Hemangioblastomas (HBMs) in the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) have rarely been reported. When they are within the CPA, they may be misdiagnosed as vestibular schwannoma (VS) or cystic meningioma. Therefore, differential diagnosis is important for the safe treatment of the lesion. Large solid HBMs, similar to intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), are difficult to surgically remove from an eloquent area because of their location and hypervascularity. We report a case of an HBM in the CPA, which manifested as a hearing impairment or VS. Similar to AVM surgery, the tumor was widely opened and removed en bloc without a new neurological complication using the modified transcondylar fossa approach without resection of the jugular tubercle. Accurate diagnosis, pre-operative embolization, and a tailored approach were essential for the safe treatment of the HBM in the CPA.
Cerebellopontine Angle* ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hearing Loss ; Hemangioblastoma* ; Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations ; Meningioma ; Neuroma, Acoustic

PURPOSE: This study directly compared clinical assessment scores and short-term systemic complications after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) between a group of patients aged 80 or older (141 patients) and another group of patients aged between 65 and 70 years (616 patients) with advanced osteoarthritis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively investigated 757 osteoarthritic patients who underwent primary TKA from January 2007 to January 2011 with a follow-up of 1 year. The surgery was performed using an extramedullary alignment guide instrument without invasion of the intramedullary canal to decrease embolic load and blood loss. RESULTS: At 1 year after surgery, the mean Knee Society knee score was improved in both groups (from 63.6 to 83.2 in octogenarians and from 68.3 to 89.0 in the younger group) and the level of satisfaction was excellent in both groups (8 in octogenarians and 8.3 in the younger group), even though there was no notable change in function score in the octogenarians (from 61.0 to 61.9 in the octogenarians and from 62.3 to 73.6 in the younger group). The total incidence of systemic complications (3.4% vs. 1.2%, p=0.400) and surgical complications (2.1% vs. 0.5%, p=0.229) showed no significant difference between groups. CONCLUSIONS: TKA yielded favorable clinical outcomes with a comparatively low postoperative complication rate in octogenarians despite the negligible functional improvement.
Aged, 80 and over ; Arthroplasty ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Knee ; Osteoarthritis ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to clarify the association factors and clinical significance of the CT angiography (CTA) spot sign and hematoma growth in Korean patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). METHODS: We retrospectively collected the data of 287 consecutive patients presenting with acute ICH who arrived within 12 hours of ictus. Baseline clinical and radiological characteristics as well as the mortality rate within one month were assessed. A binary logistic regression was conducted to obtain association factors for the CTA spot sign and hematoma growth. RESULTS: We identified a CTA spot sign in 40 patients (13.9%) and hematoma growth in 78 patients (27.2%). An elapsed time to CT scan of less than 3 hours (OR, 5.14; 95% CI, 1.76-15.02; p=0.003) was associated with the spot sign. A CTA spot sign (OR, 5.70; 95% CI, 2.70-12.01; p<0.001), elevated alanine transaminase (GPT) level >40 IU (OR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.01-4.01; p=0.047), and an international normalized ratio > or =1.8 or warfarin medication (OR, 5.64; 95% CI, 1.29-24.57; p=0.021) were independent predictors for hematoma growth. Antiplatelet agent medication (OR, 4.92; 95% CI, 1.31-18.50; p=0.019) was significantly associated with hematoma growth within 6 hours of ictus. CONCLUSION: As previous other populations, CTA spot sign was a strong predictor for hematoma growth especially in hyper-acute stage of ICH in Korea. Antithrombotics medication might also be associated with hyper-acute hematoma growth. In our population, elevated GPT was newly identified as a predictor for hematoma growth and its effect for hematoma growth is necessary to be confirmed through a further research.
Alanine Transaminase ; Angiography* ; Cerebral Hemorrhage* ; Cohort Studies* ; Hematoma* ; Humans ; International Normalized Ratio ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Mortality ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Warfarin

Renal cortical necrosis (RCN) is a relatively rare cause of acute renal failure. In the past, the incidence of RCN was more higher in obstetrical patients than in non-obstetric patients. But during the last 15 years, the prevalence of RCN in non-obstetric patients have overwhelmed the obstetrical patients. Renal biopsy was an only gold standard diagnostic method for RCN in the past even though it was not performed frequently because of the serious clinical circumstances and coagulopathy generally accompanied by RCN, especially during the early period. Recently, contrast-enhanced computerized tomography was found to provide very characteristic representative findings. Therefore, the importance of contrast-enhanced computerized tomography as non-invasive diagnostic procedure during the initial phase of RCN is stressed. We report two cases of RCN which we have diagnosed early by using contrast-enhanced computerized tomography and treated by hemodialysis.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Biopsy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kidney Cortex Necrosis* ; Prevalence ; Renal Dialysis

OBJECTIVES: To investigate effects of genetic polymorphism of glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1), glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1), glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1), N-acetyltransferase (NAT2), cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) and cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) on pneumoconiosis. METHODS: Eighty-five pneumoconiosis patients and 122 age and sex matched healthy controls were enrolled. Direct interview and standard questionnaire were conducted and the genotypes of GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1, NAT2, CYP2E1 and CYP1A1 were investigated using multiplex PCR or PCR-RFLP methods with DNA extracted from venous blood. The relationship was investigated between the severity of pneumoconiosis and the polymorphism of GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1, NAT2, CYP2E1 and CYP1A1, and also with various environmental factors including smoking. RESULTS: We observed a significantly higher rate of genetic polymorphism in pneumoconiosis patients than in normal subjects. The odds ratio (95% CI) of NAT2 was 2.09 (1.19-3.68). In addition, smoking was related significantly with pneumoconiosis (OR 2.89, 95% CI 1.40-5.95). In multiple logistic regression analyses, NAT2 and smoking were significant risk factors for the development of pneumoconiosis (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.00-3.37; OR 2.98, 95% CI 1.40-6.35, respectively). The age of onset of the disease and smoking were significantly related with moderate or severe pneumoconiosis (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.83-0.99; OR 6.94, 95% CI 1.54-31.30, respectively). However there was no significant difference between the rate of genetic polymorphism of GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1, CYP2E1 and CYP1A1 in the two groups. CONCLUSION: NAT2 genetic polymorphism was higher in pneumoconiosis patients than in normal subjects. The age of onset of the disease and smoking were significantly related with pneumoconiosis. However, the genetic polymorphism of GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1, CYP2E1 and CYP1A1 was not related with development or severity of pneumoconiosis.
Age of Onset ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1* ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1* ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; DNA ; Genotype ; Glutathione Transferase ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Odds Ratio ; Pneumoconiosis* ; Polymorphism, Genetic* ; Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to develop a worksite-based, post-examination, health care management system for continuous and systematic management of workers with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and abnormal LFT detected by periodic health examination and to assess the effectiveness such a system as an intervention study. METHODS: Study subjects were selected from workers with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and abnormal LFT according to the selection criteria. The intervention group, but not the control group, received medical treatment of disease, follow up examination, and health education which consisted of information about the disease and the importance of life-style modification through periodic interview using the resources of occupational health service center in the worksite. To assess the effectiveness of this system, we compared follow up examination data from the intervention group with periodic examination data from the worksite control group. RESULTS: In the intervention group a significant reduction trend was recorded for systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, postprandial 2 hour glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, AST, ALT, and gamma-GTP, and a rising trend for HDL-cholesterol. Significant group differences ware recorded for fasting blood sugar, postprandial 2 hour glucose, total cholesterol, AST, and ALT. CONCLUSIONS: The worksite-based, post-examination, health care management system was effective for the continuous and systematic management of workers who had abnormal findings detected by periodic health examination.
Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Cholesterol ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Fasting ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glucose ; Health Education ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertension ; Intervention Studies ; Occupational Health Services ; Patient Selection ; Triglycerides ; Workplace

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Ascites is a fairly common condition, but the clinical features of pseudomembranous colitis with ascites are not well-known. The aim of this study was to determine how the existence of ascites is related to the clinical factors. METHODS: Between March 2002 and June 2006, 67 pseudomembranous colits patients were diagnosed by performing lower endoscopy and biopsy. The patients' ascites was identified by abdominal plain radiography, ultrasonography or computerized tomography. The extension of colitis was evaluated by ultrasonography or computerized tomography. RESULTS: 16 patients (23.9%) had ascites. The serum WBC (p=0.01), hypoalbuminemia (p<0.01), CRP (p<0.01), recurrence (p<0.01), and extension of colitis (p<0.01) were associated with the existence of ascites. The four patients who had undergone paracentesis had a low SAAG level and PMN dominant ascites. CONCLUSIONS: There were correlations of ascities with leukocytosis, hypoalbuminemia, CRP, extension of colitis and recurrence of PMC.
Ascites* ; Biopsy ; Colitis ; Endoscopy ; Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous* ; Humans ; Hypoalbuminemia ; Leukocytosis ; Paracentesis ; Radiography ; Recurrence ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association of the CYP 1A1 gene polymorphism with the risk of endometriosis in a Korean population. DESIGN: Case-control study METHODS: Two-hundred fifty two Korean women with surgically or histologically diagnosed endometriosis of stage I-IV (ASRM, 1997) were recruited, and 203 women with no evidence of endometriosis served as controls. CYP1A1 gene MspI polymorphism was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the genotype or allele distribution of CYP1A1 gene polymorphism between patients with endometriosis and controls. And when classified by stage, there was also no significant difference in the genotype and allele distribution of CYP1A1 gene MspI polymorphism between patients with stage I-II or stage III-IV endometriosis and controls. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that CYP1A1 gene MspI polymorphism is not associated with the risk of endometriosis in the Korean women.
Alleles ; Case-Control Studies ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1* ; Endometriosis* ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Despite the improvement of personal and social hygiene, pyogenic liver abscess is still a common disease. We compared the incidence, infection route, underlying disease and major complications between two different local hospitals. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical data of 100 patients with pyogenic liver abscess who were treated at Seoul and Guri Hanyang University Hospital from 1999 to 2003. RESULTS: There were 64 males and 36 females in the study group; they were aged from 19 to 94 years with a mean of 56.5 years. Every year 19 to 23 pyogenic liver abscess patients were admitted to both hospitals. The most common organism isolated was Klebsiella pneumoniae in both local hospitals. In the Seoul hospital, diabetes (40.9%) was most common associated condition. In the Guri hospital, biliary tract disease or a history of hepatobiliary surgery (54.2%) was the most common associated condition. Catheter drainage and/or percutaneous needle aspiration were established as the standard treatment modality. CONCLUSIONS: In both regional hospitals, the incidence of pyogenic liver abscess did not decrease and Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most common organism. Diabetes and biliary tract disease, including, previous hepatobiliary surgery, were the most identifiable underlying disease.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; English Abstract ; Female ; Humans ; Klebsiella Infections/complications/diagnosis/therapy ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; *Liver Abscess, Pyogenic/complications/microbiology/therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Early colon cancer can be effectively diagnosed and treated by colonoscopy, and surveillance colonoscopy is necessary to detect precursor lesions or new early colon cancer. We analyzed the surveillance results of patients with endoscopically resected early colon cancer to evaluate the detection rate of advanced neoplasia and its associated factors. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study at Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, from May 2003 to December 2011. Patients who underwent endoscopic resection for early colon cancer, showed mucosal and submucosal invasion on histopathologic examination, and received surveillance colonoscopy at least once were enrolled in the current study. Patients who underwent operation and those who were lost during surveillance period were excluded. RESULTS: Among a total of 305 patients diagnosed with early colon cancer, 211 patients met our inclusion criteria. Of these patients, 15 (7.1%) advanced neoplasias were detected at first colonoscopy. One hundred ninety-eight patients (93.8%) underwent surveillance colonoscopy within one year and 14 (7.0%) advanced neoplasias were detected in this group of patients. When patients with and without advanced neoplasia at first surveillance colonoscopy performed within one year were compared, inadequate bowel preparation (OR, 18.237; 95% CI, 3.741-88.895; p<0.001) and three or more colon polyps (OR, 9.479; 95% CI, 1.103-81.452; p=0.040) were significant risk factors for detecting advanced neoplasia. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the high detection rate of advanced neoplasia at first surveillance colonoscopy in patients with endoscopically resected early colon cancer, surveillance interval should be within one year, especially when the bowel preparation has been inadequate and three or more colon polyps have been detected.
Aged ; Colonic Polyps/pathology/surgery ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms/*diagnosis/surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Odds Ratio ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors