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PURPOSE: To evaluate the US findings of soft tissue hemangiomas in extremities and to correlate the echo-pattern with MR signal characteristics of hemangiomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied forty-two patients either with pathologically proven cases or with characteristic features of hemangiomas on MRI, US and plain film. Hemangiomas were divided into two types according to the locations;subcutaneous and intramuscular. Analytic points on US and MR findings were gross morphology of the mass, internal echo-pattern or signal characteristics. We correlated the echo-pattern with MR signal characteristics in hemangiomas. RESULTS: Subcutaneous hemangiomas revealed homogeneously anechoic mass on US, which were well correlated with MR signal characteristics' homogeneous low singnal intensity(SI) on Tl-weighted image(WI) and high SI on T2-WI. Intramuscular hemangiomas showed heterogeneously mixed echoic masses on US. An anechoic component on US corresponded to dilated vascular channels on MRI. The signal intensity of intramuscular hemangioma was less than that of subcutaneous fat on T1-WI and greater than that of fat on T2-WI. Both types of hemangiomas had tubular or lace-like appearance with interspersed fibrofatty septa. CONCLUSION: The echo-patterns in US were well associated with MR signal characteristics on MRI. Regarding US and MR features, intramuscular hemangiomas were different to subcutaneous hemangiomas.
Extremities* ; Hemangioma* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Subcutaneous Fat

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate the diagnostic performance of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for hepatic neuroendocrine tumors (NET) compared with combined DWI and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: Fifteen patients with hepatic NET (n=128) underwent enhanced MRI and DWI with multiple-b values. We analyzed three different sets: Precontrast set; DWI set (added DWI); combined set (added enhanced image). Two reviewers rated possibility of NET using a 5-point scale for each image set. Their diagnostic performance was compared using Jackknife alternative free-response ROC (JAFROC). RESULTS: Diagnostic performance was better on the combined set (figure of merit [FOM]=0.852, 0.761) than the precontrast set (FOM=0.427, 0.572, P〈0.05) and the DWI set (FOM=0.682, 0.620, P〈0.05). However, DWI improved performance compared with precontrast set without statistical difference. In small NETs (〈1 cm), all sets showed low sensitivity (10.7-65.9%) with high specificity (95.4-100%). Interobserver agreement was moderate in all image sets (k=0.521 to 0.589). CONCLUSIONS: Combined DWI and enhanced MRI were more useful for detecting NET. Although statistically insignficant, there was a trend in improved diagnostic performance with DWI.
Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neuroendocrine Tumors* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Individuals with diabetes mellitus are at 2- to 3-fold increased risk of cardiovascular disease relative to individuals without diabetes, and hypoglycemia is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality in diabetic patients. Here, we present a discussion of multiple hypoglycemic drugs and their cardiovascular effects. In addition, we provide summary recommendations for glucose-lowering regimens in patients with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia ; Hypoglycemic Agents

The purpose of present study was to investigate the antimicrobial resistance in Escherichia coli isolated from healthy animals in all provinces of the Republic of Korea. A total of 2,085 E. coli strains isolated from 11,336 fecal samples of healthy animals during 2010-2012 were examined for antimicrobial resistance. Comparison of average resistance rate through the years revealed that tetracycline (47.0% and 76.1%) and streptomycin resistance (42.6% and 64.6%) was most frequently observed in cattle and pigs, respectively. Whereas, in chicken isolates, resistance against nalidixic acid (90.9%) was highest among the antimicrobials tested. Percentage of E. coli that showed multidrug resistance (resistance against > or = three subclasses of antimicrobial agents) was 17.6% (151/860) in cattle, 69.4% (506/729) in pigs, and 86.1% (427/496) in chickens. Overall, the rates of resistance are apparently different between animal species and, in particular, resistance was less prevalent in cattle than in pigs and chickens. In conclusion, this study showed higher prevalence of resistance in commensal E. coli strains to antimicrobial agents in Korean livestock and highlighted the urgent need for measures to regulate the abuse of antimicrobial agents.
Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Cattle ; Chickens ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Escherichia coli* ; Livestock ; Nalidixic Acid ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea ; Streptomycin ; Swine ; Tetracycline

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to investigate the changing prevalence rate of Helicobacter pylori infection in children, of different age groups, with recurrent abdominal pain over a 10-year period. METHODS: Children with recurrent abdominal pain who visited the pediatric outpatient clinic at university hospital were screened for H. pylori. Children were divided into 3 age categories of 4-5, 6-11, and 12-16 years. To study the changes in the annual prevalence rates of H. pylori infection, the study period was divided into 3 time periods: 2004-2007, 2008-2010, and 2011-2014. Urea breath test was performed for all children aged 4-16 years, with a cut-off value of 4.0per thousand for children aged > or =6 years and 7per thousand for children aged <6 years. RESULTS: A total of 2,530 children (1,191 boys) with a mean age of 10.0+/-3.0 years (range, 4.0-16.9 years) were included in the study. The total prevalence of H. pylori infection was 7.4% (187/2,530). The prevalence rate of H. pylori infection in children with recurrent abdominal pain was 8.0% (70/873) in 2004-2007, 7.7% (51/666) in 2008-2010, and 6.7% (66/991) in the 2011-2014. Nevertheless, a significant difference was observed in the prevalence rate between children <12 years old and > or =12 years of age (p=0.018). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of H. pylori infection in Korean children with recurrent abdominal pain was 7.4%, showing no significant decrease in the last 11 years; however, the prevalence rate in children <12 years old was significantly lower than that in those > or =12 years old.
Abdominal Pain* ; Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Breath Tests ; Child* ; Endoscopy ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Helicobacter ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Humans ; Prevalence* ; Urea

This research investigated on the medical recorder manpower relation by before / after medical record computerization for the object of 51 hospitals in 1998 year. Judging from the situation before / after computerization shown on this investigation, the number of personnels was more increased since computer work than manual work, and the medical recorder present conditions by years show that they have been gradually increasing. This is considered why affairs diversely change according to computerization, the auxiliary recorder present conditions shows the reduction of 98 year in comparison with 94 year. This is regarded that personnels were reduced by facilities like existing transporting pipes. Accordingly, vast data are produced and utilized in the medical record department(room) too, therefore information will be quickly / correctly dealt for this. The times invested for simple affairs will be easily diminished by making existing simple affairs be computerized, and so personnels will have to be invested to earnestly / diversely utilize vast information not to reduce personnels in proportion to diminished times.
Humans ; Medical Record Administrators* ; Medical Records*

PURPOSE: The aim of this work was to evaluate nuclear histone acetylation level and total histone acetyltransferase (HAT) and deacetylase (HDAC) activity in ejaculated sperm and their relevance to conventional sperm parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three normozoospermic men were included in this study. Semen samples were processed by swim-up and then immunostained by six acetylation antibodies (H3K9ac, H3K14ac, H4K5ac, H4K8ac, H4K12ac, and H4K16ac). Our preliminary study verified the expression of HAT/HDAC1 in mature human sperm. From vitrified-warmed sperm samples, total HAT/HDAC activity was measured by commercially available kits. Nuclear DNA integrity was also measured by TUNEL assay. RESULTS: The levels of six acetylation marks were not related with conventional sperm parameters including sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) as well as HAT/HDAC activity. However, sperm DFI was positively correlated with HAT activity (r=0.038 after adjustment, p<0.02). HAT activity showed a negative relationship with HDAC activity (r=-0.51, p<0.01). Strict morphology was negatively correlated with acetylation enzyme index (=HAT activity/HDAC activity) (r=-0.53, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Our works demonstrated a significant relationship of acetylation-associated enzyme activity and strict morphology or sperm DFI.
Acetylation ; Adult ; DNA Fragmentation ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Histone Acetyltransferases/*metabolism ; Histones/*metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Semen Analysis ; Spermatozoa/*metabolism

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Acute pyelonephritis (APN) can involve a single kidney or both kidneys. The aim of this study was to define the clinical characteristics of unilateral and bilateral APN and compare their differences in acute kidney injury (AKI). METHODS: This was a retrospective study of patients admitted to Konyang University Hospital from January, 2006 to December, 2010 with APN diagnosed by the presence of definitive APN lesions on abdominal CT. Patients with a history of renal disease or anatomical predisposing factors were excluded. The patients were divided into two groups: unilateral and bilateral APN. BUN, creatinine, MDRD eGFR, and FENa were evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 177 patients, 130 had unilateral APN and 47 had bilateral APN. Significant differences were noticed in BUN, creatinine, and MDRD eGFR between the two groups. According to RIFLE criteria, 51 patients were at "risk" and six were in "failure." Compared with unilateral APN, bilateral APN patients had lower eGFR (65.2 vs. 61.7, p = 0.042) and higher FENa (0.81 vs. 1.43, p = 0.04), and "failure" was more frequent (4 vs. 2, p = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed a significant correlation between bilateral APN and decreased renal function. AKI in bilateral APN was more likely than AKI in unilateral APN to result in severe renal dysfunction. The pathophysiology of AKI may differ between unilateral and bilateral APN.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Azotemia ; Creatinine ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Kidney ; Pyelonephritis ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: This study is focused on providing baseline data to help and guide unmarried mothers throughout their pregnancy and delivery. METHODS: We surveyed 165 unmarried mothers who gave birth from January, 2003 to December, 2006 at Seoul Red Cross Hospital. They were divided into three age groups; 10's group, 20's group, and 30's to 40's group, and obstetric and social aspects of each group was analyzed with Chi-square test (x2), ANOVA, using SPSS (Ver. 10.0) verified with 95% of significance level. RESULTS: In this study, 61.1% of all unmarried mothers were in their 20's. Unmarried mothers were examined on the average 3.88 times before giving birth and 53.3% of them recognized their pregnancy before 3 months gestation. Unmarried mothers depend upon, mass communication such as the internet for medical information. Cesarean section rate was 21.8%, and the older the unmarried mothers are, the higher it gets. 22.2% of unmarried mothers have a higher education background; presently college students or above. Their smoking rate was 53.3%, which means more than half of them have smoked. 70.3% of the mothers in the survey wanted their children to be adopted after delivery. CONCLUSION: In this time of lowering birth rates, we should reconsider today's fragmentary welfare policies which only provide financial aid for delivery. It is necessary to provide welfare services which can cover delivery and rearing as well, so unmarried mothers choose to bring up their own children instead of sending the children off for adoption.
Birth Rate ; Cesarean Section ; Child ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Illegitimacy* ; Internet ; Mothers ; Parturition ; Pregnancy* ; Red Cross ; Seoul ; Single Person* ; Smoke ; Smoking