No abstract available.
Thanatophoric Dysplasia*

BACKGROUND: Both carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and global risk score of cardiovascular disease were independent risk factors of stroke and heart disease. We assessed the correlation between the 10-year risk of Korean Stroke Risk Prediction model (KSRP) and carotid intima-media thickness. Additionally, from a perspective of carotid IMT measurement following KSRP risk stratification, we analyzed the difference of carotid IMT and plaque according to the KSRP risk strata. METHODS: Subjects were 282 persons who visited one hospital for the screening of stroke. The 10-year risk was calculated automatically based on the equation of KSRP model. The maximal carotid IMT and the plaque were adopted as the study variables. The sensitivity and the positive predictive value of the KSRP risk categories were calculated. RESULTS: The correlation coefficient between the KSRP risk and the maximal carotid IMT was 0.29 (p<0.01). The mean (+/-standard deviation) of KSRP risk of the group with carotid plaque was statistically significantly higher, 5.3 (+/-4.1), than that of the group without plaque, 3.3 (+/-3.1) (p< or =0.01). The sensitivity of the risk stratum with more than 6% of KSRP risk for the plaque was 28.2%. The positive predictive value of the above cut-point was 48.8%. CONCLUSIONS: The 6% of KSRP risk may be considered as the beginning point of intermediate risk stratum to recommend the carotid ultrasonography. However, generalization needs further studies for various populations.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Generalization (Psychology) ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Risk Factors ; Stroke

Aneurysmal fibrous histiocytoma(AFH) is a histologic variant of dermatofibroma. The importance of the recognition of AFH as a variant of dermatofibroma lies in the differential diagnosis because the histologic appearance of AFH is very similar to dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and other vascular malignancies, such as Kaposi's sarcoma and angiosarcoma. A 32-year-old man was seen for a nodular mass on the right popliteal fossa of 4 years' duration. The excisional biopsy specimen showed a relatively well circumscribed tumor mass in the dermis. In addition to compact storiform proliferation of spindle cells, there were multiple, irregular, blood-filled, aneurysmal tissue spaces that were devoid of lining of endothelial cells. Also, deposition of hemosiderin was prominent, particularly in the periphery of the aneurysmal spaces. Immunohistochemical stain for CD34 were negative to most tumor cells. After excisional therapy, there was no evidence of recurrence during the period of ten months' follow-up.
Adult ; Aneurysm* ; Biopsy ; Dermatofibrosarcoma ; Dermis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Endothelial Cells ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemangiosarcoma ; Hemosiderin ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous* ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Sarcoma, Kaposi

OBJECTIVES: Recently, the outpatient group psychotherapy has been changed from traditional long-term therapy to short-term or time-limited therapy. The termination time and session numbers are given from start line in the time-limited therapy while 10 to 40 sessions are needed in the short-term therapy. And therapist and patients come to an agreement of the accomplishable therapeutic goal and work together actively. The time-limited group psychotherapy is being accepted newly as an efficient therapeutic modality because effective therapeutic outcomes within given time have been reported. The objectives of this study are as follows; firstly, we examine the therapeutic outcomes and the therapeutic factors after performing the time-limited group psychotherapy for outpatients in the psychiatric clinic; secondly, we analyze the characteristics showed in the process of study; lastly, we verify the feasibility and the validity of this group psychotherapy and then establish the basis of the effective outpatient therapy that would be settled down as an applicable treatment modality economically and efficiently in the current medical environment of Korea. METHODS: This study was performed weekly in total 12 sessions from July 1999, April 2000 to and each session took 70-80 minutes. The experimental group were composed of the highly-functioning psychotic patients among outpatients in the psychiatric clinic. The control group were composed of the similar patients through one-to-one matching of age, sex, diagnosis, and duration of illness. The participants were 8 patients each. BDI(Beck Depression Inventory), STAI(Spielbergs State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), MMPI(Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory), and EDMT(Ewha Defence Mechanism Test) as the evaluation scales were performed before and after treatment. And 13-therapeutic factors scale was performed just after each session and the self-report total assessment questionnaire was performed only in experimental group at the end of this study. RESULTS: The mean score of BDI was decreased significantly in experimental group in comparison with control group. The mean score of STAI-S was not changed significantly in both group, and the mean score of STAI-T was decreased in experimental group in comparison with control group. The mean score of MMPI was decreased significantly in experimental group in comparison with control group, but the comparison of difference scores(post-treatment score - pre-treatment score) between the experimental and control group was not decreased significantly. This result may come from psychopharmacotherapy and individual supportive psychotherapy given equally to both group. The mean scores of immature defence and neurotic defence in EDMT were decreased significantly in experimental group compared with control group. Comparing the therapeutic factors to divide into the first, middle, and the last stage, existential factor was ranked first, and catharsis, identification with therapist, universality, and group cohesiveness were ranked high in all stages. Interpersonal learning was ranked first in the last stage although being ranked low in the first and middle stage. The total assessment questionnaires about group psychotherapy were reported that 100% of participants were helped, 75% of participants were changed in their lives, and 75% of participants had minds to join this kind of program again if given for them. CONCLUSIONS: This result shows that not only symptom relief but also personality change was achieved when the time-limited group psychotherapy was practiced in addition to simple psychophamarcotherapy and individual supportive psychotherapy for outpatients. The degree of satisfaction for group psychotherapy of participants were evaluated highly. Group psychotherapy has been accepted in public as a therapeutic modality that must be as equally effective as psychotherapy although group psychotherapy derives from individual psychotherapy. In our current medical environment that has been changed suddenly by the separation of medical practice and pharmaceutical dispensing and the decrease of medical fee, group psychotherapy or time-limited therapy would be settled down as low-expense and high-efficiency therapeutic modalities that were as equally effective as individual psychotherapy or long-term therapy.
Anxiety ; Catharsis ; Depression ; Diagnosis ; Fees, Medical ; Humans ; Korea ; Learning ; MMPI ; Outpatients* ; Psychotherapy ; Psychotherapy, Group* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Weights and Measures

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of embryo retention (ER) in the transfer catheter following embryo transfer (ET) in blastocyst transfer and investigate whether retransferring retained embryos has an impact on reproductive outcomes in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-ET. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the records of 1,131 blastocyst transfers, which comprised 223 single blastocyst transfer (SBT) and 908 double blastocyst transfer (DBT) cycles. Each SBT and DBT group was classified depending on whether ET was performed without retained embryos in the catheter during the first attempt (without-ER group) or whether any retained embryos were found following ET (ER group) for the purpose of comparing reproductive outcomes in a homogenous population. RESULTS: The overall incidence of finding retained embryos was 2.8% (32/1,131). There were no retained embryos in SBT cycles. In DBT cycles, implantation rates (30.0% vs. 26.6%), positive β-hCG rates (57.2% vs. 56.2%), clinical pregnancy rates (45.3% vs. 46.9%), and live birth rates (38.9% vs. 43.8%) were not significantly different between the without-ER and ER groups. There were no significant differences in the mean birth weight (g) 2,928.4±631.8 vs. 2,948.7±497.8 and the mean gestational age at birth (269.3±17.2 days vs. 264.2±25.7 days). A total of nine cases of congenital birth defects were found in this study population. Eight were observed in the without-ER group and one in the ER group. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that retransfer of retained embryos does not have any adverse impact on reproductive outcomes in blastocyst transfer cycles. Furthermore, our results support finding that SBT might be advantageous for decreasing the incidence of retained embryos in catheters.
Birth Weight ; Blastocyst* ; Catheters ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Embryo Transfer* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Incidence ; Live Birth ; Parturition ; Pregnancy Rate ; Retrospective Studies

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) arises from germline mutations of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene. FAP is characterized by the occurrence of hundreds to thousands of adenomas throughout the colorectum, and there is nearly a 100% risk of colorectal cancer. In addition to polyposis coli, patients with FAP can develop a variety of extracolonic manifestations. Recent advances in screening and surgery have reduced the colon cancer occurrence and death in FAP patients, leaving desmoid tumors as a leading cause of their morbidity and mortality. Treatment of desmoid tumors is generally considered to be challenging for both the doctor and the patient. We report here on an 18 year old man with resectable intra-abdominal desmoid tumor that developed after total colectomy due to FAP and we include a review of the relevant literature.
Adenoma ; Adenomatous Polyposis Coli* ; Adolescent ; Colectomy* ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Fibromatosis, Aggressive* ; Germ-Line Mutation ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Mortality

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic colectomy is technically demanding. Here we share of experience with laparoscopic procedures with focusing on (1) preoperative localization by a colonoscopic tattoo and (2) comparing the laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (lapaTME) with the conventional TME (openTME) according to microscopic examination. METHODS: We retrospectively collected 112 cases of laparoscopic colectomy that was performed for treating colorectal cancer during the past 6 years. Preoperative colonoscopic tattoo was done by using india ink. The tattoo cases were compared with the non-tattoo cases. Comparison between 13 cases of lapaTME and 15 cases of openTME was assessed by both gross and microscopic examination in the 28 cases for 9 months. The lapaTME and openTME were applied to mid-rectal cancer and mid&low rectal cancer, respectively. RESULTS: Tattoo was carried out for the Tis (100%), T1 (92%), T2 (72%), T3 (36%) cases. Of the significant cases, T3 lesion was not identified at laparoscopic colectomy. LapaTME grossly showed a greater incidence of defect than that of openTME, but there was no difference microscopically between lapaTME and openTME. CONCLUSION: A tattoo was useful for early lesion and it should be considered for advanced lesion. LapaTME for mid-rectal cancer can be done without compromising the principles of TME.
Carbon ; Colectomy ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Incidence ; India ; Ink ; Laparoscopy ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Retrospective Studies

Small osteophytes are frequently encountered in the foot and ankle, and not to be confused with true osteochondromas, which are relatively uncommon in this region. Osteochondromas are the most common benign osseous neoplasm, occurs in the metaphysis of the long bone. It is rarely found in bones of the foot. Treatment of the osteochondroma is usually conservative, unless symptoms usually pain, are progressive rapid growth, and malignant transformation is suspected. We experienced a rare case of hallux rigidus with osteochondroma of the hallucal proximal phalanx which cause pain and corn of the plantar.
Animals ; Ankle ; Foot ; Hallux ; Hallux Rigidus ; Osteochondroma ; Osteophyte ; Zea mays

Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is one of the complications showing high mortality rate in monochorionic twins with vascular communication in the placenta. Clinical manifestations of TTTS are usually characterized by polyhydramnios, circulatory overload, cardiac failure and fetal hydrops in the recipient twin and symmetrical fetal growth restriction, oligohydramnios, hypovolemia and anemia in the donor twin. TTTS occurres in 10-35% of monochorionic twins. We report three cases of TTTS with fetal hydrops in which amnioreduction was serially attempted and maternal digoxin treatment was tried for the therapeutic purpose.
Anemia ; Digoxin ; Female ; Fetal Development ; Fetal Therapies ; Fetofetal Transfusion* ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hydrops Fetalis ; Hypovolemia ; Mortality ; Oligohydramnios ; Placenta ; Polyhydramnios ; Pregnancy ; Tissue Donors

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to investigate the therapeutic factors of group psychotherapy and psychodrama which were applied to psychotic patients, and to compare the therapeutic characteristics of two therapies. METHODS: The subjects of this study were patients of a day hospital from September 1996 to May 1997. The subjects were composed of 35 psychotic patents(22 males, 13 females). Both of group psychotherapy and psychodrama were done to the patients of the day hospital. After these therapeutic factors were checked by the members of group psychotherapy, the protagonists of psychodrama, and the audience of psychodrama using 13 therapeutic factors scale. All three groups divided into higher functioning group and lower functioning group by mutual consent of the therapists in the treatment team meeting according to the patient's life of the day hospital, the attitude in programs, and the state during the interview with the therapist. And then therapeutic factors of higher and lower functioning group were compared. By the mean score of each therapeutic factor the rank of therapeutic factors was decided. By these ranks we compared the important therapeutic factors on the members of group psychotherapy, the protagonists, and the audience. RESULTS: The results were as follows : 1) The protagonists of psychodrama set a very high value on 'catharsis' and 'the corrective recapitulation of the primary family group', regardless of their functional level. 2) The protagonists with a higher function set a higher value on 'guidance of therapists', while those who had a lower function set a higher value on 'guidance of members'. 3) The audience of psychodrama set a very high value on 'identification with therapists', 'identification with members', and set a high value on 'universality'. 4) The higher functioning group of the group psychotherapy, the audience, and the protagonists set a high value on 'interpersonal learning', especially the patients of group psychotherapyset a very high value on 'interpersonal learning' 5) The lower functioning group of the protagonists and the group psychotherapy set a high value on 'development of socializing techniques'. CONCLUSION: From the results of this study, we can draw some suggestions. First, if therapists take the above-mentioned therapeutic factors into consideration during the sessions of group psychotherapy or psychodrama, they can obtain more effective therapeutic outcome. Second, it is desirable that both group psychotherapy and psychodrama should be used more extensively as important methods of treatment in clinical settings. Third, the combination of group psychotherapy and psychodrama would be more effective than the separate application of each therapy.
Humans ; Male ; Psychodrama* ; Psychotherapy, Group*