No abstract available.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Sarcoma, Synovial*

BACKGROUND: The endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation has been largely accounted for by the release of nitric oxide (NO). Three distinct isoforms of NO synthases (NOS) have been characterized, i.e., brain(bNOS), inducible (iNOS), and endothelial constitutive (ecNOS). Although hypertension hasbeen associated with a vascular endothelial dysfunction, changes in the vascular expression of NOS isoforms have not been established. The present study was aimed at exploring the vascular expression of NOS isozymes in hypertension. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Two-kidney, one clip (2K1C) and deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertension were induced in rats. The expression of different NOS isozymes in the thoracic aorta was determined by Western blot analysis. The vascular tissue contents of nitrites were measured by colorimetric assay. RESULT: Arterial blood pressure was significantly higher in experimental groups of 2K1C and DOCA-salt rats compared with their corresponding control rats. The vascular expression of bNOS as well as that of ecNOS was decreased in both models of hypertension. iNOS was not changed in DOCA-salt hypertension, but was also decreased in 2K1C hypertension. The vascular contents of nitrites were significantly decreased in DOCA-salt as well as in 2K1C hypertension. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that 2K1C and DOCA-salt hypertension are associated with decreases in the vascular expression of NOS isozymes and nitrite contents.
Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Arterial Pressure ; Blotting, Western ; Desoxycorticosterone ; Hypertension* ; Isoenzymes ; Nitric Oxide Synthase* ; Nitric Oxide* ; Nitrites ; Protein Isoforms ; Rats ; Vasodilation

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to establish a stature-predicted equation using knee height, and perform a clinical validation on a Korean population. METHODS: Using nationwide data obtained from 'Size Korea 2004', a stature-predicted equation was drawn and cross validation was performed using knee height in 5,063 subjects (2,532 males, 1,785 premenopausal females, and 746 postmenopausal females) who were aged between 20 and 69 yr. The formula was then applied to an elderly group (7 males and 26 females) and a mobility-impaired group (25 males and 14 females) in a real clinical setting. A stature-predicted equation was estimated using knee height and age based on multiple linear regression analysis. Cross validation was performed using paired t-test, and validation using clinical data was performed using Wilcoxon signed rank test. RESULTS: In three groups (males, premenopausal females, and postmenopausal females), a cross validation was performed for a stature-predicted equation which was drawn using knee height and age. There were no significant differences between recorded height and estimated height in the elderly group (mean difference+/-interquartile range (IQR): male 0.65+/-4.65 cm, female -0.10+/-3.65 cm) and the mobility-impaired group (mean difference+/-IQR: male -0.23+/-5.45 cm, female 1.64+/-5.36 cm). CONCLUSION: If several limitations could be overcome, the Korean-specific equations using knee height drawn from this study could be applied to actual clinical settings with Korean elderly or mobility-impaired people.
Aged ; Anthropometry ; Female ; Humans ; Knee ; Korea ; Linear Models ; Male

PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the clinical charateristics, surgical treatment and outcome of carcinoid tumors of the rectum. METHODS: A retrospective review of the charts of all patients treated for rectal carcinoid tumors at Kangbuk Samsung Medical Center between Jan 1989 and April 1998. Thirteen patients with rectal carcinoids tumors were treated. Follow-up data, histopathological information and surgical procedures were obtained from case notes. RESULTS: There were 10 men and 3 women. The ages ranged from 28 to 60 years (mean 41.1 years for all, 43.8 years for men and 32 years for women). Eight patients (61.5%) had no symptoms. Of the five patients, four complained of rectal bleeding (30.8%), and one complained of defecational difficulty (7.7%). Size of rectal carcinoid tumor was less than 1 cm in 7 patients (53.8%), between 1 cm and 2 cm in 2 patients (15.4%), in four patients (30.8%) larger than 2 cm. Three patients were treated in Abdominoperineal resection. Two patients underwent stapled low anterior resection. The remaining 8 patients underwent conservative resection (3 colonoscopic polypectomy and electrocauterization, 2 colonoscopic snaring biopsy, 2 transanal resection and one Mason's operation). The depth of invasion was contained within sutmucosa in 3 patients. Liver metastasis was found in 2 patients. Average follow-up time was 35.6 months. Two patients died of mutiple mestastasis (liver, bone, peritoneum) 9 and 30months later. CONCLUSION: We concluded that tumors smaller than 1 cm could be managed by local treatment whereas larger than 2 cm should be managed by radical treatment.
Biopsy ; Carcinoid Tumor* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Liver ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Rectum ; Retrospective Studies ; SNARE Proteins

PURPOSE: Children with esophagitis express a variety of nonspecific symptoms and signs depending on their age, and diagnosis is limited because gastrointestinal endoscopy (GFS) and biopsy are difficult to perform. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of esophagitis in children with upper abdominal pain, to determine the necessity of esophageal biopsy, and to evaluate the associated risk factors. METHODS: We reviewed 266 pediatric patients with upper abdominal pain who underwent history-taking, physical examination, and GFS with esophageal and gastric biopsies between January 2006 and December 2007. Esophagitis was confirmed on biopsy. We analyzed the risk factors for histologic esophagitis and the necessity of esophageal biopsy. RESULTS: The prevalence of esophagitis was 19.9% (53/266 patients). The sensitivity and specificity of endoscopic diagnosis were 41.5% and 77%. Of 53 patients with histologic esophagitis, reflux esophagitis was seen in 50 patients, eosinophilic esophagitis was seen in 2 patients, and esophageal candidiasis was seen in 1 patient. Vomiting was a significant factor in patients under 8 yr of age (p<0.05). H. pylori infection was documented in 41.5% of patients with histologic esophagitis, compared with 58.5% of patients not infected with H. pylori (p<0.05). The possibility of histologic esophagitis was higher in patients with H. pylori infection (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.2544 to 4.8286) and in those who visited in the spring (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.2544 to 4.8286). CONCLUSION: We believe esophageal tissue biopsy should be performed in pediatric patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms who are undergoing GFS and stomach tissue biopsy, especially preschoolers and H. pylori-infected children in the spring.
Abdominal Pain ; Biopsy ; Candidiasis ; Child ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Eosinophilic Esophagitis ; Esophagitis ; Esophagitis, Peptic ; Humans ; Physical Examination ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stomach ; Vomiting

A Bednar tumor is a rare neoplasm of intermediate malignant potential that accounts for 1-5% of all cases of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP). This tumor is considered a pigmented variant of DFSP, because the clinical and histological findings resemble DFSP. The diagnosis is commonly made in early to middle adult life except in cases with melanin containing cells. In the case presented here, the patient was a 3-year-old male who presented with a painless slow-growing 2.0x1.5x1.0 cm mass on the dorsal aspect of his right hand. Histological examination of the biopsy specimen revealed typical features of a Bednar tumor, which was composed of CD34 positive monomorphous spindle shaped cells arranged in a storiform fashion with moderate mitotic activity (up to 5 per 10 HPF) and scattered pigmented cells with dendritic processes. We report a rare case of Bednar tumor affecting a pediatric patient and review the medical literatures.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Child, Preschool ; Dermatofibrosarcoma* ; Diagnosis ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Melanins ; Pediatrics ; Pigmentation

Glomus tumors are mesenchymal neoplasms that are composed of modified smooth muscle cells of the normal glomus body. Most glomus tumors are benign and they occur in the distal extremities, and particularly the subungual lesions that occur in the hand, the wrist and the foot. We report here on a case of a solid type glomus tumor that had an uncertain malignant potential with a juxtacortical location at the distal tibia, and there were no neoplastic erosion of the cortical surface and no periosteal reaction. The tumor cells showed mild nuclear atypia and moderate mitotic activity (3-5/10HPF). Prominent intranuclear cytoplasmic pseudoinclusions were also observed. This case is interesting due to the very unusual tumor location of the juxtacortical area of the long bone, the atypical histologic features and the unique cytological finding of cytoplasmic intranuclear inclusions throughout the tumor cells.

Micropapillary carcinoma (MPC) is a rare variant of carcinoma, and it is composed of small papillary neoplastic cell clusters lying within clear lacunar spaces that simulate lymphovascular channels. This tumor has been described in the several organs such as the breast, lung, urinary bladder and salivary gland and it is known to be frequently associated with a high incidence of lymphatic invasion and metastasis in lymph nodes, resulting in poor clinical outcome. We present here a case of MPC in the gall bladder, and this type of case has not been previously described. Histologically, the tumor was composed of micropapillary carcinoma with tight clusters of micropapillary aggregates in the background of tubular adenoma. Focal invasive micropapillary components were also noted in the submuscular connective tissue. A metastatic lesion in a regional lymph node also showed an entirely micropapillary pattern.
Incidence ; Neoplasm Metastasis

BACKGROUND: The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II scoring system and the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scoring system are widely used for critically ill patients. We evaluated whether APACHE II score and SOFA score predict the outcome for trauma patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed trauma patients admitted to the ICU in a single trauma center between January 2014 and December 2015. The APACHE II score was figured out based on the data acquired from the first 24 hours of admission; the SOFA score was evaluated based on the first 3 days in the ICU. A total of 241 patients were available for analysis. Injury Severity score, APACHE II score, and SOFA score were evaluated. RESULTS: The overall survival rate was 83.4%. The non-survival group had a significantly high APACHE II score (24.1 ± 8.1 vs. 12.3 ± 7.2, P < 0.001) and SOFA score (7.7 ± 1.7 vs. 4.3 ± 1.9, P < 0.001) at admission. SOFA score had the highest areas under the curve (0.904). During the first 3 days, SOFA score remained high in the non-survival group. In the non-survival group, cardiovascular system, neurological system, renal system, and coagulation system scores were significantly higher. CONCLUSIONS: In ICU trauma patients, both SOFA and APACHE II scores were good predictors of outcome, with the SOFA score being the most effective. In trauma ICU patients, the trauma scoring system should be complemented, recognizing that multi-organ failure is an important factor for mortality.
APACHE* ; Cardiovascular System ; Complement System Proteins ; Critical Care* ; Critical Illness ; Humans ; Injury Severity Score ; Intensive Care Units* ; Mortality ; Multiple Trauma ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Trauma Centers

PURPOSE: The current states of web-contents for continuing medical education (CME) of domestic and foreign orthropaedic web sites were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Korean Orthopaedic Association (KOA) and Korean Orthopaedic Cyber-Society (KOC) as domestic, and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgerns (AAOS), Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS), AOSpine, and Arthroscopy as foreign web sites were searched in view of provided information technology (IT), including electrical paper (ePDF), lecture and surgical procedure video clips, case discussion, interactive content, and CME credit program. RESULTS: KOA supplied 19 types of ePDFs, and KOC, 43 video clips, and 217 case discussions. However, only one video clip was updated from 2011 to 2012 and 20 video clips from 2008 were not accessible. AAOS provided one type of ePDF, 142 lecture and 570 surgical procedure video clips, five interactive CME programs and 107 CME credit programs. In JBJS, one kind of ePDF, 97 video clips, 24 case discussions, and 37 CME credit programs were provided. In AOSpine, 12 types of ePDFs, 994 video clips, one interactive content, and 347 case discussions were provided. In Arthroscopy, one type of ePDF and 126 video clips were supplied. All web-contents were available. CONCLUSION: A large number of better quality web-contents and web-based CME credit programs should be implemented with standardized IT for Web-based CME in domestic orthropaedic societies.
Arthroscopy ; Education, Medical, Continuing ; Joints