BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There is little clinical data on the results of using Sirolimus-Eluting Stent (SES) for treating In-Stent Restenosis (ISR). We performed this study to evaluate the clinical outcomes for implanting SES for treating ISR in a real world hospital environment. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 30 patients with 32 ISRs (males: 73.3%, mean age: 60.2) (focal lesions: 21.9%, diffuse intra-stent lesions: 34.4%, proliferative lesions: 21.9%, total occlusions: 21.9%) were treated with SES after balloon predilation was performed. We evaluated the clinical results and the performed coronary angiography after 6 months. RESULTS: All the procedures were successful. The mean SES diameter and length were 3.0+/-0.3 mm and 27.1+/-5.5 mm, respectively, and the mean acute gain was 2.42+/-0.38 mm. No in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were observed. Twenty five patients with 27 lesions (84.4%) underwent coronary angiography at their 6 month follow-up. The late loss and loss index were 0.41+/-0.56 mm and 0.18+/-0.22, respectively. The binary restenosis rate was 7.4% (2/27 lesions). The rate of target lesion revascularization was 3.7% (1/27 lesion). The incidence of MACE at 6 months was 3.3% (1/30 patient). CONCLUSION: Treating ISR with SES is a safe and effective procedure for reducing ISR without the occurrence of acute or sub-acute thrombosis.
Coronary Angiography* ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Restenosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Stents* ; Thrombosis

No abstract available.
Leiomyosarcoma* ; Uterine Inversion*

BACKGROUND: The common causes of lower back pain with or without leg pain includes disk disease and spinal stenosis. A definitive diagnosis is usually made by means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but treatment is often difficult because the MRI findings are not consistent with the symptoms of the patient in many cases. The objective of this study was to observe the correlation between the patterns of epidurography performed in patients having lower back pain with or without leg pain and the position or severity of the pain as subjectively described by the patients. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 69 outpatients with lower back pain with or without leg pain who visited our clinic and complained of predominant pain on one side. We performed caudal epidural block using an image intensifier. A mixture of the therapeutic drug and the contrast agent (10 ml) was injected to observe the contrast flow pattern. The patients who complained of predominant pain on one side were divided into the left side group and the right side group. A judgment of inconsistency was made if the contrast agent flowed to the side of the pain, while a judgment of consistency was made if the contrast agent flowed to the opposite side of the pain. The degree of the drug distribution was evaluated by counting the number of cells to which the contrast agent's flowed for evaluating the correlation between the contrasted cell and the severity of pain (one group < or = VAS 7, the other group > or = VAS 8) the degree of the contrast agent's contrast was evaluated by dividing and counting an image into 15 cells (the left, right, and middle sections at each level of L4, L5, S1, S2, and S3). RESULTS: Thirty out of the 69 patients who had laterality in pain, that is, those who complained of predominant pain on one side, showed that the laterality of the pain and the contrast agent flow was consistent, while 39 patients showed that the laterality was inconsistent (P: 0.137). The evaluation of the correlation between the pain and the contrast agent flow showed that the mean number of contrasted cells was 9.0 +/- 2.2 for the 46 patients in the group with a VAS of 7 or lower and 6.5 +/- 2.0 for the 23 patients in the group with a VAS of 8 or higher, indicating that the former group showed a significantly greater number of contrasted cells (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study, conducted with patients having lower back pain with or without leg pain, showed that the contrast flow pattern of caudal epidurography had a significant correlation with the severity of the pain but not with the laterality of the pain.
Humans ; Judgment ; Leg ; Low Back Pain ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Outpatients ; Spinal Stenosis

Calvarium protects the brain, the most important organ. The defect of calvarium results in not only deformity but also fatal injury from the trauma. The cranial bone defects result from 1) removal of bone flap for intracranial decompression or infection 2) fracture 3) excision of tumor 4) craniectomy for craniosynostosis. The goals of cranioplasty are to protect the brain from trauma and make the aesthetically acceptable contour. From 1990 to 1995, we experienced twelve cases of cranioplasty using autogenous bone graft; 5 cases with rib bone, 3 cases with iliac bone, 2 cases with calvarial bone, and 2 cases with rib and calvarial bones. The result was very excellent without any significant complications.
Brain ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Craniosynostoses ; Decompression ; Ribs ; Skull ; Transplants*

PURPOSE:Ghrelin is an endogenous ligand of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor, and stomach is the major site of ghrelin secretion. The purpose of this study is to compare the serum ghrelin concentrations between patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and normal adults. We studied also whether serum ghrelin levels in the patients with type 2 DM are correlated with body mass index (BMI), serum insulin, lipid profiles, and creatinine levels. METHODS:Forty patients with type 2 DM and forty normal adults were included in this study. We measured heights and weights of the subjects and calculated their BMIs. Blood samples were obtained to measure the ghrelin concentration and their sera were stored at -20degreeC until used. In all subjects, serum ghrelin levels were measured using the commercially available Ghrelin(human) EIA kit. RESULTS:No differences of mean values were detected between the control group and the type 2 diabetic group for age, body weight, BMI, and the levels of serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, and creatinine. But ghrelin level of the type 2 diabetic group (71.1+/-30.5 ng/L) was significantly lower than the control group (139.7+/-36.9 ng/L). In the control group, the ghrelin level showed positive correlation with HDL cholesterol (Pearson's correlation coefficient=0.37, P<0.05). In the diabetic group, the ghrelin level showed weakly positive correlation with insulin concentration. However, there was no significant relationship between serum ghrelin and various parameters in the diabetic patients group. CONCLUSION: In this study, ghrelin concentration in type 2 diabetic patients was lower than that in the control group. In the control group, serum ghrelin concentrations were positively correlated with HDL cholesterol. In the type 2 diabetic group, there was no significant correlation between insulin and ghrelin concentrations.
Adult ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Creatinine ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* ; Ghrelin* ; Humans ; Insulin ; Receptors, Ghrelin ; Stomach ; Triglycerides ; Weights and Measures

No abstract available.
Dysgerminoma* ; Female ; Ovary* ; Pregnancy*

PURPOSE: To report a case of isolated anterior capsule rupture with cataract after blunt ocular trauma. CASE SUMMARY: A 38-year-old male complained of decreased visual acuity in the right eye after blunt ocular trauma 5 days earlier. The visual acuity was counting fingers at 30 cm in the right eye, and intraocular pressure, measured using an applanation tonometer, was 25 mm Hg. Slit lamp examination showed a white intumescent cataract with anterior lens capsule rupture and cortical lens material extruding into the anterior chamber. Under local anesthesia, removal of the cataract was approached via a clear corneal incision. After removal of the cataract using irrigation and aspiration, the intact posterior capsule was observed. IOL haptic was implanted in the sulcus, and IOL optic was implanted in the bag. Postoperatively, the BCVA improved in the right eye to 0.8 at 1 month, and the intraocular pressure, by the Goldmann applanation tonometer was 13 mm Hg at that time.
Adult ; Anesthesia, Local ; Anterior Chamber ; Cataract ; European Continental Ancestry Group ; Eye ; Fingers ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Male ; Rupture ; Visual Acuity

No abstract available.
Skin Neoplasms* ; Skin*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the color stability, water sorption and cytotoxicity of thermoplastic acrylic resin for the non-metal clasp dentures to those of thermoplastic polyamide and conventional heat-polymerized denture base resins. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three types of denture base resin, which are conventional heat-polymerized acrylic resin (Paladent 20), thermoplastic polyamide resin (Bio Tone), thermoplastic acrylic resin (Acrytone) were used as materials for this study. One hundred five specimens were fabricated. For the color stability test, specimens were immersed in the coffee and green tee for 1 and 8 weeks. Color change was measured by spectrometer. Water sorption was tested after 1 and 8 weeks immersion in the water. For the test of cytotoxicity, cell viability assay was measured and cell attachment was analyzed by FE-SEM. RESULTS: All types of denture base resin showed color changes after 1 and 8 weeks immersion. However, there was no significant difference between denture base resins. All specimens showed significant color changes in the coffee than green tee. In water sorption test, thermoplastic acrylic resin showed lower values than conventional heat-polymerized acrylic resin and thermoplastic polyamide resin. Three types of denture base showed low cytotoxicity in cell viability assay. Thermoplastic acrylic resin showed the similar cell attachment but more stable attachment than conventional heat-polymerized acrylic resin. CONCLUSION: Thermoplastic acrylic resin for the non-metal clasp denture showed acceptable color stability, water sorption and cytotoxicity. To verify the long stability in the mouth, additional in vitro studies are needed.
Cell Survival ; Coffee ; Denture Bases ; Dentures* ; Immersion ; Mouth ; Nylons ; Water*

No abstract available.
Appendix* ; Carcinoid Tumor*