Eosinophilia is a common finding in premature babies during the neonatal period. Serial eosinophil counts were determined in 94 hospitalized, appropriately grown premature in fants whose gestational ages ranged form 28 to 36 weeks. The incidence, severity and etiologic factors of eosinophilia were retrospectively studied in premature infants, who were divided into three groups according to their gestational age. The results were as follows: 1) Absolute eosinophilia (>700/mm3)was documented in 46.8%(44/94). 2) The duration of TRN and antibiotics was cignificantly higher in infants with eosinophilia than withour eosinophilia (p<0.05). The gestational age of the infants with eosinophilia was significantly shorter than that of the infants without eosinophilia (p<0.05). The infants with eosinophilia started with bottle feeding significantly earlier than the infants without eosinophilia (p<0.05). 3) The infants younger than 30 weeks of gestational age have greater incidence of eosinophilia (75%) than the infant with the gestational age between 34 and 36 weeks (34.3%)(p<0.05). 4) The incidence of mild eosinophilia was higher in the group with gewtational age 30 weeks or below(37.5%)than in the group with gestational age between 34 and 36 weeks(17.1%)(p<0.05).Also, the incidence of severe eosinophilia was significantly higher in the group with gestational age 30 weeks or below(37.5%)than in the group with gestational age between 34 and 36 weeks(17.1%)(p<0.05). 5) Eosinophilia was more prevalent in the infants who received parenteral nutrition composed of glucose, amino acid and lipid(77.8%) than the infants who received only glucose(34.1%)(p<0.05). 6) Gestational age and birth weight were significantly lower in infants with severe eosinopilia than those of mild or moderate eosinophilia. The duration of TRN and antibiotics were significantly longer in infants with severe eosinophilia than those of mild or moderate eosinophilia (p<0.05). 7) The peak eosinophil count was observed significantly later in severe eosinophilic group (26.5 13.1 days)than in non-eosinophilic group(14.4 9.0 days)(p<0.05). The above results suggest that eosinophilia in premature infants may be the effecto of immature immunologic responses to the intravenous administration of extemal antigens like amino acid, lipid and antibiotics.
Administration, Intravenous ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Birth Weight ; Bottle Feeding ; Eosinophilia* ; Eosinophils ; Gestational Age ; Glucose ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Parenteral Nutrition ; Retrospective Studies

Surgery is the standard treatment for a primary gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST); however, surgical resection is often not curative, particularly for large GISTs. In the past decade, with imatinib mesylate (IM), management strategies for GISTs have evolved significantly, and now IM is the standard care for patients with locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic GISTs. Adjuvant therapy with imatinib was recently approved for use, and preoperative imatinib is an emerging treatment option for patients who require cytoreductive therapy. IM neoadjuvant therapy for primary GISTs has been reported, but there is no consensus on the dose of the drug, the duration of treatment and the optimal time of surgery. These are critical because drug resistance or tumor progression can develop with a prolonged treatment. This report describes two cases of large rectal malignant GISTs, for which a abdominoperineal resection was initially anticipated. The two patients received IM preoperative treatment; we followed-up with CT or magnetic resonance imaging to access the response. After 9 months of treatment, a multi-disciplinary consensus that maximal benefit from imatinib had been achieved was reached. We determined the best time for surgical intervention and successfully performed sphincter-preserving surgery before resistance to imatinib or tumor progression occurred. We believe that a multidisciplinary team approach, considerating the optimal duration of therapy and the timing of surgery, is required to optimize treatment outcome.
Benzamides ; Consensus ; Drug Resistance ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mesylates ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Piperazines ; Pyrimidines ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: We analyzed the expression of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP), VIP receptor 1 (VIPR1), VIP receptor 2 (VIPR 2) and PACAP receptor (PACAPR) genes in human neuroblastoma, neuroblastoma cell line, human stomach cancer, and human stomach cancer cell lines using RT-PCR and Sourthern hybridization. The results should permit identification of potential clinical applications for VIP and PACAP. METHODS: We isolated RNA from 1 neuroblastoma cell line, 8 stomach cancer cell lines, 13 neuroblastoma, and 10 stomach cancer tumor specimens. And then we performed RT-PCR, Sourthern hybridization, and sequencing. RESULTS: We detected the RNAs coding for VIP, VIPR1, VIPR2, PACAP, and PACAPR in 1, 11, 2, 12, and 13 out of 13 neuroblastoma tumor specimens, respectively. VIP and PACAPR RNA was expressed in SKNSH. VIPR1 RNA was expressed in 4 of 8 the stomach cancer cell lines and 6 of 10 stomach cancer tumor specimens. CONCLUSION: VIP/PACAP RNA and VIP/PACAP receptors RNA were expressed in SKNSH and neuroblastoma tumor specimens. VIPR1 was expressed in stomach cancer cell lines and tumor specimens. The present results suggested that VIP/PACAP analogues could be a candidate as the growth inhibitor of neuroblastoma and stomach cancer.
Adenylyl Cyclases* ; Cell Line ; Clinical Coding ; Humans ; Neuroblastoma* ; Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide ; Receptors, Peptide* ; Receptors, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide ; Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; RNA ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Stomach* ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

BACKGROUND: Breast lesions in children and adolescents are rare and develop mainly in females. The management of breast masses in children and adolescents can be a perplexing problem for pediatricians and surgeons. It is well documented that breast lesions in females under 20 years of age rarely represent malignant disease. However, they frequently are a source of discomfort and anxiety for the patient, particularly when they do not resolve spontaneously. METHODS: To determine the frequency of different breast masses in females under 20 years of age on whom surgery was performed, we carried out a retrospective study of females under 20 years who were admitted to the Department. of Surgery of Soonchunhyang University Hospital for surgery between 1993 and 1995. RESULTS: The mean age was 17.9 years. A total of 44 surgical procedures were performed in 40 patients. The masses ranged in size from 0.8 cm through 7.0 cm. As to the location, the mass was in the right breast of 22 patients (50%) and in the left breast of 22 (50%). The most common location of the mass was in the right upper outer quadrant (13 patients, 29.5%). Of the 44 masses, fine-needle aspiration cytology was performed in 33 masses. Of them, 28 were fibroadenomas, 4 were fibrocystic disease, and 1 was a lipoma. Excisional biopsy was performed on 44 masses. Of them, 33 were fibroadenomas, 4 were fibrocystic disease, 5 was fibroadenoma and fibrocystic disease, 1 was a lipoma, and 1 was a lymphangioma. There were no malignancies. CONCLUSIONS: In female patients under 20 years of age, we suggest that benign breast should be studied for diagnosis, treatment, and histological feature.
Adolescent ; Anxiety ; Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Breast* ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Female* ; Fibroadenoma ; Humans ; Lipoma ; Lymphangioma ; Retrospective Studies

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a thrombophilic disorder characterized by recurrent abortion, thrombocytopenia, and prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) in which venous or arterial thrombosis, or both, may occur in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies. Antiphospholipid antibodies have been associated with a variety of neurological disorders, many of which, but not all are manifestations of cerebral or ocular ischemia. Recently, we experienced one case of a cerebral infarct due to APS in a 24-year-old female. She visited the emergency department and presented with dizziness and vomiting. After admission, we conducted a physical examination, blood tests, and brain computed tomography. Her blood tests revealed prolonged aPTT and thrombocytopenia, and brain computed tomography showed a right cerebellar and pons infarct. We treated her with anticoagulants. She was discharged with nearly a full recovery on the seventh hospital day.
Abortion, Habitual ; Antibodies, Antiphospholipid ; Anticoagulants ; Antiphospholipid Syndrome* ; Brain ; Cerebral Infarction* ; Dizziness ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Nervous System Diseases ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Physical Examination ; Pons ; Pregnancy ; Thrombocytopenia ; Thrombosis ; Vertigo ; Vomiting ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Procalcitonin (PCT) is a relatively new marker for bacterial infections, and its diagnostic utility has been variable across the studies. We investigated the diagnostic utility of PCT for the patients with blood culture-positive sepsis, and compared it with that of C-reactive protein (CRP). METHODS: In 1,270 consecutive blood samples, PCT and CRP were simultaneously measured and results were compared according to the five categories of PCT concentrations (<0.05 ng/mL; 0.05-0.49 ng/mL; 0.5-1.99 ng/mL; 2-9.99 ng/mL; > or =10 ng/mL). In 506 samples, they were further analyzed according to the result of blood culture. PCT and CRP were measured using enzyme-linked fluorescent assay (bioMerieux Co., France) and rate nephelometry (Beckman Coulter Co., USA), respectively. Their diagnostic utilities were compared using ROC curves. RESULTS: The mean concentrations of CRP in five categories of PCT were 15.4 mg/L, 42.1 mg/L, 101.2 mg/L, 125.0 mg/L, 167.1 mg/L, respectively (P<0.0001). Both PCT and CRP showed significant differences between the two positive and negative groups of blood culture (PCT, 8.47 vs 2.44 ng/mL, P=0.0133; CRP, 110.48 vs 59.78 mg/L, P<0.0001). The areas under the ROC curves (95% confidence interval) for PCT and CRP were 0.720 (0.644-0.788) and 0.558 (0.478-0.636), respectively, and showed a significant difference (P=0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic utility of PCT is superior to that of CRP for the patients with blood culture-positive sepsis. PCT seems to be reliable for sepsis diagnosis, and may provide useful information for the critically ill patients.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biological Markers/blood ; C-Reactive Protein/*analysis ; Calcitonin/*blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Middle Aged ; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry ; Protein Precursors/*blood ; ROC Curve ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sepsis/*diagnosis

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to analyze the usefulness of breast thermography in assessing the prognosis in breast cancer and to obtain correlative evidence between thermographic prognosis and prognostic factors for breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thermographic examinations were performed in a room maintained at 20C. The patient was undressed to the waist, with both arms elevated for 10 minutes prior to the examination in order to cool and equilibrate the breast skin at room temperature. Digital infrared thermographic system was used (NEC, San-ei, Therm Tracer 6T67). The thermographic prognosis was classified according to Dr. Hobbins (Sl good, S2=fair and S-poor) suggested by Dr. Hobbins. The results were analyzed by Chi-Squire. One hundred three patients of breast cancer were examined by digital infrared thermographic system between Jan 1992 and December 1996. RESULTS: The mean age was 48, with a range from 20 to 85. According to the TNM classification 25 (24%) were in stage I, 47 (46%) stage II, 29 (28%) stage III, and 2 (2%) stage IV. The tumor size ranged from 0.5 to 20 cm (mean 4 cm), On histologic examination, 43 (43.%) patients had metastasis in the axillary nodes, 40 (55%) patients was estrogen-receptor positive. The nuclear grade I was 46 (35%) patients, II 24 (28%) and III 16 (19%). The classification of thermographic prognosis were Sl in 47 cases (46%), 82 in 32 (31%) and 83 in 24 (23%). The classification of the thermographic prognosis was found to be statistically correlated with tumor size (p<0.0001), axillary node status (p<0.0001) and TNM tumor stage (p<0.0001). But nuclear grade and estrogen receptor were not statistically correlated with the thermographic prognosis. The correlation between thermographic prognosis and actual survival rate was not available. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that breast thermography would be useful as a predictor in breast cancer before surgery.
Arm ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Classification ; Estrogens ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis* ; Skin ; Survival Rate ; Thermography*

PURPOSE: This study compared the perioperative and pathologic outcomes between an extralevator abdominoperineal resection (APR) in the prone position and a conventional APR. METHODS: Between September 2011 and March 2014, an extralevator APR in the prone position was performed on 13 patients with rectal cancer and a conventional APR on 26 such patients. Patients' demographics and perioperative and pathologic outcomes were obtained from the colorectal cancer database and electronic medical charts. RESULTS: Age and preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level were significantly different between the conventional and the extralevator APR in the prone position (median age, 65 years vs. 55 years [P = 0.001]; median preoperative CEA level, 4.94 ng/mL vs. 1.81 ng/mL [P = 0.011]). For perioperative outcomes, 1 (3.8%) intraoperative bowel perforation occurred in the conventional APR group and 2 (15.3%) in the extralevator APR group. In the conventional and extralevator APR groups, 12 (46.2%) and 6 patients (46.2%) had postoperative complications, and 8 (66.7%) and 2 patients (33.4%) had major complications (Clavien-Dindo III/IV), respectively. The circumferential resection margin involvement rate was higher in the extralevator APR group compared with the conventional APR group (3 of 13 [23.1%] vs. 3 of 26 [11.5%]). CONCLUSION: The extralevator APR in the prone position for patients with advanced low rectal cancer has no advantages in perioperative and pathologic outcomes over a conventional APR for such patients. However, through early experience with a new surgical technique, we identified various reasons for the lack of favorable outcomes and expect sufficient experience to produce better peri- or postoperative outcomes.
Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Demography ; Humans ; Postoperative Complications ; Prone Position* ; Rectal Neoplasms*

No abstract available.
Asphyxia* ; Erythrocyte Count* ; Erythrocytes* ; Humans ; Hyaline Membrane Disease ; Infant, Newborn

Duplicated inferior vena cava (IVC) is a congenital anomaly seen rarely in the general population. Patients with IVC variants usually do not present any symptoms and are found incidentally in many cases. However, physicians are urged to recognize the presence of such anomalies during diagnostic or invasive procedures as these variants of blood vessel systems can impose substantial implications in certain clinical situations. Subsequently, information about IVC variants may become critical if surgical injuries or predisposing conditions act as life-threatening risks to patients during medical procedures. We present a case of duplicated IVC in a 68-year-old female patient with rectal cancer where an IVC anomaly was found during surgical resection of her tumor. From our experience, we emphasize the importance of having the knowledge of IVC variations in patients undergoing invasive surgical procedures which may involve large vessels.
Aged ; Blood Vessels ; Female ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Humans ; Intraoperative Complications ; Laparotomy ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Vena Cava, Inferior