No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Neoplasm Metastasis*

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Neoplasm Metastasis*

No abstract available.
Bell Palsy* ; Gadolinium* ; Herpes Zoster Oticus* ; Herpes Zoster* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging*

BACKGROUND: Pneumoconiosis is a parenchymal lung disease that results from the accumulation of coal dust in the lungs and the consequent tissue reaction. To evaluate the role of various personal factors in pneumoconosis and the significance of some serologic markers for assessing the disease activity related to pneumoconiosis, the Rheumatoid Factor(RF), α1-AT, C-Reactive Protein(CRT), ceruloplasmin and fibrinogen levels were measured. METHOD: All the patients were males, 45-76 years old, and the mean duration of coal dust exposure was 23.2 years. 51 patients were classified as having Simple Pneumoconiosis (SP), 59 had Progressive Massive Fibrosis (PMF). Fifty eight men with ages ranging from 26-70 years wer used as normal controls. The serum RF and CRT were titrated using an Autochemistry analyzer (HITACHI 7150 : Japan) and the α1-AT and ceruloplasmin levels were measured using a Nephelometer (Behring Nephelometer : Germany) and the fibrinogen levels were estimated by using and Autoanalyzer for hematologic coagulation. RESULT: There was a higher RF level in the SP, and PMF groups than in the control groups but there was no statistical difference. The CRP, α1-AT, and ceruloplasmin levels were also higher in the SP, and PMF groups. However, the fibrinogen concentration was within the normal ranges in both the SP and PMF groups. CONCLUSION: The CWP (Ed note : Define CWP) patients had significantly higher CRP, α1-AT, and ceruloplasmin levels compared to the control group. It is believed that these serologic changes could be used as a marker of the disease activity.
C-Reactive Protein ; Ceruloplasmin ; Coal* ; Dust ; Fibrinogen ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Male ; Pneumoconiosis* ; Reference Values ; Rheumatoid Factor

BACKGROUND: The dominant innervation of airway smooth muscle is parasympathetic fibers which are carried in the vagus nerve. Activation of these cholinergic nerves releases acetylcholine which binds to M3 muscarinic receptors on the smooth muscle causing bronchocontraction. Acetylcholine also feeds back onto neuronal M2 muscarinic receptors located on the postganglionic cholinergic nerves. Stimulation of these receptors further inhibits acetylcholine release, so these M2 muscarinic receptors act as autoreceptors. Loss of function of these M2 receptors, as it occres in animal models of hyperresponsiveness, leads to an increase in vagally mediated hyperresponsiveness. However, there are limited data pertaining to whether there are dysfunctions of these receptors in patients with asthma. The aim of this study is to determine whether there are dysfunction of M2 muscarinic receptors in asthmatic patients and difference of function of these receptors according to severity of asthma. METHODS: We studied twenty-seven patients with asthma who were registered at Pulmonology Division of Korea University Hospital. They all met asthma criteria of ATS. Of these patients, eleven patients were categorized as having mild asthma, eight patients moderate asthma and eight patients severe asthma according to severity by NAEPP Expert Panel Report 2(1997). All subjects were free of recent upper respiratory tract infection within 2 weeks and showed positive methacholine challenge test(PC 20<16mg/ml). Methacholine provocation tests performed twice on separate days allowing for an interval of one week. In the second test, pre-treatment with the M2 muscarinic receptor agonist pilocarpine(180µg) through inhalation was performed before the routine procedures. RESULTS: Eleven subjects with mild asthma and eight aubjects with moderate asthma showed significant increase of PC20 from 5.30±5.23mg/ml(mean±SD) to 20.82±22.56mg/ml(p=0.004) and from 2.79±1.5mg/ml to 4.67±3.53mg/ml(p=0.012) after pilocarpine inhalation, respectively. However, in the eight subjects with severe asthma significant increase of PC20 from 1.76±1.50mg/ml to 3.18±4.03mg/ml(p=0.161) after pilocarpine inhalation was not found. CONCLUSION: In subjects with mild and moderate asthma, function of M2 muscarinic receptors was normal, but there was a dysfunction of these receptors in subjects with severe asthma. These results suggest that function of M2 muscarinic receptors is different according to severity of asthma.
Acetylcholine ; Asthma ; Autoreceptors ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Korea ; Methacholine Chloride ; Models, Animal ; Muscle, Smooth ; Neurons* ; Pilocarpine ; Pulmonary Medicine ; Receptors, Muscarinic* ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Vagus Nerve

Carcinoid tumors are the most common endocrine tumors of gastrointestinal tract. Argentaffin cells are the origin of carcinoids. These cells belong to the amino precursor uptake and decarboxylation (APUD) system. These cells give the tumor its most distinguishing feature: the ability to produce biogenic amines and polypeptide hormones that, in turn, give rise to the dramatic carcinoid syndrome. We treated a case of multi-centric carcinoid tumor of the duodenum in a 63-year-old male patient. He was admitted to the hospital because of epigastric pain. On the gastrofiberscopic examination, 1.0 x1.5 cm and 0.7 x0.8 cm sized two polyps (Yamada type II, I) were noticed on the duodenal bulb. The biopsy specimen showed carcinoid tumors of different histologic types. The level of 24-hour urine 5-HIAA of this case was normal. He was treated with subtotal gastrectomy with Billroth-II anastomosis. We report this case with literature review.
Biogenic Amines ; Biopsy ; Carcinoid Tumor* ; Decarboxylation ; Duodenum ; Enterochromaffin Cells ; Gastrectomy ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peptide Hormones ; Polyps

OBJECTIVE: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia has been emerging as an important nosocomial pathogen in recent years in patients with impaired host- defense mechanism or who has been exposed to large amount of inocula. This organism is usually resistant to multiple (commonly used) antimicrobial agents, particularly to those of the beta-lactam class. To evaluate the clinical feature of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infection and in vitro anti- microbial susceptibility, we performed a retrospective study. METHODS: We analyzed the result of in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility test for 200 isolates of S. maltophilia and the annual isolation rate during the period between January 1990 and December 1994 in our institution, and performed a retrospective study for the available records of 165 cases among them. The data were obtained with only the first isolation of the organism for each patients. RESULTS: Total of 165 initial isolates, the isolates were from wounds in 50(30.3%), urine in 47(28.5%), the respiratory tract in 37(22.4%), blood in 9(5.5%), bile in 6(3.6%), and miscellaneous sources in 16(9.7%). The 84.2% of isolates were hospital-acquired isolate and 58.3% of these patients had received antecedent antibiotic therapy: polymicrobial growth was demonstrated in 61.9% of the cases. In vitro antimicrobial susceptibiiity test, ofloxacin was active against the isolates in 89.2%, moxalactam in 85.9%, ciprofloxacin in 83.9%, TMP-SMX(trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole) in 64.2%, As expected, S. maltophilia isolates were, in general, not susceptible to cephalosporins, penicillins. The annual isolation rate at Kyung Hee University hospital was not increased significantly from 1990 to 1994, 19.53 per 10,000 patients dismissals in 1990, 13.56 in 1994. The major underlying diseases of patients were malignancy(17.6%), cerebrovascular disorder(17%), diabetic mellitus(13.3%). Mortality rate is 10.3%. CONCLUSION: S. maltophilia has been emerging as an important nosocomial pathogen in immunocompromised patients, especially those receiving broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy. And this organism is resistant to multiple antimicrobial agents, particularly to those of the beta-lactam class. When antimicrobial treatment is necessary, the clinician should be guided by results of in vitro susceptibility testing because of the notable in vitro resistance of S. maltophilia to commonly used antibiotics. And when S. maltophilia has been recovered from a patient, wound and contact isolation is warranted.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Bile ; Cephalosporins ; Ciprofloxacin ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Mortality ; Moxalactam ; Ofloxacin ; Penicillins ; Respiratory System ; Retrospective Studies ; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia ; Stenotrophomonas* ; Wounds and Injuries

PURPOSE: In cases when implant supported overdenture is made by using standard size implant, additional procedure such as bone surgery and bone grafting can be required. And it gives burden to doctor and patient in terms of cost. Therefore, it is necessary to find the implant therapy for the edentulous patients in making denture with accordable cost and simple procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Edentulous patients with upper and lower dentures participated in this study. Before the operation, survey about patient's satisfaction to the existing dentures was carried out. Surgical procedures included four small diameter implants installation anterior area and immediate loading. One and three month after the procedure, the same survey about patient's satisfaction was carried out, and radiography was taken. RESULTS: We are doing research to the nine patients. Survival rate is 97.2 percent. The comparison of patient's satisfaction before and after surgery is performed based on oral health impact profile 49. We analyze mainly with masticatory discomfort, retention, aesthetics, social problem, psychological discomfort problems. As a result, satisfaction level is increased at all factors. Retention is the most increased satisfactory factor followed by mastication difficulty, pronunciation, psychological discomfort, social discomfort, aesthetics in order. Marginal bone loss is 0.21 mm at 12 weeks after implant placement. CONCLUSION: This research reveals that the denture supported by mini dental implant increases patient's satisfaction. This study will be continued with more patients for a long time and we are scheduled for taking additional radiography to check whether peri-implant bone resorption occurs or not.
Bone Resorption ; Bone Transplantation ; Dental Implants ; Denture, Overlay ; Dentures ; Esthetics ; Humans ; Mastication ; Oral Health ; Retention (Psychology) ; Social Problems ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Automated DPOAE (Distortion product otoacoustic emission) was tested on workers exposed to a noisy environmnent to determine its feasibility as a screening test for noise-induced hearing loss. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Sensitivity and specificity were analyzed for in both automated DPOAE and Pure tone audiometry conducted on 300 subjects working in a noisy environment. Of these subjects, a subgroup of 40 workers who were available for a follow-up study underwent the same experiment again a year later, and the results were compared with the first one. RESULTS: In terms of the frequency of automated DPOAE, it was noted that it showed 91% sensitivity with a 9% false negative rate. The pass rate according to the period of service indicated statistical significance, although the results of a 1 year follow-up experiment did not indicate statistical significance. CONCLUSION: The automated DPOAE seems feasible to use as a screening test when frequency and adjusted reference criteria are considered.
Audiometry ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced ; Mass Screening* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) is a multifunctional regulator of cellular differentiation, motility and growth. Loss of sensitivity to the growth inhibitory effects by TGF-beta1 plays important roles in neoplastic progression. So expression of TGF-beta1 has been described in several tumors, but little is known about the role of TGF-beta1 in neoplastic progression of human larynx. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of TGF-beta1 in the neoplastic progression of human larynx. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the expression of TGF-beta1 using immunohistochemical study in 6 cases of normal laryngeal mucosa, 6 cases of laryngeal dysplasia, 20 cases of laryngeal carcinoma. RESULTS: The results were as follows: 1) Normal laryngeal mucosa has no expression of TGF-beta1. 2) The expression of TGF-beta was 16.7% in laryngeal dysplasia, 50.0% in laryngeal carcinoma. CONCLUSION: The TGF-beta1 expression rate was correlated to the progression of laryngeal lesions when compared to normal laryngeal mucosa, laryngeal dysplasia and laryngeal carcinoma.
Humans ; Laryngeal Mucosa* ; Larynx ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1