No abstract available

No abstract available.
Genetic Therapy*

The geographical distribution of active physicians who graduated from medical schools before 1985 were studied. Those who had emigrated, hold non-medical jobs, are in the military service, or work as public health physicians and resident staff were excluded from the study. A total of 27,728 physicians were analyzed. Our studies have shown a relationship between the location of the medical schools from the which the physicians have graduated and the geographical regions in which they practice. A statistically significant number of physicians are working near the medical colleges from which they have graduated. That is, those who had graduated from medical schools located in the southern area of the country are presently working in the same region. This relationship was shown to be especially significant for older physicians and female doctors, who work around the area of the medical colleges from which they graduated.
Female ; Humans ; Military Personnel ; Public Health ; Schools, Medical

Pancoast syndrome (PS) is characterized by a malignant neoplasm of the superior sulcus of the lung with destructive lesions of the thoracic inlet and involvement of the brachial plexus and cervical sympathetic nerves. The most common initial symptom of PS is shoulder pain; however, cough, dyspnea, and hemoptysis, signs often associated with lung cancer, are not as common. Investigation of PS can be difficult even with plain radiographs of the chest because it is surrounded by osseous structures such as the ribs, vertebral bodies, and manubrium. Due to these characteristics, orthopedic surgeons tend to make a misdiagnosis resulting in delay of appropriate treatment. Here we report on a patient who was supposed to undergo rotator cuff repair for his shoulder pain and weakness, and was eventually diagnosed with PS.
Bays ; Brachial Plexus ; Cough ; Diagnostic Errors ; Dyspnea ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Manubrium ; Orthopedics ; Pancoast Syndrome* ; Ribs ; Rotator Cuff* ; Shoulder Pain ; Superior Vena Cava Syndrome ; Thorax

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine whether patients with recurrent stone formations have significant metabolic risk factors compared to patients with first-time stone formations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 456 patients who participated in the stone metabolic study at Chung-Ang University Hospital between January 1, 2001 and June 30, 2002 were selected as subjects. 347 patients (211 males, 136 females) with first-time stone formations and 109 patients (77 males, 32 females) with recurrent stone formations were selected. The blood test and 24-hour urine test were categorized and grouped according to: 1) gender; 2) age brackets of 40 and under, 40-49, and 60 and over; 3) and gender-based age bracket distribution. RESULTS: Hypocitraturia was the most common metabolic abnormality in both males and females and in all age groups. Hypocitraturia, in particular, was shown to have more significant associations (p<0.05) in female patients in their 40s and 50s with recurrent stone formations (75%) compared to female patients of the same age range with first-time stone formations (38.6%). In addition, a small urine volume was found to have similar significant associations with these subject groups (p<0.05) with respect to patients with first-time stone formations and recurrent stone formations. Female Patients (especially those in their 40s and 50s) with recurrent stone formations (242.1+/-158.5) were found to have a higher probability (p<0.05) of hypocitraturia than patients with first-time stone formation (419.9+/-242.3). CONCLUSIONS: In women with recurrent stone formation, hypocitraturia and low urine volume are the risk factors that differentiate them from patients with first-time stone formation. The correction of hypocitraturia & low urine volume may significantly reduce the patients' chances for recurrent stone formation.
Female ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Male ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors* ; Urolithiasis

No abstract available.
Epidermolysis Bullosa Dystrophica* ; Epidermolysis Bullosa*

PURPOSE: This study investigates nurses' organizational commitment, internal marketing, and occupational satisfaction depending on their age, martial status, clinical experience and income. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 350 nurses from six hospitals in Jeolla-do. The t-tests were used to analyze the differences in internal marketing, occupational satisfaction, and organizational commitment depending on their age, marital status, career, and income. The relationships among internal marketing, occupational satisfaction, and organizational commitment were analyzed by the path analysis. RESULTS: The results of this study showed that organizational commitment was correlated with age, clinical experiences, and income, but not significantly associated with martial status. Education and training policy, benefit system, and fairness of the internal marketing were influencing factors on occupational satisfaction. These factors were correlated with organizational commitment through occupational satisfaction. CONCLUSION: This study addressed the relationships among nurses' internal marketing, occupational satisfaction, and organizational commitment. Based on the results, it is suggested that hospital organizations introduce more diverse incentive policies to enhance nurses' occupational satisfaction and organizational commitment.
Marital Status ; Marketing ; Motivation

BACKGROUND: Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSVtk) phosphorylates the prodrug ganciclovir to a nucleoside analog that inhibits DNA synthesis, causing cell death. Neighbouring nontransfected cells may be affected through a 'bystander effect', thereby amplifying the antiproliferative actions. This study was carried out to determine whether retrovirus-mediated HSVtk gene therapy could reduce intimal hyperplasia and prevent stenosis following balloon injury of the rat carotid artery. METHODS: A replication-defective recombinant retroviral vector containing HSVtk cDNA (LtkSN) was constructed. Cultured primary rat smooth muscle cells (SMCs) infected with this vector (SMC/LtkSN) were transplanted to the balloon injured rat right carotid artery. One week after transplantation, HSVtk gene therapy group was administered a 2-week treatment of ganciclovir (30 mg/kg/d). Three weeks after balloon injury and SMC/LtkSN transplantation, carotid arteriography was performed and carotid arteries were perfusion-fixed for histologic examination. RESULTS: Carotid arteriographic evaluation comparing with the uninjured left carotid artery showed that the mean luminal diameter of HSVtk gene therapy group (n=5, 85+/-3%) was significantly larger than that of balloon injury only group (n=5, 65+/-5%). The neointimal mass of HSVtk gene therapy group was less than that of balloon injury only group. SMC/LtkSN transplantation without ganciclovir treatment group (n=3) showed asymmetric intimal proliferation probably because of gravitational pooling of seeding. There were inflammatory cell infiltrations at the gravity dependent portion of HSVtk gene therapy group. CONCLUSION: Retrovirus-mediated HSVtk gene therapy following balloon injury of the rat carotid artery reduced neointimal expansion and arteriographic stenosis.
Angiography ; Animals ; Carotid Arteries* ; Carotid Artery Injuries* ; Cell Death ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; DNA ; DNA, Complementary ; Ganciclovir ; Genetic Therapy* ; Gravitation ; Herpes Simplex* ; Hyperplasia ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Phenobarbital ; Phosphotransferases* ; Rats* ; Simplexvirus* ; Thymidine Kinase ; Zidovudine

No abstract available.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast*

No abstract available.
Head and Neck Neoplasms* ; Head* ; Incidence* ; Neck* ; Neoplasm Metastasis*