No abstract available.
Humans ; Smoking* ; Tobacco Products*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Inpatients*

PURPOSE: Although the standard treatment of diaphyseal forearm fractures in children is conservative treatment with closed reduction and cast immobilization, unstable or irreducible fractures are usually needed by surgical intervention. The aim of this article is to determine the efficacy of the percutaneous transphyseal intramedullary K-wires fixation for the forearm diaphyseal fractures in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, we reviewed 18 cases of forearm diaphyseal fractures in children, which were treated with percutaneous transphyseal intramedullary nailing using K-wires from January 2001 to December 2004. We analyzed the period for radiologic bone union and the complications until the last follow-up. RESULTS: The average period of follow-up was 15 months with mean age of 7.8 years. The average time to bone union was 6.2 weeks and nonunion, malunion, radio-ulnar synostosis and refracture were not found, just 2 local pin site infections were seen but healed by conservative treatment. Postoperative scar was small and the complications until the last follow-up were not found. CONCLUSION: In the operative treatment of the forearm diaphyseal fractures in children, we think percutaneous transphyseal intramedullary K-wire fixation is one of the effective methods because of the minimal invasiveness, simplicity and easiness in removal.
Child* ; Cicatrix ; Follow-Up Studies ; Forearm* ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Retrospective Studies ; Synostosis

Gaucher disease is a glycosphingolipid storage disease caused by deficiency of glucocerebrosidase, resulting in the accumulation of glucosylceramide in lysosomes. The neuronopathic forms of this disease are associated with neuronal loss and neurodegeneration. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms leading to prenatal and neonatal death remain uncharacterized. To investigate brain dysfunction in Gaucher disease, we studied the effects of neurotrophic factors during development in a mouse model of Gaucher disease. The expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor was reduced in the cerebral cortex, brainstem, and cerebellum of Gaucher mice, compared with that in wild-type mice. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 expression was downregulated in neurons from Gaucher mice and correlated with a decreased number of neurons. These results suggest that a reduction in neurotrophic factors could be involved in neuronal loss in Gaucher disease.
Signal Transduction ; Neurons/*metabolism ; Nerve Growth Factors/*metabolism ; Models, Animal ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice ; MAP Kinase Signaling System/physiology ; Gaucher Disease/*metabolism/pathology ; Down-Regulation ; Cells, Cultured ; Cell Survival ; Brain/*metabolism ; Animals

PURPOSE: FK506 (tacrolimus) is a widely used immunosuppressive agent in the treatment of various medical conditions, including autoimmune disease, bone marrow and organ transplantations. Previously FK506 was known to cause apoptotic death of human Jurkat T cells. METHODS: The current study was designed to analyze the gene expression pattern of Jurkat T cells after FK506 application by using cDNA microarray. Treatment of Jurkat T cells with FK506 resulted in a decrease of cell viability in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Next, total RNA of Jurkat T cells was extracted by using TRIzol reagent and used to carry out a confirmation test for the purity and integrity of total RNA. RESULTS: Gene expression levels related to apoptosis and cell cycle process were mainly focused to analyze in FK506-treated Jurkat T cells. According to the inhibition of calcineurin activity, MARCKS in PKC substrates and Sp3 transcription factor was markedly increased in FK506-treated cells. Also, cell cycle control gene Id1 and Id3 were induced in expression from FK506-treated Jurkat T cells. However, FK506 decreased the expression of Src homology 2, G protein, and MEK 2 genes in bioactive peptide induced signaling pathway. It also reduced the expression level of the insulin receptor, DRPLA and Bai1-associated protein 2 genes, which are involved in the regulation of cell motility and morphology control. CONCLUSION: The author will continue to pursue the exact functional roles of genes that are markedly changed in expression by FK506 in human Jurkat T cells in vitro and in vivo experimental models.
Apoptosis ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Bone Marrow ; Calcineurin ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Movement ; Cell Survival ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Profiling ; GTP-Binding Proteins ; Guanidines ; Humans ; Jurkat Cells ; Models, Theoretical ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Organ Transplantation ; Phenols ; Receptor, Insulin ; RNA ; Sp3 Transcription Factor ; T-Lymphocytes ; Tacrolimus ; Transplants

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Helicobacter pylori is found in more than 90% of patients with gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. Regression of lymphoma after H. pylori eradication was reported. Therefore, early detection of gastric MALT lymphoma is important. On reported several endoscopic findings, nonspecific gastritis with erosion and ulceration were common and there is no typical endoscopic findings. METHODS: Therefore we analyzed the endoscopic findings of 16 low-grade B-cell gastric MALT lymphoma confirmed by biopsy, PCR and immunostain and compared histologic change after eradicating H. pylori infection in patients who refused operation retrospectively from March 1995 to October 1996. RESULTS: The male: female ratio was 7:9 and mean age was 43,7 years ald (23-71 yr), On endoscopic findings of gastric MALT lymphoma, irregular shaped geographic superficial ulcer was 7 cases (43.7%), diffuse mucosal nodularity was 4 cases (25.0%) and erosion was 3 cases (18.7%). The most common site of MALT lymphoma was antrum and angle. H. pylori was positive in 87.5% (14/16 cases) and eradication of H. pylori was done in patients who refused operation and histologic improvement after H. pylori eradication was found in 62.5% (5/8 cases). CONCLUSIONS: The most common endoscopic findings of gastric MALT lymphoma was irregular geographic superficial ulcer but diffuse mucosal nodularity and erosions were also common. Therefore, biopsy must be taken, especially on the antrum and angle although nonspecific lesion may be suspected.
B-Lymphocytes ; Biopsy ; Endoscopy ; Esophagus* ; Female ; Gastric Mucosa* ; Gastritis ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Intestines* ; Lymphoid Tissue* ; Lymphoma* ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach* ; Ulcer

Cyclin D1, a cell cycle regulator essential for G1 phase progression, is a candidate proto-oncogene implicated in pathogenesis of several human carcinomas including breast carcinoma. We studied the cyclin D1 expression in 101 cases of primary breast carcinoma tissues. The overexpression of cyclin D1 was immunohistochemically demonstrated in 34 (37.8%) of 90 cases of invasive breast carcinoma. Positive cyclin D1 staining was seen in 32 of 79 invasive ductal carcinomas, and 2 of 3 mucinous carcinomas. All 5 medullary carcinomas, 2 invasive lobular carcinomas, and 1 metaplastic carcinoma were negative. Cyclin D1 overexpression was observed in 9 of 11 ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Normal epithelial components, either ductal or lobular, were not immunoreactive for cyclin D1. No significant correlations were observed between cyclin D1 immunoreactivity and other parameters including tumor size, clinical stage, nuclear or histologic grades, lymphatic or angioinvasion, lymph node metastasis, and immunohistochemical status of progesterone receptor, p53 and c-erbB-2. The overexpression of cyclin D1 was positively correlated with estrogen receptor status (p=0.025). Based on our results, the cyclin D1 protein aberration may play a role in tumorigenesis of breast carcinoma, but does not seem to have prognostic value in invasive breast carcinoma without hormonal treatment.
Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Ductal ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating ; Carcinoma, Lobular ; Carcinoma, Medullary ; Cell Cycle ; Cyclin D1* ; Cyclins* ; Estrogens ; G1 Phase ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Proto-Oncogenes ; Receptors, Progesterone

PURPOSE: This study aims to analyse the epidemiologic characteristics of burn in the elderly and to discusses a possible prevention program for this population. METHODS: A retrospective review of all medical records of elderly patients (above 60 years old) admitted with burns to the burn center of the Hanil General Hospital from January 1996 to December 2007 was carried out. Patient demographics, etiology, extent, and type of burn, seasonal variation, and mortality rates were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 537 elderly patients (mean age of 69.8 years, median age of 68 years, range 60~97 years) was admitted. The gender ratio of the patients was 1:.5 with 217 men and 320 women. The most common causes were scald burn (44.9%) and flame burn (35.4%). The average total body area burned was 13.5% (range 0~95%). Twenty six patients (4.8%) died. CONCLUSION: In elderly patients, scald burns are more common in women but flame burns are more common in men. The mortality rate is higher in flame burns and men
Aged ; Burn Units ; Burns ; Demography ; Female ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Seasons

Pulmonary edema is a potentially life-threatening complication of acute airway obstruction. Occasionally, patients experience sudden, unexpected and severe pulmonary edema during treatment of upper airway obstruction. Two forms of postobstructive pulmonary edema (POPE) have been identified. Type I POPE follows a sudden, severe episode of upper airway obstruction and type II POPE develops soon after the relief of chronic upper airway obstruction. The pathogenesis of POPE is multifactorial. The application of moderate continuous positive airway pressure in conjunction with the administration of diuretics usually clears pulmonary edema in these clinical settings within 24 hours. Awareness of this uncommon condition is crucial for the otolaryngologist to make an early diagnosis and initiate successful treatment. We present two cases of postobstructive pulmonary edema after treatment for upper airway obstruction.
Airway Obstruction ; Continuous Positive Airway Pressure ; Diuretics ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Pulmonary Edema*

PURPOSE: This study was performed to determine whether the anion gap, the base excess, the lactate, and the strong ion gap obtained in the emergency department correlate with the prognosis and whether the strong ion gap is the most useful marker compared to the prognostic ability of the anion gap, the base excess, and the lactate. METHODS: We reviewed the records of 106 patients admitted to the intensive care unit via the emergency department. We measured the anion gap, the base excess, and the lactate and we calculated strong anion gap by using a formula. We divided the patients into survivors and nonsurvivors and compared the prognostic abilities of the four variables by using the Student's t-test and receiver operator characteristic curves. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 67+/-14, and the numbers of males and females were similar (58 males vs 48 females). The number of survivors was 92 (86.7%), and that of nonsurvivors was 14 (3.2%). The anion gap ( 24.8+/-8.8 vs. 16.4+/-4.8 mmol/L, p value=0.000), the base excess (-11.9+/-8.7 vs. -3.49+/-6.5 mmol/L, p value = 0.001), the lactate (9.1+/-7.7 vs. 4.5+/-3.1 mmol/L, p value = 0.011 ) and the strong ion gap (16.6+/-3.6 vs. 10.9+/-3.7, p value=0.000) of the nonsurvivors were higher. All of the four varibles were associated with the prognosis, but among them, the strong ion gap discriminated most strongly with an area under the receiver operator characteristic curve of 0.866 (95% confidence interval, 0.787 to 0.92). CONCLUSION: The initial emergency-department acid-base variables, the anion gap, the base excess, the lactate and the strong ion gap have prognostic abilities, but the strong ion gap is the variable that most strongly predicts of mortality.
Acid-Base Equilibrium ; Critical Illness* ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Female ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Lactic Acid ; Male ; Mortality ; Prognosis ; Survivors