We have shown that hyaluronic acid stimulates the proliferation of quiescent NIH 3T3 cells. We have shown that treatment of 1 mg/ml hyaluronic acid results in increase of tyrosine phosphorylation of two proteins, MW 124 kDa and 60 kDa as detected by anti-tyrosine antibodies by Western blot analysis. Maximum phosphorylation occurred within 2 h after addition of 1 mg/ml hyaluronic acid. Stimulation of proliferation was also accompanied by increase in c-Myc protein, which was inhibited by amlloride, an inhibitor of Na+/H+ antiporter and EGTA and increase in the steady state level of pRb, the RB gene product. These results suggest that the intracellular signal transduction pathways that mediate the stimulatory effects of hyaluronic acid on cellular proliferation are similar to those of growth factors.
3T3 Cells ; Amiloride/pharmacology ; Animal ; Cell Division ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Egtazic Acid/pharmacology ; Hyaluronic Acid/pharmacology* ; Mice ; Mitogens/pharmacology* ; Phosphoproteins/metabolism* ; Phosphorylation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc/metabolism* ; Retinoblastoma Protein/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction ; Sodium-Hydrogen Antiporter/antagonists & inhibitors ; Tyrosine

No abstract available.
Cytomegalovirus Infections* ; Cytomegalovirus* ; HIV Infections* ; HIV* ; Humans

The purpose of this study was to provide basic data for practical HACCP training. A survey was conducted and analysed on 46 contract foodservices: 13 "Appointed" foodservices (appointed by Korean Food & Drug Administration), 17 "Voluntary Applying" foodservices (voluntarily applied HACCP, but not appointed), 16 "Non-applying" foodservices (not applied HACCP). Hygiene knowledge and recognition on job performance levels for HACCP application for 46 dieticians and 361 employees were surveyed. According to the survey, 61.5% of the "Appointed" dieticians took HACCP training from outside the company, 58.8% of "Voluntary Applying" dieticians took in-house HACCP training, and 62.4% of "Non-applying" dieticians have not taken any HACCP training. As for the comparison of hygiene knowledge, total mean of employees (6.38) showed significantly lower average than that of the dieticians (7.82) (p<0.001). From the result for recognition on job performance levels, total mean of dieticians (3.91) indicated generally good performance while employees (3.41) (p<0.001) showed considerably lower recognition. Hygiene knowledge and recognition on job performance levels of both dieticians and employees showed considerably close correlation (p<0.01 or p<0.05).
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points* ; Hygiene* ; Nutritionists*

Usually LIS(Laboratory Information System) depend on OCS(Order Communication System) of HIS(Hospital Information System). So, both systems are constructed simultaneously. But it needs high cost and has potential of failure. So, we designed one combined laboratory request slip and isolated LIS(sever: Power Mac 7200, eight clients: LC 475, connected by Ethernet) operating with own order input system before HIS construction. we analyzed the efficiency during early 9 weeks (from Aug. 17 to Oct. 17 in 1995) and later 4 weeks (March in 1996). Daily input amount of request changed stably in the later period(maximum: 552. mean: 410.0) than the early period(maximum: 604. mean: 341.6). Peak time was between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m.(maximum: 127. slip/hour). In the later period, 64.2% the requests for in-patients were completed until 10 a.m. and the request for out-patients distributed more evenly. Majority of problems occurred, were delayed(25.5% in the early, 61.1% in the later period) or missed specimen(31.9% in the early, 22.9% in the later). Total number (26,309) of used requests was less than half of the calculated number(57,621) of previous laboratory slips.
Clinical Laboratory Information Systems* ; Humans ; Outpatients

The purpose of this study was to investigate effectiveness of sanitization on raw vegetables not heated in foodservice operations. Microbiological examinations of food materials and cooked food with leek Gukgalli were performed in 2 HACCP-implemented foodservices (A and B) appointed by Food and Drug Administrations, and in 2 other foodservices (C and D) not implemented HACCP. 'Washing and sanitizing raw vegetables' were monitored as CCP at A and B foodservices but only washing has been done in pre-preparation at C and D foodservices. Aerobic plate counts of received leek in A and B foodservices were above 10(7) CFU/g indicating very poor microbiological quality. After sanitization treatment (soaking for 5 minutes in chlorine water: chlorine density 50~100 ppm), its aerobic plate counts decreased to 7.06x10(5) CFU/g (A foodservice) and 4.31x10(5) CFU/g (B foodservice), coliform and faecal coliform were not detected. With this result, the effect of microbial reduction by sanitizer was conformed. But, the conditions of leek were still not acceptable by microbiological standards for ready-to-eat foods. After three more times of rinse has been done, the microbial conditions of leek became acceptable. In C and D foodservices, aerobic plate counts of leek showed decreasing trends by 2x4 times of washings but microbiological quality of leek after pre-preparation were unacceptable by microbiological standards for ready-to-eat foods (C foodservice: 3.58x10(5) CFU/g, D foodservice: 1.29x10(9) CFU/g). For the prevention of foodborne illness, sanitizing raw vegetables should be performed during pre-preparation of non-heated foods.
Chlorine ; Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points ; Hot Temperature* ; Vegetables* ; Water

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis that can affect many organs of the body but usually affects the lungs. The prevalence of TB in Korea is considerably higher than that in other countries with similar economic levels, and is much higher in elderly people. Pharmacotherapy is important in the treatment of TB and requires relatively high compliance for a prolonged duration. METHODS: We analyzed sample data of elderly patients obtained from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. We used logistic regression analysis and frequency analysis to identify factors that could affect prevalence of TB in elderly patients, compliance with prescribed medication regimes in these patients, and use of medical institutions. Korean Standard Classification of Diseases, version 7 (KCD-7) was used to diagnose pulmonary TB, and medications were analyzed using Korean standardized drug classification codes. RESULTS: 1,276,331 patients were analyzed in the sample of the elderly population, and 16,658 TB patients were included in the study. The mean age of the TB patients was 76.19 years (SD 6.899). A total of 699 patients were prescribed isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, or pyrazinamide at least once. Of these, 352 (50.4%) were prescribed all four medications and 101 (14.4%) were prescribed only isoniazid, rifampicin, and ethambutol. The mean duration of prescription was 28.75 days (SD 36.13). CONCLUSION: In the elderly population, old age and poor socioeconomic conditions correlated with TB prevalence. Most patients did not meet the criteria for effective pharmacotherapy of TB.
Aged ; Classification ; Communicable Diseases ; Compliance ; Drug Therapy ; Ethambutol ; Humans ; Insurance, Health ; Isoniazid ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Lung ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Prescription Drugs* ; Prescriptions* ; Prevalence ; Pyrazinamide ; Rifampin ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*

Background: The safe use of medication in children is important, as it can have significant implications for their health and wellbeing. Parents or caregivers play a crucial role in the medication administration process. Therefore, this study would evaluate the needs and current status (knowledge, attitude, and practice) of caregivers for children on the safe use of medication. Methods: We conducted questionnaires on 150 caregivers with children under nine years old and asked about their knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding the safe use of medication and their needs. Each question was conducted on a 5-point scale. Results: Of the 150 respondents, 128 were women, 75 were in their 30s, and 63 were in their 40s. Among them, 29 parents answered that they had been educated about the safe use of medicines, and 26 (84%) were satisfied with the education. Knowledge, attitude, and practice assessments on drug safety use (mean±SD) were found to be 3.83±0.44, 3.67±0.38, and 3.53±0.45, respectively. There were significant differences between the educated group and the uneducated group in knowledge and practice, not attitude. Conclusion To provide appropriate education to caregivers of pediatric patients is necessary to ensure the safe and effective use of medication in children. Moreover, appropriate education can improve caregivers' understanding of medication use and lead to proper administration. Therefore, it is imperative to develop educational materials and strategies for medications that incorporate both specialized knowledge and practical applications for pediatric patients.

OBJECTIVE: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is one of the most frequent and clinically significant complications of prematurity and it has been widely accepted that immaturity, barotrauma, and oxygen toxicity are major factors in the etiology of BPD. However, recent studies showed that infection may also play a role in the pathogenesis of BPD and exposure to a prenatal inflammatory process may lead to lung injury and predispose to the subsequent development of BPD. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that neonates with BPD had higher incidence of histologic chorioamnionitis than those in whom BPD does not develop. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted to examine the relationship between histologic chorioamnionitis and the occurrence of BPD in neonate. We reviewed the hospital charts of 363 women and their neonates whose gestational age at birth were between 24 weeks and 35 weeks and recorded their pregnancy outcomes, the results of placental Biopsy, perinatal outcomes including the occurrence of BPD. RESULTS: 1. Neonates who developed BPD showed higher incidence of acute histologic chorioamnionitis. The relationship remained significant even after the adjustment for gestational age (odds ratio, 3.2: 95% confidence interval, 1.6-11.3: P<0.05). 2. Higher maternal serum CRP was also associated with increased incidence of histologic chorioamnionitis and BPD (P<0.05). 3. Neonates who developed BPD also had higher incidence of infectious morbidity such as early neonatal pneumonia and sepsis (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that histologic chorioamnionitis is closely related to the occurrence of BPD. This support the hypothesis that intrauterine infection may cause fetal lung injury and subsequent development of BPD.
Barotrauma ; Biopsy ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia* ; Chorioamnionitis* ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Lung Injury ; Oxygen ; Parturition ; Pneumonia ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis

PURPOSE: Quadriplegic children with cerebral palsy are more susceptible to osteoporosis because of various risk factors that interfere with bone metabolism. Pamidronate is effective for pediatric osteoporosis, but there are no guidelines for optimal dosage or duration of treatment in quadriplegic children with osteoporosis. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of low-dose pamidronate treatment in these patients. METHODS: Ten quadriplegic patients on antiepileptic drugs (6 male, 4 female patients; mean age, 10.9±5.76 years), with osteoporosis and gross motor function classification system level V, were treated with pamidronate (0.5–1.0 mg/kg/day, 2 consecutive days) every 3–4 months in a single institution. The patients received oral supplements of calcium and vitamin D before and during treatment. The lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) z score and biochemical markers of bone metabolism were measured regularly during treatment. RESULTS: The main underlying disorder was perinatal hypoxic brain damage (40%, 4 of 10). The mean cumulative dose of pamidronate was 4.49±2.22 mg/kg/yr, and the mean treatment period was 10.8±3.32 months. The BMD z score of the lumbar spine showed a significant increase from −4.22±1.24 before treatment to −2.61±1.69 during treatment (P=0.008). Alkaline phosphatase decreased during treatmentn (P=0.037). Significant adverse drug reactions and new fractures were not reported. CONCLUSION: Low-dose pamidronate treatment for quadriplegic children with cerebral palsy increased lumbar BMD and reduced the incidence of fracture.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Anticonvulsants ; Biomarkers ; Bone Density ; Calcium ; Cerebral Palsy* ; Child* ; Classification ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoxia, Brain ; Incidence ; Male ; Metabolism ; Osteoporosis* ; Quadriplegia ; Risk Factors ; Spine ; Vitamin D

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the clinical significance of abnormal cervical cytology in pregnancy and the effectiveness of cytologic and colposcopic surveillance of these women. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted in pregnant women referred to the colposcopic clinic with abnormal cervical cytologic results above ASCUS between Jan. 2002 and Dec. 2007. The Initial colposcopy was performed at the end of 1st trimester. Cervical cytology and colposcopy were repeated once or twice during remaining period of pregnancy and at postpartum 6~8 weeks. Colposcopy directed cervical biopsies were taken in case of colposcopic abnormalities. Without evidence of invasion, no invasive procedure was attempted during pregnancy. Above CIN2 patients were treated postnatally. The postpartum diagnoses were compared to the worst antepartum impressions and initial cytologies. RESULTS: One hundred three pregnant women were referred to colposcopic clinic for 5 years. There was no invasive cervical cancer antenatally. After delivery, 53 patients were followed up and 17 patients above CIN2 lesions treated. Two microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma and 1 invasive adenocarcinoma were found postnatally. In 33 initial ASCUS cytologies, there were 7 CIN2,3 lesions and 3 invasive cancers. One CIN3 was found in 13 LSIL cytologies. All 7 HSIL patients had CIN3 lesions. There were 2 microinvasive cancers postnatally in 17 antenatal CIN2,3 patients. CONCLUSION: ASCUS cervical cytologic results in pregnancy have 30% possibility of CIN2,3 and cancer. LSIL results are normal in 85% and HSIL group 100% CIN3. Even though there is 12.5% risk of microinvasion in antenatal CIN2,3 lesions, noninvasive conservative management is reasonable.
Adenocarcinoma ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Colposcopy ; Female ; Humans ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Retrospective Studies ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms