The potential for nerve regeneration and recovery of its function exists in the presence of a suitable pathway for regenerating axon and endoneurial tube can serve as nerve conduit for regenerating axon in fresh nerve graft. But value of degenerated nerve as donor nerve has not been established till now. This experiment assessed the chronologic influence of fresh and degenerated nerve graft on axonal growth for 10mm gap of sciatic nerve in rabbit and how long degenerated nerve was ahle to serve as a nerve conduit microscopically. Electromicroscopically, the regenerating axons which were ohserved in the degenerated nerve graft had more abundant unmyelinated fibers and revealed abundant collagen fibers in the endoneurium. And these regenerating axons became gradually surrounded with newly developed basal lamina and decreased the collagen fibers at l2 week of degenerated nerve graft. Histologically, myelinated axons which were observed in central area of the degenerated nerve graft at 8 week of degenerated nerve graft were relatively thinner, but a definite structural difference of regenerating axons was not found except reduction of number compared with those of tresh nerve graft. The numher of myelinated axons was 6,072+/-l42 in normal sciatic nerve, 4,479+/- 157 in fresh nerve graft group, and 2,968+/-168 in the degenerated nerve graft group. Difference of the number of myelinated axons between fresh and degenerated nerve graft group was significant stati stically(P<0.05). These results showed that the ability of a degenerated nerve graft as a passage for the regenerating axons and it can be employed as one of the favorable nerve conduits.
Axons ; Basement Membrane ; Collagen ; Humans ; Myelin Sheath ; Nerve Regeneration ; Peripheral Nerves ; Sciatic Nerve* ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants*

Torsades de pointes, a polymorphic ventricular tachycardia associated with prolonged QT interval, is a well-known life-threatening arrhythmia, which has been found to be induced by various causes such as drugs, electrolyte imbalances, and severe bradycardia. Cisapride is a gastrointestinal prokinetic drug, which is widely used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease or other functional gastrointestinal disorders. Cisapride can cause torsades de pointes and cases of torsedes de pointes induced by cisapride have been reported in other countries. Cases of torsades de pointes associated with antihistamine drugs have been reported in Korea, however, cisapride-induced torsades de pointes case has not been reported. We report a case of 31 year-old female patient who experienced repeated loss of consciousness due to cisapride-induced torsades de pointes.
Adult ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Bradycardia ; Cisapride* ; Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Humans ; Korea ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Torsades de Pointes* ; Unconsciousness

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Computed tomography during arterial portography and computed tomography during hepatic arteriography (CTAP and CTHA), one of the most sensitive method in detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) nodules , is reported to reduce unnecessary operation of HCC. However, it is not clear whet her CT AP and CT HA can reduce early post operative recurrence rate of HCC. We performed this study to find any differences in early postoperative recurrence rate of HCC according to the imaging modalities used for preoperativest aging. METHODS: Ninety-seven patients with HCC who had underg one curative hepat icres ection from Dec.1994 to Mar. 1998 were included (median age = 52 years (26-78), M:F = 85:12). They were classified into 3 groups according to the imaging methods used for preoper ative staging: CTAP & CTHA group (n=56), Lipiodol CT group (n=24), and three phase helical CT group (n=16). No significant inter-group difference was found in preoperative status of the patients or characteristics of HCC. One-year recurrence rates were compared by log-rank test. RESULTS: HCC recurred in 17 of 97 patients (18.7%) within 12 months. A significant difference in 1- year recurrence rate was observed between the groups: helical CT , may be a superior imaging modality for preoperative staging of HCC that can reduce early postoperative recurrence rate.
Aging ; Angiography ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Ethiodized Oil* ; Humans ; Portography ; Recurrence* ; Tomography, Spiral Computed*

Fourty six patient with chronic subdural hematoma(CSDH) were managed by simple closed drainage between January 1987 and January 1990. The osmolarity and its factors of fluid from CSDH were compared to that of simultaneously drawn venous blood in patients. The results were as follows ; 1) The values of K+ and albumin of the hematoma fluid were significantly higher than that of hematoma fluid(P<0.05). 2) Osmolarities of the hematoma fluid were higher than that of venous blood(P<0.01). 3) Osmolarity, K+ and albumin showed linear relationship between hematoma fluid and venous blood(P<0.01).
Drainage ; Hematoma* ; Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic* ; Humans ; Osmolar Concentration*

Diffuse brain swelling(bilateral swelling without shift or other lesions ; DBS) after severe head injuy in children is very common event and that DBS in children is thought to be associated with a low mortality, generally compared with adult. In this study, DBS ws compared in 9 Children and 18 adults, selected among 222 cases of severe head injured patients admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery for 4 years from January 1986 toDecember 1989. The results were summarized as follows ; 1) The incidence of DBS in children(39.1%) was about 4 time as high as for adult(9.0%). 2) There was no significant difference of mortality rate in pediatric and adult group showing DBS but there was a significant low mortality rate in pediatric group without showing DBS, in contrast to other studies.
Adult ; Brain Edema* ; Brain* ; Child ; Head* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mortality ; Neurosurgery

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Lamivudine is an oral nucleoside analogue with potent antiviral activity against HBV inducing normalization of ALT and improvement of necro-inflammation and fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B. But its role in decompensated cirrhosis has not been established. The Child-Pugh score is a reliable and convenient prognostic indicator reflecting liver synthetic function. We evaluated the incidence of any improvement in Child-Pugh score after lamivudine treatment in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. METHODS: Twenty-six patients with HBV associated active decompensated cirrhosis showing detectable serum HBV received lamivudine (100 or 150 mg/day) for 6-45 months (median 16). The Child-Pugh score at 6th month of lamivudine treatment was compared with base line score. RESULTS: The Child-Pugh score improved ( 2-point reduction) in 17 (65.4%) patients, was constant in 8 (30.8%), and aggravated ( 2-point increase) in one (3.8%) of 26 patients. HBV DNA was initially cleared in 24 cases (92.3%) but breakthrough developed in 7 (29.2%). HBeAg was lost in 5 (25%) of 20 cases. Initial improvement was maintained in 14 (82.4%) of 17 cases but aggravated with breakthrough in 3 (17.6%). Two of 5 patients waiting for liver transplantation showed marked improvement and were removed from the list. CONCLUSION: Lamivudine can be an effective treatment for patients with decompensated cirrhosis due to HBV infection, improving the Child-Pugh score in many cases. However, deterioration of liver function associated with DNA breakthrough was an important problem in patients showing initial improvement.
DNA ; Fibrosis* ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lamivudine* ; Liver ; Liver Transplantation

BACKGROUND: It is common to find enlarged lymph nodes within hepatoduoedenal ligament during ultrasonography in patients with chronic hepatitis B. But, its clinical significance has not been clearly understood. METHODS: Lymph node volume within the hepatoduodenal ligament in 50 patients with chronic hepatitis B and 15 healthy controls was evaluated using ultrasonography. In patients with chronic hepatitis B, possible correlation of lymph node volume with biochemical tests, hepatitis activity index, and hepatitis B viremia was investigated. RESULTS: One or more lymph nodes were detected in 48 (96%) out of 50 patients with chronic hepatitis B (volume=3.4+/-2.4 mL, mean+/-S.D.) and 2 (13%) out of 15 controls (volume=0.4 mL, 0.6 mL). In chronic hepatitis B, lymph node volume showed a significant correlation with serum AST (r=0.66), ALT (r=0.63), gammaGT (r=0.53), total score of histologic activity index (r=0.59), and necroinflammatory score (r=0.59, p<0.05 for all); but not with fibrosis score and serum hepatitis B viremia. CONCLUSION: Enlarged perihepatic lymph nodes reflects histologic and biochemical inflammatory activity of the liver in chronic hepatitis B.
Fibrosis ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B, Chronic* ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans ; Ligaments ; Liver* ; Lymph Nodes* ; Ultrasonography ; Viremia

BACKGROUND: The contraction of smooth muscle depends on an increase in the concentration of intracellular calcium ion and the source of this increase to various stimuli is different according to organs or species. Nevertheless, there have been only a few studies on human stomach smooth muscle. This study was designed to identify the source of the calcium utilized in the muscle contraction induced by carbachol, which is an important factor among various stimuli. METHODS: After the administration of carbachol with various conditions in cultured human stomach smooth muscle cells, fura-2-acetoxymethyl ester was used to measure the increase in the intracellular calcium concentration. RESULTS: (1) The carbachol-induced increase in the intracellular calcium concentration was not attenuated after removal of extracellular calcium. (2) Carbachol induced a small increase in the intracellular calcium concentration even after the depletion of intracellular calcium store. (3) Repeated histamine administration blocked the carbachol-induced increase in the intracellular calcium concentration in calcium-free extracellular solution. CONCLUSION: The main source of calcium utilized in human stomach smooth muscle contraction by carbachol is intracellular calcium store, particularly inositol triphosphate(IP3)-sensitive calcium stores. However, extracellular calcium also contributes to the carbachol-induced increase in the intracellular calcium concentration.
Calcium* ; Carbachol* ; Histamine ; Humans* ; Inositol ; Muscle Contraction ; Muscle, Smooth* ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle* ; Stomach

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Contemporary clinicians have very little understanding of the importance of preventing parasitic disease. This aim of this study was to estimate trends in intestinal parasitic disease via stool examination in healthy Korean adults. METHODS: We reviewed stool examination results to detect any intestinal parasite infections in newly examined healthy patients at the Health Promotion Center of Samsung Medical Center from 2000 to 2006. RESULTS: The rates of overall intestinal parasite infection showed substantial growth from 2000 to 2006: 2.51%, 2.63%, 3.56%, 4.04%, 4.48%, 3.94%, and 4.45% (p<0.001) for 2000 to 2006, respectively. Rates of infection with helminthic eggs (five species) increased from 0.80% in 2000 to 1.50% in 2006 (p<0.001). This trend corresponds to the positive rate of Clonorchis sinensis helminthes (0.45% to 1.43%; p<0.001). Total protozoan cysts infection (four species) also increased (from 1.96% to 2.99%, p<0.001), especially with infection of Endolimax nana (1.15% to 2.23%; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Rates of intestinal parasite infection have increased over the last seven years, especially with C. sinensis and E. nana. These results demonstrate that Korean doctors should pay more attention to the diagnosis and treatment of parasite infections to further patient education and prevent parasitic infections.
Adult ; Clonorchis sinensis ; Eggs ; Endolimax ; Health Promotion ; Helminths ; Humans ; Ovum ; Parasites ; Parasitic Diseases ; Patient Education as Topic

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Contemporary clinicians have very little understanding of the importance of preventing parasitic disease. This aim of this study was to estimate trends in intestinal parasitic disease via stool examination in healthy Korean adults. METHODS: We reviewed stool examination results to detect any intestinal parasite infections in newly examined healthy patients at the Health Promotion Center of Samsung Medical Center from 2000 to 2006. RESULTS: The rates of overall intestinal parasite infection showed substantial growth from 2000 to 2006: 2.51%, 2.63%, 3.56%, 4.04%, 4.48%, 3.94%, and 4.45% (p<0.001) for 2000 to 2006, respectively. Rates of infection with helminthic eggs (five species) increased from 0.80% in 2000 to 1.50% in 2006 (p<0.001). This trend corresponds to the positive rate of Clonorchis sinensis helminthes (0.45% to 1.43%; p<0.001). Total protozoan cysts infection (four species) also increased (from 1.96% to 2.99%, p<0.001), especially with infection of Endolimax nana (1.15% to 2.23%; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Rates of intestinal parasite infection have increased over the last seven years, especially with C. sinensis and E. nana. These results demonstrate that Korean doctors should pay more attention to the diagnosis and treatment of parasite infections to further patient education and prevent parasitic infections.
Adult ; Clonorchis sinensis ; Eggs ; Endolimax ; Health Promotion ; Helminths ; Humans ; Ovum ; Parasites ; Parasitic Diseases ; Patient Education as Topic