Purpose: To evaluate the risk factors for the development of osteonecrosis in civilian professional divers by an epidemiologic study and to determine the correlation between osteonecrosis in divers and coagulopathy by analysis of serologic markers that are related to thrombophilia and hypofibrinolysis. Materials and Methods: Forty-two divers, who collected pen shells (Atrina pinnata), and among whom 10 had osteonecrosis (group 1), were compared with 32 divers without osteonecrosis (group 2). Both groups were evaluated based on the number of years of diving experience, number of dives per year, mean number of dives per day, mean diving time and depth, and diving methods. We determined any statistically significant differences among these variables. We measured the levels of serologic markers that were related to hyperlipidemia, thrombophilia, and hypofibrinolysis from the divers and a control group of 20 physicians (group 3). The levels of the serologic markers were compared between groups 1 and 2 and between the divers and the control group, in order to determine the relationship between the serologic markers and the development of dysbaric osteonecrosis. Results: None of the variables demonstrated any statistically significant differences, except for the mean diving time, in which group 1 had a mean diving time of 124 minutes and group 2 had a mean diving time of 62.1 minutes (P<0.05). In the analysis of the serologic markers, there were no statistically significant differences between groups 1 and 2; however, in comparison with the group 3, the divers demonstrated significantly decreased activity levels of proteins C and S (Protein C: P<0.05; Protein S: P<0.05), and an increase in the levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) (P<0.05). Conclusion: The divers with osteonecrosis had a longer mean diving time than did those divers without osteonecrosis. In the serologic marker analysis, the divers with osteonecrosis demonstrated significantly decreased activity levels of Proteins C, S and a significant increase in the levels of PAI-1, compared with the control group.
Biomarkers* ; Diving ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Epidemiology ; Hyperlipidemias ; Osteonecrosis* ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; Plasminogen Activators ; Protein S ; Risk Factors ; Thrombophilia

No abstract available.
Porphyrias, Hepatic*

BACKGROUND: Both atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia may progress to gastric dysplasia. This study aimed to analyze the factors influencing progression of atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia to dysplasia. METHODS: People diagnosed with atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia for the first time received a follow-up endoscopy and were investigated for the cumulative incidence rate of gastric dysplasia by age, gender, smoking habit, alcohol intake, rice consumption and family history of stomach cancer. RESULTS: The cumulative incidence rate increased with age, consuming > or =3 bowls of rice per day and family history of stomach cancer. Multivariate analysis showed that the cumulative incidence rate of gastric dysplasia increased in subjects >61 years (RR=2.54, P=0.014), in those consuming > or =3 bowls of rice per day (RR=1.46, P=0.021) and in those with a family history of stomach cancer (RR=1.31, P=0.037). CONCLUSIONS: More active management, such as intensive endoscopic follow-up examinations, lifestyle change and education regarding gastric dysplasia, are required in those older than 61 years, having a higher intake of grain or with a family history of stomach cancer.
Edible Grain ; Endoscopy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastritis, Atrophic ; Humans ; Incidence ; Life Style ; Metaplasia ; Multivariate Analysis ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms

Staphylococcus epidermidis is a normal inhabitant of skin, throat, mouth, vagina, and urethra. It is not usually pathogenic, particularly in immunocompetent hosts. This report describes a case of a pyogenic liver abscess caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis in a healthy 12-year-old boy. He was admitted to Seoul St. Mary's Hospital with intermittent fever for 6 days. Findings on abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed a mass measuring 7.0x6.5 cm in the right hepatic lobe. Culture of the abscess resulted in growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis as a causative organism. The patient was successfully treated with intravenous administration of antibiotics and percutaneous drainage of the abscess.
Abscess ; Administration, Intravenous ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Child ; Drainage ; Fever ; Humans ; Liver Abscess ; Liver Abscess, Pyogenic ; Mouth ; Pharynx ; Skin ; Staphylococcus ; Staphylococcus epidermidis ; Urethra ; Vagina

BACKGROUND: The claudins are a family of transmembrane proteins associated with tight junctions and they are critical for maintaining cell-to-cell adhesion in sheets of epithelial cells. However, their role in the progression of cancer remains largely unexplored. The aims of this study were to evaluate the expression patterns of claudin-1 and -4 in benign lesions and invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC) of the breast, and relationships between the expression of these markers and the clinicopathological characteristics in IDC patients. METHODS: We examined the claudin-1 and -4 protein expressions by performing immunohistochemical stainings in 54 benign lesions and 120 IDCs via the tissue microarray method. We evaluated the correlation between the expression of these markers and the clinicopathological characteristics of IDC. RESULTS: The expressions of claudin-1 (p=0.099) and -4 (p=0.000) were up-regulated in IDCs as compared with benign lesions. The claudin-1 expression correlated with the loss of estrogen receptor (p=0.036) and progesterone receptor (p=0.011). The claudin-4 expression correlated with lymph node metastasis (p=0.043), the nuclear grade (p=0.030), the histologic grade (p=0.007), and the loss of estrogen receptor (p=0.001) and progesterone receptor (p= 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that claudin-1 and -4 may play a significant role in the carcinogenesis of IDC of the breast and these may represent novel markers for this disease.
Breast* ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Ductal* ; Claudin-1* ; Claudin-4 ; Claudins ; Epithelial Cells ; Estrogens ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Receptors, Progesterone ; Tight Junctions

The common bile duct and the duct of Wirsung cojoin at the level of the duodenum, forming the major. papilla of Vater. Existence of a double major papilla, i.e., two neighboring independent papillary structure:, is infrequent. In our endoscopy unit we have experienced one case of double papilla of Vater wherein canulation of the common bile duct and pancreatic duct could be accom plished through either orifice independently.
Common Bile Duct ; Duodenum ; Endoscopy ; Pancreatic Ducts

We have observed the dark effect of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) on the viability and DNA synthesis in human lymphocyte cultures after stimulation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in the absence of ultraviolet A radiation. The concentrations of 8-MOP was 0.5-3.2 microgram/ml. We have also measured the LDH activity in supernatants of lymphocyte cultures treated with 8-MOP. The results were as follows: 1. There was no 8-MOP dose-dependent decrease in the viability of lymphocytes up to 8MOP 32microgram/ml. 2. There was 8-MOP dose-dependent decrease in PHA-induced DNA synthesis of lymphocytes from the concentration of 8-MOP 2microgram/ml. 3. There was a time-dependent decrease in PHA-induced DNA synthesis of lymphocytes at the conscentration of 8-MOP 32microgram/ml. 4. There was no LDH release in supernatant of lymphocyte cultures after incubation with 8-MOP up to 8-MOP 32microgram/ml.
DNA* ; Humans* ; Lymphocytes* ; Methoxsalen*

No abstract available.
Hypokalemia*

Minoxidil is a potent direct-acting peripheral vasodilator indicated in the management of severe or refractory hypertension. Well-known adverse effects include reflex tachycardia, fluid retention and hypertrichosis. This drug has also been reported to cause pericardial effusion in about three percent of nondialyzed patients with compromised renal function and to cause cardiac tamponade less frequently. Many studies have reported that the mean duration of therapy that caused pericardial effusion was about 8 months (range 1 month-53 months). We report a case of cardiac tamponade in nondialyzed patient with chronic renal failure receiving minoxidil for 10 years. A 58-year-old female was admitted to our hospital with dyspnea of NYHA III. She was a chronic renal failure patient without dialysis treatment and received kidney transplantation from cadaver donor and was dignosed chronic rejection in 1994. Minoxidil 10mg has been used for past 10 years. Lasix has been used for past 2 years, with dosage of 40mg to 240mg. On admission, blood pressure was 90/60mm Hg. Cardiomegaly was seen on chest radiograph. The two-dimensional echocardiogram showed a large amount of pericardial effusion. Emergency treatment with pericardiocentesis removed 2500ml of straw- colored pericardial fluid and resulted in marked improvement of dyspnea and stabilized blood pressure. The minoxidil was discontinued. The evidence of pericardial effusion was not seen for 12 months after minoxidil had been discontinued.
Blood Pressure ; Cadaver ; Cardiac Tamponade* ; Cardiomegaly ; Dialysis ; Dyspnea ; Emergency Treatment ; Female ; Furosemide ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertrichosis ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Kidney Transplantation ; Middle Aged ; Minoxidil* ; Pericardial Effusion ; Pericardiocentesis ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Reflex ; Tachycardia ; Tissue Donors

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor*