No abstract available.
Acneiform Eruptions ; Bevacizumab

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which is frequently involved in the articulations of the hands and feet, is known to be related with inheritance. Dermatoglyphics, the patterns of ridges on the skin of the fingertips, palms, and soles, are mostly related with inheritance. The purpose of this study is to verify the possibility that dermatoglyphics are helpful for the diagnosis of RA. We attempted to compare the characteristics of the fingerprints, palmprints, and palm creases in 67 Korean RA patients (RA group) to those in 3, 216 normal Korean persons. In the RA group, the radial loop and whorl were more frequent whereas the arch and ulnar loop were less frequent. The total fingerprint ridges were more numerous and 11 palmprint D type was more frequent in the RA group. Also, the Simian and Sydney creases were more frequent and the total degree of palm crease transversality was lower in the RA group. In addition, a part of the dermatoglyphic characteristics of the Korean RA group were different from those of the Indian RA group. These results suggest that dermatoglyphics may be helpful in the diagnosis of Korean RA patients.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Dermatoglyphics* ; Diagnosis ; Foot ; Hand ; Humans ; Skin ; Wills

Retroperitoneal cystic lymphangioma is a rare benign tumor which had previously been difficult to diagnose preoperatively by conventional radiographic technique(1). Recent reports describe the computed tomographic and ultrasonographic findings in cystic lymphangioma(1,2). We report a case of retroperitoneal cystic lymphangioma, accurately diagnosed by lymphography, with computed tomographic findings and percutaneous drainage findings. To the best of out knowledge, this is the most aged case of retroperitoneal cystic lymphangioma of preoperatively diagnosed.
Drainage ; Lymphangioma, Cystic* ; Lymphography

A retrospective analysis on the MRI findings of 24 pathologically contirmed craniopharyngiomas was performed with emphasis on signal intensity of cystic portion and its chemical components. Axial, coronal MR scans were ontained, and in six patients, post-contrast study was done with Gadopentetate Dimeglumine(Gd-DTPA). In 14 cystic portions were aspirated to correlate the amount of chemical components such as calcium, glucose, protein, cholesterol, lipid, and iron with the signal intensity GT scans were also performed in 20 patients. In eight cases, tumors extended to subfrontal, third ventricle, and retrosellar area the extensions were well demonstrated in sagittal and coronal images. The signal intensity of cystic lesions on T2WI were variable but tended to be higher in high protein and iron contents. Calcifications were present in 20 cases and out of these, MRI detected calcification as very low signal intensity or signal void on T1WI and T2WI in 12 cases. Multiplanar imaging of MRI was very useful for the evaluation of tumor extension and the signal intensity of the cystic lesion tended to be higher on T1WI when the contents had high protein or iron components.
Calcium ; Cholesterol ; Craniopharyngioma* ; Glucose ; Humans ; Iron ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Third Ventricle

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of dietary self-efficacy and illness beliefs, perceived benefits, and perceived barriers for the reduction of sodium intake in the elderly. A cross-sectional study was performed on 252 elderly people, aged 65 yrs and above, living in Daejeon Metropolitan city and Jecheon city, Chungbuk from March 21 to March 30, 2011. Dietary self-efficacy of three factors (resisting relapse, reducing salt and behavioral skills), perceived benefits and barriers, accurate and inaccurate illness beliefs were measured by 5 or 4 point Likert scale. With the increasing education level of the elderly, dietary self-efficacy, and accurate illness belief score increased and perceived barrier score decreased. Perceived benefits score was higher in the subject living alone compared to those living with siblings or spouses. Among three factors of dietary self-efficacy, reducing salt was scored highest and behavioral skills scored lowest in the elderly. Recording meal diary and reading labels for salt content in the items of behavioral skills showed lower score than other items. Accurate illness beliefs and perceived benefits were more scored than inaccurate illness beliefs and perceived barriers respectively in the subjects. The subjects with higher accurate illness beliefs, lower inaccurate illness beliefs, higher perceived benefits, and lower perceived barriers for the reduction of sodium intake showed higher dietary self-efficacy. In summary, accurate illness beliefs and perceived benefits positively correlated with dietary self-efficacy for the reduction of sodium intake in the elderly, whereas inaccurate illness beliefs and perceived barriers are negatively correlated.
Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Humans ; Meals ; Recurrence ; Siblings ; Sodium ; Spouses

The objective of the study was to observe the effect of n-3 PUFA on cell proliferation and apoptosis by determining mRNA and protein of COX-2 and eicosanoid product and the mRNA and protein of Bu and Bcl-2 related to apoptosis in colon carcinogenesis of 1,2- dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-treated rats. Ninety male Sprague Dawley rats weighing about 170g were divided into 3 groups, control and n-3 PUFA supplemented groups (FO group: 6.2 mmoles n-3 PUFA; 2FO group: 12.4 mmoles n-3 PUFA) and fed experimental diet for 14 weeks. All rats were intramuscularly injected with DMH 15 mg/kg twice a week for 6 weeks to deliver total dose of 180 mg/kg body weight. Compared with the control group, 6.2 mmoles n-3 PUFA significantly reduced the levels of mRNA and protein expression of COX-2 and 2-series eicosanoids (TXB2 and PGE2 and decreased cell proliferation in colonic mucosa. However, high levels of n-3 PUFA supplementation significantly increased the levels of mRNA and protein expression of COX-2, TXB2 and PGE2. and increased cell proliferation which was similar level to that of control group. Compared with the control group, n-3 PUFA, regardless of the amount, significantly increased apoptotic index in colonic mucosa. Western blot and RT-PCR analyses showed that the levels of mRNA and protein expression of Bax were significantly increased by 6.2 mmoles n-3 PUFA, but decreased by 12.4 mmoles n-3 PUFA. The analyses also showed the levels of mRNA and protein expression of Bcl-2 were significantly reduced by 6.2 mmoles n-3 PUFA, but increased by 12.4 mmoles n-3 PUFA. The ratio of Bcl-2/Bax in mRNA and protein was significantly reduced by 6.2 mmoles n-3 PUFA but increased by 12.4 mmoles n-3 PUFA. Overall, these results indicate that n-3 PUFA could be effective in preventing colon carcinogenesis by reducing cell proliferation with lower level of COX-2 and 2-series eicosanoid, and increasing apoptosis by inducing pro-apoptotic gene, Bax and inhibiting anti-apoptotic gene, Bcl-2 in the colonic mucosa of DMH-treated rats. However, high level of n-3 PUFA supplementation could stimulate colon carcinogenesis by increasing cell proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Body Weight ; Carcinogenesis* ; Cell Proliferation ; Colon* ; Control Groups ; Diet ; Dimenhydrinate ; Dinoprostone ; Eicosanoids ; Fatty Acids, Omega-3* ; Genes, bcl-2 ; Humans ; Male ; Mucous Membrane ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; RNA, Messenger

Chromobacterium violaceum is a gram negative straight rod, 0.8-1.2 by 2.5 to 6.0 m, which is motile by one polar flagella and one to four lateral flagella. The organism inhabits soil and water and is often found in semitropical and tropical climates. Infections in humans are rare. We report a case of infection caused by strains of C. violaceum. A 38-year-old male patient was admitted to KyungHee University Hospital, Seoul, Korea on July 28th, 2003, after a car accident. The patient had multiple trauma and lacerations. He had an open wound in the left tibial area from which C. violaceum was isolated. The strain was resistant to ampicillin, tobramycin, ampicillin/sulbactam, ceftriaxone and cefepime, but was susceptible to amikacin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and piperacillin/tazobactam. The patient was treated successfully by debridement, cephapirin sodium and astromicine sulfate.
Wound Infection/*etiology ; Male ; Humans ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/*etiology ; Chromobacterium/*isolation & purification ; Adult ; *Accidents, Traffic

PURPOSE: Co-morbidity is the presence of co-existing or additional diseases during the initial diagnosis. It may be used as a prognostic indicator for the postoperative outcomes in most cancers, including colorectal cancers. The impact of respective co-morbidities in colorectal cancer surgeries were evaluated to identify their outcomes regarding complications and hospital stay. METHODS: The medical records of 2,242 colorectal cancer patients, who had had curative operations between Jan. 1997 and Dec. 2001, were reviewed to evaluate the prevalence of co-morbidities. All co-morbidities were adequately evaluated and managed preoperatively. RESULTS: Co-morbidities were observed in 789 out of the 2,242 (35.2%) patients. Hypertension was the most frequent (340, 15.2%), with diabetes (210, 9.4%) and cardiovascular diseases (124, 5.5%) following. Early stages (0~II) were more frequently associated with co-morbidities, compared to late stages (III~IV) (P<0.001). Hypertension and cerebrovascular diseases were significantly associated with postoperative complications (P<0.05). Postoperative complications occurred in 578 out of the 2242 (25.8%) patients: e.g., ileus (10.2%), voiding difficulty (4.4%), wound problems (4.3%), etc. Pulmonary complications occurred more often in patients with cerebrovascular diseases, hypertension, and asthma. Wound complications were observed in patients with hypertension, cerebrovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and chronic renal failure (P<0.05). Patients with more than one co-morbidity were closely associated with frequent postoperative co-mplications (P<0.05). However, comorbidities did not seem to affect the duration of the postoperative hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative complications frequently occur in colorectal cancer patients with specific co- morbidities, especially in those with more than one. An adequate management of the co-morbidities preoperatively leads to a good outcome.
Asthma ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Chronic Disease ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Comorbidity ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Ileus ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Length of Stay ; Lung Diseases, Obstructive ; Medical Records ; Postoperative Complications ; Prevalence ; Wounds and Injuries

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is a common condition, and the majority of patients have one or more cutaneous complications. Among them, xerosis is well known to be closely related to diabetics. The xerosis is inversely reflected upon skin surface hydration, the state of which can be exactly assessed with various investigating instruments, such as a hydrometer and corneometer. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to compare the hydration state of diabetics with normal persons by the use of a corneometer and hydrometer. METHODS: A total of 267 diabetics were asked whether they felt xerosis or pruritus. In a subgroup of 31 patients, the water content was evaluated and compared by the parameters of diabetic severity. Forty-one non-diabetics were selected for the normal control.
Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Pruritus ; Skin* ; Water

PURPOSE: Follicular lymphoma (FL) is an indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that is highly sensitive to radiotherapy (RT). However, the effectiveness of RT has not been well established. We reviewed our experiences to assess the role of RT for FL and analyze treatment results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis was done on 29 patients who received first RT between January 2003 and August 2013. Of 23 early stage (stage I, II) patients, 16 received RT alone, four received chemotherapy followed by RT, two received RT postoperatively, and one received salvage RT for relapse after resection. Six advanced-stage (stage III, IV) patients received RT after chemotherapy: two received consolidation RT, three received salvage RT for residual lesions, and one received RT for progressive sites. Median RT dose was 30.6 Gy (range, 21.6 to 48.6 Gy). Median follow-up duration was 62 months (range, 6 to 141 months). RESULTS: All patients showed complete response in the radiation field. Eight outfield relapses were reported. Seven patients received salvage treatment (three chemotherapy, four RT). Four patients showed excellent responses, especially to RT. Estimated 5-year and 10-year relapse-free survivals were 72% and 60%. In the RT-alone group, 5-year relapse-free survival was 74.5%. All advanced-stage patients were disease-free with 100% 5-year overall survival. Disease-specific death was noted in only one patient; four others died of other unrelated causes. No significant toxicity was reported. CONCLUSION: RT resulted in excellent treatment outcomes for all FL stages when used as a primary treatment modality for early stage or salvage-treatment modality for advanced-stage disease.
Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Follicular* ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Radiotherapy* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome