Anesthesia, General ; Animals ; Brain ; Child, Preschool ; Depression ; Dogs ; Female ; Head ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Lateral Ventricles ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Parietal Bone ; Radiography ; Sialorrhea ; Skull ; Skull Fractures

PURPOSE: Autologous fat grafting is a popular procedure for the correction of the soft tissue depression and deformity. But there are several issues required to be carefully considered in relation to this procedure, mainly about the unpredictability and the low survival rate of the grafted fat due to absorption and partial necrosis. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a lysophospholipid mediator that has been proposed to promote angiogenesis and to regulate the differentiation of adipose derived stromal cells (ASCs). In this study, we analyzed the viability of the grafted fat tissue mixed with S1P into each 12 nude mice (cann.cg-fox1nu/crlori) compared to the group of mice grafted fat tissue only. METHODS: Human aspirated fat was grafted subcutaneously into the backs of 8-week-old nude mice with or without S1P. Eight weeks later, the grafted fat was harvested and the weight and volume were checked. The fat was stained with hematoxylin-eosin and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole. RESULTS: S1P group weighed significantly more than the control group (p=0.009), and the volume from the S1P group was considerably larger than that of the control group (p=0.004) either. In histological features, the surviving layer of the S1P group was thicker than the control group and microvasculature appeared to be prominent in the S1P group, especially in the outer layers. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that S1P plays a vital role in the soft tissue augmentation, potentially providing a novel point of the control in adipose tissue for microfat graft.
Absorption ; Adipose Tissue ; Animals ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Depression ; Humans ; Indoles ; Lysophospholipids ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Microvessels ; Necrosis ; Sphingosine ; Stromal Cells ; Survival Rate ; Transplants

Squamous cell carcinoma of the ovary is very rare malignant tumor originating from the malignant transfomation of mature cystic teratoma, usually being reported in about 1-3% of cases. Of malignant transformation, squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type and its prognosis is poor. Because of its rarity, the clinicopathologic characteristics are not well established. We have experienced a case of squamous cell carcinoma arising in mature cystic teratoma of ovary and present it with brief review of the literature.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Female ; Ovary* ; Prognosis ; Teratoma*

Clinodactyly is defined as an angulation of a digit in the radio-ulnar plane. This anomaly can be congenital, dominantly inherited, or acquired due to trauma or inflammation. Although the deformity usually causes little functional impairment, correction is made because of cosmetic problems. Male subject, with polydactyly on thumb(Wassel's type VII) received first surgery at the age of one. And at the age of six, abnormal growth on the radial side of the first metacarpal bone and ulnar deviation of the distal phalanx of the thumb at the interphalangeal joint had developed. The authors used the growing bony segment from the first metacarpal bone as a bone graft for the correction of clinodactyly on thumb. Z-plasty incision was made on the concave(ulnar) side of thumb and a wedge osteotomy was made on the distal phalanx. The bone graft was inserted into the gap of the distal phalanx of the thumb and fixed it with K-wires. Deformity of the metacarpal bone and clinodactyly on thumb was corrected effectively without donor site morbidity with noticible growth of the grafted metacarpal bone 12 months after surgery.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Joints ; Male ; Osteotomy ; Polydactyly* ; Thumb* ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants*

BACKGROUND: Enterococci are important cause of nosocomial infections. Recently, vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) has been increasingly reported as significant nosocomial pathogens. Therefore, accurate identification of enterococcal species is a prerequisite step for the appropriate antibiotic treatment and epidemiologic surveillance. We wanted to know the usefulness of PCR method compared with Vitek automatic identification system. METHODS: Totally 105 isolates were identified on the species level by Vitek (GPI card and software version R06.1), methyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside test, and PCR methods. RESULTS: Among 105 enterococcal isolates, 59 were identified as E. faecium, 11 E. faecalis, 6 E. gallinarum by Vitek. But 29 isolates (28%) were unidentified. Subsequently all of these isolates were analyzed by PCR, the results of which were as follows: 17 E. faecium, 5 E. casseliflavus, 7 E. gallinarum. Two isolates identified as E. gallinarum by Vitek were reidentified as E. casseliflavus by PCR and other methods for phenotypic characterization. CONCLUSOIN: PCR method was more accurate and sensitive than Vitek for the identification of enterococci species.
Cross Infection ; Epidemiological Monitoring ; Polymerase Chain Reaction*

Reconstruction of the lower lip requires consideration of several factors. There should be retained sensation, maintenance of oral sphincter function, and a large enough opening for the mouth. In addition, it is important to achieve an aesthetically acceptable appearance. Webster's modification of Bernard operation is one of good methods which satisfy above mentioned goals. The purpose of this article is to present the results and review the perioperative problems after reconstruction of the lower lip by this operation. We reviewed seven patients after surgical reconstruction by the same method between January of 1996 and December of 2003. Five patients were male and two were female. The mean follow-up period was 15 months. We obtained functionally and cosmetically acceptable appearance after reconstruction. Most of the reconstructed lower lips were large enough for full mouth opening, but one patient required additional commissuroplasty, and one other patient was treated with wound revision for dehiscence resulting from protrusion of mandibular lateral incisor tooth. All other patients accepted their facial appearance. In conclusion, careful planning and consideration for dental problems and proper closure tension may ensure satisfactory outcome & lower lip competence, when using this modified operative method for lower lip reconstruction.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incisor ; Lip* ; Male ; Mental Competency ; Mouth ; Sensation ; Tooth ; Wounds and Injuries

Reentrant tachycardias can often be terminated by discrete pacing stimuli that penetrate the reentrant circuit. Antitachycardia pacemaker PASAR 4172 (Programmable Automatic Scanning Arrhythmia Reversion, Model 4172, Telectronics) is designed to detect tachycardia automatically and subsequently to deliver programmed one or two extrastimuli to revert to sinus rhythm. We experienced two patients, one paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia and one paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia, who had had frequent and often prolonged episodes of tachycardia that responded poorly to pharmacologic antiarrhythmic therapy. Each patient underwent a detailed preimplantation clinical electrophysiological study in order to determine the number of stimuli required for termination of tachycardia, the most satisfactory site for electrode placement, and the tachycardia termination zone. During the follow-up period of 7 to 11 months after implantation of PASAR 4172, no patient complained of an episode of sustained tachycardia although they experienced symptoms of an impending attack. We conclude that antitachycardia pacemaker PASAR 4172 is a safe, effective, and well tolerated method for the therapy of drug resistant paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia and paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Electrodes ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Tachycardia ; Tachycardia, Paroxysmal* ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular ; Tachycardia, Ventricular

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic surgery of the abdomen has grown rapidly in popularity due to the benefits, including a low level of post operative pain, early recovery, short hospitalization and excellent cosmetic results. Concerning tumor resection, most benign gastric tumors are ideal for the use of the non invasive method of a laparoscopic procedure. To evaluate the feasibility of laparoscopic surgery for benign gastric tumors, we analysed the clinicopathological findings, post operative course and prognosis. METHODS: Between January 1995 and August 2001, laparoscopic surgery was performed on 18 patients with benign gastric tumors at the Department of Surgery at Yonsei University Hospital. To evaluate the feasibility of laparoscopic surgery for these lesions, the sex, age, pathologic diagnosis, operative methods, tumor location, tumor size, operative time, recurrence, gas passing time and diet recovery time were analyzed. RESULTS: The patients group consisted of 3 men (16.7%) and 15 women (83.3%), with a mean age of 51.9+/-15.0 years (range, 23~80). The histopathological examinations showed 12 mesenchymal tumors (5 leiomyomas, 4 stromal tumors, 3 Schwannomas), 2 mucosa origin tumors (1 retention polyp, 1 villous adenoma), 2 ectopic pancreata, 1 carcinoid tumor and 1 lipoma. The operation methods were 14 laparoscopic wedge resections of stomach, 1 laparoscopic assisted partial gastrectomy and 1 gastrotomy and polypectomy. In 2 patients, a laparotomy was required following the laparoscopy due to difficulties in detecting the tumors. In one of the 2 converted cases, preoperative endoscopic marking of the tumor site was performed, but the dye was spread very widely from the mid body to the prepylorus. The other tumor was located on the lesser curvature of the upper third, around the esophagogastric junction, but it was not exactly identified. The tumors were located in the upper, middle, and lower third of the stomach in 7, 9 and 2 cases, respectively. As a circumferential location, 7 tumors were mainly situated on the anterior wall, 6 on the posterior wall, 3 on the greater curvature and 2 on the lesser curvature. All tumors, even those on the lesser curvature and posterior wall, were able to be resected with laparoscopy. The size of the resected tumors averaged 2.2+/-0.9 cm (range, 0.8~4.3). The resection margins were all negative. The operation time averaged 145.8+/-57.0 min (range 70~280). The time to passing gas averaged 2.2+/-0.9 days (range 1~4). The recovery time to a soft diet averaged 5.9+/-1.9 days (range, 2~9). The postoperative course of all the patients was uneventful, and there were no postoperative complications with the exception of one case of diet intolerance. During the follow up there have been no recurrences to date. CONCLUSION: With its proper application in benign gastric tumors, laparoscopic surgery needs to identify the exact site of a tumor, can contribute significantly to an improved patient outcome because it is less complicated and safer compared to conventional gastrectomy methods.
Abdomen ; Carcinoid Tumor ; Diagnosis ; Diet ; Esophagogastric Junction ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrectomy ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Laparoscopy* ; Laparotomy ; Leiomyoma ; Lipoma ; Male ; Mucous Membrane ; Operative Time ; Polyps ; Postoperative Complications ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Stomach

PURPOSE: Angiosarcoma is a rare and aggressive malignant soft tissue tumor. Due to a lack of the established optimal treatment modalities, however, an extensive resection followed by an early detection has been reported to be the best treatment of choice. We analyzed the clinical course of six patients, hence attempted to contribute to making a treatment plan for patients with angiosarcoma. METHODS: Six patients who have been surgically treated between 2005 and 2010 are included. Through a retrospective analysis of the medical records, we evaluated the pattern of disease detection, a past history, time span between the detection and the primary surgery, surgical treatment modalities, time span between the primary surgery and the recurrence/metastasis, the sites of metastasis and the secondary treatment modalities. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 70.5 years; all male; and the sites were the scalp. Four patients underwent the reconstruction using a local flap with a skin graft and two patients using a free flap. The mean period elapsed until the primary operation since the identification was 7.3 months and until a recurrence or a metastasis occurred following the primary operation was 12 months. Four patients had pulmonary metastasis. As a secondary therapy, four patients underwent the radiotherapy and one was treated with the chemotherapy. At the present, five patients died and one undergoes a monitoring of the clinical course. CONCLUSION: It would be mandatory to shorten the length of hospital stay and to return patients to their daily lives as the earliest as possible using relatively simpler surgical methods, thus attempting to give them opportunity to resume their previous normal life.
Free Tissue Flaps ; Hemangiosarcoma ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Medical Records ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Scalp ; Skin ; Transplants

Nowadays, several surgical options are available for correction of gynecomastia. The present authors combined subcutaneous mastectomy with liposuction and analyzed the postoperative results to find out an effective surgical method with few complications and good cosmetic result. From January, 2000 to October, 2008, 22 patients(41 breasts) underwent subcutaneous mastectomy through "Zigzag" wavy-line periareolar incision, and liposuction was done on peripheral region through the same approach site. The results were evaluated in terms of postoperative complications, character of the scar on periareolar region and subjective satisfaction of patients. Three patients(7.3%) experienced complicated with hematoma, however, all of them were healed by simple removal and compressive dressing without leaving any problem. Most of the patients were tolerable with operative scar on periareolar region, however, hypertrophic scar developed in 1 patient(2.4%) and regular follow-up with intralesional triamcinolone injection is now in progress. On the period of over 6 months, all of the patients were satisfied with postoperative contour of their breasts. By subcutaneous mastectomy with peripheral liposuction through "Zigzag" wavy-line periareolar incision for correction of gynecomastia, it was possible to excise sufficient volume of breast tissue with minimum postoperative scar and complications.