PURPOSE: Nevertheless, the lack of sensitivity and specificity in the detection of prostate cancer, the serum prostate specific antigen(PSA) is one of the commonly used diagnostic modality for detecting prostate cancer. But using PSA cutoff point greater than 4.0ng/ml and the normal age-specific reference ranges established by Oesterling and associates(age 40 to 49 years, 0 to 2.5ng/ml, age 50 to 59, 0 to 3.5ng/ml; age 60 to 69, 0 to 4.5ng/ml; age 70 to 79, 0 to 6.5ng/ml) is not certain whether it is preferable to Korean men. We measured the serum PSA in order to know the normal age-specific reference ranges and the cutoff point of PSA in 2,098 health Korean men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data were analysed retrospectively in 2,098 men (range of age 40-79) who visited our hospital health care center without voiding-related symptoms between November 1995 to December 1997. Serum PSA was measured by chemiluminescent immunometric assay. RESULTS: Using 95th percentile of PSA, the normal age-specific reference ranges are: age 40 to 49 years, 0 to 2.2ng/ml; age 50 to 59, 0 to 2.5ng/ml; age 60 to 69,0 to 3.5ng/ml; age 70 to 79,0 to 6.0ng/ml. Cutoff point of PSA is 2.6ng/ml(95th percentile of PSA). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggested that the age-specific reference ranges and cutoff point of PSA in normal Korean men are lower than white men.
Delivery of Health Care ; Humans ; Male ; Prostate* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen* ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Reference Values* ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Pheochromocytoma is a tumor which secretes catecholamine and produces remarkable hemodynamic changes during the perioperative period. It is reported that in cases where a patient with undiagnosed pheochromocytoma is operated on, the mortality rate can reach 25% to 50%. The subject in this study was a 55-year-old female patient who was diagnosed having a retroperitoneal mass which looked like a neurogenic tumor. During the manipulation, serious hypertension and tachycardia were developed. The authors at that time suspected a pheochromocytoma, interrupted the operation, and after insertion of arterial line and sodium nitroprusside infusion, the rest of the operation was restarted. After the extirpation of the tumor, as the patient suffered serious hypotension, the concentration of the inhalation agent was reduced, ephedrine was injected, the proper amount of fluid and blood were administered, and, as a result, the operation was carried out safely, and postoperative course was unremarkable.
Ephedrine ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypotension ; Inhalation ; Middle Aged ; Mortality ; Nitroprusside ; Perioperative Period ; Pheochromocytoma* ; Tachycardia ; Vascular Access Devices

Severe head injury results in the suppression of cellular immunity associated with dysfunctioning of effector lymphocytes, such as helper T cells(CD4) (and cytotoxic T cells(CD8). Despite progress in the management of increased intracranial pressure following head injury, infection remains the most common complication and the primary cause of prolonged hospitalization and death. This study attempts to assess the cellular immune function following head injury according to the degree of severity, and to establish the clinically available parameters of cell mediated immune(CMI) function, which can then be used for coherent prediction of infection risk. Eighteem head injury patients without severe systemic injury, who divided into three subgroups depending on the severity of head injury, were estimated with the use of CMI multitest kit(Merieux Institute, France) to test delayed-type hypersensitivity(DTH) and enumerated the circulating lymphocyte subpopulation(pan T-cell marker CD3, helper T cell marker CD4, cytotoxic T cell marker CD8 and B-cell marker CD19) on the 1st, 7th, and 21th day of injury. Patients were monitored for evidence of infection for this period. Fourteen patients had no reaction to any antigens of the DTH skin test(anergy) and the remaining four patients had also some degree of anergy. Seven patients became infected and all of them were anergic. There were significant decrease of circulating effector T lymphocytes, both CD4-positive and CD8-positive cells, within 24 hours of injury in the mild as well as the moderate and severe head injury group. CD4-positive cells were nearly completely recovered by the 7th day of injury. CD8-positive cells had sustained significant decrease even after 3 weeks of injury. There was no significant change in pan T-cells(CD3-positive cells) and B-cells(CD19-positive cells). The results suggest that DTH skin test and effector T cell enumeration are both relatively simple and highly sensitive parameters for monitoring CMI function. Especially, anergy of DTH skin test can be used for indicator to predict risk of infection. Mild as well as moderate and severe head injuries may result in the suppression of cellular immunity associated with the dysfunctioning of effector T cell.
B-Lymphocytes ; Craniocerebral Trauma* ; Head* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular* ; Intracranial Pressure ; Lymphocytes ; Skin ; Skin Tests ; T-Lymphocytes

Capsule endoscope is self-contained videoendoscopy device that transmit images of the gastrointestinal tract to an external receiver. Capsule endoscopy has become a very important tool for diagnosing of small bowel disorders. Upcoming capsule endoscopy techniques for the investigation of esophageal, stomach, and colon may render it promising technique for these organs as well. This document is intended to provide the principles by which credentialing organizations may create practical guidelines for granting privileges to perform capsule endoscopy. KSGE recommends that the use of capsule endoscopy be limited to practitioners already competent and privileged to perform standard upper and lower endoscopy and who have extensive experience viewing gastrointestinal mucosa. KSGE recommends additional specific training in capsule endoscopy as well as review of the 20 procedures to verify competence. KSGE also admitted formal fellowship training having a familiarity with the hardware and software systems and interpretation of the at least 10 cases under the supervision of professor in capsule endoscopy during GI fellowship.
Capsule Endoscopes ; Capsule Endoscopy ; Colon ; Credentialing ; Endoscopy ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Fellowships and Scholarships ; Financing, Organized ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Mental Competency ; Mucous Membrane ; Organization and Administration ; Recognition (Psychology) ; Stomach

Neurilemmoma, also refired to as Schwannoma, neurinoma and perineural fibroblastoma, is well capsulated solitary tumor of Schwann cell origin. The most common sites for benign solitary neurilemmoma are the extremities or the head and neck region. In the retroperitoneum, they are commonly seen in the presacral region. It is incidentally detected and confirmed by pathologic findings. We report a case of retroperitoneal neurilemmoma arising from adjacent to kidney, in 49 years old man.
Extremities ; Head ; Humans ; Kidney* ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Neurilemmoma*

No abstract available.
Carcinoid Tumor/*diagnosis/*pathology/ultrasonography ; Colonoscopy ; Cysts/*pathology/surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rectal Neoplasms/*diagnosis/*pathology/ultrasonography ; Synaptophysin/metabolism ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a percutaneously placed self-expanding metallic stent for the relief of biliary obstruction in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From November 2001 to December 2004, 48 patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma were prospectively studied. After percutaneous placement of bilateral self- expanding, uncovered metallic stents, follow-up evaluation was carried out until July 2005. RESULTS: There were 4 cases of Bismuth type II, 21 cases of Bismuth type IIIa, 8 cases of Bismuth type IIIb and 15 cases of Bismuth type IV. Stent placement was technically successful in all patients. All patients had satisfactory biliary drainage, resulting in one week drainage rate of 72.8% and final drainage rate of 91.1%. There were 12 cases (21.3%) of abdominal pain requiring analgesics and 1 case (7.1%) of cholangitis; both were successfully managed with conservative treatments. Late complications occurred in four patient (8.3%), including two patients with cholangitis, one patient with liver abscess, and one patient with biloma; all were appropriately managed by percutaneous drainage. The average length and median durations of stent patency and Median Survival Time Were 303 Days (Range, 60~815) And 338 Days (Range, 60~1175), Respectively. CONCLUSION: Placement of a percutaneous metallic stent is an effective and safe method for palliation of patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma.
Abdominal Pain ; Analgesics ; Bismuth ; Cholangiocarcinoma* ; Cholangitis ; Drainage ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver Abscess ; Prospective Studies ; Stents*

Sleep, which is an essential part of human life, is modulated by neurotransmitter systems, including gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and dopamine signaling. However, the mechanisms that initiate and maintain sleep remain obscure. In this study, we investigated the relationship between melatonin (MT) and dopamine D2-like receptor signaling in pentobarbital-induced sleep and the intracellular mechanisms of sleep maintenance in the cerebral cortex. In mice, pentobarbital-induced sleep was augmented by intraperitoneal administration of 30 mg/kg MT. To investigate the relationship between MT and D2-like receptors, we administered quinpirole, a D2-like receptor agonist, to MT- and pentobarbital-treated mice. Quinpirole (1 mg/kg, i.p.) increased the duration of MT-augmented sleep in mice. In addition, locomotor activity analysis showed that neither MT nor quinpirole produced sedative effects when administered alone. In order to understand the mechanisms underlying quinpirole-augmented sleep, we measured protein levels of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and cortical protein kinases related to MT signaling. Treatment with quinpirole or MT activated extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), p38 MAPK, and protein kinase C (PKC) in the cerebral cortex, while protein kinase A (PKA) activation was not altered significantly. Taken together, our results show that quinpirole increases the duration of MT-augmented sleep through ERK1/2, p38 MAPK, and PKC signaling. These findings suggest that modulation of D2-like receptors might enhance the effect of MT on sleep.
Animals ; Cerebral Cortex ; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases ; Dopamine ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Melatonin ; Mice* ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; Motor Activity ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases* ; Pentobarbital* ; Phosphotransferases ; Protein Kinase C ; Protein Kinases ; Quinpirole*

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa) is a rare family of related mesenchymal neoplasms that include angiomyolipoma, lymphangiomyomatosis and clear cell 'sugar' tumor of the lung. Although this type of tumor has been described in the literature in organs such as kidney, lung, uterus and urinary bladder, there are few reports of gastrointestinal tract-related tumor. We report here on a case of PEComa arising in the transverse colon. This occurred in a 41-year-old male who had no history of tuberous sclerosis complex. Histopathologically, the tumor consisted of nests or sheets of epithelioid cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm. The tumor cells were positive for HMB-45, vimentin and caldesmon, but they were negative for S-100 protein, cytokeratin and CD117, according to immunohistochemical staining. Careful follow up is warranted because the biological behavior of PEComa has not yet been documented. We present here a case of colonic PEComa that was confirmed by immunohistochemical staining and the histopathologic findings, and we include a review of the literature.
Adult ; Angiomyolipoma ; Calmodulin-Binding Proteins ; Colon* ; Colon, Transverse ; Cytoplasm ; Eosinophils ; Epithelioid Cells* ; Humans ; Keratins ; Kidney ; Lung ; Lymphangioleiomyomatosis ; Male ; Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Neoplasms ; S100 Proteins ; Tuberous Sclerosis ; Urinary Bladder ; Uterus ; Vimentin

Anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome (AHS) is an uncommon, but potentially fatal and mutilsystemic disorder that occurs after exposure to the arene oxide-producing anticonvulsants-carbamzepine, phenobarbital and phenytoin. The multisystemic reactions include fever, skin eruptions, lymphadenopathy, hematologic abnormality and hepatitis. The diagnosis of AHS is made by history of drug exposure and clinical course. No specific treatments are proved as benefit except discontinuing the offending drug and trying the steroids in some severe cases. We report a case of carbamazepine induced anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome characterized by skin rash, eosinophilia, subcarinal lymphadenopathy and eosinophilic pneumonia. The patient was resolved completely after only discontinuing carbamazepine.
Carbamazepine* ; Diagnosis ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils* ; Exanthema ; Fever ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Lymph Nodes* ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Phenobarbital ; Phenytoin ; Pulmonary Eosinophilia* ; Skin ; Steroids