PURPOSE: We studied to evaluate the effect of percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) in liver abscess. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data (presence of fever, WBC count), radiological findings (computed tomography, ultrasonography and abscessogram) and correlated them with treatment period. Percutaneous drainage of liver abscess were performed in 19 patients under fluoroscopy guide during recent three years. RESULTS: Eighteen patients (95%) were cured, and one patient underwent surgery because of peritonitis caused by PCD procedure. Average treatment period was 17 days. CONCLUSION: In the treatment of liver abscess, PCD is thought to be safe and effective.
Catheters* ; Drainage* ; Fever ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Liver Abscess* ; Liver* ; Peritonitis ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography

Segmental Spinal Instrumentation(S.S.I.) is more effective means of managing unstable thoraco-lumbar spine fractures than traditional Harrington Rod Instrumentation as an operative procedure which afforded rigid internal fixation with stability and needed minimal external immobilization. Early return to normal activity and successful rehabilitation are facilitated by efficient stabilization with S.S.I. Fifty-nine patients with fractures and fracture-dislocations of thoraco-lumbar spine were treated by Harrington Rod Instrumentation (29 patients) and S.S.I. (30 patients) at this hospital from June 1979 to July 1984. We have analysed the results of these treatment and obtained following conclusions: 1. S.S.I. is more rigid internal fixation than Harrington Rod Instrumentation. a) no or minimal external immobilization b) early ambulation and rehabilitation c) lowered complications 2. There was no significant difference in correction rate, loss of correction, and neurologic recovery between Harrington Rod Instrumentation and S.S.I.
Early Ambulation ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Rehabilitation ; Spine ; Surgical Procedures, Operative

Recently, a series of lawsuits were filed in Korea claiming tort liability against tobacco companies. The Supreme Court has already issued decisions in some cases, while others are still pending. The primary issue in these cases is whether the epidemiological evidence submitted by the plaintiffs clearly proves the causal relationship between smoking and disease as required by civil law. Proving causation is difficult in tobacco lawsuits because factors other than smoking are involved in the development of a disease, and also because of the lapse of time between smoking and the manifestation of the disease. The Supreme Court (Supreme Court Decision, 2011Da22092, April 10, 2014) has imposed some limitations on using epidemiological evidence to prove causation in tobacco lawsuits filed by smokers and their family members, but these limitations should be reconsidered. First, the Court stated that a disease can be categorized as specific or non-specific, and for each disease type, causation can be proven by different types of evidence. However, the concept of specific diseases is not compatible with multifactor theory, which is generally accepted in the field of public health. Second, when the epidemiological association between the disease and the risk factor is proven to be significant, imposing additional burdens of proof on the plaintiff may considerably limit the plaintiff's right to recovery, but the Court required the plaintiffs to provide additional information such as health condition and lifestyle. Third, the Supreme Court is not giving greater weight to the evidential value of epidemiological study results because the Court focuses on the fact that these studies were group-level, not individual-level. However, group-level studies could still offer valuable information about individual members of the group, e.g., probability of causation.
Chloracne/epidemiology/etiology ; Humans ; *Liability, Legal ; Life Style ; Lung Neoplasms/epidemiology/etiology ; Public Health ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors ; *Smoking/adverse effects

Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor(DNET) is a recently described rare tumor that occurs most frequently in the temporal lobe of the brain and is characterized by long-standing, intractable complex partial seizures in children. The authors experienced one case of DNET occurring in a 13-year old boy, who had refractory complex partial seizure for 7 years. CT scan revealed nonenhancing low density mass in the left temporal lobe. MR images demonstrated a well-marginated cortical mass with very low signal intensity on TIWI and multinodular appearance of high signal intensity on T2WI. A few small enhancing foci within the mass were noted on contrast enhanced MR images. DNET, a rare tumor, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of neoplasm which causes seizure and is distinguished from other tumors because of its benign course. Differentiation between DN ETand other tumors by CT and MR findings is very difficult. But, our case showed the multinodular pattern on T2W image, which may be helpful feature in the differential diagnosis.
Adolescent ; Brain ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial* ; Seizures ; Temporal Lobe ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract availalbe.
Pheochromocytoma*

Brunner's gland adenoma(or Brunneroma) is clinically relevant tumor-like lesion of the duodenum which is composed of submucosal Brunner's gland tissue. Since the first case by autopsy was described by Cruveihier in l935, there have been less than 190 reports in the world literature, Brunner's gland adenoma is an extremely rare entity that accounts for only 10.6% of benign duodenal tumors, which are themselves relatively rare representing 0.008% of all surgical and autopsy specimens. The clinical manifestation of this tumor are non-specific gastrointestinal complaints, such as bloating or epigastric pain, and tumor often gives rise to melena or obstruction, It is postulated that this tumor are hamartomas rather than true neoplasm. However, they undergo rarely malignant transformation. We report on a case of a large pedunculated Brunner's gland adenoma, which was successfully polypectomized.
Adenoma* ; Autopsy ; Duodenum ; Hamartoma ; Melena

Brunner's gland adenoma(or Brunneroma) is clinically relevant tumor-like lesion of the duodenum which is composed of submucosal Brunner's gland tissue. Since the first case by autopsy was described by Cruveihier in l935, there have been less than 190 reports in the world literature, Brunner's gland adenoma is an extremely rare entity that accounts for only 10.6% of benign duodenal tumors, which are themselves relatively rare representing 0.008% of all surgical and autopsy specimens. The clinical manifestation of this tumor are non-specific gastrointestinal complaints, such as bloating or epigastric pain, and tumor often gives rise to melena or obstruction, It is postulated that this tumor are hamartomas rather than true neoplasm. However, they undergo rarely malignant transformation. We report on a case of a large pedunculated Brunner's gland adenoma, which was successfully polypectomized.
Adenoma* ; Autopsy ; Duodenum ; Hamartoma ; Melena

The purpose of this study is to present a legal system in which information is actively collected and utilized to monitor the location and health of self-quarantined persons through IT, to identify loopholes in the law and regulatory system in view of data protection and utilization, and to propose a legislative solution for those loopholes. In Korea, the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act (“the Prevention Act”) regulates all matters related to the prevention and management of infectious diseases, including the use of information on self-quarantine apps. Article 42(2) of the Prevention Act states that local governments are authorized to collect the location and health information of a quarantined citizen; however, the law does not elaborate on how this information can be used and what other information can be used in combination with the collected information. Thus, the Personal Information Protection Act (“the Protection Act”), as a general privacy law, is applied supplementarily. However, since the Protection Act is very general and does not have accumulated cases, there is uncertainty about how governments can utilize the collected information. Therefore, it is necessary to consider a legislative solution that includes a direct and clear basis for the use of personal information collected under the Prevention Act in consideration of Korean privacy regulations.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the severity of tissue necrosis of liver according to various kinds of contrast materials used in percutaneous transhepatic procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four kinds of commercially available contrast material were used in the this study :meglumine ioxithalamate (ionic monomer, Telebrix 30, Guerbet, France), meglumine ioglicinate (ionic dimer, Rayvist 300, Schering, Germany), iopromide (nonionic monomer, Ultravist 300, Schering, Germany), and iotrolan (nonionic dimer, Isovist 300, Schering, Germany). The same amount(0.1 ml) of each contrast material was directly injected into the liver of Sprongue-Dawley rats. After two days and four weeks, the histopathologic findings of resected liver were assessed and analysed with special emphasis on the difference in the area of tissue necrosis between each group. RESULTS: In the liver resected 48 hours later, the area of necrosis was related to the osmolality and ionicity of contrast material used :the higher the osmolality, the wider the area of necrosis and ionic contrast material exhibited wider area of necrosis than nonionic contrast material. In the liver resected four weeks later, almost complete recovery was seen at the site of necrosis in all groups. CONCLUSION: Nonionic contrast materials caused less tissue necrosis than ionic contrast materials in percutaneous transhepatic procedure because of their lower osmolality.
Animals ; Contrast Media* ; Liver* ; Meglumine ; Necrosis ; Osmolar Concentration ; Rats*

PURPOSE: The detection of telomerase activity is a new and useful method in diagnosis of bladder transitional cell carcinoma(TCC) in urine samples. But the detection method of telomerase activity is not easily performed in clinical settings because it uses radio-isotope and electrophoresis. We evaluated the test results of telomerase PCR-ELISA and compared them with the results of urinary cytology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In order to evaluate the feasibility of telomerase PCR-ELISA method in bladder TCC, 36 bladder washing samples of patients with bladder TCC and 10 bladder washing samples of benign urologic diseases were examined for telomerase activity. RESULTS: The overall sensitivity and specificity of the telomerase test was 76.5%(26/36) and 80.0%(4/5). The sensitivity of telomerase test was higher than that of urinary cytology in low grade bladder TCC. Sensitivity of the telomerase test according to the nuclear grade of bladder TCC was 61.5% in grade I, 92.3% in grade II, 75% in grade III. In contrast, the sensitivity was 38.5% in grade I, 66.7% in grade II, 87.5% in grade III in urinary cytology. There was no correlation between the tumor stages and the sensitivity of telomerase test. CONCLUSIONS: We have shown that the sensitivity and specificity of telomerase PCR-ELISA method is similar to the results of telomerase tests previously reported using radioisotope. Furthermore, the telomerase test is more sensitive in detecting bladder tumor of low grade than urinary cytology. These findings suggest that telomerase PCR-ELISA method can be used conveniently and widely for the detection of bladder tumor in clinical practice.
Diagnosis* ; Electrophoresis ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Telomerase* ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder* ; Urologic Diseases