PURPOSE: Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia has benign courses in most cases, but the possibility of toxicity of hyperbilirubinemia required courses examination of every newborn infant to identify the severity of hyperbilirubinemia progress. This study aims to see how the body surface area of newborns influences the decline rate of serum bilirubin level in conventional phototherapy. METHODS: Based on the charts of the Pediatrics Department, Dae-Dong Hospital from January 2003 to December 2006, we analyzed 168 neonates diagnosed as neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (serum bilirubin > or =15 mg/dL) in retrospective way. We excluded newborn infants under 37 weeks of gestation and under 2,500 g birth weight and classified neonates into four groups by the calculation results of body surface area:males above 75 percentile (group A), males below 25 (group B), females above 75 (group C), and females below 25 (group D). RESULTS: Out of 168 samples, the number of group A, B, C, D was 30, 20, 20, 15 respectively. In conventional phototherapy, the mean decline rates of serum bilirubin of group B and D recording 2.09 mg/dL/day and 1.77 mg/dL/day, were significantly faster than those of group A and C recording 1.63 mg/dL/day and 1.41 mg/dL/day (P<0.01). No significant differences were found in different duration of phototherapy between groups below 25 percentile and those above 75 in both genders. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, body surface area influences of infants the decline rate of serum bilirubin level in conventional phototherapy.
Bilirubin* ; Birth Weight ; Body Surface Area* ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia ; Hyperbilirubinemia, Neonatal ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Pediatrics ; Phototherapy* ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify awareness and knowledge about hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among North Korean immigrants who had resided in South Korea. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, community based study. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 198 North Korean immigrants aged 18 years old through 65 years old among those who had attended community centers, local churches, and gathering places in four cities. The questionnaire included 15 items about participants' knowledge on HBV infection and its consequences, mode of transmission, and preventive measures. RESULTS: The mean score of HBV knowledge was 6.3±3.8 (range 0~15). The items that over 60% of the respondents checked correct answer regarding knowledge about HBV were 'There is blood screening for hepatitis B infection', 'Hepatitis B can be transmitted through sharing needles with infected person'. Multivariate analysis showed that received education for the prevention of HBV infection and disease morbidity were significantly associated with the knowledge of HBV infection. Overall, approximately 11% of total variability in the knowledge of HBV infection could be explained by the 2 variables in this model (R²=.109, p<.001). CONCLUSION: The results showed that North Korean immigrants need more education on HBV infection and prevention to improve their knowledge about HBV.
Education ; Emigrants and Immigrants* ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Multivariate Analysis ; Needles ; Surveys and Questionnaires

In treating young women for gestational trophoblastic tumor ( G.T.T. ), all efforts are made to preserve fertility and hysterectomy is avoided unless absolutely essential. However, in some cases the operation may be lifesaving. During the last 20 years among the 310 cases of G.T.T. treated at Il Sin Christian Hospital, there were 3 cases in which hysterectomy was avoided by the excision of a localized uterine lesion thus preserving fertility.
Choriocarcinoma* ; Female ; Fertility ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Pregnancy ; Trophoblastic Neoplasms

We encountered a case of Sweet's syndrome associated with myelodysplastic syndrome in a 60-year-old woman. The clinical presentation strongly suggested Sweet's syndrome. A skin biopsy specimen taken from her skin lesion on the leg showed an infiltration of numerous neutrophils in the subcutis instead of the dermis which is the main area of neutrophilic infiltration in Sweet's syndrome. Among infiltrating cells, many neutrophils(8%) showed nuclear segmentation anomalies, that is, hyposegmentation(pseudo-Pelger-Huet anomaly) or hypersegmentation. Peripheral blood neutrophils had similar anomalies. This subcutaneous variant of Sweet's syndrome, Sweet's panniculitis, is rare and nuclear segmentation anomalies of neutrophils are probably a good clue to underlying myelodysplastic syndrome.
Biopsy ; Dermis ; Female ; Humans ; Leg ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes* ; Neutrophils* ; Panniculitis ; Skin ; Sweet Syndrome*

Mycobacterium marinum is a photochromogenic and slowly growing acid-fast organism classified in Runyon's group I of atypical mycobacteria. Infection with M. marinum occurs when the organism is inoculated usually in association with exposure to contaminated water and the disease is characteristically limited to the skin but deep soft tissue may be involved. We report a case of M. marinum infection in a 43-year-old man with erythematous verrucous plaque on his right knee, which was caused by a shell wound on a beach 3 months ago. The skin biopsy specimen showed pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia and several small epithelioid granulomas in the dermis. Culture of the tissue specimen revealed slowly growing whitish colonies in the dark, which changed yellowish after exposure to light. The microorganism was identified as M. marinum by biochemical tests, and was confirmed by the DNA-DNA hybridization method. The skin lesion disappeared after 3 moaths of treatment with minocycline, 200mg daily.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Dermis ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Knee ; Minocycline ; Mycobacterium marinum* ; Mycobacterium* ; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria ; Skin ; Wounds and Injuries

No abstract available.
Aeromonas hydrophila* ; Aeromonas* ; Animals ; Histamine Release* ; Histamine* ; Mast Cells* ; Rats*

PURPOSE: We investigated whether the removal of prostatic calculi, through a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), can improve the lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between March 2000 and February 2003, four hundred and thirty-two patients underwent TURP. Of these, one hundred and eighty-three were postoperatively evaluated with transrectal ultrasound (TRUS), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and uroflowmetry. The one hundred and eighty-three patients were divided into two groups, those with and without prostatic calculi. The group with prostatic calculi was further divided into three groups according to the location of the prostatic calculi (periurethral, periadenoma and diffuse types). The surgical outcomes were evaluated and compared between the two groups and according to the location of the prostatic calculi. RESULTS: Prostatic calculi were detected in 108 of the 183 cases (59%). The mean patient age, prostate volume and serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level were no different between the two groups. Both groups, those with and without prostatic calculi, showed improvements of their LUTS after the TURP. The prostatic calculi group showed more significant improvements in the peak uroflow (Qmax), quality of life (QoL) and IPSS compared to those of the non- prostatic calculi group (p<0.05). In the prostatic calculi group, statistically significant differences were seen between the periurethral and periadenoma location types (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the removal of prostatic calculi through TURP can improve the LUTS, and their locations are related to the operational results. Patients with symptomatic BPH, combined with prostatic calculi, seem to be strong candidates for surgical intervention, compared to those without prostatic calculi, for improvements of their LUTS.
Calculi* ; Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms* ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Quality of Life ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate* ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Tract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors affecting readmission in stroke patients. Methods: A retrospective study design was used. Participants were 3,675 adult cerebral stroke patients in the inpatient wards of the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery of G University Hospital located in C city. Data were collected from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2021 and data were analyzed using χ2 test, independent t-test, and multivariate logistic regression with SPSS/WIN 24.0. Results: After discharge for stroke, the readmission rate was 23.7%, and the mortality rate was 0.3%. The variables with significant differences between the readmission group and non-readmission group were age, type of stroke, surgery, ICU treatment, mRS score, blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. Factors influencing an readmission in stroke patients were Age 65-74 (OR 1.30, 95% CI = 1.03-1.64), ≥ 75 (OR 1.28, 95% CI = 1.02-1.62), mRS score 2points (OR 2.50, 95% CI = 1.99-3.13), HTN status (OR 1.26, 95% CI = 1.07-1.50), CVD status (OR 1.38, 95% CI = 1.01-1.90), TC (OR 1.60, 95% CI = 1.05-2.44). Conclusion To lower the readmission rate of stroke patients, it is essential to control lifestyle, including whether or not to take treatment drugs, after diagnosing risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease, hyperlipidemia. Nursing interventions that can provide information on risk factor management and coping strategies are urgently needed as symptoms change. In addition, research is needed to develop and implement an intervention strategy that can improve the function of stroke patients as much as possible at home or in society so that they can lead an independent life without the help of others, and verify their effectiveness.

The nucleolus is the largest, membrane-less organelle within the nucleus of eukaryotic cell that plays a critical role in rRNA transcription and assembly of ribosomes. Recently, the nucle olus has been shown to be implicated in an array of processes including the formation of sig nal recognition particles and response to cellular stress. Such diverse functions of nucleolus are mediated by nucleolar proteins. In this study, we characterized a gene coding a putative protein containing a nucleolar localization sequence (NoLS) in the rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae. Phylogenetic and domain analysis suggested that the protein is ortholo gous to Rrp8 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. MoRRP8-GFP (translational fusion of MoRRP8 with green fluorescence protein) co-localizes with a nucleolar marker protein, MoNOP1 fused to red fluorescence protein (RFP), indicating that MoRRP8 is a nucleolar protein. Deletion of the MoRRP8 gene caused a reduction in vegetative growth and impinged largely on asexual sporulation. Although the asexual spores of ΔMorrp8 were morphologically indistinguishable from those of wild-type, they showed delay in germination and reduction in appressorium formation. Our pathogenicity assay revealed that the MoRRP8 is required for full virulence and growth within host plants. Taken together, these results suggest that nucleolar processes mediated by MoRRP8 is pivotal for fungal development and pathogenesis.

OBJECTIVES: Treating olfactory dysfunction is a challenge for physicians. One of the therapeutic options could be transplantation of stem cells. In this study, neural stem cells were transplanted into anosmic mice. METHODS: Neural stem cells were generated from the olfactory bulb of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-transgenic C57BL6 mice. Anosmia were induced by injection of intraperitoneal 3-methylindole. The neural stem cells were transplanted transnasally on the next day. The olfactory function was evaluated by a food-finding test once a week. The olfactory neuroepithelium was harvested for histologic examination and protein analysis at 4 weeks. RESULTS: Twenty-five percent (6/24) of the control mice that were not transplanted with neural stem cells survived at 4 weeks while 67% (8/12) of the transplanted mice survived (P=0.029). The food finding test showed that the transplanted mice resumed finding food at 3 weeks while the control mice resumed finding food at 4 weeks. GFP-positive cells were observed in the olfactory neuroepithelium of the transplanted mice. Western blotting revealed that the olfactory marker protein expression was significantly lower in the control mice than that in the transplanted mice. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that improvement of mouse survival was achieved and recovery of olfactory function was promoted by transnasal transplantation of neural stem cells in the anosmic mouse model. These results indicate that stem cells might be one of the future modalities for treating olfactory impairment.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Mice ; Neural Stem Cells ; Olfaction Disorders ; Olfactory Bulb ; Olfactory Marker Protein ; Skatole ; Smell ; Stem Cells ; Transplants