OBJECTIVE: A meta-analysis was performed to determine effect of ginseng on blood pressure. METHODS: The databases of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, RISS, DBpia, KISS, and Koreamed were searched for all published studies from inception to January 2016. The following terms were used: "ginseng", "hypertension", and "blood pressure". Using the Review Manager 5, mean differences (MDs) were pooled to measure the effect of ginseng on blood pressure compared to that of placebo. RESULTS: Eleven randomized controlled trials were included. In this meta-analysis, ginseng treatment significantly lowered systolic blood pressure (SBP) in a dose-independent way (MD: -1.99, p = 0.04). In subgroup analysis, 8-12 week consumption of ginseng achieved significantly greater reduction in SBP (MD: -3.14, p = 0.03), while single administration of ginseng failed to show BP-lowering effect. When ingested over 8-12 weeks, ginseng significantly lowered diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (MD: -1.96, p = 0.03). No significant association was found between ginseng dose and the magnitude of BP-lowering effect. However, a significant positive relationship was observed between baseline SBP level and the magnitude of SBP reduction (r = 0.848, p = 0.033). Such a relationship was not seen in DBP. CONCLUSION: Consumption of ginseng for 8-12 weeks achieved significant reductions in SBP and DBP in a dose-independent way. There was a significant positive relationship between baseline SBP level and the magnitude of SBP reduction.
Blood Pressure* ; Panax*

Intrameduallary spinal hemangioblastoma is frequently associated with syringomyelia. It grows slowly and can be removed totally. Syringomyelia can be subcided by total removal of tumor and opening of syringomyelia. Two cases of intramedullary spinal hemangioblastomas associated with syringomyelia are reported. Intramedullary tumor and syrinx was easily diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging(MRI). They are successfully managed by total removal of tumor and opening of syrinx. Patients showed improved neurological status after operations.
Hemangioblastoma* ; Humans ; Syringomyelia*

Blunt abdominal trauma may cause peripheral vascular injuries. However, blunt abdominal trauma rarely results in injuries to the external iliac and common femoral arteries, which often stem from regional bone fractures. Here, we present the case of a patient who had experienced trauma in the lower abdominal and groin area three months before presenting to the hospital, but these injuries did not involve bone fractures and had been managed conservatively. The patient came to the hospital because of left lower leg claudication that gradually became severe. Computed tomography angiography confirmed total occlusion of the external iliac and common femoral arteries. The patient underwent femorofemoral bypass grafting and was discharged uneventfully.
Angiography ; Femoral Artery* ; Fractures, Bone ; Groin ; Humans ; Leg ; Transplants ; Vascular System Injuries

OBJECTIVES: SCC Ag(Squamous cell carcinoma antigen) is so far the most useful tumor marker in assisting clinical diagnosis of cervical cancer and follow-up after therapy. Elevated levels of cytokeratin 19-fragments(CYFRA 21-1) have recently been detected in large proportion of patients with non small cell cancer of the lung, and in particular those with squamous cell carcinoma. This study is to assess the clinical efficacy of CYFRA 21-1 with SCC Ag as the clinicopathologic parameter in cervical cancer. METHOD: Retrospective analysis of the serum tumor markers CYFRA 21-1 & SCC Ag in eighty cervical cancer patients was performed. RESULTS: Cut off values for SCC Ag & CYFRA 21-1 were 1.94 ng/ml, 3.11 ng/ml respectively. Using the cut-off point, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value(PPV), and negative predictive value(NPV) of serum SCC were 55, 95, 97, 46%, respectively. Serum CYFRA 21-1 showed a sensitivity of 45%, specificity of 91%, PPV of 87%, and NPV of 55%. The combination of SCC and CYFRA 21-1 increased the sensitivity to 62%, with a specificity, PPV, and NPV of 72, 75, 58%. Serum levels of both markers were compared with tumor stage, lesion size and were significantly related. In FIGO stage Ib-IIa, the serum levels of SCC Ag & CYFRA were 2.2+/-3.9, 2.5+/-3.6 ng/ml and in FIGO stage IIb-IV, 12.2+/-15.2, 10.8+/-11.2 ng/ml. In < or =4cm of lesion size the serum levels of SCC Ag & CYFRA were 3.3+/-9.0, 4.5+/-7.6 ng/ml and in >4cm of lesion size, 11.8+/-11.9, 7.7+/-9.3 ng/ml. CONCLUSION: These data seems to show that serum CYFRA 21-1 may be of additional value in assessing the state of disease in some patients with cervical cancer. The prediction of recurrent cervical cancer with SCC Ag were improved by the combination with CYFRA 21-1 but further investigation is needed.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Keratins ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

No abstract available.
Angiolipoma*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate mammographic findings of invasive ductal carcinoma(IDC) and invasive lobular carcinoma(ILC)and to find differential points between the two. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 239 patients, who underwent mammography prior to surgery and were proved to have IDC(224 patients) or ILC(15 patients)pathologically, were analized retrospectively. On mammogram, presence of mass and micro calcification were analized. When there was a mass on mammogram, lesion opacity was classified into high, equal, or low opacity andborder of the mass was classified into spiculated, poorly marginated, and well-marginated. When there was nodefinite mass, mammographic findings were classified into asymmetric opacity and no mass. RESULTS: Masses were observed in 168 patients(75%) of IDC and 12 patients(80%) of ILC. Border of the masses were spiculated(n=50,22.3%), poorly marginated(n=112, 50%), or well-marginated(n=6, 2.7%) in patients with IDC. Spiculated and poorly marginated borders were observed in 8 patients(53.3%) and 4 patients(26.7%) respectively, in patients with ILC. Microcalcifications were seen in 88 patients(39.3%) of IDC and 2 patients(13.3%) of ILC. Equal or low opacities ofthe lesions were observed in 29 patients(17.3%) of IDC and 5 patients(33.3%) of ILC. CONCLUSION: Although equalor low opacities were observed more frequently in ILC and microcalcifications were noted more frequently in IDC,it was difficult to differentiate the two diseases based on mammographic findings.
Carcinoma, Ductal* ; Carcinoma, Lobular* ; Humans ; Mammography ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: We applied chest radiographs to scoliosis screening for conscription. Prevalence, types of scoliosis, and insight of examinees with scoliosis were investigated. METHODS: In this study, chest radiographs of 2417 males, who had been given an examination for conscription at the Seoul Regional Military Manpower Administration from April 2009 to May 2009, were analyzed. The prevalence of scoliosis more than a 10 degrees Cobb angle was calculated. The insight of scoliosis was investigated in every examinee and thoracolumbar radiographs were checked in those examinees with more than a 20 degree Cobb angle. RESULTS: Among 1904 males, 477 (19.7%) exhibited scoliosis involving more than a 5 degrees Cobb angle were and 131 (5.4%) exhibitedmore than a 10 degree Cobb angle. In those 131 cases, 18 (13.7%) had a known history of problems with scoliosis. Among the group measuring less than a 10 degree Cobb angle, 1.7% of them misunderstood scoliosis. Insight of scoliosis increased according to the severity of spinal curvature; however, nearly half of the cases with a 20 degree or greater Cobb angle had no insight with respect to their scoliosis. CONCLUSION: In male adolescents, the prevalence of scoliosis with a greater than 10 degree Cobb angle was 5.4% and there was a low insight with respect to scoliosis.
Adolescent ; Benzeneacetamides ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Military Personnel ; Piperidones ; Prevalence ; Scoliosis ; Thorax

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of back pain questionnaires for lumbar disc screening among Korean young males. METHODS: We carried out a survey for lumbar disc screening through back pain questionnaires among the volunteers with or without back pain. Three types of back pain questionnaire (Oswestry Low Back Pain Score, Aberdeen Low Back Pain Scale, and Acute Low Back Pain Screeing Questionnaire) were randomly assigned to the examinees. The authors reviewed lumbar imaging studies (simple lumbar radiographs, lumbar computed tomography, and magnetic resolutional images), and the severity of lumbar disc herniation was categorized according to the guidelines issued by the Korean military directorate. We calculated the relationship between the back pain questionnaire scores and the severity of lumbar disc herniation. RESULTS: The scores of back pain questionnaires increased according to the severity of lumbar disc herniation. But, the range of scores was very vague, so it is less predictable to detect lumbar disc herniation using only back pain questionnaires. The sensitivity between the back pain questionnaires and the presence of lumbar disc herniation was low (16-64%). CONCLUSION: Screening of lumbar disc herniation using only back pain questionnaires has limited value.
Back Pain ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Korea ; Low Back Pain ; Magnetics ; Magnets ; Mass Screening ; Military Personnel ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVE: The authors surveyed the prevalence and the clinical character of lumbar disc herniation (LDH) in Korean male adolescents, and the usefulness of current conscription criteria. METHODS: The data of 39,673 nineteen-year-old males that underwent a conscription examination at the Seoul Regional Korean Military Manpower Administration (MMA) from October 2010 to May 2011 were investigated. For those diagnosed as having lumbar disc herniation, prevalences, subject characteristics, herniation severities, levels of herniation, and modified Korean Oswestry low back pain disability scores by MMA physical grade were evaluated. The analysis was performed using medical certificates, medical records, medical images, and electromyographic and radiologic findings. RESULTS: The prevalence of adolescent LDH was 0.60%(237 of the 39,673 study subjects), and the prevalence of serious adolescent LDH with thecal sac compression or significant discogenic spinal stenosis was 0.28%(110 of the 39,673 study subjects). Of the 237 adolescent LDH cases, 105 (44.3%) were of single level LDH and 132 (55.7%) were of multiple level LDH, and the L4-5 level was the most severely and frequently affected. Oswestry back pain disability scores increased with herniation severity (p<0.01), and were well correlated with MMA grade. CONCLUSIONS: In this large cohort of 19-year-old Korean males, the prevalence of adolescent LDH was 0.60% and the prevalence of serious adolescent LDH, which requires management, was relatively high at 0.28%. MMA physical grade was confirmed to be a useful measure of the disability caused by LDH.
Adolescent ; Back Pain ; Cohort Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Low Back Pain ; Male ; Medical Records ; Military Personnel ; Prevalence ; Spinal Stenosis ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this retrospective study was to assess clinical and radiographic outcomes of posterior surgical decompression with stabilization followed by image-guided robot Cyberknife radiosurgery for encircling malignant tumors of the spine. METHODS: From August 2008 to December 2009, 14 consecutive patients with a malignant spinal metastatic lesion with cord compression were treated at the author's institute. Patients underwent on a decompressive surgery by the posterior approach, and latent unstable spines were stabilized with instrumentation. After recovery, radiosurgery was administered at doses ranging from 16 to 26 Gy (mean 20.1Gy) prescribed to the 75-85% isodose line that encompassed at least 95% of tumor volumes. Visual Analogue Scale, American spine injury association grades, and MRI with gadolinium enhancement were used to monitor pain, neurology, and radiological outcomes, respectively, after the radiosurgery. RESULTS: No acute radiation-induced toxicity or new neurological deficit occurred during the follow-up period (mean 4.5 months). Axial pain improved in 10 out of the 14 patients. No hardware failure was encountered. At 3-6 months after the Cyberknife radiosurgery, local control and effective therapeutic rates were both 80%(8/10) and no lesion enhancement on vertebral bodies or pedicles was visualized by MRI. CONCLUSION: Posterior decompression with stabilization followed by radiosurgery of residual tumor in the anterolateral region is useful in cases where an anterior approach or a circumferential approach is not an option due to medical condition. Longer term follow-up is required to evaluate survival and late toxicities.
Decompression ; Decompression, Surgical ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gadolinium ; Humans ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Neurology ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; Radiosurgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine