OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) on embryonal development in in vitro culture. METHODS: This is designed in vitro model using eggs from mouse. The eggs from mouse were assigned 29 for control group, 53 for 20 ng/ml of LIF, 88 for 40 ng/ml of LIF, 68 for 80 ng/ml of LIF respectively for in vitro fertilization. And 26 fertilized eggs at 2 cell stage from mouse also were assigned. The mouse embryos of all groups were cultured in medium supplemented with LIF in different concentrations, whereas the eggs in control group was cultured in medium without supplement of LIF. RESULTS: At 72 hours culture of eggs from in vitro fertilization, there was a slight increas in rate of embryonal development to morula in both LIF-20 and LIF-40 as results of 64.15% and 75% respectively, while 42.65% in inferior rate of LIF-80, compare with 51.72% in control group. But the difference between these each groups were not significant in statistically (p< or =0.05). And after 96 hours culture of eggs, the rates blastocyst formation was significantly higher in both LIF-20 and LIF-40 as 56.6% and 63.63% than those in control and LIF-80 as 44.83% and 35.29% respectively. On culturing eggs from in vivo fertilization, the rates of blastocyst formation was significantly not only higher as 85% and 81.81% respectively in medium supplemented with LIF-40 and LIF-80 than 42.3% in LIF-20 but also embryonal cell viability were remakedly improved at 96 hours after culture. CONCLUSION: The LIF in low dose is embryotrophic, but LIF in high dose is embryotoxic on eggs from in vitro fertilization. Whereas on culturing eggs from in vivo fertilization, LIF is more beneficial with dose dependent in high concentration.
Mice ; Animals

Meckel's diverticulum is the most common congenital anomaly that results from an incomplete obliteration of omphalomesenteric duct. But only 10% of Meckel's diverticulums are symptomatic. The most common presentation in children is painless rectal bleeding, while intestinal obstruction is more common in adults. Obstruction with a Meckel's diverticulum is usually attributed to intussusception, volvulus, inflammatory adhesion, or an internal hernia. Author's experienced multi-directionally rotated Meckel's diverticulum causes intestinal obstruction with gangrenous change in a child and removed successfully with laparoscopic assistance. To our knowledge, this appears to be a first case report of a torsion of Meckel's diverticulum associated with intestinal obstruction in Korea, which was treated by laparoscopic procedure.
Adult ; Child ; Hemorrhage ; Hernia ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction* ; Intestinal Volvulus ; Intussusception ; Korea ; Laparoscopy ; Meckel Diverticulum* ; Vitelline Duct

PURPOSE: Elderly colorectal cancer patients may have increased surgical morbidity and mortality due to comorbidity and compromised cardiopulmonary reserves. The aim of this study is to compare the safety and the outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer in patients of 70 years of age and older to those of patients younger than 70 years of age. METHODS: From August 2004 to April 2006, the authors retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer. RESULTS: The elderly group included 35 cases, and the younger group included 67 cases. The mean age of the elderly group was 74.4+/-4.1, and that of the younger group was 58.2+/-9.5. Sixty-three percent (63%) of the elderly group and 27% of the younger group had co- morbidity. The mean operation time in the elderly group was 299.9+/-121.0 minutes, and that in the younger group was 295.1+/-110.8 minutes. The mean number of harvested lymph nodes was 17.7+/-8.6 in the elderly group and 19.4+/-9.8 in the younger group. The day of diet start was the 4.1+/-0.6 postoperative day in the elderly group and the 4.4+/-1.4 day in the younger group. Hospital stay was 16.0+/-7.6 in the elderly group and 15.5+/-4.6 days in the younger group. There were no statistical differences in terms of operation time, number of harvested lymph nodes, blood loss at operation, day of flatus passing, diet start, hospital stay, and complications. There was no surgical mortality in either groups. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer is a safe and effective treatment option in elderly patients.
Aged* ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Comorbidity ; Diet ; Flatulence ; Humans ; Laparoscopy* ; Length of Stay ; Lymph Nodes ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Retrospective Studies

Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm) infection occurs in 4~28% worldwide. Although the most common clinical manifestation is perianal pruritis, it may cause gastrointestinal manifestations, including acute appendicitis in about 0.2~41.8% of infections. Preoperative diagnosis of pinworms in patients with acute appendicitis is not routinely performed. We performed a laparoscopic appendectomy for an acute appendicitis caused by Enterobius vermicularis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis caused by Enterobius vermicularis in Korea.
Appendectomy* ; Appendicitis* ; Diagnosis ; Enterobius* ; Humans ; Korea ; Pruritus

Parastomal hernia is not an uncommon complication after stoma formation. Although there are a variety of open surgical techniques, rates of morbidity, recurrence and complications are high. Nowadays, with improvements in techniques and equipment, laparoscopic surgery is being increasingly used in every field of surgery. Herein, we present a case study of a patient suffering from a large parastomal hernia who underwent a laparoscopic hernia repair. A 71-year-old man who had undergone an abdominoperineal resection for an adenocarcinoma of the rectum 5 years ago was admitted to our hospital for a large parastomal hernia, which was repaired by using a laparoscopic approach with Gore-Tex and protack (auto-suture(R), USA). We found the laparoscopic approach for a large parastomal hernia to be technically feasible and to be a good alternative to conventional open surgery with the advantage of minimal invasivess.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Hernia* ; Herniorrhaphy* ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; Rectum ; Recurrence

A trocar site hernia is a rare complication after laparoscopic surgery. Hence, a trocar site that's larger than 10 mm should be closed to prevent complications. Here we describe a case of strangulated small bowel herniation through a 12 mm-trocar site even though the fascia had been closed. A 78-year-old obese (BMI 30.7 kg/m2) patient with rectal cancer underwent an uncomplicated laparoscopic low anterior resection. On the eighth post-operative day, she presented with a right lower quadrant painful mass, and abdominal CT showed small bowel herniation through the right lower quadrant 12-mm trocar site. In the surgical field, the small bowel was resected via the extended trocar site wound and the fascial defect was repaired.
Aged ; Fascia ; Hernia ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Obesity ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Surgical Instruments

PURPOSE: The COST study trial has demonstrated oncological safety by using laparoscopy for colon cancer. However, in a prior trial, the transverse colon was excluded. Therefore, it has not been determined whether laparoscopy can be used in the setting of transverse colon cancer. Moreover, a transverse colectomy for transverse colon cancer is controversial. This study evaluated the peri-operative and short-term oncological outcomes of a laparoscopic transverse colectomy. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients with colorectal cancer treated using laparoscopy from August 2004 to August 2007 was conducted. Peri-operative and short-term oncological outcomes were compared between an extended right or left colectomy and a transverse colectomy. RESULTS: Of 234 patients, 26 patients underwent laparoscopic surgery for transverse colon cancer. Extended right & left colectom were performed in 20 cases, and a transverse colectomy was performed in 6 cases. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of age, gender, BMI, blood loss, time to pass flatus, start of diet, hospital stay, tumor size, number of lymph nodes, and radial margin. The distal and the proximal resection margins of an extended Rt. or Lt. colectomy were longer than those of a transverse colectomy. One transverse colectomy was converted to open surgery because of a T4 lesion of transverse colon cancer. There were no differences between the two groups in terms of morbidity and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that a laparoscopic transverse colectomy has acceptable peri-operative and short-term oncological outcomes compared to an extended right and left colectomy. However, further investigations are needed to establish the long-term oncological safety of laparoscopic surgery, including transverse colectomy, for transverse colon cancer.
Colectomy ; Colon, Transverse ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Diet ; Flatulence ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Lymph Nodes ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic surgery was previously accepted as an alternative surgical option in treatment for colorectal cancer. Nowadays, single-port laparoscopic surgery (SPLS) is introduced as a method to maximize advantages of minimally invasive surgery. However, SPLS has several limitations compared to conventional multiport laparoscopic surgery (CMLS). To overcome those limitations of SPLS, reduced port laparoscopic surgery (RPLS) was introduced. This study aimed at evaluating the short-term outcomes of RPLS. METHODS: Patients who underwent CMLS and RPLS of colon cancer between August 2011 and December 2013 were included in this study. Short-term clinical and pathological outcome were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients underwent RPLS and 217 patients underwent CMLS. Shorter operation time, less blood loss, and faster bowel movement were shown in RPLS group in this study. In terms of postoperative pain, numeric rating scale (NRS) of RPLS was lower than that of CMLS. Significant differences were shown in terms of tumor size, harvested lymph node, perineural invasion, and pathological stage. No significant differences were confirmed in terms of other surgical outcomes. CONCLUSION: In this study, RPLS was technically feasible and safe. Especially in terms of postoperative pain, RPLS was comparable to CMLS. RPLS may be a feasible alternative option in selected patients with colon cancer.
Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Humans ; Laparoscopy* ; Lymph Nodes ; Methods ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Pain, Postoperative

Purpose: While a carcinoma of the splenic flexure is uncommon, is associated with a high risk of obstruction, and has a dual lymphatic drainage system, A COST study excluded transverse colon cancer, including splenic flexure colon cancer. This study reviews our experience with splenic flexure colon cancer treated laparoscopically and discusses a appropriate, safe laparoscopic surgical procedure. Methods: The authors reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for splenic flexure colon cancer from January 1995 to June 2006. The splenic flexure colon was defined as 5 cm from the splenic flexure proximally and distally by using radiologic studies. Curative surgery for splenic flexure colon cancer was defined as: primary cancer removal, a safe resected margin, no metastasis, and a complete lymphadenectomy including high ligation of left colic artery and of the left branch of the middle colic artery. Results: A total of 407 patients underwent laparoscopic surgery for colon cancer; among them, 15 patients underwent a laparoscopic left colectomy for splenic flexure colon cancer. The mean age of the patients was 63.8 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 9:6. The mean operation time was 325.3+/-95.1 minutes, and the average hospital stay was 15.8+/-4.9 days. The average number of harvested lymph nodes was 12.3+/-9.7, the average distal resection margin was 15.3+/-7.6 cm, and the average proximal margin was 10.7+/-3.2 cm. One case of chyle discharge and one case of ileus developed, but were treated conservatively. There was no surgical mortality. Conclusions: A laparoscopic left colectomy for splenic flexure colon cancer is a technically feasible and safe procedure with acceptable short-term outcomes in experienced hands.
Female ; Male ; Humans ; Mortality

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of fentanyl-TTS in the management of radiotherapy induced acute pain and cancer pain treated with radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study was open labelled prospective phase IV multi-center study. the study population included patients with more 4 numeric rating scale(NRS) score pain although managed with other analgesics or more than 6 NRS score pain without analgesics. Patients divided into two groups; patients with radiotherapy induced pain (Group A) and patients with cancer pain treated with radiotherapy (Group B). All patients received 25 ug/hr of fentanyl transdermal patch. Primary end point was pain relief; second end points were change in patient quality of life, a degree of satisfaction for patients and clinician, side effects. RESULTS: Between March 2005 and June 2005, 312 patients from 26 participating institutes were registered, but 249 patients completed this study. Total number of patients in each group was 185 in Group A, 64 in Group B. Mean age was 60 years and male to female ratio was 76:24. Severe pain NRS score at 2 weeks after the application of fentanyl was decreased from 7.03 to 4.01, p=0.003. There was a significant improvement in insomnia, social functioning, and quality of life. A degree of satisfaction for patients and clinician was very high. The most common reasons of patients' satisfactions was good pain control. Ninety six patients reported side effect. Nausea was the most common side effect. There was no serious side effect. CONCLUSION: Fentanyl-TTS was effective in both relieving pain with good tolerability and improving the quality of life for patients with radiotherapy induced acute pain and cancer pain treated with radiotherapy. The satisfaction of the patients and doctors was good. There was no major side effect.
Academies and Institutes ; Acute Pain ; Analgesics ; Female ; Fentanyl* ; Humans ; Male ; Nausea ; Prospective Studies ; Quality of Life ; Radiotherapy* ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Transdermal Patch*