The malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) was first introduced in 1963 to refer to a group of soft-issue tumors characterized by a storiform or cartwheel-ike growth pattern and predominantly fibroblastic appearance. It was postulated that they were derived from histiocytes that could assume the appearance and function of fibroblasts. MFH has been recognized to be the most common sarcoma in the soft tissue of late adult life which involves the deep fascia or skeletal muscles of the extremities or retroperitoneum. It has been noted in other organs, however, it rarely arises in the liver. We report two cases of primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the liver histopathologically confirmed after surgical resection-storiform pleomorphic and myxoid subtypes in the 55 year old male and 49 year old female patients, respectively, and describes the clinical courses, characteristics and pathologic aspects with review of the related literatures.
Adult ; Extremities ; Fascia ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; Histiocytes ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous* ; Humans ; Liver* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Sarcoma

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluated the difference of depressive symptoms and attention between estrogen user and non-user in postmenopausal women. METHODS: 30 Estrogen users and 30 non-users were participated in this study. They were all menopausal for at least 1 year and have 12 or more education years. We used BDI(Beck Depression Inventory), digit span and digit symbol to evaluate depressive symptoms and attention in both groups. We also measured the plasma estradiol level and identified the correlation between estradiol level and BDI, digit span and digit symbol. RESULTS: The demographic data was not different between both groups. Estrogen users scored higher than non-users in digit span(forward) and lower than non-users in BDI. The correlation between estradiol level BDI, digit span and digit symbol was not significant. CONCLUSION: Estrogen replacement therapy was effective in alleviation depressive symptoms but ineffective in improving attention in postmenopausal women.
Depression* ; Education ; Estradiol ; Estrogen Replacement Therapy* ; Estrogens* ; Female ; Humans ; Plasma

No abstract available.
Immunohistochemistry* ; Sciuridae*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: As a tumor marker, alpha-etoprotein is widely used. Diagnositic cut-ff value is known as 400 ng/mL in sera. This study is aimed to determine the clinical features of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with reference to serum AFP levels in Korean patients. METHODS: From May 1990 to March 1998, 367 patients diagnosed as HCC, hospitalized and followed-p at Hanyang University Hospital, have been retrospectively analyzed with special reference on serum AFP level at time of diagnosis. The differences in clinical, hematological, and radiological features of HCC, as well as the survival rate in the two groups have been compared. Group 1 (N=182) was defined as an AFP level lower than 400 ng/mL, group 2 (N=185) was defined as an AFP level greater than 400 ng/mL. Comparisons were made by student's t test or chi-quare test. Survival rate was calculated from the time of diagnosis by Kaplan-eier method. Survival curves were also compared using log-ank test. P values less than 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: The patients with serum AFP levels above 400 ng/mL showed (1) a lower mean age; (2) a higher level of AST; (3) a higher level of AST/ALT ratio; (4) a high incidence of liver cirrhosis; (5) a high incidence of portal vein thrombosis; (6) a high incidence of positive HBsAg; (7) a low incidence of anti-CV; (8) a low incidence of small HCC but high incidence of large HCC; (9) a high incidence of more advanced TNM stage; (10) a low incidence of single nodular type and high incidence of diffuse type. CONCLUSIONS: Depending on the value of AFP, HCC has some clinical features. In hepatocellular carcinoma, high levels of AFP represent young age, HBV infection more than HCV infection and advanced disease state.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Diagnosis ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Venous Thrombosis

No abstract available.
Small Cell Lung Carcinoma*

BACKGROUND: Nitrous oxide is a safe analgesics which has analgesic and sedative effects without loss of consciousness. The advantage of Nitrous oxide is that it has a rapid onset time and that we can modulate duration of its action. The purpose of this experiment is to obtain the safe and effective concentration of Nitrous oxide in Emergency Department as use of analgesics and sedative drugs. METHODS: Twenty volunteers were investigated according to double blind method. Nitrous oxide was administrated to volunteer subjects at different concentrations ; 33%, 50%, 67% each. Then we evaluated the Pain score, Blood pressure, Heart rate, Respiratory rate, Oxygen saturation and its side effects. RESULTS: Pain Score were 8.4+/-2.1 at 33%, 6.1+/-1.5 at 50%, and 3.65+/-2.2 at 67% of Nitrous oxide. Pain Score is decreased significantly following administration of Nitrous oxide at concentration of 50%, 67%(P<0.05). There was no difference between preadministration group and postadministration group. While no remarkable change in systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation. Respiratory rate showed significant increase when 679o of Nitrous oxide was administrated. There was no side effect in administration of 33% of Nitrous oxide. When 50% of Nitrous oxide was administrated, there were dizziness 5(25%), paresthesia 2(10%), nausea 1(5%), palpitation 1(5%) and hyperethesia 1(5%). At 679o of Nitrous oxide, there were nausea 7(35%), dizziness 6(30%), paresthesia 5(25%), headache 5(25%), diplopia 2(10%), dysphoria 2(10%), salivation 1(5%), dyspnea 1(5%), nystagmus 1(5%), tinnitus 1(5%) and euphoria1 (5%). Incidence of side effect increased as the concentration of Nitrous oxide was increased. CONCLUSION: We can conclude that safe and effective concentration of Nitrous oxide is 50% as analgesics and sedative drugs in the emergency department.
Analgesics ; Blood Pressure ; Diplopia ; Dizziness ; Double-Blind Method ; Dyspnea ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Headache ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics* ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Incidence ; Nausea ; Nitrous Oxide* ; Oxygen ; Paresthesia ; Respiratory Rate ; Salivation ; Tinnitus ; Unconsciousness ; Volunteers

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: In its preceding work, change in surface characteristics were investigated in consideration that both microtopograpy and macroscopic configuration of implants surface are two of the most important factors, in that they can construct agreeable environment by raising surface energy, to affect osseointegration and biocompatibility explained by cell proliferation. PURPOSE: This study focused on examining cytocompatibility of dental implants materials Ti-Ag alloys, of which mechanical and electrochemical superiority to cp-Ti or Ti6Al4V were verified, in comparison with that of cp-Ti, and Ti6Al4V. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this regard, MTT tests for L-929, the fibroblast connective tissues and cell proliferation tests for osteoprogenitor cells, MC3T3-E1 were performed on cp-Ti, Ti6Al4V, and Ti-Ag alloys following thermal oxidation according to appropriate heat treatment temperature(untreated, 400, 600, 800degrees C) and heat treatment duration(untreated, 0.5, 1, 4 hr). RESULTS: The MTT tests on fibroblasts L-929 resulted in cell viability of over 90% in all experimental group entities, where, especially, the 100% of the viability for Ti-Ag alloys specimens accounted for the slightest adverse effect of ions release from those alloys on the cell. In MC3T3-E1 proliferation tests, the population of cells in the experimental group was roughly increased as experimentation proceeded, after two to four days. Proliferation showed highest viability for most of specimens, including Ti2.0Ag, treated at 600degrees C. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, it is the heat treatment temperature, not the duration that has considerable effects on thermal oxidation of specimens. Ti-Ag alloys treated at 600degrees C proved to have the best surface morphology as well as cytocompatibility when compared with Ti or Ti6Al4V for short-term biocompatibility tests.
Alloys* ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Survival ; Connective Tissue ; Dental Implants ; Fibroblasts ; Hot Temperature ; Ions ; Osseointegration

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the annual socioeconomic costs of stroke in Korea in 2005 from a societal perspective. METHODS: We identified those 20 years or older who had at least one national health insurance (NHI) claims record with a primary or a secondary diagnosis of stroke (ICD-10 codes: I60-I69, G45) in 2005. Direct medical costs of the stroke were measured from the NHI claims records. Direct non-medical costs were estimated as transportation costs incurred when visiting the hospitals. Indirect costs were defined as patients' and caregivers' productivity loss associated with office visits or hospitalization. Also, the costs of productivity loss due to premature death from stroke were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 882,143 stroke patients were identified with prevalence for treatment of stroke at 2.44%. The total cost for the treatment of stroke in the nation was estimated to be 3,737 billion Korean won (KRW) which included direct costs at 1,130 billion KRW and indirect costs at 2,606 billion KRW. The per-capita cost of stroke was 3 million KRW for men and 2 million KRW for women. The total national spending for hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke was 1,323 billion KRW and 1,553 billion KRW, respectively, which together consisted of 77.0% of the total cost for stroke. Costs per patient for hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke were estimated at 6 million KRW and 2 million KRW, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Stroke is a leading public health problem in Korea in terms of the economic burden. The indirect costs were identified as the largest component of the overall cost.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; *Health Care Costs ; *Health Expenditures ; Humans ; Insurance Claim Review ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Stroke/*economics ; Young Adult

The obturator artery normally originates from the internal iliac artery. However, variation in the origin of obturator artery has been reported in many countries. Since no such case has been reported in Korea, we examined variations in the origin of obturator artery in cadavers donated to the medical school at the Chungbuk National University. Thirty-six pelvic halves from 18 cadaveric subjects (13 males and 5 females) were studied in this study. Normal origin of the obturator artery from the internal iliac artery was observed in 88.9% (16/18) of cadavers or in 91.7% (33/36) of pelvic halves. A variation in the origin of obturator artery was observed in 11.1% (2/18) of cadavers or in 8.3% (3/36) of pelvic halves. All of the variant obturator arteries originated from external iliac arteries as branches of inferior epigastric arteries. Bilateral presence of variant obturator arteries was observed in 5.6%(1/18) of cadavers. The obturator artery arose from inferior epigastric artery at a distance of 1 to 2.4 cm from origin point of inferior epigastric artery, and then the obturator artery ran inferiorly and medially with the inferior epigastric artery running superiorly and laterally. Presence of variant obturator artery would be important to clinical fields with interest to pelvic anatomy, such as radiology and surgery.
Arteries ; Cadaver ; Epigastric Arteries ; Humans ; Iliac Artery ; Korea ; Male ; Running ; Schools, Medical

PURPOSE: This study was designed to determine surgeon's opinions on the name of the Department of Surgery in Korea. METHODS: This report is a survey of 797 randomly selected questionnaire (28.8%) from among 2,804 submitted by members of the Korea Surgical Society. The questionnaire consisted of 16 questions. RESULTS: Among the respondents, 70.4% were in the 4th or 5th decade of age, and 51.9% were working for private clinics. Among the names for the Department of Surgery in Korea, 48.9% included the word Surgery and 44.2% the word General surgery. Respondents who consider that we have to make use the unified Korean name of the Department of Surgery were 90.1%. CONCLUSION: The name of our department is considered as a common issue by most members. Most members insist that as much as possible, we should make use of the unified name Department of Surgery. We confirm that it is important to lead the public to a better understanding of our department by means of a far-reaching public information and that policy must be made and carried out by the Korea Surgical Society.
Surveys and Questionnaires ; Korea ; Surveys and Questionnaires