• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.113-121
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• 2007

Hearing loss is a common congenital disorder that is frequently associated with mutations in the Cx26 gene (GJB2). Recently, the mutation analysis of GJB2 has been used in a newborn screening test for the detection of hearing impairment. Population-based studies should be performed before the application of genetic testing for the identification of deaf newborns. In this study, 8 positions of GJB2 mutations-including 35delG, 167delT, 235delC, V27I, V37I, M34T, E114G, and I203T-were analyzed using PCR-direct sequencing in a total of 437 healthy Korean neonates. DNAs from dried blood spots were extracted using a commercial DNA extraction kit. The PCR-amplified products (783 bps) of the GJB2 gene were detected using 2% agarose gel electrophoresis and subjected to direct sequencing. The sequences were compared with those in the GenBank database by using the BLAST program. In this study, 5 GJB2 mutations -including V27I (79G>A), V37I (109G>A), E114G (341A>G), I203T (608T>C), and 235delC- were found. Of the 437 neonate samples, 301 subjects showed GJB2 mutations (68.9%, 301/437). The V27I mutation was found in 271 subjects and was the most frequent (62.0%, 271/437). The E114G, I203T and V37I mutations were shown in 146, 17 and 14 subjects, respectively. The 235delC mutation was found in 1 subject. The E114G mutation was frequently accompanied by the V27I mutation. V27I/E114G (97.2%, 143/147) was the most common double mutation and 3 subjects had the double mutation V27I/I203T. A triple mutation, V27I/E114G/I203T, was found in 1 subject. In conclusion, PCR-direct sequencing is a convenient tool for the rapid detection of GJB2 mutations and this data might provide information for the genetic counseling of the GJB2 gene.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.255-263
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• 2007

Purpose : A single center cross sectional retrospective study was performed to compare the outcomes of different peritoneal dialysis(PD) modalities in Korean children. Methods : Among children dialyzed with PD between the year 2004 and 2007, 35 children had reliable data on PD adequacy after 3 to 15 months of dialysis. Subjects were grouped by their modalities; 17, 13 and 5 children were on continuous ambulatory PD(CAPD), continuous cyclic PD(CCPD) and nightly intermittent PD(NIPD), respectively. Body weight and height, number of patients taking anti-hypertensives and laboratory data including biochemical and hemoglobin levels were compared. Dialysis adequacy including weekly Kt/Vurea, creatinine clearance (Ccr) and daily water removal were also compared. Patients were sub-grouped by their peritoneal permeability characteristics. Results : The percentage of patients taking anti-hypertensives, monthly change in Z-scores of body weight and height and laboratory data did not differ among the groups. Patients on CAPD and CCPD showed similar dialysis adequacies. Weekly dialytic Ccr was significantly lower in the NIPD group compared to the others. But total Ccr was not different when residual renal function was added. Weekly dialytic Ccr by CAPD was significantly higher than that of CCPD in low and low-average transporters. Conclusion : We propose that modality can be selected flexibly according to the patients' preferences. And peritoneal permeability characteristics provide valuable information for adjusting PD prescriptions in ultrafiltration failure or in inadequate dialysis. Further study of other clinical performance measures should be performed to clarify the comparable outcomes in different PD modalities.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.211-217
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is based on the convergence establishment of a coronavirus infection management system that can occur during clinical trials by grasping the knowledge of corona, infection possibility, infection prevention possibility, and implementation level of infection prevention behavior of radiologists working at K University Hospital. It is in providing data. This study was a descriptive research study, and data were collected from 50 radiologists working at K University Hospital from March 25 to June 30, 2020. The characteristics of the subjects and their knowledge of the COVID-19, the possibility of infection, the possibility of infection prevention, and the level of implementation of infection prevention actions were surveyed, and the collected data were analyzed with SPSS 25.0. The frequency and percentage were calculated for the general characteristics and infection-related characteristics of the subjects. The correlation between variables was analyzed by Pearson's correlation coefficient, and the factors influencing the progression of infection prevention behavior were analyzed by multiple regression analysis. Factors influencing COVID-19 infection prevention behavior shown in this study were 1.7 points for infection prevention behavior when corona knowledge increased by 1 point, and infection prevention activity increased by 11.3 points when the level of transmission pathway recognition rose 1 point. When the figure rose by 1 point, the infection prevention behavior increased by 4.2 points. When looking at the standard regression coefficient, preventive behavior is performed. Among knowledge, transmission path perception, and anxiety, the factor that has the greatest influence was the perception of the transmission path of COVID-19. As factors influencing the implementation of infection prevention actions, knowledge of COVID-19, awareness of transmission paths, and anxiety appear to be the potential of infection prevention, so in the event of a corona outbreak, information on infectious diseases and education on the possibility of infection prevention should be provided to promote the implementation of preventive action.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.165-173
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• 2004

Objectives: Diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous, chronic, progressive disease characterized by hyperglycemia and abnormality in protein, carbohydrate, fat metabolism. Recent studies have reorted two times prevalence of depression in individuals with diabetes compared to individuals without diabetics. This study was designed to investigate glycemic controls, anxiety, alexithymia, stress responses between depressed diabetic patients and non-depressed diabetic patients. Methods The subjects were 60 diabetic patients(mean age : $50.3{\pm}9.7$ years, 31 men and 29 women) who were confirmed to have diabetes depending on the laboratory findings as welt as clinical symptoms at the St. Vincent Hospital Diabetes Clinic, from Mar. 2004 to Sep. 2004. Laboratory test including, blood chemistry. glycated hemoglobin, urinalysis for proteinuria and Korean version of Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), State and Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI), Toronto Alexithymia Scale(TAS) and Stress Response Inventory(SRI) were used for assessment. Based on BDI scores, all diabetics were divided into 13 depressed-diabetics group(above 20 point) and 47 non-depressed group(below 20 point). We compared demographic data. glycemic controls, STAI, TAS and SRI scores between two groups by independent t-test. Results : 1) Depressed diabetic groups were 13(mean age : $55.4{\pm}7.2$ years, 7 men and 6 women) and non depressed groups were 47(mean age $48.9{\pm}9.8$ years, 24 men and 23 women). In depressed diabetics, compared with non-depressed group, manifested aged(p=0.031), but other demographic data showed no difference between two groups. 2) No significant differences were noted in FBS, PP2h, Hb A1C, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, SGOT/SGPT, BUN levels between depressed and non-depressed groups. But, blood creatine levels of depressed group were significantly increased than non-depressed group(p=0.026). 3) No significant differences were found in the score of STAI, STAI-S, STAI-T, TAS between depressed and non-depressed groups. 4) The SRI scores of depressed groups were significantly higher than non-depressed groups$(59.7{\pm}24.9\;vs.\;31.5{\pm}22.0)(p=0.000)$. Conclusion : The above results suggest that depressed diabetic patients are have more stress responses and higher blood creatine levels. However, there were no differences in laboratory data related to glycemic controls, and anxiety. alexithymia levels between two groups. We suggest that physicians should consider integrated approaches for psychiatric problems in the management of diabetes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.245-251
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• 2015

Objectives: Intrahepatic recurrence is the major cause of death among patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative surgical resection. Several approaches have been reported to decrease the recurrence rate. The objective of our study was to compare the clinical effects of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with interferon-alpha (IFN-${\alpha}$) therapy on recurrence after hepatic resection in patients with HBV-related HCC with that of TACE chemotherapy alone. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data from 228 patients who were diagnosed with HBV-related HCC and underwent curative resection between January 2001 to December 2008. The patients were divided into TACE (n = 126) and TACE-IFN-${\alpha}$ (n = 102) groups for postoperative chemotherapy. The TACE regimen consisted of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), cisplatin (DDP), and the emulsion mixed with mitomycin C (MMC) and lipiodol. The recurrence rates, disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and risk of recurrence were evaluated. Results: The clinicopathological parameters and adverse effects were similar between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). The median OS for the TACE-IFN-${\alpha}$ group (36.3 months) was significantly longer than that of the TACE group (24.5 months, P < 0.05). The 3-and 5-year OS for the TACE-IFN-${\alpha}$ group were significantly longer than those of the TACE group (P < 0.05) and the recurrence rate was significantly lower (P < 0.05). The TACE and IFN-${\alpha}$ combination therapy, active hepatitis HBV infection, the number of tumor nodules, microvascular invasion, liver cirrhosis, and the BCLC stage were independent predictors of OS and DFS. Conclusions: The use of the TACE and IFN-${\alpha}$ combination chemotherapy after curative hepatic resection safely and effectively improves OS and decreases recurrence in patients with HBV-related HCC who are at high risk. Our findings can serve as a guide for the selection of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with HBV-related HCC who are at high risk of recurrence.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.532-539
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• 2004

Purpose: There has been a renewal of interest in Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), especially correlation in pathogenesis of sepsis by many infectious diseases and in regulation of host inflammatory and immune response. We developed immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) to determine serum human MIF concentration. Materials and Methods: The IRMA system utilizes solid phase bound monoclonal anti-recombinant human MIF (rhMIF) antibody as a capture antibody, biotinylated polyclonal anti-rhMIF antibody as a detector antibody. We applied with rhMIF that concentration of standard solutions increased from 0 ng/ml to 100 ng/ml. We used $^{125}I$-streptavidin (SA) as radiotracer to determination of rhMIF concentration. Streptavidin was labeled with $^{125}I$ by Chloramine-T method and $^{125}I$-SA was purified by ultracentrifugation. $^{125}I$-SA stability was evaluated by ITLC analysis at $4^{\circ}C$ and room temperatures until 60days. To validate IRMA system for MIF, we experimented intra-assay and inter-assay coefficients of variation, recovery test and dilution test. Results: Radiolabeling yield of $^{125}I$-SA was 87% and purified $^{125}I$-SA retained above 99% radiochemical purity. $^{125}I$-SA showed above 93% stability in $4^{\circ}C$ until 60days that it is good for immunoradiometric assay as radiotracer. Plotted standard dose response curve showed that increased concentration of rhMIF linearly correlated (R2=0.99) with bound radioactivity of $^{125}I$-SA. The highest intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were 5.5% and 7.6%, respectively. The average of recovery of MIF in samples was 102%. In dilution test, linear response curves were obtained (R2=0.97). Conclusion: Radioimmunoassay using $^{125}I$-SA as radiotracer thought to be useful for the determination of serum MIF concentration, and further, its data will be used to evaluate the correlation between clinical significance and serum MIF concentration in patients with various inflammatory diseases.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.10
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• pp.1204-1212
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• 2002

Purpose : Early surfactant therapy with either gentle ventilation, high-frequency ventilation or aggressive weaning of mechanical ventilation are principles for the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome(RDS). We studied to determine the accessibility of noninvasive nasal continuous positive airway pressure(CPAP) rather than mechanical ventilation by invasive intubation after early surfactant therapy. Methods : The study group consisted of 14 infants who were born and diagnosed with moderate respiratory distress syndrome and received early surfactant therapy with nasal CPAP of PEEP 5-6 cm $H_2O$ within two hours after birth in the Fatima neonatal intensive care unit for two years from January 1999 to August 2001. The control group consisted of 15 infants who were diagnosed with the disease and could be weaned from mechanical ventilator within five days after birth during the same period. Results : The characteristics, the severity of clinical symptoms and laboratory findings in the two groups at birth showed no significant difference. Neither did the interim analysis of laboratory data in two groups. Of 14 infants in the study group who received nasal CPAP after early surfactant therapy, only two infants showed weaning failure with this therapy. In the response cases, duration of CPAP was five days and mean airway pressure was $5.4{\pm}0.5cm$ $H_2O$. Two had the complication of CPAP with abdominal distension. Final complications and outcomes in the two groups showed no signifcant difference(P>0.05). Conclusion : The clinical courses in the two groups showed no significant difference. Therefore, we suggest that early surfactant therapy with noninvasive nasal CPAP is a simple and safe method rather than aggressive weaning after invasive mechanical ventilation in moderate respiratory distress syndrome.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1296-1307
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• 1997

Background : Erdosteine is a thiol derivative developed for the treatement of chronic obstructive bronchitis, including acute infective exacerbation of chronic bronchitis. Erdosteine has mucomodulating and antioxidant properties and especially exhibits excellent gastrointestinal tolerability. Methods : The study was conducted as a prospective evaluation, with 2 comparative groups orally treated with erdosteine 300mg (bid.) or ambroxol 30mg (b.i.d.) for 7 days and the design of trial was double-blind. The treatments have been assigned randomly to patients (n=80) with acute or chronic bronchitis. The primary end-point used to determine efficacy in this study was subjective symptoms including expectorating frequence, expectoration volume, expectorating difficulty, expectoration viscosity, cough intensity and dyspnea. The secondary end-points of efficacy was the result of arterial blood gas analysis and pulmonary function test. Safety was evaluated with adverse drug reactions and laboratory tests monitoring. 61 patients was included in the efficacy analysis, due to the fact that 19 patients drop-out for different reasons. The obtained values have been analyzed with paired Hest., ANOVA test., multivariate $t^2$-test, repeated measures analysis of covariance, two sample t-test, loglinear-logit model analysis, Fisher's exact test. Results : 1) There was no significant difference on demographic data and vital signs between erdosteine and ambroxol treated groups. 2) The comparison between erdosteine and ambroxol treated groups showed no significant difference in improvement of each symptom in spite of the more favorable efficacy obtained with erdosteine. No difference on the contrary was observed for arterial blood gas analysis and pulmonary function test. 3) As safety is concerned, no clinical significant changes in laboratory test and symptom were induced in erdosteine and ambroxol treated group and two patients in ambroxol treated group drop-out for adverse reactions in symptom. 4) In the evaluation of final clinical efficacy, erdosteine improved more effectively patient's overall symptoms {very good effect (11/31), good effect (12/31), moderate effect (6/31), no effect (2/31), aggravation (0/31)} than ambroxol {very good effect (6/30), good effect (14/30), moderate effect (5/30), no effect (4/30), aggravation (2/30)}. And the probability of symptomatic improvement by erdosteine compared to ambroxol was 2.5 times. (p<0.05). Conclusion : This study showed that erdosteine was clinically effective and safe drug for treatment of acute and chronic bronchitis.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.34-40
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• 1998

Present study was conducted to determine the frequency, clinical characteristics and long-term outcome of children with idiopathic hypercalciuria. Study patients consisted of 150 children with isolated hematuria (recurrent gross or persistent microscopic), and hypercalciuria was defined as urinary calcium excretion over 4 mg/kg/day. During follow-up period up to $6{\sim}8$ years, serial check-up of renal sonogram for stone formation and Dipstick examination for hematuria were done. Forty-four (29%) out of 150 cases were diagnosed as idiopathic hypercalciuria, and in hypercalciuric children compared to normocalciuric children boys were more common than girls (9:35) and gross hematuria was more common than microscopic hematuria (37:7) (P<0.05). Oral calcium loading test showed renal type in 29 cases, absorptive type in 8 cases and in 7 cases type could not be definable. Among 3 types no differences could be found in 24 hour urinary calcium excretion and in clinical or laboratory data. Urolithiasis developed in 4 out of 44 cases (2 at the time of initial diagnosis and 2 within $1{\sim}2$ years of follow-up periods) and these children showed lower chronologic age ($3.7{\pm}2.7\;vs\;7.2{\pm}2.9\;yr$) and more girl than boys (3:1 vs 6:34) (P<0.05) compared to the rest of the hypercalciuric children. Follow-up urinalysis showed disappearance of hematuria in 56, 50, 66 and 75% of children at $1{\sim}2,\;2{\sim}4,\;4{\sim}6$ and $6{\sim}8$ years after initial diagnosis respectively. In conclusion, present study demonstrates that idiopathic hypercalciuria is a major cause of isolated hematuria in children so that in these children 24 hour urinary calcium excretion test seems to be an essential test to be performed. And serial renal sonography should be done to detect development of nephrolithiasis. However, clinical significance of dividing hypercalciuric children into two pathophysiologically distinct subtypes by oral calcium loading test seems to be in doubt and further study is needed to solve this problem.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.128-136
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was done to define clinical characteristics of fever without localizing signs (FWLS) in infants younger than 100 days of age with a goal of providing baseline data to establish a new diagnostic paradigm in the future. Methods: We reviewed medical records of 183 patients who admitted to Daegu Catholic University Medical Center for FWLS younger than 100 days of age from January 2013 to September 2015 retrospectively. Demographic, clinical features and laboratory findings were analyzed. Patients were divided into serious bacterial infection (SBI) and non-SBI groups, and then were compared between two groups to find risk factors for SBI. Results: Among 183 patients, lumbar puncture was performed in 98.9% and CSF pleocytosis was present in 35.9%. Sterile CSF pleocytosis was found in 43% of urinary tract infection (UTI) patients. None had concomitant bacterial meningitis in patients with UTI. As final diagnosis, febrile syndrome without source (25.7%) was most common. Among SBI, UTI was most common (99%). Birth weight, ESR, and CRP were significantly higher in SBI group compared to non-SBI group. Male sex (OR 4.93, 95% CI 1.60-15.24) and pyuria (OR 18.88, 95% CI 6.76-52.76) were identified as risk factors for SBI. Presence of sibling (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.11-0.83) was significantly lower in SBI group. Conclusions: Our results showed UTI was the most common SBI in young infants with FWLS. Though aseptic meningitis can be coexisting with UTI, lumbar puncture may not be necessary in all patients having UTI.