No abstract availalbe.
Hepatitis* ; Interferons* ; Lamivudine*

No abstract availalbe.
Hepatitis* ; Interferons* ; Lamivudine*

No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Hepatitis B, Chronic* ; Hepatitis, Chronic*

No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Hepatitis B, Chronic* ; Hepatitis, Chronic*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Transfection of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome requires the cloning of tandem HBV sequences inserted into a plasmid vector, which is usually screened for by the restriction enzyme digestion of plasmid minipreparation from at least a dozen of bacterial colonies. The aim of this study was to develop a simple alternative screening method for bacterial colonies harbouring tandem HBV sequences by a PCR. METHODS: A set of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primer was designed to detect the bacterial colonies harbouring "head to tail" dimeric HBV DNA. PCR which amplifies the head to tail junction site of two tandem HBV molecules was performed. RESULTS: PCR products with appropriate size (1.2kb) were obtained. The accurate detection by PCR screening technique was confirmed by enzyme digestion. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that PCR screening technique is a simple and rapid method for the identification of bacterial colonies containing tandem HBV sequences.
Clone Cells ; Cloning, Organism ; Digestion ; DNA ; Genome ; Head ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans* ; Mass Screening* ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Transfection

We report herein three cases of vesicular pemphigoid that is a varient of bullous pemphigoid, occuring in 38-year old female, 51-year old male, and 35-year old female patients. They had recurrent and moderate to severe pruritic tense vesicles with symmetrical distribution chiefly on the head and neck areas. The histological findings showed subepidermal bullae which contained a few eosinophils and the direct irnmunofluorescent tests revealed linear deposition of IgG, IgM and C, on the basement mernbrane zone. Futhermore, all the patients showed a good response to dapsone.
Adult ; Dapsone ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Pemphigoid, Bullous* ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation

Although our present knowledge of the etiology of peptic ulcer is incomplete, the presence or absence of peptic ulcer is determined by the delicate interplay between aggressive factors (secreted gastric acid and pepsin) and defensive factors (mucosal resistance). Peptic ulcer is produced when the aggressive effects of acid-pepsin dominate the protective effects of gastric or duodenal mucosal resistance by predominance of aggressive factors or interruption of defensive factors. KU-54 enhances mucosal resistance to tissue injury by the increase of gastric mucosal blood flow, the stimulation of gastric mucosal metabolism, the increase of glycoprotein of gastric mucus, and the increase of ATP of gastric mucosa. We have treated 38 cases of gastric ulcers with KU-54 300 mg daily for 4-12 weeks for the evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy. Endoscopic, clinical, and laboratory assessments were undergone before and after 4 ~ 12 weeks of the treatment. Major symptoms of gastric ulcer have been improved in 83.3% after the medication with KU-54. The healing rate of gastric ulcer evaluated by endoscopy was observed in 33.3% after 4 weeks, 73.3% after 8 weeks, 76.6% after 12 weeks of the medication with KU-54. The utility rate of KU-54 was 86.7%. We could conclude that KU-54 is the utilizable drug for gastric ulcer.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Endoscopy ; Gastric Acid ; Gastric Mucosa ; Glycoproteins ; Metabolism ; Mucus ; Peptic Ulcer ; Stomach Ulcer*

Acid ingestion causes a coagulative necrosis of the surface epithelium of the upper gastromtestinal tract. Its late sequence is luminal stenosis which frequently requires surgical repair. Nevertherless, in many cases, non-operative dilatation of luminal stenosis have been applicated, such as bouginations, balloon dilatations, endoscopic laser therapy, endoscopic electrocoagulation, endescopic microwave coagulation. These methods may give some considerable benefits in unoperable cases. Recently, we experienced a case of a 60-year-old man who had severe corrosive esophageal and gastric angular strictures by accidentally ingested hydrochloric acid and after many tiems of application of non-operative dilatation was able to have normal diet without dysphagia. So, we report this case with a review of literatures.
Constriction, Pathologic* ; Deglutition Disorders ; Diet ; Dilatation* ; Eating ; Electrocoagulation ; Epithelium ; Humans ; Hydrochloric Acid ; Laser Therapy ; Microwaves ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Phenobarbital

Ants(Family Formicidae) are very successful organisms occuring in trernendous numbers worldwide in terrestrial habitats. All ant species may bite, and on species sting. 48 species in 26 genus have been reported in Korea, but only systemic reaction induced by the anti Brachyponera chinersis, has been reported in the Korea terature. A 48 year old man was stung on the neck, abdomen, and dorsum of the hand by flying stinging ants. He experienced moderate pain, burning and itching sensation. Clinical course and histopathologic findings of the lesions caused by the stinging ant was observed without specific treatment. The stinging ants collected from t,he patient.s skin and his house were identified as Euponera chosensis belonging to Subfamily Ponerinae. To the best of our know ledge, this is the first clinical repor of the insect sting by Euponera chosensis in the Korean literature.
Abdomen ; Ants ; Bites and Stings ; Burns ; Diptera ; Ecosystem ; Hand ; Humans ; Insect Bites and Stings* ; Insects* ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Pruritus ; Sensation ; Skin

Impaired sweating reportedly has been associated with a high incidence of heat pyrexia. An important cause is attributed to sweat gland fatigue following intense prolonged sweating. For further investigation, sweat gland fatigue was induced by heat exposure for 2 hours in a hot room (dry bulb 46c, wet bulb 37c) with 9 healthy subjects. Sweating rate of the right forearm increased progressively for the first 45 minutes with a maximum value of 40.0mg/4. 91 cm2/15 min followed by a slow decrease to 24.9 mg/4.91cm2/15 min at the end of 2 hours. Active sweat pores decreased in number following 2 hours of heat exposure but the differences were not significant statistically. In spite of the higher sweat rate on the back, the number of active sweat pores was smaller as compared to the right forearm. Na+ concentrations of the second hour sweat collections were higher than those of the first hour with difference of 14. 9 mEq/l on the right forearm and 12.3 mEq/1 on the back.
Fatigue ; Fever ; Forearm ; Hot Temperature* ; Incidence ; Sweat Glands ; Sweat* ; Sweating