Emergence of vaccine-induced escape mutant of hepatitis b virus with multiple surface gene mutations in a korean child

The S protein of hepatitis B virus is the principal component of virus envelope and the primary target of anti-HBs response. Mutants or variants that escape neutralization by anti-HBs have been selected during immunoprophylaxis of HBV after birth and liver transplantation. We investigated a case of a Korean child who was vaccinated at birth against hepatitis B and also given hepatitis B immunoglobulin, but nevertheless later became infected with the virus. Hepatitis B virus-specific deoxyribonucleic acid covering the region of genome encoding the predominant "a" determinant of hepatitis surface antigen was amplified using polymerase chain reaction, and the nucleotide sequence was determined. We present for the first time in Korea the independent emergence of an escape mutant with substitution of arginine for glycine at amino acid 145 and proline for glutamate at amino acid 120 in "a" determinant after immunization.

Results of Endoscopic Treatment in Common Bile Duct Stones / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Common bile duct stones are the most common among bile duct diseases. In the past, common bile duct stones were considered a surgically operable disease, but is now considered a medical disease due to the advancement of endoscopy and endoscopic techniques. The aim of this study was to determine the results of endoscopic treatment of common bile duct stones. METHODS: Removal of primary or secondary common bile duct stones were attempted by peroral or percutaneous endoscopy. The common bile duct stones were diagnosed by ultrasonography or cholangiography. As a primary approach route, the peroral transpapillary endoscopic approach was tried. On the other hand, percutaneous common bile duct stone removal was attempted if the patient already had a percutaneous route, peroral transpapillary approaches failed, or if conditions for endoscopy were unfavorable. RESULTS: The study subjects consisted of 196 patients; 96 males and 100 females. The mean age was 61.8 years. A total of 272 endoscopic stone removal were attempted in 196 patients. Of the 272, peroral approaches were conducted 241 times for 183 patients, and percutaneous approaches were performed 31 times for 12 patients. The success rate of the first treatment modality to remove the common bile duct stones was 90.3% (176/195). The overall success rate of endoscopic common bile duct stones removal was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: In all patients, the common bile duct stones were removed successfully by endoscopy, and thus supporting the shift of recognizing common bile duct stones as a medical rather than surgical discase.

Comparison of Various Endoscopic Injection Therapy and Hemoclipping for Bleeding Peptic Ulcers / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Widely practiced endoscopic methods for hemastasis of bleeding peptic ulcer include thermal application (laser, heater probe) and local injection (epi- nephrine, fibrine-glue or various sclerosing agents). Studies evaluating these modalities have presented high success rates for achieving initial hemostasis. Recently, endoscopic hemoclipping is considered to be a safe and effective hemostatic method for upper gas- trointestinal bleeding. The aim of this study was to compare various hemostatic modalities for bleeding peptic ulcer. METHODS: Over a three year period between June 1994 and October 1997, a total of 133 patients with bleeding peptic ulcer were included in this study, We have conducted clinical trials and a retrospective analysis. All of the patients we selected had either active bleeding or a nonbleeding visible vessel on endoscopy. Endoscopy was performed on an emergency basis within 12 hours of hospital arrival.

Clinical Efficacy of Diagnostic Approach of Diabetic Neuropathy in Korean NIDDM(Preliminary report): with Feldman's Approach to Diabetic Neuropathy / 대한내과학회지

OBJECTIVES: It is important to consider the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy in determining a diagnostic approach. To evaluate diabetic neuropathy, an appropriate questionnaire for Korean diabetic patients is required. In 1994, Feldman et al. proposed the two-step diagnostic approach which included a questionnaire. To adapt a diagnostic approach and questionnaire for Korean diabetics, we initially diagnosed diabetic neuropathy by using Feldman's method and by assessing the efficiency of their method for Korean diabetics as a preliminary study. METHODS: We diagnosed diabetic neuropathy with Feldman's method in 99 NIDDM patients who visited Ajou university hospital from October 1, 1996 to April 30, 1997. The sensitivity and specificity of Feldman's 4 diagnostic procedures were ebaluated. To include the highly specific symptoms in the diagnostic approach, we applied a different scoring system(from 5 to 1) to the questionnaire accroding to specificity and then evaluated the sensitivity and specificity with this new system. If the sensitivity and specificity were 60% or more, the new scoring system was regarded as clinically useful. RESULTS: Using Feldman's method, the sensitivity of MNSIQ and MNSIC was 12.8% and the specificity was 88.3% and 98.3%, respectively. The sensitivity of MDNS and NCV was 100% and the specificity was 68.3% and 61.6%, respectively. The new scoring system consisted of 13 of 15 questions with sensitivity of 46.2% and specificity of 71.7%, omitting 2 questions due to possible relation to vascular symptoms. Among the 4 diagnostic procedures, the strongest correlation existed between MDNS and NCV. None of the procedures had a significant correlatiion with MNSIQ. MNSIC, which shares similar characteristics with MDNS, had significant correlation with MDNS and NCV, but its sensitivity was very low. CONCLUSON: MNSIQ and MNSIC were not useful as screening instruments in the diagnostic approach to diabetic neuropathy using Feldman's method. Thus, a new questionnaire composed of symptoms common in Korean diabetic patients should be designed, and MNSIC could be omitted from the diagnostic approach.

A Case of Bronchial Granular Cell Tumor / 결핵

Granular cell tumor (GCT) of tracheobronchial tree is a rare neoplasm comprising approximately 6-10% of all GCT and about 1.6% of all benign tumors of the tracheobronchial tree. Since the first observation of GCT in the bronchus by Kramer in the late 1930s, less than 100 cases have been reported in tracheobronchial tree, and probably no such case have been published in Korea yet. Here we report an experience concerning 53 year-old women with an active pulmonary tuberculosis, who also was diagnosed to have a bronchial GCT on bronchoscopy and immunohistochemistry of the specimens.