BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to measure and compare the optimum depth of the internal jugular venous catheterization between the right and left side. METHODS: Forty-four patients were enrolled for this study and divided into two groups (22 patients each). The optimum depth of the catheterization was calculated using the sum of two component (A and B); the advanced length of the catheter from the level of the cricoid cartilage (A) and the distance from the catheter tip to the junction of the superier vena cava and right atrium (B). RESULT: The optimum depths of the internal jugular venous catheterization were 16.0 1.0 cm (right) and 18.4 1.5 cm (left) respectively. Left side was significantly longer than right side (p<0.05). In this study, we experienced some complications; arterial punctures (5 cases) and migration of the catheter to the opposite subclavian vein (1 case). Five complications were associated with left internal jugular venous cannulation and one was associated with the right side cannulation. CONCLUSION: We concluded that the optimum depth of the internal jugular venous catheterization was longer in the left side than in the right side.
Catheterization* ; Catheters* ; Cricoid Cartilage ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Punctures ; Subclavian Vein

PURPOSE: Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is an important prognostic marker in colorectal cancer (CRC). However, in some stages, it does not work. We performed this study to find a way in which preoperative CEA could be used as a constant prognostic marker in harmony with the TNM staging system. METHODS: Preoperative CEA levels and recurrences in CRC were surveyed. The distribution of CEA levels and the recurrences in each TNM stage of CRC were analyzed. An optimal cutoff value for each TNM stage was calculated and tested for validity as a prognostic marker within the TNM staging system. RESULTS: The conventional cutoff value of CEA (5 ng/mL) was an independent prognostic factor on the whole. However, when evaluated in subgroups, it was not a prognostic factor in stage I or stage III of N2. A subgroup analysis according to TNM stage revealed different CEA distributions and recurrence rates corresponding to different CEA ranges. The mean CEA levels were higher in advanced stages. In addition, the recurrence rates of corresponding CEA ranges were higher in advanced stages. Optimal cutoff values from the receiver operating characteristic curves were 7.4, 5.5, and 4.5 ng/mL for TNM stage I, II, and III, respectively. Those for N0, N1, and N2 stages were 5.5, 4.8, and 3.5 ng/mL, respectively. The 5-year disease-free survivals were significantly different according to these cutoff values for each TNM and N stage. The multivariate analysis confirmed the new cutoff values to be more efficient in discriminating the prognosis in the subgroups of the TNM stages. CONCLUSION: Individualized cutoff values of the preoperative CEA level are a more practical prognostic marker following and in harmony with the TNM staging system.
Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Disease-Free Survival ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; ROC Curve

PURPOSE: Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is an important prognostic marker in colorectal cancer (CRC). However, in some stages, it does not work. We performed this study to find a way in which preoperative CEA could be used as a constant prognostic marker in harmony with the TNM staging system. METHODS: Preoperative CEA levels and recurrences in CRC were surveyed. The distribution of CEA levels and the recurrences in each TNM stage of CRC were analyzed. An optimal cutoff value for each TNM stage was calculated and tested for validity as a prognostic marker within the TNM staging system. RESULTS: The conventional cutoff value of CEA (5 ng/mL) was an independent prognostic factor on the whole. However, when evaluated in subgroups, it was not a prognostic factor in stage I or stage III of N2. A subgroup analysis according to TNM stage revealed different CEA distributions and recurrence rates corresponding to different CEA ranges. The mean CEA levels were higher in advanced stages. In addition, the recurrence rates of corresponding CEA ranges were higher in advanced stages. Optimal cutoff values from the receiver operating characteristic curves were 7.4, 5.5, and 4.5 ng/mL for TNM stage I, II, and III, respectively. Those for N0, N1, and N2 stages were 5.5, 4.8, and 3.5 ng/mL, respectively. The 5-year disease-free survivals were significantly different according to these cutoff values for each TNM and N stage. The multivariate analysis confirmed the new cutoff values to be more efficient in discriminating the prognosis in the subgroups of the TNM stages. CONCLUSION: Individualized cutoff values of the preoperative CEA level are a more practical prognostic marker following and in harmony with the TNM staging system.
Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Disease-Free Survival ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; ROC Curve

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of beverage temperature and composition on weight retention and fluid balance upon voluntary drinking following exercise induced-dehydration. Eight men who were not acclimated to heat participated in four randomly ordered testing sessions. In each session, the subjects ran on a treadmill in a chamber maintained at 37degrees C without being supplied fluids until 2% body weight reduction was reached. After termination of exercise, they recovered for 90 min under ambient air conditions and received one of the following four test beverages: 10degrees C water (10W), 10degrees C sports drink (10S), 26degrees C water (26W), and 26degrees C sports drink (26S). They consumed the beverages ad libitum. The volume of beverage consumed and body weight were measured at 30, 60, and 90 min post-recovery. Blood samples were taken before and immediately after exercise as well as at the end of recovery in order to measure plasma parameters and electrolyte concentrations. We found that mean body weight decreased by 1.8-2.0% following exercise. No differences in mean arterial pressure, plasma volume, plasma osmolality, and blood electrolytes were observed among the conditions. Total beverage volumes consumed were 1,164 +/- 388, 1,505 +/- 614, 948 +/- 297, and 1,239 +/- 401 ml for 10W, 10S, 26W, and 26S respectively (P > 0.05). Weight retention at the end of recovery from dehydration was highest in 10S (1.3 +/- 0.7 kg) compared to 10W (0.4 +/- 0.5 kg), 26W (0.4 +/- 0.4 kg), and (0.6 +/- 0.4 kg) (P < 0.005). Based on these results, carbohydrate/electrolyte-containing beverages at cool temperature were the most favorable for consumption and weight retention compared to plain water and moderate temperature beverages.
Arterial Pressure ; Beverages ; Body Weight ; Dehydration ; Drinking ; Electrolytes ; Fluid Therapy ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Male ; Osmolar Concentration ; Plasma ; Plasma Volume ; Retention (Psychology) ; Sports ; Water ; Water-Electrolyte Balance

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the overall rate and risk factors for the development of an incisional hernia and a parastomal hernia after colorectal surgery. METHODS: The study cohort consisted of 795 consecutive patients who underwent open colorectal surgery between 2005 and 2007 by a single surgeon. A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data was performed. RESULTS: The overall incidence of incisional hernias was 2% (14/690). This study revealed that the cumulative incidences of incisional hernia were 1% at 12 months and 3% after 36 months. Eighty-six percent of all incisional hernias developed within 3 years after a colectomy. The overall rate of parastomal hernias in patients with a stoma was 6.7% (7/105). The incidence of parastomal hernias was significantly higher in the colostomy group than in the ileostomy group (11.9% vs. 0%; P = 0.007). Obesity, abdominal aortic aneurysm, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, serum albumin level, emergency surgery and postoperative ileus did not influence the incidence of incisional or parastomal hernias. However, the multivariate analysis revealed that female gender and wound infection were significant risk factors for the development of incisional hernias female: P = 0.009, wound infection: P = 0.041). There were no significant factors related to the development of parastomal hernias. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that most incisional hernias develop within 3 years after a colectomy. Female gender and wound infection were risk factors for the development of an incisional hernia after colorectal surgery. In contrast, no significant factors were found to be associated with the development of a parastomal hernia.
Aortic Aneurysm ; Cohort Studies ; Colectomy ; Colorectal Surgery ; Colostomy ; Emergencies ; Female ; Hernia ; Hernia, Ventral ; Humans ; Ileostomy ; Ileus ; Incidence ; Multivariate Analysis ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Serum Albumin ; Surgical Stomas ; Wound Infection

Recently, the world's first transgenic dogs were produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer. However, cellular senescence is a major limiting factor for producing more advanced transgenic dogs. To overcome this obstacle, we rejuvenated transgenic cells using a re-cloning technique. Fibroblasts from post-mortem red fluorescent protein (RFP) dog were reconstructed with in vivo matured oocytes and transferred into 10 surrogate dogs. One puppy was produced and confirmed as a re-cloned dog. Although the puppy was lost during birth, we successfully established a rejuvenated fibroblast cell line from this animal. The cell line was found to stably express RFP and is ready for additional genetic modification.
Animals ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; Cloning, Organism/methods/*veterinary ; Dogs/*genetics ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Kidney/metabolism ; Liver/metabolism ; Luminescent Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Lung/metabolism ; Male ; Myocardium/metabolism ; Nuclear Transfer Techniques/veterinary ; Spleen/metabolism ; Trachea/metabolism

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the outcome of laparoscopic (LA) vs. open appendectomy (OA) in children under 12 years old with perforated appendicitis. METHODS: We reviewed the medical files of 156 children who underwent LA (n=96), OA (n=59), and conversion (CO) (n=1), and compared duration of operation, length of hospital stay, incidence of wound infection, mechanical ileus, intra-abdominal abscess (IAA), and re-admission. RESULTS: Compared to OA, LA resulted in longer duration of operation (58.32+/-17.105 min vs. 44.27+/-18.735 min; p=0.001), but fewer wound infections (2.1% vs. 10.2%; p=0.054), and fewer cases of mechanical ileus (0% vs. 5.1%; p=0.053). No differences in the length of hospital stay (5.85+/-1.824 days vs. 6.10+/-3.027 days; p=0.526), IAA (2.1% vs. 1.7%; p=1.000), or re-admissions (2.1% vs. 5.1%; p=0.369) were observed. CONCLUSION: We report that although LA showed an association with longer duration of operation compared to OA, it is superior to OA with regard to incidence of wound infection and mechanical ileus.
Abdominal Abscess ; Appendectomy ; Appendicitis ; Child ; Humans ; Ileus ; Incidence ; Length of Stay ; Wound Infection

Somatic cell nuclear transfer allows generation of genetically identical animals using donor cells derived from animals with particular traits. To date, few studies have investigated whether or not these cloned dogs will show identical behavior patterns. To address this question, learning, memory and exploratory patterns were examined using six cloned dogs with identical nuclear genomes. The variance of total incorrect choice number in the Y-maze test among cloned dogs was significantly lower than that of the control dogs. There was also a significant decrease in variance in the level of exploratory activity in the open fields test compared to age-matched control dogs. These results indicate that cloned dogs show similar cognitive and exploratory patterns, suggesting that these behavioral phenotypes are related to the genotypes of the individuals.
Animals ; Clone Cells* ; Dogs* ; Genome ; Genotype ; Humans ; Learning* ; Memory* ; Phenotype ; Tissue Donors

In 2007, seven detector dogs were produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer using one nuclear donor dog, then trained and certified as excellent detector dogs, similar to their donor. In 2011, we crossed a cloned male and normal female by natural breeding and produced ten offspring. In this study, we investigated the puppies' temperaments, which we later compared with those of the cloned parent male. The results show that the cloned male had normal reproductive abilities and produced healthy offspring. All puppies completed narcotic detector dog training with a success rate for selection of 60%. Although the litter of cloned males was small in this study, a cloned male dog bred by natural mating produced puppies that later successfully completed the training course for drug detection. In conclusion, cloning an elite dog with superior genetic factors and breeding of the cloned dog was found to be a useful method to efficiently procure detector dogs.
Animals ; Breeding ; Clone Cells* ; Cloning, Organism ; Dogs* ; Female ; Humans ; Male* ; Methods ; Parents ; Temperament ; Tissue Donors