No abstract available.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Humans ; Hyperplasia* ; NF-kappa B*

Aspirin(ASA) and NSAIDs can induce bronchoconstriction in 10~20% of adult asthmatics patients. Inhalation of lysine-ASA(L-ASA) has been described as an alternative method for diagnosis of ASA-sensitive asthma. To further understand the characterlstics of ASA-sensitive asthmas. we studied 38 asthmatic patients with ASA -sensitivity (36 intrinsic and 2 extrinsic asthma) proven by L-ASA bronchoprovocation test (BPT). Most were female (male to female ratio was 27:73). Twenty (53%) of them had no previous history of adverse reactions when exposed to ASA. Twenty nine (79%) had rhino-sinusitis symptoms. Early asthmatic response was observed in 16 (42%) patients, late only response in 16(42%), and dual response in 6(16%) patients. The threshold of L-ASA to provoke a positive response ranged from 11.2 to 180 mg/ml and most (68.3%) had a positive response after the inhalation of 180 mg/ml. Concurrent sensitivity to sulfite was noted in 14 (36%) patients, followed by sensitivity to tartrazine in one (3%) patient. None showed a positive response to sodium benzoate. After the avoidance from ASA/ NSAIDs with administration of anti-asthmatic medications, symptom and medication scores reduced in 26(87%) patients among 30 followed patients. They were classified into the improved group: four (13%) patients belonged to the not-improved group. There were no significant differences in clinical characteristics between the improved and not- improved group (p>0.05). In conclusion, L-ASA BPT could be considered as a useful method to diagnose ASA -sensitive asthma and be used to screen the causative agent for asthmatic patients with intrinsic type, especially in female patients with rhino-sinusitis and/or nasal polyp, even though they do not have arty history of adverse reactions. Cessation of exposure and proper treatment may allow to reduce symptom and medication scores.
Adult ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; Asthma* ; Bronchoconstriction ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Nasal Polyps ; Sodium Benzoate ; Tartrazine

This study investigated dieting behavior, awareness of body shapes, and eating disorders in female adolescents according to age and BMI. The Eating Attitude Test for Korean Adolescents (EAT-26KA) and sociocultural standards were used to measure eating disorders and sociocultural attitudes related to appearance, respectively. In addition, the BDI (Beck Depression Inventory) scale was used to measure the correlation between disordered eating and depression. The data were collected from 390 female adolescents living in Seoul and were analyzed using SPSS15.0. The results indicated that subjects wanted to be thinner despite having a normal body weight (BMI 19.35+/-2.73). They also thought of themselves as fat and with desires to be slimmer, and viewed "diet and exercise" as the best way to lose weight. About 67.4% of the respondents had tried a diet and had experienced dizziness, anorexia, and general exhaustion while dieting. Also, 5.1% of the subjects were classified as eating disorder and suffered from stress to be thin. In addition, 85.0% of the subjects with eating disorder had tried a diet due to "appearance". They thought that "being underweight" was an ideal body image and considered themselves fat, although their BMIs were in the normal range (19.94+/-2.02). In terms of symptoms during dieting, many of the subjects dealing with an eating disorder felt dizzy, had low energy, and were depressed. In conclusion, we must educate young females about healthy eating and positive body image to prevent the development of adolescent eating disorders.
Adolescent ; Anorexia ; Body Image ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Depression ; Diet ; Dizziness ; Eating ; Eating Disorders ; Female ; Humans ; Ideal Body Weight ; Reference Values ; Weights and Measures

Adenosis tumor is a ra re tumor of the breast and primarily consists of adenosis. Authors report a case of surgically proved adenosis tumor in a 31-year-old woman. Mammogram showed a Iobulated, well-circumscribed mass with several surrounding radiolucent halos. In the center of the mass several linear radiolucent densities were seen with the appearance of a conglomerated well-circumscribed mass such as fibroadenoma. These linear radiolucent densities were consistent with the fat between the fibrous sclerosis in pathologic specimen. Ultrasonogram showed a well-circumscribed mass with homogeneous low echogenicity, partial posterior enhancement, and bilateral acoustic shadowings.
Acoustics ; Adult ; Breast* ; Female ; Fibroadenoma ; Humans ; Sclerosis ; Shadowing (Histology) ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: We performed the study prospectively to evaluate the advantage of fat suppression MR in the diagnosis of rotator cuff injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten symptomatic patients were studied with both conventional T2WI and FST2WI using chemical shift technique. Each image was analyzed for the assessnent of injuries, conspicuity of the lesion, the presence of effusion in subacromial bursae and joint space, and presence of humeral head injury. Arthroscopy was done in 4 patients following MRI. RESULTS: We could made presumptive diagnoses on FSMR as identical as on conventional MR in six cases(1 normal, 2 tendinitis, 2 partial thickness tear, 1 full thickness tear), two of them were confirmed by arthroscopic procedures. Two cases of partial thickness tear proved by arthroscopy were detected on FST2WI, whereas they were considered tendinitis on conventional T2Wl. There were another 2 cases who showed tendinitis on FSMR, but normal on conventional T2Wl. They, however, were not confirmed by either arthroscopy or surgical procedure. CONCLUSION: We found the FSMR were superior to conventional T2Wl in the conspicuity of lesions and detection of joint effusion and abnormalities on the humeral head. We think FSMR of the shoulder could have significant diagnostic advantages over the conventional spin-echo MR imaging.
Arthroscopy ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Humeral Head ; Joints ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Prospective Studies ; Rotator Cuff* ; Shoulder ; Tendinopathy

BACKGROUND: A medulloblastoma is a primitive neuroepithelial tumor of the cerebellum that occurs in children and metastasizes through the cerebrospinal fluid. It is highly malignant and invasive, and the 5-year survival rate is only 60%. Surgical resection techniques, radiation, and chemotherapy have improved the overall survival but the patients suffer life-long cognitive dysfunctions or endocrine abnormalities as the side effects of treatment. Therefore it is essential to identify prognostic markers to determine the appropriate treatment strategy in order to minimize the side effects. METHODS: This study evaluated the immunohistochemical differentiation and survival rate with synaptophysin, glial fibrillary acidic protein, epithelial membrane antigen, vimentin and primitive neuroepithelial marker nestin of 55 paraffin-embedded medulloblastomas, using a tissue microarray. The expression of survivin, the apoptotic inhibitor, and the survival rate with regard to the proliferation index of Ki-67 were also investigated. RESULTS: The group testing positive to vimentin, a mesenchymal differentiation marker, had a worse prognosis and there was a strong correlation between vimentin expression and nestin expression. Patients with a survivin expression rate >35% had a significantly poorer clinical course and there was a correlation between the survivin expression rate and Ki-67 expression rate. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, vimentin and survivin are negative prognostic markers in medulloblastomas.
Cerebellum ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Child ; Drug Therapy ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; Humans ; Medulloblastoma* ; Mucin-1 ; Nestin ; Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate ; Synaptophysin ; Vimentin*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of theophylline in preterm infants with apnea on glucose homeostasis and insulin values. METHOD: In this prospective study, level of glucose and insulin were measured from peripheral blood of 8 neonates(1,450+/-114gm, 31+/-2.1week), who were admitted from April 1, 1997 to July 30, 1997 in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Wonkwang University Hospital, for apnea of prematurity(> 20 sec with bradycardia and/or cyanosis) were given aminophylline intravenously. Blood samples were collected at pretreatment, posttreatment 2hours, 1-2days, 3-4days, 5-7days and posttreatment 48hours, and compare to those of the 8 control neonates(1,711+/-232gm, 32+/-1.7week). RESULTS: The results were as follows: 1) Plasma glucose values were significantly higher in the treatment group than those of the control group at 1-2days(104.67+/-20.39mg/dL vs 83.43+/-15.86mg/dL) and 3-4days(111.0+/-32.39mg/dL vs 79.25+/-14.03mg/dL)(p<0.05). 2) Plasma glucose values which were increased at 1-2days(104.67+/-20.39mg/dL)and 3-4days(111.0+-32.39mg/dL), were significantly higher than pretreatment values(66.33+/-31.19mg/ dL)(p<0.02), but were not increased to the level of hyperglycemia(> 125mg/dL). 3) The mean posttreatment glucose levels drawn at 48hours after discontinuation of theophylline was significantly decreased to the values of pretreatment values compared to those of the 1-2days and 3-4days(p<0.01). 4) Insulin concentrations were also increased insignificantly when blood glucose were increased in the treatment group compared with control group. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, intravenous administration of theophylline produces hyperglycemia significantly, including an increase in a serum insulin. But, clinically significant hyperglycemia(> 125mg/dL) was not noted. So, plasma glucose may not need to be monitored in preterm apneic infants receiving theophylline. But, further studies are need to elucidate the effect of theophylline considering the serum toxic level of theophylline.
Administration, Intravenous ; Aminophylline ; Apnea* ; Blood Glucose* ; Bradycardia ; Glucose ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Insulin* ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Plasma* ; Prospective Studies ; Theophylline

BACKGROUND: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae are main pathogens of bloodstream infection. We compared the epidemiology of ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae. METHODS: From January 2003 through March 2007, we retrospectively investigated the clinical characteristics and comorbidities of patients with bloodstream infection by ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae. RESULTS: During the study period, 79 patients (54 with E. coli and 25 with K. pneumoniae) with blood cultures positive for ESBL-producing E. coli or K. pneumoniae were studied. When comparing the source of bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections (UTIs) were more commonly caused by E. coli (24% vs. 0; P=0.007), and respiratory tract and soft tissue infection (36% vs. 15%; P=0.04, 12% vs. 0; P=0.03, respectively) were more commonly associated with K. pneumoniae. Among hospital-acquired bloodstream infection, third-generation cephalosporin was more commonly used in patients with E. coli than patients with K. pneumoniae (81% vs. 24%, P<0.001). Medical devices (central venous catheter and urinary catheter) were more commonly used in patients with K. pneumoniae. CONCLUSION: ESBL-producing E. coli bloodstream infection is more common in urinary tract infections. ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae is more common in respiratory tract infections and in skin and soft tissue infections. In hospital-acquired infections, ESBL-producing E. coli bloodstream infection is more common in biliary tract infection. ESBL-producing E. coli was more commonly associated with prior frequent antibiotics use and K. pneumoniae was more commonly associated with use of medical devices.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; beta-Lactamases ; Biliary Tract ; Catheters ; Comorbidity ; Epidemiology* ; Escherichia coli* ; Humans ; Klebsiella pneumoniae* ; Pneumonia ; Respiratory System ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Soft Tissue Infections ; Urinary Tract Infections

PURPOSE: Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disease that is difficult to treat due to various complications and frequent recurrences. There have been many studies on the clinical aspects of CD in Western countries; however, there have been few studies in Korea. We performed this study to evaluate the clinical features of CD in Korea and to assess the stability over the course of the disease according to the Vienna classification. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 85 patients diagnosed as having CD in Kyung Hee University Hospital from March 1986 to July 2004. RESULTS: The male-to-female ratio was 1.9:1, and the mean age at diagnosis was 27.5 years. The most common symptom was abdominal pain (82%). Perianal lesions were observed in 29 cases (34%). Fistula was the most common (26%) lesion. Extraintestinal manifestations were observed in 13 cases (15%). Stomatitis was the most common (7%) lesion. According to the Vienna classification, the group with ages at diagnosis below 40 years (A1) was 88%, and that with ages equal to or above 40 years (A2) was 12%. The location of the disease was classified as terminal ileum (L1)(15%), colon (L2)(32%), ileocolon (L3)(33%), and upper gastrointestinal (L4)(20%). The behavior of disease was classified as nonstricturing nonpenetrating (B1)(41%), stricturing (B2)(14%), and penetrating (B3)(45%). Empirical anti-tuberculous medications were administered in 23 cases (27%) before the CD had been diagnosed. CONCLUSIONS: There are differences in the locations and behaviors of Crohn's disease between Korea and Western patients. The cause of the difference is uncertain.
Abdominal Pain ; Classification* ; Colon ; Crohn Disease* ; Diagnosis ; Fistula ; Humans ; Ileum ; Korea* ; Medical Records ; Recurrence ; Stomatitis

OBJECTIVE: Articular cartilage has a highly limited capacity to repair because of lack of blood supply. There have been no effective modality to regenerate the articular cartilage and prevent degenerative changes. It is necessary to proliferate the cells in vitro, however the cells lose their phenotype during in vitro monolayer culture. Although it is not enough to increase the number of the cells in the three dimensional culture, it is a effective way to maintain their original phenotype expression. Alginate has been used as a good source of scaffold in chondrocyte three dimensional culture. The objective of this study was to find the most favorable scaffold for chondrocyte viability among various alginate extracted from natural source in chondrocyte three dimensional culture. METHODS: The alginate extracted from brown seaweed, Undaria pinnatifida and sea tangle, Laminaria japonica inhabitating near Korean sea and commercially available alginate were used. Chondrocytes isolated from adult pig were used. Three kinds of chondrocyte-alginate bead were made and incubated for forty-four days. Cellular viability and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content were measured and compared. SPSS Version 10.0 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Viability of chondrocyte and GAG content were increased as a function of time. Alginate from brown seaweed, U. pinnatifida appeared more favorable to maintain chondrocyte viability than others. The total GAG content was similar among three kinds of alginate CONCLUSION: Alginate extracted from natural see weed, especially brown seaweed, may be a good source to maintain chondrocyte viability in three dimensional culture.
Adult ; Cartilage, Articular ; Chondrocytes* ; Humans ; Laminaria ; Phenotype ; Seaweed ; Statistics as Topic ; Undaria