No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Survival Rate*

No abstract available.
HLA-DR Antigens*

BACKGROUND: The changes of serum TNF-alpha, sTNFR, sIL-2R and sICAM-1 levels have been recently reported in some cancer patients but the clinical significance of these cytokines is not clearly established. To define the changes and clinical significance of these cytokines in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), serum levels of TNF- alpha, sTNFR, sIL-2R and sICAM-1 were measured. METHODS: The serum levels of TNF-alpha, sTNFR, sIL-2R and sICAM-1 were measured before and after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) by enzyme immunoassay in 20 patients with HCC and 10 adult healthy subjects as controls. These patients were divided into two groups, no response (NR, 14 cases) and partial response (PR, 6 cases) on the basis of changes of tumor size, new growth foci on the ultrasonographic or CT findings, and serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein. RESULTS: Serum levels of TNF-alpha, sTNFR, sIft-2R and sICAM-1 were significantly higher in all patients with HCC than in those of adult healthy controls (p<0.01). Serum levels of TNF-alpha after TACE tended in to be higher in comparison with those before TACE in the NR group (p<0.1), but those were not significantly different between before and after TACE in the PR group. Serum levels of sTNFR, sIL-2R and sICAM-1 were not significantly different between after and before TACE in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that serum levels of TNF-alpha, sTNFR, sIL-2R and sICAM:-1 in patients with HCC before therapy are significantly increased, compared with those of the control group, and the measurement of serum TNF-alpha levels may become useful in the diagnosis and monitoring of hepatocellular carcinoma in the future.
Adult ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Cytokines ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

BACKGROUND: The changes of serum TNF-alpha, sTNFR, sIL-2R and sICAM-1 levels have been recently reported in some cancer patients but the clinical significance of these cytokines is not clearly established. To define the changes and clinical significance of these cytokines in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), serum levels of TNF- alpha, sTNFR, sIL-2R and sICAM-1 were measured. METHODS: The serum levels of TNF-alpha, sTNFR, sIL-2R and sICAM-1 were measured before and after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) by enzyme immunoassay in 20 patients with HCC and 10 adult healthy subjects as controls. These patients were divided into two groups, no response (NR, 14 cases) and partial response (PR, 6 cases) on the basis of changes of tumor size, new growth foci on the ultrasonographic or CT findings, and serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein. RESULTS: Serum levels of TNF-alpha, sTNFR, sIft-2R and sICAM-1 were significantly higher in all patients with HCC than in those of adult healthy controls (p<0.01). Serum levels of TNF-alpha after TACE tended in to be higher in comparison with those before TACE in the NR group (p<0.1), but those were not significantly different between before and after TACE in the PR group. Serum levels of sTNFR, sIL-2R and sICAM-1 were not significantly different between after and before TACE in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that serum levels of TNF-alpha, sTNFR, sIL-2R and sICAM:-1 in patients with HCC before therapy are significantly increased, compared with those of the control group, and the measurement of serum TNF-alpha levels may become useful in the diagnosis and monitoring of hepatocellular carcinoma in the future.
Adult ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Cytokines ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

BACKGROUND: Obesity is linked to a wide range of respiratory diseases. Several studies have shown that body weight at baseline and weight change were related to pulmonary function. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between change in body mass index (BMI) and pulmonary function in adults. METHODS: Of those aged 40-64 years at baseline who had initially visited the health promotion center at one university-level hospital from January 2000 to December 2002, 499 (men: 309, women: 190) patients revisited the center over a 5-year period up to December 2009 and were enrolled in the study. Subjects were classified into 4 groups- group 1: normal-normal, group 2: normal-obese, group 3: obese-normal, and group 4: obese-obese, based on their BMI at baseline and follow-up. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC were measured by spirometry. RESULTS: Change in FEV1/FVC was significantly associated with change in BMI for men in all 4 groups. Change in FEV1/FVC was significantly different between group 1 and 3 and between group 1 and 4. Changes in FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC were significantly associated with change in BMI for women in all 4 groups. Change in FEV1 was significantly different between group 3 and 4, and change in FVC was significantly different between group 1 and 3. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that a change in BMI is negatively associated with change in pulmonary function. Obesity itself can be a risk factor for pulmonary dysfunction, and a decrease in BMI through weight reduction could reduce pulmonary dysfunction or improve pulmonary function in adults.
Adult ; Aged ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; Risk Factors ; Vital Capacity ; Weight Loss

No abstract available.
Humans ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets*

In order to correct a maxillofacial-skeletal disharmony successfully and achieve a favorable facial profile, orthodontic treatment must begin at pubertal growth spurt. Therefore predicting the pubertal growth pattern and evaluating the growth potential is very important For an orthodontist, estimating skeletal maturity in relation to one's personal growth spurt is essential and it must be considered into the treatment. The objective of this study was to find out whether there was a difference in menacheal age among different malocclusion groups and to evaluate the skeletal maturity at menarche. The subjects were 64 Class I malocclusion patients, 51 Class 1I patients and 38 Class III patients. Skeletal maturity was estimated from handwrist radiographs of these patients. Handwrist radiographs were taken between 3 months before and after the menarche. The results were as follows. 1. The mean chronologic age of menarche was 12.50+/-1.01 years. 2. For the Class I malocclusion group the mean age cf menarche was 12.36+/-1.04 years, for Class II 12.81+/-1,03 years and for Class III 12.32+/-0.82 years. According to these results Class II malocclusion patients started mensturation later than Class I and. Class III malocclusion patients. 3. No difference was found considering the skeletal maturity at menarche among the malocclusion groups. 4. The skeletal maturity index at menarche was SMI 7 for 45.10%, SMI 8 for 27.25%, SW 9 for 10.46%, SMI 6 for 7.84%, SMI 10 for 7.84% and SMI 5 for 1.31% patients. 5. Statistically there was a significant correlation between skeletal maturity estimated by handwrist radiographs and menacheal age( P<0.05, r-0.25430).
Female ; Growth and Development ; Humans ; Malocclusion* ; Menarche*

No abstract available.
Female ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Malignant orbital tumors represent a diverse group of neoplasms such as malignant salivary tumors, squamous cell carcinoma, sarcoma, melanoma etc. A number of orbital tumors have a potential for lymphatic metastasis, but only a little information about the lymphatic drainage and treatment for malignant orbital tumors has been published. The purpose of this study was to review lymphatic spread of malignant orbital tumors and its surgical treatment of orbital cancer when metastasized to the parotid gland. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five orbital cancer patients with lymph node metastasis of parotid gland were evaluated retrospectively. They had been treated by resection of primary tumor, parotidectomy, neck dissection and postoperative radiotherapy (except one case) from 1994 to 2000. Histopathology revealed squamous cell carcinoma in three patients, malignant melanoma in one and rhabdomyosarcoma in one. RESULTS: There were no complications postoperatively. Four cases had metastasis to intraglandular lymph nodes in the parotid gland and only one case had metastasis to preauricular lymph node. Two cases had metastasis to preglandular lymph nodes and prevascular lymph nodes in the level I lymph node. Three were NED (no evidence of disease), rhabdomyosarcoma case was DOD (died of disease) due to recurrence in submental area and breast and malignant melanoma case was AWD (alive with disease). CONCLUSION: Most orbital cancers with lymph nodes of the parotid gland have metastasis to intraglandular lymph nodes, but some of them does to extraglandular lymph nodes also. The examination of the parotid gland and the cervical lymph node must be considered in orbital cancers that have a potential for lymphatic metastasis. The results of this study indicates the need to include deep lobe and extraglandular lymph node of parotid gland for surgical removal of disease.
Breast ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Drainage ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes* ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Melanoma ; Neck Dissection ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Orbit* ; Parotid Gland* ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhabdomyosarcoma ; Sarcoma

No abstract available.
Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver* ; Sepsis* ; Vibrio cholerae* ; Vibrio*