This article consists of a clinical analysis of 171 cases of intussusception treated at the Department of General Surgery and Pediatrics of Pusan Adventist Hospital, during a five year period from Jan. 1991 to Dec. 1995. The results were as follows ; 1) On the age and sex distribution, the age incidence under 1 year old was the most common(73.1%), and male to female ratio was 1.48 : 1. 2) The seasonal variation was Autumn(35.1%), Spring(32.1%), Summer(19.9%), and Winter(12.9%). 3) On the hematologic laboratory finding, 68% were revealed leukocytosis above 10,000/mm3 in serum. 4) In etiology, idiopathic type was common(98.5%), and Meckel's diverticulum was rare(1.5%). 5) The frequent Symptoms and signs were abdominal pain and irritability(84.2%), bloody stool(83.6%), vomiting(80.7%), palpable abdominal mass(48.5%). 6) On comparison of barium reduction to methods of the operation in relation to duration of symptoms, within 12 hours was 81.4% : 15.7% and above 24 hours was 49% : 51% 7) The common anatomical type of intussusception was ileo-colic type (36.9%), and the common types of bowel resection were ileoileo type and ileoileocolic type(80%). 8) The methods of the operation were manual reduction(53.8%), bowel resection(30.8%), and spontaneous reduction(15.4%). 9) Postoperative complications occurred in 10 cases ; febrile convulsion 3 cases, wound infection 2 cases, and wound dehiscence, intestinal obstruction, pulmonary complication each 1 case. 10) The overall recurrence rate was 5.3% (8 cases); 6.6% (7 cases) were after barium reduction, and 1.5% (1 case) was after manual reduction.
Abdominal Pain ; Barium ; Busan ; Child* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant* ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Intussusception* ; Leukocytosis ; Male ; Meckel Diverticulum ; Pediatrics ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Seasons ; Seizures ; Seizures, Febrile ; Sex Distribution ; Wound Infection ; Wounds and Injuries

Isometric tension was recorded in uterine arterial ring preparation contracted by potassium (60 mM) and norepinephrine(1.8 X 10(-7) M). With pretreatment of various concentrations of nifedipine(2.9 x 10(-9) ~2.9 X10(-7) M) and verapamil(2.2 X 10(-7) -2.2 X 10(-5) M), the relaxation was dose-dependent and inhibitory effects of both agents were more marked on the potassium than norepinephrine-evoked contraction. After immersion of the arterial preparation in calcium-free solution, the potassium-evoked contraction was decreased to 21+/-4.1%(mean+/-SEM) of the response in normal Krebs solution and norepinephrine-evoked contraction to 26+/-3.8%. The responses to both agents were completely restored when the calcium concentration was increased to 4.0 mM. Pretreated nifedipine(2.9 x 10(-7) M) in calcium-free solution depressed the potassium-evoked contraction to 7.3+/-1.6% and norepinephrine-evoked contraction to 12+/-3.7%. In addition of calcium(0-4.0mM), the potassium-evoked contraction increased to 30+/-4.6% and that by norepinephrine to 45+/-5.4%. Pretreated verapamil(2.2 X 10(-5) M) in calcium-free solution depressed the potassium-evoked contraction to 14+/-3.6% and norepinephrine-evoked contraction to 18+/-3.3%. In addition of calcium(0-4.0mM), the potassium-evoked contraction increased to 41+/-4.2% and that by norepinephrine to 57+/-4.7%. It was concluded that nifedipine and verapamil relaxed KC1 contracted ring in the presence of external calcium and relaxed norepinephrine contracted ring in both the presence and absence of external calcium. These findings suggest that calcium antagonists interfere with the release of calcium from intracellular sites as well as with the slow inward current of calcium.
Calcium ; Humans* ; Immersion ; Nifedipine* ; Norepinephrine ; Potassium ; Relaxation ; Uterine Artery* ; Verapamil*

Renal cell carcinoma takes up 85 per cent of primary malignant renal tumors. It frequently metastasizes to the adrenal gland, lung, bone, liver and nephrectomy site but rarely to the head and neck area. When metastasizes to head and neck area, it involves the gingiva, tongue, palate, parotid gland, uvula, mandible, and lip. When tumors are found in the salivary gland consisting of clear cells, it is impartant to carry out differential diagnosis of various primary tumors with clear cell and metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Patients' medical history, review of system, and pathologic findings would be helpful factors in the differential diagnosis. In this paper, we report on a case of renal cell carcinoma which had metastasized to the psubmandibular gland after a radical nephrectomy.
Adrenal Glands ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Gingiva ; Head ; Lip ; Liver ; Lung ; Mandible ; Neck ; Nephrectomy ; Palate ; Parotid Gland ; Salivary Glands ; Submandibular Gland* ; Tongue ; Uvula

OBJECTIVES: Radioiodine (RI) therapy is known to subject cellular components of salivary glands (SG) to oxidative stress leading to SG dysfunction. However, the protective effects of antioxidants on RI-induced SG damage have not been well investigated. The authors investigated the morphometric and functional effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) administered prior to RI therapy and compared this with the effects of amifostine (a well-known antioxidant) in a murine model of RI sialadenitis. METHODS: Four-week-old female C57BL/6 mice (n=48) were divided into four groups; a normal control group, a RI-treated group (0.01 mCi/g mouse, orally), an EGCG and RI-treated group, and an amifostine and RI-treated group. Animals in these groups were divided into 3 subgroups and euthanized at 15, 30, and 90 days post-RI treatment. Salivary flow rates and lag times were measured, and morphologic and histologic examinations and TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotin-dUDP nick end labeling) assays were performed. Changes in salivary (99m)Tc pertechnetate uptake and excretion were followed by single-photon emission computed tomography. RESULTS: Salivary flow rates and lag times to salivation in the EGCG or amifostine groups were better than in the RI-treated group. Histologic examinations of SGs in the EGCG or amifostine group showed more mucin-rich parenchyma and less periductal fibrosis than in the RI-treated group. Fewer apoptotic cells were observed in acini, ducts, and among endothelial cells in the EGCG or amifostine group than in the RI group. In addition, patterns of (99m)Tc pertechnetate excretion were quite different in the EGCG or amifostine group than in the RI group. CONCLUSION: EGCG supplementation before RI therapy could protect from RI-induced SG damage in a manner comparable to amifostine, and thus, offers a possible means of preventing SG damage by RI.
Amifostine ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase ; Endothelial Cells ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Mice ; Models, Animal ; Oxidative Stress ; Salivary Glands* ; Salivation ; Sialadenitis ; Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Tomography, Emission-Computed ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

BACKGROUND: Clinical concern and incidence of mycotic keratitis in ophthalmic practice has been increasing. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate clinical and mycological feature of mycotic keratitis. METHODS: We evaluated the clinical and mycological aspect of mycotic keratitis in 14 patients from October 1993 to March 1997 in Dongguk Unversity Hospital. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Mycotic keratitis showed high incidence in fifth (42.9%), sixth (35.7%), and fourth decade (14.3%). The ratio of male to female patient was 1:3.6. The seasonal prevalence was highest in autumn. A scratch or abrasion from vegetation was the most common type of the eye trauma in mycotic keratitis. The positive rate of KOH examination and culture was 92.9%, respectively. The common causative organisms of mycotic keratitis were Fusarium sp. (38.5%) and Alternaria sp. (38.5%), followed by Curvularia sp. (7.7%), Aspergillus flavus (7.7%) and Acremonium sp. (7.7%).
Acremonium ; Alternaria ; Aspergillus flavus ; Female ; Fusarium ; Humans ; Incidence ; Keratitis* ; Male ; Prevalence ; Seasons

The aim of this study was to investigate whether serum levels of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin B at ovulation triggering day correlate with the number of immature oocytes obtained from stimulated in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. Fiftynine consecutive cycles of ovarian hyperstimulation and IVF were selected from 45 women who had tubal (n=18) or unexplained infertility (n=27) and obtained at least one oocyte. Serum levels of AMH and inhibin B at ovulation triggering day were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Univariate analysis and multiple regressions revealed that serum AMH or inhibin B levels were significantly correlated with immature oocyte count and the correlation coefficients were higher compared to the mature oocyte count. Serum AMH and inhibin B levels on triggering day seems to be more closely related with the immature oocyte count and thus could be good predictors to determine the immature oocyte count in IVF cycle.
Adult ; Anti-Mullerian Hormone/*blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; *Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Inhibins/*blood ; *Oocyte Retrieval ; *Ovulation Induction ; Regression Analysis

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis is a chronic inflammatory condition that can only be diagnosed by histological examination, and is often associated with renal calculi, obstruction and urinary tract infection. We report a case of bilateral xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis in a child with end stage renal disease, which was misdiagnosed as renal cell carcinoma preoperatively.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Child* ; Humans ; Kidney Calculi ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Pyelonephritis, Xanthogranulomatous* ; Urinary Tract Infections

OBJECTIVE: To identify differences in the expression of the genes for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in granulosa cells (GCs) from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients and controls undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation. METHODS: Nine patients with PCOS and six controls were enrolled in this study. On the day of oocyte retrieval, GCs were collected from pooled follicular fluid. Total mRNA was extracted from GCs. Reverse transcription was performed and gene expression levels were quantified by realtime quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, body mass index, and total gonadotropin dose, except for the ratio of luteinizing hormone to follicle-stimulating hormone between the PCOS and control groups. PPAR-γ and COX-2 mRNA was significantly downregulated in the GCs of PCOS women compared with controls (p=0.034 and p=0.018, respectively), but the expression of IL-6 and TNF-α mRNA did not show significant differences. No significant correlation was detected between the expression of these mRNA sequences and clinical characteristics, including the number of retrieved oocytes, oocyte maturity, cleavage, or the good embryo rate. Positive correlations were found among the PPAR-γ, COX-2, IL-6, and TNF-α mRNA levels. CONCLUSION: Our data may provide novel clues regarding ovarian GC dysfunction in PCOS, and indirectly provide evidence that the effect of PPAR-γ agonists in PCOS might result from alterations in the ovarian follicular environment. Further studies with a larger sample size are required to confirm these proposals.
Body Mass Index ; Cyclooxygenase 2* ; Cytokines* ; Embryonic Structures ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; Follicular Fluid ; Gene Expression ; Gonadotropins ; Granulosa Cells* ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukins ; Luteinizing Hormone ; Oocyte Retrieval ; Oocytes ; Ovulation Induction ; Peroxisomes* ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; PPAR gamma ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA, Messenger ; Sample Size ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

We report two cases of cutaneous Mycobacterium(M.) marinum infections in a 43-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman who had multiple subcutaneous nodules on the left upper extremity and an erythematous ulcer on the right elbow, respectively. Skin biopsy specimens revealed chronic granulamatous inflammation and AFB positive bacilli in the dermis. The culture from tissue specimens on Lowenstein-Jensen media at 30'C for 10 days, yielded cream-colored colonies, which became yellow when exposed to light. The organism was identified as M. marinum by selected biochemical reactions. The patients were treated with surgical excision followed by administration of minocycline and administration of minocycline, respectively.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Dermis ; Elbow ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Minocycline ; Mycobacterium marinum* ; Mycobacterium* ; Skin ; Ulcer ; Upper Extremity

Myotonic dystrophy is the most common autosomal dominant myopathy in adults. Our patient, a 41 year-old female suffering from myotonic muscular dystrophy, developed upper thoracic myelopathy due to hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum and the posterior longitudinal ligament. She had a typical hatchet face and ptosis with "head hanging forward" appearance caused by neck weakness. Motor weakness, sensory changes and severe pain below T4 level, along with urinary incontinence began 3 months ago. Genetic and electrodiagnostic studies revealed myotonic dystrophy type 1. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine showed loss of cervical lordosis and spinal cord compression due to hypertrophied ligamentum flavum and posterior longitudinal ligament at T1 to T3 level. We concluded that her upper thoracic myelopathy was likely related to the thickness of the ligamentum flavum and posterior longitudinal ligament due to repetitive mechanical stress on her neck caused by neck muscle weakness with myotonic dystrophy.
Adult ; Animals ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Ligamentum Flavum ; Longitudinal Ligaments ; Lordosis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Muscular Diseases ; Muscular Dystrophies ; Myotonic Dystrophy ; Neck ; Neck Muscles ; Spinal Cord Compression ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; Spine ; Stress, Mechanical ; Stress, Psychological ; Urinary Incontinence