BACKGROUND: Primary hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is the second cause of cancer death in our country. Hepatitis B virus(HBV) and hepatitis C virus(HCV) are important risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma. The mechanism of HCC development and the epidemiology in HCV infected individuals are still unclear. In this study, we investigated the epidemiolgical and clinical features of HCC in relation to viral infection. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 160 HCC patients retrspectively who had been admitted to one University Hospital located in Seoul between January 1991 and December 1995. Among these patients, 113 patients were positive for HBsAg(B group), 24 for anti-HCV(C group). We compared epidemiological and clinical data between B group and C guoup. RESULTS: Anti-HCV positivity was significantly higher in HBsAg negative patients than in HBsAg positive patients(53.3:1.7%, p<0.01). The mean age of patients in B group was significantly lower than that in C group(52:62yr, p<0.01). In C group, the proportion of Child-Pugh class B and C was significantly larger than that of B group(35.4: 75.0%, p<0.01). In C group, the proportion of transfusion history was significantly larger than that in B group(4.4: 16.7%, p<0.05), and the proportion of drug abuse hestory was significantly larger than that in B group (31.0:62.5%, p<0.01). In C group, the albumin, cholesterol, Gamma-glutamyl transferase leves were significantly lower than those in B group. In B group, the proportion of metastasis was significantly larger than that in C group(31.9:4.2%, p<0.01). Alpha fetoprotein levels greater than 400ng/ml are much more prevalent in group B significantly(67:39.1%, p<0.05). No significant differences in cumulative survival rate(1yr, 2yr) and median survival time were observed between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: We ascertain that the HBV and HCV are inportant factors in HCC. In epidemiology and clinical features of HCC, there were some difference between the HBsAg and anti HCV positive group. Therefore, on primary health care settings, it is necessary to test for hepatitis C as well as hepatitis B in order to prevent and manage HCC and chronic liver desease.
alpha-Fetoproteins ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Cholesterol ; Epidemiology* ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens* ; Hepatitis C ; Humans ; Liver ; Medical Records ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Primary Health Care ; Risk Factors ; Seoul ; Substance-Related Disorders ; Transferases

In humans, the major stimulus for cutaneous pigmentation is ultraviolet radiation. Little is known about the mechanism underlying this response, in part, because of the complexity of the interactions involving the whole epidermis. The present stucy was undertake to evaluate the effects of a single exposure of UVB on cultured normal melanocytes. Melanocytes were exposed to UVB from 5.1 mJ/cm to 203 mJ/cm. The results were as follows : 1. The main morphologic changes in UVB-exposed groups w re larger sized cells, more blunted dendrites, and shorter dendrites than in the control group. These cells increased sized according to the increased doses of VVB, but above 101.5 mJ/cm, the melanocytes shrunk and were destroyed. 2. From 20.3 mJ/cm of UVB, the proliferation of melanocyte was decreased, Especially, there was statistical!y significant difference above 50.8 mJ/cm (p<0.05, p<0.01). 3. The antiproliferativo effect increased with the passage of tirie after UVB exposure. So, cell count could not be done in 101.5 mJ/cm and 203 mJ/cm on the third day, and in 50.8 mJ/cm, 101.5 m J/cm and 203 mJ/cm on the seventh day. 4. Statistically the melanin content per well was significantl dicreased to 11-28% of each control group with dose above 50.8 mJ/cm (p<0.05, p<0.01). The melanin content per cell was increased to 107-128% of each control group when doses were below 20.3 mJ/cm and decreased to 49-79% of each control group when above 0.8 mJ/cm on the third day, but there was no statistically significant difference. In summary, when melarocytes were exposed to UVB, morphclogic changes progressed to cell differentiation. The results also suggested that a low or dose of UVB has an antiproliferative arid mild melanogenic effect, and a higher dose of UVB has a direct cytotoxic effect.
Cell Count ; Cell Differentiation ; Dendrites ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Melanins ; Melanocytes* ; Pigmentation

No abstract available.
Adolescent* ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Chrome has been known to be a toxic and poten sensitizer and is contained in materials with which we are in frequent contact. But we have few reports detailing chrome contact dermatitis by clothes or the chrome content of materials in out use. OBJECTIVES: Our purpose was to evaluate the chrome content in rassieres. METHODS: We analyzed chrome in brassieres by using atomied absorption spectrophotometer, quantitatively and diphenylcarbazide method, qualitatively. RESULTS: The content of chrome in a 24 hour saline extracted g roup, a 48 hour saline extracted group and a pure nitric acid extracted group in the black was more abundant than in the reds or in the whites. But there was no aignificant difference in the different fabrics of the blacks. CONCLUSION: Although, in reality, it is hard to change chrome to an other substrate as the mordant of dyes, a limitation needed to prevent diseases induced by chrome during the process of dyeing. If someone has a sensitivity to chrome, it is necessary to wash new clothes before waring and to avoid black colored underwear.
Absorption ; African Continental Ancestry Group ; Coloring Agents ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Diphenylcarbazide ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; Melanocytes ; Nitric Acid

BACKGROUND: Chrome has been known to be a toxic and poten sensitizer and is contained in materials with which we are in frequent contact. But we have few reports detailing chrome contact dermatitis by clothes or the chrome content of materials in out use. OBJECTIVES: Our purpose was to evaluate the chrome content in rassieres. METHODS: We analyzed chrome in brassieres by using atomied absorption spectrophotometer, quantitatively and diphenylcarbazide method, qualitatively. RESULTS: The content of chrome in a 24 hour saline extracted g roup, a 48 hour saline extracted group and a pure nitric acid extracted group in the black was more abundant than in the reds or in the whites. But there was no aignificant difference in the different fabrics of the blacks. CONCLUSION: Although, in reality, it is hard to change chrome to an other substrate as the mordant of dyes, a limitation needed to prevent diseases induced by chrome during the process of dyeing. If someone has a sensitivity to chrome, it is necessary to wash new clothes before waring and to avoid black colored underwear.
Absorption ; African Continental Ancestry Group ; Coloring Agents ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Diphenylcarbazide ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; Melanocytes ; Nitric Acid

No abstract available.

Kerion celsi is an inflammatory type of tinea capitis. We report a case of Kerion celsi caused by Micropsporum canis in 51 year-old man. When he visited our hospital, he suffered from hair loss and erythematous scaly patched and pustules on the scalp and papules on the face with tenderness and itching sensation. Cultures from scalp lesion and infected hair on Sabouraud glucose agar media showed Microsporum canis. Histopathologic findings showed graunlomatous changes in dermis and many spores around the hair shaft. Treatment was done topically with antifungal ointment and systernically with antibiotics, steroid and antifungsl agents. It is uncommon in adults, especially in men, but this condition must be considered when clinicians are evaluating patients with hair loss and nonspecific scalp dermatitis.
Adult* ; Agar ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Dermatitis ; Dermis ; Glucose ; Hair ; Humans ; Male ; Microsporum* ; Middle Aged ; Pruritus ; Scalp ; Sensation ; Spores ; Tinea Capitis*

Biomarkers are characteristic biological properties that can be detected and measured in a variety of biological matrices in the human body, including the blood and tissue, to give an indication of whether there is a threat of disease, if a disease already exists, or how such a disease may develop in an individual case. Along the continuum from exposure to clinical disease and progression, exposure, internal dose, biologically effective dose, early biological effect, altered structure and/or function, clinical disease, and disease progression can potentially be observed and quantified using biomarkers. While the traditional discovery of biomarkers has been a slow process, the advent of molecular and genomic medicine has resulted in explosive growth in the discovery of new biomarkers. In this review, issues in evaluating biomarkers will be discussed and the biomarkers of environmental exposure, early biologic effect, and susceptibility identified and validated in epidemiological studies will be summarized. The spectrum of genomic approaches currently used to identify and apply biomarkers and strategies to validate genomic biomarkers will also be discussed.
Disease Progression ; Environmental Exposure ; *Epidemiologic Studies ; *Genetic Markers ; Humans ; Molecular Epidemiology/*methods ; Neoplasms/epidemiology ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology

Phase and Amplitude Image were developed to overcome the subjective nature of interpretation for cinematic endless loop display of radionuclide gated blood pool scan. To evaluate the usefulness of color coded phase image in coronary artery disease, we conducted a clinical study with coronary angiography and phase image in 23 patients, and compared the results of those studies. 1) The results of coronary angiography revealed normal coronary artery in 6, 1 vessel disease in 11, 2 vessel disease in 4, and 3 vessel disease in 2 patients. 2) Color-coded Phase Image revealed abnormal phase area in 2/2(100%) of 3 vessel disease patients and in 3/4(75%) of 2 vessel disease patients, in 5/11(45%) of 1 vessel disease patients, and only 1/6(16%) of normal coronary artery. 3) Among the patients who disclosed abnormal phase image, 5 patients of 2-or3-vessl disease revealed abnormal phase through whole left ventricular area, but 3 patients with right coronary artery lesion and 2 patients with left antrior descending artery lesion showed localized abnormal phase area, infero-apical and anterior portion respectively, which were in accord with each coronary lesion. We concluded that the phase image may be useful in evaluation of the regional wall motion abnormalities in the patients of coronary artery disease. Further studies seem to be neccessary to clarify the sensitivity and specificity of the phase image in the each disease entity group.
Arteries ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Plummer-Vinson syndrome (sideropenic dysphagia) is characterized by dysphagia due to an upper esophageal or a hypopharyngeal web in a patient with chronic iron deficiency anemia. The main cause of dysphagia is the web of the cervical esophagus, and an abnormal motility of the pharynx or the esophagus is found to play a significant role in the above cause. Patients with this syndrome are thought to be precancerous because squamous cell carcinomas of the hypopharynx, oral cavity, or esophagus take place in 10% of those patients. However, for Plummer-Vinson syndrome to be combined with gastric cancer is most unusual. We report the case of a 43-year-old woman who was first found to have stomach cancer under a diagnosis of Plummer-Vinson syndrome and who recovered after surgery.
Adult ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Deglutition Disorders ; Diagnosis ; Esophagus ; Female ; Humans ; Hypopharynx ; Mouth ; Pharynx ; Plummer-Vinson Syndrome* ; Stomach Neoplasms*