Recently with the development in computer technology and its communication system, many changes have come to the medical field. For example, Picture Archiving and Communication System(PACS) has been used in the medicine experimentally. But this system needs high cost and instrument, so this system is not used in personal generally. Our hospital established the medical forum for health and medical counseling in Computer communication network called HITEL. We analysed the questions about urologic problem especially from Sep, 1994 to Jan, 1997. Most of questions are related to external genitalia and sexually transmitted diseases and most of users were in their 2nd, 3rd and 4th decades and male-predominant. In conclusion, medical counseling using PC communication is an effective method especially in urologic field.
Computer Communication Networks ; Counseling* ; Genitalia ; Humans ; Microcomputers ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases

No abstract available.
Solvents*

PURPOSE: Chemokines are structurally related, small polypeptide signaling molecules that bind to and activate a family of transmembrane G proteincoupled receptors, the chemokine receptors. Recently, interaction between the chemokine receptor CXCR4 and its ligand, stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1 or CXCL12), has been found to play an important role in tumorigenicity, proliferation, metastasis and angiogenesis in many cancers such as lung cancer, breast cancer, melanoma, glioblastoma, pancreatic cancer and cholangiocarcinoma. Hence, the goal of this study is to identify the correlation of clinicopathological factors and the up-regulation of SDF-1 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied the immunohistochemical staining of SDF-1, quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) of SDF-1 gene in 20 specimens of 20 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. RESULTS: 1. In the immunohistochemical study of poor differentiated and invasive oral squamous cell carcinoma, the high level staining of SDF-1 was observed. And the correlation between immunohistochemical SDF-1 expression and tumor nodes metastases (TNM) classification of specimens was significant.(chi-square test, P < 0.05) 2. In the SDF-1 gene qRT-PCR analysis, SDF-1 expression was more in tumor tissue than in carcinoma in situ tissue. Paired-samples analysis determined the difference of SDF-1 mRNA expression level between the cancer tissue and the carcinoma in situ tissue.(Student's t-test, P < 0.05) CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that up-regulation of the SDF-1 may play a role in progression and invasion of oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Breast Neoplasms ; Carcinoma in Situ ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; Chemokines ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; Glioblastoma ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Melanoma ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Receptors, Chemokine ; RNA, Messenger ; Up-Regulation

A recent increase in hospital cost in Industrial Accident Compensation System has caused an issue. Especially the many problems in assessing and paying hospital cost have made necessary improvement measures on this. For this purpose the study analyzed 179,442 medical bills for industrial accident patients during 1986~1988. And various annual statistic data, references and documentations are also reviewed. The results of this study were as follows: 1. The average days for medical treatment per injury decreased depending upon hospital grade in the order of clinic, hospital, and general hospital, and the average hospital charges per injury decreased in the order of general hospital, hospital and clinic. 2. The inpatients' leading injury was traumatic amputation of fingers, and the open wound of fingers came to leading injury among the outpatients. The proportions of 10 leading injuries among inpatients and outpatients were 42.7% and 49.2% respectively. 3. As a consequence of the analysis of average medical charges, fractures of neck of femur in inpatients, and intervertebral disc disorders in outpatients were obtained as the most prevalent injuries. The coal workers' pneumoconiosis and injury to nerve roots and spinal plexus were most prominent injuries with repect to the days for medical treatment. 4. According to annual days for medical treatment, fracture of tibia and fibula was the most prevalent in inpatients, and sprains and strains of back was the most prevalent in outpatient. Traumatic amputation of fingers and other 10 leading injuries has a 42.6% share of total inpatients' hospital charges, and fracture of phalanges of hand and other 10 leading injuries possessed 53.4% of total outpatients' hospital charges. 5. Multiple regression analysis revealed that length of hospital stay, number of revealed that length of hospital stay, number of radiologic examinations, duration of operation, age, and others were the major determinants of total hospital charges. A comparision with medical insurance and car insurance for hospital charges and days for treatment showed 2-4 times higher than medical insurance, but showed 0.4~1.0 times lower than medical insurance and car insurance for daily treatment charges.
Accidents, Occupational* ; Amputation, Traumatic ; Coal ; Compensation and Redress* ; Documentation ; Femur ; Fibula ; Fingers ; Hand ; Hospital Charges ; Hospital Costs ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Insurance* ; Intervertebral Disc ; Length of Stay ; Neck ; Outpatients ; Pneumoconiosis ; Sprains and Strains ; Tibia ; Wounds and Injuries

OBJECTIVES: The purpose was to investigate the distributions and the effects of genetic polymorphism of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2(ALDH2), cytochrome P450 1A1(CYP1A1), and cytochrome P450 2E1(CYP2E1) on the toluene metabolism. METHODS: The subjects consisted of 160 workers who were exposed to toluene in different industries such as paint manufacturing, painting on steel and wood products, printing, bonding, and coating. The exposed toluene level was monitored by passive air sampler, and the questionnaire variables were age, sex, smoking, drinking, previous nights drinking, use of personal protective equipment, work duration, and taking benzoic acid containing food. The urinary hippurric acid collected in the end of shift was corrected by urinary creatinine concentration. The genotypes of ALDH2, CYP1A1, and CYP2E1 were investigated using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP) methods with DNA extracted from venous blood. RESULTS: The geometric mean and the geometric standard deviation of urinary hippuric acid concentration were 0. 44 g/g creatinine and 2. 80. The urinary hippuric acid concentration was significantly related to personal exposed toluene level among personal exposed toluene level, use of personal protective equipment, and benzoic acid containing food diet. The slope differences of the regression for ALDH2, CYP1A1, and CYP2El genetic polymorphism, age, smoking, and work duration tended to be significant. In multiple regression analysis, the regression coefficient of toluene, ALDH2, CYP1A1, CYP2E1 genetic polymorphism were significant. CONCLUSIONS: Prom the above results, urinary hippuric acid level after toluene exposure was significantly affected by the genetic polymorphism of ALDH2, CYP1A1, CYP2E1. It is needed further investigation of the urinary hippuric acid level considering the effect of genetic polymorphism.
Aldehyde Dehydrogenase ; Benzoic Acid ; Creatinine ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1 ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; Diet* ; DNA ; Drinking ; Genotype ; Humans ; Life Style* ; Metabolism ; Paint ; Paintings ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Questionnaires ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Steel ; Toluene* ; Wood

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare psychomotor performance related with automobile driving in patients with schizophrenia under the treatment of a typical antipsychotic agent, haloperidol, or an atypical antipsychotic agent, aripiprazole. METHODS: We evaluated driving ability of schizophrenia patients by using the cognitive perceptual assessment for driving (CPAD). Twelve patients receiving haloperidol monotherapy and 18 taking aripiprazole monotherapy participated in this study and the results of CPAD were compared with each other. RESULTS: Of 30 participants, 15 (50%) of the patients passed the CPAD to be regarded as competent to drive, 3 (10%) of the patients failed the CPAD considered to be severely impaired. Controlling for sex, age, education, duration of illness, there were no significant differences in the CPAD results between two treatment groups. We observed a trend that patients who received aripiprazole showed a higher total score of the CPAD than haloperidol-treated patients (55.2+/-4.9 vs. 45.7+/-8.4, p=0.080). CONCLUSION: There were no significant differences in the psychomotor performance relevant to driving ability between haloperidol and aripiprazole groups. But our results suggest that aripiprazole might have the neurocognitive advantage over haloperidol. Future study with a large sample size and diverse antipsychotics is warranted.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Automobile Driving ; Haloperidol ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; Nitro Compounds ; Piperazines ; Psychomotor Performance ; Quinolones ; Sample Size ; Schizophrenia ; Aripiprazole

The purpose of this study is to evaluate biomechanical stability of Korean Ilizarov fixator before clinical application. We measured the ultimate tensile load and stiffness of Ilizarov smooth wire and olive wire, bending stiffness of half-pin, ultimate compressive load and stiffness of Ilizarov ring using Instron 1331. Four types of Ilizarov assembly were tested for measuring stiffness of axial compression, anteroposterior bending, and lateral bending. There were group I fixed with only smooth wires; group II with only olive wires; group III with wires and half-pins; and group IV with only half-pins. The results of Korean Ilizarov apparatus were compared to those of American Ilizarov apparatus using unpaired t-test. The ultimate tensile strength of Korean smooth wire was greater than that of American wire. The ultimate tensile strength of Korean olive wire was lower than that of American wire. There was no significant difference of stiffness of axial compression, anteroposterior bending, and lateral bending between American and Korean apparatus. There was no significant difference of axial compression stiffness and bending stiffness between group III and group IV. In conclusion, Korean Ilizarov apparatus can be used with good stability for treatment of fracture, internal bone transport, and limb lengthening according to this biomechanical study.
Extremities ; Olea ; Tensile Strength

No abstract available.
Drug Therapy* ; Granulocytes* ; Humans* ; Lung* ; Neutropenia*

PURPOSE: We measured and compared the uPA, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and uPA receptor (uPAR) levels in breast cancer tissues and blood of the patients to evaluate their clinical relevance for biotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: uPA, PAI-1 (Monozyme, Netherland), uPAR (American Diagnostics, USA) levels were measured by ELISA assay in 192 breast cancer tissues, in 18 normal breast tissues and in 163 blood from breast cancer patients. RESULTS: There was a tendency of uPA increment from ductal carcinoma in situ while increment of PAI-1 and uPAR occurred from Ti. With the progression of cancer, uPA, PAI-1, uPAR tended to decrease; however, the uPA/uPAR, uPA/PAI-1 ratios remained unchanged. There was a correlation of uPA expression between normal and cancer tissues ( r(2)= 0.49). Correlation of uPA and PAI-1 was found in normal tissue and stage I cancer tissue while correlation of uPAR and PAI-1 was found with cancer progression. Between cancer tissue and blood significant correlations were found in uPA, PAI-1, uPAR levels. CONCLUSION: uPA, PAI-1, uPAR levels in cancer tissue elevated from the early stage maintaining correlative expressions with cancer progression. A positive correlation between cancer tissue and blood level suggested the applicability of the levels of uPA, PAI-1 or uPAR for detecting patients for biotherapy.
Biological Therapy* ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; Plasminogen Activators* ; Plasminogen* ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator*

PURPOSE: Hypermethylation of the CpG island of p16(INK4a) occurs in a significant proportion of colorectal cancer (CRC). We aimed to investigate its predictive role in CRC patients treated with 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan (FOLFIRI), and cetuximab. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pyrosequencing was used to identify KRAS mutation and hypermethylation of 6 CpG island loci (p16, p14, MINT1, MINT2, MINT31, and hMLH1) in DNA extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens. Logistic regression and Cox regression were performed for analysis of the relation between methylation status of CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) markers including p16 and clinical outcome. RESULTS: Hypermethylation of the p16 gene was detected in 14 of 49 patients (28.6%) and showed significant association with KRAS mutation (Fisher exact, p=0.01) and CIMP positivity (Fisher exact, p=0.002). Patients with p16-unmethylated tumors had significantly longer time to progression (TTP; median, 9.0 months vs. 3.5 months; log-rank, p=0.001) and overall survival (median, 44.9 months vs. 16.4 months; log-rank, p=0.008) than those with p16-methylated tumors. Patients with both KRAS and p16 aberrancy (n=6) had markedly shortened TTP (median, 2.8 months) compared to those with either KRAS or p16 aberrancy (n=11; median, 8.6 months; p=0.021) or those with neither (n=32; median, 9.0 months; p < 0.0001). In multivariate analysis, KRAS mutation and p16 methylation showed independent association with shorter TTP (KRAS mutation: hazard ratio [HR], 3.21; p=0.017; p16 methylation: HR, 2.97; p=0.027). CONCLUSION: Hypermethylation of p16 was predictive of clinical outcome in metastatic CRC patients treated with cetuximab and FOLFIRI, irrespective of KRAS mutation.
Colorectal Neoplasms* ; CpG Islands ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; DNA ; Drug Therapy* ; Fluorouracil ; Genes, p16 ; Humans ; Leucovorin ; Logistic Models ; Methylation ; Multivariate Analysis ; Phenotype