Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a positive sense, single-stranded RNA virus in the Flaviviridae family. It causes acute hepatitis with a high propensity for chronic infection. Chronic HCV infection can progress to severe liver disease including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. In the last decade, our basic understanding of HCV virology and life cycle has advanced greatly with the development of HCV cell culture and replication systems. Our ability to treat HCV infection has also been improved with the combined use of interferon, ribavirin and small molecule inhibitors of the virally encoded NS3/4A protease, although better therapeutic options are needed with greater antiviral efficacy and less toxicity. In this article, we review various aspects of HCV life cycle including viral attachment, entry, fusion, viral RNA translation, posttranslational processing, HCV replication, viral assembly and release. Each of these steps provides potential targets for novel antiviral therapeutics to cure HCV infection and prevent the adverse consequences of progressive liver disease.
Antigens, CD81/metabolism ; Genome, Viral ; Hepacivirus/genetics/*physiology ; Humans ; RNA, Viral/metabolism ; Scavenger Receptors, Class B/metabolism ; Viral Envelope Proteins/chemistry/metabolism ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins/chemistry/metabolism ; Virus Assembly ; Virus Internalization ; Virus Replication

OBJECTIVE: To verify the interrater and intrarater reliability of Korean Wolf Motor Function Test (K-WMFT) for assessing upper extremity function after stroke. METHOD: Twenty patients with chronic hemiparesis after stroke participated in the study. The Wolf Motor Function Test consists of 15 functional tasks. Performances were timed and rated by functional ability scale. The K-WMFT were administered to the subjects by an occupational therapist. All test sessions were videotaped and scored by 2 physiatrists and another occupational therapist to examine interrater reliability. They were reevaluated at a later time by the same occupational therapist to examine intrarater reliability. RESULTS: Intraclass correlation coefficient of the performance time of K-WMFT was 0.94 and that of the functional ability scale of K-WMFT was 0.99. Intrarater correlation coefficient of the performance time of K-WMFT was 1.00 and that of the functional ability scale of K-WMFT was 0.97. CONCLUSION: The interrater and intrarater reliability of K- WMFT were verified. K-WMFT can be used as a reliable tool to measure upper extremity function of the stroke patients in Korea.
Arm ; Humans ; Korea ; Paresis ; Rehabilitation ; Stroke ; Upper Extremity ; Wolves*

OBJECTIVES: We report a case of n-hexane-induced occupational peripheral polyneuropathy. The patient had been cleaning mobile phone cases using n-hexane for 3 years without proper protection in the workplace. Method : Physical examinations, detailed history taking, laboratory studies and electrophysiological study were done. The n-hexane concentration in the ambient air of the workplace was analysed. RESULTS: The findings of the electrophysiological study revealed that the worker's neurologic symptoms were due to peripheral polyneuropathy. The average n-hexane concentration in the ambient air sampled at the workplace for 59 minutes was 1411.24ppm, from which the 8 hour time-weighted-average(TWA) was estimated as 882ppm. Because other alternative causes for peripheral polyneuropathy were ruled out by laboratory findings and detailed history taking, this TWA level strongly suggested that the disease was caused by n-hexane exposure. Conclusion : Although the neuro-toxicity of n-hexane is relatively well known, many problems have been identified in the management of this toxic material in terms of preventing toxic diseases in the workplace. We expect that this case will help in the planning of health management strategies for using n-hexane in the workplace.
Cellular Phone* ; Humans ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Physical Examination ; Polyneuropathies*

Incontinentia pigmenti is a systemic disorder affecting the skin, teeth, eyes, nervous tissue, hair, nails, musculoskeletal system, and heart. We describe an 11-month-old girl with incontinentia pigmenti associated with a ventricular septal defect, left hemiatrophy, hemangiomas, an abnormal labial frenum, and spastic cerebral palsy manifested as left hemiplegia and developmental delay. We believe this patient illustrates that incontinentia pigmenti is a systemic disorder necessitating a multidisciplinary approach to management.
Cerebral Palsy ; Eye ; Hair ; Heart ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Hemangioma ; Hemiplegia ; Humans ; Incontinentia Pigmenti ; Infant ; Labial Frenum ; Musculoskeletal System ; Nails ; Skin ; Tooth

Cutaneous metastasis from renal cell carcinoma is rare. Once metastatic cutaneous involvement of a renal cell carcinoma has occurred, the disease is already widespread and therefore has a very poor prognosis. Herein we report a case of a 59-year-old man who presented with a renal cell carcinoma metastatic to the scalp, lung, brain and contralateral kidney.
Brain ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Humans ; Kidney ; Lung ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Scalp

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is the most common primary salivary gland malignancy. About 60% of mucoepidermoid carcinomas occur in the major salivary glands and 35% in the minor glands, in which the palate and buccal mucosa are the most frequent sites. Histologically, tumor cells, composed of intermediate, mucous, epidermoid, and clear cells in widely varying proportions, form numerous sheets, islands, duct-like structures and cysts. Many foci of mucin production are prominent. Herein, we report a case of a 37-year-old man who presented a nodule on left buccal mucosa. After the diagnosis, he was referred to a dental surgeon, by whom the tumor was radically excised. But, tumor cells were observed at one of the resection margins. As a result, he received radiation therapies (6 weeks, 60 Gy). He is now undergoing regular follow ups without any signs of recurrence.
Adult ; Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Islands ; Mouth Mucosa ; Mucins ; Palate ; Recurrence ; Salivary Glands ; Salivary Glands, Minor

Although a basal cell carcinoma usually results from chronic irradiation of solar ultraviolet, some reports have mentioned that non-solar ultraviolet and trauma also could be etiologic factors of basal cell carcinoma. Herein, we report a case of a 64-year-old man who had worked as a welder for more than thirty years. Four years ago, he was burnt on his right upper eyelid during welding. After that, the lesion had been darkened and indurated, and finally was diagnosed as basal cell carcinoma. The significance of non-solar ultraviolet irradiation and thermal burn during welding in the pathogenesis of basal cell carcinoma is discussed.
Burns ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Eyelids ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Welding

Spindle cell lipoma is a benign tumor composed of ropey collagen, myxoid stroma, CD34-positive spindled cells, and mature fat. The variable proportion of these elements among different cases of the neoplasm makes diagnosis difficult. Furthermore, numerous variants have been reported, including pseudoangiomatous spindle cell lipoma, angiomatous spindle cell lipoma, fibrous spindle cell lipoma, and low-fat or fat-free spindle cell lipoma. Here we report a case of low-fat, fibrous spindle cell lipoma in which fat is noted to be present in <5% of the tumor, whereas fibrous collagenous stroma is predominant.
Collagen ; Lipoma

Doxifluridine is a pyrimidine derivative and is activated to 5-fluorouracil by pyrimidine phosphorylase. Multiple acral hyperpigmented macules have been reported in patients treated with systemic 5-fluorouracil or some of its prodrugs. However, there have been no reports of this adverse event being induced by doxifluridine. Herein we present a 42-year-old woman with multiple pigmented lesions on the palm and sole after chemotherapy with oral doxifluridine.
Adult ; Female ; Floxuridine ; Fluorouracil ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Prodrugs ; Pyrimidines

Proliferative fasciitis is a rare, rapidly growing, pseudosarcomatous nodule of subcutaneous tissue. It commonly occurs on the extremities. Lesions on the head and neck are exceedingly rare. Histopathologically, it is characterized by several large basophilic ganglion-like cells deposited in a myxoid stroma with spindled cells. Herein, we report a case of a 54-year-old man who noticed a nodule on his right cheek about six months before examination. At first, its size abruptly increased, and then remained without any change in size. Microscopically, many basophilic ganglion-like cells and spindled cells were deposited in a myxoid stroma. Immunohistochemically, ganglion-like cells and spindled cells were strongly positive for vimentin and weakly positive for smooth muscle actin and CD68. Although it was not radically excised, the lesion has not been found for 3 months.
Actins ; Basophils ; Cheek ; Extremities ; Fasciitis ; Head ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Smooth ; Neck ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Vimentin