Journal of Korean medical science
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Jun 2011
Determination of malignant and invasive predictors in branch duct type intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas: a suggested scoring formula.
Prediction of malignancy or invasiveness of branch duct type intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (Br-IPMN) is difficult, and proper treatment strategy has not been well established. The authors investigated the characteristics of Br-IPMN and explored its malignancy or invasiveness predicting factors to suggest a scoring formula for predicting pathologic results. From 1994 to 2008, 237 patients who were diagnosed as Br-IPMN at 11 tertiary referral centers in Korea were retrospectively reviewed. ⋯ Using the regression coefficient for significant predictors on multivariate analysis, we constructed a malignancy-predicting scoring formula: 22.4 (mural nodule [0 or 1]) + 0.5 (cyst size [mm]). In invasive IPMN, the formula was expressed as invasiveness-predicting score = 36.6 (mural nodule [0 or 1]) + 32.2 (elevated serum CEA [0 or 1]) + 0.6 (cyst size [mm]). Here we present a scoring formula for prediction of malignancy or invasiveness of Br-IPMN which can be used to determine a proper treatment strategy.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Jun 2011
Impact of visceral adiposity measured by abdominal computed tomography on pulmonary function.
Although an inverse relationship between abdominal adiposity and pulmonary function has been suggested, direct measurement of abdominal adipose tissue has rarely been attempted. Our object is to determine the impact of abdominal adiposity on pulmonary function by directly measuring abdominal adipose tissue with abdominal computed tomography (CT). In this cross-sectional study, we included never-smokers between the ages of 18 and 85 yr, who had undergone spirometry and abdominal adipose tissue analysis with CT scans during November 1, 2005 to October 31, 2009 as part of the comprehensive health examination. ⋯ In males, TAT, SAT, and VAT were inversely associated with the absolute value of forced vital capacity (FVC), and TAT and VAT were inversely associated with forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)). However, in females, TAT and VAT, but not SAT, were inversely associated with absolute FVC and FEV(1) values. In conclusion, the amount of abdominal adipose tissue directly measured using CT is inversely associated with lung function.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Jun 2011
Effects of scutellarin on MUC5AC mucin production induced by human neutrophil elastase or interleukin 13 on airway epithelial cells.
Scutellarin is a flavonoid extracted from a traditional Chinese herb, Erigeron breviscapus. The present study investigated the effect of scutellarin on MUC5AC mucin production and the possible mechanism. Human bronchial epithelial 16 (HBE16) cells were pretreated with scutellarin for 60 min, and then exposed to human neutrophil elastase (HNE) or interleukin (IL)-13 for 12 hr. ⋯ To investigate the intracellular mechanisms associated with the effect of scutellarin on MUC5AC mucin production, western blotting was carried out to examine the phosphorylation of protein kinase C (PKC), signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). The phosphorylation of PKC and ERK1/2 was attenuated after treatment with scutellarin, whereas STAT6 was not significantly affected. Therefore, it is suggested that scutellarin down-regulates MUC5AC mucin production on HBE16 cells via ERK-dependent and PKC-dependent pathways.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Jun 2011
Effects of intronic and exonic polymorphisms of paraoxonase 1 (PON1) gene on serum PON1 activity in a Korean population.
Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) hydrolyzes a number of toxic organophosphorous compounds and reduces lipid peroxide accumulation, and PON1 genetic polymorphisms in the coding region modulate serum PON1 activity. In this study, we investigated the association between 3 polymorphisms of PON1 located in intron 5 (17899insdelTT and 17974CT) and exon 6 (192QR) and serum PON1 activity. The genetic polymorphisms and serum activity of PON1 were analyzed in 153 healthy Koreans by using a direct sequencing assay and spectrophotometric method, respectively. ⋯ The 17899insdelTT, 17974CT and 192QR genetic polymorphisms were associated with significant differences in serum paraoxonase activity. In multiple regression analyses, smoking, triglyceride level, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level, and the 17899insdelTT and 192QR genetic polymorphisms were significant determinants of serum paraoxonase activity, while age, smoking, triglyceride level, HDL level, and the 192QR genetic polymorphism were significant determinants of serum arylesterase activity. These results suggest that although the 192QR genetic polymorphism in the coding region of PON1 is primarily associated with serum PON1 activity, the intronic polymorphisms are also involved in serum PON1 activity, and this association may be mediated by LD.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Jun 2011
Comparative StudyEstimation of nationwide vaccination coverage and comparison of interview and telephone survey methodology for estimating vaccination status.
This study compared interview and telephone surveys to select the better method for regularly estimating nationwide vaccination coverage rates in Korea. Interview surveys using multi-stage cluster sampling and telephone surveys using stratified random sampling were conducted. Nationwide coverage rates were estimated in subjects with vaccination cards in the interview survey. ⋯ We concluded that the interview survey was better than the telephone survey. These results can be applied to countries with incomplete registry and decreasing rates of landline telephone coverage due to increased cell phone usage and countries. Among mandatory vaccines, efforts to increase vaccination rate for the fourth dose of DTaP, the third dose of polio, JBE and regular vaccinations at recommended periods should be conducted in Korea.