The final degrees of education for the third and fourth authors were mutually misplaced.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the etiological factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Numerous evidence has indicated a link between chronic infection with HBV and the development of HCC. Among the four proteins encoded by HBV, Hepatitis B virus X gene(HBx), best characterized as a transcriptional transactivator, gained attention owing to its presumptive role in oncogenesis. Further, HBx has been shown to stimulate signal transduction pathways such as Ras-MAPK pathway, NF-kappaB, and Src kinase. The pleiotropic events caused by HBx may be the key to understanding the HBV-mediated oncogenicity. However, the specific roles of HBx in oncogenesis remain largely elusive. To explore the role of HBx in hepatocarcinogenesis, we examined the deregulation of host genes induced by HBx expression. METHODS: HBx was ectopically expressed in HepG2 cells using a recombinant adenovirus to transiently express HBx. Gene expression profiling of HBx was conducted on cDNA microarrays that contained 1,028 cDNAs. RESULTS: A number of oncogenes and genes that are involved in cell growth, DNA repair, cell cycle regulation, and cell motility were deregulated by HBx. CONCLUSIONS: Theses results suggest that HBx regulates transcription in a way that contributes to the proliferation of hepatocytes, a probable early event of HCC.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*virology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; English Abstract ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genes, Viral/*physiology ; Genetic Vectors ; Hepatitis B Antigens/genetics ; Hepatitis B Virus/*genetics ; Human ; Liver Neoplasms/*virology ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Trans-Activators/*genetics/physiology

No abstract available.
Dermatitis, Seborrheic* ; Lice Infestations*

No abstract available.
Dermatitis, Seborrheic* ; Lice Infestations*

Mediastinal lymph node dissection is a method that increases the long term survival of patients with an esophageal carcinoma. However, dissection of the left mediastinal lymph node is almost impossible, as it is not easy to see. Herein, a left mediastinal lymph node dissection, with thoracoscopy through a cervical incision wound during minimal invasive esophageal surgery, is reported.
Esophagectomy* ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes* ; Surgical Procedures, Minimally Invasive ; Thoracoscopy ; Wounds and Injuries

No abstract available.
Anal Canal* ; Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber Syndrome*

BACKGROUND: Anesthetics have been suspected of impairing various aspects of the immune function either directly by affecting the function of immunocompetent cells or indirectly by modulating the stress response. Splenocytes play important roles in the cellular host defense against infection. In order to assess the immune modulatory effects of propofol, this study examined the cytotoxic and proliferative effects of propofol on splenocytes. METHODS: Splenocytes, as responders, were isolated from BALB/c mice (n = 10). The cells were pretreated with different propofol concentrations (0micrometer, 30micrometer, 100micrometer, 300micrometer) for 24 hours. The cytotoxic effect was assayed by the NADH dehydrogenase activity and the proliferation was evaluated by the level of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyunridine (BrdU) incorporation during DNA synthesis in the presence or absence of propofol, in addition to lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 microgram/ml) for mitogenic stimulation. A cell proliferation enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA) system was used, and the stimulation index was calculated in the presence or absence of propofol. RESULTS: The percentage of the NADH dehydrogenase activity was changed by the propofol pretreatment (P < 0.001). LPS stimulation significantly decreased the NADH dehydrogenase activity at 100micrometer and 300micrometer compared with the propofol-added or pretreated cells (P < 0.05). The stimulation index to LPS was lower at concentrations of 100micrometer and 300micrometer than at 30micrometer, and proliferative response of splenocytes were completely abrogated by adding toxic concentrations (100micrometer) of propofol (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Neither cytotoxicity, as defined by the NADH dehydrogenase activity, nor a proliferative effect, as measured by the level of (BrdU) incorporation in the splenocytes, were affected by the clinical concentration of propofol.
Anesthetics ; Animals ; Bromodeoxyuridine ; Cell Proliferation ; DNA ; Mice ; NADH Dehydrogenase ; Propofol

No abstract available.
Calcinosis* ; Humans ; Infant*

No abstract available.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Several methods for treatment of auricular hematoma have been introduced to prevent the recurrence and cauliflower deformity of ear. However, these methods are not convenient to both patients and doctors, because they are time-consuming and complex and must be performed under sterile conditions. The aim of this article is to introduce a new technique for effective treatment of auricular hematoma using a dental impression material and to evaluate the effectiveness of this compressive technique compared with the results of other methods. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The subjects were 45 patients who were diagnosed with auricular hematoma at the Ajou University Hospital from June, 1994 to July, 2001. We analyzed the results, complications, number of visits, treatment duration according to treatment methods on the basis of outpatient charts, retrospectively. For the treatment of auricular hematoma, we aspirated hematoma with a large bore needle and then placed mixed base and catalyst of Exaflex? (GC America Inc., Illinois) type O on the anterior and posterior surfaces of the auricle in the shape of an inverted U. The patients were checked on the 3rd day following the procedure and the impression material was removed on the 7th day. RESULTS: Using the dental impression material, we treated 9 patients with excellent cosmetic results and one patient with minimal deformity. Eight patients were treated with collodion-cotton cast and 16 of 19 patients were successfully treated with cotton dental rolls. All patients treated with the dental impression material required an average of 3.1 visits to the hospital and 8.6 days for treatment compared to 6.9 hospital visits and 13.8 treatment days in cases using cotton dental rolls. CONCLUSION: We believe that this technique using the dental impression material is appropriate for treatment of auricular hematoma. It showed excellent cosmetic results and is simple and convenient for both patients and doctors.
Americas ; Brassica ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Dental Impression Materials* ; Ear ; Hematoma* ; Humans ; Needles ; Outpatients ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies