Little objective information is avilable on the influence of occlusive dressings on the healing of cutaneous partial skin defect wounds. Our purpose was to examine the effects of occlusive dressing by using the synthetic dressing mateial, PolyMem in the management of 2nd degree burn wounds and donor sites of split thicknes skin graft and partial-thickness wounds in rabbits. New Zealand white rabbits, 12 to 14 weeks of age, were divided into 2 groups. Two partial thickness skin wounds measuring approximately 40x30 mm were induced using a scalpel on the back of each anesthetized animal. They were designated as group I (dressing with conventional method, n=15), group II (dressing with PolyMen, n=15). Each treated wound was individually covered with the assigned dressing immediately after wounding. Wound were examined and measured at 10 days to determine the extent of healing. By day 10, the PolyMem dressed wounds were approximately 67% healed, while all vaseline gauze dressed wounds were about 50% healed. Standardized 20 mm full-thickness biopsy wounds were treated for 10 days. Section of PolyMem group at POD 10 days showed complete epidermal regeneration above fibrotic dermis (H&E, x40). Section of conventional group at POD 10 days showed marginal epidermal regeneration (H&E, x40). 72 patients (44 patients with 2nd degree burn and 28 patients with skin graft donor sites) were divided into four groups. They were designated as group I (Burn patients with PolyMem, n=24), group II (Burn patients with conventional methods, n=24), group III (S.T.S.G. patients with PolyMem, n=14), group IV (S.T.S.G. patients with conventional methods, n=14). We investigated wound site pain, healing time, comfort and numbers of dressing change. As compared with the control group, the PolyMem dressed group had less pain, more rapid healing time, more comfort, less frequent dressing changes. From these results, we concluded that the occlusive dressing with PolyMem was an effective alternative to the conventional gauze dressig on the wound healing. Our results suggest tat PolyMem is one of the ideal dressing materials.
Animals ; Bandages ; Biopsy ; Burns ; Dermis ; Humans ; Occlusive Dressings ; Petrolatum ; Pheniramine ; Rabbits ; Regeneration ; Skin ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants ; Wound Healing* ; Wounds and Injuries*

Among 334 thoracolumbar spinal injury patients who were admitted to this hospital from June 1972 to June, 1982, 66 patients with fracture and fracture dislocation of thoraco-lumbar spine which were defined as unstable clinically and radiologically were treated with surgical measures. The ratio between male and female was 7.3:1, the majority was found in third and fourth decade (46 cases, 69%), and the most common cause of injury was falling from a height (38 cases, 58%). The most common site of the injury was lumbar spine (29 cases, 44%) and the most common mechanism of injury was flexion-rotation (29 cases, 44%). Our surgical measures were Harrington rod instrumentation with either anterior or posterior fusion (25 cases, 38%), posterior wiring and fusion (14 cases, 21%), anterior decompression and anterior fusion (14 cases, 21%), posterior fusion (4 cases, 6%), anterior fusion and posterior fusion (3 cases, 5%) and etc. The average correction of displacement was 65% and the average correction of kyphotic deformity was 50%. The most remarkable correction was found at the cases of Harrington rod instrumentation (71%, 74%). Neurological deficit had already developed in 43 cases(65%) prior to operation, and the recovery was observed in 18 cases(42%). Most excellent recovery of neural deficit was found also at the cases of Harrington rod instrumentation (11 cases, 52%). We have analysed the results of these treatment and obtained following conclusions. 1. For the unstable fracture and fracture-dislocation of thoraco-lumbar spine with or without neural involvement, immediate surgical treatments were valuable to expect restoration of anatomical reduction and promotion of every possible recovery of neural function with spinal stability and fewest complication. 2. Fixation with Harrington rod instrumentation appears to provide better reduction and stability with neural improvement than other methods, and therefore early undertaking of rehabilitation activities is possible. 3. For the patients who are seriously compromised or require anterior decompression, immediate posterior reduction and fixation with Harrington rod instrumentation followed anterior decompression and anterior fusion of the involved segments at the eariest feasible time, we feel, is the treatment of choice.
Accidental Falls ; Clinical Study ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Decompression ; Dislocations ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mortuary Practice ; Rehabilitation ; Spinal Injuries ; Spine

There was increasing tendency to stabilize unstable cervical spine injuries surgically with the benefit of good stability of the spine, easy nursing care, early mobilization and therefore early rehabilitation. A clinical study was performed on 47 patients with fractures and dislocations of the cervical spine treated at the department of orthopedic surgery, Inje Medical College, Paik Hospital from Jan. 1975 to Dec. 1981. Following is the summery of the our findings. 1. The prevalent age distribution was between 3rd and 6th decade and the ratio between males and females was 10:1. The most common cause of injuries was automobile accident (70%). 2. The most common site of the injuries was C5-6 (34%) and the most frequent mechanism of injury was flexion-rotation type (47%). 3. In overall patients, neurologic damage was found at first examination in 73% and among these, complete paralysis below the injured level in 26%, incomplete paralysis in 11% and nerve root injury in 35%. 4. Among 47 patients, conervative treatment was performed on 9 patients, anterior spinal fusion on 8 patients, anterior spinal fusion with Halo application on 4 patients, posterior wiring with posterior spinal fusion on 16 patients and posterior wiring with anterior spinal fusion on 8 patients. 5. In the several methods of treatment, the posterior wiring with anterior spinal fusion revealed the best results, the correction rate of displacement was 92%, the correction rate of angular deformity 98% and neural recovery rate 72%. 6. The posterior wiring with posterior spinal fusion revealed good results in correction of displacement and angular deformity but required rigid external support for a long time. The anterior spinal fusion revealed poor results in correction of displacement(67%) and angular deformity(38%) and required rigid external support for a long time and had increasing tendency of kyphotic angle after operation. 7. In the treatment of unstable cervical spine injury, we thoughy that early posterior reduction with posterior wiring and followed anterior spinal fusion was ideal for accurate reduction, rigid stability and early mobilization with simple external support.
Age Distribution ; Automobiles ; Clinical Study ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Dislocations ; Early Ambulation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Nursing Care ; Orthopedics ; Paralysis ; Rehabilitation ; Spinal Fusion ; Spine

No abstract available.
Hypopituitarism*

PURPOSE: We determined the effect of tyrosine kinase inhibitor(TKI), ZM260603 on the growth of prostate cancer cell lines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the synthetic TKI, ZM260603, cytotoxicity test and cell cycle analysis were performed on LNCaP, DU-145 and PC3 prostate cancer cell lines. The bcl-2 and bax protein expressions were observed in PC3 prostate cancer cell line by western blotting. The inhibitory effect of TKI was determined under the presence or absence of dehydrotestosterone, in androgen-dependent LNCaP prostate cancer cell line. RESULTS: The synthetic TKI, ZM260603 showed definite cytotoxicity on all prostate cancer cell lines studied regardless of androgen-dependency. The IC50 were 0.35+/-0.08microM, 0.12+/-0.06microM and 0.21+/-0.09microM for LnCaP, DU-145 and PC-3 cell lines, respectively. The G0/G1 phase arrests were observed commonly in all of these cell lines by flowcytometric analysis. Decrement in bcl-2 expression and increment of bax protein expression in the PC-3 cell line was observed by western blotting. The IC50 of hormone-dependent LNCaP prostate cancer cell line on TKI was increased about four folds by the addition of dihydrotestosterone. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the changes in the expression of bcl-2 and bax proteins are related with inhibitory process of the synthetic TKI, ZM260,603 on the growth of prostate cancer cell lines. Androgen seems to act as compromising or weakening the effects of TKI in androgen-dependent prostate cancer cell line, although the exact relationships between androgen-dependency and bcl-2 expression are unclear.
bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line* ; Dihydrotestosterone ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases* ; Tyrosine*

PURPOSE: This study set out to investigate the safety and efficacy of doxazosin treatment in symptomatic patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH) in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 237 male patients aged 50 or over with clinical evidence of BPH were enrolled into this 12-week, open, baseline-controlled, dose-response study. A run-in period of 2 weeks placebo treatment was followed by 10 weeks of doxazosin treatment. The initial dose was 1mg per day which, at 2-week intervals, could have been titrated up to 2, 4, or 8mg per day. Efficacy, in terms of International Prostate Symptom Score(I-PSS) and blood pressure(BP), was assessed from Week 6 onwards. RESULTS: A total of 180 patients(mean age 65.3 years) completed the study, with the most common reason for withdrawal being lost to follow-up(35 cases); four patients were withdrawn due to adverse events. Mean I-PSS score was reduced by 48.8%(from 21.5 at baseline to 11 at completion). Subset analysis of normo- or hypertensive patients showed that in the 26 hypertensive patients mean systolic BP was reduced by 12.3%(-19mmHg) and mean diastolic BP by 13.7%(-14mmHg), whereas in normotensive patients the reductions were 4.0%(-5mmHg) and 1.9%(-1.5mmHg), respectively. No differences in I-PSS improvements were seen between these two groups. The effects of age were also investigated and showed no significant differences in the changes in blood pressure for older patients(> or =65 years; n=91 ) compared with younger patients(7.5/5.8mmHg compared with 6.5/5.0mmHg). There were no differences in I-PSS improvement. Twenty eight adverse events were reported by 16 patients, the most commomly reported events being dizziness, postural hypotension, and headache. CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness and safety of doxazosin in the treatment of BPH was confirmed in this Korean population, with significant improvements in I-PSS regardless of patient age and blood pressure at baseline. The baseline I-PSS was higher than is commonly seen in European populations, indicating a greater disease severity.
Blood Pressure ; Dizziness ; Doxazosin* ; Headache ; Humans ; Hypotension, Orthostatic ; Korea ; Male ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia*

Epithelial myoepithelial carcinoma is a rare tumor with slightly less than one percent of salivary gland neoplasm. Histologically, the carcinomas are characterized by a mixture of trabecular structure with outer myoepithelial cells and inner ductal cells, which are confirmed by electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry. Although this neoplasm exhibits high degree of cellular differentiation histologically, it is classified into low grade carcinoma because of its locally infiltrative, destructive growth pattern, and tendency to metastasize. We report a 45-year-old woman with epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma arising from a submandubular gland, one of the most unusual locations.
Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microscopy, Electron ; Middle Aged ; Salivary Gland Neoplasms ; Submandibular Gland

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The diagnosis of thyroid nodular diseases is critical for clinical management. Because of the histological similarity of follicular patterned thyroid lesions, the differential diagnosis is often difficult to determine, even with permanent sections. For this reason, we assessed the preoperative diagnostic usefulness of immunohistochemical staining for the four potential markers of malignant thyroid nodule, beta-galactosil binding lectin (Galectin-3), Hector Battifora Mesothelial cell (HBME-1), cytokeratin-19 (CK-19) and high molecular weight cytokeratin (HMW-CK) in tissues obtained by ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: The immunohistochemical expression of Galectin-3, HBME-1, CK-19 and HMW-CK were evaluated in 43 preoperative thyroid lesions obtained to assess their potential as markers in the diagnosis and classification of thyroid malignancy. We compared the preoperative expression of the four markers with the results of postoperative permanent pathology. RESULTS: The expression patterns and positive rates of four markers were the variables in 4 thyroid lesions; however, all markers were strong in malignant thyroid nodules, especially in papillary carcinoma. There were no significant differences in the expression rates of the four markers between follicular carcinoma and follicular adenoma. The sensitivity of HBME-1 for thyroid malignancy was the highest (86%) among the four markers, but the sensitivity of combinational expression using two markers, especially Galectin-3 or HBME-1 (95%), HBME-1 or HMW-CK (90%), was higher than that of the expression using one marker for thyroid malignancy. CONCLUSION: The four markers were reliable markers for papillary carcinoma. In preoperative differential diagnosis of thyroid nodule, we suggest that the combinational expression using two makers is more useful than a single marker expression.
Adenoma ; Biopsy, Large-Core Needle ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Galectin 3 ; Keratin-19 ; Keratins ; Molecular Weight ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Nodule

The intrinsic structural failure of a Dacron graft resulting from the loss of structural integrity of the graft fabric can cause late graft complications. Late non-anastomotic rupture has traditionally been treated surgically via open thoracotomy. We report a case of the successful use of thoracic endovascular repair to treat a Dacron graft rupture in the descending aorta. The rupture occurred 20 years after the graft had been placed. Two stent grafts were placed at the proximal portion of the surgical graft, covering almost its entire length.
Aorta, Thoracic* ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis* ; Endovascular Procedures ; Polyethylene Terephthalates* ; Rupture* ; Stents* ; Thoracotomy ; Transplants*

A case of tick bite was found in the inguinal region of a 74-year-old Korean woman. She was attacked by the tick while working in her vegetable garden in the vicinity of mountain located in Suncheon City, the southern coastal area of the Korean Peninsula. On admission she complained of mild discomfort and itching around the bite area. The causative tick was 23 mm long and had slender pedipalps. The scutum was quite ornate and had eyes at the edge. The genital aperture was located anterior to the level of the coxa II. The spiracular plate was comma-shaped and the anus was surrounded posteriorly by the anal groove. The coxa I had subequal 2 spurs; the external one slightly larger. The spur of coxa IV was slightly longer than those of coxae II and III. The tarsus IV had 2 distinct subapical ventral spurs. It was identified as the fully engorged adult female of Amblyomma testudinarium. This is the first human case of Amblyomma bite in Korea.
Abdomen/*pathology ; Aged ; Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Female ; Humans ; Insect Bites and Stings/*pathology ; Ixodidae/anatomy & histology/*classification ; Republic of Korea