PURPOSE: To evaluate the accuracy of CT using water as an oral contrast material in a prone position in determining the depth of tumor invasion in gastric cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty three patients(19 male, 14 female) with surgically confirmed gastric cancer were studied. We performed CT in a prone position after ingestion of 1 liter of pure water. CT findings were classified into 4 groups by the morphologic appearances of infiltrates in the perigastric fat plane :normal perigastric fat(SO), fine mottled densities(S1), irregular aggregated or linear densities(S2) and direct extension and invasion of tumor into contiguous structures(S3). Also we prospectively compared the CT staging with pathologic T staging according to the TNM systems. RESULTS: The overall accuracy of CT staging in determining the pathologic T factor was 69.6%. As we regarded T1 and T2 lesions as one group on CT, the accuracy of CT staging was increased to 80.2% because of a limitation of CT for distinguishing T1 from T2 lesions. CONCLUSION: Prone position CT using water as an oral contrast agent is quite accurate in determining the T staging of gastric carcinoma.
Eating ; Humans ; Male ; Prone Position* ; Prospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Water*

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used in industry and daily life due to their useful properties. They have a long half-life, accumulate in the body, and there is evidence that they are associated with biomarkers of lipid metabolism and liver damage. This may suggest non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) caused by PFAS. However, since there has been no study analyzing the relationship between PFAS and NAFLD in the entire population in Korea. We sought to confirm the relationship between serum PFAS concentration and NAFLD prevalence in Korean adults using the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) cycle 4.

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used in industry and daily life due to their useful properties. They have a long half-life, accumulate in the body, and there is evidence that they are associated with biomarkers of lipid metabolism and liver damage. This may suggest non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) caused by PFAS. However, since there has been no study analyzing the relationship between PFAS and NAFLD in the entire population in Korea. We sought to confirm the relationship between serum PFAS concentration and NAFLD prevalence in Korean adults using the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) cycle 4.

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used in industry and daily life due to their useful properties. They have a long half-life, accumulate in the body, and there is evidence that they are associated with biomarkers of lipid metabolism and liver damage. This may suggest non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) caused by PFAS. However, since there has been no study analyzing the relationship between PFAS and NAFLD in the entire population in Korea. We sought to confirm the relationship between serum PFAS concentration and NAFLD prevalence in Korean adults using the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) cycle 4.

From July 1988 to September 1992, we experienced 15 cases of thrombolysoangioplasty (TLA) at Chonnam University Hospital. Among 15 cases, 5 had claudication (Clinical stage II according to Modified Fontaine Classification), pain at rest (III), and gangrene(IV). Duration of symptoms was 1-7 months except patients of clinical stage IV unable to guess occlusion age. The occlusion length was 5-10cm in 8 cases, 10-20cm in 4 cases, and above 30cm in 2 cases. In all cases, thromolytic therapy was performed with intraarterial urokinase infusion. The total amount of urokinase ranged from 300,000 IU to 2,000,000 IU and infusion time ranged from 2 to 50 hours except three cases infused bolus dose only. Complete successful TLA was defined as technical (less than 50% of residual stenosis) and clinical success. Partial success was defined as technical success but clinical failure. Follow-up angiography could be performed in 8 cases. Overall initial success rate was 86.6% (13/15). Among them. Complete success was in 11 cases and partial success was in 2 cases. Recurrence of disease was not noted on all cases(n=8). Severe complications, such as hemorrhage, did not occurred. TLA was considered to be effective and safe way to recanalized chronic long artery occlusion in lower extremity.
Angiography ; Arteries ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Lower Extremity ; Recurrence ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

Multiple gastric caner, now considered to be a sort of multiple primary cancer by Moertel's classification, is a special type of cancer in which two or more tumor lesions arise independently from the stomach. Although its incidence is rare and it has never been reported in Korea yet, the report of multiple gastric cancer is increasing with lengthened life survival and improved diagnostic method. We recently experienced two cases of triple gastric cancer, the one in 53-years-old male who had well differentiated adenocarcinoma(EGC IIb+c) on antrum, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma on cardia and moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma on mid-body, and the other in 65-years-old female who had two poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma on cardia and anterior wall of low body and moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma (EGCIIc) on posterior wall of low body. Triple gastric cancer is rare, so we reported 2 cases of triple gastric cancer.
Adenocarcinoma ; Cardia ; Classification ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms*

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and distribution of unexpected antibodies detected in the Korean population with race-specific RBC panel cells. In spite of a relatively high prevalence of Dia and Mia antigen phenotype in the Korean and Southeast Asian population, there has been little documented research on the prevalence and clinical significance of anti-Dia and anti-Mia in Korea. METHODS: We analyzed the results of 17, 664 antibody screening tests performed during the recent 30-month period from March 2001 to September 2003. Antibodies were screened and identified by using LISS/Coombs gel card with DiaMed-ID system (DiaMed AG, Cressier, Morat, Switzerland) including Dia and Mia panel cells. RESULTS: The prevalence of unexpected antibodies was 1.2% (214/17, 664); antibodies detected most frequently were anti-Rh (74 patients), followed by anti-Lewis (21 patients) and anti-Dia (15 patients). Out of 6, 345 patients, anti-Mia was detected in three patients (0.047%). Anti-Dia and anti-Mia had the specificity of IgG. Anti-Dia was thought as an immune-mediated antibody, whereas anti-Mia was considered as a mixed type with immune and natural antibodies. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that anti-Dia and anti-Mia antibodies are detected frequently in the Korean population; hence, it seems that Dia and Mia panel cells should be incorporated into antibody screening panels in Korea for safe transfusion.
Antibodies ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Korea ; Mass Screening* ; Phenotype ; Prevalence* ; Sensitivity and Specificity*

No abstract available.
Gaucher Disease* ; Humans ; Twins, Monozygotic*

Eosinophils arise from hematopoietic CD34+ stem cells in the bone marrow. They acquire IL-5Ralpha on their surface at a very early stage during eosinophilopoiesis, and differentiate under the strong influence of interleukin (IL)-5. They then exit to the bloodstream, and enter the lung upon exposure to airway inflammatory signals, including eotaxins. In inflamed tissues, eosinophils act as key mediators of terminal effector functions and innate immunity and in linking to adaptive immune responses. Transcription factors GATA-1, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein, and PU.1 play instructive roles in eosinophil specification from multipotent stem cells through a network of cooperative and antagonistic interactions. Not surprisingly, the interplay of these transcription factors is instrumental in forming the regulatory circuit of expression of eosinophil-specific genes, encoding eosinophil major basic protein and neurotoxin, CC chemokine receptor 3 eotaxin receptor, and IL-5 receptor alpha. Interestingly, a common feature is that the critical cis-acting elements for these transcription factors are clustered in exon 1 and intron 1 of these genes rather than their promoters. Elucidation of the mechanism of eosinophil development and activation may lead to selective elimination of eosinophils in animals and human subjects. Furthermore, availability of a range of genetically modified mice lacking or overproducing eosinophil-specific genes will facilitate evaluation of the roles of eosinophils in the pathogenesis of asthma. This review summarizes eosinophil biology, focusing on development and regulation of eosinophil-specific genes, with a heavy emphasis on the causative link between eosinophils and pathological development of asthma using genetically modified mice as models of asthma.
Aluminum Hydroxide ; Animals ; Asthma ; Biology ; Bone Marrow ; Carbonates ; Eosinophil Major Basic Protein ; Eosinophils ; Exons ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Interleukin-5 ; Interleukins ; Introns ; Lung ; Mice ; Multipotent Stem Cells ; Receptors, CCR3 ; Stem Cells ; Transcription Factors

PURPOSE: We studied the usefullness of intravenous administration of contrast material to facilitate in situ shock wave lithotripsy(SWL) of ureteral stones in cases that stone localization was difficult as radioluscent, less radiodense, small stone, and interference with visualization by bone or intestinal gas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 1992 to June 1997 we treated 831 patients with ureteral stone by in-situ SWL using EDAP-LT02 piezoelectric lithotriptor which utilizes ultrasono and fluroscopy for stone localization. Among 831 patients, intravenous contrast material were used in 53 cases to facilitate stone localization during SWL treatments. To evaluate the effectiveness of stone localization by the assistance of intravenous contrast media we compared success rate, storages, treatment sessions, durations, and side effects of two groups with or without intravenous contrast material, based on the location and the size of stones. RESULTS: Among 53 patients, stone was localized without ureteral catheterization in 5.7%(25/437) of upper ureteral stone, 18.2%(18/99) of mid-ureteral stone, and 3.4%(10/295) of lower ureteral stone after administration of intravenous contrast material. There were no significant differences in success rate, storages, treatment sessions, and durations(p>0.05). There were no significant complications except dye hypersensitivity in two patients, who were managed conservatively. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of intravenous contrast material during SWL allows effective localization of ureteral stones that otherwise could not be imaged adequately without ureteral catheterization. We believe that the use of intravenous contrast material for localization of ureteral stone in SWL have the benefits of inexpensiveness, noninvasiveness, and painlessness.
Administration, Intravenous ; Contrast Media ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Shock ; Ureter* ; Urinary Catheterization ; Urinary Catheters