PURPOSE: To evaluate the value of dacryoscintigraphy in the assessment of patients with a clinical diagnosis of functional nasolacrimal duct obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dacryoscintigraphy was performed in symptomatic 35 lacrimal drainage systems in 18 patients (age range: 37~76, 8 males, 10 females) that were patent on syringing. RESULTS: Abnormalities were detected with dacryoscintigraphy in 75.8% of systems. The positive scintigrams were subdivided into those demonstrating prelacrimal sac delay (31.8%), delay at the lacrimal sac/junction (40.9%), or delay within the duct (27%). CONCLUSION: Dacryoscintigraphy is noninvasive useful technique in the assessment of the functional nasolacrimal duct obstruction and very sensitive at detecting abnormalities in patients with lid laxity caused by senile change and facial nerve palsy.
Diagnosis* ; Drainage ; Facial Nerve ; Humans ; Male ; Nasolacrimal Duct* ; Paralysis

Metastatic calcification is defined as ectopic calcification of soft tissues in patients with a systemic mineral imbalance, and dystrophic calcification or heterotopic ossification is distinct from that disease. The authors encountered a metastatic calcification of the finger in a patient with chronic renal failure, the lesion disappeared spontaneously during the observation period. We report on a case of metastatic calcification of the finger with a review of the literature.
Calcinosis ; Fingers* ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Ossification, Heterotopic ; Renal Insufficiency

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: beta-catenin has an essential role in intercellular adhesion and signal transduction. The Adenomatous poliposis coli (APC) protein interacts with beta-catenin in a multi-protein complex to regulate the level of expression of beta-catenin. Mutations in beta-catenin or APC gene can lead to the accumulation of beta-catenin in the cytosol and the nucleus. This study was designed to investigate the expression of APC and beta-catenin in laryngeal cancer. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Immunohistochemical methods were used to determine the beta-catenin and APC protein expression in 15 laryngeal cancers. Results were correlated with clinicopathological parameters. RESULTS: beta-catenin expression to the plasma membrane was reduced or absent in 11 of 15 cases (73%) of the laryngeal cancers. Cytoplasmic expression of the beta-catenin was seen in 6 out of 15 cases (40%). APC immunoactivity was negative in 5 of 15 (33%) of the laryngeal cancers. One of the six cytoplasmic expressions of the beta-catenin was negative for APC immunoactivity, and one of the five negative for APC immunoactivity was cytoplasmic expression of the beta-catenin. CONCLUSION: There was no correlation between beta-catenin and APC protein in the analysis. This finding suggests that cytoplasmic expression of the beta-catenin resulted not from the APC mutation but from the beta-catenin mutation and abnormal Wnt signal. Only the expression of the beta-catenin in cytoplasm was associated with lymph node metastasis.
beta Catenin* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cell Membrane ; Cytoplasm ; Cytosol ; Genes, APC ; Laryngeal Neoplasms* ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Signal Transduction

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic results of cementless total hip arthroplasty (THA) with subtrochanteric transverse shortening osteotomy in patients with high hip dislocation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen patients with high hip dislocation who underwent cementless THA combined with a subtrochanteric transverse shortening osteotomy, plate or cable fixation and bone graft on the osteotomy site between 2001 and 2012 were evaluated in this study. The mean duration of follow-up was 5.2 (2-8.3) years. We evaluated Harris hip score, limping, limb length discrepancy as a clinical parameter and osteolysis, loosening and union of the osteotomy site as a radiographic parameter. RESULTS: Harris hip scores at the final follow-up showed improvement of limping and limb length discrepancy in all cases. And, with the exception of two cases of infection, there were no loosening and osteolysis. All cases showed union of the osteotomy site. There were two cases of infection and one case of dislocation as a complication. Infection occurred in two patients who underwent reoperation and one patient developed sciatic nerve palsy. CONCLUSION: Cementless THA with subtrochanteric transverse shortening osteotomy showed relatively satisfactory clinical and radiologic results. However, the incidence of complications, such as infection, is relatively high, therefore, careful attention is needed.
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip* ; Dislocations ; Extremities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip ; Hip Dislocation* ; Hip Dislocation, Congenital ; Humans ; Incidence ; Osteolysis ; Osteotomy* ; Reoperation ; Sciatic Neuropathy ; Transplants

No abstract available.

Bile leaks remain a significant cause of morbidity for patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Leakage from an injured duct of Luschka (subvesical duct) follows the cystic duct as the most common cause of postcholecystectomy bile leaks. Although endoscopic sphincterotomy, plastic-stent placement, or nasobiliary-drain placement are effective in healing biliary leaks, in patients in whom leakage persists and the symptoms worsen despite conventional endoscopic treatment, re-exploration with laparoscopy and ligation of the injured subvesical duct should be considered. We present herein the case of a 31-year-old woman with refractory bile leakage from a disrupted subvesical duct after cholecystectomy that could not be managed with endoscopic sphincterotomy and plastic-stent placement. A newly designed, fully covered, self-expandable metal stent (FC-SEMS) was successfully placed for the treatment of refractory bile leaks in this patient. It appears that temporary placement of an FC-SEMS is technically feasible and provides an effective alternative to surgical therapy for refractory bile leaks after cholecystectomy.
Adult ; Bile ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic ; Cystic Duct ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Ligation ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic ; Stents

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze the use of a compression hip screw with a trochanter stabilizing plate for treatment of reverse oblique intertrochanteric fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the results of 33 cases of reverse oblique intertrochanteric fracture treated with a compression hip screw with a trochanter stabilizing plate from January 2000 to December 2012 which were followed-up for more than one year. We evaluated postoperative bone union period, change of neck-shaft angle, sliding of hip screw, and other complications. RESULTS: Of 33 patients, satisfactory reduction was achieved in 28 patients. Five patients had an unsatisfactory reduction, with two cases of excessive screw sliding, one of broken metal, one of varus deformity, and one of internal rotation deformity. We performed corrective osteotomy in varus and internal rotation deformity and partial hip replacement in a case of excessive screw sliding. Bone union was achieved in 29 patients, and the average bone union period was 19.2 weeks. CONCLUSION: We consider that a compression hip screw with a trochanteric stabilized plate is a good option for treatment of reverse oblique intertrochanteric femoral fractures. However, adequate fracture reduction and ideal implant placement are a basic necessity for successful treatment.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Femoral Fractures ; Femur* ; Hip Fractures ; Hip* ; Humans ; Osteotomy

PURPOSE: In Korea, the number of laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomies for early gastric cancer patients has been increasing lately. Although minimally invasive surgery is more beneficial, no reported case of a totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy has been reported because of difficulty with intracorporeal anastomosis. This study attempts, through our experiences, to determine the feasibility of a totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy using an intracorporeal gastroduodenostomy in treating early gastric carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated surgical results and clinicopatholgic characteristics of eight(8) patients with an early gastric carcinoma who underwent a totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy at the Department of Surgery, Our Lady of Mercy Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, between June 2004 and September 2004. The intracorporeal gastroduodenostomy was performed with a delta-shaped ananstomosis by using only laparoscopic linear staplers (Endocutter 45 mm; Ethicon Endosurgery, OH, USA). RESULTS: The operative time was 369.4+/-62.5 minutes (range 275~65 minutes), and the anastomotic time was 45.1+/-14.4 minutes (range 32~0 minutes). The anastomotic time was shortened as surgical experience was gained. The number of laparoscopic linear staplers for an operation was 7.1+/-0.6. The number of lymph nodes harvested was 31.9+/-13.1. There was 1 case of transfusion and no case of conversion to an open procedure. The time to the first flatus was 2.8+/-0.5 days, and the time to the first food intake was 4.1+/-0.8 days. There were no early postoperative complications, and the postoperative hospital stay was 10.0+/-3.9 days. CONCLUSION: A totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy using an intracorporeal gastroduodenostomy with a delta-shaped anastomosis is technically feasible and can maximize the benefit of laparoscopic surgery for early gastric cancer.
Conversion to Open Surgery ; Eating ; Flatulence ; Gastrectomy* ; Humans ; Korea ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Lymph Nodes ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Complications ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Surgical Procedures, Minimally Invasive

In order to study the range of flight and feeding activity of Anopheles sinensis, the dispersal experiment was conducted in Paju city, located in the northern part of Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea, during the period of 7th to 28th September 1998. Unfed females An. sinensis were collected in cowshed and released after being marked with fluorescent dye at 23:00 hours on the same day. Released female mosquitoes were recaptured everyday during 21 days using light traps, which were set at 10 sites in the cowsheds located 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 km north-northwest and north-northeast and at 3 sites located 1, 6 and 9 km toward south-west from the release point. In addition, to study the longest flight distance in one night, we set the light traps at 16 and 20 km toward north-northeast from the release site. All the collected mosquitoes were placed on filter papers and observed on UV transilluminator after treatment with one drop of 100% ethanol. Out of 12,773 females of An. sinensis released, 194 marked females mosquitoes were recaptured, giving 1.52% recapture rate. Of 194, 72 mosquitoes (37.1%) were recaptured in light traps from three places set at 1 km from the release point, 57 mosquitoes (29.4%) from two places at 1-3 km, 41 mosquitoes (21.1%) from three places at 3-6 km, 20 mosquitoes (10.3%) from three places at 6-9 km, and 4 mosquitoes (2.1%) from two places at 9-12 km. Since 170 female mosquitoes (87.6%) out of 194 marked mosquitoes were captured within 6 km from the release point, this flight radius represents the main activity area. An sinensis was found to be able to fly at least 12 km during one night.
Animals ; Anopheles/*physiology ; Entomology/methods ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; *Flight, Animal ; Fluorescent Dyes ; Korea ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Time Factors

We investigated the seasonality of Anopheles mosquitoes, including its species composition, density, parity, and population densities of mosquitoes infected with the parasite in Ganghwa-do (Island), a vivax malaria endemic area in the Republic of Korea. Mosquitoes were collected periodically with a dry-ice-tent trap and a blacklight trap during the mosquito season (April-October) in 2008. Anopheles sinensis (94.9%) was the most abundant species collected, followed by Anopheles belenrae (3.8%), Anopheles pullus (1.2%), and Anopheles lesteri (0.1%). Hibernating Anopheles mosquitoes were also collected from December 2007 to March 2008. An. pullus (72.1%) was the most frequently collected, followed by An. sinensis (18.4%) and An. belenrae (9.5%). The composition of Anopheles species differed between the mosquito season and hibernation seasons. The parous rate fluctuated from 0% to 92.9%, and the highest rate was recorded on 10 September 2008. Sporozoite infections were detected by PCR in the head and thorax of female Anopheles mosquitoes. The annual sporozoite rate of mosquitoes was 0.11% (2 of 1,845 mosquitoes). The 2 mosquitoes that tested positive for sporozoites were An. sinensis. Malarial infections in anopheline mosquitoes from a population pool were also tried irrespective of the mosquito species. Nine of 2,331 pools of Anopheles mosquitoes were positive. From our study, it can be concluded that An. sinensis, which was the predominant vector species and confirmed as sporozoite-infected, plays an important role in malaria transmission in Ganghwa-do.
Animals ; Anopheles/*classification ; *Disease Vectors ; *Endemic Diseases ; Head/parasitology ; Malaria/*epidemiology/*transmission ; Plasmodium/isolation & purification ; Population Dynamics ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Seasons ; Thorax/parasitology