BACKGROUND: Neurofibroma, the hallmark of neurofibromatosis, is a cutaneous or subcutaneous lesion, with a variable clinical presentation. Histologically, neurofibroma consists of proliferation of nerve derived cellular elements, together with an abundant, collagenous extracellular matrix. Specifically, neurofibroma has been shown to contain 30-50% collagen in its matrix. Objective 5. METHODS: We examined the expression of extracellular matrix genes (collagen, fibronectin, laminin), TGF-b mRNA and Ha-ras oncogene mRNA by using Northern and slot-blot hybridization and immunoperoxidase stains. Result: In Northern blot analysis, Ha-ras and TGF-b genes revealed respectively, 8.8kb and 2. 5kb sized mRNA transcripts in neurofibroma. These parameters were normal in the control. The expression of these genes were 1.9, 2.0 fold increased in neurofibroma. In slot-blot analysis, expression of type I collagen showed fibronectin genes to be 2,401+210, 540+43, respectively, in neurofibroma. So there were 3.7 fold, 2.1 fold, differences respectively, compared to the normal control. However, there were no significant changes of type IV collagen and laminin Bl mRNA levels between neurofibroma and normal skin tissues. Irnmunoperoxidase staining by rnonoclonal anti type IV collagen antibody in neurofibroma showed type IV collagen to be diffusely and weakly stained in tissue. On staining by monoclonal anti-laminin antibody, laminin was stained in a matrix and around vessels. CONCLUSION: The increased expression of extracellular matrix genes may suggest that there is a subpopulation of fibroic cells in neurofibroma which are stimulated by TGF-b. Ha-ras genes which might have accumulated with the differentiation of neural tissue may be related to the pathogenesis of neurofibroma tissue formation. Further studies are needed to determine whether the other factors are related to the pathogenesis of neurofibroma.
Blotting, Northern ; Collagen ; Collagen Type I ; Collagen Type IV ; Coloring Agents ; Extracellular Matrix* ; Fibronectins ; Genes, ras* ; Laminin ; Neurofibroma ; Neurofibromatoses* ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin

No abstract available.
Pneumothorax, Artificial* ; Treatment Failure* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*

No abstract available.
Asthma, Occupational*

Moyamoya disease is an unusual cerebrovascular disorder characterized by occlusive intimal dysplasia of the distal internal carotid and proximal cerebral arteries as well as other collateral arteries. However,moyamoya diseases are recently being reported as a systemic process.We experienced one case of coronary artery occlusive disease affected by moyamoya disease.The patient was a 35-year-old female,experiencing intermittent NYHA class II dyspnea and exertional chest pain for 6 months and right parest hesi a f or 1 month before admission.Cerebral artery angiogram showed abnormal cerebrovascular systems and confirmed moyamoya disease with cerebral infarction of the left f r ont al l obe. I n cor onar yartery angiogram,left coronary artery was not visualized due to total occlusion of the left main ostium and left coronary blood flow was supplied from normal right coronary artery. CABG was performed with OPCAB.Both internal mammary arteries were used f or LAD and LCx.Intraoperative coronary artery findings showed intimal hyperplasia and no definite thrombi,and nondiseased coronary arteries were good and patent.We concluded that this patient's coronary artery disease was affected by moyamoya disease,and moyamoya disease should be evaluated in the extracerebral cardiovascular system.
Adult ; Arteries ; Cardiovascular System ; Cerebral Arteries ; Cerebral Infarction ; Cerebrovascular Disorders ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Dyspnea ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Mammary Arteries ; Moyamoya Disease*

Neurocutaneous melanosis is a rare congenital phacomatosis, characterized by the presence of multiple pigmented skin nevi at birth. Meningeal melanosis tending to become malignant and seizure. Dandy-Walker syndrome is a developmental disorder of brain characterized by cystic dilatation of the fourth ventricle and agenesis or hypoplasia of the cerebellar vermis. We studied a case of Dandy-Walker syndrome with neurocutaneous giant melanosis in a 3 years old boy.
Brain ; Child, Preschool ; Dandy-Walker Syndrome* ; Dilatation ; Fourth Ventricle ; Humans ; Male ; Melanosis* ; Neurocutaneous Syndromes ; Nevus ; Parturition ; Seizures ; Skin

BACKGROUNDS: It is almost universally accepted that occlusive vascular diseases are best managed by anatomical reconstruction. However, the mortality and the morbidity have limited this operation for patients with high operation risks. In these patients, palliative operations such as extra-anatomic bypass and lumbar sympathectomy, are accepted as useful treatment. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective study was conducted in 38 patients who underwent palliative operations for occlusive vascular disease at Korea University Guro Hospital between 1996 and 2000. Mean age of the patients was 60.37 +/- 17.65 years, and preoperative diagnoses were atherosclerosis in 32 patients, Buerger's disease in 4 patients, Raynaud's syndrome in 1 patient and SVC syndrome in 1 patient. RESULT: Extra-anatomic bypass(40procedures), lumbar sympathectomy(17), thromboembolectomy(7) and femoral artery graft interposition(1) were performed. Six patients were required reoperation due to graft flow failure or fistula. Three year primary patency rate of entire operations was 78.29 +/- 8.81%, and the correlation between type of operation and patency rate was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Palliative operations for occlusive vascular disease are useful treatment in limited patients with high operation risks or limited life expectancy.
Atherosclerosis ; Diagnosis ; Femoral Artery ; Fistula ; Humans ; Korea ; Life Expectancy ; Mortality ; Palliative Care* ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Sympathectomy ; Thromboangiitis Obliterans ; Transplants ; Vascular Diseases*

The incidence of colon cancer and cancer-related deaths has been increased in Korea. Because most colon cancers arise from colonic adenomatous polyps, it is important to detect these early and to resect such lesions, and so the incidence of endoscopic polypectomy has increased in Korea since 1970's. At present, conventional colonoscopy is the standard for evaluating the colon, and especially for the screening and treatment of colon tumor. However, the entire colon cannot be visualized during conventional colonoscopy in 5~15% of patients due to a redundant colon, an excessive loop or a history of abdominal surgery. To overcome these difficulties, many radiologic and endoscopic studies have been conducted and there are several recent reports that double balloon enteroscopy has been successfully used in cases of failed conventional colonoscopy. We report here on a case of laterally spreading tumor that was resected with double balloon enteroscopy in a severely redundant colon.
Adenomatous Polyps ; Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colonoscopy ; Double-Balloon Enteroscopy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Mass Screening

The spontaneous regression of herniated cervical discs is not a well established phenomenon. However, we encountered the 3 cases of spontaneous regression of severe radiculopathic herniated cervical discs that were treated using a non-surgical method. Each of the patients were treated with a combination of manipulation, dry needling and analgesics. In each case, the symptoms improved within 12 months of treatment and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) conducted at that time revealed marked regression of the herniated disc in all cases. These cases provide additional examples of spontaneous regression of herniated cervical discs documented by MRI following non-surgical treatment.
Analgesics ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

PURPOSE: It is believed that blood from the superior mesenteric vein and splenic vein mixes incompletely in the portal vein and maintains a streamline flow influencing its anatomic distribution. Although several experimental studies have demonstrated the existence of streamlining, clinical studies have shown conflicting results. We investigated whether streamlining of portal vein affects the lobar distribution of colorectal liver metastases and estimated its impact on survival. METHODS: Data of patients who underwent hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases were retrospectively collected. The chi-square test was used for analyzing the distribution of metastasis. Cox analysis was used to identify risk factors of survival. Fisher exact test was used for subgroup analysis comparing hepatic recurrence. RESULTS: A total of 410 patients were included. The right-to-left ratio of liver metastases were 2.20:1 in right-sided colon cancer and 1.39:1 in left-sided cancer (P = 0.017). Cox analyses showed that margin < 5 mm (P < 0.001; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.648–4.884; hazard ratio [HR], 2.837), age ≥ 60 years (P = 0.004; 95% CI, 1.269–3.641; HR, 2.149), N2 status (P < 0.001, 95% CI, 1.598–4.215; HR, 2.595), tumor size ≥ 45 mm (P = 0.014; 95% CI, 1.159–3.758; HR, 2.087) and other metastasis (P = 0.012; 95% CI, 1.250–5.927; HR, 2.722) were risk factors of survival. However, in 70 patients who underwent right hemihepatectomy for solitary metastasis, left-sided colorectal cancer was a risk factor (P = 0.019; 95% CI, 1.293–17.956; HR, 4.818), and was associated with higher recurrence than right-sided cancer (43.1% and 15.8%, respectively, P = 0.049). CONCLUSION: This study showed significant difference in lobar distribution of liver metastases between right colon cancer and left colorecral cancer. Furthermore, survival of left-sided colorectal cancer was poorer than that of right-sided cancer in patients who underwent right hemihepatectomy for solitary metastasis. These findings can be helpful for clinicians planning treatment strategy.
Colonic Neoplasms ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Liver* ; Mesenteric Veins ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Portal Vein* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Splenic Vein

Background :The incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD)is increasing recently, but medical management for GERD has many limitations.Therefore,variable surgical treatments have been introduced. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective study was done in 10 patients who underwent the Belsey Mark IV operation at Korea university Guro hospital between 1996 and 2001.Preoperative diagnoses were hiatal hernia with gasroesophageal reflux in 8 patients and achalasia in 2 patients. RESULT: Mean age of the patients was 54.3 +/- 19.0 years.Belsey Mark IV operation was performed on patients where preoperative medical failed and mean hospital days were 13.1 +/- 2.6 days.We routinely practiced follow-up endoscopy on postoperative 3rd,6th,9th,and 12th months.After remission for reflux and esophagitis,they were transferred to internal medicine department.Six patients of hiatal hernia with reflux (one patient who lost follow-up and the other patient who didn't practice the follow-up endoscopy due to short postoperative follow-up period were excluded)had lowered endoscopic gradings and two patients of achalasia did not complained of reflux symptoms,postoperatively.We experienced 10%operation failure rate. CONCLUSION: We experienced satisfactory operation results with Belsey Mark IV in hiatal hernia with GERD and achalasia patients.
Diagnosis ; Endoscopy ; Esophageal Achalasia* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastroesophageal Reflux* ; Hernia, Hiatal* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Internal Medicine ; Korea ; Retrospective Studies