No abstract available.
Female ; Mammals* ; Ovulation* ; Rupture*

Lichen planopilaris is believed to be a variant of lichen planus which is occasionally accompanied by classical lichen planus. A 68-year old male had asymptomatic skin colored or light violet colored papules and nodules on the occipital area followed by hair loss for 2 months. He had also violaceous pea to bean sized whitish scaly papules on the right lower extremity. Histopathological examination revealed the dilated follicles to be filled with horny material. There were also intense infiltrations of monocytes which were most prominent at the lower pole of the hair follicles on the scalp lesion. There was also hyperkeratosis, focal hypergranulosis and band-like infiltrations of lymphocytes at the dermo-epidermal junction on the lesion of the lower extremity. Direct immunofluorescence examination showed linear deposition of fibrin at the dermo-epidermal junction in the hair follicles. We had an opportunity to observe a man with lichen planopilaris who had loss of scalp hair which was accompanied by classical lichen planus on the lower extremity.
Aged ; Fibrin ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct ; Hair ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Lichen Planus ; Lichens* ; Lower Extremity ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Monocytes ; Peas ; Scalp ; Skin ; Viola

PURPOSE: Thallous-201 chloride produced at Korea Cancer Center Hospital(KCCH) is used in detecting cardiovascular disease and cancer. Thallium impurity can cause emesis, catharsis and nausea, so the presence of thallium and other metal impurities should be determined. According to USP and KP, their amounts must be less than 2 ppm in thallium and 5 ppm in total. In this study, the detection method of trace amounts of metal impurities in [201Tl]TlCl injection with polarography was optimized without environmental contamination. MATERALS AND METHODS: For the detection of metal impurities, Osteryoung Square Wave Stripping Voltammetry method was used in Bio-Analytical System (BAS) 50W polarograph. The voltammetry was composed of Dropping Mercury Electrode (DME) as a working electrode, Ag/AgCl as a reference electrode and Pt wire as a counter electrode. Square wave stripping method, which makes use of formation and deformation of amalgam, was adopted to determine the metal impurities, and pH 7 phosphate buffer was used as supporting electrolyte. RESULTS: T1, Cu and Pb in thallous-201 chloride solution were detected by scanning from 300 mV to -800 mV. Calibration curves were made by using TlNO3, CuSO4 and Pb(NO3)2 as standard solutions. Tl was confirmed at -450 mV peak potential and Cu at -50 mV. Less than 2 ppm of Tl and Cu was detected and Pb was not detected in KCCH-produced thallous-201 chloride injection. CONCLUSION: Detection limit of thallium and copper is approximately 50 ppb with this method. As a result of this experiment, thallium and other metal impurities in thallous-201 chloride injection, produced at Korea Cancer Center Hospital, are in the regulation of USP and KP. Polarograph could be applied for the determination of metal impurities in the quality control of radiopharmaceuticals conveniently without environmental contamination.
Calibration ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Catharsis ; Copper ; Electrodes ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Korea ; Limit of Detection ; Metals, Heavy* ; Nausea ; Polarography* ; Quality Control ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; Thallium ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: As the number of patients with localized renal cell carcinoma has increased, there are conflicting reports on the nuclear grade as a prognostic factor. The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of the nuclear grade as a prognostic factor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 172 patients with localized renal cell carcinoma and who underwent radical nephrectomy. The patients were staged according to the 1997 TNM stage and the Fuhrman grading. The survival rate was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: The overall 1- , 5- and 10-year survival rates were 98.1, 72.5 and 68.4%, respectively. The 5-year survival rates for grades I, II, III and IV were 100, 92.6, 85.0 and 60.9%, respectively (p<0.0001). According to the Fuhrman grade in each T stage, 1) for patients with pT1b, the 5-year survival rates were 100, 85.0, 85.71 and 33.3% for patients with grade I, II, III and IV, respectively (p=0.002). 2) for patients with pT2, the 5-year survival rates were 100, 92.3, 60.0 and 25.0% for patients with grade I, II, III and IV, respectively (p<0.0001). A comparison of the survival curves by the Fuhrman grade showed a statistically significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: The Fuhrman grade is an important prognostic factor for patients with localized renal cell carcinoma. A high nuclear grade tends to have metastatic potential and a poor prognosis. This group of patients with a high nuclear grade must be followed up more closely. Determining the pathologic stage along with using the Fuhrman grade-based surveillance protocols are a logical approach to follow-up.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Cell Nucleus Shape ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Logic ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nephrectomy ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

No abstract available.
Animals ; Evoked Potentials* ; Rats*

The abdominal tumors in children are different from those of adult. These tumors are the third most common one, preceded by leukemia and brain tumors, in children under 15 years. X-ray examination is the most important method among diagnostic approaches. The role of diagnostic imaging is to identify the precise anatomic location and extent of pathologic process with the minimal number of imaging procedures. 23 cases of abdominal tumors were reviewed in respect of age incidence, site of origin, radiologic findings. The results are briefly summarized as follows: 1. Neuroblastoma was the most common (6 cases) and wilm's tumor (5 cases), choledocal cyst (4 cases), ovarian mass (3 cases), hydronephrosis (2 cases), were descending order in frequency. 2. The most common site was retroperitoneum (60%) Kidney was the single most common site of origin. 3. Radiologic findings. The most common findings of plain radiography was ill defined soft tissue mass and this method was helpful in the presence of calcification especially in neuroblastoma. Ultrasonographic pattern was anechoic (cystic), echoic or mixed pattern, but this method provide less precise anatomical details, nevertheless Ultrasonography was particularly useful imaging modality for the pediatric abdominal tumors. IVP findings were renal displacement, caliceopelvic system distortion or nonvisualization of kidney, these information was helpful in determining the location of tumors. CT scan showed homogenous or inhomogeneous, cystic or solid, mass with their anatomic location. 4. Ultrasonography was the most widely used specific diagnostic method, but had limited value in detecting the anatomic location of tumors. CT scan was superior to ultrasound for determining the extent of tumors.
Adult ; Brain Neoplasms ; Child ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Incidence ; Kidney ; Leukemia ; Methods ; Neuroblastoma ; Radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography ; Wilms Tumor

This study was conducted to elucidate the biological role of the overproduced nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-l (IL-l), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) which are known to elicit inflammation, rheumatic arthritis, fever, septic shock or other fatal reactions. I investigated whether the Scarcoma 180 cells elicit NO, IL-l and IL-6 production in vivo and in vitro by measuring the NO, IL-1 and IL-6 level in the splenocyte adherent cell (AD), non-adherent cell (NAD) and whole cell (W) exposed to sarcoma 180 cells. I also measured the NO, IL-1 and IL-6 level in the plasma and peritoneal fluid of the sarcoma 180 cell-transplanted mice after 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours and 24 hours of incubation. 1. In the splenocyte exposed to sarcoma 180 cells, the NO production of AD and NAD increased after 2, 4, and 6 hours but decreased after 24 hours of incubation. In the whole cell, the NO production was variable; it showed increased level of synthesis at 2 hours, decreased level at 4 hours, increased level again at 6 hours, and decreased level at 24 hours of incubation. In the plasma of the sarcoma 180 cell-transplanted mice, the NO synthesis significantly increased from the 6 hours of incubation. In the peritoneal fluid, the NO production significantly increased until the 4 hours of incubation then decreased gradually. However, it showed higher level of NO production compared to the control group. 2. For the splenocyte AD cell exposed to saracoma 180 cells, the IL-1 level decreased after 6 hours of incubation. For the W cells, the IL-1 level decreased at 4 hours then increased until 24 hours of incubation. The NAD cell showed increased level of IL-I production from 2 to 24 hours. All these cells showed significantly increased level of IL-1 production compared to the control. In the plasma of the sarcoma 180 cell-transplanted mice, the IL-1 production increased more than twice the level of control from the beginning. In the peritoneal fluid, no IL-1 production was detected as in the control. 3. The IL-6 synthesis of the sarcoma 180 cell-exposed splenocyte singnificantly increased compared to the control: the AD cell showed increased level of IL-6 production after 4 hours of incubation. For the NAD cell, increased level of IL-6 was detected at 2 hours after the incubation. In the plasma of the sarcoma 180 cells transplanted mice, the IL-6 level at 2 hours after incubation was 64.22+/- 5.85 pg/ml. After 4 hours of incubation, the level decreased to 43.55+/-1.56 pg/ml. At six and 24 hours after the incubation, no IL-6 was detected. In the control, IL-6 production was not detected. In the peritoneal fluid, the IL-6 production level was 712.41+/-4.27 pg/ml after 2 hours and 225.71+/-9.74 pg/ml after 4 hours of incubation, producing singnificantly higher level of IL-6 compared to the control. After 6 hours of incubation, IL-6 level was 8.27+/-0.78 pg/ml. After 24 hours of incubation, it decreased to 1.38+/-0.39 pg/ml as time proceeds. After 24 hours of incubation, the IL-6 level was the same as the control. These results suggest that the mice which were exposed to sarcoma 180 cells, nitric oxide, interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 which may lead to inflammation, fever, sepsis and septic shock. This study also helps us better understanding of the role of cytokines in inflammatory reaction.
Animals ; Ascitic Fluid ; Cytokines ; Fever ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-1* ; Interleukin-6* ; Mice* ; NAD ; Nitric Oxide* ; Plasma ; Rheumatic Fever ; Sarcoma 180* ; Sarcoma* ; Sepsis ; Shock, Septic

PURPOSE: Acute thrombosis of arteriovenous graft (AVG) has been treated by surgical thrombectomy; however, endovascular treatment became an alternative treatment option recently. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of endovascular treatment for acute thrombosis of AVG (EndoAVG) by primary endovascular treatment strategy. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of patients who underwent EndoAVG from January 2003 to December 2010 in Inha University Hospital. The patients' clinical characteristics and EndoAVG procedures were reviewed by electronic charts and X-ray films. Clinical success was defined as the residual stenosis below 30% or success of hemodialysis. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients were enrolled. The mean age was 64+/-15.4 years in the success group and 58+/-17.2 years in the failed group. The mean duration from AVG formation to endovascular thrombectomy was 19.2+/-29.5 months. The success rate of EndoAVG was 84.2% (32/38). There were three complications after EndoAVG: two brachial artery thromboses and one rupture of a vein at the ballooning site. Six months, twelve months and twenty-four months secondary patency rate were 77.5%, 65.5%, and 42.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The success rate of EndoAVG was 84.2%. Its result is compatible with open thrombectomy and can be a good alternative option for the treatment of acute thrombosis of AVG. Larger number of cases is required for stronger study.
Arteriovenous Fistula ; Brachial Artery ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Electronics ; Electrons ; Humans ; Renal Dialysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture ; Thrombectomy ; Thrombosis ; Transplants ; Veins ; X-Ray Film

PURPOSE: Virtual colonoscopy is the most recently developed tool for detecting colorectal cancers and polyps, but its effectiveness is limited. In our study, we compared the result of preoperative virtual colonoscopy to result of preoperative and postoperative colonoscopy. We evaluated also the accuracy of preoperative virtual colonoscopy in patients who had obstructive colorectal cancer that did not allow passage of a colonoscope. METHODS: A total of 164 patients who had undergone preoperative virtual colonoscopy and curative surgery after the diagnosis of a colorectal adenocarcinoma between November 2008 and August 2013 were pooled. We compared the result of conventional colonoscopy with that of virtual colonoscopy in the nonobstructive group and the results of preoperative virtual colonoscopy with that of postoperative colonoscopy performed at 6 months after surgery in the obstructive group. RESULTS: Of the 164 patients, 108 were male and 56 were female patients. The mean age was 62.7 years. The average sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of virtual colonoscopy for all patients were 31.0%, 67.2%, and 43.8%, respectively. In the nonobstructive group, the average sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 36.6%, 66.2%, and 48.0%, respectively, whereas in the obstructive group, they were 2%, 72.4%, and 25.4%. Synchronous cancer was detected via virtual colonoscopy in 4 of the 164 patients. CONCLUSION: Virtual colonoscopy may not be an effective method for the detection of proximal colon polyps, but it can be helpful in determining the therapeutic plan when its results are correlated with the results of other studies.
Adenocarcinoma ; Colon* ; Colonic Polyps ; Colonography, Computed Tomographic* ; Colonoscopes ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Methods ; Polyps ; Sensitivity and Specificity

This study was conducted as a nationwide survey in Korea to determine the THM (trihalomethane) concentration levels in the drinking water of 14 selected cities. The survey was undertaken in one city (Kwangju) during September and October of 1988 and 14 cities in January through February of 1988. The results were as follows: 1. The KMnO4 consumption was 10.6 mg/l - 11.6 mg/l in Pusan and Ulsan, exceeding the drinking water standard of 10 mg/l. Pusan, Inchon, Kwangju, Ulsan, Mokpo and Junju areas also exceeded the ammonia nitrate standard of 0.5 mg/l, Other tap waters surveyed were detected below the drinking water standards. 2. The THM concentrations of tap water measured in January and February of 1989 were detected in the range 1.20 microgram/l - 150.8 microgram/l. 3. In the comparative study of the THM concentration of tap water measured in the Kwangju area during September and October of 1988, the average THM concentration of 145.63 +/- 70.72 microgram/l showed a sifford increase compared to that of 23.8 +/- 8.31 microgram/l surveyed in January and February 1989. 4. The proportion of the four THM compounds found in tap water was bromoform, 47%; chloroform, 30%; chlordibromomethane, 13%; and dichlorobromomethane, 10%. 5. Since the results indicate that the concentration of bromoform was 2 - 10 times higher than that of chloroform measured in the seaside district of Pusan, Ulsan and Cheju Island, it is reasonable to assume that the raw water was somehow influenced by seawater. 6. The average lifetime cancer rate of the population exposed to chloroform measured in the surveyed areas was 17 cancer incidences per 1 million population. From the above results, the existence of THM in the distribution systems seems to be inevitable, since chlorine disinfection is performed in water treatment plants in our country. There seems to be a trend of increasing. THM concentrations due to the contamination of raw water. In order to establish any form of regulations, health risk assessment is an imminent subject.
Ammonia ; Busan ; Chlorine ; Chloroform ; Disinfection ; Drinking Water* ; Drinking* ; Gwangju ; Incheon ; Incidence ; Jeju-do ; Jeollanam-do ; Korea ; Risk Assessment ; Seawater ; Social Control, Formal ; Trihalomethanes* ; Ulsan ; Water ; Water Purification