PURPOSE: This study focused on the evaluation of the relation between pollen concentration and the outbreak of allergic disease (symptom index), and this outcome would be necessary to upgrade risk grade for the pollen forecasting system. METHODS: Airborne particles carrying allergens, such as pollen, were collected daily at the Seoul and Guri area by using 7-day Burkard samplers for 6 years. A total of 596 Subjects were recruited from Hanyang University Seoul Hospital (n=144 for spring, n=139 for autumn), and Hanyang University Guri Hospital (n=157 for spring, n=156 for autumn). Symptom index was evaluated and recorded by phone calling to study subjects daily or asking questionnaire when they visit outpatient clinic every week. Statistical analysis of data was performed by using correlation coefficients and regression models with time series graph. RESULTS: Two peak seasons of pollen concentration were May and September in Korea. In skin prick tests, the sensitization rate to ragweed pollen was gradually increased in children. In the same period, sensitization rates to airborne pollen, especially oak, birch for spring, and Japanese hop for autumn were increased annually. There was a significantly relationship between symptom index of allergic patients and allergic pollen concentrations in this study. Especially symptom index was significantly correlated to the concentration of oak pollen of day 1 in spring and to the concentration of Japanese hop pollen of day 0 in autumn. CONCLUSION: Sensitization rates to pollens increased annually. There is a significant relationship between allergy symptom index and pollen concentration. There remains to confirm the Korean own risk grade of pollen allergy.
Allergens ; Ambrosia ; Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Betula ; Child ; Forecasting ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Korea ; Pollen* ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; Seasons ; Seoul ; Skin

PURPOSE: The purposes of the study were to investigate childhood traumatic experiences and social support that might influence dissociative symptoms in Marine soldiers. METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was used with participants who were soldiers (n=122) assigned to one Marine corps in Ganghwa Island in the study. Data were collected on September 2015 through self-report using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Social Provisions Scale (SPS), and Dissociative Experience Scale. Descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression were performed. RESULTS: A total of 11.5% self-reported experiencing over three types of trauma; emotional neglect 34.4%, physical neglect 32.8%, emotional abuse 11.5%, physical abuse 11.5%, and sexual abuse 9.8%. For all subscales of the SPS, means of item were as high as three out of four points. A total of 9.0% were likely to be dissociative disorder. Sexual abuse, attachment, and opportunity for nurturance were found to be significant factors influencing dissociative symptoms. CONCLUSION: Future military enlistment in Marines should include assessment of childhood trauma and dissociation to identify maladaptive soldiers. Because soldiers who experienced childhood sexual abuse are likely to show dissociative symptoms, military nurses should assess their social support and try to enhance attachment in order to prevent dissociative symptoms.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dissociative Disorders ; Humans ; Military Personnel* ; Sex Offenses

This study attempted to calculate and investigate the incidence of hospitalized acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stroke in Korea. Using the National Health Insurance claim data, we investigated patients whose main diagnostic codes included AMI or stroke during 2006 to 2010. As a result, we found out that the number of AMI hospitalized patients had decreased since 2006 and amounted to 15,893 in 2010; and that the number of those with stroke had decreased since 2006 and amounted to 73,501 in 2010. The age-standardized incidence rate of hospitalized AMI, after adjustment for readmission, was 41.6 cases per 100,000-population in 2006, and had decreased to 29.4 cases in 2010 (for trend P < 0.001). In the case of stroke was estimated at 172.8 cases per 100,000-population in 2006, and had decreased to 135.1 cases in 2010 (for trend P < 0.001). In conclusion, the age-standardized incidence rates of both hospitalized AMI and stroke in Korea had decreased continuously during 2006 to 2010. We consider this decreasing trend due to the active use of pharmaceuticals, early vascular intervention, and the national cardio-cerebrovascular disease care project as the primary and secondary prevention efforts.
Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Hospitalization/*trends ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction/*epidemiology ; Patient Readmission ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Sex Factors ; Stroke/*epidemiology ; Young Adult

Bone scan using (99m)Tc-MDP is the most accurate and reliable method for the early detection of fracture, and that is the screening procedure of choice for the demonstration of bone metastases. It is well known that it has superior sensitivity to radiography for this purpose. We report the case of 41 years old man with known primary tumor and metastatic vertebral fracture presenting false negative bone scan finding.
False Negative Reactions ; Mass Screening ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Spinal Fractures

Coronary arteriovenous fistula is a more prevalent, hemodynamically significant congenital malformation. Both coronary arteries arise normally from their aortic sinuses, but the branches of fistula communicate directly with cardiac chamber, pulmonary trunk, coronary sinus, superior vena cava, or pulmonary vein. Fistula associated with coronary aneurysm is an uncommon finding. We report a rare case of 76-year-old female patient who had a coronary arteriovenous fistula with giant coronary artery aneurysm. This case is clearly diagnosed by echocardiography, three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT), and coronary angiography (CAG).
Aged ; Aneurysm ; Arteriovenous Fistula ; Coronary Aneurysm ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Sinus ; Coronary Vessels ; Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional ; Female ; Fistula ; Humans ; Pulmonary Veins ; Sinus of Valsalva ; Vena Cava, Superior

Diabetic nephropathy is characterized by an expansion of the glomerular mesangium, caused by mesangial cell proliferation and an excessive accumulation of extracellar matrix (ECM) proteins, which eventually leading to glomerulosclerosis. TGF-beta1 was found to play an important role in the accumulation of ECM in the kidney. In this study, TGF-beta1 RNA interference was used as an effective therapeutic strategy. The inhibitory effect of TGF-beta1 small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) on the high glucose-induced overexpression of TGF-beta1 in rat mesangial ceys (RMCs). A high levels of glucose induces TGF-beta1 mRNA and protein, and TGF-beta1 siRNAs reduce the ability of high glucose to stimulate their expression. We also examined the inhibitory effect of TGF-beta1 siRNAs on the expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 and Collagen Type I which are down-regulators of TGF-beta1. The expression of TGF-beta1, PAI-1 and Collagen Type I was increased in RMCs that were stimulated by 30 mM glucose. TGF-beta1 siRNAs reduces high glucose-induced TGF-beta1, PAI-1, and Collagen Type I mRNA and protein expression in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that TGF-beta1 siRNAs effectively inhibits TGF-beta1 mRNA and protein expression in RMCs. These suggest that TGF-beta1 siRNAs through RNAi may be a useful tool for developing new therapeutic applications for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy.
Transforming Growth Factor beta1/*metabolism ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; RNA, Small Interfering/*metabolism ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Mesangial Cells/*metabolism ; Male ; Glucose/*metabolism ; Glomerular Mesangium/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Diabetic Nephropathies/pathology ; Collagen Type I/metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Cell Proliferation ; Animals

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effect of maternal age on obstetric outcomes, a retrospective analysis was done. METHODS: Twenty six hundred and forty six women who delivered a singleton baby at our hospital from January 1, to December 31, 2004 were enrolled in this study. Subjects were divided into 3 age groups; 1) less than 35 years, 2) 35-39 years, and 3) 40 years and older. Chi-square test was used to assess the effect of age on obstetrics outcome. Then the odds ratio was calculated to represent clinically meaningful risk. RESULTS: A total of 2646 women with complete data were available; 2245 (84.9%) less than 35 years of age; 350 (13.2%) 35-39 years; and 51 (1.9%) 40 years and older. Increasing age was significantly associated with chromosomal abnormalities (OR 3.9and 8.8 for ages 35-39 years and age 40 years and older, respectively), Preterm premature rupture of membranes (OR 1.3 and 3.2) and cesarean delivery (OR 2.0 and 5.5). Patients aged 35-39 years were at increased risk for placenta previa (OR 1.8) and congenital anomaly (OR 2.8) but these were not statistically significant. The rate of the preterm delivery was increased by age (OR 1.3 and 1.9 for ages 35-39 years and age 40 years and older, respectively) but it was not statistically significant (p=0.121). We did not find advanced maternal age to be associated with a statistically increased risk for preeclampsia, congenital anomaly, gestational diabetes, placenta abruption, low birth weight, macrosomia, neonatal morbidity (NICU admission), and perinatal loss. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, although the likelihood of adverse outcomes increases with maternal age, patients and obstetric care providers can be reassured that overall maternal and fetal outcomes are favorable in this patient population.
Chromosome Aberrations ; Diabetes, Gestational ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Maternal Age ; Membranes ; Obstetrics ; Odds Ratio ; Placenta ; Placenta Previa ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome* ; Pregnancy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture

Agrocybe cylindracea, an edible mushroom belonging to Bolbitiaceae, Agaricales, is widely used as invaluable medicinal material in the oriental countries. This study was initiated to find the genes expressed during the fruiting body formation of A. cylindracea. The cDNAs expressed differentially during fruiting body morphogenesis of A. cylindracea were isolated through subtractive hybridization between vegetative mycelia and fruiting bodies. The cDNAs expressed in the fruiting body morphogenesis of A. cylindracea were cloned and twenty genes were identified. Eleven were homologous to genes of known functions, three were homologous to genes in other organism without any function known. Six were completely novel genes specific to A. cylindracea so far examined. Some genes with known functions were a pleurotolysin, a self-assembling poreforming cytolysins; Aa-Pri1 and Pir2p, specifically induced genes during fruiting initiation of other mushroom, Agrocybe aegerita; an amino acid permease; a cytochrome P450; a MADS-box gene; a peptidylprolyl isomerase; and a serine proteinase. For other clones, no clear function was annotated so far. We believe the first report of the differentially expressed genes in fruiting process of A. cylindracea will be great helps for further research.
Agaricales ; Agrocybe* ; Amino Acid Transport Systems ; Clone Cells ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; Cytotoxins ; DNA, Complementary ; Fruit* ; Gene Expression ; Morphogenesis ; Peptidylprolyl Isomerase ; Perforin ; Serine Proteases

No abstract available.
Testis*

Ganglioneuromas is a rare benign neoplasm that originates from the sympathetic ganglia and the adrenal medulla. It belongs to the group of neurogenic tumors, which also include ganglioneuroblastoma and neuroblastoma. Most of them are asymptomatic and diagnosed by chance, rarely because of their hormonal activity or metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) uptake. We here report a case of adrenal ganglioneuroma secreting catecholamine. A 22-year old male presented with incidentally detected calcifications in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. Abdominal CT and MRI revealed an about 8-cm adrenal mass with eggshell and punctuate calcifications. Increased urinary catecholamine metabolites and MIBG uptake in the tumor leaded to the preoperative diagnosis of adrenal pheochromocytoma. His blood pressure was normal and the typical symptoms of catecholamine excess were not observed during the admission period. Surgical resection and histologic examination of the tumor confirmed the diagnosis of ganglioneuroma originating from the left adrenal gland. Characteristic radiologic and histologic findings are presented with review of the literature.
3-Iodobenzylguanidine ; Abdomen ; Adrenal Glands ; Adrenal Medulla ; Blood Pressure ; Calcinosis ; Catecholamines* ; Diagnosis ; Ganglia, Sympathetic ; Ganglioneuroblastoma ; Ganglioneuroma* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neuroblastoma ; Pheochromocytoma ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult