No abstract available.
Audiometry*

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

No abstract available.
Cesarean Section* ; Female ; Pregnancy

During the reproductive period, human endometrium undergoes a pattern of cyclic change. Human endometrium undergoes a complex pattern of proliferation, secretory activity, and menstruation over an approximately 28 days period. Proliferative activity is highest during late proliferative phase under influence of estrogen, and minimal activity in the late secretory and menstrual phase. To study a possible change of telomerase activity during menstrual cycle, telomerase activities in normal and hormone treated endometrium were tested using telomerase repeat amplification protocol(TRAP) assay. Telomerase activities were detected in 9 of 10 proliferative endometrium(90%), and maximal activity was shown in late proliferative phase. Only 3 of 10 secretory endometrium(30%) revealed weak activity. However telomerase activity was not detected in menstrual phase endometrium(N 2) and senile endometrium(N=3). Four of tamoxifen treated endometrium(N 4) and 1 of provera treated endometrium(N 3) Levels of telomerase activity of treated endometrium(N 4) and late proliferative endometrium(N 6) were as high as them of detected in endometrial cancer and hyperplasia. Above findings reveal that telomerase activity of endometrium is changed according to menstrual cycle, And the level of telomerase activity is related to proliferative activity of endometrium that is dependent on the status of female sex steroid hormone and tamoxifen treatment.
Endometrial Neoplasms* ; Endometrium* ; Estrogens ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Medroxyprogesterone Acetate ; Menstrual Cycle ; Menstruation ; Reproduction ; Tamoxifen ; Telomerase*

It has been known that halothane potentiates the effect of muscle relaxants. We electrophysically studied the atterations by halothane in the rat diaphragm. The diaphragm -phrenic nerve preparation was dissected out of the anesthetized rat. In 1% and 2% halothane groups, control determinations were measured on infusion of simple Ringer's solution. Following infusion of halothane-saturated Ringer's solution for 10 minutes, determinations studied were recorded. Transmembrane currents were elucidated using the standard two microelectrode voltage clamp. To determine the mean MEPC amplitude and , 30 MEPC's were first gotten. A series of EPC's were elicited by stimulation of phrenic nerve at 0.4 Hz and 40 Hz. EPC's of both frequencies were used to evaluate the amplitude and quantum content (QC) of EPC. With tetanic stimulation, the degree of rundown was calculated. 1) MEPC amplitudes were reduced under 1% and 2% halothane, to 80.9% and 71.6% respec- tively. of MEPC shortened to 84.1% and 70.7%. 2) Amplitudes of EPC lowered to 65.9% and 49.4% at 0.4 Hz, and 70.7% and 52.2% at 40 HZ. 3) QC of EPC diminished to 81.5% and 70.1% at 0.4 Hz, and 87.2% and 74.1% at 40 Hz. 4) THe degrees of rundown by the tetanic stimulation were augmented to 119.1% and 136.1%. It is concluded that halothane reduced the amplitude and time constant of decay of MEPC, and the amplitude and QC of EPC, and augmented the degree of rundown at tetanic stimulation.
Animals ; Control Groups ; Diaphragm* ; Halothane* ; Microelectrodes ; Phrenic Nerve ; Rats* ; Synaptic Transmission*

Primary leiomyosarcoma is a rare tumor of the ovary. We experienced a case of primary ovarian leiomyosarcoma in a 68 year old woman. Microscopically, the tumor was characterized by interlacing bundles of plump spindle cells that showed immunoreactivity for alpha-smooth muscle actin, pleomorphic multinucleated giant cells and an increased mitotic rate. Ultrastructural features included abundant smooth muscle type filaments and irregular bodies. Consequently, this case has led us to propose ultrastructural and immunohistochemical criteria for primary ovarian leiomyosarcoma.
Female ; Humans

Os subfibulare is a accessory bone arround the lateral maleolus, but it is different from many other accessory bones in foot and ankle in its development related to trauma and frequent symptoms of ankle instability. Accessory bone is a developmental anomaly which fails to unite to main secondary ossification center and usually asymptomatic. But os subfibulare is developed by recurrent ankle sprains in younger age or non-union of avulsion fracture of anterior talofibular ligament and causes instability of ankle. We experienced two cases of symptomatic os subfibulare in adolecents and report them with review of literatures.
Ankle ; Ankle Injuries ; Foot ; Ligaments

Objective: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) reduces functional activity and increases the rate of cardiovascular death in the elderly. Our study aimed to determine whether the presence of PAD in stroke patients affected the progression of disability or death one year after discharge. Methods: From April 2012 to March 2013, consecutive first stroke patients above 50 years of age without known PAD were enrolled. PAD was defined as a low ankle-brachial index (less than 0.9) measured by an automatic device. Clinical data associated with the stroke were collected from medical records. Disability in stroke patients was evaluated with the modified Rankin scale (mRS) on discharge day and one year after the index stroke. Progression of disability was defined as an increase in mRS more than one level at one year. Results: Among the 526 patients, 238 had ischemic strokes and underwent ankle-brachial index (ABI) measurement. Of them, 192 patients were included. In univariate analysis, age, dyslipidemia, discharge mRS, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, D-dimer, homocysteine, internal carotid artery stenosis, posterior cerebral artery stenosis, and PAD were factors associated with worsening mRS. After adjustment for these factors in the logistic regression analysis, PAD was an independent factor associated with worsening mRS. In the analysis of one-year mortality, patients with PAD had a higher death rate, but PAD was not an independent factor after adjusting for other variables. Conclusions: The presence of PAD in stroke patients suggests a chance of disability progression, but may not be a predictor of death after one year.
Atherosclerosis ; Peripheral arterial disease ; Stroke

No abstract available.
Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms*

BACKGROUND: Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) with vascular abnormalities, including aneurysms, have been reported frequently. However, the coexistence of AVM and unilateral moyamoya disease is rare. We report herein an AVM patient who presented with acute ischemic stroke with unilateral moyamoya disease and occlusion of the feeding artery. CASE REPORT: A-41-year old man was admitted with sudden dysarthria and facial palsy. Brain computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed an acute infarction adjacent to a large AVM in the right frontal lobe. Cerebral angiography revealed occlusions of the proximal right middle cerebral and proximal anterior cerebral arteries, which were the main feeders of the AVM. Innumerable telangiectatic moyamoya-type vessels between branches of the anterior cerebral artery and dilated lenticulostriate arteries on the occluded middle cerebral artery were detected. However, a nidus of the AVM was still opacified through the distal right callosomarginal artery, which was supplied by the remaining anterior cerebral artery and leptomeningeal collaterals from the posterior cerebral artery. CONCLUSIONS: While AVM accompanied by unilateral moyamoya disease is rare, our case suggests an association between these two dissimilar vascular diseases.
Aneurysm ; Anterior Cerebral Artery ; Arteries ; Arteriovenous Malformations ; Brain ; Cerebral Angiography ; Dysarthria ; Facial Paralysis ; Frontal Lobe ; Humans ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Moyamoya Disease ; Stroke ; Vascular Diseases