No abstract available.
Autopsy* ; Statistics as Topic*

OBJECTIVES: Rapidly progres s ive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) is a clinico- pathologic entity characterized by extens ive crescent formation(usually involving 50% or more of glomeruli) as the principal his tologic finding and a rapid deterioration of kidney function, which can lead to end s tage renal disease within a few weeks. T he etiology and incidence of RPGN has been well defined in Europe and North America, however, there has been no report of a large series in Korea. T he aim of the present s tudy was to analyze the etiology and clinico- pathologic features of 26 patients with RPGN, seen during 1983-1997. METHODS: T wenty-six patients with RPGN(crescents in > 50% of glomeruli) were obs erved during a period of las t 14 years. Male to female ratio was 1:1.4, and the mean age was 30(6-75) years. Mean time from the initial symptoms to the ESRD was 3.1 months . RESULTS: The incidence of RPGN in our series was 2.1% of primary glomerulonephritis. Immunecomplex mediated disease was presented in 14 cases (54%), including 6 sys temic lupus erythematos us, 3 post- streptococcal glomerulonephritis, 3 Henoch- Schonlein purpura, and 2 IgA nephropathy. Pauci- immune disease was presented in 12 cases (46%), including 3 Wegener' s granulomatos is, one necrotizing crescentic glomerulonephritis, and 8 idiopathic crescentic glomerulonephritis. However, there was none of anti-GBM- mediated disease in our s tudy. ANCA were found in 6 patients. All 3 patients with WG were C- ANCA pos itive, whereas one patient with PSGN, necrotizing cres centic GN, and idiopathic crescentic GN were P- ANCA pos itive, respectively. Initial clinical and laboratory features included edema(80%), hypertens ion(72%), oliguria(68%), a decreased renal function(serum creatinine > 5mg/dL, 35%), and gros s hematuria(36%). Renal biopsy showed large crescents more than 80% of the glomeruli in 14 cases (54%) which were predominantly fibrocellular. Fifteen patients (58%) were treated with prednis olone alone, and 12 of them received puls e doses of corticosteroids. Five patients were treated with prednisolone and cyclophos phamide IV pulse. Two cases received plasma exchange. During the mean follow-up of 31+/-37 months, 18 patients (69%) developed inexorable progression of renal failure, three(12%) showed recovery of renal function, and two(8%) showed partial improvement, which is followed by varying degrees of renal insufficiency. During follow-up, three patients died : two from res piratory failure with severe pulmonary hemorrhage and one from opportunistic pulmonary infection during immunosuppressive therapy. Poor prognos is is as sociated with hypertension, increased serum creatinine level at the time of diagnosis, large crescents more than 85% of glomeruli, and glomerular scleros is . CONCLUSION: We conclude that an earlier diagnos is including kidney biopsy and the more aggressive treatment are essential in the management of RPGN.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic ; Biopsy ; Creatinine ; Diagnosis ; Europe ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glomerulonephritis* ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Immune System Diseases ; Incidence ; Kidney ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Korea ; Male ; North America ; Plasma Exchange ; Prednisolone ; Purpura ; Renal Insufficiency ; Systemic Vasculitis

We report a case of combined multiple muscle deficiency around shoulder and upper back. His chief complaint was difficulty in shoulder abduction above his head. After thorough evaluation using electromyography, isokinetic muscle testing and magnetic resonance imaging, despite of mild symptom, he showed multiple muscle deficiency such as bilateral whole trapezius, latissimus dorsi and unilateral partial pectoralis major and serratus anterior muscle.
Electromyography ; Head ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Shoulder ; Superficial Back Muscles*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic value of gross bloody stools as a predictor of intussusception. METHODS: We reviewed 159 cases retrospectively that had an ultrasound examination for diagnosis of intussusception from January 2001 to December 2003 at Ilsin Christian Hospital. We compared each symptom and assessed the diagnostic value of gross bloody stools in the patients with suspected intussusception. RESULTS: Thirty-six of the 159 patients had intussusception. Of 36 patients with intussusception, 19 (52.8%) children were male and 28(77.8%) children were younger than two years. The most common symptom was intermittent abdominal pain or irritability. But its frequency among the intussusception (24.2%) was lower than frequency of gross bloody stools(50.9%). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value(PPV) and negative predictive value(NPV) of gross bloody stools in patients with suspected intussusception were as follows; sensitivity=77.8%(95% CI 60.8-89.9), specificity=78.0%(95% CI 69.7-85.0), PPV=50.9%(95% CI 37.1-64.6), NPV=92.3%(95% CI 85.4-96.6)(Diagnostic accuracy 78.0 %; 95% CI 70.7-84.2). CONCLUSION: It is useful for diagnosis of intussusception to confirm the presence of gross blood in stools.
Abdominal Pain ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Intussusception* ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in patients with chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) and the significance of microorganisms as the causative factor of CPPS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the frequency of 19 possible causative microorganisms of prostatitis in 849 patients who had prostatitis symptoms from April 2007 to March 2009 by using multiplex PCR. All of the enrolled patients were category III by the definition of the NIH Chronic Prostatitis Workshop. RESULTS: Of the 849 patients, 414 (49%) and 435 (51%) were categories IIIa (inflammatory CPPS) and IIIb (noninflammatory CPPS). On multiplex PCR, using the third voided urine specimen (VB3), 369 (89%) of the 414 category IIIa and 367 (84%) of the 435 category IIIb cases were found to have positive PCR results for causative microorganisms. The common microorganisms were Enterococcus, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Chlamydia trachomatis in 173 (18%), 144 (15%), 129 (13%), 78 (8%), and 69 cases (7%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There were too many positive PCR results for causative microorganisms in the CPPS patients despite negative urine culture examination. Therefore, it is necessary to rule out contamination of the specimen to achieve reliable results with multiplex PCR. However, multiplex PCR can detect various unknown microorganisms suggestive of the etiology of CPPS, particularly those that are difficult to cultivate. PCR is expected to play an important role in the diagnosis of CPPS, but further studies will be required to define the usefulness of molecular tests.
Chlamydia trachomatis ; Enterococcus ; Humans ; Lactobacillus ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pelvic Pain ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prostatitis ; Streptococcus agalactiae ; Ureaplasma urealyticum

Isolated ACTH deficiency is a uncommon disorder causing secondary adrenocortical insufficiency. Less than 200 cases have been reported in the world. The major clinical manifestations are hypoglycemia, weight loss, hypotension, anemia, weakness, nausea, inability to excrete water load, and hyponatremia. A 56-year-old male was admitted because of weakness, fatigue, nausea and vomiting. He was pallor and not associated with hyperpigmentation. The basal plasma ACTH and cortisol levels were 8.30 pg/ml and 0.6 ug/dl. The serum cortisol did not response to rapid ACTH stimulation test. On combined pituitary stimulation test, the cortisol did not response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia. Other anterior pituitary hormones showed normal responses except elevated prolactin level. Six months after glucocorticoid replacement therapy, the elevated basal prolactin level returned to normal. Brain MRI did not show any anatomic abnormalities of the sellar and suprasella area. We report a case of isolated ACTH deficiency accompanied by hyperprolactineia, which respond to glucocorticoid replacement therapy.
Adrenal Insufficiency ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone* ; Anemia ; Brain ; Fatigue ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Hyperpigmentation ; Hyperprolactinemia* ; Hypoglycemia ; Hyponatremia ; Hypotension ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nausea ; Pallor ; Pituitary Hormones, Anterior ; Plasma ; Prolactin ; Vomiting ; Water ; Weight Loss

No abstract available.

The nineteen patients(20 eyes) of traumatic optic neuropathy were investigated to evaluate the effectiveness of high dose corticosteroid for the visual improvernent in the early treatment of this disease. The relationships between the affected region and visual improvement, the interval to treatment and final visual acuity, the initial visual acuity and final visual acuity were studied. 250mg of methylprednisolone was administered intravenously every 6 hours followed by tapering using oral prednisone. The optic canal decompression was performed in five patients suspected swelling of optic nerve or optic canal fracture revealed by orbital CT. It is difficult to know the relationships between the affected region and visual improvement, the interval to treatment and final visual acuity. The vision was improved in nine of eleven patients who had an initial visual acuity of above light perception, but in the two of nine patients who had an initial visual acuity of no light perception. The two of five patients treated with a combina tion of high dose corticosteroid and optic canal decompression showed improved visual function. In initial treatment of traumatic optic neuropathy, high dose corticosteroid was effective and combined optic canal decompression was helpful, if indicated.
Decompression ; Humans ; Methylprednisolone ; Optic Nerve ; Optic Nerve Injuries* ; Orbit ; Prednisone ; Visual Acuity

In order to see whether the binocular patching with cycloplegia improves the prognosis in the treatmet of traumatic hyphema, we studied prospectively 77 patients with nonperforating traumatic hyphema who were admitted and treated at the Chonnam University Hospital between January 1994 and July 1995. We analyzed the clearance time of blood clot in the anterior chamber, the incidence of rebleeding and the final visual acuity. The patients were divided into four groups : group I, of 17 patients treated by monocular patching ; group II, of 19 patients treated by monocular patching with cycloplegia ; group III, of 20 patients treated by absolute bed rest with binocular patching ; group IV, of 21 patients treated by absolute bed rest with binocular patching and cycloplegia. The average clearance time of blood clot was 7.4 days in group I, 7.4 days in group II, 6.9 days in group III and 7.5 days in group IV. The incidence of rebleeding was 5.8% (n=1) in group I, 10.5% (n=2) in group II, 0% (n=0) in group III, 14.3% (n=3) in group IV. The final visual acuity of 0.6 or better was achieved in 10 patients (58.8%) of group I, 13 patients (68.4%) of group II, 13 patients (65.0%) of group III, 14 patients (66.7%) of group IV. In the treatment of traumatic hyphema, binocular and monocular groups as well as cycloplegic and non-cycloplegic groups showed no significant difference from each other in the clearance time of blood clot, incidence of rebleeding and the final visual acuity.
Anterior Chamber ; Bed Rest ; Humans ; Hyphema* ; Incidence ; Jeollanam-do ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Telescopes ; Visual Acuity