No abstract available.
Infarction*

This study was carried out to investigate the development rates of human embryos co-cultured with cumulus cells to each blastocyst stage. Human zygotes were co-cultured on cumulus cell monolayer in YS medium supplemented with 20% hFF. On day 2, if patient had four or more 'good' embryos(regular blastomeres without fragmentation), embryos were further cultured for 72hrs. Blastocysts on day 5 were classified into early blastocyst (ErB), early expanding blastocyst (EEB), middle expanding Blastocyst (MEB), and expanded blastocyst (EdB) on the basis of their morphological aspects of trophectoderm cells and blastocoele. Subsequently, maximum 3 of best blastocysts were transferred in 486 cycles. The results in this study were as follows: Patients who had four or more 'good' embryos on day 2 were 498 persons, but patients whose embryos could not be transferred due to failure in development to the blastocyst stage on day 5 were 12 persons (2.4%). The development rate of embryos to the blastocyst stage was 58.2% (2,885/4,957) on day 5, and the rates that developed to the ErB, EEB, MEB, and EdB stage were 15.0% (743/4,957), 14.9% (739/4,957), 14.4% (714/4,957), and 13.9% (689/4,957), respectively. Total 1366 blastocysts were transferred in 486 cycles (mean number=2.81). The implantation rate and the ongoing implantation rate obtained by observing the number of G-sac and FHB were 29.9% (409/1,366) and 22.5% (308/1,366), respectively. The clinical pregnancy rate was 51.2% (249/486), and the ongoing pregnancy rate was 39.1% (190/486). Among women showing ongoing pregnancy, women with singleton were 50% (95/190), women with twin were 37.9% (72/190), and women with triplet were 12.1% (23/190). Although triplet pregnancy rate in this study was high such as 12.1%, because many blastocysts with high viability were produced in our co-culture system using cumulus cells on day 5, we really believe that a multiple pregnancy except twin should not occur by selecting good embryos for maximum two blastocyst transfer. These results demonstrate that autologous cumulus cells may be used for the production of blastocysts with high developmental competence, and the use of autologous cumulus cells to be collected easily, and to be treated conveniently at OPU must be an effective means for obtaining high implantation and pregnancy rate.
Blastocyst* ; Blastomeres ; Coculture Techniques* ; Cumulus Cells* ; Embryo Transfer ; Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Humans* ; Mental Competency ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Pregnancy, Multiple ; Pregnancy, Triplet ; Triplets ; Zygote

A hepatic hydrothorax is a pleural effusion that develops in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension in the absence of cardiopulmonary disease. It is a complication of end-stage liver disease, and a liver transplant is the treatment of choice. In our case, a reexpansion pulmonary edema occurred after evacuating 4,250 ml of ascites and aspirating 3,600 ml of the pleural effusion within 15 minutes aimed at visually improving the surgical field in a 46-year-old male patient receiving a liver transplant. 1 hour 30 minutes after aspirating the pleural effusion, the level of oxygen saturation decreased from 100% to 95%, and serosanguinous fluid spilled over from the endotracheal tube. We inserted a double lumen endotracheal tube to both separate and protect the unaffected left lung, and applied CPAP 10 cmH2O at the affected right lung. The reexpansion pulmonary edema was successfully treated using this supportive management.
Ascites ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Hydrothorax* ; Hypertension, Portal ; Liver Diseases ; Liver Transplantation ; Liver* ; Lung ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oxygen ; Pleural Effusion ; Pulmonary Edema*

The efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in depression is dependent on the duration of seizure. Over a course of ECT, progressive reduction in the duration of the induced seizure is common. Caffeine pretreatment is reported to prolong seizure activity in patients experiencing inadequate seizure activity although maximal electrical stimulus for ECT is applied. The side effects of caffeine are anxiety, psychomotor agitation, prolonged seizures, enhanced hemodynamic changes and arrythmias. Caffeine is generally well tolerated by most patients, but it should be used with caution for those medically fragile patients, i.e., with preexisting cardiac disease. We describe here a case of anesthesia for ECT with caffeine augmentation. A 61-year-old man was diagnosed of major depression. Caffeine pretreatment with ECT was scheduled after antidepressants and 3 ECTs failed. Hypertension and tachyarrythmia were treated with esmolol.
Anesthesia* ; Antidepressive Agents ; Anxiety ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Caffeine* ; Depression ; Electroconvulsive Therapy* ; Heart Diseases ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Middle Aged ; Psychomotor Agitation ; Seizures

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a manifestation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and its major symptoms include pulmonary complications, such as pneumonia. However, it also involves the cardiovascular system and the developed myocarditis can lead to sudden unexpected death. Herein, we present a case in which a patient died four days after release from isolation due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. SARS-CoV-2 was confirmed again during postmortem (PM) inspection at the scene of death. Autopsy revealed myocarditis and evidence of pulmonary involvement with SARS-CoV-2. Pathological examination revealed myocardial perivascular infiltration of lymphocytes and macrophages with multifocally injured cardiomyocytes. The pathological findings of COVID-19–induced myocarditis differ from those of other viral myocarditis, and we assume that different pathophysiological mechanisms could have been responsible for this manifestation. After a comprehensive PM examination, including gross dissection, microscopic examination, PM computed tomography, and PM laboratory tests, the cause and manner of death were determined to be myocarditis caused by COVID-19 and naturally, respectively. This case highlights the significance of autopsy and comprehensive PM examinations in both forensic and public healthcare systems.

Forensic autopsy is performed to investigate a death. However, this is difficult in some cases, particularly in putrefied bodies. Pulmonary ossification is a rare pathological process, characterized by progressive and metaplastic ossification, which leads to the formation of small bony fragments in the pulmonary tissue. This condition can develop within the pulmonary tissues that are injured due to various causes. Metastatic and dystrophic calcification occur in normal tissues in conditions of deranged calcium metabolism and dead or degenerative tissue, respectively. Here, we describe the case of a 54-year-old man who lived alone and whose putrefied body was discovered by his landlord. A forensic pathologist identified needle-like sharp materials in both the lower lobes of the lungs during autopsy. Microscopic examination revealed dendriform pulmonary ossification with calcification. After autopsy, his medical history, including chronic kidney disease, was recorded by forensic pathologist. A review of his past medical history and comprehensive postmortem examination findings of the gross dissection, microscopic examination, and postmortem laboratory tests led to the determination of the cause of death as renal problems.

When death occurs, the supply of adenosine triphosphate through respiration ceases, and rigor mortis begins approximately 20 minutes after death. The underlying mechanisms of rigor mortis and cadaveric spasm are assumed to be similar. However, unlike rigor mortis, cadaveric spasm is a very rare phenomenon in which muscle stiffness develops almost immediately after death. Herein we describe a 27-year-old male with suspected cadaveric spasm. A forensic pathologist concluded that the cause of death was a head injury due to a fall. When the body was discovered, a cigarette remained in the mouth, suggesting a cadaveric spasm. Some opinions deny the existence of cadaveric spasm because there is no precise pathophysiological mechanism to support it. Cadaveric spasm could not be confirmed in the present case; however, while the complete mechanism is unclear, as in this case, it is sometimes difficult to rule out the presence of cadaveric spasm in forensic investigations. Therefore, a comprehensive forensic examination is necessary, and forensic examiners should be cautious.

When death occurs, the supply of adenosine triphosphate through respiration ceases, and rigor mortis begins approximately 20 minutes after death. The underlying mechanisms of rigor mortis and cadaveric spasm are assumed to be similar. However, unlike rigor mortis, cadaveric spasm is a very rare phenomenon in which muscle stiffness develops almost immediately after death. Herein we describe a 27-year-old male with suspected cadaveric spasm. A forensic pathologist concluded that the cause of death was a head injury due to a fall. When the body was discovered, a cigarette remained in the mouth, suggesting a cadaveric spasm. Some opinions deny the existence of cadaveric spasm because there is no precise pathophysiological mechanism to support it. Cadaveric spasm could not be confirmed in the present case; however, while the complete mechanism is unclear, as in this case, it is sometimes difficult to rule out the presence of cadaveric spasm in forensic investigations. Therefore, a comprehensive forensic examination is necessary, and forensic examiners should be cautious.