Mediating effects of forgiveness and emotion-focused coping on post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms caused by physical injury and perceived threat.

Bae, Sung-Man,Hyun, Myoung-Ho,Ra, Young-Sun Blackwell Publishing Asia 2015 Asia-Pacific psychiatry Vol.7 No.2

<P>The purpose of this study was to develop and test a model (including cognitive appraisal, coping strategy, and forgiveness variables) predicting post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in 127 adults who were involved in traffic accidents.</P>

Clinical usefulness of subgrouping of patients with non-cardiac chest pain according to characteristic symptoms in Korea

Kim, Jeong Hwan,Rhee, Poong-Lyul,Park, Eun-Ha,Son, Hee Jung,Kim, Jae J,Rhee, Jong Chul Blackwell Publishing Asia 2007 Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology Vol.22 No.3

<P>Abstract</P><P>Background: </P><P>Non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP) is a heterogeneous disorder. There is controversy about the associations between symptoms and causes in NCCP patients. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of subgrouping according to characteristic symptoms in NCCP patients.</P><P>Patients and Methods: </P><P>Fifty-eight patients were classified into two groups, as patients with typical reflux symptoms (group I, <I>n</I> = 24) and those without typical reflux symptoms (group II, <I>n</I> = 34). They underwent upper endoscopy, manometry, and 24-h esophageal pH monitoring.</P><P>Results: </P><P>Twenty-four (41%) of the patients were diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) at upper endoscopy or 24-h esophageal pH monitoring. Eleven (19%) were diagnosed with GERD-associated esophageal motility disorder and 13 (22%) were diagnosed with non-GERD-associated esophageal motility disorder. The two groups did not differ significantly in age, sex, weight, smoking history, history of chronic alcoholism, or the severity, duration and frequency of symptoms. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and likelihood ratio of group I for GERD-related NCCP were significantly higher than those of group II. Group I had a higher proportion of patients with GERD-associated esophageal motility disorder (55%) than non-GERD-associated esophageal motility disorder (23%).</P><P>Conclusion: </P><P>Typical reflux symptoms can be used to distinguish patients with GERD-related NCCP from patients with NCCP, and subgrouping according to characteristic symptoms may assist the diagnosis of these patients in Korea.</P>

Comparison of malignant potential between serrated adenomas and traditional adenomas

Song, Sang Yong,Kim, Young-Ho,Yu, Min Kyu,Kim, Jeong Hwan,Lee, Ji Min,Son, Hee Jung,Rhee, Poong-Lyul,Kim, Jae J,Paik, Seung Woon,Rhee, Jong Chul Blackwell Publishing Asia 2007 Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology Vol.22 No.11

<P>Abstract</P><P>Background: </P><P>Serrated adenoma is a discrete colorectal epithelial neoplastic lesion that can evolve into colorectal cancer. However, the degree of malignant potential has not been firmly established as yet. The purpose of the present paper was to compare the malignant potential and clinicopathological features between serrated and traditional adenomas.</P><P>Methods: </P><P>A total of 124 serrated adenomas from 116 patients were assessed, and 419 traditional adenomas from 200 were randomly selected. The combination of nuclear dysplasia and serration of ≥20% of crypts was regarded as serrated adenoma. The clinicopathological features of serrated and traditional adenomas were compared, and multivariate analysis performed to confirm whether the malignant potential of serrated adenoma was similar to that of traditional adenoma.</P><P>Results: </P><P>The differences in age, sex, total number of adenomas, and synchronous lesions including adenoma with high-grade dysplasia and carcinoma between subjects with and without serrated adenoma were not significant. Serrated adenomas were more frequently located in the rectum and sigmoid colon (<I>P</I> < 0.001), and the average size of serrated adenomas was greater than that of traditional adenomas (<I>P</I> < 0.05). The incidence of malignant lesions including high-grade dysplasia and carcinoma in serrated adenomas was found to be lower than in traditional adenomas (3.2% vs 9.3%, <I>P</I> < 0.05). In the multivariate analysis, adenoma type and polyp size constituted the risk factors for the incidence of high-grade dysplasia and carcinoma.</P><P>Conclusions: </P><P>Serrated adenoma is a premalignant lesion, but it has a lower potential for the development of malignancy than traditional adenomas.</P>

Carcinosarcoma of the rectosigmoid colon in a 13-year-old girl

Jeong, Yeon Jun,Lee, Min Ro,Kim, Jae Chun,Hwang, Pyoung Han,Moon, Woo Sung,Chung, Myoung-Ja Blackwell Publishing Asia 2008 Pathology international Vol.58 No.7

<P>Reported herein is an unusual case of carcinosarcoma of the colon. A 13-year-old girl was transferred to Chonbuk National University Hospital, Korea with a known pelvic mass. CT and magnetic resonance imaging confirmed a large pelvic mass. A sarcoma was diagnosed following colonoscopic biopsy. An ultra-low anterior resection with pelvic lymph node dissection was performed. The tumor consisted of a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma showing strong immunoreactivity to epithelial markers (pancytokeratin, cytokeratin 7, cytokeratin 19, cytokeratin 20, epithelial membrane antigen, and CEA) and a sarcomatous lesion with strong diffuse vimentin expression but no immunoreactivity to any of the six epithelial markers. Carcinosarcomas of the colon are extremely rare, and all reported cases involve adults. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of a carcinosarcoma of the colon in a child.</P>

Distribution of human papillomavirus type 16 E6 and E7 gene variants in the progression of cervical dysplasia in Korean women

Lee, Chung‐,Won,Bae, Jeong‐,Hoon,Lee, Sung‐,Jong,Ho, Eun‐,Mi,Lee, Il‐,Han,Park, Yong‐,Gyu,Park, Jong‐,Sup Blackwell Publishing Asia 2011 JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY RESEARCH -TO Vol.37 No.10

<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P><B>Aim: </B> This cross‐sectional, hospital‐based study examined the distribution of human papillomavirus 16 E6 and E7 gene variants in Korean women with cervical lesions of varying degrees.</P><P><B>Material & Methods: </B> One hundred and forty‐one Korean women (median age 43 years; range 22–65 years) with human papillomavirus 16 single infections were included. The human papillomavirus 16 E6/E7 sequences were amplified from cytology specimens. The distribution of human papillomavirus 16 variations with respect to cervical lesion was examined by the exact Mantel–Haenszel linear trend test (<I>P</I><SUB>trend</SUB>) and Fisher's exact test (<I>P</I>).</P><P><B>Results: </B> Human papillomavirus 16 E6 and E7 gene variants were identified in a total of 100 women (70.9%). The most prevalent human papillomavirus 16 variants were E6 Thymine178Guanine (number = 70, 49.6%) and E7 Adenine647Guanine (number = 75, 53.2%). Human papillomavirus 16 E6 Thymine178Guanine and E7 Adenine647Guanine were significantly related to the degree of cervical neoplasia (<I>P</I><SUB>trend</SUB> = 0.0002, <I>P</I> < 0.0001; <I>P</I><SUB>trend</SUB> < 0.0001, <I>P</I> < 0.0001, respectively). The odds ratio of human papillomavirus 16 E6 Thymine178Guanine to predict progression to cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2‐3 and invasive cancer was 2.37 (95% confidence interval 1.03–5.45) and 9.07 (95% confidence interval 2.86–28.72), respectively. The odds ratio of E7 Adenine647Guanine to predict progression to cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2‐3 and invasive cancer was 3.65 (95% confidence interval 1.16–8.51) and 9.07 (95% confidence interval 2.86–28.72), respectively.</P><P><B>Conclusion: </B> The distribution of HPV variants appears to be related to geographic difference. Human papillomavirus 16 E6 Thymine178Guanine and E7 Adenine647Guanine can be used as the candidate marker for the progression of the cervical neoplasia.</P>

The alteration of enterochromaffin cell, mast cell, and lamina propria T lymphocyte numbers in irritable bowel syndrome and its relationship with psychological factors

Lee, Kwang Jae,Kim, Yeong Bae,Kim, Jang Hee,Kwon, Hoek Chun,Kim, Dong Kyu,Cho, Sung Won Blackwell Publishing Asia 2008 Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology Vol.23 No.11

<P>Abstract</P><P>Background/Aims: </P><P>Psychological factors and subtle histopathological changes have been implicated in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The aims of the present study were to investigate whether the numbers of enterochromaffin (EC) cells, mast cells, and lamina propria T lymphocytes are altered in IBS, and evaluate the relationship of such alterations with psychological factors.</P><P>Methods: </P><P>Forty-two consecutive IBS patients (M : F = 17:25, mean age 48 years) fulfilling the Rome III criteria and twelve asymptomatic healthy controls underwent rectal biopsy. Immunostaining was performed for EC cells, mast cells, and lamina propria T lymphocytes.</P><P>Results: </P><P>The IBS group included five post-infectious (PI) IBS and 37 non-PI IBS patients. Significantly more EC cells, mast cells and lamina propria T lymphocytes were observed in PI IBS patients. Mast cells significantly increased in non-PI IBS-D (diarrhea) patients, but not in non-PI IBS-C (constipation) and non-PI IBS-M (mixed) patients. Enterochromaffin cell numbers were not significantly altered in non-PI IBS patients. Anxiety and depression scores did not differ between IBS patients with and without abnormal increase in EC cell or mast cell counts, defined as more than the mean of controls + 2 standard deviations. Enterochromaffin cell, mast cell, or lamina propria T lymphocyte numbers were poorly correlated with anxiety and depression scores in the IBS group.</P><P>Conclusions: </P><P>Enterochromaffin cells, mast cells, and lamina propria T lymphocytes significantly increase in PI IBS, whereas only mast cells significantly increase in non-PI IBS-D. Such histopathological changes do not seem to be directly associated with psychological factors.</P>

Endosonographic features of gastric ectopic pancreases distinguishable from mesenchymal tumors

Kim, Jie-Hyun,Lim, Joon Seok,Lee, Yong Chan,Hyung, Woo Jin,Lee, Jei Hee,Kim, Myeong-Jin,Chung, Jae Bock Blackwell Publishing Asia 2008 Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology Vol.23 No.8

<P>Abstract</P><P>Background and Aims: </P><P>Gastric ectopic pancreas is the second common submucosal lesion in the stomach, and differs from mesenchymal tumors with respect to clinical approach and prognosis. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) findings for differentiating between gastric ectopic pancreases and mesenchymal tumors.</P><P>Methods: </P><P>All patients (<I>n</I> = 71) were diagnosed pathologically as having gastric ectopic pancreas (<I>n</I> = 18) or mesenchymal tumors (<I>n</I> = 53) between 2002 and 2006. The EUS images of the patients were retrospectively reviewed by two observers who were unaware of the pathological results, regarding location, size, growth pattern, layer of origin, presence or absence of layer disruption, margin, and internal echo pattern. These EUS imaging findings were compared for ectopic pancreases and mesenchymal tumors.</P><P>Results: </P><P>Compared with mesenchymal tumors, ectopic pancreases showed a significant difference in the lesion location, growth pattern, layer of origin, presence of layer disruption, margin, and internal echo (<I>P</I> < 0.05). The longest/shortest diameter ratio was also larger in ectopic pancreases (<I>p</I> < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the lesion size and presence of focal anechoic portion.</P><P>Conclusion: </P><P>Careful assessment of the EUS findings may be a useful aid in the differentiation of ectopic pancreases from mesenchymal tumors in the stomach.</P>

What Caused the Korean Currency Crisis in 1997?*: Weak Fundamentals or Self-fulfilling Expectations*

Ha, In-Bong,Lee, Bong-Soo,Cheong, Chongcheul Blackwell Publishing Asia 2007 Asian economic journal Vol.21 No.2

<P>The present paper investigates which factor is primarily responsible for the sharp depreciation of the Korean won against the US dollar in 1997, using a bivariate vector autoregressive model of real and nominal exchange rates. In the present study, we directly identify the relative importance of fundamental and non-fundamental factors from the raw data series on exchange rates. This approach is different from most previous studies on the Korean currency crisis, which use proxy variables to represent the two factors. The empirical results show that the collapse of the Korean currency in 1997 appears to be mostly a result of the weakened macroeconomic fundamentals of the economy with, to a limited extent, some non-fundamental factors. </P>

Glucose/oxygen deprivation and reperfusion upregulate SNAREs and complexin in organotypic hippocampal slice cultures

Park, Su Jin,Jung, Yeon Joo,Kim, Yul A,Lee-Kang, Ji Hee,Lee, Kyung Eun Blackwell Publishing Asia 2008 NEUROPATHOLOGY Vol.28 No.6

<P>Brain ischemia activates Ca<SUP>2+</SUP>-dependent synaptic vesicle exocytosis. The synaptosomal-associated protein 25 (SNAP-25) and syntaxin proteins, located on presynaptic terminals, are components of the SNARE (soluble <I>N</I>-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor) complex and play a key role in regulating exocytosis. Changes in the expression of SNAREs could affect SNARE complex formation, fusion of vesicles with the presynaptic membrane, and release of neurotransmitters through exocytosis. To investigate the relationship of glucose/oxygen deprivation (GOD)/reperfusion-induced neuronal damage and alteration of presynaptic function, we examined the expression of SNAREs and complexin during GOD and reperfusion using organotypic hippocampal slice cultures. Microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2) staining and transmission electron microscopy showed that neuronal damage increased in a time-dependent manner and both types of neuronal death can occur at different times during GOD and reperfusion. The immunoreactivity of SNAREs such as SNAP-25, vesicle-associated membrane protein and syntaxin and complexin increased in pyramidal cell bodies in the CA1 and CA3 areas in a time-dependent manner following reperfusion. Our data suggest that alteration of presynaptic function may play a partial role in delayed neuronal death during GOD and reperfusion in organotypic hippocampal slice cultures.</P>

Treatment outcomes of 70 cases of early esophageal carcinoma: 12 years of experience

Kim, J.-H.,Chung, H. S.,Youn, Y. H.,Park, S. W.,Song, S. Y.,Chung, J. B.,Kim, C. B.,Lee, Y. C. Blackwell Publishing Asia 2007 Diseases of the esophagus Vol.20 No.4

<P>SUMMARY. </P><P>Early esophageal cancer (EEC) has an excellent prognosis compared to advanced esophageal cancer. Nowadays, endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) may offer another alternative to cure early cancers of the gastrointestinal tract. We aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of EEC in Korea after curative treatments; EMR or surgery. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients diagnosed as EEC from January 1994 to August 2005 at Yonsei University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. Among 888 patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer, 70 (7.9%) were included as EEC. Among them, 10 patients (14.3%) were treated by EMR, and 50 (71.4%) by operation. The treatment outcomes of EEC in relation to various clinicopathologic factors along with survival rates were analyzed. There were 18 cases (30%) of mucosal lesions and 42 cases (70%) of submucosal lesions. Overall 5-year survival rate was 84.3%. When comparing treatment outcomes between EMR-treated and operated groups, there were no significant differences in complete remission (80%<I>vs.</I> 84%), recurrence (20%<I>vs.</I> 16%) and 5-year survival rate (100%<I>vs.</I> 78.3%). EEC is a potentially curable entity with a good clinical prognosis. EMR can be considered as another treatment arm for EEC, along with surgical resection.</P>