PURPOSE: There are several reports suggested the usefulness of serum tumor markers, AFP, CEA and CA19-9 as prognostic factors or indicators for recurrence in gastric cancer. This clinical study was performed to evaluate positive rate of tumor markers according to site of recurrence in gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From the database of patients who underwent radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer between January 1999 and January 2004, 52 patients who showed recurrence were included in this retrospective study. Serum levels of tumor markers were measured at the time of preoperative diagnosis of the gastric cancer and at the time of postoperative recurrence during follow up, respectively. RESULTS: The overall positivity of tumor markers at the time of recurrence was found to be significantly higher than that of prior to surgery in the recurred group for the single test as well as the combination tests. For the peritoneum, the most common recurrent site, the positivity of CA19-9 was higher at the time of recurrence. And the significant positivity of CEA at the time of recurrence was detected in the liver cases. CONCLUSION: Having a preoperative positive tumor marker may identify the patient as having an increased chance of a recurrence. Although tumor markers continue to have limited diagnostic significance in gastric cancer, CA19-9 may be useful as a predictor for peritoneal recurrence of the gastric cancer, and CEA for recurrence to liver.
Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Liver ; Peritoneum ; Recurrence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Biomarkers, Tumor

OBJECTIVE: To assess the technical feasibility of a newly designed stent-like electrode in rabbits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A stent-like electrode was knitted from a single thread of nitinol wire and interconnected to a generator using similar wire. In order to gauge the extent of radiofrequency ablation (RFA), we measured the depth of the ablated area in cow liver using a combination of 180-sec time intervals and 20-watt power increments. For data processing, Cox regression analysis was used. RFA was also applied to the small intestine of rabbits using this stent-like electrode under six different sets of conditions: 10 watts for 1 min, 10 watts for 2 mins, 20 watts for 1 min, 20 watts for 2 mins, 30 watts for 1 min, and 30 watts for 2 mins. To determine the gross and microscopic findings, six animals were sacrificed immediately after the procedure and the results obtained under the different sets of conditions were correlated. Eight rabbits were monitored for 4 weeks prior to sacrifice. RESULTS: For both ex-vivo and in-vivo ablations, the depth of the thermal lesion showed linear correlation with both the duration of RFA and the power applied. RFA of the duodenum was technically successful in all 14 rabbits. The acute changes occurring in the rabbits' small intestine included color change, cytoplasmic denaturation, fibrin deposition and hemorrhage, among which hemorrhage of the mucosal layer was the earliest finding. RF ablation for 2 mins at 30 watts caused serosal hemorrhage. The gross and histologic changes occurring showed close correlation under all six sets of conditions. CONCLUSION: Use of the stent-like electrode proves technically feasible but to determine the nature of the chronic change occurring in the gastrointestinal tract after RF ablation, further investigation and long-term follow-up in animals are required.

PURPOSE: To evaluate potential correlation between the extent and site of avascular necrosis (AVN), as determined by preoperative magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and the development of femoral head collapse. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using clinical, radiographic and MR imaging criteria, twenty hips in 15 patients were selected for core decompression. Preoperative MR results were classified into three categories: group A, less than 15% involvement of the weight-bearing portion of the femoral head; group B, 15%-30% involvement; group C, more than 30% involvement, according to ARCO staging. We also established three groups according to site of involvement of the femoral head, namely medial, middle and lateral. RESULTS: Of 20 cases, three were stage Ia; two, Ib; four, Ic; three, IIa; two, IIb; and 6, IIc. Ten cases of Ia, Ib, IIa or IIb showed no femoral head collapse during follow-up of at least 24 months, while ten cases of Ic or IIc showed femoral head collapse. CONCLUSION: The prognosis of core decompression in patients with early AVN is related to the area of lesion in the femoral head.
Decompression* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head* ; Hip ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Necrosis* ; Prognosis ; Weight-Bearing

Clinical experience with a rare case of sparganosis invading the spinal epidural space was reported with review of the literatures. A 58-year-old man who had food hakit of eating raw snakes was hospitalized with chief complaint of low back and left leg pain.
Eating ; Epidural Space* ; Humans ; Leg ; Middle Aged ; Snakes ; Sparganosis ; Sparganum*

The authors has investigated the effect of intracisternal urokinase on the multihemorrhage canine model of chronic post-subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH) hydrocephalus. Each of 16 adult mongrel dogs was assigned to one of two experimental groups. All animals received a total of 13ml of fresh unheparinized autologous blood via three cisternal injections. Eight animals were treated by intracisternal injection of 20,000 IU of Urokinase every 12 hours for 3 days, and the remaining were not treated. The changes in ventricular volumes were measured by computed tomography(CT) before and 3 months after the initial subarachnoid blood injection. To compare the changes of hydrodynamic properties in chronic phases of post-SAH hydrocephalus, the pressure-volume index(PVI) technique of bolus manipulation of cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) was used to measure the volume-buffering capacity of neural axis and the resistance to the absorption of CSF(before SAH, post-SAH 1 month, 3 months). The final ventricular volume at 3 months of control group was 4 times greater than the initial volume, but Urokinase group less than two times. The mean measured PVI values of control group and Urokinase group were 3.98+/-0.76ml(+/- standard deviation(SD)) and 4.01+/-0.82ml in baseline study, 3.09+/-0.96ml and 3.70+/-0.84ml in post-SAH 3 months. The mean resistance of CSF outflow of control group and Urokinase group were 10.30+/-2.24mm Hg/ml/min), and 10.34+/-1.98mm Hg/ml/min in baseline study. At 1 month and 3 months after SAH control group maintained high absorptive resistance(29.54+/-11.50mm Hg/ml/min, 22.43+/-3.82mm Hg/ml/min), whereas the resistances of Urokinase group were slightly increased and then returned to the original levels(16.04+/-4.87mm Hg/ml/min, 12.87+/-3.06mm Hg/ml/min). The results described in this experimental study indicated that if fibrinolysis of the subarachnoid blood clot can be achieved rapidly after SAH, the complicating chronic hydrocephalus might be prevented.
Absorption ; Adult ; Animals ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Dogs ; Fibrinolysis ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus* ; Hydrodynamics ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage* ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator*