OBJECTIVE: SCC-Ag(Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen) is a tumor marker for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. It has shown that the SCC-Ag was well related with the response of cancer therapy and course of cervical cancer. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the presence of pelvic lymph node metstasis can be predicted by the measurement of the preoperative SCC-Ag levels in the patients with early staged squamous cell carcinoma of cervix. METHODS: The preoperative serum SCC-Ag levels were measured in 45 patients with stage I-II squamous cell carcinoma of cervix undergoing radical hysterectomy from September 1995 to December 1997. The serum SCC-Ag levels were analyzed for the clinicopathologic characteristics and other prognostic factors using univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The serum SCC-Ag levels of the patients exhibited pelvic lymph node metastasis were above 4.8ng/ml. An elevated preoperative serum SCC-Ag level, and tumor size were independent predictors for the presence of lymph node metastasis(p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The determination of the preoperative serum SCC-Ag levels provides a new prognostic factor in early staged cervical cancer.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Lymph Nodes ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

No abstract available.
Humans ; Microcomputers* ; Stomach Neoplasms*

No abstract available.
Hydranencephaly*

Although many kinds of operation for rectal prolapse exist, generally they could be divided into the transabdominal and transperineal approach. The former has low recurrence rate as compared with the latter, but needs laparotomy. Unfortunately, many patients with rectal prolapse are old and debilitated. So they are not suitable candidates for a major abdominal operation. For those patient, a transperineal method may be proper, but the recurrence rate may be high and continence is not always achieved. We reviewed 12 patients who were older than 70 years of age and treated by the Thiersch operation among the 52 cases of rectal prolapse from Feb. 1992 to Mar. 1997 at Kwangju Christian Hospital. The results were summarized as follows; 1) The male to female ratio was 1 : 1.4. 2) Durations of rectal prolapse were distributed from 6 months to 30 years. Seven cases had duration of longer than 10 years. 3) The preoperative incidence of incontience was 8 (67%) of 12 cases. Among the 8 patients with incontinence, the male was 3 (37.5%) and female was 5 (62.5%). 4) Postoperative review of incontinence revealed complete disappearance in 4 cases (50%), improvement in 3 cases (37.5%), and no improvement in 1 case (12.5%). 5) After the Thiersch operation, rectal prolapse recurred in only 1 of the 12 cases (8.3%), a wound infection developed in 1 case (8.3%), defecation difficulty due to the small Thiersch ring was present in 3 cases (25%). The results of this study show that the Thiersch operation may be an effective method in treating rectal prolapse, especially in patient who are old or have poor general condition and manifested incontinence.
Defecation ; Female ; Gwangju ; Humans ; Incidence ; Laparotomy ; Male ; Rectal Prolapse* ; Recurrence ; Wound Infection

No abstract available.
Brain Edema* ; Brain* ; Microvessels* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

PURPOSE: The diagnosis of Budd-Chiari syndrome on CT is difficult if CT do not demonstrate obstruction of the IVC or hepatic vein and other parameter is needed for the correct diagnosis. The purpose of our study was to determine the usefulness of measuring the diameter of azygos-hemiazygos vein on CT to differentiate Budd-Chiari syndrome from advanced liver cirrhosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients who were proven as Budd-Chiari syndrome on vena cavography were studied for analysis. All patients showed evidence of liver cirrhosis on CT. As a control group fifteen cases of advanced liver cirrhosis who underwent endoscopic sclerotheraphy due to esophageal variceal bleeding were also included for comparison. The largest short axis diameter of azygos-hemiazygos vein was measured in all patients at the level of diaphragm on axial CT and the results were compared in both groups. RESULTS: In patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome the largest short axial diameter of azygos-hemiazygos vein ranged from 0.5cm to 2.5cm(mean ;1.5cm). Only one patient who showed hepatic venous obstruction demonstrated a diameter of less than 1 cm(0. Scm). In contrast, the diameter in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis without obstruction of IVC or hepatic vein was less than 1 cm with a range from 0.2cm to 1 cm(mean ;0.6cm). CONCLUSION: The short axis diameter of azygos-hemiazygos vein was an indicator of IVC obstruction (Budd-Chiari syndrome).
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Budd-Chiari Syndrome* ; Diagnosis* ; Diaphragm ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Hepatic Veins ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Veins*

No abstract available.
Brain* ; Neoplasm Metastasis*

Accumulation of leukocytes within the glomerulus is a key event in the pathogenesis of glomerulonephritis. This process is mediated by pairs of adhesion molecules. We have examined the expression pattern of selectins (E and P), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in 30 renal biopsies with IgA nephropathy, diffuse crescentic glomerulonephritis, and minimal change disease. Normal controls were obtained from four nephrectomy specimens with renal cell carcinoma. ICAM-1 expression was significantly increased in the glomerular endothelial and mesangial cells in cases with IgA nephropathy compared with normal controls. VCAM-1 was expressed in glomerular mesangial cells in all cases with IgA nephropathy and diffuse crescentic glomerulonephritis, but faintly expressed in 3 cases with minimal change disease and not expressed in normal controls. P-selectin was faintly expressed in the glomeruli in cases with IgA nephropathy and diffuse crescentic glomerulonephritis. E-selectin was only expressed in the vascular endothelium in one case with IgA nephropathy and in the other with diffuse crescentic glomerulonephritis. ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were strongly expressed in the crescents. However, selectin was not expressed in the crescent. These results suggest that adhesion molecules, particularly ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, play an important role in the pathogenesis of glomerular damage and crescent formation in primary glomerular diseases.
Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; E-Selectin ; Endothelium, Vascular ; Glomerulonephritis* ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA* ; Immunoglobulin A* ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Leukocytes ; Mesangial Cells ; Nephrectomy ; Nephrosis, Lipoid* ; P-Selectin ; Selectins ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1

No abstract available.
Gonadotropins* ; Humans*

Linear IgA bullous dermatoses(LABD) occurring in childhood is considered to be a childhood counterpart of LABD,rather than chronic bullous dermatosis of childhood. This disease characteristically involves the perioral area,lower trunk,pelvic region and the lower extremities. Immunopathologically,it is characterized by the linear deposits of IgA at the dermoepidermal junction of the perilesional skin. A 20-month-old female infant presented with multiple pruritic tense bullae on the face, lower trunk, both extremities and pelvic region of 2 weeks duration. She had no oral lesions or any specific signs or symptoms referable to the disease of the gastrointestinal tract. A skin biopsy revealed subepidermal blisters infiltrated with many neutrophils and a few eosinophils. Direct immunofluorescence demonstrated linear deposition of IgA at the dermoepidermal junction. An indirect immunofluorescence study using NaC1-split skin as the substrate revealed fluorescence for IgA in a linear pattern on the roof of the split at a titer of 1:40. The clinical diagnosis of LABD of childhood was confirmed and we started with a combined remedy of dapsone and corticosteroids; 10 weeks later almost all of the lesions had disappeared.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Biopsy ; Blister ; Dapsone ; Diagnosis ; Eosinophils ; Extremities ; Female ; Fluorescence ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Infant ; Linear IgA Bullous Dermatosis* ; Lower Extremity ; Neutrophils ; Pelvis ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation