As radiation is irradiated from various directions in intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), longer treatment time than conventional treatment method is taken. In case of the patients who have problem to keep same posture for long time because of pain and injury, reducing treatment time through increased dose rate is a way for effective treatment. This study measured and found out the variation of dose and dose distribution in accordance with dose rate variation. IMRT treatment plan was set up to investigate from 5 directions - 0degrees, 72degrees, 144degrees, 216degrees, 288degrees - using ECLIPSE system (Varian, SomaVision 6.5, USA). To confirm dose and dose rate in accordance with dose rate variation, dose rate was set up as 100, 300, 500 MU/min, and dose and dose distribution were measured using ionization chamber (PTW, TN31014) and film dosimeter (EDR2, Kodak). At this time, film dosimeter was inserted into acrylic phantom, then installed to run parallel with beam's irradiating direction, 21EX-S (Varian, USA) was utilized as linear accelerator for irradiation. The measured film dosimeter was analyzed using VXR-16 (Vidar System Corporation) to confirm dose distribution.
Humans ; Particle Accelerators ; Posture

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies demonstrated that soluble tumor DNA is found in the plasma of cancer patients, and some microsatellite alteration have been identified in ovarian carcinoma. The aim of study was to detect microsatellite abnormalities in the plasma of patients with ovarian carcinoma and to evaluate their efficacy as molecular screening or diagnostic tool for ovarian cancer. METHODS: In fifteen ovarian carcinoma patients, DNA was extracted from the plasma samples and microsatellite analysis was done with 11 microsatellite markers. RESULTS: All fifteen cases showed at least one tumor specific alteration in microsatellite analysis. The frequency of genetic alteration varies from 14.2% to 85.7%. Highly frequent tumor specfic alteration markers are D18S69 (85.7%), D10S215 (69.2%), D16S504 (66.7%), D8SNEFL (62.5%) and D11S1340 (60.0%). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the mutation of tumor DNA can be detected in plasma of patients with ovarian carcinoma. LOH is more frequent event and the frequency of genetic alteration is relatively higher than that of previous reports.
DNA ; Humans ; Loss of Heterozygosity* ; Mass Screening ; Microsatellite Instability ; Microsatellite Repeats* ; Ovarian Neoplasms* ; Plasma*

PURPOSE: We report clinical and radiologic outcomes after metacarpal extension osteotomy for mild osteoarthritis of the thumb carpometacarpal joint. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1999 to 2008, 11 patients were diagnosed with mild thumb carpometacarpal arthritis (Eaton stage I, II), and extension osteotomies were performed. Of these, seven patients with at least 6 years follow-up were analyzed retrospectively. Male to female ratio was 2:5, and mean age at time of surgery was 38.9 years old. Symptom onset period was a mean of 11.2 months. Two patients were I, and five patients were II in Eaton stage. Preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) and disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand scale (DASH) scores were 3.7 points (3-4 points), and 40.1 points (32-51 points). Radial abduction was 38.5degrees (30degrees-45degrees), and volar abduction was 42.1degrees (40degrees-45degrees). Grip strengths and pinch powers, compared with the normal contralateral side were 82% (64%-90%) and 72% (40%-100%), respectively. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 8.5 years, and all patients except one maintained their occupational activity during the follow-up period. Final VAS and DASH scores were 0.7 points (0-2 points) and 11.7 points (8-16 points), respectively, and were statistically significant. Volar abduction, grip strengths, and pinch power were improved to 45degrees (40degrees-50degrees), 92.3% (73%-117%), and 94.4% (75%-117%) with statistical significances. In five patients, Eaton stages did not change, and two patients advanced to the next stage (stage I to II in one patient, stage II to III in one patient). CONCLUSION: Among the various treatment options for mild thumb carpometacarpal arthritis, metacarpal extension osteotomy may be considered as an effective treatment.
Arm ; Arthritis* ; Carpometacarpal Joints ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Male ; Osteoarthritis ; Osteotomy* ; Retrospective Studies* ; Shoulder ; Thumb*

An association study with Korean alcoholic patients(n=50) and normal controls(n=53) was performed to find the relationship between catechol-O-methyltransferase(COMT) gene polymorphism and alcoholism using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. When we compared the allele and genotype frequencies of Nla III COMT gene polymorphism in alcoholism and normal controls, there was no significant difference between two groups. Our results do not support an association between the Nla III polymorphism of COMT gene and alcoholism.
Alcoholics ; Alcoholism* ; Alleles ; Genotype ; Humans

No abstract available.
Sensation* ; Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer*

PURPOSE: In the clinical field, the closing time of patent ductus arteriosus(PDA) varies among patients after indomethacin administration. We tried to predict it by analyzing related factors, and also by understanding what affects it. METHODS: Among 30 cases of PDA at the NICU, 24 cases(male 14 cases, female 10 cases) were selected. Fifteen cases closed early(within 36 hours) and 9 cases closed late(after 36 hours) after indomethacin administration, cases of surgical ligation were excluded. PDA was confirmed by echocardiography which was done in an hour after murmur was heard, and then indomethacin was administered. Every 6 hours, 2D echocardiography was done and minimum internal diameter of ductus was measured. The magnitude and direction were gauged by flow mapping of the color Doppler. Ductal closure time is defined when there is no ductal flow. RESULTS: The median of the patent time was 28 hours in the early closed group and 50 hours in the late closed group. There were no significant factors statistically between the two groups in perinatal factors. The clinical status and several factors of study population at indomethacin administration were also not significant. Whereas, there were statistical differences in ductal size between the two groups(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: When indomethacin is intravenously administered to treat the PDA, ductal size differed between the two groups. This ductal size, measured by echocardiography before indomethacin administration is an important factor in predicting the closing time of PDA.
Ductus Arteriosus, Patent* ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Indomethacin* ; Ligation

PURPOSE: The purpose of our investigation was to explore the natural course, and the factors that influence the natural course, in ostium secundum atrial septal defect(ASD) diagnosed within the first 4 weeks of life. METHODS: We studied patients with ASD diagnosed within the first 4 weeks of life during the period from September 1995 to September 1999 in our hospital. The diagnosis and measuring of the size of ASD was carried out by two-dimensional echocardiogram(2DE, Hewlett-Packard Sonos 2500 ) from subcostal long and short axis views. RESULTS:There were 61 patients - 29 males and 32 females. According to the size of their defects, we divided them into four groups; group A(less than 4 mm : 24 cases), group B(four mm- six mm : 27 cases), group C(six mm-eight mm : six cases), group D(more than eight mm : four cases). In groups A and B, 22 of 24 patients(91.7%) and 23 of 27 patients(85.2%) had each closed spontaneously. In group C, four of six patients had closed spontaneously. In group D, no patient had closed spontaneously and three of four patients had been closed surgically. There were significant differences in the rate of spontaneous closure between less than six mm group and more than six mm group in the size of the defect(P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the rate of spontaneous closure between ASD combined with simple cardiac defect and isolated secundum ASD. CONCLUSION: We conclude that defects smaller than six mm in diameter are very likely to close spontaneously.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial* ; Humans ; Male

PURPOSE: Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) have been proposed for controlling peritoneal seeding metastasis in some kinds of cancers, including those of colorectal origin, but their safety and oncological benefits are subjects of debate. We present our early experience with those procedures. METHODS: Data were retrospectively collected from all patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) and pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) treated using CRS and HIPEC at Yonsei Cancer Center between July 2014 and July 2015. Short-term outcomes and risk factors for postoperative complications were analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients with PC (n = 18) and PMP (n = 5) underwent CRS and HIPEC. Median follow-up and age were 2 months and 54 years, respectively. The median peritoneal carcinomatosis index score was 15, and CC0-1 was achieved in 78.3% of all patients. The median operation time and bleeding loss were 590 minutes and 570 mL, respectively. Grade-IIIa/grade-IIIb complications occurred in 4.3% (n = 1)/26.1% (n = 6) of the patients within 30 days postoperatively, and no 30-day mortalities were reported. Factors related to postoperative complications with CRS and HIPEC were number of organ resection (P = 0.013), longer operation time (P < 0.001), and amount of blood loss (P = 0.003). All patients treated with cetuximab for recurred colorectal cancer had grade-III postoperative complication. CONCLUSION: Our initial experience with CRS and HIPEC presented about 30% grade-III postoperative complications. Therefore, expert surgeons need to perform those procedures with great caution in selected patients who might benefit from it.
Carcinoma ; Cetuximab ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Cytoreduction Surgical Procedures ; Drug Therapy* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Mortality ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Postoperative Complications ; Pseudomyxoma Peritonei ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Surgeons

PURPOSE: The value of serum lipid in children after recovery of Kawasaki disease may be important because of the predilection of this disease for the coronary artery. METHODS: We measured serum high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides in 22 patients (mean age 38months, range 6 to 93 months) with Kawasaki disease during 10 days or less after onset and 2 months later after recovery. RESULTS: The level of serum HDL-cholesterol was depressed in the acute stage compaired with the level after recovery (33.6+/-15.2mg/dl vs. 54.8+/-8.3mg/dl, mean+/-S.D., p<0.05). Total cholesterol, triglycerides were normal during the acute stage (125.3+/-46.1mg/dl, 142.1+/-32.2mg/dl, respectively) and after recovery (147.4+/-35.5mg/dl, 130.6+/-74.9mg/dl, respectively). Echocardiography confirmed coronary aneurysm in 7 patients (31.8%) and otherwise, normal coronary figures (n=15). In the patients with coronary aneurysm, the level of serum total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol were 134.0+/-34.1mg/dl, 34.5+/-14.9mg/dl, respectively and in the patients without coronary aneurysm 147.7+/-36.7mg/dl, 29.5+/-12.8mg/dl, respectively. They showed no significant differences between two groups (p=0.5, p=0.43, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Significantly reduced HDL-cholesterol level, which is considered a risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis, is transient finding in the acute stage of Kawasaki disease and not associated with the incidence of coronary aneurysm. Further basic research is needed to elucidate the pathophysiology by which this abnormality is produced.
Child ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Coronary Aneurysm* ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lipoproteins ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Risk Factors ; Triglycerides

OBJECTIVE: It has been well known that alcohol can modulate several ligand-gated ion channel and voltage-gated ion channels. But the roles of alcohol in the autonomic neurons still remain unclear. In this study, thus we characterized the neuronal acetylcholine receptor (nnAChRs) and investigated the modulation of nnAChRs by ethanol (EtOH). METHODS: We used whole-cells which were acutely dissociated male rat major pelvic ganglion (MPG) neurons, and used gramicidin perforated patch clamp techniques. RESULTS: MPG neurons can be classified on the basis of the response of the soma membrane to depolarizing current pulses ; either tonic or phasic neurons. Sympathetic neurons expressing T-type Ca(2+) channels showed tonic firing pattern, while parasympathetic neurons lacking T-type Ca(2+) channels phasic firing to depolarizing current pulses. When hyperpolarizing currents were injected, sympathetic neurons produced post-anodal rebound spikes, while parasympathetic neurons were silent. Under current clamp mode, Acetylcholine (ACh) evoked significant membrane depolarization and produced subsequently marked membrane hyperporization. Under whole-cell mode, application of ACh-induced inward currents held at holding potentials below 0 mV and reversal potential was close to 0 mV, an equilibrium potential of nonselective cation channel. The ACh-activated current was blocked by methyllycaconitine (MLA ; 10 micrometer), hexamethonium (100 micrometer) and alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-BuTx ; 100 nM), nAChRs antagonists. EtOH (40 mM) potentiated ACh-induced depolarization and hyperpolarization. EtOH also increased both alpha-BuTx-sensitive and -insensitive ACh-activated currents. Futhermore, EtOH potentiated 5-HT-activated current but had a little effect on GABA-activated current. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that EtOH modulates nnAChRs and 5-HT receptors in MPG neurons.
Acetylcholine ; Animals ; Bungarotoxins ; Carisoprodol ; Ethanol ; Fires ; Ganglia, Autonomic ; Ganglion Cysts ; Gramicidin ; Hexamethonium ; Humans ; Ion Channels ; Male ; Membranes ; Neurons ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Rats ; Receptors, Nicotinic* ; Receptors, Serotonin