No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Tuberculosis, Renal*

Human-derived materials are a crucial element of research in the life sciences. The Korea Biobank Network (KBN) portal is a shared open platform that provides the nationʼs most extensive disease resources, possessed by Human Bioresource Unit Banks of the KBN, to the public, including those in the fields of industry, academia, and research.This platform was developed to increase the efficient use of national disease resources. In the KBN portal, the current status of disease resources collected in Korea can be checked online. Human bioresources and clinical information are provided to consumers through systematic search and efficient distribution programs. Additionally, by simultaneously operating the KBN Distribution Support Center, we are working to support the rapid and convenient distribution of human resources in response to the needs of consumers. To effectively utilize the open human bioresource sharing platform, it is necessary to introduce an integrated clinical information management system. Currently, the KBN is in the process of establishing standard terminology for data and applying a common data model for the integrated management of various clinical information held by the KBN. We provide communications through the KBN portal, which is interconnected with the distribution support center, regional biobanks, and consumers. In conclusion, the KBN portal will provide open innovation by creating a business or service model by delivering shared open data and internalizing external innovative capabilities.

No abstract available.
Animals ; Epithelium* ; Gene Expression* ; Laser Capture Microdissection* ; Mice* ; Microarray Analysis* ; Phenobarbital*

We reviewed 56 patients who received mandibulotomy at Yonsei medical center between 1989 and 1999. We also analysed the complications associated with mandibulotomy and its contributing factors. The complications occur in 16 patients(28.6%) and are classified into two categories; intraoperative and postperative complications. Nonunion was observed in 5 patients and osteoradionecrosis in 5. The patients who received preoperative radiation therapy were more tend to develop nonunion and osteoradionecrosis. This study suggests the benefits of mandibulotomy as a surgical approach to oral cancer: 1. Paramedian osteotomy was recommended for preservation of neurovascular bundle and ease of surgical access. 2. By using thin saw blade, reapproximation was improved with minimal bone loss. 3. osteotomy on anterior mandible which lies outside the usual portals of radiation therapy decreases the incidence of osteoradionecrosis.
Humans ; Incidence ; Mandible ; Mouth Neoplasms* ; Osteoradionecrosis ; Osteotomy

Objective: The impact of imatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, on ovarian follicles and several proteins related to follicular function and apoptosis was investigated in mice. Methods: Saline, cyclophosphamide (Cp; 50 or 75 mg/kg), or imatinib (7.5 or 15 mg/kg) was injected once intraperitoneally into female B6D2F1 mice (18 mice in each group). In multiple ovarian sections, the number of various types of follicles and the proportion of good-quality (G1) follicles were counted. The levels of six proteins (anti-Müllerian hormone [AMH], BCL-xL, BAX, acid sphingomyelinase [A-SMase], caspase-3, and α-smooth muscle actin [α-SMA]) within the whole ovaries were quantified using Western blots. Results: Compared to the saline group, a significant reduction of the primordial follicle count was observed in the group treated with imatinib 7.5 and 15 mg/kg, as well as in the group treated with Cp 75 mg/kg. Administration of Cp significantly decreased the proportion of G1 primordial follicles, but administration of imatinib did not. No differences in the AMH, anti-apoptotic BCLX-L, pro-apoptotic BAX, and A-SMase levels in the ovarian tissues were observed among the five groups. However, caspase-3 and α-SMA levels were significantly higher in the imatinib and Cp groups than in the saline group. Conclusion The administration of imatinib to mice significantly reduced the primordial follicle count and increased the protein levels of caspase-3 and α-SMA. Our findings suggest that imatinib potentially exerts ovarian toxicity via apoptotic processes, similarly to Cp.

An 8-year-old girl visited the emergency room with perioral cyanosis and dyspnea, which had developed 20 hrs prior to the hospital visit. She had taken a Chinese herbal medication for 3 days prior to the onset of the symptoms. A co-oximeter examination revealed a methemoglobin level of 23.7%. An intravenous infusion of methylene blue was administered. Chemical analysis of the herbal medication revealed an ammonia (NH3) level of 239.41 mg/ L. More studies are needed on the correlation between methemoglobinemia and the components of Chinese herbal medicines.
Ammonia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Child ; Cyanosis ; Dyspnea ; Eating ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Methemoglobin ; Methemoglobinemia ; Methylene Blue

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the bystander effect in murine neuroblastoma model which transduced with HSV-TK gene in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: The LNC/TK vector was transfered in vitro into the neuro-2a cells, murine neuroblastoma cell line. Variable mixed populations of neuro-2a cells consisting of HSV-TK+ or HSV-TK- were plated into culture plates and treated with GCV for another 4 days. Surviving cells were counted and cell viability was determinated. For investigating the in vivo bystander effect, variable mixed populations of neuro-2a cells consisting of HSV-TK+ and HSV-TK- were inoculated into A/J mice. The tumor size was measured following injection of GCV for 7 days. RESULTS: The survival rate of the 100% neuro-2a/TK group was 90%, 25%, 5% and 0%, of 50% neuro-2a/TK group was 92%, 30%, 10% and 0%, and of the 10% neuro-2a/TK group was 95%, 40%, 15% and 5%. But, the survival rate of 0% neuro-2a/TK group was 120%, 150%, 180% and 220% on days 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively. In the 100% and 50% neuro-2a/TK groups, tumor had disappeared following administration of GCV and in 10% neuro-2a/TK group, tumor size was not increased during GCV treatment. In 0% neuro-2a/TK group, tumor size increased during administration of GCV and all mice died after 6 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated the bystander effect in a murine neuroblastoma model which transduced with HSV-TK gene in vitro and in vivo. These results suggest that HSV-TK/GCV gene therapy may be useful for treatment of neuroblastoma.
Animals ; Bystander Effect* ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; Genetic Therapy* ; Mice ; Neuroblastoma* ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND: We developed a sonographically assisted minimally invasive release technique (entitled as interventional microadhesiolysis) of the A1 pulley to treat trigger digit. This paper introduces the procedure and evaluates the efficacy of the intervention for trigger digit. METHODS: Eleven trigger digits in nine patients were treated with a specially designed needle using ultrasonographic assistance. The technique includes subcutaneous and intrasheath release. Subcutaneous release was performed by obliquely inserting the needle into the interdigital space and advancing it to release the subcutaneous tissue overlying the affected area. If the A1 pulley was not completely released, intrasheath release was performed by advancing the needle into the flexor tendon sheath, and the operator fixed the needle while the digit was passively flexed and extended. RESULTS: After the patients underwent the technique, all of the patients reported a reduction in pain and improved range of motion. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that interventional microadhesiolysis is an effective treatment for trigger digit.
Humans ; Needles ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Tendons ; Trigger Finger Disorder

Duchene and Becker muscular dystrophy(DMD/BMD) results from mutations in thedystrophin gene, and enormous genetic locus that spans more than two million base paris ofDNA on the human X chromosome. Some 60% of DMD patients exhibit deletions, which canbe found by cDNA hybridization or, were recently, by polymerase chain reaction analysis.We have used the multiplex PCR to identify deletion mutations in the human dystrophingene. By simultaneously amplifying genomic regions flanking 17 sepastrate exons inmutational hot spots, we were able to detect 16 exons in one family. The DNA encoding eachof the 17 exons in the dystrophin gene is copied a million fold to make it visible in anagarose gel. To be certain that the missing band is not artifact of the amplificationprocedure, the DNA from the blood sample was analyzed by Southern hybridization.
Artifacts ; Blotting, Southern* ; Chromosomes, Human, X ; Diagnosis* ; DNA ; DNA, Complementary ; Dystrophin ; Exons ; Genetic Loci ; Humans ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Deletion

PURPOSE: We evaluated the effects of the timing of treatment initiation with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) on the change in predicted adult height (PAH) in girls with idiopathic true precocious puberty (TPP). METHODS: Data for this retrospective study were collected on 104 girls with TPP who were treated with GnRHa for 36 months, between January 2002 and March 2012. RESULTS: The PAH SDS differed before and after treatment in all patients (-1.91 +/- 1.47 vs. -1.37 +/- 1.17 after 1 year of treatment, -1.96 +/- 1.58 vs. -0.48 +/- 1.11 after 3 years of treatment) as well as in Group 1 (-2.15 +/- 1.54 vs. -1.51 +/- 1.20 after 1 year of treatment, -2.09 +/- 1.59 vs. -0.55 +/- 1.19 after 3 years of treatment) and Group 2 (-1.57 +/- 1.34 vs. -1.17 +/- 1.12 after 1 year of treatment, -1.50 +/- 1.55 vs. -0.21 +/- 0.74 after 3 years of treatment). This result could be due to improvement in bone age advancement during the treatment. The difference between mid-parental height SDS and PAH SDS was decreased after GnRHa treatment. However, the means of PAH SDS did not surpass the mid-parental height SDS. CONCLUSION: GnRHa treatment can preserve growth potential by slowing bone age progression, resulting in short adult height, but it cannot alter the genetic growth potential.
Adult ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Humans ; Puberty, Precocious ; Retrospective Studies