The protein C system is a natural anticoagulant and profibrinolytic system consisting of protein C and protein S and thrombomodulin. Because the increased fibrinolysis and the decreased activities of coagulation factor V and VIII are observed in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass, which are known main effects of achivated protein C, we studied the protein C system in the plasma of patients undergoing operation with extracorporeal circulation(ECC group, 31 patients) and without ECC(control group, 10 patients). The nature of the enhanced blood fibrinolytic activity that evolved during extraacorporeal circulation was charaacterized by significantincrease or fibrin degradation product(FDP) in ECC group(P<0.01) but not in control group. The changes of protein C system also showed only in ECC group. The changes of protein C system were most pronounced in the early phase of cardiopulmonary bypass. The changes of FDP ane protein C system were observed in both bubble and membrane oxygenator-used group, but the pattern and degree of change were quite different (P<0.01), i,e., more severe in membrane oxygenator-used group. These results confirm the disturbance of protein C system by extracorporeal circulation, which is possibly activated by the contact activation between blood and synthetic surface. So measurement of changes of protein C system could be used as a good method in the development of new materials for extracorporeal circulation.
Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Extracorporeal Circulation ; Factor V ; Fibrin ; Fibrinolysis ; Heart* ; Humans ; Membranes* ; Oxygen* ; Oxygenators* ; Plasma ; Protein C* ; Protein S ; Thoracic Surgery* ; Thrombomodulin

BACKGROUND: Lung carcinogenesis is a multistage process involving alterations in multiple genes and diverse pathway. Mutational activation of oncogenes and inactivation of tumor suppressor genes, and subsequent increased genetic instability are the major genetic events. The p53 gene and FHIT gene as tumor suppressor genes contribute to the pathogenesis of lung cancer, evidenced by mutation, microsatellite instability(MI) and loss of heterozygosity(LOH). METHODS: We analysed genetic mutations of p53 and FHIT gene in 29 surgical specimens of nonsmall cell lung cancer using PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism, DNA sequencing and RT-PCR. MI and LOH were analyzed in loci of D3S1285, D9S171, and TP53. RESULTS: In 2 cases, point mutation of p53 gene was observed on exon 5. MI of 3 times and LOH of 14 times were observed in at least one locus. In terms of the location on microsatellite, D3S1285 as a marker of FHIT was observed in 5 cases out of 26 specimens;D9S171 as a marker of p16 in 5 out of 17;and TP53 as a marker of p53 in 7 out of 27. In view of histologic type, squamous cell carcinoma presented higher frequency of microsatellite alteration, compared to others. Mutation of FHIT gene was observed in 11 cases and 6 cases of those were point mutation as a silent substitution on exon 8. FHIT mRNA expression exhibited deletion on exon 6 to 9 in 4 cases among 15 specimens, presenting beta-actin normally. CONCLUSION: Our results show comparable frequency of genetic alteration in nonsmall cell lung cancer to previous studies of Western countries. Microsatellite analysis might have a role as a tumor marker especially in squamous cell carcinoma. Understanding molecular abnormalities involved in the pathogenesis could potentially lead to prevention, earlier diagnosis and the development of novel investigational approaches to the treatment of lung cancer.
Actins ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Diagnosis ; Exons ; Genes, p53 ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor* ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Microsatellite Instability ; Microsatellite Repeats* ; Oncogenes ; Point Mutation ; RNA, Messenger ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

No abstract available.
Diaphragm* ; Rupture*

BACKGROUND: Many recent results of clinical trials show that pre-operative concurrent chemoradiotherapy and surgical resection could increase the survival of N2 positive stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer. This study was performed to assess the feasibility, toxicity, and affect rates of concurrent chemoradiotherapy and surgical resection in N2 positive stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Thirty-one patients who underwent preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy for N2 positive stage IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer from May 1997 to April 1999 were entered into the study. Mean age was 61 yrs (43-70 yrs), There were 24 men and 7 women. The confirmation of N2 disease were achieved through mediastinoscopic biopsy (24) and CT scans (7). Induction was achieved by two cycles of cisplatin and etoposide(EP) plus concurrent chest radiotherapy to 45 Gy. Resections were done at 3 weeks after the complection of preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Resections were performed in 23 patients, excluding 5 refusals and 3 distant metastasis. All patients were compled the thoracic radiotherapy except one who had distant metastasis. Twenty three patients were completed the planned 2 cycles of EP chemotherapy, and 8 patients were received only 1 cycle for severe side effects (6), refusal (1), and distant metastasis(1). There was one postoperative mortality, and the cause of death was ARDS. Three patients who had neutropenic fever and one patient who had radiation pneumonitis were required admission and treatment. Esophagitis was the most common acute side effect, but relatively well-tolerated in most patients. The complection rate of concurrent chemoradiotherapy was 74%, resection rate was 71%, pathologic complete remission rate was 13.6%, and pathologic down-staging rate was 68%. CONCLUSION: Morbidity related to each treatment was acceptable and many of the patients have benefited down staging of its disease. Further prospective, preferably randomized, clinical trials of larger scale may be warranted to confirm the actual benefit of preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy and surgical resection in N2-positive stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer.
Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Cause of Death ; Chemoradiotherapy* ; Cisplatin ; Disulfiram ; Drug Therapy ; Esophagitis ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Male ; Mortality ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Radiation Pneumonitis ; Radiotherapy ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

We evaluated the feasibility and safety of this method by reviewing the early outcome of the patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG) utilizing parallel sequential anastomoses with saphenous vein grafts, comparing with the outcome of the patients revascularized with grafts having only single distal anastomosis. During the one-year period of 1995, a total of 79 patients underwent isolated CABG, among whom 39 patients with sequential vein grafts(sequential group) and 40 patients without sequential grafts(non-sequential group). There was no difference between the two groups in terms of preoperative status, except in the extent of the coronary disease; 87.2% of the sequential group and 45.0% of the non-sequential group had left main and/or triple vessel involvement. 318 distal coronary anastomoses were done; 198 for the sequential group(5.1/patient) and 120 for the non-sequential group(3.0/patient). In the sequential group, the mean durations of cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic clamp per one distal anastomosis were 33.5 and 21.1 minutes, respectively. In the non-sequential group, these were 41.8 and 22.7 minutes. There were two operative deaths, both in the non-sequential group. There was no difference in the incidence of postoperative complications including myocardial infarction. During the follow-up period(2 to 15 months), 8 patients(3 in the sequential and 5 in the non- sequential group) complained of residual or recurrent angina. Comparison of preoperative and postoperative 201Thallium myocardial perfusion scans in 30 patients showed improved or normal perfusion reserve in 83.3% of segments bypassed with sequential grafts and 82.5% of segments bypassed with non-sequential graft(s). These results show that, utilizing parallel sequential anastomoses with saphenous vein grafts, we could achieve satisfactory short-term clinical results in patients with extensive coronary stenoses. So, we conclude that this technique is a safe, technically feasible strategy for CABG, which can achieve the aim of complete myocardial revascularization with a limited length of graft. These results show that, utilizing parallel sequential anastomoses with saphenous vein grafts, we could achieve satisfactory short-term clinical results in patients with extensive coronary stenoses. So, we conclude that this technique is a safe, technically feasible strategy for CABG, which can achieve the aim of complete myocardial revascularization with a limited length of graft.
Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Disease ; Coronary Stenosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Revascularization* ; Perfusion ; Postoperative Complications ; Saphenous Vein ; Transplants ; Veins

In the preoperative evaluation before coronary artery bypass surgery, review of the coronary arteriogram is the most important step. Expected "normal" lumen diameter at a given coronary anatomic location is a basis for quantative estimation of coronary disease severity that could be more useful than the traditional "percent stenosis". The distribution and number of major coronary artery branches are determinants of number of bypass grafts needed. We reviewed the coronary artery anatomy in 174 adult patients who revealed no coronary pathology in angiographic studies done from September 1994 to June 1996. Quantative analysis was done in all cases by a single person using a Computerized System (Arripro 35(r)). The results were follows; 1) The mean diametre of left main coronary artery was 4.45 mm (range 2.74~6.72). The pattern of branching was bifurcation in 67.24%, trifurcation in 28.74% and quadrifurcation in 4.02% of the patients. 2) The mean diametre of left anterior descending artery was 3.17 mm (range 2.10~5.85), 2.79 (range 1.55~5.59) and 2.17 mm (range 1.37~3.81) in the proximal, mid, and the distal portions, respectively. The number of diagonal branches of left anterior artery was from one to four (mode=2). 3) The mean diametre of proximal and distal left circumflex artery were 3.17mm (range 1.74~4.89) and 2.19 mm (range 1.21~4.46). The number of obtuse marginal branches of left circumflex artery is from one to six (mode 2). 4) The mean diametre of proximal and distal right coronary artery, the posterior descending artery and the largest posterolateral branch were mean 3.51 mm (range 2.07~5.67), 2.09 mm (range 1.42~3.60), 2.09 mm (range 1.02~3.60) and 2.30 mm (range 1.39~4.39). 5) The right coronary artery dominant was 163 cases (93.68%) of the total 174 cases. 6) The large significant acute marginal artery was visualized in more than half of the people.
Adult ; Arteries ; Computer Systems ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Humans ; Pathology* ; Single Person ; Transplants

The mediastinal parathyroid cyst is a very rare cause of space occupying lesions in the mediastinum.We report a case of a non-functioning mediastinal parathyroid cyst that occurred ina 42 year-old male. He suffered from foreign body sensation of the throat whenever he wasin the supine position. A chest computed tomography showed a round cyst with a narrowbase attached to trachea. It was white and tan, thin-walled semi-transparent cyst containingyellow and tan serous fluid. Microscopically it was characterized by a thin fibrous wall linedwith a single or double layer of uniform cells with clear cytoplasm and small nuclei. The liningcells were immunopositive for chromogranin A.
Adult ; Chromogranin A ; Cytoplasm ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Male ; Mediastinum ; Parathyroid Glands ; Pharynx ; Sensation ; Supine Position ; Thorax ; Trachea ; Triacetoneamine-N-Oxyl

Postpneumonectomy syndrome is a disease entity which arises after right pneumonectomy in left aortic arch and left pneumoncectomy in right aortic arch. This syndrome have a feature of severe mediastinal deviation and rotation, and induces severe respiratoy insufficiency. This syndrome is rare, but should be considered when pneumonectomized patient complaints who have severe dyspnea. In Samsung medical center, We report a sucessfully treated patient with postpneumonectomy syndrome, who had experienced right pneumonectomy at 1 years ago.
Aorta, Thoracic ; Dyspnea ; Humans ; Pneumonectomy ; Postoperative Complications

A 58-year-old male patient visited our hospital for epigastric discomfort and dysphagia which had developed 5 months earlier. He was diagnosed with esophageal cancer at the mid-thoracic level based on radiologic, endoscopic, and histologic examinations. An esophagectomy(Ivor Lewis technique) was done to treat the esophageal cancer. He was doing well until the 20th postoperative day when he began to complain of cough, sputum, fever and chills, Subsequently, thereafter, abdominal pain and generalized abdominal tenderness developed on the 22nd postoperative day. Upon gastrofiberscopy and esophagographic examinations, he was diagnosed with gastrobronchial fistula and an emergency operation was performed. On operative findings, the gastric fundus was perforated and directly connected to the abscessed cavity of the right upper lobe due to a gastric ulcer. We, herewith, report this case after review of the literature.
Abdominal Pain ; Abscess ; Chills ; Cough ; Deglutition Disorders ; Emergencies ; Esophageal Neoplasms* ; Esophagectomy* ; Fever ; Fistula* ; Gastric Fundus ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sputum ; Stomach Ulcer* ; Ulcer

Rounded atelectasis is a focal, pleural-based lesion that is the result of pleural and subpleural scarring and atelectasis of the adjacent lung tissue. We experienced a case of asbestosassociated rounded atelectasis that had developed in a 50-year-old male. When examined with routine chest radiography, the patient was shown to have an asymptomatic chest mass.Computed tomography showed a pleural-based mass with a curvilinear shape about 4.2 cmin greatest diameter in the medial basal segment of the right lower lobe. To exclude the possibilityof malignancy the mass was excised by video-assisted thoracotomy. The mass wasround and firm, and was gray and yellow in color. Microscopically, marked pleural fibrosisextended into the underlying lung parenchyme and then resulted in atelectasis. There areferruginous bodies in dense fibrous pleura.
Asbestos ; Cicatrix ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pleura ; Pulmonary Atelectasis* ; Radiography ; Thoracotomy ; Thorax