In 6 cases of invasive thymoma proved histologically from 1981 to 1984 in Yonsei University Medical Center,the CT findings and pattern were analysed. The results were as follows 1. Of 6 case, 4 were males and 2 werefemales. All cases were between 40-64 years and the average was 51 year old. 2. Of 6 cases, 2 female patients wereassociated with myasthenia gravis. 3. By the histological examination, 2 were confirmed as mixed cell type, 2spindle cell type, 1 lymphocytic type and 1 epithelial cell type. 4. CT findings of invasive thymoma were 1) Adiscrete but lobulated and irregular marginated soft tissue mass in the superoanterior mediastinum replacing thenormal mediastinal fat tissue. 2) Usually irregular low density areas within the mass suggesting central necrosisor calcification in 1 of 6 cases was noted. 3) Local invasiveness of the mass shown as obliteration of the normalfat planes surrounding great vessels, irregular thickenings or nodular shadows of the pleura, diagphragm andpericardium and irregular and ragged tumor-lung interfaces if the tumor invaded to these structures. 4) Frequentextention of tumor to middle and post. mediastinum along pericardium or mediastinal pleura with resultantextrinsic indentation and/or invasion of the hilar region. 5) Extensive tumor infiltration to middle and post.mediastinum in 1 case, indistinguishable from lymphoma. 6) Low attenuation numbered area of brain in another 1case, but not confirmed histologically.
Brain ; Epithelial Cells ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; Male ; Mediastinum ; Myasthenia Gravis ; Pericardium ; Pleura ; Thymoma

There have been increasing interests of diabetes in the realm of plastic surgery due to problems like foot ulcer as a complication, delayed wound healing or higher failure rates of flap surgery. Main pathology in diabetes is microvascular compromise as well as metabolic derangements. The disturbance in microvascular circulation results in ischemic environments in the body and acts as a main factor that determines the limit of reconstructive or aesthetic plastic surgery. A useful method to overcome such problems is the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which is known to be effective in the treatment of ischemic skin ulcer or osteoradionecrosis. However, there have been few studies on the survival of diabetic random skin flap or the effects of hyperbaric oxygenation directed to increase survival of such flap. In our study, we supposed that the survival of diabetic random skin flap was diminished owing to compromised microvascular pathology and blood rheology, and metabolic derangements, so we hypothesized that hyperbaric oxygen therapy has both reversible and irreversible effects on the survival of ischemic random skin flap in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Increase of local transcutaneous oxygen concentration, O2 affinity in blood and dysmorphogenesis of red blood cells are reversible and relatively short-term effects and promotion of neoangiogenesis is irreversible or long-term effects. We intended to confirm that hyperbaric rats and to compare the effects between preoperative and postoperative hyperbaric oxygenation on the survival of such flap. And we expect the additional effects of hyperbaric oxygenation on metabolism in diabetic rat, such as lowering the blood glucose level and solving the arrested weight gain. We divided Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats into three groups: the first was non-treatment diabetic group, the second was preoperative hyperbaric oxygen treated diabetic group(100% O2, 2 atm, 90min, 15sessions, twice a day), and the third was postoperative hyperbaric oxygen treated group(100% O2, 2atm, 90min, 15sessions, twice a day). After elevation of random skin flap on dorsum of diabetic rats, we evaluated the extent of flap survival by measuring the necrotic areas at 3rd, 7th, 10th, and 13th postoperative days. At that time, we intended to evaluate both effects on flap survival by preoperative and postoperative hyperbaric oxygen therapy. As a result, flap survival of non-treated diabetic group was 41% at 13th postoperative days. In diabetic groups with preoperative and postoperative hyperbaric oxygen therapy, flap survival were increased to 64.6% and 62.4% respectively. Diabetic groups with hyperbaric oxygen therapy have a tendency of meaningful decrement in blood glucose level. However, there were no meaningful differences between preoperative and postoperative hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has no effective correlations with body weight changes. We conclude that hyperbaric oxygen therapy has some useful effects on the survival of diabetic random skin flap.
Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Body Weight Changes ; Erythrocytes ; Foot Ulcer ; Hyperbaric Oxygenation* ; Metabolism ; Osteoradionecrosis ; Oxygen ; Pathology ; Rats* ; Rheology ; Skin Ulcer ; Skin* ; Surgery, Plastic ; Weight Gain ; Wound Healing

PURPOSE: To determine the plain film findings of acute neuropathic joint in diabetic foot. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Acute neuropathic joint in diabetic foot was considered when fragmentation of the articular ends of bone and subluxation of the affected joint developed within eight weeks after clinical onset of diabetic gangrene. Eight toes of six diabetics were satisfactory to our criteria. We analyzed plain radiographic findings of the affected joint and soft tissue, interval changes in follow-up radiographs, and deformities after healing. RESULTS: The time interval between clinical onset of gangrene and bone destruction ranged from 2 weeks to 4 weeks(mean 2.6 weeks). Plain radiographs showed fragmentation of the articular ends, subluxation, and soft tissue swelling of the metatarsophalangeal joint or interphalangeal joint. The significant feature of these patients was rapid progression of the lesions. Clinically, all patients had diabetic gangrene in affected toes, however, there was no evidence of osteomyelitis in our series. Amputation was done in 2 cases, and lesions in 3 of the remaining 4 cases were repaired spontaneously with regression of gangrene, leaving radiological residua such as pointed-end, tapered-end, and ball and socket deformity. CONCLUSION: Rapid disorganization of the joint with associated evidence of soft tissue gangrene in plain radiograph is believed to be valuable for the diagnosis of diabetic osteoarthropathy.
Amputation ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Diabetic Foot* ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gangrene ; Humans ; Joints* ; Metatarsophalangeal Joint ; Osteomyelitis ; Toes

In the abstract, case description and figure 2, the nomenclature of two mutations was misprinted because of misreading the cDNA nucleotide sequences.

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate and compare the embryonic developmental capacity and pregnancy rates in conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with ejaculated sperm or testicular sperm cycles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fertilization was examined in the following morning after IVF (group I), ICSI (group II) or TESE-ICSI cycles (group III). Fertilized oocytes were co-cultured with Vero cells until embryo transfer (ET). On day 2 and 5~7, grades of embryos (<4- or > or =4-cell) and blastocysts (BG1, 2, 3 or early) were evaluated. Clinical pregnancy rate was determined by detecting G-sac with transvaginal ultrasonogram. We analyzed the results bychi2 and Student's t-test and considered statistically significant when P value was less than 0.05. RESULTS: Fertilization rate was significantly higher (p<0.05) in group I (79.0+/-21.2%) than in group II and III (56.8+/-21.6% and 36.7+/-25.3%). Cleavage and blastulation rate of group I (95.8+/-13.8% and 59.5+/-25.3%) were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those of group III (83.4+/-18.6% and 40.4+/- 36.5%). Clinical pregnancy rate was significantly higher (p<0.05) in group I and II (40.7% and 41.7%) than that in group III (12.5%). No differences were found in the rates of multiple pregnancy and abortion among three groups. Embryonic implantation rate was higher in group I (15.1+/-20.2%, p<0.05) and II (14.7+/-20.6%, NS) than that in group III (5.1+/-15.6%). However, embryonic implantation rate was increased in ET with blastocyst(s) among three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Fertilized oocytes obtained from TESE-ICSI were harder to be successfully cultured to blastocyst stage for 5~7 days than that from IVF cycles. However, all blastocyst(s) ET increased the embryonic implantation rate equally in IVF, ICSI and TESE-ICSI cycles.
Blastocyst ; Embryo Transfer ; Embryonic Development* ; Embryonic Structures ; Female ; Fertilization ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Oocytes* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy, Multiple ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic* ; Spermatozoa ; Ultrasonography ; Vero Cells

A case of sacrococcygeal cystic teratoma in a 16 month-old female infant having suffered from urinary retention and severe constipation for 3 days was herein reported. Confirmative diagnosis was possible by barium enema and contrast media injection into cystic mass located in the presacrococcygeal region. Successful removal of the cystic teratoma with the patient in a prone position was performed. Uneventful postoperative course followed.
Barium ; Constipation ; Contrast Media ; Diagnosis ; Enema ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Prone Position ; Teratoma* ; Urinary Retention

During the microsurgery or during the postoperative period, the occurrence of the vascular spasm increases the failure rate of microvascular anastomosis,and in cases of trauma, the thrombogenic possibility is increased by the endothelial damage. The author thought that the vascular freezing of crushed vessels could improve the patency rate of microvascular anastomosis. Vascular freezing destroys most of the cells in the intima and media. There by causing degeneration of adrenergic fibers. Even though regeneration occurs after 2-3 weeks, regeneration in the smooth muscle layer is still incomplete. So vascular freezing has beneficial effects on relief of vasospasm. Fifteen Sprague-Dawley rats weighing approximately 300 g each were inflicted with crushing injury on the femoral arteries of the right side and the crushing injury with vascular freezing on the femoral arteries of the left side. The gross and histologic findings, as well as the patency rates, were observed at the postoperative 2nd, 10th, and 30th day,and the results were compared between the crushed and crush-freezing groups. The left side (crush-freezing group) showed less vasospasm and less thrombogenesis than the right side (crushed group). There were no significant differences in the patency rate between the crushed group and crush-freezing group. Vascular freezing is suggested to be effective on a potentially thrombogenic, endothelial damaged vessel as a prophylactic treatment method against vasospasm. Clinical application of vascular freezing awaits further experimentation.
Adrenergic Fibers ; Endothelium* ; Femoral Artery ; Freezing* ; Microsurgery ; Muscle, Smooth ; Postoperative Period ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Regeneration ; Spasm

Traumatic ventricular septal defect secondary to nonpenetrating chest trauma is very rare. We present one case of nonpenetrating traumatic ventricular septal defect with the review of the literatures.
Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular* ; Thorax*

No abstract available.
Endodermal Sinus Tumor* ; Lung* ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Yolk Sac*

Scalp extension involves the continuous nonvolumetric expansion of the hair-bearing scalp, via biologic creep, using implanted surgical device consists of cutting a 5 cm wide strip of plain silastic (0.02 inch thick) from a larger 16x8 inch sheet, then gluing dacron-reinforced silastic strip (5x1 cm, 0.015 inch thich) to the distal ends. A stainless steel plate from hooks is then secured to each end of the extender. During the period from March 1996 to September 1997, 21 patients including 16 patients of male pattern baldness were treated for alopecia of the scalp using internal scalp extender in the department of plastic surgery Korea university hospital. All cases were successfully reconstructed without major complications. It not only reduces the number of scalp reductions and time necessary to totally excise bald vertex scalp, but also appears to decrease the amounts of stretch back and atrophic scarring that may accompany some reductions. Scalp extension appears to be a useful adjunctive technique in hair replacement and reconstructive surgery, and has distinct advantages over standard scalp reduction and tissue expansion techniques.
Alopecia* ; Cicatrix ; Hair* ; Humans ; Korea ; Male* ; Scalp* ; Stainless Steel ; Surgery, Plastic ; Tissue Expansion