A night blood survey was carried out among inhabitants aged over 1 year from the fifteen villages throughout Cheju-Do (Quelpart Island). Blood films from 2,139 persons were examined and 183(8.6 percent) showed microfilariae, the incidences varying according to geographical sources are from 0.8 to 19.5 per cent. All the microfilariae found in this survey were of the nocturnal periodic Brugia malayi. The microfilarial density was 1.9 per cent of blood. The age and sex distributions of microfilaria rate in Cheju-Do were not distinctly different. On the other hand, the intradermal test using Dirofilaria antigen (FPT antigen) and clinical survey of filariasis were also undertaken in same areas of microfilaria survey. Out of 2,449 inhabitants examined 1,434(58.6 percent) persons showed positive reaction of skin test, 503(20.5 percent) persons have clinical manifestations and 112 (4.6 percent) persons showed elephantiasis . It is assumed that Aedes togoi may be the most probable vector of B. malayi in the areas of Cheju-Do.
parasitology ; helminth ; nematoda ; Brugia malayi ; epidemiolgy ; filariasis ; intradermal test ; blood

During 1964 to 1967, a survey of 30,534 persons for filariasis was made on all over the country with the following results: Among 24,816 draftees from all over the country in the army recruitment camp 155(0.63 %) were found infected with Brugia malayi. Cheju Do showed the highest microfilaria rate(3.5 %), North Kyongsang Do(1.4 %) the next and South Cholla Do(1.2 %) the third. Blood films from 2,308 inhabitants were examined and 407(17.6 %) showed microfilaria in Cheju Do. 30(3.1 %) out of 974 inhabitants in North Kyongsang Do were found to be infected. The microfilaria rates were 2.0 per cent for 400 inhabitants of Chindo island in South Cholla Do. However, no positive case of microfilaria was found in the inhabitants of Kokumdo among 1,820 persons examined in South Cholla Do and of Namhae island(among 165 persons examined) in South Kyongsang Do. The mean microfilarial density per 20 cu. mm of blood was 52.6 in the inhabitants of Cheju Do, 12.2 in North Kyongsang Do and 27.3 in Chindo island(South Cholla Do). Any distinct relationship between the incidence of positive cases of microfilariae and age or sex of the cases was not observed in Cheju Do. However, in Norh Kyongsang Do and South Cholla Do the microfilaria rate of the male group is higher than the one of the female group of the inhabitants. From the above survey results it turned out that filariasis was found throughout Southern Korea except Kyonggi Do and South Kyongsang Do. A total 30,534 persons examined, 601(2.0 %) were found to be infected by Brugia malayi. Therefore, it seems that there are some endemic foci of malayian filariasis in three main areas such as North Kyongsang Do, South Cholla Do and Cheju Do.
parsitology-helminth-nematoda-Brugia malayi ; filariasis ; epidemiology ; Army

The trematode Paramphistomum cervi empolyed in this experiment was obtained from the reticulum of cattle slaughtered at the local abbatoir. The worms were selected and washed several times in normal sterilized saline solution. Each about ten of intact worms were incubated in 50 cc volume of special incubation flasks with incubation mixture consisting of 50 cc of Krebs-Ringer phosohate buffer (pH 7.4) to which were added universally labeled C(14)-glucose and non-radioactive carrier glucose concentration of 200 mg per cent. The worms were allowed to incubate for 3 hours in the incubator at 38 C. After incubation period, respiratory CO(2) samples from central wall of incubation flask were analysed for total CO(2) production rate and their specific activity of respiratory CO(2). Glycogen samples isolated from worms were analysed for the tissue concentration and their radioactivities in order to determine the turnover rate of glycogen pool. The glucose uptake rate was determined by analysing the difference of the glucose concentration in a medium before and after incubation period. Radioactivities of these series of experiments were counted by an endwindow Geiger-Muller counter as an infinitely thin samples. The quantitative analysis of C(14)-glucose utilized by Paramphistomum cervi was summerized as the following. The glucose uptake rate by Paramphistomum was a mean value of 2.32+/-0.27 micro-mole/hr/g of wet wt. and total CO(2) production rate by the worms averaged 10.85+/-0.41 micro-mole/hr/g of wet wt. The relative specific activities of respiratory CO(2) averaged 49.72+/-13.20 per cent. Thus, a mean of 49.72 per cent of total CO(2) production rate was originated from the glucose in the medium, therefore the rate of CO(2) production derived from medium glucose was mean of 5.24+/-2.16 micro-mole/hr/g of wet wt. Thus, the average value of 37.46+/-5.28 per cent of glucose utilized by the worms from the medium glucose was oxidized to respiratory CO(2). The tissue concentration of Paraphismum was a mean of 41.56+/-5.82 micro-mole/hr/g of wet wt or 4.16+/-0.72 per cent/g , and the turnover rate of glycogen pool yielded with a mean of 0.12+/-0.014 percent/hr or 0.06+/-0.04 mg/hr/g of wet wt. Therefore, a mean value of 16.75+/-4.84 per cent of glucose was incorporated to the glycogen. These data account for that at least 54.21 per cent of the utilized glucose by the worms participated in furnishing the oxidation into respiratory CO(2) and the synthetic process into glycogen. According to the above data of the experiment, it is suggested in the metabolic process of glucose by the Paramphistomum that the synthetic process into the glycogen is less active than the oxidative process into the resppiratory CO(2).
parasitology-helminth-trematoda ; Paramphistomum cervi ; autoradiography ; biochemistry ; glucose ; metabolism ; CO(2) ; glycogen

An epidemiological study was undertaken to estimate the prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis infection among the primary (and infant) school children in Yongyang-gun, Kyongsangbuk-do. During the period from 2 to 14 December 1983, a total of 2,227 school children in 13 schools were examined one time by means of scotch-tape anal swab technique with a simple questionaire study on perianal itching, enuresis and school record. The results are as follows:The overall egg positive rate was 64.1 percent and the rate ranged from 46.6 to 86.7 percent by schools. The egg positive rates of boys and girls were 60.5 and 68.0 percent respectively and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.005). There was noted a tendency of decrease in prevalence by increase of the age of children. It was revealed that perianal itching and school record were significantly correlated with E. vermicularis infection (p<0.05) while not in case of enuresis (p>0. l).
parasitology-helminth-nematoda ; Enterobius vermicularis ; epidemiology ; enuresis ; perianal itching

No abstract available.
Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver* ; Polycythemia Vera* ; Polycythemia*

PURPOSE: This study compared the response evaluation using the WHO (World Health Organization) criteria for patients with breast cancer with that of the RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumor) criteria in order to determine the significance of the RECIST criteria in breast cancer. METHODS: Between 2001 and 2005, 42 patients with measurable lesions radiologically receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy for a breast carcinoma were enrolled in this study. The results were compared using a kappa test as a concordance measure between the two response criteria. RESULTS: With the WHO criteria, the overall response and progression rate were 35.7% (CR 0, PR 15) and 16.6% (PD 7) respectively. On the other hand, the overall response and progression rate using the RECIST criteria were 38.0% (CR 0, PR 16) and 7% (PD 3) respectively. The kappa value as a concordance measure between two response criteria was 0.718. CONCLUSION: The RECIST criteria are comparable to the WHO criteria in evaluating the response of breast cancer patients who have undergone neoadjuvant chemotherapy. A comparison of these results with other studies of more common tumor types supports the implementation of RECIST as the standard criteria for evaluating the treatment response but also for monitoring progression.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Drug Therapy* ; Hand ; Humans ; World Health Organization

One hundred and eighty one cases, which comfirmed tobe intussusception, were reviewed retrospectively to identify the differences between radiologic findings of reduced and nonreduced intussusceptions by barium enema. The number of cases of reduced intussusception was 148 and nonreduced was 33, so the rate of reduction was 82%. On conventional radiographs, air-fluid levels were seen in 23 cases(15.5%) of the reduced intussusception and in 18 cases(54.6%) of the nonreduced intussusception, and soft tissue masses were seen in 20 cases(13.5%) of the reduced intussusception and in 2 cases(36.4%) of the nonreduced intussusception. The mean value of a ratio of maximal diameter of small bowel to interpedicular distance of L3vertebral body was 0.93 in the reduced intussusception and 1.25 in the nonreduced intussusception. On barium enema, the dissection sign was seen in 33.1% of the reduced intussusception and in 75.8% of the nonreduced intussusception. The morphologic abnormalities of ascending colon were seen in 11.5% of the reduced intussusception and in 38.7% of the nonreduced intussusception. So, the findings of the air-fluid level soft tissue mass, marked small bowel dilatation, dissection sign and morphologic abnormality of ascending colon were more frequently seen in the nonreduced intussusception than the reduced cases. There was no correlation between the location of intussusceptum and the reduction rate.
Barium* ; Colon, Ascending ; Dilatation ; Enema* ; Intussusception* ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of Crohn's disease (CD) in patients who showed proximal small bowel involvement using a nationwide Korean CD cohort. METHODS: We reviewed the data from a cohort of patients diagnosed with CD. The clinical outcomes of patients were evaluated according to the presence of proximal small bowel involvement. RESULTS: Among 1,329 patients with CD for whom complete disease location data were available, 222 patients (16.7%) showed involvement of the proximal small bowel. Compared to patients without proximal small bowel involvement, those with small bowel involvement were more likely to display stricturing behavior (19.8% vs 12.7%, p=0.020). The surgery-free survival of patients who showed proximal small bowel involvement was inferior to that of patients without proximal small bowel involvement (10-year surgery-free survival: 58.4% vs 67.7%, respectively, p < 0.001). Additionally, upper gastrointestinal involvement was more common in patients with proximal small bowel involvement than in those without involvement (odds ratio, 1.643; 95% confidence interval, 1.008 to 2.677). CONCLUSIONS: Proximal small bowel involvement is a poor prognostic factor for the surgery-free survival of Korean patients with CD. Proximal small bowel involvement should be evaluated in patients with CD for predicting long-term clinical outcomes.
Cohort Studies ; Crohn Disease ; Humans ; Jejunum ; Prognosis

Atherosclerosis is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease, characterized by inflammation and lipid accumulation in arterial walls, leading to plaque formation. Elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is a primary risk factor for atherosclerosis. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), a metabolite of vitamin A, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects and potential in regulating vascular injury. 9-cisretinoic acid (9cRA) is an active metabolite of vitamin A and activates the retinoid X receptor. This study investigates whether potassium retinoate (PA9RA), a synthetic combination of ATRA and 9cRA, offers superior efficacy in treating atherosclerosis compared to established treatments such as clopidogrel and atorvastatin. Male ApoE -/- mice were fed a Western-type diet and treated with PA9RA, clopidogrel, or atorvastatin for 10 weeks. The body weight, organ weight, serum biochemistry, and histopathology, including atherosclerotic lesion area and liver steatosis were assessed. PA9RA treatment led to a significant reduction in body weight and inguinal fat, with the 45 mg/kg/day dose showing marked efficacy in decreasing atherosclerotic lesion size and ameliorating liver steatosis. Histopathological evaluation revealed decreased foam cell formation and improved liver histology in PA9RA-treated groups compared to controls. Notable side effects included epidermal hyperplasia and gastric hyperplasia at high doses of PA9RA. PA9RA exhibits superior efficacy over clopidogrel and atorvastatin in ameliorating atherosclerosis and fatty liver in ApoE –/–mice. This study highlights PA9RA's potential as a promising therapeutic agent for atherosclerosis. Further research is needed to elucidate its mechanisms of action and assess long-term safety and efficacy.

Atherosclerosis is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease, characterized by inflammation and lipid accumulation in arterial walls, leading to plaque formation. Elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is a primary risk factor for atherosclerosis. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), a metabolite of vitamin A, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects and potential in regulating vascular injury. 9-cisretinoic acid (9cRA) is an active metabolite of vitamin A and activates the retinoid X receptor. This study investigates whether potassium retinoate (PA9RA), a synthetic combination of ATRA and 9cRA, offers superior efficacy in treating atherosclerosis compared to established treatments such as clopidogrel and atorvastatin. Male ApoE -/- mice were fed a Western-type diet and treated with PA9RA, clopidogrel, or atorvastatin for 10 weeks. The body weight, organ weight, serum biochemistry, and histopathology, including atherosclerotic lesion area and liver steatosis were assessed. PA9RA treatment led to a significant reduction in body weight and inguinal fat, with the 45 mg/kg/day dose showing marked efficacy in decreasing atherosclerotic lesion size and ameliorating liver steatosis. Histopathological evaluation revealed decreased foam cell formation and improved liver histology in PA9RA-treated groups compared to controls. Notable side effects included epidermal hyperplasia and gastric hyperplasia at high doses of PA9RA. PA9RA exhibits superior efficacy over clopidogrel and atorvastatin in ameliorating atherosclerosis and fatty liver in ApoE –/–mice. This study highlights PA9RA's potential as a promising therapeutic agent for atherosclerosis. Further research is needed to elucidate its mechanisms of action and assess long-term safety and efficacy.