No abstract available.
Spinal Muscular Atrophies of Childhood*

Recently attention has been focused on the biology of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1). TGF-beta1, a potent regulator of cell proliferation, stimulates the proliferation of many cell types of mesenchymal origin and inhibits the growth of many epithelial cells. But its cellular distribution and temporal expression remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate immunohistochemically the cellular distribution and temporal expression of TGF-beta1 during rat hepatic fibrosis induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN). At an early stage of liver fibrosis, there was evidence of multiple centrilobular hemorrhagic necrosis with parenchymal lobular collapse, and at a late stage, there was septal fibrosis with micronodule formation of the parenchyme. TGF-beta1 peptide was first expressed in centrilobular clusters of macrophage which were surrounded by many TGF-beta1 negative fat-storing cells (FSCs). Along with the progression of fibrosis, the TGF-beta1 peptide was expressed in the alpha-smooth muscle actin positive FSCs and also in some peripherally located hepatocytes of micronodules. Serum IFN-gamma was detected in the serum 2 weeks after an initial administration of DMN had reached the peak level at the 4th week and then markedly decreased at the 5th week. We think that TGF-beta1 peptide is produced by macrophages influenced by soluble IFN-gamma, and is expressed in the -smooth muscle actin positive mesenchymal cells and regenerating hepatocytes, and that this cytokine may have an important role in the synthesis of the extracellular matrix and in the regulation of hepatocytic regeneration.
Actins ; Animals ; Biology ; Cell Proliferation ; Dimethylnitrosamine* ; Epithelial Cells ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibrosis* ; Hepatocytes ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver* ; Macrophages ; Necrosis ; Rats* ; Regeneration ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1*

No abstract available.

Background: Some epidemiological studies have indicated that weather and air pollution can cause adverse health conditions and that these effects can exhibit regional variation. The prevalence of headache is so high and it is a common cause of morbidity. Therefore, this study evaluated whether weather and air pollution were associated with the prevalence of headaches. Methods: A symmetric bidirectional case-crossover design was applied, using conditional logistic regression models to determine the association between headaches and weather and air pollution. From January 2006 to August 2007, a total of 245 patients with headaches were recruited. Headache subtypes were classifi ed as migraine, tension-type headaches, and others. Meteorological data (average temperature and relative humidity) and values related to air pollutants (CO, NO2 , O3 , SO2 , and particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 10 μm) were obtained. Results: Higher average temperatures were associated with the total number of headaches (hazard ratio 1.124-1.130; P<0.001). With regard to headache subtype, O3 seems to provoke headaches, especially those related to tension and those listed as other headache varieties. Conversely, other pollutants, especially CO and SO2 , showed the opposite association. Conclusions: These fi ndings indicated that temperature and some air pollutants are able to affect headaches, suggesting that weather and air pollution levels seem to have an effect on the risk of headache.

We observed 22 cases of acute renal failure in children who were admitted to Severance Hospital from Jan. 1978 till Dec. 1980 and the results are as follows. The acute renal failure was the highest incidence between the age of 6 and 10 years (10 cases out of all), most of whom had acute glomerulonephritis and male was 3.4 times as high as in female. The causes of acute renal failure were renal origin(13 cases) and prerenal origin(8 cases) and in type of diseases the acute post streptococcal glomerulonephritis was the most frequent cause(8 cases). Average duration of oliguria or anuria was 3.4days(range 1~20 days), mean value of peak BUN level was 104mg/dl(range 54-184mg/dl) and it took average 5.6days(range 3~10days) to recover. Two patients died and those who died or discharge against advice were considered as died, mortality rate was 27%. It was remarkable that two neonates who were performed peritoneal dialysis on the 6 th day and the 7 th day after birth respecively were recovered from acute renal failure. Acute renal failure in children has more favorable outcome than in adult therefore early diagnosis and prompt treatment of conservative treatment and peritoneal dialysis should be performed.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Adult ; Anuria ; Child* ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Mortality ; Oliguria ; Parturition ; Peritoneal Dialysis

The nuclear accumulation of p53 protein is known to correspond with mutation of p53 tumor supressor gene. To investigate the relationsbip between clinico-pathologic features and expression of p53 mutations, 65 cases of primary cervical carcinoma were analysed by an immunohistochemieal method using monoclonal antibody of p53. Immunostaining demonstrated varioua nuclear stinings of cancer cells in 48.4% of squamous cell carcinoma(51.9% in large cell carcinoma and 25.0% in small cell carcinomas) and 23.5% of adenocarcinoma(p<0.05) No differences in clinical stage and p53 positivity were found. There was no significant correlation between p53 positive cases and status of recurrence. This data suggests that p53 protein is not correlated with the disease progression and prognosis.
Carcinoma, Large Cell ; Cervix Uteri* ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Genes, p53* ; Prognosis ; Recurrence

PURPOSE: Segmental parenchymal excretion delay on Tc-99m DISIDA scan is caused by intrahepatic bile duct obstruction. However, the diagmostic value for intrahepatic bile duct obstruction is unknown. We conducted this study to assess the positive predictive value of segmental excretiom delay for the diagnosis of intrahepatic bile duct obstruction, and additional benefit over other noninvasive radiologic studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 43 patients (48 scans) Who showed segmental parenchymal excretion delay on Tc-99m DISIDA scan. The results of abdominal CT or ultrasonography, which was done within 1 month of Tc-99m DISIDA scan, were compared with scintigraphic findings. RESULTS: The etiology of segmental parenchymal excretion delay was determined by ERC or PTC in 31 scans, and follow-up studies in 13 scans. No causes were identified in 4 scans. The positive predictive value of segmental parenchymal excretion delay for intrahepatic bile duct obstruction was 92% (44/48). On the other hand, 13% (5/38) of CT and 28% (5/18) of ultrasonography were normal. In 18% (7/38) of CT and 17% (3/18) of ultrasonography, only intraheipatic bile duct dilatation was noted without any diagnostic findings of intrahepatic bile duct obstruction. CONCLUSION: Segmental parenchymal excretion delay on Tc-99rn DISIDA scan had a high positive predictive value for the diagnosis of intrahepatic bile duct obstruction. Tc-99m DISIDA scan may be useful for the diagnosis of intrahepatic bile duct obstruction, especially in patients with nondiagnostic CT or ultrasonography. The diagnostic usefulness need to be confirmed by further prospective studies. KW: Tc-99m DISIDA, Segmental parenchymal excretion delay, Intrahepatic bile duct obstruction.
Bile Ducts ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand ; Humans ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

Periodontal diseases occur from the interplay between increased bacterial response and the response of the host immune system over time. Anxiety and depression can impair immunological defense mechanisms, causing accumulation of periodontopathogens and thus exacerbating periodontal disease. We investigated the relationship of anxiety and depression to periodontal diseases in Korean women. In this study, 3,551 women aged ≥19 years were evaluated based on data from the first year (2010) of the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The analysis of the factors that caused periodontal diseases revealed that dental floss or interdental toothbrush nonuse behaviors have been shown to increase the risk of periodontal disease (odds ratio [OR], 1.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14~1.95). After adjusting for conditions such as age, marital status, income, educational level, economic activity, diabetes mellitus, smoking, drinking, and frequencies of toothbrushing and interdental cleaning, we found that anxiety and depression increased the risk of developing periodontal diseases (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.04~2.09). People with anxiety and depression have a higher prevalence of periodontal diseases than people without anxiety and depression. Thus, periodic periodontal care and effective self-care education are needed to manage periodontal diseases.
Anxiety* ; Defense Mechanisms ; Dental Devices, Home Care ; Depression* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Drinking ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Immune System ; Korea ; Marital Status ; Morinda ; Nutrition Surveys ; Oral Health ; Periodontal Diseases* ; Prevalence ; Self Care ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Toothbrushing

A case of infectious mononucleosis was presented. She was admitted to the hospital with the anterior cervical lymphadenopathy. Erythematous skin rashes on both low extermities, and splenomegaly. Her chief complaints were fever and sore throat. She showed atypical lymphocytes in peripheral blood smear with relative lymphocytosis. Mono-spot test was positive. She received symptomatic therapy and discharged without any complications. So, we report this case and review the brief literatures of infectious mononucleosis with the respect to etiology, clinical course, and histological characteristics of the disease.
Exanthema ; Fever ; Infectious Mononucleosis ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphocytosis ; Pharyngitis ; Splenomegaly

BACKGROUND: Although physicians state that patients ideally should receive hospice palliative care for 3 months before death, the majority of patients survive less than one month in hospice palliative care. This is too short to do effective hospice palliative care. Therefore, we figured out the problems through the clinical considerations about terminally ill cancer patients who had died in hospice unit. METHODS: From July to December in 2003, 107 patients with terminally ill cancer who had died in Sam Anyang Hospice Unit were enrolled in this study. For getting the informations about patients characteristics, we reviewed the medical records and interviewed the patients on the first visit. RESULTS: There were 70 males (65%) and 37 females (35%), and median age of patients was 60 years (range 23-93). The most common cancer was stomach cancer (18 patients, 17%). Forty seven patients (44%) took analgesics, the others 60 (56%) not. The most common symptom was pain (75 patients, 70%) and the most prevalent reason for admission was also pain (60, 56%). The most prevalent physician specialty who transferred patients or referred to local hospital was other internal medicine (48 patients, 44%), followed by hemato-oncology (38, 36%), surgery (12, 11%) and others (9, 9%). The median duration between the day when the patients were diagnosed as terminally ill cancer patient and the day when they were referred to hospice center is 48 days. The median survival in hospice palliative care is 30 days. The median hospitalization is 19 days. CONCLUSION: We found that lack of recognition about hospice palliative care of physicians, patients and families made the length of hospice palliative care too short. To do effective hospice palliative care, it needs education and promotion for them constantly.
Analgesics ; Education ; Female ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hospices* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; Male ; Medical Records ; Palliative Care ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Terminally Ill*