To elucidate the biologic significause of hepatocyte B core antigen (HBcAg) expression and its relation to the natural course of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, we tried to correlate the patterns of HBcAg with the HBV replication state and with disease activity in 40 needle biopsies performed on hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers aged from 15 to 46 years. In 32 of 40 cases, HBcAg was present in the hepatocyte nucleus (nHBcAg), in the cytoplams (cHBcAg) or in both (mixed). Pure nHBcAg was seen only in minimal hepatitis, but a diffuse pattern of expression of cytoplasmic HBcAg and mixed cytoplasmic and nuclear expression of HBcAg were seen in active hepatitis. There was also a good correlation between liver HBcAg and serum HBeAg. Cases in which HBcAg expression were observed were positive for serum HBeAg (81%) and the cases negative for HBcAg were all positive for serum anti-HBe.
Biopsy

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the predictive value of initial serum B-hCG and progesterone measurement for pregnancy outcome in IVF-ET. METHODS: Serum B-hCG at 11-12th day after embryo transfer and progesterone at 7th day after oocyte aspiration were measured in 48 successful pregnant IVF-ET cases from July 1993 to June 1997. RESULTS: Of 48 cases, 26 cases (54.2%) successfully carried to sustaining gestation and 22 cases (45.8%) failed to sustain gestation. The estimated initial serum B-hCG levels in the normal sustaining pregnancy group (132.28+ 22.42 mlU/ml) were statistical significantly higher than 29.43+8.08 mIU/ml in the failed sustaining pregnancy group (p<0.001), while the estimated initial serum progesterone levels showed no significant differences (p=0.159). In order to determine the predictive values using the Receiver Operator Curve (ROC), an appropriate cutoff value of 38 mIU/ml for initial serum B-hCG was obtained. In IVF-ET pregnancies, the estimated serum B-hCG levels in cases of chemical abortion in failed sustaining pregnancy were significantly lower compared to the normal sustaining pregnancy group (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The initial serum B-hCG levels at 11 days after embryo transfer could be used to predict the pregnancy outcome in an IVF program. An initial progesterone level acquired on the 7th day after oocyte retrieval is not a useful indicator to predict pregnancy outcome.
Chorionic Gonadotropin* ; Embryo Transfer* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Humans* ; Oocyte Retrieval ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome* ; Pregnancy* ; Progesterone*

The purpose of this study was to identify the degree knowledge of myocardial infarction(MI) among the general population and to provide a direction for developing public health education programs. The subjects for this study were 187 people who lived in Seoul or Wonju City, Korea. The data were collected by questionnaire from Nov. ito Dec.5, 1997. The questionnaire was developed by the researcher based on a literature review, It consisted of 34 items of which nine items were on .iology, ten items on preventive measures, ten items signs & symptoms, five items on pain area. Analysis the data was done using descriptive statistics, t-test and ANOVA with the SPSS PC program. The results of the study are as follows: 1. The scores for knowledge of etiology(5.94), preventive measures(7.13), signs & symptoms(5.33) and area of pain(1.62). The highest score for knowledge about MI was preventive measures. the lowest score was for area of pain. Almost half of the subjects were not aware that 'hyperglycemia'and 'fatigue'can cause a MI. Also more than half of the subjects were not aware that 'reduced high carbohydrated diet'can prevent ML So this study showed that the general population has a need for more information about the relationship of hyperglycemia to MI. Less than half of the subjects knew that 'alteration in sleep pattern(49.4%)'. 'nausea, vomiting. indigestion(36.4%)''pain in the area of radiation and not in the chest(24.2%)' are sign & symptom of MI. Most of the people are aware that pain will be College of Nursing, Yonsei University Department of Nursing, Wonju College of Medicine. Yonsei University Department of Nursing. College of Medicine. Dankook University slightly to the left of the sternum(733%) but were not aware that pain may also radiate to the shoulder or arm(74.8%), neck or teeth(90.6%) Also 35% of the subjects think there is no treatment for an MI after it has occurred. 2. In the relationship between social demographic characteristics and degree of knowledge, there were significant differences due to sex, education level, and marital status. 3. This study showed hat most subjects got their in formation about MI from T.V. and radio(62.7%), but the score for knowledge was not high. The following are suggested based on the above results 1) It is necessary to reinforce information about signs & symptoms, area of pain and treatment of MI in public education programs, because people who do not know that their symptoms represent a heart at tack will delay seeking care and medical attention, 2) Because there are significant differences between knowledge and demographic characteristic(sex. education level, marital status), it is necessary to develop effective health education programs to consider these characteristics. Also we need behavioral strategies to change lifestyle and prevent more people from entering the MI high risk group. 3) Patients are almost always frightened and fearful which can cause a fatal delay. Education should focus on the emotional reasons behind people's resistance to calling the emergency medical system. 4) Educational programs need to target the potential witnesses rather than the individuals who suffer cardiac symptoms, focusing on the independent role that family members should take in the face of cardiac symptoms. Families of high risk group members, particularly their spouses, should receive special education about handling changes in cardiac symptoms. 5) Further studies are needed to identify factors which can cause patients to delay seeking treatment and to investigate the adaptive coping strategies of MI patients & their families when they have signs & symptoms.
Education ; Education, Special ; Emergencies ; Gangwon-do ; Health Education ; Heart ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Korea ; Life Style ; Marital Status ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Neck ; Nursing ; Public Health ; Seoul ; Shoulder ; Spouses ; Vomiting ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) is a chaperone that binds to mutant p53 and consequently can regulate its accumulation or localization. Its expression is upregulated in tumor cells. We studied 44 adenomas and 29 carcinomas of colorectum to evaluate the expression of HSP70, and to assess the correlation among p53 protein and other clinical prognostic parameters. HSP70 expression was scored according to staining intensity and extent. p53 protein expression was 45.5%(20/44) in adenomas and 79.3%(23/29) in carcinomas(P<0.01). p53 protein expression of carcinomas was 57.1%(4/7) in diploidy tumors, 100.0%(8/8) in aneuploidy tumors(P=0.07), 100.0%(8/8) in well-differentiated tumors, and 50.0%(2/4) in poorly differentiated tumors(P= 0.09). HSP70 expression mainly revealed a fine granular cytoplasmic staining pattern in tumor cells. HSP70 was focally detected in some lymphocyte, ganglion cell and normal mucosa. HSP70 expression was 46.3%(19/41) in adenomas and 93.1%(27/29) in carcinomas. HSP70 score was 0.9+/-1.3 in adenomas(n=41) and 5.5+/-3.5 in carcinomas(n=29)(P<0.0005). Its score was 1.7+/-1.6 in p53 positive adenomas and 0.3+/-0.6 in p53 negative adenomas(P<0.005), and its expression rate was higher in p53 positive carcinomas than p53 negative carcinomas (P>0.05). There was no significant correlation among HSP70, tumor size, Dukes'stage, nodal metastasis, depth of tumor invasion, DNA ploidy and tumor differentiation. In conclusion, HSP70 and p53 protein appear to be correlated to each other, and that HSP70 and p53 protein may play a certain role in the progression of colorectal tumor. Further studies are needed for determining their prognostic factors in colorectal carcinoma.
Adenoma* ; Aneuploidy ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Cytoplasm ; Diploidy ; DNA ; Ganglion Cysts ; Heat-Shock Proteins* ; Hot Temperature* ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins* ; Lymphocytes ; Mucous Membrane ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Ploidies

No Abstract Available.
Hepatitis B e Antigens* ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens*

No abstract available.
Holoprosencephaly*

Nezelof's syndrome(combined immunodeficiency with immunoglobulin) is a hereditary primary immunodeficiency characterized by recurrent chronic pulmonary infections, oral and cutaneous candidiasis, failure to thrive, chronic diarrhea, skin infection, urinary tract infection, gram-negative sepsis, severe progressive varicella infection, lymphopenia, diminished lymphoid tissue, abnormal structure of the thymus, and presence of normal or increased levels of one or more of the major immunoglobulin classes, but with impaired antibody synthesis. We experienced a case of Nezelof's syndrome in 5-month-old boy who complained cough, poor feeding, vomiting and diarrhea in first admission day and discharged with recovered general condition in 38th admission day and then died of recurrent bacterial and fungal infections and malnutrition in 15-month-old age. He had no thymic shadow in chest X-ray and immunologic abnormalities including decreased lymphocyte count, decreased T cell count and function, normal number of B cell count and immunoglobulins with funtional impairment in antibody synthesis. We report a case of Nezelof's syndrome with brief review of related literatures.
Candidiasis, Cutaneous ; Cell Count ; Chickenpox ; Cough ; Diarrhea ; Failure to Thrive ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Isotypes ; Immunoglobulins ; Infant ; Lymphocyte Count ; Lymphoid Tissue ; Lymphopenia ; Male ; Malnutrition ; Sepsis ; Skin ; Thorax ; Thymus Gland ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Vomiting

Serotonin is one of the most important neurotransmitters influencing mental health and, thus, is a potential target for pharmaco-logical treatments. Functional neuroimaging techniques, such as positron-emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), could provide persuasive evidence for the association between mental disorders and serotonin. In this concise review, we focus on evidence of the links between serotonin and major depressive disorders, as well as other mood disorders, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, addiction, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism.
Anxiety Disorders ; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity ; Autistic Disorder ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Functional Neuroimaging ; Mental Disorders* ; Mental Health ; Mood Disorders ; Neuroimaging* ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Schizophrenia ; Serotonin* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

BACKGROUND: Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) has become a global epidemic, and air pollution has been identified as a potential risk factor. This study aims to investigate the non-linear relationship between ambient air pollution and MASLD prevalence. METHOD: In this cross-sectional study, participants undergoing health checkups were assessed for three-year average air pollution exposure. MASLD diagnosis required hepatic steatosis with at least 1 out of 5 cardiometabolic criteria. A stepwise approach combining data visualization and regression modeling was used to determine the most appropriate link function between each of the six air pollutants and MASLD. A covariate-adjusted six-pollutant model was constructed accordingly. RESULTS: A total of 131,592 participants were included, with 40.6% met the criteria of MASLD. "Threshold link function," "interaction link function," and "restricted cubic spline (RCS) link functions" best-fitted associations between MASLD and PM_2.5, PM₁₀/CO, and O₃ /SO₂/NO₂, respectively. In the six-pollutant model, significant positive associations were observed when pollutant concentrations were over: 34.64 µg/m³ for PM_2.5, 57.93 µg/m³ for PM₁₀, 56 µg/m³ for O₃, below 643.6 µg/m³ for CO, and within 33 and 48 µg/m³ for NO₂. The six-pollutant model using these best-fitted link functions demonstrated superior model fitting compared to exposure-categorized model or linear link function model assuming proportionality of odds. CONCLUSION Non-linear associations were found between air pollutants and MASLD prevalence. PM_2.5, PM₁₀, O₃, CO, and NO₂ exhibited positive associations with MASLD in specific concentration ranges, highlighting the need to consider non-linear relationships in assessing the impact of air pollution on MASLD.
Humans ; Nitrogen Dioxide ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Air Pollution/analysis* ; Air Pollutants/analysis* ; Particulate Matter/analysis* ; Liver Diseases ; Environmental Exposure/analysis*