Purpose: Several polymorphic sites have been reported in the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) promoter. Comparative studies on TNF-alpha production with promoter genotype have reported variable results, particularly in the 308 promoter region. Therefore, genetic polymorphism of TNF-alpha promoter region ( 308) was investigated to determine if it was associated with bladder tumor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The DNA from 113 and 109 respective blood samples of bladder tumor patients and controls was analyzed by a PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method to characterize the genetic polymorphism of the 308 region of the TNF-alpha promoter. TNF-alpha expression was also checked by measuring the mRNA and protein content using a quantitative-competitive PCR and ELISA method, respectively. RESULTS: The difference in the genetic variations of TNF-alpha promoter did not exist between the bladder tumor patients and the control group (p=0.259). The tumor grade was significantly related to the GA genotype (p=0.04). The mRNA levels of TNF-alpha in the GA genotype were significantly higher than those in the GG genotype in bladder tumors (p=0.022). The TNF-alpha serum levels in the GA genotype were significantly higher than those in the GG genotype regardless of whether there was a bladder tumor. In addition, the TNF-alpha serum levels in bladder tumor patients were significantly higher than the controls in either the GG or GA type (GG type, p=0.001; GA type, p=0.009). CONCLUSIONS: The GA genotype of the TNF-alpha promoter region ( 308) had a significant impact on TNF-alpha production and is related to a higher-grade tumor compared to the GG genotype. The TNF-alpha serum levels in the bladder tumor patients were significantly higher than in the controls. This suggests that TNF-alpha might be involved in the tumorigenesis of the bladder.
Carcinogenesis ; DNA ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype* ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; RNA, Messenger ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha* ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder*

Intracranial chondromas are extremely rare tumors, but when present, are generally related to the synchondrosis of the base, and they have several distinct features. They are slow growing benign tumors, and plain roentgenogram frequently reveals lytic lesion and stippled calcification at base of the skull. They are radioresistant, and surgical removal is treatment of choice. We report the rare case of chondroma arisen from base of the skull which diagnosed by brain CT and confirmed by operation.
Brain ; Chondroma* ; Cranial Fossa, Middle* ; Skull

Despite of their frequent occurrence among the brain tumor, meningiomas are rarely seen as a multiple growth. Most authors report an incidence ranging from 1 to 3% of all meningioma prior to the introduction of computed tomography. After the CT has introduced, diagnostic problems involved with multiple meningiomas were resolved, and its reported incidence was arisen to 8~8.9% of all meningiomas. It may be difficult to differenciate multiple meningioma from the special varient(forme fruste) of von Recklinghausen's disease. Although the pathogenetic factors related to the multiple meningiomas are unknown, various theories of the etiology have been studied and reported. We report a patient with multiple meningioma without evidence of von Recklinghausen's diseases.
Brain Neoplasms ; Humans ; Incidence ; Meningioma* ; Neurofibromatosis 1

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the pattern of brain activation induced by a motor task and the motor responses to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) have prognostic implications for motor recovery after stroke. METHOD: Ten patients with first-ever subcortical stroke (55.7+/-17.3 years, 5 ischemic and 5 hemorrhagic) underwent 2 FDG PET studies under different conditions (1: rest, 2: activation with a specific motor task) at 37.7+/-25.2 days after stroke. The regions showing more than a 10% increase in glucose metabolism on subtraction images during activation and rest were considered to be significantly activated. Cortical excitability of intracortical inhibition (ICI) and intracortical facilitation (ICF) were assessed using the TMS from both abductor pollicis brevis muscles within 7 days of PET scans. Recovery of motor function was assessed at the point of the neurological plateau. RESULTS: The presence of a motor response at the plegic site to TMS and normal intracortical inhibition, and facilitation patterns in the unaffected hemisphere were found to be related to good recovery. An association between an ipsilesional activation on PET and good motor recovery was also observed, but this was significantly weaker than that between TMS measured cortical excitability and motor recovery. CONCLUSION: Integrity of the ipsilesional corticospinal pathway, normalized contralesional intracortical excitability, and task-related activation in the ipsilesional hemisphere were found to predict post-stroke motor recovery significantly.
Brain ; Glucose ; Humans ; Muscles ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Recovery of Function ; Stroke ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between uterine size and surgical outcomes in women undergoing total vaginal hysterectomy. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of the 170 patients who underwent total vaginal hysterectomy from February 2001 to November 2003. These patients were stratified into two groups; Group I, patients with uterine weight of between 300 gm to 1000 gm; Group II, patients with uterine weight of <300 gm. The two groups were compared for ages, parity, uterine weight, previous abdominal operations, concurrent surgical procedures, postoperative discharge day, bleeding amount, perioperative hemoglobin concentration change and operative time. RESULTS: 1. There were no significant difference between the two groups with respect to postoperative discharge day, concurrent surgical procedures, bleeding amount and perioperative hemoglobin concentration change. 2. The rate of surgical complications were similar in the two groups (Group I 12.5%; Group II 13.1%) (P=.660). 3. Operative time for vaginal hysterectomy was slightly longer for women in Group I than Group II (Group I 78.4 +/- 27.1 minutes; Group II 62.9 +/- 22.7 minutes) (P=.176), but the difference between the two groups in operative time was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The vaginal hysterectomy is as safe and effective for the woman with enlarged uterus (300-1000 gm) as for the woman with uterine weight of <300 gm. Uterine enlargement (uterine weight > 300 gm) is not an absolute contraindication to vaginal hysterectomy.
Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hysterectomy, Vaginal* ; Medical Records ; Operative Time ; Parity ; Postoperative Care ; Uterus

Objectives: Presenteeism is known to be a much more economically damaging social cost than disease rest while going to work despite physical pain. Since COVID-19, social discussions on the sickness benefit have been taking place as a countermeasure against presenteeism, and in particular, farmers and fishermen do not have an institutional mechanism for livelihood support when a disease other than work occurs. This study attempted to examine the relationship between agricultural, fishing, and forestry workers and presenteeism using the 6th Korean Work Conditions Survey. Methods: From October 2020 to January 2021, data from the 6th working conditions survey conducted on 17 cities and provinces in Korea were used, and a total of 34,981 people were studied. Control variables were gender, age, self-health assessment, education level, night work, shift work, monthly income, occupation, working hours per week, and employment status. Results: As a result of the analysis, farmers and fishermen showed the characteristics of the self-employed and the elderly, and as a result of the regression analysis, when farmers and fishermen analyzed the relationship with presenteeism tendency compared to other industry workers, farmers and fishermen increased by 23% compared to other industry groups. Conclusion This study is significant in that it has representation by utilizing the 6th working conditions survey and objectively suggests the need for a sickness benefit for farmers and fishermen who may be overlooked in the sickness benefit.

Objectives: Presenteeism is known to be a much more economically damaging social cost than disease rest while going to work despite physical pain. Since COVID-19, social discussions on the sickness benefit have been taking place as a countermeasure against presenteeism, and in particular, farmers and fishermen do not have an institutional mechanism for livelihood support when a disease other than work occurs. This study attempted to examine the relationship between agricultural, fishing, and forestry workers and presenteeism using the 6th Korean Work Conditions Survey. Methods: From October 2020 to January 2021, data from the 6th working conditions survey conducted on 17 cities and provinces in Korea were used, and a total of 34,981 people were studied. Control variables were gender, age, self-health assessment, education level, night work, shift work, monthly income, occupation, working hours per week, and employment status. Results: As a result of the analysis, farmers and fishermen showed the characteristics of the self-employed and the elderly, and as a result of the regression analysis, when farmers and fishermen analyzed the relationship with presenteeism tendency compared to other industry workers, farmers and fishermen increased by 23% compared to other industry groups. Conclusion This study is significant in that it has representation by utilizing the 6th working conditions survey and objectively suggests the need for a sickness benefit for farmers and fishermen who may be overlooked in the sickness benefit.

Objectives: Presenteeism is known to be a much more economically damaging social cost than disease rest while going to work despite physical pain. Since COVID-19, social discussions on the sickness benefit have been taking place as a countermeasure against presenteeism, and in particular, farmers and fishermen do not have an institutional mechanism for livelihood support when a disease other than work occurs. This study attempted to examine the relationship between agricultural, fishing, and forestry workers and presenteeism using the 6th Korean Work Conditions Survey. Methods: From October 2020 to January 2021, data from the 6th working conditions survey conducted on 17 cities and provinces in Korea were used, and a total of 34,981 people were studied. Control variables were gender, age, self-health assessment, education level, night work, shift work, monthly income, occupation, working hours per week, and employment status. Results: As a result of the analysis, farmers and fishermen showed the characteristics of the self-employed and the elderly, and as a result of the regression analysis, when farmers and fishermen analyzed the relationship with presenteeism tendency compared to other industry workers, farmers and fishermen increased by 23% compared to other industry groups. Conclusion This study is significant in that it has representation by utilizing the 6th working conditions survey and objectively suggests the need for a sickness benefit for farmers and fishermen who may be overlooked in the sickness benefit.

Angiosarcoma is a very rare form of neoplasm derived from soft tissue. It is reported even more rarely in hepatobiliary system. Because of its nonspecific symptoms and difficulty in diagnosis, angiosarcoma is often presented in a progressed state and often results in poor prognosis. To our best knowledge, there has been no report regarding angiosarcoma in common bile duct worldwide. We report a case of 77-year-old-woman presented with right upper abdominal pain diagnosed as angiosarcoma in common bile duct.
Abdominal Pain ; Common Bile Duct* ; Diagnosis ; Hemangiosarcoma* ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVE: To report our clinical experience with 763 cases of laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) and to evaluate the efficacy and advantage of LAVH. METHODS: From Jan. 2000 to Feb. 2006, 763 cases of LAVH were performed at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. we analyzed the results regard to the age, parity, surgical indication, previous abdominal surgery, operation time, weight of uterus, change of hemoglobin, hospital stay, concomitant procedures, and complication. RESULTS: The mean age was 45.7+/-7.1 years. The mean parity was 2.5+/-1.2. The average weight of patients was 58.59+/-9.5 kg. Leiomyoma was the most common surgical indication. Tubal ligation was the most common previous surgery. The mean operation time was 87.5+/-45.7 minutes. The mean hemoglobin change was 1.1+/-0.7 g/dL. The mean uterine weight was 251.34+/-131.5 gm. The mean hospital stay was 6.15+/-0.94 days. The complication rate was 3.4% (26 cases); bladder injury (7 cases), ureter injury (3 cases), vault bleeding (3 cases), trochar site bleeding (13 cases). CONCLUSIONS: LAVH is safe and effective surgical procedure for hysterectomy. The improvement of surgical skill and laparoscopic instrument can make more replace Total abdominal hysterectomy with LAVH.
Female ; Gynecology ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Hysterectomy, Vaginal* ; Leiomyoma ; Length of Stay ; Obstetrics ; Parity ; Sterilization, Tubal ; Ureter ; Urinary Bladder ; Uterus