• The Korean journal of internal medicine
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.1070-1078
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• 2018

Vibrio vulnificus is a gram-negative bacterium that can cause serious, potentially fatal infections. V. vulnificus causes three distinct syndromes: an overwhelming primary septicemia caused by consuming contaminated seafood, wound infections acquired when an open wound is exposed to contaminated warm seawater, and gastrointestinal tract-limited infections. Case-fatality rates are higher than 50% for primary septicemia, and death typically occurs within 72 hours of hospitalization. Risk factors for V. vulnificus infection include chronic liver disease, alcoholism, and hematological disorders. When V. vulnificus infection is suspected, appropriate antibiotic treatment and surgical interventions should be performed immediately. Third-generation cephalosporin with doxycycline, or quinolone with or without third-generation cephalosporin, may be potential treatment options for patients with V. vulnificus infection.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.79-85
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• 2017

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the clinical and the instrument of convergence utility of transient elastography (FibroScan(R):electromagnetic wave) in diagnosing and treating liver ailments through a comparison and an analysis between liver function blood test and transient elastography (FibroScan(R)) in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Of all the patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection who visited clinic B in Daejeon City between July 1, 2015, and February 28, 2016, 75 who underwent a FibroScan(R) test were selected for this study. Their laboratory and liver function test results were compared for a correlation analysis before constructing an ROC (Receiver Operation Characteristic) curve. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were 0.572 and 0.502, respectively, and showed highest correlation with fibrosis score, with statistical significance (p<0.000). Gamma glutamyltranspeptidase, total bilirubin, and alkaline phosphatase levels also showed relatively significant correlations in this order of sequence, while -fetoprotein and total protein levels did not show any statistically significant values. Albumin (-0.449) and platelet levels (-0.373) showed negative correlations with each other and no correlation with fibrosis score (p < 0.000). As liver fibrosis worsened, the accuracy of the ROC curve increased. At the F4 stage, which is the cirrhotic stage, the largest area under the curve was observed. FibroScan(R) showed significant correlation with the ALT (serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase) and AST (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase) levels in the liver function test, which is a routine test for patients with chronic liver ailments. This implies that fibrosis correlates with liver inflammation severity.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.391-398
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• 2022

Polyploidization is a process by which cells are induced to possess more than two sets of chromosomes. Although polyploidization is not frequent in mammals, it is closely associated with development and differentiation of specific tissues and organs. The liver is one of the mammalian organs that displays ploidy dynamics in physiological homeostasis during its development. The ratio of polyploid hepatocytes increases significantly in response to hepatic injury from aging, viral infection, iron overload, surgical resection, or metabolic overload, such as that from non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLDs). One of the unique features of NAFLD is the marked heterogeneity of hepatocyte nuclear size, which is strongly associated with an adverse liver-related outcome, such as hepatocellular carcinoma, liver transplantation, and liver-related death. Thus, hepatic polyploidization has been suggested as a potential driver in the progression of NAFLDs that are involved in the control of the multiple pathogenicity of the diseases. However, the importance of polyploidy in diverse pathophysiological contexts remains elusive. Recently, several studies reported successful improvement of symptoms of NAFLDs by reducing pathological polyploidy or by controlling cell cycle progression in animal models, suggesting that better understanding the mechanisms of pathological hepatic polyploidy may provide insights into the treatment of hepatic disorders.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.331-341
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• 2021

Liver cancer is a common tumor and currently the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally. Liver cancer is highly related to inflammation as more than 90% of liver cancer arises in the context of hepatic inflammation, such as hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection. Despite significant improvements in the therapeutic modalities for liver cancer, patient prognosis is not satisfactory due to the limited efficacy of current drug therapies in anti-metastatic activity. Therefore, developing new effective anti-cancer agents with anti-metastatic activity is important for the treatment of liver cancer. In this study, SP-8356, a verbenone derivative with anti-inflammatory activity, was investigated for its effect on the growth and migration of liver cancer cells. Our findings demonstrated that SP-8356 inhibits the proliferation of liver cancer cells by inducing apoptosis and suppressing the mobility and invasion ability of liver cancer cells. Functional studies revealed that SP-8356 inhibits the mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathways, which are related to cell proliferation and metastasis, resulting in the downregulation of metastasis-related genes. Moreover, using an orthotopic liver cancer model, tumor growth was significantly decreased following treatment with SP-8356. Thus, this study suggests that SP-8356 may be a potential agent for the treatment of liver cancer with multimodal regulation.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.357-361
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• 2016

Following the first report of Opisthorchis viverrini infection in a domestic duck in Phu My District of Binh Dinh Province, Central Vietnam, many other cases were observed in the province. We determined the infection rate and intensity of O. viverrini infection in ducks in 4 districts of the province. A total of 178 ducks were randomly selected from 34 farms for examination of flukes in the liver and gall bladder. An infection rate of 34.3% (range 20.7-40.4% among districts) was found; the intensity of infection was 13.8 worms per infected duck (range 1-100). These findings show the role of ducks as a host for O. viverrini, duck genotype, which is sympatric with the human O. viverrini genotype in this province. It also stresses the need for investigations on the zoonotic potential and the life cycle of this parasite.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.360-366
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• 1995

1-$\beta$-Methyl carbapenem-2-substituted pyrroudine derivatives. CRB 529 and CRB 550, were synthesized as investigational carbapenem derivatives. It has been reported that the in vitro antibacterial activities of the compounds against G(+) and G(-) bacteria were almost the same or more effective than those of imipenem (IPM) and meropenem (MEPM), and also showed better in vivo efficacy than MEPM and inlipeneni/cilastatin (IPM/CS) against representative G(-) organisms, P. aeruginosa and MRSA organisms, S. aureus. The antibacterial activities, pharmacokinetics and protective efficacy of IPM/CS and CRB 529 and CRB 550 wereconducted after subcutaneous or intravenous administration to mice and rats. The pharmacokinetic parameters of CRB 529 and CRB 550 in mice were as follows: the observed maximal serum concentrations (C$_{max}$) following I.V. administration were 87.5 and 101 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml for CRB 529 and CRB 550, respectively, and 63.6 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml for IPM/CS. The half-lives (t$_{1/2}$) were 14.0 and 12.0 n-dn for CRB 529 and CRB 550, respectively, and 14.8 min for IPM/CS. In rats, $C_{max}$ after I.V. administration were 74.0 and 91.8 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml for CRB 529 and CRB 550, respectively, and 41.2 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml for IPM/CS. The tissue levels of CRB 529 and CRB 550 and IPM/CS after I.V. administration at a dose of 20 mg/kg decreased by the following order: lung, heart, kindney, liver and spleen for CRB 529, lddney, liver. lung, heart and spleen for CRB 550 and kidney, lung, liver, heart, spleen and brain for IPM/CS. In systemic infection, CRB 529 and CRB 550 showed excellent efficacies against P. aeruginosa and S. aureus (MRSA) at a dose of 5 mg/kg. The PD$_{50s}$ were 0.80, 0.36 mg/kg for CRB 529 and CRB 550, respectively, and 3.22 mg/kg for IPM/CS against P. aeruginosa. The corresponding values against S. aureus (MRSA) were 76.0, 55.3 mg/kg for CRB 529 and CRB 550, respectively, and 146 mg/kg for IPM/CS. In local infection, the antibacterial activities of CRB 529 and CRB 550 were more effective than those of IPM/CS against intrarenal infection with E. coli and P. aeruginosa and also showed as effective as IPM/CS against respiratory tract infection with E. coli and P. aeruginosa at a dose of 5 mg/kg.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.5917-5935
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• 2012

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes acute and chronic human hepatitis infection and as such is an important global health problem. The virus was discovered in the USA in 1989 and it is now known that three to four million people are infected every year, WHO estimating that 3 percent of the 7 billion people worldwide being chronically infected. Humans are the natural hosts of HCV and this virus can eventually lead to permanent liver damage and carcinoma. HCV is a member of the Flaviviridae family and Hepacivirus genus. The diameter of the virus is about 50-60 nm and the virion contains a single-stranded positive RNA approximately 10,000 nucleotides in length and consisting of one ORF which is encapsulated by an external lipid envelope and icosahedral capsid. HCV is a heterogeneous virus, classified into 6 genotypes and more than 50 subtypes. Because of the genome variability, nucleotide sequences of genotypes differ by approximately 31-34%, and by 20-23% among subtypes. Quasi-species of mixed virus populations provide a survival advantage for the virus to create multiple variant genomes and a high rate of generation of variants to allow rapid selection of mutants for new environmental conditions. Direct contact with infected blood and blood products, sexual relationships and availability of injectable drugs have had remarkable effects on HCV epidemiology. Hundreds of thousands of people die each year from hepatitis and liver cancer caused by HCV virus infection. Approximately 80% of patients with acute hepatitis C progress into a chronic disease state leading to serious hepatic disorders, 10-20% of which develop chronic liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The incubation period of HCV is 6-8 weeks and the infection is often asymptomatic so it is very hard to detect at early stages, making early treatment very difficult. Therefore, hepatitis C is called a "silent disease". Neutralizing antibodies are produced against several HCV proteins during infection but the virus mutates to escape from antibodies. Some patients with chronic hepatitis C may have some symptoms such as fatigue, muscle aches, nausea and pain. Autoimmune and immunecomplex-mediated diseases have also been reported with chronic HCV infection.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5381-5384
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• 2012

Background and Aim: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is an uncommon malignancy of the bile duct, occurring in nearly 2 out of 100,000 people. It is a type of adenocarcinoma that originates in the mucous glands of the epithelium, or surface layers of the bile ducts. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical features, diagnostic results and factors associated with survival, morbidity and mortalityof cholangiocarcinoma cases in Iranian patients. Method: In this retrospective study the hospital medical records of 283 patients with a primary or final diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma who had been admitted to gastroenterology ward of our hospital from 2004 to 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: 283 patients (180 male, 63%, and 103 female, 38.6%) with a mean age of $59.7{\pm}14.4$ years were studied. The most frequent symptoms were painless jaundice (190, 66.9%), abdominal pain (77, 27%), pruritus 133 (46.8%) and weight loss (169, 59.5%). The most frequent associated risk factors and diseases were as follows: gallstones (72, 25.4%), diabetes (70, 24.6%), HBV infection (52 (18.3%), HCV infection 43 (15%), primary sclerosing cholangitis (16, 5.6%) and smoking (120, 42.3%). The most frequent type of cholangiocarcinoma in ERCP and MRCP was hilar. The mean survival time was $7.42{\pm}5.76$ months. Conclusion: The mean survival time in our study was lower than one year. Moreover the most frequent risk factors and associated diseases were smoking, gallstones and diabetes. Painless jaundice, abdominal pain and weight loss were the most clinical features related to cholangiocarcinoma. Additionally survival time did not correlate with risk factors, associated diseases and clinical presentations, but was linked to biliary metallic stenting and surgery.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.1571-1574
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• 2015

Background: Treatment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) decreases the prevalence of gastric cancer, and may inhibit gastric precancerous lesions progression into gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of treatment on subsequent gastric precancerous lesion development. Materials and Methods: We prospectively studied 27 patients who had low grade dysplasia at the time of enrollment, in addition to dysplasia atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia observed in all patients. All were prescribed quadruple therapy to treat H. Pylori infection for 10 days. Patients underwent endoscopy with biopsy at enrollment and then at follow up two years later. Biopsy samples included five biopsies from the antrum of lesser curvature, antrum of greater curvature, angularis, body of stomach and fundus. Results of these biopsies were compared before and after treatment. Results: Overall, the successful eradication rate after two years was 15/27 (55.6%). After antibiotic therapy, the number of patients with low grade dysplasia decreased significantly (p=0.03), also with reduction of the atrophic lesions (p=0.01), but not metaplasia. Conclusions: Treatment of H. pylori likely is an effective therapy in preventing the development of subsequent gastric premalignant lesions.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.165-171
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• 1990

Human Fasciola hepatica infection is a rare entity involving infestation of the liver and biliary tree with adult flukes. which can result in hepatitis. cirrhos is and biliary tract inflammation. obstruction and lithiasis. The patient had the typical diagnostic tetrad of fever. eosinophilic leukocytos is. tender hepatomegaly and fluke ova in the stools. Theatment consistes of Emetine hydrochloride administration for hepatic involvement and common bile duct exploration for removal of flukes. with cholecystectomy for associated cholelithiasis. The combination of medical and surgical therapy cal be expected to produce an arrest of this infection. The removed liver revealed eggs of the fasciols species in the intrahepatic bile duct. The clinical history. pathological findings and treatment of this case were described.