PURPOSE: Recent studies have revealed close relationships between hepatic injury, metabolic pathways, and gut microbiota. The microorganisms in the intestine also cause irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The aim of this study was to examine whether IBS was associated with elevated hepatic enzyme [alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)], gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma-GT) levels, and metabolic syndrome (MS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional, case-control study. The case and control groups comprised subjects who visited our health promotion center for general check-ups from June 2010 to December 2010. Of the 1127 initially screened subjects, 83 had IBS according to the Rome III criteria. The control group consisted of 260 age- and sex-matched subjects without IBS who visited our health promotion center during the same period. RESULTS: Compared to control subjects, patients with IBS showed significantly higher values of anthropometric parameters (body mass index, waist circumference), liver enzymes, gamma-GT, and lipid levels. The prevalences of elevated ALT (16.9% vs. 7.7%; p=0.015) and gamma-GT (24.1% vs. 11.5%; p=0.037) levels were significantly higher in patients with IBS than in control subjects. A statistically significant difference was observed in the prevalence of MS between controls and IBS patients (12.7% vs. 32.5%; p<0.001). The relationships between elevated ALT levels, MS, and IBS remained statistically significant after controlling for potential confounding factors. CONCLUSION: On the basis of our study results, IBS may be an important condition in certain patients with elevated ALT levels and MS.
Adult ; Alanine Transaminase/analysis/*metabolism ; Aspartate Aminotransferases/analysis/*metabolism ; Body Mass Index ; Case-Control Studies ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome/diagnosis/*enzymology/epidemiology ; Liver/metabolism ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome X/complications/diagnosis/*enzymology/epidemiology ; Middle Aged ; Obesity/epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Waist Circumference ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase/analysis/*metabolism

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of lamivudine treatment in patients with chronic liver disease caused by chronic infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV). METHODS: Thirty-ive patients with chronic infection of HBV were included in this study who were diagnosed at Hanyang University Hospital from January 1998 to January 1999. They received 150mg of lamivudine per oral once daily for 6 months with follow-p of liver function test, serum HBV DNA and serologic markers for hepatitis B virus every two months. Lamivudine was well tolerated. Eight patients underwent liver biopsies before entering the study and follow-p biopsies were done at 5 patients. RESULTS: Out of all 35 patients, chronic hepatitis patients histologically confirmed were 8, chronic hepatitis patients clinically diagnosed were 25 and liver cirrhosis patients clinically diagnosed were 2. The mean age was 35.7 years. Male-female ratio was 2.2:1. There was no hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) negative seroconversion. The HBeAg loss rate was 26.9%(7/26) and HBeAg seroconversion rate was 10.7%(3/28) at the end of follow-p. Ten patients were anti-Be positive prior to treatment, 3 of them became anti-Be negative at the end of follow-p. Five patients underwent follow-p liver biopsies, in which histologic improvements were shown in 4 cases. Serum replicative HBV DNA by bDNA assay was decreased in all patients and HBV DNA was undetectable in 52.9%(9/17) at the end of treatment. Out of the 15 patients with abnormal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels at baseline, ALT level in 7 patients(46.7%) was normalized at treatment completion. Pretherapy ALT level was the only predictive factor for loss of HBeAg by stepwise logistic regression analysis(odds ratio : 1.0208) (95% Confidence Interval : 1.0023 ~ 1.0396) (p value=0.0271). CONCLUSIONS: Lamivudine induced sustained suppression of HBV replication during treatment in all patients. In treating patients with lamivudine, who had chronic liver disease due to chronic infection of HBV, the improvement of liver function test and suppression of viral replication appeared early and was sustained during the 6months treatment. This, in turn, may induce histological improvement as well. Pretherapy ALT level was the only predictive determinant for HBeAg loss during lamivudine therapy, and that should be kept in mind in selecting patients for treatment.
Alanine Transaminase ; Biopsy ; Branched DNA Signal Amplification Assay ; DNA ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Humans ; Lamivudine* ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Diseases ; Liver Function Tests ; Logistic Models ; Prospective Studies*

It is very important to estimate the future medical care expenditure, because medical care expenditure escalation is a big problem not only in the health industry but also in the Korean economy today. This study was designed to project the medical care expenditure in view of population age change. The data of this study were the population projection data based on National Census Data (1990) of the National Statistical Office and the Statistical Reports of the Korea Medical Insurance Corporation. The future medical care expenditure was eatimated by the regression model and the optional simulation model. The significant results are as follows; 1. The future medical care expenditure will be 3,963 billion Won in the year 2000, 4,483 billion Won in 2010, and 4,826 billion Won in 2020, based on the 1990 market price considering only the population age change. 2. The proportion of the total medical care expenditure in the elderly over 65 will be 10. 4% in 2000, 13.5% in 2010, and 16.9% in 2020. 3. The future medical care expenditure will be 4,306 billion Won in the year 2000, 5,1101 billion Won in 2010, and 5, 699 billion Won in 2020 based on the 1990 market price considering the age structure change and the change of the case-cost estimated by the regression model. 4. When we consider the age-structure change and inflation compared with the preceding year, the future medical care expenditurein 2020 will be 21 trillion Won based on a 5% inflation rate, 42 trillion Won based on a 7.5% inflation rate, and 84 trillion Won based on a 10% inflation rate. Consideration of the aged (65 years old and over)will be essential to understand the acute increase of medical care expenditure due to changes in age structure of the population. Therefore, alternative policies and programs for the caring of the aged should be further studied.
Aged ; Censuses ; Population Forecast ; Health Expenditures* ; Humans ; Inflation, Economic ; Insurance ; Korea

No abstract available.
Female ; Ovary* ; Teratoma*

No abstract available.
Female ; Ovary* ; Teratoma*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The majority of laryngeal tumors are known to be SCC (squamous cell carcinoma). Non-SCC (non-squamous cell cancers) of the larynx represent a diverse spectrum of diseases with different prognosis and ratio-nales of management from SCC. Therapeutic options to these tumors depend on their histopathological characteristics and clinical behaviors. The purpose of this study was to assess the unique aspects of the non-SCC and to draw diagnosis and provide management options and prognostic variables. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Eleven non-SCC of the larynx from the 212 patients who were diagnosed with larynx cancer during their 3-year visits from 1997 to 2000 were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: The incidence of non-SCC was 5.2%. Pathology of non-SCC revealed 3 cases of malignant lymphoma, 2 cases of verrucous cell carcinoma and neuroendocrine carcinoma one case each of basaloid squamous cell carninoma, salivary duct carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and spindle cell carcinoma. The most common site of origin was supraglottis (6 case, 56.5%), followed by glottis (4 cases, 36.4%) and subglottis (2 cases, 17.2%). Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and basaloid squamous cell carninoma were treated by chemotherapy. The remaining cases were treated with surgery followed by postoperative radio-therapy or postoperative chemotherapy. The mean follow-up period was 26.8 months (12-43 months). CONCLUSION: Non-SCC accounts for approximately 5.2% of all malignancies of the larynx. Tissue biopsy is the most important diagnostic tool for the non-SCC of the larynx and the tissue sample must be obtained from the deep portion of the submucosal layer. Except for malignant lymphomas, the combined therapy that includes surgery would be the best method of treatment for non-SCC.
Adenocarcinoma ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glottis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; Larynx* ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Pathology ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Salivary Ducts

PURPOSE: Low-dose dopamine (0.5-3 microgram/kg/min) increases renal blood flow, glomerular filtration rate and natriuresis and has protective and therapeutic effects on oliguric renal failures. Asphyxia is the most common cause of acute renal failure in neonates. But the protective effects of dopamine have never been reported in asphyxiated neonates. So we reported the effects of low-dose dopamine on the renal function of asphyxiated neonates. METHODS: Twenty-seven asphyxiated neonates who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Ewha Womans University hospital, from September, 1995 to June, 1997, were randomized to dopamine group (N=14, dopamine 0.5-3 microgram/kg/min) and control group (N=13). Serum creatinine (Pcr) and Na (PNa), urine creatinine (Ucr) and Na (UNa), urine output, creatinine clearance rate (Ccr), fractional excretion of Na (FENa) of two groups were compared on postnatal day 1, 3, 5. Incidences of acute renal failure and neonatal complications were also checked. RESULTS: The postnatal changes of Pcr (mg/dL), Ccr (mL/min/1.73m2) and FENa (%), on lst, 3rd & 5th days were not significnatly diffrent between dopamine group and control group. The postnatal changes of UNa (mmol/day) and urine output (ml/kg/hr) in dopamine group on 1st, 3rd & 5th days were significantly higher than those of control group (P<0.05). The incidence of acute renal failure, intraventricular hemorrhage, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, patient ductus arteriosus, sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis were not significantly different between two groups. CONCLUSION: Low-dose dopamine, which was prophylactically given after birth in asphyxiated neonates, showed natriuretic and diuretic effects without significant increase of glomerular function.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Asphyxia ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; Creatinine ; Diuretics ; Dopamine* ; Ductus Arteriosus ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn* ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Natriuresis ; Parturition ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Renal Circulation ; Renal Insufficiency ; Sepsis

No abstract available.
Fetal Death*

To elucidate iron utilization patterns of Staphylococcus aureus according to the growth, we checked the residual iron concentration and the production of siderophores at the indicated times while culturing S. aureus ATCC 6538 and 25923 strains in brain heart infusion broth. By using streptonigrin susceptibility test and investigating growth curves in three culture media of which iron concentration is 0.2, 20, 45 uM, respectively, we found out that iron metabolism of 6538 strain was more active than that of 25923 strain. In point of tendency of iron consumption, 6538 strain steeply consumed iron just before the onset of stationary phase, but 25923 strain did gradually iron throughout the growth phase. Nevertheless, total amount of iron consumed by each strain during the growth was almost no difference between the strains. CAS diffusion assay in detecting siderophores showed that siderophore production followed iron consumption. These results suggest that the siderophores play significant role in iron utilization in vitro.
Brain ; Culture Media ; Diffusion ; Heart ; Iron* ; Metabolism ; Siderophores ; Staphylococcus aureus* ; Staphylococcus* ; Streptonigrin