Nicotine is one of the major components of cigarette smoking which causes various systemic and local diseases to human body. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of nicotine on bone mineralization in human fetal osteoblasts cell line(hFOB1). To compare the alkaline ph-osphatase(ALP) synthesis, hFOB1 were cultured with DMEM/F-12 1:1 Mixture and 100 pg/ml, 1 ng/ml, 10 ng/ml, 100 ng/ml, 1 microgram/ml, 10 microgram/ml, 100 microgram/ml of nicotine. And to compare the calcium accumulation, hFOB1 cultured for 23 days were quantified and photographed. ALP activity of hFOB1 exposed to nicotine was not significantly changed at a lower concentrations of nicotine, but was significantly decreased at a higher concentrations (10 microgram/ml, 100 microgram/ml) of nicotine (p<0.05). A quantified calcium acculation in hFOB1 was significantly decreased at 1, 10, and 100microgram/ml of nicotine (p<0.05). Significantly decreased calcium deposition was observed at 1, 10, and 100microgram/ml of nicotine. These results indicate that a higher concentration of nicotine show a negative effects on mineralization of hFOB1.
Calcification, Physiologic ; Calcium ; Human Body ; Humans* ; Nicotine* ; Osteoblasts* ; Smoking

PURPOSES: The purposes of this study were to identify factors related to burden and well-being in primary caregivers of patients who have had a stroke and examine the correlation between burden and well-being of the caregivers. METHODS: Between April 2006 to June 2007 data were collected using self-report questionnaires and interviews with 85 primary caregivers of stroke patients in C University Hospital. Data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Duncan test and Pearson's correlation with SPSSWIN 15.0. RESULTS: Factors related to burden of primary caregivers were sex and activities of daily living of the patients, and age, education level and satisfaction with income of the caregivers. The factors related to well-being of primary caregivers were sex of patients, and age and education level of caregivers as well as cohabitation with the patient. A negative correlation was found between burden and well-being of the caregivers (r= -.393, p<.001). CONCLUSION: These results indicate a need to develop a nursing intervention program for caregivers and education program for other family members to reduce caregiver burden. These programs should lead to improvements in the well-being of the caregiver.
Activities of Daily Living ; Caregivers ; Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Stroke

No abstract available.
Humans* ; Pregnancy* ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic* ; Spermatozoa*

BACKGROUND: In the Republic of Korea, Plasmodium vivax malaria, which had disappeared since 1984, re-emerged in 1993. Currently, malaria is becoming a serious public health problem in the Republic of Korea. The diagnosis of malaria has relied on microscopic examination such as thin and thick blood smears. However, even for expert microscopists, this test is a laborious and time-consuming procedure. Therefore, the development of a reliable, easy, and convenient diagnostic test is crucial. Recently, the LG malaria anti-PvTM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit for the detection of a specific antibody against the merozoite surface protein (MSP) of P. vivax was developed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic kit for P. vivax malaria in the Republic of Korea. METHODS: To determine the usefulness of the LG malaria anti-PvTM as a diagnostic kit for vivax malaria, a total of 59 serum samples from patients with P. vivax malaria were tested. The patients were diagnosed microscopically and the parasitemia index of their blood was calculated. Sera from 203 uninfected healthy blood donors, which were microscopically negative for Plasmodium vivax, were used as negative controls. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of the LG malaria anti-PvTM were 98.31% (58/59) and 98.03% (199/203), respectively. The false-positive and false-negative rates were 1.97% (4/203) and 1.69% (1/59), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic kit, LG malaria anti-PvTM, might be a useful tool for diagnosis and screening of P. vivax malaria in Korea.
Blood Donors ; Diagnosis* ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Korea ; Malaria* ; Malaria, Vivax* ; Mass Screening ; Merozoites ; Parasitemia ; Plasmodium vivax* ; Plasmodium* ; Public Health ; Republic of Korea* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

A pancreatic arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a very rare disease entity that is usually asymptomatic; however, it may present with a massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Recent advances in cross-sectional imaging and the widespread availability of angiography have contributed to the diagnosis of this condition. A patient was transferred to our clinic due to unknown origin gastrointestinal bleeding and upper abdominal pain. Double balloon enteroscopy and duodenoscopy revealed a bleeding pancreatico-cholangio-duodenal fistula. We were able to diagnose an arteriovnous malformation with a pancreatico-cholangio-duodenal fistula by the use of angiography and from the post-operative pathological findings.
Abdominal Pain ; Angiography ; Arteriovenous Malformations* ; Diagnosis ; Double-Balloon Enteroscopy ; Duodenoscopy ; Fistula ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Pancreas ; Rare Diseases

CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorders (LPD) represent a spectrum of T-cell lymphoma including lymphomatoid papulosis and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). Epidermis overlying cutaneous CD30+ LPD often shows epidermal hyperplasia, hyperkeratosis, crusting, and ulceration and it is difficult to distinguish from carcinoma such as keratoacanthoma (KA) or squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Several cases of pseudocarcinomatous hyperplasia mimicking KA or SCC in CD30+ LPD have been reported. The relationship between CD30+ LPD and epithelial proliferations has not yet well understood. It was reported that a variety of mediators, including epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor-α and EGFR from CD30+ LPD could attribute to epidermal hyperplasia. However, separate and distinct SCC occurring in CD30+ LPD has rarely been reported. Herein, we present a rare case of coexistence of SCC and cutaneous ALCL located on the same region.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; Epidermis ; Epithelial Cells* ; Hyperplasia ; Keratoacanthoma ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic ; Lymphoma, Primary Cutaneous Anaplastic Large Cell* ; Lymphoma, T-Cell ; Lymphomatoid Papulosis ; Lymphoproliferative Disorders ; Ulcer

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate stent compression in iliac vein compression syndrome (IVCS) and to identify its association with stent patency. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between May 2005 and June 2014, after stent placement for the treatment of IVCS with acute ilio-femoral deep vein thrombosis, follow-up CT venography was performed in 48 patients (35 women, 13 men; age range 23-87 years; median age 56 years). Using follow-up CT venography, the degree of the stent compression was calculated and used to divide patients into two groups. Possible factors associated with stent compression and patency were evaluated. The cumulative degree of stent compression and patency rate were analyzed. RESULTS: All of the stents used were laser-cut nitinol stents. The proportion of limbs showing significant stent compression was 33%. Fifty-six percent of limbs in the significant stent compression group developed stent occlusion. On the other hand, only 9% of limbs in the insignificant stent compression group developed stent occlusion. Significant stent compression was inversely correlated with stent patency (p < 0.001). The median patency period evaluated with Kaplan-Meier analysis was 20.0 months for patients with significant stent compression. Other factors including gender, age, and type of stent were not correlated with stent patency. Significant stent compression occurred most frequently (87.5%) at the upper end of the stent (ilio-caval junction). CONCLUSION: Significant compression of nitinol stents placed in IVCS highly affects stent patency. Therefore, in order to prevent stent compression in IVCS, nitinol stents with higher radial resistive force may be required.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Iliac Vein/pathology/*radiography ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; May-Thurner Syndrome/*diagnosis/radiography/*therapy ; Middle Aged ; Phlebography ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents/adverse effects ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome ; Vascular Patency/*physiology ; Venous Thrombosis/radiography/*therapy ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: induction of analgesia is frequently required during undergoing reduction of fractures or dislocation in the emergency department. METHODto induce analgesia should be easy, convenient, and safe because patients are not always in fasting state. Nitrous oxide inhalation has been known as a good method of analgesia in emergency patients. PURPOSE: This study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nitrous oxide analgesia in the emergency department. METHOD: We prospectively studied 34 patients undergone reductions of fractures in the emergency department. Nitrous-oxide was the sole source of analgesia. The Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) was rated by the emergency physician before nitrous oxide inhalation,5 minutes after inhalation and reduction procedures. RESULTS: No complication such as vomiting, respiratory depression, or a change in oxygen saturation resulted from the use of nitrous-oxide. Ninety one percent of patients obtained an analgesic effect. However, 9% of patients did not experience any analgesic effect after inhalation of nitrous oxide. In subgroup analysis for analgesic effect of nitrous-oxide, nitrous oxide provided only partial analgesia for acute pain in open fracture group. VAS was significantly lower after inhalation than before inhalation of nitrous oxide in simple fracture group. However, VAS of simple fracture group was increased during closed reductions, which indicated incomplete relief of pain by nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide inhalation foiled to relieve pain during reduction in patients with open fracture or dislocation. CONCLUSION: Administration of nitrous-oxide, when used as the sole source of analgesia, is not the ideal method of analgesia during reduction of fractures or dislocations.
Acute Pain ; Analgesia ; Dislocations ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Fasting ; Fractures, Open ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Nitrous Oxide* ; Oxygen ; Prospective Studies ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Vomiting

Transcutaneous cardiac pacing(TCP) is a rapid, safe, noninvasive and easily utilized form of emergency cardiac pacing, with hemodynamically similar to transvenous cardiac pacing. This paper reports the result of transcutaneous pacing in a series of patients in emergency department.32 patients with bradyanhythmia were enrolled during the study period. TCP was successful in 29(91%) patients. No evidence of electrical capture was seen in two patients in asystole and a patient with ventricular escape rhythm. Mean capture threshold was 66 mA. Transvenous pacemaker was inserted in 18(56%) of the 32 patients during transcutaneous cardiac pacing. Twenty(61%) of the 32 patients survived and eventually discharged. Ten patients(31%) were died of uncorrectable underlying disease in spite of successful ECG capture and palpable pulse by TCP. In conclusion, TCP is a reliable, noninvasive method that offers the possibility to initiate pacing within seconds and can be used by any emergency medical staff. In our opinion, it should be considered as the first choice of emergency treatment of hemodynamically unstable bradyarrhythmia.
Bradycardia* ; Electrocardiography ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Emergency Treatment ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Medical Staff ; United Nations

The dehiscence of saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) is a rare, often fatal, complication of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We present the case of a 57-year-old man who underwent hemiarch graft interposition and CABG for a Stanford type A aortic dissection. Five months after discharge, the patient developed streptococcal sepsis caused by a hemodialysis catheter. Complete rupture of the proximal anastomoses of the saphenous veins and containment by the obliterated pericardial cavity was observed 25 months after the initial operation. The patient was successfully treated surgically. This report describes a patient who developed potentially fatal dehiscence of SVGs secondary to infection and outlines preventive and management strategies for this complication.
Catheters ; Containment of Biohazards ; Coronary Artery Bypass* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pericardium ; Renal Dialysis ; Rupture ; Saphenous Vein ; Sepsis* ; Transplants