PURPOSE: To evaluate the accuracy of CT using water as an oral contrast material in a prone position in determining the depth of tumor invasion in gastric cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty three patients(19 male, 14 female) with surgically confirmed gastric cancer were studied. We performed CT in a prone position after ingestion of 1 liter of pure water. CT findings were classified into 4 groups by the morphologic appearances of infiltrates in the perigastric fat plane :normal perigastric fat(SO), fine mottled densities(S1), irregular aggregated or linear densities(S2) and direct extension and invasion of tumor into contiguous structures(S3). Also we prospectively compared the CT staging with pathologic T staging according to the TNM systems. RESULTS: The overall accuracy of CT staging in determining the pathologic T factor was 69.6%. As we regarded T1 and T2 lesions as one group on CT, the accuracy of CT staging was increased to 80.2% because of a limitation of CT for distinguishing T1 from T2 lesions. CONCLUSION: Prone position CT using water as an oral contrast agent is quite accurate in determining the T staging of gastric carcinoma.
Eating ; Humans ; Male ; Prone Position* ; Prospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Water*

This is a report of clinical study on the 63 patients of symptomatic urinary tract infection who were hospitalized at the Department of Pediatrics in Kangnam General Hospital during the period between the May of 1989 and the September of 1992. The observation results were as follows: 1) The frequency of urinary tract infection (UTI) was the highest in children under the age of one year (66.7%). 35 patients were male, while the other 28 were female. The ratio of male and female patients was 1.25:1. 2) Fever was observed in most of the cases. Systemic nonspecific manifestation was predominant in the infancy and early childhood, whereas local symptom of UTI was predominant in the late childhood. Among the 35 male patients, 32 cases were phimoses. As for the other 3 cases, Phimoses were not identified. 3) E. coli had the most frequency (65.3%), followed by Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas in descending order. 4) In the vitro antimicrobial susceptibility test, Gram negative organisms such as E. coli Klebsiella, Enterobacter were sensitive to cefotaxime, amikacin, and ampicillin/sulbactam. Meanwhile, Gram positive organisms such as Staphylococcus, Enterococcus were sensitive to vancomycin and cephradine. 5) The renal ultrasonography test was performed for 59 patients, 13 cases of whom showed abnormal findings. 6 cases out of the 13 abnormal patients had hydronephrosis. 6) DMSA renal scan was performed for 40 patients within 2 months of an acute pyelonephritic attack. Signs of pyelonephritic change were found in 18 patients. DMSA scan was repeated 4~12 months later in 4 of these patients. This showed renal cortical scarring in all patients. 7) Voiding cystourethrographic findings in 38 patients showed vesicoureteral reflux in 13 patients. 8) We performed urine culture again after 48 hours from the beginning of therapy and 85.5% of the cases became sterile. 9) The recurrent percentage of UTI was 23.8% with the ratio of 1:1.5 between male and female. Most of the patients were clildren under the age of one year. 10) Operations were made on two cases showing the increase of reflux during the follow-up of unilateral Grade ll and Grade 3 reflux, respectively. Operations were also performed on other two cases with bilateral Grade IV reflux. All the cases were good after the operations. In the meantime, as for another two cases having the right reflux of Grade lland the bilateral reflux of Grade lll, the refluxes were able to be reduced by prophylaxis only, in the course of following up.
Amikacin ; Cefotaxime ; Cephradine ; Child* ; Cicatrix ; Enterobacter ; Enterococcus ; Female ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Infant* ; Klebsiella ; Male ; Pediatrics ; Phimosis ; Pseudomonas ; Staphylococcus ; Succimer ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract* ; Vancomycin ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux

The purpose of this study was to investigate the morphologic changes of the bile canaliculi and its associated structures of the liver induced by common bile duct ligation(CBDL) in the rat. The canalicular surface and lateral surface of the dry-fractured hepatocytes was studied with scanning electron microscopy at 1~6 weeks post ligation. The first week after CBDL, the bile canaliculi were dilated. The microvilli were increased in number and the lumens contained granular materials After 2 weeks or more, the bile canaliculi were dilated to a variable degree, and with irregularity, measuring from 1.5 to 5 micrometer in diameter, and in the advanced stage, the canaliculi showed blunting and the disappearance of microvilli. Some canaliculi had sprouting side branches. At 4~6 weeks post-ligation, the lateral surface of the hepatocytes also showed some irregularity and a tortuous appearance, and numerous small sized microvillous projections were formed. The tubular structures of the proliferated SER distributed adjacent to the lateral surface of the hepatocytes, and the direct connection of a tubular structure and the cytoplasmic membrane was observed. These results suggest that the deformity and loss of microvilli of bile canaliculi reflect the disturbance of bile secretion from the hepatocytes. And prolonged obstruction of bile flow may result in bile excretion via the lateral surface of hepatocytes.
Rats ; Animals

No abstract available.
HL-60 Cells* ; Humans ; Mass Screening* ; Protein Kinases*

The aims of this study were to investigate the present status of skeletal maturation and to compare body composition parameters on the basis of the levels of skeletal maturity in boys aged 9 ~12 years. The subjects participated consisted of 258 elementary school boys. Anthropometric characteristics included body weight, height, sitting height, bone widths, circumferences, and skinfold thicknesses. Skeletal maturation was assessed by the Tanner -Whitehouse II method. Skeletal age was determined by RUS scores (radius, ulna, and short bones). Body composition variables were evaluated by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA Model 310). Means and standard deviations were calculated by descriptive statistics. To compare body composition variables among skeletal maturity groups one -way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied and Duncan's a posteriori tests. The results showed that RUS scores varied from 298.2 for 9 years to 482.6 for 12 years. TW2 -20 scores were 569.2 for 9 years, 628.8 for 10 years, 701.8 for 11 years, and 814.5 for 12 years. Skeletal ages were 9.7 for 9 years, 10.5 for 10 years, 11.7 for 11 years, and 13.6 for 12 years. It indicates that chronological age was lower than skeletal age in all age groups. Although no significant difference was found in 12 years for body composition according to the levels of skeletal maturity, in general advanced boys had higher body composition variables than retarded boys. In 9 years there were significant differences (p 0.05) among skeletal maturity groups for body mass index, WHR, and WTR. Also, differences were found in 10 years for percent body fat, fat -free mass, and body mass index. In 11 years advanced children (40.4 kg) have statistically significant (p 0.05) higher fat -free mass than retarded children (32.2 kg).
Adipose Tissue ; Body Composition* ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Child ; Electric Impedance ; Humans ; Skinfold Thickness ; Ulna

To investigate the imbalance of the cytokine production profile of T cells from atopic asthmatics, we measured concentrations of IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-y by ELISA method in the culture supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) and Derrnato-phagoides pteronyssinus(Der p) J-stimulated PBMCs from Der p-sensitized atopic asthmatics, Der p-sensitized healthy atopits, non-atopic asthmatics and healthy non-atopics. The suppressive effect of IFN-y on cytokine production of Der p J-stimulated PBMCs was also examined. The PBMCs from atopics showed higher IL-4 and IL-5 production in response to PHA +TPA and higher IFN-gamma production in response to Der p Jq compared with non-atopits. The Der p J-stimulated PBMCs from atopics showed a tendency of increased IL-5 production in response to Der p J and higher IL-4 and IL-5 production in response to PHA+TPA compared with non-atopics. IL-5 production of Der p J-stimulated PBMCs from atopics was suppressed by IFN It is suggested that an imbalance in IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-y production is a feature of the atopic state. The TH2 characteristics of allergen-stimulated PBMCs could be regulated by IFN-y.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-5 ; T-Lymphocytes

The incidence of airway difficulty in the general surgical population varies greatly depending on the degree of airway difficulty. Much of the anesthesia related morbidity attributable to managing a difficult airway comes from an interurruption of gas exchange (hypoxia and hypercarbia) which may cause cardiovascular instability and brain damage. Most airway catastrophes ocurrs when possible difficulty with the airway was not recognized. Although fiberoptic intubation is reliable method in patients with difficult airways, there are many cases of difficulty in visualizing the structure of the larynx with conventional fiberoptic technique due to copious secretion, swelling and hemorrhage in the pharyngeal cavity. Recently, we experienced a success in difficult tracheal intubation with LMA in the 27 year old male patient diagnosed ankylosing spondylitis. We hope that using a #4 LMA as a conduit for 6.0 mm cuffed endotracheal tube with the aid of fiberscope attached to the video camera system would be an alternative method for difficult intubation.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General* ; Blood Pressure* ; Brain ; Clonidine* ; Epinephrine ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Hemodynamics ; Hemorrhage ; Hope ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intubation* ; Larynx ; Male ; Norepinephrine ; Plasma* ; Skin ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; Succinylcholine ; Thiopental

The authors defined precaval retropancreatic space as the space between pancreatic head with portal vein and IVC analyzed the CT findings of this space to know the normal structures and size in this space, We evaluated 100 cases of normal anbdominal CT scan to find out normal anatomic structures of precaval retropancreatic space retrospectively. We also measured the distance between these structures and calculated the minimum, maximum and mean values. At the splenoportal confluence level, normal structures between portal vein and IVC were vessel (21%), lymph node (19%), and caudate lobe of liver (2%) in order of frequency. The maximum AP diameter of portocaval lymph node was 4mm. Common bile duct(CBD) was seen in 44% and the diameter was mean 3mm and maximum 11mm. CBD was located in extrapancreatic (75%) and lateral (60.6%0 to pancreatic head. At IVC-left renal vein level, the maximum distance between CBD and IVC was 5mm and the structure between posterior pancreatic surface and IVC was only fat tissue. Knowledge of these normal structures and measurement will be helpful in differentiating pancreatic mass with retropancreatic mass such as lymphadenopathy.
Bile ; Head ; Liver ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Portal Vein ; Renal Veins ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Abdominal cystic lymphangioma is a rare congenital malformation of lymphatics. Prognosis is excellent with exact diagnosis and complete surgical excision. The aughors analysed 10 US scans and 9 CT scans of surgically proven cystic lymphangiom for the last 5 years. US scan showed it as a septated cystic mass and 2 cases showed fluid-fluid level. CT scan showed a huge unilocular or multilocular density mass with uniformly thickened septae. A huge unilocular or multilocular cystic mass with uniformly thickened septae could suggest cystic lymphangioma would be differentiated from the other cystic masse.
Diagnosis ; Lymphangioma, Cystic* ; Prognosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular*