The first case report of granular cell tumor was by Abrikossoff in 1926, the tumor has been named with more than 20 different synonyms. It is found usually in the tongue, oral cavity, and the skin. It occurs rarely in the esophagus. Esophageal granular cell tumor is a benign lesion which can be diagnosed by endoscopic biopsy. Large symptomatic lesion can be removed by polypectomy. A 29-year-old female visited our hospital for intermittent epigastric pain and anterior chest discomfort. Endoscopy showed a 0.6 *0.4 cm whitish yellow nodule in the mid-esophagus, 25 cm from the incisor teeth. Endoscopic polypectomy was performed with "O"-type rubber band for endoscopic variceal ligation(EVL). A case of esophageal granular cell tumor conformed by S-100 protein stain is reported with the review of literature.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Endoscopy ; Esophagus* ; Female ; Granular Cell Tumor* ; Humans ; Incisor ; Mouth ; Rubber ; S100 Proteins ; Skin ; Thorax ; Tongue ; Tooth

STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-seven patients with spinal tuberculosis were evaluated according to surgical method. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of posterior spinal instrumentation in the surgical treatment of patient with tuberculous spondylitis. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEWS: There are many debates about the effectiveness of posterior spinal instrumentation combined with anterior interbody fusion in tuberculous spondylitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 1995 to June 2000, 37 patients were divided into two groups depending on their use of posterior spinal instrumentation. Group I consist of thirteen patients who were treated with conventional anterior corpectomy and anterior interbody fusion using autogenous strut bone graft. Group II was composed of twenty-four patients who were treated with conventional anterior corpectomy and anterior interbody fusion combined with posterior spinal instrumentation. Changes of corrected kyphotic angle and complication were measured using pre-, post-operative and follow-up radiographs and chart review. RESULTS: In group I, six cases (46.2%) showed loss of corrected kyphotic angle. Of these six cases, five cases had initial kyphotic angle of more than 20 dgree and three cases had involvement of two or more vertebrae. All six cases had thoracic or thoracolumbar involvement. Comparing two groups, maintaining corrected kyphotic angle and low complication rates were obtained in group II during follow-up period. The change of deformity as followed. In thoracic area, the mean kyphotic angle of 26.5 dgree was reduced to 18 dgree postoperatively, At the most recent follow-up, the mean kyphotic angle was 31.5 dgree in group I, a loss of correction of 13.5 dgree . In group II, the mean kyphotic angle was corrected from 27 dgrees to 13.5 dgree after surgery. At the most recent follow-up, the mean kyphotic angle was 17.5 dgrees, a loss of correction of 4 dgree . CONCLUSION: Posterior spinal instrumentation combined with conventional anterior corpectomy and anterior interbody fusion were found to be effective for preventing loss of kyphotic angle and for maintaining stable bone fusion in patients with mean
Congenital Abnormalities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Spine ; Spondylitis* ; Transplants ; Tuberculosis, Spinal

PURPOSE: Although microalbuminuria is known as a predictor of clinical nephropathy and cardiomyopathy, few studies have investigated the incidence and reference range of microalbuminuria in healthy children. This study aimed to establish a reference range and to study the age-related trend for spot urine microalbumin/creatinine ratio in a Korean pediatric population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 352 healthy children were studied from July 2007 through March 2010. Height, weight, serum creatinine, spot urine microalbumin/creatinine ratio, and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were obtained for each subject. We divided the study population into 5 groups according to age, and compared the spot urine microalbumin/creatinine ratio with other variables using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), regression analysis and Pearson's correlation analysis. RESULTS: In this study, the data showed that the spot urine microalbumin/creatinine ratio decreased with age: 1-12 months, 22.72+/-13.80 mg/mmol (2SD: 3.33-54.40 mg/mmol); 13-28 months, 16.34+/-9.58 mg/mmol (2SD: 3.16-35.19 mg/mmol); 29-48 months, 13.12+/-9.74 mg/mmol (2SD: 3.01-41.57 mg/mmol); 4-6 years, 10.58+/-8.13 mg/mmol (2SD: 0.00-30.19 mg/mmol); and 7-19 years, 5.13+/-5.44 mg/mmol (2SD: 0.45-14.45 mg/mmol). The spot urine microalbumin/creatinine ratio showed correlation with age, height, height z-score, weight, weight z-score, GFR, body mass index (BMI) and body surface area (BSA). CONCLUSION: The spot urine microalbumin/creatinine ratio in normal Korean children decreased with age. This ratio could potentially be used to establish reference ranges and cutoff values for Korean children and to predict nephropathy and cardiomyopathy.
Adolescent ; Age Factors ; Albuminuria/*epidemiology ; Analysis of Variance ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Creatine/urine ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Reference Values ; Regression Analysis ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Young Adult

Most intussusceptions occur in children under 1 year of age whereas 5%~10% occurs in adults. Although intussusception has an acute occurrence in children, symptoms in adults may be subacute or chronic, and the diagnosis is often delayed. In contrast to adults, intussusception in children is the most common cause of intestinal obstruction, and one of the most frequent causes of surgical emergencies. While idiopathic cases account for more than 90% of those seen in children, many cases in adults are generally related to neoplasm. However, intussusception due to a primary malignant lymphoma of the small intestine is a rare clinical condition. There is little information on the role of colonoscopy in colonic intussusception. Two cases are herein reported, of malignant lymphoma in the ileocecal region causing intussusceptions in which the diagnosis and reduction of intussusception were made by colonoscopy. Colonoscopy plays a useful role in the diagnosis and management of intussusception. The clinical, radiographic, endoscopic, and pathologic findings are described with brief reviews of related literature.
Adult ; Child ; Colon ; Colonoscopy* ; Diagnosis* ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Ileum* ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Intestine, Small ; Intussusception* ; Lymphoma*

BACKGROUND: Production of nitric oxide (NO) by inducible NO synthase (iNOS) has been implicated in the pathology of autoimmune disease. It is unknown whether iNOS expression is increased within testes and whether iNOS and NO have essential roles in the pathogenesis of EAO. METHODS: EAO was induced in guinea pig testes at 17 days after secondary immunization by administration of crude extract (CE) and purified glycoprotein 1 (GP1) from normal guinea pig testes. iNOS gene expression was assessed by RT-PCR and Northern blot analysis in testes. Localization of iNOS and Mac-1 and the indicator of NO-mediated tissue injury, nitrotyrosine, were detected in the testicular lesion by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: In control testes, inflammation and iNOS gene expression were not detected, whereas, in CE- and GP1-injected testes, inflammation and marked iNOS gene expression were evident at day 17 after secondary immunization. Immunohistochemistry of Mac-1 showed the colocalization with iNOS protein and nitrotyrosyl proteins in intertubules, suggesting that NO produced by infiltrated macrophages may be involved in inflammatory lesions of intertubules. Intraperitoneal administration of aminoguanidine significantly prevented EAO with reduction of inflammation, iNOS expression and nitrotyrosine formation. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that NO production by macrophages may be important in the pathogenesis of CE- and GP1-induced EAO. Furthermore, this study demonstrated the therapeutic potential of iNOS inhibitor in the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune mediated-diseases.
Animals ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Blotting, Northern ; Gene Expression ; Glycoproteins ; Guinea Pigs* ; Guinea* ; Immunization, Secondary ; Immunohistochemistry ; Inflammation ; Macrophages ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitric Oxide* ; Orchitis* ; Pathology ; Peroxynitrous Acid ; Testis

BACKGROUND: Because of the common etiologic factor, such as smoking, lung cancer and chronic obstructive Pulmonary disease are often present in the same patient. The preoperative prediction of remaining pulmonary function after the resectional surgery is very important to prevent serious complication and postoperative respiratory failure. 99mTc-MAA perfusion scan has been used for the prediction of postoperative pulmonary function, but it may be inaccurate in case of large V/Q mismatching. We compared 99mTc-DTPA radioaerosol inhalation scan with 99mTc-MAA perfusion scan in predicting postoperative lung function. METHOD: Preoperative inhalation scan and/or perfusion scan were performed and pulmonary function test were performed preoperatively and 2 month after operation. We predicted the postoperative pulmonary functions using the following equations. Postpneumonectomy FEV1=Preop FEV1x% of total function of lung to remain RESULTS: 1) The inhalation scan showed good correlations between measured and predicted FEV1, FVC and FEF25-75%. (correlation coefficiency; 0.94, 0.91, 0.87 respectively). 2) The perfusion scan also showed good correlations between measured and predicted FEV1, FVC and FEF25-75%. (correlation coefficiency; 0.86, 0.72, 0.97 respectively). 3) Among three parameters, FEV1 showed the best correlations in the prediction by lung scans. 4) Comparison between inhalation scan and perfusion scan in predicting pulmonary function did not show any significant differneces except FVC. CONCLUSION: The inhalation scan and perfusion scan are very useful in the prediction of postoperative lung function and don't make a difference in the prediction of pulmonary function although the former showed a better correlation in FVC.
Humans ; Inhalation* ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Perfusion* ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Smoke ; Smoking

We studied and analyzed 66 cases of choledochal cyst in a 9 year period from March, 1985 to December, l993 at Hangang, Kangnam and Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital. The results were as follows; 1) Age ranged from 1 year to 82 years and ll of 66 cases were below 10 years. The ratio of men to women was 1: 1.9. 2) The frequency of the triad of symptoms and signs were in order of abdominal pain 53 cases(80.3%), jaundice 12 cases(18.2%) and abdominal mass 9 cases(13.6%). The classical triad of pain, mass and jaundice was present in only 2 cases(3.0%). 3) Alkaline phosphatase was elevated in 42 cases(63.6%), hyperbilirubinemia in 29 cases(43.9%) and hyperamylasemia in 9 cases(13.6%). 4) Performed diagnostic procedures were ultrasonogram in 57 cases(86.4%), endo- scopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogram in 32 cases(48.5%), DISIDA scan in 18 cases(27.3%), computed tomogram in 14 cases(21.2%) and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiagram in 6 cases(9.1%). 5) Among 38 cases which ERCP or PTC were performed, according to the Todani's classification, Type I was seen in 28 cases(73.7%), Type IVA in 7 cases(18. 4%), Type II in 2 cases(5.3%) and Type V in I case(2.6%). 6) The associated diseases were cholangitis in 15 cases(22.7%), choledocholithiasis in 12 cases(18.2%) and cholangiocarcinoma in 2 cases(3.0%). 7) Operative procedures were performed in 22 of 66 cases, excision of cyst with Roux-en-Y c~holedochojejunostomy in 17 cases, choledochocystojejunostomy in 2 cases and external drainage in 3 cases.
Abdominal Pain ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholangitis ; Choledochal Cyst* ; Choledocholithiasis ; Classification ; Drainage ; Female ; Gangwon-do ; Heart ; Humans ; Hyperamylasemia ; Hyperbilirubinemia ; Jaundice ; Male ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVES: It has been recently known that endotheUn-1 is a potent vasoconstrictor. The purpose of the present study was to clarify the possible correlation of endothelin-1 with other vasoactive neurohormonal activities and its effects on fluid-electrolyte balance and renal function in patients with liver cirrhosis. METHODS: In 35 patients of liver cirrhosis with (n=19) and without (n=16) ascites and in 12 normal controls, plasma and urine levels of endothelin-1 were measured by specific radioimmunoassay, and serum sodium, serum albumin and other blood chemistries, renal functions with creatinine clearance, urinary sodium excretion, plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone and plasma norepinephrine were measured at the same time. RESULTS: The plasma endothelin-1 level was significantly higher in ascitic group than nonascitic group (mean +/- SD; 16.4 +/- 10.6 VS. 7.5 +/- 4.1pg/mL, p=0.0000), and there was no significant difference in plasma endothelin-1 level between nonascitic group and normal controls(4.8 +/- 1.9pg/mL). The urine endothelin-1 level also was significantly higher in ascitic group than non-ascitic group (140.3 +/- 74.3 VS. 58.5 +/- 37.4 pg/mL, p=0.0000), there was no significant difference in urine endothelin-1 level between nonascitic group and normal controls (19.5 +/- 112pg/mL). In patients with cirrhosis, the plasma endothelin-1 concentration showed significant negative correlation with creatinine clearance (r=-0.55), serum albumin (r=-0.56%) and serum sodium concentrtion (r=-0.62), and significant positive correlation with plasma renin activity (r=0.63), plasma aldosterone (r=0.68) and norepinephrine (r=0.70). The factors that influence on plasma concentration of endothelin-1 were plasma norepinephrine (p=0.0000), serum sodium (p=0.0169), plasma aldosterone (p=0.0176), serum albumin (p=0.0213) and plasma renin activity (p=0.0329) in statistically significant order. CONCLUSION: The elevated plasma endothelin-1 level along with the increased activity of other neurohormonal substances including plasma renin, aldosterone and norepinephrine induces sodium and water retention in decompensated liver cirrhosis. Thus, the plasma endothelin-1 level seems to have an important role in the development of functional renal impairment in decompensated liver cirrhosis by inducing renal vasoconstriction.
Aldosterone ; Ascites ; Creatinine ; Endothelin-1* ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver* ; Norepinephrine ; Plasma* ; Radioimmunoassay ; Renin ; Serum Albumin ; Sodium ; Vasoconstriction

The enterobiliary fistulas are mostly spontaneous and are caused by biliary disease associated with calculi. Review of many series shows that the most common variety of enterobiliary fistulas is a cholecystoduodenal fistula followed by cholecystocolic, cholecystogastric and choledochoduodenal fistula in that order. But very few cases of choledochocolonic fistulae have been reported. We report a case of choledocholithiasis combined with the absence of gallbladder leading to a choledochocolonic fistula, which was confirmed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography and abdominal exploration in a 63- year-old male patient with complaint of right upper abdominal pain.
Abdominal Pain ; Calculi ; Cholangiography ; Choledocholithiasis ; Fistula* ; Gallbladder* ; Humans ; Intestinal Fistula ; Male

Recently it has been discovered that anomalous union of pancreaticobiliary duct (AUPBD) may play an important role in the pathogenesis of bile duct cancer. Similar to this fact, there were a few reports on the clinical significance of the low junction of the cystic duct (LJCD). LJCD refers to the situation whereby the cystic duct enters the common duct at a low position between the upper margin of the pancreas and the duodenal opening of the bile duct. The pathogenetic mechanism in LJCD is similar to AUPBD in that the pancreatic juice refluxes to the bile duct, mixes with biles, and then generates the mutagens, which act as inflammatory substances and carcinogens on the epithelium of the bile duct. A 51-year-old male who experienced dyspepsia was hospitalized due to his abnormally functioning liver and dilated common bile duct. We confirmed primary cholangiocarcinoma on the common hepatic duct and gallbladder carcinoma associated with LJCD by ERCP and pathologic review of surgical specimen. We report a case of synchronous type double primary cancer associated with LJCD with a brief review of the literatures.
Bile ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; Bile Ducts ; Carcinogens ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Common Bile Duct ; Cystic Duct* ; Dyspepsia ; Epithelium ; Gallbladder ; Hepatic Duct, Common ; Humans ; Liver ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutagens ; Pancreas ; Pancreatic Juice