BACKGROUND: The granulocyte-specific antigen NA which exist specifically on neutrophils and eosinophils have its antigenic determinant on Fcgamma receptor III. The alloantibodies and autoantibodies against this antigen are responsible for neonatal alloimmune neutropenia, chronic benign autoimmune neutropenia of infancy and transfusion-related acute lung injury. After discovering of biallelic polymorphism of NA antigen, there have been attempts to replace technically cumbersome serotyping methods by DNA-typing. This study was performed to investigate the genotype frequency of NA antigen In Koreans by DNA typing. METHODS: Using genomic DNA extracted from venous blood of 200 Koreans, genotype of NA antigen system was determined through polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP), and the frequency was compared with previous studies. The NA genotypes of seven individuals were compared with their known phenotypes. RESULTS: The genotype frequencies of NA1+NA2-, NA1+NA2+, and NA1-NA2+ were 28.5%, 59.0%, and 12.5% respectively. The gene frequencies calculated from genotype frequencies were 0.58 and 0.42 for NA1 and NA2 respectively. The NA genotypes of seven individuals were correlated precisely with their phenotypes. CONCLUSION: The gene frequency of NA1 in Koreans was higher than that of Caucasian. The genotype frequencies of NA antigen in Koreans were similar to those of the Japanese and Chinese. This study will serve as a basic data for the study of the patients with diseases associated with granulocyte-specific antigens in Koreans.
Acute Lung Injury ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Autoantibodies ; DNA ; DNA Fingerprinting ; Eosinophils ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype* ; Humans ; Isoantibodies ; Neutropenia ; Neutrophils ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Serotyping

No abstract available.
Female ; Germ Cells* ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal* ; Ovary*

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA, PC10), an auxillary protein of DNA polymerase, plays a main role in the early stage of DNA Synthesis and is synthesized from Gl phase to s phase of the cell cycle. Nucleolar organizer region (NORs) are DNA loops encoding RNA proteins(AgNORs). To evaluate correlation with PCNA labelling index (LI)and AgNORs according to histological grades and clinical stages of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder, the authors analysed 54 transitional cell carcinoma using immunohistochemical stain for PCNA and silver stain for AgNORs in paraffin sections. The comparison of PCNA (PC10) LI and clinical stage showed a significant correlation (p<0.05), where as PCNA (PC10) LI according to histologic grade showed no significant correlation. High grade tumors showed increase PCNA LI. Superficial tumors (Ta-Tl) showed significantly lower PCNA LI than muscle invasive tumors (T2-T4)(p<0.05). There was no significant correlation between AgNORs and clinical stage, bur higher stage and higher grade tumors showed increased noubers of AgNORs. These results suggest that PCNA LI has a significant correlation with clinical stages of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder.

Congenital esophageal stenosis due to tracheobronchial remnants is one of main forms of congenital esophageal stenosis, and it was first described by Frey and Duschel in l936. An 18-month-old male presented with underdevelopment and dehydration state due to persistent vomiting several times per day since 3 months after his birth. Esophagogram revealed an elongated and diiated esophagus with marked stenosis at distal portion. Partial distal esophagectomy was performed. Histologically, the thickened esophageal wall is composed of tracheobronchial remnants including hyaline cartilages, mucous glands, and ductal structures lined by ciliated respiratory epithelium under stratified squamous mucosa.
Male ; Humans

Congenital esophageal stenosis due to tracheobronchial remnants is one of main forms of congenital esophageal stenosis, and it was first described by Frey and Duschel in l936. An 18-month-old male presented with underdevelopment and dehydration state due to persistent vomiting several times per day since 3 months after his birth. Esophagogram revealed an elongated and diiated esophagus with marked stenosis at distal portion. Partial distal esophagectomy was performed. Histologically, the thickened esophageal wall is composed of tracheobronchial remnants including hyaline cartilages, mucous glands, and ductal structures lined by ciliated respiratory epithelium under stratified squamous mucosa.
Male ; Humans

PURPOSE: Recently, vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have become one of the major nosocomial pathogens in Korea. However, there have been few studies on the epidemiology of VRE colonization among neonates. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of VRE colonization, risk factors for VRE, and how to control the spread of VRE infection in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Pusan National University Hospital (PNUH). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 192 neonates who were admitted to the NICU of PNUH from March 2006 to March 2007. Surveillance cultures from rectal swabs for detecting VRE were obtained weekly during the study period. We analyzed the prevalence of VRE and various risk factors. RESULTS: The rate of VRE colonization among NICU patients was 25% (48/192). Thirty five of these VRE colonized patients were transferred to the NICU from other local hospitals. Compared with the non-VRE group, the risk factors associated with VRE colonization were lower birth weight, congenital heart disease, applied mechanical ventilation, use of a central venous catheter, chest tubing, a history of surgery, and use of antibiotics. CONCLUSION: VRE colonization among patients admitted to the NICU is rapidly increasing. Monitoring and managing premature neonates from the beginning of the birth process, avoiding many invasive procedures, avoiding antibiotics such as vancomycin and third generation cephalosporin are important for preventing the emergence and spread of VRE colonization in the NICU.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Birth Weight ; Central Venous Catheters ; Colon ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Parturition ; Prevalence ; Respiration, Artificial ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Thorax ; Vancomycin ; Vancomycin Resistance

No abstract available.
Cervix Uteri* ; Drug Therapy* ; Female

Purpose: Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are widely prescribed for postmenopausal women with breast cancer and are known to cause musculoskeletal pain. This study aimed to identify factors associated with AI continuation intention among breast cancer survivors (BCS). Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 123 BCS (stages I–III), who had been taking AIs for at least 6 weeks. Participants were recruited from a cancer center in Goyang, Korea, from September to November 2019. Descriptive statistics, Welch analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and simple linear regression were used for the analysis. Results: Belief in endocrine therapy was a significant predictor of AI continuation intention (β=.66, p<.001). The majority of participants (87.0%) reported experiencing musculoskeletal pain since taking AIs and the score for the worst pain severity within 24 hours was 5.08±2.80 out of 10. Musculoskeletal pain, however, was not associated with AI continuation intention. Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) was clinically significant (≥13) for 74.0% of the respondents (mean, 17.62±7.14). Musculoskeletal pain severity and pain interference were significantly associated with FCR (r=.21, p<.05; r=.35, p<.01, respectively). Pain interference was significantly associated with belief in endocrine therapy (r=–.18, p<.05). Conclusion AI continuation intention can be modified by reinforcing patients’ belief in endocrine therapy. Musculoskeletal pain may have a negative effect on belief in endocrine therapy and increase FCR among BCS. Thus, awareness of musculoskeletal pain during AI therapy should be raised and further research is required to develop multidisciplinary pain management strategies and clinical guidelines to reinforce belief in endocrine therapy.

Purpose: Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are widely prescribed for postmenopausal women with breast cancer and are known to cause musculoskeletal pain. This study aimed to identify factors associated with AI continuation intention among breast cancer survivors (BCS). Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 123 BCS (stages I–III), who had been taking AIs for at least 6 weeks. Participants were recruited from a cancer center in Goyang, Korea, from September to November 2019. Descriptive statistics, Welch analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and simple linear regression were used for the analysis. Results: Belief in endocrine therapy was a significant predictor of AI continuation intention (β=.66, p<.001). The majority of participants (87.0%) reported experiencing musculoskeletal pain since taking AIs and the score for the worst pain severity within 24 hours was 5.08±2.80 out of 10. Musculoskeletal pain, however, was not associated with AI continuation intention. Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) was clinically significant (≥13) for 74.0% of the respondents (mean, 17.62±7.14). Musculoskeletal pain severity and pain interference were significantly associated with FCR (r=.21, p<.05; r=.35, p<.01, respectively). Pain interference was significantly associated with belief in endocrine therapy (r=–.18, p<.05). Conclusion AI continuation intention can be modified by reinforcing patients’ belief in endocrine therapy. Musculoskeletal pain may have a negative effect on belief in endocrine therapy and increase FCR among BCS. Thus, awareness of musculoskeletal pain during AI therapy should be raised and further research is required to develop multidisciplinary pain management strategies and clinical guidelines to reinforce belief in endocrine therapy.

We present a family of FSP with review of literatures. Seeligmuller (1876) and Strumpell (1880) were the first to describe familial case of spastic paraplegia characterized by progressive weakness and spasticity of the lower limbs with little or no involvement of the upper extremities. This syndrome is heterogenous in inheritance, age of onset, severity and associated signs. A pure type without complications has been named "Strumpell's FSP". We have recently experienced a case of 17 years old male who had bilateral weakness and stiffness of lower extremities, and gait disturbance with family history. Differential diagnosis, particularly with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is discussed.
Adolescent ; Age of Onset ; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Gait ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Muscle Spasticity* ; Paraplegia* ; Upper Extremity ; Wills