No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Verrucous ; Lip

BACKGROUND: It was recently shown that human atherosclerotic plaque contains large numbers of T lymphocytes : this indicates that immune and inflammatory mechanism may be important factors in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. By measuring the soluble interleukin 2 receptor(sIL-2R) level we can evaluate the activation of T lymphocyte. The purpose of this study is to evaluate relationship between T cell activation and ischemic heart disease by measuring the soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) level in patient with ischemic heart disease. METHOD: Seventy-two patients(40 males and 32 female, mean age : 56.5+/-9.9 years) who were taken coronary angiography were included in this study. Among them, 49 patients showed abnormal coronary angiographic findings and 23 patients showed normal coronary angiographic findings. Ten mililiters of arterial blood was drawn at the time of coronary angiography. The blood was allowed to coagulate and then the serum was removed and tested in duplicate for soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) level by ELISA. RESULTS: 1) The soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) level was significantly different between abnormal coronary angiographic findings and normal coronary angiographic findings (P < 0.001). 2) According to clinical severity of ischemic heart disease (i.e. stable angina, unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction.), soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) level was not significantly different between single vessel disease group and multivessels disease groups (p > 0.05), but showed increasing tendency with clinical severity. 3) According to numbers of involved coronary vessels, soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) level was not significantly different between single vessel disease group and multivessels disease groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: T lymphocyte activation, as reflected in elevated soluble interlekin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) level, is frequent in patient with ischemic heart disease. In the further we will investigate relationship between clinical diagnosis of ischemic heart disease of the numbers of involved coronary vessels and T cell activation.
Angina, Stable ; Angina, Unstable ; Atherosclerosis ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels ; Diagnosis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia* ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Receptors, Interleukin-2 ; T-Lymphocytes

A 39-year-old man, his 35-year-old wife, and their 13-year-old daughter were found dead in their home. The man and his daughter were found lying in her bedroom, with his head wrapped in a plastic bag connected to four helium gas cylinders by green polypropylene tubes. Fragments of the burnt ignition briquette were found in the bucket located at her feet. His wife was found in a decomposed state lying on her right side in her bedroom. Autopsy findings for the man were unremarkable except for cherry pink lividity; the blood carboxyhemoglobin concentration was 73%. Autopsy findings were unremarkable for the woman as well, except for a few petechial hemorrhages and conjunctival congestion. The daughter showed no definite abnormalities; however, her blood and lung contained helium gas. The deceased man's suicide note, evidence gathered at the scene, and postmortem examination revealed that this was a case of dyadic death.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Asphyxia ; Autopsy* ; Carboxyhemoglobin ; Deception ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Female ; Foot ; Head ; Helium* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Lung ; Nuclear Family ; Plastics ; Polypropylenes ; Prunus ; Spouses ; Suicide

PURPOSE: Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) is a new surgical option using endoscopic advancement to the peritoneal cavity through the stomach, colon, vagina, or urinary bladder without an abdominal wall scar (incision). The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of transgastric gastroscopic intra-abdominal exploration with gastric incision and closure before the NOTES would be done. METHODS: Under general anesthesia of a female dog, one-channel gastroscope was advanced to the stomach and the lumen was irrigated with anti-bacterial solution. The anterior wall of the antrum was incised by about 1 cm with a needle knife; then, the gastroscope was advanced into the peritoneal cavity. An exploration of the entire intra-abdominal cavity was performed. RESULTS: We were able to evaluate the stomach, the greater omentum, the diaphragm, the peritoneum, the urinary bladder, the bowel, the spleen, the liver, the gallbladder, the uterine horn, the uterine body, and the vagina, but could not evaluate the ovary, the kidney, and the pancreas. The observation of the abdominal cavity was followed by the gastric wall closure with a 135o endoclip. The dog was recovered after confirmation of secure closure of the incision site. CONCLUSIONS: Transgastric incision, closure, and abdominal exploration are feasible without an abdominal wall scar, and the NOTES can be one option for future abdominal operations in humans and needs to be further investigated.
Abdominal Cavity ; Abdominal Wall ; Anesthesia, General ; Animals ; Cicatrix ; Colon ; Diaphragm ; Dogs* ; Female* ; Gallbladder ; Gastroscopes ; Horns ; Humans ; Kidney ; Liver ; Natural Orifice Endoscopic Surgery ; Needles ; Omentum ; Ovary ; Pancreas ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Peritoneum ; Spleen ; Stomach ; Urinary Bladder ; Vagina

PURPOSE: As transplantation depends greatly on organ donations, it is very important to gain better understanding of perceptions and attitudes on organ donation. In this paper, we want to evaluate the perceptions and attitudes of Koreans on the brain death and the organ donation. METHODS: The interview survey was carried out on a national scale. Questionnaires were collected from 1,002 adults and analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: 51.8% of respondents have positive perceptions on the brain death, and 74.3% of positive respondents on the brain death suppose to agree to the organ donation from the brain dead. 37.1% of respondents have positive perceptions on their own marrow donation, and 76.3% of respondents have positive perceptions on their own kidney or part of liver donation to family members. They consider urgency to be the most important criterion in deciding the order of transplantation, and then recoverability, age, and waiting order are considered to be important criteria in the order. 43.8% respondents think that buying or selling organs should not be allowed in any case, 46.7% think that it could be allowed in some special cases, and 6.1% think that it should be allowed in any case. CONCLUSION: The survey results show that Koreans have positive perceptions on the organ donation on the whole. However, the number of cases of organ donations from brain dead donors reduced in recent years after the enactment of the law of organ transplantation. To find a way out of this situation, relevant policies and effective champagnes need to be developed and put into effect.
Adult ; Bone Marrow ; Brain Death ; Humans ; Jurisprudence ; Kidney ; Liver ; Organ Transplantation ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tissue and Organ Procurement* ; Tissue Donors ; Transplantation ; Transplants

Bezoars are large conglomerates of vegetable fiber and hair, or concretions of various substances located in the stomach or the intestinal tract. They are classified as trichobezoars, phytobezoars, trichophytobezoars or concretions. The most common site for a bezoar is the stomach, but small-bowel bezoars are occasionally reported. A gastric bezoar can be treated by endoscopic removal or chemical dissolution. Small bowel bezoars are usually discovered due to intestinal obstruction, and surgical removal is the standard treatment method. We report the case of a patient who suffered from an intestinal obstruction due to a phytobezoar about 5 4 3 cm3 size.
Bezoars* ; Hair ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction* ; Stomach ; Vegetables

This study was performed to assess the antiapoptotic effect of canine platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treated on the canine adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (cMSCs) under cold ischemic conditions. The effect of preventing apoptosis of cMSCs was evaluated in the apoptotic condition induced by cold ischemic injury in vitro. To determine the progression of apoptosis, the changes in cell nucleus were observed using 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) fluorescence staining. In addition, we examined the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and caspase-3 activity. When the cold hypoxic injury was applied to cMSCs, the apoptotic change was observed by DAPI staining, mitochondrial staining for MMP, and caspase-3 assay. PRP significantly decreased the number of apoptotic cells. Nuclear shrinkage and fragmentation of apoptotic cells in control groups were observed by DAPI staining. The MMP was recovered by the treatment of PRP. In addition, when the luminescence intensity was measured for caspase-3 activity, the value was significantly higher in the PRP treated groups than the control groups. The results of this study showed that the PRP may have a beneficial effect on apoptosis induced by cold ischemic injury.

PURPOSE: Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) is a new operation technique that utilizes natural orifices of the patient's body with the intention to puncture hollow viscera in order to insert an endoscope into a peritoneal cavity for incisionless surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of endoscopic cecectomy through the rectum in one dog and the vagina in another dog. METHODS: This study was performed in two beagle dogs for rectal and vaginal approaches. A five-milimeter trocar was inserted into the abdominal cavity by the Hasson method and intra-abdominal pressure was maintained at 5 mmHg with CO2. After pneumoperitoneum was accomplished, the rectum or vagina was incised with a needle knife and a one-channel gastric endoscope was inserted into the abdominal cavity. Counter-traction was performed using a laparoscopic grasper introduced via the 5 mm trocar in the umbilicus. The cecum was dissected from the base by using a needle knife with the aid of laparoscopic counter-traction. The resected cecum was retrieved through the anus or vagina without pouch bag. The incised rectum was closed by using 90-degree endoclips whereas the incised vagina was not repaired. RESULTS: Cecectomies were successfully performed with both transrectal and transvaginal routes. Both cases had no complication and recovered from surgery uneventfully. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic cecectomy with hybrid NOTES are feasible and safe. With the improvement of surgical experiences and further instrumental development, NOTES can be one option for human intestinal surgery.
Abdominal Cavity ; Anal Canal ; Animals ; Cecum ; Chimera ; Dogs ; Endoscopes ; Humans ; Intention ; Models, Animal ; Natural Orifice Endoscopic Surgery ; Needles ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Pneumoperitoneum ; Punctures ; Rectum ; Surgical Instruments ; Umbilicus ; Vagina ; Viscera

Coronary arteriovenous fistula is relatively rare disease and originates more commonly in the right than in the left cononary artery. We report one case of cononary arteriovrnous fistula which we have experienced recently in 22 years old female, who has complained of dyspnea on exertion and intermittent anterior chest pain radiating to the left shoulder for several years. It was detected by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography and confirmed by cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography. In this case, the fistula was originated from the right coronary artery and drained into the posterior wall of the right ventricle, the coronary artery was dilated(diameter=1.5cm) and tortuous and significant shunt was measured(Qp/Qs=2.31). The opening of the fistula draining into right ventricle was obliterated with sutures.
Arteries ; Arteriovenous Fistula* ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels ; Dyspnea ; Echocardiography* ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Female ; Fistula ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Rare Diseases ; Shoulder ; Sutures ; Young Adult