BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cardiac troponin T (cTnT) has been used as a very sensitive marker of cardiac injury caused by ischaemia, myocarditis, and cardiomyopathy. After cardiac injury, the fetal cTnT isoform expression in the heart and serum cTnT increases. To investigate the increased levels of serum cTnT, and the expression of fetal cTnT isoform in the heart, that can predict myocardial injury, we measured serum cTnT levels and the fetal cTnT isoform expression at various time points during the early phase of myocardial toxicity induced by adriamycin (ADR) in rat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected, intraperitoneally, with ADR (5 mg/kg) twice a week for 2 weeks. Control rats were injected with saline. Serum cTnT levels were measured by ELISA. The ratio of fetal/adult (F/A) cTnT isoform expression (%) was semi-quantified by RT-PCR using total RNA from frozen hearts. RESULTS: Serum cTnT levels did not increase by 1 week after ADR injection, but increased significantly after 2 weeks. The ratio of F/A cTnT in the heart significantly increased from day 1, peaked at 1 week and persisted until the end of 2 week. CONCLUSION: The expression of the fetal cTnT isoform occurred from 1 day after ADR injection when the serum cTnT levels were still normal. Although the serum cTnT level is a very sensitive, and an early marker, of cardiac damages, the fetal cTnT isoform expression in the endomyocardial biopsy specimen may be a more sensitive and an earlier marker in the ADR-induced myocardial damage.
Animals ; Biopsy ; Cardiomyopathies ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; Doxorubicin ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Heart ; Humans ; Male ; Myocarditis ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; RNA ; Troponin T* ; Troponin*

SAPHO (synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, osteitis) syndrome designates a group of articular and osseous manifestations frequently combined with skin disorders. Its fundamental component is inflammatory, pseudoinfectious, and sterile osteitis. The anterior chest wall is the most frequent localization and all the components of this structure may be involved. Palmoplantar pustulosis, psoriasis, acne conglobata, acne ulcerans, acne fulminans, pyoderma gangrenosum can be associated with the characteristic bone lesions. We report two cases of SAPHO syndrome : A 40-year-old female presented with both buttock pain with hyperostosis, costochondritis, synovitis and pustulosis palmaris and a 23-year-old male presented with migrating polyarthritis with costochondritis, synovitis, acne, pustulosis.
Acne Vulgaris ; Acquired Hyperostosis Syndrome* ; Adult ; Arthritis ; Buttocks ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperostosis ; Male ; Osteitis ; Psoriasis ; Pyoderma Gangrenosum ; Skin ; Synovitis ; Thoracic Wall ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Several randomized controlled studies have shown that responders who had treated with interferon alpha for chronic hepatitis B had better rate of sustained loss of HBeAg and HBV DNA than non-esponders. These studies also showed that non-esponders had higher rates of liver related complication and mortality. But there is very little data on how well sustained responders are and whether the responders eventually lose HBsAg in Korea. The aims of this study were to better define the long term remission of chronic hepatitis B induced by interferon alfa therapy and compare the clinical outcome among the interferon responders and non-esponders in Korea. METHODS: Sixty-ight patients with chronic hepatitis B who were treated with interferon alfa between 1987 and 1998 were followed up for serologic status (HBsAg, HBeAg, HBV DNA), biochemical tests and liver related complication or mortality. RESULTS: Among 68 patients with chronic hepatitis B who were treated with interferon alfa, 28 (41%) responded to treatment with loss of HBeAg within 1 year of starting treatment. Up to 129 months (mean 58 months) after therapy, responders had higher rate of cumulative clearance of HBeAg at five years than non-esponders (100% vs 35.1%, p<0.05). Responders had maintained the normal serum ALT than nonresponders at five years (94% vs 55.6%, p<0.05). Loss of HBsAg was not different between responders and non-esponders (5% vs 4%, NS). The rates of liver related complication and mortality did not differ between both groups. Delayed clearance of HBeAg occured in twelve out of forty non-esponders (30%). There were no differences in age, baseline ALT, histologic finding of liver biopsy, HBV DNA at the end of first year after study with IFN therapy between the non-esponders with and without delayed clearance of HBeAg. CONCLUSION: Remission in chronic hepatitis B induced by alfa interferon maintained in long duration. But clinical outcomes such as liver related complication, mortality and the elimination of HBV infection have no differences between responders and non-esponders. Further studies are needed for the role of interferon therapy in long-erm clinical outcome for chronic hepatitis B.
Biopsy ; DNA ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B, Chronic* ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha* ; Interferons* ; Korea ; Liver ; Mortality

Intracranial dermoid cyst is a rare congenital disease originating in the embryo. Intracranial dermoid cysts are usually detected before five years of age; however, asymptomatic cysts have been discovered after the third decade of life through various complications. Sometimes, there are neurologic symptoms caused by a cystic mass effect and if there is a dermoid sinus, purulent infections can occur. Early diagnosis is important and as such, CT or MR imaging for recognition of the location, size, and characteristics of the cysts are recommended before surgical resection. Extradural dermoid cysts with an intact occipital dermoid sinus are a rare event. We report a case of intracranial dermoid cyst associated with scalp abscess. In this case, a three-year-old boy was presented with scalp abscess and we performed MR imaging, which revealed a cystic region. The prognosis after resection operation was good without any complication.
Abscess ; Dermoid Cyst ; Early Diagnosis ; Embryonic Structures ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Prognosis ; Scalp ; Spina Bifida Occulta

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics of Korean JRA and the possible profiles related to prognosis and to compare these data to pre-existing occidental reports. METHODS: 140 cases of JRA patients were randomly selected from 1986 through 1995. Juvenile ankylosing spondylitis was excluded with the aid of modified New York criteria for ankylosing spondylitis. We used the classification of progression of rheumatoid arthritis (radiological stage III+IV / I+II+III+IV) as a index of prognosis. The study factors were sex, age, type, affected joints, degree of destruction of joint, anti-nuclear antibody (ANA), rheumatoid factor (RF), HLA-B27 and extra-articular manifestations. Chi-square test, One-way ANOVA test, and Pearson' s correlation coefficient were used as statistical methods. RESULTS: Our study show results as follows : (1) Systemic onset type (ll%) { polyarthritis subset (66%), oligoarthritis subset (34%) }, oligoarthritis onset type (62%) { sero (-) -HLA-B27 (+) subset (66%) , RF (+) subset (20%), not otherwise classified subset (14%) ANA(+)-chronic uveitis subset(O%) }, polyarthritis onset type (27%) { RF(+) subset (66%), not otherwise classified subset (34%) }, (2) Sex ratio was M:F=1.8:l. (3) Age of onset was 11+3.6 years. (4) Affected joints were knee, ankle, hand in decreasing order of frequency. (5) Patients show seropositivity of RF in 31%, HLA-B27 in 54%, ANA in 8%. (6) Chronic uveitis was observed in 7 cases (5%) (all oligoarthritis onset type, M:F=6:1, age of onset 11+4.3 years, ANA (0%), HLA-B27 (86%) , 2 cases leading to blindness. (7) Destructive bone change was significantly more prominent in female (p<0.01) , RF(+) (p<0.01), HLA-B27(-) (p<0.01) , polyarthritis onset type (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we obtained interesting results that are somewhat different from Occidental data in sex ratio (male dominance), age of onset (older age) , profiles of HLA-B27 (high positivity in spite of low HLA-B27 positivity in Korean (about 2. 3%) , low rate of destructive change) , ANA (low positivity, older age of onset) , chronic uveitis (low incidence, male dominance, older age of onset, high association with HLA-B27, not associated with ANA) . This study suggests possible racial difference in clinical features of JRA. But for prove of racial difference, further multi-center trial and large scale epidemiological study should be done.
Age of Onset ; Ankle ; Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Arthritis ; Arthritis, Juvenile* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Blindness ; Classification ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Female ; Hand ; HLA-B27 Antigen ; Humans ; Incidence ; Joints ; Knee ; Male ; Prognosis ; Rheumatoid Factor ; Sex Ratio ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; Uveitis

Background: Although an ambulatory surgical practice continues to increase, there is a few data exist about patient discharge criteria. This study was undertaken to evaluate the usefulness and safety of Aldrete PAR (postanesthetic recovery) score and modified PADSS (modified postaneathesia discharge scoring system) on ambulatory surgery patients for recovery in Korea. Methods: Demographic, anesthetic data, Aldrete PAR score and modified PADSS on 279 patients were recorded. The time to dicharge, from recovery room and postoperative complications were evaluated, also. Results: PAR score and modified PADSS are correlated to length of stay in ambulatory surgery center. 24hr after discharge, 16% patients complained postoperative complications. Pain was most frequent postoperative complication. The PAR score was correlated with the occurrence of the complication. Conclusion: PAR score and modified PADSS are useful scoring systems to evaluate patients and make a decision to discharge the patients from ambulatory surgery center in safe.
Ambulatory Surgical Procedures* ; Humans ; Korea ; Length of Stay ; Patient Discharge* ; Postoperative Complications ; Recovery Room

PURPOSE: We evaluated the diagnostic value of systematic sextant and lesion directed biopsy regimen in patients with hypoechoic lesions on transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) for the detection of prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between September 2003 and November 2005, a total of 142 men with sonomorphologic lesions suggestive of prostate cancer on TRUS underwent prostate biopsy. In all the subjects, lesion directed biopsies were taken in addition to the systematic 12 core biopsies. We examined the cancers detected in only the lateral region of 12 cores and the cancers detected in only the lesion directed biopsy, as well as the overall cancer detection rate. And, we compared the cancer detection rates of sextant and lesion directed biopsy, 12 core biopsy, and 12 core and lesion directed biopsy strategy. RESULTS: Of the 142 patients who underwent 12 core and lesion directed biopsy, 48 patients (33.8%) were diagnosed as having prostate cancer. The prostate cancer detection rate for systematic sextant and lesion directed biopsy and for 12 core biopsy was 28.9% (41/142) and 31.0% (44/142), respectively. There was no significant difference in the overall cancer detection rate between the three biopsy strategies (p=0.667). Also, when stratified by prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, prostate volume, and digital rectal examination (DRE) findings, there was no significant difference in cancer detection rate between the three regimens. CONCLUSIONS: The systematic sextant and lesion directed biopsy strategy for patients with focal hypoechoic lesions on TRUS is an adequate and reasonable approach for the detection of prostate cancer with a relatively small number of biopsy cores.
Biopsy* ; Diagnosis ; Digital Rectal Examination ; Humans ; Male ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Ultrasonography*

Typhoid fever is an acute systemic febrile disease caused by Salmonella typhi. The classic picture of the disease consists of prolonged continuous or remitting fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, rose spots and delirium. Salmonella infection can lead to diffuse organ involvement, including bone, lung, thyroid, kidney, liver, spleen, heart, pericardium, intestine and skin and cause a variety of complications. Pulmonary manifestations occur in only 1 percent of the patients. Mild cough with sticky sputum is the earliest symptom and bronchitis, pneumonia and lung abscess were presented. Recenfly we experienced a case of typhoid fever complicated by bronchitis, dysplasia in a 37-year-old male physician who was improved with ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin We report this case with a review of the literature.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Bronchitis* ; Ceftriaxone ; Ciprofloxacin ; Cough ; Delirium ; Diarrhea ; Fever ; Heart ; Humans ; Intestines ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lung ; Lung Abscess ; Male ; Pericardium ; Pneumonia ; Salmonella Infections ; Salmonella typhi ; Skin ; Spleen ; Sputum ; Thyroid Gland ; Typhoid Fever*

PURPOSE: The valsalva leak point pressure (VLPP), a quantitative measure of sphincteric function, is used widely to diagnose intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD). This study was to evaluate the correlation between VLPP and maximum urethra closure pressure (MUCP) in patients with stress urinary incontinence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We divided the patients into two categories: 60 patients affected by ISD as they had stress incontinence; 80 patients suffering from stress incontinence without ISD. The presence/absence of ISD was considered the dependent variable and was correlated against the following independent variables: age, vaginal deliveries, menopause, previous urogynecological surgery, VLPP, MUCP, and functional urethral length (FUL). This two groups were compared VLPP with MUCP to evlauate their correlation. RESULTS: The statistical analysis showed close correlation between ISD and age (p=0.045), urogynecological surgery (p=0.013), VLPP (p=0.000), MUCP (p=0.000), FUL (p=0.000). There was statistically significant relationship between VLPP and MUCP (p=0.01), however a correlation coefficient of 0.303 demonstrated poor clinical relationship. When the cut-off value of MUCP were 20, 30, 40 cmH2O, there was no the diagnostic value of ISD. CONCLUSION: The MUCP has statistically significant relationship with VLPP but, low correlation coefficient demonstrated poor clinical relationship. Therefore, it is not clinically useful to evaluate urethral sphincter function.
Female ; Humans ; Menopause ; Urethra* ; Urinary Incontinence*

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma is a rare thoracic tumor, and pathophysiology or clinical course of this tumor is not yet fully described. Furthermore, there is no consensus on the standard operative procedure for this tumor. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Medical records of thirty-two patients, who underwent surgical resection of pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma from 1996 to 2007, were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Nineteen patients underwent lobectomy and thirteen patients underwent limited resection. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was performed in 9 patients in the latter group. Lymph node dissection was done in 21 patients, and one patient was found to have lymph node metastasis of the tumor. There was no postoperative complication, no early death and no tumor-related late mortality. The mean follow-up duration was 39.3 months (2 months~129 months), and all patients were free of local recurrence and distant metastasis during this period. There was no significant difference in patient's characteristics between the two groups, except that the mean hospital stay was shorter in limited resection group than in lobectomy group (p=0.0031). CONCLUSION: Pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma usually requires surgical resection for both diagnosis and treatment. Limited resection can decrease hospital stay with a surgical outcome comparable to lobectomy, and may be preferred to lobectomy if sufficient resection margin can be achieved.
Consensus ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Medical Records ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Postoperative Complications ; Pulmonary Sclerosing Hemangioma ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted