There are many kinds of treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) such as surgical resection, liver transplantation, chemotherapy, interventional therapy [TACE, ethanol embolization, Immuno -chemoembolization, I131 -lipiodol embolization], thermal therapy, cryotherapy, and radiation therapy. Generally spontaneous remission is not common in HCC, however underlying mechanism of spontaneous remission is uncertain. We report a case of complete remission after one time TACE in ruptured HCC with review of literature about the effect of TACE and spontaneous remission. We conclude that arterial embolization is an effective alternative to surgery for hepatic hemostasis in patients with spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Cryotherapy ; Drug Therapy ; Ethanol ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; Remission, Spontaneous ; Rupture, Spontaneous

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, decreased physical activity is considered to be a contributor to increase the prevalence of many diseases such as obesity, coronary heart disease and so on. Many researches demonstrated that regular physical activity reduce all cause mortality. To increase the physical activities of the population, accurate estimation of the activities is needed. Actical and actigraph are confirmed as accurate tools to measure physical activities. But the target populations of the validity studies were not Asian people. Therefore, the accuracy of the accelerometers should be confirmed in Asian people. The accuracy of the tools could be different. Therefore head to head comparison study between the tools would be needed. METHODS: Thirty volunteers from the community, ages over 20 yrs, were recruited. The participants put on the two accelerometers (Actical, Actigraph) on the waists, secured with elastic belts, and performed a session of rest and three structured activities (two walking speeds, 4 km/hr and 6 km/hr, and one jogging speed, 8 km/hr). During each activity, expired respiratory gases were collected, and oxygen consumption (VO2) was measured by indirect calorimetry (Model Quark beta2(R)). The calories measured by gas analyzer and two accelerometers were compared by correlation analysis using SPSS program. RESULTS: Pearson correlation coefficient between gas analyzer and two accelerometers was calculated at three structured activities. The r in Actical was 0.747, 0.785, and 0.677, at speed of 4, 6, 8 km/hr, respectively (P<0.05), and the same measures in Actigraph was 0.617, 0.737, and 0.530 (P<0.05), respectively. Pearson correlation coefficient was also calculated between the two accelerometers, and the r was 0.881, 0.927, and 0.824, at each speed. CONCLUSION: The Actical and Actigraph are valid tools for measuring physical activities in Korean people.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Calorimetry, Indirect ; Coronary Disease ; Gases ; Head ; Health Services Needs and Demand ; Humans ; Jogging ; Motor Activity ; Obesity ; Oxygen Consumption ; Prevalence ; Walking

Emphysematous pyelonephritis is an uncommon and, but life-threatening necrotizing inflammation of renal parenchyme and perinephric tissue by gas-forming organisms. This disease is encountered mainly in patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and/or urinary tract obstruction etc. Clinically, it appears as an acute severe clinical pyelonephritis that needs emergency care with poor prognosis. Though the pathogenesis of this disease is still pooly understood, radiographic demonstration of gas shadow in renal parenchyme and peri- nephritic tissue establishes the diagnosis of emphysematous pyelonephritis. The identification of this finding has been believed to consider incision and drainage or nephrectomy in addition to medical treatment, because of high mortality rate of this disease in spite of vigorous medical management. We herein present 1 diabetic patient with emphysematous pyelonephritis who responded to medical treatment alone. The patient was treated with antibiotics alone, the clinical signs and laboratory findings were improved, CT scan 1 month after medical treatment revealed absence of gas in the renal pelvis.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diagnosis ; Drainage ; Emergency Medical Services ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Kidney Pelvis* ; Mortality ; Nephrectomy ; Prognosis ; Pyelonephritis* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Urinary Tract

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin disease and its prevalence has recently increased. Epidemiological research for associated factors of AD has recently been reported. However, a large population study on the factors affecting the disease development and progression in childhood AD has not yet been carried out in Suwon. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the prevalence of AD in elementary school students and the associated factors of the disease development and progression in Suwon. METHODS: This study was carried out among 1,330 elementary school students from April to July, 2009. First, a questionnaire study (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood, ISSAC) which covered clinical manifestations, environment, and life style was performed. Then, two dermatologists examined the skin of students with symptoms suspicious of AD and evaluated the severity using the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score. RESULTS: The prevalence of AD among the elementary school students in Suwon as evaluated by questionnaire was 22.9%. However, the prevalence confirmed by two dermatologists was 6.7%. The average EASI score measured by the two dermatologists was 3.52+/-3.05. The most common age of onset was under 2 years, followed by 2~4 years. The two major risk factors of AD showing statistical significance were parental past history of atopic disease and moving to a new residence within a year after birth. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that certain genetic and environmental factors may affect the prevalence of childhood AD in Suwon.
Age of Onset ; Asthma ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Eczema ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Life Style ; Parents ; Parturition ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Skin ; Skin Diseases

PURPOSE: The most important factor discrediting the reliability of MRAs is the overestimation of the degree of stenosis in the internal carotid artery(ICA). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the second aryhemodynamics and the cause(s) for the overestimation of the degree of variable stenotic phantoms of the carotidartery using steady-state flow on MRAs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using scrylic materials, normal and variable stenotic phantoms of the bifurcated carotid artery were constructed (40% and 65%). Flow patterns were evaluated with axial and coronal imaging of MRAs (2D-TOF and 3D-TOF) and DSAs of phantoms constructed from an automated closed-type circulatory system filled with 10% glucose solution. These findings were then compared with those obtained from CFD. RESULTS: 3D-TOF axial MRA of asymmetrically 40 percent stenotic phantom revealed 40 percent stenosis identical to the stenotic region of phantoms with continued poststenotic signal loss, whereas 3D-TOFzsial MRA of symmetrically 65 percent stenotic phantom showed markedly decreased signal intensity at the poststenotic segment resembling occlusion. Source image of 2D-TOF coronal MRA showed redistribution (from theinternal to external carotid artery side) of the central axis of inflow depending upon the degree of stenosis ofthe ICA ; this redistribution can be a cause of the decreased signal at the poststenotic segment, due to a reduced volume of flow through the stenotic segment. The general hemodynamics of the variable stenotic phantoms on MRA were identical to the hemodynamics on DSA and CFD. CONCLUSION: Although dephasing from turbulent flow and character of maximum intensity projection (MIP) were suggested as the main cause of the decreased poststenotic signal, our study indicated that a hemodynamically redistributed central axis of inflow and reduced flow volume through stenotic channel is one of the basic factors of the decreased signal intensity ot the poststenotic segmenton MRA.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery, External ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Glucose ; Hemodynamics*

The authors studied 16 cases of craniopharyngioma who admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery of Dong San Medical center, Keimyung university, during the past 5 years from 1981 to 1985. Of these 16 cases, 9 belonged to a juvenile group with ages under 20 based on full pubertal development, and 7 cases belonged to an adult group. It was observed the difference between the age groups of the clinical, neuroradiogical and histopathopathological findings. Raised ICP symptoms were showed in juvenile group and decreased vision and visual field defect in adult group, respectivelly, as the chief complaint. All cases of the juvenile group were classified as juvenile type and three cases out of seven in the adult group were adult types in their histopathological pattern. Four juvenile types of adult group showed poor outcome. We concluded that subtotal resection with radiotherapy gave a better prognosis in both group and that hormone therapy before and operation decreased mortality and morbidity and improved the quality of survival significantly.
Adult* ; Child* ; Craniopharyngioma ; Humans ; Mortality ; Neurosurgery ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy ; Visual Fields

PURPOSE: It has been suggested that an ulceration or hemorrhage within an atheroma on a stenotic carotid artery is a clinically important cause of transient ischemic attack(TIA). In previous studies, due to its inherent signal loss by static or turbulent flow, magnetic resonance angiography(MRA) proved to be an unreliable methed for the evaluation of subtle changes of ulceration. To improve the detectability of the ulceration within atheroma, avascular phantom was filled with gadolinium solution of various concentrations during various MR sequences. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Several vascular phantoms made of elastic silicon mimicking an ulcerated stenotic internal carotid artery(ICA) were constructed, and gadolinium solution of different concentrations (1:1000 and 1:200 of Gd-DTPA) and distilled water were introduced into the vascular phantoms using a computerized pulsatile pump. To evaluate maximum intensity projection(MIP), multiple planar reconstruction(MPR) and source images, axial and coronal images of MRA with 2D-TOF(time of flight) and 3D-TOF were reviewed. Each image of various sequences was compared with plain X-ray films of each phantom filled with barium. RESULTS: On all MR suquences, the images of the phantom of the normal carotid bifurcation were superior to the images of ulcerated and stenotic phantoms. MPR and MIP were the optimal image for detecting and defining ulceration and stenosis. Better quality images were obtained when a higher concentration of Gd-DTPA was used and when the 3D-TOF technique instead of the 2D-TOF technique was applied. CONCLUSION: This study reveals that a combination of higher concentration gadolinium with MPR and MIP on 3D-TOF technique could be optimal for the evaluation of ulceration and/or stenosis at the bifurcation of the carotid artery.
Barium ; Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery, Internal* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Gadolinium ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Hemorrhage ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography* ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Silicones ; Ulcer* ; Water ; X-Ray Film

OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety and efficacy of intravaginal misoprostol versus oral dinoprostone for labor induction at term. METHODS: One hundred of patients at term were randomized to receive either 50microgram of misoprostol vaginally every 4 hours or dinoprostone 0.5mg orally every 1 hour for the maximum of six doses. Intravenous infusion of oxytocin was administered under such circumferences as the patient did not go into active labor after maximum dose, SROM was developed without an adequate contraction pattern, or the patient had arrest of dilatation(no change in cervical dilatation for 2 hours). We compared the frequency of oxytocin augmentation, administration to delivery interval, vaginal delivery rate within 12 hours and 24 hours, intrapartum complications, induction failure, mode of delivery, neonatal outcomes, and maternal complications between two groups. RESULTS: The average interval from administration to delivery was shorter in the misoprostol group(739.4+/-372.4min vs 1087.7+/-765.1min, p<0.05), but the interval from administration to vaginal delivery of each group was similar(724.3+/-375.4min vs 800.3+/-697.0min). Regarding the frequency of vaginal delivery within 24 hours, however, misoprostol group was higher than dinoprostone group(88% vs 56%, p<0.001). And oxytocin augmentation of labor occurred less commonly in misoprostol group than in dinoprostone group(20% vs 76%, p<0.05). Any statistically significant difference in intrapartum complications, mode of delivery, and neonatal or maternal adverse outcome was not appeared between these two group. CONCLUSION: Vaginal misoprostol is as effective and safe as oral dinoprostone for cervical ripening and induction of labor at term. In addition, vaginal misoprostol contributes the curtailment of labor induction expenditure due to its moderate price; misoprostol costs 100 won per 50microgram.
Cervical Ripening ; Dinoprostone* ; Female ; Health Expenditures ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Labor Stage, First ; Misoprostol* ; Oxytocin ; Pregnancy

A glomus tumor of the stomach is a rare submucosal lesion that was first described by De Busscher in 1948. Submucosal tumors of the stomach are mostly leiomyoma, leiomyosarcoma, and malignant lymphoma. It is difficult to diagnose this kind of tumor preoperatively. We present a patient with a gastric glomus tumor which showed the characteristic endoscopic ultrasonographic (EUS) finding. Our case was also diagnosed by pathology after surgery. The major EUS findings in the present case are circumscribed low echoic mass in the forth submucosal layer and an internal heterogenous echo mixed with high echoic spots. The EUS seems to be useful in distinguishing between glomus tumor and other submucosal tumors.
Endosonography* ; Glomus Tumor* ; Humans ; Leiomyoma ; Leiomyosarcoma ; Lymphoma ; Pathology ; Stomach*

PURPOSE: To provide the insight into the role of LXR alpha on the progression of diabetic nephropathy, we measured the production of extracellular matrix in the cultured mesangial cells treated with the LXR agonist. METHODS: With the mesangial cells extracted from C57BL6 mice, we cultured them in the presence of 25 mM glucose with or without TO901317, an agonist of LXRalpha We transfected siRNAs of SREBP1 and LXR alpha into the mesangial cell to suppress the activity of the two genes. RESULTS: TO901317 increased expressions of LXR alpha, SREBP-1, TGF beta-1, and collagen IV and triglyceride amount in mesangial cells cultured in 25mM glucose. These effects of TO901317 were attenuated by inhibiting transcription of LXR alpha or SREBP-1 with transfection of siRNAs. In mesangial cells transfected with siRNA of SREBP-1, changes by TO901317 were attenuated regardless of increased expression of LXR alpha. That suggested the activation of SREBP-1, an downstream gene of LXR alpha, would be more important to induce changes in mesangial cells by TO901317. CONCLUSION: The TO901317, an agonist of LXR alpha, increases extracellular matrix, collagen IV, and TGF beta-1 production in cultured mesangial cells. The SREBP-1 as well as dyslipidemia in mesangial cells enhanced by LXR agonist would be the important mechanism to induce those changes.
Animals ; Collagen ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Dyslipidemias ; Extracellular Matrix ; Glucose ; Hypertriglyceridemia ; Liver ; Mesangial Cells ; Mice ; Orphan Nuclear Receptors ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1 ; Transfection