No abstract available.
Female* ; Humans

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is overexpressed in various malignancies including carcinoma of the breast, lung, esophagus, cervix, and stomach. In patients with cervical carcinoma, its overexpression may be associated with advanced stage and poor prognosis. So, we evaluated the levels of serum EGFR in patients with cervical carcinoma. The level of EGFR extracellular domain was determined in serum from 57 cervical carcinoma patients(adenocarcinoma: 2, squamous cell carcinoma: 39, carcinoma in situ(CIS): 16) and 28 cases of healthy control using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(Calbiochem). In invasive carcinoma, serum EGFR level was measured in 11 cases of Stage Ia, 9 cases of Stage Ib, 4 cases of Stage IIa, 15 cases of Stage IIb, 2 cases of stage III patients. The mean ages of the healthy controls, of the wome with carcinoma in situ(CIS), and with invasive cervical carcinoma were not different(49.3, 44,4, 49.5, respectively, p 0.241). The mean serum level of EGFR in healthy control(n 28), carcinoma in situ(CIS)(n 16), and invasive carcinoma patients(n=41) were not significantly different(71.4+/-12.8fmol/ml, 79.2+/-26.8fmol/ml, 61.8+/- 18.4 fmol/ml, respectively, p=0.071). In conclusion, the expression of EGFR was not increased in patients with cervical cancer compared with normal women. And no significant differences were found depending on the clinical stage.
Breast ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cervix Uteri ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Esophagus ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; Prognosis ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; Stomach ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. PURPOSE: The objective of the study is to evaluate the relationship between the detection rate of lumbar disc herniation and socioeconomic status. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Income is one important determinant of public health. Yet, there are no reports about the relationship between socioeconomic status and the detective rate of disc herniation. METHODS: In this study, 443 cases were checked for lumbar computed tomography for lumbar disc herniation, and they reviewed questionnaires about their socioeconomic status, the presence of back pain or radiating pain and the presence of a medical certificate (to check the medical or surgical treatment for the pain) during the Korean conscription. RESULTS: Without the consideration for the presence of a medical certificate, there was no difference in spinal physical grade according to socioeconomic status (p=0.290). But, with the consideration of the presence of a medical certificate, the significant statistical differences were observed according to socioeconomic status in 249 cases in the presence of a medical certificate (p=0.028). There was a lower detection rate in low economic status individuals than those in the high economic class. The common reason for not submitting a medical certificate is that it is neither necessary for the people of lower socioeconomic status nor is it financially affordable. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of lumbar disc herniation is not different according to socioeconomic status, but the detective rate was affected by socioeconomic status. Socioeconomic status is an important factor for detecting lumbar disc herniation.
Back Pain ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Prevalence ; Public Health ; Retrospective Studies ; Social Class ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Measurements of the diameter of the coronary artery (left main, left anterior descending branch, left circumflex branch, right) and the length of the coronary artery (left main, left anterior descending) were performed in 77 cases obtained from corpses with normal and mild atherosclerosis of coronary artery. Fifty-six males and 21 females were studied whose ages ranged from 15 -78 years old. The diameter of the coronary artery exponentially increased in accordance with the increase of age (left main coronary artery: lumen diameter=1.847+0.216 X age, R2=0.632, p<0.01; left anterior descending branch: lumen diameter=1.513 +0.241 X age, R2=0.539, p<0.01; right coronary artery:lumen diameter=1.830 +0.193 X age, R2=0.513, p<0.01; left circumflex branch: lumen diame-ter= 1.470+0.159 X age, R2=0.502, p<0.01). The lumen diameter of the left main coronary artery, the length of the left anterior descending branch and the thickness of the left anterior descending branch exponentially increased in accordance with the increase of the heart weight(left main coronary artery: lumen diameter=1.721+0.031 X heart weight, R2=0.338, p<0.01; left anterior descending branch: length=7.114+0.103 X heart weight, R2=0.313, p<0.01; left anterior descending branch: wall thickness=0.226+0.009 X heart weight, R2=0.256, p<0.01). But no significant difference was observed between the diameter, length of the coronary artery and various body indices, and heart weight. Microscopic and immunohistochemical studies on coronary arteries of 77 cases showed high frequency of diffuse intimal thickening with many smooth muscle cells and scanty macrophages and fragmentation of internal elastic lamina in arteries without atherosclerosis. These results indicate that the lumen diameter of coronary artery is closely correlated with age but not with various body indices and heart weight, and the length of the anterior descending branch is closely correlated with heart weight but not with age and various body indices. The results of the microscopic and immunohistochemical studies indicate that the early event of the atherosclerosis of the coronary artery is intimal thickening and fragmentation of internal elastic lamina.
Arteries ; Atherosclerosis ; Cadaver ; Coronary Vessels* ; Female ; Heart ; Humans ; Macrophages ; Male ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle

PURPOSE: To compare the results of two different surgical methods (translation vs rod derotation) in a correction of double thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) using pedicle screw instrumentation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-seven patients with double thoracic AIS treated by pedicle screw instrumentation were reviewed retrospectively after a minimum follow-up of 2 years. The patients were divided into two groups; TR group (translation method, n=14) and RD group (rod derotation, n=33). There were no significant differences in the preoperative curve characteristics between the two groups. RESULTS: In the TR group, the preoperative upper thoracic curve of 37+/-4 degrees improved to 24+/-4 degrees (35% correction), and the lower thoracic curve of 52+/-9 degrees improved to 18+/-5 degrees (65% correction). In the RD group, the preoperative upper thoracic curve of 40+/-7 degrees improved to 19+/-7 degrees (51% correction), and the lower thoracic curve of 56+/-12 degrees was improved to 16+/-6 degrees (72% correction). The correction of the upper and lower thoracic curves was significantly better in the RD group (p<0.05). Thoracic sagittal kyphosis was corrected from 21 degrees to 24 degrees in the TR group and from 18 degrees to 26 degrees in the RD group. There was no significant difference in the spinal balance, shoulder height difference, T1 tilt and fusion extent. The operating time and the amount of blood loss was 231 minutes and 2050ml in the TR group and 263 minutes and 3217ml in the RD group, respectively (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In correcting double thoracic AIS using pedicle screw instrumentation, the rod derotation method showed better correction for the upper and lower thoracic curves. The translation method showed the advantages of easier application, a shorter operation time and less blood loss.
Adolescent* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Scoliosis* ; Shoulder

Human pulmonary dirofilariasis has been documented from many parts of the world, but not in Korea so far. We experienced a patient of pulmonary dirofilariasis who had visited a local clinic because of chest pain for 1 month. On chest radiograph, a coin lesion of 2 cm diameter and enlargement of the mediastinal lymph node were shown. An exploratory lung resection was done. Pathologically the lesion was a pulmonary dirofilariasis complicated with necrotic pneumonia, fibrosis, and infarction. At the center of the lesion, degenerated nematode sections with multilayered cuticle, thick musculature, and bilateral internal ridges on each side were found, which was identified to be Dirofilaria immitis. This is the first report of human pulmonary dirofilariasis in Korea.
Case Report ; Dirofilariasis/pathology* ; Dirofilariasis/diagnosis ; Human ; Lung Diseases, Parasitic/pathology* ; Lung Diseases, Parasitic/diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Age

A 36-year-old male patient with no remarkable medical history was admitted to our hospital for a health check up. On chest radiography, bilateral aortic notches at the level of aortic arch were shown suggesting aortic arch anomaly without any clinical symptoms. Two aortic arches were almost same-in-size on suprasternal view of transthoracic echocardiography. In addition, multidetector computed tomography showed balanced type double aortic arch forming a complete vascular ring which encircled the trachea and esophagus. The trachea was slightly compressed by the vascular ring whereas the esophagus was intact. Nevertheless, the pulmonary function test was normal. The patient was discharged from hospital with instructions for periodic follow-up.
Adult ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Echocardiography ; Esophagus ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Thorax ; Trachea

Thymolipoma is rare benign tumor of the thymic gland and mostly occurs at anterior mediastinum. Thymolipoma comprises 2~9% of thymic tumor and less than 1% of mediastinal mass. Therefore, thymolipoma should be differentiated from anterior mediastinal tumor such as thymoma, germ cell tumor and lymphoma. These tumors resemble cardiomegaly, pleural effusion, basal atelectasis, pericardial tumor and cyst, pleural tumor, lung cancer and pulmonary sequestration, and differentiated from above mentioned diseases. Though most cases are asymptomatic, there can be dyspnea with compression of adjacent organ by mass effect, and myasthenia gravis. We experienced a thymolipoma simulating cardiomegaly and report the case with the review of literatures.
Bronchopulmonary Sequestration ; Cardiomegaly* ; Dyspnea ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lymphoma ; Mediastinum ; Myasthenia Gravis ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal ; Pleural Effusion ; Pulmonary Atelectasis ; Thymoma ; Thymus Neoplasms

PURPOSE: Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) leads to major economic losses in the swine industry. Vaccination is the most effective method to control the disease by PRRSV. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, the efficacy of a glycoprotein (GP) 5-modified inactivated vaccine was investigated in pigs. The study was performed in three farms: farm A, which was porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS)-negative, farm B (PRRS-active), which showed clinical signs of PRRS but had not used vaccines, and farm C (PRRS-stable), which had a history of endemic PRRS over the past years, but showed no more clinical signs after periodic administration of modified live virus vaccine. RESULTS: The inactivated vaccine induced great enhancement in serum neutralizing antibody titer, which was sufficient to protect pigs from further infections of PRRSV in a farm where pre-existing virus was circulating. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that vaccination with the inactivated vaccine composed of viruses possessing deglycosylated GP5 would provide enhanced protection to pigs from farms suffering from endemic PRRSV.
Antibodies, Neutralizing ; Glycoproteins ; Neutralization Tests ; Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome* ; Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus* ; Swine* ; Vaccination ; Vaccines ; Vaccines, Inactivated

BACKGROUND: Resolution of postoperative ileus has traditionally been the moment at which bowel function returns. The re-start of postoperative oral feeding usually occurs after that. Recently, many reports have been published on early postoperative feeding in patients operated on laparoscopically and even in patients receiving a laparotomy. The aim of this study was to scrutinize the validity of early postoperative feeding. METHODS: Fiftyfour colorectal cancer patients who had undergone radical resective surgery for cure were included in this study and were divided into two group. Group 1 included 32 patients who were fed in a traditional manner. Group 2 consisted of 22 patients who received a regular diet on the first postoperative day. The mean age was 62, the male-to-female ratio was 1.2:1. Thirteen tumor were located on the right side colon, 4 on the left side colon, 10 on the rectosigmoid, 27 on the rectum. Operative methods were 13 right hemicolectomies, 4 left hemicolectomies, 19 low anterior resections, and 18 abdominoperineal resections. The possible problems associated with early oral feeding were well understood by the patients and consents were obtained. Immediately after the operation, the nasogastric tube was removed in the operation room, and The time of complete recovery from anesthesia was 3 to 5 hours later. At that time, liquid drink was given; then, liquid food or blended food was allowed. RESULT: Early oral intake was tolerable in 14 patients out of 21 (67%); in 8 patients a nasogastric tube was reinserted due to severe nausea, vomiting, and/or abdominal distension. All those minor problems were resolved after reinsertion of the nasogastric tube and returning to the traditional method. In one patient, who had a received a low anterior resection, a serious complication, anastomatic leakage, developed. Early oral intake was not thought to be the exact cause of the leakage, but it made the problem more complicated. A huge amount of feces soiled the peritoneal cavity and the already dissected retroperitoneum. CONCLUSIONS: The tolerability of early postoperative oral intake was 67%. In the remainder of patients, all the minor problems except one, were relieved by simply returning to the traditional method. However, early postoperative oral intake should be used with caution for patients who experience difficulty with anastomosis or have an intraoperative technical breakdown and in whom the possibility of leakage exists.
Anesthesia ; Colon ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Diet ; Feces ; Humans ; Ileus ; Laparotomy ; Nausea ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Rectum ; Soil ; Vomiting