Prediction of the indication criteria for endoscopic resection of early gastric cancer.

AIM: To find risk factors of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in early gastric cancer (EGC) and to find proper endoscopic therapy indication in EGC. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the 2270 patients who underwent curative operation for EGC from January 2001 to December 2008. EGC was defined as malignant lesions that do not invade beyond the submucosal layer of the stomach wall irrespective of presence of lymph node metastasis. RESULTS: Among 2270 enrolled patients, LNM was observed in 217 (9%) patients. LNM in intramucosal (M) cancer and submucosal (SM) cancer was detected in 38 (2.8%, 38/1340) patients and 179 (19%, 179/930) patients, respectively. In univariate analysis, the risk factors for LNM in EGC were size of tumor, Lauren classification, ulcer, lymphatic invasion, vascular invasion, and depth of invasion. However, in multivariate analysis, size of tumor, lymphatic invasion, vascular invasion, and depth of invasion were risk factors for LNM in EGC. Size of tumor, lymphatic invasion, vascular invasion, and depth of invasion were risk factors for LNM in cases of intramucosal cancer and submucosal cancer. In particular, there was no lymph node metastasis in cases of well differentiated early gastric cancer below 1 cm in size without ulcer regardless of lymphovascular invasion. CONCLUSION: Tumor size, perilymphatic-vascular invasion, and depth of invasion were risk factors for LNM in EGC. There was no LNM in EGC below 1 cm regardless risk factors.

A case of plummer-vinson syndrome associated with Crohn's disease.

Plummer-Vinson syndrome manifests as cervical dysphagia, iron deficiency anemia, an upper esophageal web, and atrophic glossitis. The cause of the esophageal web is thought to be iron deficiency anemia; however, the cause of Plummer-Vinson syndrome has not been established. Crohn's disease is usually accompanied by malnutrition and iron deficiency anemia; however, no case of concomitant Crohn's disease and Plummer-Vinson syndrome with aggravated malnutrition and anemia has been previously reported. Here, we report on a rare case of Plummer-Vinson syndrome in a Crohn's disease patient, which caused malnutrition and constipation.

Investigation of Mg doping profile in the p-cladding layer for high-brightness AlGaInP-based light emitting diodes.

We investigated 590 nm light-emitting diodes appropriate for full-color display applications in terms of their electrical and optical behaviors during operation according to their Mg doping profile in the p-cladding layer. As the hole concentration in the "b" zone of the p-cladding layer is increased from 3.4 x 10(17) to 6.7 x 10(17), the light output power increases by 41% due to the enhancement of the hole injection into the active region and also due to the minimization of the carrier overflow problem. However, at an oversaturation of Mg doping with excess [Cp2Mg]/[III] in the "b" zone, the internal quantum efficiency degrades because of the decrease in hole concentration because of the oversaturated material problem.

Structural and optical investigation of GaInP quantum dots according to the growth thickness for the 700 nm light emitters.

We investigate Ga0.33In0.67P quantum dot structures appropriate for special lighting applications in terms of structural and optical behaviors. The Ga0.33In0.67P materials form from 2-dimentional to 3-dimensional dots as the nominal growth thickness increases from 0.5 nm to 6.0 nm, indicating a Stranski-Krastanov growth mode. As the ambient temperature is increased to 300 K, the PL spectrum of the B-type dots is annihilated quickly because the large dot size induces a defect-related nonradiative recombination process. In contrast, the PL spectrum of the A-type dots is well maintained to 300 K. These data indicate that the Ga0.33In0.67P material is appropriate for an active layer of 700 nm light emitters.

[A case of malarial hepatitis by Plasmodium vivax].

Malarial infection is one of the most important tropical diseases, but also increasing in the temperate regions. Severe malaria with organ dysfunction is commonly associated with Plasmodium falciparum, but rarely with Plasmodium vivax. Malarial hepatitis is also unusual in P. falciparum and very rare in P. vivax. Only 3 cases of malarial hepatitis caused by P. vivax have been reported in the world. Because the presence of hepatitis in malaria indicates a more severe illness with higher incidence of other complications and poor prognosis, malarial patients should be meticulously monitored for hepatic dysfunction with or without jaundice. We report here a case of malarial hepatitis caused by P. vivax that was presented by fever, general ache, nausea, fatigue, and significant elevation of aminotransferase and bilirubin.

Rocuronium bromide induced anaphylaxis in a child -A case report-.

Anaphylaxis or anaphylactoid reaction in pediatric patient during anesthesia is rare. We report a rocuronium induced anaphylactic reaction in a 33-month-old female. The patient was scheduled to undergo escharectomy due to injuries suffered from a major burn. Shortly after administration of rocuronium, the patient developed severe hypotension, tachycardia, and hypoxia. A similar reaction occurred after administration of rocuronium on subsequent anesthesia. She underwent uneventful anesthesia with volatile induction and maintenance of anesthesia with sevoflurane on her next 7 operations without using of muscle relaxant.