BACKGROUND: The precore mutant hepatits B virus (HBV) cannot produce HBeAg due to the formation of transnational stop codon at nucleotide 1896 of the HBV-DNA precore region. This mutant has been detected worldwide in acute fulminant hepatitis, carrier and chronic HBV infections. It has been controversial whether the emergence of precore mutant HBV is related to the severity of the chronic hepatitis B or not. METHODS: To determine the prevalence and clinical implication of precore mutant infection, 137 HBsAg (+) patients including 12 acute hepatitis, 59 carriers, 41 chronic hepatitis, 15 liver cirrhosis, and 10 hepatomas were examined with mutation site specific assay-polymerase chain reaction (MSSA-PCR). The specificity for the detection of mutant by MSSA-PCR method was confirmed by direct sequencing of PCR products. RESULTS: The precore mutant HBV was detected in 67 of 137 (49%) subjects : none of 12 (0%) acute hepatitis patients, 17 of 59 (29%) carriers, 31 of 41 (76%) chronic hepatitis patients, 12 of IS (80%) liver cirrhosis patients, and 6 of 10 (60%) hepatoma patients. According to the status of serum HBeAg, the emergence rate of precore mutant HBV in HBeAg(-) cases was relatively higher than in HBeAg(+) cases with blood donor and chronic hepatitis. In anti-HBe (+) patients with chronic hepatitis, the precore mutant HBV was found regardless of ALT level in all patients. Emergence rate of precore mutant HBV was abruptly increased after 30 years of age. Among HBV-DNA (-) sera by DNA probe method, the core region of HBV was amplified in 94% of sera by MSSA-PCR method. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of precore mutant HBV may be related to the duration of HBV infections and there seems to be no causal relationship between the presence of precore mutant HBV and the severity of chronic hepatitis.
Blood Donors ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Codon, Terminator ; DNA ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Many of early findings regarding intestinal stem cells (ISCs) and their niche in the human intestine have relied on colorectal cancer cell lines and labor-intensive and time-consuming mouse models. However, these models cannot accurately recapitulate the physiologically relevant aspects of human ISCs. In this study, we demonstrate a reliable and robust culture method for 3D expanding intestinal spheroids (InSexp ) mainly comprising ISCs and progenitors, which can be derived from 3D human intestinal organoids (HIOs). We did functional chararcterization of InSexp derived from 3D HIOs, differentiated from human pluripotent stem cells, and optimization culture methods. Our results indicate that InSexp can be rapidly expanded and easily passaged, and show enhanced growth rates via WNT pathway activation. InSexp are capable of exponential cell expansion and cryopreservation. Furthermore, in vitro-matured HIO-derived InSexp proliferate faster than immature HIO-derived InSexp with preservation of the parental HIO characteristics. These findings may facilitate the development of scalable culture systems for the long-term maintenance of human ISCs and provide an alternative platform for studying ISC biology.

Lupus vulgaris is most prevalent on exposed parts, especially the face but can also develop on exetremities. Lupus vulgaris originates from tuberculosis elsewhere in the body by hematogenous, lymphatic, or contiguous spread. A 19-year-old male patient came to our department. The patient had had many recurrent oozing and verrucous plaques and crusts on the left foot for one year. A skin biopsy from the lesion on the left dorsum of the foot showed scattered well defined granulomas consisting of the epithelioid cell clusters with Langerhans and foreign body type giant cells in the mid dermis. Caseation necrosis was slight. There were no bacilli on AFB staining. The multi test CMI for tuberculin was highly positive. A chest X-ray did not show any abnormal findings. The presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA was demonstrated by polymerase chain reactions (PCR) for detection of mycobacterial DNA from a routinely prepared paraffin-embedded skin specimen. Herein we report a very atypical case of lupus vulgaris confirmed by PCR.
Biopsy ; Dermis ; DNA ; Epithelioid Cells ; Foot ; Giant Cells, Foreign-Body ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Lupus Vulgaris* ; Male ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Necrosis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Skin* ; Thorax ; Transplants* ; Tuberculin ; Tuberculosis ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Granuloma* ; Leprosy, Lepromatous*

No abstract available.
Female ; Fetomaternal Transfusion* ; Pregnancy

PURPOSE: To compare MRI appearance between plicae syndrome and normal plicae. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR images of 60 cases of arthroscopically-confirmed plicae syndrome and 18 of arthroscopically-proven normal plicae were retrospectively analyzed. Sagittal T2-weighted MR images in all cases and MPGR(200) in 37 cases of plicae syndrome were obtained. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test. RESULTS: On the basis of operatingresults, we observed 55 medial plicae, eight combined medial and suprapatellar plicae, four suprapatellar plicae,and one lateral plica. T2-weighted sagittal MR scans of the 60 cases demonstrated 37 medial plicae, 8 suprapatellar and one lateral plica. Joint effusion was found in 26 cases of 55 medial plicae. In T2-weighted sagittal MR scans, the identification of medial plicae was superior in the presence of joint effusion than its absence(plicae syndrome, p < 0.001 ; normal plicae group, p < 0.05). Medial plicae were well demonstrated onMPGR(200) axial images; on T2-weighted sagittal MR scans, they could be more frequently identified in the plicae syndrome group than in the normal control group(p < 0.001). Plicae syndrome-associated pathology included degenerative change of the articular cartilage of the medial femoral condyle in eight cases(14.5%), discoidmeniscus in nine(16.4%), lateral meniscus tear in 12(21.8%), medial meniscus tear in 21(38.1%), anterior cruciate ligament tear in three(5.5%), medial collateral ligament tear and osteochondritis dissecans in one case. CONCLUSION: The present study revealed that synovial plicae were well demonstrated in T2-weighted sagittal images, particularly on the presence of joint effusion. Medial plicae could be more frequently identified in the plicae syndrome group than in the normal control group, especially on T2-weighted sagittal MR scans.
Cartilage, Articular ; Collateral Ligaments ; Humans ; Joints ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Menisci, Tibial ; Osteochondritis Dissecans ; Pathology

BACKGROUND: Dermatologic emergency patients who visit the emergency room increase in number every year. But there is no report about the statistical analysis of such visits. OBJECTIVES & METHODS: We reviewed 326 new dermatologic emergency patients who uisited the emergency room of Dongsan Medical Center in Taegu from 1986 to 1995 to study the age, sex, monthly and yearly distributior, arrival time, length of visit, prevalence of common dermatoses, admission rate and death rate. RESULTS: The results are summarized as follows: 1. Of 326 patients, there were 151 males and 175 females. The sex ratio of male to female was 1: 1.15. The number of patients increased with each year. 2. In age distribution, there were 23(7%) under 10;46(14%) between 11-20,55(17%) between 21-30;49(15% ) between 31-40;33(10%) between 41 50; 62(19% ) between 51-60 years,39(12% ) between 61-70 and 19(6%) between 71-80 years. 3. In monthly and arrival time distribution, the peak month incidence occurred in August(24 %), and the lowest incidence in December(1%). The peak incidence of arrival time occurred PM 6-12 hours and the lowest incidence AM 0-6 hour. 4. In the distribution about length nf visit, 73% of patients stayed more than 10 hours, 23% 5-10 hours and 4% less than 5 hours. 5. Of the most common derrnatoses, acute urticaria was seen in 124 cases(38%), and herpes zoster. in 94 cases (29%). In age distribution, acute urticaria was most preualent between the age of 0-30 and herpes zoster between 50-70. 6. The admission rate was 43%(140 cases). The death rate was 1.2%(3 cases). CONCLUSION: Our study of e nergency patients revealed that dermatologic emergency patients who visited the emergency room had increased in number every year and the distribution of patients is quite different from that of outpatients.
Age Distribution ; Daegu ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Female ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Mortality ; Outpatients ; Prevalence ; Sex Ratio ; Skin Diseases ; Urticaria

We report a patient with idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis (IHCP) who presented with headache, tinnitus, hearing loss, dizziness and tongue atrophy. She initially was misdiagnosed as having an en plaque meningioma involving the posterior fossa and foramen magnum on the basis of brain MRI findings. A meningeal biopsy excluded meningioma and a diagnosis of IHCP was made. After immune modulating treatment, the patient's symptoms gradually improved. Our case shows IHCP should be included in the differential diagnosis of meningeal mass.
Atrophy ; Biopsy ; Brain ; Cranial Nerve Diseases* ; Cranial Nerves* ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Dizziness ; Foramen Magnum ; Headache ; Hearing Loss ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meningioma* ; Meningitis* ; Tinnitus ; Tongue

BACKGROUND: In order to treat obese individuals, control of caloric intake after determination of patient's energy expenditure and recommendation of exercise program with possible use of specific medication is advised. There are many limitations in measuring all individuals energy expenditure by calorimetry, thus estimation is made using many variables such as weight, height, age, and gender. But, commonly used equations to predict resting energy expenditure(REE) are thought to result in overestimation of energy expenditure for use with obese individuals. This study investigated difference between measured and predicted resting energy expenditure in obese individuals. METHODS: Subjects were 133 adults who were admitted either to Internal Medicine Department and ENT Department of Yeung Nam University Hospital and their resting energy expenditure was measured by indirect calorimetry. According to age, sex, smoking habits and body mass index, Measured REE by indirect calorimetry between groups was compared. Predicted REE estimated by 6 equations to measured REE was compared in the two groups by body mass index 27kg/m2 under 65 years old individuals. RESULTS: There was no significant difference of measured REE between groups according to smoking habits(p>0.05). In the older group(> or =65 years old), REE was lower compared to the younger groups(<65 years old)(p<0.05). In the obese group(body mass index>27kg/m2) measured REE was higher than the normal weight group(BMI<27kg/m2)(p<0.05). Among 108 individuals under 65 years old, other equation except for Fleish equation and Robertson and Reid equation were inaccurate when applied to the obese group. CONCLUSIONS: These commonly used prediction equations tend to overestimate the REE in obese individuals, and the best estimates for the obese seem to be derived from the Fleish and Robertson and Reid equations.
Adult ; Aged ; Body Mass Index ; Calorimetry ; Calorimetry, Indirect* ; Energy Intake ; Energy Metabolism* ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; Obesity ; Smoke ; Smoking

No Abstract Available.