BACKGROUND: Fulminant hepatic failure is a devastating process associated with high mortality, but no sequele after recovep. At the moment, there are no specific therapeutic modalities except for the orthotopic liver transplantation(OLT) which is limited to a small number of patients due to a lack of donor organ. Recently, several nonsurgical managements have been investigated to overcome the donor shortage and to bridge patients to OLT. These include artificial hepatic support systems, hepatocyte transplantation and extracorporeal liver support. Xenotransplantation is also being investigated to circumbent the donor shortage. Hepatocyte transplantation:The application of liver cell transplantation has been envisioned for temporary metabolic support during liver failure, provision of specific liver functions in inherited metabolic diseases of the liver and as a vehicle for ex vivo gene therapy. Potential advantages over OLT are that the procedure is simple, hepatoyctes can be cryopreserved for immediate use in need, the cost is less expensive and abrogation of allograft rejection may be easier by the modification of antigenicity during culture. Moreover, donor shortage can be overcome by the use of fetal hepatocytes, conditionally immortalized hepatocytes and possibly liver progenitor cells. However, the optimum route and the method are still being investigated. Recently, biodegradable matrix or cotransplantation with non-parencymal liver cells is used to improve and prolong the survival of transplanted hepatocytes in the peritoneum, and injection of donor type splenocytes into the thymus along with ablation of the peripheral lymphocytes with antilymphocyte globulin is adopted to tolerize the recipient to allogeneic hepatocytes. BioartiTicial liver:Presently, several bioartificial liver systems use mammalian hepatocytes held within cartridges, mostly hollow- fiber bioreactor perfused by plasma or whole blood. Plasma is separated from patient blood using Background:Fulminant hepatic failure is a devastating process associated with high mortality, but no sequele after recovep. At the moment, there are no specific therapeutic modalities except for the orthotopic liver transplantation(OLT) which is limited to a small number of patients due to a lack of donor organ. Recently, several nonsurgical managements have been investigated to overcome the donor shortage and to bridge patients to OLT. These include artificial hepatic support systems, hepatocyte transplantation and extracorporeal liver support. Xenotransplantation is also being investigated to circumbent the donor shortage. Hepatocyte transplantation:The application of liver cell transplantation has been envisioned for temporary metabolic support during liver failure, provision of specific liver functions in inherited metabolic diseases of the liver and as a vehicle for ex vivo gene therapy. Potential advantages over OLT are that the procedure is simple, hepatoyctes can be cryopreserved for immediate use in need, the cost is less expensive and abrogation of allograft rejection may be easier by the modification of antigenicity during culture. Moreover, donor shortage can be overcome by the use of fetal hepatocytes, conditionally immortalized hepatocytes and possibly liver progenitor cells. However, the optimum route and the method are still being investigated. Recently, biodegradable matrix or cotransplantation with non-parencymal liver cells is used to improve and prolong the survival of transplanted hepatocytes in the peritoneum, and injection of donor type splenocytes into the thymus along with ablation of the peripheral lymphocytes with antilymphocyte globulin is adopted to tolerize the recipient to allogeneic hepatocytes. BioartiTicial liver:Presently, several bioartificial liver systems use mammalian hepatocytes held within cartridges, mostly hollow- fiber bioreactor perfused by plasma or whole blood. Plasma is separated from patient blood using
Allografts ; Antilymphocyte Serum ; Bioreactors ; Cell Transplantation ; Genetic Therapy ; Hepatocytes* ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Failure* ; Liver Failure, Acute ; Liver, Artificial* ; Lymphocytes ; Metabolic Diseases ; Mortality ; Peritoneum ; Plasma ; Stem Cells ; Thymus Gland ; Tissue Donors ; Transplantation, Heterologous ; Transplants

No abstract availalbe.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Fibrosis* ; Humans ; Prospective Studies*

No abstract available.
Brain* ; Epilepsy*

No abstract available.
Infant, Newborn ; Humans

We analyze ninty-seven cases of Colles fractures treated with closed reduction and sugar tong splint immobilization and followed for more than 1 year at Seoul National University from January 1981 to Decmber 1985. The results of this study were as follows; l. All of 97 cases were closed fractures and the incidence was high in females who aged over 6th decades. The main cause of this injury was slipping down accident comprising of 68.0%. 2. 63 cases (64.9%) were simple extra-articular fractures, and 34 cases (35.1%) were comminuted intra-articular fractures. 3. In a group of simple extra-articular fracture the functional end result was satisfactory in 88.9%, so closed reduction and sugar tong splint were thought to be a good procedure in this group. 4. In a group of comminuted intra-articular fracture the functional end result was satisfactory in 58.9% only. In the cases which show unacceptable loss of position during first two weeks of routine sugar tong splint immobilization we feel another technique is indicated, such as.pin and plaster immobilization or percutaneous pinning. 5. The main cause of unsatisfactory result was malunion, which was produced by loss of reduction position.
Clinical Study ; Colles' Fracture ; Female ; Fractures, Closed ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Incidence ; Intra-Articular Fractures ; Seoul ; Splints

M. supracostalis anterior is a rare varlation which occurs on the external aspect of the upper thoracic wall. This thin, short-like musc1e lies deep to the pectoralis major and minor muscles, and extends longitudinally over the upper four or five ribs. It is known that the muscle usually occurs bilaterally but sometimes unilaterally. In the present report, a case of unilateral (right) M.supracostalis anterior, observed in a 58-year-old man cadaver, is described. Because the muscle had not been reported in Korea, morphological characteristics and nerve innervation of the muscle were investigated. 1. M. supracostalis anterior, observed only on the right side, extended longitudinally from the first rib to the fourth rib deep to the pectoralis minor. 2. The suprarostalis anterior arose from the antero-inferior surface below the groove for subclavian vein of the first rib. After arising from the first rib, the smaller, more media part of the muscle inserted into the upper border of the fourth rib and the larger, more lateral part inserted into the upper border of the fourth rib. 3. The length of the musce is 9.9cm, and the width is 0.8cm at its origin, 1.7cm at the upper border of the third rib and 2.4cm at the upper border of the fourth rib. 4. It was confirmed, under stereomicroscope, that the muscle was innervated by the terminal branches of the nerve to the first external intercostal muscle deriving from Thl and Th2. Blood supply of the M. supracostalis anterior was provided mainly by the lateral thoracic artery arising from the axillary artery.
Axillary Artery ; Cadaver ; Humans ; Intercostal Muscles ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Muscles ; Ribs ; Subclavian Vein ; Thoracic Arteries ; Thoracic Wall

BACKGROUND: Pemphigus is a rare, chronic blistering disease of the skin and mucous membranes with severe morbidity and occasional mortality. The clinical data of Korean pemphigus patients are quite limited, and an appropriate treatrnent regimen is not yet established. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to analyze the clinical characteristics of, and establish an appropriate treatment regimen for Korean pemphigus patients. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted for 24 pemphigus patients seen between 1992 and 1996. RESULTS: Pemphigus vulgaris(PV) was the most common type with 17 cases, followed by seven cases of pemphigus foliaceus(PF). There were no sexual preferences, and the average age at onset for PV and PF was 46 and 50 years old, respectively. Mucosal involvement was noted in 14 cases(82%) of PV and only in one case(14/o) of PF. There was no correlation between the extent of involvement and the titer of anti ICS(intercellular substance) antibody. Most patients received prednisolone of lmg/kg, and 12 PV patients also received immunosuppressive agents. Systemic side effects were noted in 10 cases of PV, and seven PF cases did not manifest any systemic side effects. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical manifestations and results of imrnunofluorescent studies of 24 Korean pemphigus patients were similar to those of the previous studies. For treatment of pemphigus, the lowest possible doses(less than 1mg/kg) of corticosteroid in combination with immunosuppressive agents appears to be more effective and less toxic than high doses of corticosteroid. We propose a regimen for treatment of Korean pemphigus patients based on these experiences. Further rnulti-center clinical trials are advocated to confirm an effective management protocol for Korean pemphigus patients.
Blister ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Middle Aged ; Mortality ; Mucous Membrane ; Pemphigus* ; Prednisolone ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin

No abstract available.
Molluscum Contagiosum*

No abstract available.
Female ; Mammaplasty*

Vascular dementia is defined as a clinical syndrome of acquired intellectual impairment resulting from a brain injury due to a cerebrovascular disorder. It incorporates various vascular pathophysiological mechanisms and changes in the brain, and has diverse cause and clinical manifestations. The main suptypes of vascular dementia include 1) multi-infarct dementia, 2) strategic infarct dementia, and 3) subcortical vascular dementia. Both multi-infarct dementia and strategic infarct dementia show heterogeneity in etiologies, changes of the brain, as well as clinical manifestations. On the contrary, subcortical vascular dementia is suggested to be a more homogenous group. To better understand the clinical features of vascular dementia, cases corresponding to each subtype of vascular dementia are briefly discussed this review.
Brain ; Brain Injuries ; Cerebrovascular Disorders ; Dementia ; Dementia, Multi-Infarct ; Dementia, Vascular* ; Population Characteristics