PURPOSE: In patients suffering from prostate cancer, endocrine treatment is commonly applied to either locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer. But, there are many side effects with endocrine treatment in spite of its good response. We studied the effect of castration using absolute alcohol injection into the testis of Sprague-Dawley rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We checked and compared the serum testosterone level after surgical castration and the injection of a serial amount of alsolute alcohol into the testis of sixty Sprague-Dawley rats. The histologic findings of the testes and prostates in those injected with absolute alcohol were also evaluated. RESULTS: The testosterone level of normal control was 2.29 +/-0.47ng/ microliterand that of the bilateral orchiectomy group was 0.03 +/-0.02ng/ml. The testosterone level of the groups that were injected with absolute alcohol more than 25% of testicular weight were the same as the testosterone level of castrated rats. The histologic findings of the testes and prostates in those injected with absolute alcohol more than 25% of testicular weight were diffusely atrophied. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that chemical orchiectomy using absolute alcohol as a new endocrine treatment is another modality in advanced prostatic cancer patients who need an orchiectomy.
Animals ; Castration ; Ethanol* ; Humans ; Orchiectomy* ; Prostate ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testis* ; Testosterone

No abstract available.
Larynx, Artificial* ; Voice*

No abstract available.
Histiocytic Necrotizing Lymphadenitis*

No abstract available.
Estrogens* ; Humans ; Receptors, Estrogen* ; Thyroid Diseases* ; Thyroid Gland*

A reduced retroversion angle of humeral head may predispose to recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation and may also be a factor in persistent instability after soft tissue procedures. Rotation osteotomy of proximal humerus is one of many surgical modalities proposed for recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation. To support such an operation, fundamental knowledge of shoulder anatomy is essential. The semi-axial view by Soderlund have been regarded as simple and reliable method for measuring humeral head retroversion angle. The purpose of this study was to evaluate validity of the semi-axial view and to assess reference values for humeral head retroversion angle in Korean. Humeral head retroversion angle was determined from 80 healthy subjects, 48 men and 32 women. Radiographs which shown less than 10degrees between humeral shaft axis and epicondylar axis were defined as acceptable radiographs by Soderlund. Acceptable radiographs were selected and two orthopedic surgeons measured retroversion angle, separately. Acceptable radiographs were obtained in only 70 shoulders (43.8%). The mean angle was 35.2+/-8.24degrees for dominant hand and 32+/-6.27degrees for nondominant in Korean. The mean angle was 35.3+/- 7.78degrees for right side and 31.9+/-6.8degrees for left. The interobserver difference was 2.9degrees. The semi-axial view by Soderlund was not reproducible solely. But if correct arm position is considered, the method presented is easy to use daily.
Arm ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Humeral Head* ; Humerus ; Male ; Orthopedics ; Osteotomy ; Reference Values ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Dislocation

BACKGROUND: The identification of in vitro hemolysis (IVH) using a hematology analyzer is challenging because centrifugation of the specimens cannot be performed for cell counts. In the present study, we aimed to develop a scoring system to help identify the presence of hemolysis in anticoagulated blood specimens. METHODS: Thirty-seven potassium EDTA anticoagulated blood specimens were obtained, and each specimen was divided into 3 aliquots (A, B, and C). Aliquots B and C were mechanically hemolyzed by aspirating 2 and 5 times, respectively, using a 27-gauge needle and then tested; aliquot A was analyzed immediately without any hemolysis. After the cells were counted, aliquots B and C were centrifuged and the supernatants were tested for the hemolytic index and lactate dehydrogenase levels. RESULTS: The 4 hematologic parameters were selected and scored from 0 to 3 as follows:< 34.0, 34.0-36.2, 36.3-38.4, and > or =38.5 for mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC, g/dL); <0.02, 0.02, 0.03, and > or =0.04 for red blood cell ghosts (10(12)/L); <0.13, 0.13-0.38, 0.39-1.30, and > or =1.31 for difference value (g/dL) of measured hemoglobin and calculated hemoglobin; and <0.26, 0.26-0.95, 0.96-3.34, and > or =3.35 for difference value (g/dL) of MCHC and cell hemoglobin concentration mean. The hemolysis score was calculated by adding all the scores from the 4 parameters. At the cutoff hemolysis score of 3, the IVH of aliquots B and C were detected as 64.9% and 91.9%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The scoring system might provide effective screening for detecting spurious IVH.
Anticoagulants/*pharmacology ; *Blood Specimen Collection ; Edetic Acid/pharmacology ; Hemoglobins/analysis ; Hemolysis/drug effects ; Humans

PURPOSE: We evaluated the clinical and radiological results of arthroscopic ankle fusion using 2 medial screws which had advantages of less morbidity, early weight-bearing and high union rate. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From April, 2002 to March, 2004, 8 patients who had ankle osteoarthritis were treated by ankle fusion using 2 medial screws under arthroscopy; five patients with post-traumatic osteoarthritis, two with post-infectious arthritis and one with paralytic foot. There were 5 male and 3 female. Average age was 67 years old ranging from 57 to 71 years. We evaluated them clinically preoperative and postoperative using AOFAS score, VAS pain scale and patient's satisfaction. In regard to radiological fusion, we checked them by simple AP, lateral and mortise view. Follow up period was average 11 months (range, 6~24 months). RESULTS: All ankles were successfully fused with 2 medial screws under arthroscopy. The mean time of fusion was 10.5 weeks (range, 8~14 weeks). Patient's satisfaction checked at 6 months after operation had favorable results (excellent and good 75%). One case had pain on medial malleolar area because of screw's protrusion. CONCLUSION: Arthroscopic ankle fusion using 2 medial screws was good modality of ankle fusion with less morbidity and early weight-bearing in some cases of ankle arthritis.
Aged ; Ankle* ; Arthritis ; Arthritis, Reactive ; Arthroscopy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Humans ; Male ; Osteoarthritis ; Weight-Bearing

BACKGROUND: Recently, three collection tubes manufactured in China (Zhejiang Gongdong Medical Plastic Factory, Guangzhou Improve IVD) were introduced. We compared the performance of the three tubes with the existing BD Vacutainer tube (BD, USA) for common analytes. METHODS: Twenty healthy volunteers were recruited for this study. Routine chemistry, thyroid function test, and hematologic test were analyzed with these tubes, and compared the results by Student paired t-test and Bland-Altman Plot. For stability test, the initial results for each tube were compared with results of 72-hour preserved samples. RESULTS: For Gongdong tube, total bilirubin (T-BIL), glucose (GLU), phosphorus (PHOS), hemoglobin (Hb) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) were lower, and total protein (TP), AST, direct bilirubin (D-BIL), unsaturated iron binding capacity (UIBC), total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and free thyroxine (FT4) were higher than those of BD tube. For Gongdong2 tube, ALT, T-BIL, PHOS, lactate dehydrogenase and MCV were lower, and D-BIL was higher than that of BD tube. For Improve tube, corpuscular hemoglobin concentration mean (CHCM) was lower, and albumin (Alb), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr) and FT4 were higher than those of BD tube. For three tubes, triiodothyronine (T3) was lower, and triglyceride (TG) and magnesium (Mg) were higher than those of BD tube (P<0.05). All statiscally different cases were clinically acceptable by CLIA'88 programs except D-BIL, UIBC, TIBC, Hb, MCV and CHCM those were not considered to be clinically significant. Most of stability tests showed variation within ten percents. CONCLUSIONS: The three tubes showed satisfactory results compared with existing BD Vacutainer tube. We concluded that the tubes are suitable for common laboratory tests.
Bilirubin ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; China ; Creatinine ; Erythrocyte Indices ; Glucose ; Hematologic Tests ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Iron ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Magnesium ; Phosphorus ; Plastics ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyroxine ; Triiodothyronine ; Vacuum

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The most effective method of improving survival in patients with HCC is early diagnosis and curative hepatic resection. However, longterm survival after curative resection remains low because of high recurrence rate after resection. The purpose of the study is to assess the prognosis and the efficacy of the various treatment modalities on recurrent HCC after curative resection. METHODS: The clinical records of 50 patients with recurrent HCC were reviewed retrospectively who underwent curative surgery in Yonsei University, Severance Hospital from Jan. 1987 through Oct. 1994. The cummulative recurrent rate after resection, the response rate of treatment after resection, the median progression free survival and the survival after recurrence according to the treatment modalities were evaluated. RESULTS: The cummulative recurrent rate after resection was 3.9% at 3 month, 8.3% at 6 month, 14.1% at 12 month, 21.5% at 24 month, 23.4% at 36 month and 24.4% at 60 month. The response rate of treatment after recurrence was 23.7% (9 patients). The median progression free survival of the patient with reoperation and hepatic embolization was 13.9 months, that of conservative treatment group was 6.8 months and that of no treatment group was 4 months(p = 0.004). The survival after recurrence of HCC was 19.7 months in reoperation and hepatic embolization group, 11.4 months in multimodality group, 16.9 months in conservative treatment group and 8.4 months in no treatment group(p=0.0998). CONCLUSION: Reoperation and hepatic embolization for HCC after curative resection was effective in improving progression free survival, but overall survival were not significantly different according to the treatment modalities. This results proposed that reoperation and hepatic embolization for recurrent HCC after curative resection improve progression free survival.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Prognosis* ; Recurrence ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To compare treatment outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) under the size of 5 cm in relation to underlying liver function and treatment modalities, analysis of data from 145 patients was performed. METHODS: In this study, the records of 145 patients with small HCC (< 5 cm in diameter determined by hepatic angiography) were reviewed. Clinical parameters were analyzed and survival rate, recurrence rate were calculated. RESULTS: There were 107(73.8%) men and 38 women. Mean age at diagnosis was 55.1(range .' 25 83 year-old). HBsAg was detected in 97(66.9%) patients. Seventy two(50.0%) patients showed markedly elevated(>40 ng/mL) serum alpha-fetoprotein(AFP) level. Liver cirrhosis was associated in 109(75.2%) patients. Sixty five(44.8%) patients underwent surge, 63(43.5%) underwent transarterial therapy(TAT), 8(5.5%) underwent other modalities of therapy and the remaining 9(6.2% ) patients did not receive any specific treatment for HCC. In relation to the underlying liver function, 119(82.1% ) patients belonged to the non-cirrhotic or Child-Pugh class A, 20(13.8%) to class B and 6(4.1%) to class C. The median follow-up duration was 21 months. When analyzed with respect to treatment modalities alone, median survival was 43 months for all patients, 60 months for surgery, 29 months for TAT, 20 months for other treatment and 18 months for patients who received no specific treatment. Without considering liver function, cumulative 3 year survival rate was 68.6% for surgery, 43.9% for TAT, 29.2% for other treatment and 0% for no treatment. The survival rate for the patients who underwent surgery was significantly higher than for any other treatment modalities without considering the underlying liver function or in the non-cirrhotic/Child-Pugh class A(p<0.001). In patients whose tumor size was equal to or less than 3 cm, there was no difference in survival rate in relation to the treatment modalities when not considering the underlying liver function of each patient(p>0.05). But in patients classified as the non-cirrhotic/Child-Pugh class A, better survival was observed in the surgep group than the TAT group(p<0.05). The only factor influencing survival was the pre-treatment serum AFP level(p<0.05). The overall recurrence rate was 30.3%. For the entire patients, the factor significantly influencing the recurrence rate was the presence of underlying cirrhosis. When considering only the patients in the surgery group, the different types of surgical procedures significantly influenced the recurrence rate. CONCLUSION: Surgery is the treatment of choice for patients with HCC equal to or smaller than 5 cm. But for those patients whose tumor size is less than 3 cm, TAT may be a reasonable alternative to surgep when the liver function is not adequate for hepatic resection. Because overall recurrence rate exceeded 30% and median time of recurrence was only 9.5 months after definitive treatment, careful follow-up is required for all patients who undergo treatment for small HCC.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver* ; Male ; Recurrence ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome*