BACKGROUND/AIMS: In order to determine the relationship between the HBV precore mutant and the severity of liver disease in Korea, we performed liver biopsies in patients with HBV related chronic liver disease and compared the types of mutations and histologic findings in the same liver tissue simultaneously. METHODS: HBV DNA in liver tissues was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The precore mutants were detected by PCR-SSCP(single strand conformation polymorphism), cloning the amplified PCR products and direct sequencing for them. RESULTS: 1. HBV DNA was detected in liver tissues of 28 cases among 30 patients with PCR. And with SSCP, the most cases were mixed type infections. 2. The HBV precore mutants were found in 12 cases among the total number of 28 cases(42.9%) and all mutations were G to A change at nucleotide 1896, creating a stop codon at codon 28. However, 10 cases among 12 mutants were associated with simultaneous another mutation at different positions or regions;9 cases at core gene region, 2 cases at nucleotide 1856(C to T change at codon 15), one case at core promoter, and one case with double mutations at nucleotide 1837 and 1846 respectively. Also, all HBV precore mutants were combined with wild type HBV sequence. 3. The relationship between HBV precore mutants and HBeAg status revealed that 4 cases from 13 HBeAg positive(30.8%) and 8 from 15 HBeAg negative or Anti-Hbe positive(53.3 %) were mutants. 4. In analysis of the types of mutants and histopathological findings of liver diseases, 6 among 15 chronic active hepatitis(40.0%), all 3 cases with hepatocellular carcinoma(100,0 %), 2 among 4 asymptomatic carriers with minimal histopathologic changes(50.0%) and a case with chronic lobular heaptitis(100.0%) showed precore region mutation. CONCLUSION: The patterns of HBV precore mutants in Korea could be summarized as followings. Firstly, most of the mutations are composed of G to A change at nucleotide 1896. Secondly, the most of the mutants at nuclmtide 1896 have been associated with simultaneous mutations at core promoter, core gene, and rarely at other positions, and manifested usua'ly mixed type viremic conditions. Thirdly, although precore mutation could be occurred in asymptomatic carrier, this type of mutation might be closely related with chronic or severe liver disease. However, it needs further investigations hereafter.
Biopsy ; Clone Cells ; Cloning, Organism ; Codon ; Codon, Terminator ; DNA ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B, Chronic* ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver Diseases ; Liver* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational

No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae* ; Mycoplasma* ; Pneumonia* ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma*

No abstract available.
Anemia, Neonatal* ; Fetal Blood* ; Infant, Newborn

The muscle glycogen is an important energy source for muscle contraction especially in prolonged exercise. One of the important factors for improvement of physical performance in athletes is the storage of extra-amount of glycogen (supercompensation) in liver and muscles. During 120 minutes treadmill exercise (intensity of exercise was approximatly 80% VO2max), the glycogen concentration was significantly decreased to 36% in liver and 46% in muscles after 60 minutes exercise. At 90 and 120 minutes of exercise, the level of glycogen concentration of liver and muscles statistically were not different from the levels of the 60 minutes exercise. The repletions of glycogen in the liver and muscles in overnight fasted control(C) and 120 minutes treadmill exercise(E) groups during l80minutes after glucose ingestion were investigatect. ln the liver, the concentration of glycogen in C and E groups were markdly increased till 120 minutes after zlucose ingestion, hut the levels of concentration at 180 minutes were decreased comparing to the levels of 120 minutes in both groups. In the muscles, the repletion of glycogen at 60, 120 and 180 minutes of C and E groups were significantly increased comparing to 0 minute of respective groups in the soleus and plantaris muscles. In soleus(SOL), the repletion of glycogen in all of the E groups was significantly higher than that of the respective C groups. However, the repletion of glycogen in all of the E groups of plantaris was revealed higher tendency comparing to respective C groups. Mean repletion rates of glycogen in liver and muscles after glucose ingestion were highest during the first 60 minutes in all groups and the rates of E groups were 2-3 times than those of respective C groups. These results suggest that the glycogen supercompensation in the muscle be provided with decrement of glycogen concentration by exercise, increment of glucose uptake by muscuiar contraction itself and increased insuJin level, and the activation of glycogen synthetase by insulin.
Animals ; Athletes ; Eating* ; Glucose* ; Glycogen Synthase ; Glycogen* ; Humans ; Insulin ; Liver* ; Muscle Contraction ; Muscles ; Rats*

No abstract available.
Reye Syndrome*

Lichen planopilaris is believed to be a variant of lichen planus which is occasionally accompanied by classical lichen planus. A 68-year old male had asymptomatic skin colored or light violet colored papules and nodules on the occipital area followed by hair loss for 2 months. He had also violaceous pea to bean sized whitish scaly papules on the right lower extremity. Histopathological examination revealed the dilated follicles to be filled with horny material. There were also intense infiltrations of monocytes which were most prominent at the lower pole of the hair follicles on the scalp lesion. There was also hyperkeratosis, focal hypergranulosis and band-like infiltrations of lymphocytes at the dermo-epidermal junction on the lesion of the lower extremity. Direct immunofluorescence examination showed linear deposition of fibrin at the dermo-epidermal junction in the hair follicles. We had an opportunity to observe a man with lichen planopilaris who had loss of scalp hair which was accompanied by classical lichen planus on the lower extremity.
Aged ; Fibrin ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct ; Hair ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Lichen Planus ; Lichens* ; Lower Extremity ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Monocytes ; Peas ; Scalp ; Skin ; Viola

PURPOSE: To evaluate the indication for intracavitary Urokinase(UK) in the treatment of Ioculated pleural effusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed CT and US in 31 patients who were treated with intracavitary UK in Ioculated pleural effusion. In each patient, a single chest catheter (10-12F) was insected under imaging guidance. When the amount of drainage was less than 100ml/day, UK was instilled through the catheter until less than 50ml/day was drained. On follow-up chest radiographs of more than 1 month, we classified the results of treatment into 3 groups:(1) completely effective (lung expansion, over 80%);(2) partially effective (20-80%); (3) ineffective (below 20%) group. Sonographic pattern of pleural fluid was classified into anechoic, septated, and honeycomb appearances and the thickness of parietal pleura was measured on CT. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were completely effective, nine were partially effective, and six were ineffective. patients with completely or partially effective outcome had anechoic and linear septated appearance on had less than 4mm of parietal pleural thickness on CT. Of six ineffective patients, US showed linear septated in one patient and honeycomb appearance in five patients and the thickness of parietal pleura on CT was 3 mm in one patient, 4ram in two patients, 5mm in one patient, and 6mm in two patients. CONCLUSION: UK instillation through percutaneous catheter was an effective method in the treatment of Ioculated pleural effusion. However, we found near complete reaccumulation of pleural fluid when honeycomb appearance of pleural fluid on US or more than 5mm parietal pleural thickness on CT was observed, which might suggest that we should consider the other kinds of treatment method in those patients.
Catheters ; Drainage ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Insects ; Pleura ; Pleural Effusion* ; Rabeprazole ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Thorax ; Ultrasonography ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator*

Ancient schwannoma is a variant of schwannoma and is characterized slowly growing tumor with degenerative change. And it is reported that schwannoma is relatively rare in extensor area. As a rare cause of solitary ancient schwannoma in extensor area of upper arm, we report it.
Arm ; Neurilemmoma

A rare case of chondrosarcoma of the skull in a 57 year old female is reported. The tumor was located in the right parasella region, extra-dural type. A plain skull showed amorphous calcific densities in the right parasella area. Right carotid angiogram showed a slightly opening of carotid siphon on lateral view. CT brain scan showed a irregular mottled calcific density in the right parasella area. Osteoplastic craniotomy on right frontotemporal area was performed for removal of tumor. Then, patient was improved markedly.
Brain ; Chondrosarcoma* ; Craniotomy ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Oculomotor Nerve Diseases ; Skull

A rare case of chondrosarcoma of the skull in a 57 year old female is reported. The tumor was located in the right parasella region, extra-dural type. A plain skull showed amorphous calcific densities in the right parasella area. Right carotid angiogram showed a slightly opening of carotid siphon on lateral view. CT brain scan showed a irregular mottled calcific density in the right parasella area. Osteoplastic craniotomy on right frontotemporal area was performed for removal of tumor. Then, patient was improved markedly.
Brain ; Chondrosarcoma* ; Craniotomy ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Oculomotor Nerve Diseases ; Skull