BACKGROUND: Recently, cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) has become a popular diagnostic method for differentiating the main cause of exertional dyspnea or exercise limitation. We evaluated the difference in the CPX results according to interpretative algorithms and the methods of exercise in Korea. METHOD: Sixty-six patients with chronic lung disease and 48 adults with dyspneic symptoms, but with no abnormalities in a spirometry performed symptom limited CPX, were included in this study. The results were interpreted using both Wasserman's(WA) and Eschenbacher's algorithm (EA), and a comparison between both algorithms was made. Thirty-three healthy medical students performed the CPX with a cycle ergometer and treadmill. The results were interpreted with EA and the concurrenec in interpretations was evaluated according to the methods of exercise. RESULTS: 1. In patients with chronic lung disease, the overall concordance rate between the two algorithms was 63.6%. The concordance rates were 69.8% in patients with obstructive, 25.0% in those with restrictive, and 66.7% in those with mixed pulmonary insufficiency. In patients with dyspneic symptoms but normal findings in resting spirometry, the concordance rate was 60.4%. 2. In healthy medical students, in results interpreted with EA, the concordance rate between the cycle ergometer and treadmill exercise was 25.0%. CONCLUSION: Both interpretative algorithms and methods of exercise may affect the CPX results. In using CPX as a diagnostic test for the causes of dyspnea in the Korean population, the interpretative algorithms and method of exercise need to be standardized, and a predictive VO2max equation needs to be established.
Adult ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Dyspnea ; Exercise Test* ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung Diseases ; Methods* ; Spirometry ; Students, Medical

PURPOSE: To evaluate the predictive factors of radiation pneumonitis (RP) and associated changes in pulmonary function after definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of 60 patients with NSCLC who received definitive CCRT were retrospectively reviewed. Dose volumetric (DV) parameters, clinical factors, and pulmonary function test (PFT) data were analyzed. RP was graded according to the CTCAE ver. 4.0. Percentage of lung volume that received a dose of threshold (Vdose) and mean lung dose (MLD) were analyzed for potential DV predictors. PFT changes were calculated as the difference between pre-RT and post-RT values at 3, 6, and 12 months after RT. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients (37%) developed grade > or =2 RP. Among clinical factors, tumor location in lower lobe was associated with RP. Among the DV parameters, only MLD >15 Gy was associated with grade > or =2 RP. There were statistically significant decreases in PFT at all points compared with pre-RT values in grade > or =2 RP group. MLD was associated with forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) changes at 6 and 12 months. V10 was associated with FVC changes at 12 months. V20 and V30 were associated with FEV1 changes at 6 months and FVC changes at 12 months. CONCLUSION: After definitive CCRT in patients with NSCLC, MLD >15 Gy and lower lobe tumor location were predictors of grade > or =2 RP. Pulmonary functions were decreased after CCRT and the magnitude of changes was associated with DV parameters.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Lung ; Medical Records ; Radiation Pneumonitis ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Vital Capacity

No abstract available.

Background : It has been suggested that thrombospondin (TSP) is a p53-dependent negative regulator of tumor angiogenesis. TSP expression and localization in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) and its association with overexpression of p53 protein were investigated. Methods : TSP-1 and -2 expressions were examined in 40 HCC specimens by immunohistochemical staining and in 4 HCC cell lines by Western blotting. In addition, p53 protein expression and microvessel density (MVD) were correlated with the TSP expression. Results : Strong immu- nopositivity for TSP-1 was observed in fibroblasts, vascular endothelial cells, and some vas- cular smooth muscle cells of the stroma in 18 cases (45%), and in tumor cells in 3 cases (7.5%) of 40 cases of HCC. Immunoreactivity for TSP-2 was observed in only the sinusoidal lining cells of the tumor in 15 cases (46%), and in tumor cells in 2 cases (6%) of 32 cases of HCC. TSP-1 expression was inversely correlated with MVD (p=0.028), but TSP-2 expression did not show any correlation with MVD. Although p53 was overexpressed in 17 cases, there was no significant correlation between TSP and p53 expressions. None of the HCC cell lines expressed TSP-1 or -2. Conclusions : These findings indicate that TSP-1 is mainly derived from nonparenchymal cells, and may decrease tumor angiogenesis in HCC.
Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; Blotting, Western ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Cell Line ; Endothelial Cells ; Fibroblasts ; Microvessels ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Thrombospondin 1 ; Thrombospondins

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate the relation between types of early diastolic notch and placental location and to evaluate the differences in perinatal outcomes. METHODS: We evaluated the Doppler waveform of the uterine artery in 149 pregnant women having an early diastolic notch after 26 weeks gestation, however we were unable to follow the obstetric outcomes in 20 women. Placental location was determined by transverse view of ultrasonography and classified as central and lateral placenta. The unilateral diastolic notches were divided into 3 groups depending on the placental location (ipsilateral: same side of the placenta, contralateral: opposite side of the placenta, and median: central placenta) RESULTS: In the bilateral notch group, the S/D ratio of the contralateral uterine artery was higher than the ipsilateral one(n=60, mean=3.22 Vs 2.80, p=0.0067). Of the 89 unilateral notches observed, the S/D ratio of the uterine artery in patients having early diastolic notch was higher compared to those without early diastolic notch.(t-test, mean=2.74,1.92, p=0.0001) Patients with bilateral notches were associated with poor perinatal outcomes significantly more than the patients with unilateral notches(p=0.003). Among the unilateral groups (ipsilateral: n=10, median: n=21, contralateral: n=58), there was no significant difference in perinatal outcomes. CONCLUSION: The early diastolic notch can be observed on both or either sides of the uterine artery independent on placental location. More bilateral notches were associated with poor pregnancy outcomes than unilateral notches. The pregnancy outcomes tended to be similar in unilateral notch irrespective of placental location, but showed worse outcomes than the control group. Careful analysis of the uterine artery in nonplacental side is necessary because of the frequent appearance of early diastolic notch and higher vascular resistance.
Female ; Humans ; Placenta ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnant Women ; Rheology* ; Ultrasonography ; Uterine Artery* ; Vascular Resistance

No abstract available.
Adenocarcinoma*

No abstract available.
Fistula*

PURPOSE: Pilomatrixoma is a benign, usually asymptomatic tumor. It presents clinically as a solitary superficial subcutaneous nodule measuring between 0.5 cm and 5 cm in diameter on the head or upper extremeties and has not been reported after skin graft. The objective of this article is to report our experience in treating pilomatrixoma which occurred after split thickness skin graft on the lower extremity. METHODS: A 56-year-old female was treated in August 2005 with a 0.5 X 0.5 cm firm subcutaneous nodule at recipient site of split thickness skin graft on the left medial thigh. The tumor was successfully removed by complete excision and histologic examination was followed. RESULTS: The diagnosis was pilomatrixoma which was characterized by a dual population of proliferating basophilic cells and diagnostic shadow cells. CONCLUSION: The tumor was successfully treated by complete resection. The authors report this very rare case of pilomatrixoma which occurred at recipient site of split thickness skin graft.
Basophils ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Middle Aged ; Pilomatrixoma* ; Skin* ; Thigh ; Transplants*

Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS) is a malformation associated with a hemizygous deletion of the distal short arm of chromosome 4. Herein we report a fetal autopsy case of WHS. A male fetus was therapeutically aborted at 17(+0) weeks gestational age, due to complex anomaly and intrauterine growth retardation, which were found in prenatal ultrasonography. His birth weight was 65 g. Mild craniofacial dysmorphism, club feet, bilateral renal hypoplasia, edematous neck, and left diaphragmatic hernia of Bochdalek were found on gross examination. On GTG-banding, the fetus revealed 46,XY,add(4p) karyotype and the mother revealed 46,XX,t(4;18)(p16;q21.1), with normal karyotype of the father. Array comparative genomic hybridization performed on the autopsied lung tissue revealed loss of 4p16.2-->4pter and gain of 18q21.1-->18qter, suggesting 46,XY,der(4)t(4;18)(p16.2;q21.1)mat of fetal karyotype. This suggested deletion of 4p, compatible with WHS inherited from the mal-segregation of a maternal translocation t(4;18)(p16.2;21.1). Therefore, our fetus was both genotypically and phenotypically compatible with WHS.
Arm ; Autopsy ; Birth Weight ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 4 ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; Fathers ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Fetus ; Foot ; Gestational Age ; Hernia, Diaphragmatic ; Humans ; Karyotype ; Karyotyping ; Lung ; Male ; Mothers ; Neck ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal ; Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome

PURPOSE: To cmpare the clinical results of complex tibial plateau fractures treated by hybrid external fixation and dual plate fixation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied forty patients with Schatzker type V and VI fractures respectively and selected twenty seven patients who were followed at least one year between January 2000 and December 2005. We evaluated the clinical results in which fourteen fractures with hybrid external fixation were compared with thirteen fractures with dual plate fixation. The clinical results were evaluated according to Knee Society Clinical Rating System and the statistical analysis was performed by Student t-test. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in terms of bone union time (average union time: dual plate fixation 13.8 weeks, hybrid external fixation 14.2 weeks). The quality of osseous reduction was superior in the fractures with dual plate fixation than those with hybrid external fixation. There were significant differences in functional score (average functional score: dual plate fixation 73, hybrid external fixation 62), but not in average knee score. CONCLUSION: The hybrid external fixation can be a useful modality for treatment of complex proximal tibial plateau fractures. But the good quality of the fracture reduction by dual plate fixation may be a indicator for favorable prognosis for satisfactory knee function.
Chimera ; External Fixators ; Humans ; Knee ; Prognosis