OBJECTIVE: The phenomenon of fibroblast overgrowth is one of the major problems encountered during long-term culture such as myoblast culture. The first goal of the study is to determine the effects of proline analogue and cytosine arabinoside to reduce fibroblasts in myoblast culture. The second goal is to investigate whether the chemicals influence the growth and differentiation of myoblast. METHOD: Muscle tissues were obtained from legs of healthy men, and then fibroblasts and myoblasts were isolated and cultured. Those mixed cells were divided into three groups; control group, proline analogue (cis-hydroxyproline) treated group and cytosine arabinoside (araC) treated group. We evaluated the effectiveness of cis-hydroxyproline and araC on selective removal of fibroblasts in culture. We have also determined if cis-hydroxyproline and araC could alter differentiation of myoblast in each group. RESULTS: The treatment with araC was effective to eliminate fibroblasts comparing to the control group (p<0.05) while there was no statistically significant difference between proline analogue and control group (p>0.05). Myoblasts of all three groups were differentiated into myotube. CONCLUSION: Using araC, we could reduce a number of fibroblasts in myoblast culture where contamination and subsequent overgrowth with fibroblasts remained a problem.
Cytarabine* ; Cytosine* ; Fibroblasts* ; Humans ; Leg ; Male ; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal ; Myoblasts* ; Proline*

Radiofrequency energy, such as that used in neuroablation, has been applied in various medical and surgical fields. However, no consensus exists regarding neuroablation protocols using radiofrequency. This study aimed to report the effect of a radiofrequency neuroablative technique on spastic foot management in a patient with stroke and present its safety and persistence. A 59-year-old man with hemiplegic gait by the intracerebral hemorrhage had radiofrequency ablation of the motor nerve branch supplying the medial gastrocnemius. The patient’s subjective and objective measurements of the spastic limb improved after the intervention. The effect lasted for 3 months. Radiofrequency neuroablative technique may be beneficial for treating spastic gait in patients with stroke. The above technique must be used to verify patients with spasticity, and research should be investigated to determine appropriated parameters.

No abstract available.
Duane Retraction Syndrome* ; Facial Paralysis ; Mobius Syndrome*

Malignant mixed mllerian tumors (MMMTs) are unusual neoplasms occurring mostly in the endometrium. In the ovary, they are very rare and represent less than 1% of all ovarian malignancies. They are highly aggressive neoplasms comprising histologically of both epithelial and mesenchymal components. The cell type cannot be determined on the basis of appearance at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, computed tomography (CT), or ultrasonography (US) but we diagnosed this case as endometrioid adenocarcinoma by MR imaging. Although the pathologic evaluation revealed the ovarian MMMT, mesenchymal components was very minute in the background of endometrioid adenocarcinoma components. The patient received the screening tests of ovarian carcinoma including transvaginal ultrasonography only 3months ago and she got negative results. During the exploration, a 15-cm sized mass looked like it has rapidly grown and ruptured spontaneously preoperatively. Herein we report a case of ovarian MMMT, which was diagnosed preoperatively as endometrioid adenocarcinoma by MR imaging with review of literatures.
Carcinoma, Endometrioid* ; Endometrium ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Mass Screening ; Ovary* ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Sexual dysfunction such as erectile dysfunction (ED) may be a hidden agenda, but, it should be dealt with by family physicians in primary care. We investigated the prevalence of ED and utilization of sexual consultation practice among community family physicians. METHODS: We analyzed the subjects who were males aged over 30 and married who visited 10 community family clinics around Seoul, Korea and completed questionnaires related to erectile function and utilization of sexual consultation service from May 9 to 28 2009. ED was designated if the 5-item version of international index of erectile dysfunction (IIEF-5) scores were less than 17. RESULTS: The average age of the responders was 45.6 years. The prevalence of ED was 43.3% and increased according to age, chronic disease, low educational history and low family income. Almost all of the mild ED patients answered that they needed sexual consultation. But, half of them had no plan to have a sexual consultation. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for having a sexual consultation or not according to variables were calculated with logistic regression. More severe ED (OR = 0.875; 95% CI, 0.827 to 0.926), existence of chronic disease (OR = 1.828; 95% CI, 1.026 to 3.260), inferior education (OR = 0.395; 95% CI, 0.196 to 0.796), and lower income (OR = 0.326; 95% CI, 0.124 to 0.857) were the factors which influenced to have a sexual consultation with a family physician. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of ED in family clinic was over 40%, but the utilization of sexual consultations was under 50%. We need to develop intervention strategies for more sexual counseling practice according to educational history, family incomes and status of ED in community family medicine clinics.
Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Counseling ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Odds Ratio ; Physicians, Family ; Prevalence ; Primary Health Care ; Referral and Consultation ; Sex Counseling

BACKGROUND: Although cisplatin (CDDP)-based chemotherapy is currently considered to be the most active treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), ultimate prognosis still remains poor. More effective cytotoxic agents are needed to improve outcom of these patients. We evaluated the efficacy and safty of combination chemotherapy with vinorelbine and ifosfamide in patients with advanced NSCLC. METHODS: Thirty-three chemotherapy-nave patients with stage IIIB or IV NSCLC were treated with vinorelbine 25 mg/m2 on days 1 & 8 and ifosfamide 2 g/m2 on days 1, 2 & 3 with mesna every 3 weeks. RESULTS: Among thirty evaluable patients who received the vinorelbine/ifosfamide combination chemotherapy, nine (30%) partial responses were observed. With median follow-up duration of 80weeks, the median response duration and overall survival durations were 23 weeks and 38 weeks respectively. World Health Organization grade 3 to 4 neutropenia and anemia occured in 5% and 4.3% respectively. CONCLUSION: Combination chemotherapy with vinorelbine and ifosfamide is an effective treatment for patients with advanced NSCLC with a manageable toxicity.
Anemia ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Cisplatin ; Cytotoxins ; Drug Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ifosfamide* ; Mesna ; Neutropenia ; Prognosis ; World Health Organization

BACKGROUND: About 60~80% of previously untreated patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) achieve complete remission (CR) when treated with cytarabine and anthracycline. Anthracycline is one of the most important chemotherapeutic agents in AML. It has been claimed that idarubicin showed superior complete remission rate than daunorubicin, which is not completely established. We evaluated idarubicin in combination with cytarabine (AI) as an induction chemotherapy in patient with AML. METHODS: Thirty one patients with newly diagnosed acute myelogenous leukemia were enrolled. Remission induction emotherapy was consisted of cytarabine (100mg/m2 IV over 24 hours on day 1~7) and idarubicin (12mg/m2 IV over 30 minutes on day 1~3). After achievement of CR, patients underwent consolidation therapy with high- dose cytarabine and/or bone marrow transplantation. RESULTS: Median age of the patients was 43 years (range; 17~62) and M2 was the most common subtype. The CR rate was 71% (22/ 31). The median overall and disease-free survival were 67 weeks (95% confidence interval, CI; 43~91) and 65 weeks (95% CI; 26~104), respectively with a median follow-up of 48 weeks. Major toxicities were fever and infection during the neutropenic period. There were three treatment-related mortalities. Causes of death were refractory AML in 1 patient and infection in 2 patients. CONCLUSION: AI induction chemotherapy seems to be effective and safe regimen as an induction chemotherapy in AML.
Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Cause of Death ; Cytarabine* ; Daunorubicin ; Disease-Free Survival ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Idarubicin* ; Induction Chemotherapy* ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute* ; Mortality ; Remission Induction

Aspergillus tracheobronchitis (ATB), a variant of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, is characterized by extensive tracheobronchitis and pseudomembrane formation. ATB usually occurs in immunocompromised patients with a high fatality rate. We report a case of ATB in a previously healthy patient who responded well to antifungal therapy.
Aspergillus ; Bronchitis ; Humans ; Immunocompetence ; Immunocompromised Host ; Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis

Acquired amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia is a relatively rare bone marrow failure disorder characterized by severe thrombocytopenia associated with a total absence or a marked reduction in the number of bone marrow megakaryocytes. We report a case of acquired amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia. A 39-year old man admitted our hospital because of gingival bleeding and purpura on the thigh, his initial complete blood cell counts were white blood cell 5.6 103/micro liter hemoglobin 9g/dL, and platelet 1 103/micro liter On the bone marrow study, megakaryocyte was not observed and cytogenetic analysis of marrow was 46, XY, inv(9). (p11q13). Other autoimmune markers were negative. The patient received steroid therapy during 8 weeks, but there was no significant improvement and then he received immunosuppressive therapy with antithymocyte globulin and cyclosporin-A. Thereafter the platelet count increased to 80 103/micro liter, and this level continued for 10 months
Adult ; Antilymphocyte Serum ; Blood Cell Count ; Blood Platelets ; Bone Marrow ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; Megakaryocytes ; Platelet Count ; Purpura ; Thigh ; Thrombocytopenia*