No abstract available.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Humans ; Soil*

PURPOSE: Numerous methods exist for diagnosing nonpalpable testis in treatment of cryptochidism. However, there is no clinically established data for the rational diagnostic tool of nonpalpable testis in terms of expenses. We tried to establish a current conventional diagnostic course of nonpalpable testis. We then evaluated the efficacy of ultrasonography, physical examination under general anesthesia and laparoscopy for diagnosing nonpalpable testis. METHODS: Between March 2000 and February 2005, 103 boys(129 testes) with undescended testes were treated in our department. There were 31 testes(24.0%) that were not palpable at physical examination. These patients were evaluated with ultrasonography and repeated physical examination under general anesthesia. In the cases where testes could not be detected with ultrasonography and physical examination under general anesthesia, laparoscopy was performed to diagnose nonpalpable testis. RESULTS: In 31 cases of nonpalpable testis, 13 testes were detected with ultrasonography and 15 testes became palpable with physical examination under general anesthesia. All of the remaining 16 nonpalpable testes were confirmed with laparoscopy. CONCLUSION: Physical examination under general anesthesia was superior to ultrasonography in making a diagnosis of nonpalpable testis. Ultrasonography and physical examination under general anesthesia could reduce the incidence of diagnostic laparoscopy. Therefore, it is recommended that ultrasonography, physical examination under general anesthesia and laparoscopy must be performed conventionally in order to diagnose nonpalpable testis.
Anesthesia, General ; Child* ; Cryptorchidism* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Physical Examination ; Testis ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: The accuracy of denture bases was compared among injection molding, milling, and rapid prototyping (RP) fabricating method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The maxillary edentulous master cast was fabricated and round shaped four notches were formed. The cast was duplicated to ten casts and scanned. In the injection molding method, designed denture bases were milled from a wax block and fabricated using SR Ivocap injection system. Denture bases were milled from a pre-polymerized block in the milling method. In the RP method, denture bases were printed and post-cured. The intaglio surface of the base was scanned and surface matching software was used to measure inaccuracy. Measurements were performed between four notches and two points in the mid-palatal suture to evaluate inaccuracy. The palatine rugae resolution was evaluated. One-way analysis of variance was used for statistical analysis at α=.05. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences in distances among four notches (P>.05). The accuracy of the injection molding method was lower than those of the other methods in two points of the mid-palatal suture significantly (P < .05). The degree of palatine rugae resolution was significantly higher in the injection molding method than that in other methods (P < .05). CONCLUSION: The overall accuracy of the denture base is higher in milling and RP method than the injection molding method. The degree of fine reproducibility is higher in the injection molding method than the milling or RP method.
Denture Bases ; Dentures ; Fungi ; Methods ; Printing, Three-Dimensional ; Sutures

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of flexible covered stent in the treatment of acute colorectalobstruction secondary to colorectal carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Flexible covered stents were placed in 11patients with clinical and radiologic signs of acute colonic obstruction secondary to colorectal carcinoma. Thepurposes of stent insertion were pre-operative bowel preparation in seven patients and palliative treatment infour. A fistula was present in two;in one this was between the proximal jejunum and colon, and the other wasrectovaginal. The usefulness of stent insertion for the purpose of preoperative bowel preparation was evaluatedaccording to the feasability and status of bowel preparation, as decided by the operator. Palliative treatment forthe relief of symptoms of acute bowel obstruction was evaluated according to the number and amount of defecation,bowel dilatation in simple abdomen radiography, and the presence of complications. RESULT: Bowel preparation forthe purpose of preoperative bowel cleansing was easy in seven patients;the fecal materials remaining in the colonpresented no problems during surgery. In one of four patients palliative treatment involved a colostomy;this wasdue to recurrent stent obstruction by fecal materials after three months, and in two other patients there wasstent obstruction after two and five months, respectively. The stent in one of four patients who underwentpalliative treatment was removed because of stent migration three days after insertion;the stents in two patientswith fistulas covered the fistulas successfully. Complications after stent insertion were anal pain in threepatients, anal bleeding in three and stent migration in one. CONCLUSION: The flexible covered stent was aneffective device for the relief of acute colonic obstruction secondary to malignant rectosigmoid neoplasia. Itallowed for single-stage operation and covered the fistula. We believe however that for further evaluation of theusefulness of this type of stent in long-term palliative treatment, a larger-scale study is needed.
Abdomen ; Colon ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Dilatation ; Fistula ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Jejunum ; Palliative Care ; Radiography ; Stents*

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the association with psychopathology, cognitive function, insight and quality of life (QOL) in elderly patients with chronic schizophrenia over age 55. METHODS: 103 schizophrenic patients over age 55 with illness duration over 10 years, are enrolled in a cross-sectional study. The subjects were assessed by the Korean version of 4th Revision of Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale, Korean Version of Scales to Assessment Unawareness of Mental Disorder, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the cognitive function battery designed for this study. Multiple regression stepwise selection models were executed to identify the relations among variables, and the contributing factors to QOL. RESULTS: Among schizophrenic patients with lower illness-severity with PANSS total score below 75, higher PANSS positive subscale score and lower number of hospitalization were related to lower QOL. Among patients with higher illness-severity with PANSS total score of 75 and over, higher PANSS general psychopathology subscale score, better intelligence, better delayed recall function, worse attention, better awareness of medication effect and later onset were related to lower QOL. CONCLUSION: Results of our study suggest that improvement in positive symptom and general psychopathology could increase the QOL in elderly patients with chronic schizophrenia over age 55. And the management which could improve attention, awareness of need for medication would attribute the QOL.
Aged* ; Cognition ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Mental Disorders ; Psychopathology* ; Quality of Life* ; Schizophrenia* ; Weights and Measures

No abstract available.
Embryonic Development* ; Female ; Humans* ; Pregnancy ; Serum Albumin*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The change of pH in the external auditory canal (EAC) is an important factor in the pathogenesis of otitis externa. However, there is a lack of study focused in this area. Thus, we investigated the differences in the pH in the EAC between several different patient groups of otitis externa and the control group. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: There were 100 patients with otitis externa and 150 normal controls participated in this study. Patients with otitis externa were divided into 3 groups; acute or subacute infective otitis externa, chronic infective otitis externa and chronic allergic otitis externa. The pH of the EAC was measured in otitis externa patients and control subjects on their first visit. RESULTS: The mean EAC pH of the normal control subjects was significantly higher than that of the skin of other parts of the body. The pH difference among the 3 patient groups was statistically significant (the pH of acute or subacute infective otitis externa=6.83+/-0.64; the pH of chronic infective otitis externa=6.16+/-0.67 and the pH of chronic allergic otitis externa=5.78+/-0.59). CONCLUSION: The change in the pH of EAC can be considered as a predisposing factor of otitis externa. We quantified the level of pH at the EAC among three groups of otitis externa patients, and the results showed that the pH difference among the three patient groups was statistically significant. This study warrants a further investigation focusing on the proper choice of eardrops for otitis externa patients according to their pH at the EAC.
Aminocaproic Acids ; Ear Canal ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Otitis ; Otitis Externa ; Skin

PURPOSE: Midurethral sling procedure has become one of the most commonly performed procedures for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence(SUI). Although complication rate is very low, some patients are required further treatment to correct unwanted problems after surgery as it continues to be more widely used. We evaluated the mesh-related complications in those who required further procedures after midurethral sling procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2000 to December 2005, female patients who underwent additional surgery because of complications after midurethral sling procedures for stress urinary incontinence were evaluated in this study. RESULTS: In 675 patients, 298 received a tension-free vaginal tape(TVT) and 377 received a Monarc(transobturator route, TOT) as a sling material at 3 different hospitals. 34(5.0%) out of 675 patients required additional surgery to correct complications including obstructive voiding symptoms, mesh extrusion, failed or recurred SUI, wound pain and mesh in the bladder. Mean age of 34 patients was 54.7, and TVT was used in 21(7.0%) out of 298 patients, Monarc was used in 12(3.4%) out of 377 as midurethral sling materials. In 19 patients who showed obstructive voiding symptoms, all were cured by mesh cutting and in 8 patients who complained of immediate recurrence of SUI, 7 showed complete dryness by shortening the loosen mesh. Mesh extrusion with vaginal erosion were observed in 3 and all were cured by segmental resection of mesh without recurrence of SUI. 2 patients who showed recurrence of SUI after 2 years of TVT received Monarc procedure. Mesh in the bladder which was found after 6 months of TVT was managed by endoscopic resection of mesh with Monarc procedure in 1, and suprapubic pain after TVT was improved by resection of TVT segment through suprapubic incision in 1. All reoperation procedures were performed by local anesthesia except 1(mesh in the bladder). CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate that midurethral sling is an excellent surgical procedure with low complication rate, high success rate in reoperation. However, care must be taken to reduce reoperation rate in applying tension of mesh on urethra because most patients(27 out of 34) who required reoperation have complained of obstructive voiding symptoms(19) and persistent incontinence(8).
Anesthesia, Local ; Female* ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Reoperation* ; Suburethral Slings* ; Urethra ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Incontinence* ; Wounds and Injuries