No abstract available.
Sinusitis*

PURPOSE: Pelvic actinomycosis is a rare infection which presents difficulty in establishing a correct preoperative diagnosis. The aim of this study is to find diagnostic clues for pelvic actinomycosis preoperatively. METHODS: A retrospective analysis performed at Chonbuk National University Hospital identified 9 patients with a diagnosis of pelvic actinomycosis from 1998 to 2006. RESULTS: All patients were women with a history of intrauterine device (IUD) use. Abdominal pain (7 cases), palpable mass (3 cases), defecation difficulty (3 cases) and leucorrhea (2 cases) were the main presenting complaints. The median duration of presenting symptoms was 78 days (range: 10~365 days). The median duration of using an IUD unchanged was 11 years (range: 4~30 years). A correct diagnosis was made in 3 patients (33%) without exploration. All patients were treated with antibiotics after pathologic diagnosis. There was no recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: It is very difficult to diagnose pelvic actinomycosis preoperatively. Howere, if a mass or a pelvic abscess is found in women with an IUD that has been unchanged for a long time, pelvic actinomycosis should be suspected to avoid unnecessary exploration.
Abdominal Pain ; Abscess ; Actinomycosis* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Defecation ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Intrauterine Devices ; Jeollabuk-do ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

CD10, a marker of immature B lymphocytes, is expressed in the developing epithelium of mammary glands, hair follicles, and renal tubules of human fetuses. To assess mesenchymal and stromal expression of CD10, we performed immunohistochemical assays in whole body sections from eight fetuses of gestational ages 15-20 weeks. In addition to expression in urinary tract and intestinal epithelium, CD10 was strongly expressed at both gestational ages in fibrous tissues surrounding the airways from the larynx to lung alveoli, in the periosteum and ossification center, and in the glans of external genitalia. CD10 was not expressed, however, in other cavernous tissues. These findings suggest that mesenchymal, in addition to epithelial cells at specific sites, are likely to express CD10. The glomeruli, alveoli, and glans are all end products of budding or outgrowth processes in the epithelium or skin. However, in contrast to the CD34 marker of stromal stem cells, CD10 was not expressed in vascular progenitor cells and in differentiated vascular endothelium. The alternating pattern of CD10 and CD34 expression suggests that these factors play different roles in cellular differentiation and proliferation of the kidneys, airway and external genitalia.
Endothelium, Vascular ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium ; Fetus* ; Genitalia ; Gestational Age ; Hair Follicle ; Humans* ; Intestinal Mucosa ; Kidney ; Larynx ; Lung ; Mammary Glands, Human ; Mesoderm ; Periosteum ; Precursor Cells, B-Lymphoid ; Skin ; Stem Cells ; Urinary Tract

OBJECTIVE: To compare apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of the upper abdominal organs acquired with multiple b-value combinations and to investigate usefulness of normalization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data, including 3T diffusion-weighted images, of 100 patients (56 men, 44 women; mean age, 63.9) that underwent liver magnetic resonance imaging. An ADC map was derived with the following six b-value combinations: b1 = 0, 50, 400, 800; b2 = 0, 800; b3 = 0, 50, 800; b4 = 0, 400, 800; b5 = 50, 800; and b6 = 50, 400, 800 s/mm2. ADC values of the right liver lobe, left liver lobe, spleen, pancreas, right kidney, and left kidney were measured. ADC values of the spleen were used for normalization. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), comparison of dependent ICCs, and repeated-measures analysis of variance were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Intraclass correlation coefficients of the original ADC revealed moderate to substantial agreement (0.5145–0.6509), while normalized ADCs revealed almost perfect agreement (0.8014–0.8569). ICC of normalized ADC for all anatomical regions revealed significantly less variability than that of the original ADC (p < 0.05). Coefficient of variance for normalized ADC was significantly lower than that for the original ADC (3.0.3.8% vs. 4.8.8.8%, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Normalization of the ADC values of the upper abdominal organs using the spleen as the reference organ significantly decreased variability in ADC measurement acquired with multiple b-value combinations.
Diffusion ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; Liver ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Pancreas ; Retrospective Studies ; Spleen*

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: The aim of this study is to analyze surgical outcomes and prognostic factors affecting survival after surgical resection in patients with gallbladder cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 86 patients treated surgically for gallbladder cancer from January 2000 to December 2009 at Chonbuk National University Hospital. Clinicopathologic factors, surgical treatment and outcome data were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 86 patients (44 male, 42 female) with gallbladder cancer, the mean age was 62.9 years (range: 32-80) and the median survival was 42.4+/-3.5 month. The overall cumulative survival rates of 86 patients were for 1 year, 83.7%; 3 year, 67.4%; 5 year survival, 61.7%. Univariate analysis revealed that preoperative serum alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), T staging, N staging were statistically significantly associated with survival. CEA (p=0.004) and T staging (p=0.005) were associated with survival in multivariate analysis. Two-year survival rates were analyzed according to the methods of surgical resection, with simple cholecystectomy showing 100%, whereas extended cholecystectomy showed about 83% in T1b. We could not find out any adverse effect of the simple cholecystectomy for survival. CONCLUSIONS: CEA and T stage are independent significant prognostic factor associated with patient survival in our study. Simple cholecystectomy can be regarded as curative resection in stage T1b. Longer observation periods and more cases will be needed to confirm these conclusions.
Alanine Transaminase ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Bilirubin ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; Cholecystectomy ; Gallbladder ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; Humans ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

No abstract available.
Catheters* ; Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation of Lung, Congenital* ; Fetal Therapies* ; Lung*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of high frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the affected hemisphere on the motor recovery and spasticity in chronic post-stroke hemiplegic patients. METHOD: Thirteen chronic stroke hemiplegic patients were randomized to receive real and sham rTMS. rTMS was carried out 10 times at a frequency of 10 Hz with 10 s stimulation followed by 50 s rest, totalling 1,000 stimulations to the affected primary motor cortex using an intensity of 100% of resting motor threshold of unaffected hemisphere. Median nerve H-reflex, modified Ashworth scale (MAS) at elbow and wrist, and manual function test (MFT) were measured at baseline and after 2 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: High frequency rTMS resulted in increased H-reflex latency and decreased H-reflex amplitude and H/M ratio. Also MAS decreased and MFT score increased after 2 weeks of treatment. CONCLUSION: High frequency rTMS in the affected motor cortex might facilitate motor recovery and reduce spasticity in chronic stroke patients.
Elbow ; H-Reflex ; Humans ; Median Nerve ; Motor Cortex ; Muscle Spasticity ; Salicylamides ; Stroke ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ; Wrist

Purpose: To investigate the factors contributing to inferior vena cava (IVC) filter removal failure by comparing successful and failed cases using advanced techniques. Materials and Methods: IVC filter removal was attempted in 331 patients. Of the 29 patients in whom IVC filter removal failed using a simple technique, the IVC filter was successfully removed using an advanced technique in 18 patients and failure was noted in 11 patients.Age, sex, filter type, indwelling period, IVC diameter, tilting angle between the IVC and the filter, IVC wall penetration of the filter strut, and whether the filter was embedded or endothelialized within the IVC wall were compared in each group. Results: Overall, there were 13 men (72%) in the success group and 3 men (27%) in the failure group; more women were present in the failure group (p = 0.027). Unlike in the success group, hook embedment (9/11, 82%) or IVC filter endothelialization (2/11, 18%) within the wall of the IVC were observed in the failure group using two-dimensional venography. Conclusion When using advanced techniques for IVC filter removal, females are at a higher risk of failure compared to males. Hook embedment and IVC filter endothelialization within the IVC wall, rather than penetration of the IVC wall, are crucial factors in failure of IVC filter removal using advanced techniques.

Purpose: To investigate the factors contributing to inferior vena cava (IVC) filter removal failure by comparing successful and failed cases using advanced techniques. Materials and Methods: IVC filter removal was attempted in 331 patients. Of the 29 patients in whom IVC filter removal failed using a simple technique, the IVC filter was successfully removed using an advanced technique in 18 patients and failure was noted in 11 patients.Age, sex, filter type, indwelling period, IVC diameter, tilting angle between the IVC and the filter, IVC wall penetration of the filter strut, and whether the filter was embedded or endothelialized within the IVC wall were compared in each group. Results: Overall, there were 13 men (72%) in the success group and 3 men (27%) in the failure group; more women were present in the failure group (p = 0.027). Unlike in the success group, hook embedment (9/11, 82%) or IVC filter endothelialization (2/11, 18%) within the wall of the IVC were observed in the failure group using two-dimensional venography. Conclusion When using advanced techniques for IVC filter removal, females are at a higher risk of failure compared to males. Hook embedment and IVC filter endothelialization within the IVC wall, rather than penetration of the IVC wall, are crucial factors in failure of IVC filter removal using advanced techniques.

Purpose: To investigate the factors contributing to inferior vena cava (IVC) filter removal failure by comparing successful and failed cases using advanced techniques. Materials and Methods: IVC filter removal was attempted in 331 patients. Of the 29 patients in whom IVC filter removal failed using a simple technique, the IVC filter was successfully removed using an advanced technique in 18 patients and failure was noted in 11 patients.Age, sex, filter type, indwelling period, IVC diameter, tilting angle between the IVC and the filter, IVC wall penetration of the filter strut, and whether the filter was embedded or endothelialized within the IVC wall were compared in each group. Results: Overall, there were 13 men (72%) in the success group and 3 men (27%) in the failure group; more women were present in the failure group (p = 0.027). Unlike in the success group, hook embedment (9/11, 82%) or IVC filter endothelialization (2/11, 18%) within the wall of the IVC were observed in the failure group using two-dimensional venography. Conclusion When using advanced techniques for IVC filter removal, females are at a higher risk of failure compared to males. Hook embedment and IVC filter endothelialization within the IVC wall, rather than penetration of the IVC wall, are crucial factors in failure of IVC filter removal using advanced techniques.