No abstract available.
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic*

The aim of the present study is to demonstrate the usefulness of intraoperative fine needle aspiration (FNA) of pancreatic lesions in 30 patients. A conclusive diagnosis was done in 27 patients and the diagnoses of three patients were deferred. No complications followed the procedure. Based on histologic findings of the resected specimens in 20 cases and of cell blocks in 10 cases, the final diagnoses were adenocarcinoma in 19 cases, chronic pancreatitis in nine cases and tuberculosis in two cases. The sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy were 95%, 100% and 96% resepectively and there were no false positives. The smear of aspirate was stained with toluidine blue and examined by light microscope. The presence of there-dimensional clusters of disoriented cells and the increased nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio with large prominent nucleoli were the most helpful criteria for a diagnosis of malignancy in the pancreas. The intraoperative FNA of pancreatic lesions was considered as a simple, safe, and highly specific and sensitive tool in differentiating benign from malignant lesions. The intraoperative FNA can be recommended as the first tool of choice of intraoperative diagnostic procedure in lesions of the pancreas.
Child ; Male ; Female ; Humans ; Adenocarcinoma

PURPOSE:This study was performed to investigate the status of cardiac structure and function and to assess their alterations after growth hormone(GH) treatment in children with growth hormone deficiency(GHD). METHODS:Interventricular septal thickness and left ventriclular posterior wall thickness, ejection fraction(EF), fractional shortening(FS), systolic time interval(STI) of left ventricle were measured by two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiography in sixteen children with GHD and age, sex matched sixteen children with GH normal short stature as control. The measure were done before GH treatment and at 6 and 12 months of GH treatment, respectively. RESULTS: 1)Left ventricular posterior wall thickness in GHD group was significantly thinner than that of control group(P<0.05). 2)Interventricular septal thickness and left ventricular posterior wall thickness were increased with GH treatment from 10.4+/-1.7mm, 8.1+/-1.8mm before GH treatment to 11.0+/-0.9mm, 8.7+/-0.7mm and 11.2+/-1.7mm, 9.7+/-1.8mm at 6 and 12 months of GH treatment, respectively. The increment of left ventricular posterior wall thickness after 12 months GH treatment revealed statistic significance(P<0.05). 3)There was no significant alterations of EF, FS, STI of left ventricle after GH treatment at 6 months and 12 months, respectively. CONCLUSION: Left ventricular posterior wall thickness in GHD group was significantly thin compared to that of control group(P<0.05). GH treatment in GHD children for 12 months, resulted statistically significant increase(P<0.05) in posterior wall thickness. There is no evidence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy after GH treatment. But we could not exclude the possibility of these alterations were induced by an increased overall body size and body surface area after GH treatment. To clarify the exact alterations of cardiac structures and function in children with GHD after GH treatment, long term follow-up studies should be necessary.
Body Size ; Body Surface Area ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic ; Child* ; Echocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Growth Hormone* ; Heart ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans

This clinical study is based on review of records of 87 patients with postoperative adhesive intestinal obstruction who were managed at the Department of Surgery of Dongbu City Hospital during 5 years from September, 1992 to August, 1997. The results of study were as follows: 1) The most prevalent age group was 5th decade(44.8%) and male to female ratio was 1.7:1. 2) The previous operations were operation for appendicitis(32.2%), operations for peritonitis due to peptic ulcer perforation(24.1%), gynecologic operations(13.8%), operation for gastric malignancy(8.1%). 3) The mean value of duration between previous operations and postoperative adhsive intestinal obstruction was 36 months and the mean value of duration of symptoms was two days. 4) 42(49.2%) of 87 patients were admitted under 24 hours after onset of symptoms. 5) The chief complaints on admission were abdominal pain(98.8%), vomiting(81.6%), abdominal distension(78.2%), failure to flatus(55.2%). 6) 23 cases(45.1%) of 51 cases having one or more abnormal physical and laboratory finding(fever, abdominal tenderness, abscence of defecation or gas out, or leukocytosis) were operated, and 5 cases(13.9%) of 36 cases having no physical finding were operated (p value < 0.05). 7) Emergency operation was performed in 9 cases, elective operation was performed in 19 cases which had deteriorating clinical course despite of conservative management for 48 hours, and conservative treatement was performed in 59 cases. 8) The postoperative complications were observed in 6 cases and the most common complication was wound infection(14.3%). In conclusions, The longer symptom duration and the longer interval between previous operation and onset of symptoms, the higer probability of surgical treatment is expected. The need for surgical treatment was increased acording the number of physical and laboratory findings(fever, abdominal tenderness, abscence of defecation or gas out, or leukocytosis). For the cases which have unimproving and deteriorating clinical course despite of conservative management for 72 hours, surgical operation shoud be considered.
Adhesives* ; Defecation ; Emergencies ; Female ; Hospitals, Urban ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction* ; Male ; Peptic Ulcer ; Peritonitis ; Postoperative Complications ; Wounds and Injuries

Evidence-Based Medicine ; Humans ; Mental Disorders ; drug therapy ; Psychiatry ; Psychopharmacology

OBJECTIVES: Avascular necrosis of bone has been frequently documented in association with systemic lupus erythematosus and it has been suggested by many investigators that systemic factors may be implicated in its pathogenesis. In order to define the incidence, clinical feature and related risk factors of avascular necrosis in corticosteroid- treated rheumatic disease patients, we conducted this retrospective study. METHODS: Medical records of 278 patients with diagnoses of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), polymyositis/dermatomyositis, overlap syndrome comprising either of SLE, polymyositis, or dermatomyositis, and mixed connective tissue disease were reviewed with regards to the following: 1) duration of disease, risk factors of avascular necrosis, such as the presence of Raynaud phenomenon, small vessel vasculitis, alcoholism. 2) history of steroid treatment, including duration, initial dose, cumulative dose and mean daily dose during follow-up, cumulative dose and mean daily dose during the first year of disease, history of steroid pulse therapy, and history of cytotoxic drug therapy. 3) laboratory findings including false positive VDRL, lupus anticoagulant, anti-phospholipid antibody, and activated partial thromboplastin time. 4) Development of avascular necrosis, duration of disease, activity of disease at the time of diagnosis of avascular necrosis, and the site. RESULTS: Nineteen patients developed avascular necrosis leading to the incidence rate of 18.5/1,000 patient-year. Sites of involvement were hip in 16 cases(84.2%), talus in 2 cases(10.5% ), and phalanx, scaphoid, and humerus in 1 case(5.3% ), respectively. Fifty-eight percent of patients had involvement in more than one site. Presence of Raynaud phenomenon, small vessel vasculitis, history of cytotoxic therapy, history of steroid pulse therapy, cumulative dose and mean daily dose of steroid during follow-up and 1st year of diagnosis were not significantly different between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of avascular necrosis in our patient population was similar to that reported in SLE patients previously, but other risk factor including steroid dosage could not be identified.
Alcoholism ; Dermatomyositis ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip ; Humans ; Humerus ; Incidence ; Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Medical Records ; Mixed Connective Tissue Disease ; Necrosis* ; Osteonecrosis ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Polymyositis ; Raynaud Disease ; Research Personnel ; Retrospective Studies ; Rheumatic Diseases* ; Risk Factors ; Talus ; Vasculitis

PURPOSE: There has been little research regarding the effectiveness of oseltamivir for influenza B infections. We sought to identify the different clinical manifestations between patients treated with and without oseltamivir. METHODS: We retrospectively studied the medical records of 72 inpatients or outpatients from two medical centers diagnosed with influenza B infections by either a rapid antigen test or multiplex reverse transcriptase PCR between January 2012 and July 2012. We compared gender, age, past medical history, admission period, total fever duration, fever duration after hospitalization, post-oseltamivir medication peak temperature, laboratory test, chest X-ray, antibiotic medication, and the presence of concomitant viral or bacterial infections. RESULTS: The number of subjects in our study was 72 who were diagnosed with influenza B pneumonia, acute bronchitis, acute bronchiolitis, croup, and mean age was 3.6+/-2.8 year old. The demographic characteristics and clinical manifestations of oseltamivir and the non-oseltamivir groups, including hospitalization period (4.18+/-2.10 vs 4.79+/-1.49 days, P=.17) and total fever duration (5.32+/-2.07 vs 6.41+/-3.25 days, P=.09), demonstrated no significant differences. Notably, the oseltamivir group did have significantly reduced usage of antibiotic treatment than the non-oseltamivir group (P=.04). When we limited our patient group to patients under the age of three, similar results were seen. The group prescribed oseltamivir within 48 hours of fever onset had less antibiotic usage, in addition to a shorter fever duration. CONCLUSION: Oseltamivir appeared to have no benefit in improving the clinical course. However, if it is prescribed within the first 48 hours of symptoms, it may be more effective.
Bacterial Infections ; Bronchiolitis ; Bronchitis ; Child* ; Croup ; Fever ; Hospitalization ; Hospitals, University* ; Humans ; Influenza B virus* ; Influenza, Human ; Inpatients ; Medical Records ; Oseltamivir* ; Outpatients ; Pneumonia ; Retrospective Studies ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Thorax

BACKGROUND: Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) are autoantibodies that are specific for proteins in the cytoplasm of neutrophils and monocytes. In the 10 years since their discovery, ANCA have become widely used serological markers for various systemic necrotizing vasculitides, including Wegener's granulomatosis, polyarteritis nodosa, crescentic glomerulonephritis, and Churg-Strauss syndrome. Rheumatic manifestations (such as arthralgia, myalgia, even frank arthritis) are observed frequently in the group of primary vasculitides. In the group of collagen vascular diseases and the various forms of chronic inflammatory arthritis, vasculitis may severely complicate the course of the disease. Since atypical vasculitic diseases are indistingushable from other rheumatic disorders in the initial period of disease, immunological studies must be performed. We conducted this study for obtaining the seroprevalence of ANCA in rheumatic disorders including vasculitides which are common in Korea. METHOD: ANCA was detected with indirect immunofluorescent microscopy of alcohol-fixed granulocytes. RESULTS: Total 185 patients were enrolled in this study. There was no patient having C-ANCA except one patient with Wegener's granulomatosis. Total 5 patients were positive for P-ANCA; 2 of 41 SLE patients, 1 of 22 dermatomyositis/polymyositis patients, 2 of 50 Behcet's disease patients. All 11 patients with Takayasu's meritis were ANCA-negative. These results were similar to those of others. CONCLUSION: ANCA, as a adjunct to other autoantibodies, will be helpful for differential diagnosis of various vasculitides and rheumatic disorders.
Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic* ; Arthralgia ; Arthritis ; Autoantibodies ; Churg-Strauss Syndrome ; Collagen ; Cytoplasm ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Glomerulonephritis ; Granulocytes ; Humans ; Immune System Diseases ; Korea ; Microscopy ; Monocytes ; Myalgia ; Neutrophils ; Polyarteritis Nodosa ; Prevalence* ; Rheumatic Diseases* ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Vascular Diseases ; Vasculitis* ; Wegener Granulomatosis

BACKGROUND: Infantile Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis (IHPS) is one of the most common surgical problems of early infancy and one for which an eminently successful surgical treatment has been available since the work of Ramstedt in 1912. A clinical study was begun to access further the accuracy of ultrasonography in identifying hypertrophic pylorus. METHODS: This study is a retrospective clinical analysis of 31 cases of IHPS treated at the Department of Surgery of Pohang St. Mary's Hospital from Jan. 1990 to Dec. 1997. RESULTS: (1) The most prevalent age group was between 3 weeks and 8 weeks in 24 cases (77.4%), and the ratio of males to females was 5.2:1. (2) Among the 31 cases, new born babies were 21 cases (67.7%). (3) In 30 cases (96.8%), the gestational age was between 37 weeks and 42 weeks, and the birth weight was more than 3.5 kg in 21 cases (67.7%). The body weight percentile at admission was lower than the 50 percentile in 31 cases. (4) Among the 31 cases, breast-fed infants were 15 cases (48.4%), milk-fed 13 cases (41.9%), and mixed-fed 3 cases (9.7%). B type blood group was 23 cases (74.2%), and O type was 4 cases (12.9%). (5) In 4 cases (12.9%), an inguinal hernia was noted as an associated anomaly. (6) The onset of symptoms was neonatal (1 week-12 weeks) in all 31 cases, and the duration of the symptoms was between 1 week and 2 weeks in 18 cases (58.1%). (7) Non-bile stained, projectile vomiting was noted in all 31 cases (100.0%), an olive-shaped mass in right upper quadrant of the abdomen was felt in 27 cases (87.1%), and visible peristalsis on the epigastrium was noted in 25 cases (80.6%). (8) On laboratory tests, 17 patients had leukocytosis, and anemia was observed in 2 cases. Hypokalemia was observed in 9 cases (29.0%), hypochloremia in 4 cases (12.9%), and moderate to severe alkalosis (CO2 content > 25 mEq) in 7 cases. (9) Among the 25 cases, for which an the ultrasonographic evaluation was performed, the length of the stenotic canal was from 16 mm to 20 mm in 23 cases (92.0%), and the thickness of the stenotic portion was from 5 mm to 6 mm in 21 cases (84.0%). (10) All 31 cases were surgically treated by using a Fredet-Ramstedt pyloromyotomy, and the mortality was nil. The average hospitalization was 9.4 days. (11) There was 1 case of duodenal perforation and 1 case of intermittent non-projectile vomiting after the operation. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that early accurate diagnosis, adequate preoperative preparation of the fluid & electrolyte imbalance, immediate surgical correction, and scheduled careful oral feeding are important in treatment of IHPS. Ultrasonographic determination of pyloric muscle length and thickness is the most accurate of the currently available techniques. A Fredet-Ramstedt pyloromyotomy is a safe and successful surgical procedure.
Abdomen ; Alkalosis ; Anemia ; Birth Weight ; Body Weight ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Hernia, Inguinal ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hypokalemia ; Infant ; Leukocytosis ; Male ; Mortality ; Peristalsis ; Pyloric Stenosis, Hypertrophic* ; Pylorus ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography ; Vomiting

No abstract available.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Causality* ; Humans ; Methotrexate*