Cushing's syndrome is produced by the hypersecretion of adrenal glucocorticoids and is characterized by moon face, central obesity, disappearance of diurnal variation of plasma cortisol and unsuppressibility of plasma cortisol by low-dose dexamethasone. On the other hand, hyperaldosteronism is produced by the hypersecretion of aldosterone and is characterized by hypertension and hypokalemia. We report a rare case of adrenal adenoma with concurrent hypercortisolism and hyperaldosteronism manifestated with hypertension, cushingoid appearance, left adrenal mass with low-normal plasma potassium. Laparoscopic unilateral tumor excision was performed and hypertension disappeared after the operation.
Adenoma* ; Aldosterone ; Cushing Syndrome* ; Dexamethasone ; Glucocorticoids ; Hand ; Hydrocortisone ; Hyperaldosteronism* ; Hypertension ; Hypokalemia ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Plasma ; Potassium

The demineralized bone matrix (DBM) as the bone graft material to increase the fusion rate was widely used in spinal fusion. The current study aimed to compare the fusion rate of DBM to the fusion rate of autograft in lumbar spine fusion via meta-analysis of published literature. After systematic search, comparative studies were selected according to eligibility criteria. Checklist (risk of bias assessment tool for non-randomized study) was used to evaluate the risk of bias of the included nonrandomized controlled studies. The corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated. We also used subgroup analysis to analyze the fusion rate of posterolateral lumbar fusion and lumbar interbody fusion. Eight studies were finally included in this meta-analysis. These eight studies included 581 patients. Among them, 337 patients underwent spinal fusion surgery using DBM (DBM group) and 204 patients underwent spinal fusion surgery with mainly autologous bone and without using DBM (control group). There was no significant differences of fusion rate between the two groups in posterolateral fusion analysis (risk ratio [RR], 1.03; 95% CI, 0.90–1.17; p=0.66) and interbody fusion analysis (RR, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.91–1.39; p=0.27). Based on the available evidence, the use of DBM with autograft in posterolateral lumbar spine fusion and lumbar interbody fusion showed a slightly higher fusion rate than that of autograft alone; however, there was no statistically different between two groups.

Pheochromocytoma is usually associated with a combination of various clinical manifestations caused by the overproduction of catecholamines. It is frequently accompanied by impaired glucose tolerance operating through 2-and-adrenergic mechanisms. A 41-year-old-woman was admitted to the hospital because of poorly-controlled diabetes mellitus and hypertension. She had suffered intermittent paroxysmal attacks of headache and chest discomfort and had been treated intermittently over a 2 year period for diabetes mellitus and hypertension. At admission, the levels of serum epinephrine, norepinephrine urinary excretion of total metanephrine, and VMA were all abnormally elevated. Adrenal CT showed a well-defined, homogenous mass in the right adrenal region and the tumor was diagnosed as pheochromocytoma. After tumor resection, the increased blood level of catecholamines, the urinary excretion of total metanephrine, and VMA were normalized, as was the hyperglycemia state. Diabetes mellitus of the patient was considered permanently resolved after tumor removal by the result of glucose tolerance in 75g oral glucose tolerance test.
Catecholamines ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Epinephrine ; Glucose ; Glucose Intolerance ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Headache ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Hypertension ; Metanephrine ; Norepinephrine ; Pheochromocytoma* ; Thorax

PURPOSE: Previously positive but currently negative HLA crossmatching is considered to be a risk factor not in the first renal transplantation but in the second renal transplantation. The aim of this study is to analyse the outcome of living-related renal transplantation with previously positive but currently negative HLA crossmatching. METHODS: The results of first HLA crossmatching, demographic characteristics, the outcome of renal trasplantation were examined in four patients undergoing renal transplantation with previously positive but currently negative HLA crossmatching. RESULTS: The acute rejection was occurred in 3 patients. Azotemia was improved with the immunosuppressive therapy containing tacrolimus. There were no graft failures in four patients for 1 year. In the first HLA crossmatching, anti-human globulin T cell HLA crossmatching was positive in all patients with acute rejection. The period that positive HLA crossmatchings were converted to negative was longer in patients with acute rejections than without acute rejections (177 days vs 22 days). CONCLUSION: There were 3 acute rejections in 6 patients undergoing living related renal transplantations with previously positive and current negative HLA crossmatching. There were no graft failure for 1 year.
Azotemia ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation* ; Risk Factors ; Tacrolimus ; Transplants

BACKGROUND/AIMS: There is an increased risk of tuberculosis (TB) with impaired cellular immunity and extrapulmonary TB is more common in patients with chronic kidney disease. We explored the clinical features and treatment outcomes of extrapulmonary TB according to renal function. METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed the medical records of patients diagnosed with extrapulmonary TB between January 2003 and December 2007. We classified the patients into two groups using the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), estimated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula cut-off of 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and evaluated their clinical features, treatment outcome and mortality (Group I vs. Group II, > or = 60 mL/min/1.73 m2). RESULTS: The mean eGFR of Groups I (n=30) and II (n=312) was 34+/-19 and 102+/-26 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively. The pleura was the most frequent site of TB in both groups (Group I, 30.0% vs. Group II, 28.2%; p=0.379). There was no treatment failure or recurrence in either group. The mortality was higher in Group I (22.2% vs. 2.8%; p<0.01). In a multivariate analysis, eGFR<60 mL/min/1.73 m2 was an independent risk factor for mortality (HR=11.51, CI 2.512-52.741; p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Mortality related to extrapulmonary TB was higher in patients with impaired kidney function and kidney function was an independent predictor. However, there was no difference in treatment failure and recurrence according to renal function.
Diet ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Kidney ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pleura ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Failure ; Treatment Outcome ; Tuberculosis

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and its clinical implication of glycosuria identified in 2nd trimester pregnancy. METHODS: This study included pregnant women who had undertaken the 50 g oral glucose tolerance test (50 g OGTT) between 24 and 28 weeks gestation and delivered at term (N=704). Blood and urine sample were collected and analyzed for glucose level, one hour after 50 g OGTT. We applied women to 100 g OGTT if their blood glucose level after 50 g OGTT were more than 140 mg/dL. We compared blood glucose level, rate of GDM, birth weight and number of macrosomia at different urine glucose levels. Urine glucose level were measured by urine dipstick test and grouped to trace, 1+, 2+, 3+, and 4+, which were corresponding to 100, 250, 500, 1,000, 2,000 mg/dL. RESULTS: Women with glycosuria after 50 g OGTT were 258/704 (36.6%). Mean blood glucose levels were 117+/-23 mg/dL, 128+/-20 mg/dL, 135+/-23 mg/dL, 132+/-17 mg/dL, 139+/-25 mg/dL, 153+/-45 mg/dL, mean birth weight 3.29+/-0.40 kg, 3.25+/-0.40 kg, 3.27+/-0.41 kg, 3.34+/-0.35 kg, 3.28+/-0.41 kg, 3.33+/-0.40 kg, and numbers of macrosomia (> or =4.0 kg) 20 (4.5%), 3 (4.8%), 1 (1.8%), 2 (4.2%), 3 (6.7%), 0 (0%) at glycosuria level of negative, trace, 1+, 2+, 3+ and 4+ respectively. Glycosuria level was correlated significantly with blood glucose level (P=0.000), but not with birth weight and macrosomia (P=0.838, 0.881). The rate of GDM was 7/55 (12.7%), 2/48 (4.7%), 7/45 (15.6%), 8/48 (16.7%) in glycosuria level of 1+, 2+, 3+, 4+ and their relationship was statistically significant (P=0.000, AUC=0.734, 95%CI 0.638-0.830). In the cut off value of glycosuria 1+ or greater, sensitivity and positive predictive value were 72.7 and 12.2%. CONCLUSION: Glycosuria correlates well with blood glucose level and GDM prevalence but not with birth weight.
Birth Weight ; Blood Glucose ; Diabetes, Gestational ; Female ; Glucose ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Glycosuria ; Humans ; Incidence ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Prevalence

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Despite marked advances in the design of percutaneous coronary intervention hardware, total occlusion remains associated with a low primary success rate. The most common cause of failure is the inability to cross the lesion with a guidewire. We report the results of a non-randomized single-center investigation using a hydrophilic coated guidewire (Crosswire NT). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We analyzed the angiographic results of 92 patients (68 males, 24 females, age 58.8+/-9.7 years-old) who underwent angioplasty utilizing Crosswire NT for either total (TIMI flow 1) or subtotal occlusion at Chonnam National University Hospital between December 2000 and July 2001. RESULTS: Clinical diagnoses of the studied subjects revealed 40 cases of acute myocardial infarction, 15 of myocardial infarction, 29 of unstable angina and 8 of stable angina. The primary success rate was 79.3% (73/92), the success rate in total occlusion was 69.0% (40/58), and that of the chronic total occlusion cases among the total occlusion group was 64.3% (18/28). The success rates in the use of Crosswire NT as the first and second choice were 85.7% and 78.8%, respectively. The abrupt occlusive lesions, complex lesions more than type B 2, and presence of collateral circulation were all associated with a lower success rate. Coronary artery perforation occurred in one case. CONCLUSION: The new nitinol hydrophilic wire, Crosswire NT, is a safe and effective tool for the recanalization of total occlusive coronary lesion.
Angina, Stable ; Angina, Unstable ; Angioplasty ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Collateral Circulation ; Coronary Disease ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of hospital case volume on clinical outcomes in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data on 1,073 patients with cT1-4N0-3M0 NPC were collected from a multi-institutional retrospective database (KROG 11-06). All patients received definitive radiotherapy (RT) either with three-dimensional-conformal RT (3D-CRT) (n=576) or intensity-modulated RT (IMRT) (n=497). The patients were divided into two groups treated at high volume institution (HVI) (n=750) and low volume institution (LVI) (n=323), defined as patient volume ≥ 10 (median, 13; range, 10 to 18) and < 10 patients per year (median, 3; range, 2 to 6), respectively. Endpoints were overall survival (OS) and loco-regional progression-free survival (LRPFS). RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 56.7 months, the outcomes were significantly better in those treated at HVI than at LVI. For the 614 patients of propensity score-matched cohort, 5-year OS and LRPFS were consistently higher in the HVI group than in the LVI group (OS: 78.4% vs. 62.7%, p < 0.001; LRPFS: 86.2% vs. 65.8%, p < 0.001, respectively). According to RT modality, significant difference in 5-year OS was observed in patients receiving 3D-CRT (78.7% for HVI vs. 58.9% for LVI, p < 0.001) and not in those receiving IMRT (77.3% for HVI vs. 75.5% for LVI, p=0.170). CONCLUSION: A significant relationship was observed between HVI and LVI for the clinical outcomes of patients with NPC. However, the difference in outcome becomes insignificant in the IMRT era, probably due to the standardization of practice by education.
Cohort Studies ; Disease-Free Survival ; Education ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; Radiotherapy ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated ; Retrospective Studies* ; Treatment Outcome