An association study with Korean alcoholic patients(n=50) and normal controls(n=53) was performed to find the relationship between catechol-O-methyltransferase(COMT) gene polymorphism and alcoholism using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. When we compared the allele and genotype frequencies of Nla III COMT gene polymorphism in alcoholism and normal controls, there was no significant difference between two groups. Our results do not support an association between the Nla III polymorphism of COMT gene and alcoholism.
Alcoholics ; Alcoholism* ; Alleles ; Genotype ; Humans

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to review findings of gray-scale ultrasonography and to assess the diagnostic value of the resistive index (RI) in patients with acute epididymitis by comparing with that in normal volunteers. MATERIALS & METHODS: Gray-scale ultrasonogram was reviewed in nine patients with acute epididymitis for echogenicity, size and reactive hydrocele. Normal values of resistive index (RI) were obtained in 20 epididymides from 10 volunteers (aged 20-28, mean 23.7). Nine patients of epididymitis (aged 18-67, mean 37.2) were examinated with color Doppler sonography and RI was measured at 11 sites on epididymal arteries. For the prediction of acute epididymitis, accuracy, sensitivity and specificity were calculated at the cut-off value of RI in 0.65 and 0.70. RESULTS: Gray-scale ultrasonography showed echogenicity that was variable among the 9 cases (hype- rechoic 2 cases, isoechoic 2, hypoechoic 5), enlargement of epididymis in 8, and reactive hydrocele in 8 cases. Normal volunteers displayed color Doppler signals in 14 out of 20. The range of RI in normal volunteers were between 0.64 and 1.00 (mean, 0.79 +/- SD 0.10). In patients with acute epididymitis, color Doppler signals were detected in all patients. The range of RI in epididymitis were 0.40-0.68 (mean, 0.56 +/- SD 0.10). At cut-off RI value of 0.65, accuracy was 88%, sensitivity 81.8%, and specificity 92.7%. At cut-off value of 0.70, accuracy was 92%, sensitivity 100%, and specificity 85.7%. CONCLUSION: In addition to the findings of gray-scale ultrasonography, resistive index and color flow changes are valuable in diagnosing acute epididymitis.
Arteries ; Epididymis ; Epididymitis* ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Male ; Reference Values ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography ; Volunteers

BACKGROUND: To pass through the microcirculation, erythrocytes need to undergo considerable deformation. We performed an experiment to investigate the erythrocyte deformability in healthy adults and in patients with uncontrolled hypertension and controlled hypertension. METHODS: 5ml of whole blood is anticoagulated with 2mg ethylenediaminotetra-acetic acid(EDTA). 1ml graduated plastic syringe, without its plunger, is filled with anticoagulated whole blood to the 1ml mark, And the syringe is put into the assembled membrane holder. Under standard condition, whole blood is passed through a 5micro polycarbonate membrane filter under negative pressure of 20cm H2O. The studies are performed at roon temperature and within two hours of venipuncture. RESULTS: Erythrocyte deformability was observed in 91 normal healthy adults and 25 patients with uncontrolled hypertension and 18 patients with controlled hypertension. Following results were obtained. 1) In male control age group I, II, III, the erythrocyte deformability indices were 0.776+/-0.125, 0.792+/-0.189, and 0.714+/-0.172 respectively and in female the indices were 0.880+/-0.138, 0.865+/-0.182 and 0.796+/-0.170 accordingly. 2) THe RBC deformability indices in female control troup were significantly higher than the male group in statistics(p<0.05). 3) No significant differences were observed among each age group in control. 4) In patients with uncontrolled hypertension, each age group I, II and III, the erythrocyte deformability indices were 0.785+/-0.050, 0.775+/-0.122, and 0.692+/-0.133 respectively and in control group, the indices were 0.8365+/-0.140, 0.8252+/-0.186 and 0.7534+/-0.173 accordingly. And in patients with controlled hypertension, the indices were 0.820+/-0.00, 0.788+/-0.135 and 0.716+/-0.141 accordingly. 5) The erythrocyte deformability inddex in patients with uncontrolled hypertension were significantly lower than the control group(p<0.05), and no significant differences were observed among each age group between male and female in patients with uncontrolled hypertension. 6) There was no significant statistical difference of deformability indices between uncontrolled group and controlled group(p>0.05). CONCLUSION: This study reveals that the erythrocyte deformability in patients with essential hypertension is significantly lower than the healthy adults.
Adult ; Erythrocyte Deformability* ; Erythrocytes* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Male ; Membranes ; Microcirculation ; Phlebotomy ; Plastics ; Syringes

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance(MR) imaging in the differentiation of benign and malignant soft tissue masses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR examination of 47 patients with pathologically proven soft tissue masses were reviewed. This series included 19 malignant and 28 benign masses of upper and lower extremities, body, and neck. Lesions were evaluated for their margin, signal intensity and homogeneity, pattern and degree of enhancement, involvement of the adjacent tissue, and degree of surrounding edema. RESULTS: Sixteen of benign lesions(57.1%) had well-defined and smooth margin. The tumor margin was irregular in nine lesions(47.4%), however, smooth margin was noted in five cases(26.3%) of malignant lesions. On T2-weighted images, signal inhomogeneity was noted in 84% of malignant lesions and 32% of benign lesions. On Gd-DTPA enhancement study, all malignant lesions(n=18) showed enhancement and 89% showed heterogeneously enhancing pattern. Neurovascular involvement was observed more often in malignancy(n=7) compared to benign lesion(n=1). Direct invasion of the adjacent bone was noted only in malignant lesions(n=3). Surrounding edema was revealed in two benign and 11 malignant lesions. CONCLUSION: MR imaging appears useful for differentiating malignant and benign lesions by identifying tumor margin, signal homogeneity of tumor, pattern and degree of enhancement, involvement of adjacent tissue, and surrounding edema. The nature of the lesion can be determined in the majority of cases although no unique criterion to differentiate benignancy and malignancy is identified.
Edema ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neck

The severe shortage of human organ donors is one of the biggest problems with organ transplantation. The solution for this problem would be development of artificial organs or mechanical devices, stem cell derived organs, and xenogeneic organs. Artificial organs may provide a short term life or functional support, but they cannot be considered as a life-long curative therapeutic modality in the near future. Although considerable efforts have been invested in the production of lab-grown organs using stem cells, clinical application of these organs will demand many years of research and investment. Currently, stem cells are clinically applied in cell replacement therapy. Therefore, xenotransplantation would be the most imminent solution for the organ shortage. Recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms of xenograft rejection, zoonotic infections including PERV (porcine endogenous retrovirus), and production of alpha-1,3-galactosyltransferase-deficient pigs, put xenotransplantation closer to the clinical reality. At this stage, pancreatic islet xenotransplantation would be the first target for clinical application, the efficacy of which has been proven in non-human primate study and is waiting for the development of relatively non-toxic or clinically applicable immunosuppressive or tolerance-inducing regimens.
Artificial Organs ; Genetic Engineering ; Humans ; Investments ; Islets of Langerhans ; Organ Transplantation ; Primates ; Regenerative Medicine ; Rejection (Psychology) ; Stem Cell Research ; Stem Cells ; Swine ; Tissue Donors ; Transplantation, Heterologous ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Humans ; Technetium Tc 99m Dimercaptosuccinic Acid* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon* ; Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract*

Carcinoid tumors arise from enterochromaffin cells that are located predominatly in the gastrointestinal mucosa. The vast majority of rectal carcinoid tumors are benign and can be safely treated by local excision. Lesions larger than 2 cm and invading the museular wall of the rectum should be considered malignancy and treated by more radical surgery such as abominoperined resection. We report 6 cases of rectal carcinoid tumor, three cases of them were less than 1 cm in size without metastasis. Two of these, small carcinoid tumor were treated with endoacopic polypectomy and one was treated with segmental resection. The others were 2.0 cm or larger in size with regional or liver mestasis. They were treated with segmental resection or electrical fugalization for tumor and transcatheter arterial embilization for liver metastasis or none.
Carcinoid Tumor* ; Enterochromaffin Cells ; Liver ; Mucous Membrane ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Rectum

One hundred sixty three patients were hysteroscoped for various reasons at our department over 10 year period. Ninety eight patients out of 163 who were diagnosed and treated for their intrauterine adhesions(IUAs) by hysteroscopy were analysed retrospectively. Patients were classified as having mild, moderate or severe stage of IUAs according to American Fertility Society classification. Twenty nine patients(29.6%) had mild IUAs, 43 patients (43.9%) had moderate IUAs, and 26 patients(26.5%) were classified as having severe stage IUAs. The predisposing causal factors of IUAs were abortion, full-term delivery, H. mole, pelvic tuberculosis and myomectomy in order of frequency but in eight cases no cause was identified. After hysteroscopic surgery, although high rate(83.9%) of restoration of normal menstruation was attained but term pregnancy rate was only 53.3% and rather high rate (32%) of preterm or abortion were identified and those pregnancy outcomes were correlated with the stage of IUAs. Complications of surgery consisted of uterine or bladder perforation, pulmonary edema and hemorrhage.
Classification ; Female ; Fertility ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hysteroscopy ; Menstruation ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Rate ; Pulmonary Edema ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis ; Urinary Bladder

We observed the gastric varices in l89 variceal patients with liver cirrhosis and in 129 patients with UGI bleeding by endoscopy. Gastric varices was found in 27 cases(14.2%) amoag 189 variceal cases. There was variceal bleeding in 74 cases(57.4%) beieg the toy cause of UGI: bleeding among l29 cases with UGI bleeding and 6(4.7%) had endoscopically proved gastric Variceal bleeding. Cardiac and fundic varices were observed in l8 and 12 cases, respectively end 12 cases of cardiac varices were mainly observed on the lesser curvature side. The incidence of isolated gastric varices being 30 % amoag gastric varices was far less than that of esophagogastric varices. There was no significant relations between the severity of liver cirrhosis and the kinds of varices These results suggest that gastric varices are not infrequent cause of UGI bleeding cases. Therefore all must have attention in gastric intestinal fiberscopic examination in portal hypertensive patients.
Endoscopy ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Play and Playthings ; Varicose Veins

Henoch-Schonlein purpura is a condition of unknown origin probably related to an autoimmune phenomenon involving an IgA immune complex disorder. Henoch-Schonlein purpura is a rare cause of intramural hematoma of the duodenum. We herein report a case of intramural hematoma of the duodenum and duodenal obstruction associated with Henoch-Schonlein purpura in a 14-yearold boy. On admission, the patient presented with hematemesis due to duodenal ulcer bleeding. Three days later, he developed both forearm and calf purpurae, fever and severe bile juice vomiting. An endoscopy revealed a luminal obstructing erythematous mass with bulging nature at the third portion of the duodenum. Abdominal CT scan and hypotonic duodenography showed intramural hematoma in the third portion of the duodenum and luminal obstruction. Hematoma removal was performed for the correction of intestinal obstruction. Increased awareness of the gastrointestinal manifestations of Henoch-Schonlein purpura should aid in the recognition of this disorder.
Antigen-Antibody Complex ; Bile ; Duodenal Obstruction ; Duodenal Ulcer ; Duodenum ; Endoscopy ; Fever ; Forearm ; Hematemesis ; Hematoma* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Male ; Phenobarbital ; Purpura* ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vomiting