No abstract available.
Korea*

Three cases of chronic spinal epidural abscess following spinal epidural analgesia are presented. Spinal epidural abscess is a relatively rare infectious disease. It has recently increased in frequency due to the increased use of epidural steroid injections and epidural analgesia. It is very difficult to detect the spinal epidural abscess from its variable symptoms. So, it is important in making a diagnosis of epidural abscess to take into account the previous history of epidural analgesia.
Analgesia, Epidural* ; Communicable Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Epidural Abscess*

The purpose of this study was to analyze information about food and nutrition topics presented throughout the television broadcast media, thereby suggest the optimal communication method to give right information to the general public. To perform this study, total sixteen monitoring people were recruited and trained through monitoring practice before and during the study. Five domestic TV channels were selected to be monitored, for six months. For the best efficiency, all the monitoring people were divided into 8 teams based on the regional consideration. The statistical analysis of data was completed using SAS program. The main results of this study are as follows. First, the total reporting cases of information about foods and nutrition were 237 , among which about 30% was classified as appropriate and 70% as inappropriate based on the trained monitors' evaluation. Second, the analysis of contents about incorrect informations showed that the insufficient descriptions of terminology and contents were the highest. And insufficient scientific evidences, incorrect contents excessively entertainment-oriented, no provision of alternatives , improper selection of expert advisors were followed. These results suggest that systematical monitoring should be continued to reduce the frequency of incorrect communication thereby give the right information in food and nutrition area to the general public. And there should be a closely cooperated system to provide the professional information to broadcasting production team by establishing the strategic program. In order to do that, most importantly the advisory team should be organized to professionally connect mass media to corresponding specialists. In addition, more educational programs about food and nutrition should be developed to provide right information to the general public.
Mass Media* ; Specialization ; Television*

The purpose of this study was to analyze information about food and nutrition topics presented throughout the television broadcast media, thereby suggest the optimal communication method to give right information to the general public. To perform this study, total sixteen monitoring people were recruited and trained through monitoring practice before and during the study. Five domestic TV channels were selected to be monitored, for six months. For the best efficiency, all the monitoring people were divided into 8 teams based on the regional consideration. The statistical analysis of data was completed using SAS program. The main results of this study are as follows. First, the total reporting cases of information about foods and nutrition were 237 , among which about 30% was classified as appropriate and 70% as inappropriate based on the trained monitors' evaluation. Second, the analysis of contents about incorrect informations showed that the insufficient descriptions of terminology and contents were the highest. And insufficient scientific evidences, incorrect contents excessively entertainment-oriented, no provision of alternatives , improper selection of expert advisors were followed. These results suggest that systematical monitoring should be continued to reduce the frequency of incorrect communication thereby give the right information in food and nutrition area to the general public. And there should be a closely cooperated system to provide the professional information to broadcasting production team by establishing the strategic program. In order to do that, most importantly the advisory team should be organized to professionally connect mass media to corresponding specialists. In addition, more educational programs about food and nutrition should be developed to provide right information to the general public.
Mass Media* ; Specialization ; Television*

OBJECTIVE: We used a genome-wide approach to identify differentially expressed genes in patients with preterm delivery caused by preterm labor to improve the understanding of underlying molecular mechanism. METHODS: RNA was isolated from the chorions of patients with preterm delivery caused by preterm labor with intact membranes and term vaginal delivery. cDNA microarray experiments were used to identify differentially expressed genes, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was used in follow-up experiment. RESULTS: cDNA microarray experiments identified significantly increased expression of 104 genes and decreased expression of 102 genes in the preterm cases. 18 genes showed more than 1.5-fold increased expressions in the chorions of patients with preterm delivery by preterm labor than those with term vaginal delivery. In preterm delivery, up-regulated genes were associated with cell adhesion, cell cycle regulation, development, transport, morphogenesis, muscle contraction, signal transduction, and transcription. 15 genes showed more than 1.5-fold decreased expressions in chorions of patients delivered preterm by preterm labor than delivered term by labor. In preterm delivery, down-regulated genes were associated with cell differentiation, development, metabolism, morphogenesis, RNA processing, signal transduction, transcription, and transport. CONCLUSION: This study suggests cDNA microarray technique might provide insights into the molecular basis of preterm delivery caused by preterm labor.
Cell Adhesion ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Differentiation ; Chorion* ; DNA, Complementary* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gene Expression* ; Humans* ; Membranes ; Metabolism ; Morphogenesis ; Muscle Contraction ; Obstetric Labor, Premature* ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis* ; Pregnancy ; RNA ; Signal Transduction

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of silodosin 8 mg once daily in a 12-week treatment of subjects with severe lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 100 subjects from 10 urology centers in Korea were included in this study. The inclusion criteria were as follows: age > or =50 years, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) > or =20, quality of life (QoL) score > or =3, urine volume > or =120 mL and maximal urinary flow rate (Qmax) <15 mL/s, and postvoid residual volume (PVR) <100 mL. We assessed the improvement of LUTS with change in IPSS, QoL score, Qmax, PVR, and adverse events at baseline and 4 and 12 weeks after treatment with silodosin 8 mg once daily. RESULTS: The IPSS values were 23.27+/-3.34, 15.89+/-6.26, and 13.80+/-6.31 at baseline, 4, and 12 weeks, respectively, with significant improvements (p<0.0001, p=0.0214, respectively). QoL scores were 4.44+/-0.85, 3.38+/-1.20, and 3.04+/-1.20 at baseline, 4, and 12 weeks, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (p<0.0001). There was a significant difference in Qmax between baseline and 12 weeks (p<0.0001) but not in PVR (p=0.9404) during the clinical trial. The most frequent adverse event in this study was ejaculation failure with 13 cases. However, no subject dropped out because of ejaculation failure, and in 12 of the 13 cases it was fully resolved without further treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Silodosin 8 mg once daily may be effective and safe in Korean patients with severe LUTS associated with BPH.
Ejaculation ; Humans ; Korea ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms* ; Male ; Prospective Studies* ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia* ; Quality of Life ; Residual Volume ; Urology

PURPOSE: Primary focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis(FSGS) is a clinicopathological entity defined by the segmental sclerosis involving glomeruli in a focal distribution with poor prognosis. Approximately 50% to 70% of adults with FSGS manifests nephrotic syndrome, and the others show mild to moderate proteinuria. In this study, we intended to figure out the clinical course, treatments and possible prognostic factors of FSGS in adults. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical characteristics of 54 adult patients diagnosed as primary focal segmental glomerulo-sclerosis(FSGS) by renal biopsy in Chungnam National University Hospital. from Dec. 1989 to Jan. 2000. RESULTS: Mean age of 54 patients was 36.8+/-24.6 (15-75) years. Male to female ratio of them was 1.08 : 1. Thirty one patients(57%) of them were manifested as nephrotic syndrome and their male to female ratio was 1.4 : 1. In all of 54 primary FSGS patients, generalized edema(59%), microscopic hematuria (44%), hypertension(39%) and azotemia(15%) were noted as clinical manifestations at the time of diagnosis. Median duration of follow-up was 48.7(6-123) months. Except generalized edema, serum cholesterol and albumin level, and 24 hour urine protein excretion, there was no significant difference in hypertension, hematuria, serum creatinine, duration of follow- up and progression to chronic renal failure between 31 nephrotic and 23 non-nephrotic patients. Sixteen (52%) of 31 nephrotic patients with primary FSGS showed complete remission. Seven(22%) of them showed partial remission and eight(26%) of them showed no response after 8 weeks of first steroid treatment. No response group of primary FSGS nephrotic patients progressed significantly more to chronic renal failure than remission group including complete or partial remission patients. No response groups showed significantly higher serum creatinine, lower creatinine clearance, higher degree of glomerular global sclerosis and interstitial fibrosis than remission group at the time of diagnosis. Eleven patients(8 nephrotic and 3 non-nephrotic patients) of 54 primary FSGS patients progressed to CRF during follow-up period, and they showed significantly lower creatinine clearance and higher degree of global glomerular sclerosis at the time of diagnosis than normal renal function maintaining group. CONCLUSION: It is speculated that initial renal function and degree of global glomerular sclerosis at the time of diagnosis in primary FSGS patients, and additively response to initial steroid therapy and the degree of interstitial fibrosis at the time of diagnosis in nephrotic primary FSGS patients are thought to be significant long-term prognostic factors.
Adult* ; Biopsy ; Cholesterol ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Creatinine ; Diagnosis ; Edema ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Male ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Prognosis ; Proteinuria ; Retrospective Studies ; Sclerosis

To identify the expression of thrombopoietin (TPO) receptors (c-mpl) on central nervous system (CNS) and to evaluate the role of TPO on neural cell proliferation and protection, immunohistochemical staining, RT-PCR, MTT, and annexin-V methods were used in this study. The results showed the expression of TPO receptor on human CNS and murine neural cells. C-mpl mRNA was identified in human cerebral hemispheres and cerebellum, and mouse neural cell line C17.2 by RT-PCR. C-mpl was also confirmed in human cerebral hemispheres by immunohistostaining with con-focal microscopy. Furthermore, TPO had a stimulating effect on the growth of in vitro neural cell C17.2 by MTT assay. The anti-apoptotic effect of TPO on C17.2 cells was also demonstrated by staining with annexin-V and PI. In conclusion, the first evidence showed the expression of TPO receptor c-mpl in central nervous system. Moreover, the effect of TPO on neural cell proliferation and anti-apoptosis was also demonstrated on in vitro neural cells.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Brain Chemistry ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Erythropoietin ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Mice ; Neoplasm Proteins ; analysis ; Neurons ; drug effects ; Oncogene Proteins ; analysis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; analysis ; Receptors, Cytokine ; analysis ; Receptors, Thrombopoietin ; Thrombopoietin ; pharmacology

The immunological role of megakaryocytes is not well known. This project studies the involvement of megakaryocytes on immuno-inflammatory processes and the possible mechanism via the adhesion molecule CD36 and the synthesis of relevant cytokines. The expression of adhesion protein CD36 on human platelets, megakaryocytes and megakaryocytic cell lines (Meg-01, Dami, CHRF-288-11 and M-07e) was analyzed by using flow cytometry, ELISA and immunocytochemical methods. The expression of interleukin-1 (IL-1) to interleukin-10 (IL-10), TNF-alpha, TNF-gamma and IFN-gamma on the four megakaryocytic cell lines was also determined by RT-PCR. The effect of IL-1beta, IL-3, IL-6 and TPO on murine megakaryocyte colony formation (CFU-MK) was studied by using a plasma clot culture system. The CFU-MK was confirmed by acetylcholine esterase staining. The results showed that: (1) CD36 was expressed on platelets, megakaryocytes and the four megakaryocytic cell lines, the relative expression level is as follows: platelets > megakaryocytes > Meg-01 > Dami > CHRF-288-11 > M-07e, suggesting that the level of CD36 expression correlates with the degree of maturity of megakaryocytic differentiation; (2) inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-3 and IL-6 were detected in all the four megakaryocytic cell lines, suggesting that different stages of megakaryocytes can be as a source of inflammatory cytokines; and (3) IL-1beta, IL-3 and IL-6, as well as TPO, play a stimulating effect on CFU-MK formation, suggesting that there is an "autocrine" effect on megakaryocytopoiesis. The data obtained suggest that megakaryocytes may involve in immuno-inflammatory processes via the synthesis of platelet adhesion molecules and inflammatory cytokines.