No abstract available.
Choledochal Cyst*

As public awareness of the various warning signs of malignancy increases, so does the concern evoked by the self identified finding of mass in the head and neck area. Not all the palpable masses are always significantly abnormal, but any nontender mass especially to the adult is significant enough to warrant further full investigation and follow up, the object of which should be to determine the possibility of malignancy and urgency of treatment. Approach to the diagnosis of the neck mass is so important in that it affects decision regarding further evaluation would lead to the determination of the most efficacious mode of therapy, eventually to the good prognosis. So, it should be emphasized that approach to the diagnosis of neck mass should be planned, systematic and thorough, this begins with the taking careful history following performance of complete examination of the head and neck especially to the nasopharynx, tongue base, pyriform sinus, palatine tonsil and larynx. Then a number of laboratory and radiologic studies are available, following triple endoscopy under general anesthesia and blind biopsy if needed. The most important rule to keep is that any biopsy procedures should be delayed to the last modality of effort to the diagnosis and if it should be done, under the plan of radical neck dissection.
Adult ; Anesthesia, General ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Endoscopy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head ; Humans ; Larynx ; Nasopharynx ; Neck Dissection ; Neck* ; Palatine Tonsil ; Prognosis ; Pyriform Sinus ; Tongue

Objective: This study determined the threshold for recurrent depressive episodes that predicted conversion from major depressive disorder (MDD) to bipolar disorder (BD). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 296 patients diagnosed with MDD for a minimum of 5 years in two university hospitals. We examined their the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition diagnoses and detailed clinical information at the initial admission and yearly assessments after discharge to establish the threshold for recurrent depressive episodes indicating a risk of diagnostic conversion from MDD to BD. Optimal cut-offs were derived using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: ROC curve analysis revealed that more than four recurrent depressive episodes was indicative of potential diagnostic conversion from MDD to BD (area under the curve, 0.604; sensitivity, 0.353; specificity, 0.855; positive predictive value, 0.421; negative predictive value, 0.816). Conclusion These findings suggest that the best predictor of conversion from MDD to BD is more than four recurrent depressive episodes. Our findings have the potential to enhance diagnostic accuracy and treatment efficiency. To validate our results, longitudinal prospective studies are necessary.

PURPOSE: We analysed the role of modified Gianturco self-expandable stents in the treatment of tracheobronchial stenosis in 13 patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We inserted modified Gianturco self-expandable stents under the fluoroscopic and bronchoscopic guidance. There were stenosis in the trachea(n--2), the right main bronchus(n=2), and the left main bronchus(n=9). The causes of the stenosis were endobronchial tuberculosis(n=10), intubation granuloma (n=l), restenosis after surgical reconstruction(n=2). RESULTS: Dyspnea or wheezing was improved within 1 or 2 days following the procedure. There were 32% and 22% respective increase in average FEV1 and FVC. Lung perfusion scan showed 9.6% increase of perfusion in the involved lung. No complications related to the procedure were encountered. During follow-up period of up to 31 months, 2 patients showed tracheal or bronchial restenosis, at 3 and 6 months, retrospectively. There was a distal migration of the stents in one case. CONCLUSION: During the follow up period after stent insertion, improvement of the obstructive changes and dyspnea persisted in 10 out of 13 patients. The modified Gianturco self-expandable metallic stents may be a good choice for the treatment of tracheobronchial stenosis, either as a primary treatment, or when the reconstruction failed.
Constriction, Pathologic* ; Dyspnea ; Follow-Up Studies ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Intubation ; Lung ; Perfusion ; Respiratory Sounds ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the following:the safety of fine needle aspiration biopsy in immunocompromized children with radiographic features of Pneumocystis car/nil pneumonia, its diagnostic rate in those groups and the appropriate radiographic stage for fine needle aspiration biopsy to prove the etiologic agent. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We retrospectively reviewed the patient records of 16 children with immune compromizing diseases who had undergone fine needle aspiration biopsy of the lung. They showed the infectious sign of the lung along with the radiographic pattern of diffuse pulmonary disease, suggesting Pneumocystis carlnil pneumonia. All patients had underlying lymphoreticular malignancies including 14 acute lymphocytic leukemia and 2 non Hodgkin's lymphoma. According to the radiographic pattern of biopsy site, parenchymal disease was categorized as fine reticulonodular density(n=4), ground-glass opacity(n=9) and compact consolidation(n=3). We assessed the diagnostic rate of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and complications in each of the three groups. RESULTS: A diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia was established by fine needle aspiration biopsy in 9 patients(56%) including 2 of 4 patients with fine reticulonodular density, 4 of 9 patients with ground-glass opacity, and all 3 patients with compact consolidation. Four patients(25%) developed pneumothorax, and three of them required tube insertion. There was no patient who developed hemoptysis. CONCLUSION: Fine needle aspiration biopsy is a safe and easy method that can yield Pneumocystis carinii organism at a relatively high rate in immunocompromized children with diffuse pulmonary lesions suopicions of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. We recommend performing fine needle aspiration biopsy regardlesss of radiographic patterns when Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia is suggested.
Biopsy* ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; Lung* ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Pneumocystis ; Pneumocystis carinii ; Pneumonia* ; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis ; Pneumothorax ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVES: Thyroid cancer patients may experience emotional distress during cancer treatment including surgical operation and radioactive iodine treatment. The aims of this prospective study were to investigate changes of anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer(DTC) under preoperative, postoperative and short-term hypothyroidism state. METHODS: Using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale(HAD) and the Distress Thermometer, we sequentially assessed the levels of anxiety, depression and distress in 41 DTC patients at 3 time points such as preoperative state, postoperative state and short-term hypothyroidism state. RESULTS: The HAD-anxiety score was significantly higher in preoperative state(6.93+/-3.97) than postoperative state(4.22+/-2.92) and short-term hypothyroidism state(4.93+/-3.64). Any other significant change in depression or distress thermometer score was not observed. Especially, difference of HADS score between the distress and none-distress groups was significant in preoperative state and post-operative state, but the difference become not significant in the short-term hypothyroidism state. CONCLUSIONS: Induced thyroid hormone deficiency during cancer treatment does not significantly affect emotional distress in patient with DTC. Anxiety and depression in these patients may be associated with distress of the patient before active cancer treatment.
Anxiety ; Dapsone ; Depression ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Iodine ; Prospective Studies ; Thermometers ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms

BACKGROUND: Pneumoperitoneum for laparoscopic cholecystectomy induces prompt hemodynamic changes. The rapid onset of these changes suggests a neurohumoral response. The present study investigated the effects of pneumoperitoneum on plasma catecholamines and vasopressin during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: We studied 18 healthy patients under general anesthesia using a isoflurane and nitrous oxide (50%). In our study, nine patients were selected for Group LC; they underwent the laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The remaining nine patients constituting Group OS served as the control, and underwent minor orthopedic surgery. Venous blood samples were collected 10 minutes after the induction of anesthesia, as well as 10 minutes after the insufflation of pneumoperitoneum or skin incision, and 10 minutes after desufflation of pneumoperitoneum or skin closure. Plasma vasopressin was measured using a radioimmunoassay method. Plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine were measured using the method of high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: In Group LC, the plasma concentration of vasopressin increased remarkably from 2.1 pg/ml to 70.7 pg/ml after insufflation of pneumoperitoneum, and declined to 18.3 pg/ml after desufflation (P < 0.05). Plasma concentrations of epinephrine and norepinephrine also increased significantly after insufflation of pneumoperitoneum (P < 0.05). In Group OS, however, plasma concentrations of vasopressin, epinephrine, and norepinephrine remained stable throughout the operation. CONCLUSIONS: The pneumoperitoneum resulted in a substantial increase of plasma concentrations of vasopressin as well as a signifiant increase in the plasma concentration of epinephrine and norepinephrine during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Catecholamines* ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Epinephrine ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Insufflation ; Isoflurane ; Nitrous Oxide ; Norepinephrine ; Orthopedics ; Plasma* ; Pneumoperitoneum* ; Radioimmunoassay ; Skin ; Vasopressins*

BACKGROUND: Pneumoperitoneum for laparoscopic cholecystectomy induces prompt hemodynamic changes. The rapid onset of these changes suggests a neurohumoral response. The present study investigated the effects of pneumoperitoneum on plasma catecholamines and vasopressin during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: We studied 18 healthy patients under general anesthesia using a isoflurane and nitrous oxide (50%). In our study, nine patients were selected for Group LC; they underwent the laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The remaining nine patients constituting Group OS served as the control, and underwent minor orthopedic surgery. Venous blood samples were collected 10 minutes after the induction of anesthesia, as well as 10 minutes after the insufflation of pneumoperitoneum or skin incision, and 10 minutes after desufflation of pneumoperitoneum or skin closure. Plasma vasopressin was measured using a radioimmunoassay method. Plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine were measured using the method of high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: In Group LC, the plasma concentration of vasopressin increased remarkably from 2.1 pg/ml to 70.7 pg/ml after insufflation of pneumoperitoneum, and declined to 18.3 pg/ml after desufflation (P < 0.05). Plasma concentrations of epinephrine and norepinephrine also increased significantly after insufflation of pneumoperitoneum (P < 0.05). In Group OS, however, plasma concentrations of vasopressin, epinephrine, and norepinephrine remained stable throughout the operation. CONCLUSIONS: The pneumoperitoneum resulted in a substantial increase of plasma concentrations of vasopressin as well as a signifiant increase in the plasma concentration of epinephrine and norepinephrine during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Catecholamines* ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Epinephrine ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Insufflation ; Isoflurane ; Nitrous Oxide ; Norepinephrine ; Orthopedics ; Plasma* ; Pneumoperitoneum* ; Radioimmunoassay ; Skin ; Vasopressins*

Purulent pericarditis is an infrequent but fulminant and frequently lethal disease. Purulent pericarditis tends to occur as direct extension of bacterial pneumonia or empyema in past. In recently, purulent pericarditis tends to occur in adult via contiguous spread from an early postoperative infection after thoracic surgery or trauma, infection related to infective endocarditis, extension from a subdiaphragmatic suppurative source, and hematogenous spread during bacteremia. Endogenous causes of purulent pericarditis are frequently characterized as esophageal perforations. Common causes of esophageal perforations related to purulent pericaditis which usually develop in association with mediastinitis, pneumonia and empyema include corrosive esophagitis, complication after esophageal and tracheal instrumentation and Boerhaave's syndrome. There is very little reference to the development of pericarditis in associated with esophageal perforation which does not directly communicate with the pericardium. while, although most uncommon, it is well documented that the esophagus can perforate directly into the pericardium and produce pericarditis. We experienced a case of acute purulent pericarditis after esophageal and pericardial perforation by a small fish bone in a previously healthy man. The patient was treated successfully with systemic antibiotics and pericardiotomy.
Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteremia ; Empyema ; Endocarditis ; Esophageal Perforation ; Esophagitis ; Esophagus ; Foreign Bodies* ; Humans ; Mediastinitis ; Pericardiectomy ; Pericarditis* ; Pericardium ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Bacterial ; Thoracic Surgery

BACKGROUND: Quality control is important for accurate diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and proficiency testing with external quality controls is an important part of quality control. This study intended to develop and supply customized external quality controls for HIV antigen/antibody testing fitted with currently used reagents for standardization of HIV infection diagnosis and evaluation of HIV testing competency of laboratories in Korea. METHODS: Serological tests and inactivation were performed on the obtained HIV antibody positive plasma. To manufacture quality controls having the required antibody titers, dilution ratio was searched using VIDAS (bioMérieux, France), Architect (Abbott Laboratories, USA), and Cobas 8000 (Roche Diagnostics, Germany) analyzers. Diluted source plasma was divided into aliquots after filtering. Homogeneity and stability of the produced external quality controls were evaluated. RESULTS: The collected HIV antibody positive plasma was confirmed by Western blot. Dilution ratios for source plasma were produced for each analyzer showing signal-to-cut-off 2–3, 5–7, and 15–16 reactivity. Diluted plasma was made to 1 mL aliquots and total set of 1,500 external quality controls for HIV antigen/antibody were manufactured. Produced controls satisfied the required criteria of homogeneity and showed less than 10% coefficient of variation for stability except negative controls. CONCLUSIONS: Customized external quality controls were developed and qualified for HIV testing reagents used in Korea. Continuous external quality control assessment for HIV tests with controls would be required.
Blotting, Western ; Diagnosis ; HIV Infections ; HIV* ; Humans* ; Indicators and Reagents ; Korea* ; Plasma ; Quality Control* ; Serologic Tests