Obstructive colitis is an ulceroinflammatory lesion of the large intestine at a distance proximal to the obstructing or potentially obstructing lesion of any etiology. It has been suggested that a rise in the intraluminal pressure related to the obstruction results in a fall in the intramural blood flow with subsequent ischemic necrosis. We examined 7 cases of surgically resected obstructive colitis associated with distal constrictive adenocarcinoma of the large intestine. Two cases of the obstructive colitis were radiologically suspected prior to surgery either as a separate tumor mass or diverticulosis, and another case was suggested to be a tumor seeding by colonoscopy. Grossly, five cases presented with single or multiple, shallow, well-demarcated ulcerative lesions, and the remaining two were featured with a segmental ulcerative lesion the with pseudopolypoid area. The ulceroinflammatory lesions were separated from the distal obstructive carcinoma by a skipped zone of relatively normal mucosa measuring 4-43 cm. The proximal colon to the obstructive lesions were obviously dilated except in one case. Microscopically, mucosa and submucosa were replaced by granulation tissue, and showed inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrin exudates. Muscle coat often accompanied ischemic contraction. Fissuring was noted in one case. The recognition of these lesions prior to or during surgery is stressed based on the morphological features corresponding to an ischemic change in the proximal mucosa to the primary obstructive lesion.
Adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of death in industrialized countries including Korea. METHODS: The methodology of cardiovascular disease clinical trials, published in 'The Korean Circulation Journal(KCJ)' and in 'The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine (KJIM)' from 1971 to 1993 were reviewed. For the study period, a total of 169 research papers in this field, includion 155 papers in the KCJ and 14 in the KJIM, were reviewed. To review the methodology behind the cardiovascular disease clinical trials, presence of a control group, set up a primary end point, determined sample size and the statistical method to be used, report on the side effects, and consent of patients were checked. In cases involving clinical trials using control groups, rendomization and blinding were also analysed. RESULTS: Among clinical trials reviewed only 6 (4.0%) of the 169 papers were used a control group, and 46.7% were set up with a primary end point. There was no clinical trial which used statitical methods to estimate the sample size. Clinical trials which reported results with statistical methods were 107 to 169 papers;most of these used the student's paired t-test. The number reporting the side effects of intervention was 143(88.7%) and papers reporting with the consent of patients was 15(8.8%). CONCLUSION: Most of clinical trials reviewed did not use appropriate method for clinical trials. Methodologically well-designed clinical trials in cardiovascular disease should be performed to guarantee the validity of study result.
Cardiovascular Diseases* ; Cause of Death ; Developed Countries ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; Korea* ; Sample Size

No abstract available.
Anemia, Aplastic*

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study is to compare the differences of fetal heart rate (FHR) variables between preterm and term pregnancies after acoustic stimulation using computerized analysis of fetal heart rate. METHODS: Eighty-two normal pre-term and term pregnancies entered to this study after conventional 20-minutes nonstress test(NST) and 10-minutes acoustic stimulation test (AST). Acoustic stimulations were performed using Fetal Acoustic Stimulator (Model 146, Corometrics, US). We analyzed the FHR response after acoustic stimulation using our on-line computerized FHR analysis system, HYFM-I & II software. The changes of loss of signal, baseline FHR, variability, number of fetal movements, and number of FHR accelerations were analyzed numerically. RESULT: The mean baseline FHR was increased in term pregnancies from 141+/-7.0bpm to 152.7+/-9.7bpm, and in preterm pregnancies from 144.6+/-6.8bpm to 156.8+/-10.2bpm, respectively. The mean baseline FHR was significantly increased in both term and preterm pregnancies (p<0.01. paired t-test). The variability of FHR was increased in term pregnancies from 18.2+/-6.4bpm to 22.6+/-5.0bpm and in preterm pregnancies from 17.8+/-5.5bpm to 22.7+/-5.9bpm, respectively. The variability of FHR was also significantly increased in both term and preterm pregnancies. (p<0.01. paired t-test) CONCLUSION: The mean baseline FHR and the variability of FHR was significantly increased both preterm and term pregnancies. But the difference of each FHR variables between preterm pregnancies and term pregnancies was not statistically significant in this study.
Acceleration ; Acoustic Stimulation* ; Acoustics* ; Female ; Fetal Heart* ; Fetal Movement ; Heart Rate, Fetal* ; Pregnancy

The peritoneal equilibration test(PET) has been recommended in adults as a standardized means of estimating solute transport. However, it appears that norrns for pediatric PD patients may be different. We performed a PET on 16 children aged 3 to 18 years using a dwell volume for 30ml/kg of 2.596 dialysate. Our children transported glucose more rapidly than adults, however, creatinine transport was not significantly different. Age did not correlate with D/13% glucose or drainage volume. There was negative correlation between D/D% glucose and D/P Cr. There was no significant difference between initial and maintenance CAPD patients. There was slight difference in patients with previous peritonitis. In conclusion, there was difference in glucose transport between children and adults.
Adult ; Child* ; Creatinine ; Drainage ; Glucose ; Humans ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Peritonitis

No abstract available.
Neuroblastoma*

No abstract available.
Polyps*

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using epididymal and testicular sperm in patients with azoospermia. METHODS: From March, 1993 to May, 1999, a retrospective clinical analysis was done of a total of 140 cycles in 112 patients who underwent ICSI. Subjects were divided into three group: ejaculated-ICSI group included 42 cycles in 34 patients with ejaculated sperm who underwent ICSI due to severe oligospermia and past history of failed or poor fertilization in the previous in vitro fertilization and embryo tranfer (IVF-ET) cycles, microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (MESA-ICSI) group included 50 cycles in 42 patients with congenital absence of the vas deferens (CAVD) or unreconstructable obstructive azoospermia and testicular sperm extraction and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (TESE-ICSI) group included 48 cycles in 36 patients with no spermatozoa which can be retrieved from epididymis or non-obstructive azoospermia. RESULTS: Normal two-pronuclear fertilization rates were similar in three groups: 64.4% for ejaculated-ICSI group, 59.4% for MESA-ICSI group and 60.4% for TESE-ICSI group. The pregnancy rates were 26.2%, 26.0% and 25.0% respectively. There were no significant differences in the fertilization, cleavage, and clinical pregnancy rates among ICSI cycles using ejaculated, epididymal and testicular sperm. CONCLUSION: Epididymal and testicular sperm obtained in azoospermic patients can fertilize oocyte successfully and may lead to be similar fertilization rates and clinical pregnancy rates to ejaculated sperm.
Azoospermia ; Embryonic Structures ; Epididymis ; Fertilization ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Male ; Oligospermia ; Oocytes ; Pregnancy Rate ; Retrospective Studies ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic* ; Sperm Retrieval ; Spermatozoa* ; Vas Deferens

OBJECTIVES: Cadmium (Cd), a toxic and non-essential metal, is recognized as a human carcinogen, which has a tendency to accumulate in the human body. The levels of Cd in renal cortex and liver are good indicators as an index of Cd exposure in the general population. In this study, we present an estimation of reference Cd levels in tissue (renal cortex and liver) and total body burden in the general population of Korea. MEDTHODS: Cd and zinc (Zn) were analyzed in renal cortex and liver from 254 autopsies (male : 188 cases, female : 66 cases) aged 0 to 87 years. RESULTS: Geometric mean concentration of Cd was 27.4 and 3.1 ua/g wet weight in renal cortex and liver, respectively. The level of Zn in renal cortex and liver was 35.4 and 42. 6 v/g wet weight, respectively. The result suggests that kidney is the target organ for Cd accumulation. The accumulation of Cd in renal cortex was age-dependent with a biphasic pattern. The level of Cd in renal cortex increased with age up to the fifties, and then leveled off thereafter. Based on the data, the regression model for Cd accumulation in renal cortex by age is predicted by : Log KCd = 0. 2325 + 0. 0553 Age 0. 0005 Age. The highest Cd accumulation in renal cortex of Koreans was estimated at 43. 3 ua/g wet weight at 50. 8 years old. In addition, the total Cd body burden by age was estimated by the following equation: Total Cd Body Burden = -4. 5948 + l. 2278 Age - 0. 0121 Age. The highest body burden of Cd was estimated at 26. 5 mg at age 50. 7 years in the Korean general population. The positive correlation between Zn and Cd was observed in renal cortex and liver. CONCLUSIONS: The level of Cd exposure in Korean was found to be lower than in Japanese, but same as or higher than in American and Europeans.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Autopsy ; Body Burden ; Cadmium* ; Child ; Female ; Human Body ; Humans ; Kidney Cortex ; Kidney* ; Korea ; Liver* ; Reference Values* ; Zinc

In order to evaluate the the effectiveness of low-dose longterm Vibramycin (Doxycycline) treatment on Acne Vulgaris, a double-blind study was performed on fifty two patients with Acne Vulgaris. The patients were classified as to the severi.ty of their disease before treatment according to Wand. et al. The degree of the effcctiveness of the treatment was evaluated every other week for 12 weeks on the grounds of clinical improvement. The therapeutic results obtaincd were as follovs: araong the 19 patients who received 50 mg per day for 12 weeks, 13 cases (72.2%) showed excellent improverrent after 6 weeks; whereas in thc placebo group only 4 out of 15 patients (26. 7%) showed good response, Statistical analysis of the data revealed that there was a significant difference (p<0.05) in effectiveness between the Vibrarzycin 50mg per day group and the placebo group. Among the 19 patient who received a 100mg capsile orally per day for 4 weeks (subsequently this group received 50mg per day for 8 weeks) 13 cases.(68.4%) showed excellent improvement in 4 weeks; whereas in the placebo group only 4 cases(26, 7%) showed good respnnse Statistical analysis of this data revealed that there was a significant difference (p<0. 05) in efectivencess the Vibramycin 100mg per day group and the placebo group, It was noted that 44 out of 52 patients (83%) had a distinct family history of the disease, suggesting that there might be a predisposing hereditary factor involvcd in the manifestation of Acne Vulgaris It is concluded f rom this study that Vibramycin, when administrated in a dose of 50mg per day for more than 6 weeks is effective in the treatment of Acne Vulgaris.
Acne Vulgaris* ; Double-Blind Method* ; Doxycycline* ; Dronabinol ; Humans