Intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia of the stomach have been stressed as precursors of gastric carcinoma of the intestinal type, although their preneoplastic nature is still debated. In this study, the cytomorphometric and cytokinetic spectra of the suggested preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions of the stomach were investigated. From the resected stomachs of early gastric carcinoma of intestinal type, areas of normal, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia, and carcinoma were selected. They were immunostained for proliferating cell nuclear antigen, counterstained with propidium iodide, and various nuclear parameters were measured by image analysis. Normal and intestinal metaplastic mucosae differed by the localization of proliferation zone, but not by nuclear profile area, circular shape factor, and proliferation index. In dysplasia, proliferation zone covered large parts of the dysplastic area. Nuclear profile area and proliferation index were larger whereas circular shape factor was smaller than in normal or intestinal metaplasia. Carcinomatous lesion had diffuse proliferation activity, the largest nuclear profile area and proliferating index, and circular shape factor in-between those of normal or intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia. The above results showed a structural spectrum among normal of intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia, and carcinoma of intestinal type in cytomorphometric and cytokinetic terms. The structural spectrum raises the possibility that dysplasia of the stomach is a preneoplastic lesion.

No abstract available.
Aspergillosis ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver ; Lung ; Maxillary Sinus

No abstract available.
Aneurysm, False*

Metabolic acidosis (MA) is associated with increased proteolysis, increased osteoclast activity and blunted cardiac muscle response, but the effect of MA on various clinic al parameters in CAPD patients is not well known. To evaluate the effects of MA on serum albumin level and other nutritional parameters in CAPD patients, we studied 106 CAPD patients retrospectively who have had monthly biochemical measurement and urea kinetic studies every 6 months for more than 2 years. The patients were divided into three groups according to their mean total CO2 (tCO2) level of the 2-year follow-up (Group l; mean tCO2 < 22mM/L, Group ll; 22mM/L < or = mean tCO2 < 26mM/L, and Group lll; mean tCO2 > or = 26mM/L), and the clinical, biochemical, and urea kinetic data were compared among the three groups. 1)The mean age of the subjects was 46.9+/-12.2 years with a sex ratio of 1.2:1, the mean CAPD duration 28.3+/-21.8 months, mean body weight (Bwt) 59.0+/-8.9kg, %Bwt/IBW 104.1+/-11.5%, %LBM/Bwt 75.5+/-11.1% and well-nourished patients by subjective global assessment (SGA) were 65%. 2)The mean BUN, creatinine, total protein and albumin of all patients were 55.6+/-13.6mg/dL, 12.3+/-3.5mg/dL, 6.6+/-0.7g/dL and 4.0+/-0.4g/dL, respectively. In urea kinetic study, the mean NPCR, weekly Kt/ Vurea, SCCr and RRF were 0.96+/-0.16g/kg/day, 2.02+/-0.37, 63.7+/-18.4L/week/1.73m2, and 0.99+/-1.32ml/ min, respectively. 3)The mean age was significantly higher in group l (51.0+/-10.8) than those of group ll (47.0+/-12.4) and lll (42.6+/-11.4) (P<0.05). %Bwt/IBW of group l (114.4+/-15.8%) was also significantly higher than those of group ll (104.6+/-12.6%) and lll (103.5+/-13.7 %) (P<0.05), but there were no significant differences in sex ratio, CAPD duration, %LBM/Bwt, and SGA among the three groups. 4)The mean tCO2 in group l, group ll, and group lll were 20.6+/-1.2mM/L, 23.9+/-1.1mM/L, and 27.3+/-0.8mM/L, respectively. Compared to group lll, group l had significantly higher BUN (61.1+/-14.3 vs. 46.1+/-7.2mg/dL, P<0.05) and serum albumin (4.04+/-0.31 vs. 3.75+/-0.39g/dL, P<0.05), in spite of comparable dialysis dose and albumin loss into dialysate. 5)NPCR (1.02+/-0.21g/kg/day vs. 0.88+/-0.14g/kg/ day, P<0.05) and ultrafiltration volume (1.4+/-0.4 vs. 1.0+/-0.3, P<0.05) were significantly higher in group l than those of group lll. But there were no significant differences in Kt/Vurea, SCCr, RRF, and 24-hour dialysate loss of protein/albumin among the three groups. 6)No differences were observed among the three groups in the changes of body weight, %Bwt/IBW, %LBM/Bwt, BUN, albumin, NPCR, and RRF from the baseline values after the 2-year follow-up. 7)There were significant inverse correlations between the mean tCO2 level and NPCR (r=-0.33, P<0.001), %Bwt/IBW (r=-0.32, P<0.001), RRF (r=-0.29, P<0.005), and serum albumin level (r=-0.24, P<0.05). But, creatinine, %LBM/Bwt, and Kt/Vurea did not show any correlation with the mean tCO2 level. 8)Using stepwise multiple regression analysis, NPCR (beta=-0.3491, P<0.001), %Bwt/IBW (beta=-0.046, P<0.001), and ultrafiltration volume (beta=-0.0012, P< 0.005) were independent factors affecting the mean tCO2 level. In conclusion, low total CO2 level in long-term CAPD patients may reflect increased protein intake and mild to moderate degree of metabolic acidosis may not affect the nutritional status of well-dialyzed CAPD patients.
Acidosis* ; Body Weight ; Creatinine ; Dialysis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Myocardium ; Nutritional Status ; Osteoclasts ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Proteolysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Serum Albumin* ; Sex Ratio ; Ultrafiltration ; Urea

Despite improvements in dialysis care, the mortality of patients with end-stage renal disease(ESRD) remains high. One factor that has so far received little attention, but which might contribute to morbidity and mortality, is the timing of referral to the nephrologist. We performed a retrospective analysis in 358 patients(male 275, female 151) who were initiated renal replacement therapy first at this hospital from Jan 1995 to Dec 1996. Patients were defined by the time of first nephrology as early referral(E, n=163) encountered after more than 8 weeks; late early referral(LE, n=19) encountered between 8 weeks and 4 weeks; late referral(L, n=55) encountered from 1 week to 4 weeks; urgent referral(U, n= 121) encountered less than 1 week. There were no differences in age, gender, primary renal disease, cause of dialysis, and renal replacement therapy modalities. However, there were significant differences in rnean arterial pressure and serum phosphate levels between these 4 groups. The mean arterial pressures (mmHg) were 109.15 +/- 17.16, 105.37+/-18.76, 117.24 +/- 27.24 and 116.98+/-24.26 for E, LE, L and U, respectively(p<0.05, compared E to U). In the U group, serum phosphate levels were elevated at initiation of dialysis compared to the E group(6.39+/-1.72 vs 7.29 +/- 3.54mg/dL, p<0.05). One year mortality in the U group had on increased tendency compared to the E group, especially earlier mortality(7.4% vs 14.9N, p>0.05). In the E group, there was more controlled blood pressure and serum phosphate levels compared to the U group at initiation of renal replacement therapy, but other parameters were not significantly different among the 4 groups. Delays in initiation of renal replacement therapy may result in patients entering dialysis in a compromised state, therefore adequate long-term predialysis care by a nephrologist is important. Socioeconomic - and medical factors respon-sible for late referral and late initiation of dialysis need to be evaluated and corrected to further improve the outcome of these patients.
Arterial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Dialysis* ; Female ; Humans ; Mortality ; Nephrology ; Referral and Consultation* ; Renal Replacement Therapy ; Retrospective Studies

Background: It is necessary to perform antifungal susceptibility testing of dermatophytes. Etest (AB Biodisk, Sweden) is a rapid, easy-to-perform in-vitro antifungal susceptibility test. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the minimal inhibitory concentration (MICs) of dermatophytes isolated from skin using Etest. Methods: 21 species of dermatophytes (12 strains of T. rubrum, 7 strains of T. mentagrophytes, M. canis and M. gypseum) and two standard strains (Aspergillus flavus KCTC 6905, Aspergillus fumigatus KCTC 6145) were tested MIC endpoints of Etest for itraconazole (ITZ) and amphotericin B (AMB) were read after 72, 96, and 120 hours incubation for each strains on RPMI 1640 agar. Results: MIC of ITZ was 0.12~0.47 microg/mL on T. rubrum, 0.012~1.0 microg/mL on T. mentagrophytes, 0.012 microg/mL on M. canis, and 0.023 microg/mL on M. gypseum. MIC of AMB was 0.094~0.5 microg/mL on T. rubrum, 0.032~1.0 microg/mL on T. mentagrophytes, 0.19 microg/mL on M. canis, and 0.032 microg/mL on M. gypseum. One strain of T. mentagrophytes isolated from patient with tinea pedis showed ITZ-resistant. Conclusion: This study showed that Etest represented a simple and efficacious method for antifungal susceptibility testing of dermatophytes.
Agar ; Amphotericin B ; Arthrodermataceae ; Aspergillus fumigatus ; Humans ; Itraconazole ; Skin ; Sprains and Strains ; Tinea Pedis

PURPOSE: We performed this study to evaluate the influence on tear film of infrared instrument by observing the morphologic change of the tear lipid layer and tear break-up time by Tearscope(R). METHODS: The subjects were 52 eyes from 26 people. After infrared hyperthermic therapy, we analyzed the change of the tear lipid layer by Tearscope(R) at 10 minutes, 6 hours, and 12 hours. We also observed the subjective symptoms of change related to dry eye syndrome and tear break-up time. RESULTS: Of the 26 normal cases, 20 were men and 6 were women. The mean age was 26.4 +/- 1.9 years. The subjective symptoms improved and the tear lipid layer showed a decrease of color fringe yellow-brown and color fringe multiple colors type, and an increase of waves and closed meshwork type 10 minutes and 6 hours following infrared treatment. Tear break-up time was also prolonged from preoperative value of 10.0 +/- 2.4 seconds to 11.0 +/- 2.7 and 11.1 +/- 2.9 seconds at 10 minutes and 6 hours, respectively, after infrared treatment, but this effect did not persist after 12 hours. Schirmer test value did not show significant change. No complication related to infrared treatment was noted. CONCLUSIONS: Infrared treatment may be considered a possible method of treating dry eye syndrome by increasing the stability of the tear lipid layer.
Dry Eye Syndromes ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Tears*

No abstract available.
Decompression* ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Spine* ; Titanium*

No abstract available.
Osteoporosis* ; Spondylolisthesis*

No abstract available.
Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable* ; Hemorrhage* ; Thrombin*