A patient with amebic colitis in which the rare complication of ameboma developed accompanying liver abscess is presented. The diagnosis was made by colonic mucosal biopsy and microscopic stool examination which revealed hematophagous trophzoites of Entamoeba histolytica. All rnanifestations of this patient's illness, including liver abscess, completley reverted to normal after appropriate therapy.
Amebiasis* ; Biopsy ; Colon ; Diagnosis ; Dysentery, Amebic* ; Entamoeba histolytica ; Humans ; Liver Abscess* ; Liver*

Caspases, a family of cysteine proteases, cleave substrates and play significant roles in apoptosis, autophagy, and development. Recently, our group identified 72 genes that interact with Death Caspase-1 (DCP-1) proteins in Drosophila by genetic screening of 15,000 EP lines. However, the cellular functions and molecular mechanisms of the screened genes, such as their involvement in apoptosis and autophagy, are poorly understood in mammalian cells. In order to study the functional characterizations of the genes in human cells, we investigated 16 full-length human genes in mammalian expression vectors and tested their effects on apoptosis and autophagy in human cell lines. Our studies revealed that ALFY, BIRC4, and TAK1 induced autophagy, while SEC61A2, N-PAC, BIRC4, WIPI1, and FALZ increased apoptotic cell death. BIRC4 was involved in both autophagy and apoptosis. Western blot analysis and luciferase reporter activity indicated that ALFY, BIRC4, PDGFA, and TAK1 act in a p53-dependent manner, whereas CPSF1, SEC61A2, N-PAC, and WIPI1 appear to be p53-independent. Overexpression of BIRC4 and TAK1 caused upregulation of p53 and accumulation of its target proteins as well as an increase in p53 mRNA levels, suggesting that these genes are involved in p53 transcription and expression of its target genes followed by p53 protein accumulation. In conclusion, apoptosis and/or autophagy mediated by BIRC4 and TAK1 may be regulated by p53 and caspase activity. These novel findings may provide valuable information that will aid in a better understanding of the roles of caspase-related genes in human cell lines and be useful for the process of drug discovery.
Apoptosis* ; Autophagy* ; Blotting, Western ; Caspases ; Cell Death ; Cell Line ; Cysteine Proteases ; Drosophila ; Drug Discovery ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Luciferases ; RNA, Messenger ; Up-Regulation

We investigated HBV markers in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of 50 subjects with neurologic disorders or other disorders, who visited Dept. of neurology, college of medicine, Yeungnam University, from April-1 to August-31 1994 and were performed cerebrospinal fluid analysis to investigate the detection rate of HBV markers in cerebrospinal fluid and the possibility of neurologic disorders associated with HBV infection. The results were as follows. The positivity of HBsAg and. HBV prevalence rate in serum were 6(12.04) and 37(74.0%). Thf, number of patient with HBsAg, only anti-HBV and no markers were 6(12.0%), 31(62.0%) and 13(26.0%), respectively. The positivity of HBsAg and HBV prevalence rate in cerebrospinal fluid were 3(6%) and 18(36.0%). The number of patient with HBsAg, only anti-HBV and no markers were 6(100.0%), 12(38.7%) and 0(0.0%) respectively. The number of patient with virus associated diseases(VAD) and non virus associated diseases(NVAD) were 26(52%) and 24(48%). The HBV prevalence rate in serum of VAD and NVAD groups were 88.5% and 58.3% (p<0.05). The HBV prevalence rate in CSF of VAD and NVAD groups were 53.8% and 16.7%(p<0.05). The HBV prevalence rate in serum and CSF of VAD and NVAD groups were 60.9% and 28.6%
Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine* ; Humans ; Nervous System Diseases ; Neurology ; Prevalence

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of sling exercise on pain, trunk strength, and balance in patients with chronic low back pain in their 40s and 50s. Methods: Twenty patients with chronic low back pain were divided into two groups, 10 patients in the exercise group using a sling and 10 patients in the waist stabilization exercise group, applying a random assignment, draw-out method, and sling exercise was applied for 50 minutes a day, 3 times a week, for a total of 5 weeks. For data analysis, a corresponding t-test was performed for within-group changes and an independent t-test was performed for inter-group changes, and the significance level was α = 0.05. Results: After 5 weeks, there were significant differences in all items of within-group changes, and the inter-group changes after 5 weeks demonstrated significant differences in pain, trunk flexion strength, and balance. Conclusion The results of this study showed that exercise using a sling had positive effects on pain, trunk flexion strength, and balance changes in chronic low back pain patients. It is suggested that sling exercise can be used as an intervention method for pain reduction and functional improvement of patients with chronic low back pain in clinical practice.

PURPOSE: This study attempted to assess the treatment outcomes after microsurgical varicocelectomy in non-obstructive azoospermic patients and correlate the surgical outcomes with the histopathological patterns of their testes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen non-obstructive azoospermic men who underwent testicular biopsy and varicocelectomy, between September 2001 and December 2002, were reviewed. Varicocelectomy was unilaterally and bilaterally performed in 12 and 2 patients, respectively, using an inguinal approach with a microsurgical technique. Postoperative semen analyses were performed in each patient four months after the varicocelectomy. RESULTS: In the testicular histology, hypospermatogenesis was identified in three, maturation arrest in five and Sertoli-cell-only syndrome in six of the subjects. After a mean follow-up of 7.4 months, motile sperm in the ejaculate was identified in 6(43%) of the non-obstructive azoospermic patients. These included 2 in hypospermatogenesis, 3 in maturation arrest and 1 in Sertoli-cell-only syndrome, in terms of their histopathology. These six had improvements in their sperm concentration and motility, which were 0.45x10(6)/ml and 51.3%, respectively. However, of these six, with motile sperm after varicocelectomy, 1 with maturation arrest and 1 with Sertoli-cell-only syndrome returned to their previous azoospermic state on their second postoperative semen analyses. A pregnancy was achieved by natural intercourse for 1 of the men(7.1%) with hypospermatogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: Microsurgical varicocelectomy offers non-obstructive azoospermic patients the chance to have sperm in their ejaculate, and therefore, the possibility of natural pregnancy. Microsurgical varicocelectomy may be considered with the initial treatment modality in selective non- obstructive azoospermic patients with varicocele prior to intervention with assisted reproductive technology.
Azoospermia ; Biopsy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Oligospermia ; Pregnancy ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Semen Analysis ; Spermatozoa ; Testis ; Varicocele

No abstract available.
Drainage*

Angiokeratoma circumscriptum is present at birth or early childhood and is an uncommon dermatosis characterized by papules and small nodules that may coalesce to form plaques. Histopathologically, there are varying degrees of hyperkeratosis, papillomatosis, and irregular acanthosis. In the papillary dermis, greatly dilated capillaries are observed, The acanthotic epidermis encircles the vascular spaces(blood cysts) where, occasionally, organized thrombi may be found. The use of pulsed-dye lasers to treat cutaneous vascular lesions is based on the theory of selective photothermolysis. We report a case of an angiokeratoma circumscriptum in an 48-year-old woman for whom the flashlamp pulsed tunable dye laser proved to be a highly successful means of treatment.
Angiokeratoma* ; Capillaries ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; Female ; Humans ; Lasers, Dye* ; Middle Aged ; Papilloma ; Parturition ; Skin Diseases

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to measure the level of job stress and health status and find out factors affecting the health status among circulation enterprise workers. METHOD: This study was a cross-sectional descriptive study. The subjects were 128 workers whose mean age was 33.2 years. Korean occupational stress questionnaire Short Form was used to measure job stress. Todai Heath Index that was made by Aoki in 1977 and translated by Kim(1997) was used to measure the health status. RESULTS: The total job stress scores of men and woman fell in the lower 50% of Korean workers. Job autonomy and interpersonal conflicts as a subcategories fell in upper level 50% in both men and women and job insecurity fell in the upper level 50% in women. The mean score of health status was 51.47, indicating slightly higher frequency of complains of health symptoms. There was no significant correlation between total job stress and total health status. Finally, factors influencing the health status were organizational system and age. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, it is necessary to develop comprehensive stress management programs including interventions of personal and organizational levels for promoting workers' health.
Female ; Humans ; Male ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Hair Removal*

Pelvic actinomycosis is a rare disease, and has variable clinical manifestations and courses, which make it difficult to diagnose the disease initially. We experienced a pelvic actinomycosis in a woman who complained vaginal discharge and lower abdominal pain, and had not been carring a intrauterine contraceptive device. This infection results in tissue destruction, fibrosis, and the formation of draining sinuses. We describe the case with brief review of clinical diagnosis and management.
Abdominal Pain ; Actinomycosis* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Intrauterine Devices ; Rare Diseases ; Vaginal Discharge