• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.7
• /
• pp.3057-3060
• /
• 2015

Background: Cytological examination of pleural effusions is very important in the diagnosis of malignant lesions. Thoracentesis is the first investigation to be performed in a patient with pleural effusion. In this study, we aimed to compare traditional with cell block methods for diagnosis of lung disease accompanied by pleural effusion. Materials and Methods: A total of 194 patients with exudative pleural effusions were included. Ten mililiters of fresh pleural fluid were obtained by thoracentesis from all patients in the initial evaluation. The samples gathered were divided to two equal parts, one for conventional cytological analysis and the other for analysis with the cell block technique. In cytology, using conventional diagnostic criteria cases were divided into 3 categories, benign, malignant and undetermined. The cell block sections were evaluated for the presence of single tumor cells, papillary or acinar patterns and staining with mucicarmine. In the cell block examination, in cases with sufficient cell counts histopathological diagnosis was performed. Results: Of the total undergoing conventional cytological analyses, 154 (79.4%)were reported as benign, 33 (17%) as malignant and 7 (3.6%) as suspicious of malignancy. With the cell block method the results were 147 (75.8%) benign, 12 (6.2%) metastatic, 4 (2.1%) squamous cell carcinoma, 18 (9.3%) adenocarcinoma, 5 (2.6%) large cell carcinoma, 2 (1%) mesothelioma, 3 (1.5%) small cell carcinoma, and 3 (1.5%) lymphoma. Conclusions: Our study confirmed that the cell block method increases the diagnostic yield with exudative pleural effusions accompanying lung cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.1905-1909
• /
• 2013

Objective: The aim of the current study was to evaluate changes in treatment outcomes in terms of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and symptom burden at zero, one, three, and six months after an initial diagnosis of colorectal cancer. The demographic and clinical characteristics that account for outcome changes in patients were investigated using a repeated measures framework. Methods and Materials: A cohort study was performed of 134 colorectal cancer patients followed from diagnosis to 6 months post-treatment in Central Taiwan. HRQoL and symptoms were assessed at diagnosis and one, three, and six months thereafter. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colon (FACT-C) questionnaire, VAS pain, and the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS) were used for data collection. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) was applied for statistical analysis. Results: The majority of the patients were male (55%) and married (91.5%). The mean age was 60.4 years (SD = 11.71). Most were diagnosed stage III and IV colorectal cancer (54.5%). All underwent surgery; some also received chemotherapy (CT) or concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT). The results of the GEE showed that overall, the HRQoL, pain, and symptoms of the patients significantly improved over the treatment period. Patients with stage IV disease who had received surgery and CCRT showed the worst HRQoL. Females, patients with comorbidity, and stage IV patients had higher pain scores over time. Female and stage IV patients had more severe physical symptoms, whereas stage II and IV patients had worse psychological symptoms over time. Conclusion: The patients' HRQoL, pain, and symptoms significantly improved over the 6-month treatment period. Certain patient and clinical variables accounted for changes in treatment outcomes regarding HRQoL and symptom burden in colorectal cancer patients.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.59 no.8
• /
• pp.335-340
• /
• 2016

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical course of childhood immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and to assess the risk factors for developing chronic ITP Methods: The records of 64 children diagnosed with ITP from November 2005 and December 2014 at single center were retrospectively analyzed. Results: The median age at diagnosis and the median platelet count were 1 year (range, 1 month to 15 years) and $9{\times}10^9/L$ (range, $0-84{\times}10^9/L$), respectively. No patient experienced severe bleeding. Nineteen children (29.7%) spontaneously recovered their platelet count to ${\geq}100{\times}10^9/L$ at a median of 10 days. In total 45 patients (70.3%) received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) as first-line therapy, and showed platelet recovery at 1 week. The final diagnosis of 55 (85.9%) and 9 patients (14.1%) was acute and chronic ITP, respectively. Older age, absence of prior infection and insidious onset of symptoms were significantly associated with the development of chronic ITP. Among the patients who received IVIG, those with platelet count <$45{\times}10^9/L$ at 1 month after IVIG showed a significantly higher incidence of chronic ITP compared to those with platelet count ${\geq}45{\times}10^9/L$ (88.8% vs. 44.4%, P<0.01). Conclusion: In most patients, ITP runs a benign course and approximately 86% of them recover within 1 year of their initial diagnosis. The potential impact of the risk factors of chronic ITP on clinical practice needs to be explored and further studies are warranted to determine whether IVIG influences the course of ITP.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.64-70
• /
• 2009

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis(DNM) can occur as a complication of oropharyngeal and cervical infections that spread to the mediastinum via the cervical spaces. Delayed diagnosis and inadequate mediastinal drainage through a cervical or minor thoracic approach are the primary causes of a high mortality rate. Therefore, We emphasize that aggressive and emergent mediastinal drainage by surgical approach is most important method of DNM treatment. We studied 5cases diagnosed as DNM from 2005 through 2007. All patients underwent emergent surgical drainage of deep neck infection combined with mediastinal drainage through a thoracic approach. Primary oropharyngeal infection lead to DNM in four cases(80%) and odontogenic abscess in one case(20%). The outcomes were favorable 5patients. Overall mortality rate was 0%. The time interval from diagnosis based on manifestation of initial symptoms(oral or pharyngolaryngeal area) to surgical intervention was $7.4{\pm}4.2$days. One patient required reoperation due to remnant mediastinal abscess and pericardial effusion. Early diagnosis and emergent combined drainage with neck and chest incisions, together with broad spectrum intravenous antibiotics, should be considered standard care for this disease. And intensive postoperative care which it is continuous mediastinal irrigation and antibiotics use can significantly reduce the mortality rate.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.212-216
• /
• 1996

Four cases of sphenoid sinus carcinoma have been observed for last 10 years and we reviewed English literatures about sphenoid sinus carcinoma. The sphenoid sinus carcinoma is rare and the diagnosis is difficult. In the early stage, the non-specific deep constant headache is the only symptom but if the sinus wall is penetrated, the neuro-ophthalmologic symptoms and signs may appear. The extension of lesion is identified by radiologic imaging and the diagnosis requires direct biopsy. In case of deep constant headache combined with neuro-ophthalmologic symptoms and signs the sphenoid sinus carcinoma should be considered. Our small data reveals that the radiation treatment offers a possibility of relatively good outcome, although most of the cases are advanced already on initial diagnosis.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.31-36
• /
• 1992

Neck mass is common neoplasms, but it poses a diagnostic dilemma for the physician. The differential diagnosis include neoplastic, inflammatory and developmental causes. The FNAC is one of the most valuable tests in the initial assessment and differential diagnosis of the neck mass. FNAC was performed with 267 cases of the neck mass, during the period from April, 1988 to October, 1990 at the department of General Surgery, Soon Chun Hyang. University Hospital. Thyroid lesions were excluded from this analysis. Final diagnosis was based on resection histology in 58 cases, and surgical specimens were compared with FNAC. The following results were obtoired ; 1) Of 267 cases, there we re 9 cases(3.4%) of congenital lesion, 74 cases(27.7%) of inflammatory lesion, 40 cases(15.0%) of benign tumor, 12 cases(4.5%) of primary malignant tumor, 37 cases(13.8%) of metastatic tumor, 75cases(28.1%) of reactive hyperplasia, 20 cases(7.5%) of unsatisfactory. In the pathologic classification, inflammatory lesion was the most common. 2) In the 58 cases of excisional biopsy, sensitivity 93.8%, specificity 95.2%, false positive 11.8%, false negative 2.4%, positive predictive value 88.2%, negative predictive value 97.6%, accuracy 94.8%. 3) The most common disease was the tuberculous lymphadenitis (53 cases, 19.8%). sensitivity 57.9%, specificity 100.0%, false positive 0.0%, false negative 17.0%, positive predictive value 100.0%, negative predictive value 83.0%, accuracy 86.2%.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.352-359
• /
• 2020

Inorganic nanoparticles have been actively applied to the bio-medical field by utilizing their physical properties derived from the nanometer size regime, such as optical and magnetic properties. In recent years, diagnostic detection methods have been developed by employing chemical activity, particularly enzyme-mimetic activities, as well as physical properties of inorganic nanoparticles. After the initial study of verifying the enzyme-mimetic activities, the scope of research has been expanded to the direct use of therapeutic effects with active control of activity through understanding of the catalytic mechanism. This review summarizes recent research works on the active control of the enzyme-mimetic activities and newly demonstrated applications on the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, focusing on inorganic nanoparticles, so-called "nanozyme". It is expected that the enzyme-mimetic activity of inorganic nanoparticles will be combined with their inherent physical properties, leading to the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic methods.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.39 no.5
• /
• pp.951-960
• /
• 1999

We performed this study to evaluate the potential clinical marker of urinary trypsinogen-2 together with amylase, lipase and urinary amylase creatinine clearance ratio (ACCR) for the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis in dogs. In the experiment on daily changing patterns of amylase, lipase and ACCR measurements in experimentally induced pancreatitis dogs, compared to values measured in pre-induction state, significant difference was seen in amylase until 5th day of induction, and for lipase significant difference was found during the 7th day of observation period (p < 0.05). No significant difference was found in ACCR for the study period (p > 0.05). On SDS-PAGE analysis of urine from experimentally induced pancreatitis dog, The 26kd band was markedly increased compared with that of normal state and that band was confirmed trypsinogen-2 using substrate interaction and isoelectric focusing assay after being eluted. When assessing the appearance of 26kd band on urine SDS-PAGE 87.1% (range: 50~100%) of experimentally induced pancreatitis dogs showed positive results, whereas no corresponding band was seen in dog without pancreatic disorders. With this result, determination of urinary trypsinogen-2 assay was found to have a high diagnostic value with a 70% of sensitivity and 100% of specificity as a routine test for pancreatitis, although the detection of trypsinogen-2 in urine can be varied on the progression stage of pancreatitis at the initial visit to animal clinic. We therefore suggest that the promising results in this study be used for the development of dipstick test for detecting acute pancreatitis in the future research.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.197-201
• /
• 2013

Background: Most traumatic tracheobronchial injuries are fatal and result in death. Some milder cases are not life threatening and are often missed at the initial presentation. Tracheobronchial rupture is difficult to diagnose in the evaluation of severe multiple trauma patients. We reviewed the traumatic tracheobronchial injuries at Konyang University and Eulji University Hospital and analyzed the clinical results. Materials and Methods: From January 2001 to December 2011, 23 consecutive cases of traumatic tracheobronchial injury after blunt trauma were reviewed retrospectively. We divided them into two groups by the time to diagnosis: group I was defined as the patients who were diagnosed within 48 hours from trauma and group II was the patients who diagnosed 48 hours after trauma. We compared the clinical parameters of the two groups. Results: There was no difference in the age and gender between the two groups. The most common cause was traffic accidents (56.5%). The Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 19.6 in group I and 27.5 in group II (p=0.06), respectively. Although the difference in the ISS was not statistically significant, group II tended toward more severe injuries than group I. Computed tomography was performed in 22 cases and tracheobronchial injury was diagnosed in 5 in group I and 6 in group II, respectively (p=0.09). Eighteen patients underwent surgical treatment and all four cases of lung resection were exclusively performed in group II (p=0.03). There were two mortality cases, and the cause of death was shock and sepsis. Conclusion: We believe that close clinical observation with suspicion and rigorous bronchoscopic evaluation are necessary to perform diagnosis earlier and preserve lung parenchyma in tracheobronchial injuries from blunt trauma.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.113-119
• /
• 2008

In pulse diagnosis, floating pulse and sinking pulse are frequently used for diagnosis about where disease is located and how much severe they are. However, in what mechanism floating pulse and sinking pulse arise is not known well. There are two point of views on substantial of floating pulse and sinking pulse. The first one is the floating and sinking degrees is the expression on the depth of pulsation. And, the second one is floating and sinking pulse is based on the response of pulsation to the indent pressure on radial artery. In this paper, we discussed these two opinions in the view point of tonometric measurement. The process for diagnosis on floating pulse and sinking pulse is similar to the tonometric measurement for non invasive blood pressure or intraocular pressure. We modelled the degrees of depth of pulsation with different indent pressures for initial pulsation feeling and different slopes of indent pressure lines. From this modelling, we can confirm the effect of pulsation depth on P-H curve, that is, in the model where lower pulsation is assumed, the shift of optimal indent pressure to the right was observed. The response of pulse pressure to the indent pressure was tried to be modelled with the degrees of mean blood pressure. Consequently, we tried to model the phenomenon of floating and sinking pulse for the first. And, from this modelling, we can get abundant understanding on how floating and sinking pulse can be caused. In the further study, we want to prove the suitability of this tonometric measurement based modelling with various studies including ultrasound measurement for the depth of pulsation in different EMI subjects.