No abstract available.
Gastrectomy*

The serum level of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in 28 atopic patients and 41 healthy, normal, non-allergic subjects were measured by standard radial immunodiffusion method (RIDT). The correlation between IgE level and clinical manifestations are studied. The results are as follows. 1) IgE value was higher in atopic dermatitis than normal subjects. 2) IgE value in atopie dermatitis revealed no sigaificant difference between in male and in female. 3) IgE value was increased parallel with the severity of the disease. 4) IgE value was not correlated with the extent of disease. 5) IgE value was not correlated with the duration of disease. 6) IgE value was not correlated with the age of onset. 7) IgE value was not correlated with the eosinophil count of peripheral blood.
Age of Onset ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Humans ; Immunodiffusion ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Immunoglobulins ; Male

Melanoma is relatvely uncommon malignant tumor arising in the skin from epidermal melanocytes, from the junctional component of a cellular nevus or, rarely within a blue nevus and frequently metastasizes to regional lymph nodes first, followed by hematogenous spread to lungs, liver, gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, adrenal, heart and brain. All melanoma patients are carefully evaluated according to several parameters. A complete history and physical examination are carried out, with particular attention being devoted to other pigmented tumors that the patient may have. The patient should be further evaluated to determine the presence or absence of metastases by chest X-ray examination, metastatic series or bone scan, liver function studies, liver scan, EKG, etc. Special factors such as age, sex, and race, as well as site, size, and growth rate of lesions are also evaluated. We had a case of 59 year-old male patient with disseminated malignant melanoma. Upon his first visit, we did not find any abnormality in his physical examination and routine laboratory findings except skin tumors on left heel and left leg.
Brain ; Continental Population Groups ; Electrocardiography ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Heart ; Heel ; Humans ; Leg ; Liver ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma* ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Nevus ; Nevus, Blue ; Pancreas ; Physical Examination ; Skin ; Thorax

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Nodule*

Vertebral pedicle screws have been widely used for secure posterior spinal fixation. When postoperative CT scan films were made, the blurring of pedicle screws were observed and we could not figure nut the exact diameter of screw and canal encroachment. There is no information in the difference hetween actual diameter and measured diameter of pedcile screws in CT yet. In this study, we try to find out partial voiume averaging artifact of pedicle screws made of stainless steel and titanium. Partial volume averaging artifact occurs when the shape of an object changes within the thickness of the CT slice or when a relatively small object is only partially included within the slice. Four pig cadaveric spinal column including 6 vertebrae each were prepared and CT scans were performed after insertion of C-D screws(stainless steel) to the left and TSRH screws(titanium) to the right pedicle. Another CT scans were performed after insertion of C-D screws to the right and TSRH screws to the left pedicle. The third CT scans were made after removal of all the pedicle screws. Actual C-D screw diameter was 6mm and CT scanned diameter was 8. I 6+/-0.66mm. Actual TSRH diameter was 6.5 mm and CT scanned diameter was 6.59+/-0.34mm. In conclusion, stainless steel has more partial volume averaging artifact than titanium. Safety margin of pedicle screw made of stainless steel is about 2mm and that of titanium is about 1 mm.
Artifacts ; Cadaver ; Nuts ; Spine ; Stainless Steel* ; Titanium* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

No abstract available.
Autografts*

PURPOSE: To evaluate abnormal neurosonographic (NSG) findings of thalami and basal ganglia in full term babies with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and to correlate the findings with follow-up studies and prognosis. METHODS: We evaluated 13 full term babies with abnormal NSG findings of thalarni and basal ganglia. NSG was performed within 7 days after clinical abnormalities. Follow-up NSG was done in 11 cases; CT scan in 4 and MRI in 7. We classified NSG findings as diffuse, unilateral, and focal types according to increased echogenicity and evaluated prognosis based on follow-up studies and neurological sequelae. RESULTS: Nine cases of diffuse type had diffuse echogenic changes of bilateral thalami and basal ganglia, slit-like lateral ventricles suggesting cerebral edema, and increased parenchymal echogenicity. In diffuse type, follow-up studies showed more prominent echogencities and ventricular dilatations and cerebromalacia. One case of unilateral type caused by thromboembolism had unilateral echogenicity of right thalamus and basal ganglia with increased echogenicity of the ipsilateral cerebral hemisphere and compression of the lateral ventricle, suggesting cerebral infarction. Follow-up study showed unilateral cystic cerebromalacia. Three cases of focal type had a localized echogenic area in thalamus with lacunar infarction, which decreased in size during follow-up. Among nine cases of diffuse type, one died within 2 days, two were discharged against medical advice, and six had severe neurologic sequelae. One case of unilateral type had a moderate degree of neurologic sequelae. All 3 cases of focal type had normal development. CONCLUSION: Pattems of abnormal echogenicity in thalami and basal ganglia in fullterm infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy are correlated with the outcome and may be helpful for treatment planning.
Basal Ganglia* ; Brain ; Brain Edema ; Brain Ischemia* ; Cerebral Infarction ; Cerebrum ; Dilatation ; Encephalomalacia ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; Infant* ; Lateral Ventricles ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Prognosis* ; Stroke, Lacunar ; Thalamus* ; Thromboembolism ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: Despite progress in surgical techniques and adjuvant treatments, the prognosis for advanced gastric cancer has not improved. Knowledge of the kinds of tumor markers that might indicate the postoperative prognosis for gastric cancer is important in detecting microscopic residual cancers but still needs to be developed. METHODS: The serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (sCEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (sCA19-9), as well as the CEA, the CA19-9, and the tissue-type plasminogen activator levels in peritoneal washings (pCEA, pCA19-9, pTPA) were measured in 57 patients with gastric cancer who had undergone laparotomies from Oct. 1996 to Mar. 1997. The relationships between the positivity of tumor markers and several clinicopathological factors were evaluated by using a univariate analysis. Also, the significance of tumor markers in predicting the survival and the recurrence of disease was analyzed. RESULTS: The positivity of pCEA and pCA19-9 increased according to the stage (p<0.01) and the presence of serosal invasion (P<0.01). When pCEA or pCA19-9 is positive, the rate of curative surgery in those patients was lower than it was in the patients with negative tumor markers (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively). The positivities of pCEA, sCA19-9, pCA19-9 were higher in recurring cases than in nonrecurring cases after curative surgery (p<0.01, p<0.01, and p<0.05, respectively). The positivities of the tumor markers pCEA and pCA19-9 in the 4 cases with peritoneal seeding at the laparotomy were significantly different from those in the 53 cases with no peritoneal seeding (p<0.01) and (p<0.01), respectively pCEA. The risk of peritoneal recurrence after curative surgery was higher in pCEA positive cases than in negative cases (p=0.016) and in serosal positive and pCEA positive cases than in the other cases (p=0.016). CONCLUSION: pCEA and pCA19-9 are useful prognostic factors and an adjuvant treatment to prevent peritoneal recurrence should be considered, especially, in patients presenting positive pCEA with positive serosal invasion.
Biomarkers, Tumor* ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator

No abstract available.
Decompression* ; Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament*

Central pontine myelinolysis (CPM) is a demyelinating disorder that almost exclusively affects the central portion of basis pontis and occurs in patients with malnutrition, chronic debilitating disorders and electrolyte abnormalities. CPM after liver transplantation is considered that had the relationship to rapid correction of hyponatremia and shift in osmolality. Our first case of 4 liver transplantations altered consciousness at the 5th day after transplantation and did not recover fully until 14 months. At first, atrial fibrillation and atelectasis due to left main broncheal obstruction were thought the causes of impaired consciousness as postoperative hypoxic event. At that time, CT scan showed diffuse brain atropy that suggested previous hepatic encephalopathy and/or hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. After that, MRI revealed CPM and diffuse cortical atropy. We concluded that CPM associated with rapid correction of hyponatremia perioperatively alter patient's consciousness with hypoxic brain injury.
Atrial Fibrillation ; Brain ; Brain Injuries ; Consciousness ; Demyelinating Diseases ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; Humans ; Hyponatremia ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Malnutrition ; Myelinolysis, Central Pontine* ; Osmolar Concentration ; Pulmonary Atelectasis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed