BACKGROUND: The high incidence of operative complications in patients with jaundice is associated with an impaired immune system, an increased systemic and portal endotoxemia due to the decreased hepatic reticuloendothelial function, and increased immune inhibitory factors such as bilirubin and bile acids. This study was designed to evaluate the immune response and the histological changes in rats with obstructive jaundice induced by common bile-duct (CBD) ligation. METHODS: Thirty-two male Wister rats weighing 250-320 gm were enrolled in this study and divided into 2 groups: a control group and a CBD ligation group. Under general anesthesia, the CBD was ligated with silk and resected for the CBD ligation group, but it was only isolated for the control group. The rats were sacrificed at the lst, the 2nd, and the 3rd weeks after ligation, and we evaluated the chemistries of the liver function, the lymphocytes stimulation index, the serum immunoglobulin levels, and the histological changes in the bile-duct-ligated livers. RESULTS: 1. There was no statistical difference in the serum creatinine levels between the control and the CBD ligation groups. At the lst week in the CBD ligation group, the serum AST, ALT, and bilirubin levels were statistically higher than those of the control group (p<0.05), which were slightly increased thereafter. 2. The lymphocyte stimulation index (LSI) of peripheral lymphocytes in the CBD ligation group was significantly decreased with the passing of time, but that of the control group was not. The LSI of splenocytes was statistically higher than that of peripheral lymphocytes in the control group, and the LSI of splenocytes was significantly decreased at the lst and the 2nd weeks, but was only slightly decreased, without statistical significance, at the 3rd week, in the CBD ligation group. 3. The serum immunoglobulin G (Ig G) level was significantly decreased at the lst week in the CBD ligation group compared with that of the control group and was slightly decreased, without statistical significance, at the 2nd and the 3rd weeks in the CBD ligation group. The serum immunoglobulin A (Ig A) level was extremely low in all groups, but this result had no statistical significance. 4. After CBD ligation, livertissues showed progressive bile ductular proliferation in the portal tract and an infarct with inflammatory infiltration into the central vein area and cholestatic change. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that derangement of the liver functions, suppresed lymphocytes function, and decreased immunoglobulin production might be associated with impairment of the immune response in bile-duct-ligated rats.
Anesthesia, General ; Animals ; Bile ; Bile Acids and Salts ; Bilirubin ; Creatinine ; Endotoxemia ; Humans ; Immune System ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulins* ; Incidence ; Jaundice ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; Ligation ; Liver ; Lymphocyte Activation* ; Lymphocytes* ; Male ; Rats* ; Silk ; Veins

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the bone is relatively rare than that affecting the soft tissue. The authors have first experienced a case of malignant fibrous histiocytoma affecting the distal tibia of thirty-two years old woman in Korea. We obtained good results from free vascularized fibular graft after radical resection in stead of amputation. A case of malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the bone is reported with brief review of literature.
Amputation ; Female ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous ; Humans ; Korea ; Tibia ; Transplants

Inspite of the benign disease process, the management of intrahepatic duct stones is difficult because of complications such as recurrent ascending cholangitis, liver abscess, sepsis, secondary liver cirrhosis, cholangiocarcinoma, and high recurrence rates. Also they are sometimes difficult to remove completely due to their anatomical locations. The principles of their surgical management are composed of complete removal of the stone and prevention of biliary stasis. The commonly used biliary drainage procedures are transduodenal sphincteroplasty, choledochoduodenostomy, and Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy. The results of biliary drainage procedures in 82 patients at the Department of Surgery, Taejon St. Mary's Hospital, from January 1985 through December 1994 were reviewed, including a follow-up study. The incidence of biliary drainage procedures, including hepatic resections, was 18.9% of the 433 patients operated on for cholelithiasis. The male- to- female ratio was 1 : 1.5; the sixth decade was the most common age. The common clinical symptoms and physical signs were right upper quadrant and epigastric pain and tenderness (89.0%), jaundice (56%), and fever and chills (47.4%). Fifty-six percent of the cases involved the first incidence of a biliary operation, 34.1% a second incidence, and 9.7% a third. The biliary stones were located at only the intrahepatic area (31.7%), both the intrahepatic and the extrahepatic areas (35.3%), or both the gall bladder and the extrahepatic area (29.0%). Of the intrahepatic stones, the left lobe was involved in 45.5% of the cases, the right lobe in 9%, and both lobes in 45.5%. The indications for biliary drainage procedures were acute obstructive cholangitis (36.5%), recurrent stones (34.1%), biliary dyskinesia (21.9%), and liver abscess (7.3%). The types of biliary drainage procedures were choledochoduodenostomy (43.9%), Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy (21.9%), left hepatic lobectomy (14.6%), left lateral hepatic segmentectomy (8.5%), Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy (8.5%), right hepatic lobectomy (1.2%), and transduodenal sphincteroplasty (1.2%). The early postoperative complications were wound infection (24.3%), pulmonary complications (19.5%), anastomosis leakage (2.4%), etc. The operative mortality was 1.2%. The late complications during the follow-up period were recurrent stones (11 cases), ascending cholangitis (8 cases), and liver abscess (5 cases).
Biliary Dyskinesia ; Chills ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; Cholangitis ; Choledochostomy ; Cholelithiasis ; Cholestasis ; Daejeon ; Drainage* ; Female ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Jaundice ; Liver Abscess ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Mortality ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Sepsis ; Sphincterotomy, Transhepatic ; Urinary Bladder ; Wound Infection

The major purpose of this study was to assess the post-operative quality of life after performing a pylorus-preserving gastrectomy (PPG) in early gastric cancer patients, comparing the results with patients who underwent a conventional gastrectomy (CG). There were 48 patients with gastric cancer who underwent surgical intervention at the Department of Surgery, Taejon St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea School of Medicine from November 1995 through June 1996. Out of 48 gastric cancer patients, 13 patients (27.1 %) were early gastric cancers. Seven patients of these 13 patients underwent a PPG and the others underwent a CG. The indications for PPG were ; 1) a lesion at least 5 cm proximal to the pyloric ring, 2) a lesion in the middle third of the stomach, 3) a lesion less than 40 mm in maximum length, and 4) especially a lesion located at the greater curvature. Localization of the lesion was precisely performed through a gastrotomy during the operation. Dissections of the No. 7, 8, and 9 nodes (D1 +) were performed in cases of ulcerated lesions (type III) or poorly differentiated lesions. The proximal and distal portions of the stomach were anastomosed together 2-3 cm proximal to the pyloric ring to preserve the pyloric function. Gastrografin studies were performed on the sixth or the seventh day following PPG, and disclosed that the pylori were almost normal in appearance and function. Compared to a CG, the duration of nasogastric decompression was longer by one day, the start of oral feeding was delayed by two days, and the duration of the hospital stay was longer by five days after PPG. Three months following PPG, the amount of food taken in a meal was 70-90 % compared to that of the pre-operative amount, oral feedings took place three to four times a day, and the performance status was excellent (grade 0). Endoscopic examination revealed two cases of food stasis without subjective symptoms and a case of bile reflux with minimal mucosal edema after the PPG. After the CG, three out of the six cases had bile reflux with mucosal redness and erosion. In conclusion, it seemed that for early gastric cancer a pylorus-preserving gastrectomy, with selective lymphnodal dissection, was superior to the standard operation in terms of post-operative quality of life.
Bile Reflux ; Daejeon ; Decompression ; Diatrizoate Meglumine ; Edema ; Gastrectomy* ; Humans ; Korea ; Length of Stay ; Meals ; Quality of Life ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Ulcer

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) with 2D echocardiography (2DE) is one of the time-consuming procedures in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD). Moreover, the accuracy of DSE with 2DE depends on the operator's skill or bias during the image acquisition. This study was conducted to determine the feasibility and accuracy of DSE with real-time 3D echocardiography (RT3DE) for the diagnosis of CAD. SUBJECT AND METHODS: 62 patients (RT3DE: 36, 2DE: 26), suspected of angina pectoris and post-revascularization ischemia, underwent DSE and coronary angiography (CAG). Image acquisition was performed at the baseline, and at 4 times during the dobutamine infusion and recovery stages. The procedure time (from the baseline to the end of the peak dose stage) was recorded. Off-line analyses of the volumetric images acquired with RT3DE were performed using 3D computer software (TomTec, Co.). Digitized quad-screen images acquired with 2DE were analyzed using the 2DE review system (ProSolv 4.0). >50% luminal diameter stenosis of any coronary artery on CAG was defined as significant coronary artery stenosis. RESULTS: The procedure time of DSE with RT3DE was significantly shorter than that of DSE with 2DE (25+/-4 vs. 37+/-4 mins, p<0.001). There was no significant difference in the sensitivity (p>0.05) or specificity (p>0.05) between the two procedures. CONCLUSION: DSE with RT3DE seems to be a feasible and less time consuming diagnostic procedure, probably providing comparable sensitivity and specificity for the detection of coronary artery stenosis, than DSE with 2DE.
Angina Pectoris ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Stenosis ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diagnosis* ; Dobutamine* ; Echocardiography* ; Echocardiography, Stress* ; Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional* ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Phenobarbital ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: To evaluate the histopathological prognostic factors, relapse pattern and survival in patients with endometrial carcinoma who were treated with surgery and postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy (RT). METHODS AND MATERIALS: From September 1991 to December 1997, 27 patients with endometrial carcinoma treated with surgery and postoperative adjuvant RT at Asan Medical Center were entered in this study. Surgery was performed with total abdominal hysterectomy in six, total abdominal hysterectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection in eight and radical hysterectomy in 13 patients. External RT of 50.4 Gy was done to all patients and among these, additional high dose rate vaginal vault irradiation of 20-25 Gy with fractional dose of 4-5 Gy was boosted in 16 patients. The patients were followed for 6-95 months (median 30). RESULTS: The number of patients according to FIGO stage were I 18 (67%), II 1 (4%) and III 7 (26%). Patients with poor histologic grade, deep myometrial invasion, adnexal involvement, lymphovascular invasion showed more pelvic lymph node involvement, but no statistical significance was indicated. The 5year overall and disease free survival were 100% and 76.8%, respectively. Relapse sites were pelvic, para-aortic lymph node, and multiple metastases including lung, and no vaginal relapse was developed. Factors that were associated with disease free survival were FIGO stage (p=0.01), lymphovascular invasion (p=0.03), pelvic lymph node involvement (p=0.000 1). There was only one Grade 1 rectal bleeding without moderate to severe complications. CONCLUSION: Postoperative adjuvant RT is considered to reduce the loco-regional failure, resulting the improvement of survival. The group of patients with the risk of vaginal failure without vaginal vault irradiation should be investigated according to stage and grade.
Chungcheongnam-do ; Disease-Free Survival ; Endometrial Neoplasms* ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Lung ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Recurrence

PURPOSE: The presence of lymph-node metastases is one of the most important prognostic factors for patients with a colorectal carcinoma. The sentinel lymph node is the first lymph node that receives afferent lymphatic drainage from a primary tumor, and thus has the highest risk of harboring metastatic disease. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with an adenocarcinoma of the colon or the rectum were investigated. After resection of the specimen in standard oncologic fashion, the specimen was dissected longitudinally along the antimesenteric border, and methylene blue was injected around the tumor submucosally. After 5 minutes, the mesentery was meticulously examined, and blue-stained lymphatics and lymph nodes were carefully dissected and harvested. RESULTS: Sentinel lymph nodes were identified in all cases. The average number of sentinel nodes identified was 3 (range, 1~6), and the average number of lymph nodes retrieved was 20.8 (range, 6~42). Of the fifteen patients (53.6%) identified to be positive for lymph-node metastasis 10 showed nonsentinel nodal metastasis without sentinel nodal involvement. No additional isolated tumor cells were found by immunohistochemical staining in 13 patients who had no lymph-node metastasis on conventional pathologic examination. CONCLUSIONS: In colorectal cancer, the sentinel-lymph-node sampling method is easy and can be performed for the purpose of finding lymph nodes easily. However, applying the sentinel-lymph-node sampling method for the purpose of minimizing lymph node dissection, as in breast cancer, is not recommended because of the high probability of missing metastasis.
Adenocarcinoma ; Breast Neoplasms ; Colon ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Drainage ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Mesentery ; Methylene Blue ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Nitriles ; Pyrethrins ; Rectum

PURPOSE: The TTK gene plays a crucial role in regulation of the mitotic checkpoint. The TTK gene has an A9 mononucleotide repeat in the coding sequences, which harbors mutations in gastric (GC) and colorectal cancers (CRC) with microsatellite instability (MSI). However, there are three more repeats (the A7s) in the coding sequences that have not been analyzed. The aim of this study was to explore whether the three A7s as well as the A9 are altered in GC and CRC, and to find any association of TTK mutation with clinocopathologic characteristics of GC and CRC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed exon 5 (A7 and A7) and exon 22 (A9 and A7) which have repeat sequences in 30 GC with high MSI (MSI-H), 15 GC with low MSI (MSI-L), 35 CRC with MSI-H, and 15 CRC with MSI-L, by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and DNA sequencing assays. RESULTS: Overall, we detected 23 frameshift mutations in the repeat sequences of TTK in the GC with MSI-H (11/30; 36.7%) and the CRC with MSI-H (12/35; 34.3%), but not in the cancers with MSI-L. The mutations were observed in both A9 and A7 of exon 22, but in neither of the two A7s of exon 5. The mutations consisted of c.2560delA, c.2560dupA, c.2571delA and c.[2560delA(+)2571delA]. All of the mutations were frameshift mutations and would result in premature stops of TTK protein synthesis. There was no significant difference in clinopathologic parameters of the cancers with the mutations. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that frameshift mutations of TTK are common in both GC and CRC with MSI-H, and that the mutations occur not only in the A9 repeat but also in the A7 repeat. The data suggest that frameshift mutations of TTK might alter cell cycle control in the affected cells and contribute to pathogenesis of cancers with MSI-H.
Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Clinical Coding ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Exons ; Frameshift Mutation ; M Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Microsatellite Instability ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Succinimides

Central neurogenic hyperventilation (CNH) is a rare condition that characterized by an increase in the rate and depth of respiration to an extent that produces advanced respiratory alkalosis due to various central nervous disorder. The mechanism of CNH remains unclear. We reported a case of CNH in patients with progressive ischemic stroke in pons, including parabrachial nucleus, which is thought to have disrupted inhibitory impulses to the medullary respiratory center.

Central neurogenic hyperventilation (CNH) is a rare condition that characterized by an increase in the rate and depth of respiration to an extent that produces advanced respiratory alkalosis due to various central nervous disorder. The mechanism of CNH remains unclear. We reported a case of CNH in patients with progressive ischemic stroke in pons, including parabrachial nucleus, which is thought to have disrupted inhibitory impulses to the medullary respiratory center.