No abstract available.
Aflatoxin B1* ; Aflatoxins* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay* ; Humans*

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a critical global health issue and the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The majority of patients who present HCC are already at an advanced stage and their tumors are unresectable. Sorafenib is a multi-kinase inhibitor of the vascular endothelial growth factor pathway and was recently introduced as a therapy for advanced HCC. Furthermore, studies have shown that oral sorafenib has beneficial effects on survival. However, many patients experience diverse side effects, and some of these are severe. Liver abscess development has not been previously documented to be associated with sorafenib administration in HCC. Here, we report the case of a HCC patient that developed a liver abscess while being treated with sorafenib.
Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*drug therapy/radiography ; Clostridium/isolation & purification ; Clostridium Infections/drug therapy/microbiology ; Humans ; Liver Abscess/etiology/*microbiology ; Liver Neoplasms/*drug therapy/radiography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Niacinamide/adverse effects/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Phenylurea Compounds/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Carcinomas of Bartholin's gland are rare tumors that account for less than 1% of all gynecological malignancies. Two major histological types, squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, account for 80% to 90% of primary cases. The remainders are adenosquamous carcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma and so on. We experienced a case of squamous cell carcinoma of the Bartholin's gland managed by wide local excision and chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). We present this case with a brief review of the literatures.
Adenocarcinoma ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; Carcinoma, Adenosquamous ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cisplatin ; Drug Therapy ; Fluorouracil

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively investigate the long-term effects of botulinum toxin treatment on the upper limb function and performance of school age children with spastic bilateral cerebral palsy, who have limitations in performing activities of daily living and school activities, due to spasticity of the upper extremities. METHODS: Botulinum type A toxin (BoNT-A) was injected into 24 spastic upper limbs of 15 children. We used a Modified Ashworth Scale and a Modified Tardieu Scale for the evaluation of upper limb spasticity, and Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test (QUEST), Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), and Test of Visual-Motor Skills-Revised (TVMS-R) for the evaluation of upper limb function and performance. RESULTS: Upper limb spasticity continuously decreased until the end of the one-year follow-up. Upper limb function on QUEST and COPM showed the best performance at 3 months and deteriorated slightly, but still showed a significantly better performance at 9 and 12 months than at pre-injection. In more functional nine subjects who could perform TVMS-R, the performance enhancement effects remained constant after 12 months, suggesting that the reduced spasticity led to the learning effect acquired by the repeated use of the affected upper limb. CONCLUSION: For school age children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy whose upper limb functions are important, BoNT-A injections seem to be of help in the performance of school activities and activities of daily living.
Activities of Daily Living ; Botulinum Toxins ; Botulinum Toxins, Type A ; Cerebral Palsy ; Child ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Learning ; Muscle Spasticity ; Prospective Studies ; Upper Extremity

BACKGROUND: The incidence of atherosclerosis is well correlated with the progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus. High plasma glucose in uncontrolled diabetic patients evokes many vascular complications such as atherosclerosis. Specifically, high glucose was reported to induce thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), which activates matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and leads to the invasion of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) into the intima. Catechins with antioxidant effects are known to inhibit MMP-2 activity. Therefore, this study was aimed at revealing the effect of epicatechin, one of catechins, on high glucose-induced TSP-1 and the invasiveness of VSMCs. METHODS: VSMCs were primarily isolated from Sprague-Dawley rat aorta. The VSMCs were incubated with different doses (30, 100 and 300 micrometer) of epicatechin under high glucose concentration (30 mM). The TSP-1 protein and mRNA expressions were analyzed by performing Western blotting and Northern blot analyses, respectively. RT-PCR was performed to observe the MMP-2 mRNA expression. Gelatin zymography was performed for the measurement of MMP-2 activity. Invasion assays were performed to evaluate the invasiveness of VSMCs. RESULTS: Epicatechin inhibited the high glucose-induced TSP-1 expression and the MMP-2 activity in a dose-dependent manner. Also, epicatechin inhibited the high glucose-induced invasiveness of VSMCs across the matrix barrier in a dose-dependent fashion. CONCLUSION: Collectively, epicatechin may prevent the high glucose-induced proliferation and invasion of VSMCs by inhibiting the TSP-1 expression and the MMP-2 activity. Therefore, epicatechin appears to play a protective role in the development of atherosclerosis.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; Aorta ; Atherosclerosis ; Blood Glucose ; Blotting, Northern ; Blotting, Western ; Catechin* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Gelatin ; Glucose ; Humans ; Incidence ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; RNA, Messenger ; Thrombospondin 1*

BACKGROUND: The incidence of atherosclerosis is well correlated with the progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus. High plasma glucose in uncontrolled diabetic patients evokes many vascular complications such as atherosclerosis. Specifically, high glucose was reported to induce thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), which activates matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and leads to the invasion of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) into the intima. Catechins with antioxidant effects are known to inhibit MMP-2 activity. Therefore, this study was aimed at revealing the effect of epicatechin, one of catechins, on high glucose-induced TSP-1 and the invasiveness of VSMCs. METHODS: VSMCs were primarily isolated from Sprague-Dawley rat aorta. The VSMCs were incubated with different doses (30, 100 and 300 micrometer) of epicatechin under high glucose concentration (30 mM). The TSP-1 protein and mRNA expressions were analyzed by performing Western blotting and Northern blot analyses, respectively. RT-PCR was performed to observe the MMP-2 mRNA expression. Gelatin zymography was performed for the measurement of MMP-2 activity. Invasion assays were performed to evaluate the invasiveness of VSMCs. RESULTS: Epicatechin inhibited the high glucose-induced TSP-1 expression and the MMP-2 activity in a dose-dependent manner. Also, epicatechin inhibited the high glucose-induced invasiveness of VSMCs across the matrix barrier in a dose-dependent fashion. CONCLUSION: Collectively, epicatechin may prevent the high glucose-induced proliferation and invasion of VSMCs by inhibiting the TSP-1 expression and the MMP-2 activity. Therefore, epicatechin appears to play a protective role in the development of atherosclerosis.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; Aorta ; Atherosclerosis ; Blood Glucose ; Blotting, Northern ; Blotting, Western ; Catechin* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Gelatin ; Glucose ; Humans ; Incidence ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; RNA, Messenger ; Thrombospondin 1*

Leiomyoma arising primarily in the ovary is a rare tumor, accounting for only 1% of benign ovarian neoplasms. About 50 cases have been reported in the literature to date. Most cases are asymptomatic and this benign neoplasm is usually found incidentally on routine pelvic examination, at surgery, or at autopsy. We present a case of ovarian leiomyoma in 39-year-old woman which has been experienced in our hospital with brief review of literature.
Adult ; Autopsy ; Female ; Gynecological Examination ; Humans ; Leiomyoma* ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Ovary*

Pyomyositis is a bacterial infection of the skeletal muscle with Staphylococcus aureus being the most common pathogen. Pyomyositis by salmonella is quite rare accounting for less than 1% of the total pyomyositis, and has some different characteristics and a poor prognosis compared with those of the typical pyomyositis caused by other bacteria. Among these differences, an older age, other combined diseases, and an immune deficient condition are factors predisposing a patient to pyomyositis by salmonella. We experienced a very rare case of pyomyositis by salmonella at the inguinal area in a multiple myeloma patient. This is the first case reported in South Korea.
Bacteria ; Bacterial Infections ; Humans ; Korea ; Multiple Myeloma* ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Prognosis ; Pyomyositis ; Salmonella* ; Staphylococcus aureus

PURPOSE: To analyze the influences of fracture level and comminution, time to operation and reduction quality on the results of displaced femoral neck fractures in young adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 1996 to January 2003, 39 of 51 cases of displaced femoral neck fractures that were treated with closed reduction and percutaneous internal fixation using cannulated screws, were evaluated after at least two years of follow-up with respect to the fracture level, comminution, time to operation, and reduction quality. RESULTS: The incidence of AVN and non-union were 6/39 (15.4%) and 3/39 (7.7%), respectively. The differences in the incidences of complications among subcapital, transcapital, and subcapital fractures was not significant (p=1 & p=1). There was a higher incidence of AVN (p=0.0066) and non-union (p=0.0219) with posterior comminutions than anterior ones. The time to operation was not an important factor in influencing the development of complications (p=0.4984 & p=1). Between acceptable and poor reductions, the differences in the incidences of AVN was significant (p=0.0105), but not in the incidences of non-unions (p=0.1011). CONCLUSION: We concluded that good quality of reduction is more important than the time to operation for achieving good results, and that comminution is a more important prognostic factor than is the fracture level.
Femoral Neck Fractures* ; Femur Neck* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Young Adult*

BACKGROUND: Phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) has been identified as a major autoantigen in primary membranous nephropathy (MN). We evaluated the association between anti-PLA2R antibodies and clinical outcome in Korean patients with primary MN. METHODS: A total of 66 patients with biopsy-proven MN were included. Serum level of anti-PLA2R antibodies was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Biochemical parameters were estimated initially and at follow-up. RESULTS: Anti-PLA2R antibodies were detected in 52.1% and 27.8% of patients with primary and secondary MN, respectively. Forty-eight patients with primary MN were grouped based on presence or absence of anti-PLA2R antibodies. Proteinuria was more severe in anti-PLA2R-positive patients than in anti-PLA2R-negative patients (urine protein/creatinine ratio 7.922 ± 3.985 g/g vs. 4.318 ± 3.304 g/g, P = 0.001), and anti-PLA2R antibody level was positively correlated with proteinuria. The incidence of chronic kidney disease stage ≥ 3 was higher in anti-PLA2R-positive patients compared with anti-PLA2R-negative patients (P = 0.004). The probabilities of spontaneous remission were higher in anti-PLA2R-negative patients compared with anti-PLA2R-positive patients (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that anti-PLA2R antibodies are an independent risk factor for developing chronic kidney disease stage ≥ 3 and for not reaching spontaneous remission. CONCLUSION: Detection of anti-PLA2R antibodies at diagnosis in patients with primary MN can predict prognosis and guide treatment decisions.
Antibodies ; Diagnosis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prognosis ; Proteinuria ; Receptors, Phospholipase A2 ; Remission, Spontaneous ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Risk Factors