• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.1339-1344
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• 2014

Aims: Alterations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been implicated in carcinogenesis and tumor progression. We here evaluated the diagnostic and prognostic potential of mtDNA as a biomarker for breast cancer. Methods: Using multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction, nuclear DNA (nDNA) and mtDNA levels in serum, buffy coat, tumor, and tumor-adjacent tissue samples from 50 breast cancer patients were determined and assessed for associations with clinicopathological features. To evaluate mtDNA as a biomarker for distinguishing between the four sample types, we created receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: The mtDNA levels in buffy coat were significantly lower than in other sample types. Relative to tumor-adjacent tissue, reduced levels of mtDNA were identified in buffy coat and tumor tissue but not in serum. According to ROC curve analysis, mtDNA levels could be used to distinguish between buffy coat and tumor-adjacent tissue samples with good sensitivity (77%) and specificity (83%). Moreover, mtDNA levels in serum and tumor tissue were positively associated with cancer TMN stage. Conclusions: The mtDNA levels in blood samples may represent a promising, non-invasive biomarker in breast cancer patients. Additional, large-scale validation studies are required to establish the potential use of mtDNA levels in the early diagnosis and monitoring of breast cancer.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.103-121
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• 2004

Conversion disorder and factitious disorder should be ruled out before making diagnosis of malingering. For this work, inspection of patient's behavior along with complete neurological examinations, psychological tests, and meticulous psychiatric interview are necessary. Facial expression test, thermography, dynamometry were failed differentiating conversion disorders to the malingered pain and motor symptoms, however, controlled diagnostic block showed positive result partly in patients with regional or cervical pain syndrome. Chronic pain patients who are related to the process of litigation encounter stressful life situations which lead them into various neurobehavioral and psychosocial complications. Most of suspected malingered patients would not revealed pure form rather mixed with factitious and/or conversion features. At the time of increasing number of chronic patients associated with traffic accidents or industrial injuries who are involved in litigation, psychiatrist are needed sharp eyes and tenacity for evaluating malingering or medically unexplained symptoms.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.16-20
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• 2008

Objective : Rapid increase in aged population and westernization of lifestyle have modified epidemiological status of stroke. The purpose of this study is to analyze changing trends of stroke epidemiology in South Korea. Methods : We reviewed retrospectively medical records of 1,124 cases diagnosed as stroke among 54,534 patients who visited the Emergency Medical Center at our hospital from January 1994 to December 1996 (Group A). Also, we evaluated 1,705 cases diagnosed as stroke among 55,381 patients who visited to the same hospital from January 2003 to December 2005 (Group B). The variable features of stroke, such as age, sex, seasonal variation and distribution of stroke subtypes were studied by comparing group A with B. Results : In group A, hemorrhagic stroke (67.9%) was more prevalent than ischemic stroke (32.1%). However, group B showed that the ratio of hemorrhagic stroke (40.3%) to ischemic stroke (59.6%) has been reversed. The highest incidence of stroke was noted in their sixties and seventies of age in group B, which was older than that of group A. In group A, male ischemic stroke (IS) patients outnumbered female patients (1.26:1). Moreover, this gender disproportion became higher in group B (1.53:1). In group A, the number of male intracerebral hermorrhage (ICH) patients were similar to that of female patients (0.97:1). However, male ICH patients outnumbered female patients in group B (1.23:1). As for subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), female patients outnumbered male patients more than two-fold in both groups. Both groups showed that the occurrence of ischemic stroke was highest in summer, but that of hemorrhagic stroke was the highest in winter. Conclusion : This study showed the changing trends of stroke in its distribution of subtypes. Multicenter prospective study using stroke registry would be required for the determination of national epidemiologic trends.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.529-543
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• 2007

It was revaluated about taxonomical position of the Tilingia tsusimensis (Yabe) Kitagawa (Apiaceae) collected from Mt. Gaya, Mt. Geumo, and Mt. Songni in Korea. Its diagnostic features include slightly dorsally compressed mericarps, acute-prominent ribs, ternate leaves, and dimorphic white petals. It is morphologically similar to Cymopterus and Pimpinella in having ternate leaves. It is distinguished from Cymopterus having asymmerty mericarps, 3-4 mericarp ribs, and winged dorsal ribs. Pimpinella differs in having slightly laterally compressed mericarps without ribs and conspicuous calyx teeth. Also, it looks like Angelica with obsolete calyx teeth and multilayer pericarps, but is distinguished by having its broadly winged lateral ribs and strongly dorsally compressed mericarps. Tilingia tsusimensis formed a monophyletic clade or sister group relationship with a genus Angelica based on ITS sequences. Based on the above observations, we conclude that this plant is here referred to T. tsusimensis (Yabe) Kitagawa.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.248-255
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• 2015

Purpose: study of the mutual influence of the individual anatomical regions damage in patients associated with falls from heights. Methods: 561 medical reports of patients associated with falls from heights admitted to Republican Research Center of Emergency Medicine (RRCEM), in period of 2010-2013 yy, were analyzed retrospectively. Patient's age range was from 15 to 89. Treatment of these patients held in three stages: period of acute disorders of vital functions; relative stabilization period; stabilization of vital functions. The scope and content of medical diagnostic procedures performed on pre-hospital and intensive care stages. The severity of each injury was scored according to the AIS scale, the total severity of lesions was scored by points due to ISS. Digital material is treated by methods of mathematical statistics. Results: Falls from heights leads to associated injuries for 4 times more than isolated trauma, and increases according to height of fall and falling surface. Patients with TBI+chest trauma, are most serious contingent that has highest mortality and complications (36.8%). TBI+musculoskeletal system trauma are characterized by high blood loss, traumatic shock and fat embolism, forming a vicious circle. Conclusion: in patients associated with falls from heights clinical manifestations of injuries mutual aggravation syndrome will be seen. TBI leads to complication of chest trauma, delayed diagnostics of abdominal and chest trauma, aggravation of coma condition. Developing of high blood loss and fat embolism in musculoskeletal system trauma leads to shock and pulmonary embolism, which increases probability of death in the presence of abdominal or chest trauma, but abdominal trauma or chest trauma has no significant effect on the severity of the musculoskeletal system trauma.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.97-108
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• 2007

Multiple areas of development are affected in pervasive developmental disorders(PDD), and assessments of various aspects of behavior and development are essential for diagnosis. The object of this review is to provide the practical guidelines for the assessment of core features of PDD, including abnormalities in communication, social interaction, and repetitive and stereotyped behavior. It covers the issues of differential diagnosis within and outside the PDD category, standardized diagnostic tools, assessment of intellectual and language functions, and the early diagnosis of PDD in infancy. This guideline also stresses the process of medical and neurological evaluation for proper diagnosis of PDD.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.710-717
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• 2001

Two cases of an anomalous systemic arterial supply to the basal segments of the left lower lobe without pulmonary sequestration are presented. In the first case, a preoperative diagnosis was made by chest CT, and confirmed by angiography, in a 22-year old man who had a recurrent hemoptysis. There was systemic arterial supply that originated from the thoracic descending aorta and no pulmonary arterial supply to the basilar segments of the left lower lobe. However, the pulmonary parenchyma was normal without sequestration. Ligation of the abnormal artery and a left lower lobectomy were performed without complications. In the second case, there were characteristic features of this anomaly on chest CT and the angiogram in a 31-year-old man with symptoms of hemoptysis. The patient refused surgery.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.32 no.2 s.91
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• pp.71-78
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• 2002

It could be suggested that adult orthodontic patients may have peculiar psychological features as well as different periodontal tissue conditions compared with adolescent patients. The aims of the present investigation were to explore the relationships between psychological characteristics and treatment compliance of patient to orthodontist and assistants (dental hygienists). Two types of locus of control data (I-score, Internal locus of control score ; E-score, External locus of control score) were obtained for 312 adult patients and 765 adolescents and then analyzed in relation to their sex and treatment compliance. In general, orthodontic patients showed higher I-score trends than ordinary persons and adult patients manifested higher I-score than adolescent patients. Unlike adult patients, female adolescent patients showed higher I-score than male adolescent patients. Adult patients with higher E-score and adolescent patients with higher I-score than their counter-part subgroup were classified into more compliant group. Orthodontist performed more generous decision about patients' compliance than assistants. The results of this study also suggest that psychological survey in orthodontic field could comprise useful diagnostic criteria.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.312-319
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• 2014

Objective: Facial-type-associated variations in diagnostic features have several implications in orthodontics. For example, in hyperdivergent craniofacial types, growth imbalances are compensated by displacement of the condyle. When diagnosis and treatment planning involves centric relation (CR), detailed knowledge of the condylar position is desirable. The present study aimed to measure condylar displacement (CD) between CR and maximum intercuspation in three facial types of an asymptomatic orthodontic population. Methods: The study was conducted in 108 patients classified into three groups of 36 individuals each (27 women and 9 men; mean age, 20.5 years), based on the following facial patterns: hyperdivergent, hypodivergent, and intermediate. To quantify CD along the horizontal and vertical axes, the condylar position was analyzed using mounted casts on a semi-adjustable articulator and a mandibular position indicator. The Student t-test was used to compare CD between the groups. Results: Vertical displacement was found to be significantly different between the hyperdivergent and hypodivergent groups (p < 0.0002) and between the hyperdivergent and intermediate groups (p < 0.0006). The differences in horizontal displacement were not significant between the groups. In each group, vertical CD was more evident than horizontal displacement was. Conclusions: All facial types, especially the hyperdivergent type, carried a significantly high risk of CD. Therefore, the possibility of CD should be carefully evaluated and considered in the assessment of all orthodontic cases in order to accurately assess jaw relationships and avoid possible misdiagnosis.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2020

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the types and frequency of the various incidental findings (IFs) on magnetic resonance images (MRI) taken from the patients with temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptoms. Materials and Methods: Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) MRI taken from 1,013 patients with TMD symptoms were evaluated retrospectively. IF was defined as imaging features that were accidentally or unexpectedly found, rather than degenerative bony changes of TMJ complex or disc derangement. They were classified into two groups as TMJ site-specific findings and unexpected findings at other regions. The frequency of the sub groups was analyzed. Result: A total of 26 (2.57%) cases with IFs were classified into 13 cases with TMJ site-specific findings and 13 cases with unexpected findings at other region. TMJ site-specific findings included synovial chondromatosis in 6 cases, synovial cyst in 6 cases and osteochondroma in one case. Unexpected findings included salivary gland tumor in 3 cases, developmental cyst in 3 cases, vascular malformation in 2 cases, mastoiditis in 4 cases and sialadenitis on parotid gland in one case. Conclusion: When diagnosing TMD through TMJ MRI, clinicians should carefully read the image, considering the possibility of IFs because TMJ MRI can provide pathologic information in TMJ region and other oral and maxillofacial region.