PURPOSE: This study was to prepare the basic data for prevention of colo-rectal cancer and protection against its spread. METHOD: The subjects for the study were 204 patients with colo-rectal cancer from the G.S. wards of five general hospitals in Busan for the period of June 1 to September 1, 2001. The instrument used was a questionaire which was developed by Junho Shin(1995). The data was analyzed by descriptive statistics, McNemar test, x2 test, paired t-test, and ANOVA. RESULT: 1. 57% of the studied subjects were male, 42.7% were more than 60 years old, 54.9% were of standard physique, 49.5% were the Buddhists, 50.5% were the middle or high school graduates, 83.8% were city dwellers, 48% were jobless, 69.6% had no-history of alimentary disease, 44.1% had no-family history of cancer, 82.8% were married. 2. Constipation(x2=36.45, p=0.0001) in clients showed a significant positive association for the pre- diagnosed, but diarrhea(x2=3.947, p=0.047) showed a significant positive association for the post-diagnosed. The preference for high seasonings(t=6.23, p=0.0001) and animal fat (t=8.35, p=0.0001) was higher significantly in the pre-diagnosed, but physical activities(x2= 30.22, p=0.0001), an eutrophic or tonic medicine(x2=30.22, p=0.0001), was of and vegetables(t=-6.20, p=0.0001) was higher significantly in the post-diagnosed. 3. There were significant differences in the life style of the pre-diagnosed according to the general characteristics except religion. CONCLUSION: Results of the above study reveal we should be very sensitive to the change of defecation styles and consider the necessity of improving life styles as regards eating habits. When an education program is developed, the general characteristics of the subjects need to be considered.
Animals ; Busan ; Defecation ; Eating ; Education ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Life Style* ; Male ; Middle Aged

Coronary restenosis is still regarded as Achilles' Hill of interventional cardiology despite relentless efforts of many investigators. Recent experimental and clinical studies have suggested that both gamma and beta radiation can be reduce restenosis after angioplasty. Currently, intracoronary brachytherapy for the prevention of restenosis has become a new evolving treatment modality in interventional cardiology. This report discusses a physical aspect of gamma and beta radiation, initial clinical results and delivery systems used in intracoronary brachytherapy. We shall take a brief overview of methods and their advantages in intracoronary brachytherapy. Future work should provide further insight for the best way of treating restenosis.
Angioplasty ; Beta Particles ; Brachytherapy ; Cardiology ; Coronary Restenosis ; Humans ; Research Personnel

With the development of body sensor technology, wearable health monitoring systems have been an emerging information technology in the 'ubiquitous health care' system. Wearable sensors enable long-term continuous physiological monitoring important in health promotion and management of many chronic disorders. In this paper, we present several wearable health monitoring systems developed by different countries and discuss emerging opportunities, as well as, existing challenges such as standardization, administration, validation, and discrepancy issues between technology and clinical implication.
Health Promotion ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; Telemedicine

Spontaneous rupture of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is rare due to its abundant fibrous stroma. We report our experience in a case of spontaneous rupture of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in a pregnant patient. In our case, multiple hepatic masses with intratumoral hemorrhage were noted on post-delivery computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging and they caused hemoperitoneum. A right hemi-hepatectomy was carried out to control the bleeding and the diagnosis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with metastasis was performed.
Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Cholangiocarcinoma* ; Diagnosis ; Hemoperitoneum ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pregnancy ; Rupture ; Rupture, Spontaneous*

Huntington's chorea is a rare hereditary disorder of the nervous system. It is inherited as an autosomal dominant disorder and is characterized by progressive chorea, dementia and psychiatric disturbances. The best anesthetic technique is yet to be established for these patients with increased risk of aspiration due to involvement of pharyngeal muscles and an exaggerated response to sodium thiopental and succinylcholine. The primary goal in general anesthesia for these patients is to provide airway protection and a rapid and safe recovery. We report the anesthetic management of a 51-year-old patient with Huntington's chorea admitted for an emergency operation.
Anesthesia, General ; Bronchoscopes ; Chorea ; Dementia ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Huntington Disease ; Intubation ; Nervous System ; Pharyngeal Muscles ; Sodium ; Succinylcholine ; Thiopental

Purpose: The effects of dexmedetomidine on locomotor function and thermal hyperalgesia in sciatic nerve crush injury (SNCI) were investigated using rats. Methods: After exposing the right sciatic nerve, the sciatic nerve was crushed for 1 minute by a surgical clip. One day after nerve injury, dexmedetomidine (5, 25, and 50 µg/kg) was directly applied to the injured sciatic nerve once a day for 14 days. Walking track analysis was used to assess locomotor function and plantar test was conducted to assess thermal pain sensitivity. Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine the expression of c-Fos in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Western blot was used to evaluate the expression level of nerve growth factor (NGF) and myelin basic protein (MBP) in the sciatic nerve. Results: SNCI resulted in deterioration of locomotor function and increased thermal pain sensitivity. The level of c-Fos expression in the PVN and vlPAG was increased and the level of NGF and MBP expression in the sciatic nerve was enhanced by SNCI. Dexmedetomidine treatment improved locomotor function and upregulated expression of NGF and MBP in the sciatic nerve of SNCI. Dexmedetomidine treatment alleviated thermal hyperalgesia and downregulated expression of c-Fos in the vlPAG and PVN after SNCI. Conclusions Dexmedetomidine may be used as a potential new treatment drug for recovery of locomotion and control of pain in peripheral nerve injury.

OBJECTIVE: The rat middle cerebral artery thread-occlusion model has been widely used to investigate the pathophysiological mechanisms of stroke and to develop therapeutic treatment. This study was conducted to analyze energy metabolism, apoptotic signal pathways, and genetic changes in the hippocampus of the ischemic rat brain. METHODS: Focal transient cerebral ischemia was induced by obstructing the middle cerebral artery for two hours. After 24 hours, the induction of ischemia was confirmed by the measurement of infarct size using 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. A cDNA microarray assay was performed after isolating the hippocampus, and was used to examine changes in genetic expression patterns. RESULTS: According to the cDNA microarray analysis, a total of 1,882 and 2,237 genes showed more than a 2-fold increase and more than a 2-fold decrease, respectively. When the genes were classified according to signal pathways, genes related with oxidative phosphorylation were found most frequently. There are several apoptotic genes that are known to be expressed during ischemic brain damage, including Akt2 and Tnfrsf1a. In this study, the expression of these genes was observed to increase by more than 2-fold. As energy metabolism related genes grew, ischemic brain damage was affected, and the expression of important genes related to apoptosis was increased/decreased. CONCLUSION: Our analysis revealed a significant change in the expression of energy metabolism related genes (Atp6v0d1, Atp5g2, etc.) in the hippocampus of the ischemic rat brain. Based on this data, we feel these genes have the potential to be target genes used for the development of therapeutic agents for ischemic stroke.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Brain ; Brain Ischemia* ; Energy Metabolism ; Gene Expression* ; Hippocampus* ; Ischemia ; Ischemic Attack, Transient ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Oxidative Phosphorylation ; Rats* ; Signal Transduction ; Stroke

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Implant inclination and cantilever loading increse loads distributed to implants, potentially causing biomechanical complications. Controversy exists regarding the effect of the intentionally distal-inclined implant for the reduction of the cantilever length. PURPOSE: This study investigated the stress distribution at the bone/implant interface and prostheses with 3D finite element stress analysis by using four different cantilever lengths and implant inclinations in a mandibular implant-supported bar overdenture. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Four 3-D finite element models were created in which 4 implants were placed in the interforaminal area and had four different cantilver lengths(10, 6.9, 4 and 1.5mm) and distal implant inclinations(0degrees, 15degrees, 30degrees and 45degrees) respectively. Vertical forces of 120N and oblique forces of 45N were applied to the molar area. Stress distribution in the bone around the implant was analysed under different distal implant inclinations. RESULTS: Analysis of the von Mises stresses for the bone/implant interfaces and prostheses revealed that the maximum stresses occurred at the most distal bone/implant interface and the joint of bar and abutment, located on the loaded side and significantiy incresed with the implant inclinations, especially over 45degrees. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, it was suggested that too much distal inclination over 45 degrees can put the implant at risk of overload and within the dimension of the constant sum of a anterior-posterior spread and cantilever length, a distal implant inclination compared to cantilever length had the much larger effect on the stress distribution at the bone/implant interface.
Denture, Overlay* ; Finite Element Analysis* ; Intention ; Joints ; Molar ; Prostheses and Implants

OBJECTIVE: Bilateral C1-2 transarticular screw fixation (TAF) with interspinous wiring has been the best treatment for atlantoaxial instability (AAI). However, several factors may disturb satisfactory placement of bilateral screws. This study evaluates the usefulness of unilateral TAF when bilateral TAF is not available. METHODS: Between January 2003 and December 2007, TAF was performed in 54 patients with AAI. Preoperative studies including cervical x-ray, three dimensional computed tomogram, CT angiogram, and magnetic resonance image were checked. The atlanto-dental interval (ADI) was measured in preoperative period, immediate postoperatively, and postoperative 1, 3 and 6 months. RESULTS: Unilateral TAF was performed in 27 patients (50%). The causes of unilateral TAF were anomalous course of vertebral artery in 20 patients (74%), severe degenerative arthritis in 3 (11%), fracture of C1 in 2, hemangioblastoma in one, and screw malposition in one. The mean ADI in unilateral group was measured as 2.63 mm in immediate postoperatively, 2.61 mm in 1 month, 2.64 mm in 3 months and 2.61 mm in 6 months postoperatively. The mean ADI of bilateral group was also measured as following; 2.76 mm in immediate postoperative, 2.71 mm in 1 month, 2.73 mm in 3 months, 2.73 mm in 6 months postoperatively. Comparison of ADI measurement showed no significant difference in both groups, and moreover fusion rate was 100% in bilateral and 96.3% in unilateral group (p=0.317). CONCLUSION: Even though bilateral TAF is best option for AAI in biomechanical perspectives, unilateral screw fixation also can be a useful alternative in otherwise dangerous or infeasible cases through bilateral screw placement.
Hemangioblastoma ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Osteoarthritis ; Preoperative Period ; Vertebral Artery

Seventy-one years old, ASA physical status III, male patient underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy due to acute cholecystitis with gall bladder (GB stone). He had undergone right pneumonectomy nine years ago. Moderate obstructive and restrictive pattern was found on PFT and hypokinesia of apical anterior and septum segments was seen on echocardiography. Due to patient's refusal of receiving general anesthesia, we decided to perform regional anesthesia. Epidural catheter was inserted at 10th thoracic intervertebral space and segmental spinal anesthesia was performed at L2-L3 intervertebral space with 5 mg of hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5% and 20 ug of fentanyl. A segmental sensory block, extending from T3 through L2 dermatomes, was obtained. Surgery was performed smoothly and uneventfully. Patient discharged from hospital at 3 days after surgery.
Anesthesia, Conduction ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Bupivacaine ; Catheters ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic ; Cholecystitis, Acute ; Disulfiram ; Echocardiography ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Hypokinesia ; Male ; Pneumonectomy ; Urinary Bladder