PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence and the site of osteomas and their relation to sinonasal inflammation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 1578 PNS computed tomography (CT) of patients with symptoms of sinusitis were evaluated and correlation with plain radiographic finding was done. RESULTS: The total incidence of osteomas was 0.82%(13/1578) on plain radiography and 3.29% (52/1578) on CT. Fifty-seven osteomas were found in 1578 PNS CT, including 2 osteomas in 5 cases. The most common site was the ethmoid sinus(54%, 31/57) and the next was the frontal sinus(35%, 20/57) on CT. Forty-five osteomas (78.9%) were associated with the sinonasal inflammatory change. CONCLUSION: The total incidence of osteomas from our results was higher than previous reports. And based on the analysis of CT, the most common site was not the frontal sinus as all the previous reports stated, but the ethmoid sinus, probably by virtue of high resolution of CT and/or higher prevalence of inflammation in the ethmold sinus.
Ethmoid Sinus ; Frontal Sinus ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Osteoma* ; Prevalence ; Radiography ; Sinusitis ; Virtues

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic wedge resection of gastric submucosal tumor may be difficult in case of the endophytic mass or the mass located unreachable area such as cardia, and intragastric approach can be useful. We would present the experiences of the intragastric wedge resection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: There were 7 patients diagnosed as gastric submucosal tumor and underwent the intragastric wedge resection at Surgery, Chungnam National University Hospital. We reviewed medical record. RESULTS: There were 3 male and 4 female. Mean age was 65 years-old (57~73). Mean body mass index was 26.28 kg/m2 (21.28~35.30). Location of lesions was 4 cardia, 2 fundus and 1 midbody, respectively. Mean operation time was 83.6 minutes (70~105). All patients were healed without any complication. Mean postoperative hospital stay was 5.4 days (4~6). Mean size was 2.7 cm (2.3~3.8). Pathologic finding was 5 gastrointestinal stromal tumor and 2 leiomyoma. CONCLUSIONS: The single incision intragastric wedge resection of gastric submucosal tumor is feasible and acceptable, especially in mass of gastric upper part.
Body Mass Index ; Cardia ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Surgical Procedures, Minimally Invasive

Breast metastases from extra-mammary malignancies are unusual. In particular, the characteristics of breast metastasis from gastric cancer are rarely reported and there is no common specific finding among the reported cases. Breast metastases from extra-mammary malignancies are often misdiagnosed as benign lesions due to the absence of characteristic finding in imaging studies; however, they also resemble inflammatory breast cancer clinically sometimes. Therefore, differential diagnosis between the primary breast cancer and the metastatic disease is considered difficult. In order to hasten the diagnosis, to avoid unnecessary mastectomy, and to determine appropriate options of treatment, it is important that physicians understand the clinicopathological and radiologic features of breast metastases and consider its possibility in patients with a history of extra-mammary malignancies. Herein, we report a case of breast metastases from gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: There is an increasing interest in physical activity as a preventive and/or therapeutic option of non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aim of this study was to examine the association between physical activity and ultrasound-diagnosed NAFLD. METHODS: From April to June 2007, 198 clients who had consumed alcohol less than 140 gram per week among 598 clients who visited a general hospital for medical check-up were enrolled in this study. Clinical, biochemical variables and physical activity were compared. Physical activity was measured by self-reported questionnaire using IPAQ-short form in Korean version. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent association. RESULTS: The prevalence of NAFLD was significantly lower in the physical active group (more than 1500 MET- minutes per week) compared to the inactive group (9.6% vs 19.2%, P<0.05). This association was not attenuated when adjusted for age, BMI, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting glucose, and HOMA2-IR (Odds Ratio 0.23 [95% CI 0.07~0.77, P<0.05]). CONCLUSION: Compared to the physically inactive group, the risk of NAFLD was lower in the physically active group. Our data suggests that regular and moderate physical exercise can prevent the development of fatty liver disease.
Cholesterol, HDL ; Exercise ; Fasting ; Fatty Liver ; Fatty Liver, Alcoholic ; Glucose ; Hospitals, General ; Logistic Models ; Motor Activity ; Obesity ; Prevalence ; Triglycerides ; Surveys and Questionnaires

To evaluate the effect of vital tooth bleaching agent and alcohol pretreatment on dentin bonding, flat dentin windows were produced on the buccal side of the crowns of fifty-five extracted, human premolars. A bleaching gel, Opalescence(R) with 10% of carbamide peroxide (Ultradent Product, USA) was daily applied on the teeth of three experimental groups for six hours for 10 consecutive days, while teeth of a control group were not bleached. After 6 hours of bleaching gel application, the specimens were washed and stored in saline until the next day application. After application of One-step(R) dentin bonding agent (Bisco, USA), Z-250(R) resin (3M-ESPE, USA) was bonded to dentin with a mount jig. Shear bond strength was measured with an Instron machine (Type 4202, Instron Corp., USA) after 24 hours. The results were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Duncan's multiple range test at p < 0.05. Immediate bonding group showed significantly lower bond strength than un-bleached control group (p < 0.05). Ethanol-treated group showed significantly higher bond strength compared to immediate bonding group (p < 0.05). However, the bond strength of the ethanol treatment group was lower than that of the un-bleached control group (p < 0.05). There were no significant difference in shear bond strength between the 2-week delayed bonding group and the ethanol-treated group (p > 0.05) and between delayed bonding group and un-bleached control group (p > 0.05). In the condition of the present study, it seems that alcohol pretreatment after bleaching procedure can reduce the adverse effect of vital bleaching agent on dentin bonding.
Bicuspid ; Crowns ; Dentin* ; Ethanol ; Humans ; Tooth Bleaching* ; Tooth* ; Urea

BACKGROUND: Lung transplantation (LTx) is an effective treatment for end stage lung disease. However, the shortage of donor lungs has been a major limiting factor to increase the number of LTx. Ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) is a currently approved method to evaluate lung function and to repair donor lung with poor function. The purpose of this study was to develop EVLP system in pig model and to maintain lung function during 4 hours of EVLP. METHODS: Bilateral lung blocks were harvested from five 40 kg pigs. These blocks were applied in EVLP perfused with 37degrees C Steen solution. We performed arterial blood gas (ABG) analyses before death and also every 1 hour for 4 hours after application of EVLP and calculated oxygen capacities (OC) using the results of ABG. We also calculated pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and peak airway pressure (PAP) every 1 hour for 4 hours. After EVLP procedure, we excised specimens for pathologic review. RESULTS: We found that OC gradually decreased during the 4 hour period of EVLP; however, no statistically significant difference was obtained. PVR declined sharply after 1 hour of EVLP (P=0.031) and then remained constant for 3 hours. PAP significantly increased after 3 hours (P<0.0001). Pathologic investigations revealed various findings from normal lung to severe pulmonary edema. CONCLUSIONS: On the results of this study, we could preserve the lung function for 4 hours using EVLP. We conclude that application of EVLP in clinical setting can make more donor lungs available for LTx. However, we also understand that more studies and training are needed in clinical practice.
Humans ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Lung Transplantation ; Organ Preservation ; Oxygen ; Perfusion ; Swine ; Tissue Donors ; Unrelated Donors ; Vascular Resistance

A 38-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of abrupt left flank pain. He had no fever and physical examination revealed tenderness of the left costovertebral angle. Laboratory data revealed white blood cell 16,060/microL, C-reactive protein 0.93 mg/dL. Urinalysis showed more than 1/2 red cells per high-power field with severe proteinuria (4+). Enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed the thickened abdominal aorta wall with partial thrombus. The thickened aorta wall compressed the left renal vein and it caused left renal vein thrombosis. Abdominal CT findings suggested aortitis of the abdominal aorta with complication of left renal vein. We could exclude other types of aortitis including autoimmune aortitis, Takayasu's arteritis, giant cell arteritis, and infectious causes based on a serologic test and the history of the patient. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with idiopathic aortitis and treated with glucocorticoid. After treatment, his symptoms disappeared and a follow-up CT showed decreased mural thickening of the abdominal aorta. Isolated idiopathic aortitis presented with renal vein thrombosis is extremely rare and has not been reported in Korea yet. We present a rare case report on idiopathic aortitis of the abdominal aorta with complication of left renal vein thrombosis.
Adult ; Aorta ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Aortitis* ; C-Reactive Protein ; Fever ; Flank Pain ; Follow-Up Studies ; Giant Cell Arteritis ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Korea ; Leukocytes ; Physical Examination ; Proteinuria ; Renal Veins* ; Serologic Tests ; Takayasu Arteritis ; Thrombosis* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Urinalysis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Nicergoline is an ergoline derivative that is used to treat cognitive deficits in cerebrovascular disease and various forms of dementia. Although therapeutic effects of nicergoline have been established, little is known about its effects on cerebral perfusion in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of this study was to examine the role of nicergoline in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) of AD patients using technetium-99m hexa-methyl-propylene-amine-oxime single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). METHODS: Sixteen patients with early AD underwent a comprehensive clinical assessment including cognitive testing and SPECT scans before and after nicergoline treatment. Nicergoline (30 mg twice daily) was administered for an average duration of 1.5 years. Clinical and cognitive functioning was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination, Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), CDR-Sum of Boxes, Global Deterioration Scale, Barthel Activities of Daily Living Index, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, and Geriatric Depression Scale. RESULTS: Nicergoline treatment induced changes in the severity of dementia, cognitive function, activities of daily living, and depressive symptoms, which were not statistically significant. During the follow-up, the patients showed significant increases in their relative rCBF in the superior frontal gyrus, precentral gyrus, and postcentral gyrus. CONCLUSIONS: Nicergoline treatment improves perfusion of the frontal and parietal regions in early AD patients. It is possible that the increased perfusion in the superior frontal gyrus may be related to the mechanisms that delay or prevent progressive deterioration of cognitive functions in AD.
Activities of Daily Living ; Alzheimer Disease* ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; Cerebrovascular Disorders ; Cognition ; Cognition Disorders ; Dementia ; Depression ; Ergolines ; Follow-Up Studies ; Frontal Lobe ; Humans ; Nicergoline* ; Parietal Lobe ; Perfusion* ; Pilot Projects* ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Somatosensory Cortex ; Therapeutic Uses ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

The success of accelerating the onset of neuromvacular blocking drugs by giving them in divided doses encouraged others to attempt the same "priming principle" using reversal agents. Naguib et al and Abdulatif et al demonstrated that the reversal time(time to reach a TOF of 0.75) was reduced when the reversal agent was administered in divided doses at T, 10% of control. But Donati et al and Szalados et al either could not detect any differences in the rate of reversal when anticholinestereses were administered in divided doses. This study hes been conducted to evaluate the reversal effects of neostigmine or pyridostigmine with priming principle in the rabbit after pancuronium injection when pro- found relaxation(PTC=0) was confirmed. Rabbits(n=60) were randomly allocated to 4 groups. After pancuranium 0.2mg/kg IV, the onset and recovery times were evalusted. When the profound relaxation(PTC=0) was confirmed at Smin. after pancuronium injection, neostigmine 50 ug/kg and atropine sulfate (atropine) 20 ug/kg were injected in group 1. At thst time, neostigmine 10/kg and atropine 4 ug/kg were injected and after 3min. neostigmine 40/kg and atropine 16 ug/kg were injected in group 2. At that time, pyridostigmine 250 ug/kg and atropine 20 ug/kg were injected in group 3. At that time, pyridostigmine 50 ug/kg and atropine 4 ug/kg were injected and after 3min. pyridostigmine 200 ug/kg and atropine 16 ug/kg were injected in group 4. The results were as follows :. 1) The time until 75% recovery of twitch amplitude was 53.1+/-12.4min. in group 1, 44.9+/-212.1min. in group 2, 54.9+/-9.7min. in group 3 and 48.2+/-7.1min. in group 4. The reversal times were tended to reduce when the reversal agents were administered with "priming principle" at the profound relaxation. 2) At the profound relaxation the reversal effects of neostigmine were greater than that of pyridostigmine.
Atropine ; Cholinesterase Inhibitors* ; Muscle Relaxation* ; Neostigmine ; Pancuronium ; Pyridostigmine Bromide ; Relaxation

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion occurs frequently in the immune reactive phase in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Therefore, observation for 3-6 months before commencing antiviral therapy is recommended in patients with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels that exceed twice the upper limit of normal (ULN). However, HBeAg seroconversion occurs infrequently in patients infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype C. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the waiting policy is necessary in endemic areas of HBV genotype C infection. METHODS: Ninety patients with HBeAg-positive CHB were followed prospectively without administering antiviral therapy for 6 months. Antiviral therapy was initiated promptly at any time if there was any evidence of biochemical (i.e., acute exacerbation of HBV infection or aggravation of jaundice) or symptomatic deterioration. After 6 months of observation, antiviral therapy was initiated according to the patient's ALT and HBV DNA levels. RESULTS: Only one patient (1.1%) achieved spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion. Biochemical and symptomatic deterioration occurred before 6 months in 17 patients (18.9%) and 5 patients, respectively. High ALT and HBV DNA levels were both independent risk factors for biochemical deterioration. Of 15 patients with HBV DNA > or =5.1x107 IU/mL and ALT > or =5xULN, biochemical deterioration occurred in 7 (46.7%), including 1 patient receiving liver transplantation due to liver failure. CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion in patients with HBeAg-positive CHB is rare within 6 months. Biochemical deterioration was common and may lead to liver failure. Immediate antiviral therapy should be considered, especially in patients with high ALT and HBV DNA levels in endemic areas of genotype C infection.
Adult ; Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Antiviral Agents/*therapeutic use ; DNA, Viral/blood ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Genotype ; Guanine/analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B e Antigens/*blood ; Hepatitis B virus/*genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/*drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors