OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate effect of patient age amenorrhea duration, motivation, purpose, regimen, side effect on compliance to hormonal replacement therapy(HRT). METHODS: Compliance to HRT was assessed in 86 postmenopausal women who began HRT in the Shin ob & gyn clinic. Fifty six women who had intact uterus received continuous combined therapy with 2 mg of Estradiol hemihydrate and 1mg of Norethinsterone acetate. Thirty women who were hysterectomized received only 0.625mg of conjugated equaine estrogen(premarin) RESULT: A total of 34(39.9%) women reported that they continued HRT at least for one year. Continuation of HRT was significantly more common among women who started HRT because of reconmendation by gyneocologist after hystectomy for improvement sexual function(p<0.05), A greater percentage of women who received only premarin without uterus continuous combined therapy(p<0.05) Duration of amenorrhea, reason for taking HRT and side effect such as irregular bleeding or breast tenderness were not related to the continuation of HRT. CONCLUSION: Education of menopausal women about the improvement of sexual function/ risk and side effect of HRT may be critical in improving compliance.
Amenorrhea ; Breast ; Compliance* ; Education ; Estradiol ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Motivation ; Postmenopause* ; Uterus

No abstract available.
Hemorrhoids*

BACKGROUND: Recently developed electrically stimulated gracilis neosphicter or artificial sphincter is quite a promising trial in fecal incontinence However, surgical technique is not simple, the devices are expensive and only specialists can perform the procedures successfully. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a newly developed simple silicon device in incontinent dog model. METHODS: A New Colostomy Device (NCD; US Patent No. 5,569,216) for fixing in the stoma or rectum of human body, includes an internal balloon, a ring figured extemal balloon surrounding the internal balloon, a connecting tube disposed under the both infernal and external balloons and supply tube containing a pair of air passages and an enema fluid passage. It is designed to be inserted into the rectum and is held in place by an inflatable external balloon and drains irrigated fecal matter through a thin collapsible connecting tube which exist in the anal canal. Six mongrel dog with 22~26 kg of body weight were prepared. Anal incontinence was made by bilateral severing of the internal and external sphincters and puborectalis muscle under the general anesthesia. Marlex mesh ring was applied to the anal canal as Thiersch wire for the prevention of NCD expulsion in straining. After then, NCD with 2.5 cm of luminal diameter was inserted to the rectum proximal to the Malex mesh ring. Daily irrigation and evacuation was done with 800~1000 cc of tepid water in each dogs. Daily food contained 30 gm of Psyllium dextrose. RESULTS: Initially 6 dogs were observed for 7 days. Daily irrigation made evacuation of fecal matter well in each dogs. There was no prolapse of device through the anal orifice. Anoscopic examination after 7 days showed no rectal and anal mucosal injury. Two dogs were kept for 40 days as same manner. Sometimes spontaneous bowel movement without water irrigation was noted when the stool were loose. Weelky anoscopic examination revealed no evidence of mucosal injuries for 40 days also. There was no septic or other complication. CONCLUSION: NCD evacuated fecal matter well enough to empty the rectum in all incontinence dog model. Adequate sized NCD could be used for clinical trials in selected incontinence patients.
Anal Canal ; Anesthesia, General ; Animals ; Body Weight ; Colostomy* ; Dogs* ; Enema ; Fecal Incontinence ; Glucose ; Human Body ; Humans ; Phenobarbital ; Polypropylenes ; Prolapse ; Psyllium ; Rectum ; Silicones ; Specialization ; Water

Sacral pressure sores have been treated by a variety of surgical methods. complete treatment needs wide excision and coverage with healthy tissue which has constant and sufficient blood supply. Use of gluteus maximus muscle flap with or without overlying skin is a revolutionary method because of the reliability of blood supply. However, it is technically a little bit complicated, and future reconstruction for recurrent decubitus is especially limited in paraplegic patients. The development of gluteal perforator-based flap with para-sacral perforator introduce a new treatment modality for the sacral pressure sores. Total 10 cases of sacral pressure sores were treated with gluteal perforator-based flap. There were minimal postoperative complications except wound dehiscence in one case. This flap has a many advantage of no transection or sacrifice of the gluteus maximus muscle, elevation time for the flap is short, reliable blood flow of the perforator, large rotation arc and no post-operative hindrance to walking in patients who are not paraplegic. The disadvantages of this perforator-based flaps are the anatomical variation in the location of perforators and the need for technically careful dissection.
Humans ; Postoperative Complications ; Pressure Ulcer* ; Skin ; Walking ; Wounds and Injuries

Virus associated hemophagocytic syndrome, class ll histiocytoses, characterized by high fever, severe constitutional symptoms, abnormal liver function and coagulation, perigheral blood pancytopenia and histiocytic hyperplasis with prominent hemophagocytosis in bone marrow and lymph nodes has been reported and associated with active viral infection. It is non-malignant and reversible. It must be differentiated from histiocytic medullary reticulosis because of the inappopriateness of immunosuppressive of cytotozic therapy which is the therapeutic method for HMR, but is contraindicated in the treatment of VAHS. This paper describes two patients whose clinicopathology was compatible with the diagnosis of virus associated hemophagocytic syndrome.
Bone Marrow ; Diagnosis ; Fever ; Histiocytosis ; Humans ; Liver ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic* ; Pancytopenia

PURPOSE: Recently developed BMS(TM) (Zassi Bowel Management System(TM): Hollister Inc., Illinois, USA) can provide effective nonsurgical fecal diversion without the risks associated with colostomy creation and subsequent closure. Our aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of the BMS in diverting feces from the perianal wide surgical wound in patients with Fournier's gangrene. METHODS: BMS(TM) was applied in five patients (male: 2, median age; 44) with Fournier's gangrene from January 2000 to September 2001. The treatments consist of three times a day wound dressing after wide surgical debridement and intravenous antibiotic therapy. For evacuation of feces, twice daily warm saline irrigation was administered via BMS(TM) or low daily doses of polyethylene glycol solutions were orally taken in. An endoscopic and anorectal manometric study was done to evaluate possible mucosal complications and anorectal functional changes. RESULTS: The average duration of the BMS application was 41 (range, 22~63) days. The result of a manometric study after immediate removal of the BMS(TM) showed a decreased mean resting pressure (range: 22~36 mmHg) and a decreased mean squeezing pressure (range: 32~39 mmHg). After 3 days, the sphincter pressure had improved markedly: mean resting pressures of 38, 45, 60, and 63 mmHg and mean squeezing pressure of 78, 89, 91, and 101 mmHg respectively. Fecal incontience was not noted in any patient. Other possible mucosal complications were not noted. There were no mortalit. CONCLUSIONS: BMS(TM) application in Fournier's gangrene patients after surgery successfully avoids a defunctioning colostomy. Furthermore, no significant complications were noted over a prolonged period up to 63 days.
Bandages ; Colostomy ; Debridement ; Fasciitis, Necrotizing ; Feces ; Fournier Gangrene ; Humans ; Illinois ; Polyethylene Glycols

In order to investigate causative mechanisms of optic neuropathy, retrospective clinical studies including ophthalmologic examination, imaging study, and molecular biologic analyses were performed on 322 patients with optic neuropathy. The causes include hereditary optic neuropathy(71 patients, 22.1%), optic neuritis(66 patients, 20.5%), traumatic optic neuropathy(40 patients, 12.5%), ischemic optic neuropathy(35 patients, 10.9%), compressive optic neuropathy(31 patients, 9.6%), toxic optic neuropathy(23 patients, 7.1%), etc. In 29 patients of bilateral optic atrophy and 18 patients of unilateral optic atrophy, the causative mechanism was not clear. In conclusion, hereditary optic neuropathy was the most common causative mechanism of optic neuropathy in this study. The importance of meticulous history taking and molecular biologic test should be stressed in differential diagnosis of optic neuropathy.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Optic Atrophy ; Optic Nerve Diseases* ; Optic Nerve Injuries ; Optic Neuritis ; Retrospective Studies

In order to investigate causative mechanisms of optic neuropathy, retrospective clinical studies including ophthalmologic examination, imaging study, and molecular biologic analyses were performed on 322 patients with optic neuropathy. The causes include hereditary optic neuropathy(71 patients, 22.1%), optic neuritis(66 patients, 20.5%), traumatic optic neuropathy(40 patients, 12.5%), ischemic optic neuropathy(35 patients, 10.9%), compressive optic neuropathy(31 patients, 9.6%), toxic optic neuropathy(23 patients, 7.1%), etc. In 29 patients of bilateral optic atrophy and 18 patients of unilateral optic atrophy, the causative mechanism was not clear. In conclusion, hereditary optic neuropathy was the most common causative mechanism of optic neuropathy in this study. The importance of meticulous history taking and molecular biologic test should be stressed in differential diagnosis of optic neuropathy.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Optic Atrophy ; Optic Nerve Diseases* ; Optic Nerve Injuries ; Optic Neuritis ; Retrospective Studies

Septic arthritis caused by Klebsiella pneumonia in adults is rare and is rarely observed after total knee arthroplasty. Acute or early onset of septic arthritis caused by K. pneumoniae has been reported after total knee arthroplasty. However, to date the only one overseas case of late K. pneumoniae infection after total knee arthroplasty has been reported, with no such case in Korea. In addition, monomicrobial infections by K. pneumoniae are not frequently found but are found primarily in the form of polymicrobial infections. The purpose of this paper is to report on a case in which an 85-year-old female patient, who had undergone a total joint arthroplasty 11 years ago, developed the late onset of septic arthritis caused by monomicrobial K. pneumonia infection with a periprosthetic fracture through literature reviews.
Adult ; Aged, 80 and over ; Arthritis, Infectious ; Arthroplasty* ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Coinfection ; Female ; Humans ; Joints ; Klebsiella pneumoniae* ; Klebsiella* ; Knee* ; Korea ; Periprosthetic Fractures* ; Pneumonia

PURPOSE: The most common site of metastases in colorectal cancer (CRC) is the liver, and the second common site is the lung (10-20%). Preoperative staging for CRC is very important. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of chest computed tomography (CT) for preoperative staging in CRC. METHODS: From January 2006 to December 2007, a total of 597 patients with colorectal cancer underwent surgery at our hospital. One hundred fifty of those patients had received chest CT preoperatively. We analyzed the chest radiologic findings from chest x-ray (CXR), abdominal CT, and chest CT. RESULTS: The detection rate of abnormal lung findings was higher in chest CT than in the other chest radiologic findings (chest PA: 10 [6.6%]; abdominal CT: 19 [12.7%]; chest CT: 48 [32.0%]). On the chest CT, 19 of the 150 (12.7%) patients that had received a chest CT preoperatively were initially suspected of having malignant lesions. Besides two primary lung malignancies (solitary nodules), metastatic lesions were revealed in 5 (3.3%), 11 (7.3%), and 17 (11.3%) patients on CXR, abdominal CT, and chest CT, respectively. Eleven (64.7%) of the patients having metastatic chest CT lesions were also identified on lower lung fields by abdominal CT. Seven also had other metastatic foci (liver and paraaortic LN). Initially, stage IV was identified in 37 (24.7%) and 40 (26.7%) patients in abdominal CT and chest CT, respectively. After one year, 11 of the 150 (7.3%) patients who had received a chest CT had been diagnosed with pulmonary metastasis. CONCLUSION: Chest computed tomography is the most sensitive method for the diagnosis of pulmonary metastases. However, if the interpretations of abdominal CT and individualized diagnostic methods are accurate, the demand for unnecessary preoperative work-up may be reduced.
Colorectal Neoplasms ; Humans ; Liver ; Lung ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Thorax