No abstract available.
Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Prospective Studies*

No abstract available.
Biliary Atresia* ; Hepatitis*

Responses of mouse lymphocytes to the soybean paste fermented by Korean traditional fashion was examined to clarify its effects in cytokine production in vitro. A fraction of the soybean paste (KFSP-100) was prepared by precipitation with ammonium sulfate and by filtration through ultrafiltration membrane. KFSP-100 were added into cultures of fresh mouse splenic cells in vitro. KFSP-100 significantly enhanced the amount of IL-6 and TNF-a produced by macrophages and IL-6 and IFN-r produced by lymphocytes. Production of IL-12 by macrophages was not much affected by KFSP-100 treatments. The most noticeable finding was the fact that lymphocytes treated with KFSP-100 proliferated to an exceeding numbers (more than 10 times to the control) in 72 hours. The KFSP-100-induced proliferative response was specific to B cells since almost all of the KFSP-100-induced cells in the cultures of splenic cells were B cells. Furthermore, such a proliferative responses were equally observed only in cultures of purified B cells but not in cultures of T cells. In thermostability test, the biologically active components of the KFSP-100 is assumed to be either linear protein or glycoprotein. KFSP-100 did not induce agglutination of lymphocytes demonstrated by lectins in the same cells. These observations suggest that KFSP-100 may be a novel mitogen for B lymphocytes. The component (s) responsible for the B cell proliferation in KFSP-100 might be a factor gained by natural fermentation. None of the fractions of not fermented soybean paste prepared by the same methods demonstrate the same effect.
Agglutination ; Ammonium Sulfate ; Animals ; B-Lymphocytes ; Cell Proliferation ; Fermentation ; Filtration ; Glycoproteins ; Immunologic Factors* ; Interleukin-12 ; Interleukin-6 ; Lectins ; Lymphocytes ; Macrophages ; Membranes ; Mice ; Soybeans* ; T-Lymphocytes ; Ultrafiltration

No abstract available.
Asthma* ; Humans ; Prednisolone* ; Theophylline*

The subependymal giant-cell astrocytoma, a key feature of the tuberous sclerosis complex, has been reported in patients without obvious features of this condition. The tumor is a rare cerebral glioma that characteristically arise in the wall of lateral ventricle and as an intraventricular mass, causing hydrocephalus by obstruction of the foramen of Monro. We experienced a case of tuberous sclerosis in 9-year-old male patient who presented typical clinical manifestations and cortical tuber, subependymal giant-cell astrocytoma developing with hydrocephalus. Diagnosis was confirmed by brain CT and MRI. We applied surgical resection to remove the mass. Brief review and related literatures were also presented.
Astrocytoma* ; Brain ; Cerebral Ventricles ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Glioma ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus* ; Lateral Ventricles ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Tuberous Sclerosis*

No abstract available.
Rhabdomyosarcoma* ; Urinary Bladder*

No abstract available.
Barium* ; Intussusception*

We have experienced a case of tuberculous abscess of the liver with empyema in a 12 years old boy. He was admitted with the chief complaints of pain and mass in the right upper abdomen of about 1 month duration and intermittent mild fever for 15 days. On examination, liver was palpable 5 cm below the right costal margin, and was tender and firm. Liver scan showed a cold area in the right posterior upper part of the liver. With the needle aspiration of the liver, 240 ml of yellowish-green pus was aspirated. The stained smears of the pus showed a large number of acid-fast bacilli, and the culture revealed a growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Our patient was cured successfully by the drainage of pus with the needle aspiration of the liver and antituberculous medication. We have presented here a rare case whose the diagnosis was made without the help of any operative procedure, and reviewed the literatures.
Abdomen ; Abscess* ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Drainage ; Empyema* ; Fever ; Humans ; Liver* ; Male ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Needles ; Suppuration ; Surgical Procedures, Operative

No abstract available.
Anoxia* ; Neurons*

PURPOSE: To analyse the clinical and radiologic findings of brain metastasis of breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-one of 1399 patients in whom breast cancer was diagnosed between 1983 and 1999 were affected by brain metastasis. Among these 1399, the stage of the breast cancer, in descending order of frequency, was IIA (n=508), I (n=366), IIB (n=247), IIIA (n=189), IIIB (n=45), 0 (n=33) and IV (n=11). The stage of the 61 brain metastases, similarly ordered, was IIB (12.5%), IIA (3.9%), IIIA (3.1%), IIIB (2.2%) and I (0.8%). In all confirmed breast cancers, the age distribution, in descending order of frequency, was 40 - 49years (n=610), 50 - 59 (n=301), 30 - 39 (n=291), 60 - 69 (n=124), 20 - 29 (n=41), 70 - 79 (n=28), and 80 - 89 (n=4). The age distribution of brain metastasis was 20 -29 (14.6%), 30 - 39 (7.9%), 50 - 59 (4.6%), 40-49 (2.6%) and 60 - 69 (1.6%). Imaging findings were available for 35 of the 61 patients affected by brain metastasis, and symptoms from brain among the 35, analysis of the symptoms of this metastasis, the site of the first distant metastasis to an extracranial or cranial organ, the interval from the diagnosis of breast cancer to brain metastasis, the interval from brain metastasis to death, and the difference in survival time between patients with initial and succeeding brain metastasis was undertaken. Brain CT findings were analysed in 29 cases and MRI findings in eight. RESULTS: The most common symptoms were headache and vomiting. Among the 35 brain metastasis patients for whom imaging findings were available, other systemic metastasis occurred in 22. Initial brain metastasis occurred in the remaining 13, and in seven of these there was also coincident organ metastasis, while six showed only brain metastasis. The most frequent intervals from the diagnosis of breast cancer to brain metastasis were 1 - 2 years(8/35) and 2 - 3years(8/35). Twenty-six of 35 patients died within one year of brain metastasis. Patients in whom this occurred later survived for longer than those in whom it occurred initially. According to CT or MRI, involvement was supratentorial (n=23), infratentorial (n=2) or at both sites (n=10). Twenty-four patients had multiple lesions and 11 had a single lesion. Precontrast CT imaging show the masses were isodense in 23 cases, hyperdense in three, hypodense in two, and calcified in one. In seven of eight patients who underwent MRI, the lesions showed iso signal intensity on T1WI and iso or high signal intensity on T2WI. The most common enhancement pattern was homogeneous nodular (n=20). CONCLUSION: Among breast cancer patients in whom metastis to the brain occurred, those in whom this happened later survived for longer than those in whom it took place initially. In order to delay brain metastasis and prolong survival, screening for the first distant metastasis is therefore important. The metastasis of breast cancer to the brain was mainly multiple. The most frequent location and postcontrast imaging findings were, respectively, the supratentorium and homogeneous nodular enhancement.
Age Distribution ; Brain* ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Diagnosis ; Headache ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mass Screening ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Vomiting