BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with recurrent pneumothorax after wedge resection in primary spontaneous pneumothorax in our hospital. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Two hundred thirty-five consecutive patient (98% males; mean age, 23.9+/-4.5 years) who had undergone video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) were reviewed retrospectively. The two groups were divided as follows: group A, non-recurrent patients (225 patients [96%]); and group B, recurrent group (10 patients [4%]); the risk factors were compared between the two groups. The single and multiple factors that influenced the recurrence rate were analyzed using Cox's proportional hazard model. RESULT: There were no significant differences between the recurrent and non-recurrent groups in terms of gender, smoking, site of recurrence, degree of collapse, operative time, and number or weight of resected bullae. The recurrence rate was significantly more common in the following: younger ages, increased height/weight ratio, longer initial air leakage period, and shorter duration of chest drainage. Early aggressive exercise (<30 days) of patients after wedge resection increased the tendency for recurrence. CONCLUSION: Thoracoscopic wedge resection does not have a higher recurrence rate than open thoracotomy. However, young age, height/weight ratio, continuous air, and duration of chest tube placement were risk factors for a recurrent pneumothorax.
Blister ; Chest Tubes ; Drainage ; Humans ; Operative Time ; Pneumothorax ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Thoracotomy ; Thorax

No abstract available.
Female ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic*

Interferons play critical roles in tumor pathogenesis by controlling apoptosis and through cellular anti-proliferative and differentiation activities. Interferon inducible transmembrane protein (IFITM) family genes have been implicated in several cellular processes such as the homotypic cell adhesion functions of IFN and cellular anti-proliferative activities. Expression levels of IFITM genes have been found to be up-regulated in gastric cancer cells and colorectal tumors. IFITM3 (also known as 1-8U) is a member of the IFITM family, and has been described as a key player in specification of germ cell fate. IFITM3 was first isolated from a genetic screen aimed at identifying genes involved in acquisition of germ cell competence. It has been proposed that epiblast cells have the highest expression of IFITM3 initiated germ cell specification and that homotypic association can discriminate germ cells from their somatic neighbors. In an attempt to better understand the genetic influences of IFITM3 on ulcerative colitis, we have identified possible variation sites and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) through two exons and their boundary IFITM3 intron sequences including the ~2.1 kb promoter regions. To determine whether or not these IFITM3 SNPs are associated with susceptibility to ulcerative colitis, frequencies of the genotype and allele of IFITM3 polymorphisms were analyzed on genomic DNAs isolated from patients with ulcerative colitis and from healthy controls. We also investigated the haplotype frequencies constructed by these SNPs in both groups. In this study, we also showed that expression level of IFITM3 mRNA was significantly higher in tissues of the ileum and cecum of the digestive system. We identified a total of seven SNPs and multiple variation regions in the IFITM3 gene. The genotype frequency of the g.-204T>G polymorphism in patients with ulcerative colitis was significantly different from that of the control group. Our results strongly suggest that polymorphisms of the IFITM3 gene may be associated with susceptibility to ulcerative colitis.
Cecum/*metabolism ; Colitis, Ulcerative/epidemiology/*genetics/immunology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Association Studies ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Haplotypes ; Ileum/*metabolism ; Korea ; Membrane Proteins/*genetics/immunology/metabolism ; Organ Specificity ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; RNA-Binding Proteins/*genetics/immunology/metabolism

A 71-year-old man was admitted due to abdominal distension and periumbilical pain. He was diagnosed as having mucinous ductal ectasia (MDE) of the pancreas three months prior, but refused an operation. Three months later, an abdominal computed tomography revealed more dilated pancreatic duct, newly developed liver metastasis and ascites in comparison with previous findings. Fine-needle aspiration cytology of the cystic lesion in the pancreatic head was conducted and yielded adenocarcinoma. Also, an ascitic fluid cytology determined adenocarcinoma. This patient was diagnosed to be inoperable and received palliative chemotherapy and pain control. The patient expired 5 months after the initial diagnosis.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Ascites* ; Ascitic Fluid ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation, Pathologic* ; Drug Therapy ; Head ; Humans ; Liver* ; Mucins* ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Pancreas* ; Pancreatic Ducts

Primary adrenal lymphoma is extremely uncommon. The tumor is accidentally discovered by abdominal ultrasonography(USG), computed tomography(CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with nonspecific symptoms and diagnosed at operation or autopsy. In this case, a 60-year-old man was admitted for the evaluation of mild left frank discomfort for two months before admission. The abdominal USG was performed and showed the dense masses in both adrenal glands. The laboratory tests including blood count, chemistry and hormonal tests showed the normal levels except for the basal ACTH level of 108 pg/ml(normal range: 9~52 pg/ml). The 123I MIBG scan was normal. The bilateral adrenalectomy was done. The tumor was diagnosed as diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma(NHL) according to the Revised European-American lymphoma(REAL) classification. He was treated with the adjuvant combination chemotherapy of CHOP(cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, vincristine and prednisolone) but expired due to sepsis after the second chemotherapy. We describe the first case of primary bilateral adrenal NHL in Korea. Primary adrenal lymphoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of suprarenal mass.
3-Iodobenzylguanidine ; Adrenal Glands ; Adrenalectomy ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Autopsy ; B-Lymphocytes ; Chemistry ; Classification ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Doxorubicin ; Drug Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Sepsis ; Vincristine