BACKGROUND: There is still risk of acquiring HCV and HIV by transfusion due to window phase. Screening for HCV and HIV-1 by nucleic acid amplification testing (NAT) may improve blood safety allowing detection during the preseroconversion window in donors. METHODS: We investigated NAT usefulness using COBAS AMPLICOR analyzer (Roche). The following sample population were tested:1) 15,552 HCV/HIV-1 seronegative random blood donor samples for HCV and HIV-1 NAT;2) 696 high ALT and 271 HCV EIA positive samples for HCV NAT;3) 1,152 HIV-1 EIA reactive samples for HIV-1 NAT. NAT was performed on pools of 24 donations according to the assay protocol. RESLUTS: Six pools showed initial reactive reactions in HCV NAT and one pool showed initial reactive reaction in HIV-1 NAT. But no donor sample was found repeatedly reactive by this assay. CONCLUSIONS: Although there were false positive reactions, specificity of the NAT assay was high enough for the assay to be applied as a blood screening test and implementation of this assay is expected to improve blood safety and be useful for blood products use.
Blood Donors* ; Blood Safety ; False Positive Reactions ; HIV ; HIV-1* ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tissue Donors

OBJECTIVE: To assess the technical feasibility of a newly designed stent-like electrode in rabbits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A stent-like electrode was knitted from a single thread of nitinol wire and interconnected to a generator using similar wire. In order to gauge the extent of radiofrequency ablation (RFA), we measured the depth of the ablated area in cow liver using a combination of 180-sec time intervals and 20-watt power increments. For data processing, Cox regression analysis was used. RFA was also applied to the small intestine of rabbits using this stent-like electrode under six different sets of conditions: 10 watts for 1 min, 10 watts for 2 mins, 20 watts for 1 min, 20 watts for 2 mins, 30 watts for 1 min, and 30 watts for 2 mins. To determine the gross and microscopic findings, six animals were sacrificed immediately after the procedure and the results obtained under the different sets of conditions were correlated. Eight rabbits were monitored for 4 weeks prior to sacrifice. RESULTS: For both ex-vivo and in-vivo ablations, the depth of the thermal lesion showed linear correlation with both the duration of RFA and the power applied. RFA of the duodenum was technically successful in all 14 rabbits. The acute changes occurring in the rabbits' small intestine included color change, cytoplasmic denaturation, fibrin deposition and hemorrhage, among which hemorrhage of the mucosal layer was the earliest finding. RF ablation for 2 mins at 30 watts caused serosal hemorrhage. The gross and histologic changes occurring showed close correlation under all six sets of conditions. CONCLUSION: Use of the stent-like electrode proves technically feasible but to determine the nature of the chronic change occurring in the gastrointestinal tract after RF ablation, further investigation and long-term follow-up in animals are required.

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that CDT is a potential biological marker in the Western countries to reflect the degree of past alcohol consumption. This study was performed to compare CDT, AST (aspartate transaminase), ALT (alanine transaminase), and GGT (gamma- glutamyl transferase) as a biological marker reflecting drinking amounts in Korean patients. METHODS: The 25 males with moderate drinking(<14 drinks/week) and 26 males with heavy drinking (>21 drinks/week) were studied for the relationships between their weekly drinking amount and the blood levels of CDT, AST, ALT, and GGT. RESULTS: Only CDT was significantly correlated (P=0.001) with weekly drinking amount among heavy drinkers, while both CDT (P=0.029) and GGT (P=0.000) were significantly correlated in moderate drinkers. Stepwise multiple regression revealed that GGT had R2 of 49.1% in moderate drinkers and CDT had R2 of 38.9% in heavy drinkers for the weekly drinking amount. CONCLUSION: The results described above suggested that CDT can be a potential biological marker for the purpose of quantitative monitoring the drinking behavior of heavy drinkers in Korea.
Alcohol Drinking* ; Biomarkers ; Drinking ; Drinking Behavior ; Humans ; Korea ; Male* ; Transferrin*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Sometimes, the endoscopic stent insertion may be done without fluoroscopic guidance. This study was performed to evaluate the difference in success rate of endoscopic stent insertion with or without fluroscopic guidance. A total of hundred and sixty three patients with upper gastrointestinal obstruction were included. METHODS: The group I comprised 82 patients in which the stent insertion was done without fluoroscopy. The group II included 81 patients in which stent was inserted under the fluoroscopy. RESULTS: The locations of obstruction are at esophagus and cardia (group I /group II, 44/40 patients), at pylorus and duodenum (15/34 patients) and at post-operative stenosis of gastro-jejunal anastomosis (23/7 patients). The statistical difference of success rate were not found between the two groups [79/82 (96.3%) in group I, 80/81 (98.2%) in group II, p=0.620]. Among group I, three patients (3.7%) were failed due to incomplete guidewire insertion. These patients were the two cases of jejunal stenosis of esophago-jejunal anastomosis and one case of duodenal obstruction with carcinomatosis peritonei. However, in these cases, the stents were successfully inserted under the fluoroscopic guidance. CONCLUSION: The success rate of the endoscopic stent insertion with or without the fluoroscopic guidance is not different. But in cases of inaccurate guidewire insertion, especially in patients with pyloric obstruction, the endoscopic stent insertion under the fluoroscopic guidance may be more safe and successful.

BACKGROUND: Tibolone is a novel synthetic compound with tissue-specific effects in bone, breast tissue and the endometrium. Tibolone, and active vitamin D, effectively prevent bone loss, and the maintain skeletal integrity of postmenopausal women. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of tibolone, and active vitamin D (1-hydroxyvitamin D3), therapies given alone, or in combination, against bone loss in postmenopausal women. METHODS: One hundred and three postmenopausal women were treated with tibolone (n=40), alphacalcidol (n=27) or both drugs (n=36) for 12 months. All subjects took supplemental calcium carbonate (500 mg daily). The bone mineral densities (BMD) of the lumbar spine and proximal femur were measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the baseline and after 12 months. RESULTS: Tibolone therapy produced significant increase of 4.1 and 1.8% in the BMD at the lumbar spine (p<0.001) and femoral neck (p=0.009), respectively. The combination of tibolone and active vitamin D increased the BMD by 8.0 and 4.4% (p<0.001) at the spine and femoral neck, respectively. The differences in the change of BMD from the baseline at the lumbar spine was significant (p=0.038) in the combination treatment group compared that in the tibolone alone group. CONCLUSION: Tibolone alone, and in combination with active vitamin D, effectively increased the BMD at all skeletal sites in postmenopausal women. Combination treatment for osteoporosis is emerging as a promising modality in Korean postmenopausal women.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Bone Density* ; Breast ; Calcium Carbonate ; Endometrium ; Female ; Femur ; Femur Neck ; Humans ; Osteoporosis ; Spine ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

Leiomyosarcomas make up approximately 1 to 3% of all gastric neoplasms. The most prevalent age group was 6th and 7th decades. The main symptoms and signs were abdominal pain and bleeding. They most frequently involve gastric body and often ulcerate and bleed. Diagnosis can be established only by exploratory operation and histologic examination. Leiomyosarcomas rarely invade adjacent viscera and characteristically do not metastasize to lymph nodes, but they may spread to the liver and lungs. The treatment of choice is surgical resection. We report two cases of gastric leiomyosarcoma which was successfully treated surgically.
Abdominal Pain ; Diagnosis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Leiomyosarcoma* ; Liver ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Stomach* ; Ulcer ; Viscera

Cavernous hemangiomas are unusual tumors with a propensity for skin and liver involvement and rarely involving adrenal gland.Adrenal hemangiomas are nonfunctioning tumors, usually discovered at autopsy. In 1955, Johnson and Jeppensen reported the first adrenal hemangioma to be removed surgically.One case of emangioma of the adrenal gland was reported in Korea. We report a case of a cavernous hemangioma of the adrenal gland which was successfully treated surgically.In addition, we review the clinical, radiographic, and pathologic features of this disease. With the advance of diagnostic thchniques in arterography, ultrasound, and computerized tomography, preoperative recognition and diagnosis should be simplified and surgical removal carried out to rule out possible malignancy, preclude traumatic rupture, or relieve symptoms of the mass.
Adrenal Glands* ; Autopsy ; Diagnosis ; Hemangioma ; Hemangioma, Cavernous* ; Korea ; Liver ; Rupture ; Skin ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been more and more often regarded as a serious disorder, because nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a part of NAFLD, may progress to the end stage of liver disease. Though an advanced age, obesity, diabetes mellitus (DM) etc. being not infrequent conditions in Korea, are known to exacerbate the severity of this disease, there are only a few Korean reports on this subject. The purpose of this study is to identify possible factors that might add up to the pathological severity of this disorder in Korean patients. METHODS: Of 60 patients with steatosis found at liver biopsy, 43 NAFLD patients were reviewed retrospectively after exclusion of other liver diseases. RESULTS: The cases of steatosis were mild, moderate, and severe in 9, 10, and 24 patients, respectively. The degree of necroinflammatory activity was mild, moderate, and severe in 33, 9, and 1 patients, respectively. There were no established factors directly related to these classes. As to fibrosis, the cases were classified as none, mild, moderate, severe, and cirrhotic in 9, 11, 16, 7, and 0 patients, respectively. The stage of fibrosis correlated with the age (p< 0.001), BMI (body mass index) (p=0.032), and the platelet count (p=0.009), but the presence of NASH was associated only with BMI (p=0.002) and obesity (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: It seems that there are no factors that are directly related to the degree of steatosis or necroinflammatory activity. BMI seems to be a unique factor directly related to both the severity of fibrosis and the presence of NASH. The age and the platelet count are factors that are directly related to the degree of fibrosis but not to the presence of NASH.
Adult ; Analysis of Variance ; Body Mass Index ; Fatty Liver/blood/classification/*pathology ; Female ; Human ; Korea ; Male ; Platelet Count ; Prognosis ; ROC Curve ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Severity of Illness Index

BACKGROUND: Onychomycosis, especially toenail onychomycosis has become one of the common fungal infection and has historically been regarded as a cosmetic rather than medical problem by many patients, even by physicians. Recently, however, there are several reports that this is a refractory disease which may cause a deleterious effect on patients' quality of life (QOL). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of toenail onychomycosis on QOL in Korea and to assess the changes of QOL after treatment. METHODS: Total 1004 patients with toenail onychomycosis which was confirmed by clinical findings and KOH preparation were enrolled at 47 dermatologic centers in Korea, and interviewed with standardized QOL questionnaire before and after systemic antifungal treatment. Responses to the questionnaire were scored by f-point scale (0~4) and averaged, and were analyzed for 5 dimensions of emotional impact, social impact, symptom and functional impact, patients' views concerning treatment, and relationship with doctor. RESULTS: 1. Before and after treatment, the most serious impact was emotional dimension showing 1.90 and 1.30 in average score (AS), and social (AS: 1.14 and 0.83) and symptom and functional impact (AS: 1.05 and 0.92) was also affected. 2. In female rather than male, statistically more significant impact on patients' QOL was observed in all dimensions. 3. After treatment, 3 of 5 dimensions were improved significantly - emotional dimension (AS: from 1.90 to 1.30), social dimension (AS: from 1.14 to 0.83), patients' view concerning treatment(AS: from 1.34 to 1.02) 4. The degree of patients' satisfaction at the therapeutic effect was very high - 62.4% (immediately after. treatment) and 65.8% (9 months after initiation of treatment) of patients answered excellent or good. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that toenail onychomycosis has significant Impact on the overall QOL of patients. Also the effect of antifungal therapy on patients' QOL were satisfactory. Therefore, both doctor and patient should pay more attention to the treatment of onychomycosis.
Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Nails* ; Onychomycosis* ; Quality of Life* ; Social Change ; Surveys and Questionnaires