No abstract available.
Lymphangioleiomyomatosis* ; Tuberous Sclerosis*

Differential diagnosis of cavitary lung lesions is frequently problematic. We studied 35 patients with cavitary lung lesions, consisting of lung cancer (17 patients). Pulmonary tuberculosis(11 patients), and lung abscess (7 patients). We analysed CT scans in terms of irregularities of the cavity wall, maximum wall thickness, the presence of air-fluid level, location of the cavity within the mass, number of cavities within the mass, size of the cavity and the presence of calcification within the mass. Cancer cavity showed irregular inner (100%) and outer margins(100%), and thick wall (mean, 1.94cm), eccentrical location(94%) and multiplicity within a mass(38%). Tuberculous cavity showed smooth inner (56%) and irregular outer margins(75%), thin wall (mean 0.96cm), central location (62%), and multiplicity in one patient (36%). Abscess cavity showed irregular inner (57%) and outer margins(91%), relatively thin wall (mean 1.0cm), central location (57%), and air-fluid level (86%). CT scan could differentiate malignant lesions from benign condition such as tuberculosis and lung abscess by observing characteristics of the cavities.
Abscess* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Lung Abscess ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis*

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE) is an imperative method for the managment of inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). It is well known that primary HCC frequently invades the portal venous system and forms a tumor thrombus obstructing the portal blood flow which makes unfavorable prognosis of patiebt. We retrospetively reviewed 58 patients who reveived TACE(minimum 3 times) of HCC invading into portal venous system. Group 1(n=29) which showed peripheral portal vein invasion had better clinical and laboratory response. Group 2(n=17) which showed first order portal branch invasion had similar response to Group 3(n=12), which had main portal invasion. Group 1 showed no difference in survival time between TAC and TACE, but, in Group 2 and 3, emboliation with chemotherapy made longer survival than chemotherapy only. Clinical level of AFP was meaningful in Group 1 and 2 as decreasing value. Our results provides that careful selection of TACE and case by case Coil/Gelfoam embolization can improve the mean survival and clinical response when HCC evidently invades portal venous system.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Methods ; Portal Vein* ; Prognosis ; Thrombosis

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE) is an imperative method for the managment of inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). It is well known that primary HCC frequently invades the portal venous system and forms a tumor thrombus obstructing the portal blood flow which makes unfavorable prognosis of patiebt. We retrospetively reviewed 58 patients who reveived TACE(minimum 3 times) of HCC invading into portal venous system. Group 1(n=29) which showed peripheral portal vein invasion had better clinical and laboratory response. Group 2(n=17) which showed first order portal branch invasion had similar response to Group 3(n=12), which had main portal invasion. Group 1 showed no difference in survival time between TAC and TACE, but, in Group 2 and 3, emboliation with chemotherapy made longer survival than chemotherapy only. Clinical level of AFP was meaningful in Group 1 and 2 as decreasing value. Our results provides that careful selection of TACE and case by case Coil/Gelfoam embolization can improve the mean survival and clinical response when HCC evidently invades portal venous system.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Methods ; Portal Vein* ; Prognosis ; Thrombosis

The diagnostic possibility and the incidence of ectopic pregnancy are increasing due to several factor. Furthermore, radioimmunoassay of serum β-HCG and US make it possible to diagnose early before the tubal rupture. A conventional surgical approach has been considered as a choice of treatments. Until recent years, however, surgery may have considerable risk of infertility and sugical hazard. In view of the natural tendency of some ectopic pregnancies to terminate in tubal abortion or complete resorption, we tried to cure ectopic pregnancy with nonsurgical transcervical intervention. Five of 8 patients with unruptured tubal pregnancies, it was possible to inject PGF2a into the tubes or gestational sac. 4 of them were ended up with satisfactory reduction of serum β-HCG level and improvement of symptoms & signs. In only one patient, β-HCG level remained a high level continuously, so salpingectomy was done. As a result, we consider that fluoroscopy-guided transcervical interventional procedure is a useful treatment modality for early unruptured ectopic pregnancy.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Female ; Gestational Sac ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infertility ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic* ; Pregnancy, Tubal ; Radioimmunoassay ; Rupture ; Salpingectomy

The diagnostic possibility and the incidence of ectopic pregnancy are increasing due to several factor. Furthermore, radioimmunoassay of serum β-HCG and US make it possible to diagnose early before the tubal rupture. A conventional surgical approach has been considered as a choice of treatments. Until recent years, however, surgery may have considerable risk of infertility and sugical hazard. In view of the natural tendency of some ectopic pregnancies to terminate in tubal abortion or complete resorption, we tried to cure ectopic pregnancy with nonsurgical transcervical intervention. Five of 8 patients with unruptured tubal pregnancies, it was possible to inject PGF2a into the tubes or gestational sac. 4 of them were ended up with satisfactory reduction of serum β-HCG level and improvement of symptoms & signs. In only one patient, β-HCG level remained a high level continuously, so salpingectomy was done. As a result, we consider that fluoroscopy-guided transcervical interventional procedure is a useful treatment modality for early unruptured ectopic pregnancy.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Female ; Gestational Sac ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infertility ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic* ; Pregnancy, Tubal ; Radioimmunoassay ; Rupture ; Salpingectomy

Current and primary treatment modality in overactive bladder includes the administration of anticholinergics. The demand for new agents has been rising since anticholinergics have proven to come with many side effects. This study was designed to investigate the effects of ylang-ylang essential oil (YYEO) on the relaxation of urinary bladder muscle in vitro and in vivo. Effects of YYEO were assessed on resting tension, and electrical field stimulation- and various drug-induced contraction in vitro by checking the isometric tension changes of muscle strips and same procedures were repeated in the presence of methylene blue, Nw-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME), or N-ethylmaleimide, and in vivo. YYEO decreased significantly the contractility of strips. There was no statistically significant difference between the treated group only with YYEO and the pretreated group with YYEO and methylene blue or L-NAME. When N-ethylmaleimide was employed, there was a statistically significant decrease in the rate of contraction. In vivo studies showed the same results compared with in vitro study. The results of this study indicate that YYEO has a relaxing effect on the bladder, and such mechanism is thought to be brought about by a pathway mediated by c-AMP.
Animals ; *Annonaceae ; Bladder/*drug effects/physiology ; Bladder, Neurogenic/drug therapy ; Blood Pressure/drug effects ; In Vitro ; Male ; Muscle Contraction/drug effects ; Muscle, Smooth/drug effects/physiology ; Oils, Volatile/*pharmacology ; Plant Preparations/*pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

HELP (Heparin-mediated extracorporeal low-density lipoprotein fibrinogen precipitation) is an LDL apheresis system which has been utilized as a last therapeutic option for drug resistant hypercholesterolemia. Recently the scope of the treatment has been expanded to coronary artery obstructive disease (CAOD) or peripheral arterial obstructive disease (PAOD) with dyslipidemia. We applied six sessions of HELP therapy with a week interval to a patient with diabetic gangrene of both feet and PAOD who had elevated LDL-cholesterol and fibrinogen despite maximal drug therapy. Lipids, Lp (a) and fibrinogen were measured on plasma samples before and after treatment. Changes of symptoms and physical findings were reported before, immediately after and 3 month after treatment. In every session, LDL cholesterol level was reduced more than 40%. Mean LDL cholesterols were reduced from 133.5 mg/dL to 55.0 mg/dL (59%). Total cholesterol (104.5 mg/dL;51% decrease), triglycerides (142.0 mg/dL;47% decrease) and Lp (a) (24.3 mg/dL; 58% decrease) levels were also reduced. Mean HDL cholesterol was reduced to 6.3 mg/dL (25%) with prompt recovery to pretreatment level within one week. Mean fibrinogen decreased from 571.0 mg/dL to 253.3 mg/dL (58%) without bleeding complications. Two episodes of dizziness with spontaneous resolution were observed during or over three days after treatment. Two sessions of HELP made diabetic gangrene on toes improved. After six sessions, the gangrenes showed near-complete healing. So we report a case of a patient who had persistent diabetic gangrene of both feet despite proper revascularization, which was completely healed by HELP without significant side effects.
Arterial Occlusive Diseases ; Blood Component Removal ; Cholesterol* ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Coronary Vessels ; Dizziness ; Drug Therapy ; Dyslipidemias ; Fibrinogen* ; Foot* ; Gangrene* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Lipoproteins ; Plasma ; Toes ; Triglycerides

To determine molecular mechanisms of Aquaporin-CD (AQP2) gene regulation, the promoter region of the AQP2 gene was examined by transiently transfecting a promoter-luciferase reporter fusion gene into mouse renal collecting duct cell lines such as mIMCD-3, mIMCD-K2, and M-1 cells, and NIH3T3 mouse embryo fibroblast cells. PCR-Southern analysis reveals that mIMCD-3 and mIMCD-K2 cells express AQP2, but M-1 and NIH3T3 cells do not, and that the treatment with cpt-cAMP (400 muM) or forskolin/isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX) increased the AQP2 expression in IMCD cells. In both IMCD and NIH3T3 cells, the constructs containing the promoter of AQP2 gene showed promoter activities, indicating lack of tissue-specific element in the 1.4 kb 5'-flanking region of the mouse AQP2 gene. Luciferase activity in the IMCD cells transfected with the construct containing 5-flanking region showed responsiveness to cpt-cAMP, indicating that the 1.4 kb 5'-flanking region contains the element necessary for the regulatory mechanism by cAMP. The promoter-luciferase constructs which do not have a cAMP-responsible element (CRE) still showed the cAMP responsiveness in IMCD cells, but not in NIH3T3 cells. Increase in medium osmolarity did not affect AQP2 promoter activity in mIMCD-K2 cells. These results demonstrate that AQP2 gene transcription is increased with cAMP treatment through multiple motifs including CRE in the 5'-flanking region of the gene in vitro, and the regulatory mechanism may be important for in vivo regulation of AQP2 expression.
Animals ; Aquaporin 2 ; Cell Line ; Embryonic Structures ; Fibroblasts ; Luciferases ; Mice* ; Osmolar Concentration ; Promoter Regions, Genetic

PURPOSE: The incidence of breast cancer is continuously increasing in Korea, and the age of the initially detected breast cancer is younger than western people. The purpose of this study was to compare radiological, pathological, and clinical findings of breast cancers according to age and then contribute to the basis of screening program of breast cancer. METHODS: Retrospectively, the 325 patients who had pathologically confirmed breast cancer were included in this study. The patients were classified into 6 groups according to age, 20~29, 30~39, 40~49, 50~59, 60~69, and more than 70 years. We evaluated the radiological findings of 325 cases of mammography and 144 cases of breast ultrasonography, classified as four types; mass, microcalcification, others, and non-detected lesion, and then analyzed radiological findings according to age. We evaluated pathological and clinical findings according to age and compared with radiological findings. We used Mantel-Haenszel's chi 2 test and trend test for comparison according to age. RESULTS: The incidence of breast cancer was 61 cases (19%) in 30~39 years, 122 (38%) in 40~49 years, 92 (28%) in 50~59 years. Most of breast cancer was invasive ductal carcinoma, 258 (79%) and in situ carcinoma was 32 (10%). Most of in situ carcinoma was detected in 20~59 years, 31/32 (97%). Mammography showed mass in 237 (73%), microcalcification in 45 (14%), other finding in 13 (4%), and non-detected lesion in 30 (9%). Twenty-one (47%) of 45 cases with microcalcification were in situ carcinoma and most of in situ carcinoma was presented as microcalcification on mammography, 21/32 (66%). In twenty-eight of 30 cases (93%) with non-detected lesion on mammography, breast cancer was detected on ultrasonography. In terms of clinical findings, there was no symptom in 12/32 (38%) with in situ carcinoma and 57/258 (22%) with invasive ductal carcinoma. CONCLUSION: The incidence of breast cancer is abruptly increasing from 4th decades and there is no significant difference in radiological and clinical findings according to age. But, most of in situ carcinoma was detected in 20~59 years and presented as microcalcification on mammography. Thus, Screening mammography should be considered from 4th decades.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Ductal ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Mammography ; Mass Screening ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Mammary