Fibrillin-1 Gene Analysis of Korean Patients With Spontaneous CSF Hypovolemia

Chung, Sun J.,Ki, Chang-Seok,Lee, Myoung C.,Lee, Jae-Hong Blackwell Publishing Inc 2007 Headache Vol.47 No.1

<P>Background.—Mutations in different domains of the Fibrillin-1 (<I>FBN1</I>) gene may be responsible for the variable phenotypic expression of Marfan's syndrome that may present with CSF hypovolemia.</P><P>Objectives.—To evaluate the association between mutations in the Fibrillin-1 (<I>FBN1</I>) gene and spontaneous CSF hypovolemia (SCH) in a Korean population.</P><P>Methods.—We studied 10 consecutive patients with SCH without clinical characteristics of Marfan's syndrome. The genetic analysis was performed.</P><P>Results.—Direct sequencing analysis of the <I>FBN1</I> gene identified 15 genetic variations, of which 5 coding (3 synonymous, 2 nonsynonymous) and 8 intronic variations were listed in the single nucleotide polymorphism database (dbSNP). The other 2 variations, c.2728 – 12T > C in intron 21 and c.4582 – 19A > G in intron 35, were also observed in normal controls with estimated frequencies of 0.06 and 0.15, respectively.</P><P>Conclusions.—We could not identify any <I>FBN1</I> variations possibly associated with SCH in our study population.</P>

Use of Three-Dimensional Mapping Systems in the Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation

KIM, YOUNG-HOON,LIM, HONG-EUY,PAK, HUI-NAM Blackwell Publishing Inc 2006 Journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology Vol.17 No.suppl3

<P>The increasing clinical experience with remarkable advancement in the technology has enabled the catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) to become more effective and safe. Widespread utilization of three-dimensional (3D) mapping systems has facilitated the improvement in the outcomes after catheter ablation of AF. The purpose of this article is to review the current status, clinical role, and future directions of various 3D mapping systems in catheter ablation of AF.</P>

An Exploratory Study of Time Stress and Its Causes among Government Employees

Blackwell Publishing Inc 2009 PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REVIEW Vol.69 No.1

<P><I>This article elucidates the temporal dimension of time stress among employees in public organizations. Employees working at five agencies in Indiana were surveyed. Job characteristics and personal variables such as overtime, repetitiveness, gender, family obligation, and age group were found to be insignificant as time stressors. However, political factors such as level of government, goal awareness, political sensitivity, and time allotted for meetings were significant independent variables affecting time stress. To enhance performance in the public sector, especially when a merit pay system is not fully instituted, more attention needs to be paid to the time dimension.</I></P>

Statistical Analysis of Surgical Dog-Ear Regression

LEE, KYUNG SUK,KIM, NAM GYUN,JANG, PAL YOUNG,SUH, EUY-HOON,KIM, JUN SIK,LEE, SANG-IL,KANG, DAWON,HAN, KIHWAN,SON, DAEGU,KIM, JUN HYUNG,CHOI, TAE HYUN Blackwell Publishing Inc 2008 Dermatologic surgery Vol.34 No.8

<P>BACKGROUND</P><P>Several methods have been developed to prevent or correct dog-ears. Most of these methods, however, result in prolonged scars and operative times.</P><P>OBJECTIVE</P><P>We observed dog-ears without correction to examine the regression of dog-ears with time.</P><P>METHODS</P><P>The study was performed on 43 cases of dog-ears in 26 patients. Linear regression analysis was performed to examine the correlation between various factors and the height of the dog-ears (%). We produced a regression equation to allow prediction of the height of the dog-ears (%). In addition, we estimated the initial height of the dog-ears that should be removed during surgery.</P><P>RESULTS</P><P>The height of dog-ears regressed with time, and this response was better in younger and female patients. It was predicted that the time taken for a dog-ear to reduce to 50% of its original height was 20.697 days; the median time at which dog-ears completely regressed was 132 days. The odds of regression of dog-ears with an initial height of ≤8 mm was 4.667 times greater than that of larger dog-ears.</P><P>CONCLUSIONS</P><P>If the height of a dog-ear is ≤8 mm, we recommend observation rather than immediate surgical removal.</P>

Enhanced wound healing by an epigallocatechin gallate‐incorporated collagen sponge in diabetic mice

Kim, HakHee,Kawazoe, Takeshi,Han, Dong‐,Wook,Matsumara, Kazuaki,Suzuki, Shigehiko,Tsutsumi, Sadami,Hyon, Suong‐,Hyu Blackwell Publishing Inc 2008 Wound repair and regeneration Vol.16 No.5

<P><B>ABSTRACT</B></P><P>Epigallocatechin‐3‐<I>O</I>‐gallate (EGCG), the major polyphenolic compound present in green tea, has potent anti‐oxidant and free radical‐scavenging activities. In this study, various concentrations (10, 100, and 1,000 ppm) of EGCG were incorporated into a collagen sponge (CS) in order to investigate its healing effects on full‐thickness wounds created in type 2 diabetic mice. After 14 days, the residual wound size of the mice treated with 10 ppm EGCG‐incorporated collagen sponge (E‐CS) decreased significantly faster than that of the other mice. Moreover, significant increases in the degree of reepithelialization, the thickness of the granulation tissue, and the density of the capillaries were also histologically observed in the wound sites exposed to 10 ppm E‐CS in comparison with the others. Furthermore, 10 ppm E‐CS resulted in significant increases in the immunoreactivity of Ki‐67 (reepithelialization at the wound site), CD31 (formation of blood vessels), and α‐smooth muscle actin (the induction of myofibroblasts across the dermis). These results suggest that a CS incorporated with EGCG at low concentrations can enhance wound healing in diabetic mice by accelerating reepithelialization and angiogenesis as well as improving the cellular reorganization of granulation tissue by triggering the activity of myofibroblasts.</P>

Port-site and liver metastases after laparoscopic pelvic and para-aortic lymph node dissection for surgical staging of locally advanced cervical cancer

PARK, J.-Y.,LIM, M.C.,LIM, S.Y.,BAE, J.-M.,YOO, C.W.,SEO, S.-S.,KANG, S.,PARK, S.-Y. Blackwell Publishing Inc 2008 International journal of gynecological cancer Vol.18 No.1

<P>Abstract</P><P><B>Recently, we experienced a case of port-site and liver metastases after 75 cases of laparoscopic transperitoneal pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) and para-aortic lymph node dissection (PALND) for surgical staging of locally advanced cervical cancer. A 45-year-old-woman with stage IIB cervical adenocarcinoma underwent laparoscopic PLND and PALND for surgical staging. There was no intraperitoneal disease and cervical tumor was not manipulated at the time of laparoscopic surgery. Pathologic examination revealed only one micrometastasis in left internal iliac lymph node (LN), measuring 1 mm, of the 60 pelvic and para-aortic LNs removed. She received concurrent chemoradiation therapy and pelvic mass disappeared completely. One month after the completion of therapy, both lateral and umbilical port-site and liver metastases were detected. We conclude that although cases of port-site metastasis have mostly occurred after extensive disease, the possibility of such complication should be kept in mind at laparoscopy of early cancer and laparoscopy which does not manipulate primary tumor.</B></P>

Migraine Disability Awareness Campaign in Asia: Migraine Assessment for Prophylaxis

Wang, Shuu-Jiun,Chung, Chin-Sang,Chankrachang, Siwaporn,Ravishankar, K.,Merican, Julia Shahnaz,Salazar, Gerard,Siow, Charles,Cheung, Raymond Tak-Fai,Phanthumchinda, Kammant,Sakai, Fumihiko Blackwell Publishing Inc 2008 Headache Vol.48 No.9

<P>Objectives.—</P><P>This study aimed to survey the headache diagnoses and consequences among outpatients attending neurological services in 8 Asian countries.</P><P>Methods.—</P><P>This survey recruited patients who consulted neurologists for the first time with the chief complaint of headache. Patients suffering from headaches for 15 or more days per month were excluded. Patients answered a self-administered questionnaire, and their physicians independently completed a separate questionnaire. In this study, the migraine diagnosis given by the neurologists was used for analysis. The headache symptoms collected in the physician questionnaire were based on the diagnostic criteria of migraine proposed by the International Classification of Headache Disorders, second edition (ICHD-2).</P><P>Results.—</P><P>A total of 2782 patients (72% females; mean age 38.1 ± 15.1 years) finished the study. Of them, 66.6% of patients were diagnosed by the neurologists to have migraine, ranging from 50.9% to 85.8% across different countries. Taken as a group, 41.4% of those patients diagnosed with migraine had not been previously diagnosed to have migraine prior to this consultation. On average, patients with migraine had 4.9 severe headaches per month with 65% of patients missing school, work, or household chores. Most (87.5%) patients with migraine took medications for acute treatment. Thirty-six percent of the patients had at least one emergency room consultation within one year. Only 29.2% were on prophylactic medications. Neurologists recommended pharmacological prophylaxis in 68.2% of patients not on preventive treatment. In comparison, migraine prevalence was the highest with ICHD-2 “any migraine” (ie, migraine with or without migraine and probable migraine) (73.3%) followed by neurologist-diagnosed migraine (66.6%) and ICHD-2 “strict migraine” (ie, migraine with or without aura only) (51.3%). About 88.6% patients with neurologist-diagnosed migraine fulfilled ICHD-2 any migraine but only 67.1% fulfilled the criteria of ICHD-2 strict migraine.</P><P>Conclusions.—</P><P>Migraine is the most common headache diagnosis in neurological services in Asia. The prevalence of migraine was higher in countries with higher referral rates of patients to neurological services. Migraine remains under-diagnosed and under-treated in this region even though a high disability was found in patients with migraine. Probable migraine was adopted into the migraine diagnostic spectrum by neurologists in this study.</P>

PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A LECTIN, BRYOHEALIN, INVOLVED IN THE PROTOPLAST FORMATION OF A MARINE GREEN ALGA <i>BRYOPSIS PLUMOSA</i> (CHLOROPHYTA) ¹

Kim, Gwang Hoon,Klochkova, Tatyana A.,Yoon, Kang-Sup,Song, Yoon-Sup,Lee, Key Pyoung Blackwell Publishing Inc 2006 Journal of phycology Vol.42 No.1

<P>When the coenocytic green alga <I>Bryopsis plumosa</I> (Huds.) Ag. was cut open and the cell contents were expelled, the cell organelles agglutinated rapidly in seawater to form protoplasts. Aggregation of cell organelles in seawater was mediated by a lectin–carbohydrate complementary system. Two sugars, <I>N</I>-acetyl-<SMALL>D</SMALL>-glucosamine and <I>N</I>-acetyl-<SMALL>D</SMALL>-galactosamine inhibited aggregation of cell organelles. The presence of these sugars on the surface of chloroplasts was verified with their complementary fluorescein isothiacyanate-labeled lectins. An agglutination assay using human erythrocytes showed the presence of lectins specific for <I>N</I>-acetyl-<SMALL>D</SMALL>-galactosamine and <I>N</I>-acetyl-<SMALL>D</SMALL>-glucosamine in the crude extract. One-step column purification using <I>N</I>-acetyl-<SMALL>D</SMALL>-glucosamine-agarose affinity chromatography yielded a homogeneous protein. The protein agglutinated the cell organelles of <I>B. plumosa</I>, and its agglutinating activity was inhibited by the above sugars. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis results showed that this protein might be composed of two identical subunits cross-linked by two disulfide bridges. Enzyme and chemical deglycosylation experiments showed that this protein is deficient in glycosylation. The molecular weight was determined as 53.8 kDa by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The N-terminal 15 amino acid sequence of the lectin was Ser–Asp–Leu–Pro–Thr–X–Asp–Phe–Phe–His–Ile–Pro–Glu–Arg–Tyr, and showed no sequence homology to those of other reported proteins. These results suggest that this lectin belongs to a new class of lectins. We named this novel lectin from <I>B. plumosa</I>“bryohealin.”</P>

Endovenous Laser Ablation of Varicose Veins after Direct Percutaneous Puncture: Early Results

PARK, SANG WOO,YUN, IK JIN,HWANG, JAE JOON,LEE, SONG AM,KIM, JUN SEOK,CHANG, SEONG-HWAN,CHEE, HYUN KEUN,HONG, SUK JOO Blackwell Publishing Inc 2007 Dermatologic surgery Vol.33 No.10

<P>BACKGROUND</P><P>Although endovenous laser ablation has been demonstrated to effectively occlude incompetent saphenous veins, it does not treat branch varicosities directly.</P><P>OBJECTIVE</P><P>The objective was to evaluate the technical feasibility and early results of the direct ablation of branch varicosities using a 980-nm diode laser.</P><P>MATERIALS AND METHODS</P><P>From July to August 2005, 17 patients (21 limbs; male:female ratio, 7:10; mean age, 50.1 years; range, 24–62 years) with varicose veins were enrolled in this study. Endovenous laser ablation was performed in incompetent saphenous veins. Thereafter, branch varicosities were percutaneously punctured and a direct laser ablation was performed using a 400-μm laser fiber. Patients were evaluated at 1 week and at 1-, 3-, and 6-month intervals.</P><P>RESULTS</P><P>Technical success in branch varicosities was achieved in 11 of 15 limbs (71.4%). Continued closure of treated saphenous veins was evident in 11 of 11 limbs (100%) at 1-month follow-up. Successful ablation in varicose tributaries was seen in 6 of 11 limbs (54.5%) at 1-month follow-up and ablation failed in 5 limbs. One of the 11 limbs (9%) had a skin burn that required treatment.</P><P>CONCLUSION</P><P>Despite partly successful occlusion, we suggest that direct laser ablation cannot replace classic methods of treating branch varicosities, because of its high failure rate and the risk of skin burns.</P>

Aberrant promoter CpG island hypermethylation of the adenomatosis polyposis coli gene can serve as a good prognostic factor by affecting lymph node metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus

Kim, Y. T.,Park, J.-Y.,Jeon, Y. K.,Park, S. J.,Song, J. Y.,Kang, C. H.,Sung, S. W.,Kim, J. H. Blackwell Publishing Inc 2009 Diseases of the esophagus Vol.22 No.2

<P>SUMMARY</P><P>There has been no clear evidence demonstrating whether DNA hypermethylation can affect the prognosis of esophageal cancer. We collected tissue from 50 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus and tested them for DNA hypermethylation using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. CpG island hypermethylations were observed in 10% for p16, 34% for RAR&bgr;P2, 46% for adenomatosis polyposis coli (APC), 14% for RASSF1A, 84% for FHIT, and 8% for hMLH1. APC promoter hypermethylation was frequently found in patients without lymph node metastasis compared with those with lymph node metastasis (62.5% : 30.8%, <I>P</I> = 0.025). The number of metastatic lymph nodes were lower in patients with APC promoter hypermethylation (0.87 ± 0.30 : 3.07 ± 0.72, <I>P</I> = 0.008). Excluding operative mortalities and incomplete resections, 42 patients were analyzed for long-term outcome. During the mean follow-up period of 35 months, 17 developed recurrence and 14 died of cancer. Ten patients died of other causes. In univariable analysis, unmethylation of APC (<I>P</I> = 0.0015) and FHIT (<I>P</I> = 0.0044), as well as presence of lymph node metastasis (<I>P</I> = 0.0038), were risk factors for recurrence. In multivariable analysis, lymph nodes metastasis (<I>P</I> = 0.050) and unmethylation of APC promoter (<I>P</I> = 0.023) remained as significant risk factors. In conclusion, promoter hypermethylation of the APC gene is related to a lower number of metastatic lymph nodes and to superior prognosis in terms of recurrence, which suggests it might be involved in the process of lymph node metastasis in esophageal cancer.</P>