• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.2605-2610
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• 2016

The International Myeloma Working Group considers the serum free light chain (SFLC) assay to be an adjunct to traditional tests. Apart from the FLC ratio, the absolute values of individual free light chains also are gaining importance as they appear to be more relevant in certain clinical settings. Automated assays are available for their determination. As laboratories put new test systems into use catering to different disease populations, they are required by accreditation and certification bodies to verify or establish performance specifications, including reference intervals (RIs) representative of their population. Our aim was to establish local RIs for SFLC in a multicentre representative healthy population using a robust method. There was no significant relationship between SFLC levels and age, gender and creatinine levels. The 95% RI for ${\kappa}SFLC$ was 4.81 to 33.86mg/L, for ${\lambda}$ SFLC was 5.19 to 23.67mg/L and for ${\kappa}/{\lambda}SFLC$ was 0.36 to 2.33, significantly higher than the values given by the manufacturer. The ${\kappa}/{\lambda}$ SFLC ratio at 2.23, covering 100% of the data, showed 72% sensitivity (95% CI=39.0 - 94.0), 100% specificity (95% CI=71.5 - 100.0), 100% PPV (95% CI=21.5 - 100.0), 95% NPV (95% CI=75.4 - 99.9), and 79% accuracy (95% CI=56.0 - 93.0). In the patient group, kit RI for ${\kappa}/{\lambda}$ SFLC ratio classified 45.5% (n=5) as positive vs 9.1% (n=1) positive by the study RI, while the kit RI for kappa FLC classified 90.9% (n=10) as positive vs 54.5% (n=6), indicating increased probability of false positive test results with the kit RI when applied to our patient population. Appropriate and specific reference intervals and criteria values result in fewer false-positive and false-negative results which means fewer wrong or missed diagnoses.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.8
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• pp.101-108
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• 2018

This study aimed to investigate the blood glucose regulatory effect of barley noodles contained mulberry leaves water extract (MLWE) in diabetic mice in order to provide fundamental data as a functional food. ICR mice were divided into six groups as follows: normal control, positive control, barley control, mulberry control, barley+MLWE 2.5% and barley+MLWE 5% groups. High fat/high carbohydrate diet was fed for 4 weeks and diabetes mellitus was induced by i.p. injection of streptozotocin and nicotinamide. After diabetes induction, experimental diet was supplemented for 2 weeks and simultaneous measurement of body weight, blood glucose (including glucose tolerance test), liver function and blood lipid profile was conducted. As a result, there was less decrease in body weight compared to the positive control group in the groups that supplemented barley and MLWE together than the group ingesting barley and MLWE alone. In addition, regulatory effects on blood glucose, liver function and blood lipid concentration were also stronger in barley and MLWE concurrently supplemented groups. Consequently, combination of barley and MLWE was effective in the regulation of body weight, blood glucose, liver function, and blood lipid in diabetic mice. Therefore, this recipe could be a promising strategy for beneficial effects in the patients of diabetes mellitus.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.78-82
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• 2014

Purpose The physiological and biochemical responses of healthy men and women to life stress were measured in order to investigate the correlation between these two responses under the normal situation. Materials and Methods The population of the research is some randomly chosen health college students located in Daejeon City during the period from August to September 2014, and the sample of 94 students. Heart rate variability (HRV), blood pressure (BP) were selected as physiological stress indices and serum cortisol level was used as a biochemical stress biomaker. The data which is collected used SPSS19.0 programs and frequency and percentage and T-test, correlation. Results Male showed the significant higher value of serum cortisol level (p<0.05), BP (p<0.05), and LF/HF ratio of HRV (p<0.05) than female. The difference of BP between correlated significantly with serum cortisol level (p<0.05). The LF/HF ratio of HRV also correlated significantly with serum cortisol level (p<0.05) Conclusion We suggest that LF/HF ratio of HRV and BP may be good indices for the assessment of life stress.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.148-153
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• 2015

Purpose: We investigated trends in antibiotic resistance for gram-negative bacteria in infants with a urinary tract infection (UTI) over 15 years at a single institution. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted for children younger than 24 months who visited the emergency room and were diagnosed with a UTI between January 2000 and December 2014. We selected urine culture data that grew Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Baseline clinical information and results of antimicrobial susceptibility tests were analyzed by dividing the 15-year study time frame into three periods (A: 2000-2004, B: 2005-2009, and C: 2010-2014). Results: During the study period, 478 applicable children were identified (E. coli, 89.7% and K. pneumoniae, 10.3%). Antibiotic resistance to third-generation cephalosporins was increased from period A to period C (A, 2.1%; B, 8.3%; C, 8.8%; P=0.025). Resistance to quinolones also showed a steady pattern during periods A to C, although it was not statistically significant (A, 7.9%; B, 9.7%; C, 12.4%; P=0.221). The incidence of Extended-spectrum ${\beta}$-lactamase (ESBL)-producing gram-negative bacteria increased from period A to period C (A, 1.4%; B, 7.6%; C, 8.2%; P=0.012). Conclusion: This study revealed that the common uropathogens E. coli and K. pneumoniae experienced increasing resistance rates against third-generation cephalosporins and a constant antibiotic resistance to quinolones in children younger than 24 months. We also showed a recent increased incidence of ESBL-producing gram-negative bacteria in patients with community-acquired UTIs. Therefore, it is necessary to actively surveil resistance in order to properly select empirical antibiotics.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2012

Purpose: This study analyzed the characteristics of unstable pelvic bone fractures associated with intra-abdominal solid organ injury. Methods: Medical records were retrospectively collected from January 2000 to December 2010 for patients with unstable pelvic bone fractures. Unstable pelvic bone fracture was defined as lateral compression types II and III, antero-posterior compression types II and III, vertical shear and combined type by young classification. Subjects were divided into two groups, with (injured group) and without (non-injured group) intra-abdominal solid organ injury, to evaluate whether the characteristics of the fractured depended on the presence of associated solid organ injury. Data included demographics, mechanism of injury, initial hemodynamic status, laboratory results, revised trauma score (RTS), abbreviated injury scale (AIS), injury severity score (ISS), amount of transfusion, admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), and mortality. Results: The subjects were 217 patients with a mean age of 44 years and included 134 male patients(61.8%). The injured group included 38 patients(16.9%). Traffic accidents were the most common mechanism of injury, and lateral compression was the most common type of fracture in all groups. The initial blood pressure was lower in the injured group, and the ISS was greater. The arterial pH was lower in the injured group, and shock within 24 hours after arrival at the emergency department was more frequent in the injured group. The amount of the transfused packed red blood cells within 24 hours was higher in the injured group than the non-injured group. Invasive treatment, including surgery and angiographic embolization, was more common in the injured group, and the stay in the ICU was longer in the injured group. Conclusion: A need exists to decide on a diagnostic and therapeutic plan regarding the possibility of intra-abdominal solid organ injury for hemodynamically unstable patients with unstable pelvic bone fractures and multiple associated injuries.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.23-27
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• 2006

The rate of metallothionein synthesis on cadmium-poisoned rats reflects the level of toxicity, and also it reduces the toxicity which is caused by the uptake of cadmium. Chlorella supplementation in the diets of the cadmium-poisoned rats decreased the concentration of cadmium in blood and urine compared with the control group. Although the liver and kidneys of rats are major target organs of cadmium and coherence of metallothionein and cadmium, no previous study has determined the correlation between the rate of metallothionein synthesis in the liver and kidneys of rats and dietary supplementation of chlorella with cadmium uptake. This study analyzed total metallothionein level on the tissue of the liver and kidneys, the concentration of cadmium bound to the metallothionein, and the total concentration of cadmium on the tissue of the liver and kidneys after dietary supplementation with 1%, 5%, and 10% dried chlorella and 40 ppm of cadmium to 46 male SD rats (mean weight: $150\pm20\;g$) for 4 weeks. According to the data analysis of the total rate of metallothionein synthesis in the liver and kidneys, the group of SD rats on the supplementation with 1% chlorella and 40 ppm of cadmium showed a rate of $93.2\pm8.9\;ng/g$, a significant decrease of 58.8% compared to that of the control group of SD rats on the supplementation with cadmium only, which showed a rate of $227.3\pm32.5 ng/g$ (P=0.0001). In contrast, no significant difference was observed through the changing of chlorella concentrations between 5% and 10% chlorella supplementation with cadmium. The group supplemented with 1% or greater chlorella levels represented a greater decrease in the total cadmium concentration of the kidney and liver tissues, the amount of total metallothionein synthesis, the amount of metallothionein with binding to cadmium, and the concentration of free cadmium without binding to metallothionein. Consequently, the supplementation of 1% and 5% chlorella was effective in reducing the synthesis of metallothionein for cadmium uptake, but increased the rate of binding of cadmium to metallothionein.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.183-191
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• 2002

This study is aimed at offering basic data about prevention of Hepatitis B virus and infection control to dental hygiene students who will work mostly at dental offices which are characteristically exposed to a high risk of HBV infection. For this study, surveyed were 188 sophomores and juniors of the dental hygiene department who volunteered to undergo the tests of HBsAg and HBsAb. The examination of the blood collected from the samples and analysis of their perception about hygiene resulted in following conclusion: Positive HBsAg Four was found in 4 testees(2.1%) while 118(62.8%) revealed positive HBsAb. Juniors showed higher positive rate in HBsAg whereas sophomores had higher positive rate in HBsAb. But such difference has statistically no significance. Generally, students seemed to pay little attention to HBV, judging from the survey of their perception about the present state of HBsAg and HBsAb(p>0.05), conduct of infection(p<0.05), completion of 3 requested vaccinations(p>0.05), and formation of antibody(p>0.05). With regard to the infection routes of HBV, most students(92.4%) replied "through blood", which is statistically insignificant, though. Next ratio goes to the reply "through contaminated injectors". This reply came more from sophomores than from juniors, a difference which is statistically significant(p<0.05). The lowest rate of possible infection(29.2%) was thought to be "through breast-feeding of a positive mother"(p<0.05). In general, it turned out that sophomores had more knowledge about the infection routes of HBV than juniors. In terms of clinical history among family members, 6(3.1%) reported that some of their family members are currently suffering from a liver complaint, 3(1.6%) replied their family members were once afflicted, and 4(2.1%) said their members died of hepatitis. Except 10(4.7%), all the surveyees replied that their states of health are better than normal. Generally, sophomores are healthier than juniors except for the very health case, a difference which is statistically of no value.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.37-48
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• 1992

Antibiotics are chemical substances produced by various species of microorganisms that suppress the growth of other microorganisms or may destroy them. Among the more than 4000 antibiotics that has been identified, about 20s are using as the therapy of infectious fish diseases. There are several methods used to classify and group antibiotics, and the most common classification has been based on chemical structure and proposed mechanism of action. The effect of antibiotics may be determined by the kind of fish pathogens and by the external environment surrounded the infected fish. It implies that the kind of antibiotics and its application method should be decided after the determination of the reasons of fish disease. The uncontrolled usages of antibiotics may induce the selection of resistant mutants appeared spontaneously and present in any group of bacteria. The epidemic spread of such antibiotic resistant strains of fish pathogenic bacteria already has been reported in various districts of japan. Importantly, transferable drug resistant(R) plasmids were detected in strains of most of fish pathogens. Based on those reports, the antimicrobial resistance appears to be a rapidly emerging problem in the fish industry on the country. The expanding literatures on the pharmacokinetics, clinical trials, withdrawal periods and efficacy of environmental effect for the commonly using antibiotics have met the needs of data for the practical application of antibiotics. However, the most important thing for the treatment of fish diseases would be the communication and exchanging of information between the site of aquaculture and the diagnostic laboratory.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.519-525
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• 2016

Background: The objective of this study was to report the types and relative frequency of oral malignancies and precancer in the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia during the period 2009-2014. Materials and Methods: Pathology reports were retrieved from the archives of Histopathology Department, King Fahd hospital in Jazan. Demographic data on tobacco habits, clinical presentation and histologic grading of oral precancer and cancer cases were transcribed from the files. Results: 303 (42.7%) oral pre-malignant and malignant cases were found out of 714 oral biopsy lesions. A pathology diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma (85.1%) was most frequent, followed by premalignant lesions/epithelial dysplasia (8.6%), verrucous carcinoma (3.3%) and malignancy of other histological types (3%) such as ameloblastic carcinoma, salivary gland malignancy and sarcomas. Oral squamous cell carcinoma was predominant in females with a male to female ratio of 1:1.9. Patient age ranged from 22 to 100 years with a mean of $65{\pm}13.9$. Almost 44.6% of oral cancer had occurred after 65 years of age. Only 16.3% cases were reported in patients younger than 50 years, predominantly females. The majority of female patients had the habit of using shammah with a long duration of usage for more than 45 years. Buccoalveolar mucosa (52.3%) was the common site of involvement followed by tongue/floor of the mouth (47.7%) and clinically presented mostly as ulceration/swelling clinically. Moderately differentiated tumours (53.9%) were common followed by well differentiated (32.2%) and poorly differentiated tumours (5.8%). The prevalence of oral verrucous carcinoma (3.3%) was comparatively low with an equal distribution in both males and females. Both bucco-alveolar mucosa and tongue were predominantly affected. Oral precancer/epithelial dysplasia (8.6%) was common in females with a shammah habit. Bucco-alveolar mucosa was commonly involved and clinically presented mostly as white/red patches. Most cases were mild followed by moderate and severe dysplasia. Tumours of other histological types (3%) include 1 ameloblastic carcinoma, 3 malignant salivary gland tumours and 5 sarcomas. Conclusions: In this study, it was found that oral cancers reported in the pathology service to be a common occurrence. This study reconfirms previous reports of the high burden of oral cancer in this population This indicates that conventional preventive programs focused on oral cancer are in need of revision. In addition, further research into identifying new risk factors and molecular markers for oral cancer are needed for screening high risk individuals.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.2929-2937
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• 2015

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS or NOS3) produces nitric oxide and genetic polymorphisms of NOS3 gene play significant roles in various processes of carcinogenesis. The results from published studies on the association between NOS3 G894T and NOS3 intron 4 (4a/b) polymorphisms and cancer risk are conflicting and inconclusive. However, i n order to assess this relationship more precisely, a meta-analysis was performed with PubMed (Medline), EMBASE and Google web searches until February 2014 to select all published case-control and cohort studies. Genotype distribution data were collected to calculate the pooled odd ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to evaluate the strength of association. A total of 10,546 cancer cases and 10,550 controls were included from twenty four case-control studies for the NOS3 G894T polymorphism. The results indicated no significant association with cancer risk as observed in allelic (T vs G: OR=1.024, 95%CI=0.954 to 1.099, p=0.508), homozygous (TT vs GG: OR=1.137, 95%CI=0.944 to 1.370, p=0.176), heterozygous (GT vs GG: OR=0.993, 95%CI=0.932 to 1.059, p=0.835), recessive (TT vs GG+GT: OR=1.100, 95%CI=0.936 to 1.293, p=0.249) and dominant (TT+GT vs GG: OR=1.012, 95%CI=0.927 to 1.105, p=0.789) genetic models. Similarly, a total of 3,449 cancer cases and 3,691 controls were recruited from fourteen case-control studies for NOS3 4a/b polymorphism. Pooled results indicated no significant association under allelic (A vs B: OR=0.981, 95%CI=0.725 to 1.329, p=0.902), homozygous (AA vs BB: OR=1.166, 95%CI=0.524 to 2.593, p=0.707), heterozygous (BA vs BB: OR=1.129, 95%CI=0.896 to 1.422, p=0.305), dominant (AA+BA vs BB: OR=1.046, 95%CI=0.779 to 1.405, p=0.763) and recessive (AA vs BB+BA: OR=1.196, 95%CI=0.587 to 2.439, p=0.622) genetic contrast models. This meta-analysis suggests that G894T and 4a/b polymorphisms of NOS3 gene are not associated with increased or decreased risk of overall cancer.