To study the therapeutic effect of ribavirin, a broad spectrum antiviral agent, for chronic hepatitis B in pediatric patients, 24 patients who were diagnosed as chronic hepatitis B (elevated SGOT and SGPT and positive HBsAg and HBeAg for more than 6 months) at the pediatric department of Yeungnam University Hospital from Mar. 1, 1985 to Sep. 30, 1986 were randomly divided into two groups. Ribavirin was administered to 11 patients in dose of 15mg/kg/day and 13 patients were control group and both groups were followed for 12 months. Serum HBsAg and HBeAg were measured with RIA (Ausria-II and Abbott-HBe, respectively) and compared in P/N ratio (counts per minute of patient's sample/counts per minute of normal serum). There were no statistically significant reductions in P/N ratios of HBsAg and HBeAg in both groups between prior to the therapy and 12 months follow-up period. It seems that ribavirin does not have the therapeutic effect on chronic hepatitis B in children. Also, there were no noticeable side effects from ribavirin therapy.
Alanine Transaminase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Child* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Ribavirin*

Nitric oxide (NO) is mainly involved in brain ischemic damage to elucidate the protective mechanism of NO pretreatment on ischemic-induced cytotoxicity. This study was investigated whether NO pretreatment inhibits the increase of iNOS expression by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) combined phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) via regulating NF-kB activation in C6 glial cells. C6 glial cells with LPS and PMA for 72 hours markedly induced NO, but sodium nitroprusside (SNP) (100 nM) pretreatment before exposure of LPS and PMA significantly supressed NO production, iNOS expression and NF-kB activation by LPS and PMA. In addition, LPS and PMA treatment for 72 hours induced severely cell death and LDH release from cell into media in C6 glial cells. However SNP pretreatment before treatment of LPS and PMA significantly protected LPS and PMA induced cytotoxicity. Treatment with LPS and PMA induced caspase 3 activation follewed by chromosomal condensation, and fragmentation of nuclei in C6 glial cells. SNP pretreatment before exposure to LPS and PMA supressed caspase 3 activation and inhibited chromosomal condensation and fragmentation of nuclei. From these above results, it is suggest that the protective effects of SNP pretreatment against LPS and PMA induced cytotoxicity may be mediated by inhibiting the expression of iNOS via regulating NF-kB activation.
Brain ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Death ; Neuroglia ; NF-kappa B ; Nitric Oxide* ; Nitroprusside

The cystic teratoma is the most common germ cell tumors in reproductive age women. The malignant change of cystic teratoma is rare, about 1~2%, and mostly change to squ-amous cell carcinoma. We experienced 4 cases of squamous cell carcinoma arising in cystic teratoma and re- port our cases with a brief review of the literature.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Female ; Humans ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal ; Ovary* ; Teratoma*

No abstract available.
Lymphoma*

BACKGROUND: High risks of fire alway exist for buildings in urban areas, especially those in downtown. Crowds, as well as more complex and larger structures, may cause more victims in the event of fire; therefore, emergency medical service plans must be established for such disastrous events. METHODS: On the evening of October 30, 1999, a fire broke out in downtown, Dong-Incheon Live-Hof restaurant; 56 people were killed and 76 were injured. Most of them were teenagers. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the victims. RESULTS: 1) Among the 56 dead, 54 died from smoke inhalation, one from extensive burns, and one from sepsis during treatment. 2) Among the 76 injured, 70 patients suffered from smoke inhalation, 53 from burns, and 9 from several types of trauma (sprains, contusions, lacerations, abrasions, fractures, etc.). 3) Later complications were laryngeal edema, pulmonary edema, scar contracture, and hypoxic brain damage, and so forth. 4) Post traumatic stress syndrome was unexpectedly more prevalent in mildly to moderately injured survivors and witnesses than in seriously injured survivors. CONCLUSION: Many complications exist after a fire. Some may be resolved in time, but others may result in permanent sequelae. Early rescue, early triage, and early management during transport by emergency medical service (EMS) personnel can result in fewer complications and a lower mortality rate. Therefore, we propose the establishment of plans to be followed during various major disasters.
Adolescent ; Burns ; Cicatrix ; Contracture ; Contusions ; Disasters ; Emergency Medical Services ; Fires* ; Humans ; Hypoxia, Brain ; Inhalation ; Lacerations ; Laryngeal Edema ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Pulmonary Edema ; Restaurants* ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis ; Smoke ; Survivors ; Triage

During inflammation of the colon, cells of the gut mucosa produce or express numerous inflammatory mediators, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1 beta), and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1). These mediators have been implicated as contributory factors to the inflammatory process, which results in colitis during inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Rebamipide is an anti-gastric ulcer drug with anti-inflammatory properties in vivo and in vitro. The effects of Rebamipide on IBD have not been largely evaluated. Therefore, this study investigated the potential of Rebamipide to regulate the production of inflammatory mediators such as TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and ICAM-1. Mice with trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis (IBD animal model), were treated intrarectally with 2 mM Rebamipide. Body weight, macro- and micro-histological scores, and activity were evaluated. As an index of tissue edema, the thickness of the colonic wall was measured between the serosal surface and the luminal surface of the mucosa. TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and ICAM-1 were detected by immunohistochemical staining. Rebamipide treatment of mice exhibiting TNBS-induced colitis dramatically improved the clinical and histopathological findings of inflammation. In addition, Rebamipide suppressed TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and ICAM-1 expression in TNBS-treated animals. Taken together, these findings suggest that Rebamipide is a potential therapeutic agent for treating patients with IBD.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Colitis ; Colon* ; Down-Regulation* ; Edema ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1* ; Interleukin-1beta ; Mice ; Mucous Membrane ; Phenobarbital ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha* ; Ulcer

PURPOSE: The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system activation has been suggested as a potential risk factor for renal progression in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). This study was performed to evaluate urinary angiotensinogen as a biomarker of renal progression in ADPKD. METHODS: Patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) > or =30 mL/min/1.73m2 were enrolled in the study. Specimens (blood and urine) and computed tomography (CT) were taken from each subject. The eGFR was calculated by 4-variable MDRD equation and total kidney volume (TKV) was measured from CT images by modified ellipsoid method. Urinary angiotensinogen (AGT) and neutrophil gelatinaseassociated lipocalin (NGAL) were measured by ELISA. The concentration of AGT was adjusted with random urine creatinine (Cr). The association between urinary biomarkers, TKV and eGFR were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 59 (M:F=31:28) subjects were enrolled in the study and their mean age was 46 years. The eGFR and TKV at the enrollment were 77.3+/-15.6 mL/min/1.73m2 and 1389.8+/-925.1 mL, respectively. Log AGT/Cr was associated with TKV (r2=0.117, p=0.01) in the earlier stage of disease (TKV<3,000 mL). However, it did not show significant correlation with eGFR. Log NGAL was not associated with either TKV or eGFR. Urinary AGT/Cr was closely related to the number of anti-hypertensive medication, TKV, and the presence of albuminuria, although there was no correlation with plasma renin activity or aldosterone level. CONCLUSION: Urinary angiotensinogen may be a useful biomarker of disease progression in ADPKD patients.
Albuminuria ; Aldosterone ; Angiotensinogen ; Biomarkers ; Creatinine ; Disease Progression ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Kidney ; Lipocalins ; Neutrophils ; Organ Size ; Plasma ; Polycystic Kidney Diseases ; Polycystic Kidney, Autosomal Dominant ; Renin ; Renin-Angiotensin System

PURPOSE: Right lobe donation was advocated to overcome size-mismatch between left lobe and larger-size recipient in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), however, safety of donor is a major concern. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety of donor in adult-to-adult LDLT. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 104 adult-to-adult LDLT was performed by comparison of left lobectomy (n=50) and right lobectomy (n=54) groups. RESULTS: The median age of donors was 28 years and offsprings were most common donors (33.7%). The right lobe graft provided larger mass by 60% than left lobe. The ratio of residual liver volume to total liver volume, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative ICU stay showed significant differences in both groups. Recovery of liver profiles was delayed by several days in right lobectomy group, but all donors recovered uneventfully. There was no mortality nor sequela in both groups. Severe postoperative complications occured more frequently in right lobectomy group, and they were bile leakage (n=3), postoperative bleeding (n=5), and portal vein thrombosis (n=1). All complications were controlled with safety. CONCLUSION: Right lobe harvesting can be safe but should be performed only by expert operators because there is potential operative risk. To minimize operative complications, attention should be paid to every step of procedures and to postoperative surveillance.
Adult ; Male ; Female ; Humans ; Mortality

OBJECTIVES: Major depressive disorder (MDD) causes patients' distress and makes socioeconomic burden, both directly and indirectly. We used the concept of lost productive time (LPT) to estimate the indirect costs and calculated both absenteeism and presenteeism among workers with MDD. METHODS: Depression group was recruited from workers visiting psychiatric outpatient clinic who had MDD without major physical or mental disorders (N=106). Age and sex matched healthy control group was also recruited through advertisement (M=100). All participants completed a interview using WHO Health and Work Performance Questionnaire (HPQ), Job Stress Measurement Scale for Korean Employees, and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Statistical analysis was performed with independent t-test or Chi2 test as characteristics of values (p=0.05). RESULTS: The number of absence (0.94-day/month vs. 0.10-day/month, p=0.015) and the number of early leaving (2.56-day/month vs. 0.24-day/month, p<0.001) were significantly higher in the depression group. Depression group evaluated their performance level much lower than controls with significant value (5.16 vs. 7.62, p<0.001). In addition, depression group estimated their performance level during the last 4 weeks lower compared to the level of past 1-year (5.16 vs 6.63, p<0.001). The estimated costs of absenteeism in depression group were higher than controls by 2,520,000 Korean Won per year, and those of presenteeism were also higher by 4,880,000 Korean Won per year. The total costs of LPT in depression group were higher than controls by 7,400,000 Korean Won, which corresponds to 26% of mean annual salary. In addition, the level of occupational stress, such as high demand and interpersonal conflict, was higher in the depression group. CONCLUSION: Major depressive disorder costs substantial productivity loss to workers and their company. Presenteeism imposes more time cost than absenteeism. Effectiveness trials are needed to devise cost-effective programs for the early detection and treatment of depression at the workplace.
Absenteeism ; Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Cost of Illness ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder, Major* ; Efficiency* ; Mental Disorders ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Salaries and Fringe Benefits

The human transforming growth factor-3 (TGF-3) is an important cytokine to maintain bone mass by inhibiting osteoclast differentiation. Recently raloxifene response element (RRE), a new enhancer with a polypurine sequence for estrogen receptor (ER)-mediated gene activation, was identified on the TGF-3 gene. Functional analysis of the RRE-mediated pathway has shown that this would be an important pathway for bone preserving effect. We found a novel mutation in the RRE sequence by single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis in one of 200 Korean women. Cloning and sequencing revealed a heterozygote in which one allele had an insertion of 20 nucleotides (AGAGAGGGAGAGGGAGA GGG) between nucleotide +71 and +72 and a point mutation at nucleotide +75 (G-A transition), and the other allele had normal sequence. The insertion was a nearly perfect tandem duplication of the wild type DNA sequence. The bone mineral density of the affected woman was not much lower than that of age-matched controls. Transient transfection of the mutant allele showed no significantly different activity compared with that of the wild type allele. These observations suggest that the heterozygote variation of the RRE sequence seems not to be operative in determination of bone mass.
Estrogen Antagonists/*pharmacology ; Female ; Human ; Middle Age ; *Mutation ; Raloxifene/*pharmacology ; *Response Elements ; Transfection ; Transforming Growth Factor beta/*genetics