BACKGROUND/AIMS: Thymidylate synthase (TS) is a target enzyme of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and has a polymorphic 28 bp tandem repeated sequence. TS enhancer region (TSER) polymorphism has been associated with the efficacy of 5-FU-based chemotherapy in colon cancer. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) plays a central role in converting folate to methyl donor for DNA methylation. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical value of TSER and MTHFR polymorphism in gastric cancer. METHODS: From October, 1995 to February, 2002, 40 gastric cancer patients underwent operation and 25 patients among those patients have received postoperative 5-FU-based chemotherapy (5-FU (+) group). Peripherial blood were sampled for TSER and MTHFR genotype analysis by PCR amplification of genomic DNA. The survival of patients according to TSER and MTHFR polymorphism were compared. RESULTS: We observed a longer survival in stage II than stage III of the patients (p=0.0037). However, the TSER and MTHFR C677T polymorphisms were not associated with better survival of gastric cancer patients as well as combined TSER and MTHFR genotypes with 5-FU chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: The TSER and MTHFR genotypes are not effective markers for tumor sensitivity to 5-FU-based chemotherapy in Korean gastric cancer patients after curative resection. These results may suggest further large-scale study about TSER and MTHFR polymorphism for the prediction of efficacy of 5-FU-based chemotherapy in gastric cancer in Korea.
Aged ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic/*therapeutic use ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; Female ; Fluorouracil/*therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)/*genetics ; Middle Aged ; *Polymorphism, Genetic ; Stomach Neoplasms/*drug therapy/genetics/mortality ; Survival Rate ; Thymidylate Synthase/*genetics

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has played an important role in diagnosis and management of biliary disease. Traditionally, duodenal perforations, rare complication of ERCP, have been managed surgically. However, in the past decade, there were arguments for surgical and nonsurgical management of ERCP-related duodenal perforations and reports of successful conservative treatment were increasing especially in patients with old age and poor medical conditions. We experienced a case of type I duodenal perforation following ERCP treated with covered metal stent in 74 years old female with duodenal invasion by Klatskin tumor.
Aged ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Klatskin's Tumor ; Stents*

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy and gynecologic pelviscopy need to induce pneumoperitoneum to allow visualization of the operative field, but the former requires a head-up position whereas the latter needs a Lithotomy-Trendelenburg position. The authors observed hemodynamic changes using an esophageal doppler monitor in both cases. METHODS: Eight females planned for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were assigned to Group 1 and 10 females for gynecologic pelviscopy were assigned to Group 2. Thiopental (5 mg/kg) and vecuronium (0.1 mg/kg) were used to induce general anesthesia. 50% O2-N2O and 1.5 vol.% isoflurane were used to maintain anesthesia. Mechanical ventilation was used with a tidal volume of 10 ml/kg and a respiratory rate of 12 breaths per minute. Mean arterial pressure, heart rate, end-tidal CO2 and peak airway pressure were measured and cardiac output, corrected flow time, and peak velocity were monitored using an esophageal doppler monitor in each group after inducing anesthesia, CO2 inflation, position change, and CO2 deflation. RESULTS: Mean arterial pressure increased in each group while changing position. No significant changes in the heart rate were observed in each group. End-tidal CO2 increased in each group after changing position, and remained elevated even with position reversal and deflation. Peak airway pressure was elevated in each group after CO2 inflation and increased more so with changing posture in group 2 (post inflation: 18.5 +/- 1.4 cmH2O, after position change: 21.4 +/- 2.0 cmH2O). Cardiac output and cardiac index were reduced after the induction of pneumoperitoneum in each group, and reduced more on changing posture in group 2 (CO: 5.9 +/- 2.0 L/min vs. 4.4 +/- 1.5 L/min, CI: 3.7 +/- 1.4 L/min/m2 vs. 2.7 +/- 1.1 L/min/m2). Stroke volume also reduced after changing posture in each group. Corrected flow time was not changed, but peak velocity decreased after CO2 inflation in each group (group 1: 97.4 +/- 30.0 cm/s vs. 78.9 +/- 27.3 cm/s, group 2: 111.9 +/- 14.1 cm/s vs. 88.3 +/- 12.6 cm/s). CONCLUSIONS: The Lithotomy-Trendelenburg position can augment the hemodynamic changes resulting from pneumoperitoneum. Therefore, additional caution is required in patients with cardiovascular disease who are undergoing gynecologic pelviscopy.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Arterial Pressure ; Cardiac Output ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic* ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Inflation, Economic ; Isoflurane ; Pneumoperitoneum ; Posture ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Rate ; Stroke Volume ; Thiopental ; Tidal Volume ; Vecuronium Bromide

Combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma is a rare form of primary liver cancer, featuring both hepatocellular and biliary epithelial differentiations. An intrahepatic tumor may be considered as a metastatic lesion. It has been suggested in the literature that the likelihood of metastasis in the cirrhotic liver is lower than that in the non-cirrhotic liver. A rare case of combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma and second primary colon adenocarcinoma in a 67-year-old male patient with liver cirrhosis is presented. Histologically, the intrahepatic mass was composed of a spindle cell sarcomatous component; a hepatocellular carcinoma component; and a cholangiocarcinoma component. There were focal transitional regions among the different components. Immunohistochemically, the cholangiocarcinoma component of the intrahepatic mass showed positive reactions for CK-7 but negative reactions for CK-20. The adenocarcinoma of the colon showed positive reactions for CK-20 but negative reactions for CK-7.
Adenocarcinoma/*pathology ; Aged ; Bile Duct Neoplasms/*pathology ; *Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*pathology ; Cholangiocarcinoma/*pathology ; Colonic Neoplasms/*pathology ; English Abstract ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/*pathology ; Male ; Neoplasms, Second Primary/*pathology

The aim of this study was to provide a basis for studying the molecular mechanism of pharmacological action of chlorhexidine digluconate. Fluorescence polarization of n- (9-anthroyloxy) stearic acid was used to examine the effect of chlorhexidine digluconate on differential rotational mobility of different positions of the number of membrane bilayer phospholipid carbon atoms. The six membrane components differed with respect to 2, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 16- (9-anthroyloxy) stearic acid (2-AS, 3-AS, 6-AS, 9-AS, 12-AS and 16-AP) probes, indicating different membrane fluidity. Chlorhexidine digluconate increased the rate of rotational mobility of hydrocarbon interior of the cultured Porphyromonas gingivalis outer membranes (OPG) in a dose-dependent manner, but decreased the mobility of surface region (membrane interface) of the OPG. Disordering or ordering effects of chlorhexidine digluconate on membrane lipids may be responsible for some, but not all of its bacteriostatic and bactericidal actions.
Carbon ; Chlorhexidine* ; Fluorescence Polarization ; Membrane Fluidity ; Membrane Lipids ; Membranes* ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; Porphyromonas* ; Thiram

Cystic lesion of the jaw are frequently encountered clinically. Although they rarely lead to development of tumors, they can result in resorption of the jaw bone or asymmetry of the face may occur. The purpose of this study is to find the clinical and histopathological pattern of cysts and to help better understanding for the diagnosis and treatment of jaw cysts. The hospital chart, out-patient chart, panorama X-ray, histopathological report and operation report of 246 patients were reviewed who had been diagnosed as cyst. Sex distribution, age distribution, classification, anatomic distribution, clinical sign & symptoms, treatment, post-operation complications, recurrence rate were studied. Then significant difference between the diameter of cyst with bone graft and none-bone graft was calculated with SAS program. The results were as follows. 1. Among the total patient of 246 cases, male were 163 case(67.0%), and female were 83 case(37.0%), male predominated by the ratio of 1.98. 2. By age group, the 20's accounted for the largest proportion of the cases(27.2%) and the 30' accounted for the 2nd largest proportion of the case(19.5%). 3. Radicular cyst and dentigerous cyst were most common cysts, irrespective of 166 case(67.5%) and 62 case(25.2%). 4. Clinical sign & symptoms were swelling(167case), pain(85case), pus discharge(53case), teeth discoloration(28case), indicating that most complaints were related to inflammation and facial asymmetry. 4.9% of the total cases were discovered accidentally. 5. The primary site of cysts were maxillary anterior area(43.9%), the others were, in descending order, mandibular posterior area(25.6%), maxillary posterior area(14.6%). 6. Enucleation with endodontic treatment was a main treatment method(133 case, 54.1%) and 38 cases(15.4%) were enucleation with extraction, and 37 cases(15.0%) were only enucleation, and 21 cases(8.5%) were enucleation with bone graft. 7. The average diameter of cysts with bone graft was significally greater than with non-bone graft(p<0.05). 8. Post-operation complications occurred in 10 case(4.1%), all of this were due to secondary infection.
Age Distribution ; Classification ; Coinfection ; Dentigerous Cyst ; Diagnosis ; Facial Asymmetry ; Female ; Hospital Distribution Systems ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Jaw Cysts ; Jaw* ; Male ; Outpatients ; Radicular Cyst ; Recurrence ; Sex Distribution ; Suppuration ; Tooth ; Transplants

Using fluorescence polarization of 12-(9-anthroyloxy)stearic acid (12-AS) and 2-(9-anthroyloxy)stearic acid (2-AS), we evaluated the differential effects of local anesthetics on differential rotational rate between the surface (in carbon number 2 and its surroundings including the head group) and the hydrocarbon interior (in carbon number 12 and its surroundings) of the outer monolayer of the total lipid fraction liposome extracted from synaptosomal plasma membrane vesicles. The anisotropy (r) values for the hydrocarbon interior and the surface region of the liposome outer monolayer were 0.078+/-0.001 and 0.114+/-0.001, respectively. This means that the rate of rotational mobility in the hydrocarbon interior is faster than that of the surface region. In a dose-dependent manner, the local anesthetics decreased the anisotropy of 12-AS in the hydrocarbon interior of the liposome outer monolayer but increased the anisotropy of 2-AS in the surface region of the monolayer. These results indicate that local anesthetics have significant disordering effects on the hydrocarbon interior but have significant ordering effects on the surface region of the liposome outer monolayer.
Anesthetics, Local* ; Anisotropy ; Carbon ; Cell Membrane ; Fluorescence Polarization ; Head ; Liposomes ; Membranes*

Annuloaortic ectasia, cystic medial degeneration of the afflicted aortic wall leading to progressive dilatation, is often accompanied by Marfan's syndrome. Some portions of intimal flap is commonly demonstrated along the aorta in the noninvasive diagnosis of aortic dissection. We report the first case of circumscribed aortic dissection developed in a 28 year old obese non-Marfanoid patient. He was transferred after thrombolytic therapy at a community hospital because of severe chest pain and ST segment elevation. Transthoracic echocardiography showed markedly dilated aortic root, moderate amount of pericardial effusion, mild aortic regurgitation in spite of normal regional wall motion of left ventricle. Intimal flap, characteristic of aortic dissection, was not seen with computed tomography. Intimal tear was demonstrated just above aortic valve only by transesophageal echocardiography. Two parallel intimal tear and small circumscribed dissection was demonstrated by autopsy.
Adult ; Aorta ; Aortic Valve ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Autopsy ; Chest Pain ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation ; Dilatation, Pathologic* ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Heart Ventricles ; Hospitals, Community ; Humans ; Marfan Syndrome ; Pericardial Effusion ; Thrombolytic Therapy

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The overall age-matched incidence of gastroduodenal ulcers was considerably higher in cirrhotic patients compared to the general population. There are several possible underlying mechanisms which may explain the ulcerogenic factors in cirrhotic patients. Recently, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) was proven as the cause of peptic ulcer disease in the general population. But the role of H. pylori infection in the pathogenesis of peptic ulcers of cirrhotic patients has not been clearly elucidated. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of H. pylori infection in cirrhotic patients with peptic ulcers. METHODS: From 1995 to 1997, 105 patients with histologically or radiologically proven liver cirrhosis (LC) who received panendoscopic examination due to presence of any upper gastrointestinal symptoms were studied. During endoscopic examination, a CLO (campylobacter like organism) test or gastric antral mucosal biopsy was performed in all patients. The severity of LC assessed by Child's criteria revealed that 31 patients had Child's A, 26 patients Child's B, and the remain 48 patients, Child's C. Child B or C was classified as decompensated LC. An esophageal varix was present in 73 patients or absent in 32. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in the H. pylori prevalance between the ulcer group and non-ulcer group (67% vs 52%). In Child A group, the H. pylori prevalence was significantly higher in the ulcer group when compared with the non-ulcer group (87% vs 50%, p<0.05). In contrast, in the Child B or C group, there was no statistical difference between the ulcer group and non-ulcer group. In the abscence of esophageal varix, the ulcer group showed significantly higher prevalence of H. pylori than the non-ulcer group (87% vs 59%, p<0.05). But in the esophageal variceal group, there was no significant difference in the H. pylori prevalence between the ulcer and non-ulcer group (60% vs 40%). CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest that H. pylori infection may play a role in the pathogenesis of peptic ulcer in compensated cirrhotic patients. However, in cirrhotic patients with decompensation or an esophageal varix, the association between H. pylori infection and peptic ulcers was weak, so other factors (portal hypertension etc.) should be considered as more potent etiology of peptic ulcers in cases of decompensated cirrhosis.
Biopsy ; Child ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Fibrosis ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Peptic Ulcer* ; Prevalence ; Ulcer

No abstract available.
Jaundice, Obstructive* ; Pancytopenia* ; Ticlopidine*