PURPOSE: Laparoscopic nephrectomy has become accepted as a method of simple nephrectomy replacing with open nephrectomy in patients in whom a kidney requires removal for benign disease. Laparoscopic nephrecto my is widely performed and extends its indications. We evaluated our experience with the laparoscopic nephrectomy to assess the clinical efficacy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between April 1996 and September 1999, 23 patients (7 men and 16 women, mean age 44.1 years old) underwent laparoscopic nephrectomy, 16 by women, mean age 44.1 years old) underwent laparoscopic nephrectomy, 16 by the transperitoneal approach and 7 by the retroperitoneal approach. Operative and clinical records were reviewed. The underlying pathological conditions included 20 cases of non-functioning kidney, 2 cases of hypoplastic kidney with complete duplication and ectopic ureter, and 1 case of ureter tumor. Four ports (21 cases, two 12mm ports and two 5mm ports) or 5 posts ( 2 cases, two 12mm ports and three 5mm ports) were used. RESULTS: The laparoscopic procedure were successful in 20 cases (87%). Three patients had open conversion due to unclear anatomy, severe adhesion, and adrenal bleeding. In successful cases, mean operative time was 253+/-83 minutes (range 140-545), mean hospital stay was postoperative 5.2 days. Intraoperative and perioperative complications were noted in 6 patients, including bleeding requiring transfusion in 3, wound infection in 1, severe subcutaneous emphysema in 1, diarrhea in 1. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic simple nephrectomy is feasible, effective, and safe treatment option. It is a less invasive alternative to open surgery providing a more rapid recuperation and superior cosmetic effect.
Diarrhea ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Kidney ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Nephrectomy* ; Operative Time ; Subcutaneous Emphysema ; Ureter ; Wound Infection

Our study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of anthralin-UVB therapy on patients with psoriasis. We studied twenty two patients suffering from plaque-type psoriasis of varying degrees of severity. The results can be summarized as follows. l. 2p patients(90.9%) out of the total 22 patients showed grade 4 improvement. The rernaining 2 patients failed to respond to treatment, 2. Arnong the improved 2Q patients, 2 patients who were treated more than 3p times for grade 4 improvement were excluded, so cleared patients were 18(81.8%). 3. Arnong the 18 cleared patients, the mean nurnber of therapy wasg. 6 for grade 3 and 12. 5 for grade 4 in the cases of trunk lesiona, and 13. 2 for grade 3 and 17. 8 for grade 4 in the cases of extrernities lesions. With above results, anth-ralin-UVB therapy was rnore effective in lesions of the trunk than in those of extremi.ties. 4. Notable side effects were pruritus in 6 patients(27.3pg), staining in 4 patients (18,2%), and 1ITltatioB in 2 patients(9.1%)
Anthralin* ; Humans ; Phototherapy* ; Pruritus ; Psoriasis*

We performed anthralin comparative study(0.01% vs 0.1%) to assess the effectiveness of low-strengh anthralin therapy in 34 psoriatic patients and the resu1ts can be summarized as follows. 1. In the case of 13 patients using Burdick UVB larnp, in 1 patient the effect of 0.1% anthralin was superior to that of 0.01% anthralin from the start to the end of treatment, in 5 patients(38.5%) initially the effect of 0.1% anthralin was superior but in time became equal to that of 0.01% anthralin, and in 7 patients (53.8%) the effect of either side was same throughout the courae of the treatment. In the case of 21 patients using Waldmann UVB cabinet, there were 2(9.5 %), 3(14.3%) and 16 patients(76.2%) in the order named above. 2. The side effect of 0.1% anthralin was more severe than or at least the same as that of 0.01% anthralin in every patient who complained about side effects. So low-strengh anthalin-UVB phototherapy was thought to be the effective and alternative method of treatment particularly for the purpose of lessening the side effects.
Anthralin* ; Humans ; Phototherapy ; Psoriasis*

The study was undertaken to clarify any quantitative abnormalities in peripheral blood T lymphocytes and T subsets, mediating cell meliated immunity, and the presence of any relation between the degree of quantitative abnormalities and extent of skin lesions and activity of disease in patients with psoriasis by monoclonal antibodies. The results were as follows. 1. Mean percentages of total and suppressor T lymphocytes in 39 patients with psoriasis are significantly decreased as compared with those in 32 controls. Mean ratio of percentage of helper T lymphocytes to that of suppressor Tlymphocytes in 39 patients with psoriasis are significantly increased as compared with that in 32 controls. 2, As classified into three groups according to extent of skin lesions (E: less than 5% E,: 5-30%, and E,: more than 30%), mean pereentages of total T lymphocytes in E, and E, psoriasis group and those of suppressor T lymphocytes in all three psoriasi., groups are significantly decreased as compared with those in controIs. Mean percentages of helper T lymphor,ytes in L psoriasis group and mean ratios of percentage of helper T lymphocytes to that of suppressor T lymphocytes in E, and E, psoriasis groups are significantly increased as compared with those in controls. 3. Cis classified into three groups according to activity of disease (A,: stationary, A,: active, peripherally spreading and A,: active, small papules spreading), mean percentage of total T lymphocytes in peripheral blood lymphocytes in A, psoriasis group and those of suppressor T lymphocytes in all three psoriasis group are significantly decreased as compared with those in controls. Mean percentages of helper T lymphocytes and mean ratios of percentage if helper T lymphocytes to that of suppressor T lymphocytes in A, and A, psorixsis groups are significantly increased as compared with those in controls. These results clarified that there are quantitative abnormalities in peripheral blood I' lymphocytes and T subsets in patients with psoriasis and the degrees of abnorrnalities are related to extent of skin lesions and activity of disease. The aanorrnalities in peri.pheral blood T lymphocytes and T subsets in patients with psoriasis seem to be attributed to primary defect of suppressor T lymphoytes.
Antibodies* ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Negotiating ; Psoriasis* ; Skin ; T-Lymphocytes*

No abstract available.
Replantation*

Our study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of anthralin-UVB therapy for psoriasis by simplifying the conventional Ingram regimen, 34 patients(21 admitted, and 13 OPD patients) were included in our study and the resulti can be summarized as follows. 1. There were no cases of treatment failure. 16 patients(76. 2%) out of the 2l admitted patients and 7 patients(53.8%) out of the 13 OPD patients showed clearing. 2. In the case of the admitted patients, the mean numbers of therapy(days) of the improved patients reaching grade 4 were 12. 0(18. 1 days) in the trunk lesions and 15. 5 (22. 0 days) in the extremity lesions' and those of the cleared patients reaching grade 4 were 11. 2(16. 0 days) in the trunk lesions, and 13. 4(lg. 5 days) in the extremity lesions, but the difference was not significant statistically(pp o.ps). The difference between the therapeutic effects of the admitted and the OPD patients was significant statistically(p<0. 05). 3. There were some notable side effects such as staining, pruritus, and erythema, but there were no cases of therapy termination.
Erythema ; Extremities ; Humans ; Pruritus ; Psoriasis* ; Treatment Failure

We experienced a case of purpura pigmentosa chronica in a 9-year-old girl whose skin lesions are widespread, so that face is also involved in addition to the lower extremi ties, trunk, and upper extremities.
Child ; Female ; Humans ; Purpura* ; Skin ; Upper Extremity

Microvascular anastomosis has become an essential technique in reconstructive surgery. A lot of techniques have been developed to improve patency rate and reduce operation time. But interrupted suture technique is still most widely used because of limited indication and inconvenience of other methods. A comparative study was undertaken to evaluate new microvasular anastomosis technique using fibrin glue. In this report 40 femoral arteries of Sprague-Dawley rats were anastomosed by utilizing four stay sutures which were placed 90 degrees apart and the intervals covered with fibrin glue, and by conventional eight suture method served as control. The patency rate(immediate postoperative, postoperative two weeks), time needed for vascular anastomosis, and microscopic evaluation were compared to those of conventional microvascular suture technique. Postoperative patency rate was 100% and 85% by fibrin glue technique compared to 100% and 90% by conventional technique at immediate postoperative and postoperative two weeks. Less time consumed with fibrin glue technique by 16 minutes compared to conventional technique by 21 minutes. Microscopically reendothelization was complete with smooth and less injured inner lining and also less inflammatory response by fibrin glue technique compared to conventional technique.
Femoral Artery ; Fibrin Tissue Adhesive* ; Fibrin* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Suture Techniques ; Sutures

No abstract available.
Crystallins* ; Wounds and Injuries*

No abstract available.
Seasonal Affective Disorder* ; Seasons*