No abstract available.
Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C Antibodies* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Prevalence*

No abstract available.
Pleural Effusion*

No abstract available.
Rabbits*

BACKGROUND: Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus has been reported to be increasing in incidence in a number of regions throughout the world, while the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma (SCCA) of the esophagus is mostly stable or decreasing. To evaluate the increasing tendency of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. METHODS: we studied retrospectively the records of patients with histologically proven esophageal cancer between 1970 and 1999 at the Yonsei Medical Center. RESULTS: Total cases of esophageal cancer were 969 patients of which the cases of adenocarcinoma and SCCA were 27 patients and 918 patients, respectively. The ratio of esophageal adenocarcinoma to SCCA was 0.0375 in the 1970s, 0.0241 in the 1980s and 0.0292 in the 1990s. There was no statistical difference (p=0.811) in the ratios of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus between the three consecutive 10-year groups. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, unlike the US and other western countries, it seems that the ratio of esophageal adenocarcinoma compared to SCCA has not increased among patients with esophageal carcinoma at the Yonsei Medical Center.
Adenocarcinoma/*epidemiology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/*epidemiology ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Esophageal Neoplasms/*epidemiology ; Human ; Korea/epidemiology ; Middle Age ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To evaluate the distribution of normal intracranial artery diameter according to sex and age, using three-dimensional reconstruction rotational angiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty-five adults with normal intracranial arteries who underwent 3D rotational angiography (n=177) were included in this study. The arterial diameter was measured at four sites of the internal carotid artery (cavernous, paraophthalmic, supraclinoid, and distal), that of the middle cerebral artery at two (proximal and distal), and that of the anterior cerebral artery at one (middle). For each sex and age group (<30, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, > or = 60 years), the mean diameter of the artery at these seven sites was calculated, and differences analysed. In addition, the middle cerebral artery diameter was compared between a younger group (<50 years) and an older group (> or = 50 years). RESULTS: The mean diameter at each site for each sex was as follows: male (mean+/-SD): 4.61+/-0.69, 3.96+/- 0.60, 3.48+/-0.45, 3.61+/-0.50, 2.44+/-0.32, 2.44+/-0.37, 1.81+/-0.32; female: 4.29+/-0.57, 3.83+/-0.56, 3.37+/-0.56, 3.52+/-0.48, 2.32+/-0.37, 2.30+/-0.36, 1.76+/-0.34. For those in their 40s, the diameter at five sites (all four sites of the internal cerebral artery and a distal middle cerebral artery) was significantly greater in males than in females. For other age groups, however, the difference between the sexes was absent, or was significant at only one (cavernous internal cerebral artery for those in their 30s) or two (proximal and distal middle cerebral artery for those in their 50s) of the seven sites. In the older age group, the diameter of the proximal middle cerbral artery was 2.59+/-0.35 mm in males and 2.38+/-0.37 mm in females. For the distal middle cerebral artery, the corresponding figures were 2.63+/-0.43 and 2.39+/-0.35 mm, respectively. For both sexes, the differences between the two age groups were significant. CONCLUSION: For those in their 40s, the normal diameter of the intracranial artery at most arterial sites was significantly greater in males than in females. The normal diameter of the middle cerebral artery was significantly greater or tended to be greater among the older group than the younger group (for males and females, respectively, 2.59+/-0.35 mm and 2.38+/-0.37 mm at the proxinal site, and 2.63+/-0.43 mm and 2.39+/-0.35 mm at the distal site).
Adult ; Angiography ; Anterior Cerebral Artery ; Arteries* ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Cerebral Angiography ; Cerebral Arteries ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Cerebral Artery

BACKGROUND: The role of aging in damage to DNA have been of increasing in recent years. DNA damage correlated with biochemical and physiologic changes that are characteristic of cellular impairment in aging and disease. Reduction of oxygen in tissue produces a number of oxygen free radicals which may induce cellular damage and even cell death. Glutathione, its function in reductive processes that are essential for the synthesis (and the degradation) of proteins, formation of deoxyribonucleotide precursors of DNA, regulation of enzymes, and protection of the cell against reactive oxygen compounds and free radicals. The aim of this study was, 1) to measure the glutathione concentration and glutathione proxidase activity of erythroyte, plasma, human gastric mucosa in elderly and liver cirrhosis patient 2) to investigate a role of glutathione mediated cellular defense mechanism against oxidative stress between in liver cirrhosis patient and in elderly. METHODS: We measured glutathione concentration and glutathione peroxidase activity in the plasma, erythrocytes, gastric mucosa of human in 4 group (Group A: 10 patients of liver cirrhosis and portal hypertensive gastropathy in age 40~55 years, Group B: same number and disease of patients in age over 65 years, group C: healthy person of age over 65 years, Group D: control). Glutathione concentration of erythocyte, plasma and human gastric mucosa was measured by spectrophotometer using Bioxytech GSH-400. Glutathione peroxidase activity of plasma was measured by Paglia & Valentine method using Bioxytech pl. Gpx and of erythocyte and human gastric mucosa was measured by using Bioxytech Gpx.340. Statistical significance of the different group was determined by ANOVA. A p<0.05 was considered significant. RESULT: Glutathione concentration of erythrocytes and gastric mucosa was decreased in Group A, B, C compared to group D. plasma concentration of glutathione was decreased in group A, B compared to group C, D. Activity of glutathione peroxidase was not different in any group (ANOVA, p<0.005). CONCLUSION: Even though glutathione concentration of erythrocyte and human gastric mucosa was decreased in elderly and in liver cirrhosis patient, our study shows decreased glutathione related defense mechanism against oxidative stress is different in view of plasma concentration of glutathione.
Aged ; Aging ; Cell Death ; DNA ; DNA Damage ; Erythrocytes* ; Free Radicals ; Gastric Mucosa* ; Glutathione Peroxidase* ; Glutathione* ; Humans* ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver* ; Oxidative Stress ; Oxygen ; Oxygen Compounds ; Plasma*

Pulmonary tuberculosis is still endemic in Korea, but esophageal tuberculosis, especially primary esophageal tuberculosis, is very rarely seen. A 76-year-old male is presented dysphagia. The clinical presentation, barium swallow study, and chest CT were suggestive of carcinoma of the esophagus. Findings that can suggest the diagnosis are enlarged lymph nodes, ulceration, and luminal narrowing. The major differential diagnosis was primary esophageal tuberculosis. This was not excluded on biopsy obtained at endoscopy. Operation was done for severe dysphagia and exclusion of malignancy. The patient was finally diagnosed as primary esophageal tuberculosis.
Aged ; Barium ; Biopsy ; Deglutition Disorders ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Endoscopy ; Esophagus ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Phenobarbital ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; Ulcer

No abstract available.
Korea* ; Scrub Typhus*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine whether an elevated homocysteine (Hcy) level is associated with a worse prognosis in Korean patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 5839 patients (60.4% male, mean age 61.3±11.2 years) with CAD were enrolled from 2000 to 2010 at Gangnam Severance Hospital. CAD was diagnosed by invasive coronary angiography. Laboratory values including Hcy level were obtained on the day of coronary angiography and analyses were performed shortly after sampling. Patients were divided into two groups according to their Hcy levels. Baseline risk factors, coronary angiographic findings, length of follow-up, and composite endpoints including cardiac death (CD) and non-fatal myocardial infarction (NFMI) were recorded. 1:1 propensity score matched analysis was also performed. RESULTS: Over a mean follow-up period of 4.4±2.5 years, there were 132 composite endpoints (75 CD and 57 NFMI) with an event rate of 2.3%. Mean Hcy level was 9.9±4.3 µmol/L (normal Hcy 7.9±1.5 µmol/L and elevated Hcy 13.9±5.1 µmol/L). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed an association of elevated Hcy level with worse prognosis (p<0.0001). In addition, a multivariate Cox regression analysis showed an association of elevated Hcy level with worse prognosis for both the entire cohort (hazard ratio [HR] 2.077, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.467-2.941, p<0.0001) and the propensity score matched cohort (HR 1.982, 95% CI 1.305-3.009, p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Elevated Hcy level is associated with worse outcomes in Korean patients with CAD.
Cohort Studies ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Death ; Follow-Up Studies ; Homocysteine* ; Humans ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; Prognosis ; Propensity Score* ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to identify application motives and to explore the impact of motives on school adjustment in medical school students. METHODS: Fifty-one third-year medical students were individually interviewed by two independent interviewers to evaluate application motives and school adjustment. Fisher's exact test and two-way analysis of variance were used to examine group differences in school adjustment and academic performance according to application motives and personal characteristics. RESULTS: On the basis of Marcia's identity status model, four types of application motives were identified including "objective orientation", "achievement orientation", "heteronomy" and "objective diffusion." Students who were classified into either objective orientation or achievement orientation did not have any adjustment problem. However, half the students classified into either heteronomy or objective diffusion had academic or social problems. The students in the first two classifications achieved higher grades in basic science courses than those of the later two. Conclusions: These results suggest that application motives tend to impact school adjustment and academic performance. Motive-based admission policies and student guidance should be considered as alternative measure for improving school adjustment and academic performance in medical school students.
Classification ; Diffusion ; Humans ; Schools, Medical* ; Social Problems ; Students, Medical