BACKGROUND: Tracheal tubes are different on the flexibility, material and bevel angle according to the manufacturers. These may affect the success rate of blind tracheal intubation through laryngeal mask airway (LMA). In addition, using straight-tip exchanger or curved-tip introducer, we tried to compare the success rate of tracheal tube insertion through LMA. METHODS: After receiving informed consents, 30 patients were enrolled. Blind tracheal intubation was tried with reinforced tracheal tube (M group), or one of two kinds of conventional tracheal tube (P group and B group). Tracheal tube was selected in random order and advanced into the trachea through LMA one by one. If all the three attempts was unsuccessful, we considered the blind tracheal intubation through LMA a failure. We also compared the success rate of blind tracheal insertion through LMA using straight-tip exchanger or curved-tip introducer. The first trial was performed on the neutral head position. The exchanger or introducer was rotated during the second trial. If the second attempt was unsuccessful, the exchanger- or intubator-guided intubation was performed on the sniffing position and, as a last and fourth trial, while mandible was being elevated with hands. RESULTS: Success rate of blind tracheal intubation through LMA was 50% (15/50) in group P and 36.7% (11/30) in group M, 33.3% (10/30) in group B (P=0.05). By using curved-tip introducer, intubation through LMA was successful in 80% (16/20), while it was successful only in 35% (7/20) via straight-tip exchanger. CONCLUSION: Blind tracheal intubation through LMA was dependent on the types of tracheal tube. Also, curved tip introducer may be a more valuable aid in performing blind tracheal intubation through LMA. Its use seems to be better technique than directly inserting tracheal tube through LMA.
Hand ; Head ; Humans ; Intubation* ; Laryngeal Masks* ; Mandible ; Pliability ; Trachea

PURPOSE: To examine the effects on erectile function of concomitant treatment with an alpha-blocker (tamsulosin) and an antimuscarinic agent (solifenacin) in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)/benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-seven male patients with LUTS/BPH were assessed for the degree of LUTS and erectile function. In group 1 (tamsulosin) and group 2 (tamsulosin and solifenacin), changes in the International Prostate Symptom Score [IPSS: total scores, storage symptoms (ST), voiding symptoms (VD), and quality of life (QoL)], prostate-specific antigen, trans-rectal ultrasonography, urine flowmetry, residual urine, and a 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) were assessed after a 3-month treatment period. In both groups, it was determined whether treatment was associated with changes in LUTS and erectile function and whether improvement in the IPSS was correlated with the IIEF-5. Comparative analysis was also done to examine the linear relationship between improved IPSS scores and IIEF-5 scores. RESULTS: A comparison of the degree of improvement in all the parameters indicated that both groups showed significant improvement in total IPSS, IPSS-ST, IPSS-VD, and IPSS-QoL (p<0.05). A comparison of the degree of improved sexual function associated with improved LUTS in each patient showed significant improvement in the IIEF-5 score associated with the degree of improvement in the IPSS-ST domain in group 1, but no significant associations were found in group 2. In cases in which tamsulosin was administered, the IIEF-5 score significantly improved as the IPSS-ST domain score improved. In the group in which tamsulosin and solifenacin were concomitantly administered, improvement of the IPSS-ST domain score had no significant effect on the IIEF-5 score. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with LUTS/BPH, tamsulosin and solifenacin combination therapy was effective for LUTS, but erectile function was not significantly improved. Therefore, although effective for improving LUTS, combination therapy with an alpha-blocker and an antimuscarinic agent was not effective for improving erectile function.
Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Male ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Quality of Life ; Quinuclidines ; Rheology ; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological ; Sulfonamides ; Tetrahydroisoquinolines ; Urinary Tract ; Solifenacin Succinate

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) for the treatment of renal stones and to analyze the predictive factors for stone-free. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients who underwent RIRS for renal stones from January 2000 to July 2009. We identified 66 RIRSs (63 patients with 3 bilateral renal stones) and collected data. Stone-free and success were respectively defined as no visible stones and clinically insignificant residual stones less than 3 mm on postoperative imaging; predictive factors for stone-free were evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 66 renal stones, 18 stones (27.3%) were located in the upper pole or midpole or renal pelvis and 48 (72.7%) in the lower pole with or without others, respectively. The mean cumulative stone burden was 168.9+/-392.5 mm2. The immediate postoperative stone-free rate was 69.7%, and it increased to 72.7% at 1 month after surgery. The success rate was 80.3% both immediately after the operation and 1 month later. In the multivariate analysis, stone location except at the lower pole (p=0.049) and small cumulative stone burden (p=0.002) were significantly favorable predictive factors for the immediate postoperative stone-free rate. The overall complication rate was 6%. CONCLUSIONS: RIRS is a safe and effective treatment for renal stones. The stone-free rate of RIRS was particularly high for renal stones with a small burden, except for those located in the lower pole. RIRS could be considered in selective patients with renal stones.
Humans ; Kidney Calculi ; Kidney Pelvis ; Lithotripsy ; Multivariate Analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Ureteroscopy

Juvenile xanthogranuloma (JXG) is a fibrohistiocytic proliferative disorder predominant in infancy and childhood. It is a benign and transient skin lesion that usually appears in the cephalic area. Recently, the concurrent finding of neurofibromatosis (NF), juvenile chronic myelogenous leukemia (JCML), and JXG has been repeatedly reported. Especially, the family history of NF may represent a risk factor for the development of JCML in patients with NF and in patients with NF and JXG. So, a finding of JXG and NF in infants should alert the physician to a possible development of JCML. We report a case of JXG developed in a neurofibromatosis child with family history.
Child ; Humans ; Infant ; Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Juvenile ; Neurofibromatoses ; Risk Factors ; Skin ; Xanthogranuloma, Juvenile

Serum or plasma is free of cellular components. As DNA is in the nucleus or mitochondria of a cell, it can be presumed that serum/plasma is DNA free. However, there are cases wherein serum/plasma is the only resource available for identification analysis, yet no sufficient data are available regarding whether reliable DNA testing can be applied to such cases, and what the influencing factors are when testing is a valid course of action. The aim of this study is to illustrate the factors that can be used in the genetic testing of serum/plasma when identifying an individual. The results showed that the concentration of serum DNA significantly increased over time in 4℃ storage, and the DNA yields from samples stored in heparin tubes were overall higher than from samples stored in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid tubes. We observed that the concentration of DNA in serum successfully matched 100% to the short tandem repeat data of blood DNA.
DNA Fingerprinting ; DNA* ; Edetic Acid ; Genetic Testing ; Heparin ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Mitochondria ; Plasma*

BACKGROUND: Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are defined as “statements that are scientifically reviewed about evidence and systematically developed to assist in the doctors' and patients' decision making in certain clinical situations.” This recommendation aims to promote good clinical practice for the provision of safe and effective practices of conscious sedation in dentistry. METHODS: The development of this clinical practice guideline was conducted by performing a systematic search of the literature for evidence-based CPGs. Existing guidelines, relevant systematic reviews, policy documents, legislation, or other recommendations were reviewed and appraised. To supplement this information, key questions were formulated by the Guideline Development Group and used as the basis for designing systematic literature search strategies to identify literature that may address these questions. Guideline documents were evaluated through a review of domestic and international databases for the development of a renewing of existing conscious sedation guidelines for dentistry. Clinical practice guidelines were critically appraised for their methodologies using Appraisal of guidelines for research and evaluation (AGREE) II. RESULTS: A total of 12 existing CPGs were included and 13 recommendations were made in a range of general, adult, and pediatric areas. CONCLUSION: The clinical practice guidelines for conscious sedation will be reviewed in 5 years' time for further updates to reflect significant changes in the field.
Adult ; Conscious Sedation* ; Decision Making ; Dentistry* ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; Humans

This study aims to investigate the factors related to the adoption of clinical practice guidelines in clinical settings in Korea; it also aims to determine how these factors differ depending on the specific situation of health care system and professional climate. The research sample comprised physicians who are board members of academic societies with experiences in development of clinical practice guidelines using a convenient sampling. We analyzed 324 physicians with pooling two-year sample of 2007 and 2008. From all the respondents, 48.8% stated that they followed Clinical Practice Guidelines, and 93.4% agreed with the content in the Clinical Practice Guidelines. With regard to the item on the self-efficacy of practicing guidelines, 90.3% of the respondents selected 'low level'. In the regression analysis, the factors associated with implementation were level of recognition, agreement and self-efficacy and positive attitude towards practice guidelines. Although the health care system in Korea differs from those in Western countries, our results revealed that the factors related to the adoption of practice guidelines were similar to the research results of Western countries. These results suggest that professionals' attitudes towards clinical practice guidelines are universal, and implementation strategies should be developed globally.
Adult ; Attitude of Health Personnel ; Awareness ; Female ; Guideline Adherence ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Models, Theoretical ; Physicians/psychology ; *Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Questionnaires ; Regression Analysis ; Republic of Korea ; Self Efficacy

PURPOSE: We presented our initial clinical experiences with transumbilical laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) ureterolithotomy for large, impacted ureteral stones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between March 2009 and November 2009, seven LESS ureterolithotomies were performed at our institute. During the operation, we made a single 2 cm incision at the umbilicus and a homemade port by using a small wound retractor (Alexis(R), Applied Medical, Rancho Santa Margarita, USA), a surgical glove, and conventional trocars. The operation was performed in the same manner as conventional laparoscopic surgery. The mean maximal stone diameter was 21.9 mm (range, 16.0-27.0 mm). There were six cases of upper ureteral stones and one case of a mid-ureteral stone. Perioperative and postoperative parameters were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean operative time was 197.1 min (range, 150-270 min). No transfusions were required. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 3.3 days (range, 2-6 days). The mean pain intensity on a visual analogue scale (VAS) on postoperative day 2 was 26 mm (range, 0-80 mm), and the mean cosmetic VAS at 6 weeks after the operation was 0 mm. The mean time for patients to return to their baseline activities was 4.0 days (range, 3-7 days). In six cases, all stones were completely removed on the basis of postoperative radiologic evaluation. There were no cases of major complications, including internal organ injury, urinary leakage, or urinary tract infection. CONCLUSIONS: Transumbilical LESS ureterolithotomy can be considered as an alternative treatment option with minimal invasiveness and good effectiveness for large, impacted ureteral stones.
Cosmetics ; Gloves, Surgical ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Operative Time ; Surgical Instruments ; Surgical Procedures, Minimally Invasive ; Umbilicus ; Ureter ; Ureterolithiasis ; Urinary Tract Infections

Pyoderma gangrenosum is a painful, chronic, ulcerating skin disease associated with a wide variety of disorders, including Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and Behcet's disease. Etiology of pyoderma gangrenosum is unknown but the lesions frequently appear at points of trauma and it is related with pathergy. We report a case of post-traumatic pyoderma gangrenosum occurring in ulcerative colitis with a review of the literature.
Colitis, Ulcerative ; Crohn Disease ; Pyoderma ; Pyoderma Gangrenosum ; Skin Diseases ; Ulcer

Jessner's lymphocytic infiltration of the skin (JLIS) is a well-known but poorly understood disorder. Some doubt still exists about whether it is a distinct disease or a variant of lupus erythematosus or, less commonly, polymorphous light eruption, cutaneous lymphoid hyperplasia. An effective therapy is still unavailable for JLIS. We report a patient with JLIS which was successfully treated with dapsone and intermittent systemic glucocorticoid therapy.
Dapsone ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Light ; Skin