BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evalute the diagnostic value of 2mm video thoracoscopy for primary spontaneous penumothorax. MATERIAL AND METHOD: During the period of March to June 1999, we prospectively analyzed 33 consecutive patients suffering from primary spontaneous pneumothorax. 2mm video-assisted thoracoscopy was compared with the operative finding. We observed recurrence during the mean follow-up of 3months. RESULT: Blebs were present in 24 patient(73%: 24/33). These were treated by 10mm video-assised thoracoscopic stapling. Nine pateints with no bleb were treated with pleural drainage. There were no significant differences in the bleb finding. No recurrence occurred during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: A 2mm video thoracoscopic examination for primary spontaneous pnumothorax is a useful alternative in deciding the operative indication.
Blister ; Drainage ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Pneumothorax ; Prospective Studies ; Recurrence ; Thoracoscopy

Thoracic sympathicotomy has been used safely and successfully to treat essential hyperhidrosis. However, it has been difficult to treat compansatory hyperhidrosis after thoracic sympathicotomy and focal hyperhidrosis. The sweat glands were innervated by post-ganglionic sympathetic fibers with acetylcholic serving as the transmitter. Botulinum A toxin has been reported to block neuro-transmission at the cholinergic autonomic nerve terminals. Prospecting its effect for the sweat gland, we treated 5 patients with focal hyperhidrosis with botulinum A toxin. Three patients received bilateral thoracic sympathectomy (1 case) and sympathicotomy(2 case) via VAT. The hyperhidrosis area was marked with betadine and was subdivided into squares of 2x2 cm(4cm(2)) each. Botulinum A toxin was injected intracutaneously in a dosage of 2.5U/0.1ml(100U/4ml) /4cm(2). A total dose of 100U of Botulinum A toxin was injected into the affected sites. Subjective assessment of sweat production by the patients using a visual analogue scale showed a 20~70% improvement. During the follow-up period, no toxic effects were observed.
Adrenergic Fibers ; Autonomic Pathways ; Botulinum Toxins, Type A* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis* ; Povidone-Iodine ; Sweat ; Sweat Glands ; Sympathectomy

BACKGROUND: Women with end-stage renal disease have low fertility. Following renal transplantation, the reproductive function returns to normal, and pregnancy becomes possible. METHOD: At our medical center, between June 1990 and February 1998, 263 female patients underwent renal transplantations, and 14 of them later became pregnant. The outcomes from 23 pregnancies in these 14 kidney transplant recipients were analyzed. RESULT: Forty-three percent (43%) of the pregnancies ended in artificial (9 cases) or spontaneous abortion (1 case), and 11 of 13 deliveries were successful. A vaginal delivery was performed in 9 cases (69%) and a cesarian section was done in 4 cases (31%). All of the 11 pregnancies that continued over 30 weeks ended successfully. The mean age of the recipients at the first pregnancy was 29.4 +/- 4.6 years (23-37). The mean time to first pregnancy since renal transplantation was 22.6 +/- 12.3 months (1-50). Thirteen (13) recipients were maintained on cyclosporin-based immunosuppressive regimens before and during pregnancy. One recipient, who was considered to have developed immune tolerance later, stopped the immunosuppressive drug at 3 months prior to the first pregnancy. The renal function remained stable and unchanged in all the recipients, and no rejection episodes occurred during and after pregnancy in any of the recipients. Preeclamsia occurred in 8 cases (35%) and a previous rupture of membrane in 1 case (4%). Of the 11 live births, 4 (36%) were premature (<37 weeks), 1 (9%) had a lowbirth-weight (<2500 gm), 1 (9%) had transient apnea, and 3 (27%) had transient neutropenia. The mean Apgar score at 1 minute was 7.8 (7-9), with only 2 children having a score below 7. No congenital anomalies were documented. The later development and health of all of the children were good during a mean follow-up of 16.6 +/- 10 (1-38) months. Two (2) recipients who had a successful first pregnancy had a second baby. CONCLUSION: From these results, we can conclude that pregnancy does not adversely affect graft function and fetal development, provided that the graft function was stable at the time of conception and prudent fetal monitoring could be done.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Apgar Score ; Apnea ; Child ; Female ; Fertility ; Fertilization ; Fetal Development ; Fetal Monitoring ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immune Tolerance ; Kidney ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Kidney Transplantation ; Live Birth ; Membranes ; Neutropenia ; Pregnancy* ; Rupture ; Transplantation ; Transplants

Antithrombin III deficient individuals have an increased risk of venous thrombosis and thromboembolism at a young age. To our knowledge, cerebral venous thrombosis associated with antithrombin III deficiency has not yet been reported in Korea. A 27-year-old pregnant woman without any known stroke risk factors was admitted to our hospital because of convulsions. Brain MRI and MR venography showed dural sinus thrombosis of the superior sagittal sinus, straight sinus, and left lateral sinus with venous hemorrhagic infarctions in both frontal and parietal lobes. Antithrombin III concentrations were decreased to 37%. We speculated that the etiology of the cerebral venous thrombosis in this patient was associated with antithrombin III deficiency. We suggest that antithrombin III deficiency should be considered as a possible cause of cerebral venous thrombosis.
Adult ; Antithrombin III Deficiency* ; Antithrombin III* ; Brain ; Female ; Humans ; Infarction ; Korea ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Parietal Lobe ; Phlebography ; Pregnant Women ; Risk Factors ; Seizures ; Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial* ; Stroke ; Superior Sagittal Sinus ; Thromboembolism ; Transverse Sinuses ; Venous Thrombosis

BACKGROUND: Calcific degeneration is the major cause of clinical failure of glutaraldehyde (GA) crosslinked bioprosthetic tissues implanted in the body and necessitates the reoperation or causes death. Surface modification of biologic tissues using sulfonated polyethyleneoixde (PEO-SO3) has been suggested to significantly enhance blood compatibility, biostability and calcification-resistance by means of the synergistic effect of highly mobile and hydrophilic PEO chains and electrical repulsion of negatively charged sulfonate groups. This study was designed to evaluate the anticalcification effect of surface-modification of biologic arteries by direct coupling of PEO-SO3 after GA fixation and changes of calcification according to the implantation period through the quantitative investigation of the deposited calcium and phosphorous contents of the biologic arterial tissues in the canine circulatory implantation model. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Total of 16 fresh canine carotid arteries were harvested from eight adult dogs and divided in to GA group(n =8) and PEO-SO3 group(n=8). Sulfonation of diamino-terminated PEO was performed using propane sultone. Canine carotid arteries were only crosslinked with 0.65% GA solution in GA group and modified by direct coupling 5% PEO-SO3 solution after GA crosslinkage for 2 days and stabilized by NaBH4 solution for 16 hours in PEO-SO3 group. In both groups the resected segment of bilateral carotid arteries were reconstructed. Reconstructed segments of the two groups were analysed the quantities of calcium and phosphorous contents after 3(n=4) and 6(n=4) weeks in vivo. RESULT: After implantation of 3 seeks, PEO-SO3 group showed significantly less depositions.
Adult ; Animals ; Arteries* ; Calcium ; Carotid Arteries ; Dogs ; Glutaral ; Humans ; Polyethylene Glycols* ; Propane ; Reoperation

PURPOSE: This prospective, open-label study evaluated the efficacy and safety of adjunctive levetiracetam (LEV) in Korean adults with uncontrolled partial epilepsy. METHODS: A total of 100 patients whose partial seizures were inadequately controlled on their current antiepileptic drugs were enrolled and received LEV (1000-3000 mg/day). Seizure count and adverse events (AEs) were recorded by patients. Global evaluation scale (GES) and quality of life (QOLIE-31) were also evaluated. Additionally effectiveness over 1-year follow-up was investigated. RESULTS: Ninety-two patients completed the short-term 16-week trial. The median percent reduction in weekly seizure frequency over the treatment period was 43.2%. The > or =50% and > or =75% responder rates were 45.4% and 36.1%, respectively. Seizure freedom was observed in 17 patients throughout the initial 16-week treatment period. On investigator's GES, 81 patients were considered improved, with 41 patients showing marked improvement. Most QOLIE-31 scales improved significantly. At the end of the trial, 79 chose to continue follow-up treatment with LEV. At the follow-up visit (ranging 60 to 81 weeks), 64 patients were still taking LEV; during the last 16 weeks, 65.6% of patients had > or =50% reduction, 50.0% had > or =75% reduction, and 35.9% had a 100% reduction. Seven patients showed continuous seizure freedom from the initiation of LEV treatment. During the entire treatment period, LEV was withdrawn in 36 patients; due to lack of efficacy in 22, AEs in six, both in three, other reasons in five. CONCLUSION: Adjunctive LEV therapy in patients with refractory partial epilepsy was effective and well-tolerated, as evidenced by the high seizure freedom and retention rates in both the short-term trial and the long-term follow-up.
Adult ; Anticonvulsants ; Epilepsies, Partial* ; Epilepsy ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Freedom ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Quality of Life ; Seizures ; Weights and Measures

CG200745 is a novel inhibitor of histone deacetylases (HDACs), initially developed for treatment of various hematological and solid cancers. Because it is water-soluble, it can be administered orally. We hypothesized that the HDAC inhibitor, CG200745, attenuates cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-induced hypertensive rats. For establishment of hypertension, 40 mg/kg of DOCA was subcutaneously injected four times weekly into Sprague-Dawley rats. All the rats used in this study including those in the sham group had been unilaterally nephrectomized and allowed free access to drinking water containing 1% NaCl. Systolic blood pressure was measured by the tail-cuff method. Blood chemistry including sodium, potassium, glucose, triglyceride, and cholesterol levels was analyzed. Sections of the heart were visualized after trichrome and hematoxylin and eosin stain. The expression of hypertrophic genes such as atrial natriuretic peptide A (Nppa) and atrial natriuretic peptide B (Nppb) in addition to fibrotic genes such as Collagen-1, Collagen-3, connective tissue growth factor (Ctgf), and Fibronectin were measured by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Injection of DOCA increased systolic blood pressure, heart weight, and cardiac fibrosis, which was attenuated by CG200745. Neither DOCA nor CG200745 affected body weight, vascular contraction and relaxation responses, and blood chemistry. Injection of DOCA increased expression of both hypertrophic and fibrotic genes, which was abrogated by CG200745. These results indicate that CG200745 attenuates cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in DOCA-induced hypertensive rats.
Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Body Weight ; Cardiomegaly* ; Chemistry ; Cholesterol ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; Desoxycorticosterone ; Desoxycorticosterone Acetate ; Drinking Water ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Fibronectins ; Fibrosis* ; Glucose ; Heart ; Hematoxylin ; Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors* ; Histone Deacetylases* ; Histones* ; Hypertension ; Methods ; Potassium ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Relaxation ; Sodium ; Triglycerides

We have experienced 2 patients who underwent retroperitoneal endoscopic lumbar sympathectomy (RELS) for bilateral plantar hyperhidrosis. They had underwent thoracic sympathectomy by thoracoscopy 20 months and 1 month ago, respectively. The first patient had to be converted to the open procedure due to pneumoperitonium and she was reoperated due to continous sweating by the incomplete sympathectomy on right side. At follow-up after 70 and 30 days postoperatively, RELS results were graded as excellent, good, fair, or poor. The first patient was very satisfied as "Excellent" and the second was slightly less satisfied as "Good" with compensatory hyperhidrosis at perianal area. This RELS is a feasible procedure to plantar hyperhydrosis patients with less pain, minimal scar, short period of convalescence, and short hospital stay.
Cicatrix ; Convalescence ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis ; Length of Stay ; Sweat ; Sweating ; Sympathectomy* ; Thoracoscopy

We describe a case of an intrathoracic kidney combined with right congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) that was diagnosed at 32 weeks of gestation. Although it has been well established that a right CDH shows a poorer outcome than a left CDH, our present case showed a good outcome because there was no herniation of other abdominal viscera, except for the right kidney. Our findings in this case indicate that impaction of the intrathoracic kidney may act as a 'shield' against further herniation of other abdominal viscera into the thoracic cavity.
Hernia, Diaphragmatic* ; Kidney* ; Pregnancy ; Thoracic Cavity ; Ultrasonography ; Viscera*

BACKGROUND: Recent developments in techniques of video-assisted thoracic surgery(VATS) and endoscopic equipment has expanded the application of video-assisted surgical procedures in the field of thoracic surgery. Especially, it will probably become the treatment of choice of spontaneous pneumothorax(SP). There is, however, a high recurrence rate, high cost, and paucity of long-term results. We report the results of postoperative follow-up and analyze perioperative parameters affected to recurrence, retrospectively. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From march 1992 to march 1997, 276 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax underwent 292 VATS procedures. Conversion to open thoracotomy was necessitated in eight patients, and this patients excluded from the study. RESULT: The sex distribution was 249 males and 31 females. The mean age was 28.1 12.2 years(range, 15 to 69 years). Primary SP was 237cases(83.5%) and secondary SP was 47cases(16.5%). The major underlying lung diseases associated with secondary SP were tuberculosis 27cases(57.4%) and emphysema 8cases (38.3%). Operative indications included Ipsilateral recurrence 123(43.9%), persistent air-leak 53(18.9%), x-ray visible bleb 40(14.3%), tension 30(10.7%), contralateral recurrence 21(7.5%), uncomplicated first episode 8(2.9%), bilateral 3(1.1%), complicated episode 2(0.7%). Blebs were visualized in 247cases(87%) and 244cases(85.9%) performed stapled blebectomy. Early postoperative complications occurred in 33 cases(11.6%): 16 prolonged air-leak more than 5 days(four of them were required a second operation and found missed blebs); 5 bleeding; 5 empyema; 2 atelectasis; 1 wound infection. No deaths occured. The mean operative time was 52.8 23.1 minutes(range, 20 to 165 minutes). The mean d ration of chest tube drainage was 5.0 4.5 days(range, 2 to 37 days). The mean duration ofhospital stay was 8.2 5.5 days (range, 3 to 43days). At a mean follow-up 22.3 18.4 months(range, 1 to 65 months), 12 patients(4.2%) were lost to follow-up. There were 24 recurrences and seven patients underwent second operation and 6 patients(85.7%) were found the missed blebs. 12 perioperative parameters(age, sex, site, underlying disease, extent of collapse, operative indication, size of bleb, number of bleb, location of bleb, bleb management, pleural procedure, prolonged postoperative air-leak) were analyzed statistically to identify significant predictors of recurrence. The significant predictors of recurrence was the underlying disease[17.0%(8/47): 6.8%(16/237), p=0.038], prolonged postoperative air-leakage[37.5%(6/16): 6.7%(18/268), p=0.001], and pleural procedure [11.4%(19/167): 4.3%(5/117), p=0.034]. Blebectomy has less recurrence rate then non-blebectomy [8.2%(20/244) : 10.0%(4/40), p>0. 5]. However, this difference was not statistically significant(p=0.758). CONCLUSION: We conclude that it is important that we shoud careful finding of bleb during VATS due to reducing of recurrnece, and cases of no bleb identified and secondary spontaneous pneumothorax were indicated of pleurodectomy. VATS is a valid alternative to open procedure for the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax with less pain, shorter hospital stay, more rapid return to work, high patient acceptance, less scar and exellent cosmetics. But, there is high recurrence rate and high cost, and than it is necessary to evaluate of long-term results for recurrence and to observate carefully during VATS.
Blister ; Chest Tubes ; Cicatrix ; Drainage ; Emphysema ; Empyema ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Lost to Follow-Up ; Lung Diseases ; Male ; Operative Time ; Pneumothorax ; Postoperative Complications ; Pulmonary Atelectasis ; Recurrence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Return to Work ; Sex Distribution ; Thoracic Surgery ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted* ; Thoracoscopy ; Thoracotomy ; Tuberculosis ; Wound Infection