PURPOSE: This study was conducted for the purpose of a structural model analysis of family health of women who came to Korea for being married to Korean men. METHODS: The data were collected from 260 immigrant women at multicultural centers located in C and B cities from May 10th to 30th, 2012. The variance analysis on the samples was conducted by using the maximum likelihood minimization function with AMOS 7.0. The fitness was evaluated by means of the SRMR, RMSEA, CFI, and TLI with a 90% confidence interval. RESULTS: First, immigrant women's self-esteem and acculturative stress were found to have significant direct effects on their family health. Second, their self-esteem and acculturative stress have direct effects on their marital adjustment. Third, their marital adjustment was found to have significant direct effects on their family health. Forth, immigrant women's Korean language ability was found not to have significant direct effects on their marital adjustment and family health. CONCLUSION: In order to enhance the family health of immigrant women, it is necessary to develop and apply nursing programs in consideration of immigrant women's self-esteem, marital adjustment and acculturative stress.
Aminopeptidases ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Family Health ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Language ; Marriage ; Models, Structural ; Negotiating ; Porphyrins ; Social Adjustment ; Transients and Migrants

Phenolic glycolipid I (PGL-I) is a Mycobacterium leprae-specific antigen, and the antibodies to the antigen may suggest an M. leprae infection. To compare the M. leprae infection among the populations, we compared the seropositivity and average O.D. of anti-PGL-I IgM antibodies among controls, workers in the leprosy control program offices and foreigners in Korea, the seropositivity of anti- PGL-I antibodies were 3.7% among controls, 7.8% among workers with occupational exposure and 13.6% among foreigners and the average O.D. of anti-PGL-I antibodies were 0.055 among controls, 0.065 among workers and 0.102 among foreigners. And a slightly difference was noted in the seropositivity rate and average O.D. of anti-PGL-I antibodies between children under 9 years old (0%, 0.029) and persons over 10 years old (1.97-6.38%, 0.046-0.065).
Antibodies* ; Child ; Emigrants and Immigrants* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M* ; Korea* ; Leprosy ; Mycobacterium leprae* ; Mycobacterium* ; Occupational Exposure ; Phenol* ; Prevalence*

BACKGROUND: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is characterized by clinical features similar to those of acute myocardial ischemia, but without angiographic evidence of obstructive coronary artery disease. We present a patient with takotsubo cardiomyopathy following acute infarction involving the left insular cortex. CASE REPORT: A 52-year-old man was admitted with acute infarction of the left middle cerebral artery territory and acute chest pain. Acute myocardial infarction was suspected because of elevated serum troponin levels and hypokinesia of the left ventricle on echocardiography. However, a subsequent coronary angiography revealed no stenosis within the coronary arteries or ballooning of the apical left ventricle. CONCLUSIONS: We postulated that catecholamine imbalance due to the insular lesion could be responsible for these interesting features.
Cerebral Infarction ; Chest Pain ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Echocardiography ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Hypokinesia ; Infarction ; Middle Aged ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy ; Troponin

BACKGROUND: Large amounts of antigen may produce false low values on immunoradiometric assays due to the so-called high-dose hook effect. The physicians' awareness of the possibility of the "high-dose hook effect" will prevent preoperative misdiagnosis. The study was designed to identify the frequency and clinical features of patients with pituitary macroadenomas in whom a high-dose PRL hook effect was documented. METHODS: Our retrospective study involved 42 patients with non-functioning pituitary adenomas (tumor diameter >30mm) who underwent transsphenoidal microsurgery from between Jan 1999 to Aug 2004, and 6 patients with non-functioning pituitary adenoma(tumor diameter>30mm) were selected for prospective study from Sep 2003 to Feb 2004. Our retrospective study also involved 13 patients with macroprolactinoma for the comparison of the clinical features. RESULTS: 1) The presence of a high-dose hook effect was retrospectively suggested when the PRL levels increased in 4 out of the 42 patients with non- functioning adenomas(tumor diameter >30mm) after surgery. Post-operative immunohistochemical staining of their pituitary specimens revealed the tumors to be prolactinoma. 2) Prospectively, dilution testing of the specimens obtained before surgery was done in the 6 patients, and one patient presented with a case of the hook effect. The patient's prolactin level was measured at 53.1ng/mL before dilution and this was increased up to 22,600ng/mL upon the 1:1000 dilution. 3) Conclusively, the hook effect was seen in 5 of the 48 patients(10.4%) with non-functioning pituitary adenoma(tumor diameter >30mm) 4) Compared with other 2 patient groups(the macroprolactinoma(N=13) group, and the non-functioning pituitary tumor(N=43) group), the high-dose PRL hook effect is more likely to be observed in male patients with large pituitary tumors. CONCLUSION: In order to avoid the high-dose hook effect, PRL should be assayed at 1:100~1:200 or even higher dilutions of serum from all patients(and especially the male patients) with large pituitary tumors
Diagnostic Errors ; Humans ; Immunoradiometric Assay ; Male ; Microsurgery ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Prolactin ; Prolactinoma* ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Increased body fat, abdominal obesity and insulin resistance are important clinical features in hypogonadal men. Several studies have demonstrated that a low testosterone concentration in men is associated with coronary heart disease, visceral obesity and insulin resistance. In this study, the effects of testosterone replacement therapy on the abdominal visceral fat and cardiovascular risk factors in hypogonadal men were investigated. METHODS: We selected 26 men with secondary hypogonadism (mean serum testosterone+/-SD 0.39+/- 0.57ng/mL), who were then treated with testosterone for 12 months. We measured the body composition, including the abdominal visceral fat area by abdominal CT at the L4 level, both before and 12 months after treatment, and the lipid profile, fasting plasma insulin, HOMA-IR and the serum homocysteine, CRP and IL-6 before and 6, 12 months after treatment. RESULTS: With respect to the body composition, the lean body mass had significantly increased 12 months after treatment(P= 0.002), but there were no significant changes in the body fat mass and abdominal visceral fat area. There was a trend toward a decreased fasting plasma insulin and HOMA-IR, but this did not reach statistical significance. The total cholesterol had decreased significantly at 12 months(P=0.04) and the HDL cholesterol decreased significantly over the course of study(P=0.02). There were no significant changes in the serum homocysteine, CRP and IL-6 after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: After 12 months testosterone replacement therapy in the 26 men with hypogonadism, the lean body mass had increased significantly, but there was no significant change on the abdominal visceral fat during the treatment period. Testosterone replacement had deleterious effect on HDL cholesterol, but not significant effects on insulin resistance and the serum homocysteine, CRP and IL-6. These results suggest that testosterone replacement therapy may have a few adverse effects on cardiovascular diseases in hypogonadal men. However, it will be necessary to examine the long-term effects of testosterone replacement on the incidence of cardiovascular events as well as the cardiovascular risk factors in men with hypogonadism
Adipose Tissue ; Body Composition ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Coronary Disease ; Fasting ; Homocysteine ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Incidence ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Interleukin-6 ; Intra-Abdominal Fat* ; Male ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Plasma ; Risk Factors* ; Testosterone* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: Increased body fat, abdominal obesity and insulin resistance are important clinical features in hypogonadal men. Several studies have demonstrated that a low testosterone concentration in men is associated with coronary heart disease, visceral obesity and insulin resistance. In this study, the effects of testosterone replacement therapy on the abdominal visceral fat and cardiovascular risk factors in hypogonadal men were investigated. METHODS: We selected 26 men with secondary hypogonadism (mean serum testosterone+/-SD 0.39+/- 0.57ng/mL), who were then treated with testosterone for 12 months. We measured the body composition, including the abdominal visceral fat area by abdominal CT at the L4 level, both before and 12 months after treatment, and the lipid profile, fasting plasma insulin, HOMA-IR and the serum homocysteine, CRP and IL-6 before and 6, 12 months after treatment. RESULTS: With respect to the body composition, the lean body mass had significantly increased 12 months after treatment(P= 0.002), but there were no significant changes in the body fat mass and abdominal visceral fat area. There was a trend toward a decreased fasting plasma insulin and HOMA-IR, but this did not reach statistical significance. The total cholesterol had decreased significantly at 12 months(P=0.04) and the HDL cholesterol decreased significantly over the course of study(P=0.02). There were no significant changes in the serum homocysteine, CRP and IL-6 after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: After 12 months testosterone replacement therapy in the 26 men with hypogonadism, the lean body mass had increased significantly, but there was no significant change on the abdominal visceral fat during the treatment period. Testosterone replacement had deleterious effect on HDL cholesterol, but not significant effects on insulin resistance and the serum homocysteine, CRP and IL-6. These results suggest that testosterone replacement therapy may have a few adverse effects on cardiovascular diseases in hypogonadal men. However, it will be necessary to examine the long-term effects of testosterone replacement on the incidence of cardiovascular events as well as the cardiovascular risk factors in men with hypogonadism
Adipose Tissue ; Body Composition ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Coronary Disease ; Fasting ; Homocysteine ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Incidence ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Interleukin-6 ; Intra-Abdominal Fat* ; Male ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Plasma ; Risk Factors* ; Testosterone* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective: To compare the screening performance of diffusion-weighted (DW) MRI and combined mammography and ultrasound (US) in detecting clinically occult contralateral breast cancer in women with newly diagnosed breast cancer. Materials and Methods: Between January 2017 and July 2018, 1148 women (mean age ± standard deviation, 53.2 ± 10.8 years) with unilateral breast cancer and no clinical abnormalities in the contralateral breast underwent 3T MRI, digital mammography, and radiologist-performed whole-breast US. In this retrospective study, three radiologists independently and blindly reviewed all DW MR images (b = 1000 s/mm2 and apparent diffusion coefficient map) of the contralateral breast and assigned a Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System category. For combined mammography and US evaluation, prospectively assessed results were used. Using histopathology or 1-year follow-up as the reference standard, cancer detection rate and the patient percentage with cancers detected among all women recommended for tissue diagnosis (positive predictive value; PPV2) were compared. Results: Of the 30 cases of clinically occult contralateral cancers (13 invasive and 17 ductal carcinoma in situ [DCIS]), DW MRI detected 23 (76.7%) cases (11 invasive and 12 DCIS), whereas combined mammography and US detected 12 (40.0%, five invasive and seven DCIS) cases. All cancers detected by combined mammography and US, except two DCIS cases, were detected by DW MRI. The cancer detection rate of DW MRI (2.0%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.3%, 3.0%) was higher than that of combined mammography and US (1.0%; 95% CI: 0.5%, 1.8%; p = 0.009). DW MRI showed higher PPV2 (42.1%; 95% CI: 26.3%, 59.2%) than combined mammography and US (18.5%; 95% CI: 9.9%, 30.0%; p = 0.001). Conclusion In women with newly diagnosed breast cancer, DW MRI detected significantly more contralateral breast cancers with fewer biopsy recommendations than combined mammography and US.

Objective: To compare the screening performance of diffusion-weighted (DW) MRI and combined mammography and ultrasound (US) in detecting clinically occult contralateral breast cancer in women with newly diagnosed breast cancer. Materials and Methods: Between January 2017 and July 2018, 1148 women (mean age ± standard deviation, 53.2 ± 10.8 years) with unilateral breast cancer and no clinical abnormalities in the contralateral breast underwent 3T MRI, digital mammography, and radiologist-performed whole-breast US. In this retrospective study, three radiologists independently and blindly reviewed all DW MR images (b = 1000 s/mm2 and apparent diffusion coefficient map) of the contralateral breast and assigned a Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System category. For combined mammography and US evaluation, prospectively assessed results were used. Using histopathology or 1-year follow-up as the reference standard, cancer detection rate and the patient percentage with cancers detected among all women recommended for tissue diagnosis (positive predictive value; PPV2) were compared. Results: Of the 30 cases of clinically occult contralateral cancers (13 invasive and 17 ductal carcinoma in situ [DCIS]), DW MRI detected 23 (76.7%) cases (11 invasive and 12 DCIS), whereas combined mammography and US detected 12 (40.0%, five invasive and seven DCIS) cases. All cancers detected by combined mammography and US, except two DCIS cases, were detected by DW MRI. The cancer detection rate of DW MRI (2.0%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.3%, 3.0%) was higher than that of combined mammography and US (1.0%; 95% CI: 0.5%, 1.8%; p = 0.009). DW MRI showed higher PPV2 (42.1%; 95% CI: 26.3%, 59.2%) than combined mammography and US (18.5%; 95% CI: 9.9%, 30.0%; p = 0.001). Conclusion In women with newly diagnosed breast cancer, DW MRI detected significantly more contralateral breast cancers with fewer biopsy recommendations than combined mammography and US.

Primary reninism is a rare cause of hypertension manifesting along with hypokalemia. A high level of plasma renin activity and a high level of serum aldosterone are the whole markers of primary reninism. Upon making the diagnosis of primary reninism, other more common causes of aldosteronism must be differentiated, such as renovascular hypertension and primary aldosteronism. Primary reninism is commonly caused by juxtaglomerular cell tumor, which is one of the curable causes of hypertension, and this can be successfully treated by conservative surgery. We report here on a case of primary reninism that was caused by juxtaglomerular cell tumor that developed in a 22-year-old female patient. She was recently diagnosed with hypertension and hypokalemia. She had markedly elevated plasma renin activity and an increased serum aldosterone concentration. Computed tomography revealed a mass located in the right kidney and selective renal vein sampling suggested that the mass was secreting an excess of renin. Right nephrectomy was done and her hypertension with hypokalemia was successfully treated. We report here a case of primary reninism that presented with juxtaglomerular cell tumor along with a review of the literature
Aldosterone ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; Hypertension* ; Hypertension, Renovascular ; Hypokalemia* ; Kidney ; Nephrectomy ; Plasma ; Renal Veins ; Renin* ; Young Adult

Research into adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) has demonstrated the feasibility of their use in clinical applications due to their ease of isolation and abundance in adipose tissue. We isolated AD-MSCs from young and old dogs, and the cells were subjected to sequential sub-passaging from passage 1 (P1) to P7. Canine AD-MSCs (cAD-MSCs) were examined for proliferation kinetics, expression of molecules associated with self-renewal, expression of cell surface markers, and differentiation potentials at P3. Cumulative population doubling level was significantly higher in cAD-MSCs of young donors than in those of old donors. In addition, expressions of CD73, CD80, Oct3/4, Nanog, cell survival genes and differentiation potentials were significantly higher in young donors than in old donors. The present study suggests that donor age should be considered when developing cell-based therapies for clinical application of cAD-MSCs.
Adipose Tissue ; Animals ; Cell Survival ; Dogs ; Humans ; Kinetics ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells* ; Tissue Donors*