PURPOSE: Concomitant splenectomy in cirrhotic patients is known to ameliorate the tendency to bleed and it decreases the portal venous pressure (PVP). However, the direct measurement of the change in the PVP after concomitant splenectomy has not yet been reported. We tried to measure the change of the PVP before and after splenectomy. METHODS: From March 2000 to May 2006, 18 patients underwent anatomical liver resection with concomitant splenectomy. All the patients had liver cirrhosis, thrombocytopenia and/or esophageal varix. Through the 5 French feeding tube, which was inserted into the right gastroepiploic vein after laparotomy, we directly measured the PVP before and after splenectomy, and also under portal triad clamping (PTC). RESULTS: After splenectomy, the PVP decreased significantly from 261.11+/-45.87 mmH2O to 221.11+/-38.48 mmH2O (p<0.05). Under PTC, the PVP decreased significantly from 605.00+/-116.48 mmH2O to 513.89+/-70.56 mmH2O (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Concomitant splenectomy in patients with liver cirrhosis resulted in a significant reduction of the PVP.
Constriction ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Factor IX ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Portal Pressure ; Splenectomy ; Thrombocytopenia ; Veins

The number of wild animal species is gradually decreasing due to poaching, hunting and habitat loss. While several endangered animal species have been successfully preserved at the zoo, assisted reproductive technology (ART) must be applied to restore wild animals. In the case of critically endangered animals, somatic cell cloning is considered the most appropriate method of ART. Somatic cell cloning can be beneficial for the reproduction of endangered species with limited female populations. However, gene and cell banks, and understanding of reproductive physiology and optimization of ART for wild animals are urgently required for further activation of artificial reproduction of endangered species, which enlarges its application and maintains biodiversity. Care should also be taken to consider ethical and legal issues associated with somatic cell cloning for conservation of endangered animals.
Animals ; Animals, Wild ; Biodiversity ; Clone Cells ; Cloning, Organism ; Ecosystem ; Endangered Species* ; Female ; Humans ; Physiology ; Reproduction ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted

OBJECTIVES: Although the mechanisms underlying the initiation and maintenance of inflammation in unilateral maxillary fungal balls (FBs) are poorly understood, the relationship between intranasal anatomy and maxillary FB is thought to play an important role. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between anatomic variations and FB. METHODS: We enrolled 140 patients who were composed of 56 patients with FB, 56 patients with unilateral chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), and 28 patients with no sinus disease. Computed tomography scans were retrospectively analyzed to identify and compare the associated nasal anatomic abnormalities. To measure the volume of the nasal cavity and middle meatus, computed tomography scans were reconstructed into three-dimensional images. RESULTS: The relatively larger volume of the middle meatus was associated with the localization of the FB in contrast with the CRS. However, the nasal-cavity volume, nasal valve area, and nasal septal deviation were not significantly associated with localization of FB. The mean volumetric and areal measurements such as nasal cavity, middle meatus, and nasal valve in FB-ipsilateral sides were not significantly different from those in contralateral sides as well as other groups. CONCLUSION: The middle meatus bears the major part of the inspiratory nasal airflow, and its volume may influence the occurrence of FB.
Humans ; Inflammation ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasal Septum ; Paranasal Sinuses ; Retrospective Studies ; Ursidae

Objective: The use of a high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) might cover the gap between conventional oxygen therapy andmechanical ventilation in the management of acute respiratory failure patients and could be a significant factor in determiningpatient outcomes. Early predictors of HFNC failure may help a clinician decide whether to shift the patient to amechanical ventilator. We aimed at identifying the predictors associated with HFNC failure and the application of amechanical ventilator using arterial blood gas analysis (ABGA). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients who were admitted to the emergency room at a single center with respiratorydistress and a PaO2/FiO2 ratio (ratio of arterial partial pressure of oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen) of less than300. Comparing keeping and weaning HFNC groups with the escalation group, we sought to identify a few discriminatingfactors. Initial ABGA was done when the patients entered the emergency room and this was followed up within 2 hoursafter HFNC therapy. Results: Two hundred and eighteen patients were enrolled and of these HFNC therapy succeeded in 153 and failed in65. At baseline Glasgow Coma Scale, follow-up (F/U) pH, ΔpH, and F/U respiratory rate-oxygenation index were lowerand pro-brain natriuretic peptide, initial lactate, F/U lactate, ΔPCO2, heart rate, acidosis, consciousness, oxygenation,respiratory rate score, Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation score, Simplified Acute Physiology Score, andSequential Organ Failure Assessment score were significantly higher in the HFNC failure group. The results of the multivariateanalysis indicated that initial lactate (odds ratio [OR], 1.215; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.081-1.366; P=0.001)and ΔpH (OR, 0.000; 95% CI, 0.000-0.018; P<0.001) were independently associated with the prediction of application ofthe mechanical ventilator. Conclusion Patients who had higher initial lactate levels and insufficiently corrected pH after HFNC therapy may needto be monitored carefully and escalation of oxygen therapy may need to be considered.

Purpose: Deodeok (Codonopsis lanceolata) is generally used in conventional medicines and is considered to have remedial properties to cure several diseases. However, application of the C. lanceolata bud as a novel food ingredient has not been fully explored. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is associated with the production of oxidative damage that results in mutagenesis, carcinogenesis, and cell death. This study examines the neuroprotective effect of C. lanceolata bud extracts (CLBE) on H2O2 -stimulated apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells. Methods: C. lanceolata bud of length 10 to 15 cm was collected and extracted using 70% ethanol. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by the EZ-cytox reagent, measurement of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) release and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The morphological changes of the nuclei were determined using the Hoechst 33258 dye. Enzyme activities were analyzed using the caspase activity assay kit. Related protein expressions were quantified by the Western blot immunoassay in H2O2 -stimulated SH-SY5Y cells. Results: Cell viability, LDH release and ROS generation, demonstrated neuroprotective effects of CLBE in H2O2-stimulated SH-SY5Y cells. The occurrence of apoptosis in H2O2-stimulated cells was confirmed by caspase activity, which was increased in H2O2-stimulated SH-SY5Y cells compared to the unexposed group. Pretreatment of CLBE was observed to inhibit the H2O2–stimulated apoptosis. In addition, exposure to CLBE resulted in increased expression of the Bcl-2 (B cell lymphoma 2) protein and decreased expression of the Bax (Bcl2 associated X) protein. Conclusion This study shows that exposure to CLBE alleviates the H2O2-stimulated neuronal damage in SH-SY5Y cells. Our results indicate the potential application of CLBE in neurodegenerative disease therapy or prevention.

Objective: The use of a high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) might cover the gap between conventional oxygen therapy andmechanical ventilation in the management of acute respiratory failure patients and could be a significant factor in determiningpatient outcomes. Early predictors of HFNC failure may help a clinician decide whether to shift the patient to amechanical ventilator. We aimed at identifying the predictors associated with HFNC failure and the application of amechanical ventilator using arterial blood gas analysis (ABGA). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients who were admitted to the emergency room at a single center with respiratorydistress and a PaO2/FiO2 ratio (ratio of arterial partial pressure of oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen) of less than300. Comparing keeping and weaning HFNC groups with the escalation group, we sought to identify a few discriminatingfactors. Initial ABGA was done when the patients entered the emergency room and this was followed up within 2 hoursafter HFNC therapy. Results: Two hundred and eighteen patients were enrolled and of these HFNC therapy succeeded in 153 and failed in65. At baseline Glasgow Coma Scale, follow-up (F/U) pH, ΔpH, and F/U respiratory rate-oxygenation index were lowerand pro-brain natriuretic peptide, initial lactate, F/U lactate, ΔPCO2, heart rate, acidosis, consciousness, oxygenation,respiratory rate score, Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation score, Simplified Acute Physiology Score, andSequential Organ Failure Assessment score were significantly higher in the HFNC failure group. The results of the multivariateanalysis indicated that initial lactate (odds ratio [OR], 1.215; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.081-1.366; P=0.001)and ΔpH (OR, 0.000; 95% CI, 0.000-0.018; P<0.001) were independently associated with the prediction of application ofthe mechanical ventilator. Conclusion Patients who had higher initial lactate levels and insufficiently corrected pH after HFNC therapy may needto be monitored carefully and escalation of oxygen therapy may need to be considered.

PURPOSE: Infantile constipation is one of the most common problems in pediatric gastrointestinal outpatient clinic. We planed to show the clinical feature of infantile constipation and explore the possible relationship between diets and symptoms of constipation. METHODS: We analyzed the medical records and telephone questionnaire about infants under 2 years of age with constipation, who visited outpatient clinic of Department of Pediatrics, Ilsan Paik Hospital during the time from March 2002 to February 2005. Data including the symptoms and signs of constipation, diet history, and past-medical history were analyzed. RESULTS: Total 96 infants, 40 male and 56 female, were enrolled in this study. The mean age was 9 months. Twenty-three infants were exclusively breast milk fed (BMF), 20 infants were cow's milk fed (CMF) and 53 infants had a history of mixed feeding with cow's milk and breast milk (MMF). Patients showed painful defecation (95.8%), abdominal distension (53.1%), palpable rectal stool (35.1%), hard stool (30.2%), blood-tinged stool (29.2%) and anal fissure (16.7%). Patients with exclusive cow milk feeding had prominent clinical features, such as anal fissure (p=0.03), hematochezia (p=0.04) and palpable rectal stool (p=0.025). Patients who had a history of larger intake of liquid food had a tendency to get anal skin tag (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Exclusive breast milk feeding seemed important to avoid constipation with clinical significance. To educate caregivers in appropriate way of the weaning food may help the infants with constipation.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Breast Feeding ; Caregivers ; Constipation* ; Defecation ; Diet ; Female ; Fissure in Ano ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Medical Records ; Milk ; Milk, Human ; Pediatrics ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Skin ; Telephone ; Weaning

PURPOSE: The prognosis of gallbladder carcinoma is unfavorable, and the depth of invasion, the T-factor, is the most important prognostic factor. T2 tumors are not easily diagnosed preoperatively, and they have unpredictable behavior. In this study, we reviewed the clinicopathologic features of pT2 gallbladder carcinoma and identified prognostic factors. METHODS: We enrolled 64 pT2 gallbladder carcinoma patients who underwent surgery in Kyungpook National University Hospital between January 1992 and July 2006. The clinicopathologic features were retrospectively reviewed, and univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meyer method and Cox regression hazard model to identify factors influencing long-term survival. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients (32.8%) were asymptomatic, with seven tumors (10.9%) found incidentally. The gallbladder body was the most commonly involved site (45.3%, 29/64). Although CA19-9 was not sensitive, it was helpful for predicting recurrence. The 5-year diseasespecific survival rate in R0 resection was 75.9%, whereas no patients in the R1 or R2 resection groups survived more than 18 months.ANone of the clinicopathologic factors was prognostic. The unfavorable prognostic effect associated with lymph node involvement highlights the importance of complete lymph node dissection. Partial liver resection favorably affected survival, but not to a statistically significant degree. CONCLUSION: Absence of symptoms and specific imaging findings in patients with considerable pT2 gallbladder carcinoma warrants high disease suspicion, and every effort should be taken to achieve R0 resection with extensive lymph node dissection, since it may improve long-term survival in pT2 carcinoma patients.
Gallbladder ; Humans ; Liver ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: Recently, mitochondrial DNA 4977bp deletion (mtDNA4977-mut), a somatic mutation related to oxidative stress, has been shown to be associated with atrial fibrillation (AF). We hypothesized that patient age, as well as electroanatomical characteristics of fibrillating left atrial (LA), vary depending on the presence of mtDNA4977-mut in peripheral blood among patients with non-valvular AF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Analyzing clinical and electroanatomical characteristics, we investigated the presence of the mtDNA4977-mut in peripheral blood of 212 patients (51.1+/-13.2 years old, 83.5% male) undergoing catheter ablation for non-valvular AF, as well as 212 age-matched control subjects. RESULTS: The overall frequency of peripheral blood mtDNA4977-mut in patients with AF and controls was not significantly different (24.5% vs. 19.3%, p=0.197). When the AF patient group was stratified according to age, mtDNA4977-mut was more common (47.4% vs. 20.0%, p=0.019) in AF patients older than 65 years than their age-matched controls. Among AF patients, those with mtDNA4977-mut were older (58.1+/-11.9 years old vs. 48.8+/-11.9 years old, p<0.001). AF patients positive for the mtDNA mutation had greater LA dimension (p=0.014), higher mitral inflow peak velocity (E)/diastolic mitral annular velocity (Em) ratio (p<0.001), as well as lower endocardial voltage (p=0.035), and slower conduction velocity (p=0.048) in the posterior LA than those without the mutation. In multivariate analysis, E/Em ratio was found to be significantly associated with the presence of mtDNA4977-mut in peripheral blood. CONCLUSION: mtDNA4977-mut, an age-related somatic mutation detected in the peripheral blood, is associated with advanced age and electro-anatomical remodeling of the atrium in non-valvular AF.
Adult ; Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation/blood/*genetics/*physiopathology ; Atrial Remodeling/*genetics ; Base Pairing/*genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; DNA, Mitochondrial/*blood/*genetics ; Female ; Heart Atria/pathology/physiopathology ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation Rate ; Phenotype ; Sequence Deletion/*genetics

Acute mediastinitis is a life threatening disorder that causes severe morbidity in affected patient. We experienced a case of acute mediastinitis in a 56 year-old man as a result of swallowing a fish bone (Order Perciformes, Family Pomacentridae). Conservative treatment, including starvation therapy and the injection of antibiotic drugs, were successful in treating this patient. Although the optimal treatment for acute mediastinitis remains controversial, it is important to choose the appropriate strategies when encountering cases of acute mediastinitis.
Male ; Humans