PURPOSE: Dieckol, a phlorotannin compound isolated from Ecklonia cava, has been reported to have antioxidant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. The purpose of this study was to investigate its anticancer effects on human breast cancer cell lines. METHODS: In this study, the viability of two human breast cancer cell lines SK-BR-3 and MCF-7 was investigated after dieckol treatment using a WST-1 assay. Apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were assayed via Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate and propidium iodide staining followed by flow cytometric analysis. Immunoblotting analysis was also performed using Bax/Bcl-2 to determine whether the dieckol-induced apoptosis was mediated by the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. RESULTS: In a dose dependent manner, dieckol reduced the number of viable cells and increased the number of apoptotic cells. The effect of dieckol on the cell cycle distribution was analyzed using flow cytometry. Dieckol treatment significantly increased the percentage of MCF-7 and SK-BR-3 in the G2/M phase. Immunoblot analysis revealed that 24 hours of dieckol exposure increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. CONCLUSION: Dieckol induced cytotoxicity in MCF-7 and SK-BR-3 human breast cancer cells inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Therefore, it is suggested that dieckol may be a potential therapeutic agent for breast cancer.
Apoptosis* ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints* ; Cell Cycle* ; Cell Line* ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans* ; Immunoblotting ; Propidium

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate factors influencing college students' health promotion lifestyle. METHODS: The subject was 606 students. Statistical analysis with SPSS used descriptive statistics, t-test, one way ANOVA, Pearson correlation and Stepwise Multiple Regression. RESULTS: The average item score for health promotion lifestyle was 2.58. The subscale showing the highest score was interpersonal relationship (3.03), which was followed by spiritual growth (2.94), stress management (2.54), nutrition (2.52), physical activity (2.16) and health responsibility (2.15). There were significant differences according to age, gender, BMI, perceived health state, religion, economic state, live together, major and health promotion lifestyle. The most powerful predictors of health promotion lifestyle were the prior related behavior (51.8%) and self-efficacy (7.7%). The combination of prior related behavior, perceived self-efficacy, activity-related affect, social support, perceived stress, commitment to a plan of action accounted for 67.9% of the variance of health promotion lifestyle. CONCLUSION: Prior related behavior was the most powerful variable of health promotion lifestyle. Therefore, health promotion programs for changing and maintaining prior related behavior and increasing self-efficacy should be developed to promote a healthy lifestyle in college students.
Health Promotion* ; Humans ; Life Style* ; Motor Activity

No abstract available.
Colon, Ascending* ; Neurilemmoma*

A hand-arm vibration syndrome, local vibration illness, occurs in some workers who use hand held vibration tools. It consists of white fingers, diffusely distributed finger neuropathy, pain in the hand and arm, and a small excess risk of osteoarthritis. This study is aimed to identify effective methods to confirm local vibration illness among various health exams, which are mentioned in worker's special health exam regulation. In addition, this study is aimed to quantitatively assess the daily vibration exposure level as a major determinant of vibration illness. The subjects, 46 vibration workers, were selected according to the results of the first special health exam about vibration hazards at shipbuilding industry in 1997. They all had experiences of work related blanching of fingers. Fifteen controls, who had no vibration exposure at all, were also recruited to compare their test results with the results of vibration workers. We adopted 1 subjective and 6 objective tests to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility for confirming local vibration illness. These tests were history taking of subjective symptoms according to the Stockholm classification, checking blood pressure of finger, checking grasp power, checking finger skin temperature, nail-bed pressing test, vibration perceptional threshold test, and skin prick test for pain perception. Among these, checking skin temperature, nail-bed pressing test, and vibration perception test included cold water provocations. We also estimated some vibration exposure levels of hand held vibration tools by using previously published data from one automobile company. In conclusion, history taking of subjective symptoms according to the Stockholm classification, nail-bed pressing test, and vibration perceptional threshold test were discovered to be effective to diagnose local vibration illness. Furthermore, vibration perceptional threshold on right fingers showed a dose-response relationship to daily vibration exposure levels. The parameter beta was 0.0005(+/-0.0002), and statistically significant by REM (random effects model).
Arm ; Automobiles ; Blood Pressure ; Classification ; Fingers ; Hand ; Hand Strength ; Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome ; Osteoarthritis ; Pain Perception ; Skin ; Skin Temperature ; Vibration* ; Water

Retropharyngeal hematomas are relatively rare. But, they are clinically important because of the close proximity of the retropharyngeal space to the upper airway. The authors experienced four cases of the retropharyngeal hematoma following cervical trauma, esophageal foreign body, stellate ganglion block, and discuss the diagnosis and treatment of individual condition.
Airway Obstruction ; Diagnosis ; Foreign Bodies ; Hematoma* ; Stellate Ganglion

Traumatic dislocation of the radial head without fracture of the olecranon is very rare, especially in adults. We experienced a case of irreducible radial head dislocation with fracture without involvement of ulna. Open reduction and internal fixation was performed. During surgery, brachialis was interposed between capitellum and radial head, and also interposed between the fragments at the fracture site of the radial head. At 12 months after operation, the radial head was well reduced with normal rotation.
Adult* ; Dislocations* ; Head* ; Humans ; Olecranon Process ; Ulna

Since the start of the antibiotic era, syphilis has become rare. However, in recent times, it has tended to be prevalent concomitantly with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and coinfection in North America and Europe. Now, such cases are expected to increase in elsewhere including Korea. A 40-year-old male patient visited hospital complaining of a headache for about one month. Brain computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, showed leptomeninged enhancing mass with edema an right porisylvian region, which was suspected to be glioma. Patient underwent a blood test and was diagnosed with syphilis and acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Partial cortical and subcortical resection were performed after small craniotomy. The dura was thick, adhered to the brain cortex, and was accompanied by hyperemic change of the cortex. The pathologic diagnosis was meningovascular syphilis (MS) in HIV infection. After the operation, the patient was treated with aqueous penicillin G. Thereafter, he had no neurological deficit except intermittent headache. At first, this case was suspected to be glioma, but it was eventually diagnosed as MS in HIV coinfection. At this point the case was judged to be worth reporting.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Adult ; Brain ; Coinfection ; Craniotomy ; Edema ; Europe ; Glioma ; Headache ; Hematologic Tests ; HIV ; HIV Infections ; Humans ; Korea ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neurosyphilis ; North America ; Penicillin G ; Syphilis

Colorectal varix (CRV) is a rare cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding and usually associated with portal hypertension from liver cirrhosis or portal venous obstruction. Idiopathic CRV have no identifiable underlying cause and can only be diagnosed after the cause of portal or mesenteric vein circulation have been excluded. We report a case of idioipathic CRV presented with rectal bleeding for a week. Colonoscopy revealed markedly dilatated tortuous, and bluish veins in the rectum as well as coexistent adenomatous polyp and internal hemorrhoid. Despite extensive investigation, there was no evidence of portal hypertension or any other cause. Family history was also negative. Although blood transfusions were required, the patient remained asymptomatic without further rectal bleeding.
Adenomatous Polyps ; Blood Transfusion ; Colonoscopy ; Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhoids ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Mesenteric Veins ; Rectum ; Varicose Veins* ; Veins

Antipsychotics are the drug of choice for patients with schizophrenia, but they can induce hyperprolactinemia and growth of pituitary adenomas by blocking dopamine 2 receptors in the pituitary gland. In contrast, the medical treatment for a prolactinoma is a dopamine agonist. Therefore, managing a patient concurrently diagnosed with a prolactinoma and psychosis is challenging. We describe a patient with schizophrenia who was diagnosed with a prolactinoma. We changed his neuroleptic to quetiapine and prescribed bromocriptine for the prolactinoma. As a result, the patient was successfully treated with a dopamine agonist and antipsychotic without psychotic exacerbation. Our case suggests that dopamine agonists can be administrated to patients with schizophrenia and a prolactinoma without adversely affecting their psychopathological status.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Bromocriptine ; Dopamine ; Dopamine Agonists ; Humans ; Hyperprolactinemia ; Pituitary Gland ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Prolactinoma ; Psychotic Disorders ; Schizophrenia ; Quetiapine Fumarate

PURPOSE: We undertook this study to evaluate the usefullness of radiologic placement of subcutaneous infusion ports (SIP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between August 1999 and May 2000 we performed 45 implantations of SIP in radiologic suite. Both sonography and fluoroscopy were used for venipuncture and to guide port insertion. We prospectively evaluated 45 systems in 45 patients with solid tumors. RESULTS: Median follow-up time was 189 days (61~352 days). Technical success rate is 100% without any venipuncture-related complications. Early complication rate within 30 days of procedure was 4.4%, including wound dehiscence (n=1) and pocket hematoma and local infection (n=1). Catheter-related infection rate was 6.7% and catheter-related venous thrombosis rate was 4.4%. Mean duration of catheter use was 208 96 days (total, 9,381 days). Overall port survival rate was 38.5%, and four systems (8.9%) were prematurely removed because of catheter tunnel infection (n=1), pocket infection (n=1), and central venous thrombosis (n=2). CONCLUSION: Radiologic placement of SIP had higher success rate and equal or lower complication rate compared with reported conventional surgical technique using anatomical landmarks. Moreover, clinical convenience, resulting from ease of scheduling could make it replace surgical method.
Catheter-Related Infections ; Catheters ; Fluoroscopy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Infusions, Subcutaneous* ; Phlebotomy ; Prospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Venous Thrombosis ; Wounds and Injuries