No abstract available.
Humans ; Liver Diseases* ; Liver*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Liver Diseases* ; Liver*

No abstract available.
Graves Disease* ; Humans ; Liver Function Tests* ; Liver*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although the only therapy of proven benefit for chronic hepatitis C is interferon alpha, the rate of sustained response after treatment with interferon is less than 25%. A 6-month course of combination therapy with interferon and ribavirin was associated with higher rate of long-term response than either interferon or ribavirin alone. Pilot studies suggested that combination of interferon and ursodeoxy-cholic acid (UDCA) resulted in higher biochemical response than interferon alone. We investigated the rates of end of treatment response(ETR) and sustained response(SR) of combination therapy of interferon e2a, ribavirin and UDCA and compared it with interferon a 2a alone. METHODS: Ninty-five naive patients with chronic hepatitis C who have been positive for anti-HCV by 3rd generation EIA and HCV RNA by RT-PCR and had elevated level of ALT over 6 months were included. They were assigned to three groups. Thirty seven patients in group 1 were treated with interferon a 2a (3MU thrice weekly) in combination with ribavirin (600mg/day) and UDCA (600mg/day) for 6 months. Twenty nine patients in group 2 were treated with the same dose of interferon a 2a alone for 6 months. Changes of ALT and HCV RNA were observed over 12 months (average 3029 mos) after the end of treatment in both groups. Twenty nine patients in group 3 were observed over 12 months without antiviral treatment. HCV genotypes were tested by Innop-Lipa in 24 patients in group 1. RESULTS: In group 1, not only ETR (68%) but also 12 month SR rate (54%) was significantly higher than group 2(31%, 21% respectively). There was no difference in relapse rate between two groups. The level of ALT became normalized and HCV RNA negative within 1 month after treatment in most responders in group l. Genotype 1b was associated with lower ETR and SR than non-lb, although not significant stastistically. CONCLUSION: Both the ETR and 12 month SR rate were significantly higher after combination treatment of interferon a 2a, ribavirin and UDCA than interferon e 2a alone in chronic hepatitis C. It is suggested that this combination is preferable to interferon alone in the treatment of naive patients with chronic hepatitis C.
Genotype ; Hepatitis C, Chronic* ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha* ; Interferons* ; Recurrence ; Ribavirin* ; RNA

No abstract available.
Free Tissue Flaps* ; Rectus Abdominis*

Traumatic loss of a finger in part or in which inevitably leads to significant functional deficit and a distortion in body image of the inflicted individual. The available reconstructive option in these circumstances have been toe to finger transfer using microsurgical technique, flap coverage after bone graft, and osteodistraction of the remnant finger. Each method carries advantages and drawbacks inherent in the technique, and generally requires long operative time and hospitalization. Furthermore, the postoperative results after such procedures can be said to be less satisfactory in aesthetic perspectives. Apart from the toe to finger transfer, not much can be sought in terms of functional recovery of the reconstructed part, For a long time finger prosthesis have been used as a replacement of the lost finger part, but it fails to deliver functional strength and tends to be dislodged rather easily. To overcome these shortcomings in the technique, an osseointegrated finger prosthesis has recently been devel-oped. Thumb, index and middle finger in 3 patients were reconstructed with this osseointegrated finger prosthesis. The procedure requires two procedures; the first stage involves placement of a titanium screw in the phalangeal or metacarpal bone proper, followed by fixation of an abutment onto the titanium screw 3 months after the primary operation. The skin surrounding the abutment is thinned out to minimize mobility of the prosthesis at this second stage of operation. After wound stabilization in 2-3 weeks, a custom-made silicone finger prosthesis is made and attached to the implanted abutment using super power magnets. The entire procedure requires 4 months up to the completion, but the procedures can be carried out on the outpatient basis under local anesthesia, not having to interfere with the daily activities of the patient. The aesthetic results with osseoperception have been found to be rewarding, and usual activity like a hand writing and typewriting have been possible. This alternative method could be used for finger reconstruction in cases of usual reconstructive surgery being impossible.
Anesthesia, Local ; Body Image ; Fingers* ; Hand ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Operative Time ; Outpatients ; Prostheses and Implants* ; Reward ; Silicones ; Skin ; Thumb ; Titanium ; Toes ; Transplants ; Wounds and Injuries ; Writing

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to discuss the characteristic CT and MR findings in persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous(PHPV) and to compare the detectability of those findings in each modality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated CT and MR findings in 32 patients with PHPV. Twenty-five patients had CT, 13 patients had MR, and 6 patients had both CT and MR. RESULTS: Major findings of PHPV in 32 patients on both imaging modalities were lens deformity(78%), shallow anterior chamber(72%), heterogeneous vitreous opacity(72%), enhancing hyaloid artery or remnant of fibrotic hand(69%), and microophthalmos(67%). Minor findings were retinal detachment(22%), and vitreous hemorrhage(6%). In MRI, lens deformity(92%) and shallow anterior chamber(85%) were detected most commonly whereas in CT, opaque vitreous(80%) was the most common finding. Findings of enhancing hyaloid vessel or remnant of fibrotic band, considered characteristic of PHPV, were more commonly detectable in MR (85%) than CT(52%). CONCLUSION: Characteristic MR and CT findings of PHPV were lena deformity, shallow anterior chanber, heterogeneons vitreons opacity, enhanciny hgalind artery or remnant fibrotic band, and microphthalmos. MR seemed to be more useful than CT in detecting Globe pathology.
Arteries ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Microphthalmos ; Pathology ; Retinaldehyde ; Retrospective Studies

Fibrous dysplasia of bone is a condition affecting one or more bones, usually not disabling, of slow progress, and showing a tendency to become arrested. The etiology of fibrous dysplaia is unknown but it is now believed to be a developmental error in which primitive fibrous tissue proliferates within the bony medulIa and encroaches upon the cortex from within, often producing expansion. The process may be localized to a small segment or may involve almost the entire shaft of the bone, and it may be monostotic, monomelic or polyostotic. In the latter form some patients exhibit a remarkable combination of skin pigmentation and endocrine disturbances. This paper reports the one case of polyostic and three cases of monostotic fibrous dysplasia. The disgnosis was made by clinical, radiological and histological findings.
Fibrous Dysplasia of Bone ; Fibrous Dysplasia, Monostotic ; Humans ; Skin Pigmentation

No abstract available.
Hypopituitarism* ; Hypothyroidism*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Lamivudine, an oral nucleoside analogue, effectively inhibits hepatitis B virus replication and reduces hepatic necroinflammation in patients with chronic hepatitis B. This study investigated the effect and safety of 12 week lamivudine therapy in Korean patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). METHODS: In an open clinical trial, 113 patients with CHB were enrolled. They received 100 mg of lamivudine orally once daily for 12 weeks, and they were followed until 2 weeks after cessation of lamivudine. HBV DNA (by bDNA assay), liver enzymes, creatine phosphokinase, creatinine and CBC were checked at 0, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 14 weeks. Compliance and side effects were evaluated at the same time. RESULTS: After receiving lamivudine 100 mg, serum HBV DNA levels fell rapidly, remaining in 94.3% below baseline values at 2 weeks and 99.8% below baseline values at 12 weeks. Serum HBV DNA was cleared in 75.2% and alanine aminotransferase level (ALT) was normalized in 64.8% at 12 weeks. Cumulative percentage of HBeAg clearance (defined by clearance of serum HBV DNA and HBeAg) was 14.4%. Clearance of HBV DNA was more frequent in patients with lower pretreatment serum HBV DNA and higher ALT. During the treatment periods, adverse effects were negligible and transient. Two weeks after cessation of lamivudine, serum HBV DNA reappeared in 70.6% of responders. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that lamivudine is effective and safe in the treatment of CHB in Korean patients, but further study for adequate duration of treatment is needed because of high recurrence after 12 weeks therapy.
Alanine Transaminase ; Compliance ; Creatine Kinase ; Creatinine ; DNA ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic* ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans ; Lamivudine* ; Liver ; Recurrence