No abstract available.
Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Neuroblastoma*

Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) with 2.0 Tesla superconductive magnet developed by Korea Advanced Institute ofScience was performed in 25 patients with various abdominal diseases and compared with x-ray CT. MRI was obtainedwith spin echo technique using a variety of pulse sequence and various slice orientation including axial, sgittaland coronal section in order to evaluate the diagnostic value, limitation and to determine the optimal pulsesequency in various abdominal diseases. MRI demonstrated the capability of detecting the lesions shown on CT inall cases and also detected one case of diffuse hepatocellular carcinoma which was not seen on CT. MRI showedcapability of differentiation of various liver mass including hepatocellular carcinoma, hemangnioma and simplecyst. MRI showed better anatomical resolution of tumor in retroperitoneum and pelvis, however CT delineatedalimentary tract disease better than MRI did.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pelvis

PURPOSE: Since children under two years with suspected urinary tract infections (UTIs) cannot control urination, urine cultures in such children are usually performed via urine bags. This method is noninvasive but has a high contamination rate. We studied the contamination rate of bag urine culture in diagnosing UTIs in infants under two years and the factors responsible for contamination. METHODS: We examined patients under 2 years in whom urine culture through the urine bag method yielded over 105 colonies of a single pathogen. We defined UTIs by referring to the guidelines of The Korean Society of Pediatric Nephrology, 2005. We examined the factors responsible for contamination according to sex, duration of urine collection, and whether diarrhea took place with contamination rate. RESULTS: We examined 717 patients (412 males and 305 females). The contamination rate of one bag urine culture was 37.9%. Gender was not related to the contamination rate (P>0.05). Duration of urine collection showed an association with the contamination rate. The longer the duration of collecting urine, the higher was the contamination rate. Duration of urine collection was divided into three groups: first group, <2 hours; second group, 2-4 hours; and third group, > or =4 hours. The contamination rates were 30.0%, 42.2%, and 43.7% for the first, second, and third groups, respectively, with statistical significance (P=0 .001). Diarrhea at admission had no impact on the contamination rate (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The contamination rate of urine culture in the examined patients was 37.9%. Gender and diarrhea symptoms were not responsible for contamination. In infants with a suspected UTIs, urine should be collected within 2 hours through the urine bag method. If urine collection takes over 2 hours, the urine bag should be resterilized and reattached to the patient.
Child ; Diarrhea ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Infant ; Male ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Nephrology ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Urination ; Urine Specimen Collection

Somatosensory evoked potentials(SEPs) has been an important part of electrodiagnosis and has been utilized as a clinical diagnostic technique in various neurological disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of SEPs in the analysis of sensory deficit as an objective method. The test was performed on the two groups of patients with cerebrovascular disease associated with motor and sensory impairment (grouip A) and pure motor impairment (group B), and then the results are compared with that of normal age-matched group. The results are as follows: 1. There is no significant difference in the abnormalities of N9 and N14 component between group A and B (P>0.05). 2. There is no significant difference in the decreased amplitude of N20 component (P>0.05), but there is a significant difference in the delayed peak latency or absent wave of N20 component(P<0.01) between group A and B. 3. There is a significant difference in the increased central conduction time between group A and B (P<0.01). 4. Although the difference is not significant statistically, there are more abnormalities of N20 or central conduction time in the intact hemispheres in group A than group B after stimulation of the median nerves of the affected sides.
Electrodiagnosis ; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory* ; Humans ; Median Nerve

Marjolin's ulcer is a malignant degeneration of cicatrical tissue, especially in chronic burn scar. Since the first description by Jean Nicholas Marjolin(1828), many studies for Marjolin's ulcer have been performed and reported. From 1985 to 1997, we experienced 20 cases in 14 patients diagnosed as Marjolin's ulcer clinically, and we analysed malignant transformation rate, induction period of Marjolin's ulcer and prevention of Marjolin's ulcer, etc. The results are summarized as follows. 1) The sex distribution was predominant in male(64.3%). 2) The most common cause of injury was flame burn(78.6%). 3) The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 45.6 years and the average lag period was 20.6 years. 4) The pathologic types of Marjolin's ulcer were squamous cell carcinoma(57.2%), followed by dyspasia(28.6%), acnthosis and hyperkeratosis(14.2%). 5) The locations of ulcers were frequently on the lower extremity(42.9%), followed by upper extremity(35.7%) and trunk (21.4%). 6) The lymph node involvements were 3 patients out of the 8 patients who were confirmed as squamous cell carcinoma. 7) The modalities of treatment were skin graft (18 cases, 12 patients), myocutaneous flap(1 case, 1 patient), fasciocutaneous flap(1 case, 1 patient).
Burns ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cicatrix ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Sex Distribution ; Skin ; Transplants ; Ulcer*

No abstract available.
Abortion, Spontaneous* ; Chorion* ; Chorionic Villi* ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Pregnancy

No abstract available.
Humans ; Male*

BACKGROUND: Allergic reactions are known to be associated with symptomatic aggravation of atopic dermatitis. Skin prick tests were used as a routine in vivo screening test for the evaluation of allergic patients. Many tests to detect specific IgE antibody including RAST, FAST and MAST chemilu-minescent assay (MAST-C~LA) were also used. Previous studies revealed that the results of skin prick tests and MAST-CLA were well correlated in patients with asthma, allergic rhinitis and urticaria. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of MAST-CLA compared with skin prick tests in patients with atopic dermatitis. METHODS: We performed the chemiluminescent assay with 35 allergens and skin prick tests with 23 allergens common with allergens used in MAST-CLA in 34 patients with atopic dermatitis. The positive reaction rate of allergens in each test and sensitivity, specificity, efficiency, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of MAST-CLA to the skin prick test were evaluated and MAST net volts of serum total IgE was compared with PRIST.
Allergens ; Asthma ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Luminescent Measurements ; Mass Screening ; Rhinitis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Skin* ; Urticaria

OBJECTIVE: We analyzed the clinical features of amniotic fluid embolism confirmed by autopsy or clinical dicision for making a plan of rapid diagnosis and intensive emergency care. STUDY DESIGN: We experienced 2 clincal cases in Ewha Mokdong Hospital and Severance Hospital at 1995, and reviewed the medical record & autopsy report of 15 cases in National Institute of Scientific Investigation from Jan, 1991 to Dec, 1995. RESULTS: The mean maternal age was 31+/-3 years. The mean gestational age was 40+/-1 weeks. The number of delivery were 1.4+/-0.8. The number of abortion history. were 2.6+/-2. The sexuality of fetus were six males (35 %), five females (29%), and unknown six cases (35 %) and the fetal mortality rate was 29 % (5 cases). The initial clinical symptoms and signs were hypotension (12 patients, 71%), vaginal bleeding(ll patients, 65%), cardiac arrest (6 patients, 35 %), dyspnea (5 patients, 29 %), and seizure (2 patients, 12%). In the case of normal spontaneous vaginal delivary (NSVD), the symptoms occurred during induction in 3 (18%), during delivery in 1 (6%), and after delivery in 9 (53%). In the case of Cesarean section, the symptoms occurred during section in 2 (12%), and after section in 1 (6%). There are one case whose symptoms occurred during 3rd gestational period. CONCLUSIONS: We should alert for the amniotic fluid embolism in the clinical findings of acute collapse and vaginal bleeding, respiratory symptoms, and seizure at any peripartum. With eary suspicion of this disease and aggressive intensive care we can reduce amniotic fluid embolism mortality rate and it's legal problem.
Abortion, Induced ; Amniotic Fluid* ; Autopsy ; Cesarean Section ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Embolism, Amniotic Fluid* ; Emergency Medical Services ; Female ; Fetal Mortality ; Fetus ; Gestational Age ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Critical Care ; Male ; Maternal Age ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Peripartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Seizures ; Sexuality ; Uterine Hemorrhage

Surgical resection is the best treatment for operable metastatic liver cancer. Large metastatic cancer usually has low operability, so a debulking modality of mass is needed to increase operability. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy were commonly used as neoadjuvant treatments. Cyberknife stereotactic radiosurgery systems were only considered as one of the palliative treatment modalities for inoperable or surgically complex tumors. But, in this case, we applied Cyberknife as the preoperative debulking modality for large hepatic metastasis of adrenocortical carcinoma. After Cyberknife treatment 3 cyclex2,700 cGY, tumor size decreased (metastatic liver mass decreased to 15x9 cm from 19x12.5 cm, adrenal mass decreased to 5x3 cm from 7.4x4.5 cm). We could then resect the tumor completely by extended right hemihepatectomy & right adrenalectomy. A preoperative multidisciplinary approach, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy can be considered to increase operability. So, cyberknife can be considered an additional modality as a neoadjuvant radiotherapy.
Adrenalectomy ; Adrenocortical Carcinoma ; Liver ; Liver Neoplasms ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Palliative Care ; Radiosurgery