Melanosis coli is the brownish black discoloration of the colon due to accumulation of pigment containing macrophages in lamina propria. The nature and source of this pigment is controversial but many studies have suggested that the pigment is related to lipofuscin. Melanosis coli has been reported to be closely associated with prolonged administration of anthraquinone purgatives. But this condition is sometimes associated with colonic polyp colon cancer, rediation therapy or non-anthraquinone purgatives administration. Moreover the fact that melanosis coli could be found in subjects who never used purgatives suggested that, even though chronic consumption of anthraquinone purgatives seems to play a major role, other factors may be involved in the pathogenesis of melanosis coli. We presented a case of melanosis Coli in a 47-year-old female with history of rectal instillation of petroleum for control of hemorrhoids.
Administration, Rectal* ; Cathartics ; Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colonic Polyps ; Female ; Hemorrhoids ; Humans ; Lipofuscin ; Macrophages ; Melanosis* ; Middle Aged ; Mucous Membrane ; Petroleum*

Gastric lymphoma occupies about 1-7% of gastric cancer and is the most common type of extranodal lymphoma. To evaluate the endoscopic morphologic characteristics of gastric lymphoma, we analysed the endoscopic findings in 45 patients with pathologically-proven gastric lymphoma. (continue...)
Gastroscopy ; Humans ; Lymphoma* ; Stomach Neoplasms

No abstract available.
Duodenal Ulcer* ; Pepsinogen A*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the surgical outcomes of two different surgical methods for varicocelectomy, and to assess the effects of varicocelectomy on semen parameters in subinfertile men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 63 patients with clinically palpable varicocele and abnormal semen parameters who underwent varicocelectomy. Thirty-three patients underwent laparoscopic varicocelectomy, and 30 received microsurgical inguinal varicocelectomy. Semen analyses were performed 5.3 months later, and compared with the pre-operative data. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 32.1+/-1.3 years old. Comparison of the semen parameters between pre and post-varicocelectomy revealed significant improvement in the sperm count (p<0.05). In laparoscopic and microsurgical inguinal varicocelectomy, the sperm counts were increased from 16.2+/-4.3 to 30.6+/-7.5 and from 15.4+/-3.8 to 37.5+/-7.7, respectively. Sperm motility also tended to improve. CONCLUSIONS: Varicocelectomy enhanced semen parameters after both laparoscopic and microsurgical methods. In subfertile men, early varicocelectomy is recommended.
Humans ; Male ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Varicocele

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the surgical outcomes of two different surgical methods for varicocelectomy, and to assess the effects of varicocelectomy on semen parameters in subinfertile men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 63 patients with clinically palpable varicocele and abnormal semen parameters who underwent varicocelectomy. Thirty-three patients underwent laparoscopic varicocelectomy, and 30 received microsurgical inguinal varicocelectomy. Semen analyses were performed 5.3 months later, and compared with the pre-operative data. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 32.1+/-1.3 years old. Comparison of the semen parameters between pre and post-varicocelectomy revealed significant improvement in the sperm count (p<0.05). In laparoscopic and microsurgical inguinal varicocelectomy, the sperm counts were increased from 16.2+/-4.3 to 30.6+/-7.5 and from 15.4+/-3.8 to 37.5+/-7.7, respectively. Sperm motility also tended to improve. CONCLUSIONS: Varicocelectomy enhanced semen parameters after both laparoscopic and microsurgical methods. In subfertile men, early varicocelectomy is recommended.
Humans ; Male ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Varicocele

Colonic palyps are one of the most risky factors for colon cancer. The pathology of the specimen obtained by forceps biopsy does not represent the whole specimen of the polyp obtained by polypectomy or surgery in some cases. To evaluate these pathologic differences. we analysed the 39 patients with colonic polyps who underwent forceps biopsy and polypectomy. (continue...)
Biopsy* ; Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colonic Polyps* ; Humans ; Pathology ; Polyps ; Surgical Instruments*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: An anatomic variant of left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), termed "dual LAD", consists of early bifurcation of the proximal LAD into one early terminating branch (short LAD) which remains in the anterior interventricular sulcus (AIVS) and doesn't reach the apex, and the second (long LAD), which has a variable course outside the AIVS but returns to the distal sulcus and continues to the apex. Its incidence, angiographic features and clinical significance are investigated. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Consecutive 696 coronary angiograms during October 1997 through August 1998 were analyzed. RESULTS: A dual LAD variant was noted in 45 patients (6%) of the 696 patients. Type I, in which the long LAD descends on the left ventricular side of the AIVS before reentering the AIVS, was noted in 24 patients (53%) and type II, in which the long LAD descends on the right ventricular side of the AIVS before reentering the AIVS, in 21(47%). First septal branch was commonly originated from LAD proper in both type (54% vs 52%), but first diagonal branch from LAD proper (63%) in type I, from short LAD (71%) in type II. Presence of dual LAD was recognized before percutaneous coronary intervention (10) or bypass surgery (2) in 12 (63%) of 19 patients. Regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMA) were localized in distal septum or anterolateral wall in 2 patients with short or long LAD obstruction, respectively. CONCLUSION: Recognition of dual LAD is essential to prevent errors of interpretation of the coronary angiogram, to plan optimal strategy for percutaneous coronary intervention or bypass surgery, especially in case of total occlusion, and to understand localized septal or anterolateral RWMA.
Coronary Vessels* ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

PURPOSE: Depression is associated with increased inflammation and cardiovascular disease. And in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD), depression is a common problem and cardiovascular disease is the main cause of death. The aim of this study is to investigate the association of depression with various inflammatory markers and with some cardiovascular risk factors in ESRD patients on hemodialysis METHODS: 53 patients with ESRD on maintenance hemodialysis were divided into depressive symptom (BDI> or =11) group and control (BDI < 11) group by the 21-items Becks depression inventory (BDI). We collected patients characteristics and laboratory measurements by medical records. And then, we measured the levels of IL-10 and TNF-alpha a and analyzed the genotype of IL-10 and TNF-alpha a promoter area. RESULTS: The levels of TNF-alpha, CRP and ferritin were significantly higher in depressive symptom group (p=0.001, 0.04, 0.02) and IL-10 concentration tended to be lower in depressive symptom group (p= 0.05). The prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy was higher in depressive symptom group than in the control group (44% vs 9%, p=0.01). GG genotype known as high IL-10 producer was less common in depressive symptom group than in control group (8% vs 36%, p=0.039). CONCLUSION: Increased inflammation, high left ventricular hypertrophy prevalence and low ejection fraction were observed in depressive hemodialysis patients. Further prospective study is needed to clarify the role of depression in the development of inflammation and cardiovascular disease in ESRD patients.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cause of Death ; Depression ; Ferritins ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-10 ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Medical Records ; Prevalence ; Renal Dialysis ; Risk Factors ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha