The Effects of Parental and Peer Attachment, Depression on the Self-Esteem in Adolescents / 한국간호교육학회지

PURPOSE: This study aimed to provide the baseline data for improving self-esteem under the influences of parental and peer attachment and depression in adolescents. METHODS: The data were collected from 200 middle and high school students in D metropolitan city by completing questionnaires from August 19 to August 30, 2013. RESULTS: The results of this study were as follows: The self-esteem was significantly different in academic grades, father's education level and economic status in adolescents. The relation of the variables to self-esteem by the statistical power in order was depression, peer attachment and parental attachment. The more the subjects were depressed, the more self-esteem dropped. The better parental and peer attachment, and household socio-economic status, the higher self-esteem was. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed the level of parental and peer attachment and depression, which explained 38% of the total variance in self-esteem. CONCLUSION: Adolescents who had high self-esteem could reduce their depression and form good parental and peer attachment that would prevent them from being maladjusted. These results will affect the various activities of adolescent. Therefore, the way in which adolescents can improve their self-esteem should be found.

Clinical Implication of Serum Anti-p53 Antibodies and Overexpression of p53 Protein in Myelodysplastic Syndrome and Acute Myeloid Leukemia / 대한혈액학회지

BACKGROUND: Alteration of p53 genes is rare, but it is related with progressive diseases in hematologic malignancies. The wild type of p53 protein is not usually detected, but mutated p53 proteins are accumulated in the nuclei of tumor cells, which can be detected by immunohistochemical stain. Anti-p53 antibodies are found in the sera of patients with various malignant tumors as the result of immune response to accumulation of mutated p53 protein in tumor cells. METHODS: The relation of serum anti-p53 anti-bodies and cellular p53 protein expression to clinical features in 36 cases of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and 58 cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) was analyzed. Anti-p53 antibodies in the patient's sera were measured with enzyme immunoassay (p53 autoantibodies ELISA, Dianova, Hamburg, Germany). Immunohistochemical staining for p53 protein was performed with the streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase method (LSAB kit, DAKO, Denmark) and anti-p53 monoclonal antibody (DO-7, DAKO, Denmark) in paraffin embedded bone marrow biopsy sections. RESULTS: Anti-p53 antibodies were positive in one of 36 (2.7%) MDS cases, and in four of 58 (6.8%) AML cases. Overexpression of p53 protein was seen in five (13.9%) of MDS and in five (8.6%) of AML. Serum p53 antibodies and p53 protein overexpression were more frequently found in RAEB, RAEB-t and M6 sutypes. There was no relation between anti-p53 antibodies and p53 protein overexpression in MDS and AML. The patients of MDS with anti-p53 antibodies and p53 overexpression tended to have severe dyserythropoiesis, higher Bounemouth scores and poor prognostic karyotypes and associated with shorter survival duration as compared to those without anti-p53 antibodies and p53 overexpression (4+/-1 vs 26+/-4 months, P=0.007). The patients of AML with anti-p53 antibodies and p53 protein overexpression tended to have poor prognostic karyotypes and resistance to chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Anti-p53 antibodies are rarely observed in sera of patients with MDS and AML, probably reflecting the relatively low incidence of p53 mutation. But the findings suggest that the presence of p53 alteration could be useful to predict resistance to chemotherapy and short survival in particular sutypes of MDS and AML.

Relation of p53 Protein Overexpression to Subtypes of Acute Erythroleukemia / 대한임상병리학회지

BACKGROUND: Acute erythroleukemia (AEL), FAB-M6 is a rare heterogenous disorder diagnosed by myeloblasts more than 30% of nonerythroid cells (NEC). Pure erythroleukemia (Di Guglielmo disease) with an excess of proerythroblasts can be classified as MDS or M0. An aberration of the p53 gene in acute myelogenous leukemia is rare, but related to complex karyotypes with poor prognosis. METHODS: To evaluate heterogenous features, 32 cases of AEL or suspicious AEL were categorized as consisting of more than 50% erythroblasts and M6a with more than 30% myeloblasts of NEC, M6b with more than 30% proerythroblasts of all erythroblasts, and M6c with more than 30% both myeloblasts and proerythroblasts. The relation of the p53 protein overexpression and chromosomal abnormalities to AEL and these subtypes was investigated. RESULTS: There were 18 M6a, 6 M6b, and 8 M6c. The percentage of erythroblasts was M6a 58.7%, 77.7% M6b, and 67.2% M6c. The percentage of myeloblasts in NEC was M6a 53.6%, M6b 4.3%, and M6c 39.2%. The percentage of proerythroblasts in all erythroblasts was M6a 5.6%, M6b 56.2%, and M6c 34.1%. Survivals of M6b and M6c were significantly shorter than M6a (12.0 vs. 2.0 vs. 2.0 months, P=0.003). Five of 11 cases showed complex karyotypes (1 M6a, 2 M6b, 2 M6c), of -5, 5q-, -7, 7q-, -17 and/or 17p-, with shorter survival and poor response. The p53 protein overexpression was M6a 27.3%, M6b 100%, and M6c 83.3%. The p53 protein overexpression was positive in all 5 cases of multiple complex karyotype with frequent treatment failure or shorter survival, but was negative in 5 normal karyotypes. CONCLUSTIONS: The occurrence of complex karyotypes and aberration of the p53 gene frequently observed in M6b and M6c subtypes of acute erythroleukemia would be considered in establishing a new and innovative treatment to target neoplastic proerythroblasts that are resistant to standard therapy for acute myelogenous leukemia.

Combination Assay of Serum PIVKA-II and Alpha-fetoprotein in Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma / 대한임상병리학회지

BACKGROUND: The serum des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (PIVKA-II) is a tumor marker complementary to alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) for diagnosing primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A combination assay of the tumor markers was found to be useful for early diagnosis of HCC. So we investigated the clinical relevance of the measurement of serum PIVKA-II and AFP levels in patients with HCC. METHODS: The serum PIVKA-II levels were measured in 64 cases of HCC, 16 cases of cirrhosis, 32 cases of chronic hepatitis, and 23 healthy controls with a revised PIVKA-II ELISA Kit (Eisai, Tokyo, Japan), with the simultaneous determination of the serum AFP value using the AFP immunoassay kit (Elecsys, Roche, Germany). RESULTS: The positive rates of PIVKA-II and the AFP value in HCC were 53.1% and 68.8%, respectively, and were significantly higher than 17.6% and 29.4% in liver cirrhosis, and 3.1% and 0% in chronic hepatitis. No signficant correlation between the two tumor markers was found. The correlation between PIVKA-II levels and the size of tumor in HCC was found. No relation of the clinical characteristics to positive rates of PIVKA-II and AFP was found. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of PIVKA-II were 53.1%, 94.4% and 73.8%, and those of AFP were 68.8%, 93.1% and 80.9%, respectively. The sensitivity and accuracy in the combination assay for detection of HCC were higher than those in each assay, especially in HCC with the diameter of the tumor mass at less than 3 cm. CONCLUSIONS: It was demonstrated that the combination assay of PIVKA-II and AFP could increase the diagnostic value for HCC and could be useful in early diagnosis of HCC.

Detection Rate of Mycoplasma genitalium in Patients with Sexually Transmitted Urethritis / 대한비뇨기과학회지

PURPOSE: Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) is a well known cause of non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU). No other microorganism has been shown to cause any larger proportion of the remaining NGU cases. As a possible causative organism of NGU, we wanted to evaluate the detection rate of Mycoplasma genitalium (M. genitalium) and its role in NGU using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). MATERIALS AND METHDS: From June 1998 to July 2000, we examined a total of 116 men. Of these men 70 had symptoms and signs compatible with urethritis and 46 were for normal control. In the patient group, two urethral discharge or swab specimens were collected. One was used for Gram stain to detect Gram negative intracellular diplocci. The other was subjected to PCR for C. trachomatis and M. genitalium. In the control group, urethral swab specimen was used to detect C. trachomatis and M. genitalium by PCR based assay. RESULTS: Gonococcal urethritis (GU) was diagnosed in 14 cases (20.0%). Detection rates of M. genitalium and C. trachomatis in urethritis group were 8.6% (6/70), 18.6% (13/70). M. genitalium and C. trachomatis were detected in 7.1% (1/14), 14.3% (2/14) of GU and 8.9% (5/56), 19.6% (11/56) of NGU. Detection rate of M. genitalium in chlamydia-negative NGU was 11.1% (5/45). No patient positive for M. genitalium had a simultaneous chlamydia infection. In control group with no urethral symptom or sign, M. genitalium and C. trachomatis were not detected at all. Compared with chlamydia- positive NGU, M. genitalium-positive urethritis exhibited higher recurrence rate. CONCLUSIONS: M. genitalium was detected in 8.9% of NGU and 11.1% of non-chlamydia NGU. This study suggests that M. genitalium may be one of the causative organisms in NGU. Further studies will be necessary to define its role in NGU.

Prognostic Significance of the Nadir Prostate Specific Antigen Level after Hormone Therapy for Prostate Cancer Patients / 대한비뇨기과학회지

PURPOSE: We tried to find out whether the nadir PSA level after hormone therapy affected the progression into hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the progressive status and the survival of the 177 patients with stage C or D prostate cancer who had received hormone therapies. The relative efficacy of the nadir PSA level for predicting the progression into HRPC was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. RESULTS: 85.4% of patients responded to the treatment and 78% of responders progressed into HRPC. Median time to nadir PSA level after hormone therapy and to HRPC were 8.1 and 24.0 months, respectively. The nadir PSA levels were under 0.2ng/ml in 31%, 0.2-1.0ng/ml in 23%, 1.1-10ng/ml in 42%, and over 10ng/ml in 5% of the responders (n=151). As the nadir PSA levels were lower, pretreatment PSA levels, Gleason score and the number of cases progressing into HRPC were significantly lower (p<0.05). In addition, the nadir PSA level was inversely correlated with the interval to the establishment of HRPC (r= 0.465, p<0.05). By univariate analysis, the bone metastasis, the nadir PSA level, PSA level at six months after treatment and pretreatment PSA level were associated with the progression into HRPC. Only the nadir PSA level was an independent factor by multivariate analysis. ROC analysis disclosed an accuracy of 86.2% for the nadir PSA level to predict the progression into HRPC after two years. By setting the lower limit of the nadir PSA level to 1.1ng/ml, the sensitivity was 80.3% and the specificity was 83.8%, being most adequate. CONCLUSIONS: The nadir PSA level after hormone therapy may be the most important factor that can predict the progression into HRPC. Also, in consideration of sensitivity and specificity, it would be adequate to set the lower limit of the nadir PSA level to 1.1ng/ml.

Incidence of False-Positive Cultures of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in A Microbiology Laboratory / 대한임상미생물학회지

BACKGROUND: Mycobacterial false-positive cultures have rarely been recognized in Korea, even though the rate of false-positive cultures of Mycobaterium tuberculosis has ranged from 0.4% to 4.0%. We estimated the false-positive rates by the review of medical records from whom mycobacterial cultures were requested, retrospeaively, after a bout of false-positive cultures was discovered in specimens treated in a single day. METHODS: Of the total 2,245 specimens, including 337 positive cultures of mycobacteria, during the period of January and June 1999, seventy-two specimens that showed colonies less than or equal to 5 colonies were reviewed, and classified as tuberculosis-likely group, tuberculosis-unlikely group and unclassifiable group by the clinical and radiological evidences, anti-tuberculosis therapy, and microbiological results. RESULTS: Tuberculosis-unlikely group was 21 specimens from 20 patients, and unclassifiable group was five specimens from four patients. So, the false-positive rates were estimated as 0.9- 1.1% of total cultures and 6.2-7.7% of positive cultures, according to excluding or including the unclassifiable group. CONCLUSION: Care should be taken for lowering false-positive mycobacterial cultures. Especially when a culture turned out to be positive with low colony isolates, more careful interpretations should be preceded before reporting the results by the review of medical records and communication with physician in charge.

A Case of Glandular Metaplasia and Primary Adenocarcinoma of the Female Urethral Diverticulum Associated with Stones / 대한비뇨기과학회지

No abstract available.

Clinical Significance of p53 Protein Overexpression and Serum Anti-p53 Antibodies in Patients with Acute and Chronic Leukemia / 대한임상병리학회지

BACKGROUND: Mutations of p53 gene, rarely found in leukemia, result in accumulation of mutated p53 protein in the nuclei of tumor cells, which can be detected by immunohistochemistry. Lately, anti-p53 antibodies were found in the sera of patients who had solid tumors as a result of immune response to accumulation of mutated p53 protein in tumor cells. METHODS: For investigation of the clinical implication of cellular p53 protein overexpression and serum p53 antibody, immunohistochemical staining for p53 protein of B-5 fixed paraffin embedded bone marrow biopsies and enzyme immunoassay for the presence of anti-p53 antibodies of sera were performed simultanously; in 58 cases of AML, 34 cases of ALL, 11 cases of acute leukemia at relapse, 13 cases of CML in chronic phase and 5 cases of CLL. RESULTS: Overexpression of p53 protein was found in 9.1%(11/121) of all leukemias, with 8.6% of AML with predominance of M6, 5.9% of ALL, 18.2% of acute leukemia at relapse and 40% of CLL, but not found in CML. Serum anti-p53 antibodies were found in 5.8%(7/121) of all leukemias, with 6.9% of AML and 5.9% of ALL, 9.1% of acute leukemia at relapse, but not found in chronic leukemias. In AML and ALL, age, sex, hemoglobin, leukocyte count, platelet count and blast % were not related with p53 protein expression. The AML patients with p53 protein overexpression have more unfavorable karyotypes(complex karyotype, -5, -7 and t(10;11)), with shorter overall survival as compared to those without p53 protein overexpression. The presence of serum anti-p53 antibodies was not related with clinical findings of leukemias. CONCLUSIONS: The indications are that p53 gene alterations will contribute to disease development and progression in some specific patients with leukemia, due to the rare frequency of overexpression of p53 protein and serum anti-p53 antibodies in leukemia. Analysis of the p53 protein and serum p53 antibodies could screen p53 gene mutation and predict prognosis for some leukemias.

Screening of Urine Culture Specimens by Gram Stain, Urinalysis and Urine Microscopic Examinations / 대한임상미생물학회지

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to discover ways to screen urine culture specimens through Gram stains, urine stick analyses and microscopic examinations for the laboratory cost saving. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-eight urine specimens for culture were included. Fifty uL of urine were inoculated onto one well each of 10-well slide, dried on the hot plate, and Gram-stained. The results combined with routine urinalyses including urine nitrite and leukocyte esterase, and pyuria, were compared with the routine culture results. RESULTS: The screening of bacteriuria by Gram stains, urinalyses and microscopic examinations revealed the high sensitivity (91.9%) and negative predictive value(95.5%) with cost saving of 41.8% of inoculating media. Not considering the Gram stains, the screening revealed 83.8% sensitivity and 92.5% negative predictive value, even if the cost saving of inoculating media were as high as 50.1%. CONCLUSION: It was demonstrated that it was sensitive and economic and produced rapid preliminary results to screen bacteriuria by the Gram stains combined with urinalyses and microscopic examinations.

Clinical Usefulness of Measurement of Reticulated Platelets by Thiazole Orange in Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura / 대한임상병리학회지

BACKGROUND: Reticulated platelets (RP) are young platelets with a high mRNA that are newly produced from the bone marrow. Thiazole orange (TO) has been a RNA staining fluorescent dye for reticulocyte, and used for RP recently. The increased percentage of RP (RP%) reflects immaturity and hematopoietic activity of platelets, therefore it may be useful for the diagnosis of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). METHODS: To assess the usefulness of RP in diagnosing ITP, we compared with RP%s of 50 ITP patients, 35 thrombocytopenic patients due to impaired production and 87 heathly normal controls. Platelets were stained with TO dye, followed by flowcytometric analysis. Platelet associated IgG (PAIgG) was also measured with the same samples. The standard gate was used as a reference with the unstained sample from a normal subject and the RP% was expressed as the percentage of TO positive cells of platelets. RESULTS: The RP% of patients with ITP was significantly higher than those of thrombocytopenia due to impaired platelet production and healthy controls (24.4+/-14.3% vs 8.6+/-5.2% and 8.0+/-5.1%, respectively). There was negative correlation between the platelet count and RP%, and positive correlation between MPV and RP%. In diagnosing for ITP, the sensistivity and specificity of RP% were 81% and 92%, respectively, and more valuable than those of PAIgG test. Using RP% and PAIgG at the same time, the diagnostic efficiency for ITP was not improved. The RP% of an ITP patient was changed to correspond with the disease progression, and that of an AML patient following chemotherapy was increased to precede the rising of the platelet count. CONCLUSION: It suggest that the measurement of reticulated platelets is a very useful test for diagnosis of ITP, furthermore it can be used to estimate the thrombopoietic activity before bone marrow examination.

A Case of the Renal Artery Aneurysm Associated with the Dysplastic Kidney

No abstract available.

Effect of Cyclosporine on the Renal Sympathetic Nerve Activity and Baroreflex Function in Rabbits

No abstract available.

A Case of Transient Complete Atrioventricular Block in Acute Viral Myocarditis

Arrythmias are often present and may lead to unexpected death in acute myocarditis. Occasionally, conduction disturbances are seen with varying degree of heart block yet complete atriove ntricular block is rare. We experienced a case of transient complete heart block caused by coxsackie B5myocarditis in a previously healthy 12-year-old girl. During the use of a transvenous temporary pacemaker for 5 days, the abnormal cardiac rhythm changed to sinus rhythm and clinical status improved progressively.

A Case of Steven-Johnson Syndroe Associated with Cholestatic Hepatitis

A 12-year-old boy developed cholestatic hepatitis with Steven-Johnson syndrome following the use of amoxicillin. The skin lesion and general condition were improved over 2 weeks, but jaundice was gradually aggrevated. We performed liver biopsy, on 30th hospital day, which showed cholestatic hepatitis. The patient improved gradually and liver function was normalized 5 months later.

3 cases of tsutsugamushi disease with meningitis in children / 감염

No abstract available.