A granular cell tumor (GCT) is a relatively rare benign tumor that has been seldom reported since Abrikossoff first described it as a granular cell myoblastoma in 1926. While GCTs can occur anywhere in the human body, they are very rarely observed in the gastrointestinal tract and are especially rare in the large intestine. Most GCTs are small and asymptomatic and are often found by endoscopy, upper gastrointestinal series, and autopsy. We report two cases in which a submucosal tumor in the cecum was accidentally discovered by colonoscopy and was subsequently removed by colon polypectomy and endoscopic mucosal resection. Immunohistochemical analysis of the samples confirmed both cases as GCT. The literature review and reports of other growths in the gastrointestinal tracts support the necessity for proper identification of GCTs within the body to differentiate them from more malignant tumors.

A granular cell tumor (GCT) is a relatively rare benign tumor that has been seldom reported since Abrikossoff first described it as a granular cell myoblastoma in 1926. While GCTs can occur anywhere in the human body, they are very rarely observed in the gastrointestinal tract and are especially rare in the large intestine. Most GCTs are small and asymptomatic and are often found by endoscopy, upper gastrointestinal series, and autopsy. We report two cases in which a submucosal tumor in the cecum was accidentally discovered by colonoscopy and was subsequently removed by colon polypectomy and endoscopic mucosal resection. Immunohistochemical analysis of the samples confirmed both cases as GCT. The literature review and reports of other growths in the gastrointestinal tracts support the necessity for proper identification of GCTs within the body to differentiate them from more malignant tumors.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of high-pitch mode (HPM) in dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) on the accuracy of three-dimensional (3D) volumetry for solid pulmonary nodules. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A lung phantom implanted with 45 solid pulmonary nodules (n = 15 for each of 4-mm, 6-mm, and 8-mm in diameter) was scanned twice, first in conventional pitch mode (CPM) and then in HPM using DSCT. The relative percentage volume errors (RPEs) of 3D volumetry were compared between the HPM and CPM. In addition, the intermode volume variability (IVV) of 3D volumetry was calculated. RESULTS: In the measurement of the 6-mm and 8-mm nodules, there was no significant difference in RPE (p > 0.05, respectively) between the CPM and HPM (IVVs of 1.2 +/- 0.9%, and 1.7 +/- 1.5%, respectively). In the measurement of the 4-mm nodules, the mean RPE in the HPM (35.1 +/- 7.4%) was significantly greater (p < 0.01) than that in the CPM (18.4 +/- 5.3%), with an IVV of 13.1 +/- 6.6%. However, the IVVs were in an acceptable range (< 25%), regardless of nodule size. CONCLUSION: The accuracy of 3D volumetry with HPM for solid pulmonary nodule is comparable to that with CPM. However, the use of HPM may adversely affect the accuracy of 3D volumetry for smaller (< 5 mm in diameter) nodule.
Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional/instrumentation/*methods ; Lung/radiography ; Lung Neoplasms/*radiography ; Multiple Pulmonary Nodules/*radiography ; Phantoms, Imaging ; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule/*radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/instrumentation/*methods

OBJECTIVE: To determine optimal follow-up time of BAEP for the infants with abnormal BAEP at the initial screening test. METHOD: Control group consisted of 85 infants with normal BAEP and experimental group consisted of 41 infants with abnormal BAEP at the first examination but normalized on regular follow-up examinations. Gestational age (correctional age), intrauterine period, birth weight, delivery method, presence of perinatal asphyxia, Apgar score after 1 minute, the highest serum bilirubin level, and the results of cranial ultrasonography were recorded. The above parameters, peak and interpeak latencies of BAEP were compared between both groups. RESULTS: Lower correctional age at the first BAEP, shorter intrauterine period, and lower birth weight were noted in experimental group (p<0.001). The average correctional age when BAEP had normalized in experimental group was 45.0+/-5.8 weeks, which was much later than 40.2+/-2.8 weeks in control group (p<0.001). 90.2% of infants among experimental group revealed normalized BAEP within 48 weeks, and 95.1% within 51 weeks according to correctional age, or within 12 weeks after initial examination. CONCLUSION: We recommend that BAEP should be rechecked after 48 weeks by correctional age for the high risk infants who were abnormal with initial screening BAEP.
Apgar Score ; Asphyxia ; Bilirubin ; Birth Weight ; Brain Stem* ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem* ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Mass Screening ; Ultrasonography

Coronary artery disease (CAD) narrows vessel lumens at the sites of atherosclerosis, increasing the risk of myocardial ischemia or infarction. Early and accurate diagnosis of CAD is crucial to significantly improve prognosis and management. CT angiography (CTA) is a noninvasive imaging technique that enables assessment of vascular structure and stenosis with high resolution and contrast. Coronary CTA is useful in the diagnosis of CAD. Recently, the CAD-reporting and data system (CAD-RADS), a diagnostic classification system based on coronary CTA, has been developed to improve intervention efficacy in patients suspected of CAD. While the CADRAD is based on CTA, it includes borderline categories where interpreting the coronary artery status solely based on CTA findings may be challenging. This review introduces CTA findings that fall within the CAD-RADS categories that necessitate additional tests to decide to perform invasive coronary angiography and discusses appropriate management strategies.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) narrows vessel lumens at the sites of atherosclerosis, increasing the risk of myocardial ischemia or infarction. Early and accurate diagnosis of CAD is crucial to significantly improve prognosis and management. CT angiography (CTA) is a noninvasive imaging technique that enables assessment of vascular structure and stenosis with high resolution and contrast. Coronary CTA is useful in the diagnosis of CAD. Recently, the CAD-reporting and data system (CAD-RADS), a diagnostic classification system based on coronary CTA, has been developed to improve intervention efficacy in patients suspected of CAD. While the CADRAD is based on CTA, it includes borderline categories where interpreting the coronary artery status solely based on CTA findings may be challenging. This review introduces CTA findings that fall within the CAD-RADS categories that necessitate additional tests to decide to perform invasive coronary angiography and discusses appropriate management strategies.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) narrows vessel lumens at the sites of atherosclerosis, increasing the risk of myocardial ischemia or infarction. Early and accurate diagnosis of CAD is crucial to significantly improve prognosis and management. CT angiography (CTA) is a noninvasive imaging technique that enables assessment of vascular structure and stenosis with high resolution and contrast. Coronary CTA is useful in the diagnosis of CAD. Recently, the CAD-reporting and data system (CAD-RADS), a diagnostic classification system based on coronary CTA, has been developed to improve intervention efficacy in patients suspected of CAD. While the CADRAD is based on CTA, it includes borderline categories where interpreting the coronary artery status solely based on CTA findings may be challenging. This review introduces CTA findings that fall within the CAD-RADS categories that necessitate additional tests to decide to perform invasive coronary angiography and discusses appropriate management strategies.

Computed tomography (CT) is an important imaging modality in evaluating thoracic malignancies. The clinical utility of dual-energy spectral computed tomography (DESCT) has recently been realized. DESCT allows for virtual monoenergetic or monochromatic imaging, virtual non-contrast or unenhanced imaging, iodine concentration measurement, and effective atomic number (Zeff map). The application of information gained using this technique in the field of thoracic oncology is important, and therefore many studies have been conducted to explore the use of DESCT in the evaluation and management of thoracic malignancies. Here we summarize and review recent DESCT studies on clinical applications related to thoracic oncology.

This study was performed to evaluate the factors influencing the Quality of Life(QOL) in hemodialysis patients. Authors surveyed and analyzed the questionnaires about social characteristics, symptom, social support, satisfaction with life and quality of life. With these questionnaires, authors compared the hemodialysis patients(N=240, >6 month with hemodialysis) with the control group(N=240). Additionally authors eva- luated the anemia state, nutritional state and dialysis effect, and then analyzed the correlation between these laboratory findings and quality of life in hemodialysis patients. The results were as follows ; 1) The mean age of control group was 33.4 +/- 8.2 yrs, and the patients group was 48.812yrs. 2) Of 294 patients, 73 had the religion(75.2%), 173 had studied above high school(58.8%), 211 were married(71.8%), and 94 were homemaker(3296). Economically, 130 of 294 patients(44.2M) were the middle classes. The patients without occupation were 121 of 294 patients(41.2M), while those with occupation were 77(26.1%) and remainder were housemaker. The patients with medical insurance were 59.9%, those with 1st Medicaid were 22.4%, and those with 2nd Medicaid were 17%. 3) The causes of ESRD were CGN(29.5%), DM (22.3%), etc. Total duration of hemodialysis was 51.4 43.8 months in average, and weekly hemodialysis time was 11.541.98 hours in average. Average BMI was 20.6 +/- 2.79, and in 236 of 294 patients(80.1%), EPO was injected. Of all the complication, 96(32.9%) was cardiovascular problem. Iron storage state was relatively good in all the patients, and the mean level of PTH-i was 174.3 +/- 307.9pg/dl, hemoglobin 8.5 +/- 1.3g/dl, cholesterol 161.536.6mg/dl, total protein 6.60.5g/dl, albumin 3.960.4g/dl. The URR was 65.36.9%, and KtV was 1.3 +/- 0.3. The comparison about laboratory finding between male and female was as followed; Hb. and albumin level was signifi- cantly higher in male compared with female patients, and cholesterol, URR and Kt/V was significantly higher in female than in male. 4) The result of statistic analysis about several variables and Questionnaires. (1) The subjective and objective instrument about QOL showed positive correlation, and the QOL was correlated positively to symptom, physical health state and social support. (2) Of social characteristics, the direct influencing factors for QOL were occupation, economic state, marriage state, and educational state, whereas in- direct factors were a fee for medical treatment and social support. In clinical and laboratory characteristics, the significant factors were age, DM, symptoms, albumin, pre-dialytic creatinine, sodium and calcium. The effect of dialysis did not correlate with QOL. In conclusion, to increase QOL in dialysis pa- tients, all of the community, family, and medical team should make an effort. Firsty, the concern and the support of the community about the dialysis patients should be promoted in social welfare and the opportunity of employment. Secondly, the patients should promote the self-reliance and self- efficacy to take a share of their role in the community and a family by their own efforts. Lastly, the medical team should make an effort to decrease the symptom, to correct the anemia and malnutrition, to treat the complication, and to promote the physical activity. Through these efforts, the health of patients will be elevated. Elevation of the patient's health will increase the possibility of employment and self-reliance, and subsequently will increase the economics. If so, the burden of a fee for the medical treatment will be reduced. Additionally, if social and familial support increase, the QOL of the dialysis patients will be better.
Anemia ; Calcium ; Cholesterol ; Creatinine ; Dialysis ; Employment ; Fees and Charges ; Female ; Humans ; Insurance ; Iron ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Male ; Malnutrition ; Marriage ; Medicaid ; Motor Activity ; Occupations ; Quality of Life* ; Renal Dialysis* ; Social Welfare ; Sociology ; Sodium ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVE: It was suggested that the cause of microalbuminuria is heterogeneous in NIDDM. However, only a few studies are available that investigated the renal pathology in NIDDM patients with microalbuminuria. This study was undertaken to evaluate renal pathology in Korean NIDDM patients with microalbuminuria. METHODS: Fifty NIDDM patients with microalbuminuria and without retinopathy were undertaken renal biopsy. Renal pathologic findings were classified as follows: group A, near-normal finding; group B, typical diabetic nephropathology; group C, atypical patterns of renal injury (mild glomerular change with disproportionally severe tubulointerstitial lesion, arteriolar hyalinosis or global glomerular sclerosis); group D, non-diabetic renal lesion. RESULTS: Seventeen patients were classified into group A, 19 into group B and 8 into group C. Six patients had non-diabetic renal lesions and they were all confirmed to be IgA nephropathy. Fasting blood sugar and GFR were significantly higher in group B than in group A and group C respectively, and systolic blood pressure was higher in group C than in group A. CONCLUSION: Renal pathology in microalbuminuric NIDDM patients without retinopathy was heterogeneous. This may explain heterogeneous clinical meaning of microalbuminuria in NIDDM.
Biopsy ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* ; Fasting ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; Humans ; Pathology* ; Population Characteristics*