PURPOSE: For the production and evaluation of the tissue-equivalent phantom. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used agarous gel and oil as a basic component of the mixture and added Tween 80 for the stabilization of phantoms. We did the test for homogeneity and measured T1 and T2 relexation times of each phantom tube. RESULTS: T1 relaxation time ranged from 642 to 2781 msec and T2 relaxation times from 42 to 157 msec. Each phantom was significantly different in T1 relaxation time and T2 relaxation time (p < .0001). CONCLUSION: Tissue equivalent phantom may provide good information on the optimal sequence before MR imaging of patients and may be valuable if it is used with the patients' MR imaging.
Agar ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Polysorbates ; Relaxation

No abstract available.
Etodolac* ; Hypersensitivity*

Alveolar bone graft has several benefits such as bony support to teeth adjacent to the cleft, bony matrix for eruption of teeth in the line of the cleft, stability of maxillary segments, and elimination of oronasal fistula. But wide gap alveolar cleft is difficult to treat using bone graft, because a large amount of bone harvesting is required and complete closure by using local attached gingiva is difficult to achieve. Therefore we introduced bilateral interdental distraction osteogenesis method to treat patients who had wide alveolar gap. From August, 1999 to April, 2000, we treated 4 patients of unilateral complete alveolar cleft(aged 10 - 4 years) by using this method. Distraction device was fitted to the supporting teeth. And then horizontal osteotomy was performed bilaterally at the level of 3 - 5 mm away from the dental roots, vertical osteotomy was performed between the second premolar and the first molar. Simultaneously, oronasal fistula was repaired. After the latency period of 3 to 5 days, we distracted bilateral distal segments as distraction protocol. After completing distraction, device was left for about 4 weeks before initiating the post-operative orthodontic treatment. The alveolar bone graft and buccal mucosa local flap were not required in these patients. By using interdental distraction osteogenesis, wide gap alveolar cleft was treated effectively.
Bicuspid ; Fistula ; Gingiva ; Humans ; Latency Period (Psychology) ; Molar ; Mouth Mucosa ; Osteogenesis, Distraction* ; Osteotomy ; Tooth ; Transplants

In Asian double eyelid surgery, there have been two approaches to form a suprapalpebral fold: the buried suture (nonincision) method and the full external incision method. Usually excessive fat tissue in upper eyelid has been removed by using a full external incision method, or 2 to 3 partial incisions with buried suture method. The full external incision method is more invasive than the buried suture method, which is not suitable for patients with excessive orbital fat. From March 1999 to January 2002, we have introduced the single 5 mm-partial incision method to 216 patients. This method is applied to patients who have excessive amount of orbital fat or those who do not have excessive orbital fat but which must be removed for better result. These patients have bulging supra-crease areas when we form suprapalpebral folds with a curved wire loop preoperatively. Excessive orbital fat was removed through a single 5 mm incision in the middle of designed eyelid crease and tarso-dermal suture was performed. At another 2 to 3 points, through skin stab punctures by using 18 gauge needle, full-thickness eyelid tarso-dermal sutures were done. Pretarsal and preseptal orbicularis muscles were preserved. If muscles were removed, that could result in thinning of the overlying skin and could make suprapalpebral fold unnatural. This method has several advantages. First, we could perform the operations safely in patients who have excessive fat tissue, without a full external incision. Second,fat tissue can be removed almost totally by a single 5 mm-partial incision. Third, we can minimize the scar formation, and the possibility of complications, and make healing process and operation time shorter compared to the full incision technique. However a very delicate technique is required in this method. In patients who have a thick orbital septum, a superiorly located fat pad, and a bleeding tendency, exposure of fat tissue could be difficult and injury of levator muscle aponeurosis is possible. The complications of this method are the possibility of disappearing of the crease with the lapse of time(3 percents), and suture granuloma formation(less than 1 percent). In conclusion, patients who have excessive fat tissue in upper eyelid don't have to proceed a full incision, and can have more excellent results with this single 5 mm-partial incision method.
Adipose Tissue ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cicatrix ; Eyelids* ; Granuloma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Muscles ; Needles ; Orbit ; Punctures ; Skin ; Sutures

OBJECTIVE: Survivin is an inhibitor of apoptosis protein(IAP), which inhibits apoptosis through a pathway distinct from the Bcl-2 family members. Overexpression of survivin and Bcl-2 have been commonly reported in human neoplasms. The authors investigate whether there is a synergistic effect on the anti-apoptosis rate of primary brain tumors "in situ" based on the co-expression of survivin and Bcl-2. METHODS: One hundred and two brain tumor patients who had been resected were included in this study. Survivin and Bcl-2 were detected by Western blotting analysis, while apoptosis was examined by DNA fragmentation analysis. An anti-apoptotic rate was assessed in these brain tumor samples based on the expression of survivin and Bcl-2 or co-expression of both. RESULTS: Survivin and Bcl-2 were expressed in 57(55.9%) and 53(52.0%) of 102 brain tumor samples studied respectively, and co-expressed in 31(30.4%). The percentage of astrocytic and meningeal tumors expressing survivin was significantly correlated with histological grades; however, Bcl-2 was not correlated (p=0.106). The anti-apoptotic rate in primary brain tumors with survivin, Bcl-2, and both was detected in 49(86.0%) of 57 samples, 42(79.9%) of 53 samples, and 27(87.1%) of 31 samples, respectively. Their difference in the frequency of anti-apoptosis was not significant. CONCLUSION: Survivin or Bcl-2 is involved in the anti-apoptosis. However, it suggests that co-expression of survivin and Bcl-2, together, have no synergistic effect on the anti-apoptotic properties of the primary brain tumors.
Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Brain Neoplasms* ; DNA Fragmentation ; Humans ; Meningeal Neoplasms

Sodium picosulfate/magnesium citrate (Picolight Powder), which is used as a bowel preparation for the colon and the rectum, can cause a severe electrolyte imbalance like hyponatremia. When hyponatremia gets severe or occurs rapidly, it can lead to death due to associated complications. We have experienced a case of hyponatremia associated with seizure and loss of consciousness in a 76-year-old woman, who took sodium picosulfate/magnesium citrate as a bowel preparation for colonoscopy. She was taking thiazide and synthroid for the treatment of hypertension and hypothyroidism, respectively, and she had other underlying medical conditions such as a history of seizure and dementia. Following the diagnosis of hyponatremia, we used an intravenous injection of 3% NaCl to normalize the sodium level in her serum, and her associated symptoms soon disappeared.
Aged ; Citric Acid* ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Dementia ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hyponatremia* ; Hypothyroidism ; Injections, Intravenous ; Rectum ; Seizures* ; Sodium* ; Thyroxine ; Unconsciousness

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG) has been established as an effective treatment modality in improving the symptoms of ischemic heart disease as well as in preventing sudden death. Since the relatively wide use of arterial grafting in the 80's, an improvement in long term patency rates compared with saphenous vein grafting has been suggested. We have been using multiple arterial grafts since 1998, and we attempted to compare our early results with those of saphenous vein grafting. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Out of the 355 patients that received CABG at our center between June,1998 and May,1999, 153 patients that used cardioplegia were reviewed. 76 had received single arterial graft(Group I) and 77 had received more than 2 arterial grafts(Group II). Preoperative clinical data, ecohocardiography, and angiographic studies were analyzed retrospectively. RESULT: Preoperatively, there were statistically significant differences between Group I and Group II with respect to age and smoking history. There was one early postoperative mortality in each group. The number of anastomoses constructed per patient showed a statistical difference. There were no other differences in operative and postoperative results. CONCLUSION: Even in our learning period, there was no difference in our early results between arterial grafting and saphenous vein grafting. These early results suggest that arterial grafting may afford patients as improving in late survival. Futhermore, these results suggest that complete arterial revasularization may serve to prolong life expectancy.
Coronary Artery Bypass* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Death, Sudden ; Heart Arrest, Induced ; Humans ; Learning ; Life Expectancy ; Mortality ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Retrospective Studies ; Saphenous Vein ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Transplants*

OBJECTIVES: This study is to investigate clinicopathologic characteristics, survival and prognostic factors in patients with Krukenberg tumor of the ovary. MATERIAL & METHODS: From Jan. 1991 to Dec. 2000, 42 patients with Krukenberg tumor of the ovary were investigated with clinical profiles, such as age, stage, primary sites, clinical symptoms, and survival, retrospectively. RESULTS: A mean age of 42 patients was 44.8 years (range 27-77). Stomach was the most frequent primary site (30/42, 71.4%), followed by colon (7/42, 16.7%) and gallbladder (1/42, 2.4%). In 38 patients, primary sites diagnosed before or after 1 month of diagnosis of Krukenberg tumor of ovary (36/38 cases, 94.7%). The most common feature of patients with Krukenberg tumor of ovary was bilateral abdominal mass. 5-year survival rate of patients with Krukenberg tumor of ovary was 8.94% (95% CI=3.33-14.55) and median survival time was 11 months. Age, bilaterality of tumor, time of diagnosis, presence of ascites and the primary site did not affect the survival. The patients who received post-operative adjuvant chemotherapy had better 3-year survival than those who did not (17.28% vs 10% p=0.03). CONCLUSION: Krukenberg tumor of the ovary is an aggressive tumor with poor prognosis. Post-operative adjuvant chemotherapy may increase the survival of patients with Krukenberg tumor of the ovary. Further prospective studies for the role of surgery and chemotherapy are needed.
Ascites ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Colon ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Gallbladder ; Humans ; Krukenberg Tumor* ; Ovary* ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVES: This study is to investigate clinicopathologic characteristics, survival and prognostic factors in patients with Krukenberg tumor of the ovary. MATERIAL & METHODS: From Jan. 1991 to Dec. 2000, 42 patients with Krukenberg tumor of the ovary were investigated with clinical profiles, such as age, stage, primary sites, clinical symptoms, and survival, retrospectively. RESULTS: A mean age of 42 patients was 44.8 years (range 27-77). Stomach was the most frequent primary site (30/42, 71.4%), followed by colon (7/42, 16.7%) and gallbladder (1/42, 2.4%). In 38 patients, primary sites diagnosed before or after 1 month of diagnosis of Krukenberg tumor of ovary (36/38 cases, 94.7%). The most common feature of patients with Krukenberg tumor of ovary was bilateral abdominal mass. 5-year survival rate of patients with Krukenberg tumor of ovary was 8.94% (95% CI=3.33-14.55) and median survival time was 11 months. Age, bilaterality of tumor, time of diagnosis, presence of ascites and the primary site did not affect the survival. The patients who received post-operative adjuvant chemotherapy had better 3-year survival than those who did not (17.28% vs 10% p=0.03). CONCLUSION: Krukenberg tumor of the ovary is an aggressive tumor with poor prognosis. Post-operative adjuvant chemotherapy may increase the survival of patients with Krukenberg tumor of the ovary. Further prospective studies for the role of surgery and chemotherapy are needed.
Ascites ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Colon ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Gallbladder ; Humans ; Krukenberg Tumor* ; Ovary* ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach ; Survival Rate

It is estimated that approximately 35% of patients with invasive cervical cancer will have recurrent or persistent disease following therapy. The common metastatic sites of recurrent cervical cancer included the lung, liver and vertebra, however, colon metastases from cervical cancer were extremely rare. Recently we experienced a case of colonic metastasis in a patient with cervical cancer who had been treated with radiation and chemotherapy. We present this case with a brief review of literature.
Colon* ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Liver ; Lung ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Spine ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*