No abstract available.
Endorphins* ; Pain, Postoperative* ; Plasma*

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: To assess the combined effectiveness of angioinfarction and immunotherapy for improving survival in patients with stage IV renal cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS:During the past 3 years, 13 patients of stage IV renal cell carcinoma were treated with angioinfarction and immunotherapy. Angioinfarction was performed on these 13 patients using absolute ethanol and occlusive baloon catheter. After angioinfarction, Interferon alpha was used for immunotherapy. For our analysis, 12 control patients of stage IV renal cell carcinoma without treatment were included in the study. Survival has been calculated according to the Kaplan and Meier method. RESULTS: The 1 year survival rate and median survival time in patients treated with angioinfarction and immunotherapy, were 46% and 13 months and in patients without treatment, 16% and 4 months, respectively. CONCLUSION:The combined treatment of angioinfarction and immunotherapy is of considerable value for improving survival in patients with stage IV renal cell carcinoma
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Catheters ; Ethanol ; Humans ; Immunotherapy* ; Interferon-alpha ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: To determine the significance of anomalous position of the gallbladder. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen patients with anomalous position of the gallbladder were evaluated for analysis. The diagnosis was confirmed by ultrasonography(15 patients) and oral cholecystography(1patient). Among those, six patients underwent CT scan and a patient had 99mTc-DISIDA scan. The images were analysed with respect to the location of the GB and configuration and associated abnormality of the liver and hepatobiliary systems. Medical records of each patient were also reviewed. RESULTS: Among 16 patients having an anomalous position of the gallbladder, nine had retrodisplaced gallbladder, four had left-sided gallbaldder, two had suprahepatic gallbladder, and one had floating gallbladder. Except for one patient, fifteen had abnormality in the liver such as focal atrophic or hypoplastic change and liver cirrhosis. Intrahepatic stones were demonstrated in 6 patients. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that anomalous position of the gallbladder was commonly associated with atrophy or hypoplasia of the liver rather than congenital in origin. The possiblity of an anomalous location of gallbladder should be kept in mind when GB is not in its normal location.
Atrophy ; Diagnosis ; Gallbladder* ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Medical Records ; Technetium Tc 99m Disofenin ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Membranous obstruction of the hepatic inferior vena cava(MOVC)is one of the common causes of Budd-Chiari syndrome. The aim of this study is to ascertain and compare the characteristic sonographic and CT findings of Budd-Chiari syndrome caused by MOVC. We studied 10 patients of Budd-Chiari syndrome caused by MOVC through sonography and CT. MOVC was confirmed by operation and/or inferior vena cavography. The cases included 9 men and one woman. With sonography. IVC obstruction was diagnosed in 9 cases. The cause of IVC obstruction was web in 5 cases and fibrous cord in 3 cases. The cause was unspecified in on case. Obliteration of the hepatic veins and intrahepatic collateral vessels were delineated in 9 cases. With color doppler sonography, the directions of blood flow of the hepatic veins through the intervenous communication were fairly well demonstrated in all 5 cases. With CT, IVC obstruction was diagnosed in 7 cases. The obliteration of the hepatic segment of the IVC were segmental in 6 cases and diffuse in one case. Ct demonstrated communicating vessels between the hepatic veins in 3 cases. Furthermore. Systemic collateral vessls(azygos and hemiazygos veins. Veins along the abdominal wall, and internal mammary veins)were demonstrated in all cases. Liver cirrhosis was combined in all cases and hepatoma developed in 4 cases. Sonography is useful to detect the MOVC and to demonstrate hepatic venous obstruction and intrahepatic collateral vessels. Color doppler sonography is easily performed to show the direction of the blood flow through interconnecting vessels. CT shows the obliterated segment of the IVC clearly and multiple prominent systemic coliaterals. In conclusion, and Budd-Chiai syndrome caused by MOVC is accurately diagnosed by combined color doppler sonography and CT.
Abdominal Wall ; Budd-Chiari Syndrome* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Female ; Hepatic Veins ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Male ; Ultrasonography ; Veins ; Vena Cava, Inferior*

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the frequency and clinical characteristics of premenstrual syndrome(PMS)/premenstrual dysphoric disorder(PMDD) in high school students, and determine the correlates of PMS/PMDD in association with comorbid depression and anxiety. METHODS: A total of 1688 students were recruited from 5 high schools in Seoul, Korea. Subjects completed the questionnaire composed of scales to measure premenstrual symptoms, depression, and anxiety, as well as sociodemographic and reproductive variables. Subjects were categorized into 3 groups by using the Premenstrual Symptom Screening Tool(PSST) to determine the frequency and clinical characteristics of PMS/PMDD. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the correlates of PMS/PMDD. RESULTS: The frequency of moderate to severe PMS and PMDD was 20.1% and 6.4%, respectively. Irritability (78.8%), fatigue(76.4%), and emotional sensitivity(69.8%) were common premenstrual symptoms, and functional impairment in academic performance(67.1%) was dominant. Dysmenorrhea[odd ratio(OR)=3.68, 95% confidence interval(CI) 2.45-5.55], family history of PMS(OR=1.91, 95% CI 1.35-2.71), and use of oral contraceptive (OR=1.85, 95% CI 1.16-2.94) were associated with the increased risk of PMS/PMDD after adjustment for depression and anxiety. Negative attitude to menses(OR=15.60, 95% CI 3.61-67.42) was associated with the increased risk of PMS/PMDD, particularly in subjects without depression and anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: PMS was common, as the frequency of PMS more than moderate severity including PMDD exceeded 25%, and disrupted daily functioning in adolescents. PMS is associated with various sociodemographic and menstrual characteristics, and these associations are affected by comorbid depression and anxiety.
Adolescent ; Anxiety ; Depression ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Mass Screening ; Premenstrual Syndrome ; Questionnaires ; Weights and Measures

OBJECTIVES: We surveyed this study for knowing the relation within stress, depression and medical comorbidities, and finding the risk factors of major depression. METHODS: 1764 subjects were enrolled from Jan. 2009 to Dec. 2009 who visit Korea University Guro hospital healthcare center. The subjects answered the questionnaire of PSS(Perceived Stress Scale), PHQ-9(Patient Health Questionnaire-9) and the demographic data. We categorized them as the stress group, depressive group, medical comorbidity group and analyzed the correlation analyses and logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: 198 of 1764 subjects(11.8%) were applied to major depression, and the depressive group showed the higher mean stress score(23.19) and mean depression score(12.95) than the normal group. The total PHQ-9 score was increased by perceiving more stress, having more medical comorbidities. The subjects with female, visiting due to recent health problems, irregular exercise, current smoking, history of angina and cerebrovascular disease showed the increased risk of major depression. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we find the PSS, PHQ-9 were valuable for mental health screening in healthcare center. As perceiving more stress and having more medical comorbidity, risk of major depression were increased. Accordingly the individuals with medical diseases or unhealthy lifestyle would need the mental health screen.
Comorbidity ; Delivery of Health Care ; Depression ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Life Style ; Logistic Models ; Mass Screening ; Mental Health ; Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking

No abstract available.
Drug Hypersensitivity ; Isoxazoles

PURPOSE: To assess the effectiveness and clinical usefulness of prostate biopsy by automated gun biopsy device under the transrectal ultrasonographic guidance, authors analysed the result of biopsy and the patients status after biopsy procedure. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The subjects consisted of 24 patients with prostatic disease. Biopsy instrument was an automated gun biopsy device loaded with an 18 gauze biopsy needle. All the patients were admitted to the hospital. No analgesics was given. All the procedure was performed with the patient in left lateral decubitus. Biopsy was performed at 2-4 different points of the prostate in 22 cases, but recently, six different points were targeted in two patients. RESULTS: Biopsy specimens were sufficient in 21 cases but insufficient in three cases. Histologic examination of biopsy specimens showed that 13 cases were nodular hyperplasia, eight cases were cancerous and three cases were inflammation. There was no clinically significant complication. There was mild to moderate degree of pain in all patients. CONCLUSION: Tansrectal biopsy of the prostate with an automated gun biopsy device under ultrasonographic guidance is considered relatively easy, handy and useful procedure in patients with prostatic disease. The procedure may be performed on the outpatient basis.
Analgesics ; Biopsy* ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Inflammation ; Needles ; Outpatients ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Diseases ; Ultrasonography*