No abstract available.
Child ; Male ; Female ; Humans

Cowden's syndrome is a harmatomatous polyposis syndrome with characteristic mucocutaneous lesions and among the spectra of clinical disorders that has been attributed to germline mutations in the PTEN gene. Although Cowden's syndrome has rarely been reported, immunologic studies have revealed that patients with this syndrome have humoral and/or cellular immune abnormalities. We recently identified a 21-year-old woman with Cowden's syndrome who was diagnosed with candida esophagitis without a history of diabetes, carcinoma, or steroid therapy. We report the immunologic status of this patient and the relationship with candida esophagitis on the basis of a literature review.
Candida ; Esophagitis ; Female ; Germ-Line Mutation ; Hamartoma Syndrome, Multiple ; Humans ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: Plasma homocysteine (Hcy) is considered to be a marker of endothelial dysfunction and a predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Arterial stiffness measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is not only a marker of vascular damage but a significant predictor of CVD. Previous studies about the effect of high plasma Hcy levels on arterial stiffness have yielded inconsistent results. We therefore assessed the association between Hcy and baPWV in a relatively large number of subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: We retrospectively assessed plasma Hcy concentration and arterial stiffness in 1,477 Korean type 2 diabetic patients. Participants were also evaluated for plasma glucose, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), duration of DM, microvascular complications, lipid profile, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). Arterial stiffness was measured noninvasively by baPWV. RESULTS: Correlation analysis indicated a significant positive association between serum Hcy levels and baPWV (r=0.245, p<0.001). In a multiple linear regression analysis, the association between serum Hcy levels and baPWV was independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors (standardized beta=3.8, p=0.01). CONCLUSION: The results support the hypothesis that plasma Hcy levels are associated with arterial stiffness in patients with type 2 DM. Prospective studies are warranted to determine whether lowering serum Hcy level could reduce arterial stiffness and cardiovascular morbidity in type 2 DM.
C-Reactive Protein ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Glucose ; Hemoglobins ; Homocysteine ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Plasma ; Pulse Wave Analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Vascular Stiffness

Although pulmonary artery aneurysms are a rare vascular anomaly, they are seen in a wide variety of conditions, such as congenital heart disease, infection, trauma, pulmonary hypertension, cystic medial necrosis and generalized vasculitis. To our knowledge, mycotic aneurysms caused by pulmonary actinomycosis have not been reported in the radiologic literature. Herein, a case of pulmonary actinomycosis complicated by mycotic aneurysm is presented. On CT scans, this case showed focal aneurysmal dilatation of a peripheral pulmonary artery within necrotizing pneumonia of the right lower lobe, which was successfully treated with transcatheter embolization using wire coils.
Actinomycosis/*complications ; Aged ; Aneurysm, Infected/*etiology/*radiography/therapy ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Human ; Male ; Pneumonia, Bacterial/*complications ; *Pulmonary Artery ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: To determine the CT factors which predict positive results of bronchoscopic biopsy in cases of lung cancer with CT-bronchus sign. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 30 patients who on CT showed a lung mass with CT-bronchus sign and who had undergone bronchoscopic biopsy, lung cancer was confirmed histopathologically and/or clinically. The CT findings were evaluated for the location, nature and size of the mass, and the type of CT-bronchus sign, and the diagnostic rate of bronchoscopic biopsy and of CT findings was compared. RESULTS: Seventeen of 30 patients (56.7%) were diagnosed by bronchoscopic biopsy and their diagnostic rates according to the location were as follows: 100% (10/10) in cases involving the lobar bronchus; 60% (6/10) in cases involving the proximal segmental bronchus and 10% (1/10) in cases involving the distal segmental bronchus. In 20 cases of peripheral lung cancer, 16.7% (1/6) of masses with less than 3cm in diameter, 44.4% (4/9) of masses with more than 3cm and less than 6cm, and 40.0% (2/5) of masses with more than 6cm were diagnosed bronchoscopically. In addition, 57.1% (4/7) of cases with abrupt bronchial obstruction, 33.3% (3/9) with a patent bronchus within the mass, 0% (0/3) with bronchial displacement or a marginally located bronchus and 0% (0/1) with tapered bronchial obstruction were diagnosed on bronchoscopic biopsy. One of two cases with perilesional lymphangitic spread and two of four cases with a large cavity were diagnosed bronchoscopically. CONCLUSION: In cases of lung cancer, bronchoscopic biopsy is a useful initial diagnostic method where the mass is located in 1cm proximal to segmental bronchial bifurcation and is more than 3cm in diameter, there is CT-bronchus sign with abrupt bronchial obstruction or a patent bronchus within the mass, and associated perilesional lymphangitic spread or large air-cavity. In most cases where there is peripheral lung mass less than 3cm in diameter, however, bronchoscopic biopsy alone is not adequate, and the use of a further diagnostic modality is required.
Biopsy* ; Bronchi ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung*

OBJECTIVE: To study for the expression of heat shock protein (hsp) 90 and hsp27 when human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) was treat with heat shock and H2O2. METHODS: We collected HUVEC from fresh umbilical vein within 30 minutes after delivery by 0.25% trypsin and cultured them at 37 degrees C under 5% CO2, using EBM2 media. The cells were fed twice a week with a complete change of fresh culture medium. The cultured cells were identified as endothelial cells by western blot using CD34, and vWF markers. We divided HUVEC as control group applying heat stress at 37 degrees C for 30 minutes, stress group applying heat stress at 43 degrees C for 30 minutes, H2O2 treatment group exposing of 100 micrometer H2O2 for 60 minutes, and heat stress + H2O2 treatment group applying same state of heat stress and exposing of H2O2 for 60 minutes. We extract protein and examine the expression of hsp90 and hsp27 by western blot. RESULTS: HUVEC reached full confluence state in our culture condition at 7 days on 25 mL flask. We observed the constant expression character of CD 34 and vWF in cultured cell. Under the every experimental condition, we observed the expression of hsp90 and hsp27 in HUVEC. And we observed that hsp27 was more strongly expressed in heat shock + H2O2 treatment group and heat shock group than control group and H2O2 treatment group. CONCLUSION: By identifying the expression difference of hsp in vitro oxidative stress, fetal tissue might play the protective role in the intrauterine stress.
Blotting, Western ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells* ; Fetus ; Heat-Shock Proteins* ; Hot Temperature* ; Humans* ; Oxidative Stress ; Shock ; Trypsin ; Umbilical Veins*

OBJECTIVE: To study for the expression of heat shock protein (hsp) 90 and hsp27 when human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) was treat with heat shock and H2O2. METHODS: We collected HUVEC from fresh umbilical vein within 30 minutes after delivery by 0.25% trypsin and cultured them at 37 degrees C under 5% CO2, using EBM2 media. The cells were fed twice a week with a complete change of fresh culture medium. The cultured cells were identified as endothelial cells by western blot using CD34, and vWF markers. We divided HUVEC as control group applying heat stress at 37 degrees C for 30 minutes, stress group applying heat stress at 43 degrees C for 30 minutes, H2O2 treatment group exposing of 100 micrometer H2O2 for 60 minutes, and heat stress + H2O2 treatment group applying same state of heat stress and exposing of H2O2 for 60 minutes. We extract protein and examine the expression of hsp90 and hsp27 by western blot. RESULTS: HUVEC reached full confluence state in our culture condition at 7 days on 25 mL flask. We observed the constant expression character of CD 34 and vWF in cultured cell. Under the every experimental condition, we observed the expression of hsp90 and hsp27 in HUVEC. And we observed that hsp27 was more strongly expressed in heat shock + H2O2 treatment group and heat shock group than control group and H2O2 treatment group. CONCLUSION: By identifying the expression difference of hsp in vitro oxidative stress, fetal tissue might play the protective role in the intrauterine stress.
Blotting, Western ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells* ; Fetus ; Heat-Shock Proteins* ; Hot Temperature* ; Humans* ; Oxidative Stress ; Shock ; Trypsin ; Umbilical Veins*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of high-pitch mode (HPM) in dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) on the accuracy of three-dimensional (3D) volumetry for solid pulmonary nodules. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A lung phantom implanted with 45 solid pulmonary nodules (n = 15 for each of 4-mm, 6-mm, and 8-mm in diameter) was scanned twice, first in conventional pitch mode (CPM) and then in HPM using DSCT. The relative percentage volume errors (RPEs) of 3D volumetry were compared between the HPM and CPM. In addition, the intermode volume variability (IVV) of 3D volumetry was calculated. RESULTS: In the measurement of the 6-mm and 8-mm nodules, there was no significant difference in RPE (p > 0.05, respectively) between the CPM and HPM (IVVs of 1.2 +/- 0.9%, and 1.7 +/- 1.5%, respectively). In the measurement of the 4-mm nodules, the mean RPE in the HPM (35.1 +/- 7.4%) was significantly greater (p < 0.01) than that in the CPM (18.4 +/- 5.3%), with an IVV of 13.1 +/- 6.6%. However, the IVVs were in an acceptable range (< 25%), regardless of nodule size. CONCLUSION: The accuracy of 3D volumetry with HPM for solid pulmonary nodule is comparable to that with CPM. However, the use of HPM may adversely affect the accuracy of 3D volumetry for smaller (< 5 mm in diameter) nodule.
Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional/instrumentation/*methods ; Lung/radiography ; Lung Neoplasms/*radiography ; Multiple Pulmonary Nodules/*radiography ; Phantoms, Imaging ; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule/*radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/instrumentation/*methods

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a short-term inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation treatment program including inspiratory muscle training and reconditioning exercise in pneumoconiosis patients. METHOD: Thirty pneumoconiosis patients have undergone a 3-week inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program. The program included a inspiratory muscle strengthening, relaxation technique and reconditioning exercise such as walking and upper extremity strengthening. The effectiveness of treatment was evaluated by a pulmonary function test, 6-minute walk distance and 150 mm-visual analog dyspnea scale before and after the program. RESULTS: After the 3-week inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program, there was a significant increase in 6-minute walk distance(p<0.01) and a significant decrease in 150 mm-visual analog dyspnea scale(p<0.01). However the pulmonary function test showed no significant change. CONCLUSION: We concluded that the short-term inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program can improve the exercise tolerance by reduction of dyspnea and increase of walk distance, and ultimately increase the quality of life in pneumoconiosis patients.
Dyspnea ; Exercise Tolerance ; Humans ; Inpatients* ; Pneumoconiosis* ; Quality of Life ; Rehabilitation* ; Relaxation ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Upper Extremity ; Walking

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the changes of bladder management methods after the discharge from hospital, and to identify the problems associated with their method changes of bladder management after the discharge. METHOD: The subjects of this study were 128 spinal cord injury patients with a neurogenic bladder dysfunction who were admitted to the hospital and received the neurogenic bladder management and training. We reviewed the medical records of these patients for the management methods of neurogenic bladder and interviewed the patients whether they are still using the same methods after the discharge. RESULTS: The number of patients who were doing the intermittent catheterization at the time of discharge from hospital was markedly reduced after the discharge and most of the patients in this group have switched to the external collecting device method, using Cred, Valsalva or tapping method. The reasons of this change were that the intermittent catheterization method was not only difficulty and complicated but also restricted their social activities. CONCLUSION: We concluded that a long term close follow up and continuous encouragement are very important in the management of neurogenic bladder patients who are discharged with the intermittent catheterization method.
Catheterization ; Catheters ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Spinal Cord* ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic*