No abstract available.
Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis*

In the published version of this article, an error in the sponsor's identity was discovered in the acknowledgment section.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the ability of endo-rectal coil MRI (ER-MRI) to predict the local pathological stage of prostate cancer prior to radical prostatectomy and compared the results with those of transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: ER-MRI using high field magnets (1.5 Tesla) were performed in 22 patients (mean age 62.8 years, range 51-73) with clinically localized prostate cancer before radical prostatectomy. Of the 22 patients, 17 patients were also assessed by TRUS. The results of the imaging techniques were compared with the post-operative histopathological findings. As one patient with pelvic lymph node metastasis, which was detected on frozen-section examination during surgery, was spared radical prostatectomy, the final evaluation included 21 patients. RESULTS: DSeven of the 21 patients (33%) were found to have extraprostatic extension (EPE), and 5 had seminal vesicle invasion (SVI). The sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing EPE using ER-MRI were 62.5% and 84.6%, respectively, and 16.7% and 100% with TRUS. The sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing SVI were 80.0% and 93.8%, respectively with ER-MRI, and 0% and 92.3% with TRUS. The accuracy of predicting SVI was 90.5% with ER-MRI compared to 70.6% with TRUS. CONCLUSIONS: ER-MRI was significantly better than TRUS for determining the local extent of prostatic cancer and for prediction of SVI in the preoperative staging of clinically localized prostate cancer.
Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prostate* ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Seminal Vesicles ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography

STUDY DESIGN: This study is a retrospective evaluation of the high lumbar disc herniations. OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study is to observe the clinical and radiological findings and out-comes of the high lumbar disc herniations, thus providing a guideline for making diagnosis and for proper treatment modality. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: High lumbar disc herniations at the L1 -2, L2-3 and L3-4 levels represent less than 5% of all disc herniations. The location of pain was highly complected. The represented symptoms and signs such as motor, sensory and reflex changes were variable and potentially misleading in suggesting a level of the disc herniation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-one patients with high lumbar disc herniations were retrospectively evaluated. Seventeen patients were treated conservatively and fourteen patients underwent surgery. Review of results was undertaken by an independent observer using a proven outcome assessment measure. RESULTS: The incidence of high lumbar disc herniation is 4.7%(L1-2: 13%, L2-3: 29%, L3-4: 58%) with declining frequency as the level ascends. The peak age incidence is 6th decade in male and 5th decade in female. The positive rate of femoral nerve stretching test(74%) is higher than that of straight leg raising test(51%). In fourteen operative cases, the positive rate of straight leg raising test is 86%. The accuracy of MRI findings in predicting the type of herniated disc is 93%. In results of operation thirteen cases showed more than fair grade(93%). CONCLUSION: The age incidence of the high lumbar disc herniation is older than that of the lower lumbar disc herniation. The femoral nerve stretching test is more useful than straight leg raising test in making diagnosis of high lumbar disc herniations. The prognosis after treatment is comparable with high lumbar disc herniations.
Diagnosis ; Female ; Femoral Nerve ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Leg ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Prognosis ; Reflex ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to develop a dietary self-efficacy questionnaire and to determine how dietary self-efficacy is related to selected biochemical markers and health-related quality of life in hemodialysis patients. METHODS: Participants included 172 patients who had been participating in a dialysis program for at least 6 months at two teaching hospitals. A questionnaire was used to assess socio-demographic factors, dialysis-related factors, dietary self-efficacy, and kidney disease quality of life (KDQOL). Serum levels of potassium and phosphorus and interdialytic weight gain were also measured. RESULTS: The internal reliability of dietary self-efficacy was 0.944 (Cronbach's alpha). Principal component analysis resulted in two factors, situational self-efficacy of compliance with dietary guidelines and self-efficacy of food choice. The correlation analysis showed a significant association between situational self-efficacy of compliance with dietary guidelines and serum potassium and KIDQOL. The average scores of situational self-efficacy of compliance with dietary guidelines and self-efficacy of food choice in the participants were 3.52+/-0.72 and 3.61+/-0.71 respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the situational self-efficacy of compliance with dietary guidelines was significantly associated with serum potassium level and KDQOL and self-efficacy of food choice was significantly associated with KDQOL. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our results, the developed dietary self-efficacy questionnaire may be a suitable survey tool for hemodialysis patients, which can play a role in predicting clinical indicators of patient and health-related quality of life. We recommend further research into clarifying whether the positive effects of increased dietary self-efficacy is maintained in long-term dialysis patients.
Biomarkers ; Compliance ; Dialysis ; Diet ; Hospitals, Teaching ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases ; Linear Models ; Phosphorus ; Potassium ; Principal Component Analysis ; Quality of Life ; Renal Dialysis ; Self Efficacy ; Weight Gain

No abstract available.
Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Korea*

Acromegaly and hyperprolactinemia have been described in association with polyostotic fibrous dysplasia. The pathogenic mechanisms of this endocrinopathy are not clear. We experienced a 19-year-old male with hypersecretion of GH, hyperprolactinemia and fibrous dysplasia. He was referred for evaluation of suspected acromegaly. He had no skin pigmentation. Plasma GH, PRL, somatomedin-C, LH, FSH, testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, T3, T4, TSH and cortisol were measured. Among those, the levels of plasma GH, PRL and somatomedin-C were high. Serum alkaline phosphatase was increased. OGTT did not suppress plasma OH concentration and GH showed paradoxical response to TRH and LHRH. GH was suppressed after a test-dose of somatastatin and bromocriptine. Brain MRI demonstrated a mass lesion in sella turcica and another mass lesions in nasal cavity and posterior occipital bone. Whole body bone scan revealed increased uptake in skull, nasal bone, both 9th posterior rib, both femurs, both tibias, left scapular and pelvic bone. These fmdings were consistent with bone tumor such as fibrous dysplasia. We report a case with incomplete MeCune-Albright syndrome including acromegaly, hyperprolactinemia and polyostotic fibrous dysplasia.
Acromegaly ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Brain ; Bromocriptine ; Estradiol ; Femur ; Fibrous Dysplasia, Polyostotic ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Hyperprolactinemia ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Nasal Bone ; Nasal Cavity ; Occipital Bone ; Pelvic Bones ; Plasma ; Progesterone ; Ribs ; Sella Turcica ; Skin Pigmentation ; Skull ; Testosterone ; Tibia ; Young Adult

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Female ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic*

OBJECTIVES: The present study investigates the status of inpatient psychiatric consultations at a general hospital in order to find factors that contribute to treatment compliance related to psychiatric consultations. METHODS: The subjects were 333 patients who were hospitalized at Korea University Medical Center Ansan Hospital from 1 September 2009 to 31 July 2010.The patients were referred for psychiatric consultation during hospitalization. This study investigates demographic data, request department, referral causes, requestor, psychiatric history and diagnosis, andpsychiatric treatment compliance. Treatment compliance was defined as whether or not the patient had accepted psychiatric treatment during hospitalization or outpatient department(OPD) follow-up. This study ascertains the factors that have impact on compliance, by taking binary logistic regression with compliance and other variables. RESULTS: Among the patients that were offered psychiatric treatment during hospitalization(N=310), treatment compliance was 82.9%. Among the patients that were offered OPD treatment(N=111), compliance was 55.8%. Elderly group(>65 years) showed better compliance to treatment during hospitalization than the younger patient group(OR=4.838, p=0.004). Patients with secondary psychiatric disorders showed better OPD follow-up compliance than patients with secondary psychiatric disorders(OR=8.520, p=.008). CONCLUSION: Elderly patients showed better compliance for psychiatric treatment during hospitalization. However they commonly have disorders such as delirium and mood disorders that have impact on the patient's physical state, hence further active measures should be carried out. Patients referred due to primary psychiatric disorders showed poor OPD compliance. Therefore clinicians have to suggest multidisciplinary interventions that will improve treatment compliance of such patients.
Academic Medical Centers ; Aged ; Compliance ; Delirium ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitalization ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Mood Disorders ; Outpatients ; Referral and Consultation