No abstract available.
Antigens, Surface* ; Oncogenes*

No abstract available.
Calcitriol* ; Dehydroepiandrosterone* ; Gene Expression* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

No abstract available.
Calcitriol* ; Dehydroepiandrosterone* ; Gene Expression* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of two-phase dynamic CT, early and equilibrium pahse, in the preoperative staging of rectal cancers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed incremental dynamic CT after rectal infusion of water in 34 patients with pathologically proved rectal cancers. Two-phase dynamic CT findings were prospectively analyzed and correlated with surgical and histopathologic findings. A total of 150ml of nonionic contrast medium was intravenously administered with a power injector at a flow rate of 5ml/sec for 30 sec, and two-phase images were obtained at 30 sec(early phase) and 2 min (equilibrium phase) after bolus injection. Local tumor staging and regional lymph node were classified by TNM staging. RESULTS: All 34 rectal cancers showed a moderate to marked enhancement in the early phase and a homogeneous and prolonged enhancement of the entire lesion in the equilibrium phase. T-staging of primary tumors were 85.3%(29/34) in early phase and 70.6%(24/34) in equilibrium phase. The accuracy in determining the perirectal fat invasion of rectal cancer was 92%(23/25) in early phase, and 72%(18/25) in equilibrium phase. The sensitivity & specificity of the regional lymph node metastasis were 63.6% and 79.1% in early phase, and 54.5% and 65.2% in equilibrium phase, respectively. CONCLUSION: Early phase dynamic CT was more accurate for the preoperative staging of rectal cancer than that at equilibrium phase.
Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prospective Studies ; Rectal Neoplasms* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Water

No abstract available.
Fallopian Tubes* ; Female ; Pregnancy*

No abstract available.
Antifungal Agents* ; Chemotaxis* ; Humans* ; Neutrophils* ; Phagocytosis*

The serotonin 6(5-HT6) receptor gene is a candidate gene for influencing the clinical response to treatment with antidepressants. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the C267T polymorphism in the 5-HT6 receptor gene and the treatment response to citalopram in a Korean population with major depressive disorder(MDD). METHODS: Citalopram was administered for 8 weeks to the 90 patients who completed study. 21-item Hamilton depression rating scale(HAMD-21) was used as a outcome measure. RESULTS: We found that the genotype, allele, and allele-carrier distributions did not differ significantly between MDD patients and normal controls. A main effect of an interaction of genotype with time on the decrease in the HAMD-21 score during the 8 weeks study period was not found. ANOVA revealed no significant effects of the C825T polymorphism on the decrease in the HAMD-21 score at each time period. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the C267T polymorphism in the 5-HT6 receptor gene is not associated with the treatment response to citalopram.
Alleles ; Antidepressive Agents ; Citalopram* ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder, Major* ; Genotype ; Humans ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Serotonin

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Combined computed tomography during arterial portography(CfAP) and computed tomography during hepatic arteriography(CBiA) are more sensitive methods compared to conventional spiral CT in detecting small hepatocellular carcinoma. However, there are few data available on the influence of combined CTAP and CTHA on decision making for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. We aimed to evaluate the usefulness of CTAP and CfHA as a preoperative study of hepatocellular carcinoma for surgical treatment. METHODS: Eighty-two patients with histologically proven hepatocellular carcinoma who were considered to be surgical candidates on spiral CT and angiography were included. CfAP and CTHA were performed as the routine protocol. The findings of CTAP and CTHA were analyzed and compared to conventianal spiral Cl and angiography. ReESULTS: 1) 105 nodules were found on spiral Cf plus angiography, whereas, 138 nodules found on combined CIAP and CTHA: 33 additional nodules were found in 23 cases(28%). 2) The treatment plan changed from surgery to nonsurgical treatment in 10(12%) cases: 9 cases(10%) with bilobar involvement, and 1 case (1%) with more than three nodules. 3) The larger the tumor nodules on the spiral CT, the more additional tumor nodules were found on CTAP and CTHA: combined CTAP and CTHA were able to find more nodules in 21% of tumor < 3cm, 27% of tumor with 3 - 10cm, and 71% of tumor >10cm on spiral CI' (p=0.03). CONCLUSION: Compared to spiral CT plus angiography, CI'AP and CfHA may be useful in avoiding unnecessary operation of hepatocellular carcinoma, especially in large tumors.
Angiography ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Decision Making ; Humans ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracies of chest radiographs and chest CTin the diagnosis of a solitary pulmonary nodule(SPN), and to determine the role of CT and CT findings which aid inthe differential diagnosis of nodules. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was done on 54 patients inwhom SPN was found on chest radiographs and chest CT was carried out. The study involved 25 benign and 29 malignant nodules, confirmed histopathologically and clinically. Chest radiographs and CT scans were reviewed separately in randomized order by two chest radiologists who for each film listed the three most likely diagnose sin descending order. The radiologists recorded the confidence value of the most probable diagnosis, and also the marginal and internal characteristics of nodules and their size, as nodules seen on chest CT scans. RESULTS: Diagnostic rates in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant nodules were 65.7% by radiography and 77.8% by CT. Correct first-choice diagnosis was by radiography in 30.6 % of cases, and by CT in 41.7%. Using radiographs, and the correct diagnosis was among the top-three choices in 61.1% of cases ; with CT, the corresponding figure was 76.8%. Overall, a confident diagnosis was reached more often with the CT(41.7%) than with the chest radiograph(21.4%) ; diagnaotic accuracy was 60.0% and 52.2%, respectively. CT findings which imply abenign nodule include smooth margins and diffuse internal calcifications, whereas marginal lobulations, air-bronchograms, internal low density without cavitation, eccentric calcifications, and large size suggest malignancy. We faund that CT findings such as well-defined margins, spiculations, pleural tail or internal homogeneity did not contribute in the differentiation between benign and malignant nodules. CONCLUSION: CT issuperior to chest radiography in the differential diagnosis of the solitary pulmonary nodule. Using CT, diagnosis was accurate and made with a high level of confidence, especially with the application of CT findings which aid inthe differential diagnosis of nodules.
Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Humans ; Radiography* ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Retrospective Studies ; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule* ; Thorax* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been reported to be useful in treating nonmelanoma skin cancers and a variety of benign skin conditions including warts. However, only one case of condyloma acuminata treated with PDT has been reported in Korea. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the complete response rate and side effect of PDT, using light emitting diode (LED) device and 20% 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) to treat recalcitrant verruca. METHODS: We treated 8 cases of recalcitrant verruca (3 cases of verruca vulgaris, 3 cases of verruca plana, 2 cases of condyloma acuminata) with PDT, using ALA and a 630+/-50nm LED device. The light intensity was 30-50mW/cm2 and the light dose was 50-120J/cm2. RESULTS: After treatment, two cases of verruca plana showed complete response, and one case of verruca plana, two cases of verruca vulgaris, and two cases of condyloma acuminata showed partial response. However, one case of verruca vulgaris showed no response. There was only burning sensation and/or wheals during treatments. CONCLUSION: Topical PDT may be an alternative therapy in the treatment of verruca, especially of verruca plana.
Burns ; Korea ; Photochemotherapy* ; Sensation ; Skin ; Skin Neoplasms ; Warts*