No abstract available.
Antibodies, Monoclonal* ; Borrelia burgdorferi* ; Borrelia* ; Lyme Disease*

PURPOSE: Madl protein is known to directly repress Myc target genes and antagonize Myc function. Consequently, Madl is considered to function as a tumor suppressor. We undertook this study to investigate the regulatory effect of Madl on cancer progression in human breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed immunohistochemical assay for Madl protein together with Myc in human breast cancer as well as tissues from normal and benign diseases. The protein assay data were evaluated together with clinical and biologic parameters of the patients. RESULTS: Of 66 patients with invasive ductal cancer, Madl expression was detected in 22 patients (33.3%) with breast cancer. Intensity and area of Madl expression significantly decreased in DCIS and invasive cancers, while high levels of Madl expression were persistent in benign breast lesions. Madl expression was significantly reduced in poorly differentiated tumors (p=0.0002). Expression of Madl was not associated with size of the tumors, lymph node status, and stage of the disease. We could not observe any correlation between S-phase and expression status of Myc or Madl. Madl expression was closely linked to differentiation of the cancer cells and inversely correlated with Myc expression (p=0.042). In survival analysis, Madl possessed a prognostic significance in predicting recurrence of the disease but not overall survival after CMF chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: In human breast cancer cells, expression of Madl seems to be downregulated while expression of Myc is amplified. Altered expression of Mad1 may play a role in malignant transformation of human mammary epithelial cells and represent an aggressive phenotype in human breast cancer.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating ; Drug Therapy ; Epithelial Cells ; Genes, myc ; Humans* ; Lymph Nodes ; Phenotype ; Recurrence

OBJECTIVES: Several researchers have shown that three dimensional (3D) distribution analysis of prostate cancer is helpful when initiating needle biopsy procedures. Knowledge regarding the distribution of prostate cancer could enhance understanding of the pathophysiology involved and improve detection of these malignancies. We propose utilizing digital processing techniques to analyze prostate cancer distribution in a 3D setting. METHODS: Pre-made radical prostatectomy sample slices were digitized with a resolution of 76 dpi. Slices of each sample were aligned and registered by deformation algorithm and interpolated for analysis of relative distribution statistics. We analyzed 80 samples saved in electronic medical record and compared the detection rate of preoperative needle biopsies and radical prostatectomies using our 3D analysis technique. RESULTS: The statistical 3D distribution of prostate cancer was evaluated using a 36-sector process. Results were represented in the following two ways: distribution of a single patient, and statistical distribution of prostate cancers of multiple patients. The overall concordance rate was 62.7% between the two methods; therefore a technique is needed which can raise this percentage. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest using the normalization method to develop a software tool which permits reconstruction of the 3D distribution of prostate cancer from 2D legacy images and reduces the loss of image quality as well. This application will facilitate detection of prostate cancer by aiding in the determination of the most effective clinical position via partial sampling with decreased patient inconvenience.
Biopsy, Needle ; Electronic Health Records ; Humans ; Prostate ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Software

BACKGROUND: Cyclin D1 is known to be a key regulator in the G1 to S transition of the cell cycle in numerous cases of human neoplasia. We performed immunohistochemical assay (IHC) for cyclin D1 expression in 67 breast cancer tissues to investigate its prognostic implication in breast cancer. METHODS: Protein data for cyclin D1 expression obtained by IHC were merged with the clinical and the biological parameters of the patients, and the recurrence and the survival of the patients were analyzed according to the expression status of cyclin D1. RESULTS: Of 67 breast cancers, 16 cases (23.9%) showed strong expression of cyclin D1 protein. Cyclin D1 expression was significantly increased in larger tumors (p=0.025) but there was no evident correlation between cyclin D1 expression and the clinical and the biological parameters of the studied patients. Although cyclin D1 is a cell cycle regulator essential for the G1 to S transition of the cell cycle, we could not identify any correlation between cyclin D1 expression and the S-phase or the G0/G1 fraction measured by flow cytometry. In the survival analyses, patients with increased expression of cyclin D1 protein had an increased incidence of recurrence and poorer survival than other patients. However, the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Increased expression of cyclin D1 protein was present in a certain proportion of breast cancer. Overexpression of cyclin D1 seemed to play a role in carcinogenesis and tumor growth. However, the clinical utility of cyclin D1 as a prognostic indicator in breast cancer patients have to be defined further by prospective studies with larger sample sizes.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Carcinogenesis ; Cell Cycle ; Cyclin D1* ; Cyclins* ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Incidence ; Prognosis* ; Recurrence ; Sample Size

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine characteristics of work-related psychiatric injuries with Korean workers' compensation data. METHODS: We analyzed the distribution of sex, age, types of work-related psychiatric disorders, type of industry and occupation. Using the data of 3175 Korean workers' compensation cases who were compensated for work-related psychiatric injuries from 2001 to 2003. RESULTS: Work-related psychiatric injuries have increased annually. 897 cases, 1099 cases and 1179 cases were compensated during three years (2001-2003). Men accounted for many more cases than women. The most common age group was 41-49. The majority of work-related psychiatric injuries were 'organic, including symptomatic, mental disorders', 'neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders' and 'mood [affective] disorders'. For accidental psychiatric injury cases construction and manufacturing were the most common industries. Manufacturing, business activities, construction and transport were common in regard to work-related psychiatric disorders. In this study there was a high frequency of craft and related trades workers, elementary occupations and plant and machine operators and assemblers in accidental psychiatric injury cases. Work-related psychiatric disorders were frequent for elementary occupations, plant and machine operators and assemblers, craft and related trades workers, service workers, legislators, senior officials and managers. CONCLUSION: This investigation provided more information about the psychiatric injuries of Korean workers. These findings should help formulate intervention and prevention strategies of work-related psychiatric disorders.
Accidents, Occupational ; Commerce ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Occupations ; Plants ; Workers' Compensation*

Objectives: The effectiveness of drugs currently used in medication, which is important in the treatment of alcohol use disorders, is limited. Recently, ondansetron which acts as 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, has been studied and proved possibility as new medication for alcohol use disorder. Meanwhile, there are studies supporting that 5-HT1A receptors are related to addictive behavior. Considering those studies, we expect that vortioxetine, which acts as both 5-HT3 receptor antagonist and 5-HT1A receptor agonist, may be effective in treatment of alcohol use disorder. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of vortioxetine on alcohol intake of C57BL/6 mice. Methods: In this study C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to normal saline group, vortioxetine 10 mg/kg group and vortioxetine 1 mg/kg group. To study effect of vortioxetine on alcohol, water, food intake and body weight of mice, we administered each medication for 14 days. Results: The overall alcohol intake was different between the three groups (PGroup=0.021), and alcohol intake in vortioxetine 10 mg/kg group was significantly lower than one in placebo group. Change across time points (PTime<0.001) and the interaction between group and time (PGroup×Time =0.016) were also significant. However, there were no significant differences between the three groups in water, food intake and body weight. Conclusions These results indicated that administration of high dose vortioxetine reduced alcohol intake of mice.Therefore, it is necessary to conduct clinical studies to examine the effectiveness of vortioxetine as a new treatment for alcohol use disorder.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the trends and progress in oral health status, dental service items, and fees among children receiving community-based registered dental care over a three-year period. METHODS: The study subjects were selected from nine community children centers in J district of S city, in the Korean province of Gyeonggi-do. The sample included 222 children who had received care in 2011 and 2012, and 205 children, in 2013. The dependent variables were oral health status (df index and decayed-missing-filled teeth index), dental service items (total number of visits and dental fillings by type), and dental fees (total fees, National Health Insurance [NHI] coverage, and NHI non-coverage), analyzed by year. The percentages of dental caries and dental service items were tested using chi-square analysis, and the mean of each variable, including dental fees, was tested using the Kruskal-Wallis method, owing to non-parametric distribution. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant decrease in the rate of dental clinic visits for treatment, and an increase in the mean numbers of filled teeth and sealants performed per year. The rate and number of dental fillings increased steadily, whereas the services for oral health promotion and prevention were decreased. The number of dental visits and the total fees decreased steeply, especially within the second half of the last measured year: around 90,000 earned within that time, compared to 170,000 earned during the first year. CONCLUSIONS: Dental clinic visits should be encouraged on a regular basis for oral health promotion and prevention by both patients and providers using capitation payment systems, for example. It is necessary to monitor and provide training for all related staff by developing a manual for oral health examination and treatment, adjusted for the registered dental system. Policy measures addressing the needs of vulnerable social groups are needed more than ever. Therefore, it is important to provide as much targeted support and training to the registered dental system as possible.
Child Health Services ; Child* ; Dental Care ; Dental Caries ; Dental Clinics ; Dentists* ; Fees and Charges* ; Fees, Dental ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Insurance, Dental ; National Health Programs ; Oral Health* ; Tooth

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify a relationship between dental service items and fees among dental clinics; this is important when deciding capitation rates for a registered system. The status of oral health, use of dental service items, and amount of dental fees for community care children were compared according to the dental clinics with which they were registered. The dental fees were analyzed using the oral health risk assessment components to identify the relationship between them. METHODS: The study subjects comprised 182 children from 8 community children centers in J district, S city, Gyeonggi-do. The independent variables were the dental clinics and the dependent variables were oral health status (decayed, missing, filled teeth [DMFT] index or df index), dental service items (total number of visits and dental filling type), and dental fees (total fees, National Health Insurance [NHI] coverage, and NHI non-coverage). The variables displayed a nonparametric distribution and were hence analyzed by the Kruskal-Wallis test. The nonparametrically distributed oral health risk assessment components were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: The higher the DMFT index, the higher the number of dental clinic visits and number of children with dental fillings. There were differences in the number of dental fillings between clinics except for resin-based fillings; this gap was wider for amalgam and gold inlay fillings. The dental fees differed between clinics and was probably dependent on the whether the major dental service type was NHI-covered or non-covered. "Anterior caries or restorations" in children with caries and "plaque retaining factors" in children with periodontal disease experience/plaque displayed statistically significant differences for total fees and NHI non-covered fees, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The preference for specific service items leads to a difference in dental fees. It is essential to develop guidelines under a capitation agreement and practice them in order to achieve a successful registered dental system.
Child ; Child Health Services ; Dental Care ; Dental Clinics ; Dentists ; Fees and Charges ; Fees, Dental ; Humans ; Inlays ; Insurance, Dental ; National Health Programs ; Oral Health ; Periodontal Diseases ; Risk Assessment ; Tooth

PURPOSE: The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27Kipl is a negative regulator of cell proliferation. Its expression is known to be altered in proteasome-dependent manner without changes in DNA level. Reduced expression of p27Kipl is associated with aggressive behavior in a variety of human cancers. We investigated expression of p27Kipl protein in human breast cancer using immunohistochemistry to assess its biologic implication along with cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We peformed immunohistochemical assay for expression of p27 in total 68 patients with invasive ductal cancer along with 27 benign ductal hyperplasia and 10 ductal carcinoma in situ. The data were analyzed in association with proliferative activity of the same tissues and biologic parameters. RESULTS: In epithelial cells of normal and benign breast disease, expression of p27Kipl was well preserved while its expression markedly decreased in breast cancer (45 of 68). Expression of p27Kipl was significantly reduced in poorly differentiated cancers and in advanced stage of the disease. Levels of p27Kipl expression correlated with cell populations in GO/Gl phase of the cell cycle. In survival analysis, p27Kipl was useful to predict disease-free survival but not overall survival of the patients after adjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: p27Kipl seems to have a role in cell proliferation and differentiation process during carcinogenesis of breast cancer. The results of present study suggest that p27Kipl can be used in predicting response to systemic chemotherapy in a subset of patients with breast cancer.
Breast Diseases ; Breast Neoplasms ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Proliferation ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Disease-Free Survival ; DNA ; Drug Therapy ; Epithelial Cells ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans* ; Hyperplasia ; Immunohistochemistry ; Phosphotransferases ; Prognosis

PURPOSE: Cyclin E is a key regulatory protein in the G1-S transition during the cell cycle. The correlations between cyclin E protein and the clinical features of breast cancer were investigated in order to evaluate its clinical utility in invasive breast cancer. METHODS: An immunohistochemical assay for cyclin E was performed in 101 consecutive invasive breast cancers. The correlation between cyclin E expression and the clinicobiological parameters including patient survival was analyzed. RESULTS: Cyclin E expression was observed in 50 patients (49.5%). The scoring of the cyclin E expression level was divided into low (<25%) and high (>or=25%). In high nuclear grade tumors, cyclin E overexpression was much higher than that in low nuclear grade tumors (P=0.049). In the younger age group (<50 yrs), cyclin E expression was significantly higher than the older age group (P= 0.016). No significant correlation was observed between cyclin E and the tumor size, lymph node status, hormonal receptor status, histological grade, mitotic index and Ki67. In multivariate analysis, only the lymph node status was significantly associated with the patients' outcome (P= 0.002). CONCLUSION: Cyclin E overexpression did not have prognostic impact on the patients' survival rate in invasive breast cancer. In high nuclear grade tumors, the cyclin E expression level was much higher. The definite value of cyclin E as a clinicobiologic marker should be further investigated by prospective studies with other cell regulatory proteins.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin E* ; Cyclins* ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Mitotic Index ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate