No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Mothers* ; Thrombocytopenia

No abstract available.
Teratoma*

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

Cytologic features of inflammatory pseudotumor of the lung have not been described frequently. We report fine needle aspiration cytologic(FNAC) finding of a case of inflammatory pseudotumor misdiagnosed as adenocarcinoma in a 63-year- old man. The FNAC displayed a mixture of histiocytes, myofibroblasts, pneumocytes, and plasma cells. Some histiocytes and myofibroblasts had large nuclei with irregular nuclear membrane and prominent nucleoli, which mislead the diagnosis of adeno- carcinoma on FNAC. The heterogeneous cell population is the unique cytologic features of inflammatory pseudotumor, which are helpful to distinguish it from other circumscribed benign and malignant lesions. Familiarity with these features is essential to avoid misdiagnosis and possible overtreatment.
Adenocarcinoma ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Neoplasm Metastasis

This study was performed to investigate effect of dried powders and ethanol extracts of garlic flesh and peel on antioxidative capacity in 16-month- old rats. Forty Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 618.1 +/- 6.5 g were blocked into five groups according to body weight and raised for 3 months with experimental diets containing 5% (w/w) of dried powders of garlic flesh or peel, or ethanol extracts from equal amount of each dried powder. Total polyphenols, flavonoids, beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, and total antioxidant status (TAS) levels were determined in garlic preparations. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels in plasma, liver and VLDL + LDL fraction, oxidative DNA damage (8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, 8OHdG) in kidney, xanthine oxidase (XO) activities in plasma and liver, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in erythrocyte and liver, and carotenoid concentration, and total antioxidant status (TAS) in plasma were measured. Total polyphenols and flavonoids contents in garlic preparations were highest in peel ethanol extract. Vitamin C content was not different significantly among preparations, but peel powder contains slightly more vitamin C. The content of beta-carotene was highest in peel ethanol extract and vitmain E content was highest in flesh ethanol extract. The highest level of TAS was observed in peel ethanol extract. Plasma TBARS levels in all the experimental groups were found to be significantly lower than control group, and TBARS concentration in VLDL + LDL fraction was decreased in all the experimental groups in comparison to control group. Also levels of 8OHdG in kidney in experimental groups were lower than that of control group. Plasma and liver XO activities were decreased in all experimental groups, and erythrocyte and liver SOD activities were higher in experimental groups compared to control group. All experimental groups also showed higher plasma TAS levels than control group. Especially, garlic flesh powder group was significantly lower in plasma and liver XO activities, and significantly higher in erythrocyte and liver SOD activities than control group. Moreover, plasma TBARS level and kidney 8OHdG level were decreased in flesh powder group. In conclusion, garlic diets showed effect of improving antioxidative capacity in 16-month old rats, especially, garlic flesh powder was prominent in inhibiting XO activitiy, promoting SOD activity and decreasing kidney 8OHdG level among experimental groups.
Animals ; Ascorbic Acid ; beta Carotene ; Body Weight ; Diet ; DNA Damage ; Erythrocytes ; Ethanol* ; Flavonoids ; Garlic* ; Humans ; Infant* ; Kidney ; Liver ; Male ; Plasma ; Polyphenols ; Powders* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins ; Xanthine Oxidase

This study was performed to investigate effect of dried powders and ethanol extracts of garlic flesh and peel on lipid metabolism and antithrombogenic capacity in 16-month-old rats. Forty Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 618.1 +/- 6.5 g were blocked into five groups according to body weight and raised for 3 months with control and experimental diets containing 5% (w/w) of dried powders of garlic flesh or peel, or ethanol extracts from equal amount of each dried powder and control diet. Plasma and liver total lipids, triglyceride and total cholesterol, and plasma HDL-cholesterol, thromboxane B2 (TXB2), 6-keto- prostaglandin F1alpha (6-keto-PGF1alpha) concentrations were measured. Total, insoluble and soluble dietary fibers contents were highest in peel powder followed by fresh powder, and those in ethanol extracts of flesh and peel, especially soluble, very low. Plasma and liver total lipids, triglyceride, and total cholesterol concentrations were lower in all the garlic experimental groups compared to Especially, flesh and peel powder lowered plasma total lipids, triglyceride and total cholesterol concentrations markedly, and flesh powder and flesh ethanol extract lowered liver total lipids, triglyceride and total cholesterol concentration remarkably. Plasma TXB2 concentrations in garlic experimental groups were lower than that of control group, and 6-keto-PGF1alpha concentrations. In garlic experimental groups were higher than that of control group. Flesh ethanol extract group showed the lowest TXB2 and the highest 6-keto-PGF1alpha concentrations among experimental groups, so TXB2/6-keto-PGF1alpha ratio in flesh ethanol extract group was significantly lower than that of control group. Moreover, clotting time was significantly increased in flesh ethanol extract group as compared to control group. In conclusion, intakes of dried powders and ethanol extracts of garlic flesh and peel were effective in lowering lipid levels of liver and plasma. And also flesh ethanol extract diet was most effective in antithrombogenic activity among garlic experimental groups as TXB2/6-keto- PGF1alpha ratio in flesh ethanol extract group was significantly lower and clotting time was significantly increased in this group as compared to control group.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; Dietary Fiber ; Ethanol* ; Garlic* ; Humans ; Infant* ; Lipid Metabolism* ; Liver ; Male ; Plasma ; Powders* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thromboxane B2 ; Triglycerides

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to perform a medical audit of the screening of mammographic results according to ACR BI-RADS Follow-Up and Outcome Monitoring and to evaluate the efficacy of screening mammography in the early detection of breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the results of 15,300 mammographic examinations of 13, 889 women aged 30 -75 years who underwent mammography at least once at the Severance Health Promotion Center between 1994 and 1998. Women with abnormal mammographic findings were recalled for additional study and those with dense breast composition (3, 4) underwent additional ultrasound. All results were categorized on the basis of the ACR BI-RADS final assessment scale, 1 -5. We reviewed the pathologic or follow-up results of all women in categories 4 and 5, and/or those in any category who took the films out of the health center. RESULTS: The recall rate was 13%. Biopsy or surgical Consultation was recommended for 92 women and biopsy was performed in 52. Pathology revealed 17 cancers and 35 benign lesions. Positive predictive value 2 was found in 18.5% of cases, and positive predictive value 3 in 33%. The cancer detection rate was 1.2/1,000, and sensitivity was 89.5%. Invasive cancers smaller than 1cm or in situ ductal cancers were found in eight of 17 cases (47%), while node-positive invasive cancers were found in nine of 14 cases (64%). Four of 17 mammo-graphically detected cancers were palpated by a surgeon. CONCLUSION: In asymptomatic women, screening mammography is an effective method for the detection of early breast cancer.
Biopsy ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Health Promotion* ; Humans ; Mammography* ; Mass Screening* ; Medical Audit* ; Pathology ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there is a difference in nerve conduction studies depend on the body mass index (BMI) of subjects METHOD: Twenty normal healthy volunteers were enrolled for the study. A routine usual sensory and motor nerve conduction study and a sensory nerve conduction study using the near nerve needle technique were performed. BMI was calculated as weight (kg) divided by height (m) squared. In order to evaluate the effect of BMI on the various measure ments of the nerve conduction study, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used. RESULTS: The sensory nerve amplitudes of median, ulnar and sural nerves correlated significantly (p<0.05) with BMI. However, no correlation was noted between BMI and sensory nerve amplitude by near nerve needle technique. There was no statistical differences noted in the measurements of latency of examined motor and sensory nerves neither the velocity of examined motor nerves. CONCLUSION: In clinical practice, the effect of BMI should be taken into account when the interpretation of abnormal sensory nerve study has to be soli.
Body Mass Index* ; Healthy Volunteers ; Needles ; Neural Conduction* ; Obesity ; Sural Nerve ; Weights and Measures

OBJECTIVE: To identify the factors which can delay home discharges or transfers to other hospitals of rehabilitation inpatients in a tertiary hospital and the change of discharge destination during past 6 years. METHOD: This was a retrospective study of patients with a diagnosis of stroke, traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury who were admitted to our hospital in 1996, 1999, 2001 and 2003. Demographic data, length of stay, discharge destination and functional status by the FIM(TM) instrument were studied by a medical record review. RESULT: Patients who were transferred to other hospitals or discharged with delay showed significantly lower admission and discharge FIM scores, lower FIM efficiencies, longer length of stays and longer intervals between the onset and admission to a rehabilitation ward. CONCLUSION: Lower functional outcome was associated with a longer length of stay and discharge to another hospital. It would be necessary to establish the long term rehabilitation care facilities with extended rehabilitation program for the patients with lower functional gains in a rehabilitation unit of the tertiary hospitals.
Brain Injuries ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Inpatients* ; Length of Stay ; Medical Records ; Rehabilitation* ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Stroke ; Tertiary Care Centers*

This study was performed to observe the present status of intestinal parasitic infections in a remote island, Yondo, located in southern part of Jeonranam-do(province), Korea. In February and May 1988, total 1,011 individual stool samples were collected and examined for intestinal helminths and protozoa using formalin-ether centrifugal sedimentation technique. The results are summarized as follows: Of 1,011 ingabitants examined, 398(39.4%) were positive for intestinal parasites. Helminth positives were 372(36.8%), and protozoan cyst positives were 56(5.5%). Ten species of parasites were found. Trichuris trichiura revealed the highest infection rate of 27.5%, Ascaris lumbricoides 17.4%, Taenia sp. 5.8%, Entamoeba coli 3.3%, Giardia lamblia 1.5%, Endolimax nana 0.8%, Hymenolepis nana 0.4%, hookworm 0.2%, Trichostrongylus orientalis 0.2%, and Entamoeba histolytica 0.2%, respectively. The female group showed higher positive rate (44.0%) than males (34.7%). Also, higher positive rates were observed among adults as compared with the group younger than 10 years old. Average value of E.P.G. was 1,876(range 200-17,800) in A. lumbricoides positives, and 327(range 200-1,600) in T. trichiura positive cases. In helminth egg positive cases, single infection was 63.4%, double infection 34.7%, and triple infection 1.9%, respectively. Among protozoan cyst positives, single infection was 94.6%, and double infection was 5.4%. The present study revealed that the prevalence of intestinal parasites among inhabitants in Yondo island is still so high that special control measures should be performed.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda ; cestoda-nematoda-protozoa ; epidemiology ; Ascaris lumbricoides ; Taenia sp. ; Entamoeba coli ; Giardia lamblia ; Endolimax nana ; hookworm ; Trichostrongylus orientalis ; Entamoeba histolytica