BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The clinical manifestation of Henoch-Schonlein purpura and existance of renal involvement may influence on its course and prognosis. To verify prevention with early administration of steroid, we studied the efficacy of corticosteroid treatment. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We analysed 65 children under 15 years of age with Henoch-Scho nlein purpura according to their age, sex, and seasonal incidence. Forty children showed typical skin lesions, arthralgia and abdominal pain. We have divided them two groups. Group A consisted of 20 children who received 1 mg/kg of prednisolone/perday for 2 weeks and group B did not. We carried out their physical examination and urinalysis monthly for a year. RESULT: The main clinical manifestations were skin rash(100% ), abdominal symptoms(41.5 %), joint symptoms (49.2%), and renal involvement(34%). As for gastrointestinal symptoms, abdominal pain(66.7% ) was most commonly observed one and others were nausea or vomiting (44.7%) and melena(25.9%). The joint involvement was observed mostly in knee(56.3%) and ankle joint(31.3% ), Hematuria was observed in all cases with renal involvement and proteinuria, in 28% of them. The improvement of renal manifestations were noted in 84.2% of them within 4 months. Mild elevation of IgA was more frequently observed in renal involvement group than non-involved group (p< 0.01). There were no significant differences in immonologic parameters such as IgG, IgM, IgE, duration of the acute phase and severity of cutaneous symptoms between two growps. None of steroid treated growp showed progression of nephropathy. Of the 20 non-steroid treated growp, 2(10%) developed nephropathy. Conclusion We may suggest that existance of renal involvement in Henoch-Schonlein purpura influences its course and prognosis.
Abdominal Pain ; Ankle ; Arthralgia ; Child ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Incidence ; Joints ; Nausea ; Physical Examination ; Prognosis ; Proteinuria ; Purpura* ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch ; Seasons ; Skin ; Urinalysis ; Vomiting

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study is to determine the efficacy of rapid karyotyping from fetal ascitic fluid. METHODS: In three cases of isolated fetal ascites diagnosed by prenatal ultrasonography, ultrasound guided fetal paracentesis and amniocentesis were performed and successfully obtained. Fetal karyotyping in each case at 29, 30 and 32 weeks gestation using modified lymphocyte culture method was conducted. RESULTS: The chromosomal analysis was successful within 72 hours and abnormalities were detected in two cases and revealed trisomy 21 in each case. Our study demonstrated that the majority distribution of white blood cells was lymphocytes which ranged from 2.1 * 10(6) cells/ml to 3.7 * 10(6) cells/ml and the cell density for culture was at least than 0.35 * 10(6) cells/ml. CONCLUSION: The use of ascitic fluid as a cell source to achieve rapid fetal karyotyping can be valuable when cordocenteis or amniocentesis would be technically more difficult, or when rapid result is required for planning of perinatal management at late second or third trimester gestational age.
Amniocentesis ; Ascites ; Ascitic Fluid* ; Cell Count ; Cytogenetics* ; Diagnosis* ; Down Syndrome ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Leukocytes ; Lymphocytes ; Paracentesis ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal

No abstract available.
Arginine* ; Humans* ; Semen*

No abstract available.
Arginine* ; Humans* ; Semen*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate levels of stress, self-esteem, and powerlessness in Korean husbands married to foreigner wives. METHODS: The subjects were 183 Korean men who were living with foreigner wives in the Gwangju, Jeonnam and Jeonnbuk areas. Data were collected from January to May 2012 and analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Scheffe test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and backward multiple regression with the SPSS PC WIN version 18.0. RESULTS: The average level of stress was 4.48, with difficulties in international marriage experienced by the subjects due to differences in language and culture. The average reported self-esteem score was 29.69, and the average powerlessness score 117.76. There were significant differences in perceived powerlessness depending on the employment statuses, income levels, and nationalities of the participants' wives, and their perceived levels of satisfaction with living with a foreigner wife. Powerlessness was positively correlated with stress (r=.41, p<.001), and negatively correlated with self-esteem(r=-.63, p<.001). The factors affecting the perceived powerlessness included self-esteem (beta=-.54, p<.001), stress (beta=.28, p<.001), lower income (beta=.13, p=.016), and working wife (beta=.12, p=.036). CONCLUSION: Healthcare providers need to explore strategies to improve self-esteem and powerlessness in Korean men married to foreigner wives.
Emigrants and Immigrants ; Employment ; Ethnic Groups ; Health Personnel ; Humans ; Male ; Marriage ; Spouses

This study was done to present a criterion in selection of the most proper light sources and materials by measuring metamerism index(MI) of the light curing composite resins with spectrocolorimeter. Metamerism is defined when two objects appear to be the same color in one illuminant but different in another. This is due to the fact that they have different spectral curves that fail to match under the second illuminant. In this study, A1 & A3 shade of five light curing composite resins (Esthet-X, Filteck Z250, Filteck A110, Charisma, Vitalescence) were chosen based on Vita shade. Five samples were made for shade of each product with Teflon mold (diameter: 15mm, thickness: 2mm). Metamerism index of each samples on a Barium sulfate plate (L*=96.54, a*=0.19, b*=0.01) prepared for sample fixation were measured with spectrocolorimeter(Miniscan XE plus, Model 4000s, Hunter Lab, USA) by applying standard light source D65, C, Fcw, TL84 and A. Standardization was done with reference standard (X=80.8, Y=85.7, Z=90.8) and light trap. The results were as follows. 1. Different resins with same Vita shade showed recognizable color difference(DeltaE*>2). 2. All composites had MI below accepted value 0.5 between standard illuminant(D65, C, & A) and below 1.5 under fluorescent condition (Fcw & TL84). 3. MI value between D65 and A showed higher value than MI value between other source of light(p<0.01). 4. All resins except Z250 showed MI value that A3 is higher than A1 between D65 and A(p<0.05).
Barium Sulfate ; Composite Resins* ; Fungi ; Polytetrafluoroethylene

No abstract available.
Animals ; Mucous Membrane* ; Rats*

2 patients of forearm deformities with ulnar defect and radial head dislocation were treated with the Ilizarov apparatus at Chungnam University Hospital. One patient had a severe hypoplastic remnant-like ulnar fragment and a anterolaterally dislocated radial head due to complicated osteomyelitis of ulnar. We applied an Ilizarov apparatus to transport the radial head distally, and fixed to remaining proximal ulnar fragment. The other had a large bony defect at the ulnar shaft and a dislocated radial head due to complicated osteomyelitis of ulna. We performed internal transport of ulna to decreased the ulnar defect and to descend the dislocated radial head. The clinical-radiological features and functional results of those 2 forearm deformities were described with brief review of the articles about the Ilizarov method for correction of forearm defor- mities.
Chungcheongnam-do ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Dislocations ; Forearm ; Head ; Humans ; Ilizarov Technique ; Osteomyelitis ; Ulna

Since the last 100 years, physicians from many countries have been taking collective action. However, the media, civic groups, and the government have denounced them as inhuman and unethical. This study comprehensively analyzed the background and results of physicians’ collective actions that occurred in countries around the world, and reviewed the issues surrounding them. Among 314 cases in 70 countries discussed in the literature, 180 cases in 65 countries were analyzed. Of these 180 cases, 111 (61.7%) were successful, indicating that collective action has brought favorable results to physicians. Furthermore, 177 out of 301 requirements brought favorable results (58.8%). The main reason for collective actions was ‘improvement of working conditions’, which includes improving the medical and the reimbursement systems, adjusting working hours and wages, increasing manpower, supporting medical research, and improving other working environment and conditions. This study is significant because it provides statistical data on the causes and results of collective actions taken by physicians in countries around the world.

In an earlier study, a site directed mutant rFVIII (rFVIII(m), Arg(336) -> Gln(336)) expressed in baculovirus-insect cell (Sf9) system was found to sustain high level activity during incubation at 37 for 24 h while the cofactor activity of normal plasma was declined steadily. In this study, a mutant B-domain deleted rFVIII(m), Arg(336) -> Gln(336) expressed in baculovirus-insect cell (Sf9) system was characterized for its enzymatic and chemical properties. The expressed rFVIII(m) and plasma FVIII (pFVIII) were purified by immunoaffinity column chromatography and identified by Western blot analysis. The partially purified rFVIII(m) exhibited cofactor specific activity of 2.01 X 10(3)units/mg protein. The molecular weight of rFVIII(m) ranged between 40 to 150 kDa with a major band at 150 kDa. Treatment of both rFVIII(m) and pFVIII with thrombin increased their cofactor activity in a similar pattern. Treatment of both the activated rFVIII(m) and native FVIII with APC decreased their cofactor activities, however, the former exhibited a slower decrease than the latter, although no significant difference was present. rFVIII(m) formed a complex with vWF, resulting in a stabilized form, and the lag period of thrombin-mediated activating was extended by vWF association. These results implicated that rFVIII(m) expressed in baculovirus-insect cell system had a comparable capacity as FVIII cofactor activity and might be a good candidate for the FVIII replacement therapy for hemophilia A patients.
Animals ; Baculoviridae/genetics ; Cell Line ; Factor VIII/biosynthesis/*genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Insects ; Macromolecular Systems ; Mutation/*genetics ; Protein C/pharmacology ; Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis/*genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Thrombin/pharmacology ; von Willebrand Factor/metabolism