Epidemiological features and antiviral response of genotype 6 chronic hepatitis C / 临床肝胆病杂志

Objective To investigate the epidemiological features and antiviral response of patients with genotype 6 chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in Guangxi, China. Methods A total of 97 patients with genotype 6 CHC who were admitted to The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from December 2012 to December 2020 were enrolled, among whom 62 patients were given antiviral therapy. The 62 patients receiving antiviral therapy were divided into interferon group with 22 patients and direct-acting antiviral agent (DAA) group with 40 patients. Related data were collected, including general demographic data, HCV RNA, liver function, routine blood test results, and renal function. The chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. Results Among the 97 patients, there were 69 male patients (71.1%) and 28 female patients (28.9%), with a mean age of 41.97±10.12 years, and the patients aged 30-40 years accounted for 47.4% (46/97). Of all 97 patients, 95 (97.9%) had genotype 6a, 1 had genotype 6e, and 1 had genotype 6xa. Among the 65 patients with a definite route of infection, 41 (63.1%) had intravenous drug use, 14 had medical-related operations, 9 had blood transfusion, and 4 had sexual contact as the route of infection. For the interferon group, the rapid virologic response (RVR) rate at week 4 was 81.8% (18/22), the rate of undetectable virus at the time of drug withdrawal (Epoint) was 86.4% (19/22), the rate of sustained virologic response at 12 weeks after drug withdrawal (SVR12) was 81.8%, and the rate of sustained virological response at 24 weeks after drug withdrawal (SVR24) was 81.8%; 1 patient in this group experienced recurrence. All 40 patients in the DAA group were previously untreated patients (33 patients without liver cirrhosis and 7 patients with compensated liver cirrhosis), with an overall RVR rate of 87.5%(35/40), an Epoint rate of 100%, and an SVR12 rate of 100%, and there was no treatment failure or recurrence. Although different DAA regimens had different RVR rates, they all had a SVR12 rate of 100%. The patients with compensated liver cirrhosis and other diseases had a SVR12 rate of 100%. Conclusion Intravenous drug addiction is the main route of infection for patients with genotype 6 CHC in Guangxi, and CHC is more common in men, with genotype 6a as the main subtype. DAA treatment has a higher virologic response rate than interferon treatment, with an SVR12 rate of 100%. There is no significant difference in SVR12 rate between the patients with compensated liver cirrhosis and those without liver cirrhosis.

Comparative study on penetration-enhancing effect of essential oil before and after processing fresh ginger into dried ginger / 中草药

Objective: To compare the penetration-enhancing effect and composition changes of fresh ginger and dried ginger essential oil. Methods: The essential oil was extracted before and after fresh ginger being processed into dried ginger, and the penetration- enhancing effect of them was compared by skin electrical resistance and transdermal test of ibuprofen in vitro. The main mechanism of penetration-enhancing effect of the essential oil was studied by ATR-FTIR. The skin cytotoxicity of the essential oils was compared by skin cytotoxicity test, and the composition changes were analyzed by GC-MS. Results: Thepenetration-enhancing effect of dried ginger essential oil was much better than the fresh ginger essential oil. The mechanism was mainly due to the skin stratum corneum lipids extraction. The skin cytotoxicity of fresh ginger and dried ginger essential oil was much lower than that of azone. The sesquiterpenes content of dried ginger essential oil was higher than that of fresh ginger essential oil. The intradermal sesquiterpenoids of dried ginger essential oil group after transdermal treatment were higher than those in the fresh ginger essential oil group. Conclusion: The transdermal absorption promotion effect of the processed dried ginger essential oil was much better than that of fresh ginger essential oil, which verified the existence of the rule of “hot herbs with better efficacy”.

Research progress on targets for analgesics / 中国药理学通报

Pain as a clinical common symptom is one of the most serious problems to threaten human health,therefore,pain management is one of the main aspects of clinical medication.This review briefly described the existing and the novel analgesic targets,in order to study and develop new kinds of analgesic drugs with high efficacy,less side effects and no resistance and addiction,which aims to provide a reference for the clinical application.

Defensive Behavior against Noxious Heat Stimuli Is Declined with Aging Due to Decreased Pain-Associated Gene Expression in Drosophila

Aging is defined as a collective process that alters organism's functional capacity and appearance over the course of life. Apart from an increase in susceptibility to many diseases, aging affects the cellular system that is responsible for decoding painful stimuli. Yet, aging-associated molecular mechanisms of pain perception remains elusive. Using Drosophila, we showed a decrease in temperature tolerance and a reduction in high temperature thermal avoidance with aging. Locomotor activity assay demonstrated that the age-dependent changes in heat nociception did not stem from the general decline in muscular activity. However, we identified pain-related gene expression alteration with aging. We anticipate that our findings would help opening a new window onto developing the optimal pain treatment for the elderly.

Korean Red Ginseng Tonic Extends Lifespan in D. melanogaster

Aging is the single most important risk factor that increases susceptibility to many forms of diseases. As such, much effort has been put forward to elucidate the mechanisms behind the processes of aging and to discover novel compounds that retain antiaging activities. Korean red ginseng has been used for a variety of medical purposes in eastern countries for several thousands of years. It has been shown that Korean red ginseng affects a number of biological activities including, but not limited to, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and anti-diabetic pathways. However, few studies have been performed to evaluate its anti-aging effects with an in vivo system. Here Drosophila melanogaster as an in vivo model organism demonstrates that Korean red ginseng tonic extends lifespan, increases resistance to starvation stress and prevents weight gain. This data suggest that Korean red ginseng may regulate organisms' metabolism in favor of extending lifespan.

Astrocytic gap junction in the hippocampus of rats with lithium pilocarpine-induced epilepsy / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the changes in the gap junction of the hippocampal astrocytes of a rat model of lithium pilocarpine-induced epilepsies.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Lithium chloride and pilocarpine were injected intraperitoneally in SD rats to induce status epilepticus (SE). At 2, 12, 24 h and 3, 7, 15, 30 and 60 days after SE, the rats were sacrificed to observe the pathological changes in the hippocampus using Nissl staining. Immunohistochemistry for GFAP and connexin43 (CX43) were used to evaluate reactive astrogliosis and the changes in the astrocytic gap junctions.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>SE induced by lithium and pilocarpine lasted for 6-30 h, and after a seizure-free period of about 30-45 days, the rats developed spontaneous recurrent seizures. Nissl staining showed that the most obvious neuronal damage occurred 12-24 h after seizure onset. Reactive gliosis began to be progressively prominent after 7 days till the end of the observation. GFAP expression increased 7 days after SE induction, intensified at 30 days, and became the most prominent at 60 days. In control rats, CX43 immunostaining was diffuse in the hippocampus; in the epileptic rats, diffuse CX43-positive varicosities appeared in the molecular layer and stratum oriens of the CA1 and CA3 areas 2 after seizure onset, and the number, length and immunostaining intensity of the varicosities increased at 12 h. These changes became the most prominent at 24 h after seizure onset, followed by gradual decrease of the immunoactivity, which was virtually absent till 30 and 60 days.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The hippocampal astrocytic gap junction coupling increases in acute SE to maintain the stability of the extracellular microenvironment. The defects in gap junction coupling of the astrocytes in chronic temporal lobe epilepsy may contribute to the development of spontaneous seizures.</p>

Inhibitory effect of ginsenoside Rg3 on ovarian cancer metastasis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Ginsenosides are main components extracted from ginseng, and ginsenoside Rg3 is one of the most important parts. Ginsenoside Rg3 has been found to inhibit several kinds of tumor growth and metastasis. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of ginsenoside Rg3 on human ovarian cancer metastasis and the possible mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The experimental lung metastasis models of ovarian cancer SKOV-3 and the assay of tumor-induced angiogenesis were used to observe the inhibitory effects of Rg3 on tumor metastasis and angiogenesis. The effect of Rg3 on invasive ability of SKOV-3 cells in vitro was detected by Boyden chamber, and immunofluorescence staining was used to recognize the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) in SKOV-3 cells.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the experimental lung metastasis models of ovarian cancer, the number of tumor colonies in the lung and vessels oriented toward the tumor mass in each ginsenoside Rg3 group, was lower than that of control group. The invasive ability and MMP-9 expression of SKOV-3 cells decreased significantly after treatment with ginsenoside Rg3.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Ginsenoside Rg3 can significantly inhibit the metastasis of ovarian cancer. The inhibitory effect is partially due to inhibition of tumor-induced angiogenesis and decrease of invasive ability and MMP-9 expression of SKOV-3 cells.</p>

Prognostic Factors Influencing the Result of Postoperative Radiotherapy in Endometrial Carcinoma / 대한방사선종양학회지

PURPOSE: This study was performed to determine the prognostic factors influencing relapse pattern, overall and disease-free survival in patients treated with postoperative radiotherapy for endometrial carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of 54 patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma treated postoperative radiotherapy at Pusan National University Hospital between April 1992 and May 2003 were reviewed retrospectively. Median age of the patients was 55 (range 35~76). The distribution by surgical FIGO stages were 63.0% for 0Stage I, 14.8% for Stage II, 22.2% for Stage III. All patients received postoperative external radiotherapy up to 41.4~54 Gy (median: 50.4 Gy). Additional intravaginal brachytherapy was applied to 20 patients (37.0% of all). Median follow-up time was 35 months (5~115 months). Significant factors of this study: histologic grade, lymphovascular space invasion and myometrial invasion depth were scored (GLM score) and analyzed. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier method. The log-rank test was used for univariate analysis and the Cox regression model for multivariate analysis. RESULTS: 5-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 87.7% and 87.1%, respectively. Prognostic factors related with overall and disease-free survival were histologic grade, lymphovascular space invasion and myometrial invasion according to the univariate analysis. According to the multivariate analysis, lymphovascular space invasion was associated with decreased disease-free survival. GLM score was a meaningful factor affecting overall and disease-free survival (p=0.0090, p=0.0073, respectively) and distant recurrence (p=0.0132), which was the sum of points of histologic grade, lymphovascular space invasion and myometrial invasion. Total failure rate was 11% with 6 patients. Relapse sites were 2 para-aortic lymph nodes, 2 lungs, a supraclavicular lymph node and a vagina. CONCLUSION: The prognosis in patients with endometrial carcinoma treated by postoperative radiotherapy was closely related with surgical histopathology. If further explorations confirm the system of prognostic factors in endometrial carcinoma, it will help us to predict the progression pattern and to manage.

New improvement of iontophoresis / 医疗卫生装备

Iontophoresis possesses the unique superiority as an effective way for promoting the permeability in a therapy system which gives medicine through human' skin directly.It has been developing very quickly in recent years.The application of DC,pulse DC and the electroporation causes the flux greatly enhanced,especially the application of electroporation which can fast reduced the skin resistance and enhance the flux for its reversible function to the skin.What's more,there has been an improved way for iontophoresis now,which uses the AC with an offset of DC.This method can stabilize the skin resistance so as to stabilize the human epidermis membrane parameters,including the pore area,the pore distribution,the pore surface charge density,thus keeping the flux constant.

A case of myasthenia gravis in a patient with diffuse systemic sclerosis developed during D-penicillamine treatment / 대한류마티스학회지

D-penicillamine has been used to reduce skin thickening and prevent the development of significant organ involvement in the treatment of scleroderma. This drug has a number of serious adverse reactions including glomerulonephritis with nephrotic syndrome, aplastic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and myasthenia gravis. A 44-year-old woman was admitted for weakness of the extremity muscle during repeated use. Eight months before admission, she visited dermatology department of our hospital. She was diagnosed as having scleroderma. D-penicillamine was started for the treatment of skin lesions. Based on the fluctuation of proximal muscle weakness, high titer of acetylcholine receptor antibody and definite decremental response of Jolly test, she was diagnosed as myasthenia gravis. D-penicillamine was discontinued because of the suspicion of D-penicillamine induced myasthenia gravis. Muscle weakness improved after D-penicillamine was withdrawn. The development of reversible myasthenia gravis may be regarded as a part of general predisposition for autoimmune disease related to the D-penicillamine therapy.

The Usefulness of T2* Weighted Magnetic Resonance Image in the Diagnosis of Minute Traumatic Intracerebral Hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE: This study is performed in order to compare T2* weighted magnetic resonance(T2*W MR) image to computerized tomography(CT) and conventional magnetic resonance(MR) image for the detection of minute traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage. METHODS: A series of 40 patients with head trauma underwent CT and MR image including T2*W MR sequnence. The authors compared T2*W MR image to CT and conventional MR image in the diagnosis of traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage. RESULTS: Thirty five of 40 patients(88%) were revealed the hemorrhagic foci in the T2*W MR image, whereas 30 patients(75%) were revealed in the conventional MR image, 18 patients(45%) in the CT. Therefore it is concluded that T2*W MR image is more sensitive than CT or conventional MR image in the diagnosis of minute traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage in patients with head trauma. CONCLUSION: If headache is persisted in the head trauma patients with negative CT and MR image finding, We recommend T2*W MR image.

Bilateral Cingulotomy for the Intractable Cancer Pain: Case Report

The authors report two cases of intractable cancer pain, which was managed by bilateral cingulotomy. The technique involved stereotaxis using magnetic resonance guidance and local anesthesia, with the introduction of a mechanical and chemical lesion(absolute alcohol). Postoperative pain relief was excellent that lasted relatively prolonged period of time until disease has far advanced. There were no complications related to procedure. Bilateral stereotactic cingulotomy is considered safe, feasible and most of all, effective in the severe, disabling pain from metastatic lesion. Also, a invasive surgery with general anesthesia can be avoided.

A Case of a Young Woman with Hepatosplenic gamadelta T-cell Lymphoma / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

Most T-cell lymphomas arise from mature alpabeta T-cells and commonly involve the nodes. Lymphomas bearing the gamadelta T-cell receptor (TCR) are very rare, and involve the lymph nodes minimally, if at all. Hepatosplenic gamadelta T-cell lymphoma is a recently identified, rare entity in which lymphoma cells bearing the gamadelta TCR infiltrate the sinusoids of the liver, splenic red pulp, and bone marrow. Its leukemic transformation is even more rare. Recently, we experienced a case of hepatosplenic gamadelta T-cell lymphoma in a 19-year-old woman who presented with epigastric pain, fever, massive splenomegaly, andpancytopenia. The splenectomy specimen and excisional biopsy of the liver revealed the infiltration of atypical T lymphocytes with the immunophenotypic markers of CD3 (+), CD45RO (pan-T antigen) (+), TIA-1(+), CD4(-),CD8 (-), CD56 (-), and S100 (-) in the sinusoids of the liver and splenic red pulp. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed that these cells had the expression of the TCR gama gene rearrangements. Though the pancytopenia had improved after the splenectomy, the response of chemotherapy was transient. Her disease progressed rapidly and she expired in the leukemic phase. We report a case of hepatosplenic gamadelta T-cell lymphoma that developed in a young woman, along with a brief review of the literature.

A Case of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Presented with Sensorineural Hearing Loss / 대한류마티스학회지

A link between sensorineural hearing loss and autoimmune disease is postulated.The pathogenesis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL)in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)is not clear.However,several reports have suggested vasculitis secondary to SLE as underlying mechanism or association of antiphospholipid antibody (aPL).Although there were some cases of sensorineural hearing loss associated with systemic lupus erythematosus or lupuslike syndrome treated with plasmapheresis or immunosuppressive agents,there has been no case of SNHL in patients with SLE reported in Korea.We describe an 18-year-old female with systemic lupus erythematosus who presented with sudden sensorineural hearing loss.She was treated with high-dose corticosteroids with favorable clinical outcome.

Retroperitoneal Fibrosis with Duodenal Stenosis

Retroperitoneal fibrosis is a rare disease characterized by the formation of dense plaque of fibrous tissue covering the retroperitoneal structures. This disease is commonly presented as ureteral obstruction, but the involvement of duodenum is rare. We report a case of retroperitoneal fibrosis which was complicated with duodenal stenosis and was successfully treated with corticosteroids. A 58-yr-old man, who had history of aorto-iliac bypass graft due to arteriosclerosis obliterans with infrarenal aortic occlusion was admitted to the hospital with abdominal pain and a mass. Abdominal CT scan revealed the periaortic soft tissue mass encircling grafted aorta and stenosis of duodenal third portion. Retroperitoneal fibrosis with duodenal stenosis was diagnosed and prednisolone therapy was initiated. Follow-up CT scan showed that the patient responded to prednisolone therapy with eased pain, shrinking periaortic mass, and reduced duodenal stenosis.

Germline Mutation of BRCA2 Gene in Korean Breast / Ovarian Cancer Families / 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: Recent discovery of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes has made it possible to perform presymptomatic diagnosis in hereditary breast/ovarian cancer families. We have previously reported germline mutations of the BRCA1 gene in Korean hereditary breast/ovarian cancer families. In that study two out of 13 families were found to have germline mutations in BRCA1 gene. One was a nonsense mutation in codon 1815, and the other was a frameshift mutation due to 2 base-pair deletion in codon 1701 of BRCA1 gene. This study was intended to identify germline mutations of the BRCA2 gene in Korean breast/ovarian cancer families. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Peripheral blood DNA was obtained from 10 breast cancer patients registered at the Korean Hereditary Tumor Registry with positive family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer. Exons 11 and 27 of the BRCA2 gene(together accounting for 50% of the coding region of the BRCA2 gene) were amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR) and screened for mutations by in vitro transcription/translation method. For confirmation of the mutations, automatic sequencing of the PCR products displaying abnormal truncated protein bands was perfomed. RESULT: We identified an abnormal truncated protein in the exon 11 of the BRCA2 gene from a member of hereditary breast cancer family, SNU-B4. Sequencing analysis revealed a 4 bp deletion in codons 1248-49 of the exon 11, resulting in frameshift that led to premature stop codon and truncation of the protein product. CONCLUSION: We have identified a germline mutation from a Korean hereditary breast cancer family. So far only one case of the same mutation has been registered in Database of BRCA2 mutation (BIC) by a commercial genetic diagnosis company, Myriad Genetics, Inc. Identification of the germline mutation in BRCA2 gene should aid in the accurate presymptomatic diagnosis of the at-risk members in this family.

Germline Mutations of BRCA1 Gene in Korean Breast and/or Ovarian Cancer Families / 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: To understand the involvement of BRCA1 gene in Korean breast and/or ovarian cancer families. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Germline mutations of BRCA1 gene were analyzed in 13 families which included 3 hereditary site-specific breast cancer families, 6 suspected breast cancer families, and 3 suspected breast-ovarian cancer family, and one Li-Fraumeni family by screening BRCA1 gene using single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified genomic DNA and confirmed the results by sequencing. RESULTS: Including one family with previously reported nonsense mutation of BRCA1 gene, we detected two mutations in unrelated families. One newly identified mutation was frame shift mutation resulting from TG deletion in codon 1701, which results in a truncated BRCA1 protein, at codon 1714. CONCLUSION: The proportion of families who inherit the mutated BRCA1 gene seems to be small among Korean breast and/or ovarian cancer families.

An Epidemiologic Investigation of Typhoid Fever Outbreak in Pusan, 1996 / 한국역학회지

An epidemiologic investigation was carried out to identify the source of infection of typhoid fever outbreak, which was occurred in Nam-Gu, Pusan city from April 20 to June 28, 1996. The distribution of 83 reported cases (55 confirmed cases and 28 suspected cases) by sex and age group showed that this epidemic would be occurred by the exposure to a common source with low toxic pathogen because 55.4% of cases were under 20 years old and most of the adults cases were female. The epidemic curve showed a unimodel curve with a peak on about 15 May and tailed down to 23 June, suggesting that the exposure was constant. These results supposed that the contamination of a public water supply would be the source of infection. The analysis of reported cases and population survey conducted to household members and community contacts living in the epidemic area, led the conclusion that the source of infection was tap water supplied through the Dae Youn pumping station, based on the following findings: (1) There were singificant differences of incidence rate among regions (Tong) even though in the same Dong and the spot map of incident cases distributed in accord with the water supply by Dae-Youn pumping station. (2) Among reported cases, 21 cases, including 17 confirmed cases, stated they had used only tap water. (3) The analysis of tap water from the house which had seven typhoid cases, revealed the contamination of E coli and the dilution of residual chlorinated concentration. (4) The outbreak of typhoid fever was stopped after the replacement of The worn-out pipe line of tap water supply to the new one.

The Neurilemmoma of the Penis / 대한비뇨기과학회지

Neurilemmoma is the most frequent solitary tumor of the peripheral nerves. It may occur anywhere in the body, but their occurrence in the penis is rare and unusual. Treatment of this lesion is simple surgical excision. We report a case of neurilemmoma of the penis in a 27 year-old male and review the literature.

p53 expression in squamous cell carcinomas of tongue and tonsil / 대한이비인후과학회지

No abstract available.