The humane care and use of animals should be the prime concern and responsibility of all those individuals using animals for research, teaching or testing. The use of animals as experimental subjects in the 20th century has contributed to many important advances in scientific and medical knowledge. Although scientists have also developed non-animal models for research, these models often cannot completely mimic the complex human or animal body. Nevertheless, efforts to develop and use scientifically valid alternatives, adjuncts, and refinements to animal research should continue. Laboratory Animal Law that was prepared to improve the reliability and reproducibility of research data using laboratory animals also required an institutes to care and use animal in ways judged to be scientifically, technically, and humanely appropriate. The law introduced Assessment Program of Good Animal Care and Use Facility. The primary goal of the Assessment Program is to provide quality assurance for the care and use of experimental animals on a national basis. Although, an effective surveillance protects animals, promotes animal welfare and ensures the quality of science that uses animals, it is the responsibility of investigators to conduct animal experiment on the basis of the highest scientific, humane, and ethical principles. It is expected that the Program will accelerate the introduction of mind concerning humane and ethical animal experiment and will enhance animal well-being, the quality of biomedical research, and the advancement of biologic knowledge that is relevant to humans or animals.
Academies and Institutes ; Animal Experimentation ; Animal Welfare ; Animals ; Animals, Laboratory ; Humans ; Hydrazines ; Jurisprudence ; Research Personnel

Between August 1994 and June 1995, seventeen patients diagnosed as having partial or complete ruptures of the anterior cruciate ligament on MRI were managed by non-operative methods. Among them four patients were excluded due to operation during follow-up and the results were evaluated at a one year follow-up. We selected the patients prospectively for non-operative care using the selection criteria of age, degree of instability, activity level and patient compliance. The average age of them was 37.7 years. Initially knee stress test and MRI were checked, and Cybex study and Lysholm knee scoring were done at post-trauma one year follow-up. They were managed conservatively by ROM and muscle strengthening exercises and a brace fitting schedule for three months. Among them, six cases had partial tears and seven had a complete tear initially. At the one year follow-up, five of six cases who had shown partial ruptures, and two of seven cases with complete tears, recovered continuity of the ruptured ACL on MRI. Their Lysholm knee score was 84.4, and the Cybex test showed no difference in muscle power between the injured and uninjuried side. Those patients who had loss of continuity on follow-up MRI showed Lysholm score of 57.4 and decreased muscle power on Cybex study. Although there are still controversies about the adequate management of ACL injuries, our study suggests that conservative management is a viable alternative to surgery as long as the patients are selected prudently. For more concrete results, however, careful analysis based on a longer follow up period is necessary.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Appointments and Schedules ; Braces ; Exercise ; Exercise Test ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Patient Compliance ; Patient Selection ; Prospective Studies ; Rupture*

To determine size and shape discrepancy between the bone of Korean women and the prostheses in total knee arthroplasty, the height(antero-posterior length) and width(medio-lateral length) of the distal femur and the proximal tibia were measured at the bone resection level for 104 knees of 62 female patients who underwent primary total knee arthroplasty and compared with the same parameters of the total knee prostheses designed by five different companies. On the condition that the height of the prostheses matched with each cases of the bone were optimal, the difference in the width was evaluated, and the criteria of the discrepancy were overhang if the width of the prosthesis was larger than bone, optimal if width of the prosthesis was same or smaller and difference was within 5 mm, and down-size if smaller and difference was over Smm. In femoral prostheses, 34.6% of all were optimal, 13.1%, overhang and 52.3%, down-size. In tibial prosthesis, 54.1% of all were optimal, 13.9%, overhang and 32%, down-size. In conclusion, although further investigation for clinical application is needed, there were discrepancies in size and shape between the femur and tibia of Korean women and total knee prostheses and improvement in design should be considered.
Arthroplasty* ; Female ; Femur ; Humans ; Knee Prosthesis ; Knee* ; Prostheses and Implants* ; Tibia

Background: Alloantibodies against red blood cells (RBC) found in pregnant women can cause hemolytic disease in the fetus and newborn (HDFN). Therefore, checking and carefully observing the mother’s unexpected alloantibodies is essential during pregnancy. This study examined the frequency of unexpected antibodies according to the department. Methods: For patients who visited the authors’ hospital from December 31, 2020 to May 1, 2023 the results of RBC antibody screening and unexpected antibody identification tests were collected and classified according to the department. The antibody screening test was detected with Qwalys-3 DIAGAST, Loos Cedex, France) equipment using ABS HEMASCREEN (DIAGAST), and the antibody identification test was performed using the Resolve panel (Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, San Diego, USA). The difference in frequency of each antibody according to the patient group was tested using Pearson’s chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test according to the relative frequency. Results: Among 46,193 patients who underwent unexpected antibody screening, 9,531 were obstetrics, and 18,313 were infertility centers. One hundred and seventy-seven patients underwent the unexpected antibody identification test: 57 obstetrics patients, 42 infertility center patients, and 78 positive patients who visited other departments.One hundred and ninety-three antibodies were identified, and there was no significant difference in the positive rate of unexpected antibodies by department. The antibody identified with the highest frequency was anti-M (18.1%) followed by anti-E (13.5%). Conclusion In the East Asian population, anti-M is frequently reported, causing clinical problems. Anti-M was also commonly observed in this study; so, the clinical features should be carefully observed if anti-M is identified.

PUPOSE: Through a survey on an Internet homepage, we conducted research concerning the need of patients and their families for information on gastric cancer. We also assessed their interest in gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 619 inquiries presented from June 2002 to September 2003 and 524 replies submitted to a questionnaire survey delivered by the Internet homepage (www.gastriccancer.co.kr) from August to October 2003 to gastric cancer patients and their families. RESULTS: Analysis of Inquiries: The classified inquiries listed in order of frequency are as follows: treatment, prognosis, stages, symptoms, pathophysiology, diagnostic modalities, favorable food, etiology, follow-up, etc. Among the inquiries about treatment, the most frequent subgroup was about the scope of surgery or perioperative implications. Next came questions concerning chemotherapy. Among the questions from patients yet to be operated, on those about operability and the prognosis were most frequent. Among the patients who had undergone a resection, questions on complications and the corresponding prognosis were most frequent. The concern from patients with inoperable or recurrent cancers was related to terminal care and/or chemotherapy. Analysis of Questionnaires: The respondents acquired information on gastric cancer from the Internet (40%), doctors (32%), the mass media (15%) and acquaintances (13%). Only 6% of the respondents were sufficiently satisfied with the information provided by doctors. Among the respondents, 89.9% were interested in complementing treatment with folk remedies while only 5% were not. CONCLUSION: Patients and their families were eager to get information about gastric cancer. However, many of them found the doctors' information to be insufficient. Our suggestion is that the public health, academic societies, medical institutions, and public organizations should endeavor to provide through an activated Internet network correct information on gastric cancer.
Complement System Proteins ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Friends ; Humans ; Internet* ; Mass Media ; Medicine, Traditional ; Prognosis ; Public Health ; Surveys and Questionnaires* ; Societies, Medical ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Terminal Care

The index on myocardial contractility of pure mitral regurgitation(MR) after mitral valve replacement is believed to be useful in determining proper operation time before irreversible myocardial damage by volume overload. Thus the authors examined pre and post-operative echocardiographic results of 20 cases of pure MR patients who had been admitted to Pusan National University hospital and compared the usefulness of each index. Pre and post-operative echocardiographic results were as follows respectively ; 1) Left ventricular internal dimension in diastole(LVIDd) were 6.49+/-0.19cm and 5.51+/-0.17cm. 2) Left ventricular internal dimension in systole(LVIDs) were 4.26+/-0.12 and 3.79+/-0.18cm. 3) Ejection fraction were 71.28+/-1.57% and 59.24+/-3.05%. 4) Fractional shortening(FS) were 34.09+/-1.18% and 27.21+/-1.84%. 5) Mean Vcf were 1.53+/-0.08cm/sec and 1.18+/-0.09cm/sec. 6) Left ventricular end-diastolic volume index(EDVI) were 196.35+/-18.33cc/m2 and 98.46+/-9.96cc/m2. 7) Left ventricular end-systolic volume index(ESVI) were 55.28+/-5.12cc/m2 and 41.88+/-6.07cc/m2. 8) Left ventricular end-systolic wall stress/ESVI(ESS/ESVI) were 2.3+/-0.21 and 3.91+/-0.83. ESS/ESVI showed significantly(p<0.05) elevated postoperative change, LVIDd, LVIDs, EF, FS, EDVI, ESVI revealed significantly(p<0.05) reduced postoperative change whereas Mean Vcf had no postoperative change. After examining correlation between preoperative and postoperative results of each index, it is believed that LVIDd, LVIDs, and ESS/ESVI were useful prognostic indices but were unrelated to postoperative ejection phase indices such as EF, FS, and MEan Vcf. Especially in case of LVIDd>6cm, LVIDs>4cm, and ESS/ESVI<2, the prognosis was poor due to myocardial damage by mitral regurgitation.
Busan ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency* ; Mitral Valve* ; Prognosis ; Stroke Volume

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to analyze efficacy of immature and mature mouse oocytes after vitrification and warming by applying various combinations of cryoprotectants (CPAs) and/or super-rapid cooling using slush nitrogen (SN2). METHODS: Four-week old ICR female mice were superovulated for GV- and MII-stage oocytes. Experimental groups were divided into two groups. Ethylene glycol (EG) only group: pre-equilibrated with 1.5 M EG for 2.5 minutes and then equilibrated with 5.5 M EG and 1.0 M sucrose for 20 seconds. EG+dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) group: pre-equilibrated with 1.3 M EG+1.1 M DMSO for 2.5 minutes and equilibrated with 2.7 M EG+2.1 M DMSO+0.5 M sucrose for 20 seconds. The oocytes were loaded onto grids and plunged into SN2 or liquid nitrogen (LN2). Stored oocytes were warmed by a five-step method, and then their survival, maturation, cleavage, and developmental rates were observed. RESULTS: The EG only and EG+DMSO groups showed no significant difference in survival of immature oocytes vitrified after warming. However, maturation and cleavage rates after conventional insemination were greater in the EG only group than in the EG+DMSO group. In mature oocytes, survival, cleavage, and blastocyst formation rates after warming showed no significant difference when EG only or EG+DMSO was applied. Furthermore, cleavage and blastocyst formation rates of MII oocytes vitrified using SN2 were increased in both the EG only and EG+DMSO groups. CONCLUSION: A combination of CPAs in oocyte cryopreservation could be formulated according to the oocyte stage. In addition, SN2 may improve the efficiency of vitrification by reducing cryoinjury.
Animals ; Blastocyst ; Cryopreservation ; Cryoprotective Agents ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; Ethylene Glycol ; Ethylenes ; Female ; Humans ; Insemination ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Nitrogen ; Oocytes ; Sucrose ; Vitrification

An open trial was carried out to investigate the efficacy and tolerance of isosorbide 5-mononitrate(Elantan(R)) in 30 patients diagnosed as angina pectoris at Pusan national university hospital. Drugs were given 20mg two times daily for 2 to 3 weeks and the results were assessed in terms of effects on anginal pain and untoward side effects experienced during administration of medication. Treament resulted in an overall improvement in 25 patients(83.4%), complete abolition of anginal attacks in 17 patients(56.7%) and reduction in frequency of attacks in 8 patients(26.7%). So called "Nitrated headache" was observed in 5 patients(16.6%) but improved with proceeding of administration in 3 patients. This trial indicates that isosorbide 5-mononitrate should be efficacious as well as tolerated in patients with coronary heart disease.
Angina Pectoris* ; Busan ; Coronary Disease ; Humans ; Isosorbide*

An open clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of isradipine in 30 cases (male 16, female 14 cases, average age 52.6+/-7.94) of mild to moderate essential hypertension using 1.25-2.5mg twice a day for 8 weeks of active treatment. Blood pressure was significantly reduced from 168.5+/-14.33/108.3+/-6.37mmHg, 163.7+/-9.74/105.5+/-7.1mmHg to 141.0+/-13.69/92.0+/-9.27mmHg, 138.8+/-13.46/92.3+/-11.16mmHg in sitting and standing position respectively. The extent of reduction was 27.5/16.3mmHg in sitting position and 29.9/13.2mmHg in standing position. This comprised the mean response rate in terms of reduction of DBP of 10mmHg or more being 90% and the normalization rate, deficed as DBP lowering to 90mmHg or below, being 70%. Heart rate, hematology and blood chemistry including blood sugar and lipids were not changed significantly after treatment with isradipine. No significantl side effect was observed except 2 cases of mild transient facial flushing and nausea during the treatment, so could proceed the trial without drug discontinuation in all 30 cases. The results suggest that isradipine is one of the useful and safe drugs in the treatment of mild to moderate essential hypertension.
Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Chemistry ; Female ; Flushing ; Heart Rate ; Hematology ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Isradipine* ; Nausea

PURPOSE: To compare the clinical and radiological results between the anterior and posterior screw fixation for the treatment of talar neck fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 30 patients who received surgical treatment for talar neck fracture from 2001 to 2008. Twenty-seven patients with a follow-up period of more than 1 year were divided into two groups. Twelve patients were treated with anterior screw fixation and 15 patients with posterior approaches. We analyzed preoperative, postoperative and follow-up radiographs. Clinical results were evaluated by Hawkins criteria. RESULTS: The posteriorly inserted screws were placed across the more central portion of the talar neck and perpendicular to the plane of fracture (p<0.05). There were no difference in clinical results, the duration of union, and complications including avascular necrosis between two groups. However, 2 patients complained of pain around the talonavicular joint in the anterior insertion group. CONCLUSION: Although the clinical results were good irrespective of insertion methods, the posterior approach of screw fixation for talar neck fractures allows for a better mechanical advantage than anterioly placed screws. This may allow early motion with a reduced risk of failure of fixation or of displacement of the fracture.
Displacement (Psychology) ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; Joints ; Neck ; Necrosis ; Nitro Compounds ; Talus