The pathologic features of acute corrosive esophago-gastritis by ingestion of "Trapunc", a common commercial drain cleansing liquid, is presented. A 37-year-old woman ingested abut 30 ml of Trapunc (3 gm NaOH/100 ml) to commit suicide and received piecemeal esophagectomy and total gastrectomy 9 days after the episode. The esophagus and stomach were extremely friable and necrotic. The most part of the stomach showed acute toxic necrotizing gastritis which was manifested by extensive greenish brown discoloration due to liquefaction necrosis of the mucosa except for a few rugae along the greater curvature. The antrum and distal body revealed severe mucosal detachment and even transmural necrosis. The tissue reaction was basically the same as those of NaOH-induced corrosive esophago-gastritis of acute stage, although it appeared to be severer probably due to sodium hypochlorite, and additive constituent of the ingested cleanser. A unique distribution pattenr of mucosal involvement is discussed.
Female ; Humans

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of CarnitilR (acetylcarnitine, Hanmi, Korea) therapy in idiopathic oligoasthenospermic men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-four subfertile men with abnormal semen parameters were treated between March, 2003 and March, 2004 with 3 g of CarnitilR daily for 3 months. Changes in semen parameters were evaluated 3 months after this therapy. RESULTS: The mean age was 34.2 years and the mean follow-up duration was 3.7 months. In asthenospemic patients (n=28), semen analysis before and after CarnitilR treatment showed an increase in volume (2.64+/-1.65 ml vs. 3.10+/-1.60 ml), motility (35.1+/-17.7% vs. 45.9+/-20.4%) and viability (51.4+/-20.3% vs. 59.3+/-13.6%) respectively. In oligoasthenospermic patients (n=16), semen analysis before and after CarnitilR treatment showed an increase in sperm count (10.7+/-54.4 million/ml vs. 38.4+/-32.5 million/ml) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that in idiopathic oligoasthenospermic men the empirical medical therapy with acetylcarnitine may be considered as primary treatment.
Acetylcarnitine* ; Carnitine ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; Male ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count

BACKGROUND: Experimental data indicate that low-flow reperfusion following prolonged cardiocirculatory arrest may aggravate early cerebral microcirculatory repefusion disorders. We investigated the influence of cerebral repefusion flow change to the ischemic histopathologic damage of brain tissue after incomplete forebrain ischemia in rats. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats were undergone ligation of both infernal carotid artery by microvascular clamp for 10 minutes. After release of the clamp, reperfusion was started with several different flow levels (0, 10, 20, 30, 50, and 100%) of infernal carotid artery comparing to pre-clamping phase using flowmeter. After 15minutes of reperfusion, rat brains were prepared by perfusion-fixation with 3% formaldehyde. Under light microscopic examination of Hematoxylin-Eosin stained tissue slide, histopathologic damage was examined at cortex, putamen, and hippocampus regions. Categorical hisotopathologic damage scores were derived in each regions by manual counts of ischemic neurons. RESULT: The histopathologic damage scores were 0, 10. 2+/-0.5, 7.6+/-1.5, 5.9+/-1.4, 5.0+/- 2.8, 3.5+/-0.7, and 1.0+/-0.0 in control, 0, 10, 20, 30, 50, and 100% reperfusion groups, respectively(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our insults showed significant increment of brain histopathologic damage scores along with decreasing amount of cerebral reperfusion know after incomplete forebrain ischemia. We believe restoration of repefusion flow to pre-ischemic level would be a critical component in attenuation of brain ischemic damage.
Animals ; Brain ; Carotid Arteries ; Flowmeters ; Formaldehyde ; Hippocampus ; Ischemia* ; Ligation ; Models, Animal* ; Neurons ; Prosencephalon* ; Putamen ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion*

Under specific circumstances the appendix vermiformis may be an appropriate organ for replacement of a large ureteral defect or efferent loop in continent urinary diversion. Since 1995 we have applied the appendix in ureteral substitution (3 cases) and continent urinary diversion (3 cases). Primary diagnoses included complete lower ureteral stricture due to urinary tuberculosis (3 cases), invasive bladder tumor (1 case), areflexic neurogenic bladder (1 case), and contracted bladder (1 case). In all patients who have been replaced the ureter with appendix, clinical symptoms were markedly improved and degree of hydronephrosis decreased. Other patients with continent urinary diversion using appendix achieved dryness and low postoperative complications. we anticipate that the appendix will be used more commonly in the future as a ureteral substitute or continent urinary diversion as more urologists become more comfortable with it through its use in various reconstructive procedures.
Appendix* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Postoperative Complications ; Tuberculosis ; Ureter ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic ; Urinary Diversion

STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective study analyzing 73 patients treated by decompression, pedicular screw instrumentation and posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) for lumbosacral spondylolithesis and symptomatic spinal stenosis. we used laminected laminar and spinous process instead of iliac bone. OBJECTIVES: This is to evaluate fusion rate and clinical results of PLIF with laminected laminar and spinous process. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PLIF in 73 patients with lumbosacral disorders who carried out at Pohang St. Mary's Hospital from March 1994 to January 1996. Fusion rate was evaluated by simple X-ray and dynamic view. Clinical effect was evaluated by Kirkaldy-Willis criteria. RESULTS: The solid fusion was achieved at 67 cases(91.8%) and the average period of fusion was 6.4 months. Complications were 2 cases of superficial skin infection and 3 cases of root irritation. The functional results by Kirkaldy-Willis were as follows ; excellent 40 cases, good 23 cases, fair 9 cases and poor 1 case. CONCLUSIONS: This PLIF procedure combined with transpedicular instrumentation showed sufficient fusion rate and excellent clinical results and improvement in vertebral alignment.
Decompression ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Spinal Stenosis

BACKGROUND: Ketamine use in emergency room has been increased. It has rapid onset of action and appropriate duration of action. It does not need endotracheal intubation and produces potent analgesia, sedation, and amnesia. The object of this study is to determine the safety and the degree of physician's satisfaction in relation to ketamine use. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective study using protocol. Pediatric trauma patients who need sedation were given IM ketamine(4mg/kg) and atropine(0.01mg/kg) in a same syringe. Monitoring of patients was done by EM residents and complications of ketamine use were recorded. Physician's satisfaction was also recorded after the procedure. RESULTS: Intramuscular ketamine was administered 54 times, mainly for laceration repair. Physicians completed protocol for 51 of treated children. The median time for onset of sedation was 6.5+/-2.4 min, and duration of action was 32.4+/-10.8 min. Hypersalivation occurred in 9.8%(n=5); random movement 3.9%(n=2), emesis during procedure(n=1), emesis at home(n=1), and transient oxygen desaturation(n=1). All were quickly identified and treated without specific airway management and sequelae. Of 84% of physicians was satisfied with ketamine use for pediatric sedation. CONCLUSION: Intramuscular ketamine can be administered safely and satisfactorily in emergency room to facilitate pediatric procedures in conjunction with a defined protocol and appropriate monitoring.
Airway Management ; Amnesia ; Analgesia ; Child ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Ketamine* ; Lacerations ; Oxygen ; Prospective Studies ; Sialorrhea ; Syringes ; Vomiting

Researchers have an ethical responsibility to report the results of research involving human subjects. Dissemination of results ensures that patient care is based on good science and that the field of medicine advances based on complete and accurate knowledge. However, current evidence suggests that publication is often neglected or substantially delayed, especially in the case of negative and inconclusive results. Researchers, editors and reviewers should value all high-quality research regardless of the conclusiveness of the results and ensure that all research involving human subjects is registered in a publicly accessible database.
Clinical Trials as Topic/*ethics ; *Ethics, Research ; Human Experimentation/*ethics ; Publishing/*ethics ; Republic of Korea ; *Research Report ; Research Subjects

BACKGROUND: Unexpected deaths of the patients at ED are surprising to the medical staffs as well as the families. It may also increase the possibilities of medico-legal problems. This study was conducted to review the unexpected death in ED and find the predictive factors leading patients to unexpected death. METHODS: A retrospective study with reviewing available medical records of 183 patients who were expired at ED of Shinchon Severance Hospital from Mar. 1997 to Feb. 1998 and 103 patients of Youngdong Severance Hospital from Mar. 1996 to Feb. 1998 was done. Analyses were 4one on 30 variables of physical findings, laboratory results, procedures and therapies. We used univariate analysis, such as t-test and x2-test and multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the total 286 deaths in ED, 153 cases were enrolled in this analysis. The number of unexpected deaths were 76. Age, mental status, fraction of neutrophil count, BUN level, whether endotracheal incubation was done, use of inotropics were the factors with statistical ,significance on the univariate analysis, but only comatose mentality, endotracheal incubated case, and use of the inotropics were significant on logistic regression analysis. The longer the ED length of stay, the higher the rate of mortality and unexpected death. CONCLUSION: This result suggest that medical attention is needed on the patients with comatose decreased mental stylus, endotracheally intubated case and needing inotropic agents to prevent unexpected deaths. Shortening the ED length of stay may also be a factor for decrease the unexpected death rate.
Coma ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Logistic Models ; Medical Records ; Medical Staff ; Mortality ; Neutrophils ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Methotrexate* ; Skin*

Ticlopidine is a powerful inhibitor of platelet aggregation which is induced by adenosine diphosphate. Ticlopidine has been shown to be effective in reducing combined stroke, myocardial infarction, reocclusion of coronary stent. The principal side effects of ticlopidine are severe neutropenia, rash and gastrointestinal upset. Recently, we experienced two cases of severe neutropenia associated with ticlopidine. One was administered ticlopidine to prevent subacute thrombosis after intracoronary stent implantation in unstable angina pectoris. Thirty days of therapy, her absolute neutrophil count (ANC) had dropped to 14/mm3 . The other patient was presented with recurrent episodes of cerebral infarction, for which he had undergone right carotid angiogram. The carotid angiogram demonstrated tight stenosis of right internal carotid artery. Carotid artery stenting was performed at right internal carotid artery without any complications. Twenty seven days of ticlopidine therapy, his ANC had dropped to 111/mm3. The ticlopidine was stopped, and they were given granulocyte-colony stim-ulating factor 250 microgram/day subcutaneous injection until their ANC was up to 1000/mm3. They were discharged with normal neutrophil count and no other complications.
Adenosine Diphosphate ; Angina, Unstable ; Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Cerebral Infarction ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Exanthema ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Humans ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Myocardial Infarction ; Neutropenia* ; Neutrophils ; Platelet Aggregation ; Stents ; Stroke ; Thrombosis ; Ticlopidine*