In our preliminary study to find antiviral or antitumor agents from Korean natural products, we found that the Shope fibroma virus (SFV) induced fibromas reaching maximum size at 5~6 days with spontaneous disappearance at 15~20 days after SFV intracutaneous inoculation into Korean domestic rabbits. However, the sizes of fibromas of rabbits at day 5 after virus inoculation were significantly different individually. Assuming that the variation of tumor size was due to either susceptibility or the preexisting antibodies against SFV in the Korean domestic rabbits, the rabbits were checked for the antibodies against SFV by IFAT using SFV infected RKl3 cells. The antibody positive rate of normal Korean domestic rabbits was 32.8% and the sizes of the fibromas of the positive rabbits were significantly smaller than those of negative rabbits (p<0.0001). The fibroma sizes were dependent on the antibody titers of rabbits to SFV. The sizes of fibromas after inoculation of SFV into immunized rabbits were about one tenth of those by the first inoculation into normal rabbits. This is the first report on the antibody prevalence against SFV among normal Korean domestic rabbits and it suggest the existence of a wild fibroma virus or related virus in Korea.
Antibodies* ; Antineoplastic Agents ; Biological Products ; Fibroma Virus, Rabbit* ; Fibroma* ; Korea ; Prevalence ; Rabbits* ; Tumor Virus Infections*

The daily pollen counts in the air of Seoul, Korea were measured using a rotorod sampler from June 1990 to July 1992. Two distinct pollen periods were noted: tree pollens such as alder, poplar, willow, oak and pine appeared in the spring from March to May, and weed pollens, such as Artemisia spp., Ambrosia spp. and Hop japanese appeared in the autumn from August to September. Various kinds of grass pollen appeared from June to September. The study indicated that there were two pollen peaks in Seoul composed of tree pollens in spring and weed pollens in autumn.
Air Pollution/*statistics & numerical data ; Allergens/*analysis ; Humans ; Korea ; Plants ; *Pollen/classification ; Seasons

No abstract available.
Humans ; Methacholine Chloride* ; Rhinitis*

BACKGROUND: Maternal serum triple marker screening has become standard in prenatal care to help identify women at risk for neural tube defects (NTDs), trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) and trisomy 18 (Edwards' syndrome). This study was undertaken to evaluate the results of maternal serum triplemarker screening performed in pregnant women visiting Chung-Ang University Hospital and to assess the effectiveness of prenatal triple-marker screening. METHODS: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and unconjugated estriol (uE3) were measured by radioimmunoassay (Amerlex-M 2nd Trimester Kit, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, Amersham, Aylesbury, UK) in 506 pregnant women visiting Chung-Ang University Hospital. Women at risk for NTDs, trisomy 21 and trisomy 18 were identified using the computer program (HIT Program). Amniocentesis with chromosome analysis was performed in women who had positive screening results. RESULTS: Positive screening results were found in 41 (8.1%) women among 506 pregnant women who had undergone prenatal triple-marker screening between 14 and 22 weeks of gestation. Of these 41 women, 39 (7.7%) had a positive screening results for Down syndrome and 2 (0.4%) for NTDs. Thirty-two women with positive screening results for Down syndrome chose amniocentesis for chromosomal analysis, of which the results showed normal in 28 (87.5%), inv(9) in 3 (9.4%) and 48, XXY, +18 in 1 (3.1%). Although all but one of the fetuses with normal karyotypes and inv(9) were born with normal phenotypes, one pregnancy with 48, XXY, +18 was terminated due to fetal death in-utero. One of 2 pregnancies affected with NTDs was correctly identified, showing meningocele, abdominal wall defect and scoliosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our data confirm chromosome abnormalities or congenital anomalies in about 5% of the pregnancies with positive triple-marker screening results, suggesting an effective prenatal screening test. It has been found that the presence of inv(9) in fetuses might be accompanied by false-positive results for Down syndrome.
Abdominal Wall ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; Amniocentesis ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Down Syndrome ; Estriol ; Female ; Fetal Death ; Fetus ; Humans ; Karyotype ; Mass Screening* ; Meningocele ; Neural Tube Defects ; Phenotype ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Prenatal Care ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Radioimmunoassay ; Scoliosis ; Trisomy

This study was designed to analyze the research methodology and the key concepts used in articles published in each nursing journal of seven branches of the Korean Academy of Nursing. The purpose of this study was for reflecting the trends of nursing research and suggesting the direction of future nursing research in Korea. One thousand three hundred seventy two articles published in seven nursing journals from the beginning year of 2000 were analyzed. The prevailing research designs for these journals were the non-experimental design ranging from 54.3% to 75.7%, the experimental design ranging from 6.2% to 30.4%, and qualitative research design ranging from 3.7% to 10.6%. Research subjects were 10.0% to 46.0% for clients with health problems, 2.1% to 42.4% for generally healthy persons, 1.4% to 43.9% for primary care-givers, 7.0% to 53.5% for nurses or nursing students, and 3.1% to 7.3% for health organizations or nursing organizations. The data collection method used most often self-report questionnaires using psychosocial measures. Interviewing methods and physiologic measures were used relatively few times. The domains of the key concepts that prevailed was personal domain and health domain. This study has the limitation of focusing on only the superficial structural analysis rather than in-depth content analysis of each article. However, this study is the first study for reflecting the trends of nursing research based on each journal of seven branches of the Korean Academy of Nursing.
Data Collection ; Humans ; Korea ; Nursing Research* ; Nursing* ; Qualitative Research ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Research Design ; Research Subjects ; Students, Nursing

BACKGROUND: It is known that QT dispersion represents asynchronous repolarization of ventricle which is related to ventricular fibrillation. The incidence of ventricular arrhythmia is increased after acute myocardial infarction. So this study compared QT dispersion and other repolarization indexes for detection of asynchronous repolarization in acute myocardial infarction. We also investigated which portion of repolarization is the key portion of the asynchrony. METHODS: In 37 acute myocardial infarction patients and 38 angina patients dispersion of QT, JT, JTpeak and QTpeak were measured. We also measured maximum adjacent dispersion of same parameters in precordial leads. In 20 survived patients and 17 dead patients after acute myocardial infarction were also compared. We also investigated correlation of PVC's on Holter monitoring with these repolarization parameters. RESULTS: 1) All ventricular repolarization indexes(QT, QTc, JT, JTpeak, QT peak and TpeakTend dispersion) were significantly increased in acute myocardial infarction group than compared with those of angina group(p<0.05). 2) Maximal precordial dispersion(QT, QTc, JT, JTpeak and QTpeak) were also significantly increased in acute myocardial infarction group than angina group(p<0.05). 3) Dead patient group after myocardial infarction showed significantly increased QTc and TpeskTend dispersion compared with those of survived patient group(p<0.05). 4) Multivariate linear correlation showed that TpeakTend dispersion and JT dispersion was correlated with QT dispersion. CONCLUSIONS: There were asynchronous myocardial repolarization changes in acute myocardial infarction. Our study demonstrated that T wave change was major determinant of dispersion of myocardial repolarization.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory ; Humans ; Incidence ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Ventricular Fibrillation

Cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita (CMTC) is a rare congenital vascular disorder, and its pathophysiology is still unclear and most cases occur sporadically. Cutaneous lesions are observed at birth with a marbled bluish and deep-purple appearance. The associated anomaly is manifest as body asymmetry, macrocephaly, hydrocephalus, mental retardation, syndactyly and congenital glaucoma. We report our experience of CMTC1 in a female infant with the gestational age of 34 weeks and 6 days and birth weight of 2,300 g who was born by cesarean section with abnormal skin lesions. The cutaneous lesions covered most of the lower body and they faded as she continues to grow. She also had onychodysplasia in her left 2nd phalanges. In this case, close follow up by not only pediatricians but also ophthalmologist and neurologists to treat various forms of lesions involved, though the prognosis of CMTC is generally good.
Birth Weight ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gestational Age ; Glaucoma ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Infant ; Intellectual Disability ; Macrocephaly ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Prognosis ; Skin ; Skin Diseases, Vascular ; Syndactyly ; Telangiectasis ; Vascular Malformations

A multiparous 28-year-old woman, suffering ruptured intracranial aneurysm during pregnancy is presented. Clipping of the aneurysm was performed in 32 weeks of gestational age. Three weeks after operation, she delivered vaginally without complication. Delivery may be managed according to obstetrical indication following surgical correction of the aneurysm. The authors reviewed the literature, and discussed the neurosurgical and obstetric management of such patients.
Adult ; Aneurysm ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Pregnancy* ; Rupture*

A case of iatrogenic false aneurysm of the superficial temporal artery is presented. Direct injection of Urograffin into the pulsatile mass showed aneurysmal dilatation, 3x2cm sized, of the superficial temporal artery. Aneurysm excision is indicated to reduce the risk of hemorrhage from the subsequent head trauma, to relieve headache, and for any cosmetic defect. The authors have reviewed the literature, and discussed the incidence, classification, pathogenesis, clinical and angiographic diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and treatment.
Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, False* ; Classification ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Dilatation ; Headache ; Hemorrhage ; Incidence ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Temporal Arteries*

One case of multiple intracranial aneurysms is presented. On carotid angiogram, nine aneurysmal sacs including a giant aneurysm of left middle cerebral artery were detected on the right distal anterior cerebral artery, anterior communicating artery, bifurcation of both internal carotid artery, both middle cerebral artery, and left posterior communicating artery. The authors reviewed the literature, and discussed the incidence, determining the site of rupture, and the operative methods of multiple intracranial aneurysms.
Aneurysm ; Anterior Cerebral Artery ; Arteries ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Rupture