OBJECTIVES: This Study was designed to investigate the pattern of AUI(Alcohol Use Inventory) and MAST(Michigan Alcohol Screening Test) according to the awareness of drinking problem and receptiveness to treatment, and to know whether the type(type1 and type 2 according to Barbor's typology) has effects on the RECPAWAR(acknowledgement and awareness of use problem and receptive to treatment of these problem) score. METHODS: Subjects were 134 alcoholic patients from Alcoholic treatment ward. They were requested to fill up the questionnaires of Korean version of AUI and MAST(MAST for patient and MAST for caretaker). At first, based on the RECPAWAR, they divided into high RECPAWAR group(above 30 percentile) and low RECPAWAR group(below 30 percentile). According to typology, they divided into type 1 and type 2. The data was analyzed by T-test, Correlation, and Regression Analysis. RESULTS: 1) Significant negative correlation was observed between RECPAWAR score and MAST difference score(patient's MAST-caretaker's MAST). 2) High RECPAWAR group had significantly higher scores in the most scales than low RECP-AWAR group, except ENHANCED scale in AUI. 3) There was not significant difference on RECPAWAR score between type 1 and type 2. CONCLUSION: Except ENHANCED scale, the high RECPAWAR group had higher score in the second level scale. As compared with the low RECPAWAR group, the high RECPAWAR group responds more negative in drinking, and is more anxious about their drinking problems. So, they seem to have the objective view about their drinking problems. However the type was not related to receptive and awareness of drinking problem.
Alcoholics* ; Drinking* ; Humans ; Mass Screening* ; Michigan* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Self Report* ; Weights and Measures

One case of renal angiomyolipoma is reported in a 33 year-old house wife with right flank mass and pain, who was non-tuberous sclerosis, patient Diagnosis was made postoperately. This rare lesion posed a difficult differentiation from renal cell carcinoma. On the histologic examination, our case was found type 1 according to Smith's classification. The clinical, radiological and pathologic features are discussed.
Adult ; Angiomyolipoma* ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Sclerosis ; Spouses

INTRODUCTIONThere is increasing belief that a formal protocol-based multidisciplinary care model should be adopted as an optimal care model in oncology. However, there is minimal outcome evidence to demonstrate an improvement in patient care. The aim of this study was to compare clinical quality outcomes between patients with high-grade glioma managed at one hospital using a formal neuro-oncology multidisciplinary tumour clinic (MTC) and a second hospital with a traditional on-call referral pattern (non-MTC).

MATERIALS AND METHODSPatients with high-grade glioma managed radically with radiation therapy at 2 Singapore hospitals from May 2002 to May 2006 were entered into a prospective database. Patients were grouped into management via MTC or non-MTC. Four clinical quality indicators were chosen retrospectively to assess the variation in practice: a) Use of computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) imaging post-resection (POI) for assessment of residual disease; b) Commencement of radiation therapy (RT) within 28 days of surgery; c) Adjuvant chemotherapy use for glioblastoma multiforme (CTGBM) and d) Median survival.

RESULTSSixty-seven patients were managed radically, with 47 by MTC and by 20 by non-MTC. MTC patients were more likely to have POI (P = 0.042), and CTGBM (P = 0.025). Although the RT start time was similar for the whole cohort (60% versus 45%: P = 0.296); for GBM patients, the RT start was earlier (63% vs 33% P = 0.024). The median survival for the MTC group was 18.7 months versus 11.9 months for the non-MTC group (P = 0.11).

CONCLUSIONClinical quality outcomes were significantly improved in patients with high-grade glioma managed in this neuro-oncology MTC.

Cancer Care Facilities ; Female ; Glioma ; classification ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Humans ; Interdisciplinary Communication ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Quality Indicators, Health Care ; Quality of Health Care ; Survival Analysis

Epidural steroid therapy is a commonly applied "conservative" therapy in the management of acute and chronic back pain, but it is not inherently benign. As the indications for epidural steroid injections increase so do the reports of adverse responses associated with this procedure. Although generalized erythema, retinal hemorrhage, infection, and lipomatosis have been reported, acute generalized ecchymosis has not been reported as a complication of either caudal or spinal epidural steroid injection. We describe here an unique case of transient, profound generalized ecchymosis after receiving an caudal epidural steroid injection for lumbar radiculopathy.
Back Pain ; Ecchymosis* ; Erythema ; Lipomatosis ; Radiculopathy* ; Retinal Hemorrhage

A lymphatic cyst of the stomach is rare benign tumor which is composed of thin-walled lymphatic space lined by benign-appearing endothelial cells. It rarely manifests clinical symptoms, so it is found incidentally in most cases. Recently, a case of submucosal lymphatic cyst associated with early gastric cancer was experienced. An endoscopy revealed a slightly elevated, edematous lesion adjacent to the malignant ulcer. This case is herein reported with a brief review of related literature.
Endoscopy ; Endothelial Cells ; Lymphocele* ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Ulcer

We report a case of lipoid pneumo nia in a 57-year-old man who had a history of ingestion of green perilla oil and residual neurologic deficit of cerebral infarction with right hemiparesis. Lipoid pneumonia was diagnosed by bronchoalveolar lavage.
Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Cerebral Infarction ; Eating* ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Paresis ; Perilla* ; Pneumonia*

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and the related hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) are disorders characterized by thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, a variable degree of impairment of renal function and fluctuating neurological symptoms, which are thought to be due to platelet activation and subsequent formation of thrombi in the microcirculation. The fact that there was no clear-cut clinical and laboratory features that differentiate HUS from TTP has lead to view these two syndromes as a clinical continuum. Microvascular thrombosis is the typical lesion and closely related with endothelial injury and platelet activation. Pathologic alterations of the brain parenchyma are mainly manifested by small multiple infarcts. Numerous cases of CNS complications of these syndromes have been evaluated by using CT, but few reports have mentioned the MR findings. We experienced a case of TTP-HUS that had clinical features of cortical blindness and the brain lesion was confirmed by MRI showing cerebral infarct at the occipital area but it was reversible course. So we report this case with a brief review of literature.
Anemia, Hemolytic ; Blindness, Cortical* ; Brain ; Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Microcirculation ; Platelet Activation ; Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic* ; Thrombocytopenia ; Thrombosis

Intestinal amoebiasis is caused by the protozoan Entamoeba histolytica. Amoebic colitis is usually acquired by ingesting contaminated food or water, but it can be associated with cell-mediated immunosuppression in organ-transplant recipients. We present a case of invasive amoebic colitis in a kidney-transplant recipient who was treated successfully with metronidazole and adjusted immunosuppressive therapy. The patient was a 49-year-old man who had undergone renal transplantation 15 years earlier. He complained of diarrhea accompanied by mild lower abdominal pain over five weeks, and the diagnosis of amoebic colitis was made with a colonoscopic biopsy. The colonoscopic findings showed multiple, round, scattered ulcerations throughout the colon, and trophozoites of E. histolytica were identified in the base of these ulcers. We treated his colitis with metronidazole and a reduction in immunosuppressive therapy.
Abdominal Pain ; Biopsy ; Colitis ; Colon ; Diarrhea ; Dysentery, Amebic ; Entamoeba histolytica ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Kidney Transplantation ; Metronidazole ; Middle Aged ; Trophozoites ; Ulcer

Acute fulminant invasive fungal sinusitis in an immunocompromised host and bacterial rhinosinusitis with intracranial or orbital extension is challenging to manage. And it sometimes constitutes true otolaryngologic emergencies. In the absence of rapid diagnosis and treatment, these diseases can be fatal. A 57-year-old female was admitted for chills and headache, who received a deceased donor renal transplantation 3 months ago. Paranasal sinus CT showed enhanced soft tissue density and MRI showed low-signal with hyperintense signal of around paranasal sinus cavity. The histological investigation revealed invasive aspergillosis of paranasal sinuses. Clinical improvement occurred after endoscopic sinus surgery and post-operative systemic antifungal therapy with amphotericin B and voriconazole.
Amphotericin B ; Aspergillosis ; Chills ; Emergencies ; Female ; Headache ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Kidney ; Kidney Transplantation ; Middle Aged ; Orbit ; Paranasal Sinuses ; Pyrimidines ; Sinusitis ; Tissue Donors ; Triazoles

Isolated noncompaction of the left ventricular myocardium is a rare cardiac disorder due to an arrest in myocardial morphogenesis. It is characterized by prominent and excessive trabeculation in a ventricular wall segment, with deep intertrabecular spaces perfused from the ventricular cavity. Echocardiographic findings are important clues for the diagnosis. Clinical symptoms include signs of left ventricular systolic dysfunction even to the point of heart failure, ventricular arrhythmias, and embolic events. We describe two cases of isolated noncompaction of the myocardium, with ventricular tachycardia in one, and chest pain due to microvascular dysfunction in the other.
Adult* ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Chest Pain ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Morphogenesis ; Myocardium* ; Tachycardia, Ventricular