Although the incidence of epidemic encephalitis has decreased mardekly nowadays, sporadic cases are stillobserved in Korea. In this study, CT findings of 17 patients with clinically and serologically proven epidemicencephalitis were analized. In principle, CT scans were done at the acute and subacute stage, whithin 20 days fromonset. The results were follows; 1. Of all 17 patients with CT scan, normal scan were demonstrated in 3 cases andabnormal scans in 14 cases. 2. The abnormal CT findings were ; area of low density in 9 cases, brain edema in 7cases, nodular and gyral contrast enhancement in 3 cases, central brain atrophy in 3 cases and hemorrhagic highdensity in 2 cases in order of frequency. 3. The CT findings, according to date of CT scan from onset, were; brainedema and are of low density within 10 days from onset, normal or central brain atrophy between 11 days and 20days, are of hemorrhagic high density and contrast enhanced lesions at both stage. 4. The locational distributionswere; thalamus and cerebral white matter in 7 cases respectively, basal ganglia in 5 cases, cerebral cortex in 4cases and septum pellucidum in 1 case in order of frequency.
Atrophy ; Basal Ganglia ; Brain ; Brain Edema ; Cerebral Cortex ; Encephalitis, Arbovirus ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Septum Pellucidum ; Thalamus ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; White Matter

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the caudate lobe remains one of the most intricate locations where various treatments tend to pose problems with regard to the optimal approach. Surgical resection has been regarded as the most effective treatment; however, isolated resection of the caudate lobe is strenuous and associated with a high rate of early recurrence. Percutaneous ablation might be technically difficult or impossible to perform due to the deep location of tumors and adjacent large vessels. Treatment with drug-eluting beads (DEB) can potentially enhance the therapeutic efficacy for patients with unresectable HCC by drawing on the slower, more consistent drug delivery process. We described a case of a 62-year-old man with HCC in the caudate lobe who was successfully treated by DEB.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*therapy ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Doxorubicin/administration & dosage ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/*therapy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neoplasm Staging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Protoplasts of the wild type strain of Pleurotus osteatus were mutagenized with UV light, and 3,000 colonies were examined for abnormal mycelial and fruiting phenotypes. Forty one strains displayed variant phenotypes in mycelia and fruiting processes. The variant phenotypes were classified into 6 groups: (1) auxotrophic strains, which are incapable of growing on minimal media and can only grow when provided with their specific requirements; (2) abnormal vegetative strains, which grow very slowly on minimal and complete media; (3) primordiumless strains, which fail to develop to the formation of primordia; (4) maturationless strains, which form primordia, but do not form mature fruiting bodies; (5) specifically colored strains, which have Specific bluish grey or bluish white pileus; (6) poorly spored strains, which fail to produce basidiospore or which produce few spores. These variant strains may be useful in genetic breeding programs and for the studies of fungal development and genetics.
Breeding ; Fruit ; Genetics ; Phenotype ; Pleurotus* ; Protoplasts ; Spores ; Ultraviolet Rays

This nationwide, prospective cohort study evaluated pulmonary function and radiological sequelae according to infection severity in 73 survivors from the 2015 Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) outbreak in Korea. Patients with severe pneumonia in MERS-coronavirus infection had more impaired pulmonary function than those with no or mild pneumonia at the 1-year follow-up, which was compatible with the radiological sequelae. Severe pneumonia significantly impairs pulmonary function and makes long radiological sequelae in MERS.
Cohort Studies ; Coronavirus ; Coronavirus Infections* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Middle East* ; Pneumonia* ; Prospective Studies ; Survivors

BACKGROUND: From May to July 2015, the Republic of Korea experienced the largest outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) outside the Arabian Peninsula. A total of 186 patients, including 36 deaths, had been diagnosed with MERS-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection as of September 30th, 2015. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We obtained information of patients who were confirmed to have MERS-CoV infection. MERS-CoV infection was diagnosed using real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 55 years (range, 16 to 86). A total of 55.4% of the patients had one or more coexisting medical conditions. The most common symptom was fever (95.2%). At admission, leukopenia (42.6%), thrombocytopenia (46.6%), and elevation of aspartate aminotransferase (42.7%) were observed. Pneumonia was detected in 68.3% of patients at admission and developed in 80.8% during the disease course. Antiviral agents were used for 74.7% of patients. Mechanical ventilation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and convalescent serum were employed for 24.5%, 7.1%, and 3.8% of patients, respectively. Older age, presence of coexisting medical conditions including diabetes or chronic lung disease, presence of dyspnea, hypotension, and leukocytosis at admission, and the use of mechanical ventilation were revealed to be independent predictors of death. CONCLUSION: The clinical features of MERS-CoV infection in the Republic of Korea were similar to those of previous outbreaks in the Middle East. However, the overall mortality rate (20.4%) was lower than that in previous reports. Enhanced surveillance and active management of patients during the outbreak may have resulted in improved outcomes.
Antiviral Agents ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Coronavirus Infections* ; Disease Outbreaks ; Dyspnea ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; Fever ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Leukocytosis ; Leukopenia ; Lung Diseases ; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus ; Middle East* ; Mortality ; Pneumonia ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Republic of Korea* ; Respiration, Artificial ; Thrombocytopenia