PURPOSE: To evaluate the early clinical results of lumbar microdiscectomy using minimally invasive tubular retractor (METRx-MD system, Medtronic Sofamor Danek, Memphis, TN), and to validate the merits of minimally invasive spinal surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From April, 2003 to April 2004 we retrospectively studied a consecutive series of 45 patients who underwent lumbar microdiscectomy using minimally invasive tubular retractor. In all cases, minimally invasive approach using the tubular retractor were performed with a 2 cm sized paramedian incision. The following data were collected: clinical outcomes, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, need for blood replacement, time needed before ambulation, length of hospital stay, and complications. The clinical outcomes were assessed by the modified MacNab criteria. RESULTS: Minimally invasive tubular microdiscectomy was performed in 45 patients over a 12-month period with an average follow-up of approximately 8 months. The clinical outcomes assessed by MacNab criteria were excellent in 33 patients (73%), good in 10 patients (22%). The average operative time was 63 minutes (range, 35 to 95 minutes). The average blood loss was 62 mL (range, 50 to 110 mL). None of the patients needed blood replacement. With the exception of 2 patients, all patients could walk at the day of surgery. The average hospital stay was 2.3 days. None of the patients had dural tear, wound problem, or other complications. CONCLUSION: Lumbar microdiscectomy using tubular retractor can offer a useful modality for the treatment of lumbar herniated disc with the merits of minimally invasive spinal surgery. Further long-term, randomized, prospective investigations are needed to fully evaluate the impact of this technique.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Length of Stay ; Operative Time ; Wounds and Injuries

In order to investigate the occurrence characteristics of cancer in terms of industry in Kwangju-Chonnam area, medical utilization records of industrial medical insurance corporations during the period of 1987 to 1988 were reviewed for the identification of neoplastic disease. The cases obtained from the medical records were followed up for the verification and to get additional information. Standardized incidence data were compared by occupational characteristics. Multiple logistic regression analysis was applied to analyze the difference of incidence or distribution of cancer as a whole or of some selected cancer. Total cases of cancer identified were 242 during the study period. Annual incidence rate was calculated as 123.1 per 100,000 person. The frequent types of cancer were cancers of stomach, liver, lung, colon and rectum, bladder and lymphoma in descending order. Employees of mine and other sand handling industries showed significantly higher risks for cancer of stomach and cancer as a whole. Employees of the transportation industry showed the higher risk for cancer of liver. Workers in small-sized industry (< or = 100) had a higher risk for cancer than who in large-sized industry (>100). These findings suggested the effect of occupational environmental exposure to cancer development.
Colon ; Environmental Exposure ; Humans ; Incidence ; Insurance* ; Liver ; Liver Neoplasms ; Logistic Models ; Lung ; Lymphoma ; Medical Records ; Occupations ; Rectum ; Silicon Dioxide ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Transportation ; Urinary Bladder

Unilaterl frontal hyperhidrosis, a rare disorder of the sweat gland with localized hyperhidrosis, ia discribed. A 13-year-old female patient had increased sweating on the left half of the forehead, recurring in summer season for 2 years. Quantitative sweat collection demonstrated that the sweat glands responsive to those stimuli, which were thermal (direct and indirect heat), gustatory and cholinergic stimulation. A marked increase in sweat gland activity was noted on the affected areas as compared to the contaralateral normal sites, in thermal and gustatory effect. But, carbachol stimulation was not responsive. Biosy specimen which taken from the positive site of starch iodine technique showed increase number of sweat glands and ducts with somewhat dilated sweat ducts.
Adolescent ; Carbachol ; Female ; Forehead ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis* ; Iodine ; Seasons ; Starch ; Sweat ; Sweat Glands ; Sweating

From July 1982 to February 1984, we performed 21 times of microsurgery for urethroplasty and pyeloplasty: 11 times in 11 cases of hypospadia, 4 times in 3 cases of urethrocutaneous fistula and 6 times in 5 cases of UPJ stricture. The results were as follows : 1. Success rate of urethroplasty was 81.8% (9/11) , but complication rate was 36.4% (4/11). 2. Success rate of urethrocutaneous fistular repair was 50% (2/4) . Fistula was recurred in two cases after first repair of urethrocutaneous fistula. 3. Success rate of pyeloplasty was 100%.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Female ; Fistula ; Hypospadias ; Male ; Microsurgery

BACKGROUND: To evaluate depressure effect and safety of delapril, a new ACE inhibitor, in Korea. METHOD: Thirty three patients, aged 37-69, with mild to moderate essential hypertension were first observed for 2 weeks with placebo followed by administration of 15mg of delapril twice daily for 2 weeks, then doubled dosage to 30mg b.i.d. and combined with 25mg of dihydrochlorothiazide if optimal BP were not obtained at the end of 4th week, continued the same dose until the end of 10 week's trial period. RESULT: BP dropped 15/9mmHg inaverage at the end of 10th week rewarding 70% of cumulative effectiveness. Most frequent side reaction was dry cough, occurred in 9% of patients followed by chest tightness, headache, constipation and transient elevation of GPT. CONCLUSION: Delapril 15-30mg twice daily as monotheraphy or combined with diuretics is well tolerated and effective in the treatment of mild to moderate essential hypertension.
Constipation ; Cough ; Diuretics ; Headache ; Humans ; Hydrochlorothiazide ; Hypertension* ; Korea ; Reward ; Thorax

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No abstract available.

Percutaneous nephrostomy for relief of obstruction and functional preservation of the kidney was effectivelyperformed 19 times in 14 patients for recent 1 year since July 1982 at Departement of Radiology in Seoul NationalUniversity Hospital. The etiologies of the total 14 obstructive uropathies were metastatic cervix cancer in 6-cases, metastatic rectal cancer in 2 cases, and metastatic bladder cancer, malignant mixed mesodermal tumor operimetrium, pyonephrosis, bilateral staghorn stone, UVJ obstruction of undertermined cause, congenital UPJobstruction in 1 case respectively. Percutaneous nephrostomy was done bilaterally in 1 case of congenital UPJobstruction and unilaterally in 13 cases. We used ultrasound as puncture guide in 13 cases and CT in 1 case. Majorcomplication was absent, but minor complications occured in 4 patients; gross hematuria persisting 24 hours (1case), catheter dislodgment after several seeks (2 cases ) and luminal narrowing after 3 months(1 case).Satisfactory outcomes were made in 13 patients except 1 patient who succumbed one day after the procedure due topreexisting severe sepsis. The procedure proved to be safe and effective alternative to operative nephrostomy insome patients with urinary obstruction.
Catheters ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Kidney ; Mesoderm ; Nephrostomy, Percutaneous ; Phenobarbital ; Punctures ; Pyonephrosis ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Seoul ; Sepsis ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Adherence of Candida albicans(C. albicans) to the surface of a denture is believed to be an initial and essential step in the formation of denture-induced stomatitis. Previous studies have provided enormous infomation on the relationship between composition of palatine gland/parotid saliva and upper denture stomatitis. Relatively little information is available on the correlation between lower denture stomatitis and sublingual-submandibular(SLSM) saliva. The plaque samples were collected from the two sites(100mm2) on the inner surface of lower partial denture corresponding to the stomatitis and healthy region of the lower partial dentures of 12 denture stomatitis patients and 6 normal persons who wore lower partial dentures. The samples were plated to isolate C. albicans on a selective Saboraud's dextrose agar plate and the isolates were identified by germ tube test and gram staining. The subjects were divided into group I (stomatitis with C. albican), group II (lesion without C. albicans), group III (no lesion but C. albicans), and group IV (normal and healthy denture wearer). Individual SLSM saliva (20microgram of protein) was analyzed by SDS-PAGE(SDS-poly-acrylamide gel electrophoresis) with Coomassie brilliant blue and PAS(Periodic Acid Schiff) staining. The salivary proteins separated in the polyacryamide gels were subjected to immunoblot analysis using anti-lactoferrin, anti-sIgA, and anti-secretory component of sIgA. In this study using custom made acrylic denture resin beads(5mm in diameter) coated with stimulated individual SLSM saliva, the binding ability of individual C. albicans strains to the beads was observed. Levels of C. albicans adhered to the acrylic resin beads were determined by measuring the optical density of the bound C. albicans to the beads at 580nm. The results showed that a higher number of C. albicans was observed in the lesion site than health site. The saliva of group I contained more high molecular weight glycoprotein(mucin, MG1) as compared to group II, III, and IV. And lactoferrin and sIgA affected to the binding ability of C. albicans to acylic resin beads. Binding ability of individual C. albicans to the acrylic resin coated with respective individual saliva was found to be greater in group I than the other 3 groups. And when bound cells of C. albicans isolated from individual subject #2 to the saliva coated beads were used, binding ability of subject #2 saliva coated beads was founed to be greater than the other subjects. These results suggested that denture induced stomatitis is related to individual patient's salivary protein composition, especially MG-1. Future studies will be directed toward saliva examination of patients who have general disease and analysis of pellicles formed on prosthesis with respect to oral disease.
Agar ; Candida albicans* ; Candida* ; Denture, Partial ; Dentures* ; Gels ; Glucose ; Glycoproteins* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory ; Lactoferrin ; Molecular Weight ; Prostheses and Implants ; Saliva ; Salivary Proteins and Peptides ; Stomatitis ; Stomatitis, Denture*