SMAS(Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome) is a disease caused by a chronic obstruction of the duodenum(transverse portion), which is hardly detectable. However, it is known that when the superior mesenteric artery and abdominal aorta form a narrow angle, that the transverse portion of the duodenum is pressed down between the superior mesenteric artery and the abdominal aorta, and that this can lead to obstruction of the duodenum. Measuring this angle is a complicated job using conventional angiography, and results often turns out to be inaccurate. In addition, no attempt has been made to determine the value of this angle in Koreans. In this study, we conducted abdominal CT angiography using MIP(maximum intensity projection) on patients with no clinical evidence of SMAS in order to determine the angle at which the superior mesenteric artery branches from the abdominal aorta by using PC based software(Rapidia ver. 1.2) for the image reconstruction. Accordingly, we found that the mean angle between the abdominal aorta and the superior mesenteric artery was 50.05+/-15.87 degrees on average, and that the angle in men(53.64+/-16.57 degrees) is higher than in women(46.46+/-14.98 degrees). We hope that the angles determined by our study will serve as an important indicator for detecting SMAS.
Angiography ; Aorta, Abdominal* ; Duodenum ; Hope ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted* ; Mesenteric Arteries ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior* ; Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

SMAS(Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome) is a disease caused by a chronic obstruction of the duodenum(transverse portion), which is hardly detectable. However, it is known that when the superior mesenteric artery and abdominal aorta form a narrow angle, that the transverse portion of the duodenum is pressed down between the superior mesenteric artery and the abdominal aorta, and that this can lead to obstruction of the duodenum. Measuring this angle is a complicated job using conventional angiography, and results often turns out to be inaccurate. In addition, no attempt has been made to determine the value of this angle in Koreans. In this study, we conducted abdominal CT angiography using MIP(maximum intensity projection) on patients with no clinical evidence of SMAS in order to determine the angle at which the superior mesenteric artery branches from the abdominal aorta by using PC based software(Rapidia ver. 1.2) for the image reconstruction. Accordingly, we found that the mean angle between the abdominal aorta and the superior mesenteric artery was 50.05+/-15.87 degrees on average, and that the angle in men(53.64+/-16.57 degrees) is higher than in women(46.46+/-14.98 degrees). We hope that the angles determined by our study will serve as an important indicator for detecting SMAS.
Angiography ; Aorta, Abdominal* ; Duodenum ; Hope ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted* ; Mesenteric Arteries ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior* ; Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Enterococcus is a normal flora of the gastrointestinal or genitourinary tract. With the increased use of vancomycin and third generation cephalosporins, vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have become one of the major nosocomial pathogens in USA and Europe since 1986. In Korea, patients with VRE infection or colonization were increasingly reported recently and VRE may become a serious nosocomial pathogen in the near future. So we report a case of vancomycin-resistant E. faecium peritonitis in a patient on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.
Cephalosporins ; Colon ; Enterococcus ; Europe ; Humans ; Korea ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Peritonitis* ; Vancomycin

For effective construction of OCS(Order Communication System), the most core part of medical information system on medium and small hospital, this thesis understands the interface types of current medical treatment examination equipments and operational problems and shows the solution through the integrated interface management system. Showing the development cases of real time interface system for integration of clinical pathology inspection equipment, LIS(Laboratory Information System) and medical treatment system, this thesis suggests the basic construction element and the functions.
Clinical Laboratory Information Systems ; Information Systems ; Pathology, Clinical

A pelvic mass in women may be gynecologic in origin or it may arise from the urinary tract or bowel. Nonovarian or nongynecologic conditions may be confused with uterine or ovarian mass. The rare congenital megaureter should always be kept in mind as a possible cause of a pelvic mass. Congenital megaureter showed various clinicopathological features and frequently associated with ipsilateral or controlateral upper tract anomalies. Early meticulous imaging surgical correction will lead to excellent result. We experienced a rare case of blind ending megaureter which was suspected adnexal tumor in twenty seven-year-old woman. Here we present the case with brief review of literatures.
Female ; Humans ; Urinary Tract

Fungal peritonitis is one of the leading causes of patient dropout from continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) therapy. Although the most causative agents of peritonitis associated with CAPD are bacteria, fungi are implicated in up to 10% of cases. The most common organism of fungal peritonitis is Candida specises, but Trichosporon beigelii was reported as a rare causative agent of fungal peritonitis. We experienced a case of CAPD peritonitis by Trichosporon beigelii, which was treated with CAPD catheter removal, and antifungal agents with amphotericin B and fluconazole. Thus, we report our experience of CAPD peritonitis caused by Trichosporon beigelii and review of the literature.
Amphotericin B ; Antifungal Agents ; Bacteria ; Candida ; Catheters ; Fluconazole ; Fungi ; Humans ; Patient Dropouts ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Peritonitis* ; Trichosporon*

Lithium is commonly employed in the treatment of bipolar disorders. The commonly reported nephrotoxic effects of lithium therapy are nephrogenic diabetes insipidus and chronic tubulointerstitial nephropathy with little or no proteinuria. Mild proteinuria is a common manifestation of most renal injuries including nephrotoxicity by lithium. But nephrotic syndrome related with lithium therapy is very rare and only one case of membranous glomerulonephritis has been reported in Korea by this time. We report a lithium toxicity case manifested by nephrotic syndrome, nephrogenic diabetes inspidus and chronic renal insufficiency in a 44-year-old man who had been taking lithium for 13 years for bipolar disorder. Kidney pathology showed minimal change disease and chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis which can be seen in chronic lithium toxicity. Polyuria and massive proteinuria disappeared with the withdrawal of lithium. Renal function was gradually improved but not to norma range. Careful and regular monitoring on the renal function in all patients on lithium treatment will be needed.
Adult ; Bipolar Disorder ; Diabetes Insipidus, Nephrogenic ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous ; Humans ; Kidney ; Korea ; Lithium* ; Nephritis, Interstitial* ; Nephrosis, Lipoid* ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Pathology ; Polyuria ; Proteinuria ; Renal Insufficiency ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic

Membranous nephropathy is one of the most common causes of the nephrotic syndrome in adults. Membranous nephropathy is known as a disease associated with many other disorders and the presumed etiology of the disease is a deposition of circulating immune complexes. But, it has rarely been reported in association with autoimmune thyroiditis. We report a case of membranous nephropathy associated with Graves' disease and review the literature regarding this disease entity.
Adult ; Antigen-Antibody Complex ; Glomerulonephritis ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous* ; Graves Disease* ; Humans ; Immune Complex Diseases ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Thyroiditis ; Thyroiditis, Autoimmune

A 63-year old man, who was a stone mason, was hospitalized due to dyspnea and generalized edema. Chest X-ray showed the presence of multiple scattered small nodular opacities in both lobes and egg-shell calcification in both hilum. Laboratory finding showed proteinuria and hematuria and antinuclear antibody was positive. Renal biopsy revealed membranous nephropathy and tubular atrophy. He was treated with cyclophosphamide, but proteinuria has been sustained. In literature reviewed, silicosis was associated with various forms of glomerulonephritis, but in Korea, such case has not been reported except the one case of microscopic polyangitis with membranous glomerulonephropathy associated with pulmonary silicosis. We experienced membranous nephropathy in a patient with pulmonary silicosis, thus we report it.
Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Atrophy ; Biopsy ; Cyclophosphamide ; Dyspnea ; Edema ; Glomerulonephritis ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous* ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Proteinuria ; Silicosis* ; Thorax

A 63-year old man, who was a stone mason, was hospitalized due to dyspnea and generalized edema. Chest X-ray showed the presence of multiple scattered small nodular opacities in both lobes and egg-shell calcification in both hilum. Laboratory finding showed proteinuria and hematuria and antinuclear antibody was positive. Renal biopsy revealed membranous nephropathy and tubular atrophy. He was treated with cyclophosphamide, but proteinuria has been sustained. In literature reviewed, silicosis was associated with various forms of glomerulonephritis, but in Korea, such case has not been reported except the one case of microscopic polyangitis with membranous glomerulonephropathy associated with pulmonary silicosis. We experienced membranous nephropathy in a patient with pulmonary silicosis, thus we report it.
Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Atrophy ; Biopsy ; Cyclophosphamide ; Dyspnea ; Edema ; Glomerulonephritis ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous* ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Proteinuria ; Silicosis* ; Thorax