Detection of swine hepatitis E virus in the porcine hepatic lesion in Jeju Island

Swine hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging zoonotic pathogen due to its close genomic similarity to human HEV. The prevalence of swine HEV in the hepatic lesion of pigs from the Jeju Island was investigated by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In total, 40 pigs with hepatitis lesions were selected from 19 different farms, based on examination by microscopy. RTPCR findings revealed swine HEV in 22 cases (55%), including 18 suckling pigs and 4 growing pigs. Several histopathological lesions, including multifocal lymphoplasmacytic hepatitis, portal inflammation, and focal hepatocellular necrosis, were observed in liver sections of swine HEV PCR-positive pigs. The present study suggests that the prevalence of swine HEV is very high in the pig population in Jeju Island, and that pigs are infected at early stages of growth (under 2 months of age). The high prevalence of swine HEV in pigs in Jeju Island and the ability of this virus to infect across species puts people with swine-associated occupations at possible risk of zoonotic infection.

A Clinical Observation on the Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy / 대한비뇨기과학회지

Two hundred and sixty-three patients over the age of 50 years who visited our clinic during 6 and a half years from April 1954 to September 1960 were clinically investigated for the initial study of the benign prostatic hypertrophy in Korea. Among these 263 cases 36 were diagnosed as the benign prostatic hypertrophy and 19 of them were hospitalized. Their ages ranged from 51 to 82 years. The average was 68 years. Their chief complaints were reasonable for B. P. H. and urinary symptoms appeared more commonly than those of non B. P. H. group. Eighty-eight and 0.6% of their prostates appeared to be more or less enlarged in size. None of them were considered to stay within normal limits. Residual urine was noted from 3-1,500 cc in 31 checked cases, the average 62cc. Their urethras were intact in 83% of the cases. Their endoscopic findings were corresponding to the signs suggesting prostatic hypertrophy, mainly prostatic compression sign to the bladder, elongation of the prostatic urethra, kissing or almost kissing of the lateral lobes, trabeculation and cellule formations in the bladder and inflammatory signs of the bladder. Treatments given to 19 hospitalized cases included 10 suprapubic prostatectomy, 1 transurethral resection, 1 suprapubic cystostomy, and conservative treatments for the remainders. In all the patients who had received the surgical interventions, smooth and voluntary urination was restored as of discharge. No follow-up study was fulfilled. Weight of the removed prostates were noted from 39.5 gm to 107gm, the average 61.3gm. By a transurethral resection 10.2gm of hypertrophied prostate was resected. Of complications of 19 hospitalized cases. cystitis was found as a top 68.4%. Not only urological diseases, bladder stones, epididymitis and diverticula of the bladder but also systemic diseases, hypertensive heart disease, asthma and arteriosclerosis were found though less frequent.