Clonorchiasis procucts diffuse dilatation of the small and medium sized intrahepatic bile ducts and its cholangiogram shows visualization of many bile ducts, especially, tertiary, quaternary, and more peripheral tributaries up to the 6th tributaries. In an attempt to clarify this cholangiographic sign quantitively, we counted the visualized smaller bile ducts in clonorchiasis and compared the number of visualized ducts in normal cholangiogram, recurrent pyogenic chlangitis and carcinoma of the extrahepatic ducts. In clonorchiasis the number of visualized smaller bile ducts was considerably geater than in normal subjects and recurrent pyogenic cholangitis, but there was no singnificant statistical differences in the number of visualized bile duct tributaries between clonorchiasis and carcinoma of the bile ducts. Thus it is considered that too many ducts sign is not a unique cholangiographic finding of clonorchiasis, but we believe that in the presence of this sign with other we l known cholangiographic findings, diagnosis of clonorchiasis is very easy.
Bile Ducts ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Cholangitis ; Clonorchiasis* ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation

No abstract available.
Humans

5 cases of lead poisoning were investigated clinically. Of the 5 patients, 4 were male and 1 was female. The causes of lead poisoning in 3 cases were ingestion of herb drug pills and in 2 cases were occupational poisoning. Chief complain at admission in 4 cases were ill defined colicky abdominal pain and constipation. Only 1 case complained of dizziness and palpitation without gastrointestinal symptom. On peripheral blood, normocytic normochromic anemia (mean Hgb 9.2 gm/dl), reticulocytosis (mean 4.7%) and basophilic stippling were found in 100% of patients. Bone marrow aspiration was done in 4 cases. Erythroid hyperplasia and basophilic stippling were found in all 4 cases. Mean M:E ratio was 0.7:1. The lead concentration in serum was increased in 4 cases (80%) of patients. Lead concentration, delta aminolevulinic acid concentration in 24 hours collected urine were increased in 5 patients (100%).
Abdominal Pain ; Aminolevulinic Acid ; Anemia ; Basophils ; Bone Marrow ; Constipation ; Dizziness ; Eating ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Lead Poisoning* ; Male ; Poisoning ; Reticulocytosis

Clonorchiasis is known to be closely related with the development of recurrent pyogenic cholangitis and carcinoma of the bile ducts. In order to ascertain the cholangiographic signs for recurrent pyogenic cholangitis or carcinoma of the bile ducts arising in patients with clonorchiasis. we reviewed cholangiograms in 42 patients with proven clonorchiasis. The population consisted of 29 patients with clonorchiasis alone, six patients with clonorchiasis and recurrent pyogenic cholangitis, and seven patients with clonorchiasis and carcinoma of the bile ducts. Cholangiographic abnormalities in 29 patients with clonorchiasis alone, six patients with clonorchiasis and recurrent pyogenic cholangitis, and seven patients with clonorchiasis and carcinoma of the bile ducts. Cholangiographic abnormalities in 29 patients with clonorchiasis alone were intrahepatic multiple, oval, or elliptic filling defects measuring 2-10 mm in size, representing adult flukes (n=24). The peripheral bile duct were obstructed (n=18), and the margins were ragged (n=20) and hazy (n=12) the intrahepatic bile ducts were dilated diffusely (n=27), and the dilated peripheral small tributaries gave the impression of "too many ducts appearance" (n=7) and dilatation was mid (n=17) In six patients with clonorchiasis and recurrent pyogenic cholangitis, there were filling defects of stones, and the extrahepatic ducts and larger intrahepatic ducts were predominantly dilated. In seven patients with clonorchiasis and cholangiocarcinoma all the biliary tree proximal to the tumor was markedly and diffusely dilated In the latter two groups, filling defects of flukes and associated findings were less prominent, but there was disproportionately severe dilatation of too many intrahepatic ducts. In patients with recurrent pyogenic cholangitis or cholangiocarcinoma, clonorchiasis should be considered as a underlying cause when cholangiogram shows "disproportionately" severe dilatation of too many intrahepatic ducts. intrahepatic ducts.
Adult ; Bile Ducts ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Biliary Tract ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; Cholangitis ; Clonorchiasis* ; Dilatation ; Humans ; Trematoda

Rotor syndrome is a rare disease of hereditary hyperbilirubinemia transmitted with autosomal recessive trait. In general, Rotor syndrome shows direct hyperbilirubinemia and there has been several reports since Sons's report in 1966, in Korea. A 34-year-old female was admitted with the chief complaint of intermittent icteric sclera for 24 years. There was no family history of jaundice. Rotor syndrome was diagnosed by oral cholecystogram, BSP retention test, 99mTc-DISIDA scan, liver biopsy and electron microscopy study of liver biopsy specimen. We report this case with brief review of the literature.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia ; Hyperbilirubinemia, Hereditary* ; Jaundice ; Korea ; Liver ; Microscopy, Electron ; Rare Diseases ; Sclera ; Technetium Tc 99m Disofenin

Sparganosis is a rare tissue-parasitic infestation caused by a plerocercoid tapeworm larva(sparganum), genus Spirometra. The most common clinical presentation of sparganosis is a palpable subcutaneous mass or masses. Fifteen simple radiographs and 10 ultrasonograms of 17 patients with operatively verified subcutaneous sparganosis were retrospectively analyzed to find its radiologic characteristics for preoperative diagnosis of sparganosis. The locations of the subcutaneous sparganosis were lower extremity, abdominal wall, breast, inguinal region and scrotum in order of frequency. The simple radiographs showed linear or elongated calcification with or without nodular elongated shaped soft tissue mass shadows in 8 patients, soft tissue mass shadow only in 2 patients and lateral abdominal wall thickening in 1 patient. But no specific findings was noted in 4 patients with small abdominal and inguinal masses. We could classify the subcutaneous sparganosis by ultrasound into 2 types: one is long band-like hypoechoic structures, corresponding to the subcutaneous tunnel-like tracks formed by migration of sparganum larva and the other is elongated or ovoid hypoechoic nodules, representing granulomas. Long band-like hypoechoic structures within or associated with mixed echoic granulomatous masses were noted in 6 patients and elongated or ovoid hypoechoic mass or masses were noted in 4 patients. In conclusion, sparganosis should be considered when these radiologic findings-irregular linear calcifications on simple radiograph and long ban-like hypoechoic structures on ultrasonography, corresponding to the subcutaneous tunnel-like tracks formed by migration of sparganum larva-are noted in the patients who have subcutaneous palpable mass or masses. And radiologic examination especially ultrasonography is very helpful to diagnose sparganosis.
Abdominal Wall ; Breast ; Cestoda ; Diagnosis ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Larva ; Lower Extremity ; Retrospective Studies ; Scrotum ; Sparganosis* ; Sparganum ; Spirometra ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Aspergillosis*

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare midtrimester maternal plasma concentrations of angiopoietin 1, angiopoietin 2, and placental growth factor between pregnant women who subsequently developed preeclampsia and those who did not. METHODS: Midtrimester maternal plasma was collected and stored at -70degrees C when genetic amniocentesis was performed. Cases included 37 samples of individual who subsequently developed preeclampsia, and matched controls were from individuals who did not develop preeclampsia. Angiopoietin 1, angiopoietin 2, and placental growth factor concentrations were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method and were compared using the Mann-Whitney U-test. A P-value <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: In pregnant women who subsequently developed preeclampsia, midtrimester maternal plasma concentrations of angiopoietin 1 and angiopoietin 2 were significantly higher and placental growth factor concentrations were significantly lower than in women who did not develop preeclampsia (angiopoietin 1: 10.6 [3.1-19.7] vs. 7.8 [0.9-24.4] ng/mL, P=0.031; angiopoietin 2: 31.0 [4.7-81.2] vs. 18.4 [4.2-49.7] ng/mL, P<0.001; placental growth factor: 87.1 [14.2-774.3] vs. 148.8 [57.2-425.6] pg/mL, P<0.001). Within the case group who subsequently developed preeclampsia, the placental growth factor was significantly lower in those who had fetal growth restrictions than in those who did not (placental growth factor: 72.5 [14.2-774.3] vs. 140.9 [44.2-257.5] pg/mL, P=0.003). CONCLUSION: Midtrimester maternal plasma concentrations of angiopoietin 1, angiopoietin 2, and placental growth factor may be associated with the subsequent development of preeclampsia.
Amniocentesis ; Angiopoietin-1* ; Angiopoietin-2* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Fetal Development ; Humans ; Plasma* ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second* ; Pregnant Women*

No abstract available.
Mycoplasma* ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma* ; Respiratory Insufficiency*

Trichobezoars are gastric concretions that are composed of hair or fibers. They are more common in children and adolescents and are usually associated with a pica, emotional disturbance, or mental retardation. Trichobezoar is quite rare in Korea. In most cases, trichobezoars tend to form a cast of the stomach. However, in rare cases, portions of the trichobezoar may separate from the gastric mass, migrate distally, and obstruct the small bowel. We report a case of small bowel obstruction due to multiple trichobezoars in a 14 year-old-girl who had a habit of swallowing hairs until 12 years of age. The patient was treated successfully surgically.
Adolescent ; Affective Symptoms ; Bezoars* ; Child ; Deglutition ; Hair ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability ; Korea ; Pica ; Stomach