No abstract available.
Brain Abscess* ; Brain* ; Catheters*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gastric motor function in patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC) may dependent upon the extent, depth of invasion, and/or location of cancer. The network of interstitial cell of Cajal (ICC) acts as a pacemaker cell to produce the slow wave, and tyrosine kinase receptor, c-kit plays an important role in development and function of the ICC. We investigated the gastric motor function in patients with advanced gastric cancer, and examined the density of c-kit+ cells in circular muscle layer of the stomach to investigate a possible correlation between gastric motor function and the density of c-kit. METHODS: The subjects include 25 patients operated for non-obstructive AGC. Preoperative electrogastrography (EGG) and gastric emptying (GE) scan were performed in all patients. The frozen samples of circular muscle without cancer infiltration in midantrum and midbody, greater curvature were prepared from resected tissue and immunohistochemistry for c-kit was performed. The density of c-kit was quantitatively analyzed. RESULTS: Several GE parameters including T(1/2) were deranged in patients with AGC, especially antral lesion. There was no significant difference in GE parameters or frequency of slow wave between antrum and body in AGC. The density of c-kit in antrum was greater trend than that in body. No correlation was found among the density of c-kit, T(1/2) and the slow wave frequency. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a delayed gastric emptying in patients with advanced gastric cancer, especially antral lesion without any abnormalities in myoelectrical activity. No correlation was found among T(1/2), slow wave frequency and c-kit density in patients with advanced gastric cancer.
Gastric Emptying ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is the second most common intrahepatic neoplasm. Carcinogenesis is believed to be a multistage process that occurs as a result of mutations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) is the phenotype of genetic instability which has been used as a tool for detecting genetic phenotype alterations. Large number of the molecular alterations have been described in human cancer. Among them, that of p53 is quite common. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of LOH at chromosome 17p related with p53. METHODS: Twenty cases who underwent hepatic resection due to intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, were included. LOH was analysed with four microsatellite markers by PCR. For the clinicopathologic parameters, tumor size, differentiation, and metastasis were evaluated. RESULTS: Fifteen patients (75%) showed LOH at one of the loci at the least. Five patients were LOH-high and 10 were LOH-low. The highest frequency of LOH was observed at D17S5 by 38.9%. Those of TP53, D17S796 and D17S513 were 29.4%, 21.4% and 35.3%, respectively. In addition, LOH tended to be more frequent when the tumor is mass forming type, poorly differentiated, or has tumor emboli or vascular invasion. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that LOH was positive in 75% on chromosome 17p in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma which was relatively frequent at D17S5.
Aged ; Bile Duct Neoplasms/*genetics/pathology ; *Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Cholangiocarcinoma/*genetics/pathology ; *Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genes, p53 ; Genetic Markers ; Humans ; *Loss of Heterozygosity ; Male ; Middle Aged

While intussusception can occur at any age, the disease is most often seen in children and no etiologic factor can be seen in most cases of childhood intussusception. In contrast, the adult intussusception is rare and usually has an identifiable causes such as benign tumor, malignant tumor, sarcoma, Meckel's diverticulum and congenital anomaly. Especially, adult intussusception due to primary malignant lymphoma of small intestine is rare clinical condition. Here, we describe the case of a 49-year-old male patient with ileo-ileo-colic intussusception due to primary malignant lymphoma of the small intestine. The clinical, radiographic and pathologic findings are described with brief review of the literature.
Adult* ; Child ; Humans ; Intestine, Small* ; Intussusception* ; Lymphoma* ; Male ; Meckel Diverticulum ; Middle Aged ; Sarcoma

PURPOSE: To characterize the MR findings for a differential diagnosis and to make a plan for treatment by interventional technique of the vascular masses with/without hypertrophic feeding vessels of the head and neck. SUBJCETS AND METHODS: Seven patients with vascular masses of the head and neck proved by pathology, angiography, clinical findings were included. Vascular masses included 4 venous malformations, a capillary hemangioma, and a hemangiopericytoma, a hemangioma combined with arteriovenous malformation. 7 patients had MR studies with 1.0T and 1.5T using routine TI-, T2- weighted spin echo sequences, and contrast enhancement. 4 MR angiography, 3 inversion recovery, and 6 contrast angiography were studied from 7 patients RESULTS: All vascular masses demonstrated higher than muscle signal intensity on Tl-weighted images, bright signal intensity on T2-weighted images, and prominent enhancement, except AV hemangioma combined with prominent arteriovenous malformation on postcontrast scan. Three hemangiomas demonstrated distinct serpiginous signal voids. Venous malformations demonstrated venous lakes seen as homogenous regions of high signal intensity and phleboliths seen as low signal foci on images. Inversion recovery was the best pulse sequence for evaluation of the extent of lesion. CONCLUSION: MR findings of the vascular masses of the head and neck are useful in delineating the extent of the disease, differentiating venous malformation or cavernous hemangioma from other hemangiomatous lesions including hypertrophic feeding vessels, and making a plan for treatment by interventional technique also.
Angiography ; Arteriovenous Malformations ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Head* ; Hemangioma ; Hemangioma, Capillary ; Hemangioma, Cavernous ; Hemangiopericytoma ; Humans ; Lakes ; Neck* ; Pathology

Hypoglycemia due to non-islet cell tumor is usually associated with hypersecretion of big insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II). This big IGF-II cannot form ternary IGF complex, and is biologically more active in peripheral tissue, inducing increased glucose utilization and hypoglycemia. A 57-year-old man developed severe hypoglycemia due to hepatocellular carcinoma. To control hypoglycemia, the patient required continuous glucose infusion. The circulating levels of cortisol and free T4 were in the normal range. The plasma levels of insulin, C-peptide, IGF-I, IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), and total IGF-II levels were decreased. Radioimmunoassay of IGF-II revealed that big IGF-II immunoreactivity markedly increased compared to that of normal control. In this patient, it was strongly suggested that big IGF-II might be a cause of severe intractable hypoglycemia.
C-Peptide ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Hypoglycemia* ; Insulin ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor II* ; Middle Aged ; Plasma ; Radioimmunoassay ; Reference Values

PURPOSE: We conducted a retrospective analysis to determine if adjuvant chemotherapy prolongs overall survival in patients with pathologic stage IB lung adenocarcinoma who had undergone complete resection and were defined as high-risk by a newly developed recurrence risk scoring model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent curative resection for stage IB lung adenocarcinoma were analyzed with a newly developed recurrence risk scoring model and divided into a low-risk group and a high-risk group. The patients in the high-risk group were retrospectively divided into two groups based on whether they underwent adjuvant chemotherapy or observation. Recurrence-free survival and overall survival were compared between these two groups. RESULTS: A total of 328 patients who underwent curative resection between 2000 and 2009 were included in this study, of whom 110 (34%) received adjuvant chemotherapy and 218 (67%) underwent observation without additional treatment. According to our risk model, 167 patients (51%) were high-risk and 161 (49%) were low-risk. The 5-year recurrence-free survival rates and overall survival were 84.4% and 91.5% in low-risk patients and 53.9% and 74.7% in high-risk patients (p < 0.001). In high-risk patients, the 5-year overall survival rates were 77% among patients who underwent observation and 87% among those who underwent adjuvant chemotherapy (p=0.019). CONCLUSION: Adjuvant chemotherapy prolonged overall survival among high-risk patients who had undergone complete resection for stage IB lung adenocarcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant* ; Humans ; Lung* ; Recurrence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is one of the most common type of alopecia among all men and women after puberty. The number of patients with AGA appears to be gradually increasing. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical status such as age, family history, and type of patients with AGA and to review recent Korean literature. METHODS: 1500 patients with AGA who had visited the Department of Dermatology, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University School of Medicine during the last 7 years (from May 1997 through December 2003) were examined through the clinical records. RESULTS: 1) There were 1162 male and 338 female patients being most prevalent in the third decade in both sexes. 2) In males AGA, Norwood-Hamilton's type II was the most common. 3) In females AGA, Ludwig's type I was the most common. 4) There was a family history of baldness in 62.9% of relatives in male patients and 48.8% in female patients. 5) The largest number of patients with AGA first visited our department when they had had 1-5 year's history of AGA in both sexes. 6) In the management of male AGA, oral finasteride only or with topical medications was the most common (72.4%) treatment modality. 7) In the management of female AGA, topical minoxidil solution only or with other topical medications was the most common (78.7%) treatment modality. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of young patients with mild types appears to be high among AGA patients. It might be largely due to psychological stress in social situations.
Adolescent ; Alopecia* ; Busan ; Dermatology ; Female ; Finasteride ; Humans ; Male ; Minoxidil ; Puberty ; Stress, Psychological

PURPOSE: Many patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) have storage symptoms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of treatment with a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor (5ARI) on storage symptoms in patients with BPH. METHODS: This study was conducted in 738 patients with lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to BPH. Patients with a prostate volume of higher than 30 mL on the transrectal ultrasound were classified into two groups: group A, in which an alpha blocker was solely administered for at least 12 months, and group B, in which a combination treatment regimen of an alpha blocker plus 5ARI was used. This was followed by an analysis of the changes in parameters such as the total International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), voiding symptom subscore, and storage symptom subscore between the two groups. In addition, we examined whether there was a significant difference between the two groups in the degree of change in storage symptoms between before and after the pharmacological treatment. RESULTS: Of the 738 men, 331 had a prostate volume > or =30 mL, including 150 patients in group A and 181 patients in group B. Total IPSS, the voiding symptom subscore, and the storage symptom subscore were significantly lower after treatment than before treatment in both groups (P<0.05). A comparison of the degree of change between before and after treatment, however, showed no significant differences in the storage symptom subscore between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Alpha blocker and 5ARI combination treatment is effective for patients with BPH including storage symptoms. However, 5ARI does not exert a significant effect on storage symptoms in BPH patients.
5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors ; Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Male ; Oxidoreductases ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive

We performed this study to evaluate the prevalence of reflux esophagitis and/or hiatal hernia in patients referred to a medical center and to examine the relationship between endoscopic reflux esophagitis and hiatal hernia. The study was carried out in 1,010 patients referred to Yong Dong Severance Hospital for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy because of symptoms related to the gastrointestinal tract from September 1994 to March 1996. The presence of hiatal hernia was defined as a circular extension of the gastric mucosa of 2 cm or more above the diaphragmatic hiatus. Reflux esophagitis was found in 5.3% of patients, hiatal hernia in 4.1%, duodenal ulcer in 7.2% and gastric ulcer in 8.2%. The prevalence rates of reflux esophagitis and hiatal hernia in males were significantly higher than those in females. Thirty-two percent of patients with reflux esophagitis had hiatal hernia. In patients without reflux esophagitis, hiatal hernia was found in only 2.5% (p<0.01). There was no significant association between the presence of hiatal hernia and the degree of esophagitis on endoscopy. Duodenal ulcer was the second most common endoscopic abnormality found in patients with reflux esophagitis. The prevalence rate of reflux esophagitis and/or hiatal hernia at a medical center is relatively low compared to peptic ulcer disease and other reports from the Western countries. Our study confirms the close association between reflux esophagitis and hiatal hernia.
Adolescence ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Esophagitis, Peptic/epidemiology ; Esophagitis, Peptic/complications* ; Female ; Hernia, Hiatal/epidemiology ; Hernia, Hiatal/complications* ; Human ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Age ; Sex Factors