No abstract available.
Humerus*

While augmentation of 5-fluorouracil (5FU) cytotoxicity by folinic acid (FA) has clearly been demonstrated in vitro, its value in human is controversial. Unfortunately, essentially all tumors studied in vivo have been murine and none were transitional cell carcinoma (TCC); no in vivo studies of FA+5FU against TCC xenografts have been performed. The present study was initiated to test the effects of FA on 5FU induced cytotoxicity in two human bladder cancer xenografts, DU4184 and DU4284, and to further test the sequence dependence of FA+5FU synergism. To perform the in vivo chemosensitivity assay, we used modified nude mouse subrenal capsule assay. Before treatment, the mice were randomly allocated into four groups. Group A was given normal saline only as a control, group B was given 5FU (100 mg/kg i.p.) only, and group C was given FA (100 mg/kg i.p.) and 5FU simultaneously and group D was given FA and one hour later 5FU. Before treatment and after treatment tumor volumes were measured and tumor growth ratio (TGR) of each group was calculated. TGRs of group A, B, C, and D were 6.1+/-0.6, 3.8+/-0.3, 3.8+/-0.4, and 3.0+/-0.2, respectively.No difference in cytotoxicity was seen if 5FU was given simultaneously with FA (group C). However, pretreatment with FA one hour prior to 5FU resulted in statistically significant potentiation of 5FU efficacy (group D) (p<0.05). Using this preferred dose schedule, DU4184 vs. DU4284 (+/- FA) was evaluated. Comparative sensitivity of the two lines revealed that DU4284 is relatively resistant to 5FU. FA significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity of 5FU on both DU4184 and DU4284 xenografts (p<0.05, and p<0.01, respectively) and had a substantially greater impact in the intrinsically more 5FU-resistant tumor (DU4284). It is concluded that FA is an effective chemosensitizer of 5FU in vivo against human TCC. Nevertheless, dose schedule is critical; pre-loading of the tumor with FA prior to 5FU is essential. However, as yet undefined intrinsic biochemical differences between tumors [such as thymidine salvage pathways (not generally assessable by standard in vitro assays)] may modulate the extent of such efficacy. Further preclinical study with an expanded TCC xenograft battery is necessary and should be linked with a study of biochemical correlates to identify phenotypic differences in FA chemosensitivity of those benefiting from this regimen.
Animals ; Appointments and Schedules ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* ; Fluorouracil* ; Heterografts ; Humans* ; Leucovorin* ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Subrenal Capsule Assay ; Thymidine ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms

No abstract available.
Arteries*

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the primary care quality of a public health center in a rural area using the Korean Primary Care Assessment Tool (KPCAT). It also examined some methodological issues in applying the KPCAT and interpreting its results. METHODS: Seventy-nine patients who had visited their doctor more than four times responded to the KPCAT questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and a radar chart were used in analyzing data. Sign test was used to test the KPCAT score difference by don't know option scoring methods. RESULTS: Median and interquartile range of the public health center's KPCAT scores were forty-five and sixteen points, respectively. Only the median of the first contact domain reached the expected value of seventy-five points. The proportions of those who scored under the expected value were under fifty percent in two of four comprehensiveness items, all of three coordinating function items, two of five personalized items and all of four family/community orientation items. There were some methodological issues including, how to score don't know option and make sure response scale consistency. CONCLUSIONS: There was much room to improve the primary care quality of the rural public health center. Especially, improvement is needed in the domain of coordinating function and family/community orientation. We also hope that methodological improvement of the KPCAT contributes to more valid and reliable primary care assessment.
Community Health Centers ; Hope ; Humans ; Primary Health Care* ; Process Assessment (Health Care) ; Public Health* ; Research Design ; Rural Health Services

Castleman's disease(Giant lymph node hyperplasia) is a pathologic entity of unknown etilogy, as attested to bythe number of names it has received, lymphoid hamartoma, angiomatous hamartoma, and giant lymph node, etc.Although the mediastinum is its most common location, it also occures in other areas of the body, usually wherelymph nodes are normally found. Authors have been experienced 2 cases of histologically porven Castleman's diseaseduring recent 3 years in Kyung Hee University Hospital, and present its radiological and pathological findings asmediastinal mass.
Hamartoma ; Lymph Nodes ; Mediastinum

Serum HBsAg, AntiHBs, HBeAg, AntiHBe, and AntiHBc were detected by radioimmunoassay in 39 patients with acute viral hepatitis, 79 patients with chronic hepatitis, 30 patients with liver cirrhosis, 16 patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma, 14 patients of HBsAg carriers and 129 cases of controls: 78 cases of normal level of SGOT, SGPT, and 51 cases of elevated level of SGOT, SGPT. Following results were obtained: 1. HBsAg was detected in 66.7% of acute viral hepatitis, 63.3% of chronic hepatitis, 36.7% of liver cirrhosis, 81.3% of primary hepatocellular carcinoma and 27.1% of controls. 2. AntiHBs was positive in 0% of acute viral hepatitis, 21.5% of chronic hepatitis, 36.7% of liver cirrhosis, 31.3% of primary hepatocellular carcinoma, 0% of carrier and 44.2% of controls. 3. HBeAg was detected in 45.6% of chronic hepatitis, 23.3% of liver cirrhosis and 31.3% of primary hepatocellular carcinoma. 4. Among chronic liver diseases, antiHBe was positive in 56.3% of primary hepatocellular carcinoma, 23.3% of liver cirrhosis and 20.3% of chronic hepatitis. 5. AntiHBc was detected in most of all examinees and the significance of presence of AntiHBc does not seem to represent liver disease itself but the evidence of infection of HBV. 6. Among 14 HBV carriers, 6 cases presented with abnormal SGOT, SGPT. 7. All HBV markers were negative in 5.1% of acute viral hepatitis, 5.1% of chronic hepatitis and 14.7% of controls: 17.6% of subjects with abnormal SGOT, SGPT and 12.8% of subjects with normal SGOT, SGPT. 8. Beside of HBV, other causes, such as non A, non B virus, Delta-agent, other viruses or related factors should be excluded among the patients with evidence of HBV infection associated with elevation of SGOT & SGPT.
Alanine Transaminase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Clinical Study* ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Diseases* ; Liver* ; Radioimmunoassay

OBJECTIVES: Chromosomal anomalies are common disease entity among genetic diseases. But there are scanty reports about the status of chromosomal abnormalities in Korean. In addition, the comprehensive multi-center study of chromosomal abnormalities in Korean has never been performed. METHODS: We have collected 1,793 cases (394 abortuses; 198 chorionic villi; 1,060 amniotic fluid cells; 141 fetal blood), which showed abnormal karyotype results from twenty three cytogenetic centers in Korea from the year of 1977 to 1999. RESULTS: In abortuses, numerical chromosomal abnormalities was 85%, and structural abnormalities was 13% and the most frequent anomaly was trisomy 16. In chorionic villi, numerical anomaly was 60.0% and structural anomaly was 31.3% and the most frequent karyotype was Down syndrome. In amniotic fluid cells, structural anomaly exceeded the number of numerical anomaly and the most frequent anomaly was Down syndrome. In fetal blood, numerical anomaly was 63.8% and the most frequent karyotype was trisomy 18 (23.4%) CONCLUSIONS: This may be the first comprehensive and multi-center study in Korea. The proportion of the abnormal karyotypes in each specimens was different from each other. Based on this study, the more comprehensive study should be performed to all the Korean population.
Abnormal Karyotype ; Amniotic Fluid ; Chorion* ; Chorionic Villi* ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Cytogenetics ; Down Syndrome ; Female ; Fetal Blood* ; Karyotype ; Korea ; Trisomy

PURPOSE: We compared the outcome of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) with that of transurethral needle ablation(TUNA) of the prostate in patient with BPH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From May 1996 to April 1997, 21 patients were treated with TURP and 25 with TUNA. In TURP group, the mean age was 67.2 years and mean prostatic volume was 52.7ml. In TUNA group, the mean age was 67.2 years and mean prostatic volume was 32.1ml. Assessment parameters were International Prostate Symptom Score(1-PSS), quality of life question, uroflowmetry and complications. Post-treatment morbidity was noted if the patients experienced erectile dysfunction, retrograde ejaculation or urinary incontinence. Patients were examined at 3 months from the day of treatment. RESULTS: At 3 months, the maximum flow rate improved from the mean of 10.2+/- 3.2m1/sec to 20.5+/-10.7m1/sec for the TURP group and 9.3+/-1.9m1/sec to 12.5+/-4.3 for the TUNA group. 1-PSS improved from the mean 22.0+/-7.6 to 6.4+/-4.6 for the TURP group and 21.2+/-6.6 to 13.1+/-6.8 for the TUNA group. Quality of life improved from the mean 3.8)1.6 to 1.3+/-1.0 for the TURP group and 4.3+/-0.9 to 2.9+/-1.1 for the TUNA group. Erectile dysfunction was reported in 43% (9/21) of TURP and 5%(1/20) of TUNA. Retrograde ejaculation was reported in 57%(12/21) and urinary incontinence was in 5%(1/21) of TURP. Retrograde ejaculation and urinary incontinence was not reported with TUNA. The mean operation time, hospital stay and a catheterization time in the TUNA group were 45.4min, 1.2days, 4.4days in comparison with 58.7min, 7.0days, 3.6days in the TURP group. CONCLUSIONS: After TURP and TUNA, there was significant improvement in all clinical parameters. But TURP was more effective in improving maximum flow rate, 1-PSS and quality of life. TUNA, however, produced minimal morbidity with no serious complication. With acceptable low morbidity, TUNA appears to be a safe and effective procedure in the treatment of BPH.
Catheterization ; Catheters ; Ejaculation ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Needles* ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia* ; Quality of Life ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate* ; Tuna ; Urinary Incontinence

No abstract available.
Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome*

BACKGROUND: On previous reports, the incidence of hepatitis C in Korean leprous patients is too high (55.6~69%). We investigated the percentage of the leprous patients with hepatitis C, genotypes, and risk factors in National Sorokdo Hospital. METHODS: Out of total 714 leprous patients in National Sorokdo Hospital, 147 selected risky patients (with abnormal AST/ALT, platelet Blood Transfusion ; Female ; Genotype* ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Leprosy ; Leprosy, Lepromatous ; Leprosy, Tuberculoid ; Male ; Risk Factors* ; Tattooing