Achondrogenesis type 2 is a lethal form of congenital skeletal dysplasia characterized by severe short-limbed dwarfism, decreased vertebral ossification and normal ossification of the skull. We report an autopsy case of achondrogenesis type 2 in a female fetus terminated at 29 weeks of gestation. External morphology revealed a relatively large head, short upper and lower extremities, short neck, and distended abdomen. The x-ray finding showed normal calvarial ossification, hypoplastic ilium and unossified ischium, and metaphyseal flares of the femur and tibia. Histologically, chondrocytes were large and irregular with increased vascularity.
Abdomen ; Autopsy* ; Chondrocytes ; Dwarfism ; Female ; Femur ; Fetus ; Head ; Humans ; Ilium ; Ischium ; Lower Extremity ; Neck ; Pregnancy ; Skull ; Tibia

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Dendritic cells (DC) can effectively mediate the prevention and regression of a variety of solid malignancies when they are properly primed with tumor antigens. However, little has been determined about the efficacy of DCbased vaccine for the prevention of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Bone marrow derived DC of C3H mouse were pulsed with ultraviolet B-irradiated apoptotic SCCVII cells, which are known as a poorly immunogenic SCC cell line. After vaccinations with those DC, a tumorigenic dosage of healthy SCCVII cells were challenged into the flank of animals and the tumor growth was assessed in a blinded and coded fashion. RESULTS: DC pulsed with apoptotic SCCVII cells effectively prevented the formation of solid tumor in 81% of vaccinated animals and mediated significant retardation of tumor growth (p=0.0029) in 19% of vaccinated animals when compared to control groups. SCCVII cell-specific T-cell response (IFN-gamma production) was observed in the immunized mice. CONCLUSION: Adoptive transfer of DC primed with apoptotic SCCVII cells can serve as an effective preventive vaccine in the poorly immunogenic SCC animal model.
Adoptive Transfer ; Animals* ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; Bone Marrow ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cell Line ; Dendritic Cells* ; Immunotherapy ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C3H ; Models, Animal* ; T-Lymphocytes ; Vaccination* ; Vaccines

PURPOSE: Fournier's gangrene is a rare and rapidly progressive infection of the genitalia, perineum, and abdominal wall. The mortality rate from this infection ranges from 0 to 67 percent. One of the most important determinants of the overall outcome is early recognition and extensive surgical debridement combined with broad-spectrum antibiotics therapy. The objective of this study was to review the clinical outcomes of 11 consecutive patients who suffered with Fournier's gangrene and the related medical literature to highlight the current status of this disease. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 11 patients with the Fournier's gangrene who had been treated at Gyeongsang National University Hospital between March 1995 and March 2005. RESULTS: The mean age was 60 years (range: 38~82), and the male to female ratio was 8 : 3. The most common cause of Fournier's gangrene was perianal abscess (n=4, 36.3%) and the most common disease associated with Fournier's gangrene was diabetes mellitus (n=6, 54.5%). The most common cultured organisms were E. coli and K. pneumoniae. We performed aggressive surgical debridement combined with broad spectrum antibiotics therapy. The number of surgical procedures per patients ranged between 1 and 7 (mean: 2.63). Diverting colostomy was required in 36.3% (n=4) of the cases. Two cases received reconstructive plastic surgery. The mortality rate of 11 patients was 27.2% (n=3) and the cause of death was sepsis. CONCLUSION: Fournier's gangrene is a life-threatening disease, but the mortality rate can be diminished via early diagnosis, aggressive surgical intervention, and the use of broad- spectrum antibiotics.
Abdominal Wall ; Abscess ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cause of Death ; Colostomy ; Debridement ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Early Diagnosis ; Fasciitis, Necrotizing ; Female ; Fournier Gangrene* ; Genitalia ; Humans ; Male ; Mortality ; Perineum ; Pneumonia ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis ; Surgery, Plastic

PURPOSE: Hypothermia has been demonstrated to protect the brain from reperfusion injury in patients suffering from cardiac arrest. We hypothesized that infusion of normal saline at 4 degrees C into the carotid artery (hypothermic carotid arterial flush, HCAF) during cardiac arrest would achieve selective cerebral hypothermia during cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), without a detrimental effect on the rate of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) or significant impairment of cardiopulmonary function after ROSC. METHODS: Ventricular fibrillation was induced in 18 dogs weighing 12~18 kg, and circulatory arrest was maintained for 9 minutes. The subjects were then resuscitated using open cardiac massage. Group I (n=6) received no normal saline, while the dogs of group II (n=6) and group III (n=6) received infusions of 15 ml/kg and 30 ml/kg of normal saline solution, respectively, at 4 degrees C into both carotid arteries (cephalad) via 18 gauge catheters. RESULTS: Tympanic temperature decreased from 37.7 (37.5~37.7) degrees C to 34 degrees C within 1.2 (1~2) min and 1.0 (1~2) min from the start of HCAF in groups II and III, respectively. Thereafter, tympanic temperatures were maintained below 34 degrees C to 7.7 (1.5~14.5) min and 21.2 (12~37) min, respectively, from the start of HCAF in groups II and III. There were no significant differences in CPR-related variables or post-ROSC hemodynamic and laboratory variables between the two groups. CONCLUSION: HCAF rapidly induces selective cerebral hypothermia without detrimental effects on the rate of ROSC or significant impairment of cardiopulmonary function after ROSC.
Animals ; Brain ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Carotid Arteries ; Catheters ; Dogs ; Heart Arrest* ; Heart Massage ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypothermia* ; Reperfusion Injury ; Sodium Chloride ; Ventricular Fibrillation

BACKGROUND: Anesthesiologist must be aware of the common problems that occur in pediatric anesthesia. The purpose of this survey was to collect information to help improve the quality of pediatric anesthesia by comparing the opinions of anesthesiologists that treat children and those that do not treat children. METHODS: A questionnaire surveying the attitudes of 103 anesthesiologists with regard to pediatric problems was analyzed. The questionnaire inquired about the number of years worked in field, the form of work and the responsibilities with regard to the pediatric anesthesia. Each question was rated from 1 (very infrequent) to 5 (very common) for the frequency of problems and from 1 (not importance) to 5 (very important) for the importance of the problem. Then we calculated the average of each item and combined the scores to obtain an average frequency and an average importance. RESULTS: The list of problems had high combined scores for preoperative anxiety (10.62), incision pain (9.59), postoperative agitation (9.53), hypothermia (9.40), and vomiting (9.30) for the pediatric anesthesiologist group. In addition, the problem list had high combined scores for propofol injection pain (11.25), preoperative anxiety (10.92), vomiting (10.17), hypothermia (9.44), and postoperative agitation (9.42) for the non-pediatric anesthesiologist group. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study showed a difference in the pediatric and non pediatric anesthesiologist groups for propofol injection pain. Differences were noted for the average importance (2.34 : 2.80) compared to the average frequency (3.93 : 4.01). The pediatric anesthesiologists regarded propofol injection pain to be less of a problem than did the anesthesiologists who did not care for pediatric patients.
Anesthesia ; Anxiety ; Child ; Dihydroergotamine ; Humans ; Hypothermia ; Propofol ; Vomiting ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Intussusception is rare in adults accounting for 5% of all cases. It can be caused by various lesions but is rarely the result of trauma. Recently we encountered a case of adult intussusception after blunt abdominal trauma without any other leading causes. We report this case with a review of the relevant literatures.
Abdomen, Acute ; Adult* ; Humans ; Intussusception*