PURPOSE: This is to evaluate the clinical results and radiologic changes of the mandibular condyle fractures following the open reduction and fixation using the Lag-screws introduced by Eckelt and Martin Co. MATERIALS & METHODS: Ten patients who had been treated by the Lag-screw fixation for the unilateral fracture of the mandibular condyle at the high level and followed up for over 6 months(ranged from 24 weeks to 33 weeks). The incisal opening by time elapsed, displacement of the fragments, bone resorption around the Lag-screws, operating time consumed, and untoward complications were evaluated. The data were tested by repeated measure ANOVA and paired t-test. RESULTS: The maximum mouth opening was increased by time as follows ; 20.2+/-2.8mm soon after reduction. 26.3+/-3.9 at the 2nd week, 37.7+/-4.2mm at the 4th week, 44.4+/-4.3mm in PO 2 months(P<0.05). The bone resorption at anterior to lag-screw nut was measured to 1.9+/-1.0mm, while the posterior resorption was 2.6+/-1.9mm on average(P<0.05). Reduction and fixation of the fragments by Lag-screw were done within 80 minutes including the skin closure. The clicking sound of the TMJ(40%), weakness of the marginal branch(60%) were complicated but transient for 4-8weeks. There were no signs of bony displacement, but loosening of screws were observed at the time of removal. CONCLUSION: Open reduction and fixation with condylar Lag-screw(Martin co., Germany) thru the ramus can be a good option to reduce the high level(Kruger's Level III & IV) fracture of the mandibular condyle with anterior or medial displacement. However, this procedure requires 2nd surgery to remove the devices and it may complicate improper reduction for delayed fractures and in case of 's' curved mandibular ramus.
Bone Resorption ; Humans ; Mandibular Condyle* ; Mouth ; Nuts ; Prognosis* ; Skin

No abstract available.
Appendicitis* ; Barium* ; Enema*

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a gram-negative halophilic organism commonly associated with outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis which also sometimes causes serious wound infection. It is an uncommon cause of bacteremia. We have experienced a case of bacteremia due to Vibrio parahaemolyticus in a 59-year old man who initially presented with edema and dyspnea. He was diagnosed as liver cirrhosis, gastric cancer, and hepatoma. On hospital day 13, Vibrio parahaemolyticus was isolated from blood culture. The isolate showed typical cultural and biochemical characteristics such as salt tolerance and did not ferment lactose. The isolate was intermediate to ampicillin but susceptible to other agents.
Ampicillin ; Bacteremia* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Disease Outbreaks ; Dyspnea ; Edema ; Gastroenteritis ; Humans ; Lactose ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Middle Aged ; Salt-Tolerance ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Vibrio parahaemolyticus* ; Vibrio* ; Wound Infection

No abstract available.
Animals ; Rats* ; Reperfusion*

We investigated the effects of panretinal photocoagulation (PRP)on macular microcirculation in diabetic retinopathy. PRP using argon blue green laser was performed in 23 eyes of 15 patients with early proliferative diabetic etinopathy and very severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy without significant macular edema. The changes in volume, flow, velocity of macular microcirculation were measured before PRP, 1 hour, 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month following PRP, using Heidelberg Retina Flowmeter(HRF). Mean volume, flow, velocity of macular microcirculation decreased to a maximal degree 1 hour following PRP, from 14.87+/-0.40, 387.45 +/-101.40, 1.40+/-0.28(before PRP)to 12.44+/-1.39, 347. 33+/-100.39, 1.27+/-0.34(p<0.05). From 1hour to 1 month after PRP, macular microcirculation gradually increased. However, throughout this period, all parameters of macular microcirculation remained lower than pre-PRP level(p<0.05). Our study suggests that panretinal photocoagulation reduces the macular microcirculation in diabetic retinopathy.
Argon ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Humans ; Light Coagulation* ; Macular Edema ; Microcirculation* ; Retina ; Retinaldehyde*

BACKGROUND: The inhalational anesthesia is performed by the administration of inhalational agents and fresh gases. Low and high flows have their own advantages and disadvantages. In Korea, many anesthesiologists use more than 2 L/min of fresh gas flow (FGF). This study was performed to analyze the practice and knowledge of FGF use by Korean Anesthesiologists. METHODS: A questionaire was sent to 122 anesthesiologists (15 university hospitals and 16 general hospitals) who attended the 47th Annual Autumn Meeting of the Korean Society of Anesthesiology in 2002. The questionaire covered topics dealing with inhalational agents, FGF, and safety systems for inhalational anesthesia practice. RESULTS: The most preferred inhalational anesthetic was sevoflurane (65.6%). 88.5% of respondents used more than 2 L/min of FGF. The majority of the respondents, however, did not consider the reasons for using certain levels of FGF. Only 27% of hospitals had pulse oximetry, capnogram or muti-gas analysis, fail-safe device, and a scavenging system. CONCLUSIONS: Many anesthesiologists, especially trainees, failed to consider the use of FGF during inhalational anesthesia. Therefore, special consideration should be given to the training and education of trainees about the proper of FGF.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Education ; Gases ; Hospitals, University ; Korea ; Oximetry

No abstract available.
Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Vertebroplasty*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the difference between the predicted postoperative refraction and the actual postoperative refraction after simultaneous vitrectomy and cataract surgery with sulcus fixation of an intraocular lens (IOL). METHODS: The records of patients with simultaneous vitrectomy and cataract surgery with sulcus IOL implantation (group 1) and with in-the-bag IOL implantation (group 2) were reviewed. We compared the spread between the predicted and actual refractive errors in the two groups. RESULTS: Group 1 consisted of 19 eyes in 19 patients and group 2 consisted of 23 eyes in 20 patients. The spread between the predicted and actual refraction (spread = actual-predicted) was -0.71 +/- 1.02 D in group 1 (p = 0.012) and -0.07 +/- 0.74 D in the group 2 (p = 0.86). The actual refractive errors in group 1 shifted toward myopia from the predicted in-the-bag refraction when compared with group 2. CONCLUSIONS: For the implantation of an IOL in the sulcus after simultaneous vitrectomy and cataract surgery, the IOL power should be approximately 1.0 D less than the power for in-the-bag fixation.
Cataract ; Humans ; Lenses, Intraocular* ; Myopia ; Refractive Errors* ; Vitrectomy

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although the mechanism of hepatocellular carcinogenesis still remains to be clarified, it has been suggested that persistent hepatic necrosis and resultant irregular regeneration might cause genetic mutations, such as activation of protooncogenes, inactivation of tumor suppressor genes and modulation of apoptosis-related genes, finally leading to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To elucidate the role of cell proliferative activity and apoptosis, a major mechanism of cell death, in hepatocellular carcinogenesis, we analyzed expression of proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), p53 protein and apoptotic cells in HCC and surrounding nonneoplastic hepatic parenchyma. METHODS: We performed immunohistochemical staining to detect P CAN, p53 protein, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labelling (TUNEL) method for the detection of apoptosis in 52 hepatocellular carcinomas and their adjacent nonneoplastic liver. We scored the expression of PCNA and p53, and apoptotic index by a 5 point scale' 0, 0%,1, 1-25%', 2, 25-50%, 3, 50-75%', 4, >76%, and analyzed the results with other clinicopathologic characteristics. RESULTS: p53 protein was expressed in 42.3% of the HCC, but was not evident in nonneoplstic liver. P53 overexpression was correlated with the histologic grade of HCC (p<0.05). PCNA labelling indices (LI) of HCC were correlated with those of liver cell dysplasia and normal liver (p<0.05). Leading edges of HCCs showed higher proliferative activity than the central part of HCC. Four cases of HCCs with high TUNEL also showed high proliferative activity. There was no difference of the TUNEL between HCC and surrounding nonneoplastic liver. Expression of p53, PCNA LI and TUNEL had no relationship with clinicopathologic parameters including viral markers, aFP elevation, tumor size and underlying cirrhosis. CONCLUSION: p53 overexpression in HCC and absence of p53 mutation in nonneoplastic liver indicates the active participation of p53 in hepatocellular carcinogenesis. Invasiveness and metastatic potential appear to be related with the strong expression of PCNA, but apoptosis in HCC has no direct implication in hepatocellular carinogensis.
Apoptosis* ; Biomarkers ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Cell Death ; Fibrosis ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Liver* ; Necrosis ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Regeneration

PURPOSE: To identify antitumor effect, indication and antitumor mechanism of p21/WAF1 gene therapy in human kidney and bladder cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We cloned cDNA of wild type human p21 gene by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) technology and constructed a mammalian expression plasmid vector carrying cDNA of wild type human p21 and CMV enhancer/promotor(pCMV-p21). pCMV-p21 was administered in vitro in complex with HDL cationic polyliposome into human kidney cancer cells(CURC-1 and CURC-2), bladder cancer cells(RT4 and T24), and liver cancer cells(Hep3B and HepG2), followed by analysis of viable cell number, cellular morphology, cell cycle distribution and development of apoptosis. RESULTS: The expression of p21 was preserved in p53-wild type cells and markedly decreased or absent in p53-mutant cells. Administration of pCMV-p21:HDL complex induced high level expression of p21 and significant suppression of growth in all of the cancer cells examined, regardless of their genetic status of p21 and p53. Transfer of p21 to cancer cells induced not only decrease of proportion of cells in G2+M/S phase but also apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: HDL cationic polyliposome-mediated p21 gene transfer may become a promising therapeutic modality for human kidney and bladder cancer and that p21 may have a novel function to induce apoptosis to human bladder and kidney cancer cells. Further studies are necessary on in vivo antitumor effect of p21 gene transfer and molecular mechanism of p21 gene-induced apoptosis.
Apoptosis ; Cell Count ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line* ; Clone Cells ; DNA, Complementary ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; Kidney* ; Liver Neoplasms ; Plasmids ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder*