• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.141-147
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• 2008

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the short-term operative outcomes of laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy (LATG) with those of open total gastrectomy (OTG) for patients suffering with advanced upper gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: Of the 47 patients who underwent LATG with $D1+{\beta}$ or D2 lymphadenectomy from July 2004 to March 2008, 29 patients with pathologically proven advanced gastric cancer were compared with 35 patients who underwent conventional OTG during the same time period. The comparison was based on the clinicopathological characteristics, the surgical outcome, the follow-up survival and tumor recurrence. Results: The patients' age, gender and body mass index were similar between the two groups. However, there were statistically differences in tumor size ($9.2{\pm}3.9$ vs $6.1{\pm}3.6cm$, P=0.002) and the proximal resected margin ($2.1{\pm}2.0$ vs $3.6{\pm}2.1cm$ P=0.004). There was no significant difference in most of the peri- and post-operative courses such as the time to first flatus, the time to starting a solid diet and the length of the hospital stay, except for a longer operating time (289.0 vs. 361.3 minutes, P<0.001) in the LATG group. The complication rate was higher in the LATG group (13.8%) than that in the OTG group (5.7%). The mean overall survival and disease free survival times were 32 and 31 months, and 24 and 28 months, respectively, with an average 18.8 months follow-up duration. The main recurrent sites were peritoneum and lymph node in both groups. Conclusion: The early results of the current study suggest that LATG for AGC is technically feasible and it does not show any inferiorities of the postoperative outcomes as compared to those of conventional open total gastrectomy.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.8
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• pp.973-979
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• 2002

Purpose : Recently, a number of rapid antigen detection tests have been available to diagnose group A streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis. The purpose of this study was to determine the sensitivity, specificity and consistency of the two rapid antigen detection tests. Methods : Among the patients who visited our clinic from November 2001 to February 2002, 61 patients who had clinical findings of pharyngeal erythema or edema, pharyngeal exudates and soft palatine petechiae were enrolled in our study. A total of 61 patients were tested with rapid antigen detection tests and throat culture. BD $LINK2^{TM}$ Strep A(Becton, Dickinson & Company, U.S.A.) and $QuickVue^{(R)}$ $In-Line^{TM}$(Quidel Corporation, U.S.A.) were selected for rapid antigen detection tests. Results : Of the 61 patients tested, 22 patients were confirmed as group A streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis by throat culture. The BD $LINK2^{TM}$ Strep A had a sensitivity of 81.8% and a specificity 89.7%. The positive and negative predictive values were 81.8% and 89.7%, respectively. The $QuickVue^{(R)}$ $In-Line^{TM}$ had a sensitivity of 77.3% and a specificity of 100%. The positive and negative predictive values were 100% and 88.6%, respectively. The kappa values of BD $LINK2^{TM}$ Strep A and $QuickVue^{(R)}$ $In-Line^{TM}$ were 0.72 and 0.81, respectively. Conclusion : In addition to high sensitivity, specificity and consistency, both kits are easy to use and simple to interpret, and therefore have the potential to be used with backup throat culture for diagnosis of acute pharyngotonsillitis.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.99-106
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• 2001

Pathologic changes and distribution of viral antigen as determined by immunohistochemistry were compared among 4-wk-old specific-pathogen free (SPF) chickens inoculated intratracheally with velogenic vis-cerotropic Newcastle disease virus isolated in Korea. Although the pattern of organ involvement and severity of lesion was different among chickens infected with different velogenic viscerotropic Newcastle disease (VVND) viruses, the pathological types of lesion was similar among the chickens. Severe lymphocytic necrosis and depletion were main histologic lesions in the immune related organs such as thymus, Fabricius bursa and spleen. The frequency of IP positive staining was variable depends on the types of tissues but not types of the kinds of VVND viruses infected. Brain, Fabricius bursa, thymus, cecal tonsil and trachea were IP positive with fairly high frequency and spleen, lung, proventriculus, intestine, pancreas, liver, kidney, heart and Harderian gland were with relatively low frequency. These results suggest that histologic evaluation and viral antigen specific immunohistochemical staining methods to determine virus distribution will be useful for pathogenic study of velogenic viscerotropic Newcastle disease virus infection in chicken.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.137-145
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• 2000

Background: Hepatocellular carcinomal(HCC) has been considered to be relatively radioresistant. The role of radiotherapy(RT) in the treatment of HCC is controversial. But RT has a role in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma as a single or combination modalities. The effect of radiotherapy on HCC was evaluated. Patients and Methods: From January 1984 through January 2000, a total of 18 patients with unresectable HCC underwent radiotherapy alone or in conjunction with transarterial embolization(TAE). We reviewed the medical ecords of patients treated with RT and measured the tumor size using measured the tumor size using planimetry method. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the survival rate. Results: The RT patients were 15 men and 3 women. The mean age was 51 years. four(22.2%) of them were accompanied with ascites. Eleven(61.1%) of them were accompanied with liver cirrhosis and their functions were 6, 3, 2 in each Child-Pugh A, B, C, respectively. A partial response(PR) was observed in 2 patients(11.1%), minimal response(MR) in 4 patients (22.2%) and no change(NC), in 11 patients(61.1%), whereas progressive disease(PD) was seen in 1 patients(6%), respectively. Conclusions: Although the radiotherapy in HCC did not improve the survival rate. it decreased the tmor size. Radiotherapy strengthens the therapeutic efficacy when combined with TAE, but more studies are needed.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 2007

Purpose : To assess the early complication of laparoscopic peritoneal dialysis catheter implantation in children. Methods : Medical record review was carried out on 21 laparoscopic and 16 conventional peritoneal dialysis catheter implantations which were performed in 31 children under 18 years of age between 2002 and 2006. All medical records were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were followed until 2 months after catheter placement. Patient characteristics and catheterrelated complications, such as significant bleeding, leakage, obstruction, migration, insertion site infection and peritonitis during the first 60 days after implantation were recorded. Results : After conventional operation, dialysate leakage occurred in 2 of 16 cases and all cases improved after conservative management. In 1 case, significant bleeding occurred and re-operation was performed. Three cases of obstruction due to migration were reported, 2 cases underwent reoperation and 1 case improved without intervention. After laparoscopic surgery, outflow obstruction occurred in 1 out of 21 cases, which was caused by adhesion after several reinsertions of the catheter and recurrent peritonitis. No migration was noted after laparoscopic surgery. There was no significant difference in the complication rate between the two groups. Conclusion : Laparoscopic peritoneal dialysis catheter placement is feasible in children of all age groups, with at least equivalent functional results compared to conventional surgery. The additional advantage of laparoscopic catheter insertion is the option to identify and eliminate anatomical risk factors, such as intra-abdominal adhesions, and to perform partial omentectomy without additional incisions.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.615-623
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• 2009

Background: We evaluated the feasibility and the efficacy of Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) lobectomy for treating patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and we compared the outcomes of VATS lobectomy with those of open lobectomy. Material and Method: From 2003 to March 2008, 133 NSCLC patients underwent VATS lobectomy. The patients were selected on the basis of having clinical stage I disease on the chest CT and PET scan. The outcomes of 202 patients who underwent open lobectomy (OL group) for clinical stage I NSCLC were evaluated to compare their results with those of the patients who underwent VATS lobectomy (the VL group). Result: The number of females and the number of patients with adenocarcinoma and stage IA disease were greater in VL group (p<0.05). There was no operative mortality or major complications in the VL group. Conversion to thoracotomy was needed in 8 cases (6%), which was mostly due to bleeding. The chest tube indwelling time and the length of the postoperative hospital stay were significantly shorter in the VL group (p<0.001). The number of dissected lymph nodes and the size of tumor were significantly smaller in the VL group (p<0.001). For the pathologic stage I patients, there was no significant difference in the three-year survival rates between the two groups (p=0.15). Conclusion: VATS lobectomy is a safe procedure with low operative mortality and morbidity. VATS lobectomy is feasible for early stage NSCLC and it provides outcomes that are comparable to those for open lobectomy. Further long-term data are needed.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.457-462
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• 2008

Background: Emergency airway access is essential when a patient has dyspnea that's due to tracheal or bronchial obstruction. Such methods as laser therapy and PDT are now being used for the treatment of tracheal obstruction that's due to benign diseases or nonsurgical malignant diseases. Cryotherapy is a method that uses extreme hypothermia for freezing a tumor to cause necrosis. In this study, we have evaluated the clinical effectiveness of performing endobronchial cryoablation through a flexible bronchoscope. Material and Method: 10 patients with tracheal obstruction that was due to endotracheal tumors were evaluated between May 2005 and May 2007. Eight were male and the mean age of the 10 patients was $59.4{\pm}18.4$ years. Three cases of tracheal obstruction were due to benign tumors and 7 were due to malignant tumors. The obstruction sites were 3 at the trachea, 3 at the carina and 4 at the bronchus. A flexible bronchoscope was inserted and the tumor was eliminated using a flexible cryoprobe. Follow up bronchoscopy was performed at 1 week and 1 month after cryoablation, and then we evaluated the decrease of dyspnea, the improvement of the performance and the complications of the procedures. Result: Complete remission was achieved in 4 patients and partial remission was achieved in 6 patients. Complications such as hemoptysis (100%), and cough (50%) were noted. Hemoptysis was spontaneously resolved in 3 to 8 days (mean: 4.9 days). A decrease in dyspnea and improvement in the performance was noted in all patients. Conclusion: Endobronchial stenosis plays a detrimental role in the life quality of a terminal cancer patient. Due to its simplicity and effectiveness for controlling bleeding, endobronchial cryoablation is considered to be a safe method that is clinically applicable to a wide range of tumors, including the removal of large tumors. We concluded that endobronchial cryoablation through a flexible bronchoscope is a safe, effective method for treating tracheobroncheal obstructions.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.327-333
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• 2012

Purpose: To analyze the correlation between dose volume histograms(DVH) based on organ outer wall contour and organ wall delineation for bladder and rectum, and to compare the doses to these organs with the absorbed doses at the bladder and rectum. Material and methods: Individual CT based brachytherapy treatment planning was performed in 13 patients with cervical cancer as part of a prospective comparative trial. The external contours and the organ walls were delineated for the bladder and rectum in order to compute the corresponding dose volume histograms. The minimum dose in 0.1 $cm^3$, 1 $cm^3$, 2 $cm^3$, 5 $cm^3$, 10 $cm^3$ volumes receiving the highest dose were compared with the absorbed dose at the rectum and bladder reference point. Results: The bladder and rectal doses derived from organ outer wall contour and computed for volumes of 2 $cm^3$, provided a good estimate for the doses computed for the organ wall contour only. This correspondence was no longer true when large volumes were considered. Conclusion: For clinical applications, when volumes smaller than 5 $cm^2$ are considered, the dose-volume histograms computed from external organ contours for the bladder and rectum can be used instead of dose -volume histograms computed for the organ walls only. External organ contours are indeed easier to obtain. The dose at the ICRU rectum reference point provides a good estimate of the rectal dose computed for volumes smaller than 2 $cm^2$ only for a midline position of the rectum. The ICRU bladder reference point provides a good estimate of the dose computed for the bladder wall only in cases of appropriate balloon position.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.8
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• pp.576-582
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• 2003

During the Off-Pump Coronary Arterial Bypass surgery (OPCAB), the manipulation of the heart can depress cardiac contractility and cause hemodynamic instability. In this study, hemodynamic parameters were measured during operation and the laboratory and clinical data were investigated to evaluate their effects on postoperative outcome. Material and Method: From March 2001 to August 2002, 50 consecutive patients who underwent OPCAB were included in this study. During the same period, total number of CABG was 71 The blood pressure, pulmonary artery pressure, mixed venous oxygen saturation, and cardiac index were measured before manipulation, after application of stabilizer, and at the end of anastomosis. Postoperatively, we measured the cardiac enzymes such as CK-MB, troponin 1 and checked the amount of inotropes required, chest tube drainage, the amount of transfusion, duration of ventilator support, and duration of ICU stay. Result: The number of mean distal anastomoses was 2.8$\pm$0.9 per patient. On elevation and stabilization of the heart, systolic blood pressure was depressed and pulmonary artery pressure was elevated significantly, but during each anastomosis no significant changes were detected. The peak level of cardiac markers was 29.2$\pm$46.7 for CK-MB, 0.69$\pm$0.86 for troponin 1 on postoperative day f. Among the intraoperative hemodynamic parameters, the ischemic change of EKG and bolus injection of inotropes significantly affected the posteroperative cardiac enzymes. But, no difference other than the level of cardiac enzymes between the two groups with or without the ischemic change of EKG and bolus injection of inotropes was noticed. Conclusion: The significant hemodynamic changes occurred when the heart was elevated and stabilized, however during anastomoses there were no significant changes. Serum cardiac enzymes rose significantly in the group that showed the ischemic charge of EKG or needed the bolus injection of inotropes for maintaining hemodynamic stability intraoperatively, but it did not affect the postoperative outcome. In conclusion, the ischemic change of EKG and the need for bolus injection of intropes during operation may be very indicative for probable ischemia.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.4 s.84
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• pp.482-492
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• 2007

Infection with Shiga-like toxin (SLT)-producing Escherichia coli causes a spectrum of illnesses with high morbidity and mortality. Host mediators play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLT-I toxicity. We here investigated the effect of SLT-I on tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}\;(TNF-{\alpha})$ production, effect of $TNF-{\alpha}$ on glycolipid globotriaosyleramide (Gb3) expression, and relationship between Gb3 level and differential susceptibility of cells to SLT-I. In this study, we observed that detectable levels of $TNF-{\alpha}$ are produced 6 hrs after induction and continued to increase during 48 hrs by SLT-I. It was also found that Vero cells and dendritic cells expressed high levels of Gb3, 83% and 68%, respectively, and that macrophages had a low level of Gb3 (29%) and showed refractory to cytotoxicity against SLT-I. Vero cells and dendritic cells expressing high levels of Gb3 were highly susceptible to SLT-I. furthermore, macrophages showed a resistance to SLT-I cytotoxicity, despite the fact that Gb3 expression was enhanced. These results suggest that the expression of Gb3 is necessary, but not sufficient to confer sensitivity of macrophages to SLT-I and further underpin the important role of SLT-I and its receptor, Gb3, in the pathogenesis of E. coli O157 infection.