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*

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

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

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

We aimed to determine the characteristic adverse events (AEs) of iodinated contrast media (IOCM) and to compare the safety profiles of different IOCM. This study used the database of AEs reports submitted by healthcare professionals from 15 Regional Pharmacovigilance Centers between June 24, 2009 and December 31, 2010 in Korea. All reports of IOCM, including iopromide, iohexol, iopamidol, iomeprol, ioversol, iobitridol and iodixanol, were analyzed. Safety profiles were compared between different IOCM at the system organ level using the proportional reporting ratio (PRR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Among a total of 48,261 reports, 6,524 (13.5%) reports were related to the use of IOCM. Iopromide (45.5%), iohexol (16.9%), iopamidol (14.3%) and iomeprol (10.3%) were identified as frequently reported media. 'Platelet, bleeding & clotting disorders' (PRR, 29.6; 95%CI, 1.9-472.6) and 'urinary system disorders' (PRR, 22.3; 95% CI, 17.1-29.1) were more frequently reported for iodixanol than the other IOCM. In conclusion, the frequency of AEs by organ class was significantly different between individual media. These differences among different IOCM should be considered when selecting a medium among various IOCM and when monitoring patients during and after its use to ensure optimum usage and patient safety.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Platelet Disorders/chemically induced ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Contrast Media/*adverse effects/diagnostic use ; Databases, Factual ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Iodine Radioisotopes/chemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms/radionuclide imaging ; Radiopharmaceuticals/*adverse effects/diagnostic use ; Urologic Diseases/chemically induced ; Young Adult

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

Right-sided infective endocarditis (RIE) occurs predominantly in intravenous drug users in western countries, and it has a relatively good prognosis. Clinical features and prognosis of RIE occurring in non-drug users are not well known. We investigated the clinical findings of RIE in non-drug users. We retrospectively reviewed 345 cases diagnosed with IE. Cases with RIE or left-sided infective endocarditis (LIE) defined by the vegetation site were included and cases having no vegetation or both-side vegetation were excluded. Clinical findings and in-hospital outcome of RIE were compared to those of LIE. Among the 245 cases, 39 (16%) cases had RIE and 206 (84%) cases had LIE. RIE patients were younger (40+/-19 yr vs 50+/-18 yr, P=0.004), and had a higher incidence of congenital heart disease (CHD) (36% vs 13%, P<0.001) and central venous catheter (CVC) (21% vs 4%, P=0.001) compared to LIE patients. A large vegetation was more common in RIE (33% vs 9%, P<0.001). Staphylococcus aureus was the most common cause of RIE, while Streptococcus viridans were the most common cause of LIE. In-hospital mortality and cardiac surgery were not different between the two groups. CHD and use of CVC were common in non-drug users with RIE. The short-term clinical outcome of RIE is not different from that of LIE.
Adult ; Aged ; Central Venous Catheters/microbiology ; Echocardiography ; Endocarditis, Bacterial/*diagnosis/microbiology/mortality ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital/complications/epidemiology ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Staphylococcus aureus/isolation & purification ; Viridans Streptococci/isolation & purification ; Young Adult