An accurate preoperative evaluation of lymph nodes(LNs) in gastric cancer is a prerequisite for successful surgery and favorable prognosis. We retrospectively analyzed the Ct accuracy in perigastric LN localization and LN staging of gastric cancer as well as the size criteria for the metastasized LN in 64 patients who hed undergone a surgery for gastric cancer. The results of perigastric LNs evaluation by CT are as follows; sensitivity 67%(64/95), specificity 90%(839/929), accuracy 88%(903/1024). Of 95 pathologically metastasized LN groups, 66 could be retrospectively identified on Ct scans(69%). In LN staging, CT was correct in 60%(38/64), overstaged in 32%(21/64), and understaged in 8%(5/64). The perigastric LN groups which were easily localized on CT were #3, 7, 8, and 13. The mean size of metastasized LNs on CT according to the I.N group was #3 (13mm), #4(9mm), #6 (10mm), #7(10.5mm), #8 (10mm), #9 (11mm), #13 (9mm).
Humans ; Lymph Nodes* ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stomach Neoplasms*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that affect quality of life in elderly people with dementia. METHODS: The participants for this descriptive correlational study were 97 elderly patients with dementia who were attending a daycare center or were being cared for at home. Data were collected from the participants using the Mini-Mental Status Examination-Dementia Scale, the Geriatric Depression Scale (Short Form), Activity of Daily Living (ADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) Scale. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences in quality of life of elders with dementia according to mobility, using dementia day-care center, and cohabitation. In multiple regression analysis, depression, activity of daily of living, using dementia day-care centers and cohabitation were significant predictors of quality of life and the four variables explained 60% of the variance in quality of life. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate that to enhance the quality of life for elders with dementia, depression needs to be decreased and regular use of daycare service recommended. Further, various programs enhancing physical ability need to be developed and used with these elders.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged* ; Dementia* ; Depression ; Humans ; Quality of Life*

The ventricular power generated by ventricle during ejection is the product of intraventricular pressure and aortic flow. To investigate the usefuless of aortic flow velocity spectrum by Doppler echocardiography to assess left ventricular systolic performance, 16 normal subjects, 27 patients with left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH) with hypertension and 21 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM) were studied. Peak velocity(PV), peak acceleration(PA), systolic velocity intergral(SVI) and acceleration time/ejection time ratio(AT/ET) were measured form continuous-wave aortic Doppler spectrum. The results were as followed; 1) The peak velocities, peak accleration, systolic velocity intergrals and AT/ET rarios in ascending aortic blood flow Doppler spectrum were correlated with ejection fraction significantly(r=+0.387, +0.497, +0.609, -0.648, P<0.05). AT, ET, and SVI were higher than those of normal subjects(P<0.005 respectively). 2) In patients with LVH group, PV, PA, and SVI were higher than those of normal subjects(P<0.05). AT, ET, At/ET ratio and ejection fraction were not difference between two groups. 3) In patinets with DCM group, PV, PA SVI and EF were lower than those of normal subjects(all P<0.005). AT and At/ET ratio were significantly prolonged in patient with DCM, as compared with in normal and patients with LVH group(P<0.05). These results suggested that peak velocity, peak acceleration, systolic velocity integral, and AT/ET ratio on blood flow velocity Doppler spectrum from ascending aorta were useful indicator assessing left ventricular systolic performence.
Acceleration ; Aorta ; Blood Flow Velocity* ; Echocardiography, Doppler* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Ventricular Pressure

Background: This study investigated the effect of intrathecal Sec-O-glucosylhamaudol (SOG) on the p38/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathways, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB)-related inflammatory responses, and autophagy in a spinal nerve ligation (SNL)-induced neuropathic pain model. Methods: The continuous administration of intrathecal SOG via an osmotic pump was performed on male Sprague–Dawley rats (n = 50) with SNL-induced neuropathic pain. Rats were randomized into four groups after the 7th day following SNL and treated for 2 weeks as follows (each n = 10): Group S, sham-operated; Group D, 70% dimethylsulfoxide; Group SOG96, SOG at 96 μg/day; and Group SOG192, SOG at 192 μg/day. The paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) test was performed to assess neuropathic pain. Western blotting of the spinal cord (L5) was performed to measure changes in the expression of signaling pathway components, cytokines, and autophagy. Additional studies with naloxone challenge (n = 10) and cells were carried out to evaluate the potential mechanisms underlying the effects of SOG. Results: Continuous intrathecal SOG administration increased the PWT with p38/JNK mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and NF-κB signaling pathway inhibition, which induced a reduction in proinflammatory cytokines with the concomitant downregulation of autophagy. Conclusions SOG alleviates mechanical allodynia, and its mechanism is thought to be related to the regulation of p38/JNK MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways, associated with autophagy during neuroinflammatory processes after SNL.

Background: This study investigated the effect of intrathecal Sec-O-glucosylhamaudol (SOG) on the p38/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathways, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB)-related inflammatory responses, and autophagy in a spinal nerve ligation (SNL)-induced neuropathic pain model. Methods: The continuous administration of intrathecal SOG via an osmotic pump was performed on male Sprague–Dawley rats (n = 50) with SNL-induced neuropathic pain. Rats were randomized into four groups after the 7th day following SNL and treated for 2 weeks as follows (each n = 10): Group S, sham-operated; Group D, 70% dimethylsulfoxide; Group SOG96, SOG at 96 μg/day; and Group SOG192, SOG at 192 μg/day. The paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) test was performed to assess neuropathic pain. Western blotting of the spinal cord (L5) was performed to measure changes in the expression of signaling pathway components, cytokines, and autophagy. Additional studies with naloxone challenge (n = 10) and cells were carried out to evaluate the potential mechanisms underlying the effects of SOG. Results: Continuous intrathecal SOG administration increased the PWT with p38/JNK mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and NF-κB signaling pathway inhibition, which induced a reduction in proinflammatory cytokines with the concomitant downregulation of autophagy. Conclusions SOG alleviates mechanical allodynia, and its mechanism is thought to be related to the regulation of p38/JNK MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways, associated with autophagy during neuroinflammatory processes after SNL.

To assess the etiology and clinical course of moderate and severe pericardial effusions, we reviewed 118 consecutive patients seen in the cardiology department of the Kyunghee Medical Center from January, 1984 to July, 1988. 1) The common etiologies of pericardial effusions were tuberculosis(25.4%), malignancy(18.8%), uremia(16.2%), heart failure(14.4%), idiopathic(7.7%) and collagen vascular disease(5.1%). The lung cacer(77.2%) and breast cancer(9.1%) comprised most of the etiology of malignant pericardial effusion. The adenocarcinoma was the most common histologic entity of lung cancer. 2) Collapses of right atrium, right ventricle or both were seen in 17 case(14.4%), and the causes of collapses were malignancy(35.5%), idiopathic(11.8%) and uremia(11.8%). 3) The causes of constrictive pericarditis were : tuberculosis(42.9%), idiopathic(28.6%), malignancy(14.3%) and uremia(14.3%). 4) The percentages of improved cases were determined in 55 patients by echocardiography twice, 30th day after treatment and the last follow up day. It revealed 84%/96% in tuberculosis, 85.7%/0% in malignancy, 66.7%/83.3% in uremia, 83.3%/83.3% in heart failure, 100%/100% in both myxedema and myocardial infarction, and 33.3%/33.3% in collagen vascular disease at both follow up day. We conclude that the most common etiology of the pericardial effusions is still tuberculosis in Korea and the most common etiology of cardiac tamponade is malignancy, even though the suspected patients without echocardiography have been excluded can be a limitation of this study. The pericardial effusions by tuberculosis, uremia or heart failure responded well to the adequate treatment and response in malignancy or collagen vascular disease was not good.
Adenocarcinoma ; Breast ; Cardiac Tamponade ; Cardiology ; Collagen ; Echocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart ; Heart Atria ; Heart Failure ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myxedema ; Pericardial Effusion* ; Pericarditis, Constrictive ; Tuberculosis ; Uremia ; Vascular Diseases

From February 1987 through July 1990, the seventeen cases of inoperabelintracranial arteriovenous malformation (AVM) were treated using 6 MV linear accelerator at the Division of Therapeutic Radiology, Kang Nam St. Mary's Hospital. Of seventeen cases, fourteen were male and three were female. Ages ranged from 10 to 51 years (median age of 26 years). The main symptoms were headache, epilepsy and hemiparesis in decreasing order of frequency. The middle cerebral artery is the most common origin of the feeding vessel (41.2%). Four were treated by conventionally fractionated radiation therapy (CRT), thirteen were treated by stereotactic radiosurgery (RS). Duration of follow-up study, two of four CRT group showed minimal response. Of thirteen cases of RS group, two (15.4%) showed complete response, five (38%) partial response, two (15.4%) minimal response and four (30.7%) no response by the same assessment. There was no statistical significance in terms of follow-up period (p=0.22), size of lesion (p=0.82) and treated dose (p=0.65). Further accumulation of experience s recommended with proper case selection and sufficient follow-up period.
Arteriovenous Malformations ; Epilepsy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Headache ; Humans ; Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations* ; Male ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Paresis ; Particle Accelerators ; Radiation Oncology ; Radiosurgery*

The sparsity of publication concerning CT findings of tuberculous arthritis prompted authors to retrospectively evaluate 12 patients with tuberculous arthritis for characteristic CT findings. In each patient, the diagnosis of tuberculous arthritis was confirmed by surgery or biopsy. The CT examinations were evaluated by two radiologists retrospectively. Involved joints were the hip joint in seven patients, the sacroiliac joint in three parients, and the shoulder and ankle joint in one patients each. CT features included subchondral bony erosion(12 patients), soft tissue mass in the joint space(nine), widenining of the joint space(eight), ipsilateral muscle atrophy(eight), thickening of the joint capsule(seven), intra-articular effusion(six), soft tissue abscess(five),and bony sclerosis(four). In seven patients with the duration of symptoms less than 1 year, thickening of joint capsule and intra-articular effusion were the predominent findings, while bony sclerosis, gross bone destruction, and soft tissue mass in joint space were seen in five patients with the duration of symptoms longer than 1 year. Our results indicate that CT is useful in the diagnosis of tuberculous arthritis by demonstrating characteristic pathologic changes of the joint space, soft tissue abnormality and bony involvement.
Ankle Joint ; Arthritis* ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Hip Joint ; Humans ; Joint Capsule ; Joints ; Publications ; Retrospective Studies ; Sacroiliac Joint ; Sclerosis ; Shoulder

No abstract available.
Technetium Tc 99m Disofenin*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Thrombopoietin (TPO) is an important cytokine for megakaryocyte maturation and platelet production. Because the main site of its production is liver, the failing liver may have a role in thrombocytopenia in chronic liver disease. The aims of this study were to determine the serum TPO levels in cirrhotic patients with thrombocytopenia and clarify the relation between the serum TPO levels and liver function impairment. METHOD: Cirrhotic paitents with thrombocytopenia (LC, n=57, Child class A/B/C; 20/13/24), chronic hepatitis patients (CH, n=24), oncologic patients with thrombocytopenia induced by chemotherapy (HO, n=7), acute viral hepatitis patients (AVH, n=5) and healthy controls (HC, n=5) were enrolled. Serum TPO was measured by an ELISA method. RESULTS: Although the mean platelets counts of LC (69+/-32, x103/ul: mean+/-SD) were lower than those of HC (229+/-29, x103/ul), serum TPO levels in LC (108+/-63 pg/ml: mean+/-SD) were not significantly different from HC (122+/-24 pg/ml). In HO, serum TPO was significantly higher than LC (623+/-746 vs 108+/-63 pg/ml, p<0.05) inspite of comparable platelets counts. In LC, serum TPO level was not significantly different among Child class groups. It was not correlated with serum ALT, serum albumin levels, prothrombin time, serum bile acid, Child class, Child score and partial thromboplastin time, but weakly correlated with serum total bilirubin (p=0.038, r=0.288) and platelet counts (p=0.041, r=0.287). CONCLUSIONS: Although impaired hepatic production of TPO seems to be the main cause of low serum TPO levels in thrombocytopenic cirrhotic patients, there was no correlation between serum TPO level and the severity of liver dysfunction. The role of other factors such as megakaryocyte mass in bone marrow, portal hypertension and hypersplenism may be necessary to explain the putative mechanism between TPO and platelet numbers in liver cirrhosis with thrombocytopenia.
Bile ; Bilirubin ; Blood Platelets ; Bone Marrow ; Child ; Drug Therapy ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Humans ; Hypersplenism ; Hypertension, Portal ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Diseases ; Megakaryocytes ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Platelet Count ; Prothrombin Time ; Serum Albumin ; Thrombocytopenia* ; Thrombopoietin*