PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting prenatal care (PNC) by married immigrant women. METHODS: This study was a secondary analysis of "Reproductive Health Status of Married Immigrant Women and Policy Directions in Korea" by the Korea Institute for Health & Social Affairs. The participants were 727 married immigrant women from Asia. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi2 test and logistic regression with SPSS 14.0. RESULTS: Of the 727 women interviewed, 91.7% visited prenatal clinic. However, first time for PNC was late and total number of PNC was lower (9.07) than the average of Korean women. Timing and number of PNC in rural area were later and fewer than those in urban area. PNC by these women was significantly lower in those who had lived in Korea longer and for those who the employed. However, PNC was significantly higher in those who attended health education during pregnancy and had not experienced premature delivery. Those who attended health education during pregnancy (OR=2.84, CI=1.49~5.40) or were unemployed (OR=0.51, CI=0.26~0.99) were more likely to have PNC. CONCLUSION: These findings illustrate the need to strengthen the public information and provide special services to their demands about PNC for married immigrant women.
Asia ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Female ; Health Education ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Care

BACKGROUND: The erythromycin-resistance rate and phenotype distribution of Streptococcus propenes are quite different by geographical variation and study period. The aim of the present study was to determine the evolution of resistance to erythromycin and the frequency of erythromycin resistance phenotype of S. pyogenes isolated from Wonju Christian Hospital. METHODS: The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of erythromycin and clindamycin for 94 S. pyogenes isolated from clinical specimens between 1990 to 1998 were investigated. Double disk test of erythromycin (78microgram) and clindamycin (25microgram) were performed for 15 isolates of erythromycin resistant S. pyogenes to evaluate the erythromycin resistance phenotype. RESULTS: The resistance rates of 94 isolates of S. pyogenes were 16%(15/94) to erythromycin and 4%(4/94) to clindamycin. The frequency of erythromycin resistance phenotype in decreasing order were M phenotype (47%), inducible resistance phenotype (40%), and constitutive resistance phenotype (13%). Erythromycin-resistant S. pyogenes did not exist until 1993, but was isolated since 1994, and ranged from 14.0% to 24.0% during the period of 1994-1998. CONCLUSIONS: Our finding documents the emergence of high resistance rates to erythromycin in S. pyogenes at Wonju area since 1994. The M phenotype (47%) and inducible resistance phenotype (40%) account for the majority of erythromycin-resistant S. pyogenes.
Clindamycin ; Erythromycin* ; Gangwon-do ; Phenotype* ; Streptococcus pyogenes* ; Streptococcus*

The FK506 binding protein 5 (FKBP5) is a co-chaperone that regulates the activity of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and has been reported to mediate stress resilience. This study aimed to determine the effects of Fkbp5 deletion on acute stress-induced recognition memory impairment and hippocampal GR signaling. Wild-type and Fkbp5-knockout mice were subjected to acute uncontrollable stress induced by restraint and electrical tail shock. First, we assessed the cognitive status of mice using a novel object recognition task. Next, we measured plasma corticosterone, GR levels, and the levels of GR phosphorylation at serine 211 in the hippocampus. Wild-type mice exhibited stress-induced memory impairments, whereas Fkbp5-knockout mice did not. Plasma corticosterone and GR levels did not differ between the non-stressed wild-type and Fkbp5-knockout mice, but the levels of phosphorylated GR were lower in Fkbp5-knockout mice than in wild-type mice. Wild-type and Fkbp5-knockout mice showed increased nuclear GR levels following stress, indicating GR translocation. However, cytosolic phosphorylated GR levels were lower in the hippocampi of Fkbp5-knockout mice following stress than in those of wild-type mice. These results suggest that FKBP5 deficiency increases resilience to acute stress by altering GR signaling.

PURPOSE: The expression pattern of c-jun by ionizing radiation according to cell growth state (exponential growth phase vs. stationary phase) and its relationship with cell cycle redistribution were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The exponential growth phase (day 4) and stationary phase (day 9) cells were determined from cell growth curve according to the elapse of days in CaSki. The cells were irradiated using 6 MV X-ray with a dose of 2 Gy at a fixed dose rate of 3 Gy/min. Northern blot analysis was performed with total cellular RNA and cell cycle distribution was analyzed using flow cytometry according to time-course after irradiation. RESULTS: The maximum expression of c-jun occurred 1 hour after irradiation in both exponential growth and stationary phase cells. After then c-jun expression was elevated upto 6 hours in exponential growth phase cells, but the level decreased in stationary phase cells. Movements of cells from G0-G1 to S, G2-M phase after irradiation were higher in exponential growth phase than stationary phase. CONCLUSION: c-jun may be involved in the regulation of cellular proliferation according to the growth states after irradiation.
Blotting, Northern ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line* ; Cell Proliferation ; Flow Cytometry ; Radiation, Ionizing ; RNA

PURPOSE: Radiotherapy has been the mainstay of the treatment of brain metastases. We evaluated the response rate, survival and prognostic factors of patients with brain metastases treated with radiotherapy for palliative purpose. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 1994 through April 1997, in all 42 patients, a retrospective analysis was undertaken. Of these, 33 patients received whole brain irradiation with 30Gy in 10 daily fractions with or without a boost of 10Gy in 5 daily fractions to the site of solitary lesion. Nine patients failed to complete the planned treatment. RESULTS: Of 33 patients who finished radiotherapy, complete and partial response were observed in 4 (12%) patients and 22 (67%) ones, respectively. Overall response rate was 79% and median survival was 4 months. In univariate analysis, prognostic factors affecting survival were initial neurologic function class (p=0.0136), extracranial tumor activity (p=0.042), and response after radiotherapy (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: We confirmed that whole brain irradiation is the effective means for treating the patient with brain metastases. Initial neurologic function class, extracranial tumor activity, and response after radiotherapy were identified as prognostic factors affecting survival.
Brain* ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Radiotherapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common peripheral compressive neuropathy. Most cases are idiopathic, but rarely carpal tunnel syndrome can be associated with a ganglionic mass. We report our recently encountered experience of surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome caused by a simple ganglionic mass. METHODS: A 53-year-old man presented with chief complaints of numbness and hypoesthesia of his left palm, thumb, index finger, long finger, and ring finger of one and half month duration. Physical examination revealed positive Tinnel's sign without previous trauma, infection or any other events. Electromyography showed entrapment neuropathy of the median nerve. Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) showed an approximately 2.0cm-sized mass below the transverse carpal ligament. Upon surgical excision, a 1 x 1.5cm2 mass attached to the perineurium of the median nerve and synovial sheath of the flexor digitorum superficialis and redness and hypertrophy of the median nerve were discovered. With surgical intervention, we completely removed the ganglionic mass and performed surgical release of the transverse carpal ligament. RESULTS: The pathology report confirmed the mass to be a ganglion. The patient exhibited post-operative improvement of his symptoms and did not show any complications. CONCLUSION: We present a review of our experience with this rare case of carpal tunnel syndrome caused by a ganglionic mass and give a detailed follow-up on the patient treated by surgical exploration with carpal tunnel release.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ; Electromyography ; Fingers ; Follow-Up Studies ; Ganglion Cysts ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Hypesthesia ; Ligaments ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Median Nerve ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Compression Syndromes ; Peripheral Nerves ; Physical Examination ; Thumb

PURPOSE: Hypoxia, which is a loss of oxygen in tissues, is a common condition in solid tumors due to the tumor outgrowing existing vasculature. Under hypoxic conditions, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha rapidly accumulates and transactivates hundreds of genes, such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). MMPs contribute to invasion and metastasis of tumor cells by degrading the surrounding basement membrane and extracellular matrix barriers, which enables the easy migration and spread of cancer cells. We examined whether hypoxia increases tumor cell invasion, and whether increased invasiveness was due to HIF-1alpha and MMP-9 expression. METHODS: Transwell invasion assays were performed to demonstrate whether hypoxia enhance tumor invasion by use of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. An immunofluorescence assay was used to demonstrate expression of HIF-1alpha and MMP-9 under hypoxic conditions. Luciferase and ChiP assays were performed to demonstrate that MMP-9 promoter activity was regulated by HIF-1alpha. RESULTS: HIF-1alpha was stabilized under hypoxic conditions and stimulated MMP-9 expression, which affected the tumor invasiveness of breast cancer cells. HIF-1alpha transactivated the MMP-9 promoter by forming a transcriptional unit with p300, thus increasing expression of MMP-9 transcripts. Zymography indicated that MMP-9 had more gelatinase activity under hypoxic conditions than normoxic conditions. Furthermore, the small GTPase Ras was also activated in response to hypoxia, which then aids stabilization of HIF-1alpha, and in turn upregulates MMP-9 expression. We also demonstrate that MMP-9 is upregulated concurrently with HIF-1alpha in tumor tissues from patients with breast cancer. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that HIF-1alpha promotes cell invasion through a MMP-9-dependent mechanism and that future antitumor agents could be used to target HIF-1alpha and MMP-9.
Anoxia ; Antineoplastic Agents ; Basement Membrane ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Gelatinases ; GTP Phosphohydrolases ; Humans ; Luciferases ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Oxygen

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the following null hypothesis: there are no differences in the morphology of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) structures in relation to vertical and sagittal cephalometric patterns. Methods: This retrospective study was performed with 131 participants showing no TMJ symptoms. The participants were divided into Class I, II, and III groups on the basis of their sagittal cephalometric relationships and into hyperdivergent, normodivergent, and hypodivergent groups on the basis of their vertical cephalometric relationships. The following measurements were performed using cone-beam computed tomography images and compared among the groups: condylar volume, condylar size (width, length, and height), fossa size (length and height), and condyle-to-fossa joint spaces at the anterior, superior, and posterior condylar poles. Results: The null hypothesis was rejected. The Class III group showed larger values for condylar width, condylar height, and fossa height than the Class II group (p < 0.05). Condylar volume and superior joint space in the hyperdivergent group were significantly smaller than those in the other two vertical groups (p < 0.001), whereas fossa length and height were significantly larger in the hyperdivergent group than in the other groups (p < 0.01). The hypodivergent group showed a greater condylar width than the hyperdivergent group (p < 0.01). The sagittal and vertical cephalometric patterns showed statistically significant interactions for fossa length and height. Conclusions TMJ morphology differed across diverse skeletal cephalometric patterns. The fossa length and height were affected by the interactions of the vertical and sagittal skeletal patterns.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the following null hypothesis: there are no differences in the morphology of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) structures in relation to vertical and sagittal cephalometric patterns. Methods: This retrospective study was performed with 131 participants showing no TMJ symptoms. The participants were divided into Class I, II, and III groups on the basis of their sagittal cephalometric relationships and into hyperdivergent, normodivergent, and hypodivergent groups on the basis of their vertical cephalometric relationships. The following measurements were performed using cone-beam computed tomography images and compared among the groups: condylar volume, condylar size (width, length, and height), fossa size (length and height), and condyle-to-fossa joint spaces at the anterior, superior, and posterior condylar poles. Results: The null hypothesis was rejected. The Class III group showed larger values for condylar width, condylar height, and fossa height than the Class II group (p < 0.05). Condylar volume and superior joint space in the hyperdivergent group were significantly smaller than those in the other two vertical groups (p < 0.001), whereas fossa length and height were significantly larger in the hyperdivergent group than in the other groups (p < 0.01). The hypodivergent group showed a greater condylar width than the hyperdivergent group (p < 0.01). The sagittal and vertical cephalometric patterns showed statistically significant interactions for fossa length and height. Conclusions TMJ morphology differed across diverse skeletal cephalometric patterns. The fossa length and height were affected by the interactions of the vertical and sagittal skeletal patterns.

Crossed renal ectopia is an unusual congenital anomaly, probably produced by abnormal development of the ureteral bud. The deformity itself produces no symptoms and the clinical presentation generally is for obstruction and infection. The pediatric patients present most often with multiple congenital anomalies, especially of the skeletal system. We report the two cases of crossed renal ectopia with fusion with review of literatures.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Humans ; Ureter