No abstract available.
Helminths* ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do*

No abstract available.
Leukemia*

This study was performed to evaluate the effects of extracts of Drynariae Rhizoma on the characteristics of rat calvaria cells(RCV) and bone marrow cells(RBM) which have the important role on the bone formation in vitro. Drynariae Rhizoma has been known as the useful herbal medicament for treatment of the wound healing including regeneration of bone fracture, and also has been used to treat the periodontal lesions, tooth mobility, gingival bleeding and pus discharge via sulcus in Oriental Medicine. In control group, the cells were cultured alone with Dulbeco's Modified Eagle's Medium contained with 10% fetal bovine serum, 100U/ml penicillin, 100microgram/ml streptomycin, 0.5microgram/ml amphotericin-B. In experimental group, extracts of Drynariae Rhizoma(0.1, 1, 5, 10, 50microgram/ml) were added into the above culture condition. And then each group was characterized by examing the cell proliferation at 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, 30th day, the amount of total protein synthesis and alkaline phosphatase activity of RCV at 2,4th day and those of RBM at 3, 6th day. And also, the calcified nodule of RCV was examed at 3, 5th day in three goup, control, experimental, culture with the PDGF group. The results were as follow; 1. Both RCV and RBM cells in Drynariae Rhizoma-treated experimental group proliferated more rapidly than non-treated control group. The experimental group below 5microgram/ml Drynariae Rhizoma-treated showed more prominent cell proliferation from the 7th day to the 21st day than the control group and above 10 microgram/ml treated group in RCV. 2. Amount of total protein synthesis was more increased in Drynariae Rhizoma-treated group than in control group. In 5microgram/ml Drynariae Rhizoma-treated group showed most prominent protein synthesis of the any other exrperimental group and control group. 3. Alkaline phosphatase activity also more increased in Drynariae Rhizoma-treated group than control group.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells* ; Bone Marrow* ; Cell Proliferation ; Fractures, Bone ; Hemorrhage ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional ; Osteogenesis ; Penicillins ; Polypodiaceae* ; Rats* ; Regeneration ; Skull ; Streptomycin ; Suppuration ; Tooth Mobility ; Wound Healing

Amicrobial pustulosis of the folds (APF) is a rare pustular eruption, which predominantly involves the cutaneous folds, including the external auditory canals, scalp, and palms. It occurs in patients with a wide spectrum of autoimmune abnormalities. Systemic lupus erythematosus is the autoimmune disorder observed most commonly in patients with APF. The etiology of APF is unclear, but all reported cases have involved women of reproductive age when the eruptions first occurred. This report describes a 34-year-old woman who presented with an acute pustular rash. Her medical history was unremarkable, except for transitory dry eyes, dry mouth, and polyarthralgia for 1 year. Coalescing pustular lesions arising on erythematous skin, forming crusted and eroded plaques, were observed, which predominantly affected the anterior chest, mainly the cutaneous folds. The periorificial regions were also involved, including the nasal alae, mouth angles, and external auditory canals. Our patient had the characteristic clinical and histopathological features of APF, in association with primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS). In conclusion, we present a patient having APF associated with pSS.
Adult ; Arthralgia ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; Ear Canal ; Exanthema ; Eye ; Female ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Mouth ; Scalp ; Sjogren's Syndrome ; Skin ; Thorax

BACKGROUND: The p16 protein is a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CDKI) that inhibits cell cycle progression from phase G1 to phase S in the cell cycle. Many p16 gene mutations have been noted in many cancer-cell lines and in some primary cancers. These mutated genes caused abnormal or aberrant expression of the p16 protein, which might have contributed to the malignant progression of the cells by deranging the cell cycle. This study was to examine the abnormal or aberrant expression of the p16 protein in breast cancer tissue by using p16 protein specific immunohistochemical staining. METHODS: p16-protein-specific immunohistochemical staining was performed on 31 breast-cancer tissue samples. Twenty-four cases among the 31 tissue staining slides simultaneously showed a normal breast-tissue portion on the same staining slide. Microscopic photographs of both the breast-cancer and the normal- tissue portion were taken at the same magnification to compare the statistically analyzed fraction of red or brown colored p16 stained nuclei. RESULTS: In the breast cancer tissue, 7 (22.6%) showed totally negative, with less than 5% of the nuclei staining. The completely negative cases were not related to the stage of the disease (p=0.096) or to the histopathologic grade (p=0.20). The staining ratios of the breast-cancer tissue and the normal tissue were 26.2 ( +/- 18.7)% and 72.4 ( +/- 18.8)%, respectively. In the breast-cancer tissue, the ratio of expression of the p16 protein was significantly lower than in the normal tissue (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In the carcinogenesis of some breast cancers, low expression of the p16 protein may play an important role in the unlimited proliferation of tumor cell due to a loss of the cell-cycle-regulating role of the p16 protein.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Carcinogenesis ; Cell Cycle ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16* ; Genes, p16 ; Humans* ; Phosphotransferases

Nesidioblastosis is a rare disorder, and it usually considered as a cause of neonatal hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia. A 35 year-old-woman with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia was admitted in an unconscious condition. Abdominal CT, pancreas MRI and celiac angiography with an intra-arterial calcium stimulation test revealed a suspicious insulin-producing tumorous lesion in the head of pancreas. The patient underwent enucleation of the pancreas head tumor under the initial diagnosis of insulinoma. However, the tumor was confirmed histologically as nesidioblastosis that showed ductoendocrine proliferations and numerous small endocrine cell groups. Nesidioblastosis is classified into a focal type and a diffuse type, which are characterized by different clinical outcomes. The patient in our case showed a normal blood glucose level after operation, which is often the case for the focal type. Herein, we report this very rare case of adult nesiodioblastosis that was successfully treated by surgical resection.
Adult ; Angiography ; Blood Glucose ; Calcium ; Endocrine Cells ; Head ; Humans ; Hyperinsulinism ; Hypoglycemia ; Insulinoma ; Nesidioblastosis ; Pancreas ; Unconscious (Psychology)

Pheochromocytoma, the catecholamine-producing tumor of chromaffin tissue, is associated with a curable form of hypertension. Recently we report the case of a 59 year-old male admitted for an acute myocardial infarction and who subsequently developed late recurrent severe ventricular arrhythmia coincident with transient hypertensive episodes. A pheochromocytoma was diagnosed on the basis of the urinary concentration of catecholamines and computerized tomography of the adrenal glands. After stabilization of his cardiac rhythm and blood pressure with alpha adrenergic blockade, the left adrenal gland, which contained the tumor, was subsequently resected. The diagnosis of a pheochromocytoma should be considered when recurrent ventricular arrhythmia are associated with intermittent hypertension after acute myocardial infarction.
Adrenal Glands ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Blood Pressure ; Catecholamines ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Pheochromocytoma*

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: In Korea, interests in health and health care costs have been increased along with the increase of mean survival rate and income level. The aim of this study is to investigate the actual condition of drug medication and burden of health care cost. METHODS: A total of 1,434 subjects in four tertiary medical centers were enrolled in this study. The questionnaires were obtained between March 2005 and September 2005. Based on this information, the actual condition of drug medication and health care cost were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects was 55.0+/-11.4 years (16-87 years). The male and female ratio was 1.74:1. The subjects with drug medication except for doctor's prescription are presently 26.6% and were 40.9% in the past. Traditional medicine (39.6%) and health food (29.9%) are more frequently used than herbal medicine (5.8%) and medical supplies (4.2%) now. In the past, herbal medicine (14.6%) was more frequently used compared with the present. The side effects of drug medication were developed in 90 subjects (7.5%). The total mean health care costs were 895,000 won/year, the herbal medicine, 834,000 won/year, the health food, 950,000 won/year, and the traditional medicine, 324,000 won/year. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the subjects with other drug medications without doctor's prescription were as high as ever. The frequency of the use of the herbal medicine was decreased. However, the frequency for the use of the health food and traditional medicine have relatively increased. The side effects and additional large amounts of health care costs were occurred.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Dietary Supplements/*adverse effects ; Female ; *Health Care Costs ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver/*injuries ; Liver Diseases/*chemically induced/*economics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nonprescription Drugs/*adverse effects ; Plants, Medicinal/*adverse effects ; Self Medication/*adverse effects

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN 1) is the association of neoplastic transformation of parathyroid, pituitary, and pancreatic islet cells. This syndrome is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. A 38-year-old woman presented with general weakness and mental changes. She had experienced same symptoms 7 years ago, after then her weight gradually increased. Insulinoma was suspected by markedly decreased blood glucose level (20mg/dL) and the increased insulin/glucose ratio (0.43) that sampled in emergency room at the time of mental change. Unusually large pancreatic tail mass and Lt, adrenal gland mass were detected by abdominal CT. Percutaneous transhepatic portal vein catheterization with insulin sampling showed sudden step up of insulin/glucose ratio at the middle portion of pancreas. Measuring of basal pituitary hormones as a screening procedure of MEN showed increased basal prolactin level. Combined pituitary stimulation test showed blunted response of prolactin to TRH and sellar magnetic resonance imaging showed intrasellar mass. Thyroid nodule was palpated on her anterior neck. Thyroid scintigram showed cold nodule, and there was no lymphadenopathy around the nodule by the thyroid sonogram. Fine needle aspiration cytology showed benign hyperplastic follicular cells only. Serum ionized calcium and parathyroid hormone level were normal. Under the impression of MEN type I, the distal pancreatectomy, splenectomy, Lt. thyroid lobectomy and Lt. adrenalectomy was performed at the same time. Histologic examination of the surgically removed tissues revealed pancreas islet cell tumor, adrenal cortical adenoma and thyroid adenoma. Transient hyperglycemia was developed after surgical intervention, but thereafter she never felt any symptoms of hypoglycemia till now and her blood glucose showed completely normal level with oral glucose tolerance tests. We present this case with a review of literature.
Adenoma, Islet Cell ; Adrenal Glands ; Adrenalectomy ; Adrenocortical Adenoma ; Adult ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Blood Glucose ; Calcium ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Hypoglycemia ; Insulin ; Insulinoma ; Islets of Langerhans ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1* ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia* ; Neck ; Pancreas ; Pancreatectomy ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Pituitary Hormones ; Portal Vein ; Prolactin ; Splenectomy ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroid Nodule ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

With the development of microsurgery, autogenous nerve grafting is being used widely in the treatment of the injured facial nerve. To use a donor graft for repair of the facial nerve, fascicular area and fascicular number should be considered in the selection of the donor site. This study demonstrated a detailed morphologic description of the facial nerve, including a microscopic assessment of nerve size and shape, and fascicular number and diameters. 40 embalmed hemi-sectioned head specimens from Korean adult cadavers were dissected to identify the facial nerve branches and nerve samples for histologic examination were cut from the anterior margin of the parotid gland.At the border of the parotid gland, the facial nerve specimens were found to have an average of 11 branches (ranging from 8 to 16). The branches were distributed among the five distinct branches, the buccal branch had the greatest number of branches (3.47), and the zygomatic branch had the largest diameters (0.93 mm). The number of fascicles varied from one to 9 over the course of the nerve, the trunk had the greatest number of fascicles (4.36), and averages indicated a tendency for fascicular numbers to decrease distally, from trunk (4.36) to upper division (3.72) to lower division (3.60) to marginal mandibular branch (2.37). The total fascicular area was averaging 2.72 mm2, 1.88 mm2, and 1.04 mm2 at trunk, upper division, and lower division, respectively. However no significant differences of the fascicular diameter could be shown between five branches. This results of detailed facial nerve microanatomy should help in the treatment of the injured facial nerve.
Adult ; Cadaver ; Facial Nerve ; Head ; Humans ; Microsurgery ; Parotid Gland ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants