No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Rectal Prolapse*

BACKGROUND: Photodynamic therapy(PDT) is a type of photochemotherapy that is designed to kill targeted tumor cells. OBJECTIVE: The Clinical effects of PDT were analysed for response rates, post-treatment healing and adverse effects on several cutaneous carcinoma in situ. METHOD: PDT with topical 5-aminolevulinic acid-based irradiation of corresponding 630+5nm light was performed in 6 carcinoma in situ patients who had actinic keratosis, Bowen' disease or cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. RESULT: In all patients the clinical results were exellent with respect to initial complete responses and cosmetic outcome. CONCLUSION: PDT might be chosen as a first line treament for cutaneous carcimoma in situ.
Carcinoma in Situ* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Humans ; Keratosis, Actinic ; Photochemotherapy* ; Skin*

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic surgery has emerged as an alternative minimally invasive technique as compared to traditional open surgical techniques. We evaluated the efficiency and safety of laparoscopic varicocelectomy for the treatment of varicocele. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between June 1996 and February 1998, laparoscopic varicocelectomywere performed in 10 patients whose ages ranged from 16 to 43 years at Chosun university hospital. We assessed success rate, hospital stay, operative time, and complications retrospectively. RESULTS: The varicocele was disappeared in all patients after laparoscopic varicocelectomy. The mean operative time was 68 minutes for unilateral varicocelectomy and 110 minutes for bilateral varicocelectomy. The internal spermatic artery was preserved in 9 of 10 patients. The mean hospital stay was 1.9 days. Complications included shoulder pain in 1 patient, cubcutaneous emphysema in 1 patient and pneumoscrotum in 2 patients but resolved with conservative management. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that laparoscopic varicocelectomy is an effective, safe and a viable alterative to other operative technique with quick full recovery, short hospital stay, minimal analgesic requirement and minimal surgical trauma. But long-term follow up and prospective studies are needed to clarify the clinical effect of laparoscopic varicocelectomy.
Arteries ; Emphysema ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Operative Time ; Retrospective Studies ; Shoulder Pain ; Varicocele

PURPOSE: This study aimed at determining the detection rate of respiratory viruses and at investigating the risk factors associated with respiratory virus detection in young infants. METHODS: From September 2011 to August 2012, nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained from 227 infants aged < or =90 days with suspected infectious diseases, including sepsis. We performed a retrospective analysis of their clinical characteristics. The prevalence of respiratory viruses in their nasopharyngeal swabs was assayed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR). RESULTS: In total, 157 (69.2%) infants had more than one of the following respiratory viruses: respiratory syncytial virus (n=75), rhinovirus (n=42), influenza virus (n=18), parainfluenza virus (n=15), human metapneumovirus (n=9), coronavirus (n=9), adenovirus (n=4), and bocavirus (n=3). During the same period, bacterial infections were confirmed in 24 infants (10.6%). The detection of respiratory viruses was significantly associated with the presence of cough, a family history of respiratory illness, and a seasonal preference (fall/winter). Using logistic regression analysis, these 3 variables were also identified as significant risk factors. During fall and winter, detection of respiratory viruses was significantly higher in infants who did not have a bacterial infection. CONCLUSION: Respiratory virus is an important pathogen in young infants admitted to a hospital, who are suspected with infectious diseases. Detection of respiratory viruses in young infants was associated with seasonality (fall/winter), presence of respiratory symptoms and a family history of respiratory illness.
Adenoviridae ; Bacterial Infections ; Bocavirus ; Communicable Diseases ; Coronavirus ; Cough ; Humans ; Infant* ; Logistic Models ; Metapneumovirus ; Nasopharynx ; Orthomyxoviridae ; Paramyxoviridae Infections ; Prevalence ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhinovirus ; Risk Factors* ; Seasons ; Sepsis ; Virus Diseases

No abstract available.
Animals ; Mice* ; T-Lymphocytes*

MELAS (mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes) is one of the mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, A rare disease caused by a disturbance of the mitochondrial chain of respiration. MELAS is confirmed by typical light and electron microscopic findings : "ragged red fibers" by modified Gomori trichrome stain on light microscope and numerous abormal mitochondria on electron microscope. We experienced a boy with the characteristic clinical and pathologic findings of MELAS. Our patient demonstrated bilateral basal ganglia calcifications and infarction at right parieto-occipital and thalamic areas on CT and MR We found that MRI was more sensitive and represented the infarcted lesions better than CT. Detection of cerebral insults of MELAS by MRI is important in making decision on patient treatment and also in predicion of the patient prognosis.
Acidosis, Lactic ; Basal Ganglia ; Brain Diseases ; Child* ; Humans ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; MELAS Syndrome* ; Mitochondria ; Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathies ; Muscular Diseases ; Rare Diseases ; Respiration

We report a case of Becker's nevus associated with smooth muscle hamartoma, in a 21-year-old male patient, which shows clinically match-head sized, flat topped, round to oval, grouped papules with hairs on the outer surface of the right arm, and microscopically reveals numerous bundles of smooth muscle fiber in the dermis.
Arm ; Dermis ; Hair ; Hamartoma* ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth* ; Nevus* ; Young Adult

Anemia is one of the important causes compromising normal growth, development, and immune function in children. In outpatient clinics, we can see patients with anemia caused by various etiologies, whether congenital or acquired. Most cases of childhood anemia are caused by incomplete supplements of nutrients for erythropoiesis, despite the improved socioeconomic situation. Sometimes we need to treat the underlying diseases to correct the anemia. Also, we have to evaluate the etiology of anemia according to age, and consider medical treatments on the basis of the underlying causes. In this article, the author reviews pharmacotherapy in childhood anemia.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Anemia* ; Child ; Drug Therapy* ; Erythropoiesis ; Humans

Allogeneic organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT) is the treatment of choice for end-stage organ diseases or various hematologic disorders. The induction of alloantigen specific T cell tolerance and its maintenance are critical for preventing immune responses, including graft rejection or graft-versus-host disease(GVHD) in allogeneic transplantation. CD4+ T cells are classified as immune functions : Th1 CD4+ cells for cellular immunity, Th2 for humoral immunity, Th3 for suppressive effect against activated T cells, Tr1 for regulation of immune response. Some CD4+ regulatory T cells have a major role in controlling immune response to alloantigen. A minor population of CD4+ T cells, which co-express the interleukin-2 receptor(IL-2R) alpha-chain(CD25), is crucial for the control of autoreactive T cells and for peripheral tolerance in allogeneic transplantation. CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells express high level of cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen 4(CTLA 4), as cell-contact mechanism, and secret immunomodulating cytokines, as IL-10 or TGF-beta, as independent cell contact. High expression of CTLA 4 on CD4+CD25+ T cells may contribute to deliver suppressive signals into T cells via CD28. Immature dendritic cells have low expression of major histocompatibility(MHC) and co-stimulatory signals, and few secretion of IL-12. CD4+CD25+ T cells are developed by immature myeloid dendritic cells, which are controlled under vitamin D3 or IL-10. In kidney transplantation, graft survival in recipients with donor specific transfusion(DST) showed longer than without DST. DST may induce antigen specific CD4+CD25+ T cells, and these cells play a role for central or peripheral tolerance against immune cells. In allogeneic HSCT, donor CD4+CD25+ T cells suppress lethal GVHD in MHC mismatched pairs, and also may possess graft-versus-leukemia effect in early infusion with HSC. We need more study for cytotoxic effect of CD4+CD25+ T cells, which have Fas-FasL interaction, although these cells in cancer patients suppress autoreactive T cells against tumor. Recently, many trials have investigated treatment for intractable disease using various types of cells, including mesenchymal stem cells, dendritic cells. We have to consider ex vivo expansion of CD4+CD25+ T cells for induction of immune tolerance in allogeneic transplantation. Now, we have to study or understand immunoregulatory cells for allogeneic transplantation or immune control.