BACKGROUND: Keloids and hypertrophic scars are benign fibrous growths which usually occur in predisposed individuals after trauma. Numerous modalities have been used to treat keloids and hypertrophic scars, but the final results have been so far unsatisfactory. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of tlis study was to evaluate the effect of the combination of cryosurgery and intralesional corticoster oid for treatment of these scars. METHOD: Thirty patients, aged 17 to 45 years old, with keloids or hypertrophic scars(mean duration, 6.4 years) were treated using solid CO2 followed by intralesional injection of triamcinolone acetonide(13.3 mg/ml). Two freeze-thaw cycles per lesion were employed. Freezing time was chosen arbitrarily from 7 to 20 sec depending on the characteristics of each scar. RESULTS: The results are summarized as follows. 1. Excellent and good results were achieved in 57% of all subjects on average, 77% of those who were treated more than 3 times, and 48% of those treated less than twice. 2. The keloid of less than 2 years duration showed better results than older ones. 3. No recurrence was seen in 63% of patients, but partial recurrence in 21% of patients and complete recurrence in 10% were observed. Lesions on the trunk showed less improvement (p<0.05) and were more recurrent than other lesions. 4. There were complications in 9 patients, such as hyperpigmentation(6), hypopigmentation(1), infection(1) and telangiectasia(1). CONCLUSION: Cryosurgery and intralesional corticosteroid injections produced synergistic advantages. A cornbination of these modalities might be an effective treatment modality in keloids and hypertrophic scars.
Cicatrix ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic* ; Cryosurgery* ; Freezing ; Humans ; Injections, Intralesional ; Keloid* ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Triamcinolone

Ginseng root, as a folk medicine, has been used in for eastern countries for thousands of years. Ginseng extract has been shown to have a variety of effects on the activity of the central nervous system, promoting simulation as well as inhibition of the cortical activity. A survey of the relevant literatures has indicated that the putative anxiolytic activity of red ginseng has not been scientifically investigated. Therefore, the present study was designed to assess anxiolytic effect of ginseng total saponinis(GTS). The putative anxiolytic effects of several fractions of GTS were investigated in mice using an elevated plus maze paradigm. Single dose administration of TS Fr.- I showed anxiolytic action in mice. Anxiolytic effect induced by TS Fr.-I was similar to that induced by diazepam. TS Fr.-II, TS Fr.-III and TS Fr.-IV did not show the anxiolytic action compared with that of TS Fr.-I. It was suggested that regulation of GABAergic neurotransmission may be important in the action of GTS. The Interaction of GTS fractions with benzodiazepine receptor was performed using rat cortical membranes. GTS inhibited the binding of [3H] Rp 15-1788 on the benzodiazepine receptor. Among from TS fractions, the binding activity of GTS in the TS Fr.-IV was highest, which did not show the anxiolytic activity. From these results, we conclude that GTS has anxiolytic action, and the is not related to benzodiazepine receptor binding activity.
Animals ; Anti-Anxiety Agents* ; Central Nervous System ; Diazepam ; Medicine, Traditional ; Membranes ; Mice ; Panax* ; Rats ; Receptors, GABA-A ; Saponins* ; Synaptic Transmission

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the wear and survival rates of third-generation ceramic heads on a conventional ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene liner. Materials and Methods: A total of 160 hips (147 patients with a mean age of 55.9 years) who underwent total hip arthroplasty using the third-generation ceramic head on a conventional polyethylene liner from March 1998 to August 2003 were reviewed retrospectively. Evaluation of the wear rate for 56 hips (49 patients) followed-up for at least 15 years was performed using the PolyWare program version 8 (Draftware Developers, USA). The Kaplan–Meier survivorship was also evaluated. Results: Linear wear and volumetric wear rates were 0.11±0.47 mm/year and 32.75±24.50 mm 3 /year, respectively. Nine revisions were performed during the follow-up period because of cup or stem loosening. The Kaplan–Meier survival rate, using cup revision or total revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) as the endpoint of analysis, was 93.7% at 15 years and 73.6% at 20 years. Conclusion Because all revisions were performed between 15 and 20 years in our study, surgeons should pay greater attention to patients who underwent THA with ceramic-on-polyethylene bearing from 15 years postoperatively. Contemporary alumina ceramic on highly cross-linked polyethylene could certainly be a good alternative bearing couple providing better longevity.

Purpose : Early colorectal cancer is defined as the depth of tumor invasion limited to mucosa or submucosa regardless of the presence or absence of lymph node metastasis. We performed a retrospective study to determine the chronological changes in frequencies of early colorectal cancer and clinicopathologic differences between early colorectal cancer (ECC) and advanced colorectal cancer (ACC). Methods : We reviewed hospital records of the patients with colorectal cancer operated between January 1990 and December 1995. We classified the patients into two groups, ECC and ACC, according to the depth of tumor invasion and compared the clinicopathologic characteristics. Results : Fifty eight patients (5.2%) were diagnosed with early colorectal cancer among 1113 colorectal cancer patients operated at the same period. The frequency of ECC has increased from 1.9% in 1970~1989 to 5.2% in 1990~1995. The average age of patients with ECC at the time of surgery was 55.8 compared to 56.5 for patients with ACC group (p>0.05). Most patients (72.4%) with ECC had bleeding symptoms and majority of the ECCs were located in the rectum (72.4%). The mean size of tumors was 2.6 cm in its greatest diameter and was significantly smaller than that of ACC (5.7 cm). Compared to ACC, ECC had better histologic differentiation and fewer lymph node metastases (p<0.05). Thirty six of the ECC patients underwent bowel resection and remaining 22 underwent local excision. After a mean follow up period of 39.1 months (range 2~81months), recurrence was detected in one case. There was no death during the follow up period. Conclusion : The frequency of ECC has increased recently. Compared to patients with ACC, patients with ECC had more favorable clinicopathologic characteristics and better outcome. In selected patients, minimal operation can be applied without compromising the clinical outcome.
Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Hospital Records ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Mucous Membrane ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Rectum ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Drug reactions are common problems in hospital inpatients and outpatients. Reliable diagnosis is essential but often difficult. OBJECTIVE: This study attempts to define the clinical features and causative drugs in the patients with drug eruptions, and to evaluate the diagnostic value of skin tests. METHODS: Sixty one patients with drug eruptions were reviewed clinically. In 18 patients, patch and prick tests were performed using suspected drugs. RESULTS: 1. The highest incidence of drug eruptions was observed in the third and forth decades(44.2%) and there was no sexual prodominence. 2. The most frequent latent peroid was 4 hours to 1 week(49.2%). 3. The common morphological features were exanthematous eruptions(57.3%), urticaria(14.8%) and fixed drug eruptoins(11.5%). 4. The major causative drugs were antibiotics(cephalosporin, ampicillin), antipyretics/anti-inflammatory analgesics(aspirin, piroxicam) and CNS depressants(diphenylhydantoin). 5. Clinical manifestations according to possible causative drugs were as follows; exanthematous eruptions by antibiotics, antipyretics/analgesics, herbs, CNS depressants, propylthiouracil and captopril; urticaria by antibiotics and herbs; fixed drug eruption by sulfonamide, antipyretics/analgesics and phenobarbital; acneiform eruptions by diphenylhydantoin and isoniazid; Stevens-Johnson syndrome by ampicillin, sulfonamide, aspirin and piroxicam, erythema nodosum by sulfonamide, and lichenoid drug eruptions by propylthiouracil. 6. Positivity to patch and prick tests was shown in 2 of the 18 patients and in 1 of 18 patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The most frequent clinical feature of the drug eruptions were exanthematous in nature and the most common causative drugs were antibiotics, as suspected. To search for the causative drug of the drug eruption, the only usual methods of patch and prick tests were not sufficient in our study.
Acneiform Eruptions ; Ampicillin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Aspirin ; Captopril ; Central Nervous System Depressants ; Diagnosis ; Drug Eruptions* ; Erythema Nodosum ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inpatients ; Isoniazid ; Outpatients ; Patch Tests ; Phenobarbital ; Phenytoin ; Piroxicam ; Propylthiouracil ; Skin Tests* ; Skin* ; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome ; Urticaria

The authors studied paranoid ideation and obsession, using Derogatis' SCL-90, in the subjects of 2,564 male and 1,252 female college freshmen of Yeungnam University. The authors collected the reports of Self-Rating Paranoid ideation and Obsession Scale during the periods from January to February, 1987, and applied ANOVA and t-test on paranoid ideation and obsession scores in order to compare them between various psychosocial factors, and sexes. The results are as follows: 1. There was not significant difference in the mean averages of total paranoid ideation scores between male and female students: male students scored 4.16±3.09, female students scored 4.16±2.91. 2. High scored items were delusion and suspiciousness. 3. Fifty-nine male students (2.3%) showed high paranoid ideation scores of 12 or higher, while twenty-six female students (2.1%) showed the same scores. 4. There was strong tendency toward higher paranoid ideation scores in the students who were dissatisfied with their home atmosphere, college, department and familiarity of parents and those who had pessimistic view of self in the past, present or future in both group (respectively P<0.001). The male students who believed protestantism showed higher level of paranoid ideation scores (P<0.01). The male students who attended the department of fine art showed higher level of paranoid ideation scores (P<0.05). 5. There was significant difference in the mean averages of total obsession scores between male and female students (P<0.05): male students scored 10.40±5.43, female students scored 10.75±5.02 6. High scored items were perfectionism, indecisiveness, inattention & obsessive thoughts. 7. Thirty-eight male students (1.6%) showed high obsession scores of 25 or higher, while fifteen female students (1.2%) showed the same scores. 8. There was strong tendency toward higher obsession scores in the students who were dissatisfied with their home atmosphere, college, department and familiarity of parents and those who had pessimistic view of self in the past, present, or future in both group (respectively P<0.001). The female students who attended the department of home economic & whose educational fees were paid by her brothers & sister, showed higher level of obsession scores (respectively P<0.01).
Atmosphere ; Delusions ; Fees and Charges ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Obsessive Behavior* ; Parents ; Protestantism ; Psychology ; Recognition (Psychology) ; Siblings

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Tissue Culture Medium 199 (TCM) and Dulecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) on the blastulation and grade of human oocytes on Vero cells in vitro. A cohort of 79 and 93 oocytes in metaphase II stage were used in TCM 199 and DMEM respectively. No differences were found in the nurser of oocytes showing two-pronuclei between TCM (82.3%) and DMEM (86.0%). The number of fertilized oocytes reaching the blastocyst was not significant in TCM (60.0%) and DMEM (63.1%).4 total of 89 blastocysts were categorized into the four grades (BG1, BG2, BG3 and early) depending on their morphology. The number of embryos achieving the blastocyst grade 1 (BG1) was significantly higher (p<0.05) in DMEM (50.8%) than TCM (15.0%). It is concluded that cultured oocytes in DMEM with glutamine on Vero cells should be significantly increased BG1.
Blastocyst ; Cohort Studies ; Eagles ; Embryonic Structures* ; Glutamine* ; Humans* ; Metaphase ; Oocytes ; Vero Cells*

No abstract available.
Thanatophoric Dysplasia*

No abstract available.
Thanatophoric Dysplasia*