PURPOSE: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers in many parts of the world, however the molecular mechanisms underlying liver cell transformation remain obscure. The instability of microsatellite sequences dispersed in the genome has been linked to a deficiency in cellular mismatch repair. This phenotype has been frequently observed in various human neoplasms and is regarded as a major factor in tumorigenesis. To investigate cumulative genetic changes related with apoptosis during development and progression of HCC, we examined DNAs isolated from 12 Korean HCCs and their adjacent non-tumorous parts to look for evidence of microsatellite instability (MSI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve microsatellite loci (D6S271, D6S426, D13S153, D13S263, D17S849, D17S938, D17S945, D18S474, D18S64, D19S420, D.19S418 and D19S210) were amplified by PCR from 12 Korean HCCs, and analyzed using an automated DNA analyzer. RESULTS: The high percentages of the MSI were found for the loci of D6S426 (33.3%) and D17S945 (25.0%). The related genes with high frequency of MSI were noted in the wafl (41.7%) and p53 (25.0%). From this study, fifty eight percent of HCCs (7/12) showed MSI with at least one marker. CONCLUSION: This results suggest that the analysis of MSI in HCC might be useful for identifying genes whose loss of function contributes to the development of liver cancer. Furthennore, this method may give a more rapid and accurate sizing of the PCR products of microsatellite; making the routine assessment of MSI possible in many clinical fields.
Apoptosis ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; DNA ; DNA Mismatch Repair ; Genome ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Neoplasms ; Microsatellite Instability* ; Microsatellite Repeats* ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction*

No abstract available.
Puberty, Precocious* ; Sertoli-Leydig Cell Tumor*

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to evaluate the clinical efficasy of lovastatin, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, in patients with hypercholesterolemia. METHODS AND RESULTS: Lovastatin 20 to 80 mg were administered once daily for 12 weeks in twenty five patients(11 male, 14 famale ; nine patients with familial hypercholesterolemia) with hypercholesterolemia(>240mg/dl). Compared with pretreatment levels, lovastatin significantly decreased levels of total cholesterol(309+/-46mg/dl versus 201+/-37mg/dl) by 35%, LDL-cholesterol(230+/-48mg/dl versus 125+/-40mg/dl) by 46% and triglyceride(170+/-76 versus 142+/-66mg/dl) by 11% (p<0.05) with significantly decreased levels of total-cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio(7.4+/-2.1 versue 4.6+/-1.5) and LDL-cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio(5.6+/-1.9 versue 2.9+/-1.4) (p<0.005 except triglyceride, respectively). The level of Apo B(183+/-32mg/dl versus 114+/-26mg/dl) was decreased significantly by 37%(p<0.005) with significantly decreased level of Apo A-1(115+/-22 to 122+/-26mg/dl) was increased significantly by 6%(p<0.05). No serious side effects were found. CONCLUSIONS: Results from the present study show that lovastatin is an effective and well-tolerated cholesterol-lowering agent.
Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia* ; Lovastatin* ; Male ; Oxidoreductases ; Triglycerides

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate women's perception and satisfaction before and after hysterectomy comparing urinary, lower gastrointestinal, and sexual function. METHODS: It was a prospective study of 89 women ages 31-65 years undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy for nonmalignant conditions. These women were interviewed before surgery and 1, 3 and 6 months later. Patients-reported symptoms of urinary, lower gastrointestinal, and sexual function and woman's satisfaction of hysterectomy were assessed. Only P< or =0.001 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The most common reason of patients for hysterectomy was abnormal uterine bleeding. Secondary complication after hysterectomy was negligible. Hysterectomy has got lead to the improvements in pelvic/abdominal pain, gastrointestinal symptoms, and urinary symptoms. The frequency of orgasm was reduced, but other sexual variables were not changed significantly. The level of satisfaction after hysterectomy was very high. CONCLUSION: Abdominal hysterectomy for benign conditions improves urinary and lower gastrointestinal function with no consistent changes in sexual function. Hysterectomy gives patients high degree of satisfaction as well as marked improvement of quality of life.
Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Orgasm ; Prospective Studies ; Quality of Life ; Uterine Hemorrhage

A case of Diphyllobothrium latum infection in a 49-year old man is described, and diphyllobothriasis latum in the Republic of Korea is briefly reviewed. An incomplete strobila of a tapeworm, 95 cm in length, without scolex and neck, was spontaneously discharged in the feces of a patient. On the basis of morphologic characteristics of the worm and eggs, the worm was identified as D. latum. The patient was successfully treated with a single dose (15 mg/kg) of praziquantel. The most probable source of infection was salmon flesh according to the past history of the patient. The first case of D. latum infection was documented in 1971, and this is the 43rd recorded case in the Republic of Korea. The 43 cases were briefly reviewed. The patients' main complaints were gastrointestinal troubles, such as mild abdominal pain, indigestion, and diarrhea, and discharge of tapeworm segments in the feces. The suspected infection sources included raw or improperly cooked flesh of fresh or brackish water fish, including the perch, mullet, salmon, and trout.
Animals ; Anthelmintics/therapeutic use ; Diphyllobothriasis/drug therapy/*epidemiology/*parasitology ; Diphyllobothrium/anatomy & histology/*isolation & purification/pathogenicity ; Feces/parasitology ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Praziquantel/therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

A 76-year-old Korean man living in Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do, visited one University Hospital with dyspnea and abdominal pain. He has been undergoing transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for the past three years for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Abdominal pain developed 10 days ago, and became worse several days prior to coming to the emergency room. Physical examination revealed tenderness over the umbilicus. Eosinophil count was 22% without increase in the number of white blood cells. Stool examination showed adult and larval nematodes, which were subsequently identified as free-living adult worms and rhabditiform larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis. Follow-up stool examination performed six days later demonstrated only rhabditiform larvae of S. stercoralis. This is the first report on the recovery of free- living adult worms from human stool in the world.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Dyspnea ; Emergencies ; Eosinophils ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Larva ; Leukocytes ; Physical Examination ; Strongyloides ; Strongyloides stercoralis ; Umbilicus

A 76-year-old Korean man living in Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do, visited one University Hospital with dyspnea and abdominal pain. He has been undergoing transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for the past three years for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Abdominal pain developed 10 days ago, and became worse several days prior to coming to the emergency room. Physical examination revealed tenderness over the umbilicus. Eosinophil count was 22% without increase in the number of white blood cells. Stool examination showed adult and larval nematodes, which were subsequently identified as free-living adult worms and rhabditiform larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis. Follow-up stool examination performed six days later demonstrated only rhabditiform larvae of S. stercoralis. This is the first report on the recovery of free- living adult worms from human stool in the world.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Dyspnea ; Emergencies ; Eosinophils ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Larva ; Leukocytes ; Physical Examination ; Strongyloides ; Strongyloides stercoralis ; Umbilicus

BACKGROUND: The status of intestinal parasite infections among the residents of nationwide geographical areas in the Republic of Korea has been little investigated since 1997. The present study was designed to estimate the infection status of intestinal parasites among residents of several geographical areas in the Republic of Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fecal samples of 4,137 people (men:2,170, women:1,967) who visited the Korea Association of Health Promotion for a health check-up were collected from July to September, 2004. Specimens were examined for helminth eggs, larvae, and protozoan cysts using the Kato-Katz thick smear, formalin-ether sedimentation, and modified acid-fast staining techniques. RESULTS: Helminth eggs, larvae, and protozoan cysts were found in 322 (7.8%) of the 4,137 specimens examined. The helminth species detected were Clonorchis sinensis (in 259 specimens; 6.3%), Metagonimus sp. (14; 0.34%), Pygidiopsis summa (5; 0.12%), unidentified heterophyids (24; 0.58%), Echinostoma sp. (4; 0.1%), Gymnophalloides seoi (4; 0.1%), Paragonimus westermani (1; 0.02%), Trichuris trichiura (10; 0.24%), Ascaris lumbricoides (1; 0.02%), hookworms (1; 0.02%), and Strongyloides stercoralis (larva positive) (1; 0.02%). The protozoans detected were Entamoeba coli (9; 0.22%), Giardia lamblia (1; 0.02%), and Isospora sp. (1; 0.02%). The parasite positive rate was the highest in Gyeongsangnam-do (38 specimens; 15.3%), followed in decreasing order by Gwangju/ Jeollanam-do (56; 13.9%), Busan (58; 12.3%), Gyeongsangbuk-do (18; 11.2%), Daejeon/Chungcheongnam-do (42; 8.1%), Chungcheongbuk-do (18; 8.0%), Incheon (10; 7.0%), Daegu (22; 6.8 %), Gyeonggi-do (25; 5.0%), Jeollabuk-do (7; 4.4%), Gangwon-do (6; 3.5%), Seoul (20; 2.6%), and Jeju-do (2; 2.0%). The male positive rate (225/2,170; 10.4%) was significantly higher than that of females (95/1,967; 4.8%) (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Fish-borne trematodes including C. sinensis and heterophyids appear to be the major intestinal parasites among residents of the Republic of Korea. Control efforts are required against these fish-borne parasitic zoonoses.
Ancylostomatoidea ; Ascaris lumbricoides ; Busan ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Clonorchis sinensis ; Daegu ; Echinostoma ; Eggs ; Entamoeba ; Female ; Gangwon-do ; Giardia lamblia ; Gyeonggi-do ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Health Promotion ; Helminths ; Heterophyidae ; Humans ; Incheon ; Isospora ; Jeju-do ; Jeollabuk-do ; Jeollanam-do ; Korea ; Larva ; Male ; Ovum ; Paragonimus westermani ; Parasites* ; Republic of Korea ; Seoul ; Strongyloides stercoralis ; Trichuris ; Zoonoses

BACKGROUND: The status of intestinal parasite infections among the residents of nationwide geographical areas in the Republic of Korea has been little investigated since 1997. The present study was designed to estimate the infection status of intestinal parasites among residents of several geographical areas in the Republic of Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fecal samples of 4,137 people (men:2,170, women:1,967) who visited the Korea Association of Health Promotion for a health check-up were collected from July to September, 2004. Specimens were examined for helminth eggs, larvae, and protozoan cysts using the Kato-Katz thick smear, formalin-ether sedimentation, and modified acid-fast staining techniques. RESULTS: Helminth eggs, larvae, and protozoan cysts were found in 322 (7.8%) of the 4,137 specimens examined. The helminth species detected were Clonorchis sinensis (in 259 specimens; 6.3%), Metagonimus sp. (14; 0.34%), Pygidiopsis summa (5; 0.12%), unidentified heterophyids (24; 0.58%), Echinostoma sp. (4; 0.1%), Gymnophalloides seoi (4; 0.1%), Paragonimus westermani (1; 0.02%), Trichuris trichiura (10; 0.24%), Ascaris lumbricoides (1; 0.02%), hookworms (1; 0.02%), and Strongyloides stercoralis (larva positive) (1; 0.02%). The protozoans detected were Entamoeba coli (9; 0.22%), Giardia lamblia (1; 0.02%), and Isospora sp. (1; 0.02%). The parasite positive rate was the highest in Gyeongsangnam-do (38 specimens; 15.3%), followed in decreasing order by Gwangju/ Jeollanam-do (56; 13.9%), Busan (58; 12.3%), Gyeongsangbuk-do (18; 11.2%), Daejeon/Chungcheongnam-do (42; 8.1%), Chungcheongbuk-do (18; 8.0%), Incheon (10; 7.0%), Daegu (22; 6.8 %), Gyeonggi-do (25; 5.0%), Jeollabuk-do (7; 4.4%), Gangwon-do (6; 3.5%), Seoul (20; 2.6%), and Jeju-do (2; 2.0%). The male positive rate (225/2,170; 10.4%) was significantly higher than that of females (95/1,967; 4.8%) (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Fish-borne trematodes including C. sinensis and heterophyids appear to be the major intestinal parasites among residents of the Republic of Korea. Control efforts are required against these fish-borne parasitic zoonoses.
Ancylostomatoidea ; Ascaris lumbricoides ; Busan ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Clonorchis sinensis ; Daegu ; Echinostoma ; Eggs ; Entamoeba ; Female ; Gangwon-do ; Giardia lamblia ; Gyeonggi-do ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Health Promotion ; Helminths ; Heterophyidae ; Humans ; Incheon ; Isospora ; Jeju-do ; Jeollabuk-do ; Jeollanam-do ; Korea ; Larva ; Male ; Ovum ; Paragonimus westermani ; Parasites* ; Republic of Korea ; Seoul ; Strongyloides stercoralis ; Trichuris ; Zoonoses

It has been decades since the concept of empty follicle syndrome (EFS), in which no oocytes are retrieved in an in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycle, was introduced. The incidence of this syndrome in patients undergoing IVF-ET has been estimated to be about 0.6-7%. The use of recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin (r-hCG) can be a useful option for the EFS patients with previous failure of oocyte retrieval in IVF-ET cycles. We present a case of empty follicle syndrome with successful oocyte retrieval by the use of r-hCG.
Chorionic Gonadotropin* ; Embryo Transfer ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans* ; Incidence ; Oocyte Retrieval* ; Oocytes*