The pectus carinatum or anterior protrusion of the sternum is a less common than pectus excavatum. It occurs more frequently in boys than girls and associated musculoskeletal abnormalities, spinal scoliosis is most common. Ravitch first reported correction of chondromanubrial prominence in 1952, resecting the multiple deformed costal cartilages and performing a double osteotomy on sternum. We have experienced one case of pectus carinatum and obtained satisfactory postoperative results. The deformity was corrected by the subchondral resection of multiple deformed costal cartilage, bilaterally, with single osteotomy on sternum and fracture of the posterior cortex to correct anterior angulation. Postoperative course was uneventful. We report this case with brief review of the literature.
Cartilage ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Female ; Funnel Chest ; Humans ; Musculoskeletal Abnormalities ; Osteotomy ; Scoliosis ; Sternum

BACKGROUND/AIMS: It have been reported that operative mortality and morbidity rate rise significantly when emergency cholecystectomy is performed in critically ill patients with acute cholecystitis(AC), and many studies have also concluded that delayed or interval laparoscopic cholecystectomy(LC) in patients with AC demonstrated high conversion rate and complication rate compared with early LC. However, if the acutely inflamed gallbladder(GB) is decompressed by emergent percutaneous gallbladder drainage(PGBD), it may decrease the technical difficulty of LC allowing successful delayed LC or may decrease the wound complication of delayed open cholecystectomy, when the patient is in better condition. The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess the outcome of delayed cholecystectomy focused on LC following PGBD in patients with AC METHODS: A total of 181 patients with AC were divided into PGBD(n= 66) and non-PGBD group(n= 115), and each group were subdivided into PGBD-delayed LC(after 72 hours of admission, n= 32), PGBD-open cholecystectomy(n= 20), non-PGBD-early LC(within 72 hours of admission, n= 40), non- PGBD-delayed LC(n= 17), non PGBD-open cholecystectomy group(n= 58) and others. PGBD group had higher incidence of comorbidity compared with non-PGBD group. Outcomes of cholecystectomy was assessed by conversion rate and morbidity rate(chi2 test), LC time and hospital stay(median test) for LC, and morbidity for open cholecystectomy in PGBD group compared with those of non PGBD group. RESULTS: PGBD promptly relieved of symptom of AC in 94 % of patients and showed 3 % of technical failure and 4.5 % of complication rate. Compared with non PGBD-early and delayed LC group, the PGBD-delayed LC group showed longer LC time(median 110 min vs 82.5, p < 0.05, vs 95 min), a little lower conversion rate(12.5 % vs 22.5 % vs 17.6 %), similar morbidity rate(19% vs 17.5 % vs 29 %) and prolonged total hospital stay(median 12.5 days vs 7 days, p < 0.001, vs 10 days). In open cholecystectomy series, PGBD group showed lower morbidity rate compared with non PGBD group(5% vs 24 %, p < 0.05) CONCLUSION: Unlike to open cholecystectomy series, PGBD did not significantly improve the outcome of LC for AC as assessed by conversion and morbidity rate and hospital stay compared with non PGBD. Thus we can conclude that although PGBD is a safe and effective emergency procedure for AC, it should be limited to higher risk group such as elderly or critically ill patients and to acalculous cholecystitis.
Acalculous Cholecystitis ; Aged ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic* ; Cholecystitis, Acute* ; Comorbidity ; Critical Illness ; Drainage* ; Emergencies ; Gallbladder* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Length of Stay ; Mortality ; Retrospective Studies ; Wounds and Injuries

BACKGROUND: Anti-apoptotic proteins may be involved in tumor development, progression and the response to treatment. Bcl-2 is by far the most studied anti-apoptotic protein. A novel infibitor of apoptosis, designat ed survivin, and the heat shock proteins (HSPs) have recently been found in many human cancers. Immunohistochemical methods were used to determine the expression level of survivin, HSP 70 and bcl-2 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to evaluate their clinical significance. METHODS: Tissue array slides were obtained from 99 surgically resected NSCLCs. Immunohistochemical staining was performed by an immuno-peroxidase technique using an avidin-biotinylated horseradish peroxidase complex. Anti-survivin rabbit polyclonal antibodies, anti-HSP70 mouse monoclonal antibodies and anti-bcl-2 mouse monoclonal antibodies were used as the primary antibodies. RESULTS: Positive ataining of survivin was detected in 33.3% of the cases. Survivin positivity is associated with to females and recurrence. A nonstatistically significant trend toward increased survivin expression was observed in non-smokers, and its expression inversely correlated with the number of cigarettes smoked in smokers. HSP70 was detected in 84.8% but this did not correlate with the clinicopathologic characteristics. Bcl-2 was detected in 18.2% and its and its expression correlated to tumor recurrence. No significant difference in the median survival time was noted in a comparison of al cases with survivin expression and those without. There was no association betwwen HSP70 or bcl-2 expression and survival. CONCLUSIONS: Survivin expression was significantly associated with females and tumor recurrence. In addition its expression was inversely associated with the number of cigarettes smoked. However, HSP70 and bcl-2 expression were not associated with the clinical parameters or survival. This suggests that measuring the survivin levels may be useful in identifying patients at high risk for disease recurrence. Therefore, survivin might be a new diagnostic/therapeutic target in cancer.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Apoptosis ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Female ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; Horseradish Peroxidase ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung* ; Mice ; Recurrence ; Smoke ; Tobacco Products

PURPOSE: To determine whether Ultravist(R) test can enable the surgeon to differentiate complete from partial small bowel obstruction in patients with adhesive small bowel obstruction and whether partial small bowel obstruction can be treated nonoperatively. METHODS: Ninety-two patients who had postoperative small bowel obstructions without any toxic signs underwent Ultravist(R) test. Ultravist(R) (40 ml) mixed with 40 ml of distilled water was administrated either orally or via nasogastric tube to each patient. Serial plain abdominal radiographs were taken 4, 6, and 8 hours later. RESULTS: A total of 58 patients (63%) whose contrast medium reached the colon within the first 8 hours were considered to have partial obstruction (test positive) and were successfully treated with intravenous hydration and nasogastric decompression. The remaining 34 patients (36.9%), in whom the contrast medium failed to reach the colon within the first 8 hours (test negative), were regarded as having complete obstruction. Twenty-three of those patients (67.6%) underwent surgery and the other 11 (32.4%) received conservative treatment. Adhesion bands with complete bowel obstruction were observed in all 23 surgical patients during laparotomy. All the patients with partial bowel obstruction were treated successfully with nonoperative methods. Positive Ultravist(R) test as an indicator for nonoperative treatment had a sensitivity of 84.5%, a specificity of 100%, an accuracy of 88% and a false negative rate of 12%. CONCLUSION: Ultravist(R) can be used to differentiate partial from complete intestinal obstruction. All patients with evidence of Ultravist(R) reaching the colon within 8 hours were treated successfully with non-operative methods.
Adhesives ; Colon ; Decompression ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Laparotomy ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Water

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of transvaginal ultrasonography for detection of fetal anomalies in first trimester. METHODS: This cohort included pregnant women between 9~14 weeks of gestation from April 2000 to April 2002 at department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sanggye Paik hospital, Inje university. Besides ACOG (1993) criteria, we scan nuchal translucency, FHR, cranium, abdominal wall and nuchal lesion using transvaginal sonography. If the anatomical survey was normal, the women underwent routine 18~24 weeks anomaly scans. RESULTS: 20 fetuses were identified as having 21 anomalies. Central nervous system anomaly (38%: 8/21) was the most frequent type of malformation. The other detected anomalies were isolated disorders of the lymphatic system 28% (6/21: two cystic hygromas and four nuchal edema), cystic hygroma associated with hydrops 14% (3/21), abdominal wall defects 14% (3/21), skeletal dysplasia 5% (1/21). Of the 20 fetuses that was diagnosed, 14 patients had elective first-trimester abortion, two had spontaneous fetal deaths, four were delivered at term. CONCLUSION: Besides offering the possibility of early termination, first trimester sonography has the advantage of identifying a transient sonographic sign, nuchal edema, which can be used as a marker in screening for fetal chromosomal abnormalities.
Abdominal Wall ; Central Nervous System ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Cohort Studies ; Edema ; Female ; Fetal Death ; Fetus ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Lymphangioma, Cystic ; Lymphatic System ; Mass Screening ; Nuchal Translucency Measurement ; Obstetrics ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First* ; Pregnant Women ; Skull ; Ultrasonography

Software for GafChromic EBT2 film dosimetry was developed in this study. The software provides film calibration functions based on color channels, which are categorized depending on the colors red, green, blue, and gray. Evaluations of the correction effects for light scattering of a flat-bed scanner and thickness differences of the active layer are available. Dosimetric results from EBT2 films can be compared with those from the treatment planning system ECLIPSE or the two-dimensional ionization chamber array MatriXX. Dose verification using EBT2 films is implemented by carrying out the following procedures: file import, noise filtering, background correction and active layer correction, dose calculation, and evaluation. The relative and absolute background corrections are selectively applied. The calibration results and fitting equation for the sensitometric curve are exported to files. After two different types of dose matrixes are aligned through the interpolation of spatial pixel spacing, interactive translation, and rotation, profiles and isodose curves are compared. In addition, the gamma index and gamma histogram are analyzed according to the determined criteria of distance-to-agreement and dose difference. The performance evaluations were achieved by dose verification in the 60o-enhanced dynamic wedged field and intensity-modulated (IM) beams for prostate cancer. All pass ratios for the two types of tests showed more than 99% in the evaluation, and a gamma histogram with 3 mm and 3% criteria was used. The software was developed for use in routine periodic quality assurance and complex IM beam verification. It can also be used as a dedicated radiochromic film software tool for analyzing dose distribution.
Calibration ; Film Dosimetry ; Lifting ; Light ; Noise ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Software

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a troublesome disease. Some strains of probiotics reportedly exert remarkable immunomodulatory effects, and so we designed a prospective double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical study to assess their effects in Korean adults with IBS. METHODS: IBS patients who met Rome III criteria were randomly assigned to receive composite probiotics or placebo. A total of 20 billion lyophilized bacteria were administered twice daily for 8 weeks. Primary outcome variables were symptom scores consisting of abdominal pain, flatulence, defecation discomfort, and sum of symptom scores. A visual analogue scale was used to quantify the severity. Secondary outcome variables consisted of the quality of life and bowel habits including defecation frequency and stool form. RESULTS: Thirty-six and 34 patients were randomized to the probiotics and placebo groups, respectively. Intention- to-treat analysis showed significant reductions in pain after 8 weeks of treatment: -31.9 and -17.7 in the probiotics and placebo groups, respectively (p=0.045). The reductions in abdominal pain, defecation discomfort, and sum of scores were more significant in 58 patients with a score of at least 3 on the baseline stool-form scale. CONCLUSIONS: Composite probiotics containing Bifidobacterium bifidum BGN4, Lactobacillus acidophilus AD031, and other species are safe and effective, especially in patients who excrete normal or loose stools.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Bacteria ; Bifidobacterium ; Defecation ; Flatulence ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Lactobacillus acidophilus ; Probiotics ; Prospective Studies ; Quality of Life ; Rome

PURPOSE: Measurement of transmission dose is useful for in vivo dosimetry. In this study, previous algorithm for estimation of transmission dose was modified for use in cases with tissue deficit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The beam data was measured with flat solid phantom in various conditions of tissue deficit. New algorithm for correction of transmission dose for tissue deficit was developed by physical reasoning. The algorithm was tested in experimental settings with irregular contours mimicking breast cancer patients using multiple sheets of solid phantoms. RESULTS: The correction algorithm for tissue deficit could accurately reflect the effect of tissue deficit with errors within +-1.0% in most situations and within +-3.0% in experimental settings with irregular contours mimicking breast cancer treatment set-up. CONCLUSION: Developed algorithm could accurately reflect the effect of tissue deficit and irregularly shaped body contour on transmission dosimetry.
Breast Neoplasms ; Humans

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the arterial arcade of maxillary sinus by determining the distance between the alveolar crest and the inferior border of the vessels in Korean population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 76 patients and 87 available sinuses were determined by CT scan (Implagraphy, Vatech, Seoul, Korea). The distance between alveolar crest and inferior border of the vessel was determined considering the tooth area of posterior maxilla. RESULTS: The lowest distance was observed on first molar area and the average distance is 16.9 mm. DISCUSSIONS: it is important in sinus lift surgery that the vessels not to be damaged and that the anastomosis is situated in the lateral wall of maxillary sinus, which has to be exposed to gain access to the maxillary sinus. The knowledge of arterial arcade of maxillary sinus is important to perform the sinus floor elevation procedure effectively.
Floors and Floorcoverings ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Humans ; Maxilla ; Maxillary Sinus ; Molar ; Tooth ; Transplants