No abstract available.
Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Hepatitis* ; Tenofovir*

Cell-free nucleic acids (cf-NAs) originate in trophoblasts and are detected in the maternal plasma. Using innovative bioinformatic technologies such as next-generation sequencing, cf-NAs in the maternal plasma have been rapidly applied in prenatal genetic screening for fetal aneuploidy. Amniotic fluid is a complex and dynamic fluid that provides growth factors and protection to the fetus. In 2001, the presence of cf-NA in amniotic fluid was reported. Amniotic fluid is in direct contact with the fetus and is derived from fetal urine and maternal and fetal plasma. Therefore, these genetic materials have been suggested to reflect fetal health and provide real-time genetic information regarding fetal development. Recently, several studies evaluated the global gene expression changes of amniot ic fluid cell-free RNA according to gestational age. In addition, by analyzing the transcriptome in the amniotic fluid of fetal aneuploidy, potential key pathways and novel biomarkers for fetal chromosomal aneuploidy were identified. Here, we review the current knowledge of cell-free RNA in amniotic fluid and suggest future research directions.
Amniotic Fluid* ; Aneuploidy ; Biomarkers ; Computational Biology ; Female ; Fetal Development ; Fetus ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genetic Testing ; Gestational Age ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Nucleic Acids ; Plasma ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; RNA* ; Transcriptome ; Trophoblasts

PURPOSE: To investigate the visual prognosis, the interval, and the rate of development of after-cataract following cataract surgery in atopic dermatitis. METHODS: Twenty eyes of 13 patients diagnosed as cataract associated with atopic dermatitis were operated between January, 1994 and January, 2000. Visual acuity, postoperative inflammatory reaction, the interval, and the rate of development of after-cataract were investigated and compared with the cataract cases without atopic dermatitis. RESULTS: The average preoperative best corrected visual acuity of 20 eyes was 0.23+/-0.22. The average postoperative best corrected visual acuity at 1, 2, 7, and 12 months after surgery were 0.78+/-0.23, 0.83+/-0.16, 0.78+/-0.23, 0.83+/-0.26, respectively. These values showed no significant difference compared to the postoperative visual acuity of the cataract cases without atopic dermatitis. Aqueous flares measured with laser flare meter were 15.09+/-9.20, 11.15+/-4.68, and 7.38+/-0.75 photon counts/millisecond at 10 days, 1, and 2 months after surgery, which did not seem to influence the final visual acuity and the development of after-cataract (p>0.05). Among the 20 eyes, 66.67% finally developed after-cataract and the average time interval of the development of after-cataract was 11.25+/-4.22 months. CONCLUSIONS: Visual prognosis following cataract surgery in atopic dermatitis is good, while after-cataract seems to develop more frequently and earlier compared to the cases without atopic dermatitis.
Aqueous Humor ; Cataract* ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Humans ; Prognosis* ; Visual Acuity

No abstract available.
Endometriosis* ; Female ; Humans

Aneurysmal fibrous histiocytoma(AFH) is a histologic variant of dermatofibroma. The importance of the recognition of AFH as a variant of dermatofibroma lies in the differential diagnosis because the histologic appearance of AFH is very similar to dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and other vascular malignancies, such as Kaposi's sarcoma and angiosarcoma. A 32-year-old man was seen for a nodular mass on the right popliteal fossa of 4 years' duration. The excisional biopsy specimen showed a relatively well circumscribed tumor mass in the dermis. In addition to compact storiform proliferation of spindle cells, there were multiple, irregular, blood-filled, aneurysmal tissue spaces that were devoid of lining of endothelial cells. Also, deposition of hemosiderin was prominent, particularly in the periphery of the aneurysmal spaces. Immunohistochemical stain for CD34 were negative to most tumor cells. After excisional therapy, there was no evidence of recurrence during the period of ten months' follow-up.
Adult ; Aneurysm* ; Biopsy ; Dermatofibrosarcoma ; Dermis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Endothelial Cells ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemangiosarcoma ; Hemosiderin ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous* ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Sarcoma, Kaposi

PURPOSE: To report one case of lymphoproliferative disorder on the upper eyelid. METHODS: Primary CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorder on the skin is very rare. A 31-year-old female patient visited our clinic complaining of red, erosive papules on the right upper eyelid and on the left flank for two weeks. A 2.0 cm erythematous papule showed central ulceration. A 1.5 cm lymph node enlargement was palpated on the left groin. There was no abnormal finding on the slit-lamp test. Computed tomography showed a subcutaneous nodule on the anterolateral aspect of the flank and a lymph node enlargement on the left inguinal area. There was no evidence of other visceral involvement. Histopathologic finding showed diffuse infiltration of atypical cells with lobated nuclei showing multifocal positivity to CD30; a finding consistent with primary cutaneous CD30+ T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder and borderline lesion. RESULTS: This case seems to be a borderline case between CD30+ T-cell large cell lymphoma and lymphoid papulodesis. We are conducting conservative care and observing the progress on the skin lesion for further evaluation.
Female ; Humans

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of mast cell and histamine as typical product of mast cell in ischemia-reperfusion injury of muscle flap using H2 receptor blocker and mast cell stabilizer. METHODS: Thirty-five Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250-300 gm were divided into four groups; Group I: Control group without ischemia, Group II: Normal saline injection group with ischemia, Group III: Cimetidine injection group with ischemia, Group IV: Sodium cromoglycate injection group with ischemia. Well established single pedicled transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous(TRAM) flap was designed in all rats and were rendered ischemia by clamping the artery for 150 minutes. All injections were applied intramuscular around gluteal area 30 minutes before reperfusion. The flap survival was evaluated at 7 days after operation. Neutrophil counts and mast cell counts were evaluated 24 hours after reperfusion. RESULTS: The difference of skin flap survival between control group and cimetidine injection group was not significant. In the normal saline injection group flap survival was markedly decreased compared to that of control group. The muscle flap survival was similar to the results of skin flap survival. The neutrophil counts were significantly decreased in control group and sodium cromoglycate injection group than normal saline injection group. The mast cell counts were significantly decreased in cimetidine injection group and control group than both normal saline injection and sodium cromoglycate injection groups. The protective effect of sodium cromoglycate was not seen in the skin flap, but the muscle flaps showed protective effects of sodium cromoglycate compared to normal saline injection group. CONCLUSION: It is suggests that commonly used antihistamine(H2 receptor blocker) has protective effect against ischemia-reperfusion injury to skin and muscle flaps by reducing neutrophil and mast cell. The mast cell stabilizer was not effective for skin flap but, possibly, for muscle flap.
Animals ; Arteries ; Cimetidine ; Constriction ; Cromolyn Sodium ; Histamine ; Ischemia ; Mast Cells* ; Neutrophils ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rectus Abdominis ; Reperfusion ; Reperfusion Injury* ; Skin

Most eukaryotic cells have mitochondrial networks that can change in shape, distribution, and size depending on cellular metabolic demands and environments. Mitochondrial quality control is critical for various mitochondrial functions including energy production, redox homeostasis, intracellular calcium handling, cell differentiation, proliferation, and cell death. Quality control mechanisms within mitochondria consist of antioxidant defenses, protein quality control, DNA damage repair systems, mitochondrial fusion and fission, mitophagy, and mitochondrial biogenesis. Defects in mitochondrial quality control and disruption of mitochondrial homeostasis are common characteristics of various kidney cell types under hyperglycemic conditions. Such defects contribute to diabetes-induced pathologies in renal tubular cells, podocytes, endothelial cells, and immune cells. In this review, we focus on the roles of mitochondrial quality control in diabetic kidney disease pathogenesis and discuss current research evidence and future directions.

Henoch-Schonlein purpura is a common pediatric disease presenting most frequently with skin, gastrointestinal, joint and renal manifestations. But in cases are infrequently only severe gastrointestinal manifestations. It is hard to diagnose promptly and exactly. Clinical manifestations and laboratory findings were observed and analyzed in 20 cases with Henoch-Schonlein purpura which were considered as acute abdomen, hospitalized at Kyung Hee university Hospital during the period from December, 1982 to September, 1992. The following results were obtained; 1) The age distribution of Henoch-Schonlein purpura had a peak incidence between 7 to 9 year old. And male preponderance was observed with male to female ratio of 2.33 to 1. 2) The most prevalent season for the initial presentation of Henoch-Schonlein purpura was in fall: in 10 cases (50%). 3) The frequency of each type of clinical manifestations showed 20 (100%), 20 (100%), 18 (90%), 8(40%) cases for skin, gastrointestinal, joint and renal manifestation respectively in order of frequency. 4) The common previous illness were URI, 40 cases (50%) and allergy, 2 cases (10%). 5) The onset time of skin manifestation from admission were 1 to 4 days (75%0, 5 to 8 days (15%), 9 to 12 days (10%) explolaparotomies were done the last 2 cases. 6) In all cases, X-ray study (100%), abdominal sono (50%), Meckels scan and colon study (5%) respectively were done. 7) Hematologically leukocytosis over 10,000/mm3 was observed in 80% of cases and increase in ESR over 20 mm/hr in 65% of cases. Coagulation studies, immunologic and complement level revealed the result within normal range in most of the cases. 8) Among 8 cases with renal involvement, all cases had both hematuria and proteinuria. 9) Most cases were recovered within 4 weeks but in 4 cases, renal biopsies were done because of relapse. The results were Meadow classification grade I (1 case), II (1 case), IVa (2 cases). After renal biopsy, steroid pulse therapy was started.
Abdomen, Acute* ; Age Distribution ; Biopsy ; Child ; Classification ; Colon ; Complement System Proteins ; Female ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Incidence ; Joints ; Leukocytosis ; Male ; Proteinuria ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch* ; Recurrence ; Reference Values ; Seasons ; Skin ; Skin Manifestations

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to understand factors that influence post-traumatic stress (PTS) in Korean forensic science investigators. METHODS: A total of 111 forensic science investigators were recruited in Korea. PTS was measured using the tool modified by Choi (2001) from the original developed by Foa, Riggs, Dancu, and Rothbaum (1993) based on DSM-IV. Factors influencing PTS included demographic and job-related characteristics, emotional intelligence, and death anxiety. RESULTS: PTS scores were positively correlated with personality type, fatigue from work, and death anxiety. PTS scores were negatively correlated with length of career as a forensic science investigator and emotional intelligence. The factors that had the greatest influence on PTS were death anxiety, years spent as a forensic science investigator, personality type, emotional intelligence, fatigue, and homicide experience. The explanatory power of these six factors was 44.0%. CONCLUSION: Therefore, it is necessary to regularly evaluate the mental health of those who are vulnerable to PTS. Based on these results, various interventions could be implemented for promoting overall health of the forensic science investigators.
Anxiety ; Attitude to Death ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Emotional Intelligence ; Fatigue ; Forensic Sciences* ; Homicide ; Humans ; Korea ; Mental Health ; Research Personnel* ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic