BACKGROUND: Laminin, which is present in all basement membrane, is a multifunctional glycoprotein with diverse biological activities. Like fibronectin, it can influence cell adhesion, growth, morphology, differentiation, and migration as well as the assembly of the extracellular matrix. Laminin primarily affects cells of epithelial origin, and response varies depending on the cells. OBJECTIVE: Studies about the relationship of laminin and the pathogenesis or metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma(SCC). MEHTODS: In this study, we have examined the laminin B1 mRNA expression and localizing pattern of laminin in SCC, using Northern and slot-blot hybridization, in situ hybridization and immunoperoxidase stain. RESULTS: In Northern blot hybridization, 5.6Kb mRNA transcript was detected in control and SCC specimens. Slot-blot hybridization indicated theat amounts of laminin B1 mRNA expression in SCC was 677.0+/-268.5 densitometer absorbance unit, in control was 228.0+/-16.37 unit respectively. There is a 3-fold increase in SCC compared to control. In in situ hybridization, 35S-labeled laminin B1 cDNA-mRNA hybrid granules were detected along the basement membrane and adjacent cells of SCC. In immunoperoxidase stain, laminin has stained strongly and continuously along the basement membrane of the tumor nest in well differentiated SCC, and weakly and interrupted in poorly differentiated SCC. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that laminin might be related to the pathogenesisand metastasis of squamous cell carcinomas.
Basement Membrane ; Blotting, Northern ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cell Adhesion ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibronectins ; Glycoproteins ; In Situ Hybridization ; Laminin* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; RNA, Messenger* ; Skin*

PURPOSE: Cholestatic liver disease is a frequent complication of prolonged parenteral nutrition, especially in premature infants. The purpose of present study is to evaluate the clinical and biochemical efficacy of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in premature infants with total parenteral nutrition (TPN) cholestasis. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of 31 prematures with TPN cholestasis in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Chonnam University Hospital from January 1995 and December 2002 was done. Prematures were divided into two groups based on UDCA treatment: the study group (n=22, with UDCA treatment) and the control group (n=9, without UDCA treatment). Treatment efficacy of UDCA was evaluated by monitoring the changes of serum direct bilirubin level for more than one to two months. RESULTS: In study group, cholestasis appeared at a mean age of 23+/-18.8 days after a mean of 21+/-19.7 days of TPN. UDCA was initiated (ranged 15-30 mg/kg/day) at a mean age of 54+/-22.3 days for a mean of 32+/-19.0 days. There was no significant difference in decrease of direct bilirubin level between the study and control group. However, the day of initial enteral feeding and full enteral feeding were earlier in control group compared with study group. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that UDCA treatment is not effective in the treatment of TPN cholestasis among premature infants unlike that of results reported in children and adults. To reduce the incidence of TPN cholestasis in premature infants, early introduction of enteral feeding as soon as possible is most important.
Adult ; Bilirubin ; Child ; Cholestasis* ; Enteral Nutrition ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Jeollanam-do ; Liver Diseases ; Parenteral Nutrition ; Parenteral Nutrition, Total* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Ursodeoxycholic Acid*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the perinatal prognosis of fetuses with a single umbilical artery. METHODS: From 1992 to 1998, nineteen cases with single umbilical artery(SUA) was observed in 8,704 deliveries at Chonnam University Hospital. RESULTS: Out of nineteen fetuses, thirteen fetuses with single umbilical artery were detected by antenatal ultrasonographic examination and six fetuses were detected after birth. The male to female ratio was 0.9: 1. Congenital malformations were observed in 8 babies(42.1%) and included leg deformity, esophageal atresia, imperforated anus, ventriculomegaly, meningocele, hydronephrosis, ventricular septal defect, joint contracture, cleft lip and palate, toe anomaly, imperforated anus, kyphosis, no urethra and testis, clubfoot, patent ductus arteriosus and rnild mitral regurgitation. Among 10 cases of karyotyping analysis three cases were diagnosed as trisomy 18. Fourteen fetuses(77.8%) showed growth restriction at delivery. Antenatal obstetric complications were hydramnios(n = 3), oligohydramnios(n =2), and severe preeclampsia(n = 3). CONCLUSION: Careful ultrasonographic evaluation for the identification of a SUA is necessary because of its frequent association with congenital anomaly, growth restriction and cytogenetic abnormality.
Anal Canal ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Cleft Lip ; Clubfoot ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Contracture ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Esophageal Atresia ; Female ; Fetus ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Jeollanam-do ; Joints ; Karyotyping ; Kyphosis ; Leg ; Male ; Meningocele ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Palate ; Parturition ; Prognosis* ; Single Umbilical Artery* ; Testis ; Toes ; Trisomy ; Urethra

No abstract available.
Diagnosis*

PURPOSE: It is known that single umbilical artery is frequently associated with gastrointestinal or urogenital anomaly, however, routine renal sonography has been debated in healthy neonate with isolated single umbilical artery. This study is designed to determine the usefulness of routine renal sonography in apparently healthy infants with an isolated single umbilical artery. METHODS: Thirty healthy neonates with a single umbilical artery without a major anomaly from January 1995 to July 2002 were enrolled. The authors investigated the clinical background of babies and their mothers after renal sonography after 72 hours of age. When the abnormalities were found at the first renal sonography, the severity of hydronephrosis and degree of obstruction and renal function were analyzed by follow up renal sonography, voiding cystourethrography(VCUG) and technetium-99m-dimercaptosuccinic acid(DMSA) scan or technetium-99m-mercaptoacetyl-triglycerine (MAG3) scan. RESULTS: Among the 30 healthy patients with isolated single umbilical artery, five patients(16.7%) showed abnormalities on first renal sonography with one major(3.3%) and four(13.4%) minor renal anomaly(minimal or mild hydroneohrosis). One major renal anomaly(severe hydronephrosis) showed severe decreased renal function on MAG3 scan without reflux, and the other four minor regressed spontaneously on follow up study. CONCLUSION: The value of routine early renal sonograpy for detecting renal anomaly in healthy infants with an isolated single umbilical artery remained unclear because most of the anomalies would regress spontaneously in the follow up study.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn ; Mass Screening* ; Mothers ; Single Umbilical Artery*

Feto-maternal hemorrhage, the presence of fetal red blood cells in the maternal circulation, occurs in up to 75% of pregnancies. But its volume is usually very small. Feto-maternal hemorrhage of more than 30 ml of whole blood is relatively rare. The key features that lead to early diagnosis are the maternal history, fetal monitoring, the clinical and laboratory findings of anemia and a negative Coombs' test. Diagnosis is confirmed by Kleihauer-Betke test. Perinatal problems include fetal distress, neonatal anemia, hypovolemic shock, and death. The fetal outcome depends on the amount and rate of bleeding. The initial hemoglobin level was a better predictor than the volume of bleeding. We present two cases of severe neonatal anemia associated with massive feto-maternal hemorrhage, which was confirmed by Kleihauer-Betke test.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Infant, Newborn ; Humans

Lentigo maligna melanoma(LMM) is the least common type of melanoma and most commonly affects the sun-exposed skin of the elderly. We herein report a case of LMM evolved from lentigo maligna(LM). A 71-year-old female presented with a longstanding irregular brown patch containing two black papules on the left cheek which developed 8 months ago. Histopathologic findings were consistent with LM and LMM. We performed a wide excision and dufourmental flap for reconstruction with no recurrence for 30 months. Sun exposure has been known as the most important etiologic factor for the development of malignant melanoma including LMM and the incidence has an increasing tendency. Thus, skin biopsy is recommended in the evaluation of a longstanding irregular brown patch on the face to prevent LMM.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Cheek ; Female ; Humans ; Hutchinson's Melanotic Freckle* ; Incidence ; Lentigo* ; Melanoma* ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Solar System

No abstract available.
Ascites ; Hydrops Fetalis* ; Pleural Effusion ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to identify gender-based health inequality and explore impacting factors on health inequality in one province in Korea. METHODS: This was an explanatory study using the secondary data on Chungnam province from the Fifth Community Health Survey from August 16 to Oct 31, 2012. Variables included in this analysis were education level, poverty, marital status, and residential community for socio-cultural characteristics and subjective health status as an indicator of health inequality. Data were analyzed by chi2-test, t-test, ANOVA, and multiple linear regression. RESULTS: There were gender inequalities and disparities in health, and these inequalities were greater in woman than in man (chi2=161.8, p<.001). The impacting factors were education level, poverty, marital status, and residential community, which was accounted for 22.6% of variances of health inequality. Among these variables, gender showed the largest influence in health inequalities. CONCLUSION: To solve health inequalities, it should be considered gender differences based on social determinants of health. It is necessary to develop long term project based on these results and the social determinants model of World Health Organization.
Chungcheongnam-do ; Education ; Female ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Korea ; Linear Models ; Marital Status ; Poverty ; Social Determinants of Health ; Socioeconomic Factors* ; World Health Organization

The N-terminal sequence of HIV1 gp41 (amino acid residues 584-623) was known to be the immundominant region of HIV1 gp41 protein. In order to determine epitope for gp41 protein of Korean anti-HIV1 positive sera, multiple antigenic peptides (MAPs) for the sequences corresponding to 584-604, 590-612, 604-623 and 584-618 of HIV1 gp41 were synthesized by solid phase method using Fmoc-Lys (Fmoc)-OH and used as coating antigens for ELISA. The reactivities of the synthetic peptides with Korean HIV1 positive (21 samples) and anti-HIV1 negative sera (22 samples) obtained from healthy blood doner were estimated by an indirect ELISA. MAPs for 584-604, 590-612 and 604-623 of gp41 reacted with 62 %, 100 % and 81 % of Korean anti-HIV1 positive sera tested, respectively. The results suggest that the epitope for HIV1 gp 41 for Korean anti-HIV1 positive sera is located in the region of amino acid 590-612 of gp41. MAP for gp41 (584-618) reacted with all (100 %) of anti-HIV1 positive sera tested, but did not react with anti-HlV1 negative sera. In addition, this MAP reacted stronger with seven samples of anti-HIV1 positive sera of anti-HIV1/2 combo performance panel than the mixture of 584-604, 590-612 and 604-623 of gp41, but did not react with anti-HIV negative serum. The high sensitivity and selectivity of MAP of gp41 (584-618) suggest that this peptide as a coating antigen in an ELISA system will be useful for antibody detection of HIV1.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epitope Mapping* ; Immune Sera* ; Peptides*