BACKGROUND: Several studies have demonstrated that quantitation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in sera of HBsAg-positive patients is more useful test for the assessment of infectivity and for the evaluation of disease status than previously utilized numerous serological markers and qualitative polymerase chain reaction for the detection of HBV DNA. We tried to measure serum HBV DNA using a branched DNA (bDNA) signal amplification assay, which is recently introduced and known to be a simple and nonradioisotopic method. METHODS: Total forty patients with HBsAg were randomly selected and serum HBV DNA was measured with duplication using bDNA signal amplification assay (QUANTIPLEXTM HBV DNA ASSAY, Chiron, USA). Quantitation was determined from a standard curve and expressed as HBV DNA equivalents/mL (Eq/mL; 1 Eq = 1 molecule of the primary HBV DNA standard). Serum HBeAg, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) , and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) were compared with HBV DNA. RESULTS: Serum HBV DNA was quantitated in 13 patients (32.5%) (range 6.4x106-7.4x109 Eq/mL, mean 1.8x109 Eq/mL, CV 8.1%). All eleven patients (100%) with both HBsAg and HBeAg an4 2 of 29 patients (6.9%) with HBsAg but not with HBeAg showed measurable HBV DNA (p < 0.001). In addition, serum levels of AST, ALT, and sIL-2R were significantly higher in HBV DNA measured patients compared with those of unmeasured patients. CONCLUSIONS: Above results show that more than half the HBsAg-positive patients do not have enough HBV DNA which is measurable with boNA signal amplification assay but all of HBeAg-positive patients and some of HBeAg-negative patients do. In addition, HBV DNA quantitation might be correlated with the disease activity in HBsAg-positive patients because serum levels of AST, ALT, and sIL-2R are higher in patients measured with HBV DNA than unmeasured.
Alanine Transaminase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Branched DNA Signal Amplification Assay* ; DNA ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

No abstract available.
Follow-Up Studies* ; Laser Therapy* ; Prostate*

BACKGROUND: T cell mediated immune destruction is an important mechanism of liver injury in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor(sIL-2R) seem to serve as a marker for the T cell activation and progressive liver injury, This study examined serum levels of sIft-2R and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in patients with chronic HCV infection to determine the correlation with the severity of chronic hepatocellular damage. METHODS: Serum levels of sIft-2R in 73 patients with HCV infection (chronic hepatitis 52, liver cirrhosis 9, hepatocellular carcinoma 12) and 40 healthy controls were measured by sandwich enzyme immunoassay (CELLFREE, T Cell Sciences, USA). HCV RNA was quantified by QUANTIPLEX(TM) HCV RNA 2.0 assay (Chiron, USA) with duplication. This assay is a sandwich nucleic acid hybridization procedure using branched DNA amplification for the quantitation of HCV RNA. RESULTS: The sIL-2R levels of 52 patients with chronic hepatitis (591.4+/-238.7U/mL), 9 with liver cirrhosis(949.4+/-721.9 U/mL), and 12 with hepatocellular carcinoma (1,167.4+/- 554.4 U/mL) were significantly higher than those of healthy controls(370.8+/-71.8 U/mL) (p<0.001). A progressive and significant increase occurred in sIL-2R levels with chronic hepatitis C, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in order (p(0.001). The HCV RNA was detected in all patients and the means of HCV viral load were 3.3 MEq/mL in chronic hepatitis, 2.8 MEq/mL in cirrhosis, and 3.7 MEq/mL in HCC. There was no significant correlation between HCV RNA and the severity of liver injury in chronic HCV infection. There were no correlations among sIL-2R, HCV RNA and serum ALT. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that chronic hepatocellular injury by HCV progress mainly by T cell mediated immune response, not by direct cytopathic injury. Also, sIL-2R can be useful as a marker in monitoring the patients with HCV infection at high risk of getting HCC.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; DNA ; Fibrosis ; Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis C, Chronic* ; Hepatitis* ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Interleukin-2* ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; RNA ; Viral Load

BACKGROUND: T cell mediated immune destruction is an important mechanism of liver injury in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor(sIL-2R) seem to serve as a marker for the T cell activation and progressive liver injury, This study examined serum levels of sIft-2R and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in patients with chronic HCV infection to determine the correlation with the severity of chronic hepatocellular damage. METHODS: Serum levels of sIft-2R in 73 patients with HCV infection (chronic hepatitis 52, liver cirrhosis 9, hepatocellular carcinoma 12) and 40 healthy controls were measured by sandwich enzyme immunoassay (CELLFREE, T Cell Sciences, USA). HCV RNA was quantified by QUANTIPLEX(TM) HCV RNA 2.0 assay (Chiron, USA) with duplication. This assay is a sandwich nucleic acid hybridization procedure using branched DNA amplification for the quantitation of HCV RNA. RESULTS: The sIL-2R levels of 52 patients with chronic hepatitis (591.4+/-238.7U/mL), 9 with liver cirrhosis(949.4+/-721.9 U/mL), and 12 with hepatocellular carcinoma (1,167.4+/- 554.4 U/mL) were significantly higher than those of healthy controls(370.8+/-71.8 U/mL) (p<0.001). A progressive and significant increase occurred in sIL-2R levels with chronic hepatitis C, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in order (p(0.001). The HCV RNA was detected in all patients and the means of HCV viral load were 3.3 MEq/mL in chronic hepatitis, 2.8 MEq/mL in cirrhosis, and 3.7 MEq/mL in HCC. There was no significant correlation between HCV RNA and the severity of liver injury in chronic HCV infection. There were no correlations among sIL-2R, HCV RNA and serum ALT. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that chronic hepatocellular injury by HCV progress mainly by T cell mediated immune response, not by direct cytopathic injury. Also, sIL-2R can be useful as a marker in monitoring the patients with HCV infection at high risk of getting HCC.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; DNA ; Fibrosis ; Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis C, Chronic* ; Hepatitis* ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Interleukin-2* ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; RNA ; Viral Load

Open carpal tunnel release has been the standard method of sumical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. Recently endoscopic carpal tunnel release has been introduced and is heing used by many authors. The advantages of this new technique are less postoperative pain, rapid restoration of power and rapid return-to-work. However many considerate authors, in spite of these advantages. insist that the inevitahle risk of neurovascular injury during the endoscopic procedure should not he underestimated. The purpose of our study is to compare the clinical results of endoscopic carpal tunnel release with those of open release. 20 open carpal tunnel releases in 16 patients and 15 endoscopic carpal tunnel reieases (single-portal technique) in 11 patients were performed hy the first author. Preoperative conditions of both groups are not different. Authors compared the clinical results between the two groups with some parameters. The overall clinical results were not different significantly hetween two groups. Rapid return-to-work(36 days in endoscopic group versus 60 days in open group) and less postoperative scar and pillar pain in endoscopic group were demonstrated. However, the major complication of one median nerve injury in endoscopic group seemed to overweigh these some benefits. We suggest that the standard operative technique for carpal tunnel syndrome should be open carpal tunnel release and more considerations should be takcn in choosing endoscopic method because of its inherent risk.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ; Cicatrix ; Humans ; Median Nerve ; Pain, Postoperative ; Return to Work

The authors reported one case of toxic epidermal necrolysis that occurred in the carbamazepine treatment in a 47-year old male patient with aggressive organic mental disorder. This case developed toxic epidermal necrolysis while taking carbamazepine with a dose of 600mg/day. Toxic epidermal necrolysis did not improve after discontiuation of carbamazepine. We reviewed incidence and the natural history of toxic epidermal necrolysis.
Alcoholism ; Carbamazepine ; Cluster Analysis ; Neurocognitive Disorders ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Natural History ; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome*

In the summer of 1969 from July through October, authors carried out a study of susceptibility in adult female bed bug(Cimex lectularius) in order to ascertain any development of resistance to insecticides in Korea. The test to DDT and Dieldrin was performed in laboratory by the continuous exposure of residues method, with standard impregnated paper used for adult mosqitoes. Some results so far obtained can be summarised as follows: LC(50) were 2.839% in DDT and 0.167% in Dieldrin. The resistance has been arisen 2.4-2.9 times in DDT and 1.6-2.4 times in Dieldrin as compared with London laboratory strain, but they were susceptible 1.4 times in DDT and 180 times in Dieldrin as compared to Israel resistance strain.
parasitology-arthropodology-bed bug-Cimex lectularius ; prevention ; chemotherapy ; resistance ; DDT ; dieldrin

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of compression of radiologic images by using personal computer(PC) and the clinically acceptable compression ratio for personal archiving. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 300 images of total 60 cases including 10 cases each of plain radiograph, angiography, barium study, US, CT, and MRI were obtained from video camera recorder and were digitalized at image board of PC with 628 x430 matrix and archived to 8 bit gray scale for BMP, TIFF, PCX, GIF, 16 bit color for TGA, and 8 bit gray scale and 24 bit color for JPEG. We compared the image quality on each of the 6 image file formats and various compression ratios by using a ROC(receiver operating characteristic) analysis. RESULTS: The file size order was TGA, BMP, PCX, TIFF, GIF, and the smallest JPEG. The excution time for compression and decompression of images ranged from 10 to 20 seconds and from 4 to 7 seconds, respectively. The compression ratio for TGA and TIFF, PCX, and GIF was less than 1.5:1 whereas it was more than 3:1 for JPEG. The higher the compression ratio of JPEG, the more degradation of image quality occurred although compression ratio below 20:1 made no considerable difference. In the remainder, the image quality was same before and after the compression. The digital images of US, CT, and MR showed lower degradation of image quality than plain radiograph, angiography, and barium study. CONCLUSION: The clinically acceptable limiting compression ratio of JPEG was 20: 1 which would be adequate for managing the large volume of image database on a PC-based digital imaging system.
Angiography ; Archives* ; Barium ; Decompression ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Nuclear DNA content of 32 cases of prostate adenocarcinoma diagnosed 1986-1991 was determined by flow cytometry, with the use of paraffin-embedded archival tissue. The present study was done to define the relationship between clinical stage, histopathological grade, and DNA ploidy. Aneuploidy was found in 10(31.3%) cases including 7 cases of near-tetraploidy. Among diploid tumors, 36.4% were localized disease(stage A and B), 13.6% were characterized by invasion outside the prostate(stage C), and 50.0% showed distant metastasis(stage D). Among aneuploid tumors, 10.0% were stage B, 50.0% stage C, and 40.0% stage D. The degree of glandular differentiation was characterized by the Gleason score and the percentage of sampled tissue involved by carcinoma was graded by Dhom's method. Apparent correlation was found between Gleason grade and Dhom grade(P<0.05). All 13 tumors with a Gleason grade I(score of 2 to 5) were diploid. Four of 9 tumors with a Gleason grade II(score of 6 to 7) were aneuploid(near-tetraploidy 33.3%, aneuploidy 11.1%) and 60.0%, of tumors with a Gleason grade III(score of 8 to 10) were aneuploid(near-tetraploidy 40.0%, aneuploidy 20%). The percentage of aneuploid cases increased with advanced clinical stage, but the relationship between aneuploidy versus clinical stage was not significant. However, it can be concluded that DNA ploidy correlates well with Gleason grade(p<0.05), which may have predictive prognostic value for prostate adeno-carcinomas.
Adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The clinical manifestation of Henoch-Schonlein purpura and existance of renal involvement may influence on its course and prognosis. To verify prevention with early administration of steroid, we studied the efficacy of corticosteroid treatment. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We analysed 65 children under 15 years of age with Henoch-Scho nlein purpura according to their age, sex, and seasonal incidence. Forty children showed typical skin lesions, arthralgia and abdominal pain. We have divided them two groups. Group A consisted of 20 children who received 1 mg/kg of prednisolone/perday for 2 weeks and group B did not. We carried out their physical examination and urinalysis monthly for a year. RESULT: The main clinical manifestations were skin rash(100% ), abdominal symptoms(41.5 %), joint symptoms (49.2%), and renal involvement(34%). As for gastrointestinal symptoms, abdominal pain(66.7% ) was most commonly observed one and others were nausea or vomiting (44.7%) and melena(25.9%). The joint involvement was observed mostly in knee(56.3%) and ankle joint(31.3% ), Hematuria was observed in all cases with renal involvement and proteinuria, in 28% of them. The improvement of renal manifestations were noted in 84.2% of them within 4 months. Mild elevation of IgA was more frequently observed in renal involvement group than non-involved group (p< 0.01). There were no significant differences in immonologic parameters such as IgG, IgM, IgE, duration of the acute phase and severity of cutaneous symptoms between two growps. None of steroid treated growp showed progression of nephropathy. Of the 20 non-steroid treated growp, 2(10%) developed nephropathy. Conclusion We may suggest that existance of renal involvement in Henoch-Schonlein purpura influences its course and prognosis.
Abdominal Pain ; Ankle ; Arthralgia ; Child ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Incidence ; Joints ; Nausea ; Physical Examination ; Prognosis ; Proteinuria ; Purpura* ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch ; Seasons ; Skin ; Urinalysis ; Vomiting