Renal cell carcinoma has been recognized for several years as a relatively common cause of paraneoplastic syndromes. Fever, polycythemia, hypercalcemia, amyloidosis, abnormal liver function, Cushing's syndrome and neuropathy have been ostm frequently reported in association with renal cell carcinoma, but leukemoid reactions have been reported only rarely with this tumor. Recently we experienced a leukemoid reaction in a 64-year old female patient who presented with an advanced case of renal cell carcinoma. According to the literature the mortality is 100% with leukemoid reactions in renal cell carcinoma, and indeed this patient expired. We therefore, consider this reaction as a late manifestation of a bizzare presentation of renal cell carcinoma.
Amyloidosis ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Cushing Syndrome ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia ; Leukemoid Reaction* ; Liver ; Middle Aged ; Mortality ; Paraneoplastic Syndromes ; Polycythemia

No abstract available.
Female ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic*

Ischemic stroke is a heterogeneous disease caused by different pathogenic mechanisms, of which small artery and large artery stroke are the most common. Although the identification of the genes involved is unclear, genetic factors are increasingly recognized as influencing risk for atherosclerosis or arteriolosclerosis directly and indirectly. Genetic makeup may influence the development of major vascular risk factors or alter susceptibility of the cerebral vasculature to these risk factors. Some researchers have reported that atherosclerosis is high in people with functional variants of genes related to matrix deposition (matrix metalloproteinase 3), inflammation (interleukin-6), and lipid metabolism (hepatic lipase, apolipoprotein E, cholesteryl ester transfer protein, and paraoxonase) and clotting (factor V Leiden, fibrinogen). More recently, newly identified risk factors for atherosclerosis, such as plasma homocysteine (5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase). In this review, we assess the robustness of these associations and examine whether there is any evidence of risk modifications by factors, such as smoking.
Apolipoproteins ; Arteries ; Arteriolosclerosis ; Atherosclerosis ; Brain Ischemia ; Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins ; Genetics ; Homocysteine ; Inflammation ; Lipase ; Lipid Metabolism ; Molecular Biology* ; Plasma ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stroke*

PURPOSE: We evaluated the ability of endo-rectal coil MRI (ER-MRI) to predict the local pathological stage of prostate cancer prior to radical prostatectomy and compared the results with those of transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: ER-MRI using high field magnets (1.5 Tesla) were performed in 22 patients (mean age 62.8 years, range 51-73) with clinically localized prostate cancer before radical prostatectomy. Of the 22 patients, 17 patients were also assessed by TRUS. The results of the imaging techniques were compared with the post-operative histopathological findings. As one patient with pelvic lymph node metastasis, which was detected on frozen-section examination during surgery, was spared radical prostatectomy, the final evaluation included 21 patients. RESULTS: DSeven of the 21 patients (33%) were found to have extraprostatic extension (EPE), and 5 had seminal vesicle invasion (SVI). The sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing EPE using ER-MRI were 62.5% and 84.6%, respectively, and 16.7% and 100% with TRUS. The sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing SVI were 80.0% and 93.8%, respectively with ER-MRI, and 0% and 92.3% with TRUS. The accuracy of predicting SVI was 90.5% with ER-MRI compared to 70.6% with TRUS. CONCLUSIONS: ER-MRI was significantly better than TRUS for determining the local extent of prostatic cancer and for prediction of SVI in the preoperative staging of clinically localized prostate cancer.
Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prostate* ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Seminal Vesicles ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVES: The present study investigates the status of inpatient psychiatric consultations at a general hospital in order to find factors that contribute to treatment compliance related to psychiatric consultations. METHODS: The subjects were 333 patients who were hospitalized at Korea University Medical Center Ansan Hospital from 1 September 2009 to 31 July 2010.The patients were referred for psychiatric consultation during hospitalization. This study investigates demographic data, request department, referral causes, requestor, psychiatric history and diagnosis, andpsychiatric treatment compliance. Treatment compliance was defined as whether or not the patient had accepted psychiatric treatment during hospitalization or outpatient department(OPD) follow-up. This study ascertains the factors that have impact on compliance, by taking binary logistic regression with compliance and other variables. RESULTS: Among the patients that were offered psychiatric treatment during hospitalization(N=310), treatment compliance was 82.9%. Among the patients that were offered OPD treatment(N=111), compliance was 55.8%. Elderly group(>65 years) showed better compliance to treatment during hospitalization than the younger patient group(OR=4.838, p=0.004). Patients with secondary psychiatric disorders showed better OPD follow-up compliance than patients with secondary psychiatric disorders(OR=8.520, p=.008). CONCLUSION: Elderly patients showed better compliance for psychiatric treatment during hospitalization. However they commonly have disorders such as delirium and mood disorders that have impact on the patient's physical state, hence further active measures should be carried out. Patients referred due to primary psychiatric disorders showed poor OPD compliance. Therefore clinicians have to suggest multidisciplinary interventions that will improve treatment compliance of such patients.
Academic Medical Centers ; Aged ; Compliance ; Delirium ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitalization ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Mood Disorders ; Outpatients ; Referral and Consultation

Congenital chylothorax is a rare disorder and can be diagnosed by prenatal ultrasonography recently. Most cases of congenital chylothorax were characterized by different clinical courses of respiratory distress. We describe two female cases with congenital chylothorax observed by ultra- sonography prenatally. In the first case, left-sided pleural effusion was noted by prenatal ultrasonography taken at 34 weeks of gestation, and then pleural fluid was extracted by intrauterine thoracentesis under sonography guidance. After birth, this patient was managed by TPN(total parentral nutrition) and intermittent thoracentesis without surgical treatment. But, pleural fluid was accumulated recurrently and respiratory distress was aggravated. At 15th hospital day, shock state was developed and patient died. In the second case, bilateral pleural effusion and ascites were noted by prenatal ultrasonography, and then patient was delivered immediately without intrauterine thoracentesis. After birth, the second case received conservative therapy including mechanical ventilation, TPN, intermittent thoracentesis and paracentesis. The patient was discharged with complete regression of chylothorax. We report the two cases with brief review of related literatures.
Ascites ; Chylothorax* ; Female ; Humans ; Paracentesis ; Parturition ; Pleural Effusion ; Pregnancy ; Respiration, Artificial ; Shock ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal*

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference in the efficacy on low back pain of cold-damp pattern between electric-thermal Bian-stone therapy and moxibustion box therapy.

METHODSForty-one cases of low back pain of cold-damp pattern were randomized into an electric-thermal Bian-stone therapy group (group A, 26 cases) and a box moxibustion therapy group (group B, 15 cases). In the group A, the electric-thermal Bian-stone was placed over Shenshu (BL 23) and Weizhong (BL 40). The temperature of stone was adjusted in accordance with patient's comfort. In the group B, moxibustion box was used over Shenshu (BL 23) and Weizhong (BL 40). The treatment was given once every day or every two days. Ten treatments made one session. The symptom and physical signs score of low back pain and the score of cold-damp syndrome were observed before and after treatment in the patients.

RESULTSThe symptom and physical signs score of low back pain and the score of cold-damp syndrome were all improved in the two groups (all P < 0.01). The changing rate of symptom and physical signs and syndrome were (37.04 +/- 32.68)% and (22.85 +/- 29.95)% in the group A, and were (47.29 +/- 22.08)% and (23.89 +/- 22.53)% in the group B, respectively, without significant difference in comparison between the two groups (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe efficacy on low back pain of cold-damp pattern treated with the electric-thermal Bian-stone therapy is similar to that of moxibustion box therapy. This therapy is characterized as more convenient, safer operation and less pollution.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; therapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of transurethral plasmakinetic resection of prostate (PKRP) and transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methods The clinical and follow-up data of 186 patients with BPH were analyzed retrospectively. Two groups of BPH patients (90 patients in PKRP group,96 patients in TURP group) were treated by PKRP and TURP,respectively. The clinical date and therapeutic result were measured and compared for both in-tra-and inter-groups. Results In PKRP group,the operative time,intraoperative bleeding,the rates of damage of prostate surgical membranes,secondary hemorrhage (within 1 month),the rates of postoperative temporary urinary incontinence (within 2 months) were (65.3 ± 12.8)min,(213.6 ± 78.2)ml,5.6%(5/90),2.2% (2/90)and 21.1% (19/90),respectively,while in TURP group,these parameters were (83.6 ± 17.5) min,( 397.4 ± 142.7 )ml,17.7%( 17/96 ),11.5% ( 11/96 )and 36.5% ( 35/96 ),respectively. There were signif-icant differences between the 2 groups (P < 0.05 ). In PKRP group,the international prostate symptom score (IPSS),quality of life(QOL),Qmax and PVR were (4.7 ± 1.3 )scores,(1.1 ± 0.4)scores,( 18.7 ± 5.6)ml/s,(8.9 ± 2.5)ml,respectively,while in TURP group,these parameters were (5.3 ± 1.0)scores,(1.2 ± 0.5) scores,(20.4 ± 4.3 )ml/s,(11.2 ± 3.2)ml,respehively. These parameters were significantly improved after both procedures(P < 0.05),but there was no significant difference in the above parameters between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions PKRP and TURP have similar efficacy in the treatment of BPH,but PKRP ap-pears to have an advantage of more safety and easier blood controls with less physical damage and complica-lion than those in TURP. PKRP is a better treatment option for BPH.

Objective To obtain colon cancer spheroid cells from human colon cancer cell lines cultured in serum-free medium (SFM),and investigate the proliferative and migratory properties of colon cancer spheroid cells.Methods Human colon cancer cell lines HCT116 and HT29 were cultured in SFM,and then the generation of spheroid cells was observed.The expression of stem cell surface marker CD133 was detected by flow cytometry,and the proliferative and migratory properties of colon cancer spheroid cells were detected by cell counting kit-8 and Transwell migration assay,respectively.All data were analyzed by using the t test.Results Spheroid cells were obtained from colon cancer cell lines HCT116 and HT29 in SFM.The ratios of spheroid cells with positive expression of CD133 generated by HCT116 and HT29 were 75.44％ ± 11.41％ and 76.22％ ± 14.23％,respectively.Compared with original colon cancer cells cultured in serum supplemented medium,the number of HCT116 and HT29 spheroid cells with positive expression of CD133 was significantly greater (t =11.43,9.17,P ＜ 0.05 ),and the proliferative and migratory abilities were much stronger also.Conclusion Colon cancer spheroid cells cultured in SFM have higher positive expression of CD133 and stronger proliferative and migratory abilities,and it can be utilized as a feasible model for further studies of colonic stem cells.

The potential of Rhizobium sp. N613 to produce the exopolysaccharide (REPS) was studied in this paper. Using an orthogonal design in a flask-shaker culture system, the fermentation medium and conditions of synthesizing REPS were optimized. Based on these results, the fermentation kinetic parameters were obtained in the batch fermentation with a 10L fermentor. The REPS yield of 11.31g/L was achieved by metabolic regulation during 40 h fed-batch fermentation. Transplanted tumor models of sarcoma 180 in mice were used to evaluate the anti-tumor effect. The result of anti-tumor activities showed that inhibition rate was 53.40%, when dose of REPS was 5mg/kg. These results indicate that REPS has the following properties: the short duration of fermentation, the high yield, the low cost, the effective immunocompetence and thickening. Thus, REPS has the value of development and application.