Animal models for gastric ulcers produced by physical, pharmacological and surgical methods have been widely employed to evaluate therapeutic drugs and investigate the mechanism of action of this disease. ICR mice were selected to produce this model, even though several mice and rats have been widely used in studies of gastric ulcers. To compare the responses of ICR mice obtained from three different sources to gastric ulcer inducers, alterations in gastric injury, histopathological structure, and inflammation were measured in Korl:ICR (Korea NIFDS source), A:ICR (USA source) and B:ICR (Japan source) treated with three concentrations of ethanol (EtOH) (50, 70, and 90%) in 150 mM hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution. Firstly, the stomach lesion index gradually increased as the EtOH concentration increased in three ICR groups. Moreover, a significant increase in the level of mucosal injury, edema and the number of inflammatory cells was similarly detected in the EtOH/HCl treated group compared with the vehicle treated group in three ICR groups. Furthermore, the number of infiltrated mast cells and IL-1β expression were very similar in the ICR group derived from three different sources, although some differences in IL-1β expression were detected. Especially, the level of IL-1β mRNA in 50 and 90EtOH/HCl treated group was higher in Korl:ICR and A:ICR than B:ICR. Overall, the results of this study suggest that Korl:ICR, A:ICR and B:ICR derived from different sources have an overall similar response to gastric ulcer induced by EtOH/HCl administration, although there were some differences in the magnitude of their responses.
Animals ; Edema ; Ethanol ; Hydrochloric Acid ; Inflammation ; Mast Cells ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR* ; Models, Animal ; Rats ; RNA, Messenger ; Stomach ; Stomach Ulcer

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the influence of routine probiotic supplementation on causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality, such as necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and late onset sepsis. METHODS: All neonates born at <32 weeks of gestation and weighing <1,500 g admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit during the study period were included. The study period was divided into the pre-probiotic period, between January 2009 and February 2011, and the probiotic period, between November 2012 and December 2014. The probiotic given was a mixture of Lactobacillus plantarum, L. rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium lactis and B. longum, administered at the time of the first feeding over 2 mL once daily. RESULTS: A total of 358 infants were screened for enrollment, with 149 infants included in the pre-probiotic group (mean birth weight 937 g, mean gestational age 27.9 wk), and 158 in the probiotic group (1,040 g, 28.6 wk). Probiotics had no statistically significant impact on NEC and late onset sepsis. However, three cases of probiotic related sepsis occurred after the infants were routinely administered probiotics in our unit. CONCLUSION: Routine probiotic supplementation did not reduce the incidence of NEC in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. However, severe sepsis was caused by strains in the probiotic administered to patients. Therefore, routine prophylactic use of probiotic in VLBW infants should be performed cautiously.
Bifidobacterium ; Birth Weight ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing* ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Lactobacillus plantarum ; Mortality ; Pregnancy ; Probiotics* ; Sepsis* ; Sulfalene

PURPOSE: Corticosteroids has been used for treatment and prophylaxis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants. However, administration of corticosteroids could be delayed due to its potential harmful effects on neurodevelopment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the adequate dexamethasone administration timing in very low birth weight infants. METHODS: Medical records of 56 VLBW infants who were admitted to neonatal intensive care unit of Seoul National University Children's Hospital and Seoul National University Bundang Hospital between January 2008 and September 2014 were collected retrospectively. Study population were divided into early administration group (dexamethasone administration before 4 weeks of postnatal days) and late administration group (after 4 weeks) and respiratory morbidities were compared between groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in clinical characteristics between early administration group (n=30) and late administration group (n=26). Respiratory severity score and oxygen needs at 7 days after birth and before administering dexamethasone were comparable. Extubation was done earlier postnatal days in early administration group. Incidence of severe BPD was higher in the late administration group. There was no significant difference in diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) at 12 months of corrected age. When adjusting for multiple risk factors, administration of dexamethasone 4 weeks after birth and severe of BPD showed a significant association (adjusted OR 17.14 [1.29-227.52], P=0.031). CONCLUSION: Administration of dexamethasone in order to minimize ventilator care and to reduce severe BPD might be done between 1 week and 4 weeks after birth in very low birth weight infants.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia* ; Cerebral Palsy ; Dexamethasone* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight* ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Medical Records ; Oxygen ; Parturition ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Seoul ; Ventilators, Mechanical

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is characterized by the congenital impairment of mucociliary clearance. When accompanied by situs inversus, chronic sinusitis and bronchiectasis, PCD is known as Kartagener syndrome. The main consequence of impaired ciliary function is a reduced mucus clearance from the lungs, and susceptibility to chronic respiratory infections due to opportunistic pathogens, including nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). There has been no report of NTM lung disease combined with Kartagener syndrome in Korea. Here, we report an adult patient with Kartagener syndrome complicated with Mycobacterium abscessus lung disease. A 37-year-old female presented to our hospital with chronic cough and sputum. She was ultimately diagnosed with M. abscessus lung disease and Kartagener syndrome. M. abscessus was repeatedly isolated from sputum specimens collected from the patient, despite prolonged antibiotic treatment. The patient's condition improved and negative sputum culture conversion was achieved after sequential bilateral pulmonary resection.
Adult ; Bronchiectasis ; Cough ; Female ; Humans ; Kartagener Syndrome* ; Korea ; Lung ; Lung Diseases* ; Mucociliary Clearance ; Mucus ; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous ; Mycobacterium* ; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Sinusitis ; Situs Inversus ; Sputum

Sclerosing stromal tumor (SST) of the ovary is a rare tumor derived from the sex cord stroma. This tumor was first described by Chalvaridjian and Scully in 1973. SST of the ovary is prevalence of 1.5% to 6% of ovarian stromal tumors. Patients are most commonly diagnosed in their 20s and 30s. There have been reports of SST postmenopausal women aged 65-, 67-, and 71 in the Republic of Korea; however, no report of this disease has been reported in women older than 80. In this study, we would like to report an 80-year-old postmenopausal woman who did not previously complain of any symptoms, and was finally diagnosed with SST. She was involved in a traffic accident, and huge pelvic mass was found during the evaluation of intra-abdominal hemorrhage. Total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed ; a final pathologic diagnosis reported SST.
Accidents, Traffic ; Aged* ; Aged, 80 and over ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Ovary ; Postmenopause ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea ; Sex Cord-Gonadal Stromal Tumors

Transformation of MDS into ALL during childhood is extremely rare. We report a rare case of an 8-yr-old girl who presented with refractory cytopenia of childhood (RCC) that transformed into ALL only 3 months after the diagnosis of childhood MDS. Although no cytogenetic abnormalities were observed in conventional karyotype and FISH analysis, we found several deletions on chromosomes 5q, 12q, 13q, and 22q. Partial homozygous deletion of the RB1 gene was observed on microarray analysis, with the bone marrow specimen diagnosed as ALL. This is the first case report of transformation of ALL from childhood MDS in Korea. We also compared the clinical, cytological, and cytogenetic features of 4 previously reported childhood MDS cases that transformed into ALL.
Bone Marrow Cells/pathology ; *Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/genetics ; Child ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Female ; Gene Deletion ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Karyotyping ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes/*diagnosis/genetics ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/*diagnosis/genetics ; Retinoblastoma Protein/genetics

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Vasospastic angina (VA) is a specific type of coronary artery disease and develops as a result of coronary artery spasm. Recently, a few studies have revealed that VA caused by coronary artery spasm is related to genetic traits. The objective of this study was to use the recently developed technique of array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) to screen the genetic aberrations of VA. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: To identify candidate genes that might be causally involved in the pathogenesis of VA, genomic deoxyribonucleic acids were extracted from whole blood of 28 patients with VA who presented at Department of Cardiology at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Seoul, Korea. The copy number profiles of these patients was then analyzed using array CGH and reverse transcriptase (RT) quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Array CGH revealed gains in 31 different regions, with losses in the 4q35.2, 7q22.1, 10q26.3, 15q11.2, 16p13.11, 17p11.2 and 19q13.3 regions (more than 32% aberration in these regions). Several loci were found to be frequently including gains of 5p and 11q (50% of samples). The most common losses were found in 7q (54% of samples). Copy number aberrations in chromosomal regions were detected and corresponding genes were confirmed by RT quantitative PCR. The fold change levels were highest in the CTDP1 (18q23), HDAC10 (22q13.33), KCNQ1 (11p15.5-p15.4), NINJ2 (12p13.33), NOTCH2 (1p12-p11.2), PCSK6 (15q26.3), SDHA (5p15.33), and MUC17 (7q22.1) genes. CONCLUSION: Many candidate chromosomal regions that might be related to the pathogenesis of VA were detected by array CGH and should be systematically investigated to establish the causative and specific genes for VA.
Cardiology ; Coat Protein Complex I ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; DNA ; Humans ; Korea ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase ; Spasm

Peritoneal calcifying fibrous tumor is a rare tumor in the peritoneal cavity. In this case, plain radiography showed multiple conglomerated calcifications and several separate calcifications scattered in the lower abdomen and pelvic cavity. CT showed several well-circumscribed masses with a group of conglomerated nodular calcifications in their centers, and these were surrounded by three bands with different attenuation. Ultrasonography showed a well-circumscribed mass with strong posterior shadowing from its anterior surface and hyperechoic calcifications in its center. The histopathological diagnosis was calcifying fibrous tumor. The mass was well circumscribed and non-encapsulated and it was mainly composed of hyalinized fibrosclerotic tissue and dystrophic calcification with no inflammatory cells. We report here on a case of peritoneal calcifying fibrous tumor, along with a review of the relevant literature.
Abdomen ; Hyalin ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Peritoneum ; Shadowing (Histology) ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: The prognosis for patients with liver metastases (LM) from colorectal cancer is significantly influenced by the clinician's decision. Recently, there have been remarkable advances in treatment of LM, so there can be some changes in therapeutic modalities. We performed a comparative study between operated and non-operated groups of patients with LM to analyze the clinical outcome. METHODS: From Feb. 2001 to Feb. 2006, 27 patients with LM underwent a hepatectomy, and 113 patients received non-surgical therapy. thirteen hepatectomized cases among the 27 patients had multiple LM. The outcomes of those 13 patients (Group A) were retrospectively compared to those of the non-operated group (Group B, n=21), which had had potentially resectable LM at the initial diagnosis or after chemotherapy, but didn't undergo hepatic resection. RESULTS: After a median follow-up duration of 31.3 months, the estimated 3-years overall survival (OS) rates were 76.9% and 14.3% in group A and B, respectively (P=0.0001). In the stepwise Cox multivariate regression analysis, factors such as the absence of hepatic resection and a greater diameter of the liver mass independently influenced the poor survival (P=0.005 and P=0.012 respectively). Additionally, two radiologists evaluated the intraoperative ultrasonographic (IOUS) results. IOUS detected new metastatic lesions in 4/13 (30%) patients. There were sub-centimeter metastatic lesions (5~7 mm) and had not been detected in SPIO-enhanced MRI. CONCLUSIONS: Our results compared to palliative chemotherapy suggest that aggressive surgical resection should be performed to increase the survival rate in patients with LM. Additionally, the treatment plan for LM patients should be discussed with the gastroenterololgist, the radiologist, the oncologist, and the surgeon.
Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Liver ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: The critical pathway (CP) is to standardize the clinical practice of specialists working to optimize care. The objective of this study was to develop a critical pathway for the surgical treatment of patients with colorectal or gastric cancer and to evaluate the results of the CP. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with colorectal cancer, who were managed according to the CP between August 2005 and November 2005, were compared with 18 patients for whom this pathway had not been used between June 2004 and September 2004. Forty-eight patients with gastic cancer, who were managed according to the CP between June 2005 and September 2005, were compared with 49 patients for whom this pathway had not been used daring the same period in 2004. The length of stay and the cost per patients were compared between the CP group and the non-CP group. RESULTS: For patients with colorectal cancer, the postoperative hospital length of stay in the CP group was significantly shorter (9.0 vs. 12.3 days, P<0.001), but for patients with gastric caner, there was no difference (10.6 vs. 11.4, P=0.134). The mean hospital charges were won5,037,816 and won5,263,508 for colorectal cancer and for gastric cancer, respectively, and won4,808,602 and won4,674,329, for the CP and the non-CP groups, respectively, but these differences were not significant. CONSLUSIONS: The critical pathway in colorectal and stomach surgery decreased the length of stay and might regulate hospital charges. Such a pathway could be easily designed and implemented at hospitals and could standardize clinical practice.
Colorectal Neoplasms ; Critical Pathways* ; Hospital Charges ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Specialization ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms*