Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of high mobility group AT-hook 1 (HMGA1) on the phenotyptic change of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Methods: Gene silencing and overexpression of HMGA1 were introduced to evaluate the effect of HMGA1 expression on the phenotypic change of VSMCs. Marker gene expression of VSMCs was measured by promoter assay, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and western blot analysis. Common left carotid artery ligation model was used to establish in vivo neointima formation. Results: HMGA1 was expressed strongly in the synthetic type of VSMCs and significantly downregulated during the differentiation of VSMCs. Silencing of HMGA1 in the synthetic type of VSMCs enhanced the expression of contractile marker genes thereby enhanced angiotensin II (Ang II)-dependent contraction, however, significantly suppressed proliferation and migration. Stimulation of contractile VSMCs with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) enhanced HMGA1 expression concomitant with the downregulation of marker gene expression which was blocked significantly by the silencing of HMGA1. Silencing of HMGA1 retained the Ang II-dependent contractile function, which was curtailed by PDGF stimulation, however, overexpression of HMGA1 in the contractile type of VSMCs suppressed marker gene expression. Proliferation and migration were enhanced significantly by the overexpression of HMGA1. Furthermore, the Ang II-dependent contraction was reduced significantly by the overexpression of HMGA1. Finally, the expression of HMGA1 was enhanced significantly in the ligated artery, especially in the neointima area. Conclusion HMGA1 plays an essential role in the phenotypic modulation of VSMCs.Therefore, paracrine factors such as PDGF may affect vascular remodeling through the regulation of HMGA1.

BACKGROUND: The aim of study was to determine the relative frequency of malignant lymphoma according to World Health Organization (WHO) classification in Korea. METHODS: A total of 3,998 cases diagnosed at 31 institutes between 2005 and 2006 were enrolled. Information including age, gender, pathologic diagnosis, site of involvement and immunophenotypes were obtained. RESULTS: The relative frequency of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) was 95.4% and 4.6%, respectively. B-cell lymphomas accounted for 77.6% of all NHL, while T/natural killer (T/NK)-cell lymphomas accounted for 22.4%. The most frequent subtypes of NHL were diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (42.7%), extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (MZBCL) of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (19.0%), NK/T-cell lymphoma (6.3%) and peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), unspecified (6.3%), in decreasing order. The relative frequency of HL was nodular sclerosis (47.4%), mixed cellularity (30.6%), and nodular lymphocyte predominant (12.1%) subtypes. Compared with a previous study in 1998, increase in gastric MZBCL and nodular sclerosis HL, and slight decrease of follicular lymphoma, PTCL, and NK/T-cell lymphoma were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Korea had lower rates of HL and follicular lymphoma, and higher rates of extranodal NHL, extranodal MZBCL, and NK/T-cell lymphoma of nasal type compared with Western countries. Changes in the relative frequency of lymphoma subtypes are likely ascribed to refined diagnostic criteria and a change in national health care policy.
Academies and Institutes ; Delivery of Health Care ; Hodgkin Disease ; Korea ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphoid Tissue ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone ; Lymphoma, Follicular ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral ; Sclerosis ; World Health Organization

BACKGROUND: The Hematopathology Study Group of the Korean Society of Pathologists conducted a nation-wide retrospective analysis of Korean pediatric lymphoma, to provide pathologic data on pediatric/adolescent lymphoma subtypes and features. METHODS: All lymphoma cases of all age groups were collected during a recent 2 year-period (2005-2006) from 32 institutes in Korea. Among 3,686 lymphoma patients, 142 who were age 18 or less were classified according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification. RESULTS: Among 142 pediatric/adolescent lymphoma patients, Hodgkin lymphoma accounted for 21 (14.8%) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) for 121 (85.2%). Hodgkin lymphoma appears to be more common in the pediatric/adolescent age group than in the all-ages group (14.8% vs 4.4%). T- and natural killer cell-NHL was more common in the pediatric/adolescent age group than in the all ages group (46.3% vs 22%). The majority of Korean pediatric/adolescent NHL cases was composed of Burkitt lymphoma, T- or B-lymphoblastic lymphoma, anaplastic large-cell lymphoma, and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. For lymphoma patients under the age of 6 years, most had B-lymphoblastic or Burkitt lymphoma, which commonly presented at extranodal sites. CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of lymphoma subtypes in the pediatric/adolescent age group is quite different from the distribution of adults, but it was quite similar to distribution in Western countries.
Academies and Institutes ; Adult ; Burkitt Lymphoma ; Hodgkin Disease ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Retrospective Studies ; World Health Organization

This clinical study evaluated the whitening effect and safety of polymer based-pen type BlancTis Forte (NIBEC) containing 8.3% carbamide peroxide. Twenty volunteers used the BlancTis Forte whitening agent for 2 hours twice a day for 4 weeks. As a control, Whitening Effect Pen (LG) containing 3% hydrogen peroxide was used by 20 volunteers using the same protocol. The change in shade (DeltaE*, color difference) was measured using Shadepilot(TM) (DeguDent) before, during, and after bleaching (2 weeks, 4 weeks, and post-bleaching 4 weeks). A clinical examination for any side effects (tooth hypersensitivity or soft tissue complications) was also performed at each check-up. The following results were obtained. 1. Both the experimental and control groups displayed a noticeable change in shade (DeltaE) of over 2. No significant differences were found between the two groups (p > 0.05), implying that the two agents have a similar whitening effect. 2. The whitening effect was mainly due to changes in a and b values rather than in L value (brightness). The experimental group showed a significantly higher change in b value, thus yellow shade, than the control (p < 0.05). 3. None of the participants complained of tooth hypersensitivity or soft tissue complications, confirming the safety of both whitening agents.
Bleaching Agents ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Hypersensitivity ; Peroxides ; Polymers ; Tooth ; Urea

BACKGROUND: Neurosurgical site infection may have serious sequelae, especially that occurring after craniotomy. A nationwide prospective multicenter study was performed in Korea to determine the incidence and risk factors for surgical site infections (SSI) after craniotomy. Methods: We collected demographic data, clinical and operative risk factors for SSI, and information regarding the antibiotics administered for the patients who underwent craniotomy in 17 hospitals between July and December of 2008. All the data were collected using a real-time web-based reporting system. RESULTS: Of the 1,020 patients who underwent craniotomy, 31 (3%) developed SSI, including 4 with superficial incisional SSI, 2 with deep incisional SSI, and 25 with organ/space SSI. The SSI rate was predicted on the basis of the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) risk index. The SSI rate of 3.1%, 3.3%, and 1.8% were ascribed NNIS scores of 0, 1, and 2, respectively. The independent risk factors for SSI identified were postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage (odds ratio, 12.13; 95% confidence interval, 4.54-32.42) and preoperative Glasgow coma scales score < or =8 (odds ratio, 2.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-5.18). Third generation cephalosporins were the most frequently (in 65.6% of the cases) used for prophylaxis. CONCLUSION: A multicenter SSI surveillance system for craniotomy was first established in Korea. The NNIS risk index was not effective in identifying the patients at risk. We required to further analyze a large number of SSI cases to correctly identify the risk factors for SSI after craniotomy.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Antibiotic Prophylaxis ; Cephalosporins ; Coma ; Craniotomy ; Cross Infection ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Weights and Measures

The prevalence of reflux esophagitis is increasing in Korea. To estimate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of reflux esophagitis in healthy subjects, we retrospectively examined the medical records of healthy subjects undergoing a routine check-up from October 2004 to September 2005. A total of 6,082 (3,590 men, mean age 44+/-10 yr) subjects were enrolled in this study. The prevalence of reflux esophagitis in healthy subjects was 10.5%. According to the univariate analysis, male sex (odds ratio [OR] 3.49, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.84-4.30), smoking history (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.60-2.28), body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m2 (OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.37-3.33), total cholesterol >250 mg/dL (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.05-2.14), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol > or =160 mg/dL (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.08-2.14), triglyceride > or =150 mg/dL (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.61-2.30), high blood pressure (BP) (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.20-1.76), and fasting glucose > or =110 mg/dL (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.13-1.86) were significantly associated with reflux esophagitis (all p<0.05). However, age, alcohol drinking and Helicobacter pylori infection were not associated with reflux esophagitis. In conclusiosn, significant relationships of reflux esophagitis with obesity, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, high triglyceride, high BP, and elevated fasting glucose suggested that reflux esophagitis might represent the disease spectrum of the metabolic syndrome.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Esophagitis, Peptic/*diagnosis/*epidemiology/etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Medical Records ; Metabolic Syndrome X/*complications/diagnosis ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

This report describes the color and pulsed Doppler US findings of penile Mondor's disease. The pulsed Doppler US findings of penile Mondor's disease have not been previously published, so we report here for the first time on the cavernosal arterial flow signal pattern of penile Mondor's disease. Penile Mondor's disease is rare disease that's characterized by thrombosis in the dorsal vein of the penis. The previous reports on penile Mondor's disease are concerned with the color Doppler US finding without the flow signals in this area, but these findings are insufficient to understand the hemodynamics in penile Mondor's disease. We report for the first time on a cavernosal artery flow signal pattern of low peak systolic velocity and high-resistance.
Adult ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Humans ; Lymphangitis/*ultrasonography ; Male ; Penile Diseases/*ultrasonography ; Penis/*blood supply/*ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Pulsed ; Venous Thrombosis/*ultrasonography

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Metal allergy has been reported to be related to stent restenosis. Therefore, we sought to investigate the incidence of metal allergy with new carbon stent with ion implantation technique and its relationship to restenosis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Between April 2002 and June 2004, 128 patients (100 male, mean age 60+/-10 years) were included in this study. The clinical diagnoses of the study patients included 64 acute myocardial infarction, 24 unstable angina and 40 stable angina patients. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either an Arthos Inert Stent (the study group) or an Arthos stent (the control group), with follow-up angiography scheduled 6 months later. Three months after stent implantation, skin patch tests, for the detection of metal allergies, were performed with manganese, molybdenum, nickel and chromium. RESULTS: There were no differences between the age, genders, risk factors and multi-vessel involvement between the two groups, as well as no differences in the angiographic parameters and restenosis (p>0.05). There were no differences in the positive rates of the skin tests between the Arthos stent and Arthos Inert stent groups or between the restenosis and no-restenosis groups (p>0.05). CONSLUSION: The new carbon stent, with ion implantation, did not reduce coronary restenosis. An allergic reaction was not related to the stent technology or stent restenosis.
Angina, Stable ; Angina, Unstable ; Angiography ; Carbon* ; Chromium ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Restenosis ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Incidence ; Male ; Manganese ; Molybdenum ; Myocardial Infarction ; Nickel ; Patch Tests ; Risk Factors ; Skin ; Skin Tests ; Stents*

PURPOSE: Many patients with early stage breast cancer are currently being treated with both adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) and radiotherapy (RT). We performed this study to assess the toxicity of concurrent adjuvant cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluourouracil (CMF) CT and RT for treating early breast cancer patients. METHODS: Between January 2000 and December 2005, 97 patients with stage I or II invasive breast carcinoma were treated with breast-conserving surgery, and they received 6 monthly cycles of classic oral chemotherapy with CMF. Within day 7 of cycle 1, the patients started 3 dimensional conformal RT (3DCRT) with a stadard dose, followed by a boost. We used the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v 3.0 to score the level of acute toxicity for CT. The adverse effects of RT were graded according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group criteria. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 45.8 yr (range:30-64). The most common toxicity was nausea and leukopenia. The dose of chemotherapy was reduced to 80% of the planned dose for 6.2% of the patient. CT was disrupted for 4.1% of the patients. RT was not disrupted for any patient. Grade 3 and 4 neutropenia occurred in 41 (42.3%) patients, but only one patient needed hospitalization due to fever. Grade 3 skin lesions developed during or shortly after RT in 10.7% of the patients. Radiation penumonitis was noted in 15.5% of the patients. The median follow-up time was 38 months. There was no local recurrence and 2 (2.08%) distant metastases during follow-up. CONCLUSION: From the results of our study, we conclude that the concurrent administration of adjuvant CMF CT and RT is associated with a low risk of serious toxicity and this is an acceptable adjuvant regimen for patients with early stage breast cancer.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Cyclophosphamide ; Drug Therapy* ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Leukopenia ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Methotrexate ; Nausea ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neutropenia ; Radiotherapy* ; Recurrence ; Skin

Colonic diverticulosis is small outpouching from the lumen of the colon, and this caused by mucosal herniation. Most patients are asymptomatic, but 5~15% of those affected manifest diverticular bleeding. Because most of them stop bleeding spontaneously, the source of the bleeding can not be found by colonoscopy in 15% of these cases. We report here on a case of sigmoid diverticular bleeding that detected by capsule endoscopy in a 68-year old woman who presented with acute obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.
Aged ; Capsule Endoscopy* ; Colon ; Colon, Sigmoid* ; Colonoscopy ; Diverticulosis, Colonic ; Female ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans