Soft-tissue expansion is a new surgical technique of providing donor tissue in modern reconstructive surgery. This technique provides a quantity of tissue of similar color, texture, and hair-bearing qualities for reconstruction of adjacent defects. It is known that the expanded skin shows several constant histologic changes including the increase in collagen fibers and vascularity within dermis, and thinning of subcutaneous tissue and dermis. In this study, the author observed serial histologic changes of rabbit skin induced by progressive tissue expansion up to excessive expansion of 6 times. The results are as follows: 1. Changes in the thickness of the epidermis was minimal until 3 times of expansion, but slight thinning was observed at excessive expansion state. 2. The thickness of the dermis was progressively decreased, and collagen fibers in the dermis was rapidly increased in early phase of expansion. 3. The vascularity in the dermis was also progressively increased. 4. The skin appendages showed no structural changes even in excessive expansion. 5. The panniculus carnosus showed no atrophic changes and the thickness was maintained in excessive expansion.
Collagen ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Skin* ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Tissue Donors ; Tissue Expansion*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant*

Takayasu's arteritis is briefly as an inflammatory process of unknown etiology occuring dominantly in young female most commonly involving the great vessels arising from the aortic arch. The disease process results in stenosis and obliteration of involved vessels. Syncope in Takayasu's arteritis is known to result from decreased blood flow to brain because of stenosing blood vessels. We herein describe a case of paroxysmal atrioventricular block in a 40-year old man with Takayasu's arteritis. The patient presented with spontaneous recurrent syncope associated with paroxysmal AV block. Carotid sinus pressure repeatedly induced paroxysmal AV block and syncope. Carotid sinus pressure after pretreatment of atropine failed to induce AV block or syncope. Coronary angiogram was normal. We concluded that syncope in this patients was attributed to carotid hypersensitivity rather than decreased blood flow to the brain due to vessel stenosis.
Adult ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Atrioventricular Block* ; Atropine ; Blood Vessels ; Brain ; Carotid Sinus ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Syncope ; Takayasu Arteritis*

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to investigate the prevalence of depressive symptoms in patients with breast cancer and to identify demographic variables and clinical characteristics impact on depressive symptoms and health related quality of life in patients with breast cancer in a university hospital. METHODS: Fourty-one patients with breast cancer were selected, who had visited the department of General surgery of the Wonkwang University hospital with a diagnosis of breast cancer regularly during the period November, 2010-May, 2011. All of subjects were evaluated for the depression, anxiety and the health related quality of life with Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), anxiety subscale of Personality Assessment Inventory(PAI) and Short-Form 36 Health Survey-Korean version(SF-36-K). Patients were divided into depressive symptoms and non-depressive symptoms group according to the BDI score. We compared SF-36-K between two groups, and analized multiple regression with depression and health related quality of life as criterion variables and demographic and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: The prevalence of depression in patients with breast cancer in a University hospital was 36.4%. Compared to the non-depression, depressed patients with breast cancer appeared significantly lower mean scores on six subscales in SF-36-K : Physical function(p<.01), Role-physical(p<.001), General health(p<.05), Social function(p<.001), Role-emotional(p<.001) and Mental health(p<.001). But there was no significant difference between two groups in Vitality and Bodily pain. Anxiety, level of education and presence of enforcement of chemotherapy(63.6%) were significant explanation variables for depressive symptoms. And type of surgery and age (55.8%) were significant explanation variables for health related quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of depressive symptoms in patients with breast cancer in a University hospital was 36%. The depressive symptoms had not only negative impact on the health related quality of life but also important explanation variable for health related quality of life. These results suggest that depressive symptoms in patients with breast cancer should be evaluated and treated for improving patient's health related quality of life.
Anxiety ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Depression ; Humans ; Personality Assessment ; Prevalence ; Quality of Life

There are several EKG changes in cerebrovascular disease(CVD). The wide prominent of inverted T wave is frequently developed in patients with CVD. There were case reports for CVD in patient with ST-segment elevation without myocardial infarction, but the exact mechanism is unknown. EKG abnormalities associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage were first described by Byer et al, in 1947.1 We report the case of 72 years old female patient who developed subarachnoid hemorrhage and intraventricular hemorrhage with ST-segment elevation.
Aged ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage*

Occupational dermatosis is one of the most prevalent occupational disorders. However, the extent of the occupational dermatoses including incidences and prevalencies of each disease entity, and etiologic materials are not yet well stated in Korea. Authors reviewed the literatures on the statistic data and reports on the occupational dermatoses, and surveyed on the occupational dermatoses in two factories, and surveyed the physicians responsible to the occupational dermatoses with formed questionnaire. The results are as follows; 1. Among medical journals published since 1964, there were 31 articles on the occupational dermatoses. Of 31 articles, 18 were case reports and all others were review articles. Of 18 case reports, 9 were epidemiologic survey. The Workers' Periodic Health Examinations revealed that prevalence of the occupational dermatoses was highest(4.36 per 10,000 workers) in 1974, but number of the cases reported were decreased sharply since 1978 with some tendency to increase since 1987. There were 2,240 reported cases of occupational dermatoses between 1966 and 1992, which is 1.90% of all the reported occupational diseases. Skin infection and injuries due to chemicals were most frequent and there were 6 cases of skin cancer. 2. In an epidemiological survey on the dermatoses among 995 workers in a metal product manufacturing factory and 225 workers with acne, 130 workers with scar, 123 workers with deformity of toe nails. Scars, photosensitivity dermatitis, deformity of finger and toe nails, and acne were more prevalent in the metal product manufacturing factory(p<0.05). In the metal product manufacturing factory, workers treating organic solvents and oils had more dermatoses than those without treating the materials(p<0.05). On the skin patch performed on 16 workers in the metal product manufacturing factory, there were 8 cases of irritation dermatitis and 5 cases of contact dermatitis. Prevalence of contact dermatitis in the metal product manufacturing factory was 1.3%. 3. On the questionnaire survey, 34 dermatologists, 29 doctors of preventive medicine, and 22 family physician replied. The proportion of occupational etiology among all dermatoses assumed by the physicians were below 9%, and the most important occupational dermatosis in Korea was contact dermatitis. Main etiologic materials related to the occupational dermatosis were organic solvent, acid and alkali, and metals. The reason for the scarcity of report of occupational dermatoses were difficulty in diagnosis and physician's ignorance of the occupational etiology. They replied that to prevent the occupational dermatosis in the workplace, the use of protective devices was most important, and development of diagnostic criteria on the occupational dermatoses is urgent. Above results shows us that there is many workers with occupational dermatoses, but they are mostly unreported. Measures to prevent and manage the occupational dermatoses are not satisfactory at present. Hence, authors suggest measures for the precises diagnosis, report and prevention of the occupational dermatoses. a. Dernatikigustm orevebtuve physician, and industrial hygienist should work as a team to examine the high risk group and establish the preventive measures. b. Disease entities, diagnostic criteria of occupational dermatoses should be listed, criteria for the compensation and job fitting at recruitment should be established, and manual for the proper treatment and effective prevention of each occupational dermatosis should be developed. c. Patch test antigens against each occupational category should be developed and it should be available to any physicians responsible. d. To facilitate the diagnosis of occupational dermatoses by the doctors responsible for the Workers' Periodic Health Examination, development of standardized questionnaire, education on the techniques of the patch test, and cooperation with the dermatologist in diagnosis of occupational dermatoses is essential.
Acne Vulgaris ; Alkalies ; Cicatrix ; Compensation and Redress ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Diagnosis ; Education ; Fingers ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Metals ; Occupational Diseases ; Oils ; Patch Tests ; Physicians, Family ; Prevalence ; Preventive Medicine ; Protective Devices ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Skin ; Skin Diseases* ; Skin Neoplasms ; Solvents ; Toes

Both death certificates and postmortem examination certificates are used as proof of death. These certificates sometimes contain erroneous information but how frequently they do so is unknown. In particular, only a few studies have measured the accuracy of the cause and manner of death on Korea death documents. In this study, we compared the cause and manner of death on both kinds of certificates with those on autopsy reports to determine the frequency of errors, and to identify way to improve the accuracy of these certificates. In 2012, 528 autopsies were requested of out institute, and certificates were submitted in 241 of the cases. The manner of death was classified as natural, unnatural, or unknown. The cause of death in the autopsy report matched that on the death certificate in 37 of 63 cases (58.7%), and the manner of death matched in 40 of 63 cases (63.5%). The cause of death in the autopsy report matched that on the postmortem examination certificate in 62 of 178 cases (34.8%), and the manner of death matched in 74 of 178 cases (41.6%). Death certificates and postmortem examination certificates are important documents. We identified many incorrect reports of causes and manners of death on both kinds of documents, especially the postmortem death certificates. These inaccuracies are presumably due to a lack of forensic information and education, as well as lack of interest on the part of medical doctors.
Autopsy* ; Cause of Death ; Death Certificates* ; Education ; Korea

OBJECTIVES: Medical doctors require outstanding communication skills when meeting with their patients. Thus medical student need to education and training about medical communication skill. More attention is being given to the subject but not many studies have been done in the medical education field. As communication skills are provided to students as a subject in medical educational curriculum, the assessment of its effectiveness needs to be undertaken. METHODS: In the year 2010 and 2011, first-year medical students at The Kosin University College of Medicine took 'Communication skills' course in total, 154 first-year medical students survey results was the modified and translated version of 'Beyer-Fetzer's Essential Elements of Communication Skills Assessment Sheet'. The assessment sheets were used as the pre-test and post-test to analyse the differences, which were put through the paired t-test. RESULTS: All categories of communication skills showed an improvement. For year 2010, a statistically significant difference was shown into the 22 questions, whereas in 2011, improvements were shown in all questions. CONCLUSIONS: From the result, it is clear that in order to create an effective communication skills program, the content should be more structured and focused on the program objectives.
Curriculum ; Education, Medical ; Humans ; Students, Medical

The germ cell tumors are classified to germinoma, immature teratoma, mature teratoma, choriocarcinoma, yolk sac tumor and embryonal carcinoma. We analyzed 10 cases of suprasellar germ cell tumors which had been treated at Yonsei Uviversity Hospital from 1980 to 1990. Results of our study were summurized as follows : Common clinical symptoms are diabetes insipidus, visual dysfunction, panhypopituitarism, etc. Therapeutic plan can be based on serum and CSF AFP and HCG level. Pretreatment and posttreatment bormonal evaluation were performed and hrmonal replacement were required in all patients. Germinoma showed good outcome but immature teratoma showed bad outcome by multisystem involvement. More advanced new chemotherapeutic and immunotherapeutic agents must be studied for this tumor.
Carcinoma, Embryonal ; Choriocarcinoma ; Diabetes Insipidus ; Endodermal Sinus Tumor ; Female ; Germ Cells* ; Germinoma ; Humans ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal* ; Pregnancy ; Teratoma

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: A difficulty in achieving a passive-fitting prosthesis can be overcome by individual crown restoation of multiple implants. But individualized crown has another difficulty in control of contact tightness and stress distribution. PURPOSE: This in vitro study is to evaluate the stress distribution and the magnitude in the supporting tissues around Endopore implants with different crown lengths, interproximal contact tightness, and the splinting effects. MATERIAL & METHODS: Three Endopore implants(4.1*9 mm) were placed in the mandibular posterior edentulous area distal to the canine and photoelastic model was made with PL-2 resin(Measurements Group, Raleigh, USA). Restorations were fabricated in two crown lengths: 9, 13 mm. For non-splinted restorations, individual crowns were fabricated on three custom-milled titanium abutments. After the units were cemented, 4 levels of interproximal contact tightness were evaluated: open, ideal(8 micrometershim stock drags without tearing), medium(40 micrometer), and heavy(80 micrometer). For splinted restorations, 3-unit fixed partial dentures were fabricated. This study was examined under simulated non-loaded and loaded conditions(6.8 kg). Photoelastic stress analysis was carried out to measure the fringe order around the implant supporting structure. RESULTS: 1. When restorations were not splinted, the more interproximal contact tightness was increased among the three implants, the more stress was shown in the cervical region of each implant. When crown length was increased, stresses tended to increase in the apex of implants but there were little differences in stress fringes. 2. When nonsplinted restorations were loaded on the first or third implant, stresses were increased in the apex and cervical region of loaded implant. Regardless of interproximal contact tightness level, stresses were not distributed among the three implants. But with tighter interproximal contact, stresses were increased in the cervical region of loaded first or third implant. 3. When the nonsplinted restorations were not loaded, there were little stresses on the supporting structure of implants, but low level stresses were shown in the splinted restorations even after sectioning and soldering. 4. With splinted restorations, there were little differences in stresses between different crown lengths. When splinted restorations were loaded, stresses were increased slightly on the loaded implant, but relatively even stress distribution occurred among the three implants. CONCLUSIONS: Splinting the crowns of adjacent implants is recommended for Endopore implants under the overloading situation.
Crowns* ; Denture, Partial, Fixed* ; Prostheses and Implants ; Splints* ; Titanium