PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the results of treatment and prognosis of Marjolin's ulcer compared with primary squamous cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients treated for Marjolin's ulcer were analyzed. Twenty patients with primary squamous cell carcinoma treated during the same time period was the control group. Mean age was 61.2 years. There were 24 males and 10 females. The locations, TNM stages, histological grades, recurrence, metastasis, and survival rate were analyzed and compared between two groups. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 54.8 months (range, 12-168 months). Local recurrences were found in 6 cases, 5 ones in Marjolin's ulcer patients, and one case in primary squamous cell carcinoma patients. The mean time interval between the initial presentation and occurrence of local recurrences was 9 months (range, 2-20 months). There were 6 metastases. 2 (14.3%) metastases were found in Marjolin's ulcer patients, and 4 (20.0%) metastases in primary squamous cell carcinoma patients. Total events (metastasis or local recurrence) were found in 10 pateients, 6 of them in Marjolin's ulcer group, and the remaining four in primary group. 5-year disease-free survival rate was 64.3% in Marjolin's ulcer group and 95.0% in primary squamous cell carcinoma group. CONCLUSION: Squamous cell carcinomas originating as Marjolin's ulcers revealed higher recurrence rate and lower survival rate despite of aggressive treatment. Therefore, new treatment modalities should be developed for improving outcomes.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Survival Rate ; Ulcer

PURPOSE: To determine whether dynamic or conventional MR imaging is most useful for the detection of pituitary microadenoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study involved 20 patients (M:F=1:19, mean age=37 years) in whom a pituitary microadenoma had been identified. Routine unenhanced coronal T1-weighted MR imaging was followed by dynamic imaging (repetition time/echo time/excitation=200/10/1, 3-mm-thick sections, 256X128 or 256 ma-trix,14X14-cm field of view, scan time=30 or 60 seconds, spin-echo pulse sequence), and contrast-enhanced coronal T1-weighted imaging was then immediately performed. Temporal changes in signal intensity were quantified with manually placed ROIs (regions of interest, circular, 3 mm 2), and tissue contrast between the pituitary gland and microadenoma was calculated. Conspicuity of the tumor margin was graded by three radiologists working independently as either 4 (excellent clear margin), 3 (good clear margin), 2 (relatively clear mar-gin), or 1 (unclear margin). RESULTS: Average peak enhancement of the pituitary gland and microadenoma occurred at 58.5 and 91.5 seconds, respectively. Maximum enhancement of the pituitary gland occurred within 30 to 60 seconds of contrast infusion (signal intensity range: 426-442), but during dynamic MR imaging, the microadenoma showed rela-tively constant enhancement (signal intensity range: 230 -250). Maximal contrast between normal pituitary gland and the microadenoma was seen at 60 seconds or in the first three sequential images. Dynamic MR images were superior to conventional T1-weighted images, with or without contrast infusion, not only in terms of tissue contrast between the pituitary gland and the microadenoma (p=0.0048), but also as regards tumor margin conspicuity (p=0.0035). CONCLUSION: Dynamic MR imaging is a useful technique in the detection of pituitary microadenoma.
Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Pituitary Gland

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of aircraft noise exposure on children's mental health problems such as depression and personality. METHODS: We obtained data from the health examinations of school children in the vicinity of Gunsan airport. This survey was conducted in the rural area, Gunsan during 2009. The study population included 195 children attending 4th to 6th grade from 6 elementary schools near the airport. Based on 60 Weighted Equivalent Continuous Perceived Noise Level (WECPNL) measures of aircraft noise, participants were divided into 2 groups; the exposure group consisted of 106 children from 4 schools, and the reference group included 89 children from the 2 schools in Gunsan. All children completed questions on general characteristics, the Korean Children's Depression Inventory (KCDI) for depression, and the Korea Human Nature Inspection (KHNI) for personality. RESULTS: Children in the exposure group were at higher risk of depression (5.62, 95% CI 1.12~28.25), and personality changes (2.08, 95% CI 1.07~4.05) than those of the reference group. In particular, children's diligence, cooperation, and concentration, subgroups of personality measure, were affected significantly and negatively, by aircraft noise level. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that exposure to aircraft noise at school is associated with mental health problems in children. Requirements should be implemented to manage aircraft noise of its affect on children's health.
Aircraft ; Airports ; Child ; Depression ; Health Surveys ; Human Characteristics ; Humans ; Korea ; Mental Health ; Noise

Thrombosis of the dural sinus in the fetal period is an extremely rare congenital cerebrovascular condition. The exact etiologies and prognosis of dural sinus thrombosis in the fetal period are still unknown due to the extremely limited clinical information available. Therefore, we present a case of dural sinus thrombosis diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound and fetal magnetic resonance imaging that spontaneously regressed, with a brief review of the relevant literature.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Prognosis ; Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial ; Thrombosis

In the operation room, members of the surgical team have the ultimate responsibility of safe guarding the patient from electrical devices. The electrosurgical unit is one instrument commonly used during surgical procedures. We have experienced accidental burning. Sixty-seven years-old patient received burn at the site of the ECG electrode which was caused by an electrocautery used in conjunction with electronic monitoring equipment. Although cutting and coagulation powers were very low, the normal size of the ECG electrodes led to the generation of a high current density. Prevention of interactions of this kind between properly functioning monitoring and surgical units requires good communication among all members of the operating room team and every electrical instruments should inspected, tested regularly.
Burns* ; Electrocardiography* ; Electrocoagulation ; Electrodes* ; Humans ; Operating Rooms

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is known to modulate bone metabolism, including bone formation and resorption. Because cartilage serves as a template for endochondral bone formation and because cartilage development is initiated by the differentiation of mesenchymal cells into chondrocytes (Ahrens et al., 1977; Sandell and Adler, 1999; Solursh, 1989), it is of interest to know whether COX-2 expression affect chondrocyte differentiation. Therefore, we investigated the effects of COX-2 protein on differentiation in rabbit articular chondrocyte and chick limb bud mesenchymal cells. Overexpression of COX-2 protein was induced by the COX-2 cDNA transfection. Ectopic expression of COX-2 was sufficient to causes dedifferentiation in articular chondrocytes as determined by the expression of type II collagen via Alcian blue staining and Western blot. Also, COX-2 overexpression caused suppression of SOX-9 expression, a major transcription factor that regulates type II collagen expression, as indicated by the Western blot and RT-PCR. We further examined ectopic expression of COX-2 in chondrifying mesenchymal cells. As expected, COX-2 cDNA transfection blocked cartilage nodule formation as determined by Alcian blue staining. Our results collectively suggest that COX-2 overexpression causes dedifferentiation in articular chondrocytes and inhibits chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal cells.
Animals ; Cartilage, Articular/cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Chick Embryo ; Chondrocytes/*cytology/enzymology ; Chondrogenesis ; Collagen Type II/metabolism ; Cyclooxygenase 2/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Interleukin-1beta/pharmacology ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells/*cytology/enzymology ; Rabbits ; SOX9 Transcription Factor/metabolism

BACKGROUND: In the presence of anticipated or established acute tubular necrosis (ATN) immediately after cadaveric kidney transplantation, induction with monoclonal or polyclonal antibody is recommended in preparation of increased risk of acute rejection caused by ATN. Tacrolimus is a potent immunosuppressive agent than cyclosporine. In this study, we analyzed retrospectively the clinical outcome of patients who had taken tacrolimus as a replacement of cyclosporine in the period of delayed graft function(DGF) to determine the eligibility of tacrolimus instead of antilymphocyte antibody in this situation. METHODS: Between March 1, 1991 and August 31, 2000, DGF developed in eighteen first cadaveric renal transplant recipients in our center. During DGF period, twelve patients received tacrolimus based immunosuppression without OKT3. We reviewed the complete clinical course of the 12 patients. RESULTS: Among the 12 patients, 1 patient underwent graft nephrectomy at postoperative 27 days, because of poor renal function and concomitant aspergillosis infection. In the remaining 11 patients, however, for whom tacrolimus was maintained continuously without OKT3 therapy, renal function was recovered successfully. One acute rejection developed at postoperative 15 months. One patient died at postoperative 5 months with functioning graft. One-year graft survival rate was 83%. CONCLUSION: Tacrolimus could be used in replacement of cyclosporine for the prevention of acute rejection in DGF. This could provide a graft survival comparable to that by the monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies without the potential risk of life- threatening side effects in this situation.
Antibodies ; Antilymphocyte Serum ; Aspergillosis ; Cadaver* ; Cyclosporine ; Delayed Graft Function* ; Graft Survival ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Kidney Transplantation* ; Muromonab-CD3 ; Necrosis ; Nephrectomy ; Retrospective Studies ; Tacrolimus* ; Transplantation ; Transplants

OBJECTIVES: To determine the level of aircraft noise exposure and how it relates to hearing loss, and to investigate the association between noise exposure and anxiety and depression in subjects residing adjacent to a military airbase. METHODS: The study was conducted upon 898 inhabitants between the ages of 30-79, living near the military airbase in Jeonra-do. The subjects were divided into three noise-exposure groups: high-exposure, low-exposure, and a control group. The cut-values were 80 and 60 on the Weighted Equivalent Continuous Perceived Noise Level scale. A self-administered questionnaire including the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were completed. Pure tone audiometry tests were performed. RESULTS: Hearing loss prevalence was defined by a >40 dB loss in bilateral ears or in one ear; the difference of <15 dB compared to the better side was 30.8%. The mean BAI/BDI score was 18.9+/-14.3/18.7+/-11.6, the number of abnormal subjects with BAIs > or =22 was 317 (35.3%), with BDIs > or =21 was 347 (38.6%). The pure tone average, BAI, and BDI scores were higher in the noise-exposure groups compared to the control. The BAI/BDI abnormal subjects showed a higher hearing threshold shift level compared to the normal scored subjects. The odd ratios for anxiety was significantly high in both noise exposure groups and the hearing loss, for depression was significantly high in high-exposure group and hearing loss. CONCLUSIONS: Anxiety and depression were higher when exposure to high-level noise and further complicated by hearing loss. Further investigation is needed to determine the cause-effect relationship.
Aircraft ; Anxiety ; Audiometry ; Depression ; Ear ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Humans ; Military Personnel ; Noise ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires

Deep infection is the most serious complication of total hip arthroplasty with difficulty to treat and occasionally results into catastrophic consequences. The treatment methods are antibiotics, incision & drainage of the hip, debridement & modified Girdlestone resection arthroplasty, one stage revision to total hip arthroplasty, two stage revision and hip disarticulation. The purpose of this report is to consider the treatment of the infected total hip arthroplasty. Since 1979, we have treated 12 cases of infected arthroplasty including 6 cases from other hopital. Duration of interval between primary hip arthroplasty and diagnosis of infection were average 42,4 months(minimum 2 months to maximum 16 years). The results were as follows; 1. The incidence rate of the infected total hip arthroplasty was 1.3%. 2. By Fitzgerald classification, 2 cases were in acute stage, 6 cases in delayed stage and 4 cases in late stage. 3. The causative organisms were coagulase negative Staphylococcus aureus in 6 cases, Staphylococcus hemolyticus in 2 cases, Pseudomonas in 1 case and negative culture in 3 cases. 4. Increased uptake on Bone Scan in all 12 cases and increased ESR ranged from 28mm/hr to 82mm/hr. 5. Our treatment methods were secondary revision to total hip arthroplasty with cement bead insertion in 4 cases, primary revision in 1 case, incision & drainage of hip in 1 case, debridement & modified Girdlestone resection arthroplasty in 2 cases and hip disarticulation in 2 cases. And the rest 2 cases have been followed up after modified Girdlestone resection arthroplasty because of the remained infection. In our experience, two stage revision to total hip arthroplasty with antibiotics mixed cement bead was more useful in the treatment of the infected total hip arthroplasty.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Arthroplasty ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Classification ; Coagulase ; Debridement ; Diagnosis ; Disarticulation ; Drainage ; Hip ; Incidence ; Pseudomonas ; Staphylococcus ; Staphylococcus aureus

Endometriosis is a prevalent benign illness defined by the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside of the uterine cavity, primarily on the ovary, pelvic peritoneum, and rectovaginal septum, resulting in a variety of symptoms, including dysmenorrhea and infertility. Traditionally, prolonged medical therapy has been needed in most cases since a conservative approach to surgery has usually been taken, especially in young women. In 2022, new European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) guidelines were published that present different directions for diagnosis and treatment from the past. Furthermore, the guidelines for the diagnosis and management of endometriosis are more precise and applicable than in previous editions. Thus, referring to the representative changes in the new guidelines and important updates will be beneficial for the diagnosis and management of endometriosis. This paper provides a brief overview of these developments.