Multiple factors including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were evaluated for a case-control study in Chonnam area to investigate the causative entity of COPD. Data on the multiple causative factors from hospital records and interview survey were analyzed in three groups of COPD(64 cases as case group), normal lung (83 cases as control group 1) and non-COPD lung disease (45 cases as control group 2). Smoking status, history of adulthood pulmonary infection and frequent history of URI, socioeconomic status, and GERD were significantly different between COPD group and control group 1. Drinking status, physical height of the subjects and GERD were significantly different between COPD group and control group 2. If control group 1 was used, odds ratio of GERD and COPD was 5.68(95%confidence interval, 95% CI:2.59-12.45) and 4.81 (95% CI:1.89-10.53) when adjusted by age and smoking status. If control group 2 was used. Odds ratio of GERD and COPD was 4.22 (95% CI:1.69-10.56) and 4.59 (95% CI:1.64-12.86) when adjusted by alcohol and adulthood respiratory infection status. In summary, there results suggested that GERD might play a causative role in the development of COPD.
Case-Control Studies ; Drinking ; Gastroesophageal Reflux* ; Hospital Records ; Jeollanam-do ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Odds Ratio ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Social Class

Emphysematous cystitis is a rare condition characterized by gas collection in the wall and lumen of the bladder. We experienced three cases of emphysematous cystiris. All patients were female; one was associated with a long term history of diabetes mellitus and another with urinary indwelling catheter. All of the cases were easily diagnosed on plain radiograph and CT scan, and were successfully treated with antibiotic therapy. In one of the cases, however, associated abscess due to perivesical extension of inflammation was treated by combined external drainage.
Abscess ; Catheters, Indwelling ; Cystitis* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Drainage ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Urinary Bladder

Emphysematous cholecystitis is an uncommon condition which may mimic acute cholecystitis. But it differs from acute cholecystitis in its relatively greater frequency in men and diabetics and has graver prognosis. The condition is diagnosed by demonstration of air in lumen,wall of gallbladder and/or pericholecystic space using a variety of radiographic techniques: simple abdominal radiography, ultrasonography and CT scanning. One illustrative case is presented herein and the pertinent literature is reviewed.
Cholecystitis, Acute ; Emphysematous Cholecystitis* ; Gallbladder ; Humans ; Male ; Prognosis ; Radiography, Abdominal ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

No Abstract Available.
Ovarian Neoplasms/*diagnosis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods ; Leiomyoma/*diagnosis ; Image Enhancement/*methods ; Humans ; Female ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Cystadenoma/*diagnosis ; Adenofibroma/*diagnosis

PURPOSE: Tumoral neovascularity characteristic of venous invasion of renal cell carcinoma has been demonstrated using angiography, computed tomography, and color Doppler duplex ultrasonography. Previous reports on the characteristic findings of MR imaging have, however, been sporadic. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of a patchy signal seen on MR images within the venous thrombus of renal cell carcinoma as a sign of tumor neovascularity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six patients with histopathologically-proven unilateral renal cell carcinoma (right:left=3:3) with venous tumor thrombi were included in this study. MR imaging findings were retrospectively analyzed with respect to the presence of patchy signals within a thrombus in a renal vein, the IVC, or the right atrium. MR imaging findings on spin-echo and gradient-echo images were compared with histopathologic findings especially in terms of tumor neovascularity. RESULTS: On histopathologic examination, a tumor thrombus was found in the renal vein in three patients, in the IVC in six, and within the right atrium in two. Patchy signals were demonstrated on MR images in one of three patients with renal vein invasion, in four of six with IVC invasion, and in both patients with right atrial invasion. CONCLUSION: On MR imaging, a patchy signal within a venous thrombus is a helpful sign suggesting tumor neovascularity, one of the characteristics of venous invasion by renal cell carcinoma.
Angiography ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Renal Veins ; Retrospective Studies ; Thrombosis ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex

PURPOSE: Emphysematous pyelonephritis is a rare, life threatening infection of kidney and the pennephric space, characterized by the production of gas within the renal parenchyma. The aim of this study is to analyze the clinical and radiologic characteristics of emphysematous pyelonephritis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 7 cases of the emphysematous pyelonephritis. Six patients had plain abdominal radiographs, ultrasonograms and abdominal CT scans. Only one patient had plain radiograph and ultrasonogram. In 5 operated cases, CT findings were compared with surgical records. RESULTS: Plain radiographs showed characteristic diffuse mottling of gas in renal fossa. On sonogram, intrarenal gas was identified as echogenic loci with dirty shadows. CT scan showed inflammatory mass with gas and fluid levels in adjacent to the kidney. CT findings corresponded relatively wall with the surgical findings in regard to disease extent. CONCLUSION: lntrarenal gas in appropriate clinical setting is highly specific for emphysematous pyelonephritis. CT is the most sensitive method for demonstrating the disease extent as well as specific diagnosis.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Kidney ; Pyelonephritis* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: Emphysematous pyelonephritis is a rare, life threatening infection of kidney and the pennephric space, characterized by the production of gas within the renal parenchyma. The aim of this study is to analyze the clinical and radiologic characteristics of emphysematous pyelonephritis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 7 cases of the emphysematous pyelonephritis. Six patients had plain abdominal radiographs, ultrasonograms and abdominal CT scans. Only one patient had plain radiograph and ultrasonogram. In 5 operated cases, CT findings were compared with surgical records. RESULTS: Plain radiographs showed characteristic diffuse mottling of gas in renal fossa. On sonogram, intrarenal gas was identified as echogenic loci with dirty shadows. CT scan showed inflammatory mass with gas and fluid levels in adjacent to the kidney. CT findings corresponded relatively wall with the surgical findings in regard to disease extent. CONCLUSION: lntrarenal gas in appropriate clinical setting is highly specific for emphysematous pyelonephritis. CT is the most sensitive method for demonstrating the disease extent as well as specific diagnosis.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Kidney ; Pyelonephritis* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

We compared the pain produced during different phases of phacoemulsification cataract surgery using a scleral pocket incision under pinpoint anesthesia with that under intracameral anesthesia. This prospective study comprised each 100 cataract patients who had no complications influencing the degree of pain during surgery. Patients were asked about pain immediately after each phase and pain occurring during each phase was measured using 4 step verbal scale(from 0 to 4). In both anesthesia,conjunctival reposition was the most painful.Pinpoint injection was statistically significantly more painful than induction of intracameral anesthesia.The pain score during conjunctival reposition and at 1hr after surgery were significantly higher under intracameral anesthesia than under pinpoint, but during most of phases under both anesthesia,the pain score was relatively low. Intracameral anesthesia is easy,safety and dose not require additional ocular damage during induction of anesthesia,so if combined with topical anesthesia,it is very effective during cataract surgery using scleral pocket incision.
Anesthesia* ; Cataract* ; Humans ; Phacoemulsification ; Prospective Studies

The trachea is a cartilagenous and membranous tubular midline structure with parallel walls. Tracheal deviation may be caused either by traction toward the diseased hemithorax or by compression toward the normal side. Unless an obvious mass is observed radiographically, occasionally it can be difficult to decide whether the trachea has been pushed or pulled from its normal position in the mediastinum. We studied the differences between tracheal deviation patterns in 23 patients with fibroatelectatic pulmonary tuberculosis and 35 patients with elongated and dilated aortas. In cases of retraction of the trachea by fibroatelectatic pulmonary tuberculosis, the diameter of the deviated segment was greater than that of the normal segment and deviation of the wall adjacent to the fibroatelectasis from its normal position was greater than that of the opposite wall. In cases of compression of the trachea by the elongated and dilated aorta, the diameter of the diviated segment was smaller than that of the normal segment and deviation of the wall adjacent to the aortic arch from its normal position was greater than that of the opposite wall. We conclude that these differences between tracheal deviation patterns are useful signs for discriminating retraction from compression. Thus when the trachea is retracted, the deviation of the juxtalesional wall is greater than that of the lesion-free wall, and vice versa.
Aorta ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Humans ; Mediastinum ; Trachea* ; Traction* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Humans ; Spondylolisthesis*