To evaluate the usefulness of computed tomography (CT) in radiotherapy treatment planning in malignant tumors of thoracic cage, the computer generated dose distributions were compared between plans based on conventional studies and those based on CT scan. 22 cases of thoracic malignancies, 15 lung cancers and 7 esophageal cancers, diagnosed and treated in Department of Therapeutic Radiology of Seoul National University Hospital from September, 1982 to April, 1983, were analyzed. In lung cancer, dose distribution in plans using AP, PA parallel opposing ports with posterior spinal cord block and in plans using box technique both based on conventional studies were compared with dose distribution using AP, PA and two oblique ports based on CT scan. On esophageal cancers, dose distribution in plans based on conventional studies and those based on CT scans, both using 3 port technique were compared. The results are as follows: 1. Parallel opposing field technique were inadequate in all cases of lung cancers, as portion of primary tumor in 13 of 15 cases and portion of mediastinum in all were out of high dose volume. 2. Box technique was inadequate in 5 of 15 lung cancers as portion of primary tumor was not covered and in every case the irradiated normal lung volume was quite large. 3. Plans based on CT scan were superior to those based on conventional studies as tumor was demarcated better with CT and so complete coverage of tumor and preservation of more normal lung volume could be made. 4. In 1 case of lung cancer, tumor localization was nearly impossible with conventional studies, but after CT scan tumor was more clearly defined and localized.
Esophageal Neoplasms ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Mediastinum ; Radiation Oncology ; Radiotherapy* ; Seoul ; Spinal Cord ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

To obtain 7 MeV electron beam which is suitable for treatment of the chest wall after radical of modified radical mastectomy, the authors reduced the energy of electron beam by means by Lucite plate inserted in the beam. To determine the proper thickness of the Lucite plate necessary to reduce the energy of 9 MeV electron beam to 6 MeV, dosimetry was made by using a parallel plate ionization chamber in polystyrene phantom. Separation between two adjacent fields, 7 MeV for chest wall and 12 MeV for internal mammary region, was studied by means of film dosimetry in both polytyrene phantom and Humanoid phantom. The results were as follows. 1. The average energy of 9 MeV electron beam transmitted through the Lucite plate was reduced. Reduction was proportional to the thickness of the Lucite plate in the rate of 1.7 MeV/cm. 2. The proper thickness of the Lucite plate necessary to obtain 6 MeV electron beam from 9 MeV was 1.2 cm. 3. 7 MeV electron beam, 80% dose at 2cm depth, is adequate for treatment of the chest wall. 4. Proper separation between two adjacent electron fields, 7 MeV and 12 MeV, was 5mm on both flat surface and sloping surface to produce uniform dose distribution.
Film Dosimetry ; Mastectomy, Modified Radical ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; Polystyrenes ; Thoracic Wall* ; Thorax*

The thickness of the part being irradiated is finite. Percent depth dose tables being used routinely are generally obtained from dosimetry in a phantom much thickner than usual patient. At or close to exit surface, the dose should be less than that obtained from the percent depth dose tables, because of insufficient volume for backscattering. To know the difference between the true absorbed dose and the dose obtained from percent depth dose table, the doses at or close to the exit surface were measured with plate type ionization chamber with volume of 0.5ml. The results are as follows; 1. In the case of 60Co, percent depth dose at a given depth increases with underlying phantom thickness up to the 5cm. 2. In the case of 60Co, the dose correction factor at exit surface which is less than 1, increases with part thickness and decreases with field size. 3. Exposure time may not be corrected when the part above 10cm in thickness is treated by 60Co. 4. In the case of 10MV x-ay, the dose correction factor is nearly 1 and constant for the underlying phantom thickness and field size, so the correction of monitor unit is not necessary for part thickness.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra* ; Fibrinogen ; Humans

To investigate the relationship between Radiosensitivity and postirradiation recovery in human cancer cells, a study was performed using human cancer cell lines-A549, CaSki, SNU-C5 and PCI-13. for the study of radiosensitivity, single doses of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 Gy were given and for postirradiation recovery, two fractions of 4 Gy were separated with a time interval of 0, 0.5, 1,1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, or 6 hours. Surviving fraction was estimated using colony forming ability. Surviving fractions at 2 Gy (SF2) were 0.496 (0.570-0.412) for A549, 0.496 (0.660-0.332) for CaSki, 0.386 (0.576-0.216) for SNU-C5, and 0.185(0.247-0.123) for PCI-13. By statistical analysis the SF2 of PCI-13 was lower significantly than those of others (p<0.05). this difference was also observed at 4,6 and 8 Gy dose levels. At 6 and 8 Gy the surviving fractions of SMU-C5 were also lower significantly than A549 and CaSki(p<0.05). By the analysis with linear quadratic model, the value of alpha for A549, CaSki, SNU-C5 and PCI-13 were 0.3016, 0.3212, 0.4327 and 0.8423, respectively, and those of betawere 0.024929, 0.02009, 0.03349 and 0.00059, respectively. So, the value of alpha showed increasing tendency with decreasing SF2.By the multitarget single hit model the values of Do for A549, CaSki, SUN-C5 and PCI-13 were 1.97, 1.97,1.46 and 0.81, respectively, and those of n were 1.53, 1.50, 1.56 and 2.28, respectively. So, the value of Do decreased with decreasing SF2. Post-irradiation recovery reached plateau at around 2 hours. Recovery ratio at plateau phase ranged from 1.2 to 4.2; the value were 1.2 for PCI-13, 3.2 for CaSki, 3.3 for SNU-C5, and 4.2 for A549. Recovery rate well correlated with SF2, and increased with increasing Do and decreasing alpha. According to above results, the intrinsic radiosensitivity was quite different among the tested cell ilnes; PCI-13 was the most sensitive and A549 and CaSki was similar. This difference of radiosensitivity is thought to be partly due to the difference in amount of postirradiation recovery. By linear quadratic model the difference of alpha values was very high, and by multitarget single hit model the difference of Do value was significantly high among four cell lines.
Cell Line* ; Humans* ; Radiation Tolerance*

Androgen receptor (AR) signaling is important for prostate cancer (PCa) cell proliferation. Here, we showed that proliferation of hormone-sensitive prostate cancer cells such as LNCaP was significantly enhanced by testosterone stimulation whereas hormone-insensitive prostate cancer cells such as PC3 and VCaP did not respond to testosterone stimulation. Blocking of AR using bicalutamide abolished testosterone-induced proliferation of LNCaP cells. In addition, knockdown of AR blocked testosterone-induced proliferation of LNCaP cells. Basal expression of low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6) was elevated in VCaP cells whereas stimulation of testosterone did not affect the expression of LRP6. However, expression of LRP6 in LNCaP cells was increased by testosterone stimulation. In addition, knockdown of LRP6 abrogated testosterone-induced proliferation of LNCaP cells. Given these results, we suggest that androgen-dependent expression of LRP6 plays a crucial role in hormone-sensitive prostate cancer cell proliferation.
Cell Proliferation* ; Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-6* ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Receptors, Androgen ; Testosterone

PURPOSE: Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a useful tumor marker, which is widely used as a diagnostic index and predictor of both treatment and follow-up result in prostate cancer. A prospective analysis was carried out to obtain the period of PSA normalization and the half life of PSA and to analyze the factors influencing the period of PSA normalization. The PSA level was checked before and serially after radical radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with clinically localized prostate cancer who underwent radical external beam radiotherapy were enrolled in this study. Accrual period was from April 1993 to May 1998. Median follow-up period was 26 months. Radiotherapy was given to whole pelvis followed by a boost to prostate. Dose range for the whole pelvis was from 45 Gy to 50 Gy and boost dose to prostate, from 14 Gy to 20 Gy. The post-irradiation PSA normal value was under 3.0 ng/ml. The physical examination and serum PSA level evaluation were performed at 3 month interval in the first one year, and then at every 4 to 6 months. RESULTS: PSA value was normalized in nineteen patients (95%) within 12 months. The mean period of PSA normalization was 5.3 (+/-2.7) months. The half life of PSA of the nonfailing patients was 2.1 (+/-0.9) month. The nadir PSA level of the nonfailing patients was 0.8 (+/-0.5) ng/ml. The period of PSA normalization had the positive correlation with pretreatment PSA level (R2=0.468). The nadir PSA level had no definite positive correlation with the pretreatment PSA level (R2=0.175). The half life of serum PSA level also had no definite correlation with pretreatment PSA level (R2=0.029). CONCLUSION: The PSA level was mostly normalized within 8 months (85%). If it has not normalized within 12 months, we should consider the residual disease in prostate or distant metastasis. In 2 patients, the PSA level increased 6 months or 20 months before clinical disease was detected. So the serum PSA level can be used as early diagnostic indicator of treatment failure.
Follow-Up Studies ; Half-Life ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pelvis ; Physical Examination ; Prospective Studies ; Prostate* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen* ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Radiotherapy* ; Reference Values ; Treatment Failure

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively analyze the etiologic transition of the predisposing factors and organisms for septic arthritis of the knee. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1995 and December 2006, 122 cases of septic arthritis of the knee were retrospectively evaluated for the etiologic transition and causative organism with using the patients' medical records. We researched the incidence and causative factor of septic arthritis of the knee, which was diagnosed via the patients' symptoms, physical examinations, hematologic exams, culture studies & cytology of the joint fluid. We assessed the correlation of disease with age, the year the disease happened, the causative factors and the incidence. RESULTS: Septic arthritis of the knee was increased after 40 years old, and it also increased after 1998. The most common predisposing factor was intra-articular injection of the knee joint. Even though there were no detected organisms in 79 cases (64.8%), the most common causative organism was S. aureus (20.5%). CONCLUSION: The most common etiologic factor of septic arthritis of the knee was an intra-articular injection. We should be prudent for using good aseptic technique and the correct procedure to reduce the secondary infection that's recently due to increased invasive treatment of the knee joint.
Arthritis, Infectious ; Coinfection ; Incidence ; Injections, Intra-Articular ; Joints ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Medical Records ; Physical Examination ; Retrospective Studies

The most common cause of pain in the distribution of sciatic nerve is a herniated lumbar disc, Spinal stenosis, intrapelvic masses, and diabetic neuropathy may also produce scitica-like symptom. Infrequently, Piriformis syndrome is a rare disease causing sciatica produced by entrapment of sciatic nerve by the piriformis muscle as it passes through the sciatic notch. Recently we experienced a case of piriformis syndrome to be successfully treated by exploration of sciatic nerve and sectioning of fibrous band between piriformis muscle and gluteus maximus muscle. We would describe the clinical feature of a piriformis syndrome, and review other literatures.
Diabetic Neuropathies ; Piriformis Muscle Syndrome* ; Rare Diseases ; Sciatic Nerve ; Sciatica ; Spinal Stenosis

PURPOSE: Despite current acceptance of its neuroprotective property, whether the minocycline affords neuroprotection or how it protects neurons against seizures in the animal model of epilepsy is not clear. This prompts us to investigate whether minocycline is neuroprotective against kainic acid (KA)-induced seizure in mice through inhibition of caspase-dependent mitochondrial apoptotic pathways. METHODS: Adult male ICR mice were subjected to seizures by intrahippocampal KA injection with treatment of vehicle or minocycline. For cell death analysis, histological analysis using cresyl-violet staining, TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL), and histone-associated DNA fragmentation analysis were performed. Evaluation of cytochrome c, cleaved caspase-3, and caspase-3 activity were also performed. RESULTS: Hippocampal neuronal death was evident by cresyl violet staining, TUNEL, and cell death assay in vehicle-treated mice after KA injection; however, there was significant reduction of cell death in the minocycline-treated group. Significant decrease of both cytosolic translocation of cytochrome c and subsequent activation of caspase-3 after treatment of minocycline were demonstrated by Western blot analysis, immunohistochemical staining, and caspase-3 activity assay. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that minocycline may be neuroprotective against hippocampal damage after KA-induced seizure through inhibition of caspase-dependent cell death pathways.
Adult ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Death* ; Cytochromes c ; Cytosol ; DNA Fragmentation ; Epilepsy ; Humans ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Kainic Acid ; Male ; Mice* ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Minocycline* ; Models, Animal ; Neurons ; Seizures* ; Viola

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to investigate the lipid peroxide levels and the protein carbonyl groups content in the venous plasma of pregnant women with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), non-pregnant, and normal pregnant women. METHODS: Samples of venous blood were obtained from women with non pregnancy (n=20), normal pregnancy between 25 and 37 weeks gestation (n=20), and PPROM before 37 completed weeks gestation (n=20). Lipid peroxide levels in the venous plasma of women of each group were measured by thiobarbituric acid reaction. The basal, amoxacillin and moxalactam-induced protein carbonyl contents in the venous plasma of women of each group were determined by the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) method. RESULTS: 1. Lipid peroxide levels in the venous plasma of PPROM was significantly higher than that of non-pregnant and normal pregnant women (5.66+/-0.43 vs. 3.78+/-0.24 vs. 3.56+/-0.30 nmol/mg protein, p<0.01). 2. Protein carbonyl levels in the venous plasma of PPROM was also significantly higher than that of non-pregnant and normal pregnant women (8.23+/-0.54 vs. 6.39+/-0.23 vs. 6.54+/-0.24 nmol/mg protein, p<0.01). 3. Protein carbonyls formation by moxalactam in the venous plasma of PPROM was significantly higher than that of non-pregnant and normal pregnant women (11.73+/-0.59 vs. 10.06+/-0.26 vs. 10.10+/-0.22 nmol/mg protein, p<0.05). 4. There was no significant difference in protein carbonyls formation by amoxacillin of the venous plasma of pregnant women with PPROM, non-pregnant, and normal pregnant women (5.63+/-0.41 vs. 5.81+/-0.43 vs. 5.81+/-0.39 nmol/mg protein, p>0.05). 5. There were significant positive correlations between lipid peroxide and moxalactam-induced protein carbonyls levels of the venous plasma (p<0.05). There were no significant positive correlations between lipid peroxide and amoxacillin-induced protein carbonyls levels of the venous plasma. CONCLUSION: In the venous plasma of pregnant women with PPROM, the lipid peroxidation and the protein carbonyl formation were increased. And moxalactam-induced protein carbonyl levels were increased in PPROM. These results suggest that oxydative stress was increased in pregnant women with PPROM.
Female ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation* ; Membranes* ; Moxalactam ; Plasma* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Protein Carbonylation ; Rupture*