Gastational choriocarcinoma is a malignant neoplasm of trophoblast. It may occur after hydatidiform mole, spontaneous abortion, normal pregnancy, and even an ectopic pregnancy. Extragenital choriocarcinoma is a rare tumor which attracts interest because of its controversial pathogenesis. It has been reported to occur within the lung, mediastinum, breast, prostate, thymus, pineal, nose, liver, bladder, and biliary tree, as well as most parts of the gastrointestinal tract. We experienced a case of primary choriocarcinoma of stomach with a metastasis to the liver of a 54-year-old man. So, we present a case with a review of literature.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Biliary Tract ; Breast ; Choriocarcinoma* ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Hydatidiform Mole ; Liver ; Lung ; Mediastinum ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Nose ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Prostate ; Stomach ; Thymus Gland ; Trophoblasts ; Urinary Bladder

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the clinical variables that predict functional and cognitive recovery at 1- and 6-month in both severe and moderate/mild traumatic brain injury patients. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 82 traumatically brain-injured patients who were admitted to a Neurological Intensive Care Unit at a university hospital. Potential prognostic factors included were age, motor and pupillary response, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and the presence of intracranial hematoma at admission. RESULTS: The significant predictors of functional disability in severe traumatic brain injury subjects were, age, systolic blood pressure, the presence of intracranial hematoma, motor response, and heart rate at admission. In moderate/mild traumatic brain injury patients, motor response, abnormal pupil reflex, and heart rate at admission were identified as significant predictors of functional disability. On the other hand, the significant predictors of cognitive ability for severe traumatic brain injury patients were motor response and the presence of intracranial hematoma at admission, whereas those for moderate/mild patients were motor response, pupil reflex, systolic blood pressure at admission, and age. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study indicate that the significant predictors of TBI differ according to TBI severity on admission, outcome type, and outcome measurement time. This can be meaningful to critical care nurses for a better understanding on the prediction of brain injury patients. On the other hand, the model used in the present study appeared to produce relatively low explicabilities for functional and cognitive recovery although a direct comparison of our results with those of others is difficult due to differences in outcome definition and validation METHODS: This implies that other clinical variables should be added to the model used in the present study to increase its predicting power for determining functional and cognitive outcomes.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Brain Injuries/*diagnosis/*rehabilitation ; Disability Evaluation ; Female ; *Glasgow Coma Scale ; *Health Status Indicators ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; *Recovery of Function

This article is the case report of primary gastric malignant lymphoma which was diagnosed by laparatomy. A 24-year-old male was admitted because of epigastric pain and general weakness, He was taken by gastrofiberoscopy with biopsy, upper gastrointestinal series, ultrasonogram, and abdominal computerized tomogram. Endoseopic pieture demonstrated whitish to yellowish exudate in the ulcer base and the surround.ing mucosal elevation in the poterior wall of the antrum and lower body. In the X-ray and endoseapic findings, the lesion was considered as Borrmann III type carcinoma, but on the second endoscopic biopsy gastric lymphoma was suapected. Reaected stomach revealed an irregular ulceration with the surrounding mucosal elevation with a size of 5X7X10cm at the pasterior wall of the antrum. Bridging folds were observed on the surrounding elevated mucosa of the lesion. Histologically, the lesion was diagnosed as malignant lymphoma (poorly differentiated lymphocytic).
Biopsy ; Exudates and Transudates ; Humans ; Lymphoma* ; Male ; Mucous Membrane ; Stomach ; Ulcer ; Ultrasonography ; Young Adult

High tension electrical burns affecting the wrist are likely to produce full thickness necrosis of the skin and to damage deep vital structures beneath the eschar, affecting he local tendons, nerves, vessels, even bones and joints which result in serious dysfunction of the hand. An aggressive approach to the treatment of these severe wounds and adequate wound coverage are essential for the successful result. From October 1997 to February 2000, we had treated 23 electrical wrist injuries in 20 patients with free flaps. Among these, 13 anterolateral thigh flaps, 5 forearm flaps, 2 scapular flaps, 2 parascapular flaps, and 1 medial leg flap were executed. About 2-4 weeks after initial injury, we tried free flaps. Preoperative debridement was not carried out. At the time of surgery, debridement of all nonviable tissue was done, but nerves, tendons, and bones were left in place with minimal or no debridement when they had anatomic continuity, regardless of their appearance of viability. In all cases, successful soft tissue coverage and wound healing were achieved, and we obtained the following conclusions. 1. Flap coverage should be executed before damage of the tendons, nerves, vessels. 2. As long as the free flap survives, the infected tendons, nerves, and denuded bone can be salvaged. 3. For later reconstruction of the wrist, fasciocutaneous flap should be preferred to promise tendon gliding and endure several operative procedures.
Burns* ; Debridement ; Forearm ; Free Tissue Flaps* ; Hand ; Humans ; Joints ; Leg ; Necrosis ; Skin ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Tendons ; Thigh ; Wound Healing ; Wounds and Injuries ; Wrist Injuries ; Wrist*

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been reported to possess the capacity to colonize vascular grafts and hold promise for therapeutic neovascularization. However, limited quantities of EPCs have been the major factor impeding effective research on vasculoangiogenesis. In this study, cytokine and culture conditions necessary for the provision of large quantities of endothelial cells (ECs) were investigated. Cord blood was collected from 18 normal full-term deliveries and CD34+ cells were isolated by MACS system (Miltenyi Biotech, Bergish-Gladbach, Germany). To evaluate the effect of cytokines, CD34+ cells were cultured with various cytokine combinations, such as stem cell factor (SCF), flt3-ligand (FL), and thrombopoietin (TPO) with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin-1beta, fibroblast growth factor-basic (FGF-b) as basic cytokines. The quantities of non-adherent and adherent cells were the greatest with SCF, FL and TPO. The addition of TPO to all other cytokines significantly increased the number of non-adherent and adherent cells (p< 0.05, Wilcoxon rank sum test). After four weeks of culture, adherent cells expressed endothelial specific markers such as KDR, CD31 and CD62E. Typical morphology of ECs was observed during culture, such as cord-like structure and cobblestone appearance, suggesting that the adherent cells were consistent with ECs. In this study, the experimental conditions that optimize the production of ECs for therapeutic neovascularization were described. And it was possibly suggested that TPO plays a major role in differentiation from EPCs to ECs.
Antigens, CD34/analysis ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects ; Cell Division/drug effects ; *Cell Separation ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytokines/pharmacology ; *Endothelial Cells/immunology ; Fetal Blood/*cytology ; Fetus ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; *Stem Cells/*immunology ; Thrombopoietin/pharmacology

Trichuriasis is an intestinal infection of human beings caused by Trichuris trichiura, more commonly known as whipworm because of its whip-like appearance. It is characterized by the invasion of the colonic mucosa by the adult trichuris. It is prevalent throughout the world, especially in tropical areas. Diagnosis is made typically by the identification of characteristic barrel-shaped eggs in the feces, although adult worms may be seen rarely at sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. We report five cases of whipworm infection that was diagnosed on colonoscopic examination.
Adult ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Diagnosis* ; Eggs ; Feces ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane ; Ovum ; Sigmoidoscopy ; Trichuriasis ; Trichuris

Perforation of gallbladder is a serious complication of acute cholecystitis with alarmingly high mortality rate. These high mortality and morbidity rates were caused by delay in prompt diagnosis and adequate therapy. Especially, mortality and morbidity rates rise markedly in the elderly patient with severe systemic illness. In the patients of gallbladder perforation who are poor candidate for general anesthesia and major operation, percutaneous cholecystic drainage procedure is good alternatives. We experienced a case of gallbladder perforation which was treated successfully by non-operative percutaneous transhepatic cholecystic drainage(PTCCD) in 65-year-old female. She couldn't be a candidate for cholecystectomy or operative chlecystostomy because of severe adhesion of gallbladder to adjacent organ and tissue due to previous gallbladder empyema. We decided to take non-operative percutaneous transhepatic cholecystic drainage and percutaneous peritoneal drainage of abdominal abscess. Thereafter, we examined gallbladder by percutaneous transhepatic cholecystoscopylPTCCS)and rule out gallstone and gallbladder malignancy. So, we presented the case with the brief review of the literatures.
Abdominal Abscess ; Aged ; Anesthesia, General ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystitis ; Cholecystitis, Acute ; Diagnosis ; Drainage* ; Female ; Gallbladder* ; Gallstones ; Humans ; Mortality

Endoscopic endoprosthesis is well established as a cheap, fast and durable procedure for palliation of malignant dysphagia. But the placement of conventional endoprosthesis is difficult and is associated with significant complications such as hemorrhage, perforation and dysfunction of the prosthesis. Recently, self -expand- able metal prosthesis have also been utilized for malignant esophageal stenosis, and palliation of this modality seems to be more effective than other modalities. However the main problems with these metal stents are tumor ingrowth leading to reobstruction, migration, and eophageal trauma by the distal, hard skirt of the stent. EsophaCoil stent is a simple coil with close loops made from a single flat wire of nickel titanium alloy. The radial force of this material is much stronger than stainless steel, expansion time is faster and the stent is able to dilate even extremely resistant strictures. This new metalic stent seems to have several advantages over the current commnerically available ones. We report our experiences with this EsophaCoil stent and review of literature.
Alloys ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Deglutition Disorders ; Esophageal Stenosis* ; Hemorrhage ; Nickel ; Prostheses and Implants* ; Stainless Steel ; Stents ; Titanium

We report our experience in five patients with malignant obstructive jaundice with a new self expandable metallic stent, a coil spring made from nickel-titanium alloy. Endoscopic biliary drainage(EBD) is a safe and effective noninvasive biliary drainage method and is indicated with malignant obstructive jaundice. In order to avoid being limited by the size of the instrumentation channel of the endoscope, expandable stents have been developed. The main problems with these expandable metal stents are tumor ingrowth leading to reobstruction, migration of the stent from its original position, and epithelial trauma by the distal hard edges of the stent. The new super-elastic metallic coil stent which has a very strong radial force (EndoCoil'" stent, Instent Co.) was developed to solve the above mentioned problems. The stent which is constricted over an introducing catheter is inserted by transduodenal approach. It expands spontaneously after release to its original 8 mm diameter. During the last 6.5 rnonths, 5 stents were inserted in patients with cholangiocarcinoma, pancreatic carcinoma and cancer of the ampulla of Vater to releave jaundice. Clinical improvement was achieved in all the patients except in one who died from multiple organ metastasis. After a mean follow-up of 6 month., patients had no evidence of biliary reobstruction. Although follow-up is short, these results are encouraging, and this new metallic stent seems to have several advantages over the current commercially available ones.
Alloys ; Ampulla of Vater ; Catheters ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; Drainage ; Endoscopes ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Jaundice, Obstructive* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Stents*

Endoscopic variceal ligation(EVL) is effective in both emergent and elective treatment of esophageal varices and can be used as a safe alternative to sclerotherapy. However, as yet no transparent ligating device is widely available, the endoscopic view through the present commercial ligating device is so narrow that it is often difficult to both approach the target and accurately define and position the bleeding site. To assess the benifit of transparent EVL device, total 143 patients, 632 sessions, underwent EVL treatment. In 545 sessions the non-transparent, conventional-type ligating devices (Stigmann-Goff ligating devices) were used, whereas in 87 sessions the transparent ligating devices used. 35 patients underwent EVL under active bleeding conditions; in 29 patients a conventional ligation devices, whereas in 6 patients a transparent ligating devices were used. The remaining l08 patients were either electively treated by EVL. The visual fields decreased to 20-30% with the conventional devices, but no change of visual fields were noted with the transparent devices. In electively treated cases by EVL, the times need to ligate one band were not significantly different in the conventional devices (average, 18.5 sec) compared with that in the transparent devices (average, 16.7 sec), but in active bleeding conditions it took a significantly longer times in the conventional devices (mean, 30.7 sec) compared with that in the transparent devices (average, 19.4 sec). The hemostatic success rates in active bleeding conditions were 89.7%(26/29) using the conventional devices, 100%(6/6) using the transparent devices. In conclusion this newly developed transparent ligating device provides an improved visual field and shortens ligating time, especially in active bleeding condition. Therefore EVL using transparent device is more effective method in treatment of esophageal varices, especially active bleeding conditions.
Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Ligation* ; Sclerotherapy ; Visual Fields