Microarray technology makes it possible to measure the expressions of tens of thousands of genes simultaneously under various experimental conditions. Identifying differentially expressed genes in each single experimental condition is one of the most common first steps in microarray gene expression data analysis. Reasonable choices of thresholds for determining differentially expressed genes are used for the next-step-analysis with suitable statistical significances. We present a supervised model for identifying DEGs using pathway information based on the global connectivity structure. Pathway information can be regarded as a collection of biological knowledge, thus we are trying to determine the optimal threshold so that the consequential connectivity structure can be the most compatible with the existing pathway information. The significant feature of our model is that it uses established knowledge as a reference to determine the direction of analyzing microarray dataset. In the most of previous work, only intrinsic information in the miroarray is used for the identifying DEGs. We hope that our proposed method could contribute to construct biologically meaningful structure from microarray datasets.
Dataset* ; DNA* ; Gene Expression* ; Hope ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis* ; Statistics as Topic ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation

Temporal and spatial expression of bmp-2 and bmp-4 was investigated in distraction osteogenesis and fracture healing models in order to delineate their roles in these new hone formation processes. Distraction osteogenesis was performed on the left tihia diaphyses of Sprague-Dawley rats, and was confirmed by serial radiographs and histologicaJ examination. Total RNA was isolated from the distraction gaps and fracture sites sequentially until the postoperative eighth week, and mRNA expression was quantitated hy competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) using specific primers for bmp-2 and bmp-4. In-situ hybridization was performed on the undemineralized tissue section of distraction osteogenesis group. Both bum-2 and bmp-4 mRNA expression increased during distraction osteogenesis and fracture healing. Increase in bmp-2 mRNA expression was more marked and prolonged in distraction osteogenesis compared with fracture healing, whereas bmp-4 mRNA expression was persistently increased in both groups. In-situ hybridization study revealed that hoth bmp-2 and bmp-4 were expressed at eariy osteohlasts producing osteoid, trabeculae-lining osteoblasts and osteocytes of regenerate bone. Enhanced new bone formation in distraction osteogenesis is associated with prolonged and increased expression of BMPs, especially BMP-2. lnspite of their structural similarity, BMP-2 and BMP-4 appear to have their distinct roles in new hone formation.
Bone Morphogenetic Proteins* ; Diaphyses ; Fracture Healing* ; Osteoblasts ; Osteocytes ; Osteogenesis ; Osteogenesis, Distraction* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The major mechanism of inner ear cell damage is the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Korean red ginseng (KRG) has an anti-ROS effect; thus we hypothesized that KRG may be of use for the treatment of chronic idiopathic tinnitus. The aim of the study is to investigate clinical outcomes and health-related quality of life (QoL) in chronic tinnitus patients after taking KRG. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This study was an open-label randomized controlled trial. Sixty-one patients with chronic tinnitus were enrolled and randomized to three groups. The control group was treated for 4 weeks with 160 mg/day Ginkgo biloba extract, and two other groups receiving 1500 mg/day or 3000 mg/day KRG for 4 weeks. Clinical assessments were performed using the tinnitus handicap inventory (THI), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and QoL was assessed by Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire. RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients completed the planned protocol. Significant improvements were observed between initial and post-treatment THI scores in patients receiving 3000 mg/day KRG. There was no statistically significant difference between initial and post-treatment VAS scores in all groups. Treatment with 3000 mg/day KRG for 4 weeks significantly improved role emotional and mental health scores in the SF-36 survey. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that KRG may improve tinnitus symptoms and mental wellbeing in chronic tinnitus patients.
Ear, Inner ; Ginkgo biloba ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Mental Health ; Panax* ; Pilot Projects* ; Quality of Life* ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Tinnitus*

A 35-year-old man was admitted with a 20 day history of generalized edema and muscular weakness of the lower extremities. He was alert with a pale puffy face and an ejection murmur was heard at the cardiac apex. The electrocardiogram disclosed low voltage, first degree atrioventricular block, and a right bundle branch block. During the hospitalization an intractable diastolic hypotension developed, which measured 0 mmHg at the lowest point. At that time the echocardiogram revealed a dilated, akinetic right ventricle. Eventually a multiorgan failure developed and an autopsy following his death presented a fibrofatty replacement of the right ventricular myocardium. This might be a case of an arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy, which is usually characterized clinically by a ventricular tachycardia and may cause a sudden death in young adults.
Adult ; Atrioventricular Block ; Autopsy* ; Bundle-Branch Block ; Death, Sudden ; Edema ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Ventricles ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Lower Extremity ; Muscle Weakness ; Myocardium ; Systolic Murmurs ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Clonidine, an 2-adrenergic agonist, shows the analgesic effect and potentiates the analgesic effect of opioid. However, when it is injected with bolus technique, it reveals the short duration of inadequate analgesia and induces hypotension, bradycardia or sedation. We examined the analgesic and side effects of clonidine administered by continuous epidural infusion over 24 hrs, following epidural morphine injection. METHODS: Sixty parturients, scheduled for elective cesarean section under epidural anesthesia were randomly allocated into three groups. They received an infusion of saline alone (group 1, n= 20), clonidine 20 g/hr (group 2, n= 20), or 40 g/hr (group 3, n= 20) respectively, following epidural morphine 3 mg injection at the end of operation. The total doses and number of request for supplemental analgesic, blood pressure, heart rate, and degree of sedation were measured during 24 hrs. RESULTS: There were significant differences in pain relief between clonidine groups and group 1. The total doses and number of patient's request for supplemental analgesic in clonidine groups, compared to group 1 were significantly decreased (p<0.05), but no significant differences between the two clonidine groups. The diastolic pressure of group 3 was significantly lower than that of group 1 over 24 hrs, and that of group 2 at 18 hr, 24 hr (p<0.05). However, there was no severe hypotension, bradycardia or sedation in the three groups. CONCLUSION: Clonidine administered by continuous epidural infusion over 24 hrs enhances the analgesic effect of epidural morphine, and the infusion of clonidine with 20 g/hr rather than 40 g/hr shows minimal changes of blood pressure. Therefore, administration of epidural clonidine (20 g/hr) following epidural morphine may be considered as a regimen for pain management after cesarean section.
Analgesia* ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; Blood Pressure ; Bradycardia ; Cesarean Section* ; Clonidine* ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Hypotension ; Morphine ; Pain Management ; Pregnancy

No abstract available.
Anxiety* ; Depression* ; Headache*

PURPOSE: Transfusion-transmitted virus(TTV) is an newly described nonenveloped human virus, with a circular, negative stranded DNA genome. Although a high prevalence of TTV infection in the normal population has been demonstrated, there is a still possibility of association with hepatitis according to the genotype of TTV. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of TTV infection in Korean children. METHODS: Nested polymerase chain reaction(PCR) using priner sets generated from the noncoding region(NCR) of the viral genome was done in 105 children without liver disease, aged 0-15 years. We performed a second set of PCR using N22 primer in 88 children after the first set of PCR. RESULTS: The TTV DNA was detectable in 36(34%) of 105 children without hepatitis by 5'NCR primer. The prevalence of TTV varied with age:<1 y,16%(4/25); 1-3 y, 44%(15/31); 4-6 y, 31%(5/ 16); 7-9 y, 25%(3/12); 10-15 y, 14%(3/21). By using N22 primers, the prevalence of TTV DNA in children without hepatitis was 11.3%(11/88):<1 y 8%(2/25); 1-3 y, 13.7%(4/29); 4-6 y, 6.2%(1/16); 7-9 y, 33.3%(2/6); 10-14 y, 8.2%(1/12). CONCLUSION: Our result showed a high prevalence of TTV infection, varying with age, in Korean children. Further evaluation of genotypes of TTV in patients with hepatitis and normal children is needed.
Child* ; DNA ; Genome ; Genome, Viral ; Genotype ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence* ; Torque teno virus*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting the parenting stress, coping and the quality of life for the mother of children suffering from epilepsy. METHODS: Research subjects were 176 mothers of a child between 0 to 12 years old, who visited pediatric neurology department at a general hospital in Seoul. The data were collected between October 1, 2015 and October 20, 2015. The questionnaire was composed of a total of 75 questions: 36 questions on parenting stress, 13 questions on coping ability, and 26 questions on quality of life. The collected data were analyzed by Cronbach's α, percentage, mean, frequency, standard deviation, ANOVA, Pearson's correlations, t-test, Scheffe post hoc test, and Hierarchical regression analysis using SPSS WIN 22.0 program. RESULTS: 1) The mean scores of the parenting stress, coping ability and quality of life were 2.47±0.68, 3.83±1.29, 3.23±0.60. 2) The subjects showed significant differences in parenting stress depending on their occupation, monthly income, age of the child, the child's age at the time of epilepsy diagnosis, frequency of the child's seizure, the child's developmental delay, and the child's exposure to other disease and brain damage among general characteristics of the subjects. 3) Correlation analysis resulted in negative correlation between the parenting stress and quality of life, and positive correlation between coping ability and quality of life. 4) Regression analysis found that parenting stress and coping are the factors affecting quality of life. Finally, the model containing both parenting stress and coping explained 52.41% of variation in quality of life, and parenting stress had the highest influence. CONCLUSION: nursing intervention and educational program should be developed to improve the quality of life in the mother of children with epilepsy. Furthermore, governmental support is required to help with reducing parenting stress to better the quality of life for the mother.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Brain ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Epilepsy* ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Mothers* ; Neurology ; Nursing ; Occupations ; Parenting* ; Parents* ; Quality of Life* ; Research Subjects ; Seizures ; Seoul

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting the parenting stress, coping and the quality of life for the mother of children suffering from epilepsy. METHODS: Research subjects were 176 mothers of a child between 0 to 12 years old, who visited pediatric neurology department at a general hospital in Seoul. The data were collected between October 1, 2015 and October 20, 2015. The questionnaire was composed of a total of 75 questions: 36 questions on parenting stress, 13 questions on coping ability, and 26 questions on quality of life. The collected data were analyzed by Cronbach's α, percentage, mean, frequency, standard deviation, ANOVA, Pearson's correlations, t-test, Scheffe post hoc test, and Hierarchical regression analysis using SPSS WIN 22.0 program. RESULTS: 1) The mean scores of the parenting stress, coping ability and quality of life were 2.47±0.68, 3.83±1.29, 3.23±0.60. 2) The subjects showed significant differences in parenting stress depending on their occupation, monthly income, age of the child, the child's age at the time of epilepsy diagnosis, frequency of the child's seizure, the child's developmental delay, and the child's exposure to other disease and brain damage among general characteristics of the subjects. 3) Correlation analysis resulted in negative correlation between the parenting stress and quality of life, and positive correlation between coping ability and quality of life. 4) Regression analysis found that parenting stress and coping are the factors affecting quality of life. Finally, the model containing both parenting stress and coping explained 52.41% of variation in quality of life, and parenting stress had the highest influence. CONCLUSION: nursing intervention and educational program should be developed to improve the quality of life in the mother of children with epilepsy. Furthermore, governmental support is required to help with reducing parenting stress to better the quality of life for the mother.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Brain ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Epilepsy* ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Mothers* ; Neurology ; Nursing ; Occupations ; Parenting* ; Parents* ; Quality of Life* ; Research Subjects ; Seizures ; Seoul

The analysis of DNA microarry data is one of the most important things for functional genomics research. The matrix representation of microarray data and its successive 'optimal' incisional hyperplanes is a useful platform for developing optimization algorithms to determine the optimal partitioning of pairwise proximity matrix representing completely connected and weighted graph. We developed Deterministic Annealing (DA) approach to determine the successive optimal binary partitioning. DA algorithm demonstrated good performance with the ability to find the 'globally optimal' binary partitions. In addition, the objects that have not been clustered at small non-zero temperature, are considered to be very sensitive to even small randomness, and can be used to estimate the reliability of the clustering.
Cluster Analysis ; DNA* ; Gene Expression* ; Genomics ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis*