OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research is to survey the requirements of Oriental Medical Informatics, and to suggest a direction that Oriental Medical Informatics development may take. METHODS: Consumers and medical experts were randomly selected, and 14 uestions for consumers and 17 questions for medical experts were sent to respondents by mail and e-mail. RESULTS: Both consumers and medical experts were greatly concerned with the systemized dissemination of Oriental Medical Information, but they were not satisfied with it because of the perceived low quality of the information. Medical experts responded that they need standards and statistical evidences for Oriental Medicine. Consumers demanded good-quality information about diseases and health management. CONCLUSION: To carry out Oriental Medical Informatics, it is necessary to conduct a joint research between the sectors of Oriental Medicine and Information Technology, followed by the development of a standard information infrastructure. Oriental Medicine must also have standards in terms of medical data content, data format, and data communication, to ensure the reliability of the disseminated information on Oriental Medicine.
Surveys and Questionnaires ; Electronic Mail ; Joints ; Medical Informatics ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional* ; Postal Service

Uterine cervical cancer is one of the most common malignancies of the female genital tract.Most recurrent cases of uterine cervical cancer are diagnosed within two years after primary treatment, and late recurrence after a disease-free interval of more than five years is rare. In addition, peritoneal metastases usually present as multifocal discrete nodules in the peritoneal cavity with nodular or diffuse peritoneal thickening. Herein, we report an extremely rare case of late recurrent cervical cancer peritoneal metastasis with an unusual manifestation of a large, solitary necrotic mass in the right subphrenic space on contrast-enhanced CT.

Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a soft tissue sarcoma that originates from smooth muscle cells. It is commonly found in the uterus but can occur throughout the body, including the retroperitoneal space, abdominal cavity, and any vascular structure. Although there are many case reports of uterine or vascular LMS metastasizing to the heart, cardiac metastasis from nonvisceral lesions has only been reported in two cases. Herein we report a rare case of a patient presenting metastatic LMS from the left flank in the right ventricle observed with echocardiography and enhanced computed tomography.

PURPOSE: Recently, the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is increasing among patients with low urinary tract symtoms (LUTS) caused by benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). We assessed current usage and awareness of phytotherapy, the most ubiquitous CAM, in BPH/LUTS patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 204 patients with BPH who completed a questionnaire between January 2009 and December 2010 were enrolled. The questionnaire was composed of questions about age, education level, accompanying disease, type of phytotherapy, route of purchase, reason of taking medicine and whether the patient is using phytotherapy in combination with conventional medicine. RESULTS: The mean age was 55.5+/-8.7 years. 56 of the total patients (27.5%) were using phytotherapy. The patients who were accompanied with erectile dysfunction used phytotherapy the most. The most commonly used phytotherapy for prescription and health functional food was Saw palmetto. The most common route of purchase was by clinician's prescription (46.4%). Most patients answered the dissatisfaction of present treatment's effect as the main reason for using phytotherapy. The number of patients who were taking combination therapy of BPH medication and phytotherapy was much more than using phytotherapy alone. CONCLUSIONS: 27.5% of patients who had BPH/LUTS were using phytotherapy. This is the point of time for many urologists to acquire the knowledge of studies and latest research of phytotherapy and use it in treating patients with BPH/LUTS.
Complementary Therapies ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Functional Food ; Herbal Medicine ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Prescriptions ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urinary Tract

No abstract available.
Herpes Zoster* ; Herpesvirus 3, Human ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Zoster Sine Herpete*

Larger animal models, such as porcine, have been validated as appropriate models of the human disc with respect to biomechanics and biochemistry. They are advantageous for research as the models are relatively straightforward to prepare and easily obtainable for research to perform surgical techniques. The intention of this study was to quantitatively analyze gene expression for collagen and proteoglycan components of the extracellular matrix and for collagenase (MMP-1) in porcine discs of varying ages (Newborn; 2-3weeks, Mature; 6-9 month, Older; 2-3 years). In this study, we observed that the cell number and GAG (glycosaminoglycan) formation dramatically decreased with aging. Also, gene expression in the annulus fibrosus (AF) and nucleus pulposus (NP) cells changed with aging. The level of MMP-1 mRNA increased with age and both type I, II collagens decreased with age. The level of aggrecan mRNA was highest in the mature group and decreased significantly with aging. In the mature group, MMP-1 expression was minimal compared to the newborn group. In AF cells, type II collagen was expressed at a high level in the mature group with a higher level of aggrecan, when aged NP showed a decrease in type II collagen. The model of IVD degeneration in the porcine disc shows many changes in gene expression with age that have been previously documented for human and may serve as a model for studying changes in IVD metabolism with age. We concluded that the porcine model is excellent to test hypotheses related to disc degeneration while permitting time-course study in biologically active systems.
Age Factors ; Aggrecans/genetics/metabolism ; Aging/genetics/*metabolism ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Collagen Type I/genetics/metabolism ; Collagen Type II/genetics/metabolism ; Glycosaminoglycans/genetics/metabolism ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disk Degeneration/genetics/*metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1/genetics/*metabolism ; *Models, Animal ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Spinal Cord/*metabolism/pathology ; Swine

Redo cardiac operation is extremely hazardous because of adhesions of underlying structures between the sternum and the heart. Total body perfusion through femoral vessel cannulation in conjunction with endovascular aortic clamping can be achieved using remote access perfusion (RAP) endoclamp catheter prior to opening the sternum. We experienced a patient with Marfan syndrome who underwent redo Bentall operation. A 27-year-old male with Marfan syndrome who had undergone two previous Bentall operations was presented with infective endocarditis and pseudoaneurysm of aorta. Total cardiopulmonary bypass perfusion through RAP catheter before the sternotomy was initiated. Safe insertion and proper positioning of RAP catheter was guided by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography. The operation was uneventful.
Adult ; Aneurysm, False ; Aorta ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Catheterization ; Catheters* ; Constriction ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Endocarditis ; Heart ; Humans ; Male ; Marfan Syndrome ; Perfusion* ; Reoperation* ; Sternotomy ; Sternum

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the anatomical location of thrombi in the lower extremities and the development of pulmonary embolism (PE). Materials and Methods: We collected and analyzed the data of patients diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower extremities between 2006 and 2015, and included those whose computed tomography (CT) data were available for PE identification. We evaluated the relationship between the laterality and the proximal/distal location of the thrombi in lower extremites and the location of PE. Results: CT images were available for 388/452 patients with DVT. After excluding 32 cases with bilateral involvement, 356 cases were included for analysis in this study. The ratio of DVT in the left:right leg was 232:124. PEs developed in 121 (52.2%) patients with left-sided DVT and in 78 (62.9%) with right-sided DVT (P=0.052). PEs in the main pulmonary arteries developed in 36 (15.5%) patients with left leg DVT and in 30 (24.2%) with right leg DVT (P=0.045). The most frequent site of thrombosis associated with the development of PE was the left iliac vein (59/199, 29.6%). According to the anatomical segment of the leg affected by DVT, patients with DVT in the right femoral vein (50/71, 70.4%; P=0.016) had the highest rate of occurrence of PE. Conclusion PE develops more frequently in patients with right-sided DVT than in those with left-sided DVT. Therefore, careful observation for the possible development of PE is recommended in cases with right-sided DVT of the lower extremity.