• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.384-389
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• 2017

This study was conducted to investigate the patient and hospital characteristics that affect receiving and non-receiving blood transfusion for hepatoma embolization. We analyzed data describing 757 patients of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service's 2011 claims sample data. Chi-squared and logistic regression analysis was performed using STATA 12.0. Logistic regression analysis revealed that anemia (Odds ratio (OR)=9.544, 95% confidence interval (CI)=3.362-27.097), female (OR=2.186, Cl=l.240-3.854), age 65-74 (OR=0.506, CI=0.269-0.952), 1000 over bed (OR=0.053, CI=0.018-0.151), out-department (OR=0.211, CI=0.081-0.551), and 700-999 bed (OR=0.105, CI=0.036-0.304) were significant predictors of blood transfusion in tertiary hospitals. Additionally, anemia (OR=69.681, CI=8.545-568.246) and aged 75 or over (OR=0.112, CI=0.025-0.506) were significant predictors of blood transfusion in general hospitals. This research would expected to cost effective and preliminary data of blood transfusion quality.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.355-378
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• 2017

Because neurochemicals are related to homeostasis and cognitive and behavioral functions in human body and because they enable the diagnosis of numerous neurodegenerative disorders, there has been increasing interest in the development of analytical platforms for neurochemical profiling in biological samples. In particular, mass spectrometry (MS)-based analytical methods combined with chromatographic separation have been widely used to profile neurochemicals in metabolic pathways. However, development of delicate sample preparation procedures and highly sensitive instrumental detection is necessary considering the trace levels and chemical instabilities of neurochemicals in biological samples. Therefore, in this review, analytical trends in MS-based metabolomics approaches to neurochemicals in multiple biological samples, such as urine, blood, CSF, and biological tissues, are discussed. This paper is expected to contribute to the development of an analytical platform to discover biomarkers that will aid diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.11
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• pp.1211-1216
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• 2008

Purpose : Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA) is a rare heterogeneous genetic disorder of infancy and early childhood. It is characterized by red cell aplasia, congenital anomalies, and a predisposition to cancer. Corticosteroids and red cell transfusions are the mainstays of therapy. We describe our experience of 6 cases of DBA that were encountered over a period of 16 years. Methods : Medical records of 6 patients diagnosed to have DBA and admitted to the Chonnam National University Hospital between 1992 and 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. Results : Three patients were males. The age at diagnosis ranged from 3 to 18 months (median, 5.5 months). Heart defects were observed in 4, polydactyly in 2, and strabismus in 1 patient. The median number of transfusions was 3 (range, 2-8). All patients responded to initial treatment with steroids and had a hemoglobin level ${\geq}9g/dL$ with a median of 12.5 days (range, 7-22 days). Three patients are currently not receiving steroid therapy. A minimum dose of oral prednisolone (<5 mg per day) was required to maintain hemoglobin ${\geq}9mg/dL$ in 3 cases. Red cell transfusion was infrequently required in 1 patient. In the median follow-up of 14 years, there was no development of malignancy. No significant side effects of steroids were found, except for short stature in 2. Conclusion : The majority of DBA patients achieved complete response and under maintenance therapy with low dose of steroids. Close observation is needed to monitor steroid side effects, cardiac function, and development of malignancy. A nation-wide survey is necessary to further characterize this rare disease in Korean children.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.246-251
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• 2010

Mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary gland that develops as a response to pathogenic microorganisms. Somatic cell count (SCC) and bacteriological analysis are the most accepted tools to determine udder health. This study evaluated the effects of intra-mammary gland infusion of silver ion against clinical mastitis in Holstein cows. Silver ion (20 ${\mu}g$/ml) was infused through the intra-mammary gland in quarters having clinical mastitis and milk was collected to determine SCC, and levels of lactoferrin and bovine serum albumin (BSA). Silver ion infusion decreased udder inflammation, firmness and swelling, and reduced clots, BSA, lactoferrin and SCC in milk. However, milk yield and circulating blood cells remained unchanged. The silver ion-mediated reductions of BSA and SCC indicate reduced inflammation and bacterial activity in silver ion-treated mammary glands in Holsteins with mastitis, which may be exploited in a curative strategy.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.18-24
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• 2004

연구배경 : 플라스미노겐 활성 억제인자-1 (plasminogen activator inhibitor-1; PAI-1)은 허혈성 뇌경색의 발생의 원인이 되는 섬유소 용해작용의 저하를 매개하는 인자로서, PAI-1의 작용이 촉진되면 섬유소 용해기능이 저하되어 관상동맥 및 뇌혈관질환의 발생을 증가시키게 된다. PAI-1 유전자의 촉진자(promoter) 영역에는 -675 4G/5G (4G/5G)와A -844G (A/G)의 두 개의 유전자 다형성이 존재하며, 이는 PAI-1의 유전자 전사과정에 영향을 미쳐 혈청 PAI-1의 농도를 증가시키고 결과적으로 허혈성 뇌경색의 발생확률을 높이는 작용을 하게 된다. 연구방법 : 허혈성 뇌경색으로 진단 받은 167명의 환자와 173명의 건강인의 말초혈액에서 DNA를 분리한 후 PAI-1의 4G/5G와 A/G 유전자 다형성에 대한 연쇄중합반응 및 제한효소 절편길이 다형성 (polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism; PCR-RFLP) 방법을 이용하여 허혈성 뇌경색 발생과 유전자 다형성과의 관계를 비교 분석하였다. 결과 : 허혈성 뇌경색 환자에서의 4G/4G의 유전자형의 빈도는 15.0%으로 정상 대조군의 33.5%에 비해 현저하게 낮게 나타났다 (P < 0.0001). 각각의 유전자형과 허혈성 뇌경색의 발생 위험도 (odd ratio ; OR)와의 관계를 분석했을 때 4G/4G 유전자형을 가질 경우 위험도는 0.35배로 현저하게 낮아졌으며, (P < 0.0001), 5G/5G 유전자형을 가질 경우 위험도는 4.49배 로 현저하게 높아졌다 (P < 0.0001). 그러나, A/G 유전자 다형성과 허혈성 뇌경색의 발생과는 유의한 연관성을 발견하지 못하였다. 결론 : 이상의 결과로 볼 때 PAI-1 유전자의 4G/4G 유전자형은 허혈성 뇌경색의 발생 비율을 감소시키는 작용을 하는 것으로 여겨진다.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.1841-1846
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• 2009

Menopause is often associated with the incidence of several chronic diseases including osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is an effective regimen that has been found to prevent these diseases in postmenopausal women. However, HRT is accompanied by an increased risk of unfavorable outcomes. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Ecklonia cava, a kind of seaweed, extract on bone turnover markers in symptomatic menopausal women. For this study, the following four groups of 9-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were evaluated over 6 weeks: normal rats (SHAM), ovariectomized rats (OVX-CON) and ovariectomized rats that were treated with Ecklonia cava extracts. The optimum extraction temperature and solvent of Ecklonia cava were found to be $80^{\circ}C$ and 80% ethanol. We measured the osteocalcin and CTx content, enzyme ALP activity in serum and collagen content in the cartilage, bone, skin and lungs. We found that the levels of indicators of bone metabolism such as ALP, osteocalcin and CTx were lower in rats in the Ecklonia cava extract group than the OVX-CON group. In addition, the collagen contents in the bone, cartilage, skin and lungs decreased in response to ovariectomy, but the levels of collagen were greater in the bone of rats that were treated with Ecklonia cava extract than in the bone of rats in the OVX-CON group. According to these results, we were able to know the effects of Ecklonia cava extract on bone aging in ovariectomized rats. Consequently, we expect Ecklonia cava extract to have an effect on bone aging in postmenopausal women.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.148-154
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• 2016

A urea cycle disorder is a condition caused by a defect of the enzymes in the urea cycle, and deficiency of ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC), which converts carbamoyl phosphate and ornithine into citrulline, is the most common type of the disorder. OTC deficiency induces the accumulation of precursors of urea, ammonia, and glutamine, leading to neurological symptoms including hypotonia, respiratory failure, seizure, lethargy, and coma and sometimes to death. Because OTC deficiency is inherited in an X-linked manner, typical symptoms such as vomiting, poor feeding, and lethargy appear mainly in male neonates. We recently had a case that presented with neonatal onset lethargy, vomiting, and apnea in a 4-day-old boy. He was diagnosed with OTC deficiency by biochemical phenotype, including hyperammonemia and an increased orotic acid level in the urine. Genetic analysis of the OTC gene showed a novel mutation c.780_781insCAGGCAGTGT (p.Ile261Glnfs*35). He was treated for hyperammonemia using continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) at 118 hours after birth. After 4 days of CVVH, his consciousness and blood ammonia concentration were normalized, and he was discharged at the age of 53 days. At around 12 months of age, bilateral femur fractures and osteomyelitis occurred in this patient. Two months after the fracture, he died of septic shock, insulin-resistant hyperglycemia, and multi-organ failure.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.2 s.69
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• pp.236-241
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• 2005

To investigate the bioactivities of Solidago virga-aurea var. gigantea Mig. Root (SVR), we studied the effect of a SVR methanol extract on the activity of bone metabolism. Spraque-Dawley three-week-old female rats were randomly assigned to groups as follows : non-supplemented rats and supplemented with SVR at 10, 50, 100 mg/kg bw/day. Every week determined weight gain and food intake, urine and blood examination of mineral content of calcium and phosphorus was performed each at experimental periods of 3 and 9 weeks respectively; bone mineral density and bone mineral content were also assayed. There were no significant differences in body weight or feed efficiency ratio levels. However, the biological value of calcium and phosphorus excretion in the group supplemented with SVR extract decreased significantly more than that in the group not supplemented with SVR extract. Also, spine BMD, femur BMC and pelvis BMC per weight were significantly greater on SVR extract supplemented groups than that of the control group. In conclusion, it might be expected that methanol extract of SVR does not impair the growth of rats and may improve bone metabolism in rats.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.76-80
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• 2007

Colorectal carcinomas are extremely rare in childhood and adolescence; however, the colon is the most common site of a gastrointestinal carcinoma. Mucin secreting adenocarcinomas with signet ring formation is the most common type of colon cancer identified in children. An 11-year-old boy had abdominal pain and weight loss for three months, back pain and left thigh pain for two months, and hematochezia for four days. Colonoscopy showed an annular mass in the sigmoid colon and the histopathology revealed a signet ring cell carcinoma. A metastatic signet ring cell carcinoma was suspected from the findings of the bone scan, and confirmed later by a left scalp mass incisional biopsy and a bone marrow biopsy. We report a case of a metastatic signet ring cell carcinoma of the colon in a child.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 2003

Purpose : Minimal Change Disease(MCD) is the most common primary nephrotic syndrome in children. Some suggested that tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) are involved in the pathogenesis of MCD. This study was done to see the changes of plasma and urinary $TNF-{\alpha}$, and their effects on the permeability of glomerular basement membrane. Methods : Study patients consisted of 19 biopsy-proven MCD children aged 2-15 years old. Both plasma and urinary $TNF-{\alpha}$ were measured. Employing the Millicell system, $TNF-{\alpha}$ were screened for the permeability factors. Results : Urinary $TNF-{\alpha}$ during relapse was significantly increased(P<0.01). No significant change was seen in the plasma $TNF-{\alpha}$ during relapse when compared to those in remission and the healthy controls. Furthermore, in the in vitro Millicell system, $TNF-{\alpha}$ did not produce a significant change in albumin permeability. Conclusion : Therefore, it seems that $TNF-{\alpha}$ may not play a disease-specific role in the pathogenesis of MCD.