No abstract available.
Humans ; Microcomputers* ; Survival Analysis*

DNase I footprinting assay using liver nuclear extracts revealed six protected regions between nucleotide -600 and +110 and hence named Box I-VI. Upstream promoter element (UPE), a DNA element playing crucial role in transcriptional control of the tissue specific expression of pancreatic beta-cell, has been detected within the proximal region of rat GLUT2 promoter. This region is included in Box VI. The protein-DNA interaction in this region (Box VI) was confirmed by mobility shift assay using liver nuclear extracts. Deletion of the region between -585 bp and -146 bp resulted in dramatic changes in promoter activity when they were expressed in liver and beta-cell derived cell line. When -585/-146 construct was expressed in liver, the activity was decreased to 46%, whereas the activity in beta-cell line, HIT-T15 cell, was increased by 84% when compared to -146/+190 construct. These opposing phenomena can be explained by the fact that beta-cell specifically expresses the UPE binding protein. Assuming that there may be Box VI-binding protein playing negative roles both in hepatocyte and beta-cell, and that the protein acts as a negative regulator of GLUT2 gene, the UPE binding protein in the beta-cell may overcome the inhibition by binding to the protein.
Animal ; Binding Sites ; Cell Line ; Comparative Study ; DNA Footprinting ; Deoxyribonuclease I ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Islets of Langerhans/metabolism* ; Islets of Langerhans/cytology ; Liver/metabolism* ; Liver/cytology ; Monosaccharide Transport Proteins/genetics ; Monosaccharide Transport Proteins/biosynthesis* ; Promoter Regions (Genetics)* ; Protein Binding ; Rats ; Transcription Factor AP-1

Accessory renal artery (ARA) is a kind of developmental anomaly in renal artery. It is important in respect to clinical medicine, for example primary hypertension, renovascular disease, inferior vena caval obstruction, ureteral obstruction, occurrence of other vascular anomalies such as accessory renal veins, surgical importance and renal transplantation. However, up to few research of ARA was reported in dissection of cadavers. In our dissecting theater, 12 accessory renal arteries for 10 cadavers were found during dissection the 22 cadavers from 1995 to 1996. 1. Two cases were bilateral and 8 cases were unilateral accessory renal arteries. 2. Seven cases were left and 5 cases were right accessory renal arteries. 3. Two cases originated at the abdominal aorta between celiac trunk and superior mesenteric artery, 7 cases originated between superior mesenteric artery and inferior mesenteric artery, and 3 cases originated below inferior mesenteric artery. 4. Seven cases have no branches during their courses, 4 cases have 3 branches, and a case has 2 branches. 5. Seven cases entered into renal parenchyma through renal hilum, 5 cases entered into apical and arterosuperior segments, and 6 cases entered into inferior segment.
Aorta, Abdominal ; Cadaver ; Clinical Medicine ; Hypertension, Renovascular ; Kidney Transplantation ; Mesenteric Arteries ; Mesenteric Artery, Inferior ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Renal Artery* ; Renal Veins ; Ureteral Obstruction

Purpose: Tisochrysis lutea is a marine microalga known for its anticancer and antioxidant properties. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of T. lutea in adults with dry eye symptoms. Methods: One hundred participants with dry eye symptoms were enrolled and divided into two groups: one received T. lutea powder (test group), and the other received control food (placebo, control group) for 12 weeks. Subsequently, the measurements of ocular surface disease index (OSDI), tear secretion (Schirmer’s test), tear break-up time (TBUT), corneoconjunctival staining, and safety assessments were compared between the test and control groups. Results: In terms of the OSDI score, the value for the test group decreased by 6.51 points after 12 weeks of T. lutea powder intake, compared with baseline, whereas that in the control group decreased by 2.88 points, demonstrating a significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.002). The results of Schirmer's test also showed significant improvements: in the test group, the result for the right eye increased by 1.33 ± 3.71 after 12 weeks (p = 0.020), and that for the left eye increased by 1.93 ± 3.33 (p = 0.0003). However, no significant increases in the results were observed in the control group. Additionally, TBUT showed a significant increase from baseline in the right eye of the test group after 6 weeks of T. lutea powder intake (p = 0.043). Conclusions After 12 weeks of consumption in the powdered form, T. lutea improved the symptoms of dry eye and increased tear production. Therefore, T. lutea can be used as an eye supplement for adults with dry eye symptoms.

Vertebral, anal, cardiac, tracheo-esophageal, renal, and limb(VACTERL) association is defined as the presence of at least three of the above-mentioned six manifestations. An estimated incidence of the VACTERL association is 1 in 20,000 to 35,000 live births although the diagnostic criteria vary. The VACTERL association is highly heterogeneous in clinical presentation. It may represent a spectrum from the less severely affected to the more severely affected. Diagnosis is difficult because of the number of disorders that have overlapping features with trisomy 13 syndrome, trisomy 18 syndrome, trisomy 21 syndrome, Feingold syndrome, and so on. The incidence of trisomy 18 syndrome, a type of a chromosomal disorder, is estimated to be 1 in 6,000-8,000 live births. It includes characteristic craniofacial anomalies, clenched hand with overlapping of index finger over third, fifth finger over fourth, underdeveloped thumbs, short sternum, cardiac anomalies such as ventricular septal defect, and renal anomalies such as horseshoe kidney. Approximately over 50% of infants with trisomy 18 syndrome live less than one week. In 1983, Khoury et al. reported VACTERL association combined with trisomy 18 syndrome. Here, we report a case of a low birth weight female infant with VACTERL association, whose second diagnosis is Edward syndrome, and that she also has another combined anomaly, meningomyelocele. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of VACTERL association with meningomyelocele combined with trisomy 18 syndrome in Korea.
Chromosome Disorders ; Diagnosis ; Down Syndrome ; Female ; Fingers ; Hand ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Kidney ; Korea ; Live Birth ; Meningomyelocele* ; Sternum ; Thumb ; Trisomy*

No abstract available.
Pneumonectomy*

BALT(bronchial associated lymphoid tissue) lymphomas are a distinct subgroup of low-grade B-cell extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which are classified as a marginal-zone lymphomas. The majority of the patients are asymptomatic or their pulmonary lesions is often discovered incidentally on a routine chest radiograph. A 50-year-old man was admitted for an the evaluation of cough, dyspnea and fever. His chest CT showed ground glass appearance with interlobular septal thickening in both lower lobes, right middle lobe and left lingular division. He had been initially diagnosed with lipoid pneumonia and was kept under observation. However, his chest lesion showed continuous progression and a video-associated thoracoscopy was performed His pulmonary lesion was confirmed histologically to be a BALT(bronchial associated lymphoid tissue) lymphoma. We report a case of a BALT lymphoma, which was initially misdiagnosed as lipoid pneumonia.
B-Lymphocytes* ; Cough ; Dyspnea ; Fever ; Glass ; Humans ; Lymphoid Tissue* ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell* ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia* ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Thoracoscopy ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BALT(bronchial associated lymphoid tissue) lymphomas are a distinct subgroup of low-grade B-cell extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which are classified as a marginal-zone lymphomas. The majority of the patients are asymptomatic or their pulmonary lesions is often discovered incidentally on a routine chest radiograph. A 50-year-old man was admitted for an the evaluation of cough, dyspnea and fever. His chest CT showed ground glass appearance with interlobular septal thickening in both lower lobes, right middle lobe and left lingular division. He had been initially diagnosed with lipoid pneumonia and was kept under observation. However, his chest lesion showed continuous progression and a video-associated thoracoscopy was performed His pulmonary lesion was confirmed histologically to be a BALT(bronchial associated lymphoid tissue) lymphoma. We report a case of a BALT lymphoma, which was initially misdiagnosed as lipoid pneumonia.
B-Lymphocytes* ; Cough ; Dyspnea ; Fever ; Glass ; Humans ; Lymphoid Tissue* ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell* ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia* ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Thoracoscopy ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: We aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and associated diseases in children with a horseshoe kidney and compared these data between children and adults. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of the medical records and radiological findings of 43 patients diagnosed with a horseshoe kidney in the Busan Paik Hospital. The subjects were divided into the children's group (14 cases, age <18 years) and the adult group (29 cases, age > or =18 years). RESULTS: The study group consisted of 17 males and 26 females with a median age of 34 years. In the children's group (14 cases), 5 subjects were male and 9 were female, with a mean age of 6.7+/-6.2 years. Most of the subjects were asymptomatic and were incidentally diagnosed with horseshoe kidney during their evaluation for another disease. Among the associated diseases in the children's group, Turner syndrome was the most common (5 cases), whereas ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) stricture was observed in 2 cases (14.2%). None of the children exhibited abnormal renal function during the follow-up period. In the adult group (29 cases), 12 subjects were male and 17 were female, with a mean age of 48 years. Eighteen patients were incidentally diagnosed with horseshoe kidney during their evaluation for another disease, and 11 patients had hematuria or abdominal pain due to renal stones. Among the associated diseases in the adult group, Turner syndrome was the most common (5 cases), and UPJ stricture was observed in 5 cases; the other accompanying diseases included hydronephrosis and overactive bladder. Six patients exhibited decreased renal function (serum creatinine level >1.5) during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Horseshoe kidney is usually diagnosed incidentally in both children and adults. In the present study, we noted that Turner syndrome was the most common associated disease in children. In addition, most children were asymptomatic but had a high risk of urologic complications after the transition to adulthood. Therefore, children with horseshoe kidney require continuous follow-up.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Child ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Creatinine ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Kidney* ; Male ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Turner Syndrome ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive ; Urinary Calculi ; Urogenital Abnormalities

PURPOSE: This study examined breast cancer screening practice and health promoting behaviors and the predicting factors of breast cancer screening practice in Chinese women. METHODS: A correlational research design was used to recruit a convenience sample of 770 women living in four cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Xi'an) in China. Participants completed self-report questionnaire consisting of general characteristics, breast cancer screening, health promoting behaviors, perceived benefits and perceived barriers. RESULTS: The participants were mostly 36-55 years old (51.3%), married (86.8%), premenopause (77.7%), had children (83.4%), and breastfed (73%). About 60% of Chinese women participated in some type of breast cancer screening practices, among them only 60 (7.8%) women used mammography, ultrasonogram and breast self-examination. The main reason for doing breast cancer screening was "feeling necessary for the screening". About 36% of the participants reported they did not perform any of screening practices, because they "don't feel it necessary". The women who had breast cancer screening regularly reported better health promoting behavior and perceived benefits and less perceived barriers than those who did not (F = 10.45, p < .001). Logistic regression showed that model 1 (age, higher education, being employed) and model 2 (perceived benefits and health behaviors) were the significant predicting factors (p < .05), explaining 10-13.8% of variance in breast cancer screening practice. CONCLUSION: On the basis of these results, public education about importance of breast cancer screening and health promoting behavior should be strongly advocated by health professionals and mass media in China.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast Self-Examination ; Child ; China ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Health Occupations ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Mammography ; Mass Media ; Mass Screening ; Premenopause ; Research Design ; Surveys and Questionnaires