OBJECTIVE: It was to analyze two failed arterial embolization cases in the treatment for pseudoaneurysm followed by D&C. METHODS: Two failure cases out of eight cases were gained in the transarterial embolization treatment for eight years.(1. 1. 1992 - 12. 31. 1999) To search for the factors of failure, we went through obstetrical history and biopsy. RESULTS: Eight cases of transarterial embolization were performed to the treatment for pseudoaneurysm appeared after undergoing D&C. Six cases were successfully treated without complications. However, laparotomy was done due to the continuous bleeding in the other two cases. According to tissue biopsy, they showed the cervical pregnancy in one case and placenta accreta in the other. CONCLUSION: Transarterial embolization is proved to be more preferable to operate in the treatment of pseudoaneurysm than laparotomy, and transarterial embolization therapy failure rate is higher in case of existing remnant villi than not.
Aneurysm, False* ; Biopsy ; Dilatation and Curettage* ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Hysterectomy ; Laparotomy ; Placenta Accreta ; Pregnancy

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate current statistics relating to foreigners who visit a Korean emergency department (ED). METHODS: Subjects included in this study were 125,263 patients who visited one Korean ED from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2010. We divided subjects into two groups, natives (Koreans) and foreigners (non-Koreans). We compared the two groups according to their age, sex, chief medical complaints, department to which they were referred, their final diagnosis, results of treatment applied, ED residence time, mortality rate, total billed cost of treatment, balance of any unpaid bills and method of visiting the ED. RESULTS: Of the total patients included in the study, 119,864 (95.7%) were natives and 5,399 (4.3%) were foreigners. In natives, the majority were 0 to 10 years old (35.1%), while foreigners were mostly 41 to 50 (22.8%) years old. The most common symptom in both natives and foreigners was fever. The most common diagnosis for foreigners was head, face, and neck injury (13.8%). The main referred departments for foreigners were internal medicine (20.1%), pediatric medicine (16.9%), and orthopedics (14.3%). The admission rate for foreigners (13.0%), was lower than that of natives (17.3%). The mortality rate for foreigners (0.5%) was higher than that of natives (0.3%). The ED residence time for foreigners was higher than that of natives. The total billed cost of treatment and balance of unpaid money by foreigners was higher than that of natives. For foreigners, the proportion of medical fees paid from personal accounts and industrial medical insurance were higher than those of natives. CONCLUSION: Medical insurance and policy for the management of foreigners who visit the ED must be improved.
Emergencies ; Emergency Medical Services ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Fees and Charges ; Fees, Medical ; Fever ; Head ; Humans ; Insurance ; Internal Medicine ; Korea ; Neck Injuries ; Orthopedics ; Population Groups

PURPOSE: Metastatic cancers spread from the primary site of origin to other parts of the body. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is essential in metastatic cancers owing to its major role in cancer cell invasion. Crotonis fructus (CF), the mature fruits of Croton tiglium L., have been used for the treatment of gastrointestinal disturbance in Asia. In this study, the effect of the ethanol extract of CF (CFE) on MMP-9 activity and the invasion of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-treated MCF-7 cells was examined. METHODS: The cell viability was evaluated using the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The expression of MMP-9 was examined by Western blotting, zymography, and real-time polymerase chain reaction. An electrophoretic mobility gel shift assay was performed to detect activator protein-1 (AP-1) DNA binding activity and cell invasiveness was measured by an in vitro Matrigel invasion assay. RESULTS: CFE significantly suppressed MMP-9 expression and activation in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, CFE attenuated the TPA-induced activation of AP-1. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that the inhibitory effects of CFE against TPA-induced MMP-9 expression and MCF-7 cell invasion were dependent on the protein kinase C δ/p38/c-Jun N-terminal kinase/AP-1 pathway. Therefore, CFE could restrict breast cancer invasiveness owing to its ability to inhibit MMP-9 activity.
Asia ; Blotting, Western ; Breast Neoplasms ; Cell Survival ; Croton ; DNA ; Ethanol ; Fruit ; In Vitro Techniques ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9* ; MCF-7 Cells* ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Protein Kinase C ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transcription Factor AP-1*

Objective: This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of lurasidone (160 mg/day) compared to quetiapine XR (QXR; 600 mg/day) in the treatment of acutely psychotic patients with schizophrenia. Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to 6 weeks of double-blind treatment with lurasidone 160 mg/day (n=105) or QXR 600 mg/day (n=105). Primary efficacy measure was the change from baseline to week 6 in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score and Clinical Global Impressions severity (CGI-S) score. Adverse events, body measurements, and laboratory parameters were assessed. Results: Lurasidone demonstrated non-inferiority to QXR on the PANSS total score. Adjusted mean±standard error change at week 6 on the PANSS total score was -26.42±2.02 and -27.33±2.01 in the lurasidone and QXR group, respectively. The mean difference score was -0.91 (95% confidence interval -6.35–4.53). The lurasidone group showed a greater reduction in PANSS total and negative subscale on week 1 and a greater reduction in end-point CGI-S score compared to the QXR group. Body weight, body mass index, and waist circumference in the lurasidone group were reduced, with significantly lower mean change compared to QXR. Endpoint changes in glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein levels were also significantly lower. The most common adverse drug reactions with lurasidone were akathisia and nausea. Conclusion Lurasidone 160 mg/day was found to be non-inferior to QXR 600 mg/day in the treatment of schizophrenia with comparable efficacy and tolerability. Adverse effects of lurasidone were generally tolerable, and beneficial effects on metabolic parameters can be expected.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence and clinical features of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Korea. METHODS: Web-based (www.armd-nova.or.kr) registration was conducted for AMD patients aged 50 or more who were newly diagnosed by retinal specialists in Korea from August 20, 2005 to August 20, 2006. Patient data including ophthalmologic examination, fundus photography, fluorescein angiogram and/or indocyanin green angiogram (ICG), past medical history, behavioral habit, combined systemic diseases were up-loaded. RESULTS: Among finally enrolled 1,141 newly diagnosed AMD patients, 690 patients (60.5%) were male and 451 patients (39.5%) were female. The average age of AMD patients was 69.7+/-8.0. Early AMD was observed in 190 patients and 951 patients had late AMD. Classic choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) was observed in 18.6% of exudative AMD patients and 63.4 % had occult CNVM. Subfoveal CNVM was observed in 80.4% of the patients with CNVM. Among the 580 exudative AMD eyes that performed indocyanin green angiography (ICG), 184 eyes (31.7%) had polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) and 36 eyes (6.2%) showed retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP). Age, male gender, smoking, diabetes and hypertension significantly increased the risk of the AMD among Koreans. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the low rate of participation by retinal specialists, definite incidence of AMD was not obtainable. However, the estimated 1-year AMD incidence in the Pusan area of Korea is at least 0.4%. In contrast to Western people, 31.7% of exudative AMD cases were revealed to be PCV and 6.2% were revealed to be RAP. This discrepancy between ethnic groups should be considered in the diagnosis and treatment modality selection of Korean AMD patients.
Aged ; Angiography ; Choroid ; Ethnic Groups ; Eye ; Female ; Fluorescein ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Korea ; Macular Degeneration ; Male ; Membranes ; Photography ; Retinaldehyde ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Specialization