• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.287-291
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• 1994

A 49 years old male patient was admitted to our neuro-pain clinic with symptoms of left 11th intercostal neuralgic pain and low back pain that developed 2 months prior to admission. Upon initial physical examination, motor weakness or sensory deficit were absent. Intercostal neuralgic pain improved significantly after we performed thoracic root thermocoagulation. However on the afternoon of the procedure the patient started to experience voiding difficulty, saddle anesthesia and rapidly progressing motor weakness and hypoesthesia that involved the lower back area and the lower extremities for three days. Based on these symptoms spinal cord compression was suspected and subsequently plain T-L spine X-rays and T-L spine MRI were performed. A spinal tumor that appeared metastatic in origin was seen at the T11 and T12 level. Liver ultrasonography demonstrated the presence of a $4{\times}4cm$ sized ill defined mass in the posterior segment of the right lobe. The patient was diagnosed to have hepatocellular carcinoma after needle aspiration biopsy and cytologic studies. Further orthopedic surgery was recommended but as the patient rejected any further treatment and examination, it was not possible to confirm the primary focus of the tumor. However as metastasis of a primary liver tumor to the spine is a rare occurrence, some other primary focus of metastasis or even a malignant primary tumor of the spine is more likely to explain this patient's condition.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1998 no.11
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• pp.271-272
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• 1998

Contrast-enhanced CT has an important role in the assessment of liver lesions. However, the optimal protocol to get most effective result is not clear. The main principle for deciding injection protocol is to optimize lesion detectability by rapid scanning when lesion-to-liver contrast is maximum. For this purpose, we developed a physiological model of contrast medium enhancement based on the compartment modeling and pharmacokinetics. Blood supply to liver was modeled in two paths. This dual supply character distinguishes the CT enhancement of liver from that of the other organs. The first path is by hepatic artery and the second is by portal vein. It is assumed that only hepatic artery can supply blood to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compartment. It is known that this causes the difference of contrast enhancement between normal liver tissue and hepatic tumor. By solving differential equations for each compartment simultaneously using computer program Matlab, CT contrast-enhancement curves were simulated. Simulated enhancement curves for aortic, hepatic, portal vein, and HCC compartments were compared with mean enhancement curves from 24 patients exposed to the same protocols as simulation. These enhancement curves were in a good agreement. Furthermore, we simulated lesion-to-liver curves for various injection protocols, and analyzed the effects. These may help to optimize the scanning protocols for good diagnosis.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.311-318
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• 2020

Chronic hepatitis B viral (HBV) infection remains a major health threat, especially in high-prevalence areas. Most infants infected by mother-to-infant HBV transmission become chronic carriers. In Taiwan, many important preventive interventions have been implemented to block the perinatal transmission of HBV in the past 35 years. The first nationwide universal HBV vaccination program was launched in Taiwan in July 1984. The three-dose HBV vaccine completion rate reached 98.1% in 2018. The prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) decreased from 9.8% in pre-vaccinated period in 1984 to 0.5% in the vaccinated cohort in 2014. The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in children aged 6-9 years significantly declined from 0.52 to 0.13 per 100,000 children born before and after 1984, respectively. Furthermore, we have performed a maternal HBV screening program during pregnancy since 1984, with the screening rate peaked at 93% in 2012. The HBsAg- and HBeAg-seropositive rate in pregnant women declined from 13.4% and 6.4% in 1984-1985 to 5.9% and 1.0% in 2016, respectively. To closely control perinatal HBV infection, we have administered hepatitis B immunoglobulin immediately after birth and checked the serum level of HBsAg and anti-HBs in high-risk babies born to HBsAg-seropositive mothers, irrespective of their HBeAg status, since July 2019. We have also adopted short-term antiviral treatments such as tenofovir 300 mg daily in the third trimester for highly viremic mothers and reduced the perinatal infection rates from 10.7 to 1.5%. Through all these efforts, we expect to meet the global goal of eliminating HBV infection by 2030.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.74-83
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• 2015

Objectives: To examine the sex-specific factors associated with being unaware of one's hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) seropositivity status in a large, HBsAg-positive population of Koreans. Methods: In total, 1197 subjects aged 19 years or older who were HBsAg-positive according to data from the 2007-2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were included. Subjects were considered unaware of their HBsAg seropositivity status if they answered that they had no knowledge of being previously infected by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) or diagnosed with HBV hepatitis. Multivariate Poisson regression models with robust variance estimate were used to assess the significance of the variables using weighted frequencies. Results: The majority (77.8%) of HbsAg-positive Korean adults (females, 81.9%; males, 74.6%) were unaware of their HBsAg seropositivity status. We found that sex (female: prevalence ratio [PR] 1.19), household income (low: PR, 1.15), marital status (never married: PR, 1.18), self-rated health (moderate: PR, 1.14; good: PR, 1.12), and alcohol use (at least 2-3 times/wk: PR, 1.21) were associated with being unaware. In females, age (50 to 59 years: PR, 1.29; ${\geq}70$ years: PR, 1.30), household income (low: PR, 1.37; middle-low: PR, 1.24), and marital status (never married: PR, 1.33) were associated with being unaware. In males, self-rated health (moderate: PR, 1.14; good: PR, 1.21) and alcohol use (at least 2-3 times/wk: PR, 1.21) were associated with being unaware. Conclusions: Factors related to the socioeconomic status of females and the health-related behaviors of males were found to be associated with being unaware of one's HBsAg seropositivity status.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.640-646
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• 2005

This study was performed for the investigation of anticancer effects of Siegesbeckia glabrescens(SG) on HepG2 cells, a human hepatoma cell line. In the previous study, we examined the involvement of nitric oxide (NO) on anti-proliferative and apoptotic efficacy of SG in vascular smooth muscle cells. The possible mechanism of the apoptotic effects of SG was investigated in HepG2 cells. SG showed potent cytotoxic activity in HepG2 but not chang cells, liver normal cells. SG treatment caused morphological change such as cell shrinkage, nuclei condensation and cell blebbing in HepG2 cells. SG also increased the nitrite production of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, L-NNA treatment inhibited the anti-proliferative effect of SG. From RT-PCR, SG decreased Bcl-2 but no affected on Bax. Western blot for procaspase-3 and COX-2 showed that degradation of procaspase-3 protein level or inhibition of COX-2 protein expression by SG treatment. In addition, the apoptotic effect of SG was also demonstrated by DNA laddering. In conclusion, SG-induced HepG2 cells death can occur via apoptosis which was dose-dependent, and associated with apoptosis-related Bcl-2/Bax gene expressions, COX-2 inhibition, caspase-3 activation and NO pathway. These results suggest that SG is potentially useful as a chemotherapeutic/chemopreventive agent in hepatocellular carcinoma.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Pathology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.73-84
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• 1998

This study was carried out to investigate on the serum chemistry and the DNA ploidy changes in carcinogenesis of the rat liver and kidney. Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups. Group I was non-treated control. Group II was given initiators (2,2'-dihydroxy- di-N-propylnitrosamine, 0.1% in drinking water(d.w.) for 1 week and N-ethyl-N-hydroxy-ethylnitrosamine; 0.15% in d.w. for 1 week) and promoters (3'methyl-cholanthrene; 3'MC, l0mg/kg, intraperitoneally(i.p.) twice a week and DL-serine; 0.05% in d.w. for 5 weeks, from 3 to 8 weeks). All examinations were performed at 12 and 20 weeks RBC, HGBCp＜0.05) and PCVCp＜0.01) significantly decreased in Group II at 20 weeks. Activities of ALT, AST(p＜0.05) and GGT(p＜0.01) were significantly increased in Group II at 20 weeks. Flow cytometric analysis showed hepatocyte nuclei from normal livers were predominantly tetraploid(66~67%) and then diploid(28~30%). Most of hepatocyte nuclei from carcinogen-treated rats were diploid (52~68%) and less were tetraploid(28~42%). Neoplastic liver nodules and hepatocellular carcinoma contained almost exclusively diploid nuclei. Renal cell nuclei from normal kidney were predominantly diploid(88~93%), those from carcinogen-treated rats had an abnormal DNA-content peak(aneuploidy, 6-7%), near the tetraploidy area. These results suggest that diploidy may be an effective screening marker of the liver carcinogenesis. Aneuploidy may be an useful marker in assessment of the experimental renal carcinogenesis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.11 s.268
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• pp.810-814
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• 2006

Background: Tumors of the heart are uncommon. The aim of this study is to review our clinical experience and outcome of surgical treatment of cardiac neoplasm. Material and Method: From March 1990 to December 2005, 35 patients(14 males and 21 females) with mean age of 52.4 years underwent surgical treatment of cardiac neoplasm. The clinical and pathologic data were analyzed retrospectively. Surgical treatment consisted in complete resection of the tumor in all cases but 1 patient who was left ventricular fibroma received biopsy only. Result: Thirty cases were benign and five cases were malignant tumor. Benign tumors were myxoma(29 cases) and fibroma(1 case). Five malignant tumors were osteosarcoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, renal cell cancer, yolk sac tumor, and unclassified myxoid spindle cell type sarcoma. There were no operative mortality in benign cases and twenty seven cases of myxoma were followed up for 8 months to 15 years without recurrence. But four patients of malignant tumor were expired within six months after operation. Conclusion: Left atrial myxomas are most common benign neoplasm. Surgical treatment is effective for the benign cardiac tumors but prognosis is poor in patients with malignant cardiac tumors.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Although Angelica keiskei (AK) has widely been utilized for the purpose of general health improvement among Asian, its functionality and mechanism of action. The aim of this study was to determine the protective effect of ethanol extract of AK (AK-Ex) on acute hepatotoxicity induced by acetaminophen (AAP) in HepG2 human hepatocellular liver carcinoma cells and HepaRG human hepatic progenitor cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: AK-Ex was prepared HepG2 and HepaRG cells were cultured with various concentrations and 30 mM AAP. The protective effects of AK-Ex against AAP-induced hepatotoxicity in HepG2 and HepaRG cells were evaluated using 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, flow cytometry, and Western blotting. RESULTS: AK-Ex, when administered prior to AAP, increased cell growth and decreased leakage of LDH in a dose-dependent manner in HepG2 and HepaRG cells against AAP-induced hepatotoxicity. AK-Ex increased the level of Bcl-2 and decreased the levels of Bax, Bok and Bik decreased the permeability of the mitochondrial membrane in HepG2 cells intoxicated with AAP. AK-Ex decreased the cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and the activation of caspase-9, -7, and -3. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that AK-Ex downregulates apoptosis via intrinsic and extrinsic pathways against AAP-induced hepatotoxicity. We suggest that AK could be a useful preventive agent against AAP-induced apoptosis in hepatocytes.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.99-103
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• 2012

Tyrosinemia type I is an autosomal recessive inborn error of tyrosine metabolism that caused a mutation. Clinical symptoms include progressive liver damage with liver failure, coagulopathy, hypophosphataemic rickets, renal tubular dysfunction and a high risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. If left untreated, the affected infants may die from liver failure within the first year of life. PharmacoloIcal therapy with 2-(2-nitro-4-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione (NTBC) has offered an effective therapeutic option in addition to dietary restriction of tyrosine and phenylalanine. As prognosis of tyrosinemia type I is improving with early diagnosis and early treatments, it meets the criteria for a condition that would benefit from newborn screening. We report a case of tyrosinemia type I diagnosed by newborn screening and successive biochemical analysis of plasma and urine, treated by dietary restriction and NTBC.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.149-154
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• 2011

Objectives : Myocardial infarction is caused by heart cell death in a region where coronary arteries supplying blood to the region are occluded. In the present study, we determined whether ethanol extract of Cortex fraxini (HY5053) could attenuate heart injury by inhibiting apoptosis. Methods : Improvement of survival of HepG2 cells, a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, and reduction of apoptosis under hypoxic conditions (3% $O_2$) were assessed by trypan blue staining and DNA fragmentation assay, respectively. To assess the impact of HY5053 on the heart injury, Sprague-Dawley rats underwent 1 day of the left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion. HY5053 was given by intraperitoneal injection (200 mg/kg) 1 hr prior to the occlusion. Subsequently, the heart were harvested, excised into 4 slices, and the slices were stained with 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride. Finally, the extent of heart injury represented as ischemic index (%) was assessed. Results : Addition of HY5053 (400 ${\mu}g$/mL) into the culture medium for 1 day under ischemic conditions improved the cell survival by 50%, compared with control (0 ${\mu}g$/mL), consequently delayed apoptosis in 6 hr difference. Also, HY5053 (200 mg/kg) reduced the ischemic index by 44%, compared with control (0 mg/kg). Conclusions : These findings suggested that HY5053 attenuated myocardial infarction by inhibiting apoptosis. Thus, Cortex fraxini could be developed as a novel cardioprotectant to complement a currently available treatment, coronary angioplasty.