BACKGROUND: It is well known that intracoronary thrombolysis during the early period of acute myocardial infarction leads to the limitation of myocardial necrosis, preserves left ventricular function, and improves survivals. The recanalization rate of intracoronary rrokinase infusion into infarct-related coronary artery was known as 62-94 percents in previos studies. The various factors influence the outcome of intracoronary thrombolysis, including total dose of urokinase, time from onsrt of chest pain to thrombolysis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the occlusion site morphology influences recanalization rates of intracoronary thrombolysis. METHODS: We evaluated infarct-related coronary artery morphology of 56 acute mycardial infarction patients who performed intracoronary thrombolytic therapy within 6-12 hours after the onset of acute myocardial infarction. Intracoronary urokinase infusion was performed at a rate of 25000 IU/minute. The presence of calcification, collaterals, side branches and the stump site morphologies(thrombus type, pencil type, cutting type) were identified on magnified 35mm cine frames. RESULTS: Reperfusion was successed in 34 patients and failed in 22 patients. There were no statistically significant difference in the pressure of calcification, collaterals, and side branches between success and failure groups. Intracoronary thrombus was identified in 21 percent of success group, but not in failure group. The reperfusion rates according to stump site morphology were 76% in thrombus type, 58% in cutting type, and 42% in pencil type(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study indicates the presence of intracoronary thrombus and the morphology of thrombus type is more effective in intracoronary thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarction. The identification of types of the coronary obstruction will be helpful for the selection of intracoronary thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarction patients. And the results suggest that the difference of stump composition show different stump morphologies.
Chest Pain ; Coronary Vessels* ; Humans ; Infarction ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Necrosis ; Reperfusion ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Thrombosis ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; Ventricular Function, Left

Trichorrhexis nodosa(TN) denotes small node-like swelling with a loss of cuticle of the hair shaft through which the hair readily fractures. The basic cause of TN is mechanical or chemical trauma, and a contributing factor is an inherent weakness of the hair shaft. We report a case of localized TN in a 37-year-old male. He had an ovoid hair patch with multiple small white-gray dotted and stubby hairs localized to the right occipital scalp. TN is known to be the commonest of all hair shaft anomalies (Price, 1975). However TN is rarely reported, and there have been only four reports in Korean dermatological literature, to our knowledge, which might be due to underdiagnosis of this disorder. We postulated that diagnostic difficulty lies in the discrepancy between terminology and gross morphological findings.
Adult ; Fibrinogen ; Hair ; Humans ; Male ; Scalp

PURPOSE: To present a case of unilateral exophthalmos with aponeurotic ptosis caused by blephalochalasis. METHODS: The left upper lid blepharoplasty, levator muscle resection, prolapsed lacrimal gland fixation, and excisional biopsy of lacrimal gland was done on a 16-year-old female who had had repetitive episodes of drooping and swelling of left upper lid for 6 years. RESULTS: Up to 11months after operation, she had no episodes of drooping and swelling. Histologically, the epidermis was atropic and wrinkled, and the dermis showed diffuse edema and vascular ectasia with mild perivascular inflammatory infiltrates. Elastic staining revealed a marked decrease or fragmentation of elastic fiber. Edema and vascular ectasia were also seen in the palpebral lobe of lacrimal gland and adjacent fat tissue.
Adolescent ; Biopsy ; Blepharoplasty ; Dermis ; Dilatation, Pathologic ; Edema ; Elastic Tissue ; Epidermis ; Exophthalmos* ; Female ; Humans ; Lacrimal Apparatus

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The myocardial protective effect of ischemic preconditioning is well known. However, the mechanism is remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to determine the role of adenosine, protein kinase C, KATP channel and the change of monophasic action potential duration on cardioprotective effect of ischemic preconditioning in cat. Materials AND METHODS: In this experiment, 66 cats were allocated into 7 groups:control (n=10), ischemic preconditioning (n=10), adenosine pre-treated (n=10), SPT (8-p-sulfophenyl theophylline) pre-treated (n=9), polymyxin B pre-treated (n=9), glibenclamide pre-treated (n=9) and nicorandil pre-treated (n=9) groups. Ischemic preconditioning was performed in ischemic preconditioning, SPT pre-treated, polymyxin B pre-treated and glibenclamide pre-treated groups by 3 episodes of 5 minutes ischemia and 10 minutes reperfusion. All animals were subjected to 40 minutes of ischemia and 40 minutes reperfusion. Monophasic action potential duration at 50% repolarization (MAP50) was measured in the ischemic and non-ischemic area respectively by epicardial probe throughout the experiment. The effect of ischemic preconditioning was determined by infarct size (% area at risk). RESULTS: Ischemic preconditioning, adenosine pre-treatment and nicorandil pre-treatment groups demonstrated a significant reduction in infarct size (26+/-4%, 25+/-4% and 34+/-8% infarction of the risk zone, respectively, p<0.01, p<0.01 and p<0.05 vs. control) with respect to control (41+/-8% infarction of the risk zone). However, pretreatment with SPT, polymyxin B or glibenclamide abolished the effect of ischemic preconditioning. Ischemic preconditioning group exhibited a significant reduction of MAP50 duration in the ischemic area during preconditioning;at the first preconditioning 128+/-11 msec vs. 144+/-10 msec control, at the second preconditioning 110+/-10 msec vs.147+/-10 msec control (p<0.01), at the third preconditioning 114+/-10 msec vs. 145+/-11 msec control (p<0.05). But, pretreatment with SPT, polymyxin B and glibenclamide prevented the reduction of MAP50 in the ischemic area during ischemic preconditioning. During 40 minutes ischemia, the shortening of MAP50 was more pronounced in the preconditioned group than in control group;at 5 minutes 112+/-13 msec vs. 124+/-10 msec control, at 10 minutes 89+/-12 msec vs. 133+/-11 msec control (p<0.05 ), at 20 minutes 93+/-12 msec vs. 136+/-11 msec control (p<0.05), and at 30 minutes 107+/-19 msec vs. 144+/-14 msec control (p<0.05). In adenosine pre-treated group, the MAP50 was significantly shortened than control group throughout 40 minutes occlusion period;at 5 minutes 90+/-8 msec (p<0.05), at 10 minutes 77+/-9 msec (p<0.05), at 20 minutes 92+/-8 msec (p<0.05), and at 30 minutes 103+/-8 msec (p<0.05). Nicorandil pretreatment pronounced the ischemic shortening of MAP50 in ischemic area and the effect was significant during early ischemic period;at 10 minutes 98+/-22 msec (p<0.05 vs. control). In pretreatment groups with SPT, polymyxin B or glibenclamide, the ischemic preconditioning of MAP50 measured in non-ischemic area was not significantly different compared with control group. MAP50 measured in ischemic area during reperfusion was not significantly different between groups. CONCLUSION: Based on this study, adenosine receptor-protein kinase C-KATP channel activation and monophasic action potential duration shortening during ischemia play an important role in myocardial protection during ischemic injury.
Action Potentials* ; Adenosine* ; Animals ; Cats* ; Glyburide ; Infarction ; Ischemia ; Ischemic Preconditioning* ; Nicorandil ; Phosphotransferases ; Polymyxin B ; Protein Kinase C* ; Protein Kinases* ; Receptors, Purinergic P1* ; Reperfusion

BACKGROUND: Despite extensive investigation, the clinical features and prognostic significance of the non-Q wave myocardial infarction, when compared with Q wave myocardial infarction, remain controversial. And no definite relationship between EKG findings and infarct related arteries has been reported. METHOD: A retrospective analysis was done on 205 patient with acute myocardial infarction who were undergone coronary angiography and left ventriculography. Among them, 30 patient with non-Q wave myocardial infarction and 175 patients with Q wave myocardial infarction. RESULTS: 1) There was no significant difference between the two groups in risk factors, prevalence of preinfarct angina and preinfarct heart failure. 2) The faction of patients with non-Q wave myocardial infarction who received thromobolytic therapy was significantly less, compared to patient with Q wave myocardial infarction(p<0.0001). 3) The patients with non-Q wave myocardial infarction had a smaller infarct size estimated by peak creatine phosphokinase(p<0.01). But there was no difference in Killip's classification and left ventricular ejection fraction. 4) In patients with non-Q wave myocardial infarction, 87% of the patients had one or more abnormal EKG finding other than Q wave, and the most frequent abnormal finding was primary T wave change. 5) The location of infarct-related artery was significantly different between group(p<0.0001). The most frequently involved coronary artery in non-Q wave myocardial infarction was left circumflex coronary artery, especially in patients with normal EKG findings. 6) There was no significant difference between the two groups in the prognosis. CONCLUSION: There were significant differences between non-Q wave and Q wave myocardial infarction in the infarct size and the location of infarct related arteries. but not in the risk factors, the prevalence of previous coronary artery disease and prognsis. Further prospective and collaborative studies should be performed to define conclusion.
Arteries* ; Classification ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Creatine ; Electrocardiography* ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Prevalence ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stroke Volume

PURPOSE: To determine if topically administered nerve growth factor (NGF) plays a role in accelerating the recovery of corneal sensitivity after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). METHODS: A prospective double-masked study comparing the effect of topical NGF or balanced salt solution on corneal sensitivity after LASIK in rabbits was performed. Pre- and postoperative corneal sensitivity was assessed using the Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer. RESULTS: Eyes that were treated with topical NGF demonstrated an earlier and faster recovery of corneal sensitivity after LASIK (p=0.0071). A statistically significant difference in corneal sensitivity was found between the topical NGF and control group at the postoperative time points of 2 weeks (p=0.0098), 3 weeks (p=0.0309), and 4 weeks (p=0.0276). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that topically administered NGF plays a significant role in accelerating corneal reinnervation after LASIK.
Double-Blind Method ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ* ; Nerve Growth Factor* ; Prospective Studies ; Rabbits

Axillary arch is relatively common variation of muscle in the axilla. There were several attentions on axillary arch due to its anatomical and surgical importance. During educational dissection, a variant muscle was found in right arm of 68-year-old female cadaver. The variation of muscle originated from the lateral edge of the latissimus dorsi muscle as muscular form. And then, it crossed the axillary artery and median nerve as tendinous form. Finally it became wide as muscular form and inserted into the pectoralis major. We reported this variant muscle and discussed its clinical significances.
Aged ; Arm ; Attention ; Axilla ; Axillary Artery ; Cadaver* ; Female ; Humans ; Median Nerve ; Superficial Back Muscles

University life can be stressful for even the most satisfied students. Especially medical school students have higher levels of stress. To manage their stress level and social connection, they are using SNS. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of SNS on medical students by analysis of SNS use pattern of medical students. In the analysis of the first grade of Medicine, 51 students (58.6%) posted on Facebook in the past year and posted a total of 1,452 articles (average: 28.5). We analyzed the content of the posts and found that most of them were celebrating a birthday (50%) or confirming their regards (18%). Next, there were other people's posts (10%) and travel posts (6%). Besides, there were profile photo upload (3%), school life (3%), romance (2%) or family (1%). Female students (16 times / 17 students) changed the profile pictures more frequently than male students (18 times / 34 students) (p = 0.003). There was no statistical significance in all items except for the change of profile picture according to sex. On the other hand, the analysis of the content of the share showed that most of the contents shared about humor (42%), food (15%) and music (14%). Most of the medical students used SNS primarily for social activities, not for educational purposes. Based on this analysis, there should be more research on how SNS can help medical students during medical education.
Education, Medical ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Music ; Schools, Medical ; Students, Medical*

Background: Although Korea ranks first in the suicide rate of elderly individuals, there is limited research on those who attempt suicide, with preventive measures largely based on population-based studies. We compared the demographic and clinical characteristics of elderly individuals who attempted suicide with those of younger adults who visited the emergency department after suicide attempts and identified the factors associated with lethality in the former group. Methods: Individuals who visited the emergency department after a suicide attempt from April 1, 2017, to January 31, 2020, were included. Participants were classified into two groups according to age (elderly, ≥65 years; adult, 18–64 years). Among the 779 adult patients, 123 were elderly. We conducted a chi-square test to compare the demographic and clinical features between these groups and a logistic regression analysis to identify the risk factors for lethality in the elderly group. Results: Most elderly participants were men, with no prior psychiatric history or suicide attempts, and had a higher prevalence of underlying medical conditions and attributed their attempts to physical illnesses. Being sober and planning suicide occurred more frequently in this group. In the elderly group, factors that increased the mortality rate were biological male sex (p<0.05), being accompanied by family members (p<0.05), and poisoning as a suicide method (p<0.01). Conclusion Suicide attempts in elderly individuals have different characteristics from those in younger adults and are associated with physical illness. Suicides in the former group are unpredictable, deliberate, and fatal. Therefore, tailored prevention and intervention strategies addressing the characteristics of those who are elderly and attempt suicide are required.

Background: Although Korea ranks first in the suicide rate of elderly individuals, there is limited research on those who attempt suicide, with preventive measures largely based on population-based studies. We compared the demographic and clinical characteristics of elderly individuals who attempted suicide with those of younger adults who visited the emergency department after suicide attempts and identified the factors associated with lethality in the former group. Methods: Individuals who visited the emergency department after a suicide attempt from April 1, 2017, to January 31, 2020, were included. Participants were classified into two groups according to age (elderly, ≥65 years; adult, 18–64 years). Among the 779 adult patients, 123 were elderly. We conducted a chi-square test to compare the demographic and clinical features between these groups and a logistic regression analysis to identify the risk factors for lethality in the elderly group. Results: Most elderly participants were men, with no prior psychiatric history or suicide attempts, and had a higher prevalence of underlying medical conditions and attributed their attempts to physical illnesses. Being sober and planning suicide occurred more frequently in this group. In the elderly group, factors that increased the mortality rate were biological male sex (p<0.05), being accompanied by family members (p<0.05), and poisoning as a suicide method (p<0.01). Conclusion Suicide attempts in elderly individuals have different characteristics from those in younger adults and are associated with physical illness. Suicides in the former group are unpredictable, deliberate, and fatal. Therefore, tailored prevention and intervention strategies addressing the characteristics of those who are elderly and attempt suicide are required.