Diffuse tremendous thickening of gastric wall caused by excessive proliferation of the mucosa of unknown causewas first decribed by Menetrier in 1888. The disease is highly uncommon, but the exact preoperative diagnosis iscrucial because of the more excellent prognosis than other malignant lesions including gastric lymphoma andinfiltrative gastric carcinoma. The authors recently experienced a case of Menetrier's disease which had beendiagnosed as gastric lymphoma preoperatively. Radiologic differentiation is not impossible between this extermelyrare disease and other mimicking malignant lesions, that is the reason why we introduce radiographic findings ofthe case by comparison with gastric lymphoma of giant rugal type and infiltrative gastric carcinoma. Typical upperG-I series findings of the case are: 1) Enlarged tortuous proximal gastric rugal folds only along the greatercurvature, 2) Perpendicular lines of barium spicules trapped by apposed folds with clubbed or forked appearance,3) Abrupt transition of transion to normal stomach, 4) No luminal narrowing and retained but sluggish peristalsis.Thus radiologists can diagnose Menetrier's disease scrupulously based on critical application of enlarged foldspattern and extent of the lesion in association with other radiologic features and clinial history of fairly longduration. Brief review of clinical and pathologic features about Menetrier's disease is included.
Barium ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Gastritis, Hypertrophic ; Hypertrophy ; Lymphoma ; Mucous Membrane ; Phenobarbital ; Prognosis ; Stomach

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to evaluate the antihypertensive efficacy and safety of nifedipine gastrointestinal system push-pull osmotic pump formulation in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. METHODS: After 2 weeks placebo run-in period, nifedipine 60 mg was administered once daily for 8 weeks in thirty-two patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. RESULTS: At the end point of treatment, sitting blood pressure decreased as much as 33/16mmHg in average and rewarded 88% of efficacy and 69% of normalization. The ambulatoy blood pressure monitoring in 10 patients also revealed 11% decrease in 24 hr mean diastolic blood pressure and 32% decrease in % elevated blood pressure. The most frequent side reactions were constipation in 7 patients and polyuria in 6 patients which were tolerated during entire trial period. There were no significant changes in biochemical parameters and hematologic data, thus making the rate of safety 91% and overall rating of usefulness was 84%. CONCLUSION: Nifedipine GITS 60 mg once daily regimen is well tolerated and effective in the treatment of mild to moderate essential hypertension.
Blood Pressure ; Blood Pressure Monitors ; Constipation ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Nifedipine* ; Polyuria ; Reward

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the characteristics of the co-authorship and its network within the Korean Pathologists' Society. METHODS: In the KoreaMed database, 11,420 articles and 72,478 authors from 1991 to 2010 were searched. The patterns of co-authorship of the authors and institutions were analyzed to build a network matrix. The network centrality indices were measured with UCINET 6.0 and sociogram, and were drawn with Netdraw 5.0. KeyPlayer 1.44 was used for key player analysis. RESULTS: The number of articles that pathologist participated in increased; however, the number of articles that the pathologists are the first author did not increase. The centrality degrees from 1991 to 2010 were 4.16% and 0.3% for the institutions and authors network, respectively. From 1991 to 2000, Seoul National University had the highest degree of centrality and was a key player. However, from 2001 to 2010, Ulsan replaced the position. For the authors, Chi, Je Geun was highest centrality author and key player during the 1991 to 2000 time period. From 2001 to 2010, Yoo, Jinyoung had the highest degree of centrality and Kim, Na Rae was a key player. Overall, most of the centrality indices were occupied by only a few institutions and authors. CONCLUSIONS: The network among the pathologist society is a typical small world society.

A number of genetic and environmental factors influence athletic performance. Cardiovascular fitness is an important factor of athletic success, and ACE gene is a good candidate for regulating cardiac and vascular function. Because younger subjects have less chance of being exposed to environmental factors than older ones, genetic factors have a relatively greater influence on younger subjects. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of I/D polymorphism in the ACE gene between Korean young controls and athletes. By association study, there were no significant differences in genotype and allele distributions between two groups, respectively (P> 0.05). When stratified by sporting disciplines, the significant difference in distribution was not also detected in our study (P> 0.05). These results do not support the hypothesis that the I/D polymorphism in the ACE gene is associated with endurance performance in Korean young subjects.
Alleles ; Athletes* ; Athletic Performance ; Genotype ; Humans ; Sports

Tuberculosis and lymphoma, these 2 diseases can present with lyphadenopathy in anywhere of the body. Therefor differentiation of tuberculosis from lymphoma is often difficult. CT scans of 17 patients with tuberculosis and 23 patients with lymphoma were retrospectively reviewed to evaluate the efficacy of CT scans in differentating adenopathy between tuberculosis and lymphoma, All the patients underwent abdominal CT scans with contrast enhancement before treatment. The size, internal architecture, distribution of lymph nodes, and associated findings on CT scans were analyzed. As compared with lymphoma, tuberculous lymphadenopathy showed 1) female preponderance (65%), 2) predilection for portocaval lymph nodes (47%), 3) internal low attenuation in lymph nodes (82%), 4) cold abscess formation (24%). Characteristics of lymphoma on CT scans included 1) male prepondrance (78%), 2) conglomeration of lymph nodes (39%), 3) homogenous internal lymph node structure (83%). These results suggest that evaluation of the characteristics of lymphadenopathy on CT scans is helpful for differentiating between tuberculosis and lymphoma.
Abscess ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Diseases* ; Lymphoma ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis*

Tuberculosis and lymphoma, these 2 diseases can present with lyphadenopathy in anywhere of the body. Therefor differentiation of tuberculosis from lymphoma is often difficult. CT scans of 17 patients with tuberculosis and 23 patients with lymphoma were retrospectively reviewed to evaluate the efficacy of CT scans in differentating adenopathy between tuberculosis and lymphoma, All the patients underwent abdominal CT scans with contrast enhancement before treatment. The size, internal architecture, distribution of lymph nodes, and associated findings on CT scans were analyzed. As compared with lymphoma, tuberculous lymphadenopathy showed 1) female preponderance (65%), 2) predilection for portocaval lymph nodes (47%), 3) internal low attenuation in lymph nodes (82%), 4) cold abscess formation (24%). Characteristics of lymphoma on CT scans included 1) male prepondrance (78%), 2) conglomeration of lymph nodes (39%), 3) homogenous internal lymph node structure (83%). These results suggest that evaluation of the characteristics of lymphadenopathy on CT scans is helpful for differentiating between tuberculosis and lymphoma.
Abscess ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Diseases* ; Lymphoma ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis*

BACKGROUND: This study was planned to evaluate the influence of propranolol and esmolol on cerebral circulation and to estimate clinical implications and usefulness. METHODS: This study was designed to measure vital signs, cerebrospinal fluid pressure, cerebral perfusion pressure and blood flow velocity of common carotid artery. This was measured by Doppler Flowmeter after intravenous administration of propranolol 12.5, 25, 50 microgram/kg (P-12.5, P-25, P-50, respectively), and esmolol 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 mg/kg (E-0.5, E-1.0, E-2.0 group, respectively) at 1 or 2 minute intervals for 14 minutes. RESULTS: In the propranolol group (P-12.5, P-25 and P-50), the systolic blood pressure (SBP) significantly decreased since postinjection 1 minute and this decreased pressure continued throughout the entire experiment. But in esmolol group (E-0.5, E-1.0 and E-2.0), the SBP decreased significantly and rapidly recovered within 4 minutes. Heart rate significantly decreased in the propranolol group and continued throughout the experiment, but in the esmolol group the heart rate decreased and rapidly recovered within 10 minutes. The duration of the decreased heart rate in the esmolol group was shortened by decreasing the dosage. The blood flow velocity of the common carotid artery significantly decreased at 1 to 14 minutes after the injection of propranolol, but in group E-1.0, it was significantly decreased at 1 to 2 minutes, and in group E-2.0 at 1 to 3 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: The esmolol group showed less changes of SBP, heart rate and common carotid artery flow, and shorter duration of effect than the propranolol group. Mean blood pressure, cerebrospinal fluid pressure and cerebral perfusion pressure had no significant differences between propranolol and esmolol groups.
Administration, Intravenous ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Blood Pressure ; Carotid Artery, Common* ; Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure ; Flowmeters ; Heart Rate ; Perfusion ; Propranolol* ; Rabbits* ; Vital Signs*

An 47-year-old woman presented for a microscopic vascular decompression with facial nerve palsy. Past medical history was noncontributory. There were not abnormal physical or laboratory findings. Oral tracheal intubation with an armored tube was performed without any problems. Anesthesia was maintained uneventfully in spite of a high peak inspiratory airway pressure (28 30 cmH2O). After surgery, she had symptoms of airway obstruction and the endotracheal tube was removed. The removed tube was found to have a protrusion through almost all the length of tube which reduced its internal diameter a half. Finally, in any case of "airway obstruction" in an intubated patient, we should consider mechanical problems. We should keep in mind the presence of an armored endotracheal tube cannot be regarded as a guarantee of a patent airway. We must test not only leakage of the cuff but also passage of the tube prior to usage.
Airway Obstruction ; Anesthesia ; Decompression ; Facial Nerve ; Female ; Humans ; Intubation ; Middle Aged ; Paralysis

OBJECTIVES: During the past few years, the development of functional brain imaging techniques has allowed to describe brain impairment in cognitive disorders. Among them, based on the observation of bilateral parietotemporal hypoperfusion in Alzheimer's disease(AD), single photon emission computed tomography(SPECT) is advocated by some as powerful diagnostic tool in the evaluation of demented patients. The aim of this study is to investigate the usefulness of SPECT in the diagnosis of AD and to clarify the associated factors of parietotemporal hypoperfusion, the typical SPECT pattern of Alzheimer's disease(AD). METHODS: We reviewed the SPECT scans of 26 patients fulfilling NINCDS-ADRDA criteria for probable AD, 14 with typical pattern of SPECT and 12 with atypical pattern of SPECT. Dementia severity was assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination. Image interpretation was done visually by the consensus opinion of 2 experienced nuclear medicine physicians who were blind to clinical information. To estimate the association of typical pattern of SPECT with other variables of interest, discriminant function analysis was done. RESULTS: Though the overall diagnostic sensitivity of SPECT in AD was 53.8%, it was 76.9%, in early-onset AD patients. Typical pattern of SPECT was more frequent in the patients with early onset of the symptoms. Duration of symptoms, duration of education, sex, severity of disease was not associated with this SPECT pattern. CONCLUSION: These findings may be useful in the clinical setting and point to heterogeneity of AD according to age at onset.
Alzheimer Disease* ; Brain* ; Consensus ; Dementia ; Diagnosis ; Functional Neuroimaging ; Humans ; Nuclear Medicine ; Population Characteristics ; Sex Education ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

BACKGROUND: In the acute phase of myocardial infarction, the hemostatic mechanism is known to be activated. However, it remains unclear whether increased activity of the hemostatic mechanism is only a marker of the acute thrombotic episode or precedes its appearance. It is also inapparent whether a hypercoagulable state persist for a prolonged period after the apparent resolution of these disorders. METHODS: In a group of 23 patients with acute myocardial infarction who received fibrinolytic therapy with urokinase(group A) or tPA(group B), the plasma level of fibrinogen, antithrombin compared to those of the 10 normal controls. RESULTS: The plasme level of fibrinogen was significantly decreased in both group A and B before and 4 to 24 hours after thrombolytic therapy compared to that of normal controls. But it was increased 7 to 14 days after thrombolytic therapy. In a few of the patients, the plasma level of FDP and D-dimer were positive before thrombolytic therapy and in the most patients they were positive 4 hours after thrombolytic therapy. The plasma level of AT-III was significantly increased in both group A and B before thrombolytic therapy compared with that of normal controls, but, after thrombolytic therapy, there was no significant change in its level. CONCLUSIONS: In the patients with acute myocardial infarction, the thrombolysis occurred before thrombolytic therapy and it lasted for 24 hours after thrombolytic therapy.
Antithrombin III* ; Fibrinogen ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Plasma ; Thrombolytic Therapy*