Traditionally, biliary lesions have been considered to be indeterminate when a diagnosis cannot be made after basic laboratory work-up, abdominal imaging and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with biliary sampling. Although ERCP is a first-line diagnostic modality for indeterminate biliary lesions, the diagnostic yield of ERCP-based tissue sampling is insufficient. In a recent, peroral cholangioscopy (POC)- guided forceps biopsy and endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUSFNA) are evolving as reliable diagnostic procedures for indeterminate biliary lesions. In previous studies, EUS-FNA was sensitive and highly specific for diagnosing malignancy in biliary strictures. However, EUS-FNA has several limitations as a routine clinical procedure for all biliary strictures. Newly developed POC systems, such as the SpyGlass direct visualization system and direct POC using an ultra-slim endoscope, have led to excessive improvements in technical performance and diagnostic yields for biliary strictures. However, the performance of POC-guided target biopsy for distal bile duct strictures is technically difficult, and this approach has a limited ability to diagnose biliary strictures caused by non-intraductal, extrinsic compressed malignancies, such as a pancreatic cancer. Therefore, a tailored approach using optimized endoscopic modalities that are specific to the characteristics of a given biliary stricture is needed to achieve a high diagnostic yield for indeterminate biliary lesions.

No abstract available.
Amyloidosis/*diagnosis/pathology/ultrasonography ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Stomach Diseases/*diagnosis/pathology/ultrasonography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJETIVE: To assess the effects of progesterone and acetyl-L-carnitine used after treated with IsolateR gradient before semen cryopreservation-thawing on sperm parameters and membrane integrity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From April 2001 to July 2001, ten normal male partner of couples who were visited in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics. the semens were treated with IsolateR gradient before cryopreservation, spermatozoa was incubated with progesterone (1, 5 and 10 micrometer), acetyl-L-carnitine (2.5, 5 and 10 micrometer), or both (progesterone, 1 micrometer; and acetyl-L-carnitine, 5 micrometer) for 30 min. RESULTS: There were no differences in sperm parameters and vital stain among isolate only treated group, progesterone (1, 5 and 10 micrometer), acetyl-L-carnitine (2.5, 5 and 10 micrometer) and both (progesterone, 1 micrometer; and acetyl-L-carnitine, 5 micrometer). But, in high concentration of acetyl-L-carnitine (10 micrometer) treated group, sperm parameters and vital stain were decreased. The statistical method was used ANOVA (Kruskal-Wallis test) and p value was <0.01. CONCLUSIONS: Neither progesterone nor acetyl-L-carnitine show to be protective effect on the cryodamage assessed by sperm parameters and vital stain (eosin-Y stain) in normal sperm. High concentration of acetyl-L-carnitine (10 micrometer), however, was harmful effect on cryoprevention.
Acetylcarnitine* ; Cryopreservation ; Family Characteristics ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Male ; Membranes* ; Progesterone ; Semen ; Spermatozoa*

We experienced two cases of occupational asthma induced by Elk dander in Elk-feeders and confirmed these cases by the bronchial provocation test with Elk dander. Both of them showed dual asthmatic response. They also showed positive reaction to the skin prick test with EIK dander. Now one of them has no asthmatic symptoms at all after complete avoidnce of EIK dander.
Asthma, Occupational* ; Bronchial Provocation Tests ; Dander ; Skin

No abstract available.

This study was undertaken for the clinical evaluation and statistical analysis on the 88 women with histopathologically confirmed ectopic pregnancies who were admitted and treated from grand opening on May-28, 1983 to Sept.-30, 1985. Incidence of ectopic pregnancy was 1 in 22.2 deliveries and the most common age group was in 30~34 years of age. There was tendency of decreasing incidences as the gravidity, parity or artificial abortion were over 3. The most common etiologic factor was pelvic inflammatory disease and procedures for family planning were the next common. Common symptoms were lower abdominal pain (85.2%) and vaginal spotting (56.8%). At the admission, hemoglobin level under 10gm% were 44.3%. 69.5% of urine HCG tests were positive. Culdocentesis was positive only in 75.9%. Termination was frequent at 6~7 weeks of gestation mostly with rupture or abortion. Free blood in the abdominal cavity was averaged 1,224ml. 4 cases of clinicobiochemically suspected ectopic pregnancies with spontaneous regression were excluded, and there was no fatal case treated in hospital.
Abdominal Cavity ; Abdominal Pain ; Family Planning Services ; Female ; Gravidity ; Humans ; Incidence ; Metrorrhagia ; Paracentesis ; Parity ; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic* ; Rupture

PURPOSE: Neovascularization has been shown to be essential for the growth of solid tumors. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the most important mediators of angiogenesis, and recent studies have demonstrated that the p53 tumor suppressor gene plays an important role in controlling tumor angiogenesis. We examined the expression of VEGF and p53 as a function of microvessel density to evaluate its clinical significance in colorectal cancer and to investigate the correlation of VEGF and p53. METHODS: The study material included 20 patients who survived more than 5 years postoperatively without distant metastasis (non-metastasis group) and 21 patients who had synchronous (10 patients) and metachronous (11 patients) metastasis (metastasis group). Immunohistochemical staining for VEGF, p53 protein and factor VIII-related antigen was done. RESULTS: The expression rate of VEGF was 20% in non-metastatic tumors and 71% in metastatic tumors (p<0.05). The VEGF expression was not correlated with microvessel density. Otherwise, the microvessel density were 32.9 9.1 in non-metastatic tumors and 40.1 12.0 in metastatic tumors (p<0.05). VEGF expression was correlated with p53 over expression. CONCLUSION: VEGF expression might be a useful prognostic factor for metastasis in colorectal cancer. Also, our findings suggest the presence of a p53-VEGF pathway in colorectal cancer.
Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Humans ; Microvessels ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A* ; von Willebrand Factor