Complications after a median sternotomy incision, which is used currently in most open heart surgery, are serious, although it is infrequent. Reconstruction of the sternal defect resulting from dehiscence of median sternotomy is still big challenge to the most plastic surgeons. Since vascularized greater omentum was transposed to eliminate mediastinal wound problems, many vascularized regional muscle flaps became mainstay in reconstruction of median sternotomy wound. We treated 13 patients with median sternotomy dehiscence between October of 1993 and March of 1998. In two patients, the wound problems were so confined to superficial tissue that debrided and closed primarily. Eleven patients with deep wound infection were managed with vigorous debridement of all necrotic tissues and resultant defects were covered with regional muscle flaps: rectus myocutaneous flap(3) and bilateral pectoralis advancement flap(8). We used the pectoralis major advancement flaps without counter incision at humeral insertion site and the dissections were limited only medial to the anterior axillary line to preserve the axillary fold. In five patients with larger defects, we elevated muscle and cutaneous flaps separately to make these flaps more mobile. Large portion of two rectus abdominis flaps could not survive, whereas pectoralis advancement flaps had mo special wound problems. Only one patient developed fistula due to remained wire, regardless to flap surgery.
Debridement ; Fistula ; Humans ; Omentum ; Rectus Abdominis ; Sternotomy* ; Thoracic Surgery ; Wound Infection ; Wounds and Injuries

A group of pseudophakic patients (21eyes) without complications, such as zonular dam age, posterior synechia and posterior capsular tear, was investigated to determine whether their implants (pharmacia, cilco, AMO) shift under the ciliary muscle stimulation. A change in anterior chamber depth between with accommodation and without accommodation was found. By presenting as accommodation stimulus to the normal fellow eye, the intraocular lens in the pseudophakic eye moved slightly in a forward direction. But, it is not enough to explain apparent accommodation in pseudophakic eyes.
Anterior Chamber* ; Humans ; Lenses, Intraocular

In order to explore the existence and distribution of phospholipase (PLC) isozymes in the rat retina, immunohistochemical staining was applied using monoclonal antibodies against PLC isozymes (PLC beta; K92, PLC gamma; D7, F7, PLC delta; R32, S11). For immunohistochemical detection, avidin-biotin peroxidase complex (ABC) method was performed on frozed tissue sections of rat retina. Our study showed that PLC isozymes have particular distributional patterns in the retina. Namely, PLC beta is broadly distributed in the outer and inner segments of photoreceptor cell layer, nuclear layer and ganglion cell layer. PLC gamma is mainly appeared in the nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell layer and inner nuclear layer. PLC delta is confined only in the ganglion cell layer. These results clearly demonstrate the PLC isozymes may have their own role in the transduction of light pathway in the retina. However, further studies will be required to verify theirs precise role in the photoreception.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Ganglion Cysts ; Immunohistochemistry ; Isoenzymes* ; Nerve Fibers ; Peroxidase ; Phospholipase C beta ; Phospholipases* ; Photoreceptor Cells ; Rats* ; Retina* ; Type C Phospholipases*

In order to explore the existence and distribution of phospholipase (PLC) isozymes in the rat retina, immunohistochemical staining was applied using monoclonal antibodies against PLC isozymes (PLC beta; K92, PLC gamma; D7, F7, PLC delta; R32, S11). For immunohistochemical detection, avidin-biotin peroxidase complex (ABC) method was performed on frozed tissue sections of rat retina. Our study showed that PLC isozymes have particular distributional patterns in the retina. Namely, PLC beta is broadly distributed in the outer and inner segments of photoreceptor cell layer, nuclear layer and ganglion cell layer. PLC gamma is mainly appeared in the nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell layer and inner nuclear layer. PLC delta is confined only in the ganglion cell layer. These results clearly demonstrate the PLC isozymes may have their own role in the transduction of light pathway in the retina. However, further studies will be required to verify theirs precise role in the photoreception.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Ganglion Cysts ; Immunohistochemistry ; Isoenzymes* ; Nerve Fibers ; Peroxidase ; Phospholipase C beta ; Phospholipases* ; Photoreceptor Cells ; Rats* ; Retina* ; Type C Phospholipases*

Doxorubicin has characteristic chemomyectomy effect of the eyelid without disturbing other eyelid structures, but the major side effect of doxorubicin is the potential for eyelid skin injury as a result of the drug's toxicity in both animal and clinical studies. Verapamil may be used to reduce the dose of doxorubicin and the number of injections that would amplify the toxic effects of doxorubicin. This study was performed to determine whether there is an increase in the toxic effect of the doxorubicin as a result of verapamil pretreatment of the muscle. After 0.5mg, 1.0mg, and 2.0mg doxorubicin was injected in lower eyelids of each group, and equal dose of doxorubicin was injected fo11owing 1.0mg of verapamil injection in lower eyelid of each group, muscle cell loss were measured by light microscopy and side effect was observed. In verapamil and doxorubicin injection group, there was significant differences in the amount of preseptal muscle and even in the pretarsal muscle than the doxorubicin injection group in all doxorubicin doses. Verapamil, injected with a range of doses of doxorubicin, caused suhstantia11y increased muscle loss in the eyelid, compared with injection of doxorubicin alone. Skin ulceration, entropion or ectropion were not visible. Clinically, verapamil cotreatment might be useful to decrease the dose of doxorubicin injected and/or the total number of injections.
Animals ; Doxorubicin* ; Ectropion ; Entropion ; Eyelids ; Microscopy ; Muscle Cells ; Skin ; Skin Ulcer ; Verapamil*

Background: Hematocrit is usually measured from venous blood collected by invasive venipuncture. This study was performed to determine hematocrit accurately and precisely using minimally invasive volumetric absorptive microsampling (VAMS) technique.Such technique is to be applied to determining hematocrit in various clinical settings for the care, including therapeutic drug monitoring, of neonatal or epileptic patients, or patients with high risk of infection or bleeding. Methods: The study was performed using 31 VAMS samples obtained from 21 pancreatic cancer patients. Hematocrit was determined using the values of potassium concentrations obtained from blood in VAMS tips (HctVAMS ). HctVAMS was compared with hematocrit measured from blood collected by venipuncture (HctVP ). The accuracy and precision of HctVAMS in comparison to HctVP were evaluated using BlandAltman plot, Deming regression and mountain plot. Results: Bland-Altman plot displayed a random scattering pattern of the differences between HctVAMS and HctVP with the mean bias of −0.010 and the 95% limit of agreement ranging from −0.063 to 0.044.Deming regression for HctVAMS and HctVP line demonstrated very small proportional and constant biases of 1.04 and −0.003, respectively. Mountain plot exhibited a narrow and symmetrical distribution of the differences with their median of −0.011 and central 95% range from −0.049 to 0.033. Conclusion Hematocrit was accurately and precisely determined using less invasive VAMS technique. Such technique appears to be applicable to determining hematocrit in situations that venipuncture is not favorable or possible.

BACKGROUND: Hypercholesterolemia is a risk factor of cardiovascular diseases and metabolic syndrome. Cholesterol level in childhood is related to the development of cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. This study aimed to investigate cholesterol levels of first grade students in elementary school, to analyze the relationship between the children's cholesterol levels and those of parents' and to evaluate the factors influencing children's cholesterol levels. METHODS: In 2004, a sample of 108 first-graders in elementary school in Gwacheon city and their 216 parents were included in this study. Height, weight, body mass index, waist and hip circumference and blood pressure were measured and bio-chemical data were obtained. The children's birth weight, eating habits, physical activity, occupation, educational background, married status, mean monthly income of each family were obtained by questionnaire. RESULTS: The correlation coefficient between children's cholesterol and fathers' cholesterol was 0.331 (P<0.001). The correlation coefficient between children's cholesterol and mothers' cholesterol was 0.364 (P<0.001). The mean total cholesterol level in children differed significantly according to mother's smoking status, mother's overeating due to stress and mother's diet restriction tendency for weight control. In multiple linear regression analysis of children's cholesterol as dependent variable, the explanation power (R(2)) of the model including children's sex, father's age and cholesterol levels, mother's age and cholesterol levels was 0.281. The explanation power (R(2)) of the other model including variables of the previous model and children's fruit consumption, parent's eating out tendency, mother's smoking status, mother's other behavior during mealtime, mother's overeating due to stress and mother's diet restriction tendency for weight control was 0.388. In final model, only the parent's cholesterol levels had significant effect on children's cholesterol levels. CONCLUSION: It was parent's cholesterol level that affected significantly on the children's cholesterol level.
Birth Weight ; Blood Pressure ; Body Weight ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Child* ; Cholesterol* ; Diet ; Eating ; Fruit ; Gyeonggi-do* ; Hip ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Hyperphagia ; Linear Models ; Meals ; Motor Activity ; Occupations ; Parents* ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Pueraiae Radix (PR), Pueratia Folium (PF) and Sorbus commixta (SC) mixture, namely GS-SP (PR (1)/PF (2)/SC (0.5): v/v/v) was developed as hangover-relieving elixir and its effects on alcoholic metabolism have been investigated. The enzymatic activity of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) of GS-SP was shown higher than those of single treatment with PR, PL, SC, and the positive control group (YM-808). The survival rate of mouse liver cell line NCTC clone 1469 in the presence of acetaldehyde was 30.6, 22.2, and 8.7% at the GS-SP dosage level of 50, 100, and 200 microg/mL respectively. Different concentrations of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg of GS-SP showed efficient activity for ADH and ALDH than YM-808 in rat fed with 25% ethanol. The levels of blood alcohol and acetaldehyde after oral administration of 200 mg/kg of GS-SP showed efficient activity of 11.7% and 37% than those of YM-808. These results have been supported to the potential for GS-SP to serve as an excellent potential in providing hangover relief and liver protection.
Acetaldehyde ; Administration, Oral ; Alcohol Dehydrogenase ; Alcoholics ; Animals ; Cell Line ; Clone Cells ; Ethanol ; Humans ; Liver ; Metabolism ; Mice ; Oxidoreductases ; Pueraria* ; Rats* ; Sorbus* ; Survival Rate

Malignancies in congenital cystic adenomatoid malformations (CCAMs) of the lung are rare. We report a 41-year-old male patient with a pulmonary cystic lesion suspicious for CCAM, unrecognized until the patient was 40 years of age, and which subsequently became more consolidated during the interval between initial presentation and surgery. Microscopic examination of the resected specimen revealed features of type 1 CCAM with a mucinous adenocarcinoma, metastatic to the mediastinal lymph nodes. This case illustrates the importance of prompt surgical resection for all suspected CCAMs, especially those discovered in adulthood.
Adult ; Male ; Female ; Humans ; Adenocarcinoma ; Neoplasm Metastasis

The antioxidant activity of white ginseng was not recorded in Korea Functional Food Code, while its activity of red ginsengs was recorded. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and hepato protective effect of different ginsengs in H2O2-treated HepG2 cells. White and red ginseng were prepared from longitudinal section of the same fresh ginseng (4-year old). The whole parts of white and red ginsengs were separately extracted with 70% ethanol and distilled water respectively, at 70 degrees C to obtain therapeutic ginseng extracts namely, WDH (distilled water extract of white ginseng), WEH (70% ethanol extract of white ginseng), RDH (distilled water extract of red ginseng) and REH (70% ethanol extract of red ginseng). In this work, we have investigated the DPPH, hydroxyl radical, Fe2+-chelating activity, intracellular ROS scavenging capacity and lipid peroxidation of different ginsengs. All these extracts showed a dose dependent free-radical scavenging capacity and a ROS generation as well as lipid peroxidation was significantly reduced by treatment with bioactive extracts of white ginsengs (WDH) than red ginsengs. Additionally, white ginseng extracts (WDH) has dramatically increased intracellular antioxidant enzyme activities like superoxide dismutase and catalase in H2O2-treated HepG2 cells. All these results explain that administration of white ginseng is useful as herbal medicine than red ginseng for chemoprevention of liver damage.
Catalase ; Cell Survival ; Chemoprevention ; Ethanol ; Functional Food ; Hep G2 Cells* ; Herbal Medicine ; Hydroxyl Radical ; Korea ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Liver ; Panax* ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Water