Tissue transplantation is a modern medical technology which develops rapidly and raises many ethical, legal, and political issues. In Korea, many tissue transplantations are performed and many tissue banks seem to be managed. However, there are no legal regulations and standards which control these behaviors. When we discuss tissue transplantations and tissue banking, the safety of tissues, the respect for donors' autonomy, the proper operation of the tissue bank, and the fair distribution of the tissues must be taken into account. And the autonomic regulation by medical professionals must be considered. An Act that controls tissue transplantation and tissue banking must be established, and must be enforced. The Act must be in harmony with the autonomic regulation by medical professionals. The practices that may pose severe risk to human body or threat to human life must be banned, and persons who perform this kind of practices must be punished. However, if the practices remain within the acceptable range, medical professionals can do their practices legally.
Human Body ; Humans ; Korea ; Social Control, Formal ; Tissue Banks* ; Tissue Transplantation ; Transplants

The systolic time intervals and hemodynamics were measured in 10 cases of acute anemia and 28 cases of chronic anemia. The measurment was done by non invasive technique, i.e., simultaneous recording of ECG, PCG and carotid and femoral pulse tracing with paper speed 100mm/sec. Compared with healthy persons chronic anemia showed significant reduction of the systolic time intervals except QS1, but the systolic time intervals were unaltered when they were corrected by pulse rate, diastolic pressure and stroke volume. Acute anemia showed decreased of the systolic time intervals except QS1 also the decrease of isovolumic contraction time(ICT) and QS2 when corrected as above. The preejection period(PEP)/left ventricular ejection time(LVET) ratio were not altered. ICT, PEP and PEP/LVET ratio decreased in proportion to the levels of hemoglobin. The heart rate, stroke volume and cardiac output showed significant increase in chronic anemia but mild incease in acute one. The decrease of diastolic pressures and peripheral resistances were more pronounced in chronic anemia than in acute one.
Anemia* ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiac Output ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Stroke Volume ; Systole*

No abstract available.
Drainage* ; Lung Abscess* ; Lung* ; Pneumothorax* ; Suppuration*

BACKGROUND: A fully automated enzyme-immunoassay (EIA) analyzer, Enzymun System, ES-300 (Boehringer Mannheim, Germany) uses streptavidin technology and performs single test or panels of up to 12 tests per run. We evaluated the results of ES-300 for anti-HCV by comparing the results with microplate-EIA, radioimmunoassay (RIA), and confirmatory test. METHODS: Total 79 sera (51 positive, 24 negative, 4 indeterminate results confirmed by Lucky HCD Confirm) were analysed. ES-300 with Enzymun-Test(R) Anti-HCV (Boehringer Mannheim, Germany) and microplate-EIA (Green Cross Center Innotest HCV 3.0(R)) were used. Fifty one sera were examined additionally by 2nd-generation RIA method, NANBDINE 125C(General Biologicals Corp., R.O.C.). And all results were compared to the results of Lucky HCD Confirm. RESULTS: The overall concordance rate of ES-300 and Innotest(R) was 72/79 (91.1%). The results of Lucky HCD Confirm on seven discrepant samples were five negative and two indeterminate. The results of ES-300 and NANBDINE 125C showed concordance rate of 90.2%. The sensitivity and specificity of ES-300 with regard to Lucky HCD Confirm were 94.5%, and 87.5%, respectively, and that of Innotest(R) were 98.2% and 66.7%, respectively. Clear distinction of positive and negative results by signal/cut off ratio was available in both EIAs. The positive predictive values of ES-300 and Innotest(R) were 94.5%, and 87.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: ES-300 showed relatively good results in sensitivity and positive predictive value with regard to confirmatory test. In EIA-positive persons, however, follow-up study would be necessary for reliable evaluation of HCV infection.
Humans ; Radioimmunoassay ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Streptavidin

No abstract available.
Humans ; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia*

BACKGROUND: It has been a standard practice in many institutions to combine light general anesthesia with epidural block for abdominal and pelvic surgery. We attempted to prove the effectiveness of prehydration and to find an suitable epidural local anesthetic dose in terms of hemodynamic stability for upper abdominal surgery. METHODS: For preliminary studies, 11 patients scheduled for elective upper abdominal surgery had received general anesthesia immediately after epidural anesthesia. After epidural injection of 10~16 mL of 2% plain lidocaine into the T9~10 intervertebral space, the changes in blood pressure were observed. Thirty-two patients scheduled for elective upper abdominal surgery were divided into two groups. In group A (study group), after prehydration with Hartmann solution (10 mL/kg), 5~7 mL of 2% plain lidocaine was injected into T8~9 or T9~10 intervertebral space and general anesthesia was then induced. Group B (control group) received general anesthesia only. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in hemodynamics between the epidural with general anesthesia and the control group except SVR (systemic vascular resistance). SVR in group A increased in contrast to the group B in which it remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: The combined epidural and general anesthesia, using prehydration and 0.5~1 mL/segment of 2% plain lidocaine at the T8~9 or T9~10 intervertebral space was safe without significant hemodynamic changes.
Anesthesia, Epidural ; Anesthesia, General* ; Blood Pressure ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Injections, Epidural ; Lidocaine

No abstract available.
Angiofibroma* ; Carbon Dioxide* ; Carbon* ; Lasers, Gas* ; Sirolimus* ; Tuberous Sclerosis*

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is an uncommon, locally aggressive fibroblastic tumor, characterized by infrequent metastasis and a marked tendency of local recurrence after excision. Histologically, it shows large uniformed spindle shaped cells arranged in a cartwheel or storiform pattern. We report a case of dermatoribrosarcoma protuberans on the lower abdomen of a man aged of thirty, treated with Mohs micrographic surgery and purse-string suture repair.
Abdomen ; Dermatofibrosarcoma* ; Fibroblasts ; Mohs Surgery* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence ; Sutures*

BACKGROUND: The prostaglandin E1(PGE1) is a well known protent dilator of arteriosus. Maintaining of the patency of ductus arteriosus is crucial for the survival of patients suffering from ductus-dependent cyanotic congenital heart disease. We aimed to analyse the efficacy and the influencing factors upon PGE1 in patients suffering from this disease. METHODS: Between May 1991 and April 1993, 26 neonates and infants with ductus- dependent cyanotic congenital heart disease received on intravenous infusion of PGE1 in the Division of Pediatric Cardiology. Yonsei Cardiovascular Center. The result was a dramatic improvement in systemic arterial oxygen tension and oxygen saturation during infusion of PGE1with a dependency on the infusion of PGE1. We evaluated the arterial blood gas analysis both at the immediate pre-infusion stage and 2 hours after infusion. We aimed to analyse the factors which may influence the intravenous of PGE1to infant suffers of ducts-dependent cyanotic congenital heart disease, such as pulmonary atresia(n=14), severe pulmonary stenosis(n=7) or complete transposition of the great arteries(n=5). RESULTS: 1) There was a significant increase in PaO2 and Oxygen saturation 2 hours after the infusion of PGE1. This appeared to be unrelated to the different forms of the disease when compared with the pre-infusion values. 2) The infants' responsiveness of the ductus arteriosus appeared to be age related with significant differences emerging between the 2 group(p<.05). In infants younger than 9 hours old, the differences in PaO2 changes between pre-infusion and post-infusion of PGE1 were 16.3+/-3.7mmHg compared to just 10.4+/-0.4mmHg in infants older than 96 hours. 3) No significant difference emerged between an increase in PaO2or oxygen saturation relating to the shape of ductus arteriosus ; or the level of PaO2prior to the infusion. 4) The side effects of PGE1were as follows ; fever(84.6%),loose stool(61.5%), apnea(30.8%) and hypotension(15.4%), etc.. CONCLUSION: PGE1provides excellent medical palliation for infants suffering from ductus-dependent cyanotic congenital heart disease until the pulmonary arteries are large enough for a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt ; or until corrective surgery is possible.
Alprostadil ; Blalock-Taussig Procedure ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Cardiology ; Ductus Arteriosus ; Heart Defects, Congenital* ; Humans ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Oxygen ; Pulmonary Artery

BACKGROUND: Asthma causes recurrent episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and cough. These symptoms are usually associated with widespread but variable airflow limitation that is partly reversible either spontaneously or with treatment. The inflammation also causes an associated increase in airway resposiveness to a variety of stimuli. METHOD: Of the 403 adult bronchial asthma patients enrolled from March 1992 to March 1994 in Allergy Clinics of Severance Hospital in Yonsei University, this study reviewed the 97 cases to evaluate the treatment effects and to analyse prognostic factors. The patients were classified to five groups according to treatment responses ; group 1 (non control group) : patients who were not controlled during following up, group 2 (high step treatment group) : patients who were controlled longer than 3 months by step 3 or 4 treatment of 'Global initiative for asthma, Global strategy for asthma management and prevention' (NHLBI/UNO) with PFR(%) larger than 8055, group 3 (short term control group) : patients who were controlled less than 1 year by step 1 or 2 treatment of NHLBI/WHO, group 4 (intermediate term control group) : patients who were controlled for more than 1 year but less than 2 years by step 1 or 2 treatment of NHLBI/HNO, group 5 (long term control group). patients who were controlled for more than 2 years by step 1 or 2 treatment of NHHI/WHO. Especially the patients who were controlled more than 1 year with negatively converted methacholine test and no eosinophil in sputum were classified to methacholine negative conversion group. We reviewed patients' history, atopy score, total IgE, specific IgE, methacholine PC2O and Peripheral blood eosinophil counts pulmonary function test steroid doses and aggrevation numbers after treatment. RESULTS: On analysis of 98 patients, 20 cases(20.6%) were classified to group 1, 26 cases(26.8%) to group 2, 23 cases(23.7%) to group 3, 15 cases(15.5%) to group 4, and 13 cases(13.4%) to groups 5. There were no differences of sex, asthma type, family history, smoking history, allergic rhinitis and aspirin allergy among the groups. In long term control group, asthma onset age was younger, symptom duration was shorter, and Initial pulmonary function was better. The long term control group required 1ower amounts of oral steroid, had less aggrevation during first 3months after starting treatment and shorter duration from enrollment to control. Atopy, allergic skin tests sputum and blood eosinophil, total IgE, nonspecific bronchial resposiveness was not significantly different among the groups. Seven out of 28 patients who were controlled more than 1 years showed negatively converted methachloine test and no eosinophils in the sputum. The mean control duration was 20.3α9.7 months and relapse did not occur. CONCLUSION: Patients who had asthma of onset age younger, shorter symptom duration better PFT, lower treatment initial steps, lower amounts of steroid needs and less aggravation numbers after starting treatment were classified in the long term control groups compared to the others.
Adult ; Age of Onset ; Aspirin ; Asthma* ; Cough ; Eosinophils ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Inflammation ; Methacholine Chloride ; Recurrence ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Respiratory Sounds ; Rhinitis ; Skin Tests ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Sputum ; Thorax