We managed three cases of anesthesia for living related liver transplantation from December 1994 to July 1995. Donors were recipient's parents and two of them were 35-year old man, the other was 25-year-old woman. The recipients were suffered from congenital liver diseases (two of them were diagnosed as biliary atresia and the other Byler's disease). They had presented severe jaundice and cholangitis and their mean age & body weight were 15 +/- 4.9 months and 8.6 +/- 1.22 kg, respectively. Average duration of anesthesia was about 15 hours, and anhepatic time was 140 minutes, 80 m inutes and 50 minutes, respectively. Careful attention was paid to body temperature, serum potassium, ionized calcium, blood coagulation function, as well as to general condition and respiratory function. Hemodynamic value was relatively stable through out the operation and postoperative mechanical ventilatory support was required for about 3 days.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Biliary Atresia ; Blood Coagulation ; Body Temperature ; Body Weight ; Calcium ; Child* ; Cholangitis ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Liver Diseases ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Parents ; Potassium ; Tissue Donors*

The current Food and Drug Administration-approved systemic treatments for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) include multikinase inhibitors (tyrosine kinase inhibitor [TKI]) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Among ICIs, nivolumab is used as secondline therapy for advanced HCC after sorafenib failure or patient intolerance. In this case, a patient with infiltrative HCC and portal vein tumor thrombosis was treated with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) and radiation therapy. New lung metastasis developed after HAICs; thus, lenvatinib treatment was initiated. However, the disease progressed. Thereafter, sorafenib treatment was initiated but he developed intolerance, with grade 3 sorafenib-related diarrhea. Subsequently, nivolumab was administered as rescue therapy. He demonstrated a partial response to nivolumab after the third treatment and viable HCCs in the lungs and liver completely disappeared after the 24th treatment. These findings suggest that nivolumab could be used as an effective rescue therapy for advanced HCC progression after TKI treatment.

The current Food and Drug Administration-approved systemic treatments for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) include multikinase inhibitors (tyrosine kinase inhibitor [TKI]) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Among ICIs, nivolumab is used as secondline therapy for advanced HCC after sorafenib failure or patient intolerance. In this case, a patient with infiltrative HCC and portal vein tumor thrombosis was treated with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) and radiation therapy. New lung metastasis developed after HAICs; thus, lenvatinib treatment was initiated. However, the disease progressed. Thereafter, sorafenib treatment was initiated but he developed intolerance, with grade 3 sorafenib-related diarrhea. Subsequently, nivolumab was administered as rescue therapy. He demonstrated a partial response to nivolumab after the third treatment and viable HCCs in the lungs and liver completely disappeared after the 24th treatment. These findings suggest that nivolumab could be used as an effective rescue therapy for advanced HCC progression after TKI treatment.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies have shown correlation between low incidence of coronary heart disease and high consumption of fish products. It has been suggested that this may be due to the high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids of the n-3 fatty acid group in fish oil. In animal studies eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) inhibited attachment of monocytes to the arterial endothelium. METHOD: Adhesion assay was performed on the endothelial cells of the human umbilical vein with 25, 50, 100, 200 micrometer EPA-treated U937 cells. The endothelial cells were activated with lipopoysaccharide (LPS). The adhesion assay was repeated with oxidized EPA. EPA was oxidized with CuSO4 and ascorbic acid. RESULT:Viability of U937 cells were not affected by concentrations up to 200 micrometer of EPA and oxidized EPA. LPS treatment of endothelium notably increased the number of U937 cells attached to endothelial cells on the adhesion assay. However, treatment of EPA, native or oxidized, to U937 cells did not affect the number of U937 cells attached to LPS activated endothelial cells. CONCLUSION: EPA treatment, native or oxidized, of U937 cells did not affect U937 cell-endothelial cell adhesion. This suggests that inhibition of monocyte-endothelial cells attachment by EPA is not due to the effects of EPA on monocytes.
Animals ; Ascorbic Acid ; Cell Adhesion* ; Coronary Disease ; Eicosapentaenoic Acid* ; Endothelial Cells ; Endothelium ; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated ; Fish Products ; Humans ; Incidence ; Monocytes ; U937 Cells ; Umbilical Veins

BACKGROUND: The mortality rate from tuberculosis in Korea is the highest among OECD countries. However, general public's knowledge of tuberculosis is limited. Currently, exposure to tuberculosis in high school students is a big problem. METHODS: A written questionnaire was distributed to 78 high school students in Busan. RESULTS: Almost all the students had heard of tuberculosis (95%). However, their knowledge of tuberculosis was very superficial and limited. The attitude about tuberculosis was 'nothing to worry about' and there was no systemic education in the school or home. CONCLUSION: Although tuberculosis is quite serious in Korea, most people know little about it and have the wrong attitude. In particular, high school students are easily exposed to tuberculosis because they spend most of their time as a group. Therefore, education of high school students on tuberculosis is strongly recommended in schools and the home. In addition, medical practitioners should play a role in education and prevention programs.
Humans ; Korea ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tuberculosis

The brachial plexus block is a valuable method of providing anesthesia for the surgery of forearm and hand. Common technique for brachial plexus block include axillary, supraclaviculer, and interscalene approaches. The supraclavicular brachial plexus block offers adventages, ie, high success rate, rapid onset of action and relatively complete block over axillary and interscalene approach, but may be associated with pneumothorax. We marked the P point which was placed on the upper margin of clavicle that crossed the first rib on the chest PA film and marked on the skin of the patient and inserted 23G scalp needle at that point to the first rib. We performed this modified technique of supraclavicular brachial plexus block using chest PA film in 20 patients and there was no incidence of pneumothorax after this block but general anesthesia was sdministered in one case because of incomplete block. We recommend that this modified technique guided by chest PA film for supraclavicular block is simple, reliable and may reduce the incidence of pneumothorax and to increase the success rate in difficult case such as patient with extremely obesity.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Brachial Plexus* ; Clavicle ; Forearm ; Hand ; Humans ; Incidence ; Needles ; Obesity ; Pneumothorax ; Ribs ; Scalp ; Skin ; Thorax*

PURPOSE: Most cases of primary hyperparathyroidism are due to either a parathyroid adenoma or parathyroid hyperplasia. Parathyroid carcinoma is a very rare cause of hyperparathyroidism. Although the diagnosis of parathyroid carcinoma is usually established by pathologic criteria especially of vascular or capsular invasion, some clinical and biochemical features differentiate it from benign forms of hyperparathyroidism. We undertook a retrospective study in 4 patients with functioning parathyroid carcinoma, with the aim of conveying experience from management of this rare cause of kyperparathyroidism. METHODS: Clinical simptoms, biochemical laboratory, radiologic, and intraoperative findings, extent of surgical resection. histologic findings, local recurrence and distant metastasis were analysed in 4 patients diagnosed pathologically as a parathyroid carcinoma after operation from 1992 to 1998. RESULTS: Mean age was 46.7 years (33~51 years) and male to female ratio was 1:3. Neck mass was found in 3 patients, multiple bone pain in 3 patients and renal stone in 1 patient. One case has suffered from chronic renal failure for 19 years. Although preoperative laboratory evaluations showed the aspects of hyperparathyroidsm in all the cases, mean serum calcium level was 11.1 mg/dl (10.5~12.0 mg/ dl), slightly elevated. Laboratory values after surgery were within the normal range in 3 cases. However, in one case with chronic renal failure, serum PTH levels, serially checked, were above the normal range. Any of imaging methods failed to suggest a parathyroid carcinoma preoperatively. Parathyroid adenoma was suspected in 2 cases, thyroid cancer in the other cases before surgery. The extent of resection was radical resection of parathyroid lesion with more than node dissection and in 2 cases, the resection of recurrent laryngeal nerve or strap muscles was added. During followup period, any local or systemic recurrence were not evident in all the cases. CONCLUSION: Although functioning parathyroid carcinoma is a rare disease and its preoperative diagnosis, in general, cannot easily be made, the understanding of characteristic clinical and biochemical feature could help diagnosis at first surgery. Radical resection without remaining residual tumor is most important fo the management of the parathyroid cancer.
Calcium ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism ; Hyperparathyroidism, Primary ; Hyperplasia ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Male ; Muscles ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Parathyroid Neoplasms* ; Rare Diseases ; Recurrence ; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve ; Reference Values ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Neoplasms

PURPOSE: Most cases of primary hyperparathyroidism are due to either a parathyroid adenoma or parathyroid hyperplasia. Parathyroid carcinoma is a very rare cause of hyperparathyroidism. Although the diagnosis of parathyroid carcinoma is usually established by pathologic criteria especially of vascular or capsular invasion, some clinical and biochemical features differentiate it from benign forms of hyperparathyroidism. We undertook a retrospective study in 4 patients with functioning parathyroid carcinoma, with the aim of conveying experience from management of this rare cause of kyperparathyroidism. METHODS: Clinical simptoms, biochemical laboratory, radiologic, and intraoperative findings, extent of surgical resection. histologic findings, local recurrence and distant metastasis were analysed in 4 patients diagnosed pathologically as a parathyroid carcinoma after operation from 1992 to 1998. RESULTS: Mean age was 46.7 years (33~51 years) and male to female ratio was 1:3. Neck mass was found in 3 patients, multiple bone pain in 3 patients and renal stone in 1 patient. One case has suffered from chronic renal failure for 19 years. Although preoperative laboratory evaluations showed the aspects of hyperparathyroidsm in all the cases, mean serum calcium level was 11.1 mg/dl (10.5~12.0 mg/ dl), slightly elevated. Laboratory values after surgery were within the normal range in 3 cases. However, in one case with chronic renal failure, serum PTH levels, serially checked, were above the normal range. Any of imaging methods failed to suggest a parathyroid carcinoma preoperatively. Parathyroid adenoma was suspected in 2 cases, thyroid cancer in the other cases before surgery. The extent of resection was radical resection of parathyroid lesion with more than node dissection and in 2 cases, the resection of recurrent laryngeal nerve or strap muscles was added. During followup period, any local or systemic recurrence were not evident in all the cases. CONCLUSION: Although functioning parathyroid carcinoma is a rare disease and its preoperative diagnosis, in general, cannot easily be made, the understanding of characteristic clinical and biochemical feature could help diagnosis at first surgery. Radical resection without remaining residual tumor is most important fo the management of the parathyroid cancer.
Calcium ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism ; Hyperparathyroidism, Primary ; Hyperplasia ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Male ; Muscles ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Parathyroid Neoplasms* ; Rare Diseases ; Recurrence ; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve ; Reference Values ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Neoplasms

PURPOSE: The present study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of determining the prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) with a questionnaire by diagnosing AD with both a questionnaire and pediatricians' physical examinations and to determine the possible risk factors for AD. METHODS: A survey was conducted from December 2008 to February 2009 in four elementary schools. The Korean version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood written questionnaire (WQ) was used to identify AD ever and AD during the last 12 months. Current AD was diagnosed by well-trained pediatricians according to the Hanifin and Rajka's diagnostic criteria. A total of 2,729 children who completed the questionnaire and underwent a physical examination by pediatricians were included in this analysis. RESULTS: According to the WQ, the prevalence of AD in the entire life and in the last 12 months was 18.4% and 12.9%, respectively. The prevalence of clinically diagnosed AD by pediatricians was 8.8%. There was a significant positive relationship between the prevalence of AD diagnosed by physical examination and past history of allergic rhinitis (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.45), allergy history of the mother (aOR, 2.48), and AD history of the mother (aOR, 1.61). According to the WQ, there was also a significant positive relationship between the prevalence of AD in the last 12 months and past history of asthma (aOR, 2.55) and AD history of the mother (aOR, 1.71). CONCLUSION: Prevalence and risk factors of AD were different according to the survey methods. When prevalence of AD is determined with a questionnaire in the future, more careful attention should be used, because the result can be overestimated compared to the actual prevalence.
Asthma ; Child ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Mothers ; Odds Ratio ; Physical Examination ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; Risk Factors

Background: /Aim: There has been a long-standing debate about the association of directacting antiviral (DAA) therapy and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence. This study aimed to investigate the association between DAA therapy and HCC recurrence after curative therapy. Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 1,021 patients with HCV-related (hepatitis C virus) HCC who underwent radiofrequency ablation (RFA), liver resection, or both as the first treatment modality from January 2007 to December 2016 and without a history of HCV therapy before HCC treatment from a nationwide database. The effect of HCV treatment on HCC recurrence and all-cause mortality was also investigated. Results: Among the 1,021 patients, 77 (7.5%) were treated with DAA, 14 (1.4%) were treated with interferon-based therapy, and 930 (91.1%) did not receive HCV therapy. DAA therapy was an independent prognostic factor for lower HCC recurrence rate (hazard ratio [HR], 0.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.006-0.289; P=0.001 for landmarks at 6 months after HCC treatment and HR, 0.05; 95% CI, 0.007-0.354; P=0.003 for landmarks at 1 year). Furthermore, DAA therapy was associated with lower all-cause mortality (HR, 0.049; 95% CI, 0.007-0.349; P=0.003 for landmarks at 6 months and HR, 0.063; 95% CI, 0.009-0.451; P=0.006 for landmarks at 1 year). Conclusions DAA therapy after curative HCC treatment can decrease HCC recurrence and all-cause mortality compared to interferon-based therapy or no antiviral therapy. Therefore, clinicians should consider administering DAA therapy after curative HCC treatment in patients with HCV-related HCC.