OBJETIVE: To assess the effects of progesterone and acetyl-L-carnitine used after treated with IsolateR gradient before semen cryopreservation-thawing on sperm parameters and membrane integrity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From April 2001 to July 2001, ten normal male partner of couples who were visited in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics. the semens were treated with IsolateR gradient before cryopreservation, spermatozoa was incubated with progesterone (1, 5 and 10 micrometer), acetyl-L-carnitine (2.5, 5 and 10 micrometer), or both (progesterone, 1 micrometer; and acetyl-L-carnitine, 5 micrometer) for 30 min. RESULTS: There were no differences in sperm parameters and vital stain among isolate only treated group, progesterone (1, 5 and 10 micrometer), acetyl-L-carnitine (2.5, 5 and 10 micrometer) and both (progesterone, 1 micrometer; and acetyl-L-carnitine, 5 micrometer). But, in high concentration of acetyl-L-carnitine (10 micrometer) treated group, sperm parameters and vital stain were decreased. The statistical method was used ANOVA (Kruskal-Wallis test) and p value was <0.01. CONCLUSIONS: Neither progesterone nor acetyl-L-carnitine show to be protective effect on the cryodamage assessed by sperm parameters and vital stain (eosin-Y stain) in normal sperm. High concentration of acetyl-L-carnitine (10 micrometer), however, was harmful effect on cryoprevention.
Acetylcarnitine* ; Cryopreservation ; Family Characteristics ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Male ; Membranes* ; Progesterone ; Semen ; Spermatozoa*

OBJECTIVE: The clinical features and prognosis of intraductal papillary mucinous tumor (IPMT) of the pancreas are diverse. We reviewed the clinicopathologic features and surgical results of patients who were treated for IMPT. METHODS: WE retrospectively reviewed seven cases that were surgically resected and pathologically diagnosed. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 63.7 years and there were 6 (85.7%) symptomatic patients. The diagnostic accuracy of abdominal CT was 57.1% (n=4) and the was 71.4% (n=5). (Ed note: the last part made no sense. Put in the correct terms.) The final diagnosis was benign IPMT in 4 cases (57.1%), malignancy in 3 cases (42.9%, and borderline malignancy, carcinoma in situ and invasive carcinoma in one case each, respectively). Three cases each of pylorus preserving panreaticoduodectomy (42.9%) and distal pancreatectomy were performed (42.(%), respectively, and 1 pancreatic wedge resection (14.3%) was performed for 1 case. Three patients (42.9%) were found to have associated malignancies. The median follow-up duration was 10 months (range: 3-25). Four patients are still alive and 3 patients have died, but only one patient died of systemic metastasis. CONCLUSION: The clinicopathological features, treatment, and prognosis of IPMT are still unclear, but the significant possibility of malignancy and associated malignancies should always kept in mind and further study is required
Carcinoma in Situ ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mucins* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pancreas* ; Pancreatectomy ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Prognosis ; Pylorus ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor has been recently reported of diabetic ketoacidosis due to accumulation of ketone bodies in patients with severe dehydration caused from such like diarrhea even though the patient had normal glucose level. This is a case of ketoacidosis in normal glucose level as production of ketone bodies is stimulated in liver with increased secretion of glucagon by stimulation of α cells in pancreas due to increase of lipolysis caused from reducing insulin and by SGLT2 inhibitor among patients who are under concurrent insulin and SGLT2 inhibitor. Thus, insulin dosage reduction requires caution in order to control blood glucose level on combined treatment of SGLT2 inhibitor in a patient who is administering insulin because the patient may be caused ketoacidosis in normal blood glucose level.
Blood Glucose ; Dehydration ; Diabetic Ketoacidosis* ; Diarrhea ; Glucagon ; Glucose* ; Humans ; Insulin* ; Ketone Bodies ; Ketosis ; Lipolysis ; Liver ; Pancreas ; Sodium*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is one of the critical life events that can affect physical, emotional, and functional aspects of quality of life. Canalith repositioning procedure (CRP) provides rapid and long lasting relief of symptoms in most patients with BPPV. However, some patients express nonspecific symptoms such as anxiety or discomfort after treatment, The purpose of this study was to assess the residual symptoms after CRP in patients with BPPV using Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) in a questionnaire format and to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of CRP according to accompanying the DizzyFIX device. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a prospective investigation in 135 consecutive patients with confirmed posterior semicircular canal BPPV. CRP was performed until nystagmus and vertigo disappeared. Patients were divided into three group using the DizzyFIX (group A), not using the DizzyFIX (group B) and closed observation (group C) after treatment. Then patients were asked to complete the questionnaire for Korean form DHI before treatment, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8 week after treatment. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in DHI scores when comparing the pre CRP and post CRP three groups (p<0.05), although emotional items showed incomplete improvement at 1 week. But at 2 week after treatment, there were statistically significant differences between group A and other groups in DHI scores specially in emotional items. CONCLUSION: Even after successful CRP, DHI scores indicated incomplete recovery and residual subjective symptoms may remain. For these patients additional follow up and management are necessary and using of the DizzyFIX will be helpful to reduce the incidence of residual dizziness especially emotional aspect.
Anxiety ; Dizziness ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Prospective Studies ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Semicircular Canals ; Vertigo

To determine overall detection rates of lung cancer by low-dose CT (LDCT) screening and to compare histopathologic and imaging differences of detected cancers between high- and low-risk groups, this study included 6,406 asymptomatic Korean adults with >or=45 yr of age who underwent LDCT for lung cancer screening. All were classified into high- (>or=20 pack-year smoking; 3,353) and low-risk (3,053; <20 pack-yr smoking and non-smokers) groups. We compared CT findings of detected cancers and detection rates between high- and low-risk. At initial CT, 35% (2,255 of 6,406) had at least one or more non-calcified nodule. Lung cancer detection rates were 0.36% (23 of 6,406). Twenty-one non-small cell lung cancers appeared as solid (n=14) or ground-glass opacity (GGO) (n=7) nodules. Cancer likelihood was higher in GGO nodules than in solid nodules (p<0.01). Fifteen of 23 cancers occurred in high-risk group and 8 in low-risk group (p=0.215). Therefore, LDCT screening help detect early stage of lung cancer in asymptomatic Korean population with detection rate of 0.36% on a population basis and may be useful for discovering early lung cancer in low-risk group as well as in high-risk group.
Adenocarcinoma/diagnosis ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/diagnosis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/diagnosis ; Comparative Study ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung Neoplasms/*diagnosis ; Male ; Mass Screening/*methods ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*methods

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to review the patterns of lung abnormalities of pulmonary cryptococcosis on CT images, position emission tomography (PET) findings of the disease, and the response of lung abnormalities to the therapies in non-AIDS patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the initial CT (n = 23) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET (n = 10), and follow-up (n = 23) imaging findings of pulmonary cryptococcosis in 23 non-AIDS patients. Lung lesions were classified into five patterns at CT: single nodular, multiple clustered nodular, multiple scattered nodular, mass-like, and bronchopneumonic patterns. The CT pattern analyses, PET findings, and therapeutic responses were recorded. RESULTS: A clustered nodular pattern was the most prevalent and was observed in 10 (43%) patients. This pattern was followed by solitary pulmonary nodular (n = 4, 17%), scattered nodular (n = 3, 13%), bronchopneumonic (n = 2, 9%), and single mass (n = 1, 4%) patterns. On PET scans, six (60%) of 10 patients showed higher FDG uptake and four (40%) demonstrated lower FDG uptake than the mediastinal blood pool. With specific treatment of the disease, a complete clearance of lung abnormalities was noted in 15 patients, whereas a partial response was noted in seven patients. In one patient where treatment was not performed, the disease showed progression. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary cryptococcosis most commonly appears as clustered nodules and is a slowly progressive and slowly resolving pulmonary infection. In two-thirds of patients, lung lesions show high FDG uptake, thus simulating a possible malignant condition.
Adult ; Aged ; Contrast Media/diagnostic use ; Cryptococcosis/*radiography/*radionuclide imaging/therapy ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18/diagnostic use ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Fungal/*radiography/*radionuclide imaging/therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Positron-Emission Tomography/*methods ; Radiopharmaceuticals/diagnostic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Spiral Computed/*methods

BACKGROUND/AIMS: A hepatectomy for liver metastases from colorectal cancer has recently received general acceptance as a safe, potentially curative treatment modality due to its low surgical mortality and significant improvement of survival rates after resection. However, criteria for the selection of patients and treatment modalities remains controversial. The aim of study was to determine the prognostic factors. in patients who had undergone a hepatic resection for metastatic colorectal cancer. METHODS: Twenty-four patients who had underdone initial hepatic resection for liver metastases from colorectal cancer between 1992 and 2002 were analyzed with regard to clinical and pathological parameters. The survival rate was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression hazard model. The mean follow up period was 37 months. RESULTS: The overall 5-year survival rate was 29.3%, with a mean survival of 39 months. There were 10 (41.3%) and 14 (58.7%) cases of synchronous and metachronous metastasis, respectively. The 5-year survival rate was shown to be significantly lower in patients with more than 4 metastases (p=0.01), bilobar metastasis (p=0.02) and vascular invasion (p=0.01). The number of hepatic metastases (p= 0.02) has been demonstrated as an independent factor for the 5-year survival. CONCLUSION: Patients with multiple, bilobar hepatic metastases and vascular invasion demonstrated a poor survival rate. Therefore, in patients with poor prognostic factors, curative surgical resection, accompanied by a multimodality treatment, is necessary for an improved survival.
Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Liver ; Mortality ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Survival Rate*

Panniculitis generally indicates a group of diseases whose hallmark is fibrous thickening and chronic inflammation of subcutaneous fat. Various factors seem to induce a similar pathological histology, and morphological differences can be found among the patients diagnosed with the same disease. Paraneoplastic causes account for 3~10% of the cases of panniculitis. The commonest causes of cancer associated panniculitis are hematological malignancies and mostly lymphomas. In this case, we confirmed acute myeloid leukemia by a blood test and bone marrow examination, and with considering the clinical aspects and pathological findings of the skin lesion, and we finally diagnosed the patient as having panniculitis, which seems to be related with acute myeloid leukemia. The obvious clinical symptoms or pathophysiological features of this rare type of panniculitis are not yet fully known, and so making the differential diagnosis is needed to distinguish this malady from erythema nodosum, erythema induratum and various connective tissue disorders with accompanying erythematous subcutaneous nodules. We diagnosed this very rare and interesting case of paraneoplastic panniculitis that seemed to be generated from acute myeloid leukemia. We report here on this case and we review the relevant literature.
Bone Marrow Examination ; Connective Tissue ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Erythema Induratum ; Erythema Nodosum ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Lymphoma ; Panniculitis ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Fat

BACKGROUND: Despite recent advances in antifungal chemotherapy, invasive aspergillosis remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a cytokine that is known to enhance antifungal activities of monocytes against Candida albicans. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the potentials of IL-15 to enhance antifungal activities of monocytes against Aspergillus fumigatus. METHODS: Peripheral blood monocytes from healthy adults were incubated with 0, 1, 10, 100 ng/ml of IL-15 for 1, 2, and 4 days. Then, the ability of IL-15 to elicit the production of superoxide anion, the damage of hyphae by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, and the killing ability of Aspergillus fumigatus conidia was investigated. RESULTS: Incubation of peripheral blood monocytes with 100 ng/ml of IL-15 enhanced hyphal damage after 2 days (p<0.05), conidicidal activity from the first day (p<0.05), and increased the production of superoxide anion (O2- ) in response to phorbol myristate acetate. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that IL-15 augments the microbicidal activity of human monocytes against Aspergillus fumigatus.
Adult ; Aspergillosis ; Aspergillus fumigatus* ; Aspergillus* ; Candida albicans ; Drug Therapy ; Homicide ; Humans* ; Hyphae ; Immunocompromised Host ; Interleukin-15* ; Monocytes* ; Mortality ; Spores, Fungal ; Superoxides ; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate

Likely to be the most common oral cancer, squamous cell carcinoma(SCC) of the tongue accounts for about 20% of all oral and pharyngeal cancers. SCC of the tongue frequently arises in the lateral border, and if it metastasize, it occurs on submandibular gland and neck lymph nodes. Location of the primary lesions and neck lymph node metastasis affect the prognosis and decrease survival rate of patients with carcinoma of the tongue. The authors experienced the patient with contralateral neck lymph node metastasis of SCC of the tongue. The patient came to our department with chief complaint of elevated lesion on left lateral border of the tongue. The mass was diagnosed as T2N0M0, Stage II invasive SCC of oral tongue. Computed tomography(CT) & magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) which were taken before the operation showed no significant finding of metastasis. Surgical mass removal and preventive neck dissection on the left side were done. While follow up PET/CT, contralateral neck lymph node metastasis(right side, level II) was detected, and re-operation(Rt. side RND) was done. There are few studies concerning the contralateral neck lymph node metastasis related with SCC of the tongue. The purpose of this report is to introduce the uncommon case of contralateral neck lymph node metastasis occurred in the T2-stage of SCC of the tongue treated by surgical resection.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Mouth Neoplasms ; Neck ; Neck Dissection ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pharyngeal Neoplasms ; Porphyrins ; Prognosis ; Submandibular Gland ; Survival Rate ; Tongue ; Tongue Neoplasms