E-cadherin is a calcium-dependent epithelial adhesion molecule which plays a role in the initial step of invasion of cancer cells. The step that follows the migration of separated tumor cells is a proteolytic lysis of basement membrane and extracellular matrix by protease of epithelial and endothelial cells such as matrix metalloproteinase (MMP). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known to be an endothelial cell-specific powerful mitogen as well as a vascular permeability factor. This study is aimed to evaluate the correlation between expression of these factors and pathologic or clinical variables and the roles and prognostic significance of those factors in squmous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the lung. Immunohistochemical stains were performed for E-cadherin, MMP-2, and VEGF in surgically resected specimens from 90 patients with squmous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the lung. Mean age of the patients was 59.7 years. Histologic type was categorized into 56 cases of squamous cell carcinoma and 34 cases of adenocarcinoma. Mean survival period of the 35 patients was 54 months. The immunohistochemical stains for E-cadherin, MMP-2, and VEGF revealed positive reaction in 67 cases (74.4%), 43 cases (47.8%), and 34 cases (37.8%), respectively. The expression of E-cadherin was higher in adenocarcinoma (82.4%) than in squamous cell carcinoma (69.6%). MMP-2 was expressed in the tumor cells, especially those invading into the surrounding stroma. The expression of MMP-2 was significantly correlated with the survival rate (p<0.05). The expression of VEGF in the tumor cells was significantly higher in cases with lymph node metastasis (p<0.05). In conclusion, these findings suggest that the expression of MMP-2 and VEGF predict poor prognosis of patients with squmous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the lung and that VEGF may play a role in tumor metastasis.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Basement Membrane ; Cadherins* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Coloring Agents ; Endothelial Cells ; Extracellular Matrix ; Humans ; Lung* ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

This study was undertaken to estimate the effects of the induction agents on the bioparameters such as changes in blood pressure, pulse rate, Apgar score, patients movement, fetal arterial and venous blood gas analysis, memory and emergence reactions. 116 parturients undergoing cesarian section were divided into two groups: ketamine group and thiopental group, and were given 1.2 mg/kg ketamine in ketamine group and 4 mg/kg thiopental sodium in thiopental group as an induction agent respectively. The results were as follows; I) Blood pressure increased in both groups, but ketamine group less increased than thiopental group statistically. Pulse rate did not increased in skin incision in ketamine group statistically. 2) The patient's movement were 5 case(9%) in ketamine group and 17 cases(29%) in thiopental group. 3) There was not significant difference in fetal arterial and venous blood gas analysis. 4) In Apgar score, ketamine group is better than thiopental group. 5) There was no psychologic side reactions in both groups. 6) Postoperative recalling of intraoperative awareness occured in seven patients(12%) only in the thiopental group.
Apgar Score ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Blood Pressure ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Intraoperative Awareness ; Ketamine* ; Memory ; Pregnancy ; Skin ; Thiopental*

A retrospective review of 14 patients treated non-operatively or operatively for burst fractures of the low lumbar spine(L4-L5) between January 1992 and December 1997 was performed. Burst fractures of the low lumbar spine are rare and have not been well delineated in the literature. Average follow-up period for fourteen patients was 10.6 months. Ten patients were men and four were women. The average age at injury was 36.8 years(range 17-70 years). Seventy-one percent of the injuries were the result of fall from height and 29% were the result of motor vehicle accidents. Non-operatively treated six patients were presented with minimal canal compromise and minimal or no initial neurological deficit. They were treated 4-6weeks of bed rest before they were allowed to mobilize with orthosis. None of these patients had any significant complications. If patients showed neurological impairment associated with significant canal compromise or vertebral height loss, they were treated operatively to restore spinal stability and spinal height and also to decompress neural elements. Various types of combined surgical approaches were used for eight patients who met these criteria. Among these, two were treated in a staged fashion with the anterior transperitoneal approach done initially. Vertebrectomy and complete neural decompression in direct vision was possible and interbody fusion was performed using Mesh cage, which was filled with bone collected from sites of vertebrectomy. This combined approach seems to be the choice of procedure for complete decompression and interbody fusion of the low lumbar burst fracture(L4-L5) with severe canal compromise and vertebral height loss. Transperitoneal approach for the low lumbar vertebrectomy has advantage of less muscular damage compared to retroperitoneal approach. There were no major complications from surgery in the present series.
Bed Rest ; Decompression ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Motor Vehicles ; Orthotic Devices ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine

Chusid et al proposed diagnostic criteria of hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) that remain valid today. These were, (1) a sustained peripheral blood eosinophil count of more than 1500/L present for longer than 6 months ; (2) no evidence of other apparent causes for eosinophilia, and (3) presumptive signs of parenchymal organ involvement. Any organ system may be affected in HES, but the most severe clinicopathological involvements are of the heart and nervous system. Although multiple organ systems may be involved, the most common cause of morbidity and mortality is cardiac involvement with extensive fibrous thickening of the endomyocardium and overlying thrombus. We report a case of acute peri-myocarditis with eosinophilia, which was confirmed as eosinophilic myocarditis by endomyocardial biopsy, with literature review.
Biopsy ; Edema* ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils* ; Heart ; Hypereosinophilic Syndrome ; Mortality ; Myocarditis* ; Nervous System ; Thrombosis

Chusid et al proposed diagnostic criteria of hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) that remain valid today. These were, (1) a sustained peripheral blood eosinophil count of more than 1500/L present for longer than 6 months ; (2) no evidence of other apparent causes for eosinophilia, and (3) presumptive signs of parenchymal organ involvement. Any organ system may be affected in HES, but the most severe clinicopathological involvements are of the heart and nervous system. Although multiple organ systems may be involved, the most common cause of morbidity and mortality is cardiac involvement with extensive fibrous thickening of the endomyocardium and overlying thrombus. We report a case of acute peri-myocarditis with eosinophilia, which was confirmed as eosinophilic myocarditis by endomyocardial biopsy, with literature review.
Biopsy ; Edema* ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils* ; Heart ; Hypereosinophilic Syndrome ; Mortality ; Myocarditis* ; Nervous System ; Thrombosis

Newborn infants, including premature infants, are high-risk patients susceptible to various microorganisms. Catheter-related bloodstream infections are the most common type of nosocomial infections in this population. Regular education and training of medical staffs are most important as a preventive strategy for central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). Bundle approaches and the use of checklists during the insertion and maintenance of central catheters are effective measures to reduce the incidence of CLABSIs. Chlorhexidine, commonly used as a skin disinfectant before catheter insertion and dressing replacement, is not approved for infants <2 months of age, but is usually used in many neonatal intensive care units due to the lack of alternatives. Chlorhexidine-impregnated dressing and bathing, recommended for adults, cannot be applied to newborns. Appropriate replacement intervals for dressing and administration sets are similar to those recommended for adults. Umbilical catheters should not be used longer than 5 days for the umbilical arterial catheter and 14 days for the umbilical venous catheter. It is most important to regularly educate, train and give feedback to the medical staffs about the various preventive measures required at each stage from before insertion to removal of the catheter. Continuous efforts are needed to develop effective and safe infection control strategies for neonates and young infants.
Adult ; Bacteremia ; Bandages ; Baths ; Catheters ; Central Venous Catheters ; Checklist ; Chlorhexidine ; Cross Infection ; Education ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infection Control ; Intensive Care Units ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Medical Staff ; Skin

Acute appendicitis in children under the age of 12 has remained the surgical emergency condition with the highest percentage of misdiagnosis leading to removal of a normal appendix. From January 1994 to April 1997, 312 children (176 boys, 136 girls) were admitted to Jun-ang Gil Hospital with the impression of acute appendicitis. The average age was 8.6 years (2 to 12 years). We reviewed medical records retrospectively for demographics, presenting signs, symptoms, findings of abdominal ultrasonography (USG) and barium enemas, and surgical results. The patients were divided in 2 groups as follows: group I (n=144) received immediate operations without further evaluation, group II (n=168) was treated after a delay for observation and/or special studies (USG and/or barium enema). Group II was subdivided into Group IIa (n=119) (treatment after study) and Group IIb (n=49)(treatment by clinical observations only). In group I, 124 patients were confirmed intraoperatively as having acute appendicitis, and 20 cases were not. In IIa, 36 patients underwent exploratory surgery and 30 cases revealed acute appendicitis. The remaining 83 patients were discharged because of symptomatic relief. In group IIb, 43 patients underwent exploratory surgery and acute appendicitis was revealed in 35. The diagnostic accuracies of groups were 86%, 95% and 84%. The sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of an abdominal ultrasonography (n=105) were 96.1%, 82.1% and 92.4%, respectively. Those of a barium enema (n=63) were 94.7%, 100%, and 95.2% respectively. When both modalities were used (n=49), the results were 95.6%, 100% and 95.9%, respectively. The frequencies of a perforated appendicitis had no difference among the groups. In conclusion, in a child suspected of having acute appendicitis, if there are no apparent toxic signs or panperitonitis, surgical observation, USG, and/or a barium enema can decrease the number of unnecessary appendectomy without increasing the risk of perforation.
Appendectomy ; Appendicitis* ; Appendix ; Barium ; Child* ; Demography ; Diagnostic Errors ; Emergencies ; Enema ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography

Angiosarcoma of the bone is rare with an incidence of 0.13%. It may be solitary or multiple. Its cytologic findings by FNA have rarely been reported. We report a case of angiosarcoma of the rib in a 66 year-old man. FNA revealed single or clusters of round to oval shaped cells in a hemorrhagic and myxoid background. The large central nuclei had irregular nuclear membrane, chromatin clumping and prominent nucleoli. The cytoplasm was scanty with an eosinophilic distinct cytoplasmic border. Erythrophagocytosis by malignant cells was also found. Histopathologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of angiosarcoma revealing irregular and com- plex anastomosing vascular channels lined by malignant round tumor cells, protruding into the lumen. Immunohistochemical staining revealed diffuse strong positive reaction to factor VIII-related antigen and CD31.
Aged ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Chromatin ; Cytoplasm ; Diagnosis ; Eosinophils ; Hemangiosarcoma* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Nuclear Envelope ; Ribs* ; von Willebrand Factor

Blood sugar and blood gas analysis changes caused by a 10 hour fast and a 15 hour fast were studied in sixtythree patients. In the 10 hour fast group, mean blood sugar level was 79.58+/-8.77mg/dl compared with the 15 hour fast group was 77.22+/-14.93 mg/dl. There were no remarkable changes on blood gas analysis for both the 10 hour fast group and 15 hour fast group. Neither age nor sex had any significant influence on blood sugar level or blood gas analysis. Thus, in order to make preoperative recommendations as well as to give appropriate intravenous fluids during and following operation, the anesthesiologist must be acquainted with the physiology of fasting.
Blood Gas Analysis* ; Blood Glucose* ; Fasting* ; Humans ; Physiology

This report is concerned with our clinical experience of 150 cases of anesthesia for open heart surgery at department of anesthesiology, In chon Gil hospital from Februry, 1990 to April, 1993. The results were as follows ; 1) Among 150 cases, 68 cases (45.3%) were congenital heart disease and 82 cases (54.7%) were acquired heart disease. 62 cases (41.3%) were males and 88 cases (58.7%) were females. 2) Glycopyrrolate, diazepam, morphine, were used as premedicants. 3) Fentanyl, ketamine, diazepam, thiopental sodium were used as induction agents and injected singly or in combination. 4) In congenital cyanotic heart diseases, ketamine was used as main anesthetic agent. In other heart diseases, fentanyl, isoflurane, diazepam were used. 5) Vecuronium was used for intubation and maintenance of muscle relaxation. 6) Overall mortality rate was 3.3% (5 cases) and the causes of death were low cardiac output, respiratory insufficiency, mediastinal infection.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesiology ; Cardiac Output, Low ; Cause of Death ; Diazepam ; Female ; Fentanyl ; Glycopyrrolate ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Diseases ; Heart* ; Humans ; Incheon ; Intubation ; Isoflurane ; Ketamine ; Male ; Morphine ; Mortality ; Muscle Relaxation ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Thiopental ; Thoracic Surgery* ; Vecuronium Bromide