PURPOSE: To evaluate the prognostic significances of angiogenesis and bc1-2, and association of each other, we investigated the correlation of microvessel count for angiogenesis and bcl-2 expression in breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analysed immunohistochemistry staining from paraffin blocks in a series of 145 women with breast cancer. Immunohistochemical staining to detect factor VIII-related antigen highlighted the microvessels within primary invasive breast carcinoma. Using light microscopy, we counted microvessels per 200X field in the most active areas of neovascularization. To determine the bcl-2 immunoreactivity, we used a monoclonal antibody directed against the bcl-2 protein. RESULTS: The median of microvessel count (MVC) was 31.5, and the proportions of tumors with low and high MVC were 51% and 49%. Eighty (55.2%) cancers showed the bcl-2 immunoreactivity in the cytoplasm. The microvessel count were correlated with lymph node status (p <0.001), tumor size (p=0.001), and lymphatic invasion around tumor (p=0.009). bcl-2 expressions were corelated with estrogen receptor positivity (p<0.001) and progesterone recepter positivity (p=0.029). The microvessel counts were negatively correlated with bcl-2 expression (p=0.006). CONCLUSION: This study suggest that the angiogenesis which was investigated by micro- vessel counts was negatively correlated with bcl-2 expression.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Cytoplasm ; Estrogens ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymph Nodes ; Microscopy ; Microvessels ; Paraffin ; Progesterone ; von Willebrand Factor

PURPOSE: With advances in various treatment modalities, limb salvage surgery has been commonly used in osteosarcoma of extremities. An alternative method for skeletal reconstruction is reimplantation of the tumor bearing bone following extracorporeal irradiation (ECI). We report the long-term results of ECI autograft in aspect of the oncological and functional outcomes, and complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 31 osteosarcoma patients who underwent reconstruction with ECI between July 1995 and January 2006. There were 24 males and 7 females with a mean age of 24 (7-74 years) and a mean follow-up of 117 months (17-177 months). Twenty-five cases were reconstructed with ECI autograft, 6 cases with ECI autograft-prosthesis composite. The pathologic subtypes were conventional in 29 cases, periosteal in 1 case, and parosteal in 1 case. The most common location of tumor was distal femur (15 cases) followed by humerus (3), proximal fibula (3) and proximal tibia (3). Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score was used for functional evaluation. The overall survival rate, local recurrence, complications were analyzed. RESULTS: The overall survival rate was 80.6% and the disease-free survival rate was 64.5%. Five patients died of distant metastasis. One patient required above-knee amputation due to local recurrence. All of them, twenty-three complications occurred, which included nonunion in 7 cases, deep infection in 5 cases, joint instability in 4 cases, metal failure in 2 cases, Limb-length discrepancy (LLD) in 2 cases, periprosthetic fracture in 1 case, epiphyseal collapse in 1, local recurrence in 1 case. The mean MSTS functional score was 62.5%. CONCLUSION: Extracorporeal irradiated autograft can be achieved relatively good result in aspect of oncological and functional aspect, but is needed to be additional research about occurring many complications. The reconstruction with ECI after intercalary or fragmentary resection is effective reconstruction in aspect of oncological and functional result, complications.
Amputation ; Disease-Free Survival ; Extremities ; Female ; Femur ; Fibula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Humerus ; Joint Instability ; Limb Salvage ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Osteosarcoma ; Periprosthetic Fractures ; Recurrence ; Replantation ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Tibia ; Ursidae

BACKGROUND: It is one of anesthesiologist's important tasks to know the accurate recovery state of a patient after general anesthesia. Postanesthetic recovery score (PARS) has been widely used as a measure of evaluating recovery state because it is simple, easy to apply and applicapable to all situations. In this study, we investigated whether there were correlations between PARS and PAR-stay time, and examined factors influencing PAR-stay time. METHODS: Two hundreds and five patients were selected randomly. PARS was measured in each patient immediately after he or she arrived at PAR. Correlations between PARS and PAR-stay time were studied. And other variables such as age, sex, physical status, operation site and anesthetic time were studied as influencing factors on PAR-stay time. RESULTS: There were no significant correlations between PARS and PAR-stay time. PARS was influenced by the operation site only. And PAR-stay time was influenced by the patient's age only. CONCLUSIONS: In evaluating the postanesthetic recovery state, it seems to be important to consider not only PARS but also other factors such as patient's age.
Anesthesia, General ; Humans ; Recovery Room*

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the prevalence rate of tbe concomitant; atopic diseases in the patients with allergic rhinitis and, concurrently, the incidence of the atopic diseases in the families of the patients. A total of 40 patients who were referred to the department of dermatology, Kang Nam St. Marys Hospital, for the confirmative examinations of allergic srhiniti were taken for this study. The results were as follows, 1. The prevalence rate of concomitant atopic dermatitis in the sample patients was 22.5% and that of concomitant bronchial asthma was 12. 5% The prevalence rate of concomitancy with both diseases was 2.5% and that of concomitancy with atopic dermatitis and/or bronchial asthma was 37.5%. 2. The frequency of the associated manifestations, in descending order, was allergic conjunctivitis (30%), urticaria or angioedema (25%), insect sting (22.5%), oral symptoms (5%), migrane or headache (5%), immediate drug reactions (2.5%) and gastrointestinal symptoms (2.5%).
Angioedema ; Asthma ; Conjunctivitis, Allergic ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dermatology ; Headache ; Humans ; Incidence ; Insect Bites and Stings ; Prevalence ; Rhinitis* ; Urticaria

STUDY DESIGNS: A retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the clinical and radiological outcomes of spontaneous reduction via minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (Mini-TLIF) as the treatment for low-grade symptomatic spondylolisthesis. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Although minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion is technically demanding, this procedure is an effective method for spontaneous reduction of low grade spondylolisthesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed consecutive series of 41 patients with low grade spondylolisthesis who underwent minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion, between April 2008 and July 2009. The minimum follow-up period was 2 years. Clinical evaluation was performed by an analysis of Visual Analogue Scale and Oswestry Disability Index. For the radiological evaluation, disc space height, slip percentage, and slip angle were analyzed. At the final follow-up, the fusion rate was analyzed according to the Bridwell's anterior fusion grade. RESULTS: For the evaluation of clinical outcomes, the Visual Analogue Scale for back pain decreased from 6.8+/-1.2 to 2.0+/-1.1, and that for radiating pain decreased from 7.9+/-1.3 to 1.7+/-1.1. Oswetry Disability Index decreased from 38.5+/-8.4 to 13.4+/-6.1. For the radiological evaluation, disc space height increased from 8.4+/-2.14mm to 11.8+/-1.54mm(P<0.05), slip percentage was reduced from 18.4+/-5.1% to 13.3+/-3.1%(P<0.05) and slip angle decreased from 10.6+/-4.5degrees to 6.2+/-3.4degrees (P<0.05). At the final follow-up, radiological union was obtained in 38 cases (92.7%). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion appears to be an effective method for spontaneous reduction of low grade spondylolisthesis if the surgeon becomes familiar with this method.
Back Pain ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Spondylolisthesis

PURPOSE: To report a rare case of lymphocytic hypophysitis in a 31-year-old woman who presented with gradually progressive bilateral visual loss during the third trimester of pregnancy. METHODS: Ophthalmologic examination revealed best corrected visual acuity of 0.02 OD and counting fingers at 20 cm OS. Pupil examination revealed no relative afferent pupillary defect in either eye and intraocular pressure was normal in both eyes. A visual field test revealed nearly total visual defect sparing superotemporal area OD and total defect OS. An MRI of the head was performed. RESULTS: At the time of transsphenoidal surgery following the patient's delivery, a frozen biopsy of the lesion revealed diffuse lymphocytic infilteration and fibrosis of the pituitary gland consistent with the diagnosis of lymphocytic hypophysitis. Postoperatively the patient was treated for hypopituitarism. At 5 weeks postoperative, her best corrected visual acuity was 1.0 OU, and visual field defects resolved in both eyes. On follow-up by telephone for postoperative 7 months, the patient remained visually asymptomatic. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical presentation of lymphocytic hypophysitis may mimic pituitary adenoma, lymphoma, germinoma, and histiocytosis. The diagnosis should be suspected in any pregnant or postpartum patient with an intrasellar or suprasellar mass.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Fingers ; Follow-Up Studies ; Germinoma ; Head ; Histiocytosis ; Humans ; Hypopituitarism ; Intraocular Pressure ; Lymphoma ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pituitary Gland ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Pregnancy* ; Pupil ; Pupil Disorders ; Telephone ; Visual Acuity ; Visual Field Tests ; Visual Fields

No abstract available.
Bilirubin* ; Infant, Newborn ; Jaundice, Neonatal*

The fractures of the both forearm bones are extremely common in children. Between the radius and ulna, there is normally through an arc of 180° rotation. To restore full rotation, rotational deformity and angulation after fracture must be corrected. The goal of treatment of the unstable forearm fracture is to increase the function of the forearm and hand as well as to get solid bone union. The general principle of treatment of forearm fracture in children is conservative due to remodeling and spontaneous correction ability. Thus, most fractures at any level need not and should not be treated by open reduction and internal fixation. But the operation will be perform frequently who shortly before maturity. We reviewed twenty-three children between 8-13 age, who had dsiplaced both forearm bones fracture, and who were treated with fixation using K-wire(14 cases) or plate(9 cases). Of the twenty-three fractures, sixteen were unsatisfactory reduction with more than 10° of angulation after initial closed reduction, two were loss of reduction in cast immobilization, and five were internally fixed primarily because of soft tissue interposition between fragment. The results were as follows. l. Operation time was 51.4 minutes in K-wire group and 86.7 minutes in plate group. 2. Bone union occured in all cases, at 7.3 weeks in K-wire fixation group and 8.9 weeks in plate fixation group. And immobilization period 7 weeks in K-wire fixation group and 4 weeks in plate fixation group. 3. Functional results were satisfactory all cases in both group. 4. The advantage of K-wire is a simple safe operation with minimal morbidity and small scar and compares with the extensive approach need for plate fixation which often giving a poor cosmetic result. Moreover, a second operation, with significant morbidity, is need to remove the plate after solid union. In Conclusion, this method is a favorable altenative to plate fixation of children forearm fractures. It allows rapid bone union with minimal morbidity, complication and scar.
Child ; Cicatrix ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Forearm ; Hand ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Methods ; Radius ; Ulna

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*

BACKGROUND: Soluble IL-2R, soluble CD8 and TNF-alpha are elevated in sera of some patients with hematological malignancies, and a marked elevation of these cytokines could be used to assess disease activity and prognosis in this malignancy group. METHODS: The serum levels of sIL-2R, sCD8 and TNF-alpha were assessed in 28 patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and 32 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and 39 cases of healthy control subjects to define clinical usefulness as prognostic markers by sandwich enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: In MDS patients, serum sIL-2R levels were significantly higher as compared with controls, and a more pronounced increase of serum sIL-2R levels was found in patients with RAEB RAEB-t and CMML as compared with RA and RARS. Serum sCD8 levels were higher as compared with controls, but not related with FAB classification. In patients with leukemic conversion. sCD8 levels tended to be higher as compared with patients with non-conversion. The sIL-2R levels of AML patients were significantly higher than controls, and a significant correlation was detected between the levels of sIL-2R and WBC counts. Higher sIL-2R levels( >2000 U/ml) tended to affect both complete remission rate and survival. Serum sCD8 levels were higher than controls, but not related to FAB classification. No differences of serum TNF-alpha levels were detected as compared with healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: From these results, this study indicates that serum sIL-2R and sCD8 are significantly increased in some patients with MDS and AML, and increased levels of serum sIL-2R and sCD8 may be useful for predicting prognosis of these patients.
Anemia, Refractory, with Excess of Blasts ; Classification ; Cytokines ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute* ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes* ; Prognosis ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*