• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.190-196
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• 1993

The prognosis of chronic hepatitis C is very variable. In some, the disease is progressive and cirrhosis can develop from chronic hepatitis C. Hepatitis C virus(HCV) may act as a trigger towards hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis. Interferon has been used for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in abroad, 16 patients with chronic C liver disease were treated with ${\alpha}$-interferon (alfa-2b; "Intron A" Schering Corp. Kenilworth. NJ). All patients were given ${\alpha}$-interferon in subcutaneous doses of 3 million units three times weekly for 1 to 9 months. During therapy, CBC and ALT levels were checked weakly to monthly. After therapy, patients were followed for 1 to 8 months. Among 16 patients treated with ${\alpha}$-interferon, progressive decrease of ALT levels was observed in 14(87.5%). In 11 patients(68.8%), ALT levels fell into the normal range during therapy, and in 9 of 11, within one month after therapy, 6 months after the completion of therapy in 4 of 9 patients(44.4%) whose ALT levels were in the normal range, ${\alpha}$-interferon seems to have effect in controlling disease activity in patients with chronic hepatitis C. But the changes in the usage of ${\alpha}$-interferon, dose and duration, long term follow up and more convenient and simple tests for HCV detection are recommended for the better effect and the exact evaluation on the effect of ${\alpha}$-interferon therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.361-371
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• 1992

For the increase of grain yield potential in rice, a low-tillering large panicled type has been suggested as an ideotype. A low-tillering plant type may have different yield potential and needs different cultural practices from that used in a high-tillering type for the maximum yield. This study was conducted to evaluate the grain yield performances of a low-tillering large panicled rice and high-tillering small panicled rice at different plant spacings, nitrogen(N) levels and seedling numbers per hill. A low-tillering large panicled genotype, IR25588 was compared with a high-tillering small panicled IR58. The grain yield of IR25588 was significantly higher than that of IR58 under a narrow spacing with high N level. The maximum yields of IR58 and IR25588 were reached at about 35,000 and 40,000 spikelets per m$^2$, respectively. The increased grain yield in IR25588 was mainly due to the increase in spikelet number per unit area which is the most precise indicator of grain yield in rice. The optimum spacing for the maximum yield was denser for IR25588 than that for IR58 under high N level. The intra-hill competition of the low-tillering type was lower than that of the high-tillering type. The higher dry matter production and bigger leaf area and culm weight were the main factors for increased grain yield in a low-tillering panicle weight type. Based on the results, the yield potential of a low-tillering panicle weight type was higher than that of a high-tillering panicle number type, especially under a close spacing with high N level.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.9
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• pp.964-970
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• 2008

Purpose : Methylmalonic aciduria (MMA) and propionic aciduria (PA) are inborn errors in the catabolism of branched-chain amino acids. The study was undertaken to investigate the genotypes and clinical features of Korean patients with MMA and PA. Methods : This study examined 12 patients with MMA and eight with PA. We analyzed various clinical features, laboratory findings, treatments, and neuro-developmental outcomes. Diagnoses were based on the presence of characteristic compounds detected by amino acid analysis in serum and organic acid analysis in urine. Mutation analysis was performed in the genes of MUT, MMAA, MMAB, and MMACHC for MMA and PCCA and PCCB for PA. Results : Among the 20 patients, six patients were diagnosed before one month of age and nine patients were diagnosed after the newborn period. Five patients were diagnosed via a neonatal screening test. Patients with early-onset forms had more severe illness at presentation and generally poor outcomes. A favorable outcome was obtained in 55% patients; most of them were of a late-onset type or diagnosed by neonatal mass screening test without symptoms. Genotypes were confirmed in all patients with MMA. We detected 11 different mutations by MUT gene analysis in 10 patients, and three different mutations in MMACHC genes in two patients. PCCA and PCCB gene mutations were identified in 14 of the 16 alleles, in eight patients with PA. Conclusion : Organic aciduria is a fatal disease; however, better outcomes are expected whenever early diagnosis and prompt management are made possible. Mutation analysis is useful for confirming diagnoses and planning management strategies.