PURPOSE: To evaluate tlne significance of vaginal air seen on CT scan in preoperative staging of uterine cervical carcinoma. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A comparison was made between CT findings of vaginal air and true vaginal involvement status in 85 patients with uterine cervical carcinoma. CT findings were analyzed in terms of the presence or absence of vaginal air, number of CT slices in which vaginal air was seen, shape of vaginal air, and relation of vaginal airto cervical mass. RESULTS: Vaginal air was present in 35 patients and was absent in 50. Although the mere presence of vaginal air or multiplicity of CT slices showing vaginal air did not signify the presence of vaginal involvement, vaginal air with irregular margin or vaginal air adjacent to uterine cervical mass was suggestive of vaginal involvement. CONCELUSION: These observation of vaginal air in interpreting CT may be helpful in the preoperative staging of uterine cervical carcinoma.
Humans ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vagina*

Streptococcus anginosus is a member of Streptococcus milleri group, and is found in the oral mucosa, respiratory tract, and gastrointestinal tract as normal flora. It can develop into a disease in patients with deteriorating clinical condition or with clinical risk factors. A previously healthy 15-year-old boy was admitted due to fever, abdominal discomfort and vomiting which lasted for 7 days. He had a history of dental procedure 1 day before the development of fever. He was diagnosed with acute acalculous cholecystitis based on the clinical, laboratory, and imaging finding, and S. anginosus was isolated from the blood culture. The patient was successfully treated with antibiotic therapy.
Acalculous Cholecystitis ; Adolescent ; Bacteremia ; Cholecystitis ; Fever ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Mouth Mucosa ; Respiratory System ; Risk Factors ; Streptococcus ; Streptococcus anginosus ; Streptococcus milleri Group ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the clinical usefulness of ultrasonography for detecting esophageal varices. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 20 cases of esophaged varix, the authors analysed the transabdominal ultrasono-graphicfindings of the esophagogastric junction and compared mural thickness, the anteroposterior diameter of theesophagus, and the echogenic nature of the esophageal mucosal layer with those of 78 normal patients. RESULTS:The anterior and posterior mural thickeness of normal esophagus was 2.2 +/-0.7 and 2.4 +/-0.8mm re-spectively, butfor variceal esophagus, the corresponding readings were 5.9 +/-1.3 and 5.2 +/-1.3mm respective-ly. Theanteroposterior diameter of normal esophagus was 7.9 +/-2.1mm and that of variceal esophagus was 1 4 . 0 +/-1.8mm.There was a stastically significant difference (p<0.01) in mural thickness and anteroposterior diameter of theesophagus between a normal and variceal patient with regard to change of echogenic nature at the esphagogastricjunction. Normal esophageal mucosa showed a thin and uniform echogenic line, but for variceal mucosa, theechogenic pattern was irregular, tortuous and thick. CONCLUSION: The athors believe that transabdominal US ishelpful for detecting esophageal varices in patients with liver cirrhosis and UGI bleeding. Important clinicallyuseful sonographic findings in diagnosing e-sophageal varix are as follows: 1) mural thickness more than 6mm; 2)anteroposterior diameter of the esopha-gus of more than 15mm; 3) irregular, tortuous and thickened echogenicmucosa.
Esophageal and Gastric Varices* ; Esophagogastric Junction ; Esophagus ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Mucous Membrane ; Reading ; Ultrasonography ; Varicose Veins

No abstract available.
Hemorrhoidectomy*

No abstract available.
Drug Therapy* ; Ovarian Neoplasms*

In excimer laser ablation, the methods of epithelial removal include mechanical, chemical(alcohol), and laser ablation. To investigate the effects of the de-epithelialization methods, we removed corneal epithelia of 60 rabbits with above three methods and examined corneal epithelial healing time, stromal PMN cells, and immunohistochemical expression of c-fos with time interval. Corneal epithelia healed in 48 hours in the alcohol and laser ablation groups, but in 72 hours in the mechanical ablation group. The count of the stromal PMN cells was maximal in 12 hours in all three groups, and the inflammaion was prolonged in the alcohol ablation group(p<0.05). The c-fos was expressed after 6 hours, 12 hours and 24 hours in all 3 groups and after 48 hours only in the mechanical ablation group. This study suggests that mechanical ablation may produce a larger damage to cornea than laser and chemical ablations and the expression of c-fos in corneal epithelium may be significant findings related to epithelial wound healing.
Cornea ; Epithelium, Corneal ; Inflammation* ; Laser Therapy ; Lasers, Excimer ; Rabbits* ; Wound Healing* ; Wounds and Injuries*

No abstract available.
Cervix Uteri* ; Female

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: Although adenocarcinoma associated with anal fistula is rare, missed diagnosis may result in progression of the tumor and poor outcome. This study is aimed to determine the clinical features of adenocarcinoma associated with anal fistula. METHODS: The medical records of 8 (0.4%) cases associated with anal fistula, out of 1978 anorectal adenocarcinoma treated at Seoul National University Hospital between 1979 and 2000, were reviewed. RESULTS: The median age at diagnosis of cancer was 57 years (range, 39 to 62 years) and sex ratio was 7 to 1 with male predominance. The median duration of anal fistula before diagnosis of cancer was 8.5 years (range, 4 to 30 years). Major symptoms at diagnosis of cancer were perianal pain (38%) and discharge (38%). Perianal mass was palpable in all patients. All patients except for one case, in which palliative T-colostomy was performed due to extensive invasion despite preoperative radiation therapy, were treated with abdominoperineal resection: 4 in curative resection and 3 in palliative rsection. There were 4 (50%) in stage IV, 3 (38%) in stage III, and 1 (12%) in stage II. On median follow-up of 16 months (range, 3 to 72 months), systemic recurrences of 2 cases at lung or intraperitoneal cavity and 1 local recurrence at posterior vaginal wall were developed after curative resection. CONCLUSIONS: Adenocarcinoma associated with anal fistula had the history of long-standing anal fistula and perianal mass on physical examination. These tumors were detected at advanced stage and their outcomes were poor. Therefore, in the anal fistula combined with long-standing history or perianal mass, a high index of suspicion for malignancy is necessary and a generous biopsy of fistulous tract should be performed to rule out concomitant adenocarcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Medical Records ; Physical Examination ; Rectal Fistula* ; Recurrence ; Seoul ; Sex Ratio

PURPOSE: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps is a chronic inflammatory disease with markedly increased eosinophils, Th2-type lymphocytes, fibroblasts, and goblet cells. Fungi are commonly associated with airway inflammatory diseases, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is important in the development of Th2 inflammatory responses. The aim of this study was to investigate the interaction between airborne fungi and nasal fibroblasts in TSLP mRNA and protein expression. METHODS: Inferior turbinate and nasal polyp fibroblasts were stimulated with Alternaria and Aspergillus, respectively, for 48 hours, and TSLP mRNA and protein expressions were measured. The reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was performed for the Toll-like receptor (TLR) mRNA expression of the nasal fibroblasts. To determine the role of TLR in the induction of TSLP, the fibroblasts were transfected with siRNA against TLR2 and TLR5. RESULTS: Alternaria induced TSLP mRNA and protein expression in both inferior turbinate and nasal polyp fibroblasts. The nasal polyp fibroblasts responded more strongly to the fungi. TLR2 and TLR5 mRNA expressions were significantly increased with fungal stimulation and TSLP production was significantly inhibited by siRNA against TLR2. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that TSLP expression could be induced in nasal fibroblasts by exposure to Alternaria and that TLR2 may be involved in the process. The promotion of TSLP production in nasal fibroblasts by airborne fungi may facilitate the development or exacerbation of Th2-type nasal inflammation, especially in CRS with nasal polyps.
Alternaria* ; Aspergillus ; Eosinophils ; Fibroblasts* ; Fungi ; Goblet Cells ; Inflammation ; Lymphocytes ; Nasal Polyps ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Toll-Like Receptor 2* ; Toll-Like Receptors* ; Turbinates