PURPOSE: Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and subsequent percutaneous ethanol injection (PEi) was attempted in 8 patients with 9 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) for complete tumor necrosis of HCCs less than 5cm in greatest diameter. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PEI was performed with 2-8ml of absolute (99.9%) ethanol two weeks after TACE under CT or ultrasound guidance. For each patient PEI was done twice to four times within 4-10 days of each procedure. After completion of a series of PEI, follow up examination (range:3 months-l.5 year period) was done with angiography, CT or ultrasound and correlated with serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level. RESULTS: On follow up anglograms, the lesions completely disappeared or decreased in size without tumor vessels or staining in 5 of 6 patients. On follow up CT of 6 patients, the lipiodol-laden HCCs were surrounded by non-enhancing low density and the losion sizes were slightly decreased or not changed. These are suggestive of necrosis of tumor itself and adjacent liver parenchyma. The tumors could not be detected on follow up ultrasound examination in 2 patients. Serum AFP was decreased in 7 patients and was well corresponded to the results of imaging modalities. CONCLUSION: The authors concluded that the combined TACE and PEI is an appropriate treatment for small HCCs having high surgical risks.
alpha-Fetoproteins ; Angiography ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Ethanol* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver ; Necrosis ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Streptococcus viridans group (SVG) is the normal flora of the upper respiratory tract, skin and genitourinary tract, and is the major causative agent isolated in 30-40% of bacterial endocarditis patients. However, SVG has not been properly identified to the species level for lack of diagnostic system which enables the accurate identification of SVG. Poyart et al. have recently described the identification of SVG to the species level by DNA sequencing of superoxide dismutase gene (sodAint). Using this method, we report here the identification of SVG isolated from the patients in Seoul National University Hospital within recent 2 years. METHODS: According to the method by Poyart et al., a set of two oligonucleotides, D1 (5 '-CCI TAY ICI TAY GAY GCI YTI GAR CC-3 ') and D2 (5 '-ARR TAR TAI GCR TGY TCC CAI ACR TC-3 ') were used as PCR primers, and PCR products of 480-bp size were obtained. The PCR products purified by MicroSpin S-400 HR Column were sequenced using ABI-PRISM 3700 Sequence Analyzer. D1 and D2 were used as sequencing primers. The clinical isolates were respectively identified as the species showing the greatest sequence homology which was demonstrated by the BLAST program provided by NCBI(USA). RESULTS: Clinical strains isolated from 26 patients who had shown two or more positive blood cultures were analyzed by DNA sequencing of superoxide dismutase gene, which showed 6 strains of S. salivarius, five S. oralis, four S. sanguis, three S. pasteuri, three S. equisimilis, two S. gordonii, one S. constellatus, one S. luteciae, and one S. mitis. S. salivarius and S. sanguis were clearly discriminated, while S. equisimilis and S. pyogenes were not. Species identification results by conventional method seldom corresponded to those by DNA sequencing. Among 7 patients suspected to have bacterial endocarditis, S. sanguis were isolated in 4 patients, and S. gordonii, S. oralis, S. pasteuri in one, respectively. Among 17 patients with liver cirrhosis or cancer, S. salivarius were isolated in 6 patients, and S. oralis in four. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we could identify the species of SVG isolated from the patients with bacteremia; S. sanguis were frequently isolated from patients with bacterial endocarditis, while S. salivarius from ones with malignancy. These results imply that a different group of underlying diseases could show correspondingly different group of SVG species which cause bacteremia, and we suggest that further pathophysiological study on the correlations between underlying disease and the species of SVG be performed.
Bacteremia ; Endocarditis, Bacterial ; Homosexuality, Male ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Male ; Oligonucleotides ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Respiratory System ; Seoul ; Sequence Analysis ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sequence Homology ; Skin ; Streptococcus* ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Viridans Streptococci*

BACKGROUND: This study was purposed to find out the differences in the lymphocyte subsets and differential cell counts of the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) and to analyze the differences according to their ages, gender and smoking habits. METHODS: BAL fluid samples of 141 ILD patients were examined for lymphocyte subsets and differential cell counts, and the differences among the patients were analyzed according to their diseases. Then, within the three most common disease groups, the differences were further analyzed by the age, gender and smoking habit of the patients. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in total cell counts (per millimeters of BAL fluid) among the patient groups with each ILD. However, significant differences were observed in the percentages of neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, and macrophages of BAL fluid. Also, in lymphocyte subset analyses, the percentages of total T cells, B cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, CD4/CD8 T cell ratios, and NK cells were significantly different among the patients with each ILD. However, within the same disease group, there were no differences in differential cell counts and lymphocyte subset analyses according to the age, smoking habit, and gender of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Although the age, smoking habit and gender did not have an effect on the BAL fluid analyses among the patients with the same ILD, there were significant differences among the patients with each ILD; therefore, the differential cell counts and lymphocyte subset analyses of BAL fluid can be useful in differential diagnosis for determining the types of ILD.
Adult ; Aged ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/*cytology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial/diagnosis/*epidemiology/etiology ; Lymphocyte Count ; Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Smoking

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis is a systemic autoimmune disease with a poor prognosis in untreated patients, and combination therapy with steroidsand cyclophosphamide is the current standard treatment. Treatment with immunosuppressive agents results in high remission rates; however, there is a considerable morbidity related to the immunosuppressive state, such as life-threatening infections. To reduce serious immunosuppressant-related adverse effects, potentially promising treatment options, including plasma exchange, cytapheresis, administration of intravenous immunoglobulin and TNF-alpha blocking agents have been developed. We performed plasma exchange with steroid pulse therapy for a 52 year-old female patient with pulmonary hemorrhagewith ANCA-associated crescentic glomerulonephritis. After combination therapy, the pulmonary hemorrhage and renal function recovered and myeloperoxidase (MPO)-ANCA decreased.
Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Cyclophosphamide ; Cytapheresis ; Cytoplasm* ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Middle Aged ; Peroxidase ; Plasma Exchange* ; Plasma* ; Prognosis ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Vasculitis*

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a serious complication of heparin therapy. It represents initially as thrombocytopenia and is associated with venous or arterial thrombosis. It has been reported that platelet factor 4/heparin complex antibody plays an important role in the pathogenesis of HIT. Patients on hemodialysis have a high risk of developing HIT because heparin is administrated in hemodialysis as anticoagulant. Thrombocytopenia usually occurs 5 to 10 days after the onset of administration, but occasionally, it may occur rapidly in patients who have preformed antibodies from recent heparin use. We report here 2 cases of HIT with platelet factor 4-heparin reactive antibody in hemodialysis patients.
Antibodies ; Blood Platelets ; Heparin ; Humans ; Immunoassay* ; Renal Dialysis ; Thrombocytopenia* ; Thrombosis

No abstract available.
Stomach Neoplasms*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of CT angiography(CTA) with spiral CT in evaluation of intracranial vascular lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CTA and conventional angiography(CA) were performed in 22 patients with suspected intracranial vascular lesion. Nine patients had 10 aneurysms and 2 patients had arteriovenous malformation(AVM)s, while the remaining 11 patients had no vascular lesion. Twenty seconds after beginning injection of contrast media(100 mL with use of a power injector at the rate of 3 mL/sec), CT scanning(30-second continuous exposure and 60-mm length) was performed with a table speed of 2mm/sec and a section thickness of 2mm. The starting point was selected at the floor of the sella turcica. The resulting data were reformatted by MIP and SSD after reconstruction of 1 mm interval. For aneurysm, its size, shape, direction, neck and the relationship to adjacent vessels were compared to CA. RESULTS: The aneurysm diameter was ranged between 3mm and 20mm and all aneurysms were clearly visualized with CTA. CTA findings of the size, shape, direction, and neck of aneurysms and the relationship between aneurysm and adjacent vessels were well correlated with CA. In one case of aneurysm, calcification of the aneurysm wall was demonstrated on CTA. In one case of AVM, the nidus and its arterial supply and venous drainage were well visualized. In the other case of AVM, however, the feeding artery of AVM was not demonstrated on CTA(it was also unclear on CA). CONCLUSION: CTA with spiral CT may be useful in the evaluation of intracranial vascular lesion and valuable as a screening test for intracranial aneurysm.
Aneurysm ; Angiography* ; Arteries ; Drainage ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Mass Screening ; Neck ; Sella Turcica ; Silver Sulfadiazine ; Tomography, Spiral Computed*

No abstract available.
beta-Glucosidase* ; Gaucher Disease*

BACKGROUND: The function of the p53 protein is known to regulate cell proliferation by inhibiting cells entering S phase, so DNA damaged cell proliferation is inhibited by apoptosis. p21 is a cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor induced by wild type p53, not mutant p53. Thus p21 is thought to mediate the signal of p53 induced by DNA damaged agents to arrest the cell cycle in G1 phase. p53 and p21 are expressed in many malignant tumors, and its role in oncogenesis, tumor progression and prognosis are important. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze immunohistochemical expression of mutant p53 and p21 protein in melanocytic lesions. METHOD: 11 cases of intradermal nevus, 7 cases of junctional nevus and 6 cases of malignant melanoma were immunohistochemically stained with p53 and p21 monoclonal antibodies. RESULTS: 1. In intradermal nevus, the p53 was negative in 100% and the p21 was negative in 98%. These findings suggest that the composing cells of intradermal nevus is completely mature cell. 2. The positive rates of p53 and p21 in junctional nevus were 43% and 43%, respectively. The positive rates of p53 and p21 in malignant melanoma were 82% and 67%, respectively. CONCLUSION: If the expression of p21 is induced by p53 independent pathway, the cell cycle can be arrested in G1 phase, so the tumor cell proliferation is inhibited. But if the expressed p21 is mutated as p53, it means that the natural function of p21 disappears. More research is necessary about the nature of p21 which is expressed with mutant p53.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Apoptosis ; Carcinogenesis ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclins ; DNA ; G1 Phase ; Melanoma* ; Nevus* ; Nevus, Intradermal* ; Phosphotransferases ; Prognosis ; S Phase

PURPOSE: The purpose of this prospective multi-institutional study was to evaluate the nutritional status of patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT) for treatment of head and neck, lung, or gastrointestinal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1,000 patients were enrolled in this study at seven different hospitals in Seoul, Korea between October 2009 and May 2010. The nutritional status of patients after receiving 3 weeks of RT was evaluated using subjective global assessment (SGA). The nutritional status of each patient was rated as well nourished (A), moderately malnourished (B), or severely malnourished (C). RESULTS: The mean age of patients in this study was 59.4 +/- 11.9 years, and the male to female ratio was 7:3. According to the SGA results, 60.8%, 34.5%, and 4.7% of patients were classified as A, B, or C, respectively. The following criteria were significantly associated with malnutrition (SGA B or C; p < 0.001): loss of subcutaneous fat or muscle wasting (odds ratio [OR], 11.473); increased metabolic demand/stress (OR, 8.688); ankle, sacral edema, or ascites (OR, 3.234); and weight loss > or =5% (OR, 2.299). CONCLUSION: SGA was applied successfully to assess the nutritional status of most patients. The prevalence of malnutrition in a radiation oncology department was 39.2%. The results of this study serve as a basis for implementation of nutrition intervention to patients being treated at radiation oncology departments.
Animals ; Ankle ; Ascites ; Edema ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung ; Male ; Malnutrition ; Muscles ; Neck ; Nutrition Assessment ; Nutritional Status ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies ; Radiation Oncology ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Weight Loss