No abstract available.
Cytogenetics* ; Down Syndrome* ; Humans

PURPOSE: This treatment planning study was undertaken to evaluate the impact of beam angle configuration of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) on the dose of the normal liver in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The computed tomography datasets of 25 patients treated with IMRT for HCC were selected. Two IMRT plans using five beams were made in each patient; beams with equidistance of 72degrees (Plan I), and beams with a 30degrees angle of separation entering the body near the tumor (Plan II). Both plans were generated using the same constraints in each patient. Conformity index (CI), homogeneity index (HI), gamma index, mean dose of the normal liver (Dmean_NL), Dmean_NL difference between the two plans, and percentage normal liver volumes receiving at least 10, 20, and 30 Gy (V10, V20, and V30) were evaluated and compared. RESULTS: Dmean_NL, V10, and V20 were significantly better for Plan II. The Dmean_NL was significantly lower for peripheral (p = 0.001) and central tumors (p = 0.034). Dmean_NL differences between the two plans increased in proportion to gross tumor volume to normal liver volume ratios (p = 0.002). CI, HI, and gamma indices were not significantly different for the two plans. CONCLUSION: The IMRT plan based on beams with narrow separations reduced the irradiated dose of the normal liver, which would allow radiation dose escalation for HCC.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Humans ; Liver ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated ; Tumor Burden

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is a rare hereditary disease where the clinical manifestations are multiple harmatomatous gastrointestinal polyps and pigmentations of the skin. A harmatomatous polyp can develop at any part of the gastrointestinal tract, and the proximal small bowel is frequently involved. Intestinal obstruction, bleeding and intussusception, caused by GI polyps have been reported, which often require repeated surgery. A female patient presented with suffering of abdominal pain for two days duration. The patient was diagnosed with intussusception, and a resection and anastomosis of the small bowel was performed. The patient was treated for 15 days, and was discharged from the hospital without any particular complications. We report this case with a review of the literature.
Abdominal Pain ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Genetic Diseases, Inborn ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Intussusception ; Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome ; Pigmentation ; Polyps ; Skin ; Stress, Psychological

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Surfactant protein A (SP-A) which plays a role in the innate host defense of lung is also expressed in Eustachian tube. However the genes underlying the susceptibility to otitis media with effusion (OME) are known insufficiently. The current study attempts to evaluate the difference in the allele distribution of SP-A1 and SP-A2 between normal subjects and subjects with otitis media with effusion. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: PCR-cRFLP-based methodology was used to detect SP-A genotypes in the 38 children with OME, and in the 55 normal newborns for control. RESULTS: The frequencies of specific genotypes such as 6A(2), 1A(2) were increased in OME group, but the frequency of 6A3 was increased in control group. CONCLUSION: It is presumed that SP-A alleles may be inductive (6A(2), 1A(2)) or protective (6A(3)) factors for OME. Specific genoytypes of SP-A may be an important determinant for the predisposition to OME.
Alleles* ; Child ; Eustachian Tube ; Genotype ; Humans* ; Infant, Newborn ; Lung ; Otitis Media with Effusion* ; Otitis Media* ; Otitis* ; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A*

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have suggested that hyperhomocysteinemia and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR C677T) mutations are associated with increased risk of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). Recently, a second site polymorphism in MTHFR, 1298A-->C, which changes a glutamic acid into an alanine residue, was shown to be associated with a decreased enzyme activity. We tested whether the variant alleles of MTHFR C677T and A1298C are risk factor (biomarker) for RSA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed DNA from a case-control study in the Korean DNA was extracted from blood samples of 118 patients with RSA and 123 healthy fertile patients as the controls. MTHFR variant alleles were determined by a PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. RESULTS: We found no evidence for an association between 677TT genotype and risk of RSA (OR=1.95, 95% CI=0.84~4.50, p=0.12). However, the MTHFR 1298AC (OR=0.36, 95% CI=0.20~ 0.63, p=0.0004) and 1298AC+CC (OR=0.35, 95% CI=0.20~0.61, p=0.0002) genotypes were lower among 118 RSA cases compared with 123 controls, conferring a 2.8-fold decrease in risk of RSA, respectively. Moreover, the combined genotypes of MTHFR 677CC/1298AC (OR=0.30, 95% CI= 0.10~0.88, p=0.029) and 677CT/1298AC (OR=0.77, 95% CI=0.60~0.99, p=0.043) also showed significantly lower risk than those with MTHFR 677CC/1298AA type. CONCLUSION: MTHFR 1298AC, MTHFR 677CC/1298AC and 677CT/1298AC genotypes may represent genetic markers for the protection of RSA at least in Korean women.
Abortion, Spontaneous* ; Alanine ; Alleles ; Case-Control Studies ; DNA ; Female ; Genetic Markers ; Genotype ; Glutamic Acid ; Humans ; Hyperhomocysteinemia ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) ; Oxidoreductases* ; Pregnancy ; Risk Factors ; Vascular Diseases

The pencil beam convolution (PBC) algorithms in radiation treatment planning system have been widely used to calculate the radiation dose. A new photon dose calculation algorithm, referred to as the anisotropic analytical algorithm (AAA), was released for use by the Varian medical system. The aim of this paper was to investigate the difference in dose calculation between the AAA and PBC algorithm using the intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) plan for lung cancer cases that were inhomogeneous in the low density. We quantitatively analyzed the differences in dose using the eclipse planning system (Varian Medical System, Palo Alto, CA) and I'mRT matirxx (IBA, Schwarzenbruck, Germany) equipment to compare the gamma evaluation. 11 patients with lung cancer at various sites were used in this study. We also used the TLD-100 (LiF) to measure the differences in dose between the calculated dose and measured dose in the Alderson Rando phantom. The maximum, mean, minimum dose for the normal tissue did not change significantly. But the volume of the PTV covered by the 95% isodose curve was decreased by 6% in the lung due to the difference in the algorithms. The difference dose between the calculated dose by the PBC algorithms and AAA algorithms and the measured dose with TLD-100 (LiF) in the Alderson Rando phantom was -4.6% and -2.7% respectively. Based on the results of this study, the treatment plan calculated using the AAA algorithms is more accurate in lung sites with a low density when compared to the treatment plan calculated using the PBC algorithms.
Humans ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms

For extremity surgery, tourniquet is placed routinely. With deflation of the tourniquet, the metabolic product is flushed into the systemic circulation and theoretically poses a potential for toxic reactions. In actual fact, these are rare events with this technique. Vigilant monitoring will detect cardiovascular depression at this time. By the tourniquet application, lactic acidemia, abnormal coagulopathy, hypotention, hyperkalemia, increased PaCO2, and production of noxious oxygen free radicals were reported following the release of the tourniquet. But the serial changes of metabolic derangement, degree of lactic acidemia following the use of the tourniquet were not exactly known. To confirm the safety of the pneumatic tourniquet use for two hours, the serial changes of lactic acid levels, acid-base status, potassium concentration, concentration of respiratory gaaes (arterial and end-tidal CO2,) and also hypotension, dysrhythmias and respiratory pattern following release of the tourniquet were studied. Patients were anesthetized with 1% halothane, 50% nitrous oxide and 50% oxygen. Ventilation was maintained by the ventilator to keep the end-tidal CO2, to 4.0% just before the release, and then respiratory parameters (respiratory rate, tidal volume) were constantly maintained through the study. The data were measured from arterial samples or monitors with the following interval; just before tourniquet apply (BTA), before tourniquet release (BTR), at 1, 3, 5, 15 and 30 minutes after the tourniquet release (ATR 1 m, 3m, 5 m, 15 m 30 m). Data measured before the tourniquet apply were used as control values. All data were analyzed by the paired t-test with control. Changes of mean values of each time in one parameter were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. Correlationships between the parameters and duration of ischemia induced by the tourniquet were analyzed by simple regression. The results of this study were as follows; 1) The arterial concentration of lactic acid was maximally increased at 3 minutes after tourniquet release and not returned to control value until 30 minutes after tourniquet release. 2) End-tidal CO, was reached to maximal values of 5.3% at 5 minutes after release of tourniquet. Accompanying theses changes, spontaneous respiration was recovered from the controlled ventilation in 11 patients out of 13 and fought with mechanical ventilator due to asynchronism of respiratory cycles. 3) Mild metabolic acidosis showing the decreased arterial pH and increased PaCO2, in arterial blood gas analysis was maintained in 30 minutes following the release of tourniquet. 4) There were no significant changes of concentrations of potassium. 5) Three episodes of mild hypotension were observed out of 13 patients, but dysrhythmias and other significant clinical changes not observed through the study. The above results showed the possibility of lactic acidemia and changes of respiratory pattern by increased PaCO2, after release of the tourniquet may occur. More intent monitoring is needed to the patients who have had the metabolic derangement in acid-base balance and increased intracranial pressure in application of tourniquet on limbs.
Acid-Base Equilibrium ; Acidosis ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Depression ; Extremities ; Free Radicals ; Gases* ; Halothane ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hyperkalemia ; Hypotension ; Intracranial Pressure ; Ischemia ; Lactic Acid ; Lower Extremity* ; Nitrous Oxide ; Oxygen ; Potassium ; Respiration ; Tourniquets* ; Ventilation ; Ventilators, Mechanical

Valproic acid is a clinically used mood stabilizer and antiepileptic drug. Valproic acid has been suggested as a teratogen associated with the manifestation of neurodevelopmental disorders, such as fetal valproate syndrome and autism spectrum disorders, when taken during specific time window of pregnancy. Previous studies proposed that prenatal exposure to valproic acid induces abnormal proliferation and differentiation of neural progenitor cells, presumably by inhibiting histone deacetylase and releasing the condensed chromatin structure. Here, we found valproic acid up-regulates the transcription of T-type calcium channels by inhibiting histone deacetylase in neural progenitor cells. The pharmacological blockade of T-type calcium channels prevented the increased proliferation of neural progenitor cells induced by valproic acid. Differentiated neural cells from neural progenitor cells treated with valproic acid displayed increased levels of calcium influx in response to potassium chloride-induced depolarization. These results suggest that prenatal exposure to valproic acid up-regulates T-type calcium channels, which may contribute to increased proliferation of neural progenitor cells by inducing an abnormal calcium response and underlie the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between somatostatinergic tone (SST) and the size of growth hormone (GH)-producing pituitary tumors. GH levels of 29 patients with newly diagnosed acromegaly were measured using a 75-gram oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), an insulin tolerance test (ITT), and an octreotide suppression test (OST). Differences between GH levels during the ITT and the OGTT (DeltaGH(IO)), and between the OGTT and the OST at the same time point (DeltaGH(OS)) were compared according to the size of the tumor and the response pattern to the OST. DeltaGH(IO) of macroadenomas (n=22) was non-significantly higher than those of microadenomas while DeltaGH(OS) of macroadenomas were significantly higher than those of microadenomas. According to further analyses of macroadenomas based on the response pattern to the OST, GH levels during the ITT were significantly higher in non-responders. DeltaGH(OS) showed near-significant differences between responders and non-responders. In conclusion, as the size of the pituitary tumor increases, the effect of glucose on SST appears to be attenuated. Macroadenomas that are non-responders to the OST possess a portion of GH secretion exceeding the range of regulation by SST.
Acromegaly/*diagnosis/*pathology ; Adenoma/drug therapy/*pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal/therapeutic use ; Female ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Human Growth Hormone/*blood/secretion ; Humans ; Insulin/blood ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I/analysis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Octreotide/therapeutic use ; Pituitary Neoplasms/drug therapy/*pathology

PURPOSE: To identify Bacterial translocation (BT) from the gut to the blood in the critically ill patients by using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to confirm the sensitivity of PCR in the detection of intestinal bacterial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in human blood. Further, to determine the relationship between the identification of BT and the prognosis of these patients. METHODS: The oligonucleotide primers used to amplify bacterial DNA from whole blood were the beta-galactosidase (BG) gene of E. coli, DNA coding for 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA), and the glutamine synthase gene of Bacteroides fragilis (BFR). DNA was extracted from the blood of 45 cases of critically ill patients and 10 controls. PCR techniques were used to amplify the genes from E. coli, Bacteroides fragilis, and a region of 16S ribosomal RNA found in many gram-negative and positive bacteria. RESULTS: Bacterial DNA genes were not detected in any of the controls, but were found all in 6 cases of patients with positive blood cultures. Of the 39 cases with no growth in their blood culture, 11 cases in BG and BFR, and 13 cases in 16S rRNA had positive findings in bacterial DNA PCR. Fifteen cases (33%) in BG, 19 cases (42%) in BFR, and 16 cases (35.5%) in 16S rRNA of the critically ill patients had detectable bacterial DNA in their blood. Of those with a positive PCR, MOF developed in 11 cases (57.9%) and of these, 10 subsequently died of MOF. One case (3.8%) in the negative PCR was developed and died of MOF. Patients having positive translocated bacterial DNA had a worse prognosis than the group with a negative DNA. CONCLUSION: In order to confirm BT, the PCR method for detecting bacterial DNA in the blood of critically ill patients is more sensitive than blood cultures. BT from the gut can be a major factor in the development of multiple organ failures in critically ill patients. Therefore, early detection of BT with PCR can play a major role in the treatment of critically ill patients.
Bacteria ; Bacterial Translocation* ; Bacteroides fragilis ; beta-Galactosidase ; Clinical Coding ; Critical Illness* ; DNA ; DNA Primers ; DNA, Bacterial ; Glutamine ; Humans ; Multiple Organ Failure ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prognosis* ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S