OBJECTIVE: Recently, we have demonstrated that embryonic ventral spinal cord motor neurons(ESMNs), transplanted into the distal stump of the axotomized tibial nerve, can grow into the denervated gastrocnemius muscle and form neuromuscular junctions. Our interest in study was to see whether these newly formed neuronal connections are physiologically active, and to electrophysiologically characterize the reinnervated motor units. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Three to eight weeks after transplantation rats were prepared for electrophysiological recording. Motor unit (MU) action potential and gross EMG were monitored. In eleven out of sixteen transplanted animals single unit and gross EMG were recorded after electrical stimulation of the transplant site. Total of 63 motor units were analyzed for their stimulus threshold (ST), latency and stimulus intensity, which is required to produce maximum firing. RESULTS: ST intensities activating MUs were significantly higher in transplanted animals than in controls. Maximum firing of MUs occurred at less than 1.2×T in the control but greater variation was observed in the transplanted animals ranging from 1.1×T to 1.6×T. No significant differences were found in the latencies of MU's firing following stimulation. MU firing was reversibly blocked by infusion of succinylcholine. CONCLUSION: we characterized the temporal, morphological and electrophysiological parameters of denervated skeletal muscle reinnervated by dissociated grafts of embryonic ventral spinal cord cells. MUs reinnervated by the embryonic motoneuronal transplant were physiologically active, with some properties similar to the MUs of the normal.
Action Potentials ; Animals ; Electric Stimulation ; Fires ; Mice ; Motor Neurons ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Neuromuscular Junction ; Neurons ; Rats ; Spinal Cord ; Succinylcholine ; Tibial Nerve ; Transplants

Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor or Brenner tumor is a relatively rare ovarian tumor. Other associated elements in the form of epithelial, mesenchymal, and tumor components of each tumor have been reported. The Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor with a Brenner tumor element has not been documented in the literature, so we are reporting on a case of Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor coexisting with a Brenner tumor. This 62-year-old woman presented with a 4 year history of lower abdominal mass and vaginal bleeding. Exploratory laparotomy was done. The left ovary showed a multiseptated, cystic, yellow-white solid mass, measuring 17.0x13.0x5.0 cm and weighing 985.0 gm. Microscopic examination revealed a tubular or trabecular arrangement of the Sertoli cells and variable numbers of Leydig cells. There were several tumor nests with cystic spaces composed of ovoid cells showing longitudinal nuclear grooving. Sarcomatoid or heterologous elements were not found.
Female ; Humans

Pulmonary metastasis occurs frequently in patients with gestational choriocarcinoma and most of these patients achieve remission with chemotherapy alone. Thus, the indications for surgical intervention are limited, but in appropriately selected patients, resection of a chemotherapy-resistant lung lesion can be curative. We have experienced that pulmonary metastatic choriocarcinoma in a drug-resistant patient was cured by pulmonary resection. So we report this case with a brief review of literatures.
Choriocarcinoma* ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pregnancy

The liposculpting has become one of the most popular aesthetic operations. Lipomatic(R) technique was recently developed for solving several problems. The principle of operation is the prepagation of oscillation wave energy created by compressed air to the cannula, so that it can dislodge only the fat globules. So they can be more easily extracted from the body through the tube in shorter time. In this study, 48 cases of liposuction using Lipomatic(R) were performed from March, 2001 to March, 2003 in Bundang CHA hospital. We compared the preoperative amount of hemoglobin, circumference of each area and weights with postoperative results. Furthermore, we measured the amount of infiltration solution and aspirated fat. The average of infiltrated and aspirated volume were 2241 ml and 1935 ml, respectively. The average decrease in hemoglobin value was 0.8 mg/dl. The mean weight loss was 0.9 kg. The average decrease in circumference was 9.6 cm in abdomen, 4.6 cm in thigh, 3.6 cm in upper arm and 3.5 cm in calf, respectively. There were no serious side effects; the patients were nearly all satisfied with the result of good body contouring. The patients were benefited from the shorter operation time, less bleeding, less hematoma, less ecchymosis, less swelling and less pain compared with those who took the other methods in our experience. In addition, the operator was benefited from the shorter operation time, less physical effort and more accuracy. We conclude that Lipomatic(R) liposuction is effective, reliable and safe method compare with conventional liposuction methods.
Abdomen ; Arm ; Catheters ; Compressed Air ; Ecchymosis ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Lipectomy ; Physical Exertion ; Thigh ; Weight Loss ; Weights and Measures

No abstract available.
Animals ; Locomotion* ; Rats* ; Spinal Cord Injuries* ; Spinal Cord*

The purpose of this article is to present the authors experience that simple calculating method of fracture area in blow out fracture. Authors set up a hypothesis that fracture shape is a isosceles triangle, rectangle or diamond shape. It was enable easily to calculating of fracture area with 2D facial CT scan only. Enophthalmos and fracture area of 22 patients was made inspection. We verified our experimental results with student t-test. We first concluded that new simple calculating method is usful but, need further evaluations and patients.
Diamond ; Enophthalmos ; Humans ; Orbit* ; Orbital Fractures* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Classically autologous split-thickness skin graft or flap surgery has been applied to the case of full-thickness skin defects. However, simple skin graft causes postoperative adhesion and scar contracture, and flap surgery could cause functional and aesthetic trouble due to the scar at the donor site. It is well known that the thicker dermis is transplanted, the lesser adhesion and contracture can be resulted. In spite of all advantages, this thicker layer of dermis can also cause pain, infection, hypertrophic scar and delayed healing at the donor site. Two treatments have been developed and applied to solve the problems mentioned above: one is acellular dermal matrix(Alloderm(R)) and the other is Terumo(R) as a silicon coated artificial dermis on the complex of fiberized collagen from calf skin and athecollagen. In the conventional treatment, skin graft is executed when one layer of Terumo(R) or Alloderm(R) is covered and its survival is sure. This method, however, showed certain limits in the appliance: delayed healing time, longer period of hospitalization and limits of dermis supplying, etc. We have applied multi-layer coverage of these materials with simultaneous or delayed skin graft to shorten healing time and to achieve a better effect of dermis. Among those who need flap surgery because of soft tissue defect, or when severe depression or scar contracture can be expected after surgery, a total of 13 cases have been studied: 7 multilayer Alloderm(R) graft with simultaneous thin split-thickness skin graft, and 6 multilayerTerumo(R) graft with delayed skin graft. In all cases, transplants were successful without any difficulties in healing process: no delayed healing time, no functional deficit as contracture, no contour deformity as depression or hypertrophy.
Allografts* ; Cicatrix ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; Collagen ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Contracture ; Depression ; Dermis ; Hospitalization ; Humans* ; Hypertrophy ; Skin ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants

PURPOSE: To compare the characteristics of the intermittent exotropia patients with spontaneous regression to the surgically corrected group. METHODS: Twenty-five patients who had exodeviation of around 25 prism diopters (PD). Visual acuity and best corrected visual acuity were measured. The latter was obtained by using cycloplegic refraction. Far and near deviation angles were measured through alternating prism cover test. Stereo acuity was measured using a Titmus stereo acuity test chart and occlusion was performed for those who had more than 2 lines of difference between the best corrected visual acuity of the left and right eyes on the Snellen E chart. We divided the patients into two groups. The first group is the spontaneous regression group (SRG), who showed declining deviation angles and maintained less than 10 PD for more than 3 months. The second group is the surgically corrected group (SCG), showed the same or increasing deviation angle and underwent operation. RESULTS: There was no difference in the age or observation period between the two groups. The prevalence period was significantly higher in the SRG than in the SCG. The deviation angle from a distance at the first visit was not different for the SCG from that of the SRG. However, the deviation angle at near was significantly larger for the SCG than that of the SRG and increased at the last examination. Stereo acuity of the SRG was better than that of the SCG at the first visit. CONCLUSIONS: Deviation angle could be reduced in the mild intermittent exotropia patients with relatively small deviation angle at near or with good stereo acuity.
Exotropia* ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: This study is to determine the effects of botulinum toxin injection on patients who suffer from upper eyelid retraction caused by thyroid ophthalmopathy. METHODS: We injected 10-15 units botulinum toxin (Botox(R), Allergan, USA) on the upper tarsus of 12 eyes of 12 thyroid ophthalmopathy patients and compared duration of disease, clinical activity scores (CAS), intraocular pressures (mmHg), exophthalmometry (mm), upper eyelid retraction (mm), marginal reflex distance1 (MRD1, mm), levator function test (mm), lid lag (mm), limitation of ocular movement (mm), lid tension test results, phenylephrine test results, and orbital computed tomography results before and after the injection. RESULTS: The patient group with smaller-sized cross section of superior rectus/levator complex before the injection showed a greater decrease of upper eyelid retraction after the injection (p=0.04). Other clinical parameters showed no significant relations on the effect of the toxin injection. CONCLUSIONS: Botulinum toxin injection can have variable effects on the upper eyelid retraction of thyroid ophthalmopathy patients. The patients who had smaller volume of superior rectus/levator complex measured in orbital cross sections on CT, could expect good results after botulinum toxin injection.
Ankle ; Botulinum Toxins* ; Eyelids* ; Graves Ophthalmopathy* ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Orbit ; Phenylephrine ; Reflex ; Thyroid Gland

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of mast cell and histamine as typical product of mast cell in ischemia-reperfusion injury of muscle flap using H2 receptor blocker and mast cell stabilizer. METHODS: Thirty-five Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250-300 gm were divided into four groups; Group I: Control group without ischemia, Group II: Normal saline injection group with ischemia, Group III: Cimetidine injection group with ischemia, Group IV: Sodium cromoglycate injection group with ischemia. Well established single pedicled transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous(TRAM) flap was designed in all rats and were rendered ischemia by clamping the artery for 150 minutes. All injections were applied intramuscular around gluteal area 30 minutes before reperfusion. The flap survival was evaluated at 7 days after operation. Neutrophil counts and mast cell counts were evaluated 24 hours after reperfusion. RESULTS: The difference of skin flap survival between control group and cimetidine injection group was not significant. In the normal saline injection group flap survival was markedly decreased compared to that of control group. The muscle flap survival was similar to the results of skin flap survival. The neutrophil counts were significantly decreased in control group and sodium cromoglycate injection group than normal saline injection group. The mast cell counts were significantly decreased in cimetidine injection group and control group than both normal saline injection and sodium cromoglycate injection groups. The protective effect of sodium cromoglycate was not seen in the skin flap, but the muscle flaps showed protective effects of sodium cromoglycate compared to normal saline injection group. CONCLUSION: It is suggests that commonly used antihistamine(H2 receptor blocker) has protective effect against ischemia-reperfusion injury to skin and muscle flaps by reducing neutrophil and mast cell. The mast cell stabilizer was not effective for skin flap but, possibly, for muscle flap.
Animals ; Arteries ; Cimetidine ; Constriction ; Cromolyn Sodium ; Histamine ; Ischemia ; Mast Cells* ; Neutrophils ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rectus Abdominis ; Reperfusion ; Reperfusion Injury* ; Skin