Lumbar hernias are rare posterolateral abdominal wall defects that may be congenital or acquired. There are two types of lumbar hernia, the superior lumbar hernia through Grynfeltt triangle, and the inferior lumbar hernia through Petit triangle. Many techniques have been described for the surgical repair of lumbar hernias including primary repair, local tissue flaps, and conventional mesh repair. But these open techniques require a large skin incision. We report a case of superior lumbar hernia, which was successfully repaired using a laparoscopic approach.
Abdominal Wall ; Hernia ; Skin

In this paper, waveform preserving coding technique is proposed for the bio-signals based on wavelet transform local maxima representation. In order to efficiently encode the bio-signal, it utilize the inherent property of bio-signals that sharp waves corresponding to the local maxima in wavelet domain contain the most of the clinically significant information in general. The testing sets of ECG and EEG are experimented to select the appropriate wavelet basis and to demonstrate the usefulness regarding to coding efficiency. The spline basis is more suitable in designing the coder than the Harr basis since the spline basis produces less number of local maxima than the Harr basis. The proposed wavelet method based on spline basis outperforms the conventional subband coding technique in terms of wave form degradation and coding efficiency. The actual transmission experiment using external communication network and the general personal computer demonstrates the applicability to telemedicine system handling the bio-signals.
Clinical Coding ; Electrocardiography ; Electroencephalography ; Microcomputers ; Telemedicine* ; Wavelet Analysis

PURPOSE: This study was performed to compare osteogenic capacity according to the scaffold, i.e., calcium metaphosphate on purified bovine collagen (Lubboc(R)). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Calcium metaphosphate and Lubboc blocks were immersed within a bone marrow cell suspension from New Zealand white male rabbit anterior superior iliac spine to produce cell-biomaterial complexes. These were cultured for 5 weeks in osteogenic media and differences with bone densitometry, light microscopic examination, electron microscopic examination, concentration of osteocalcin from osteoblasts were then evaluated. RESULTS: In light microscopic examination, more organized tissue was observed in the Lubboc(R) group. By electron microscopy osteoblasts and the matrix were densely overlapped on the surface of the Lubboc(R) group, whereas cells were scattered on the calcium metaphosphate. Immunohistologic examination for osteocalcin was definitely positive in the Lubboc(R) group, but the reaction on the calcium metaphosphate was unclear, and densitometry revealed that Lubboc(R) (0.028 gms/cm2) showed a statistically significant higher density than calcium metaphosphate (0.026 gms/cm2). CONCLUSION: Highly purified bovine collagen was more effective than calcium metaphosphate in osteogenesis in vitro.
Bone Marrow Cells ; Calcium* ; Collagen ; Densitometry ; Heterografts* ; Humans ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron ; New Zealand ; Osteoblasts* ; Osteocalcin ; Osteogenesis* ; Spine

BACKGROUND: Reperfusion of ischemic myocardium has been postulated to result in a specific oxygen radical mediated tissue injury. Iron may liberate during ischemia and we hypothesized that administration of the iron chelator, deferoxamine during ischemia would result in improved recovery after postischemic reperfusion. PURPOSE: To test whether iron-catalyzed processes contribute to myocardial necrosis during ischemia and reperfusion, deferoxamine was administered to block iron catalyzed hydroxyl radical formation in rabbits. METHODS: Eleven rabbits were divided into two groups: control group (n=5) and deferoxamine pretreatment group (n=6). the left circumflex coronay artery was ligated for 30 minutes and reperfused for 180 minutes. Area at risk (AR) was measured by non-stained area with ethylene blue injection into left atrium after left circumflex coronary artery ligation. Infarct size was measured by weighing after tripheyltetrazolium chloride staining. Heart rate was measured using electrocardiographic recording and systemic blood pressure was monitored by pressure transducer connected to the catheter in the left ventricle. RESULTS: 1. There was no significant difference of heart rate and blood pressure in deferoxamine pretreatment group compared with control group. 2. There was significant decrease of serum iron concentration after continuous infusion of deferoxamine compared with serum iron concentration before ligation of coronary artery (P<0.05). 3. There was no significant difference of area at risk between control and deferoxamine pretreatment group. 4. Area at necrosis to area at risk was significantly reduced in deferoxamine pretreatment group compared with control group (P<0.05) The results suggest that deferoxamine infusion prior to coronary artery occlusion has a significant benefit in reducing infarct size in this model.
Arteries ; Blood Pressure ; Catheters ; Coronary Vessels ; Deferoxamine* ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Atria ; Heart Rate ; Heart Ventricles ; Hydroxyl Radical ; Iron ; Ischemia ; Ligation ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Myocardium ; Necrosis ; Oxygen ; Rabbits ; Reperfusion ; Transducers, Pressure

Malignant hyperthermia is a subclinical myopathy, usually triggered by anesthetics and associated with a mortality rate of up to 70%, when left untreated. But with early diagnosis using capnography and with the advent of dantrolene, the mortality rate could be reduced to less than 5%, which implies the significance of early diagnosis and proper treatment. Owing to the reduced mortality rate, anesthesiologists get more chances to encounter patients with a previous history of malignant hyperthermia and knowledge to provide proper anesthetic management become essential. We present a case in which malignant hyperthermia was detected in a 67 year old female patient with gastric cancer and a thyroid mass during the first operation and successfully treated with promptly initiated supportive measures based on capnography finding without dantrolene which was not available at the time and the same patient rescheduled for subsequent gastrectomy in which we chose non-triggering agents in adjunct to epidural anesthesia without provoking malignant hyperthermia.
Aged ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; Anesthesia, General* ; Anesthetics ; Capnography ; Dantrolene ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Malignant Hyperthermia* ; Mortality ; Muscular Diseases ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Thyroid Gland

PURPOSE: Epinephrine itself exhibits some cardiotoxicity. However, it rarely induces cardiomyopathy when used in standard doses during surgery for local hemostasis. This paper reports a rare case of stress-induced cardiomyopathy in a young woman after the local infiltration of epinephrine. METHODS: Corrective rhinoplasty was planned in a 20-year-old woman. Lidocaine mixed with epinephrine 1:100,000 was injected around the skin of the nose and nasal septum after inducing anesthesia, which resulted in sinus tachycardia and hypotension. Postoperative ECG showed a T wave inversion in the lead V2 and echocardiography revealed transient hypokinesia in the cardiac apex. Cardiac enzyme was mildly elevated. RESULTS: Symptoms and laboratory findings improved considerably, and the patient was discharged from hospital without complications on the sixth day after surgery. CONCLUSION: The prognosis of catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy is generally favorable. However, it is important to be aware of the possible adverse effects of local epinephrine infiltration. This case highlights the need for caution when using epinephrine.
Anesthesia ; Cardiomyopathies ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Epinephrine ; Female ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; Hypokinesia ; Hypotension ; Lidocaine ; Nasal Septum ; Nose ; Prognosis ; Rhinoplasty ; Skin ; Surgery, Plastic ; Tachycardia, Sinus ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate and pattern of recurrence of rectal cancer as well as analyze the risk factors affecting recurrence following resection with curative intent. METHODS: 460 patients underwent curative resection for adenocarcinoma of the rectum at our clinic from 1994 to 1998. Among these, 132 patients (29.1%) whose recurrence was confirmed by clinical and radiologic examination or reoperation were studied retrospectively. The risk factors that determined the recurrence patterns were analysed with univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: The mean time to recurrence was 22.0 months. The locoregional recurrence rate was 5.7% (25/440). The systemic recurrence rate was 18.4% (81/440). 12 patients (2.7%) had two or more sites of recurrence at the time of diagnosis. The most common locoregional recurrence was a pelvic recurrence (2.3%; 10/440), followed by anastomosis (2.0%; 9/440) and presacral (0.9%; 4/440). The most common site of systemic recurrence was the liver (7.0%; 31/ 440), followed by the lung (5.9%; 26/440) and peritoneum (3.2%; 14/440). The mean time from recurrence to death was 16.0 months. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that nodal metastasis (P=0.002), vascular invasion (P=0.027), elevated CEA level (P=0.011), and microscopic invasion to the lateral margin (P=0.008) were risk factors for postoperative recurrence. When the recurrence patterns were compared to stage, the systemic recurrence rate was 3.0% in stage I, 15.3% in stage II, and 28.9% in stage III. The locoregional recurrence rate was 3.0% in stage I, 6.0% in stage II, and 6.8% in stage III. CONCLUSION: Even though an excellent local control was obtained following curative resection of rectal cancer, the main cause of recurrence was a systemic failure in advanced rectal cancer. More effective systemic chemotherapy is required for the prevention of systemic recurrence.
Adenocarcinoma ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Liver ; Logistic Models ; Lung ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Peritoneum ; Rectal Neoplasms* ; Rectum ; Recurrence* ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

With the exception of accidental perforation during a laparoscopic Cholecystectomy, An Iatrogenic Gallbladder Perforation Is Quite Rare. Several Cases Have Been Reported As A Complication Of Interventional Or Endoscopic Procedures. Although A Case Of Gallbladder And Stomach Perforation During Gastric Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (Emr) Has Been Reported, We Encountered A Case Of Gallbladder Perforation During Gastric Emr Without Evidence Of A Perforation Of The Stomach, Which Has Not Been Reported In The Literature.
Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic ; Gallbladder ; Stomach

OBJECTIVE: The study was designed to investigate the expression of Bcl-2 and CD-44 molecules in cervical cancer and compare the results with known clinical prognostic factors, and lastly to define the roles of Bcl-2 and CD-44 molecules in tumorigenesis and metastasis of cervical cancer. METHODS: A total of 85 patients were enrolled in this study and retrospective analysis of prognostic factors were compared with immunohistochemical staining of Bcl-2 and CD-44. RESULTS: The expression of Bcl-2 was relatively even when we compared with stage, cell types, grade and lymph node metastasis. And the CD-44 spliced variant form V6 expression was significantly strong in higher stage and positive lymph node metastasis but cell types and grade of tumor does not correlated with status of CD-44 expression. CONCLUSION: Bcl-2 expression in cervical cancer does not correlate with clinical prognostic factors, but CD-44 spliced variant V6 form does correlated with poor prognostic factors. CD-44 may play a role in the process of the tumor metastasis and poor prognosis.
Carcinogenesis ; Genes, bcl-2 ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

BACKGROUND: Nitrous oxide is a safe analgesics which has analgesic and sedative effects without loss of consciousness. The advantage of Nitrous oxide is that it has a rapid onset time and that we can modulate duration of its action. The purpose of this experiment is to obtain the safe and effective concentration of Nitrous oxide in Emergency Department as use of analgesics and sedative drugs. METHODS: Twenty volunteers were investigated according to double blind method. Nitrous oxide was administrated to volunteer subjects at different concentrations ; 33%, 50%, 67% each. Then we evaluated the Pain score, Blood pressure, Heart rate, Respiratory rate, Oxygen saturation and its side effects. RESULTS: Pain Score were 8.4+/-2.1 at 33%, 6.1+/-1.5 at 50%, and 3.65+/-2.2 at 67% of Nitrous oxide. Pain Score is decreased significantly following administration of Nitrous oxide at concentration of 50%, 67%(P<0.05). There was no difference between preadministration group and postadministration group. While no remarkable change in systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation. Respiratory rate showed significant increase when 679o of Nitrous oxide was administrated. There was no side effect in administration of 33% of Nitrous oxide. When 50% of Nitrous oxide was administrated, there were dizziness 5(25%), paresthesia 2(10%), nausea 1(5%), palpitation 1(5%) and hyperethesia 1(5%). At 679o of Nitrous oxide, there were nausea 7(35%), dizziness 6(30%), paresthesia 5(25%), headache 5(25%), diplopia 2(10%), dysphoria 2(10%), salivation 1(5%), dyspnea 1(5%), nystagmus 1(5%), tinnitus 1(5%) and euphoria1 (5%). Incidence of side effect increased as the concentration of Nitrous oxide was increased. CONCLUSION: We can conclude that safe and effective concentration of Nitrous oxide is 50% as analgesics and sedative drugs in the emergency department.
Analgesics ; Blood Pressure ; Diplopia ; Dizziness ; Double-Blind Method ; Dyspnea ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Headache ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics* ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Incidence ; Nausea ; Nitrous Oxide* ; Oxygen ; Paresthesia ; Respiratory Rate ; Salivation ; Tinnitus ; Unconsciousness ; Volunteers