gp (-) uptake] were significantly higher with KR-30035 than with verapamil in tumor bearing nude mice. Washout rate of Tc-99m MIBI from P-gp (+) HCT15 cells was lower in verapamil or KR-30035 groups than in the control group, which was 0.19, 0.19 and 0.27 respectively. CONCLUSION: These studies revealed that KR-30035 can potentially be used as an active modulator of MDR, with its significantly lesser cardiovascular toxicity than verapamil. Our results warrants further evaluation of this novel agent.
Animals ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Heterografts ; Humans ; Leukemia ; Lung Neoplasms ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; P-Glycoprotein ; Plasma ; Robenidine ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Verapamil

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to identify psychosocial factors associated with biological markers in Korean patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. METHODS: 50 patients with HIV infection were enrolled. We administered Stress Response Inventory (SRI), the Coping Scale, and the Korean version of Smithklein Beecham quality of life scale (QOL) to the 50 patients and measured CD4+ cell count and HIVRNA copies. RESULTS: Simple correlation analysis showed significant correlation between psychosocial factors and CD4+ cell count. Tension, aggression, depression, frustration subscale in SRI and distancing, self controlling in coping scale had negative correlation with CD4+ cell count, whereas QOL showed positive correlation. Multiple regression analysis showed significant negative association between distancing and CD4+ cell count. There were no differences in CD4+ cell count and HIVRNA between homosexual patients and heterosexual patients. However, aggression, confrontation in SRI, and distancing in coping scale scored significantly higher in heterosexual patients than homosexual patients. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that CD4+ cell count may be associated with psychosocial factors in Korean patients with HIV infection, and passive coping strategy like distancing may be one of important factors in the progression of HIV infection. These findings also suggest that psychosocial intervention programs are needed for Korean patients with HIV infection.
Aggression ; Biomarkers* ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Depression ; Frustration ; Heterosexuality ; HIV Infections ; HIV* ; Homosexuality ; Humans ; Humans* ; Psychology* ; Quality of Life

PURPOSE: Completion thyroidectomy is the removal of any thyroid tissue that remains after less than total thyroidectomy. The purpose of the present study is to review the processes and pathologic results leading to completion thyroidectomy, and to determine the degree of increased morbidity with completion thyroidectomy. METHODS: The hospital records of 60 patients treated from January 1981 to December 2000 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The subjects were 48 women and 12 men with ages ranging from 17 to 72 years (mean 46.3 years). Initial pathologic results were 46 cases of papillary carcinoma (76.6%), 12 of follicular carcinoma (20%), one of medullary carcinoma and one of Hurthle cell carcinoma. Initial operations were lobectomy in 51 cases, bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy in 6 and enucleation in 3. Completion thyroidectomies were performed due to tumor recurrence in 32 cases, confirmed malignancy following permanent sections in 21 and others in 7. Twenty-one of the cases were performed within 6 months after initial operations. Residual or recurrent carcinoma was found in 36 cases of the completion thyroidectomy specimens (60%). Postoperative complications were as follows: transient and permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy occurred in 1 (1.7%) and 2 (3.3%) cases, respectively, transient and permanent hypoparathyroidism occurred separately in 15 (25%) and 4 (6.7%) cases, respectively, and there was one case of hematoma (1.7%) and one of wound infection (1.7%). There was no correlation between complications and the interval between initial surgery and reoperation. CONCLUSION: Completion thyroidectomy could be performed with minimal morbidity and might prevent the development of regional recurrence by eliminating an unsuspected focus of cancer. The surgeon should not feel obligated to perform a total thyroidectomy if the diagnosis of cancer is not secure, because the second stage operation can be performed over a wide time interval, allowing the physician and patient considerable latitude for decision making.
Carcinoma, Medullary ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Decision Making ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Hematoma ; Hospital Records ; Humans ; Hypoparathyroidism ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroidectomy* ; Vocal Cord Paralysis ; Wound Infection

We report a case of malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) of the right buttock with multiple metastases to the lung, bone, and small intestine. He received resection and end-to-end anastomosis of the jejunum for the jejunal metastatic tumor, and mass excision of the metastatic tumor of the left femur followed by closed reduction and internal fixation and palliative radiotherapy. In addition, he received palliative radiotherapy to the metastatic pulmonary tumor with suspicious invasion into the thoracic aorta. However, one month after the completion of the aggressive local treatments, metastatic tumors recurred in the abdominal cavity, an extremely unusual site, resulting in peritoneal dissemination. He died of progressive disease 5 months after the initial diagnosis.
Abdominal Cavity ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Buttocks ; Femur ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous ; Intestine, Small ; Jejunum ; Lung ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Seeding ; Peritoneal Cavity

Small bowel perforation due to hematogenous metastatic tumor emboli is a rare event, especially in a patient with rectal cancer. We report a 75-year-old man with relapsed rectal cancer who developed an acute abdomen, which was found to be due to a perforated terminal ileum. Emergency surgery involved segmental resection and ileostomy. The pathology of the resected small bowel showed multifocal and extensive metastatic tumor emboli in the entire wall, leading to transmural infarction followed by perforation, without a discrete tumor mass. The pathology with immunohistochemistry showed a rectal tumor that was positive for CK-20 but negative for CK-7 and TTF-1. This extremely rare complication of rectal cancer resulted from ischemia and infarct caused by disseminated metastatic tumor emboli without direct invasion or mass formation.
Abdomen, Acute ; Aged ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Ileostomy ; Ileum ; Immunohistochemistry ; Infarction ; Intestinal Perforation ; Intestine, Small ; Ischemia ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating ; Rectal Neoplasms

PURPOSE: The methylation status of the CpG promoter regions of the p16INK4A and p14ARF genes, mutations of 4 exons of the CDKN2A gene, and the expression of the corresponding proteins were examined. Prognostic implications were assessed in osteosarcoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Methylation-specific PCR, sequence analysis, and immunohistochemical staining were performed upon 32 frozen osteosarcoma tissues. RESULTS: Methylation of p16INK4A was found in 16%, and methylation of p14ARF in 47%. Metastasis and poor survival was statistically related to the methylation of p14ARF. The methylation of p14ARF correlated with the repression of the corresponding protein, and repression of p14ARF with the repression of p21 and of wild type of p53. No sequence alterations were found in the four exons of the CDKN2A gene. Methylation of p14 showed highest hazard ratio by multivariate survival analysis. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that methylation of the CDKN2A gene seems to be the main mechanism of protein repression. For p14ARF, the methylation of its promoter region was related to the repression of p21 and wild type p53, distant metastasis and a poor prognosis. Further study regarding cell cycle regulatory factors should shed light on oncogenesis and the possibility of a new treatment strategy for osteosarcoma.
Carcinogenesis ; Cell Cycle ; Exons ; Genes, p16 ; Methylation* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Osteosarcoma* ; Phosphotransferases* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prognosis* ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Repression, Psychology ; Sequence Analysis ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p14ARF

Since sorafenib was introduced in 2007 for treating advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 15 patients have achieved a complete response (CR) in advanced HCC. However, only four of these reports can be regarded as real CRs involving adequate assessments including imaging, serum tumor markers, and histologic examinations of completely resected specimens. A 54-year-old man with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver cirrhosis (LC) presented to our unit. A CT scan demonstrated a 3.8-cm arterial hypervascular/portal-washout mass in the right lobe and invasion in the right portal vein. Twelve weeks after beginning sorafenib therapy, the AFP level was normalized and a CT scan showed a prominent decrease in the hepatic mass and a significant decrease in the volume of portal vein thrombosis (PVT). The patient received a right liver hemihepatectomy after 12 months. No viable tumor cells were found in the resected specimen, and there was no thrombotic obstruction of the portal vein. Twelve months later the patient showed no clinical evidence of HCC recurrence. This is the first case of CR in HCC treatment following sorafenib with histologically confirmed HCV-related HCC without LC evidence, HCC with PVT, and a follow-up of longer than 12 months. This case seems to be an extremely unusual clinical outcome in advanced HCC.
Biomarkers, Tumor ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis C ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Middle Aged ; Portal Vein ; Recurrence ; Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Venous Thrombosis

The assessment of epithelial changes in gastric mucosal biopsies has been one of the major problems caused by inconsistencies in and disagreements about nomenclature and interpretation. To resolve these issues, members of the Study Group for Pathology of Digestive Diseases reviewed microslides of 50 gastric lesions showing varying degrees of mucosal abnormality and reached the following consensus; 1) the proliferating gastric epithelium can be divided into hyperplastic and neoplastic; 2) the term "dysplasia" is reserved for the microscopic epithelial changes that are unequivocally neoplastic; 3) Biopsy specimens can be categorized as regenerative(negative for dysplasia), indefinite(questionable dysplasia), positive(positive for dysplasia) and overt carcinoma; 4) The positive category can be divided into two subgroups, high grade dysplasia and low grade dysplasia. Criteria for each grade are presented and discussed. We offer these guidelines for establishing the correct diagnosis of the gastric mucosal biopsy specimens and for prospective studies.
Biopsy ; Consensus ; Diagnosis ; Epithelium ; Pathology*

BACKGROUND: In Korea, the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis used to be the hepatitis B virus, but now the etiology of acute viral hepatitis seems to be changing. We investigated the etiology of newly developed acute viral hepatitis for the last 3 years. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients, who visited Asan Medical Center for jaundice during recent 3 years. Among them, one hundred eighty six patients were diagnosed as acute viral hepatitis by typical clinical feature and positive results in any one of the following tests: IgM anti-HAV, IgM anti-HBc, HCV PCR, and IgM anti-HEV. RESULTS: The proportion of acute viral hepatitis A, B, C, and E were 49.5% (n=92), 45.2% (n=84), 3.8% (n=7), and 1.6% (n=3), respectively. The patients' age of acute hepatitis A (29.1 +/- 1.75 years) was significantly younger than that of acute hepatitis B (38.2 +/- 3.07 years) (p<0.001). There were 10 cases of fulminant hepatic failure, all of which were caused by hepatitis B virus. Of seven patients diagnosed as acute hepatitis C, three patients were treated with interferon-alpha and ribavirin, and all achieved sustained virologic response. Three patients, who were diagnosed as acute hepatitis E, recovered spontaneously. CONCLUSION: Nowadays, the most common causes of acute viral hepatitis in Korea are in the order of the hepatitis A virus and the hepatitis B virus. The most prevalent age of acute hepatitis A is the 20th, while acute hepatitis B is most common in the 30th. Although the acute hepatitis C and E seems to be rare, they do occur sporadically in Korea.
Chungcheongnam-do ; Hepatitis A ; Hepatitis A Antibodies ; Hepatitis A virus ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis C ; Hepatitis E ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; Interferon-alpha ; Jaundice ; Korea ; Liver Failure, Acute ; Medical Records ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Retrospective Studies ; Ribavirin