PURPOSE: To identify the four layers based on intranodular vascular nature visible in multiphase incremental bolus dynamic CT and to determine any differential points according to various factors of liver abscess with this vascular nature or not. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We categonized 29 cases of confirmed liver abscess into three different groups according to presence of four layers visible in early phase(arterial phase) of CT. Three groups were compared in regard to the results of antiamebic antibody test and bacteriologic study and presense of cholangitic abscess and internal septation. RESULTS: We could separate four layers, innermost hypodense central cavitary lesion, hyperdense granular tissue, hypodense abscess wall and outermost hyperdense compensatory hypervascular zone in 18 cases(62%), only two layers, cavity and wall in six cases(21%), and characteristically we could find three layers without innermost cavitary lesion in five cases(17%). But we couldn't find significant correlations between various clinical factors of liver abscess and our vascular groups. CONCLUSION: Our method of CT could represent four layers based on vascularity in 62% of cases. And also could find the unusual inflammatory mass containing three layer which must be differentiated from other malignant solid mass. But we couldn't find differential point between various clinical factor of liver abscess and imaging diagnosis. We think that with the improvement of hardware such as spiral CT, identification of four layers will be earier and will be very helpful in early detection and proper treatment planning of liver abscess.
Abscess* ; Diagnosis ; Liver Abscess* ; Liver* ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

The presence and distribution of pan-neuroendocrine markers such as neuron-specific enolase (NSE), chromogranin (CG), and synaptophysin (SYP) were investigated by immunohistochemistry in 15 cases of neuroblastic tumors, including four cases of neuroblastomas, six cases of ganglioneuroblastomas, and five cases of ganglioneuromas. Three cases of normal sympathetic ganglion were used for the normal control group. NSE was observed in all cases and both in ganglion cells and in neuropils. NSE was detected not only in the majority of the neuroblasts showing signs of differentiation, but also in some poorly differentiated neuroblasts. All cases of neuroblastic tumors were positive for CG, however, some variability of staining intensity and distribution patterns were noted. CG was found mainly in differentiated neuroblasts with enlarged cytoplasm and nuclei along the periphery of the perikaria, and was also found in the perinuclear regions of some undifferentiated cells. SYP was positive in 9 of 11 cases. In all of the 9 cases, SYP was detected in some differentiating neuroblasts and differentiated neuroblasts, as well as the mature ganglion cells. However, it has scarcely stained in dot or granular pattern. Two CG-negative tumors were also negative for SYP. Our data indicate that antibodies against NSE and CG are helpful as a diagnostic aid for neuroblastic tumors.
Antibodies ; Cytoplasm ; Ganglia, Sympathetic ; Ganglion Cysts ; Ganglioneuroblastoma ; Ganglioneuroma ; Immunohistochemistry ; Neuroblastoma ; Neurons* ; Neuropil ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase* ; Synaptophysin*

Hemorrhagic cystitis is potentially life-threatening sequellae of chemotherapy using oxazaphosphorine alkylating agents (cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide). Mesna contains a sulfhydryl group that is believed to bind acrolein within the urinary collecting system and reduce the hemorrhagic cystitis without affecting the chemotherapeutic potential. To date, about thirty cases of hypersensitivity or allergic reactions of the delayed and urticarial type associated with mesna have been reported. We reported two patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who developed facial rash and flushing associated with mesna which imitate malar rash.
Acrolein ; Alkylating Agents ; Cyclophosphamide ; Cystitis ; Drug Therapy ; Exanthema* ; Flushing ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Mesna*

BACKGROUND: Prostaglandin system is known to participate in manifestation of the renin-angiotensin system. However, role of prostaglandins on the renin-angiotensin system in development of hypertension is not well established. This study was to examine whether the role of prostaglandins is altered in experimental hypertension. METHODS: Two-kidney, one-clip(2KIC) renal hypertension was made by clipping the left renal artery with a silver clip(internal gap of 0.2mm) and deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertension by subcutaneous implantation of DOCA(200mg/kg) strip plus saline(1%) drinking. They were used 3 weeks later. Age-matched normal rats served as a control. Femoral artery was cannulated and arterial blood pressure and heart rate were monitored continuously. RESULTS: 1) In normotensive rats, saralasin infusion(20 microg/kg/min, IV) caused a decrease in mean arterial pressure without significant alterations in heart rate. Indomethacin-pretreatment(10mg/kg, IP) abolished the depressor response to saralasin. 2) The depressor response to saralasin was more marked in renal hypertensive rats than in normotensive rats. The magnitude of maximum decrease in blood pressure, however, was comparable between the hypertensive and normotensive rats. Indomethacin-pretreatment did not affect the depressor response to saralasin in renal hypertensive rats. 3) In DOCA-salt hypertensive rats, saralasin infusion rather caused an increase in mean arterial pressure without significant alterations in heart rate. The pressor response to saralasin was not affected by indomethacin-pretreatment. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that prostaglandin system may modify renin-angiotensin system in normotensive rats. It is suggested that mechanisms other than prostaglandin system participate in the full-blown manifestation of renin-angiotensin system in 2KIC renal hypertensive rats.
Animals ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Desoxycorticosterone ; Drinking ; Femoral Artery ; Heart Rate ; Hypertension ; Hypertension, Renal ; Prostaglandins I ; Prostaglandins* ; Rats* ; Renal Artery ; Renin-Angiotensin System* ; Saralasin ; Silver

The purpose of this study was to analyze the quality of meal and dietary habits of college students according to where they reside. This survey included 260 students and was conducted through questionnaires. The subjects were divided into three groups: first group was composed of students who reside in boarding-houses(BH group, N=72), second was students who reside in self-boarding set up(SB group, N=90), and third was those who lived in the same house with their parents(HWP group, N=98). The average age of the students in the BH, SB, and HWP group were 19.7 yrs, 21.1 yrs, and 21.7 yrs, respectively. There were no significant differences in the weight, height and BMI among the three groups. The BH group had significantly higher frequency of skipping breakfast and smoking than those of the SB and HWP groups. The amount of energy, food, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals consumed in the BH group were significantly higher than in the SB and HWP groups. Similarly, the NAR(nutrient adequacy ratio), MAR (mean adequacy ratio), ND(nutrient density) and INQ(index of nutritional quality) of the BH group were significantly higher than those in the SB and HWP groups. There was no significant difference in the KDDS(Korean's Diet Diversity Score) between the three groups. From the data obtained, the SB and HWP students appeared to have more dietary problems than the BH students. These results show that nutrition education for SB and HWP students is needed in order for them to learn proper dietary management and help improve the diet of students living in self-boarding arrangements.
Breakfast ; Carbohydrates ; Diet ; Education ; Fats ; Food Habits ; Gangwon-do* ; Humans ; Meals ; Minerals ; Nutritional Status* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Vitamins

No Abstract Available.

No abstract available.
Free Tissue Flaps*

No abstract available.
Heart Septal Defects, Atrial* ; Hemodynamics*

Acute myocardial infarction after a bee sting is a very rare process. Among proposed mechanisms, vasospasm of the coronary artery is the most probable mechanism. Many mediators are included in the venom of wasps, and those mediators have vasoconstrictive properties and may constrict the coronary artery. Furthemore, those mediators have thrombogenic properties that lead to thrombogenesis in the coronary artery and aggravate myocardial ischemia. Epinephrine, commonly used in the management of anaphylactic shock, may further aggravate myocardial ischemia. We experienced two cases of acute myocardial infarction after a bee sting. In the first case, we could find no underlying abnormalities of the coronary vessel because the patient died during coronary angiography. In the second case, the electrocardiogram showed inferior wall myocardial infarction, but only mild stenosis of the right coronary artery was seen in coronary angiography.
Anaphylaxis ; Bees* ; Bites and Stings* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels ; Electrocardiography ; Epinephrine ; Humans ; Inferior Wall Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Venoms ; Wasps

PURPOSE: Side firing laser prostatectomy(VLAP) is now considered as alternative promise of transurethral resection of the prostate(TURP). This study was designed to compare VLAP to conventional TURP in the efficacy and safety. MATERIALS AND METHODS: There was no significant differences in preoperative clinical characteristics between the TURP group and VLAP group. To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of VLAP, we compared the results of transurethral resection of prostate(TURP, n=115) to laser prostatectomy(VLAP, n=45) in international prostate symptom score(IPSS), maximal flow rate(Qmax), post-voiding residual urine at preoperative, after 1 month, 6 months and 12 months postoperatively. For the VLAP procedure, Nd: YAG was used. Patient was treated with 600micrometer internal reflector fiber covered by crystal glass cadding(SideTrackTM). RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in the results between TURP group and VLAP group. TURP group; IPSS of preoperative, after 1 month, 6 months, 12 months was 23.8, 9.0, 9.1, 9.0 and Qmax was 7.8ml/s, 17.0ml/s, 17.1ml/s, 17.6ml/s and residual urine was 159.3ml, 52.7ml, 40.0ml, 34.6ml. VLAP group; IPSS of preoperative, after 1 month, 6 months, 12 months was 22.8, 9.7, 9.8, 9.3 and Qmax was 8.1ml/s, 16.0ml/s, 16.7ml/s, 17.1ml/s and residual urine was 135.7ml, 46.8ml, 34.5ml, 28.1ml. Postoperative period of catheter indwelling and hospitalization was shorter in VLAP group than TURP group(3.7+/-2.0 days vs 5.3+/-1.9 days, 4.5+/-1.6 days vs 6.8+/-3.5 days). CONCLUSIONS: VLAP has no siginificant complications such as postoperative bleeding, TURP syndrome. VLAP would be recommended as following: 1) prostate weight is smaller, 2) physical status is poor, 3) anticoagulant treatment, 4) when patient wants more safe treatment. We had a good results by means of VLAP. The good results come from the use of internal reflecting type laser fiber. These results suggest that VLAP is considered the most promising alternative to TURP.
Catheters ; Fires* ; Glass ; Hemorrhage ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Postoperative Period ; Prostate* ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate