No abstract available.
Polychondritis, Relapsing*

No abstract available.
Hypopituitarism*

Malignant deciduoid mesothelioma is a rare malignant neoplasm occurring in the peritoneum of young women. We report a case of malignant deciduoid mesothelioma that occurred in the omentum of a 47-year-old woman. The patient had never exposed to asbestos and had no history of cesarean section. The lesions were multiple infiltrative nodules affected the peritoneal cavity, omentum, and surface of the uterus with both ovaries. Microscopically, the nodules were composed of mesothelial cells similar to decidual cells
Asbestos ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Humans ; Mesothelioma* ; Middle Aged ; Omentum ; Ovary ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Peritoneum ; Pregnancy ; Uterus

BACKGROUND: The Y-composite graft of internal thoracic artery and radial artery is commonly used in coronary bypass surgery. The aim of this study is to look for a way to raise the free flow of the internal thoracic graft and to see flow dynamics of the Y-graft. MATERIAL AND METHOD: In 15 patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery, free flow of the in-situ internal thoracic artery graft was measured using two different papaverine application methods; extraluminal papaverine spray in 7 patients and intraluminal papaverine injection in 8. In 18 other patients for whom the Y-graft was used, total free flow and flow changes from the two ends were measured. RESULT: The free flow of the in-situ internal thoracic artery graft almost doubled with internal papaverine injection than with external papaverine spray (47.7+/-9.6 mL/min vs. 100.8+/-26.3 mL/min, p<0.001). Total flow of the Y-composite graft was significantly more than either flow of the internal thoracic artery end or radial artery graft end (173.3+/-45.3 mL/min vs. 121.1+/-34.3 mL/min or 117.5+/-42.8 mL/min). When both ends of the Y-composite graft were opened, free flows from the two ends were similar (85.4+/-27.8 mL/min vs. 87.9+/-42.4 mL/min, p=0.772). The flow of one end of the Y-composite graft was increased significantly by clamping of the other-end than when both ends were opened. CONCLUSION: Intraluminal papaverine injection is very effective in raising free flow of the internal thoracic artery graft, and the free flow of the Y-composite graft of in-situ internal thoracic artery and free radial artery graft is more than that of the in-situ internal thoracic artery graft. The flow of one end flow of the Y-graft may be altered by the flow change of the other end.
Arteries* ; Constriction ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Humans ; Mammary Arteries* ; Papaverine ; Radial Artery ; Transplants*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between osteoporosis and skin thicknessas shown by CT scanning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty- six women with osteoporosis (mean age, 52) and 51 normalcontrols (mean age, 50) participated in the study. For a quantitative CT examinations, a CT scanner(Somatom Plus,Siemens) was used. Osteoporosis was defined as present when spinal bone mineral density was more than 2.5 standarddeviations below young normal density, as determined by quantitative CT. Patients with endocrinologic, malignantor collagen disease and undergoing antimetabolite or steroid therapy were excluded. The thickness of back skin wasretrospectively measured at the third lumbar vertebra level, as seen on CT films, using a conventional magnifier.For statistical analysis, Students' t test and Spearman's rank correlation were used. RESULTS: On the basis of CTscans, the mean thickness of back skin in the osteoporotic group(0.50+/-0.20 mm) was significantly less than innormal control subjects(0.80+/-0.23 mm) (p<0.001). Significant correlation was observed between skin thickness andbone mineral density(r=0.523, p<0.0001). Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive and negative predictivevalues were measured as 76, 78, 76, 88, 62% with a cut-off value of 0.6 and 84, 61, 77, 81, 66% with a cut-offvalue of 0.7, respectively. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that the thickness of back skin, asmeasured by CT scanning, is predictive of osteoporosis.
Bone Density ; Collagen Diseases ; Female ; Humans ; Osteoporosis* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Skin* ; Spine ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Until now, only a little is known about the mode of parotid involvement in external auditory canal (EAC) carcinoma. We examined the incidence of parotid node metastasis and direct parotid invasion in patients with EAC carcinoma. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of parotidectomy and to provide the guidelines for performance of parotidectomy when dealing with EAC carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The study comprised of 11 patients with squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) and 10 patients with adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACC). A retrospective review of the surgical specimens was undertaken with specific reference to parotid node metastasis and parotid invasion. RESULTS: Parotid node metastasis was noted only in two cases of advanced staged SCC, whereas none of the ACC patients showed parotid node metastasis. Direct parotid invasion occurred only in advanced staged SCC;however, it did occur in early stage ACC. CONCLUSION: Our data indicated that elective parotidectomy for control of occult parotid node metastasis is necessary only in advanced SCC carcinoma, whereas parotid management to secure adequate safety margin is mandatory for advanced SCC and all cases of ACC.
Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Ear Canal* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes* ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Parotid Gland ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study are 1) to determine if GAST is a better indicator in predicting ovarian response to COH compared with patient's age or basal FSH level and 2) to evaluate its role in detecting abnormal ovarian response. DESIGN : Prospective study in 118 patients undergoing IVF-ET using GnRH-a short protocol during May-September 1995. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After blood sampling for basal FSH and estradiol (E2) on cycle day two, 0.5 ml (0.525 mg) GnRH agonist (Suprefact, Hoechst) was injected subcutaneously. Serum E2 was measured 24 hours later. Initial E2 difference (deltaE2) was defined as the change in E2 on day 3 over the baseline day 2 value. Sixteen patients with ovarian cyst or single ovary or incorrect blood collection time were excluded from the analysis. The patients were divided into three groups by deltaE2; group A (n=30):deltaE2<40 pg/ml, group B (n=52): 40 pg/ml< or =deltaE2<100 pg/ml, group C (n=20): deltaE2< or =100 pg/ml. COH was done by GnRH agonist/HMG/hCG and IVF-EF was followed. Ratio of E2 on day of hCG injection over the number of ampules of gonadotropins used (E2hCGday/Amp) was regarded as ovarian responsiveness. Poor ovarian response and overstimulation were defined as E2 hCGday less than 600 pg/ml and greater than 5000 pg/ml, respectively. RESULTS: Mean age (+/-SEM) in group A, B and C were 33.7+/-0.8*, 31.5 +/-0.6 and 30.6+/-0.5*, respectively (*: p<0.05). Mean basal FSH level of group A (11.1+/-1.1 mIU/ml) was significantly higher than those of B (7.4+/- 0.2 mIU/ml) and C (6.8+/-0.4 mIU/ml) 0<0.001). Mean E2hCGday of group A was significantly lower than those of group B or C, i.e., 1402.1+/-187.7 pg/ml, 3153.2+/- 240.0 pg/ml, 4078.8+/-306.4 pg/ml respectively (p<0.0001). The number of ampules of gonadotropins used in group A was significantly greater than those in group B or C: 38.6+/-2.3, 24.2+/-1.1 and 18.5+/-1.0 (p<0.0001). The number of oocytes retrieved in group A was significantly smaller than those in group B or C: 6.4+/-1.1, 15.5+/-1.1 and 18.6+/-1.6, respectively (p<0.0001). By stepwise multiple regression, only deltaE2 showed a significant correlation (r=0.68, p<0.0001) with E2HCGday/Amp, while age or basal FSH level were not significant. Likewise, only deltaE2 correlated significantly with the number of oocytes retrieved (r=0.57, p<0.001). All four patients whose COH was canceled due to poor ovarian response belonged to group A only (Fisher's exact test, p<0.01). Whereas none of 30 patients in group A (0%) had overstimulation, 14 patients among 72 patients (19.4%) in group B and C had overstimulation (Fisher's exact test, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that initial E2 difference after GAST may be a better prognostic indicator of ovarian response to COH than age or basal FSH level. Since initial E2 difference demonstrates significant association with abnormal ovarian response such as poor ovarian response necessitating cycle cancellation or overstimulation, GAST may be helpful in monitoring and consultation of patients during COH in IVF-ET cycle.
Estradiol ; Female ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone* ; Gonadotropins ; Humans ; Oocytes ; Ovarian Cysts ; Ovary ; Ovulation Induction* ; Prospective Studies

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the high-resolution CT(HRCT) appearance of abnormalities of small airways and lung parenchyma associated with bronchiectasis and to correlate HRCT appearance and the results of pulmonary function tests. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The author retrospectively reviewed medical recordsand HRCT scans of 33 patients with bronchiectasis. Abnormalities of small airways and lung parenchyma in lobeswith bronchiectasis were assessed on HRCT scan. The findings on HRCT were correlated with the results of pulmonary function tests in 20 patients. In two specimens obtained at lobectomy, histologic examinations were conducted to determine the pathologic basis for CT findings of disease of small airways. RESULTS: Patchy areas of low attenuation(n=27), centrilobular nodules or branching opacities(n=20), irregular hyper attenuation(n=16), and areasof ground-glass attenuation(n=4) were observed on HRCT scans. In the lobar evaluation, areas of low attenuation were observed in 66(76%) of the 87 lobes with bronchiectasis. Areas of low attenuation were also identified inseven(9%) of the 75 lobes without bronchiectasis. On expiratory HRCT, the lung parenchyma with areas of low attenuation did not show a normal increase in CT attenuation and remained more lucent than surrounding normallung, which suggested that air was trapped in the lung parenchyma. Of the 20 patients who underwent pulmonary function tests, six showed an obstructive pattern. These six had more lobes with bronchiectasis and with areas oflow attenuation than the other 14 patients, who did not have an obstructive pulmonary function pattern(p<.01). Intwo patients who had undergone lobectomy, pathologic examination showed bronchiolities obliterans in small airway speripheral to the dilated bronchi. CONCLUSION: In bronchiectasis, areas of low attenuation and centrilobular nodules or branching opacities are commonly observed in the lung parenchyma peripheral to the dilated bronchi on HRCT. These HRCT findings correspond pathologically to bronchiolitis obliterans and to lung parenchyma with trapped air. The number of loves with bronchiectasis and with areas of low attenuation correlate significantly with an obstructive pattern on pulmonary function tests.
Bronchi ; Bronchiectasis* ; Bronchiolitis ; Bronchiolitis Obliterans ; Humans ; Love ; Lung ; Respiratory Function Tests* ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: CT angiography is now available to evaluate the early graft patency after coronary bypass surgery. We investigated whether patency or occlusion of the bypass grafts can be visualized by CT angiography and what factors effect the visuality. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Fifty patients underwent scanning with a 4-slice computed tomographic scanner (Somatom Volume ZoomTM; Siemens, Germany) before being discharged after coronary artery bypass grafting. To evaluate graft patency and relationship between the quality of graft image and the characteristics of the diseased coronary vessels, 50 internal thoracic artery grafts, 18 radial artery grafts, and 56 vein grafts were included in this study. RESULT: All vein grafts (24 grafts; 32 anastomoses) to left coronary artery system were well visualized, but 3 grafts (4.7%) of 30 vein grafts (35 anastomoses) to right coronary artery system were not visualized. The latter was also occluded in invasive coronary angiographic study. Thirty-nine (78%) internal thoracic artery grafts were well visualized, 8 (16%) faintly visualized, and 3 (6%) not visualized, but all the internal artery grafts were well patent in invasive coronary angiographic study. CONCLUSION: Unvisualized vein grafts in CT angiography means occlusion of the grafts, but unvisualized arterial grafts in CT angiography may not mean occlusion of the graft but result from competitive flow between the graft and coronary artery. To confirm patency of the unvisualized arterial grafts, invasive coronary angiography is needed.
Angiography* ; Arteries ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Bypass* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Humans ; Mammary Arteries ; Radial Artery ; Transplants* ; Vascular Patency ; Veins

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: The post-operative complications and clinical course of pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) largely depend on the pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ). Several methods of PJ are in clinical use. We analyzed the early results of binding pancreaticojejunostomy (BPJ), a technique reported by SY Peng. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical results of patients who received BPJ in Inha University Hospital from 2006 to 2011. 21 BPJs were performed with Peng's method. The definition of postoperative pancreatic fistula (PF) was a high amylase content (>3 times the upper normal serum value) of the drain fluid (of any measurable volume), at any time on or after the 3rd post-operative day. The pancreatic fistula was graded according to the International Study Group for Pancreatic Fistula (ISGPF) guidelines. RESULTS: Of the 21 patients who received BPJ, 11 were male. The median age was 61.2 years. PD surgery included 4 cases of Whipple's procedures and 17 cases of pylorus-preserving PD. According to the post-operative course, 16 patients recovered well with no evidence of PF. A total of 5 patients (23.8%), including 3 grade A PFs and 2 grade C PFs, suffered from a pancreatic fistula. 3 patients with grade A PF recovered with conservative management. CONCLUSIONS: The BPJ appears to be a relatively safe procedure based on this preliminary study, but further study is needed to validate its safety.
Amylases ; Humans ; Male ; Pancreatic Fistula ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; Pancreaticojejunostomy* ; Retrospective Studies