No abstract available.
Snake Bites* ; Snakes*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Cauda Equina* ; Dogs*

No abstract available.
Granuloma, Plasma Cell* ; Urinary Bladder*

No abstract available.
Granuloma, Plasma Cell* ; Urinary Bladder*

PURPOSE: Bipolar energy has recently been used for transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). Although this modality is thought to be safe, there are some controversies concerning the pathologic accuracy of the biopsy specimens. We compared clinical efficacy, safety, and pathologic characteristics of deep biopsy specimens between bipolar and monopolar devices. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2002 to June 2007, a total of 115 patients underwent TURBT with deep biopsy with the use of bipolar (bipolar group, n=64) or monopolar (monopolar group, n=51) devices. We retrospectively analyzed tumor size, tumor number, urine cytology, perioperative blood loss (postoperative changes in hemoglobin levels), complications, duration of catheterization, duration of hospitalization, pathologic stage, WHO grade, deep biopsy specimen thickness, and grade of thermal damage. RESULTS: There were no statistical differences in tumor size, tumor number, urine cytology, complications, duration of hospitalization, pathologic stage, or WHO grade between the two groups. Postoperative changes in hemoglobin levels were significantly lower in the bipolar group (p=0.038), and the duration of catheterization was shorter in the bipolar group (p=0.026). The deep biopsy specimen thickness was significantly thinner in the bipolar group (2.25+/-0.94 mm vs. 3.02+/-1.39 mm, p<0.05). The grade of thermal damage was not statistically different between the two groups (p=0.862). CONCLUSIONS: In terms of clinical efficacy and safety, bipolar TURBT is comparable to monopolar TURBT, having advantages in perioperative blood loss and duration of catheterization. In addition, pathologic changes in deep biopsy after bipolar and monopolar TURBT are similar. Bipolar TURBT can be properly used for bladder tumors without pathologic error.
Artifacts ; Biopsy ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Hemoglobins ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Pathology, Surgical ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms

No abstract available.
Blood Platelets* ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel* ; Membrane Glycoproteins* ; Membranes* ; Thrombasthenia*

No abstract available.
Rectal Neoplasms*

Galactosemia, a term that denotes the presence of galactose in the blood, is the name of rare inborn error of galactose metabolism due to a deficiency of the enzyme galactokinase (GALK), galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (GALT) and uridine diphosphate-galactose 4-epimerase (GALE). GALT deficiency is the most common and shows the most severe clinical manifestation, including hepatomegaly, cataracts, and mental retardation. The main symptom of GALT deficiency is juvenile cataracts. GALE deficiency has two different forms; benign and severe forms. The benign form has no clinical significance, however, the severe form shows the same clinical manifestations as those of GALT deficiency.
Cataract ; Galactokinase ; Galactose ; Galactosemias* ; Hepatomegaly ; Intellectual Disability ; Metabolism ; Uridine ; UTP-Hexose-1-Phosphate Uridylyltransferase

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is often associated with extrahepatic autoimmune disease, and autoantibodies such as anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) or anti-smooth muscle antibody (ASA). The presence of autoantibodies may make discrimination between chronic hepatitis C with autoimmune features and type 1 autoimmune hepatitis difficult. We studied the prevalence of autoantibodies in patients with chronic HCV infection and their clinical significance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ANA, ASA, anti-mitochondrial antibody (AMA), anti-microsomal antibody (AmA), rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-cardiolipin antibody (aCL) and lupus anti-coagulant (LA) were tested in 116 patients (80 chronic hepatitis C, 36 liver cirrhosis). Genotypes of HCV were determined in 25 patients by INNO LiPA. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of autoantibody was 65.5%. The most common autoantibody was aCL (34.5%), followed by ANA (25%), RF (18%), LA (15.5%), ASA (6.9%), anti-microsomal antibody (6%) and AMA (1%). The positive rate of either ANA or ASA was 30.2%, but both were positive in 1.7% only. There was no difference in the demographic features, biochemistry, HCV genotypes and disease status between autoantibody-positive and autoantibody-negative patients. CONCLUSIONS: Autoantibodies were commonly found in patients with chronic HCV infection. But, the presence of autoantibodies may be a non-specific finding in chronic hepatitis C infection without clinical significance.
Autoantibodies* ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Biochemistry ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Genotype ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis C, Chronic* ; Hepatitis, Autoimmune ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans ; Liver ; Prevalence* ; Rheumatoid Factor

Pseudocyst of the auricle presents as a non-inflammatory, fluctuant swelling on the upper half or third section of the ear, due to intracartilaginous accumulation of fluid. Histological examination shows an intracartilaginous cavity without an epithelial lining. The etilogy and pathogenesis of this disorder remains unknown, but the lesion is likely to be due to localized de-generation of cartilage. The degenerated cartilage is replaced by a vascular fibrous tissue from which there is serious exudation, and a clinical cystic swelling is formed. We describe in this report three cases of pseudocyst of the auricle, of which one was treated successfully by surgical excision and a pressure dressing, and the others by aspiration and steroid injection therapy. In all cases, the skin lesions had not recurred, and the patients were left with an excellent cosmetic result.
Bandages ; Cartilage ; Ear ; Humans ; Skin