PURPOSE: Diverticular disease of the colon is relatively common in western population and rare in oriental population but in recent years the incidence is steadily increasing in oriental population including Korean, so more concerns and appropriate management are required. METHODS: We reviewed 111cases who had diverticular disease in the colon from January 1988 to May 1998 in the Soonchunhyang University Chunan Hospital. Of 111 cases, 87 cases were treated conservatively and 24 cases received a surgical treatment. RESULTS: The annual incidence increased progressively for the last 10 years. The mean age of the patients at the time of diagnosis was 49.6 years and the most common age-group was forth decades (25%). The diverticula were located in the right colon 89%, left colon 7% and both side 4%. Among 24 surgically treated cases, the most common preoperative diagnosis was acute appendicitis (75%) and the correct preoperative diagnosis was made only 3 cases (13%) who had previous appendectomy history, previous diagnosed history or received barium enema due to recurrent pain attack. The surgical procedures of the colonic diverticulosis were right hemicolectomy (6 cases), ileo-ascending colectomy (6 cases), diverticulectomy (2 cases), segmental resection of transverse colon (1 case), left hemicolectomy (1 case), appendectomy (2 cases), appendectomy with drainage (3 cases), appendectomy with drainage and diverticulectomy (3 cases). The postoperative complication was wound infection in all complicated cases. There was no postoperative mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The outcome of patients in our series is satisfactory despite of diagnostic inaccuracies. Preoperative barium study is recommended in those above the 40 years of age suspected the appendicitis. We recommend surgery for patients after two or three episodes of acute diverticulitis that resolves after medical treatment with antibiotics.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Appendectomy ; Appendicitis ; Barium ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Colectomy ; Colon* ; Colon, Transverse ; Diagnosis ; Diverticulitis ; Diverticulosis, Colonic ; Diverticulum ; Drainage ; Enema ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mortality ; Postoperative Complications ; Wound Infection

A case-control study was conducted to investigate the association between the risk of cancer and selenium concentration in blood and toenails. Seventy three patients and two hundreds eighty three controls were selected at the Yeungnam University Hospital between May and September in 1991. The selected cases were patients who had been hospitalized for stomach or colon cancer at the Department of General Surgery. The controls were people who visited to check physical examination at the Automated Mediscreening Center. The selenium concentration in whole blood and toenails were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer equipped with graphite furnace atomizer. The following information was ascertained for all cancer patients and controls: sex, age, body mass index, blood pressure, total serum cholesterol, and history of smoking and drinking. The mean selenium concentration in blood and toenail for all cancer patients were 143.6±10.8 µg/l and 1.04±0.62 µg/g and for the controls. 167.0±14.5 µg/l and 1.15±0.55 µg/g, respectively. The difference in blood and toenail selenium concentrations of the two cancer sites was not statistically significant. Metastasis did not influence the concentration of selenium in blood and toenails. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, the blood selenium concentration (aOR: 0.888, 95% CI: 0.860-0.918), age, BMI and total serum cholesterol were significant variables for risk of cancer, but the selenium concentration in toenail was not shown to be a significant variable in this regression analysis. The coefficient for blood selenium concentration adjusted for age, sex, diastolic blood pressure, total serum cholesterol, body mass index and smoking was -0.1184 (p<0.01). These findings suggest that low selenium concentration is associated with gastrointestinal cancers. Further epidemiologic studies including important variables such as other antioxidant micronutrients will be necessary.
Absorption ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Case-Control Studies ; Cholesterol ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Drinking ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; Graphite ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Micronutrients ; Nails* ; Nebulizers and Vaporizers ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Physical Examination ; Selenium* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stomach

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to assess the clinical utility of multiplanar reformation images of helical CT in the evaluation of pancreatic diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Helical CT scans of the pancreas were obtained in 30 patients with pancreatic diseases. Helical CT was performed with 5mm collimation at 5mm/sec table speed during rapid injection of intravenous contrast agent using power injector. After scanning, helical volume data were reconstructed at 2mm interval and then multiplanar reformation of the pancreas and adjacent structures was done. In both prospective reconstructed axial images and multiplanar reformation images, detection of pancreatic lesion, extent of lesion, and vascular and bile ductal changes were analyzed with a grading system of 1,2, 3. RESULTS: The mean grade of detection of pancreatic lesions was 2.37 in the prospective axial image and 2.83 in multiplanar reformation image, extent of diseases was 2.40 in prospective axial image and 2.97 in multiplanar reformation image, and vascular and bile ductal changes was 2.00 in the prospective axial image and 2.97 in multiplanar reformation image. All the differences were statistically significant (P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Multiplanar reformation images of helical CT are useful in the evaluation of pancreatic diseases and especially in the demonstratibn of complex anatomic relationships between the pancreas and surrounding structures.
Bile Ducts ; Humans ; Pancreas ; Pancreatic Diseases* ; Prospective Studies ; Tomography, Spiral Computed*

No abstract available.
Mesenteric Artery, Superior

Fifteen cases of diffuse axonal injury(DAI) brought about by nonmissile head injury in humans are analyzed. All cases were subjected to comprehensive clinical studies such as measurement of cerebral blood flow by SPECT, continuous intracranial pressure monitoring and multimodality evoked potentials(MEPs). In the patients with DAI, a high incidence of low cerebral perfusion and abnormal MEPs. especially auditory evoked potentials, were found, with high incidence of high velocity traffic accident injury mechanism. On the other hand, a low incidence of increased intracranial pressure was found and dehydrating agents such as glycerol and mannitol did not exert a beneficial influence upon the clinical courses or the outcomes. The outcome of the patients with DAI depended upon the duration of coma and whether or not brain stem signs were noted.
Accidents, Traffic ; Axons ; Brain Stem ; Coma ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Diffuse Axonal Injury* ; Evoked Potentials* ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory ; Glycerol ; Hand ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intracranial Pressure* ; Mannitol ; Perfusion ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

PURPOSE: Recently, the favorable merits of breast feeding have received widespread attention and the number of breast feeding children is increasing. We investigated the weaning practices between breast feeding infants and non-breast feeding infants with respect to iron deficiency anemia (IDA). METHODS: Between March 2006 and January 2009, we surveyed 70 parents, the children of whom had been medically diagnosed with IDA, and 140 parents, the children of whom did not have IDA, about how they feed their children and how much they know about the weaning process. The infants and children were 6~36 months of age and attended the Inha University hospital. RESULTS: IDA patients started weaning later than non-IDA patients. Also, breast feeding in IDA patients was more frequent than in non-IDA patients (82% vs. 30%). The breast feeding group began weaning at approximately 6.4 months of age, which was statistically meaningfully compared to non-breast feeding infants. There were no differences in knowledge between the two groups of parents. CONCLUSION: According to our research, we assume that if weaning begins at 6 months, we cannot supply sufficient iron to meet the infant's needs, which increase sharply around 6 months of age because of depletion of stored iron. Thus, infants need to initiate weaning from breast feeding at 4 months of age to furnish an ample amount of iron or take iron-containing supplements. These methods would be expected to prevent IDA in breast feeding infants.
Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; Breast Feeding ; Child ; Humans ; Infant ; Iron ; Parents ; Weaning

We have experienced 3 cases of recurrent urinary tract infection with ureterovesical reflux under age of 10 years. Two of these patients have completely recovered after surgical reimplantantation which were confirmed by follow-up VCUG 6 to 8 month after surgery. One showed hydronephrotic change of right kidney by intravenous pyelogram taken 7 months after surgical reimplantation. A brief review of the related literature wag also presented and discussed the importance of radiological investigation in recurrent urinary tract infection.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kidney ; Replantation ; Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract*

Retrospective analysis of reoperation and complication was made for 186 patients with lumbar herniated disc. The results showed complication rate of 7%(13 cases) and reoperation rate of 10.2%(19 cases). The primary complications were infections(9 cases), technical errors(2 cases), and scores(2 cases). Rate of discitis was 1.6%(3 cases). The outcomes of reoperation resulted in excellent recovery of 16%(3 cases) and good recovery of 58%(11 cases). The most common intraoperative findings of reoperation were inadequate disectomy or missed disc fragments 31.6% or 6 cases;epidural fibrosis 26.3% or 5 cases;and new herniation at other level 15.8% or 3 cases. Excellent and good results could be achieved in patients operated within 1 month or more than 6 months after while the patients who underwent reoperation between 1 month and 6 months showed poor results. The delicate perioperative menagement and complete discectomy, adequate bleeding control and laminectomy were considered to be essential in reducing the chance of complication and reoperation.
Discitis ; Diskectomy ; Fibrosis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Laminectomy ; Reoperation* ; Retrospective Studies

To contribute to promotion of health and preservation of labor power of Korean laborers, the body height and body weight were measured for 10,407 workers (6,201 male, 4,206 female) in the age group of 20-29, engaged in manufactures in the Gumi industrial complex, Gumi city, Kyungpook province. The above data were extracted from the 1985 periodic examination chart for calculation of the mean body weight, mean body height, correlation coefficient and regression equation between weight and height, standard body weight, body mass index(BMI) and distribution of laborers within Garrow's classification of BMI by age and sex group. Mean body height of 20-29 age group was 168.2+/-5.61 cm for male and 155.9+/-5.26 cm for female. Mean body weight of 20-29 age group was 61.4+/-6.56 kg for male and 52.4+/-6.00 kg for female. Correlation coefficient and regression equation of 20-29 age group were +0.541 and Y(Wt)=0.632X(Ht)-44.975 for male and +0.559 and Y(Wt)=0.637X(Ht)-46.898 for female. Standard body weight of 20-29 age group was 53.0kg at 155cm, 59.3kg at 165cm, 65.6kg at 175cm for male and 51.8kg at 155cm, 58.2kg at 165cm, 64.6kg at 175 cm for female. Range of normal body weight of 20-29 age group was 47.5+/-58.5kg at 155cm, 53.8+/-64.8kg at 165cm, 60.1+/-72.1kg at 175cm for male and 46.9+/-56.8kg at 155cm, 53.2+/-63.2kg at 165cm, 59.6+/-69.6 kg at 175 cm for female. Range of obesity of 20-29 age group was 64.1kg and over at 155cm, 70.3kg and over at 165cm, 76.7kg and over at 175cm for male and 61.8kg and over at 155cm, 68.2kg and over at 165cm, 74.5kg and over at 175 cm for female. Body mass index (kg/m2) of 20-29 age group was 21.7+/-1.95 for male and 21.6+/-2.05 for female, 75.9% of male laborers and 71.3% of famale counterparts fall in the desirable range of BMI by Garrow's classification.
Body Height ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight* ; Classification ; Female ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Ideal Body Weight ; Male ; Obesity

PURPOSE: We compared CT findings of thickened wall-type gallbladder cancer with those of complicated cholecystitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed abdominal CT scans of ten patients with thickened wall-type gallbladder cancer and eight patients with complicated cholecystitis, from March 1991 to November 1995. RESULTS: CT findings of thickened wall-type gallbladder cancer showed diffuse or focal wallthickening. Wall thickness was 5.3-18.0 mm(mean value, 12.2mm ; n=10). Gallbladder wall thickness of complicatedcholecystitis was 3.0-14.0mm (mean value, 6.6mm ; n=8). Statistical significance was noted between thickened wall-type gallbladder cancer and complicated cholecytitis(p<0.0029). Irregular wall thickening was noted in 7/10cases of thickened wall-type gallbladder cancer(70%). Regular wall thickening was noted in 6/8 cases of complicated cholecystitis(75%). The luminal diameter of thickened wall-type gallbladder cancer was 3.3-5.4cm (meanvalue, 4.2cm ; n=10). The luminal diameter of complicated cholecystitis was 5.2-8.0cm (mean value, 6.5cm ; n=8).Statistical significance was noted between thickened wall-type gallbladder cancer and complicated cholecystitis(p<0.0003). The halo sign was noted in only 3/8 cases of complicated cholecystitis(38%). Secondary findings of thickened wall-type gallbladder caner was lymphadenopathy in 3/10 cases(30%), and liver invasion in 2/10 cases(20%). Secondary findings of complicated cholecystitis were liver abscess in 2/8 cases(25%), and RLQ abdominal fluid collection and pleural effusion in 4/8 cases(50%). CONCLUSION: Differential factors of thickened wall-type gallbladder cancer from complicated cholecystits are gallbladder wall thickness, regularity of wall thickness, halo sign, secondary findings and luminal distention.
Cholecystitis* ; Gallbladder ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Abscess ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Phenobarbital ; Pleural Effusion ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed