• Neonatal Medicine
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.47-54
• /
• 2009

Purpose: Present evidences suggest that Ureaplasma urealyticum is a cause of pneumonia, septicemia, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in newborn infants, particularly those born prematurely. The purpose of this work was to examine the relationship between Ureaplasma urealyticum in the tracheal aspirates and adverse outcomes, such as BPD and early onset neonatal sepsis in premature infants. Methods: A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed on tracheal aspirates collected within 24 hour after birth in 176 premature infants less than 35 weeks of gestation and admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Bundang CHA Hospital. Results: U. urealyticum was detected in 37 of 176 preterm infants (21.0%). Gestational age ($29^{+5}{\pm}2^{+5}$ wk vs. $30^{+6}{\pm}2^+{-5}$ wk, P=0.0l3) and birth weight (1.39${\pm}$0.44 kg vs. 1.59${\pm}$0.55 kg, P=0.037) were lower in the U urealyticum-positive group compared to the control group. The incidence of early onset neonatal sepsis (16.2% vs. 6.5%, P=0.045) and BPD (45.9% vs. 29.5%, P=0.047) was higher in the U urealyticum-positive group compared to the control group, but the severity of BPD was not different between two groups. However, multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the presence of U. urealyticum was not independently related to the development of early onset neonatal sepsis and BPD. Conclusion: The results suggest that colonization of the lower respiratory tract by U. urealyticum might not be related to the development of neonatal sepsis and BPD directly in preterm infants.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.183-190
• /
• 1993

Abnomalities in the embryologic development and migration of the thyroid gland can result in ectopic thyroid tissue, which may occur on the midline in any position from the base of the tongue to the mediastinum. Although ectopic thyroid may be asymptomatic, local obstructive, hemorrhagic or other complication may occur. Radinuclide thyroid scan is confirmatory when the diagnosis is suspected. Hypothyroidism is common in lingual thyroid, and thyroid supplementation is generally required. In order to evaluate the features of ectopic thyroid, we investigated the scintigraphic findings, thyroid function test and clinical symptoms of 19 patients with ectopic thyroid. 1) Th frequency of ectopic thyroid was about 5.3 times more common in female than in male. Then patients were mostly below 30 years old (79%). 2) The frequency of location of ectopic thyroid were as follows: 10 cases in the tongue base, 1 case in suprahyoid, 5 cases in infrahyoid and 3 cases over 2 areas. 3) The thyroid function test was done in 16 cases of the ectopic thyroid patients. The hypothyroidism was detected in 7 cases, subclinical hypothyroidism in 4 cases and normal thyroid function in 5 cases. 4) The rate of hypothyroidism is 90% in the lingual thyroid and 33% in the others. The thyroid dysfunction was related with the location of the ectopic thyroid (p < 0.05). 5) The clinical manifestations include a mass in the tongue base, the foreignbody sensation of a throat and a swallowing difficulty in lingual thyroid. The palpable mass was the chief complaint in the others. 6) We prescribed the thyroid hormone to 10 cases with hypothyroidism. The ectopic thyroid was removed in 2 cases with normal thyroid function. The rest is following up through OPD. We must consider the possibility of the ectopic thyroid and take the thyroid scan when the patient has a mass in the tongue base, the sublingual and the prelaryngeal area. Then we have to check the thyroid function and follow up when the ectopic thyroid is diagnosed, because the patient with normal thyroid function can result in the hypothyroidism. Except these, we must mind of the possibility of occurence of the cancer in the ectopic thyroid tissue.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.92-100
• /
• 2002

Objectives : As medical science develops, survival rate of cancer patients rises. Therefore, psychologic understanding and improving quality of life in cancer patients is getting greater significance. The Object of this study is to investigate sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, psychopathology, self esteem and quality of life in cancer patients and to provide useful information for therapeutic approach to cancer patients. Methods : The subjects were 41 patents who had been treated by radiotherapy and 20 normal people. Sociodemographic information and clinical characteristics of cancer patients were investigated, and SCL-90R for psychopathology, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale for self esteem, WHOQOL-BREF for quality of life were administered to subjects. The results of both groups were compared and analysed, and correlation between variables were evaluated. Results : 1) The tendency of Somatization, obsession-compulsion, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobia, psychosis in cancer group were higher than normal group. Especially, somatization and anxiety in cancer group were significantly higher than normal group. 2) Self esteem and quality of life in cancer group were significantly lower than normal group. 3) No significance were found in comparison of psychopathology, self esteem and quality of life according to sociodemographic variables. Among clinical characteristics, higher somatization was shown in case of more weight loss, and higher somatization and lower quality of life was shown in the presence of pain. 4) Higher anxiety was significantly associated with lower self esteem, and Higher somatization and anxiety was significantly associated with lower quality of life. Conclusion : Cancer patients had various kinds of psychopathology, low self esteem and low quality of life. In particular, somatization and anxiety, self esteem and pain were found to be important factors to quality of life of cancer patients. Therefore, management of psychopathology, improving self esteem, pain control is necessary to improve quality of life in cancer patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.45 no.1
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2016

This study was conducted to investigate effect of the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor activity, the protective effect of the extract on SH-SY5Y cell death by $H_2O_2$, the memory improvement from scopolamine-induced rat. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of isorhamnetin from the dropwort (Oenanthe javanica) was investigated. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor activity was highest (28.59%) in Hwasun O. javanica extract (H-OJE). H-OJE and Naju O. javanica extract (N-OJE) were not significantly different. SH-SY5Y cell death deceased to 37.23% and 36.68% for H-OJE and N-OJE, respectively, following treatment with the extracts. O. javanica extracts showed a protective effect against $H_2O_2$-induced neurotoxicity. Treatment with O. javanica extracts slightly improved scopolamine-induced (1 mg/kg, i.p.) memory impairment in rats. H-OJE contained the highest total phenolic and flavonoid contents of 117 mg/g and 30 mg gallic acid equivalents/g, respectively, and had a DPPH radical scavenging activity ($SC_{50}$) of $113.8{\mu}g/mL$ and ABTS radical scavenging activity of $48.2{\mu}g/mL$, which was higher than the other extracts. The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances value was highest (50.2%) in H-OJE. Antioxidant activity differed significantly among dropwort extracts. Isorhamnetin was known as one of the flavonoid and for having neuroprotective effect. So we analyzed acid-hydrolyzed O. javanica extract HPLC. The results were that peak at 14 min and spectrum of the extracts was consistent with standard solution. The results of LC/MS/MS analysis were that the extract and standard solution were confirmed total ion chromatogram at identical time, precursor ion was 317 $[M-H]^+$ m/z, product ion was 302 $[M-H]^+$ m/z. Overall, the results showed that the dropwort extract led to memory improvement and had antioxidant activity. Based on these finding, further research to investigate the production of ethanol extract of dropwort as a processed food is warranted.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.52 no.3
• /
• pp.382-387
• /
• 2014

The PC/ABS blends were manufactured with high shear rate processing. Changes of the blend morphology were analyzed according to the screw speed and processing time. To find optimal conditions of the high shear rate processing of the PC/ABS blend, blend morphology and size of the dispersed phase, ABS, were observed with a SEM. Also, tensile properties of the PC/ABS blends were measured to investigate the effect of the high shear rate process with the screw speed of 500 rpm to 3000 rpm for processing times of 10s to 40s. Especially, to observe the dispersed phase of the PC/ABS blend clearly, fracture surfaces of the PC/ABS blend were etched with chromic acid solution. As screw speed and processing time increase, dispersed phase size of the PC/ABS blend decreases and mechanical properties of the blend decrease as well. Especially, at screw speed over than 1000 rpm of high shear rate processing, mechanical properties of the PC/ABS blends decrease drastically due to the degradation of the blend during the high shear rate processing. Consequently, the optimal condition of screw speed of the high shear processing of the PC/ABS blend is set at 1000rpm, in this study. Under optimal condition, the PC/ABS blend has relatively high mechanical properties with the relatively stable micro-structure having nanometer scale dispersed phase.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.52 no.2
• /
• pp.266-271
• /
• 2014

The effects of antioxidants on the properties of Polycarbonate/Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene(PC/ABS) blends were studied for the functions of the screw speed and loaded duration of high shear rate processing in order to investigate the degradation for PC/ABS blends. Tris-(2,4-di-tert-butyl-phenyl phosphate) (A1) and Bis(2,4-dicumylphenyl) pentaerythritol diphosphite (A3) as phosphite antioxidants and Octadecyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate (A2) as a phenolic antioxidant are used. The thermal properties were detected by TGA and severely decreased, after the processing. The stress-induced and thermal degradation for PC/ABS blends with the antioxidant A3 was retarded better than the others. By using UTM, the mechanical properties also showed individually decreased according to the antioxidants, after the processing, especially, the elongations showed considerable decline behaviors, while the tensile strengths of PC/ABS blends changed very little. For example, in the operating conditions of 1000rpm of screw speed and 20 seconds of loaded period, the elongations decreased from 148% before the processing, to 91.6% with the A1, to 63% with the A2 and to 131% with the A3 after the processing, respectively. In order to get the morphological properties, the size distributions of the dispersed phases for PC/ABS were investigated by SEM analysis and tended to decrease, as the screw speed and loaded period of the processing increased. Therefore, we confirmed that the antioxidant A3 was the best of all of three to inhibit the stress-induced degradation of PC/ABS blends during the high shear rate processing.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.149-155
• /
• 1995

Background: Cytokeratin 19 is 40KD acidic molecule whose distribution is restricted to simple or pseudo-stratified epithelia, such as the epithelial layer of the bronchial tree. Immunohistochemical study have shown that cytokeratin 19 is overexpressed in lung carcinoma tissue. An immunoradiometric assay, CYFRA 21-1 has been developed using two monoclonal antibody, BM 19-21 and KS 19-1, reactive to different epitopes on cytokeratin 19. We studied the diagnostic value of CYFRA 21-1 in lung cancer. Method: The serum CYFRA 21-1 level using immunoradiometric kit(ELSA-CYFRA 21-1) was measured in 54 patients who admit to Yeungnam University Hospital from April, 1993 to August, 1994. Lung cancer group was 39 primary lung cancer patients(19 patients with squamous cell carcinoma, 11 patients with adenocarcinoma and 9 patients with small cell carcinoma). Control group was 15 patients with non malignant lung diseases(8 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, 3 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 2 patients with pneumonia and 2 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease combined with pulmonary tuberculosis). Results: The mean serum value of CYFRA 21-1 was $20.2{\pm}4.7ng/ml$ in squamous cell carcinoma, $7.2{\pm}1.6ng/ml$ in adenocarcinoma and $15.5{\pm}4.7ng/ml$ in non-small cell lung cancer. The serum value of CYFRA 21-1 in control group was $1.7{\pm}0.5ng/ml$. All of the serum values of 3 histologic types were significantly higher than that of control group(p<0.01). The serum value of CYFRA 21-1 of squamous cell carcinoma was significantly higher than that of adenocarcinoma(p <0.05). Serum value of CYFRA 21-1 in small cell lung cancer was $2.9{\pm}0.9ng/ml$ and not significantly different compared with control group. Using cut off value of 3.3ng/ml, sensitivity and specificity was 11.1%, 65.2% in small cell lung cancer, 70.0%, 62.5% in non-small cell lung cancer, 73.7%, 75% in squamous cell carcinoma and 63.6%, 78.9% in adenocarcinoma, respectively. Conclusion: The serum levels of CYFRA 21-1 may be useful in diagnosis of non-small cell lung carcinoma, especially in squamous cell carcinoma with its high specificity.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.85-91
• /
• 2017

Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe the clinical and biochemical features as well as the molecular analysis of a newly diagnosed illustrative case with ML II and to analyze the clinical features of 11 Korean patients with ML II/III. Method: Including a newly diagnosed patient, total 11 patients in 10 families were diagnosed as ML II (n=7) or ML III (n=4) were enrolled in the study. A diagnosis of ML II or III was made by demonstrating increased lysosomal enzyme activities in the plasma and sequence analysis of GNPTAB with characteristic clinical features. Result: A illustrative case of ML II patient was a 17 month-old boy showing characteristic facial appearance, multiple joint contractures with cardiac involvements. The enzyme assay showed increased lysosomal enzyme activities in the plasma. We identified compound heterozygous mutations in GNPTAB sequence analysis, including a frameshift (c.3428dupA [pAsn1143Lysfs*3]) and a nonsense variant c.673C>T (p.Gln225*). In total 11 patients with ML II/III, the patients with ML II showed severe growth retardation (height standard deviation score -3.2 [${\pm}1.5$]), compare to patients with ML III. Furthermore, patients with ML II patients had serious cardiac problem (n=4), hepatomegaly (n=3) and underwent tracheostomy (n=3) with further respiratory support due to respiratory distress. To improve osteoporosis and bone pain, all patients with ML III and four of 7 patients with ML II treated with intravenous pamidronate. Conclusion: Here we showed a newly diagnosed case of ML II and clinical features of 11 Korean patients with ML II or III. These data could be helpful for further diagnosis of mucolipidosis, a rare inherited metabolic disease, in Korea.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.228-236
• /
• 1999

Background: Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis is an uncommon illness characterized by intermittent flaccid paralysis of skeletal muscle, usually accompanied by hypokalemia, in patient with hyperthyroidism. However, the pathophysiology of thyrotoxic periodic paralysis remains largely unexplained and controversial. This report describes the clinical and biochemical findings in 19 patients with thyrotoxic periodic paralysis who were examined at the Yeungnam University Medical Center(YUMC) during the past decade. Methods: The medical records of 997 YUMC patients, seen between 1986 and 1996, with diagnosis of hyperthyroidism were reviewed. Nineteen patients out of 997 hyperthyroidism patients were diagnosed, and examined by history, physical examination, serum electrolyte value, and thyroid function test during paralysis. On the basis of these results, comparisons were made on age, sex, precipitating factors, timing, affected limbs, prognosis, serum potassium and serum phosphate and thyroid hormone levels. Results: The prevalence of periodic paralysis in hyperthyroidism was 1.9 percent and the male to female prevalence ratio was 30:1 and in all patients, the development of perodic paralysis was correlated with hyperfunctional state of the thyroid gland. Eleven cases of periodic paralysis were associated with hypokalemia and their thyroid hormone levels were significantly more increased than those of the patients without hypokalemia. Interestingly, our study shows the recurrence of paralysis after treatment. Conclusion: Although the precise pathophysiology of the disease is as yet undefined and controversial, it occurs primarily in Asians with an overwhelming male preponderance and prevalence of 2 percent in hyperthyroidism. The interactive roles of thyroid hormone, Na-K pump, and genetically inherited defect in the cellular membrane potential of the skeletal muscle can be speculated. Further investigation will be needed to firmly establish the mechanism of thyrotoxic periodic paralysis.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.24-33
• /
• 2016

Mucopolysaccharidosis type VI (MPS VI) is a rare disease caused by the mutation of ARSB with prevalence range from 1/5,000 in northeast Brazil to 1/2,057,529 births in Czech Republic. In Asia, there is only one published figure in Taiwan of about 1/833,000 births. The exact prevalence in the Korean population is unknown, but we estimated the incidence of MPS VI is about 0.03/100,000 live births. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with recombinant human Arylsulfatase B (rhASB) is a modality for the treatment of MPS VI that reduces the excretion of urine glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and improves joint motion, pulmonary function, and endurance. We presented the clinical features, molecular analysis and outcome of ERT in three Korean MPS VI patients. All patients had the typical characteristic clinical features of MPS IV. Short stature, dysostosis multiplex, corneal opacity and valvular heart disease were found at first presentation, while restrictive lung disease and carpal tunnel syndrome developed later in all patients. Molecular analysis demonstrated novel missense and nonsense mutation in the patients, including p.Ile 67Ser, p.Gly328Arg, $p.Arg191^*$, p.Asp352Asn, and p.Gly17Asp. After ERT, urine GAG was decreased in all patients. Skeletal involvement, corneal opacity, heart valve abnormalities and pulmonary function were not improved with ERT, but it had a better outcome on regarding joint motion and endurance. One patient underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) prior to ERT, but their clinical response was not improved much after BMT. This study demonstrates clinical phenotypes and molecular analysis of the severe form of MPS VI in Korean patients.