BACKGROUND: Hepatolithiasis is rarely associated with a cholangiocarcinoma and the etiologic relationship between them has not been proved. Hepatolithiasis is a risk factor for cholangiocarcinoma. Accurate preoperative diagnosis remains low, and the survival outcome is still dismal, despite improvements in imaging studies. METHODS: Eighteen cases of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas among the 522 cases undergoing treatments from Jan. 1984 to May 1998 for hepatolithiasis at the Department of Surgery, Kyung Hee University Hospital were reviewed. RESULTS: The patients had a significantly long duration of symptoms, a high incidence of previous biliary surgery, and a lower rate of preoperative diagnosis. The eighteen cases accounted for 3.4% of the hepatolithiasis cases and 8.5% of the cholangiocarcinomas. There were 17 women and 1 man, and the most prevalent age group was in the 5th and the 6th decades. HBsAg was positive in one case who had chronic hepatitis, 3 patients had clonorchiasis, and 2 patients had liver cirrhosis. CEA and CA19-9 were elevated in 42.9% (3/7) and 27.3% (3/11) of the patients. Various imaging studies, including ultrasonography, CT, choangiography, angiography, and ERCP were performed for diagnosis. The malignant lesions could not be detected preoperatively in 9 patients, and the presence of a coexisting malignant tumor was confirmed by frozen section or by permanent tissue pathology. The operative methods were as follows; a lobectomy in 4 patients, a segmentectomy in 4 patients, and a CBD resection for palliation or explo-laparotomy only in 4 patients because of multiple hepatic metastases. During the operation, the exact location of the stones and the gross pathology of the tumor were recorded in each case. The left side was more prevalent than the right. The mean survival was 15 months for resection group and 9 months for non resection group. CONCLUSIONS: The lower survival rates may be attributed to delayed diagnosis, lower diagnostic accuracy, and relatively fewer curative resections in the patients with stone-containing cholangiocarcinomas. Hepatolithiasis is one of the risk factors of a cholangiocarcinoma. During the diagnostic and operative procedures, we should not overlook a cholangiocarcinoma which can coexist with hepatolithiasis, and we should examine tumor markers, the results of imaging studies and tissue examinations, and the operative findings.
Angiography ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Cholangiocarcinoma* ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Clonorchiasis ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Frozen Sections ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pathology ; Risk Factors ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Survival Rate ; Ultrasonography

Eosinophils are only a small minority of peripheral blood leucocytes and, in normal subjects, most are found in the tissues of the lung and gastrointestinal tract. Peripheral blood eosinophilia is occurred by various causes, allergic diseases, parasite infection, clonal disorder, and drug. Moderate to severe eosinophilia may be caused by the idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES), but the commonest cause of eosinophilia worldwide is helminthic infection and, in industrialized nations, atopic disease. Whatever the cause for the eosinophilia, in certain circumstances the eosinophils produce damage to various organs by activation of eosinophils, thrombotic events, release of eosinophil granule contents, and deposition of eosinophil proteins. Clinical manifestations are characterized by thromboembolic events of the involved organ, such as the heart, lungs, or nervous system. To our knowledge, the association between hypereosinophilia and intraabdominal multivessel (portal, splenic and superior mesenteric vein) thrombosis has never previously been reported. Thus, we report a case with portal, splenic and superior mesenteric venous thrombosis simultaneously with disseminated intravascular coagulapathy in the patient with hypereosinophilia.
Developed Countries ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Heart ; Helminths ; Humans ; Hypereosinophilic Syndrome ; Lung ; Mesenteric Veins* ; Necrosis* ; Nervous System ; Parasites ; Portal Vein* ; Splenic Vein* ; Thrombosis* ; Venous Thrombosis

PURPOSE: Recently, a mobile ultracongruent polyethylene insert was used to increase joint stability in the posterior cruciate ligament sacrificed total knee arthroplasty with non-posted mobile bearing. However, as yet there have been no reports about this implant. In this study, the clinical and radiological results of surgery using the implant were analyzed through a navigation system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects included 95 cases of 70 patients to whom the rotating tibial implant was applied after posterior cruciate ligament resection among the patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty from September 2006 to December 2008. The follow-up duration was at least 24 months, and 40 months on average. For clinical evaluation, the knee score and functional scores were measured preoperatively and at the time of final follow-up. With reference to a 5 mm joint line change measurement recorded by the navigation system, which can affect the clinical result, the comparison and evaluation were performed by dividing the subjects into group I (< or =5 mm) and group II (>5 mm). Radiological evaluation was performed by measuring the angle of the mechanical axis of the lower extremities and the patella tilting angle preoperatively and at the time of final follow-up using plain radiographs. RESULTS: Seventy subjects (95 cases) were followed up for at least 24 months. According to the clinical results, the mean KSS knee score improved from a preoperative score of 43.4 to a final follow-up score of 90.6 (p<0.0001). In addition, the mean functional score improved from a preoperative score of 51 to a final follow-up score of 88.4 (p<0.0001). Finally, the mean joint line change, which can affect the clinical result, was 5.82 mm, ranging from -1 to 12 mm. The clinical and radiological evaluations were performed by dividing the subjects into two groups in relation to the reference value of 5 mm, but no significant difference was found. The mechanical axis angles of the lower extremities improved from the preoperative value of varus 10.01degrees to the final follow-up value of varus 1.89degrees, and the difference was significant (p<0.0001). The mean patella tilting angles were 8.8degrees and 9.3degrees, respectively, at the time before the operation and after the final follow-up; this difference was not significant (p=0.89). CONCLUSION: Good clinical and radiological results were observed after at least two years of follow-up subsequent to total knee arthroplasty, in which a rotating ultracongruent polyethylene insert was applied after posterior cruciate ligament resection using a navigation system.
Arthroplasty ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Lower Extremity ; Patella ; Polyethylene ; Posterior Cruciate Ligament ; Reference Values ; Ursidae

This study examined urinary cotinine levels and self-reported smoking among pregnant women in Korea and the factors associated with smoking during pregnancy. The subjects were selected from pregnant women who visited 30 randomly sampled obstetric clinics and prenatal care hospitals in Korea in 2006. Smoking status was determined by self-reporting and urinary cotinine measurement. A total of 1,090 self-administered questionnaires and 1,057 urine samples were analyzed. The percentage of smoking revealed by self-reporting was 0.55% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.11-0.99) and that revealed by urinary cotinine measurement (>100 ng/mL) was 3.03% (95% CI, 1.99-4.06). The kappa coefficient of agreement between self-reported smoking status and urinary cotinine measurement was 0.20 (95% CI, 0.03-0.37). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that early gestational period, low educational level, and being married to a smoker were significant risk factors for smoking during pregnancy. Smoking among pregnant women in Korea is not negligible, and those who are concerned to maternal and child health should be aware of this possibility among pregnant women in countries with similar cultural background.
Adult ; Cotinine/*urine ; Female ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Middle Aged ; Pregnancy ; Reproducibility of Results ; Self-Examination/*statistics & numerical data ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Smoking/*epidemiology/*urine ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has become the treatment of choice for patients with symptomatic gallbladder (GB) stones. About 10% of patients with symptomatic GB stones may have common duct (CD) stones at the same time. For patients with symptomatic GB stones and suspected CD stones, an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP) should be performed. The preferred approach to these patients is an ERCP, an endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST), and removal of the CD stones, followed by a LC. The aims of this study were to test the safety and to evaluate the efficacy of the endoscopic and laparoscopic procedure in patients with symptomatic GB stones associated with CD stones. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted on 522 patients who had been treated surgically for GB stones with or without CD stones between Jul. 1994 and Jun 1997. Among them, an ERCP followed by a LC was performed in 57 (67.1%) of the 85 patients who had CD stones, a LC in 377, an open cholecystectomy in 60, and an open cholecystectomy and CD exploration in 28. RESULTS: There were significant differences in operation times, hospital stays, and postoperative complications between the group with an EST followed by a LC and the group with an open cholecystectomy and CD exploration, but no significant differences between the LC group and the group with an EST followed by a LC. CONCLUSIONS: An EST followed by a LC is a good and safe treatment mordality for patients with symptomatic GB stones associated with CD stones.
Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic* ; Choledocholithiasis* ; Gallbladder ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic*

PURPOSE: Ischemia-reperfusion is an important pathologic process that leads to impairment of the liver after major surgery. Ischmia-reperfusion injury includes both hypoxia and an inflammatory response associated with reperfusion; the former is caused by the lack of microvascular perfusion and the latter is mediated by cytyokines and oxygen free radicals. In addition to inhibiting thrombin, plasmin, kalikrein, trypsin, and neutrophil elastase, gabexate mesilate also plays an important role in inhibiting cytokines and oxygen free radical production. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of gabexate mesilate on ischemia- reperfusion injury in the liver. METHODS: Twenty-four New Zealand white rabbits were divided into three groups. Clamping was not done in group A (n=8), although it was done in group B (n=8) and group C (n=8). Group C received intravenous infusion of gabexate mesilate (10 mg/kg/hr) continuously during the process of clamping. Serum alanine aminotrasferase (ALT) and purine nucleoside phophorylase (PNP) were measured immediately before clamping, following 30-minute ischemia, and after 60-minute reperfusion. Hepatic tissue adenosine triphophate (ATP), xanthine oxidase, and malondialdehyde (MDA) plus 4-hydroxyalcenals (4HA) were measured after reperfusion. RESULTS: Compared with group A, group B and group C demonstrated a significant increase in ALT and PNP levels following ischemia and reperfusion, as well as in xanthine oxidase and MDA plus 4HA levels following reperfusion. However, ATP levels showed no significant differences among the three groups. ALT levels were significantly lower in group C than in group B following reperfusion (P<0.01),although there was no significant differences in PNP levels between them. Xanthine oxidase and MDA plus 4HA levels were significantly lower in group C than in group B (P<0.05). The results suggest that gabexate mesilate inhibits an increase in ALT, xanthine oxidase, and MDA plus 4HA levels. CONCLUSION: Gabexate mesilate inhibits oxygen free radical production of xanthine oxidase, and results in a reduction of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Adenosine ; Adenosine Triphosphate ; Alanine ; Anoxia ; Constriction ; Cytokines ; Fibrinolysin ; Free Radicals ; Gabexate* ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Ischemia ; Leukocyte Elastase ; Liver* ; Malondialdehyde ; Oxygen ; Perfusion ; Rabbits ; Reperfusion ; Reperfusion Injury ; Thrombin ; Trypsin ; Xanthine Oxidase

PURPOSE: This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the association between self-reported exposure status to second-hand smoke and urinary cotinine level in pregnant nonsmokers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited pregnant nonsmokers from the prenatal care clinics of a university hospital and two community health centers, and their urinary cotinine concentrations were measured. RESULTS: Among a total of 412 pregnant nonsmokers, the proportions of self-reported exposure to second-hand smoke and positive urinary cotinine level were 60.4% and 3.4%, respectively. Among those, 4.8% of the participants who reported exposure to second-hand smoke had cotinine levels of 40 ng/mL (the kappa value = 0.029, p = 0.049). Among those who reported living with smokers (n = 170), "smoking currently permitted in the whole house" (vs. not permitted at home) was associated with positive urinary cotinine in the univariable analysis. Furthermore, this variable showed a significant association with positive urinary cotinine in the stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis [Odds ratio (OR), 15.6; 95% Confidence interval (CI) = 2.1-115.4]. CONCLUSION: In the current study, the association between self-reported exposure status to second-hand smoke and positive urinary cotinine in pregnant nonsmokers was poor. "Smoking currently permitted in the whole house" was a significant factor of positive urinary cotinine in pregnant nonsmokers. Furthermore, we suggest that a complete smoking ban at home should be considered to avoid potential adverse effects on pregnancy outcomes due to second-hand smoke.
Adult ; Cotinine/*urine ; *Environmental Exposure ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Regression Analysis ; *Tobacco Smoke Pollution

PURPOSE: It has been postulated that dopamine release in the striatum underlies the reinforcing properties of nicotine. Substantial evidence in the animal studies demonstrates that nicotine interacts with dopaminergic neuron and regulates the activation of the dopaminergic system. The aim of this study was to visualize the dopamine release by smoking in human brain using PET scan with [11C]raclopride. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five male non-smokers or ex-smokers with an abstinence period longer than 1 year (mean age of 24.4+/-1.7 years) were enrolled in this study. [11C]raclopride, a dopamine D2 receptor radioligand, was administrated with bolus-plus- constant infusion. Dynamic PET was performed during 120 minutes (3x20s, 2x60s, 2x120s, 1x180s and 22x300s). Following the 50 minute-scanning, subjects smoked a cigarette containing 1 mg of nicotine while in the scanner. Blood samples for the measurement of plasma nicotine level were collected at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45, 60, and 90 minute after smoking. Regions for striatal structures were drawn on the coronal summed PET images guided with co-registered MRI. Binding potential, calculated as (striatal-cerebellar) /cerebellar activity, was measured under equilibrium condition at baseline and smoking session. RESULTS: The mean decrease in binding potential of [11C]raclopride between the baseline and smoking in caudate head, anterior putamen and ventral striatum was 4.7 %, 4.0 % and 7.8 %, respectively. This indicated the striatal dopamine release by smoking. Of these, the reduction in binding potential in the ventral striatum was significantly correlated with the cumulated plasma level of the nicotine (Spearman's rho=0.9, p=0.04). CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate that in vivo imaging with [11C]raclopride PET could measure nicotine-induced dopamine release in the human brain, which has a significant positive correlation with the amount of nicotine administered by smoking.
Animals ; Basal Ganglia ; Brain ; Dopamine* ; Dopaminergic Neurons ; Head ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Nicotine ; Plasma ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Putamen ; Receptors, Dopamine D2 ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tobacco Products

This study investigated sociodemographic and smoking behavioral factors associated with smoking cessation according to follow-up periods. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of transdermal nicotine patches, subjects were a total of 118 adult male smokers, who were followed up for 12 months. Univariable logistic regression analysis and stepwise multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the predictors of smoking cessation. The overall self-reported point prevalence rates of abstinence were 20% (24/118) at 12 months follow-up, and there was no significant difference in abstinence rates between placebo and nicotine patch groups. In the univariable logistic regression analysis, predictors of successful smoking cessation were the low consumption of cigarettes per day and the low Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) scores (p<0.05) at 3, 6, and 12 months follow-up. In the stepwise multiple logistic regression analyses, predictors of successful smoking cessation, which were different according to the follow- up periods, were found to be the low consumption of cigarettes per day at the short-term and midterm follow-up (< or =6 months), older age, and the low consumption of cigarettes per day at the long-term follow-up (12 months).
Administration, Cutaneous ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Double-Blind Method ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Nicotine/*administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Smoking/*psychology ; *Smoking Cessation

PURPOSE: Most outcome studies of bypass surgery are limited to five years of follow-up. However, as human life expectancy has increased, analyses of more long-term outcomes are needed. The aim of this study is to evaluate 10-year outcomes of anatomical bypasses in aortoiliac occlusive disease. METHODS: From 1996 to 2009, 92 patients (82 males and 10 females) underwent aortic anatomical bypasses to treat aortoiliac occlusive disease at Samsung Medical Center. The patients were reviewed retrospectively. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were performed using PASW ver. 18.0 (IBM Co). RESULTS: A total of 72 patients (78.3%) underwent aorto-femoral bypasses (uni- or bi-femoral), 15 patients (16.3%) underwent aorto-iliac bypasses (uni- or bi-iliac), and 5 patients (5.4%) underwent aorto-iliac and aorto-femoral bypasses. The overall primary patency rates of the 92 patients were 86.2% over 5 years and 77.6% over 10 years. The 10-year limb salvage rate and overall survival rate were 97.7% and 91.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The overall patency rates of bypass graft and limb salvage rates decreased as time passed. The analysis of results after bypass surgery to treat arterial occlusive disease will be needed to extend for 10 years of follow-up.
Arterial Occlusive Diseases ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leriche Syndrome ; Life Expectancy ; Limb Salvage ; Male ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Transplants