BACKGROUND: The distinction between non-invasive and invasive or thymic carcinoma has been severely compromised by lack of objective morphological criteria. A reliable biological marker of tumor aggressiveness is, therefore, mandatory for predicting tumor behavior. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Thirty thymic epithelial tumors, including 7 non-invasive thymoma, 10 invasive thymoma, and 13 thymic carcinoma of the Rosai's classification; and 5 stage I, 7 stage II, 2 stage III, and 3 stage IVa of the Masaoka stage of thymoma were investigated for expression of bcl-2 and p53 proteins by immunohistochemistry. RESULT: The thymic epithelial cells showed positive immunostain for bcl-2 in 0 (0%), 3 (30%), 8 (61.5%) of categories in the Rosai's classification respectively and in 0 (0%), 1 (14.3%), 2 (100%), 0 (0%) of stage I, II, III, IVa of the Masaoka stage respectively. Thymic carcinoma, and high stage thymoma had significantly higher proportion of bcl-2 expression than thymoma (p=0.021) and low stage thymoma (p=0.011). However, p53 showed no correlation with the histological subtypes nor with clinical aggressiveness. Bcl-2 expression appeared to be positively correlated with p53 immunoactivity (p=0.007, kappa=0.525). CONCLUSION: These date indicate that bcl-2 expression correlates with aggressiveness in thymic epithelial tumors, but further studies on mutation of p53 protein is necessary because bcl-2 expression appeared to be positively correlated with p53 immunoactivity.
Biomarkers ; Classification ; Epithelial Cells ; Immunohistochemistry ; Thymoma ; Thymus Neoplasms

BACKGROUND: Cardiac patients undergoing open heart surgery usually require ventilatory support that involves ICU admission in the postoperative period. We tried to find out determinants of postoperative ventilatory support time. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 56 open heart surgery patients retrospectively in terms of their disease, preoperative physical status, age, post-bypass arterial oxygen tension/inspired oxygen fraction (PaO2/FIO2) ratio, number of inotropics used and searched the relationship between each factor and postoperative intubation time. RESULTS: None of the factors except the number of inotropics used had an significant influence on the postoperative intubation time. CONCLUSION: In open heart surgical patients their disease, preoperative physical status, age, postbypass PaO2/FIO2 ratio do not affect postoperative intubation time rather than number of inotropics used does.
Heart* ; Humans ; Intubation* ; Medical Records ; Oxygen ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Surgery*

During the period of 18 months from December 1984 to May 1986, 41 cases(25.0%) of subpulmonic ventricular septal defect(VSD) were diagnosed among 164 cases of isolated VSD in the cardiac catheterization labortory. The incidence of aortic regurgitation associated subpulmonic VSD(19.5%) was much higher than that of the other types of VSD(2.4%). None of patients less than 1 year old developed aortic regurgitation, the incidence of which has increased with the age after that. That amount of left to right shunt through the VSD was smaller in the patients with aortic cusp prolapse than those without aortic cusp prolapse, and the severity of aortic regurgitation was correlated with that of aortic cusp prolapse. 10 out of 41 patients revealed more than 20mmHg pressure gradient through right ventricle outflow tract and 9 of these patient were as sociated with aortic cusp prolapse.
Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Cardiac Catheterization* ; Cardiac Catheters* ; Heart Ventricles ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Prolapse

Amyloidosis is a rare disease which is characterized by the deposition of a histochemically specific substance called amyloid in many tissue bodies, and causes various symptoms according to the organs involved. Amyloid is usually recognized by its staining reaction with Congo red stain. Primary pulmonary amyloidosis is very rare. Nodular pulmonary amyloidosis is an uncommon entity that usually manifests itself as an asymptomatic incidental finding on the chest roentgenogram and is misdiagnosed as lung cancer or pulmonary tuberculosis.
Amyloid ; Amyloidosis* ; Congo Red ; Incidental Findings ; Lung Neoplasms ; Rare Diseases ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

BACKGROUND: The advent of EEA stapler has lowered the leakage rate of esophagogastric anastomoses and thereby contributed to a decrease in the operative mortality of the easophageal resection. Recent surgical reports, however, have documented 10% to 20% prevalence of benign anastomotic stricture formation after the use of EEA stapler to construct an esophagogastric anastomosis. We analyzed the cases of anastomotic strictures to reduce the incidence of anastomotic strictures with EEA stapled esophagogastrostomy. MATERIAL AND METHOD: EEA stapled esophagogastrostomy was performed in 195 parients during the period of over 11 years from Jan. 1986 to Dec. 1996 in Kosin Medical Center. Ten patients of them died in the early postoperative days. In the remaining 185 patients, we studied the incidence and the onset time of anastomotic strictures, relationship between the patients' ages, the anastomotic sites, and the size of the cartridges with incidence of anastomotic stricture. We also studied the method of treatment and its effect in the anastomotic strictures. RESULT: Benign anastomotic strictures occurred in 39 cases among 185 patients (21%), 25 cases (64.1%) of the 39 cases developed in one to three months postoperatively. The patients' ages and the anastomotic sites did not effect with the incidence of anastomotic stricture, but high incidence of anastomotic stricture in EEA stapled esophagogastrostomy (p=0.04)was observed in small cartridge sizes. One or two balloon dilatation (89%) relieved the anastomotic strictures. CONCLUSION: We conclude that a larger size cartridge is recommended in EEA stapled esophagogastrostomy to reduce the incidence of anastomotic stricture if possible, and one or two balloon dilatation would seem to be a safe and reliable method in treating anastomotic stricture when the anastomotic stricture was occurrs.
Constriction, Pathologic* ; Dilatation ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mortality ; Prevalence

No abstract available.
Aorta, Thoracic* ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent*

BACKGROUND: During regional anesthesia for a cesarean section, adverse effects such as nausea and/or vomiting (N&V), visceral pain and shivering are common complications. A subhypnotic dose of propofol has been known to have an antiemetic effect perioperatively. Patient controlled sedation (PCS) using propofol might be a solution for emesis and other adverse effects occurring during regional anesthesia in cesarean deliveries. METHODS: One hundred ten parturients scheduled for elective cesarean section were randomly divided into two groups: PCS-spinal (n = 55) and PCS-epidural (n = 55). Spinal anesthesia was performed with 0.5% bupivacaine 10 mg and 10 microgram of fentanyl. Epidural anesthesia was performed with 2% lidocaine 25 ml + 100 microgram of fentanyl + 0.1 mg of epinephrine + 1.5 ml of 8.4% sodium bicarbonate in the PCS-epidural group. After delivery, PCS with propofol was applied to the patients in both groups (bolus dose: 30 mg, lock-out time: 3 min, no background infusion). We investigated incidences of adverse effects such as N&V, hypotension, intraoperative visceral pain, and shivering during the operation. We also assessed sedation scores (Grade 1 - 5) in the patients of both groups. RESULTS: There was no difference in sensory levels between the groups. Although more patients in the PCS-epidural group complained of N&V (3.6%:20%, P = 0.018) and shivering (0%:14.5%, P = 0.036) in the PACU, there were no differences intraoperative adverse effects between both groups. The sedation score did not differ between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: With PCS using propofol, adverse effects during cesarean section under both regional anesthesias are negligible.
Anesthesia, Conduction* ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Antiemetics ; Bupivacaine ; Cesarean Section* ; Epinephrine ; Female ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Incidence ; Lidocaine ; Nausea ; Pregnancy ; Propofol* ; Shivering ; Sodium Bicarbonate ; Visceral Pain ; Vomiting

The Kallmanns syndrome is the most common form of isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in which anosmia or hyposmia resulting from agenesis of hypoplasia of the olfactory lobes is associated with LHRH deficiency, This syndrome is genetically heterogeneous and can be trans-mitted as an X-linked, autosomal dominant or autosomal recessive trait. The hypogonadotropic hypogonadism results in absent or incomplete pubertal development and may be associated with anosmia or hyposmia, mid-line defect(color blindness, cleft-lip or
Blindness ; Cryptorchidism ; Epiphyses ; Femur Neck ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Growth Plate ; Head ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Kallmann Syndrome ; Male ; Olfaction Disorders ; Olfactory Cortex ; Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphyses

BACKGROUND: Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) solutions are used as plasma expanders for correcting hypovolemia, but can lead to impaired coagulation. We evaluated the changes in hematological and hemostatic profiles with three types of HES. METHODS: Patients were randomized to receive volume replacement with 10% pentastarch 260/0.45 in 0.9% saline (Group-PEN, n = 25), 6% tetrastarch 130/0.4 in 0.9% saline (Group-TET(S), n = 25), or 6% tetrastarch 130/0.4 in a balanced electrolyte solution (Group-TET(B), n = 25). Coagulation was assessed using rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM(R)) and other laboratory tests were performed, including measurements of hematological and hemostatic parameters and electrolytes. RESULTS: Post-operative ROTEM(R) parameters changed toward hypocoagulable states in all groups. The post-operative parameters of EXTEM and FIBTEM were more impaired in Group-PEN than in Group-TET(B). The percentage change in INTEM clot formation time (P = 0.004) and alpha-angle (P = 0.003) were smaller in Group-TET(S) and Group-TET(B) than in Group-PEN. The percentage change in the FIBTEM maximum clot firmness was greatest in Group-PEN (P = 0.011). The international normalized ratio of prothrombin time (P < 0.001) and the activated partial thromboplastin time (P < 0.001) were significantly prolonged in Group-PEN compared to those of Group-TET(B). CONCLUSIONS: The 6% HES 130/0.4 in a balanced electrolyte solution seemed to have less of an impact on blood coagulation than the 10% HES 260/0.45. No differences in hemostatic profile were observed between the balanced electrolyte and saline-based 6% HES 130/0.4.
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip* ; Blood Coagulation* ; Colloids* ; Electrolytes ; Humans ; Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives* ; Hypovolemia ; International Normalized Ratio ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Plasma ; Prothrombin Time ; Starch ; Thrombelastography

BACKGROUND: Using rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) analysis, we investigated the difference in blood hemostasis, based on the primary anesthetic agents used during general anesthesia. METHODS: Sixty-six adult patients scheduled for elective ophthalmic surgery under general anesthesia were evaluated with regard to changes in each parameter in INTEM, EXTEM, and FIBTEM analyses. The patients received intravenous anesthesia with propofol and remifentanil (TIVA group) or inhalation anesthesia with sevoflurane (SEVO group). The ROTEM tests were performed 10 min before starting anesthesia and 1 h after finishing anesthesia. The INTEM and EXTEM analyses included the clotting time (CT), clot firmness time (CFT), alpha angle (alpha), and maximum clot firmness (MCF). The FIBTEM analyzed only MCF. Maximum clot elasticity (MCE) was calculated by (MCF x 100) / (100 - MCF). The platelet component of clot strength was calculated as follows: MCE(platelet) = MCE(EXTEM) - MCE(FIBTEM). RESULTS: The preoperative and postoperative parameters (CT, CFT, alpha, and MCF) in the INTEM, EXTEM, and FIBTEM analyses were not significantly different between the two groups. The MCE(platelet) also did not show a significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: Presuming that the ophthalmic surgery had a minimal traumatic effect, we conclude that both anesthetic agents cause negligible changes in ROTEM analyses postoperatively.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthesia, Inhalation ; Anesthesia, Intravenous ; Anesthetics ; Blood Platelets ; Elasticity ; Hemostasis* ; Humans ; Propofol* ; Thrombelastography