Journal of Korean medical science
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Jul 2014
Imaging mass spectrometry in papillary thyroid carcinoma for the identification and validation of biomarker proteins.
Direct tissue imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization and time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry has become increasingly important in biology and medicine, because this technology can detect the relative abundance and spatial distribution of interesting proteins in tissues. Five thyroid cancer samples, along with normal tissue, were sliced and transferred onto conductive glass slides. After laser scanning by MALDI-TOF equipped with a smart beam laser, images were created for individual masses and proteins were classified at 200-µm spatial resolution. ⋯ Differences in the molecular weights of expressed proteins between tumor and normal regions were analyzed using unsupervised and supervised clustering. To verify the presence of discovered proteins through IMS, we identified ribosomal protein P2, which is specific for cancer. We have demonstrated the feasibility of IMS as a useful tool for the analysis of tissue sections, and identified the tumor-specific protein ribosomal protein P2.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Jul 2014
Toxicity profile of temozolomide in the treatment of 300 malignant glioma patients in Korea.
This study evaluated the toxicity profiles of temozolomide in the treatment of malignant glioma as either concurrent or adjuvant chemotherapy. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 300 malignant glioma patients treated with temozolomide in two medical institutions in Korea between 2004 and 2010. Two hundred nine patients experienced a total of 618 toxicities during temozolomide therapy. ⋯ There was no mortality due to temozolomide. Although temozolomide showed many types of toxicities, the majority of the toxicities were tolerable and of lower grade. Gastrointestinal troubles are the most common toxicities in Korean patients treated with temozolomide.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Jul 2014
Elevated brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity is independently associated with microalbuminuria in a rural population.
Microalbuminuria is a marker of generalized endothelial dysfunction resulting from arterial stiffness or insulin resistance, and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is a good measure of arterial stiffness. We aimed to investigate whether elevated baPWV is independently associated with microalbuminuria. This study included 1,648 individuals aged over 40 who participated in the baseline Multi-Rural Cohort Study conducted in Korean rural communities between 2005 and 2006. ⋯ BaPWV was independently associated with microalbuminuria in both genders after adjusting for pulse rate; fasting blood glucose; triglyceride; homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance (HOMAIR) and, history of hypertension and diabetes. Fasting blood sugar and HOMAIR were judged as having nothing to do with multicolinearity (r = 0.532, P < 0.001). Elevated baPWV was independently associated with microalbuminuria regardless of insulin resistance among rural subjects over 40 yr.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Jul 2014
Moving toward universal coverage of health insurance in Vietnam: barriers, facilitating factors, and lessons from Korea.
Vietnam has pursued universal health insurance coverage for two decades but has yet to fully achieve this goal. This paper investigates the barriers to achieve universal coverage and examines the validity of facilitating factors to shorten the transitional period in Vietnam. ⋯ Korea in 1977 and Vietnam in 2009 have common characteristics to be favorable of achieving universal coverage with similarities of level of income, highly qualified administrative ability, tradition of solidarity, and strong political leadership although there are differences in distribution of population and structure of the economy. From a comparative perspective, Vietnam can consider the experience of Korea in implementing the mandatory enrollment approach, household unit of eligibility, design of contribution and benefit scheme, and resource allocation to health insurance for sustainable government subsidy to achieve and sustain the universal coverage of health insurance.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Jul 2014
Case ReportsThe significance of clinical and laboratory features in the diagnosis of glycogen storage disease type v: a case report.
Glycogen storage disease type V (GSD-V) is the most common disorder of muscle glycogenosis with characteristic clinical and laboratory findings. A 32-yr-old woman complained of exercise intolerance and myoglobulinuria since early adolescence. She reported several episodes of second-wind phenomenon. ⋯ D510fs and p. F710del, which has not yet been reported in Korea. The present case recognizes that detail clinical and laboratory analysis is the first step in the diagnosis of GSD-V.