OBJECTIVE: To understand the difference of defecation physiology between postpartum and postoperative women. METHODS: Between July 1998 to April 1999, we performed defecogram and pudendal nerve motor latency to 31 women, who were 8 postoperative women, 9 post cesarean-section state women, and 14 normal vaginal delivery-state women. RESULTS: According to the defecogram results, only squeezing angles of the anorectal angle were significantly increased(96.0 vs 72.3, 74.9 degree) in normal vaginal delivery-state women compared to post cesarean-section state and postoperative women, but rest and evacuation angles were not. And to pudendal nerve latency, there were no statistically significant difference. CONCLUSION: We concluded that the pudendal plexus was damaged during labor, therefore its ability to control puborectalis muscle was damaged. So, the anorectal angles of squeezing of postpartum women were significantly increased, compared to those of post cesarean section women or postoperative women.
Cesarean Section ; Defecation* ; Female ; Humans ; Physiology* ; Postpartum Period* ; Pregnancy ; Pudendal Nerve*

From 1985 to 1995, 13 children with neurogenic bladder underwent augmentation cystoplasty. Diagnosis in these 13 children included Meningomyelocele in 11 and unknown origin in 2. Indications for augmentation cystoplasty were persists incontinence in 6 patients and progressive upper urinary tract deterioration in Bowel segments were used for augmentation included sigmoid colon in 1 patient, ileocecal segments incontinence in 6 patients stomach in 3. Dilated ureter also was used in 1 patient. Postoperatively, all the patients have stable upper tracts radiographically and stable or improved renal function. Of 13 patients 12 require clean intermittent catheterization to empty bladder and 10 are completely continent. After operation, bladder capacity increased from 155 ml to 305 ml and there were significant increases in bladder compliance. Hypereflexia was present in 5 patients before operation and in 3 patients after operation. There has been no surgical mortality. Postoperative complications occurred in 4 patients included mild ileus in 2 patients, mucus obstruction in 1, mild hematuria in 1, metabolic alkalosis in 1 and superficial wound infection in All complications were transient and managed medically. the kind of bowel segments did not seem to influence results. We think that augmentation cystoplasty is a therapeutic modality that should be considered as a viable treatment option in selected patients with neurogenic bladder dysfunction.
Alkalosis ; Child ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Compliance ; Diagnosis ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Ileus ; Intermittent Urethral Catheterization ; Meningomyelocele ; Mortality ; Mucus ; Postoperative Complications ; Stomach ; Ureter ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic* ; Urinary Tract ; Wound Infection

We report the first case of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia combined with multiple pulmonary-systemic fistulae. In this case, a 39-year-old woman presented with long standing chest pain, dyspnea and hemoptysis. Finally she was diagnosed as systemic- pulmonary fistula, a rare form of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.
Adult ; Chest Pain ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Fistula* ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic*

Of the various endocrine tumors affecting the pancreas, insulinomas and gastrinomas are the most common. In order to facilitate surgery, the localization of tumor is important. However, at the first time of presentation, the localization of tumor was often difficult by CT or ultrasonography because the tumor was relatively too small. The introduction of endoscopic ultrasonography has allowed high-resolution imaging of the pancreas that distinguishes structures as small as 2 to 3 mm in diameter. Thus, it has became easier to detect the lesion site of pancreatic endocrine tumor by endoscopic ultrasonography. We report the 5 patients who had pancreatic insulinoma which were detected and localized by endoscopic ultrasonography.
Endosonography* ; Gastrinoma ; Humans ; Insulinoma* ; Pancreas ; Ultrasonography

Of the various endocrine tumors affecting the pancreas, insulinomas and gastrinomas are the most common. In order to facilitate surgery, the localization of tumor is important. However, at the first time of presentation, the localization of tumor was often difficult by CT or ultrasonography because the tumor was relatively too small. The introduction of endoscopic ultrasonography has allowed high-resolution imaging of the pancreas that distinguishes structures as small as 2 to 3 mm in diameter. Thus, it has became easier to detect the lesion site of pancreatic endocrine tumor by endoscopic ultrasonography. We report the 5 patients who had pancreatic insulinoma which were detected and localized by endoscopic ultrasonography.
Endosonography* ; Gastrinoma ; Humans ; Insulinoma* ; Pancreas ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to compare the clinical results of spleen preserving laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (SPLDP) with en bloc laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP). METHODS: From March 2005 to August 2008, 52 cases of SPLDP and 84 LDPs were performed at our institution and we retrospectively compared these cases. The enrollment period were chronologically divided to four eras of 10.5 months each. RESULTS: The demographics, including the patients' age, gender and BMI, were not different between the two groups. The final pathologic diagnosis was diverse, and it included cystic tumor, SPT, IPMT, cancer, endocrine tumor, etc and there was no difference between the two groups. The tumor location, operative time, tumor size, perioperative transfusion requirement, the length of the hospital stay and the postoperative complications were not different between the two groups. The mean operative time was gradually shortened by eras (Era 1: 236.3 min, Era 2: 223.6 min, Era 3: 188.8 min, Era 4: 187.9 min) and the proportion of SPLDP was increased by eras from 1.9% to 9.6%, 42.3% and 46.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: SPLDP might be technically more difficult than LDP, and especially in the initial learning stage of performing laparoscopic pancreatic surgery. After overcoming the learning curve, SPLDP can be performed safely and possibly within a shorter time. SPLDP should be tried whenever possible so that the patients get the maximal benefits of minimal invasive surgery and especially for resecting the more distal pancreatic lesions.
Demography ; Endocrine Gland Neoplasms ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Learning ; Learning Curve ; Length of Stay ; Operative Time ; Pancreatectomy ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Spleen

PURPOSE: The Asia-Pacific Burden of Respiratory Diseases (APBORD) study is a cross-sectional, observational one which has used a standard protocol to examine the disease and economic burden of allergic rhinitis (AR), asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), and rhinosinusitis across the Asia-Pacific region. Here, we report on symptoms, healthcare resource use, work impairment, and associated costs in Korea. METHODS: Consecutive participants aged ≥18 years with a primary diagnosis of asthma, AR, COPD, or rhinosinusitis were enrolled. Participants and their treating physician completed a survey detailing respiratory symptoms, healthcare resource use, and work productivity and activity impairment. Costs included direct medical cost and indirect cost associated with lost work productivity. RESULTS: The study enrolled 999 patients. Patients were often diagnosed with multiple respiratory disorders (42.8%), with asthma/AR and AR/rhinosinusitis the most frequently diagnosed combinations. Cough or coughing up phlegm was the primary reason for the medical visit in patients with a primary diagnosis of asthma and COPD, whereas nasal symptoms (watery runny nose, blocked nose, and congestion) were the main reasons in those with AR and rhinosinusitis. The mean annual cost for patients with a respiratory disease was US$8,853 (SD 11,245) per patient. Lost productivity due to presenteeism was the biggest contributor to costs. CONCLUSIONS: Respiratory disease has a significant impact on disease burden in Korea. Treatment strategies for preventing lost work productivity could greatly reduce the economic burden of respiratory disease.
Asthma* ; Cost of Illness ; Cough ; Delivery of Health Care ; Diagnosis ; Efficiency ; Health Care Costs ; Humans ; Korea* ; Nose ; Observational Study* ; Presenteeism ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* ; Respiratory Tract Diseases ; Rhinitis, Allergic*

PURPOSE: To determine the frequency of p53 overexpression and to analyse the relationship between p53 overexpression and complete response rate, survival in locoregionl squamous cell esophageal cancers treated with preoperative chemoradiation multimodality approaches. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using a microwave oven heating method, we have detected p53 overexpression by immunohistochemically with a monoclonal antibody(DO-7) in formalin- fixed paraffin-embedded samples of 42 patients with locoregional squamous cell esophageal cancer, who treated with concurrent chemotherapy and radiatian followed by surgery. RESULTS: In 27 of 42 tumors(64.2%), nuclear immunoreactivity for the p53 protein was detected. Complete response rate, evaluated in surgical specimen 3-4 weeks after chemoradiation seemed to be high in p53 positive group compared to p53 negative group, however, there was no statistically significant difference in acquiring better complete response rate, overall survival and progression free survival between p53 positive and p53 negative group(p=0.0546, p=0.0599, p= 0.6832). Complete response group(n=17) survived longer than non-complete response group(n=25)(p=0.0010). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that p53 is not a statistically significant prognostic factor in obtaining better complete response rate, overall survival and progression free survival of the patients with esophageal carcinoma treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy. Additional studies are warranted for further evaluation.
Chemoradiotherapy* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; Heating ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microwaves ; Survival Rate