Though initial report from Japan showed positive association of schizophrenia with dinucleotide repeat polymorphism in the NT-3 gene, subsequent studies showed mixed results. Therefore we conducted a replication study with Korean schizophrenics and matched controls who share similar ethnic background with Japanese population. The frequency of allele of dinucleotide repeat at 147 base pairs in the NT-3 gene was slightly increased, however, failed to reach statistical significance(X2=1.884, df=1, p<0.170) between the two groups. These findings do not support on association of NT-3 gene polymorphism with schizophrenia in Korean sample.
Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Base Pairing ; Dinucleotide Repeats ; Humans ; Japan ; Schizophrenia

Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is a rare disease mainly characterized by accele-rated aging, with an incidence rate of 1 in 8 million to 1 in 4 million.It can affect the skin, fat, cardiovascular, bone and other organ systems.Most HGPS children can only live to 6-20 years old, with an average life expectancy of only 14.6 years.HGPS has distinctive clinical features, such as severe growth retardation, special skin manifestations, and craniofacial manifestations.The prognosis of this disease is poor, and no treatment has been proven effective so far.Upon the diagnosis, the progress of the disease should be observed and monitored via long-term and careful follow up, so as to extend the life span of the children as much as possible.In this article, the disease type, clinical manifestations, pathogenesis and clinical examination of HGPS were reviewed.

No abstract available.

No abstract available.

Returning astronauts had experienced decreased immune function and increased vulnerability to infection during spaceflights.In immune system,cell adhesion molecules(CAMs) play an important role in regulating immune response in normal physiological conditions.Studying changes of CAMs under microgravity could not only understand the effects of microgravity and its molecular mechanism on immune function,but also help to study the relative mechanism about cell sensation of microgravity.In this review,we will introduce some downstream signal pathways,gene expression and the effects on cell functions under microgravity.All of them are regulated by cell adhesion molecules related with the immune system.

Objective To analyze postoperative complications of surgical therapy for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower extremity. Method From January 2001 to January 2008 vena cava filters were placed in 171 DVT cases before surgery. Fogarty catheter (73 cases), Amplatz thrombectomy device (ATD) (55 cases), Acolysis ultrasound ablation(43 cases) were used to extract the thrombi in iliac and proximal femoral vein. The full extraction of thrombi in distal end was facilitated by compressing and massaging the legs in all cases. Iliac venous stenosis or occlusion was managed by interventional therapy, and temporary femoral arteriovenous fistula were carried out routinly. Result Operations were successful in 157 cases(70 cases in Fogarty group, 52 in ATD group,35 in Acolysis ultrasound ablation group), and failed in 14 cases (3 cases in Fogarty group, 3 in ATD group, 8 in Acolysis ultrasound ablation group). Permanent,retrievable and temporary vena cava filters were placed in 51,32 and 88 cases respectively. Stenosis or occulsions of the iliac vein was found in 143 cases and stents were placed after balloon dilatation in 41 cases. During the operation, residual thrombi was found in 80 cases. Vessel perforation and rupture were complicated in 14 cases, thrombosis adhering in eava vein filters in 18 cases. There was no mortality and no pulmonary thromboembolism. During the follow-up, we found iliae vein restenosis in 21 cases, thrombosis recurrence in 36 cases, stents displacement in 6 cases, and stents fracture in 2 cases. Conclusion Surgical therapy is effective for DVT of the lower extremities.

Fifty three surgically resected gallbladders(49 cases of chronic cholecystitis with or without cholelithiasis, 4 cases of incidentally resected gallbladders) and 14 autopsy cases were subjected to the histotopographic analysis to identify the nature and distribution of metaplastic mucosal changes, and to determine the possible histogenesis of these mucosal lesions and diagnostic implication as a parameter of chronic cholecystitis. 1) Antral type glands were demonstrated in 47(88.7%), goblet cells in 19(35.8%) and surface epithelial changes in 27(50.9%) of total surgical specimens, indicating the benign metaplastic changes of the gallbladder mucosa toward the gastric or intestinal type. 2) Topographic distribution illustrated the extension of antral type gland to the middle and upper one third portions of the gallbladder mucosa in 37 cases, each. Goblet cells in the middle and upper one third of the mucosa were demonstrable in 13 cases(68%) an 8 cases(42%), respectively. 3) Average age by degree of extension was 50.0 years in Grade O-I, 50.1 years in Grade II and 56.4 years in Grade III. 4) Among 53 surgically resected gallbladders, gallstone was found in 31 cases, in which was a significant correlation between the distribution of metaplastic changes by degree of extent and cholelithiasis. 5) There was no statistical significance between incidence of metaplastic changes of the gallbladder and degree of inflammatory reaction by means of chronic and/or acute inflammatory cell infiltration and Rokitansky-Aschoff sinus formation. 6) Only two out of fourteen autopsy cases demonstrated focal and spotty presence of goblect cells. It is of authors assumption that the lining epithelium of the gallbladder undergos various types of metaplastic changes in the diseased conditions, in which cholelithiasis is included as one of preceding factor. And also, the diagnostic implication of epithelial metaplasia as an expression of chronic cholecystitis is discussed.
Incidence

BACKGROUND: According to the areas and people that are examined, there are many differences in the prevalence of syphilis in Korea. However, the reactive rate of the serologi test for syphilis showed an increase in the 1960s, and it has deerea@sed from the beginning of the 1970s. OBJECTIVE: Comparing the results of tke serologic test for syphilis which lotad been performed for the 5 years(1987-1991) on the physical examines and pregnant women who were considered as healthy, with the results with normal people, who were considered as healthy, which had been already reported, we tried to observe the change of reactive rate of serologic test for syphili. METHODS: The serologic test for syphilis, including serum VDRL test and serum TPHA test, were carried out on 25,254 healthy adults(20,405 were physical examineea eamined at National Medical Center and 4,849 were pregnant women delivered at National Medical Cer ter). RESULTS: The reaetive rate of serum VDRL test was 0.8% in 25,25 the althy adults(physical examinees 0.8%, pregnant women 0.7%). There were no stistically differerces between the annual incidences. 85.5% of VDRL-reactive subjects showed low VDRL titers(below 1:4) by the quantitative serum VDRL test, The biologic false positive reaction of serum VDRL test was 29(19.5%) in 149 VDRL-reactive subjects, using serum TPHA test as a standard. CONCLUSION: This study suggested thai, there was a decrease in the prevslence of syphilis in Korea.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; False Positive Reactions ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea* ; Pregnant Women ; Prevalence* ; Serologic Tests ; Syphilis*

To identify the factors influencing the charges per case of acute appendicitis and normal spontaneous vaginal delivery (NSVD), the personal data-base files and hospital-characteristics-reporting data files of Korea Medical Insurance Corporation were analyzed. One hundred and twenty-nine institutions were selected. The results of this study were as follows: 1. The differences of charges per case with respect to hospital ownership, location, and equipment levels were statistically significant. 2. The results of multiple regression analysis revealed that bed capacity was the most significant variable in both diseases. 3. Ownership was significant variable in acute appendicitis. In NSVD, ownership and hospital equipment level were statistically significant. In conclusion, bed capacity was statistically the most significant variable in the analysis of charges per case. And we thought that the results of this study would influence the policy of the hospital bed supply.
Appendicitis* ; Information Storage and Retrieval ; Equipment and Supplies, Hospital ; Humans ; Insurance ; Korea ; Ownership

An autopsy case of male pseudohermaphrodite associated with Bochdalek diaphragmatic hernia is reported. This newborn infant showed a large clitoris and hypospadic urethra which was the only opening in the perineum except for the anus. There were urethrovaginal fistula and uterus didelphys. The adrenals were slightly larger than normal, but microscopically did not show any features of cortical hyperplasia. Well formed testes were found and were histologically unremarkable. In addition, Bochdalek type of diaphragmatic hernia was present, associated with severe left lung hypoplasia and massively herniated abdominal organs into the chest cavity, shifting the mediastinum considerably and eventually led to death in a few minutes after birth. The pathogenesis of genital anomaly and diaphragmatic hernia is briefly discussed and it is suggested that this type of genital abnormality might be due to defect of testicular M llerian inhibitor factor and can be categorized as incomplete male pseudohermaphroditism.
Infant ; Male ; Female ; Infant, Newborn ; Humans