No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Humans

OBJECTIVES: Cadherin/catenin adhesion complex is fundamentally involved in epithelial cancer invasion and metastasis. E-cadherin and EGFR colocalize on the basolateral membrane of epithelial cell and EGF down-regulate E-cadherin expression. In the invasion and metastasis of cancer, E-cadherin expression is decreased and growth factors receptor is overexpressed. The present study was aimed to find the role of E-cadherin, beta-and gamma-catenin, growth factors and its receptors in cervical cancer cell lines. METHODS: The cervical cancer cell cultures were treated with different time duration of EGF 30 ng/ml and TGF-a 10 ng/ml(0, 10 min, 20 min, 30 min, 1 hr, 2 hr, 4 hr, 8 hr, 24 hr). The change in cancer cell morphology and the changes in E-cadherin, beta- and gamma-catenin, EGFR and activated EGFR expression were studied with a western blot analysis and an immunoprecipitation. RESULTS: Through a western blot analysis, E-cadherin 120 kDa band and EGFR 170 kDa band were expressed in CaSki, HT-3 and ME-180 cell line, which showed epithelial contact growth. 1n these 3 cell lines, expression of E-cadherin did not decrease with time dependent manner. after the treatment of EGF and TGF- alpha. The expression of EGFR decreased and activated EGFR expression increased in 30 minutes to 1 hour but decreased subsequently. When the cells treated with EGF, there were no change in beta-and gamma-catenin expression with there dependent manner. The tyrosine phosphorylation of beta-and gamma-catenin increased in 30 minutes to 1 hour but decreased subsequently with activated EGFR. CONCLUSION: This study showed that an activated EGFR which has involved with tyrosine phosphorylation of beta- and gamma-catenin influenced by growth factors rather than expression of E-cadherin, has a role in the invasion and metastasis of the cervical cancer.
Blotting, Western ; Cadherins* ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Line* ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Epithelial Cells ; gamma Catenin* ; Immunoprecipitation ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Membranes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Phosphorylation* ; Transforming Growth Factor alpha* ; Tyrosine* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of morbidity and mortality. It is well known that androgen and sex hormone-binding globulin(SHBG) in women were associated with risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as obesity, central fat accumulation and atherogenic lipid profile. High resolution B-mode ultrasonography can visualize directly both luminal and vessel wall characteristics, and ultrasonic measurement of carotid intima-medial thickness(IMT) can be used to investigate the atherosclerosis of coronary, cerebral and peripheral arteries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate(DHEA-S) and SHBG, and body fat distribution pattern, cardiovascular risk factor and carotid atherosclerosis in women. METHODS: Blood pressure, fasting serum glucose, insulin, lipid profile, SHBG and DHEA-S were measured. Body fat distribution pattern was assessed by waist to hip ratio, waist to thigh ratio and subscapular to triceps skin fold thickness ratio, faf mass measured by bioelectric impedance analyzer, subcutaneous fat area, visceral fat area, and visceral to subcutaneous fat area ratio(VSR) at the level of umbilicus using the computed tomography. The IMT of the carotid artery was measured by high resolution B mode ultrasound as a marker of atherosclerosis. RESULTS: 1) There was no significant difference of age-adjusted values of carotid IMT among subjects with NGT(0.426+/-0.09mm), IGT(0.46+/-10.09mm) and NIDDM(0.453+/-0.11mm). 2) In postrnenopausal women, carotid IMT was greater(0.484+/-0.11mm, p=0.05) than premenopausal women(0.426+/-0.08mm), but it was not significant after age adjustment. Serum SHBG and DHEA-S levels in postmenopausal women were significantly lower(p<0.05) than premenopausal women, but they were not significant after age adjustment. 3) Carotid IMT was significantly correlated with age(r=0.37, p<0.01), fasting serum glucose (r=0.32, p<0.01), total cholesterol(r= 0.25, p<0.05), LDL-cholesterol(r=0.26, p<0.05), visceral fat area(r=0.35, p<0.01) and VSR(r=0.31, p<0.05). 4) By the stepwise multiple regression analysis, carotid IMT was positively and significantly associated with age(p<0.01) and serum DHEA-S concentration(p<0.05) in dent of age, body mass index, waist to hip ratio, fasting serum glucose. CONCLUSION: Carotid IMT was associated with age and serum DHEA-S concentration in women without cardiovascular disease. Therefore, serum DHEA-S may be one of risk factors for cardiovascular disease in women. However, we could not conclude its cause-result relationship because of cross sectional nature of our study, and prospective study will be needed.
Arteries ; Atherosclerosis ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Body Fat Distribution ; Body Mass Index ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery Diseases* ; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate* ; Dehydroepiandrosterone* ; Electric Impedance ; Fasting ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; Mortality ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Phenobarbital ; Risk Factors ; Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin* ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Thigh ; Ultrasonics ; Ultrasonography ; Umbilicus ; Waist-Hip Ratio

PURPOSE: To report a case of abducens nerve palsy after a percutaneous nerve blocking procedure for trigeminal neuralgia. CASE SUMMARY: A 35-year-old female complaining of stabbing pain in the right maxillary area 4 months in duration was diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia at a pain clinic. The patient underwent a percutaneous trigeminal nerve blocking procedure using alcohol at the right maxillary nerve. After the procedure, the patient was referred to an ophthalmologic service for horizontal diplopia and abduction defect of her right eye. Her corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, pupillary response, anterior segment and fundus were normal bilaterally. The patient had right esotropia of 38 prism diopters in primary gaze (70 prism diopters in right gaze, 20 prism diopters in left gaze) with limited abduction of -3 in the right eye. She was diagnosed with abducens nerve palsy of the right eye. Three months after initial presentation, the patient had intermittent esotropia of 4 prism diopters at right gaze and orthophoria at the other diagnostic gazes; she presented no diplopia. CONCLUSIONS: In the present case study, abducens nerve palsy following a percutaneous trigeminal nerve blocking procedure resolved over 3 months. Because the abducens nerve is adjacent to the trigeminal nerve near the foramen ovale based on anatomical structure, when performing a percutaneous trigeminal blocking procedure, the surgeon should be aware that deep needle puncture could cause abducens nerve palsy.
Abducens Nerve ; Abducens Nerve Diseases ; Diplopia ; Esotropia ; Eye ; Female ; Foramen Ovale ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Maxillary Nerve ; Needles ; Nerve Block ; Pain Clinics ; Punctures ; Trigeminal Nerve ; Trigeminal Neuralgia ; Visual Acuity

BACKGROUND: Urinary tract is the most common site of nosocomial infections, accounting for 35% of all nosocomial infections. About 80-90% of these urinary tract infections are associated with urethral catheter insertion. Recently, we experienced an outbreak of nosocomial UTI (urinary tract infection) caused by Candida spp. in the surgical ICU (SICU) and we investigated the cause of UTI outbreak. METHODS: We collected data from clinical records and observed the current methods of care of urethral catheters in the SlCU. During the outbreak, we investigated the current procedures and maintenance care of urethral catheter insertion and educated the staff on the correct methods of the catheter insertion and care. We performed surveillance cultures of unused new urine bags, RESULTS: Between May 2000 and June 2000, 17 Candida spp. strains were isolated from urines of 17 patients hospitalized in the SICU of National Health Insurance Corporation Ilsan Hospital. All infections were attributed to the care of urethral catheter insertion and contaminated bags. We identified that routine bladder irrigation and emptying urine to a common urinal have been done incorrectly during the outbreak period. Rodotorula spp. was isolated from 4 urine bags (50% contamination rate) out of 8 unused new urine bags by surveillance cultures. CONCLUSION: The causes of the UTI outbreak caused by Candida spp. was terminated by outbreak investigation and change of contaminated urine bag.
Candida* ; Catheters ; Cross Infection ; Humans ; National Health Programs ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Catheters ; Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract*

BACKGROUND: Thromboembolism is the major complication in patients with the insertion of cardiac prosthetic valves. The purpose of this study is evaluate the risk factors about the formation of left atrial thrombi after cardiac valve replacement. METHOD: Transesophageal(TEE) and transthoracic echocardiography(TTE) were done to evaluate postoperative cardiac condition in 98 patients with cardiac prosthetic valves from Jan. 1991 to Oct 1991. Several clinical and echocardiographic parameters were analyzied to evaluate the relationship with the formation of left atrial thrombi. RESULT: In univariate analysis, important factors related to the formation of left atrial thrombi are type of operation (p=0.027), postoperative left ventricular function(p=0.003), preoperative(p=0.037) and postoperative systolic ventricular size(p=0.024). However, in multivariate analysis postoperative left ventricular size(p=0.017), presence of previous thrombi(p=0.014), preoperative left atrial size(p=0.014) and postoperative left atrial size(p=0.014) are significant factors. CONCLUSION: Patients with high risk and low risk for the formation of left atrial thrombi after valve replacement can be identified by readily available clinical and echocardiographic variables.
Echocardiography ; Heart Valves ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Risk Factors* ; Thromboembolism

PURPOSE: Both antithrombin III(ATIII) and Gabexate mesilate(Foy) are effective for the treatment of disseminated intravascular coagulation(DIC). However, their mechanisms of action are slightly different, and combined effect of ATIII and Foy in premature infant with DIC has not been studied. We evaluated therapeutic efficacy of treatments with either ATIII or Foy alone or both in combination. METHODS: We studied 23 premature infants of gestational ages between 30 and 36 weeks with DIC. Group A(n=10) was treated by ATIII only, Group B(n=7) by Foy only and Group C(n=6) by both ATIII and Foy. Three groups were compared for volume of blood sampling and transfusion and hematologic data. RESULTS: Improvement of hematologic data(platelet, PT, aPTT, fibrinogen, FDP) was not significantly different among 3 groups. The mean volume of blood sampling during 5 days of treatment was 30 mL, 22.5 mL, and 30 mL, respectively. The mean volume of packed RBC transfusion was 12.8 mL, 9 mL, and 2.5 mL, respectively: and mean volume of platelet transfusion was 25.9 mL, 10 mL, and 0 mL, respectively, showing no significant statistical difference. But the mean volume of FFP transfusion was 141 mL only in group B, significantly higher compared to other groups. CONCLUSION: The combination therapy of ATIII and Foy significantly decreased the volume of FFP transfusion and may be more effective than monotherapy with ATIII or Foy alone in DIC of premature infant.
Dacarbazine ; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation* ; Fibrinogen ; Gabexate* ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Platelet Transfusion ; Thrombin*

This study is to find out changes in medical practice at a university hospital before and after covering intraocular lens (IOL) from the health insurance benefit. The coverage started on March 1, 1993 and a total of 596 cases who were discharged from July 1 to December 31, 1992 and 580 cases who were discharged from July 1 to December 31, 1993 were analyzed. Since the standard reimbursement scheme was changed from March 1, 1993, the charges for 1992 were transformed into 1993 scheme. Major findings are as follows: Average length of stay was statistically significantly decreased from 8.24 days in 1992 to 6 86 days in 1993. Charges except IOL has been statistically significantly decreased from 501,000 won in 1992 to 444,000 won in 1993. Charges for drugs and injection have been reduced. However, charge per day for them was not much different. This is due to decrease in length of stay. Charges for laboratory tests and radiologic examination were quite the same. charges which are not covered by the insurance remained the same. The revenue of the hospital was reduced as expected. However, the hospital reduced the length of stay and increase the turnover rate in order to compensate the potential loss of revenue due to the difference of reimbursement between the out-of-pocket expense and the insurance coverage. By introducing the IOL benefit in the insurance, the insured pays less, hospital generates more revenue through shortening the hospital stay, and the total medical care cost becomes less nationwidely.
Health Care Costs ; Insurance ; Insurance Coverage ; Insurance, Health* ; Length of Stay ; Lenses, Intraocular*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to provide baseline data for the development of an educational program for hospice care for college students. METHODS: A survey was conducted at three universities in B city with 143 students from September 5, 2014 through September 26, 2014. The data were analyzed by the SPSS 18 program. This study was approved by IRB. RESULTS: The college students' spiritual well-being was at a medium level. Their attitudes to death were neutral, and perception of hospice care was at a medium level. Most of the participants (93.0%) had no training in hospice care. The participants' awareness of the purpose of hospice care was at a relatively high level. Their awareness of the need for hospice care was at a moderate level. The participants' spiritual well-being and their attitudes to death showed a weak but positive correlation (r=0.179, P=0.030). The relationship between their spiritual well-being and awareness of hospice care were positively correlated (r=0.203, P=0.015). CONCLUSION: The participants' perception of hospice care was low. Most of them had no experience of hospice care education. Also, the higher the spiritual stability was, the higher the participants' perception of the purpose and the necessity of hospice care was. And their perception of the hospice care varied depending on their family relationship, satisfaction with school life, and cognition of hospice care. Therefore, we need consider these variables to develop a hospice education program to enhance college students' attitudes to death and their perception of hospice care.
Attitude to Death* ; Cognition ; Education ; Ethics Committees, Research ; Family Relations ; Hospice Care* ; Hospices* ; Humans ; Spirituality