Although variation is the rule with pancreatic duct morphology, certain variants occur as a result of altered embroological development. These ductal configurations, most striking deviations from the normal configuration, may be classfied according to alterations of embryological development. These congenital variants of pancreatic duct may be important for several reasons. First, the pseudomass effect of ductal anomalies can be mistaken for carcinoma by the inexperienced radiologists. Second, whether or not the anomaly is important, it is present in many patients with recurrent pacreatitis. Original descriptions were based on small sampling of postmortem studies and surgical specimen, but more recently the advent of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP) has confirmed of the work of early anastomists and increased awareness of these variants. To evalute of frequency, characteristics of associated disease and clinical significance of pancreatic anomalies, we have reviewed of 5330 case of ERCP filmes which were undertaken between July, 1973 and August, 1993. Having reviewed of ERCP filmes, we found out 9 case of pancreatic duct variants. Among them, 7 cases were classified as ductal duplication anomalies, 4 cases of number variation, most, bifuricaiton and 3 cases of form variation, which were composed of loop, spiral and terminal N. Three cases of fusion anomalies were also noted, which were 2 cases of panceratic divisum and 1 case of incomplete pancreatic divisum. The associated diseases were 6 cases of bile duct and galbladder stones and 3 cases of pancreatic cancer. We could not find out the case of congenital anomalies as cause of obstructive pain and pseudomass effect.
Bile Ducts ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde* ; Humans ; Pancreatic Ducts* ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Pancrelipase ; Strikes, Employee

The treatment approach for proximal humeral fractures is determined by various factors, including patient age, sex, dominant arm, fracture pattern, presence of osteoporosis, preexisting arthritis, rotator cuff status, and medical comorbidities. However, there is a lack of consensus in the literature regarding the optimal treatment for displaced proximal humeral fractures. This study aimed to assess and quantify the decision-making process for either conservative or surgical treatment and the choice of surgical method among shoulder surgeons when treating proximal humeral fractures. Methods: Forty sets of true anteroposterior view, scapular Y projection view, and three-dimensional computed tomography of proximal humeral fractures were provided to 12 shoulder surgeons along with clinical information. Surveys regarding Neer classification, decisions between conservative and surgical treatments, and chosen methods were conducted twice with an interval of 2 months. The factors affecting the treatment plans were also assessed. Results: The inter-rater agreement was fair for Neer classification (kappa=0.395), moderate for the decision between conservative and surgical treatments (kappa=0.528), and substantial for the chosen method of surgical treatment (kappa=0.740). The percentage of agreement was 71.1% for Neer classification, 84.6% for the decision between conservative and surgical treatment, and 96.4% for the chosen method of surgical treatment. The fracture pattern was the most crucial factor in deciding between conservative and surgical treatments, followed by age and physical activity. Conclusions: The decision between conservative and surgical treatment for proximal humeral fractures showed good agreement, while the chosen method between osteosynthesis and arthroplasty showed substantial agreement among shoulder surgeons.

This paper reports a case of a 21-year-old male patient who complained of intermittent pain and snapping at 110° of flexion in his left elbow joint. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a band-like low signal intensity in front of the radiohumeral joint. An ultrasound was conducted to check its association with the symptoms. Observations of a high echo escaping from the radiohumeral joint at the point when snapping occurred indicated noted that the hypertrophic plica was a cause of the snapping. The hypertrophic plica removed arthroscopically, and the results were good for up to 6 months after surgery. If snapping is observed in the elbow joint, it will be necessary to consider the symptoms from the hypertrophic plica, although rare, and ultrasound might be an effective tool for a differential diagnosis.
Diagnosis* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Elbow Joint ; Elbow* ; Humans ; Joints ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Ultrasonography* ; United Nations ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: To investigate the frequency of underlying diseases associated with respiratory distress in full-term infants, as well as its relation to the mode of delivery and clinical outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of 4,264 infants who had been admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Chonnam University Hospital (CUH) over 5 years from January 2000 to December 2004. Full-term infants with respiratory distress such as transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), congenital pneumonia, meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) and pneumothorax were included. We analysed the incidence of underlying disease, its relation to the mode of delivery, rate of mechanical ventilator therapy, prevalence of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), mortality and the length of hospitalization of surviving patients. RESULTS: Of the 4,264 patients who admitted to the NICU of CUH over the last five years, preterm infants made up 2,278 (53.4%) and full-term infants made up 1,982 (46.5%). The number of full-term patients who admitted due to respiratory distress associated with respiratory system problems excluding a congenital anomaly was 246 (12.4%). The most common underlying disease was TTN (n=161, 65.4%), and the next was RDS (n=39, 15.9 %), congenital pneumonia (n=11, 4.5%), MAS (n=7.9, 8.5%), and pneumothorax (n=14, 5.7 %). RDS was more statistically common in full-term infants born by Caesarian section (P<0.05). But there was no difference according to the mode of delivery statistically in other respiratory tract diseases. The rate of mechanical ventilator therapy was significantly higher in RDS and MAS, and the prevalence of HIE was higher in MAS (P<0.05). Mortalities of RDS and MAS were 7.7% and 9.5% each. There was no significant difference in the length of hospitalization of surviving patients. CONCLUSION: TTN was the most common respiratory tract disease in the full-term infant, and RDS was more common in the infant who was born by Cesarean section. The rates of mechanical ventilator therapy and mortality were significantly higher in the infants with RDS and MAS, and HIE was exclusively manifested by infants with MAS.
Cesarean Section ; Female ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; Incidence ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Jeollanam-do ; Meconium Aspiration Syndrome ; Mortality ; Pneumonia ; Pneumothorax ; Pregnancy ; Prevalence ; Respiratory System* ; Respiratory Tract Diseases* ; Retrospective Studies ; Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn ; Ventilators, Mechanical

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to compare the outcome of supervised and home exercises with respect to range of motion (ROM), pain, and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE). We further correlated the ROM recovery and pain reduction as well. METHODS: The study included 49 patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Rehabilitation was initiated after 4 weeks of immobilization. A total of 29 patients performed supervised exercise 3 times a week. Standardized education and brochures for review were provided to the remaining 20 patients who insisted on home rehabilitation. Statistical analysis was performed for comparing pain Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), SANE, and ROM. In addition, we also evaluated the correlation between pain and ROM. RESULTS: Comparison of the two groups revealed no significant differences in forward flexion, internal rotation, abduction, and pain NRS. However, SANE at the 9th week (63.8 vs. 55.0, p=0.038) and improvement of external rotation from the 5th to the 9th week (17.6 vs. 9.3, p=0.018) were significantly higher in the supervised exercise group as compared to the home exercise group. Correlation of pain NRS with forward flexion, external rotation, internal rotation and abduction were statistically not significant (correlation coefficient=0.032 [p=0.828], −0.255 [p=0.077], 0.068 [p=0.642], and −0.188 [p=0.196], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The supervised rehabilitation after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair showed better improvement in external rotation and higher SANE score after 4 weeks of rehabilitation exercise. However, no statistically significant correlation was observed between the recovery of ROM and short-term pain relief.
Education ; Exercise ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Pamphlets ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Rehabilitation ; Rotator Cuff ; Shoulder

Bacterial endophthalmitis is a very difficult ophthalmic disease to treat because of the consistently poor results with conventional therapy. lntravitreal injection of antibiotics is increasingly gaining the acceptance as a method of producing high vitreal concentrations that may be useful in the treatment of bacterial endophthalmitis. The author performed this experiment to determine the clerance rare of intravitreal gentamicin in the rabbit eyes. We observed the clearance of gentamicin in phakic and aphakic rabbit eyes into which 20 micro gram/0.1 ml of gentamicin was injected. In phakic eyes, about 52% of gentamicin was cleared at 24 hours after injection. In aphakic eyes with intact posterior capsule, 64% of gentamicin was cleared at 24 hours after injection. In aphakic eyes with incised posterior capsule, the clearance rate at 24 hours after injection was about 70%. Intravitreal gentamicin was cleared more rapidly from the aphakic eyes than from that of phakic eyes.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Endophthalmitis ; Gentamicins*

[6]-Gingerol, a major phenolic compound derived from ginger, has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activities. While several molecular mechanisms have been described to underlie its effects on cells in vitro and in vivo, the underlying mechanisms by which [6]-gingerol exerts anti-tumorigenic effects are largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the action of [6]-gingerol on two human pancreatic cancer cell lines, HPAC expressing wild- type (wt) p53 and BxPC-3 expressing mutated p53. We found that [6]-gingerol inhibited the cell growth through cell cycle arrest at G1 phase in both cell lines. Western blot analyses indicated that [6]-gingerol decreased both Cyclin A and Cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) expression. These events led to reduction in Rb phosphorylation followed by blocking of S phase entry. p53 expression was decreased by [6]-gingerol treatment in both cell lines suggesting that the induction of Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, p21(cip1), was p53-independent. [6]-Gingerol induced mostly apoptotic death in the mutant p53-expressing cells, while no signs of early apoptosis were detected in wild type p53-expressing cells and this was related to the increased phosphorylation of AKT. These results suggest that [6]-gingerol can circumvent the resistance of mutant p53- expressing cells towards chemotherapy by inducing apoptotic cell death while it exerts cytostatic effect on wild type p53- expressing cells by inducing temporal growth arrest.
Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/*genetics/metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics/metabolism ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/*drug therapy ; Mutation ; Humans ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects ; Fatty Alcohols/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Cycle/*drug effects ; Apoptosis/*drug effects ; Antineoplastic Agents/*pharmacology/therapeutic use

The purpose of this study was to make and ascertain a decision making process on the base of patient-oriented utilitarianism in the treatment of patients of chronic adult periodontitis. Fifty subjects were chosen in Yonsei Dental hospital and the other fifty were chosen in Severance dental hospital according to the selection criteria. Fifty four patients agreed in this study. NS group(N=32) was treated with scaling and root planing without any surgical intervention, the other S group(N=22) done with flap operation. During the active treatment and healing time, all patients of both groups were educated about the importance of oral hygiene and controlled every visit to the hospital. When periodontal treatment needed according to the diagnostic results, some patients were subjected to professional tooth cleaning and scaling once every 3 months according to an individually designed oral hygienic protocol. Probing depth was recorded on baseline and 18 months after treatments. A questionnaire composed of 6 kinds(hygienic easiness, hypersensitivity, post treatment comfort, complication, functional comfort, compliance) of questions was delivered to each patient to obtain the subjective evaluation regarding the results of therapy. The decision tree for the treatment of adult periodontal disease was made on the result of 2 kinds of periodontal treatment and patient's ubjective evaluation. The optimal path was calculated by using the success rate of the results as the probability and utility according to relative value and the economic value in the insurance system. The success rate to achieve the diagnostic goal of periodontal treatment as the remaining pocket depth less than 3mm and without BOP was 0.83+/-0.12 by non surgical treatment and 0.82+/-0.14 by surgical treatment without any statistically significant difference. The moderate success rate of more than 4mm probing pocket depth were 0.17 together. The utilities of non-surgical treatment results were 100 for a result with less than 3mm probing pocket depth, 80 for the other results with more than 4mm probing pocket depth, 0 for the extraction. Those of surgical treatment results were the same except 75 for the results with more than 4mm. The pooling results of subjective evaluation by using a questionnaire were 60% for satisfaction level and 40% for no satisfaction level in the patient group receiving non-surgical treatment and 33% and 67% in the other group receiving surgical treatment. The utilities for 4 satisfaction levels were 100, 75, 60, 50 on the base of that the patient would express the satisfaction level with normal distribution. The optimal path of periodontal treatment was rolled back by timing the utility on terminal node and the success rate, the distributed ratio of patient's satisfaction level. Both results of the calculation was non surgical treatment. Therefore, it can be said that non-surgical treatment may be the optimal path for this decision tree of treatment protocol if the goal of the periodontal treatment is to achieve the remaining probing pocket depth of less than 3mm for adult chronic periodontitis and if the utilitarian philosophy to maximise the expected utility for the patients is advocated.
Adult ; Male ; Female ; Humans

Retinal vascular lesions are the most common ophthalmologic manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), occurring in 3% to 29% of cases, generally late in the disease. More rare is the severe vaso-occlusive disease, often termed "retinal vasculitis", which includes central retinal artery occlusion, multifocal arteriolar occlusions, extensive capillary nonperfusion and central venous occlusion. Patients with SLE and raised serum concentrations of anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA) have a higher risk of developing occlusive ocular vascular disease. We report a case in which retinal involvement was an earlier manifestation of SLE in a patient without ACA.
Adolescent ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones/administration & dosage ; Angiography ; Case Report ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Human ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/*diagnosis/drug therapy ; Ophthalmoscopy ; Retinal Vein Occlusion/*diagnosis/drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Visual Acuity

OBJECTIVE: To develop a population pharmacokinetics (PK)/pharmacodynamics (PD) model for alcohol in healthy volunteers and to elucidate individual characteristics to affects alcohol's PK or PD including dissolved oxygen. METHODS: Following multiple intakes of total 540 mL alcohol (19.42 v/v%) to healthy volunteer, blood alcohol concentration was measured using a Breathe alcohol analyser (Lion SD-400 Alcolmeter®). A sequential population PK/PD modeling was performed using NONMEM (ver 7.3). RESULTS: Eighteen healthy volunteer were included in the study. PK model of alcohol was well explained by one-compartment model with first-order absorption and Michaelis-Menten elimination kinetics. K(a), V/F, V(max), K(m) is 8.1 hr⁻¹, 73.7 L, 9.65 g/hr, 0.041 g/L, respectively. Covariate analysis revealed that gender significantly influenced V(max) (Male vs Female, 9.65 g/hr vs 7.38 g/hr). PD model of temporary systolic blood pressure decreasing effect of alcohol was explained by biophase model with inhibitory E(max) model. K(e0), I(max), E(0), IC(50) were 0.23 hr⁻¹, 44.9 mmHg, 138 mmHg, 0.693 g/L, respectively. CONCLUSION: Model evaluation results suggested that this PK/PD model was robust and has good precision.