No abstract available.
Hepatitis* ; Humans

Acute infarcts of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) territory are unusual. Furthermore incomplete AICA infarcts are perplexing because of its variations of vascular anatomy and inconsistent clinical features. We present a case with clinical features of AICA infarction, which consist of ipsilateral peripheral-type facial palsy, vertigo, and contralateral facial and upper limb sensory changes without motor weakness. The patient had hypertension and was a current smoker. The high signal intensity on inferior pontine tegmental area was found on MRI and the R2 interneuronal dysfunction was note on Blink reflex. The angiographic findings didn't show any focal vascular lesions, which is contrary to the pathogenesis of AICA infarction published previously. On the clinical ground, the present case reserves to attention in that patients with peripheral-type facial palsy should be properly evaluated and with thorough neurological examination and we could differentiate between the incomplete AICA infarcts such as Gasperini syndrome and Bell's palsy.
Arteries ; Bell Palsy ; Blinking ; Facial Paralysis* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Infarction ; Interneurons ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neurologic Examination ; Upper Extremity ; Vertigo

PURPOSE: Axillary lymph node metastases are the single most important predictor of overall survival in patients with breast cancer. Micrometastases are defined by the American Joint Committee on Cancer as tumor foci less than or equal to 2 mm in greatest dimension. Recently, up to 30% of breast cancer patients were reported to have micrometastases. In this paper, to assess the rate of micrometastases in patients with stage I breast cancer, we attempted to determine the most useful marker of the micrometastases in node negative cases by routine histopathologic examination of regional lymph nodes and comparison of the results with the influencing factors on prognosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed immunohisto chemical staining for pancytokeratin, cytokeratin 7, cytokeratin 20 and CEA to identify which protein was the most useful marker for the detection of micrometastases in 86 node negative cases and determined the correlation between histological and clinical data. RESULTS: A total of 5 lymph nodes in 5 separate cases showed micrometastases among the total 1,296 lymph nodes and 86 cases. The rates of micrometastases of lymph nodes and cases were 0.38% and 5.8%, respectively. The tumor type of micrometastasis was infiltrating ductal carcinoma in all cases. None of the microme tastases cases showed any relationship with tumor grade, tumor size, expression of ER and PR, patient survival rate or recurrence rate. The most useful marker to detect micrometastases was pancytokeratin. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that micrometastasis of axillary lymph nodes does not carry any independent prognostic significance.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Ductal ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Joints ; Keratin-20 ; Keratin-7 ; Keratins* ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Micrometastasis* ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: The natural history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) has been of increasing interest since the mid-1960s. Prevention, diagnosis & management of DVT has been continously development. Howerver, Early diagnosis for prevention & effectivly choice of management method of DVT has been difficult problem. METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively 42 patients who were admitted and out patients department follow up to Department of Surgery, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, for treatment of DVT from November, 1990 to August, 1998. RESULTS: There was a wide age distribution from teenage to 9th decade, and peak age distribution was 7th decade (23.8%). It occured more old age than younger age. Sex distribution, male to female, was about 1.2 : 1 and occured more male than female. Main chief complaint in pateints with DVT at initial our hospital visit was painful swelling (57.1%), and followed by swelling (33.3%) of lower extremity. Duration of sign and symptom in pateints with DVT at initial our hospital visit was more than 1 month (38.1%), and followed by less than 1 weeks (31.0%). The left side of lower extermities was more frequently involved than that of right side, left to right ratio was 2.1:1. Most location of involved vein of lower extremity was Popliteal vein (71.4%), and followed by Superficial femoral vein (55.4%), Calf vein (44.6%), and Common femoral vein (39.4%) in ration of 56 limbs. More frequent risk factor of DVT was major surgery (28.6%), and followed by immobility (16.7%). but most frequent risk factor was idiopathic (31.0%). Diagnosis of DVT was made with color doppler (90.5%) and venogram (57.1%). Treatment was done with intravenous or oral anticoagulants in most pateints (90.5%), Forgarty thrombectomy (7.1%), and Bypass and A.-V. fistula (2.4%) and followed by only or combined oral anticoagulants theraphy. Treatment of DVT was wide duration from less than 3 month to more than 1 years. It was done for less than 3 month (52.4%), and followed by 6 to 12 month (19.0%), 3 to 6 month (14.3%) and 14.3% were continued more than 1 years. During oral anticoagulant theraphy, GOT/GPT elevation was observed in 26.2%, and 23.8% was detected bleeding tendency (hematuria). Post-treatment response of DVT was divided three group, good (31.0%), moderated (42.9%), no response group (26.3%) in pateint complaint of before or after treatment. Most pateint were improved in 3 month. CONCLUSION: We have been thick that DVT in the lower extremity must done early diagnosis and choiced more massively intensively method of treatment and with only or combined oral anticoagulant therapy after operation was prevented for reccured and serious complication.
Age Distribution ; Anticoagulants ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Extremities ; Female ; Femoral Vein ; Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Lower Extremity* ; Male ; Natural History ; Outpatients ; Popliteal Vein ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sex Distribution ; Thrombectomy ; Veins ; Venous Thrombosis*

Before surgery for hemorrhoid, patients always have a worry of postoperative recurrence. The exact incidence and risk factors of recurrent hemorrhoid have not yet been delineated up to now. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the etiology of the recurrence after surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between March, 1997 and Feburary 1998, all patients who visited the Dept. of Surgery, Korea Veteran Hosipital, due to the recurrent hemorroid after surgical managememt including sclerotherapy(Group II: GII, n=60) were compared to the age and sex mathed(1:2) with primary hemorroid patients(group I: GI, n=120). The risk factors which might be related with the recurrence such as 1) hemorroidal factor(duration of symtom, symtom, associated perinial disease) 2) patient factor (constipation, incontience, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary and hepatic disease) 3) anorectal physiologic factors 4) surgical factors were evaluated. Stastical analysis were performed by a chi-square-test or Mann-Whitney U test and set the significance at p<0.05. RESULTS: There were no differences between the two groups in terms of age(GI 58.1+/-8.5, GII 60.9+/-3.3 years), gender(M:F, GI; 97:23, GII; 56:4 ). The ratio of having a contipation before surgery was 41% in GI, 55% in GII. It was not statistically significant. However, the other factors related with constipation such as duration of constipation(GI; 9.85+/-7.73 years, GII; 14.62+/-7.38 years: p<0.05), duration of straining during defecation(GI; 5.82+/-2.34, GII; 7.32+/-5.6 minutes, p<0.05) number of laxative use(GI; 29, GII; 28) were significantly different between the two groups. The fecal incontince are 5% in group Iand 13% in group II. There were no differences in patient's subject symtoms related with hemorrhoid, and comorbid perianal disease between the two groups. In anorectal manometric findings, rectal complince was significantly lower in GII than that of GI(25.1+/-50.04 cc/cmH20 vs 16.0+/-25.2 cc/cmH20 p<0.05). GII has a significant number of preopertive hypertension than GI(6.7% vs. 21.6%, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: When a patient with hemorrhoid has a constipation or hypertension, and lower compliance in manometric findings, it would be related with the postoperative recurrence after treatment. Therefore, we surgeons should correct these comorbid conditions before surgery, otherwise give an information to the patient of high chance of postoperative recurrence after management.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Compliance ; Constipation ; Hemorrhoids* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Korea ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors* ; Veterans

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The combination of an aging population with a chronic diseased population is leading to an increase in the mortality rate due to cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the Korean population and to evaluate its related factors for sex differences. METHODS: From April 2007 to December 2008, a total of 2,729 volunteers aged 40-69 years living in Changwon city underwent a clinical examination at a hospital in Changwon, Korea. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed following the criteria defined in Circulation 2009. The clinical examination included measuring anthropometric variables and cardiovascular risk factors, while lifestyle factors were assessed through a questionnaire. RESULTS: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in our sampling pool was 25.2% with a break down by sex showing a rate of 30.2% in men and 22.2% in women. Related factors associated with metabolic syndrome common to both sex were age, self-health assessment, and alcohol consumption. Sleep duration seemed to be a related factor in men, while income, education, and menstruation status played significant roles in women. CONCLUSIONS: To better manage metabolic syndrome, men need to be educated on alcohol use and women of low socioeconomic status require particular attention as do the aging population and postmenopausal women.
Adult ; Aged ; Aging ; Alcohol Drinking ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Life Style ; Male ; Menstruation ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Sex Characteristics ; Social Class

BACKGROUND: Generally, it has been thought that the prognosis of breast cancer in young women is worse than that in their older counterparts. This, however, remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathological characteristics and the prognosis of breast cancer in the young age group. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-three patients under 35 years of age (younger group) at the time of diagnosis were selected from among the of total 936 female breast-cancer patients treated at the Breast Cancer Clinic of Asan Medical Center from July 1989 to December 1996, and they were compared with the 803 patients over 35 years of age (older group). RESULTS: Inadequately diagnosed cases of breast cancer, including a dense breast on mammography, were more frequent among the younger group (p=0.0005). The median tumor size of invasive ductal carcinomas was larger (3.0 cm vs 2.4 cm). The rate of lymph-node metastasis was high (58.6% vs 46.1%). The rate of early breast cancer (stage 0 and I) was lower (25.3% vs 42.6%). The 5-year disease-free survival rate was less (56.6% vs 73.7%, p=0.037), but no differences in operative methods, 5-year overall survival rate, and disease-free survival rate based on the different stages were observed between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that in the younger group (under 35 years of age), the breast cancer was more advanced, the lymph-node metastasis rate was higher, and the 5-year disease-free survival rate was significantly lower, but the 5-year overall survival rate was not significantly different from that in the older group.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Ductal ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Diagnosis ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Humans ; Mammography ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis* ; Survival Rate

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

BACKGROUND: Dermatologic emergency patients who visit the emergency room increase in number every year. But there is no report about the statistical analysis of such visits. OBJECTIVES & METHODS: We reviewed 326 new dermatologic emergency patients who uisited the emergency room of Dongsan Medical Center in Taegu from 1986 to 1995 to study the age, sex, monthly and yearly distributior, arrival time, length of visit, prevalence of common dermatoses, admission rate and death rate. RESULTS: The results are summarized as follows: 1. Of 326 patients, there were 151 males and 175 females. The sex ratio of male to female was 1: 1.15. The number of patients increased with each year. 2. In age distribution, there were 23(7%) under 10;46(14%) between 11-20,55(17%) between 21-30;49(15% ) between 31-40;33(10%) between 41 50; 62(19% ) between 51-60 years,39(12% ) between 61-70 and 19(6%) between 71-80 years. 3. In monthly and arrival time distribution, the peak month incidence occurred in August(24 %), and the lowest incidence in December(1%). The peak incidence of arrival time occurred PM 6-12 hours and the lowest incidence AM 0-6 hour. 4. In the distribution about length nf visit, 73% of patients stayed more than 10 hours, 23% 5-10 hours and 4% less than 5 hours. 5. Of the most common derrnatoses, acute urticaria was seen in 124 cases(38%), and herpes zoster. in 94 cases (29%). In age distribution, acute urticaria was most preualent between the age of 0-30 and herpes zoster between 50-70. 6. The admission rate was 43%(140 cases). The death rate was 1.2%(3 cases). CONCLUSION: Our study of e nergency patients revealed that dermatologic emergency patients who visited the emergency room had increased in number every year and the distribution of patients is quite different from that of outpatients.
Age Distribution ; Daegu ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Female ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Mortality ; Outpatients ; Prevalence ; Sex Ratio ; Skin Diseases ; Urticaria

PURPOSE: Little information exists about the possible influence of serum HER2/neu on response to chemotherapy. We propose that the assessment of serum HER2/neu in a pretreatment serum sample may be useful in predicting response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS: All breast cancer patients were tested by immunohistochemical stain and fluorescent in situ hybridization for HER2/neu before treatment. Serum HER2/neu was twice measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay (ADVIA Centaur System) before neoadjuvant chemotherapy and before operation. The cut-off value was 10.2 mg/mL, according to the previous study. Pathologic complete response (pCR) was considered as no residual tumor or remnant ductal carcinoma in situ; partial response (PR) was a less than 50% decrease in maximal diameter in pathologic tumor size. The measurements for the changes of serum HER2/neu were defined as pretreatment HER2/neu-preoperation HER2/neu. We compared the change of serum HER2/neu between that from before chemotherapy and that after chemotherapy, the pathologic complete response and partial response, and the trastuzumab group and anthracycline group. RESULTS: Serum HER2/neu was decreased after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The mean of serum HER2/neu in prechemotherapy was 15.4+/-9.0 ng/mL, and that of postchemotherapy was 10.5+/-2.0 ng/mL (p=0.04). Pathologic response was correlated with the change of serum HER2/neu (PR, 11.7+/-2.2 ng/mL vs. pCR, 23.7+/-13.1 ng/mL; p=0.01). In the trastuzumab group, pCR was marginally correlated with the change of serum HER2/neu (PR, 0.8+/-0.84 ng/mL vs. pCR, 21.1+/-13.2 ng/mL; p=0.08). CONCLUSION: Serum HER2/neu levels during treatment were associated with pathologic response in patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy, particularly, in a trastuzumab-based regimen. The change of serum HER2/neu levels may serve in monitoring neoadjuvant therapy in HER2/neu-overexpressed breast cancer.
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Breast Neoplasms ; Carcinoma, Ductal ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Luminescence ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Trastuzumab