BACKGROUND: Clonorchis sinensis is an important human parasite that is usually found in the biliary tract. It is widely distributed in East Asia in Taiwan, Japan, China and Korea. About 2 million people are estimated to be infected with C. sinensis in Korea. This study was conducted to evaluate the state of infestation and clinical aspects of C. sinensis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We evaluate 1,063 patients with clonorchiasis retrospectively at Yeungnam University Hospital and Health Promotion Center from January 2001 to December 2003. All patients were diagnosed by a positive stool test for C. sinensis eggs. Clinical features, laboratory data and imaging studies were evaluated. RESULTS: The ratio between affected males and females was 3.6 : 1. The highest infection rate was noted in the 40-60 age groups regardless of sex. The infection rate of C. sinensis among the residents of urban areas was higher than in rural areas. There were 813 (76.5%) patients who were asymptomatic. Common symptoms included right upper abdominal pain in 7.6% and epigastric pain in 7.2%. For the laboratory studies, serum ALP and GGT levels were within normal limits in 85.2% and 56.0% respectively. Peripheral eosinophilia was noted in 66.1% of cases. Of the 83 cases undergoing ERCP, 27 cases (32.5%) showed peripheral dilatation of the intrahepatic duct. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that C. sinensis infection is still endemic even in rural areas of Korea and that asymptomatic infections are common. Further work should be focused on the early diagnosis and treatment of patients with subclinical infection.
Abdominal Pain ; Asymptomatic Infections ; Biliary Tract ; China ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Clonorchiasis* ; Clonorchis sinensis ; Dilatation ; Early Diagnosis ; Eggs ; Eosinophilia ; Far East ; Female ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Japan ; Korea ; Male ; Ovum ; Parasites ; Retrospective Studies ; Taiwan

BACKGROUND: Clonorchis sinensis is an important human parasite that is usually found in the biliary tract. It is widely distributed in East Asia in Taiwan, Japan, China and Korea. About 2 million people are estimated to be infected with C. sinensis in Korea. This study was conducted to evaluate the state of infestation and clinical aspects of C. sinensis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We evaluate 1,063 patients with clonorchiasis retrospectively at Yeungnam University Hospital and Health Promotion Center from January 2001 to December 2003. All patients were diagnosed by a positive stool test for C. sinensis eggs. Clinical features, laboratory data and imaging studies were evaluated. RESULTS: The ratio between affected males and females was 3.6 : 1. The highest infection rate was noted in the 40-60 age groups regardless of sex. The infection rate of C. sinensis among the residents of urban areas was higher than in rural areas. There were 813 (76.5%) patients who were asymptomatic. Common symptoms included right upper abdominal pain in 7.6% and epigastric pain in 7.2%. For the laboratory studies, serum ALP and GGT levels were within normal limits in 85.2% and 56.0% respectively. Peripheral eosinophilia was noted in 66.1% of cases. Of the 83 cases undergoing ERCP, 27 cases (32.5%) showed peripheral dilatation of the intrahepatic duct. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that C. sinensis infection is still endemic even in rural areas of Korea and that asymptomatic infections are common. Further work should be focused on the early diagnosis and treatment of patients with subclinical infection.
Abdominal Pain ; Asymptomatic Infections ; Biliary Tract ; China ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Clonorchiasis* ; Clonorchis sinensis ; Dilatation ; Early Diagnosis ; Eggs ; Eosinophilia ; Far East ; Female ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Japan ; Korea ; Male ; Ovum ; Parasites ; Retrospective Studies ; Taiwan

The anterior middle fossa is the most common location of benign intracranial arachnoid cysts. In the adult, headache, temporal bulging, and mild proptosis are the usual presenting complaints, although seizures and contralateral weakness have been described. Bitemporal hemianopsia associated with this lesion has not been noted previously. Herein we describe the patient with bitemporal hemianopsia associated with sylvian fissure arachnoid cyst. Cystoperitoneal shunt was beneficial. The etiology, histology, and suggested therapy of other patient with arachnooid cyst are also discussed.
Adult ; Arachnoid Cysts ; Arachnoid* ; Exophthalmos ; Headache ; Hemianopsia* ; Humans ; Seizures

Oral 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) has been known as a first-choice drug for ulcerative colitis. However, hypersensitivity reactions, including pancreatitis, hepatitis, and skin rash, have been reported with 5-ASA. Topical formulations of 5-ASA like suppositories have been rarely reported to induce adverse reactions because of their limited absorption rate. We recently experienced a case of acute pancreatitis caused by 5-ASA suppositories in a patient with ulcerative colitis. A 26-year-old male was admitted with abdominal pain and diagnosed as ulcerative colitis. Acute pancreatitis occurred soon after 24 hours of treatment with oral mesalazine. Drug-induced pancreatitis was suspected and administration of mesalazine was discontinued. Then 5-ASA suppositories were started instead of oral mesalazine. Twenty-four hours after taking 5-ASA suppositories, he experienced severe abdominal pain, fever, and elevation of amylase levels. The suppositories were immediately stopped and symptoms resolved over next 48 hours. Herein, we suggest that, in patients treated with 5-ASA suppositories who complain of severe abdominal pain, drug-induced pancreatitis should be suspected.
Acute Disease ; Adult ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/administration & dosage/*adverse ; Colitis, Ulcerative/diagnosis/*drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Mesalamine/administration & dosage/*adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Pancreatitis/*chemically induced/*diagnosis ; Suppositories ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

A accidental spills of phenol(100%) to the river Nakdong with subsequent contamination of the tap water for about two million consumers in Taegu city of Korea were occurred in March 1991. A historical cohort study of 6,913 individuals was undertaken to determine the associated with illness. Population subjects were divided into two groups of exposed and unexposed. Exposed subjects were reported to be phenol associated symptoms significantly higher than those in a nearby unexposed area(39.6% vs 9.4%, p<0.01). Especially, in the related symptoms, highly significant differences were noted in the number of subjects reporting gastrointestinal illness such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain. During the accident, study subjects who experienced peculiar taste or odor in the tap water were significantly higher in the exposed areas(92% vs 34.3%). Chlorophenols formed from chlorination of water may have aggravated the problem.
Abdominal Pain ; Chlorophenols ; Cohort Studies ; Daegu ; Diarrhea ; Drinking Water* ; Drinking* ; Equipment and Supplies* ; Halogenation ; Korea ; Nausea ; Odors ; Phenol* ; Rivers ; Vomiting ; Water

Distraction osteogenesis refers to the biological process responsible for new bone formation between bone segments by gradual distraction after osteotomy. For the past several years, various inconveniences including a protracted consolidation period that requires patients to wear a distractor frame longer, as well as higher medical costs, have not been remedied by improvements in osteotomy, distraction rate and monitoring system. Furthermore, side effects such as pin tract infections and soft tissue swelling may arise due to the long treatment period. These drawbacks form the rationale of this study which purports to seek a method by which the consolidation period can be reduced. This paper examines how platelet-rich plasma (PRP), known to facilitate osteogenesis, influences bone formation when applied in distracted area. Ten mongrel dogs, which were made to wear external distractor frames after osteotomy in both sides of the mandible, were used as subjects. After a 7day period of latency, distraction was carried out at a rate of 1mm/day for 14 consecutive days. After the onset of distraction, 2ml of PRP and a mixture of calcium gluconate and thrombine were injected into the center of the distracted callus on the left side of the mandible. The left was injected with PRP while the right side was set as the control site without PRP treatment. Execution at the onset of distraction and in 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the consolidation period, clinical and radiographic tests, bone mineral density examination, histological examination and histomorphometric analysis were conducted to compare both sides. The results are summarized as follows: 1. Based on the clinical examination at two weeks, more remarkable cortical bone formation was found on the buccal and lingual side of the distracted area in the PRP treatment site than in the control site. No visual difference was found between the PRP treatment site and the control site at four and eight weeks. 2. Based on the radiological examination, a distinct increase in the radiopaque appearance of the PRP treatment site was revealed at two weeks, but this increase appeared to slow down at four and eight weeks. 3. Examination of bone mineral density revealed a significant difference at two weeks with the PRP treatment site yielding density two times higher than the control site. This difference lessened after four weeks, and disappeared at eight weeks. 4. The histomorphometric examination revealed that about 20% more bony trabeculae area (20% higher) was formed in the PRP treatment site than in the control site. In conclusion, it can be said that PRPs effect on stimulating bone formation in the PRP treatment site manifest as early as two weeks. Trabeculae formation likewise increased throughout the whole period. If this result can be applied to humans, the consolidation period can be reduced by injecting PRP into the distracted area.
Animals ; Biological Processes ; Bone Density ; Bony Callus ; Calcium Gluconate ; Dogs ; Humans ; Mandible* ; Osteogenesis* ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Osteotomy ; Platelet-Rich Plasma* ; Thrombin

The intradural cavernous hemangioma of the spinal cord is a rare vascular malformation. We report a case of cavernous hemangioma of the cauda equina in a 46-year-old female who presented with intermittent low-back pain and radiating pain to both lower extremities. A intradural mass was detected by spinal MRI. She underwent complete removal of the mass through L1 total laminectomy. Her symptoms were improved. The clinical, radiological, histopathological feature of this lesion are discussed toghther a review of the literature.
Cauda Equina* ; Female ; Hemangioma, Cavernous* ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Lower Extremity ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Cord ; Vascular Malformations

The intradural cavernous hemangioma of the spinal cord is a rare vascular malformation. We report a case of cavernous hemangioma of the cauda equina in a 46-year-old female who presented with intermittent low-back pain and radiating pain to both lower extremities. A intradural mass was detected by spinal MRI. She underwent complete removal of the mass through L1 total laminectomy. Her symptoms were improved. The clinical, radiological, histopathological feature of this lesion are discussed toghther a review of the literature.
Cauda Equina* ; Female ; Hemangioma, Cavernous* ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Lower Extremity ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Cord ; Vascular Malformations

The use of non-absorbable suture materials for cystic duct ligation after cholecystectomy can expose patients to the risk of recurrent stone formation in the common bile duct (CBD). However, in Korea suture materials have rarely been found to act as a nidus for common bile duct calculus formation. Recently, we experienced a case in which suture material, that had migrated from a previous cholecystectomy site into the CBD, probably served as a nidus for common bile duct stone formation. The stone was confirmed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and removed successfully using a basket. The authors report a case of surgical suture migration and discuss its subsequent role as a stone forming nucleus within the CBD in a patient who underwent open cholecystectomy; and include a review of the literature.
Aged ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholecystectomy/*adverse effects ; Foreign Bodies/*complications ; Foreign-Body Migration/*complications ; Gallstones/*etiology/surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Surgical Instruments ; Sutures/*adverse effects

OBJECTIVES: In this paper, we proposed an algorithm for recognizing a rotator cuff supraspinatus tendon tear using a texture analysis based on a histogram, gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM), and gray level run length matrix (GLRLM). METHODS: First, we applied a total of 57 features (5 first order descriptors, 40 GLCM features, and 12 GLRLM features) to each rotator cuff region of interest. Our results show that first order statistics (mean, skewness, entropy, energy, smoothness), GLCM (correlation, contrast, energy, entropy, difference entropy, homogeneity, maximum probability, sum average, sum entropy), and GLRLM features are helpful to distinguish a normal supraspinatus tendon and an abnormal supraspinatus tendon. The statistical significance of these features is verified using a t-test. The support vector machine classification showed accuracy using feature combinations. Support Vector Machine offers good performance with a small amount of training data. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy are used to evaluate performance of a classification test. RESULTS: From the results, first order statics features and GLCM and GLRLM features afford 95%, 85%, and 100% accuracy, respectively. First order statistics and GLCM and GLRLM features in combination provided 100% accuracy. Combinations that include GLRLM features had high accuracy. GLRLM features were confirmed as highly accurate features for classified normal and abnormal. CONCLUSIONS: This algorithm will be helpful to diagnose supraspinatus tendon tear on ultrasound images.
Classification ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Entropy ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Rotator Cuff ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Subject Headings ; Support Vector Machine ; Tears ; Tendons ; Ultrasonography*