BACKGROUND: Various hemodynamic changes occur during left ventriculography, such as myocardial depression, hypotension, peripheral circulatory changes, ECG changes(such as arrhythmias and conduction abnormalities) and anaphylactic reaction etc. These effects are somewhat caused by osmolality, ionic concentration of Na+, viscosity and molecular weight of contrast dye and underlying various heart disease itself during left ventriculography. We compared the hemodynamic differences between ionic(ioxaglate) and non-ionic(iopromide) low osmolar contrast agents during routine ventriculography. METHODS: In a prospective, randomized, double blind study of 124 patients underwent left ventriculography, we examined the various hemodynamic effects of the two contrast agents on left ventricle. All subjects were divided into 2 groups : ioxaglate and iopromide groups. Also, each agent was used in randomized double blind fashion in both groups ; normal control subjects(14 in ioxaglate group : 12 in iopromide group) and subjects whose ejection fraction less than 50%(12 in ioxaglate group : 16 in iopromide group). Left ventricular systolic pressure(LVSP), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure(LVEDP), maximum dP/dt, (dP/dt)/P ratio, peak - dP/dt and Tau were obtained immediately before and left ventriculography. RESULTS: 1) In total(normal+angina+MI) subjects of both groups, LVEDP(p<0.001) and maximum dP/dt(p<0.001) were increased and T(au) was reduced significantly(p<0.05). But LVSP(p<0.001) and peak - dP/dt(p<0.005) were increased significantly only in ioxaglate group. 2)In normal(control) subjects, there were no significant differences in both groups, except LVEDP that was increased by equal magnitude(p<0.001). 3) In subjects with ejection fraction less than 50%, there were no significant hemodynamic differences in both contrast agent groups bur LVEDP increased significantly in both groups(p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This present study showed that both ionic(ioxaglate) and non-ionic(iopromide) low osmolar contrast agents were very safe without any significant side effects except two agents caused an increase in LVEDP and did not show major differences between ioxaglate and iopromide contrast agents from a hemodynamic point of view. Two contrast agents tend to improve contractilities and diastolic properties of left ventricle since both caused an increase in maximum dP/dt and a reduce in Tau, in total subjects. This effect may be caused by cardiac compensation, probably because of osmolality, volume loading by contrast agents and secondary activation of sympathetic system immediately after injection of contrast agents. Thus, it is concluded that two ioxaglate and iopromide contrast agents amy be used safely in left ventriculography in patients with and without left ventricular dysfunction, with paying attention to an increase in LVEDP.
Anaphylaxis ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Compensation and Redress ; Contrast Media* ; Depression ; Double-Blind Method ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Ventricles ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Ioxaglic Acid ; Molecular Weight ; Osmolar Concentration ; Prospective Studies ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left ; Viscosity

PURPOSE: Siewert's classification of adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) has been widely adopted, but there is a wide discrepancy of the clinicopathological features of AEG of the Asian patients as compared to that of the Western patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinicopathological characteristics of AEG according to the Siewert classification. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among the patients who underwent surgery for gastric carcinoma in our institution between May 2004 and February 2008, the AEG patients were selected based on their operation records and the photographs according to Siewert's classification. RESULTS: There were 70 AEG patients (3.9%) among the total of 1,778 patients. There were 3 patients (4.3%) with type I, 30 patients (42.8%) with type II and 37 patients (52.8%) with type III. Curative resection (R0) was achieved in 68 cases (97.1%). No significant differences in gender, stage, Barrett's esophagus and the proximal margin were found between the patients with type II and type III AEG. The patients with type III were younger than the patients with type II (59 vs 64 years, respectively, P=0.049). Well differentiated histology (P=0.045) and the intestinal type (P=0.055) were significantly more frequent in the patients with type II as compared with that in the patients with type III. CONCLUSION: There was a striking difference of the Asian patients from the Western patients for the incidence of AEG (and especially type I). Some of the differences between type II and type III patients were similar to those of the previous Western studies. A large study is needed to investigate whether these features are typical in the Korean population.
Adenocarcinoma ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Barrett Esophagus ; Esophagogastric Junction ; Humans ; Incidence ; Strikes, Employee

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine levels of stress and professionalism of nurses who provided nursing care during the 2015 Middle East respiratory syndrome outbreak based on their experience, to investigate the nurses' intention to respond to possible future outbreaks in relation to their experience during the outbreak, and to determine the relationship between the outbreak experience and nursing intention considering stress and professionalism. METHODS: A self-administered questionnairewas designed based on modifications of related questionnaires, and used to assess levels of stress, professionalism, and nursing intention according to participants' experiences during the outbreak. Multiple regression analysiswas used to examine the relationship between the outbreak nursing experience and nursing intention considering stress and nursing professionalism. RESULTS: The overall stress, professionalism, and nursing intention scores for the firsthand experience group were 33.72, 103.00, and 16.92, respectively, whereas those of the secondhand experience group were 32.25, 98.99, and 15.60, respectively. There were significant differences in professionalism and nursing intention scores between the groups (p = .001 and p < .001, respectively). The regression analysis revealed that the regression estimate between stress and nursing intention was B(SE) = −0.08(0.02), beta = −0.21, p < .001 and the regression estimate between professionalism in nursing and nursing intention was B(SE) = 0.05(0.01), beta = 0.23, p < .001. CONCLUSIONS: Prior outbreak nursing experience was importantly associated with intention to provide care for patients with a newly emerging infectious disease in the future considering stress and professionalism. Gathering information about nurses' experience of epidemics and regular assessment of job stress and professionalism are required.
Communicable Diseases* ; Communicable Diseases, Emerging ; Coronavirus ; Coronavirus Infections ; Disease Outbreaks ; Emergencies* ; Hospitals, Public* ; Humans ; Intention* ; Korea* ; Nursing Care ; Nursing* ; Professionalism* ; Stress, Psychological

Aplasia cutis congenita is a rare congenital skin defect that presents with sharply outlined ulcerations. The most common site of this disease is the scalp, yet when other areas of the body are involved, there is higher incidence of concomitant congenital diseases or malformations. Bart's syndrome is a rare inherited condition with congenital skin defects that are associated with epidermolysis bullosa. An infant presented with congenital skin defects on the leg, and the infant had recurrent bullous skin lesions on the both hands, feet, wrists and ankles. The skin defect caused only small scar formation and no handicap regarding function and appearance, yet continuously new bullous lesion developed and healed on the both distal extremities. He was diagnosed as suffering with epidermolysis bullosa with the histological findings of epidermal cleavage and negative direct immunofluorescence findings. Herein, we report on a case of Bart's syndrome that displayed aplasia cutis congenita over the lower extremities and skin blistering.
Animals ; Ankle ; Blister ; Cicatrix ; Ectodermal Dysplasia ; Epidermolysis Bullosa ; Extremities ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct ; Foot ; Hand ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Leg ; Lower Extremity ; Scalp ; Skin ; Stress, Psychological ; Ulcer ; Wrist

In cancer patient, hypercalcemia may develop. The mechanism is local osteolysis by metastasis of cancinoma, or secretion of hormone such as PTHrP (parathyroid hormone related peptides). Bone metastasis in carcinoma of uterine cervix is uncommon. In this report, we present a case of hypercalcemia caused by metastasis of cervical carcinoma to the right acetabulum with a brief review of the literature.
Acetabulum* ; Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia* ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Osteolysis ; Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein

BACKGROUND: Nipple reconstruction following breast mound reconstruction is the final step in breast reconstruction. Although nipple reconstruction is a simple surgery, the psychological aspects of nipple reconstruction are thought to be important. Nipple projection is a key factor in determining patient satisfaction with the surgery. In the present study, the Hammond flap technique was introduced for nipple reconstruction. METHODS: Twenty-six patients who had undergone breast reconstruction from February 2008 to March 2012 were enrolled in this prospective study. All patients were evaluated based on preoperative photos, and their nipple diameters and heights were measured. Postoperative evaluation was conducted 3, 6, 9, and 12 months following nipple reconstruction. A questionnaire on patient satisfaction with the nipple reconstruction was administered 12 months after nipple reconstruction. Moreover, the same plastic surgeon scored nipple projection and overall cosmetic result of the new nipple. RESULTS: The mean projection was 4.4 mm (range, 3-6 mm), and it well matched the contralateral nipple. Twelve months following nipple reconstruction, the mean reduction rate in the nipple projection was 43.6%. Patients were satisfied or very satisfied with the nipple projection and the overall cosmetic result in 80.7% cases. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, compared with other techniques, the use of the Hammond flap technique in nipple reconstruction showed competitive results with regard to nipple projection and patient satisfaction.
Breast ; Female ; Humans ; Mammaplasty ; Nipples* ; Patient Satisfaction ; Prospective Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of surgically diagnosing early gastric cancer (EGC) and lymph node metastasis, and to determine its role for performing limited surgery for EGC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 369 patients who underwent gastrectomy for primary gastric carcinoma. The surgical diagnosis was evaluated by determining its sensitivity, specificity and accuracy, and this was compared with the preoperative examinations. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the intraoperative diagnosis for EGC were 74.5%, 95.7% and 83.7%, respectively. The predictive value for EGC according to the intraoperative diagnosis was 95.7%. The surgical diagnosis of EGC showed higher specificity and a higher predictive value than preoperative examinations, which significantly reduced the risk of underestimating advanced gastric cancer (AGC) to EGC. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for lymph node metastasis according to the surgical diagnosis were 73.2%, 78.1% and 76.4%, respectively. For 70 patients with a discrepancy in the diagnosis of EGC between the pre- and intra-operative diagnosis, the surgical diagnosis was correct in 63 (90%) patients, but the preoperative examinations were correct in only 7 (10%) patients. CONCLUSION: The surgical diagnosis showed better accuracy than the preoperative examinations for detecting EGC and lymph node metastasis. Our results suggest that the decision for conducting limited surgery based on the surgical diagnosis might reduce the risk of under-treatment of AGC to EGC better than the preoperative examinations.
Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stomach Neoplasms

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of D2 lymphadenectomy in elderly patients with gastric cancerby comparing the surgical outcomes and postoperative courses between an elderly group and a control group undergoing the same procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical information was reviewed for 1251 patients with gastric cancer who underwent gastrectomy between May 2004 and May 2007. Patients were classified into the following two groups: an elderly group (older than the average life span in Korea) and a control group (younger than the elderly group). Clinicopathologic features and postoperative courses after D2 lymphadenectomy were reviewed and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: There were a total of 120 (9%) elderly group patients among all those reviewed, and 86 (72.2%) of them underwent D2 lymphadenectomy. There was 27.5% postoperative morbidity in the elderly group, which was significantly different from thecontrol group (12.8%, p=0.003). However, on multivariate analysis, ASA score and combined resection were independent predictive factors of postoperative complications, while age was not predictive. CONCLUSION: Older age is not a predictive factor of postoperative complications in itself, and D2 lymphadenectomy can be safely performed in elderly patients with gastric cancer, provided they have good ASA scores and do not undergo accompanying combined resection.
Aged ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Multivariate Analysis ; Postoperative Complications ; Stomach Neoplasms

Mycobacterial infections that are transmitted by acupuncture are an emerging problem. M. fortuitum is one of the rapid-growing atypical mycobacteria and this infection usually follows a puncture wound or a surgical procedure. We report here on a case of M. fortuitum infection following an acupuncture procedure. A 37-year-old woman presented with indurations and ulcerations of both popliteal fossae after undergoing acupuncture. The skin biopsy specimen showed suppurative inflammation with a lymphocytic infiltration, and the Ziehl-Neelsen stain for AFB was negative. Bacterial culture of the tissue fluid was negative. The culture of the tissue specimen and polymerase chain reaction revealed M. fortuitum. The infection responded to 10 weeks of treatment with isoniazid, rifampin and ethambutol, and four months of treatment with rifampin. Despite of the increasing popularity of acupuncture, the importance of infection control has not been adequately emphasized in oriental medicine. Education for proper infection control, including aseptic practice, is necessary for oriental medical doctors and practitioners.
Acupuncture ; Adult ; Biopsy ; Ethambutol ; Female ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Inflammation ; Isoniazid ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional ; Mycobacterium ; Mycobacterium fortuitum ; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Punctures ; Rifampin ; Skin ; Ulcer

PURPOSE: The usefulness of serum tumor markers for assessing gastric carcinoma is very limited compared to that for neoplasms in other digestive organs. Many reports have shown that serum tumor markers are closely associated with the prognosis and tumor recurrence in gastric cancer patients. However, little is known about the usefulness of serum tumor markers as a predictor of distant metastasis for gastric carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: With excluding the non-specific causes of elevated tumor markers, a total of 788 patients with gastric carcinoma and who were seen at our hospitals between 2004 and 2006 were included in this study. The correlation between the preoperative level of tumor makers and the clinicopathological features was analyzed. RESULTS: CEA was significantly correlated with age, gender and nodal metastasis, but not with the depth of tumor. The CEA level was not correlated with distant metastasis, such as peritoneal or hematogenous metastasis. In contrast, the CA 19-9 level was significantly correlated not only with the depth of tumor and nodal metastasis, but also with peritoneal metastasis. Especially, the patients with over 500% elevation of the CA 19-9 level had a significant risk of peritoneal metastasis. CONCLUSION: CA 19-9 is useful for predicting peritoneal metastasis in gastric cancer patients. It can be used efficiently in making the diagnostic and the treatment plan, in combination with other diagnostic tools, for gastric cancer patients.
Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Biomarkers, Tumor