This study was designed to identify doxorubicin as a permanent chemomyectomy agent that overcomes reversible effect of botulinum toxin A. Doxorubicin was assessed for its ability to bring about a permanent chemomyectomy and the effects of pretreatment were observed to assess its ability to prevent any complications brought about by doxorubicin. A total of thirteen rabbits were assigned to the control group(n=3) and two experimental groups(n=5 for each group). To investigate the myopathic changes following the injections of the agent, both orbicularis oculi muscles of the lower eyelids of each rabbit in the control group were directly injected with single dose of 0.2ml normal saline. Group I were injected with 0.5mg/0.2ml of doxorubicin into the right eyelid and 1.0 mg/0.2 ml of doxorubicin into the left. Group II were given an intravenous injection of 35mg/kg of allopurinol as the pretreatment, then 30minutes later injected with 0.5mg/0.2ml of doxorubicin into the right and 1.0mg/ 0.2ml of doxorubicin into the left. The rabbits were examined daily to monitor the onset, duration and size of skin necrosis and histologically examined two and four months after initial injections. The myopathic change after doxorubicin injection was persistent and irreversible. The dose related effects of doxorubicin chemomyectomy were confirmed by the histologic finding. Skin necrosis occurred in all cases of doxorubicin injection(both 0.5mg and 1.0mg), however the allopurinol pretreatment decreased the size of the skin necrosis in case of the high dose(1.0mg) of doxorubicin. The combined use of allopurinol and doxorubicin reduced the myopathic change more effectively than doxorubicin use alone. Further study is needed to determine optimal dose and administration method, which we feel will contribute to safer and permanent chemomyectomy.
Allopurinol* ; Botulinum Toxins ; Doxorubicin* ; Eyelids ; Injections, Intravenous ; Muscles ; Necrosis ; Rabbits ; Skin

No abstract available.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Tamoxifen*

BACKGROUND: Hepatolithiasis is rarely associated with a cholangiocarcinoma and the etiologic relationship between them has not been proved. Hepatolithiasis is a risk factor for cholangiocarcinoma. Accurate preoperative diagnosis remains low, and the survival outcome is still dismal, despite improvements in imaging studies. METHODS: Eighteen cases of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas among the 522 cases undergoing treatments from Jan. 1984 to May 1998 for hepatolithiasis at the Department of Surgery, Kyung Hee University Hospital were reviewed. RESULTS: The patients had a significantly long duration of symptoms, a high incidence of previous biliary surgery, and a lower rate of preoperative diagnosis. The eighteen cases accounted for 3.4% of the hepatolithiasis cases and 8.5% of the cholangiocarcinomas. There were 17 women and 1 man, and the most prevalent age group was in the 5th and the 6th decades. HBsAg was positive in one case who had chronic hepatitis, 3 patients had clonorchiasis, and 2 patients had liver cirrhosis. CEA and CA19-9 were elevated in 42.9% (3/7) and 27.3% (3/11) of the patients. Various imaging studies, including ultrasonography, CT, choangiography, angiography, and ERCP were performed for diagnosis. The malignant lesions could not be detected preoperatively in 9 patients, and the presence of a coexisting malignant tumor was confirmed by frozen section or by permanent tissue pathology. The operative methods were as follows; a lobectomy in 4 patients, a segmentectomy in 4 patients, and a CBD resection for palliation or explo-laparotomy only in 4 patients because of multiple hepatic metastases. During the operation, the exact location of the stones and the gross pathology of the tumor were recorded in each case. The left side was more prevalent than the right. The mean survival was 15 months for resection group and 9 months for non resection group. CONCLUSIONS: The lower survival rates may be attributed to delayed diagnosis, lower diagnostic accuracy, and relatively fewer curative resections in the patients with stone-containing cholangiocarcinomas. Hepatolithiasis is one of the risk factors of a cholangiocarcinoma. During the diagnostic and operative procedures, we should not overlook a cholangiocarcinoma which can coexist with hepatolithiasis, and we should examine tumor markers, the results of imaging studies and tissue examinations, and the operative findings.
Angiography ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Cholangiocarcinoma* ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Clonorchiasis ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Frozen Sections ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pathology ; Risk Factors ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Survival Rate ; Ultrasonography

It was the late Chosun Dynasty and Daehan Empire era that Western Medicine has firstly been introduced to Korea, previously operating on a basis of Korean traditional medicine. Western Medicine has been introduced by American missionary and Japanese Imperialism. An introduction of Western Medicine made it feasible to proceed new type medical care including operation, leading to require a new form of medical facilities. In the beginning, new facilities were constructed by Japanese Imperialism. Other hand many of facilities including Severance Hospital were established by missionaries. First of all, Daehan Empire established and managed a modern type of medical facility named "Jejoongwon" in 1885 as a government institution hospital. The Red Cross Hospital built in 1889. Afterwards, Jejoongwon and the Red Cross Hospital were taken over to missionary hospital and Japanese Imperialism, respectively. Japanese Imperialists firstly have protected their nationals residing in Chosun but have proceeded care a few Chosun people to exploit medical treatment as a mean to advertise superiority of the Empire of Japan. The facility that has firstly been established and managed was Jeseang Hospital in Busan in 1877, leading to establish in Wonju, Wonsan, and Mokpo. Afterwards, Japan has organized "Donginhoi" as a civil invasion organization, leading for "Donginhoi" to established "Dongin Hospital" in Pyeongyang, Daegu, and Seoul. Since 1909, governmental leading medical facility named Jahye Hospital was established according to an imperial order, leading to establish 32 hospitals all over the nation. American missionaries have established and managed 28 hospitals started from Severance Hospital built in 1904. However, Chosun doctors started to having educated and opening up their own hospital since 1920, leading for many of medical facilities to be established, but most of them have taken different roles followed by 6.25 War and economic development period. However, some of them are currently under protection as cultural assets, and some of them are now preserved. Buildings have originally been structured of wood as a single story in the beginning, but bricks started to be steadily used, leading to build two story building. Each of clinic department started to be separated since 1920, establishing operation room and treatment room. Now, a change of perception as to buildings that need to be preserved and an attention from government and doctors are required since modern medical facilities keep disappearing.
Colonialism/*history ; History, 19th Century ; History, 20th Century ; Hospital Design and Construction/*history ; Hospitals/history ; Humans ; Missions and Missionaries/history

BACKGROUND: Peritonsillitis is a clinical condition of gross tonsillar infection in a septic patient with localized swelling in the peritonsillar region, and which encompasses both peritonsillar abscess and cellulitis. It is not rarely experienced in spite of decreasing incidence since the advent of antibiotic therapy. OBJECTIVES: Our objective was a clinical observation of many factors in relation to peritonsillitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A clinical observation was performed on 40 cases with peritonsillitis, who visited St. Benedict hospital during 3 years from February 1994 to March 1997. A needle aspiration was attempted at the point of maximum bulging using a 10cc syringe with an 18-gauge needle. RESULTS: Among 40 cases, 23 cases yielded pus. From those 23 cases, we could isolate 22 strains in 20 cases. Incision and drainage was performed only in cases of aspiration of pus(23 cases). There was no significant difference in duration of hospitalization between I & D group(7.17 days) and non-I & D group(6.71 days)(p>0.05). CONCLUSION: We conclude that I & D can't reduce the duration of hospitalization even though I & D is helpful for the relief of symptoms, and the adequate use of antibiotics is important for the treatment of peritonsillitis.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cellulitis ; Drainage ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Needles ; Peritonsillar Abscess ; Suppuration ; Syringes

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of transcatheter arterial embolization(TAE) in children with blunt splenicinjury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The results of transcatheter splenic arterial embolization in nine children whosuffered splenic injury after blunt abdominal trauma were retrospectively studied. This injury was demonstrated byCT, and the findings were evaluated according to the classification of Mirvis et al. ; two patients were grade 3and seven were grade 4. All were carefully observed in intensive care before embolization. TAE was performed if apatient satisfied the following criteria : (1) transfusion and/or fluid replacement required to maintainhemodynamic stability ; or (2) rapid Hb/Hct decrease ; or (3) both. Splenic function was subsequently estimatedaccording to the results of 99mTc-sulfur colloid scintigraphy and/or CT scanning. RESULT: TAE was suscessful inall nine children. Two were embolized with a coil only, three with gelfoam, and four with gelfoam and a coil.Seven were embolized in the main trunk of the splenic artery and others in both the main trunk and its branches.Splenic function was preserved in all nine children, during follow-up, none suffered rebleeding. CONCLUSION: TAEof the splenic artery can be a safe and effective nonsurgical approach to the management of blunt splenic injuryin children, and can preserve splenic function.
Child* ; Classification ; Colloids ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable ; Humans ; Critical Care ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Splenic Artery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: Oxytocin is associated with the ability to form normal social attachments. c-Fos is an immediate early gene whose expression is used as a marker for stimulus-induced changes in neurons. The effect of phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors on oxytocin activation in the brain without sexual stimuli has not yet been reported. In the present study, we investigated the effects of vardenafil on oxytocin and c-Fos expression in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of conscious rats. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 300+/-10 g were divided into 6 groups (n=5 in each group): the control group, the 1-day-0.5 mg/kg, the 1-day-1 mg/kg, the 1-day-2 mg/kg, the 3-day-1 mg/kg, and the 7-day-1 mg/kg vardenafil administration group. The experiment was conducted without sexual stimulation. Vardenafil was orally administered. The animals in the control group received an equivalent amount of distilled water orally. The expression of oxytocin and c-Fos in the PVN was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Oxytocin expression in the PVN was increased by 1 day administration of 2 mg/kg vardenafil, and this effect of vardenafil appeared in a duration-dependent manner. c-Fos in the oxytocin neurons of the PVN was increased by 1 day administration of 2 mg/kg vardenafil, and this effect of vardenafil also appeared in a duration-dependent manner. These results showed that vardenafil augments the expression of oxytocin with activation of oxytocin neurons in the PVN. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we showed that the PDE-5 inhibitor, vardenafil directly enhances oxytocin expression and also activates oxytocin neurons in the PVN, which indicates that vardenafil may exert positive effects on affiliation behavior and social interaction.
Animals ; Brain ; Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5 ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; Interpersonal Relations ; Male ; Neurons ; Oxytocin ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus ; Piperazines ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sulfones ; Triazines ; Water ; Vardenafil Dihydrochloride

BACKGROUND: Calcium is prescribed worldwide for patients diagnosed with osteoporosis. However, the national utilization of calcium and compliance with calcium is unclear in Korea. Our purpose is to evaluate Korea's national utilization of calcium and compliance with calcium in patients with osteoporotic hip fracture from 2007 to 2010 using data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment (HIRA) Service. METHODS: From 2007 to 2011, osteoporotic hip fractures were identified using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10) and procedure code form from the nationwide database of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Compliant users of calcium were defined as the patients' medication possession ratio of 80 or more. We analyzed the compliance of calcium according to age and gender. RESULTS: Among 85,228 patients with hip fracture, 20,800 patients (24.4%) received a prescription of a calcium supplement. Among them, only 1,692 patients (8.1%) were identified as compliant users of calcium. The proportion of compliant users was higher in women than men in all age groups. The proportion of compliant users decreased with age in women. CONCLUSIONS: In Korea, the national utilization of calcium was low and compliance with calcium was unsatisfactory even in patients with osteoporotic hip fracture.
Calcium* ; Compliance ; Female ; Hip Fractures ; Hip* ; Humans ; Insurance, Health ; International Classification of Diseases ; Korea* ; Male ; Osteoporosis ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; Prescriptions

BACKGROUND: Epidural analgesia is the most effective way of providing pain relief during labor.However, its effect on the second stage of labor is controversial.This study examined the effect of epidural analgesia combined with caudal analgesia on the second stage of labor. METHODS: Forty three multiparous women were divided into three groups, non-epidural group, epidural group and epidural with caudal group.Epidural analgesia was maintained with patient-controlled epidural analgesia (0.09375% ropivacaine with 0.0002% fentanyl) in both the epidural and epidural with caudal groups.The epidural with caudal group was injected with 0.09375% ropivacaine into the caudal epidural space after inserting the lumbar epidural catheter.The assessments made throughout labor included the visual analogue score (VAS), patient's satisfaction, motor block and duration of the second stage. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the patient's satisfaction, VAS and motor block between the epidural group and epidural with caudal group.There were no significant differences in the duration of the second stage between the non-epidural, epidural and epidural with caudal groups. No cesarean or instrumental deliveries were performed. CONCLUSIONS: Epidural with caudal analgesia offers no additional benefit during the second stage of labor.However, it carries no added risk on the maternal outcome.
Amides ; Analgesia ; Analgesia, Epidural ; Epidural Space ; Female ; Humans ; Labor Pain ; Pregnancy

We present a case of a primary retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenoma, which is a relatively rare tumor found exclusively in women. This tumor is difficult to correctly diagnose preoperatively. Although there is little published information regarding the CEA levels in the cystic fluid of cystic tumors arising in the retroperitoneum, a high CEA level in the cystic fluid is a useful diagnostic marker for a primary retroperitoneal mucinous tumor. The appropriate management of retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenomas is the total removal of the cyst. The retroperitoneal approach for retroperitoneal cystic tumors is useful, has a lower risk of traumatizing the bowel than the intra-abdominal approach, and does not require compression of the other organs. We report the successful resection of a retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenoma through the retroperitoneal approach.
Cystadenoma, Mucinous ; Female ; Humans ; Mucins