BACKGROUND: Today, patients with fatty liver have increased by several factors. Some patients with fatty liver have abnormal liver function tests, by the way they have interpreted unwisely and made wrong therapeutic approach about abnoimal liver function tests. So we conducted this study to evaluate the factors related to patients with fatty liver and make basic concept for management. METHODS: We selected 96 patients(71 men, 25 women) who were diagnosed as fatty liver by ultrasound in Asan Medical Health Examination Center, also selected 91 controls(68 men, 23 women) who had similar sex and age distribution from January to December, 1993. We excluded toxic and viral hepatitis cases or patients. We surveyed by questionnaires that composed of 3 day-dietary diary and life style. Nutrient and alcohol intakes were analyzed by nutrient-analysis program that was derivated from Food Composition Table, and we analyzed several biochemical variables. RESULTS: There were 71 men and 25 women with fatty liver, 68 men and 23 women in controls. In cases of men, the mean age was 47 years-old in patient group, 44 years-old in control group. The obesity index was 112.7% in patients, 102.6% in controls, the mean level of triglyceride was 205mg/dl in patients, 150mg/dl in controls. The mean level of serum HDL-C was 46mg/dl in patients, 50mg/dl in controls(p<0.05). The frequency of obesity was 66.2% in patients, 27.9% in controls, hypertriglyceridemia was 42.3% in patients, 22.1% in controls(p<0.05). The frequency of patients who had increased AST was 26.8% in patients, 11.8% in controls, and the frequency of patients or cases who had increased ALT was 26.8%, in patients, 7.4% in controls(p<0.05). There were no significant statistical differences in the nutrient intakes, alcohol drinking and exercise between the male patients and controls. In cases of women, the mean age was 53 years in patient gr oup or among patients, 51 years in controls. The obesity index was 112.2% in patients, 102.1% in controls, and the mean level of serum triglyceride was 198.3mg/dl in patients, 136.4mg/dl in controls(p<0.05). The frequency of obesity was 76.0% in patients, 30.4% in controls, and the frequency of hypertriglyceridemia was 36.0% in patients, 13.0% in controls. There were statistically significant differences in the frequency of obesity and hypertriglyceridemia between patients and controls(p<0,05). There were no statistically significant differences in the frequency of increased AST and ALT, nutrient intakes, alcohol drinking, and excercise between patients and controls. CONCLUSIONS: The fatty liver disease was attributed either to obesity or hypertriglyceridemia. Therefore, it is very important to control of weight and hypertriglyceridemia in the management of patients with fatty liver.
Adult ; Age Distribution ; Alcohol Drinking ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Fatty Liver* ; Female ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Hypertriglyceridemia ; Life Style ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; Triglycerides ; Ultrasonography ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The goals of this study were 1) to present pre-surgical naso-alveolar molding(PNAM) appliance for bilateral cleft lip and palate treatment and 2) To evaluate the effects of the PNAM appliance on the alveolar molding of the premaxilla and the lateral segments. Subjects consisted of 8 bilateral cleft lip and palate infants (7 males and 1 female, mean age at first visit = 61.6 days after birth) who were treated with PNAM appliances in Department of Orthodontics, Seoul National University Dental Hospital. Average alveolar cleft gap between the premaxilla and lateral segment was 8.09+/- 5.03mm and average duration of alveolar molding treatment was 8.8+/-3.1weeks. These patients' models were obtained at initial visit (T0) and after alveolar molding (T1). 20 linear and 14 angular variables were measured by using photometry and digital caliper. All statistical analyses were performed by Microsoft Excel 97 program. Paired t-test was used to discriminate the effect of alveolar molding by PNAM appliance. 1. Closure of the alveolar cleft gap in bilateral cleft cases by molding therapy was completed successfully. 2. Alveolar molding inhibited outward growth of lateral segments and produced inward bending of lateral segments. 3. By bending the anterior part of the vomer, the premaxilla could be rotated and moved posteriorly via alveolar molding. Conclusion : This appliance can be applied to bilateral cleft lip and palate infants with satisfactory result before cheiloplasty.
Cleft Lip* ; Female ; Fungi* ; Humans ; Infant* ; Male ; Orthodontics ; Palate* ; Photometry ; Seoul ; Vomer

BACKGROUND: Viral myocarditis is considered as a cause of dilated cardiomyopathy. At present, two pathogenic mechanisms may be involved in the pathogenesis of viral myocarditis and subsequent cardiomyopathy. First, the virus infection of myocyte may directly lead to either cell death or persistent metabolic dysfunction. Second, virus-induced immune or autoimmune mechanism may play a role. METHODS: To test the therapeutic efficacy of immunosuppression with cyclophophamide(CYP) on coxsackievirus B3(CB3) myocarditis, 10-14 week-old Balb/c mice were inoculated with 4000 plaque-forming units of CB3. In experiment 1, CYP (100mg/kg/day subcutaneous injection, s.c) was administrated daily on days 1-7(group 2, n=16). In experiment 2, CYP 30mg/kg/day s.c(group 3, n=32) or CYP 100mg/kg/day s.c(group 4, n=32) were administrated on days 8-14. The animals of infected controls(group 1, n=26) and group 2, 3, 4 were dissected at days 4, 7, 15, 22 and spleen, heart, thymus and body weights were measured. RESULTS: In experiment 1. survival rate in group 2 on day 7, 15 were low compared with group 1(85%, 0% vs 100%, p<0.05). and myocardial virus titers in group 2 on day 4 was 50 times, and on day 7, 1000 times higher compared with group 1, Histologically, on day 7, focal cellular infiltrations were prominent findings in group 1, but diffuse myocardial necrosis without cellular infiltration were observed in group 2. In experiment 2, survival rate, cardiac histopathology myocardial virus titer and serum neutralizing antibody titers did not differ among groups 1, 3 and 4. In experiment 1 and 2, the spleen-to-body-weight and thymus-to-body-weight ratios were significantly lower in CYP treated groups than those in controls and marked cellular depletions in spleens and thymus were observed in CYP treated groups. CONCLUSIONS: As the results of above, it can be concluded that the immunosuppression during viremic phase of murine viral myocarditis aggravated the myocardial necrosis, and during aviremic phase, the administration of CYP didnot affect the process of viral myocarditis. Thus, direct viral mechanisms in the production of cardiomyocyte injury in CB3-infected mice appear to bo more important than cell mediated immune mechanism. To understand relevant pathogenic mechanisms of clinical myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy resulting from viral infection, the experimental study expanding into nonmurine animals and into various models using other infectious agents may be required.
Animals ; Antibodies, Neutralizing ; Body Weight ; Cardiomyopathies ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; Cell Death ; Cyclophosphamide* ; Heart ; Immunosuppression ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Mice ; Muscle Cells ; Myocarditis* ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; Necrosis ; Spleen ; Survival Rate ; Thymus Gland ; Viral Load

BACKGROUND: Fiberoptic bronchoscope guided intubation is an important method of difficult airway management. The use of specific airways has been devised to assist the fiberoptic intubation. The authours compared effectiveness of separated airway with fiberoptic bronchoscope guided intubation and the hemodynamic responses. METHODS: 104 adult patients of American Society of Anesthesiologists grading (ASA) I-II who scheduled for surgery under general anesthesia were randomly divided into the Laryngoscope group (L group, n = 30) or the Fiberoptic bronchoscope group (F group, n = 36) or the Fiberoptic bronchoscope with separated airway (MF group, n = 38). A Fiberoptic bronchoscope guided intubation and a fiberoptic bronchoscope with separated airway and a direct laryngoscope was performed after inducing anesthesia. Intubation time, Jaw thrust incidence, mean blood pressure and heart rate after anaesthesia induction, at intubation and every two minute for a further 7 min were recorded. RESULTS: The intubation time was significantly shorter in the MF group (58.3 +/- 13.7 sec) than F group (71.9 +/- 22.1 sec). Jaw thrust incidence was lower in the MF group (60.5%) than F group (100%). The changes of MAPs and HRs during the observation were not significantly different in three group. CONCLUSIONS: Fiberoptic intubation using separated airway reduced intubation time and the incidence of jaw thrust.
Adult ; Airway Management ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Blood Pressure ; Bronchoscopes ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intubation ; Jaw ; Laryngoscopes

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of positron emission tomography (PET)-computed tomography (CT) for preoperative tumor staging in cases of colorectal cancer. METHODS: Between July 2006 and September 2007, seventy-six patients with a diagnosis of colorectal cancer (43 males and 33 females; mean age: 60.4+/-10.13 years; range: 34~82 years) selected prospectively were studied for staging by using Chest X-ray, abdominal CT and PET-CT. RESULTS: The sensitivities and the specificities for N-staging were 76.9% and 35.1% for CT, 61.8% and 66.7% for PET-CT, and both procedures showed a relatively low diagnostic accuracy (CT 57.9%, PET-CT 61.8%). In the PET-CT alone, six distant metastatic lesions and four multiple primary malignancies were found. The locations of the distant metastases were the liver, the axillary node, the common iliac node, the subclavicular node, the peritoneum, and the lung. The locations of the multiple primary maligancies in extracolonic sites were 3 in the thyroid and 1 in the nasopharynx. CONCLUSIONS: For N-staging, preoperative PET-CT is no more useful than CT, but PET-CT is required before surgery to find lesions that cannot be found with conventional studies.
Colorectal Neoplasms ; Electrons ; Humans ; Liver ; Lung ; Male ; Nasopharynx ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Peritoneum ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Prospective Studies ; Thorax ; Thyroid Gland

Brugada syndrome describes a subgroup of patients at risk of ventricular fibrillation, but with no evidence of an underlying structural heart disease associated with an ECG pattern of right bundle branch block and a ST segment elevation in the right precordial leads (V1 to V3). This syndrome is familial with an autosomal dominant mode of transmission, and may be considerably more common in Southeast Asia. It is associated with a significant risk of ventricular tachyarrhythmias and sudden death, which is not effectively prevented by anti-arrhythmic drug therapy. We experienced such a case under general anesthesia for a hemi-colectomy, in a 32-year-old male patient diagnosed as having Brugada syndrome by characteristic ECG findings without untoward cardiovascular events.
Adult ; Anesthesia, General ; Asia, Southeastern ; Brugada Syndrome* ; Bundle-Branch Block ; Death, Sudden ; Drug Therapy ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Male ; Tachycardia ; Ventricular Fibrillation

Brugada syndrome describes a subgroup of patients at risk of ventricular fibrillation, but with no evidence of an underlying structural heart disease associated with an ECG pattern of right bundle branch block and a ST segment elevation in the right precordial leads (V1 to V3). This syndrome is familial with an autosomal dominant mode of transmission, and may be considerably more common in Southeast Asia. It is associated with a significant risk of ventricular tachyarrhythmias and sudden death, which is not effectively prevented by anti-arrhythmic drug therapy. We experienced such a case under general anesthesia for a hemi-colectomy, in a 32-year-old male patient diagnosed as having Brugada syndrome by characteristic ECG findings without untoward cardiovascular events.
Adult ; Anesthesia, General ; Asia, Southeastern ; Brugada Syndrome* ; Bundle-Branch Block ; Death, Sudden ; Drug Therapy ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Male ; Tachycardia ; Ventricular Fibrillation

PURPOSE: Tumor downstaging after preoperative chemoradiation has been associated with an intent to improve anal sphincter preservation, resectability, local control, and possibly survival in locally advanced rectal cancer. We performed this study to evaluate the outcome of preoperative chemoradiation for locally advanced rectal cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the cases of 82 patients who had been treated by using preoperative chemoradiation combined with surgery for adenocarcinoma of the rectum between January, 1995, and December, 2002. All patients had fixed or locally advanced lesions, which had been detected by using digital rectal examination. No distant metastasis was proven before preoperative chemoradiation. All of the patients received the full scheduled dose of radiation (range, 3,000~5,400 cGy). Concurrent intravenous chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil (450 mg/m2/day) and leucovorin (45 mg/day) was administered continuously on days 1~5 and 29~33. The mean interval between chemoradiation and surgery was 5.6 weeks (2.7~9.6 weeks). The survival rate was estimated by using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test. We compared the survival of locally advanced rectal cancers treated by using preoperative chemoradiation with surgery with that of 444 patients with resectable rectal cancers treated by using curative surgery alone during same period. RESULTS: A curative resection could be performed on 64 of the 82 patients (78.2%). A sphincter-preserving surgery was performed on 42 patients (51.2%). A pathologic complete response (pCR) occurred in 6 patients (7.3%). The 5-year survival rates of patients with a pCR was 66.7%. In the comparison of the 5-year survival rates between patients with locally advanced rectal cancer treated by using preoperative chemoradiation with curative surgery and patients with rectal cancer treated by using curative surgery alone, those of stage I, stage II, and stage III cancers were 100% vs. 89.5%, 86.9% vs. 86.3%, and 52.9% vs. 63.3%, respectively (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The survival rates for patients with locally advanced rectal cancers, which are expected to be unresectable or non-curative, treated by using preoperative chemoradiation with surgery were similar to those for patients with resectable rectal cancers treated by using curative surgery alone. We think that preoperative chemoradiation with surgery improves the survival of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. J Korean Soc Coloproctol 2004;20:277-282
Adenocarcinoma ; Anal Canal ; Digital Rectal Examination ; Drug Therapy ; Fluorouracil ; Humans ; Leucovorin ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rectal Neoplasms* ; Rectum ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

Neutropenic enterocolitis is a serious complication of chemotherapy for malignancies such as acute leukemia or lymphoma. The acute inflammatory disease may involve the terminal ileum, cecum and ascending colon. Although conservative care is recommended as the primary treatment modality, surgical intervention is essential for intestinal perforations, abscesses, or bleeding. We experienced a case of neutropenic enterocolitis with a liver abscess in a young leukemia patient. A 13-year-old boy with acute myelogenous leukemia had completed two cycles of chemotherapy (Arabinoside 300 mg, Dactinomycin 40 mg, VP-16 150 mg, 6- mercaptopurin 60 mg, dexametasone 3 mg). Ten days after completing the second cycle he had abdominal pain, low abdominal tenderness and a high fever. The WBC count in the peripheral blood was 210 cell/mm3. A CT scan demonstrated wall thickening of the terminal ileum and ascending colon, as well as 5 cm, and 6 cm sized homogeneous low-density areas in both hepatic lobes. A presumptive diagnosis was neutropenic enterocolitis with a liver abscess. The patient was managed conservatively with fluid resuscitation, a bowel rest, and broad-spectrum antibiotics. Twenty-five days later his abdominal pain was abruptly aggravated. The CT scan and Chest X-ray demonstrated free air in the peritoneal cavity. An emergency laparotomy was performed under a diagnosis of peritonitis with an intestinal perforation. The laparotomy show that, there were perforations at the pylorus of the stomach, and full thickness necrosis at multiple segments of the small bowel. Primary closure of the stomach, a segmental resection and an end-to-end anastomosis of the small bowel, and ileostomy were performed. However, postoperative leakage developed at the stomach. The patient recovered with supportive management. The patient had a third chemotherapy series 3 months after surgery. Three days after completing the third cycle, the patient developed peritonitis. A pyloric re-perforation of the stomach was observed on the laparotomy. Postoperative leakage developed after the primary closure of the stomach. The patient died of sepsis 54 days later. Therefore, intensive monitoring and close collaboration between the hematologist and the surgeon is essential for patients with neutropenic enterocolitis. Postoperative complications are quite common and can be fatal in patients with neutropenic enterocolitis that develops after chemotherapy.
Abdominal Pain ; Abscess ; Adolescent ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cecum ; Colon, Ascending ; Cooperative Behavior ; Dactinomycin ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy* ; Emergencies ; Enterocolitis, Neutropenic* ; Etoposide ; Fever ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Ileostomy ; Ileum ; Intestinal Perforation ; Laparotomy ; Leukemia* ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Liver Abscess* ; Liver* ; Lymphoma ; Male ; Necrosis ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Peritonitis ; Postoperative Complications ; Pylorus ; Resuscitation ; Sepsis ; Stomach ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Neutropenic enterocolitis is a serious complication of chemotherapy for malignancies such as acute leukemia or lymphoma. The acute inflammatory disease may involve the terminal ileum, cecum and ascending colon. Although conservative care is recommended as the primary treatment modality, surgical intervention is essential for intestinal perforations, abscesses, or bleeding. We experienced a case of neutropenic enterocolitis with a liver abscess in a young leukemia patient. A 13-year-old boy with acute myelogenous leukemia had completed two cycles of chemotherapy (Arabinoside 300 mg, Dactinomycin 40 mg, VP-16 150 mg, 6- mercaptopurin 60 mg, dexametasone 3 mg). Ten days after completing the second cycle he had abdominal pain, low abdominal tenderness and a high fever. The WBC count in the peripheral blood was 210 cell/mm3. A CT scan demonstrated wall thickening of the terminal ileum and ascending colon, as well as 5 cm, and 6 cm sized homogeneous low-density areas in both hepatic lobes. A presumptive diagnosis was neutropenic enterocolitis with a liver abscess. The patient was managed conservatively with fluid resuscitation, a bowel rest, and broad-spectrum antibiotics. Twenty-five days later his abdominal pain was abruptly aggravated. The CT scan and Chest X-ray demonstrated free air in the peritoneal cavity. An emergency laparotomy was performed under a diagnosis of peritonitis with an intestinal perforation. The laparotomy show that, there were perforations at the pylorus of the stomach, and full thickness necrosis at multiple segments of the small bowel. Primary closure of the stomach, a segmental resection and an end-to-end anastomosis of the small bowel, and ileostomy were performed. However, postoperative leakage developed at the stomach. The patient recovered with supportive management. The patient had a third chemotherapy series 3 months after surgery. Three days after completing the third cycle, the patient developed peritonitis. A pyloric re-perforation of the stomach was observed on the laparotomy. Postoperative leakage developed after the primary closure of the stomach. The patient died of sepsis 54 days later. Therefore, intensive monitoring and close collaboration between the hematologist and the surgeon is essential for patients with neutropenic enterocolitis. Postoperative complications are quite common and can be fatal in patients with neutropenic enterocolitis that develops after chemotherapy.
Abdominal Pain ; Abscess ; Adolescent ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cecum ; Colon, Ascending ; Cooperative Behavior ; Dactinomycin ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy* ; Emergencies ; Enterocolitis, Neutropenic* ; Etoposide ; Fever ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Ileostomy ; Ileum ; Intestinal Perforation ; Laparotomy ; Leukemia* ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Liver Abscess* ; Liver* ; Lymphoma ; Male ; Necrosis ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Peritonitis ; Postoperative Complications ; Pylorus ; Resuscitation ; Sepsis ; Stomach ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed