No abstract available.
Animals ; Dinitrochlorobenzene* ; Guinea Pigs* ; Guinea*

No abstract available.
Sinusitis*

Elevation of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT),and bilirubin levels was noted incidentally in patients who received laparoscopic cholecystectomy(LC). This study was attempted to investigate the elevation of liver enzymes and bilirubin levels after LC and its clinical significance. Twenty patients who showed normal levels of preoperative liver function test were entered into this study, and blood was collected at 24hours, 72hours and 7days after operation for measurement of AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase(ALP), and bilirubin levels. In AST, a mean 2.76-fold postoperative increase was observed in 18 patients(90%) and 12 patients(60%) showed an elevation rise above normal limits. In ALT, a mean 2.14-fold postoperative increase was observed in 16 patients(80%) and 10 patients(50%) showed an elevation rise above normal limits. A mean 1.42-fold and a mean 2.12-fold increase were observed in total and direct bilirubin level respectively and elevation above normal limits occured in 7 patients(35%) and 4 patients (20%) respectively. The patients with an elevation of AST, ALT and bilirubin levels did not show any related clinical problem, and the elevations were transitory and returned to normal value within several days without any specific treatment.. Although the exact causes of these elevations need further investigation, theys appear to have no obvious clinical significance.
Alanine ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Bilirubin* ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic* ; Humans ; Liver Function Tests ; Liver* ; Reference Values

No abstract available.
Drug Therapy* ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute* ; Nausea* ; Vomiting*

Osteochondroma, also known as osteocartilaginous exostosis, or just exostosis, is the most common benign bone tumor. Most of osteochondromas are solitary lesions and affect long bones; however, about 12% of osteochondromas are multiple lesions with the autosomal dominant inheritance. Only 1~4% of solitary osteochondromas originate in the spine. Symptoms vary depending on its location. We experienced a case of osteochondroma of the atlas presenting as an oropharyngeal mass. We report the case with a review of literatures.
Exostoses ; Osteochondroma* ; Spine ; Wills

BACKGROUND: Despite advances in microbiological diagnosis and effective antifungal treatment, invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is a still major cause of mortality in immunocompromised patients. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to analyze clinical characteristics, treatment outcome and prognostic factors for IPA. METHODS: Between May 2003 and March 2011, we retrospectively studied all patients with IPA in our facility. RESULTS: A total 37 cases were identified. Hematologic malignancies were the leading underlying disease for 27 (27/37, 73.0%) patients. Neutropenic period between the onset of neutropenia and the diagnosis of IPA was 15.0 days. The most common symptom was fever (35/37, 94.6%). The principal findings of chest computed tomography (CT) were segmental or air space consolidation (17/37, 45.9%) followed by halo sign (13/37, 35.1%), and ground-glass attenuation (11/37, 29.7%). Amphotericin B was the initial treatment for 36 (36/37, 97.3%) patients. Voriconazole was subsequently substituted for Amphotericin B in 25 (35/36, 97.2%) patients. The 30-day mortality rate was 24.3% (9/37). The 30-day mortality rate was associated with a failure to recover from neutropenia (p=0.048) or persistent fever during treatment (p=0.003). Two patients were lost to follow-up. Overall mortality was 62.9% (22/35). CONCLUSION: IPA remains a serious condition with failure to recover from neutropenia or persistent fever during treatment associated with a high 30-day mortality rate.
Amphotericin B ; Fever ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Humans ; Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis ; Lost to Follow-Up ; Neutropenia ; Pyrimidines ; Retrospective Studies ; Thorax ; Treatment Outcome ; Triazoles

PURPOSE: We administered doxazosin gastrointestinal therapeutic system (GITS) to women with non-neurogenic voiding dysfunction to evaluate its therapeutic effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Women who had voiding dysfunctions for at least 3 mo were included. Inclusion criteria were age > or =18yr, an International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) > or =15, and a maximum flow rate (Qmax) <15mL/sec and/or postvoid residual (PVR) > or =150mL. Patients with neurogenic voiding dysfunction or anatomical bladder outlet obstruction were excluded. All patients were classified according to the Blaivas-Groutz nomogram. After 4 weeks, treatment outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients were evaluated of mean age 53.8 (32-78)yr. According to the Blaivas-Groutz nomogram, 24 patients had no or mild obstruction (group A) and 38 had moderate or severe obstruction (group B). After treatment, mean IPSS decreased significantly and by more than 5 points in 42 (67.7%). Mean bother scores, Qmax, and PVR also changed significantly. Thirty-seven (59.7%) showed Qmax increases of more than 50%. No significant difference were observed between the groups in terms of IPSS, bother score, Qmax, PVR, micturition frequencies, or functional bladder capacity changes. Adverse effects related to medication were de novo stress urinary incontinence (SUI) (1 case) and underlying SUI aggravation (1 case). By satisfaction assessments, 16 patients (25.8%) were 'mainly satisfied', 31 (50%) were 'slightly satisfied', and 15 (24.2%) were 'dissatisfied'. CONCLUSION: Doxazosin GITS was found to be effective in female patients with voiding dysfunction regardless of obstruction grade. The alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists should be viewed as initial treatment option for women with a non-neurogenic voiding dysfunction.
Doxazosin* ; Female ; Humans ; Nomograms ; Prostate ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction ; Urinary Incontinence ; Urination

OBJECTIVES: APL, which characteristically shows t(15:17), accompanies fatal coagulopathy during remission induction with systemic chemotherapy alone. ATRA, a derivative of vitamin A, can differentiate APL cells as well as HL-60 cells in vitro and induce higher rate of complete remission(CR). Hence, we assessed the effect of ATRA on remission induction and coagulopathy in APL patients. METHODS: (1) 42 patients diagnosed histologically in St. mary's hospital from June 1991 to June 1994 were included. (2) We compared the CR rate, the time required for restoration of derranged coagulation profiles, and the amount of coagulation factors including platelets among the chemotherapy group (control) and ATRA group. RESULTS: 1) There was no difference in CR rate between the control group and ATRA group [84.2%(16 out of 19) vs 87.0%(20 out of 23), p>0.05)] and also no difference between two subgroups of ATRA [ATRA with chemotherapy; 83.3%(10 out of 12) vs ATRA without chemotherapy; 90.9%(10 out of 11), p>0.05] 2) In the ATRA group, the CR rate of newly diagnosed patients was 82.4%(14 out of 17). The first relapsed patients (4) and the second (2) were all achieved CR. 3) The mean duration of coagulopathy, time to normalization of PT, aPTT, FDP, fibrinogen level, was 12.0+/-10.4, 11.1+/-10.2, 16.5+/-9.3, 15.4+/-10.2 days after chemotherapy alone and 4.5+/-4.4, 3.7+/-3.7, 8.9+/-6.1, 8.1+/-6.5 days in the ATRA group(p<0.05). The amount of fresh frozen plasma used in the ATRA group for the purpose of correction of coagulopathy were significantly lower than the control group(p<0.05). The incidence of profound coagulopathy during the remission induction treatment in the ATRA group was significantly lower than the control group[40% (8 out of 20) vs 96.7%(13 out of 15), p
Blood Coagulation Factors ; Drug Therapy ; Fibrinogen ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Incidence ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute* ; Plasma ; Remission Induction* ; Tretinoin* ; Vitamin A

OBJECTIVE: Many studies have suggested that leptin is a possible cause of atherosclerosis and is proposed as a cardiovascular risk factor in obese patients. Several studies have shown that serum leptin is associated with pulse wave velocity (PWV) and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). But the relevance of serum leptin levels for predicting incident cardiovascular disease is less clear. In this study, we investigated the relationship between serum leptin levels and aortic PWV, carotid IMT in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients. METHODS: Patients with end-stage renal disease or advanced atherosclerosis, systemic infection were excluded. A total of 116 patients (60 male/56 female; age, 59+/-14 years) were included. Serum leptin levels, aortic PWV and carotid IMT were measured. RESULTS: Aortic PWV was significantly associated with age (r=0.28, P<0.005). Carotid IMT was significantly related to age (r=0.46, P<0.001), low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (r=0.22, P<0.05), lipoprotein (a) (r=0.23, P<0.05) and estimated glomerular filteration rate (r=-0.348, P<0.01). There was no correlation between leptin and aortic PWV or carotid IMT. In multivariate analyses, aortic PWV was associated with age (P=0.007). Carotid IMT was significantly related to age (P<0.001), LDL cholesterol (P=0.01). CONCLUSION: Serum leptin was not associated with aortic PWV or carotid IMT in T2DM patients.
Atherosclerosis ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Leptin ; Lipoprotein(a) ; Lipoproteins ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pulse Wave Analysis ; Risk Factors

Chronic pancreatitis is a debilitating disease characterized by abdominal pain, exocrine insufficiency, and diabetes mellitus and has had great social, economic, and psychological impacts. Traditional definition of chronic pancreatitis has been based on irreversible histological findings such as self-sustaining chronic inflammation, fibrosis, and eventual destruction of ductal, exocrine, and endocrine tissues. In contrast, the traditional characteristics of acute pancreatitis have been thought as a complete recovery of pancreatic function and morphology during the convalescence period. Acute and chronic pancreatitis have been considered separated disease entities. However, the current idea regarding the natural course of pancreatitis is that acute pancreatitis can progress to the intermediate step of recurrent acute pancreatitis, and finally to chronic pancreatitis. This evolution can be characterized by a sequence of necrotic and fibrotic events, or described by sentinel acute pancreatitis event (SAPE) hypothesis. Therefore, chronic pancreatitis is better defined as a progressive inflammatory and fibrotic disease of the pancreas with clinical features of abdominal pain, malnutrition, diabetes mellitus and imaging features of pancreatic parenchymal/ductal calcifications. The complications of chronic pancreatitis include pseudocyst, pseudoaneurysm, fistula, biliary stricture, and duodenal stricture. This review describes the progression from acute to chronic pancreatitis, the mechanisms and nature of abdominal pain, steatorrhea, pancreatogenic diabetes mellitus, pseudocyst, pseudoaneurysm, and biliary stricture associated with chronic pancreatitis.
Abdominal Pain ; Aneurysm, False ; Biliary Fistula ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Convalescence ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Fibrosis ; Inflammation ; Malnutrition ; Natural History* ; Pancreas ; Pancreatitis ; Pancreatitis, Chronic* ; Steatorrhea