BACKGROUND: Mixed cryoglobulinemia occurs predominantly in association with chronic liver diseases, infections, autoimmune diseases, and malignancies. Mixed cryoglobulinemia has been classified as essential if no primary disease is identified. Recently, mixed cryoglobulinemia has been reported in cases of hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection in foreign countries, but there have been few reports on the subject In our country. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and clinical features of HCV infection in patients with cryoglobuline mia in Korea. METHODS: Eighty-five patients with detectable serum cryoglobulin were studied between June 1996 and January 1997 at Hanyang university Hospital. Anti-HCV antibodies (Ab) were tested In all patients by particle agglutination method (ASAN HCV. PA Kit) and confirming a positive results, were tested by the microparticle enzyme immunoassay method (IMx, Abbott). Medical records were analyzed retrospectively to compare the clinical features between anti-HCV Ab positive and anti-HCV Ab negative patients. RESULTS: Anti-HCV antibodies were found in 12 out of 85 (about 14%) patients with cryoglobulinemia. Six of these patients were diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis and 4 as osteoarthritis, and 2 as fibromyalgia syndrome. Nine of the 12 patients had no remarkable abnormalities in their liver function test results and there were no statistical differences between anti-HCV _Lb positive and negative groups. There were no meaningful differences between the two groups in immunologic data such as rheumatoid factor, C reactive protein, antinuclear antibody, and antiperinuclear factor. CONCLUSIONS: We found the association of HCV infection and cryglobulin in Korean patients with cryoglobulinemia and recommend routine anti-HCV Ab testing in patients with cryoglobulinemia even if they have normal liver function test results.
Agglutination ; Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Autoimmune Diseases ; C-Reactive Protein ; Cryoglobulinemia* ; Fibromyalgia ; Hepatitis C Antibodies ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Korea ; Liver Diseases ; Liver Function Tests ; Medical Records ; Osteoarthritis ; Prevalence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Rheumatoid Factor

The purpose of the survey was to identify the degree and the relationship of sexual knowledge, sexual attitude. This information will provide useful data for a more systematic, desirable, and practical sex education. The data was collected from 187 first grade schoolchildren(95 boys and 92 girls) of two Junior high school in Chun-nam area. The data was gathered by questionnaire from Oct. 1 to 15, 1996. The questionnaire was modified by authors using the questionnaire developed by You-Jeong, Han(1996). Data was analyzed by using the statistical computer package, SAS to manipulate the data long with percentages, means, standard deviation, t-test, chi2-test, GLM, and Pearson correlation coeffiency. The results in this study were summarized as follows : 1. Sex related knowledge. - The mean score of sex related knowledges showed significant differences between boys and girls(boys ; 22.3, girls ; 21.0, p<0.025), and in the area of pregnancy & delivery(boy ; 9.4, girls ; 7.9, P<0.000) showed significant difference between boys and girls, but in the area of physical differences of the others sex(boys ; 12.9, girls ; 13.1, p<0.551) showed no significant difference between boys and girls. 2. Sex related attitudes. - The mean score of sex related attitudes showed significant difference between boys and girls(boys ; 56.7, girls : 60.5, p<0.002) and in the area of psychological difference the other sex(boys : 28.9, girls : 32.5, p<0.000), but in the areas of form of friendship with the other sex(boys : 11.5, girls : 11.2, p<0.335), sexual delinquency & its prevention(boys : 16.3, girls : 16.9, p<0.171) showed no significant difference between boys and girls. 3. The relationships between sex related knowledges and sex related attitudes. - Those who had higher sex related knowledges showed more positive attitudes towards sex, and showed no statistical significance(r=0.08, p<0.286). 4. Differences of the sex related knowledges according to general characteristics. - The students had disease experience, health interest and more school performance had higher knowledge scores about sex. 5. Differences of the sex related attitudes according to general characteristics. - Those who were in high school performance had higher attitude scores about sex as well.. From the result of the study, it is recommended to develop systematic sex education through formal school education according to age.
Adolescent* ; Education ; Female ; Friends ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Sex Education ; Child Health ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Mouth Mucosa* ; Salivary Ducts*

No abstract available.
Influenza, Human* ; Vaccination*

No abstract available.
Lakes* ; Lip* ; Nevus, Blue*

No abstract available.
Cryptococcus neoformans* ; Cryptococcus* ; Interleukin-2* ; Lymphocytes*

No abstract available.
Anemia* ; Child* ; Heart Defects, Congenital* ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans

Nodular-cystic fat necrosis is an unusual, distinctive entity characterized by histologically en-capsulated fat necrosis in the subcutis. We report two cases of nodular-cystic fat necrosis. The lesions were subcutaneous nodules. Histopathologically, the nodules showed strong periodic acid-Schiff -positive necrotic adipose tissue with lipomembranous changes and calcification.
Adipose Tissue ; Fat Necrosis*

OBJECTIVES: Dysfunctional uterine bleeding(DUB) is defined as abnormal bleeding from the uterine endometrium unrelated to anatomic lesions of the uterus, and its incidence is 10-15% among gynecologic diseases. We conducted this study for understanding correlation between clinical aspecets and pathological findings of DUB. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 599 women with DUB who underwent endometrial biopsy with special regard to the relation between pathologic findings and presenting symtoms or complaints from Jan. 1988 to Dec. 1997. RESULTS: Age distribution of DUB was mainly 5th decade, mean age was 44.1years, among various bleeding patterns, intermenstrual bleeding was the most common pattern(31.6%) and the next was menorrhagia(25.0%). Histologic findings of endometrium were proliferative phase, 327 cases(54.6%), hyperplasia, 139 cases(23.2%), secretory phase, 74 cases(12.4%) in order of frequency, and there was no difference in distribution of histologic findings among various bleeding patterns. CONCLUSION: Compared to other previoius studies, our study showed more incidence of endometrial hyperplasia, especially at age group of 40 or more. So patients aged more than this age with abnormal uterine bleeding must undergo emdometrial biopsy for pathologic diagnosis. Patients who are diagnosed endometrial hyperplasia must be carefully followed up because there are possibilities of progression to endometrial carcinoma.
Age Distribution ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Endometrial Hyperplasia ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; Endometrium ; Female ; Genital Diseases, Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Incidence ; Metrorrhagia* ; Retrospective Studies ; Uterine Hemorrhage ; Uterus

No abstract available.
Animals ; Ethanol* ; Interleukin-2* ; Interleukin-6* ; Rats*