No effective therapy has yet developed for liver fibrosis/cirrhosis by directly inhibiting the accumulation of extracellular matrix. This study was undertaken to determine the effect of tetrandrine in rat model of liver fibrosis induced by carborn tetrachloride (CCl4) administration intraorally. Tetrandrine, a calcium channel blocker, is anti-inflammatory constituent of the families Menispermaceae and Ranunculaceae, which have been used as folk remedies in China. Repeated administration of CCl4 for 14 weeks to rats induced liver fibrosis with steatosis. Rats were killed after 4, 8 or 14 weeks of treatment with CCl4, CCl4 tetrandrine (30 mg/kg) or CCl4 tetrandrine (50 mg/kg). The histopathological findings of liver were observed semi-quantitatively by light microscopy and volume percentage of the collagen deposition was determined by image analyzer. Tetrandrine inhibited collagen deposition induced by CCl4 administration, as shown by less severe steatosis and fibrosis and significantly decreased volume percentage of collagen fibers in CCl4 tetrandrine treated animals compared with CCl4 only group. Thus, the administration of tetrandrine holds great promise for treating subjects with liver fibrosis/cirrhosis as a result of chronic hepatic injury.
Animals ; Calcium Channels ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; China ; Collagen ; Extracellular Matrix* ; Fibrosis* ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Medicine, Traditional ; Menispermaceae ; Microscopy ; Models, Animal ; Ranunculaceae ; Rats*

Undifferentiated sarcoma of the liver is a highly malignant neoplasm that occurs almost exclusively in children. We present a case of adult undifferentiated sarcoma in a 33-year-old man. The neoplasm was typically hypovascular on hepatic angiography and a globular, cystic and mucoid mass separated from the adjacent liver by a psedocapsule was removed from the left lobe of the liver. Necrosis and hemorrhage were found. Microscopically the neoplasm consisted of myxoid and cellular areas and the basic neoplastic cells were stellate cells showing variable degree of anaplasia and pleomorphism. Eosinophilic globules were PAS-positive and immunohistochemically negative for alpha-fetoprotein. Extramedullary hematopoiesis was present and normal-appearing bile ducts and hepatic cell cords were noted.
Child ; Adult ; Male ; Female ; Humans

The purposes of this study was to analyze the operational difference of foodservice center for homebound elderly by the presence of the dietitian. The questionnaire was developed to measure all variables for menu management and distributed to 103 meal service centers in charge of congregate meal service program and 57 centers for home-delivered meal service program. The data of 160 centers in charge of congregate meal service and home-delivered service centers were usable for analysis. Statistical data analysis was completed using the SAS 8.1 package program for descriptive analysis and chi-square test. Only 21.9% meal service centers had dietitians, what is more, they were not professionals who did menu management but foodservice managers, volunteers, cook or social workers. The current foodservice programs for the homebound elderly were operated without professional. In the part of menu managemet, dietitians were more actively involved in menu planning in the elderly foodservice center in the presence of the dietitians. The performance level of healthcare service was not significantly different, but the nutrition education in the elderly foodservice center with the dietitians was more frequently performed than that without the dietitians(p<0.05). In the food purchasing and food production management, the significant differences were shown that in the elderly foodservice centers in the presence of the dietitians, the proportion of the contract purchasing was significantly higher than that of direct purchasing(p<0.01). In food sanitary management, the significant differences were not shown in the part of management of keeping meal for identifying the cause of food-borne illness and left-over, but the sanitation education for the foodservice employees was performed more frequently by the presence of the dietitians(p<0.01). In conclusion, the foodservice management was more systematically conducted in the elderly foodservice centers in the presence of the dietitians than that without dietitians. The elderly foodservice program has offered the health-related support for homebound elderly. Although there were several problems in elderly foodservice management, the program delivered well-targeted, effective, and efficient nutrition services and wide range of supportive service to the at-risk older population. It needs to be managed by professional for the improvement in the elderly foodservice.
Aged* ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Delivery of Health Care ; Education ; Humans ; Meals ; Menu Planning ; Nutritionists* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sanitation ; Social Workers ; Volunteers

The purposes of this study was to analyze the operational difference of foodservice center for homebound elderly by the presence of the dietitian. The questionnaire was developed to measure all variables for menu management and distributed to 103 meal service centers in charge of congregate meal service program and 57 centers for home-delivered meal service program. The data of 160 centers in charge of congregate meal service and home-delivered service centers were usable for analysis. Statistical data analysis was completed using the SAS 8.1 package program for descriptive analysis and chi-square test. Only 21.9% meal service centers had dietitians, what is more, they were not professionals who did menu management but foodservice managers, volunteers, cook or social workers. The current foodservice programs for the homebound elderly were operated without professional. In the part of menu managemet, dietitians were more actively involved in menu planning in the elderly foodservice center in the presence of the dietitians. The performance level of healthcare service was not significantly different, but the nutrition education in the elderly foodservice center with the dietitians was more frequently performed than that without the dietitians(p<0.05). In the food purchasing and food production management, the significant differences were shown that in the elderly foodservice centers in the presence of the dietitians, the proportion of the contract purchasing was significantly higher than that of direct purchasing(p<0.01). In food sanitary management, the significant differences were not shown in the part of management of keeping meal for identifying the cause of food-borne illness and left-over, but the sanitation education for the foodservice employees was performed more frequently by the presence of the dietitians(p<0.01). In conclusion, the foodservice management was more systematically conducted in the elderly foodservice centers in the presence of the dietitians than that without dietitians. The elderly foodservice program has offered the health-related support for homebound elderly. Although there were several problems in elderly foodservice management, the program delivered well-targeted, effective, and efficient nutrition services and wide range of supportive service to the at-risk older population. It needs to be managed by professional for the improvement in the elderly foodservice.
Aged* ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Delivery of Health Care ; Education ; Humans ; Meals ; Menu Planning ; Nutritionists* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sanitation ; Social Workers ; Volunteers

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to test the reliability and validity of Family Burden Questionnaire. METHOD: The subjects were 156 caregivers of children with acute or chronic disease. To test the reliability, internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha coefficient was analyzed, and factor analysis, known-group technique, and concurrent validity were utilized for validity test. RESULT: Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the tool was .89. Six factors were identified and explained 58.7% of the total variance. Through analysis using known-group technique, the difference of family burden between acute and chronic disease groups was statistically significant(t= -4.09, p <.001). Correlations with mood state, other family burden score by Family Burden Interview Schedule, quality of life, and health symptoms were also relatively high and statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Family Burden Questionnaire showed a relatively high validity and reliability to measure the burden of caregivers caring patients with various chronic conditions in Korea. For the further study, it may be reconsidered to identify the factor structure of the Family Burden Questionnaire with the various subjects from different age groups.
Appointments and Schedules ; Caregivers ; Child ; Chronic Disease ; Humans ; Korea ; Quality of Life ; Reproducibility of Results* ; Child Health ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Forty-four ovairan tumors were immunohistochemically studied for the presence of broad-spectrum keratin, vimentin, desin, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT) in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. 1) Among the common epithelial tumors, all the serous carcinomas (4) expressed keratin and AAT, and one additionally CEA. Six mucinous carcinomas exhibited keratin-positivity in two. One endometrioid carcinoma coexpressed keratin and vimentin as well as AAT, but one clear cell carcinoma expressed only keratin. Keratin-and CEA-positivity in epithelial cell nests and vimentin-positivity in stromal cells were observed in two Brenner tumors. Two undifferentiated carcinomas showed keratin-positivity in one and focal CEA positivity in the other. 2) In sex cord-stromal tumors, four out of six granulsa cell tumors, all four thecomas and three fibromas expressed vimentin, and two granulosa cell tumors and two thecomas showed AAT-positivity. The others were negative. 3) Among germ cell tumors, four dysgerminomas showed focal vimentin-positive cells in two and diffuse staining for AAT. Seven endodermal sinus tumors expressed AAT in all. Additionally, AFP were positive in two and CEA in three out of them. One embryonal carcinoma expressed CEA, AAT and AFP. 4) In four metastatic carcinomas, three exhibited keratin-and CEA-positivity, whereas one exhibited keartin-and vimentin-positivity. All showed AAT-positivity. 5) There was no positive case for desmin among ovarian tumors.
Neoplasm Metastasis

PURPOSE: MEN1 gene mutation causes multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. It also suggests that somatic MEN1 gene mutation plays a role in sporadic endocrine tumor. In this study, we examined whether somatic mutations of MEN1 gene are responsible for sporadic parathyroid tumors and correlate with clinical manifestations of parathyroid tumors. METHODS: Somatic mutation of MEN1 gene in the formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded parathyroid tumor tissue from 8 adenomas, 2 carcinomas and 1 hyperplasia were analyzed by direct sequencing. Clinicopathological parameters were reviewed from medical records and compared with the mutational data. RESULTS: Eight of eleven (73%) sporadic parathyroid tumors had somatic MEN1 mutations of 14 different types. In the 14 types, 13 were a point mutation which is composed of 8 missense mutations, 2 nonsense mutations and 3 silent mutations. One of 14 types is a frameshift deletion of 27 base pairs in exon 2. Somatic mutation was frequent in the exon 2 and exon 10. Four types of polymorphism were found. There was no correlation between the presence of mutations and clinicopathological phenotype of parathyroid tumors. CONCLUSION: This result suggests that somatic mutation of MEN1 gene plays a definite role in sporadic parathyroid tumor formation.
Adenoma ; Base Pairing ; Codon, Nonsense ; Exons ; Hyperplasia ; Medical Records ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 ; Mutation, Missense ; Phenotype ; Point Mutation

Synthetic hydroxyapatite is a safe, nontoxic, biocompatible, and osteoconductive material. Hydroxyapatite-coated implants have the property of achieving a very strong bond with living bone in a relatively short period. From March 1992 to June 1994, 140 hydroxyapatite-coated primary total hip prostheses were implanted. This study included 60 cases that could follow up minimum 3 years. At the time of mean follow up, 45 months after operation, the mean Harris hip score was 92 points. Only two patients complained of thigh pain at last follow up. On radiographic evaluation, radiolucent lines were seen around the uncoated distal part of the stem in 46 percents of the implants. No radiolucent line was observed around the coated area of the prosthesis. Cancellous condensation was seen in 95 per cents of the implants at the Gruen zone 2 and 6 area. Cortical hypertrophy was present in 32 percents. Fourteen cases had the gaps at the bone to acetabular cup interface in the immediate postoperative period. The gaps disappeared in 12 months after operation. Five implants were revised because of polyethylene wear, cup migration and periprosthetic fracture. The clinical outcome was excellent. But this result was obtained in the relatively short-term follow up. Longer-term data will be the only true test of the value of hydroxyapatite coated implant.
Acetabulum ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Durapatite* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip Prosthesis* ; Hip* ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Periprosthetic Fractures ; Polyethylene ; Postoperative Period ; Prostheses and Implants ; Thigh

No abstract available.
Blood Platelets* ; Platelet Aggregation*

Carcinosarcoma, often referred to as "malignant mixed tumor" is a rare neoplasm, but this tumor occurs in various organs, including the gallbladder. We report herein a carcinosarcoma of the gallbladder which consisted of adenocarcinomatous and undifferentiated sarcomatous ares, the latter differentiating towards abundant osteoid and calcified but nonlamellated bony trabeculae formation. There are 18 reported cases of this type tumor of the gallbladder in the literature.