BACKGROUND/AIMS: Ascites that can be induced by various causes is not a rare finding in Crohn's disease. The clinical implication of ascites in Crohn's disease remains unknown in the cases without any specific cause of ascites except Crohn's disease itself. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical implication and characteristics of ascites in Crohn's disease. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of the patients with Crohn's disease who underwent abdominal CT scan. Patients were categorized into two groups: patients with ascites (22 cases) and without ascites (23 cases). We compared clinical features, disease activities and clinical courses of the two groups. RESULTS: Serum albumin level was significantly lower and the C-reactive protein level was significantly higher in the ascites group than in the control group. Harvey and Bradshaw index was significantly higher in the ascites group (8.32 +/- 2.51) than in the control group (6.09 +/- 2.07) (p=0.002). The average dose of prednisolone was higher in the ascites group. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in the number of cases requiring surgery due to complication between two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the presence of ascites in Crohn's disease is associated with increased disease activity and inflammations requiring more aggressive treatment.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Ascites/diagnosis/*etiology ; Biological Markers/blood ; C-Reactive Protein/analysis ; Crohn Disease/*complications/diagnosis/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Serum Albumin/analysis

OBJECTIVE: Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), which is also known as vascular permeability factor, induces angiogenesis and may play a key role in tumor-related neovascularization and peritumoral edema. There are many pathological conditions associated with VEGF expression, such as brain tumor, infection and trauma. Malignant brain tumor is characterized by its prominent neovascularization and severe peritumoral edema and it is known to express high VEGF activity. The aim of this study is to investigate any differences in cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) VEGF level among gliomas, and between tumors and non-tumorous conditions. METHODS: Cerebrospinal fluid samples were collected from 28 patients whose diagnosis had been surgically proven and they were centrifuged and stored at -73 degrees C. The concentration of VEGF was analyzed using commercially available ELISA kit. RESULTS: Glioblastoma patients showed much higher level of CSF VEGF than those of other gliomas and non-tumorous conditions. And higher CSF VEGF level was found in invasive pituitary adenoma, recurrent oligoden-droglioma, central neurocytoma and diffuse axonal injury. CONCLUSION: Absolute CSF VEGF level can be useful biological marker for primary malignant glioma, especially glioblastoma, and serial check-ups may contribute to early diagnosis of malignant transformation of low grade astrocytoma.
Astrocytoma ; Biomarkers ; Brain Neoplasms* ; Brain* ; Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Diagnosis ; Diffuse Axonal Injury ; Early Diagnosis ; Edema ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Glioblastoma ; Glioma ; Humans ; Neurocytoma ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

No abstract available.
Cerebral Ventricles* ; Hydrocephalus*

OBJECTIVE: Upper-body fat distribution, hyperhomocysteinemia and a depletion in antioxidant status are considered risk factors for atherosclerosis and these factors are related to alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of alcohol consumption and smoking habits on cardiovascular risk factors in healthy men by using a cross-sectional design. METHODS: Smokers were defined as heavy smokers when they smoked more than 15 cigarettes per day. Group subdivision of drinkers were none, moderate (10-25g alcohol/d) and heavy(>25g alcohol/d) alcohol consumption. Subjects were divided into 6 groups: nondrinker-nonsmoker(n=33), nondrinker-heavy smoker (n=11), moderate drinker-nonsmoker (n=46), moderate drinker- heavy smoker(n=33), heavy drinker-nonsmoker (n=14) and heavy drinker-heavy smoker(n=15). Adipose tissue and muscle areas were calculated from computed tomography scans made at four body levels, first and forth lumbar vertebrae, mid portion of thigh and calf. Fasting serum levels of lipids, proteins, hormones and antioxidants and plasma level of homocysteine were determined. RESULTS: Heavy drinker-heavy smokers showed similar intake of daily calorie and protein to other groups and 65% of them supplemented their diet with synthetic vitamin preparation. Heavy drinker-nonsmokers(36g/d) consumed nearly twice as much alcohol as moderate drinkers(16-18g/d) and heavy drinker-heavy smokers (53g/d) nearly three times as much. In comparison with non and moderate drinker-heavy smokers, heavy drinker-heavy smokers smoked more cigarettes(19 vs 26 cigarettes/d, p<0.05). Although there were no differences among 6 groups in means of age, body mass index, blood pressure and serum GOT and GPT levels, heavy drinkers showed the highest mean value of waist to hip ratio and subcutaneous fat area at first and forth lumbar vertebrae. Heavy drinker-heavy smokers showed higher serum levels of triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol but lower serum levels of transferrin and IGF-1, compared with nondrinkers. Plasma homocysteine level was higher in heavy drinker-heavy smokers than in nondrinker- nonsmokers. Serum levels of beta-carotene, cryptoxanthin and lycopene in heavy smokers or heavy drinkers showed a decrease by about 50% of those in men who did not drink and smoke and these levels were the lowest in heavy drinker-heavy smokers among 6 groups. CONCLUSION: Our results show that heavy alcohol consumption can result in abdominal obesity, hypertriglyceridemia and a decrease in serum carotenoid levels, even though it can cause an increase in HDL-cholesterol level. In addition, a further decrease in serum carotenoids and an increase in plasma homocysteine level in heavy drinker-heavy smokers indicate the increased risk for atherosclerosis in the simultaneous heavy consumption of alcohol and cigarette.
Adipose Tissue ; Alcohol Drinking* ; Antioxidants ; Atherosclerosis ; beta Carotene ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Carotenoids ; Diet ; Fasting ; Homocysteine ; Humans ; Hyperhomocysteinemia ; Hypertriglyceridemia ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Male ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Plasma ; Risk Factors* ; Smoke* ; Smoking* ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Thigh ; Tobacco Products ; Transferrin ; Triglycerides ; Vitamins ; Waist-Hip Ratio

Overexpression of the MDR1 gene product, P-glycoprotein (Pgp), has been shown to be one of the mechanism underlying the development of mutidrug resistance in bladder cancer. Recently, mutant p53 has been shown to stimulate the P-glycoprotein and to being strongly associated with tumor progression and malignant biological behavior, whereas wild-type p53 repressed this activity. To evaluate the correlation of p53 expression with P-glycoprotein, to study expression pattern of two parameters according to histologic grade, tumor stage and recurrence, we examined expression of p53 and Pgp in paraffin-embedded tissues from 59 transitional cell carcinoma of bladder. Expressions of p53 and Pgp Protein were detected by immunohistochemical analysis using the monoclonal antibody BP53.12 and JSB-1. Among the cases of 59 patients, 36 were from patients of superficial bladder cancer, 23 were from invasive bladder cancer. Median follow-up duration was 31.8 months (1~55 months). The results were as follow: 1. p53 was detected in 34% (20/59), and Pgp in 42% (25/59) of the bladder cancer. 2. Eight out of the 20 specimens with p53 positive stain expressed positive Pgp expression, as compared to 17 out of the 39 specimens without p53 positive stain. This result showed that Pgp expression was not associated with p53 expression (p=0.98), suggesting that mutant p53 does not induce Pgp expression in bladder cancer. 3. Seven of 12 patients with p53 positive stain revealed tumor recurrence, whereas 2 of 24 patients without p53 positive stain showed recurrence in superficial bladder cancer. There ia s significant correlation between p53 expression and recurrence (p=0.0025). 4. Expression of p53 and Pgp showed enhanced positive tendency according to higher clinicopathological stage, but difference was not statistically significant. Also positivity of Pgp expression according to histologic grade was observed significantly higher in case with high grade tumors (14/25, 56%) than in case with low grade tumors (10/34, 29%) (p=0.03). These results show that superficial bladder cancers exhibiting expression of p53 protein are associated with a higher rate of recurrence. This study also suggests that Pgp expression is significantly more common in higher grade, and mutant p53 does not induce Pgp expression in bladder cancer.
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; P-Glycoprotein* ; Recurrence ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder*

The blind ending duplication of ureter represents a rare anomaly in development of ureteric bud, and may almost be asymptomatic. We report two cases of blind ending duplication of ureter, that were detected incidentally.
Ureter*

Although inverted papillomas of urinary tract have been reported, the lesion of the ureter is rare and peculiar tumor characterized by unique microscopic finding. The prognosis of ureteral inverted papilloma is very favorable, only small number progress to higher grade tumor. We report 2 cases of ureteral inverted papilloma which were treated by segmental resection with end-to-end anastomosis of ureter.
Papilloma, Inverted* ; Prognosis ; Ureter* ; Urinary Tract

No abstract available.
Epidemiology* ; Measles*

No abstract available.
Female ; Humans ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal*

No abstract available.
Adipose Tissue* ; Bone Density* ; Female ; Humans