The question of infectivity and prevalence of Clonorchis sinensis in Cheju province (Quelpart Island) was arisen to authors since the several surveys on the endemic diseases were performed in this island. Therefore, authors decided to solute this question. Then the survey on the possible second intermediate host of Clonorchis sinensis was performed and reported already with negative finding. At present time, authors carried out the collection of all kinds of fresh-water snails through all areas of this island, to confirm the presence or not of Parafossarulus manchouricus, the only first intermediate host of Clonorchis sinensis in Korea . And the following results were obtained. The fresh-water snails collected in the survey were Semisulcospira libertina Gould and Lymnaea ollula Gould. Parafossarulus manchouricus Bourguigant was not collected in this island. It is confirmed that the Clonorchis sinensis can not be prevalent in this island.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda-Clonorchis sinensis ; life cycle ; epidemology ; Parafossarulus manchouricus ; Semisulcospira libertina Gould ; Lymnaea ollula Gould

No abstract available.
Humans ; Quality of Life*

No abstract available.
Glomerulonephritis* ; Humans ; Proteinuria*

Section of the corpus callosum(SCC) is a useful surgical therapy in selected types of epilepsy, i.e., tonic, atonic, and intractable generalized convulsive seizures. The object of this study was to determine effect of SCC on behaviors, electroencephalography(EEG) and Fos expression in the lithium-pilocarpine model of status epilepticus in the rat. A total of 40 Sprague-Dawley rats were used. They were divided into two groups: control and lesioned group, 20 rats for each. The control group had no callosal section and was injected with lithium-pilocarpine. The lesioned group had callosal section before lithium-pilocarpine injection. In each group, ten rats were used for behavior and EEG monitoring and other 10 were used for Fos expression. The results were as follows: 1) In the SCC group, four(40%) rats never developed status epilepticus, among them two(20%) never exhibited any seizure, while all of the control group developed seizure and status epilepticus. None of the SCC animals died until 24 hours after lithium-pilocarpine injection but 70% of the control animals died within 24 hours of status epilepticus. This difference was statistically significant(p<0.05). 2) The mean latency to the first seizure, status epilepticus and periodic epileptiform discharges after lithium-pilocarpine injection were 34.7+/-2.6min, 32.3+/-1.8min and 180.4+/-9.8min, respectively, in the SCC group, while was 21.0+/-2.0min, 58.2+/-6.9min and 215.6+/-7.2min, respectively, in the control group. These latencies were significantly longer than in the control group(p<0.05). 3) There was a massive Fos expression on the cerebral cortex in the control group at 4 hours after lithiumpi-locarpine injection , while it was less in the SCC group. This difference was statistically significant(p<0.05). In conclusion, complete corpus callosotomy had contributed to the protective effect on the development of status epilepticus in the lithium-pilocarpine model which was similar to that observed in humans. And result of Fos expression suggest that Fos immunohistochemisty may be useful in the study of seizure pathways as a metabolic marker in the lithium-pilocarpine model.
Animals ; Cerebral Cortex ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; Humans ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seizures ; Status Epilepticus

No abstract available.
Humans ; Sarcoma, Kaposi*

No abstract available.
Hemangiosarcoma*

We have done cross sectional and prospective studies to determine the prevalence and the clinical significance of antibodies to the hepatitis C virus (Anti-HCV) in 54 hemodialysis (HD) patients and 227 continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. Fifteen patients (27.8%) were anti-HCV (+) among the HD group, and twelve patients (5.3%) were anti-HCV (+) among the CAPD group. In the HD group, the positivity of anti-HCV correlated with the duration of HD, but there was no significant correlation with the history of transfusion, the amount of transfusion and abnormal alanine aminotransferase (ALT). At the follow-up study in 164 cases (HD 50 cases, CAPD 114 cases) after 6 months, one of 14 anti-HCV (+) CAPD patients was converted to anti-HCV (-) and two of 35 anti-HCV (-) HD patients were converted to anti-HCV (+). In conclusion, the prevalence of anti-HCV was significantly higher in HD patients compared to CAPD patients, and the positivity for anti-HCV in HD patients correlated with the duration of HD. A regular follow-up of anti-HCV and isolation of anti-HCV (+) HD patients with a separate machine may be needed to prevent the transmission of the hepatitis C virus during hemodialysis.
Adult ; Comparative Study ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Hepacivirus/immunology ; Hepatitis Antibodies/*analysis ; Hepatitis C Antibodies ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; *Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory ; Prospective Studies ; *Renal Dialysis

No abstract available.
Humans ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Peritonitis*

The anterior decompression and fusion have been the choice of surgical treatment for spinal tuberculosis since 1960. From April 1995 to April 1996, we operated on six patients of thoraco-lumbar tuberculosis. The procedure consisted of anterior decompression through corpectomy, stabilization with anterior instrument and bone graft with or without Titanium MESH. MRI provides a valuable information about the extent of the disease in multiple planes, thereby helping surgeons in planning of the operation. The thoracic spine was involed in four patients, the lumbar spine in two. On average, two vertebral bodies were involved. Anterior and middle column of spine were involved in all patients, but posterior column was intact in all patients. Disc space involvement was seen in all patients. Paraspinal abscess was observed in three patients. Epidural compression of the spinal cord or cauda equina was noted in all patients. Four patients showed neurological improvements and relief of pain. However, the recovery of two remaning paraplegic patients was not remarkable. There was no single case associated with persistence or recurrence of infection after instrumentation.
Abscess ; Cauda Equina ; Decompression* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Recurrence ; Spinal Cord ; Spine ; Titanium ; Transplants ; Tuberculosis* ; Tuberculosis, Spinal

Over the past six years, titanium alloy has been replacing the stainless steel in spinal implants owing to its magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) compatibility. However, studies about the usefulness of MRI, from a clinical standpoint, when it is used for spinal implants have been scarce. The purpose, therefore, is to determine whether postoperative MRIs would provide satisfactory information in evaluating the spine having various titanium implants. Authors reviewed the spinal MR images of sixteen patients who had previously received eleven different kinds of titanium implants, and compared postoperative images to preoperative images regarding the quality of images of spinal cord, nerve root, spinal canal, and the aforementioned implants. Types of implants included anterior cervical plate/screws, lateral cervical mass plate/screws, Halifax interlaminar clamps, anterior thoracolumbar rods/screws, posterior thoracolumbar rods/hooks, and posterior thoracolumbar transpedicular rods/screws. Anterior cervical plate/screws, lateral cervical mass plate/screws, Halifax clamps, and anterior thoracolumbar rod/screws produced small distortions of the images at the spinal canal or neural foramen. In contrast, posterior thoracolumbar transpedicular rods/screws created severe image distortions at the neural foramen in the postoperative MRIs. Metal-induced artifacts were most marked in the image from gradient echo sequence. Posterior thoracolumbar rods/hooks produced some artifacts at the posterior portion of the spinal canal. Although our series are limited in number, it can be concluded that MRI is informative and it is useful in postoperative evaluation of the spine with most types of titanium implants. However, postmyelogram computed tomography is recommended in cases where posterior thoracolumbar transpedicular rods/screws have been used.
Alloys ; Artifacts ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Nerve Roots ; Spine* ; Stainless Steel ; Titanium*