Background: Graves disease is an autoimmune disease caused by TSH receptor antibodies. Thyrotropin binding inhibitor immunoglobulins(TBII) are detected in most Graves patients, but some patients have no TBII activities in their sera. It is unknown whether the clinical features of TBII-positive patients are different from those of TBII-negative patients. Methods: To evaluate the prevalence of TBII-negative Graves' patients and its clinical differences from TBII-positive patients, we examined TBII by radioreceptor assay in 686 consecutive untreated Graves patients. We found 84 TBII-negative patients(15 men and 69 women, mean age ±EM: 40.9±.4 years) and compared their clinical characteristics with 87 TBII-positive patients (22 men and 65 women, mean age±EM: 39.9±.5 years) who were selected randomly from the same patients group. Results: In this study, TBII was undetectable in 12.2% of patients with Graves' disease(84 of 686). TBII-negative group had a less weight loss than TBII-positive group. However, there was no significant differences in age, sex ratio, prevalence of ophthalmopathy, duration of illness and positive rate of family history for thyroid diseases between TBII-negative and
Antibodies ; Autoantibodies ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Female ; Graves Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence ; Radioligand Assay ; Receptors, Thyrotropin ; Sex Ratio ; Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m ; Thyroid Diseases ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyrotropin ; Weight Loss

A series of 89 patients diagnosed between 1988 and 1993 with computerized tomography(CT) as having subdural hematoma was studied retrospectively in order to evaluate the age of the subdural hematomas according to its appearance on CT scans. In all the patients, the interval from onset of injury to performance of CT scans was more than 2 days. The patients were divided into 4 groups based on the difference in density of the hematoma as seen on the CT scans;hyperdensity(16.9%), isodensity(30.3%), hypodensity(19.1%), and mixed-density(33.7%) groups. The mean interval from onset of injury to diagnosis in hyperdensity, hypodensity, mixed density, and isodensity groups was 15.7+/-18.3 days, 18.8+/-27.9 days, 35.6+/-62.1 days, and 47.6+/-52.1 days, respectively. The configuration of the hematomas on CT scans was crescentic in 74.2%, planoconvex in 12.4%, and biconvex in 13.5%. As the interval became longer, the hematomas tended to take on a planoconvex or biconvex shape rather than the crescentic shape;when the interval from onset of injury to diagnosis was within 7 days, crescentic shape was observed in 91%, within 8 to 21 days, 69%, and over 21 days, 58%. It is concluded from these findings that subdural hematomas undergo a progressive change in their attenuation as the hematomas age, changing from the initial hyperdense stage, go through a hypodense stage, and eventually to an isodense stage. These changes of attenuation values correlates fairly well with the rebleeding theory. The appearance of the hematomas as seen on CT scans also tended to change from the initial crescentic shape to the planoconvex or biconvex shape with time. However, given the possible variations of attenuation values and shapes of subdural hematomas, assumption of the age of the hematomas based on CT findings alone should be made with caution.
Diagnosis ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural* ; Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The aim of this study was to compare the quality of life (QoL) depending on the postoperative survival period or nutritional status in gastric cancer patients. Surviving gastric cancer patients (n = 222) after the gastrectomy were included in the study at Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital from April 2010 to August 2012. The Korean versions of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (QLQ-C30) and a gastric cancer-specific module, the EORTC QLQ-STO22, were used to assess the QoL. The postoperative survival period of the patients fell into two groups; the less-than-1-year group or the more-than-1-year group, and the nutritional status of the patients fell into three groups by a score of patient generated-subjective global assessment (SGA)-A, B, and C. As a result, the rate of malnutrition was 34.5% in the less-than-1-year group and 19.8% in the more-than-1-year group, respectively. Score for the fatigue (p = 0.006), loss of appetite (p = 0.002), reflux (p = 0.027) and body image (p = 0.004) in which the QoL was significantly lower in the less-than-1-year group than in the more-than-1-year group. The score of QoL according to the nutritional status of all subjects, overall health status (p = 0.043), physical functioning (p = 0.016), fatigue (p = 0.006), pain (p = 0.028), loss of appetite (p = 0.017), reflux (p = 0.003), eating restriction (p = 0.002), anxiety (p = 0.010), and body image (p = 0.001) was significantly lower in the SGA-C group than in other SGA groups. These results suggest that the nutritional status of the gastrectomy patients with stomach cancer may impact on their QoL. It is necessary to to develop nutritional intervention to improve QoL in gastric cancer patients with postoperative malnutrition.
Anxiety ; Appetite ; Body Image ; Eating ; Fatigue ; Gastrectomy* ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Malnutrition ; Nutritional Status* ; Quality of Life* ; Stomach Neoplasms*

PURPOSE: There are two surgical procedures for proximal early gastric cancer (EGC): total gastrectomy (TG) and proximal gastrectomy (PG). This study aimed to compare the long-term outcomes of PG with those of TG. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2001 and December 2008, 170 patients were diagnosed with proximal EGC at Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, of which 64 patients underwent PG and 106 underwent TG. Clinicopathologic features, postoperative complications, blood chemistry data, changes in body weight, and oncological outcomes were analyzed and retrospectively compared between both groups. RESULTS: Tumor size was smaller and the number of retrieved lymph nodes was lower in the PG group. The postoperative complication rate was 10.9% in the TG group and 16.9% in the PG group. The incidence of Los Angeles grade C and D reflux esophagitis was significantly higher in the TG group. Hemoglobin level was higher and body weight loss was greater in the TG group at 2, 3, and 5 years postoperatively. The albumin levels at 3 and 5 years were lower in the TG group. There was no significant difference in the 5-year overall survival rates between the two groups (P=0.789). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative complications and oncologic outcomes were observed to be similar between the two groups. The PG group showed better laboratory data and weight loss than did the TG group. Moreover, severe reflux esophagitis occurred less frequently in the PG group than in the TG group. PG can be considered as an effective surgical treatment for proximal EGC.
Body Weight ; Chemistry ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Esophagitis, Peptic ; Gastrectomy* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Survival Rate ; Weight Loss

Bariatric surgery is considered to be the effective treatment alternative conducted over the lifetime for reducing weight in patients with clinically morbid obesity. For many patients, the benefits of weight loss, including decreases in blood glucose, lipids, and blood pressure as well as increase in mobility, will outweigh the risks of surgical complications. But patients undergoing bariatric surgery have the least risk for long-term diet-related complications as reported in several studies. Thus, with an increasing number of severely obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery, the multidisciplinary healthcare system will need to be managed continuously. Many nutrition support specialists will need to become familiar with the metabolic consequences for the frequent monitoring of nutrition status of the patients. South Korea has a very short history with bariatric surgery, and relatively few studies have been conducted on bariatric surgery. Therefore, the objective of this report was to compare the nutrient intake, weight loss, body fat composition, and visceral fat before and after the bariatric surgery.
Adipose Tissue* ; Bariatric Surgery* ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Delivery of Health Care ; Dietary Fats ; Humans ; Intra-Abdominal Fat* ; Korea ; Nutritional Status ; Obesity ; Obesity, Morbid ; Specialization ; Weight Loss

Distant metastasis from papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), particularly from papillary thyroid microcarcinoma, is rare. We present a case of perigastric lymph node metastasis from PTC in a patient with early gastric cancer and breast cancer. During post-surgical follow-up for breast cancer, a 56-year-old woman was diagnosed incidentally with early gastric cancer and synchronous left thyroid cancer. Therefore, laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with lymph node dissection and left thyroidectomy were performed. On the basis of the pathologic findings of the surgical specimens, the patient was diagnosed to have papillary thyroid microcarcinoma with perigastric lymph node metastasis and early gastric cancer with mucosal invasion. Finally, on the basis of immunohistochemical staining with galectin-3, the diagnosis of perigastric lymph node metastasis from PTC was made. When a patient has multiple primary malignancies with lymph node metastasis, careful pathologic examination of the surgical specimen is necessary; immunohistochemical staining may be helpful in determining the primary origin of lymph node metastasis.
Breast Neoplasms ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Galectin 3 ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes* ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroidectomy

PURPOSE: Postoperative hypocalcemia is a common complication compared with the other complications following total thyroidectomy due to thyroid carcinoma. We evaluated the incidence of transient and permanent hypocalcemia and the preservation status of the parathyroid glands following total thyroidectomy due to thyroid carcinoma. METHODS: We analyzed a total of 145 cases of total thyroidectomy due to thyroid carcinoma. The preservation status of the prarathyroid glands after total thyroidectomy was classified as intact preservation or ischemic change, according to the number of intact preserved parathyroid glands in group 1 (more than 2), group 2 (1) or group 3 (0). RESULTS: Permanent hypocalcemia was not found in group 1. The rate of transient or permanent hypocalcemia was significantly lower in group 2 than that in group 3 (P< 0.05). CONCLUSION: The parathyroid glands should be preserved to minimize the occurrence of hypocalemia after performing total thyroidectomy. The number of intact preserved parathyroid glands can be a good indicator for predicting the occurrence of post-total thyroidectomy hypocalcemia.
Humans ; Hypocalcemia* ; Incidence ; Parathyroid Glands ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroidectomy*

Since laparoscopic cholecystectomy(LC) was first introduced in early 1990 in Korea, LC is now widely used with an acknowledgement of the benefits of LC.The author retrospectively analyzed 120 patients who were treated by LC and 40 patients who were treated by open cholecystectomy(OC), at the Department of Surgery, Kwang Hye Hospital from Jan. 1992 to July 1995. For the statistical analysis of the variables, student's t-test and ANOVA F-test were used to assess the differences between two groups(p value = 0.05). The obtained results were as follows. 1. The mean age and sex ratio(M:F) between LC and OC group were 48.3-years-old and 1:1.45, 57.6-years-old and 1:3.4, respectively. 2. Associated diseases were observed in 62 patients (51.7%) of the LC group and 23 patients (57.5%) of the OC group. Peptic ulcer and DM were most frequent, respectively. 3. 20 patients (16.7%) had a previous abdominal operation, with appendectomy, the most frequent among them. 4. The operation times(p=0.05), hospitalization stay(p=0.0001), and postoperative hospitalization stay(p=0.0001) were significantly shorter in the LC group than in the OC group. 5. In the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative ABGA of the LC group, especially, intraoperative PCO2 was increased due to CO2 retension and metabolic acidosis was developed, intraoperatively. PaO2 was excessively increased due to hyperventilation to correct the metabolic acidosis, intraoperatively. Satistically, intraoperative pH (p=0.0001), PaO2 (p=0.0001), PCO2 (p=0.0001) except bicarbonate (p=0.1987) were significantly changed, compared with preoperative pH or postoperative pH. 6. Operative cholangiography(OPC) was proceeded in 17 patients(14.2%) and concurrent laparoscopic appendectomy was done in 7 patients (5.8%) of the LC group. 7. Postoperative complications were occurred in 19 patients (15.8%) of the LC group. 3 patients (2.5%) were explorated, the remainders were recovered by conservative treatment. 8. On pathologic findings, cholelithiasis and chronic cholecystitis with 105 patients (87.5%) were most frequent in the LC group. In the OC group, cholelithiasis and chronic cholelithiasis with 25 patients (62.5%) were also most frequent, GB empyema with 8 patients (20%), acute cholecystitis with 7 patients (17.5%). Conclusively, laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be safely applied with lower morbidity, shorter operation times, and shorter hospital stay in selected patients.
Acidosis ; Appendectomy ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic* ; Cholecystitis ; Cholecystitis, Acute ; Cholelithiasis ; Empyema ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hyperventilation ; Korea ; Length of Stay ; Peptic Ulcer ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas other than mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome are heterogeneous; they deseve further scientific attention about their natural history and effective therapy. Pleomorphic T-cell lymphoma is a recently defined lymphoma type that can occur in the skin. We report the case of a man in whom such a tumor manifested itself with multiple subcutaneous lesions. The skin biopsy specimen showed diffuse dermal infiltration of atypical lymphocytes with highly pleomorphic nuclei. Testing for the antibody against HTLV-1 was negative and immunohistochemical staiiiing was compatible with pleomorphic T-cell lymphoma.
Biopsy ; Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, T-Cell* ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous ; Mycosis Fungoides ; Natural History ; Sezary Syndrome ; Skin ; T-Lymphocytes*

As the incidence of early gastric cancer increases, laparoscopic surgery has become one of the treatments of choice for gastric cancer. With the increase of laparoscopic surgery, the chance of discovering aberrant anatomy during the operation also increases. We present a case of laparoscopic total gastrectomy in gastric cancer patients with intestinal malrotation. Intestinal malrotation occurs in one in every 500 births. We found that laparoscopic total gastrectomy in such patients can be performed successfully when it is performed with a proper Roux limb orientation through an alternative minilaparotomy.
Extremities ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intestinal Volvulus ; Laparoscopy ; Laparotomy ; Orientation ; Parturition ; Stomach Neoplasms