No abstract available.
Angiotensin II* ; Angiotensins* ; Animals ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Rats* ; Ureter* ; Ureteral Obstruction*

No abstract available.
Schizophrenia*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop an instrument of task performance evaluation for clinical nurses, thus testing the validity and the reliability of the scale. METHOD: Data was collected from 84 Head Nurses and 255 General Nurses. A conceptual framework, composed of 4 factors of meaning in task performance evaluation, was identified through review of the relevant literature. A total of 78 items were developed and were used on a five-point likert scale. Through factor analysis, items whose factor loading was below 0.50 were deleted, thus 35 items remained. To test the validity and reliability of the instrument, the SPSS 11.0 windows program was used. RESULT: The results of the factor analysis indicated that 4 factors were classified and the cumulative percent of variance was 67.54%. The results of the reliability test indicated that Cronbach's coefficient of the total 35 items was over 0.9176. The results of the factor analysis indicated that factor loadings of all items was over 0.50. Conclusively, the validity and the reliability of the scale were proven. CONCLUSION: This study was identified as a tool with a high degree of reliability and validity.
*Task Performance and Analysis ; *Nursing Evaluation Research ; Nursing/*standards ; Middle Aged ; Korea ; Humans ; Female ; Adult

Asthma is the most common disease of the lungs, and one that poses specific challenges for the physicians including radiologist. This article reviews for the clinical diagnosis, Radiologic features, and differential diagnosis of asthma, and outlines the radiologic features of the complications of asthma. Bronchial wall thickening and hyperinflation characterize the chest radiograph of the patients with asthma. On CT scan one may see airway wall thickening, thickened centrilobular structures, and focal or diffuse hyperlucency. Apparent bronchial dilatation may be seen, but the diagnosis of bronchiectasis should be made with caution. Quantification of changes in the airway wall and lung parenchyma may be valuable in understanding the mechanisms of asthma and in evaluating the effects of treatment. The challenge for the physician evaluating the images of a patient with asthma is to find complications.
Asthma* ; Bronchiectasis ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Dilatation ; Humans ; Lung ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND/AIMS: During the past several decades pancreaticoduodenectomy has carried a tremendous operative risk. Recently, however, mortality has decreased markedly to around 5%. The aim of this study was to determine the indication, clinical course and complications for the procedure. We also assessed the risk factors of operative morbidity and mortality. METHODS: During the period from June 1979 to July 1998, 155 patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy at our institution. The clinical records and pathologic reports were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: There were 102 men and 53 women. Mean age was 55.5 years. Indications for the procedure were periampullary carcinoma in 121 patients(78.1%), other malignant tumors in 13 patients(8.2%), and benign diseases including trauma in 21 patients(13.5%). A standard pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed in 113 patients. The remaining 42 patients underwent pylorus preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy. Operative morbidity occurred in 46 patients (29.7%). Pancreatic fistula was the most common complication (11.0%). There were nine operative deaths(5.8%). For the patients with pancreatic fistula, the mortality rate was 41.1%. Patient's age, serum albumin, serum bilirubin, hemoglobin, and leucocyte count had no significant influences on the result of operation. Type of procedure, operation time, amount of transfusion, or use of octreotide were not determining factors for operative mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed in 155 patients with a mortality of 5.8% and a morbidity of 29.7%. The main cause of operative death was pancreatic fistula. There were no specific contributing factors leading to operative morbidity and mortality. It is suggested that technical precision and gentleness are of great importance for patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy
Bilirubin ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mortality ; Octreotide ; Pancreatic Fistula ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy* ; Pylorus ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Serum Albumin

An unusual tracheal tumor was found in a 50 year old male who was admitted due to mild dyspnea on exertion. Simple chest X-ray showed an abnorma mass shadow in the trachea and computerized chest tomogram revealed a tumor in the mid 1/3 of the trachea obstructing 80% of the lumen. Through a right thoracotomy incision, resection of a 2.5 cm segment of the trachea with end-to-end anastomosis was done and microscopic findings showed many cystic spaces with myxomatous hyalinous stroma. It was diagnosed as a pleomorphic adenoma of the trachea.
Adenoma, Pleomorphic/*pathology/*radiography/surgery ; Case Report ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tracheal Neoplasms/*pathology/*radiography/surgery

The role of neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy in locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) is still controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate surgical downstaging after concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) for LAPC by measuring the objective changes after treatment. From January 2003 through July 2011, 54 patients with LAPC underwent neoadjuvant CCRT. Computed tomography findings of the tumor size, including major vessel invasion, were analyzed before and after CCRT. Among the total recruited patients, 14 had borderline resectable malignancy and another 40 were unresectable before CCRT. After CCRT, a partial response was achieved in four patients. Stable disease and further disease progression were achieved in 36 and 14 patients, respectively. Tumor size showed no significant difference before and after CCRT (3.6 +/- 1.1 vs. 3.6 +/- 1.0 cm, P = 0.61). Vessel invasion showed improvement in two patients, while 13 other patients showed further tumor progression. Thirty-nine patients with unresectable malignancy and 11 patients with borderline resectable malignancy at time of initial diagnosis remained unchanged after CCRT. Four patients with borderline pancreatic malignancy progressed to an unresectable stage, whereas one unresectable pancreatic malignancy improved to a borderline resectable stage. Only one patient with borderline resectable disease underwent operation after CCRT; however, curative resection failed due to celiac artery invasion and peritoneal seeding. The adverse events associated with CCRT were tolerable. In conclusion, preoperative CCRT in LAPC rarely leads to surgical downstaging, and it could lower resectability rates.
Adenocarcinoma/radiography/therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic/therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use ; Capecitabine/therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/*radiography/*therapy ; Chemoradiotherapy/adverse effects/*methods ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Deoxycytidine/analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Fluorouracil/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Neoplasm Staging ; Pancreas/blood supply/pathology ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/*radiography/*therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to examine the methylation status of the p16 and MGMT promoters in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to evaluate the relationship between the loss of gene expression, the promoter methylation status and hepatocarcinogenesis. METHODS: We included 24 HCC tissues and their adjacent non-tumorous tissues and 5 normal liver tissues in our study, and all the specimens were obtained by hepatectomy. The methylation status of the p16 and MGMT promoter regions were evaluated by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) and quantitative analysis by using a Gel-pro analyzer (Media Cybernetics, CA, USA). We also analyzed the p16 and MGMT gene expressions by performing immunohistochemical staining of the HCC tissues. RESULTS: Methylation of the p16 promoter was detected in HCC (100%, 24/24) and the adjacent non-tumorous tissues (79.2%, 19/24), but not in the normal liver tissues. Methylation of the MGMT promoter was detected in the HCC (8.3%, 2/24) and the adjacent non-tumorous tissues (4.2%, 1/24), but not in the normal liver tissues. Methylation positive HCC samples showed the loss of p16 expression in 58.3% (14/24). The loss of the p16 expression in the HCC tissues was well correlated with the increased rate of p16 promoter methylation (p=0.009). When the p16 promoter methylation status of the HCC tissues was higher than that of the adjacent non-tumorous tissues, 77.8% of the cases showed the loss of the p16 expression (p=0.002). No correlation was observed between MGMT promoter methylation and the loss of the gene expression in the HCC tissues. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that methylation of the p16 promoter and the resulting loss of p16 protein expression are significant events in hepatocarcinogenesis, and further studies are needed to evaluate the relationship between the methylation of the MGMT promoter and HCC carcinogenesis.
Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Cybernetics ; Gene Expression ; Hepatectomy ; Liver ; Methylation* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Promoter Regions, Genetic

BACKGROUND: Repeated 24 hour recall has been considered as a preferred method for obtaining accurate dietary information while time and cost for coding and data processing have been a major barrier for their use in large studies. This burden can be resolved by automating the interview and data processing. However, there has been no report about a computerized interview system for dietary survey in a free-living population in Korea. METHODS: This study attempts to test the feasibility of a newly-developed web-based dietary assessment program, Diet Evaluation System (DES) for subjects in a mixed region of urban and rural areas via wireless internet. We conducted total of 134 interviews, twice for each of 67 subjects of various age. As another aspect of feasibility, the group discussion among interviewers was done. RESULTS: Success rate of total attempted interviews was about 70%. Major reasons for problem with DES were instability of wireless internet and consequent inefficient booting of laptops in some areas. It took 14 minute 56 seconds on average to complete an interview and data processing conducted automatically. Subjects' age and internet environment influenced the DES interview time. The group discussion revealed that one-stop system with DES is fast and convenient assuming good wireless internet environment. CONCLUSIONS: Web-based dietary assessment was feasible in this community nutrition survey. To confirm the feasibility in large scale, studies with more comprehensive area and subjects are needed with various wireless condition.
Automatic Data Processing ; Clinical Coding ; Diet ; Diet Surveys ; Feasibility Studies ; Internet ; Korea* ; Methods ; Nutrition Surveys*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the initial factors influencing successful final stereoacuity in patients with refractive accommodative esotropia. METHODS: The charts of 48 refractive accommodative esotropia patients 2 years of age or older andassessed using the Titmus stereoacuity test were retrospectively reviewed. Hyperopic refractive error on post-cycloplegic refraction, age at first glasses, stereoacuity after refractive correction and amblyopia were categorized and evaluated as the factors influencing final stereoacuity. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 43.51 +/- 30.02 months. The mean hypermetropia at the initial examination was 4.67 +/- 2.18 diopters (D), the mean age at first glasses was 48.09 +/- 20.22 months and the mean stereoacuity after refractive correction was 1243.75 +/- 1378.24 seconds of arc. The rates of successful stereoacuity at the final visit were 83.3% without amblyopia, 75.0% with mild amblyopia and 42.9% with moderate amblyopia which were statistically significant (p = 0.039). Hyperopic refractive error and age at first glasses were categorized as +1.0 to <3.0 D, +3.0 to <5.0 D, > or =+5.0 D and 2 to <4 years, 4 to <6 years and > or =6 years, respectively, and the rates of successful stereoacuity at the final visit were 83.3%, 66.7%, 61.9% (p = 0.362) and 71.4%, 75.0% and 54.5% (p = 0.334), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The amblyopia at the initial examination was significantly associated with the outcome of stereoacuity at the final visit in patients with refractive accommodative esotropia.
Amblyopia ; Esotropia* ; Eyeglasses ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glass ; Humans ; Hyperopia ; Refractive Errors ; Retrospective Studies