A new balloon dissector, a modification of a Foley catheter, was devised and it can be used either as a dissector or a tissue expander. Since most operating time was spent in balloon manipulation (inflation/deflation), the duct for saline injection was made to be wider than the Foley catheter. As a result, the balloon could be inflated faster than before. In order to reduce the scar at the donor site, harvest of the sural nerve using endoscopic technique is currently applied, but utilization of this method is technically difficult and requires a long operating time. For these reasons, new our method of using a balloon dissector was devised. The balloon dissector can also be used for immediate intraoperative tissue expansion for the reconstruction of small skin defects without distortion. We have found that the advantages of using the new balloon dissector include a reduction in operating time, preservation of the perforating vessels, and primary closure with less tension. In addition, this simple and inexpensive instrument is cost-beneficial to patients.
Catheters ; Cicatrix ; Humans ; Skin ; Sural Nerve ; Tissue Donors ; Tissue Expansion ; Tissue Expansion Devices

The postmortem stature was measured in 57 Korean adult males (age range: 20-86 years old, mean: 52.3 years old) in supine position. After dissection of the corpses, we measured the maximum length of the remaining limb-bones (humerus, radius, ulna, femur, tibia and fibula). The correlation coefficients between the stature and each limb-bone length were calculated. Simple regression equations for estimating stature from each limb-bone length and multiple regression equations from the combination of limb-bone lengths were also obtained.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Body Height* ; Bone and Bones/anatomy & histology* ; Extremities/anatomy & histology* ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; Regression Analysis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Esophageal squamous papillorma is a rare benign lesion. This lesion is generally asymptomatic and solitary. Resent studies reveal the presence of human papil- lomavirus in certain cases of esophageal squamous papilloma, and human papillomavirus appears to be pathogenetically related to the esophageal squamous papilloma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of human papillomavirus in esoplmgeal spuamous papilloma. METHODS: In situ hybridizations and direct in situ polymerase chain reactions for human papillomavirus type 6/11 were performed on 16 paraffin embedded tissues with esophageal squamous papilloma. RESULTS: Human papillomavirus type 6/11 was detected in 1 of 16 esophageal squamous papillomas on direct in situ polymerase chain reaction. All lesions were solitary, and 12 of 16 cases were located in distal one-third of the esophagus. Age range was 23-71 years (mean, 41 years). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that causal relation between human papillomavirus type 6/11 and esophageal squamous papilloma is inconspicuous.
Esophagus* ; Humans* ; In Situ Hybridization ; Papilloma* ; Paraffin ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

Gut microbiota have been known to play an essential role in host immunity and metabolism. Dysbiosis is associated with various gastrointestinal (GI) and other diseases such as cancers, metabolic diseases, allergies, and immunological disorders. So far, the role of gut microbiota has been studied mainly in lower GI disease but has recently been reported in upper GI diseases other than Helicobacter pylori infection, including Barrett's esophagus, esophageal carcinoma, gastric cancer, functional dyspepsia, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced small intestinal mucosal injury. Probiotics have some beneficial effect on these diseases, but the effects are strain specific.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; Barrett Esophagus ; Dysbiosis ; Dyspepsia ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Helicobacter Infections ; Helicobacter pylori ; Hypersensitivity ; Metabolic Diseases ; Metabolism ; Microbiota ; Probiotics ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract

Fibrosarcoma is a rare malignant tumor in the larynx. It is quite different from epidermoid carcinoma seen most frequently in the larynx in the aspect of invasive behavior; metastatic route and treatment modality. This paper presents a case of pyriform sinus fibrosarcoma with a brief review of literature.
Adult ; Case Report ; Fibrosarcoma/pathology* ; Human ; Laryngeal Neoplasms/pathology* ; Male

No abstract available.
Lung*

PURPOSE: To assess the usefulness of diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI) in evaluating serial parenchymal changesin renal infarction induced by renal artery ligation, by comparing this with the conventional spin echo techniqueand correlating the results with the histopathological findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 22 rabbits, renalinfarction was induced by ligation of the renal artery. Spin-echo T1-weighted imaging(T1WI), turbo spin-echo(TSE)T2-weighted imaging(T2WI), and DWI were performed, using a 1.5-T superconductive unit, at 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2,3, 6, 12 and 24 hours, and 2, 3, 7 and 20 days after left renal artery ligation. Changes in signal intensity onT1WI, T2WI, and DWI were correlated with histopathologic findings. RESULTS: On MR images obtained 30 minutesafter ligation, the signal intensity of affected kidney was not significantly different from that of contralateralkidney, as seen on T1WI and T2WI, but was noticeably higher on DWI. On T2WI, the signal intensity ratio(SIR) wasslightly higher over time from 30 minutes to 2 days after ligation, and then decreased slightly. The SIR on DWIincreased abruptly at 30 minutes, remained high until 12 hours, and then fell, returning to close to the normalrange at between 2 and 3 days. It fell further, below the normal range, until 20 days after ligation. The mainhistopathologic findings after ligation were congestion and swelling of renal tubules (1-6 hours after ligation),degeneration and necrosis of renal tubules (12 hours - 2 days), coagulation necrosis of renal tubules(3 days),collection of cellular debris between renal tubules (7 days), and proliferation of fibroblast between renaltubules (20 days). CONCLUSION: Diffusion-weighted imaging is useful for the detection of hyperacute renalinfarction, and the apparent diffusion coefficient may provide additional information concerning its evolution.
Animals ; Diffusion ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Fibroblasts ; Infarction* ; Kidney ; Ligation* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Necrosis ; Rabbits* ; Reference Values ; Renal Artery*

PURPOSE: Dynamic liver scan with spiral CT during a single breath hold was performed for To determing the optimal timing of scanning and the degree of the enhancement of liver and vessel. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Liver spiral CT was performed on 143 patients and dynamic sequence scan on 2 normal volunteers. After baseline spiral CT without contrast enhancement, spiral CT was performed after administration of a bolus of 100 ml of nonionic contrast material intravenously with mechanical power injector at the constant injection rate of 2 ml/sec. Cephalocaudal scanning was started 45 seconds after the beginning of injection. In the majority of cases we employed 16-24 continuous scanning with table feed of 10 mm, slice thickness of 10 mm, and reconstructed in 5 or 10 mm section increments. We measured degree of enhancement of aorta, IVC, and liver parenchyma in all images. RESULTS: We have achieved bolus phase at all images from the following measured date; 170-250 H. U at aorta, 110-150 H. U at IVC, 80-125 H. U at liver parenchyma, 100-130 H. U at spleen, which shown contrast difference between aorta and IVC at least 45 H. U. At the dynamic sequence scan, aortic and vascular CT atternuation reaches a peak at 55-60sec and peak hepatic enhancement occurred at 70-75 sec with relative plateau achieve at 45 sec. Spiral CT also showed elimination of variation in diaphragmatic excursion. CONCLUSION: We could get the disirable phase imaging at overall examination from the dynamic liver scan around 45-60 seconds after injection of contrast media.
Aorta ; Contrast Media ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Liver* ; Spleen ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the incidence of antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with proven endometriosis and apparently normal controls, and to evaluate the changes in profiles of humoral immune factors in endometriosis after treatment with gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa). METHODS: Sera of 92 patients with endometriosis, 40 patients without endometriosis and 128 normal male blood doners (normal controls) were tested for the presence of autoantibodies to six phospholipids (cardiolipin, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidyglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidic acid) and beta 2-glycoprotein I(GPI)- dependent anticardiolipin antibodies. Also, antiendometrial antibodies (AEA), antiphospholipid antibodies (APA), Immunoglobulin (Ig)G, IgA, IgM, complement C3, C4 and CA-125 were measured in 26 endometriosis patients before and after 3 months of GnRHa treatment. RESULTS: Eighteen (19.6%) patients with endometriosis had at least one of the APA compared with normal controls (8.3%). The prevalence of beta 2-GPI-dependent anticardiolipin antibodies was higher in patients with endometriosis than in normal controls. There were no significant changes in the positivity and levels of AEA and APA after GnRHa Treatment and the levels of immunoglobulins and complement showed similiar pattern. However, the numbers of patients with the level of CA-125 > 35 IU/ml, which is defined as the upper limit of normal level and the levels of CA-125 decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Around 20% of patients with endometriosis had APA and CA-125 measurement may be better than humoral factor tests in monitoring patients with endometriosis after GnRHa treatment.
Antibodies ; Antibodies, Anticardiolipin ; Antibodies, Antiphospholipid ; Autoantibodies ; Complement C3 ; Complement System Proteins ; Endometriosis* ; Female ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone* ; Gonadotropins* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin M ; Immunoglobulins ; Immunologic Factors ; Incidence ; Male ; Phosphatidylinositols ; Phospholipids ; Prevalence

BACKGROUND: Heat shock proteins (HSP), especially the HSP 70 family, may play certain roles in the immunophysiology of some skin diseases such as psoriasis, pemphigus, and lichen planus. HSPs generally induce down-regulation of the process of apoptosis that is considered to be one of the acantholysis-producing pathways in pemphigus. OBJECTIVE: We planned to examine possible roles of HSPs 70/105 in the blistering process in pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and pemphigus foliaceus (PF), in connection with the detection results of apoptosis in local tissue specimens. METHODS: Immunohistochemical stainings and Western blot analysis were performed for the detection and semiquantitation of HSPs 70/105 in skin specimens from lesional, nonlesional, and normal control sites. Hoechst 33342 staining was simultaneously carried out to examine features of apoptosis in lesional skin specimens. RESULTS: The findings on expression of HSP were as follows. In PV, the expression of HSP 70 was minimum or negative; however, in PF, the expression was obvious and recognizable in lesional and perilesional normal skin. In contrast, HSP 105 was not detected in all cases of PV and PF. The features of apoptosis were evident at the lesional skin of all cases of pemphigus with acantholytic changes. CONCLUSION: PV and PF had different relative intensities of HSPs in lesional tissue stainings, especially in cases with HSP 70. This suggests that there may be subtle differences in the mechanisms causing acantholysis between PV and PF.
Acantholysis ; Apoptosis ; Benzimidazoles ; Blister ; Blotting, Western ; Down-Regulation ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; Hot Temperature ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; Humans ; Lichen Planus ; Pemphigus ; Psoriasis ; Skin ; Skin Diseases