The incidence and death rate of hepathocellular carcinoma (HCC) both rank third in Korea (death rate 21.3 per 100,000 in 2000) and HCC is a major health issue in Korea. HCC causes substantial morbidity and mortality and the results of treatments for advanced HCC are still disappinting. Considering the high incidence, death rate, and poor prognosis of HCC, it is necessary to establish a national screening program by evaluating the validity. The Korean Association for the Study of the Liver (KASL) and National Cancer Center (NCC) cooperatively developed and recently released HCC screening/surveillance recommendation. The target population is patients with chronic hepatits B and C and cirrhosis of any cause, over 30 years of age in male and 40 years of age in female. The surveillance tests consist of serum alpha-fetoprotein and abdominal ultrasonography at least every 6 months. Korean national program for the early detection of cancer will start the HCC screening/surveillance program in the low economic classes from 2003, based on KASL-NCC recommendations. The efficacy of this HCC survaillance program would be worthy of attention.
alpha-Fetoproteins ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Early Diagnosis* ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Health Services Needs and Demand ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Liver ; Male ; Mass Screening* ; Mortality ; Prognosis ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Arthritis, Juvenile*

The occurrence of a lipoma-like condition associated with trauma would tend to be regarded as a subset of or a separate entity from ordinary lipoma. We report herein a case of traumatic Lpoma occuring on the dorsum of the left hand. The patient was a 46-year-old male, who had struck his left hand against a window about two months previously and noted casually an asymptomatic, firm, dermal lesion at the site of injury. On gross examination, the enucleated nodule was a smooth-surfaced, yellow fatty mass measuring 0.3 × 0.5 × 0.3cm which looked like a kernel of corn. Microscopic examination revealed encapsulated mature fat consistent with lipoma.
Hand ; Humans ; Lipoma* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Zea mays

No abstract available.
Thumb*

PURPOSE: We have evaluated the outcome of the operative treatment of Achilles tendon rupture and analyzed the prognostic factors related to the results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjective assessment of symptoms, range of ankle motion and isokinetic ankle strength was performed on 50 patients during a 1-year follow up. We used a clinical scoring system reported by Leppilahti et al to evaluate the results. RESULTS: The overall results were excellent in 18 (36%), and good in 16 (32%), fair in 10 (20%), and poor in 6 (12%) cases. Lower activity level (P<0.001), presence of systemic disease (P<0.001), later return to physical exercise (P=0.044), and previous Achilles tendon symptoms (P=0.015) were associated with unsatisfactory strength results. An older age (P<0.001) and later return to strenuous activities (P=0.005) were associated with unsuccessful overall results. CONCLUSIONS: We think that a clinical scoring system, including subjective and objective assessment, is good protocol to find the prognostic factors related to the results after the operative treatment of Achilles tendon rupture. The patient group with poor prognostic factors present a challenge for rehabilitation.
Achilles Tendon* ; Ankle ; Exercise ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Rehabilitation ; Rupture*

No abstract available.
Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Humans

Background: Gastric juice volume and acidity are influenced by food, drugs, and patient factors such as age, sex, weight, and fasting time. But almost studies were performed without controlling of these confounding variables. This study was designed to determine the change of gastric juice volume and acidity in relation to the fasting time within a constant food intake. Methods: Fifty-seven healthy patient randomly allocated to one of two groups. Group I was instructed to ingest 200 ml of milk up to 8 hours before anesthesia and Group II was instructed to drink 200 ml of water up to 1~2 hours before anesthesia. After the endotracheal intubation the volume and acidity of gastric juice were measured. Relationships between gastric volume or acidity and fasting time were analysed using correlation analysis. The data were analyzed using Wilcoxon rank sum test, comparing Group I with Group II. Results: There is no significant relationship between gastric juice volume or acidity and the fasting time within the same food intake. Gastric juice volume and acidity of the patients who ingested milk at 8~9 hours before anesthesia were similar to that of those patients who drank water at 1~2 hours before anesthesia. Conclusion: It is necessary to individualize the fasting time of the patients and it seems that water ingestion up to 1~2 hours before anesthesia may be safe.
Anesthesia ; Confounding Factors (Epidemiology) ; Eating ; Fasting* ; Gastric Juice* ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Milk ; Water

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Intestinal Atresia* ; Meconium* ; Peritonitis* ; Sepsis*

BACKGROUND: Few studies have demonstrated an enhanced skin responsiveness to opiates in atopic subjects. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the skin response to morphine is increased in atopics and to assess the clinical usefulness of morphine skin prick test in diagnosis of allergic diseases. METHOD: Allergy skin prick tests were performed using 55 common allergens, histamine, and morphine in 158 patients with allergic diseases. RESULTS: Wheal and flare sizes for morphine (1mg/mL) were significantly related to and smaller than those for histamine (1mg/mL). Although the proportion of subjects with allergic rhinitis and the level of serum total IgE were not different between responders (wheal >- 2mm) and nonresponders to morphine, the positive response rate to allergens was significantly lower in nonresponders. The flare sizes for morphine were significantly higher in positive allergen test group (A/H ratio >- 0.5). Among positive allergen test group, the subjects with atopy score >- 5 showed a larger flare size for morphine than those with atopy score < 5 while the sizes for histamine were not different. CONCLUSION: Morphine skin prick test is helpful for detecting false negative responses to allergens, and morphine skin test responses are increased in highly atopic patients probably due to enhanced mast cell releasability.
Allergens ; Diagnosis* ; Histamine ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Mast Cells ; Morphine* ; Rhinitis ; Skin Tests ; Skin*