An epidemiological study on brugian filariasis was carried out in endemic areas including Cheju Island in Korea, with a brief review of literatures.The results showed that the incidence among residents has remarkably decreased in Cheju Island, which was the main endemic area. Reviewing available informations on the prevalence of filariasis reported in recent years and also judging from the present socio-economic conditions which enable people to practice personal protection against mosquitos, it can be said with confidence that filariasis has almost disappeared from Cheju Island and inland areas. The disease is considered to remain at a low level of endemicity in Hugsan Islands. Certainly mass diethylcarbamazine (DEC) treatment carried out in Cheju Island in the 1960s and 1970s and remarkable economic growth followed by improved living standard and altered life-style of inhabitants could all have combined effects on the disappearance of this mosquito-borne diseae in this island. If the present trends go on, the possibility of resurgence of filariasis in Cheju Island is hardly postulated.
parasitology-helminth-nematoda ; Brugia malayi ; filariasis ; epidemiology

The University of California, San Francisco, announced in 2011 Cancer of the Prostate Risk Assessment Postsurgical (CAPRA-S) score which included pathologic data, but there were no results for comparing preoperative predictors with the CAPRA-S score. We evaluated the validation of the CAPRA-S score in our institution and compare the result with the preoperative progression predictor, CAPRA score. Data of 130 patients were reviewed who underwent radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer from 2008 to 2013. Performance of CAPRA-S score in predicting progression free probabilities was assessed through Kaplan Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression test. Additionally, prediction probability was compared with preoperative CAPRA score by logistic regression analysis. Comparing CAPRA score, the CAPRA-S score showed improved prediction ability for 5 yr progression free survival (concordance index 0.80, P = 0.04). After risk group stratification, 3 group model of CAPRA-S was superior than 3 group model of CAPRA for 3-yr progression free survival and 5-yr progression free survival (concordance index 0.74 vs. 0.70, 0.77 vs. 0.71, P < 0.001). Finally the CAPRA-S score was the more ideal predictor concerned with adjuvant therapy than the CAPRA score through decision curve analysis. The CPARA-S score is a useful predictor for disease progression after radical prostatectomy.
Combined Modality Therapy ; Decision Making ; Disease Progression ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Postoperative Period ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Prostate-Specific Antigen/analysis ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms/mortality/*pathology/therapy ; Retrospective Studies

The University of California, San Francisco, announced in 2011 Cancer of the Prostate Risk Assessment Postsurgical (CAPRA-S) score which included pathologic data, but there were no results for comparing preoperative predictors with the CAPRA-S score. We evaluated the validation of the CAPRA-S score in our institution and compare the result with the preoperative progression predictor, CAPRA score. Data of 130 patients were reviewed who underwent radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer from 2008 to 2013. Performance of CAPRA-S score in predicting progression free probabilities was assessed through Kaplan Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression test. Additionally, prediction probability was compared with preoperative CAPRA score by logistic regression analysis. Comparing CAPRA score, the CAPRA-S score showed improved prediction ability for 5 yr progression free survival (concordance index 0.80, P = 0.04). After risk group stratification, 3 group model of CAPRA-S was superior than 3 group model of CAPRA for 3-yr progression free survival and 5-yr progression free survival (concordance index 0.74 vs. 0.70, 0.77 vs. 0.71, P < 0.001). Finally the CAPRA-S score was the more ideal predictor concerned with adjuvant therapy than the CAPRA score through decision curve analysis. The CPARA-S score is a useful predictor for disease progression after radical prostatectomy.
Combined Modality Therapy ; Decision Making ; Disease Progression ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Postoperative Period ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Prostate-Specific Antigen/analysis ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms/mortality/*pathology/therapy ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: Hemodialysis, a treatment for patients with severely compromised renal failure, is the elimination of osmotic active substances by diffusion. Some authors have reported that change in osmorality between the serum and the aquous humor during hemodialysis increased in intraocular pressure (IOP). We investigated the change of IOP and serum osmolarity during hemodialysis and the effect of oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitor (Diamox(R)), topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor (Trusopt(R)) and oral hypertonic solution(glycerol). METHODS: In 45 CRF patients (90 eyes) without glaucoma, IOP, serum osmorality, pH, and HCO3- were measured during hemodialysis, and oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitor (Diamox(R)), topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor (Trusopt(R)) and oral hypertonic solution (glycerol) werw administered if IOP rose by over 6mmHg during hemodialysis. After adminitration of the agents, we checked effect of preventing IOP elevation and metabolic change during hemodialysis. RESULTS: The intraocular pressure rose above 6 mmhg in 24 eyes (24.6%) during hemodialysis. Oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitor induced more severe metabolic acidosis than topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor but topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor was less effective in lowering IOP. CONCLUSIONS: Because of more effective lowering of IOP and rare complications of metabolic acidosis, hypertonic solution (glycerol) was effective and safe in neovascular glaucoma and in glaucoma patients with severely damaged optic nerve.
Acidosis ; Carbonic Anhydrases ; Diffusion ; Glaucoma ; Glaucoma, Neovascular ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Intraocular Pressure* ; Optic Nerve ; Osmolar Concentration ; Renal Dialysis* ; Renal Insufficiency

A case of pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma that occured in a 27-year-old woman is reported. Despite of cellular pleomorphism and presence of bizarre giant cells in the microscopic picture, the relatively favourable prognosis is the most important characteristic.
Adult ; Female ; Giant Cells ; Humans ; Prognosis

Metastasis to the female genital tract from extragenital primary cancer is uncommon. In this case, a 46-year-old woman was diagnosed with invasive lobular carcinoma of the left breast in 2011. She had left breast conserving surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and hormonal therapy (gosereline and tamoxifen). However, she developed menorrhagia after interruption of hormonal therapy and incidentally, the ultrasonogram of her pelvis showed a solid, large mass in the cervix. It looked like leiomyoma. Because of massive vaginal bleeding requiring multiple blood transfusions, she underwent total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Unexpectedly, however, histopathological examination revealed metastatic carcinoma, consistent with breast origin.The metastatic tumor involved the uterine corpus with spreading to the endocervix, left ovary, and multiple lymphovascular invasion was present. We described the rarity and risk of metastatic uterine cancer in patient with history of malignant tumor treatment.
Blood Transfusion ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Lobular ; Cervix Uteri ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Leiomyoma* ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Menorrhagia ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Ovary ; Pelvis ; Ultrasonography ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; Uterine Hemorrhage ; Uterine Neoplasms*

The Cavitron ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator has been used clinically in 79 cases for removal of intracranial tumors. Ultrasonic aspiration of intracranial tumors has definite advantage in comparison with the previous conventional technique. The results were summarized as follows; 1) Ultrasonic aspirator provides a method of removing intracranial tumors that are not of a consistency to allow removal with suction and cautery alone. 2) There is a good proprioceptive feedback for the surgeon while using the ultrasonic aspirator. So the blood vessels were selectively exposed, operation was performed without severe bleeding. 3) Ultrasonic aspirator obviates the need for the cautery cutting loop. This is particularly advantageous when dealing with tumors in the cerebellopontine angle or close to important structures, such as the optic nerve or carotid artery. 4) Ultrasonic aspirator allows direct visualization of the tissue being removed.
Blood Vessels ; Carotid Arteries ; Cautery ; Cerebellopontine Angle ; Feedback, Sensory ; Hemorrhage ; Optic Nerve ; Suction ; Ultrasonics*

PURPOSE: The pro-inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), is a central mediator of the immune response involved in a wide range of immuno-inflammatory and infectious diseases. There is increasing evidence that TNF-alpha may promote the development and spread of the cancer. Polymorphisms in the TNF-alpha promoter have been related to TNF-alpha production. Therefore, we investigated the potential association of TNF-alpha genotypes with gastric cancer in the Korean population. METHODS: The study included 66 patients with gastric adenoma, 75 patients with gastric carcinoma, and 551 healthy controls. The -308 and -238 polymorphisms in the TNF-alpha promoter were analyzed by PCR- restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Distributions of TNF-alpha promoter polymorphisms were compared between groups by chi2 test. P values smaller than 0.05 were considered to be significant. RESULTS: The proportion of individuals carrying the TNF-alpha -308A allele was higher in the carcinoma group compared to controls and adenomas, but the differences were not significant (P=0.124). However, the TNF-alpha -308A allele was significantly associated with advanced gastric carcinoma (P=0.026), serosa invasion (P=0.004), neural invasion (P= 0.021), and lymph node metastasis (P=0.005). On the other hand, the TNF-alpha -238G/A polymorphism was not associated with the development of gastric adenoma and carcinoma and the severity of gastric carcinoma. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the TNF-alpha -308A allele is associated with the severity of gastric carcinoma in terms of invasion and metastasis in the Korean population. Therefore, TNF-alpha promoter polymorphism could be used as a predictive marker of the severity of gastric carcinoma.
Adenoma ; Alleles ; Communicable Diseases ; Genotype ; Hand ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Necrosis* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Serous Membrane ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

PURPOSE: Our study aimed to investigate the clinical and radiological results of humerus proximal or distal shaft fractures treated with minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) using a 3.5/5.0 metaphyseal locking plate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the clinical and radiographic records of 17 patients with humeral proximal or distal shaft fractures who had undergone 3.5/5.0 metaphyseal locking plate osteosynthesis with a minimally invasive technique. We evaluated the results with respect to the anatomical reduction and union of the humerus shaft fracture through radiologic studies. We also evaluated the clinical results using the motion of shoulder and elbow functional outcome, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS), and postoperative complications. RESULTS: Complete union was achieved in all cases. The mean union time was 14.2 weeks. According to the functional outcome rated by the ASES score and MEPS, 15 cases were considered excellent and 2 cases were good. There were no cases of surgically-related complications like metal failure, loss of anatomical reduction, or postoperative nerve injuries. CONCLUSION: Using a 5.0 metaphyseal locking plate for humerus shaft fracture has the limitation that difficulties can arise in achieving sufficient screw fixation for small bony fragments. The 3.5/5.0 metaphyseal locking plate used in MIPO for humerus 1/3 proximal or distal shaft fractures was concluded to give good clinical and radiologic results.
Elbow ; Humans ; Humerus ; Shoulder

PURPOSE: The effect of environmental acidity on the induction of apoptosis by heat and carboplatin alone or combined was investigated. METHODS: Human retinoblastoma Y79 and WERI cells were treated with hyperthermia at 42.5degrees C for 1 hr and 25~50 mM carboplatin alone or combined with hyperthermia in pH 7.5 or pH 6.6 medium and the resultant apoptosis was assessed based on the flow cytometric determination of DNA content, DNA fragmentation, and PARP cleavage. The cell viability was alone determined with trypan blue exclusion method. Expressions of p53 and p21 were examined using Western blot analysis. RESULTS: The degree of apoptosis after heating in pH 6.6 medium was greater than in pH 7.5 medium in WERI cells. When heated in the same pH medium, more apoptosis occurred in the WERI cells than in the Y79 cells. The decline in cell viability caused by hyperthermia was greater than that by 50 mM of carboplatin in pH 6.6 medium but not in pH 7.5 medium. CONCLUSIONS: The cell death caused by the combination of carboplatin and hypethermia was greater than that by either treatment alone regardless of the environmental pH. It was concluded that an acidic environment enhances not carboplatin-induced cell death but heat-induced cell death.
Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Carboplatin* ; Cell Death* ; Cell Line* ; Cell Survival ; DNA ; DNA Fragmentation ; Fever* ; Heating ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Retinoblastoma* ; Trypan Blue