No abstract available.
Animals ; Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Follicular Fluid* ; Humans* ; Mice*

No abstract available.
Erythroblastosis, Fetal* ; Infant, Newborn

BACKGROUND/AIMS: A laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has many clinical advantages and is now recognize as the choice of treatment for gallstones. However a laparoscopic cholecystectomy is often not feasible or is converted to the conventional open method in patients with acute cholecystitis because of inflammation around the gallbladder, adhesion, unclear anatomy, or intraoperative complications. Recent studies recommended that acute cholecystitis patients or gallbladder empyema patients undergo a percutaneous transhepatic GB drainage (PTGBD) first and a laparoscopic cholecystectomy later because PTGBD can be very helpful for improving the patient's state. METHODS: This study was carried out on 99 patients with acute cholecystitis or GB empyema who underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy after PTGBD at Eulji University School of Medicine from January 1996. These cases were compared with a control group of 41 patients who showed similar symptoms, ultrasonographic finding, operative finding, and pathologic results. RESULTS: There were no differences in the age and the sex distributions, the symptom duration, laboratory finding except alkaline phosphatase and leucocytosis. Among PTGBD group, a successful laparoscopic cholecystectomy was possible in 63 patients (63.6%), the other 36 patients were converted to open cholecystectomy. In control group, only 15 patients (36.6%) out of 41 underwent a successful laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This difference was statistically significant (P= 0.003). We analyze two groups about factors that can affect open conversion during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In multivariate analysis, preoperative PTGBD and degree of wall thickening are the independent risk factors that can convert LC into open cholecystectomy. CONCLUSION: We think that a laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed some time after PTGBD to improve the patient's condition by eliminating acute inflammation or decompressing the gallbladder may be recommended for management of acute cholecystitis patients with severe clinical symptoms and ultrasonographic findings of marked gallbladder dilatation or pericholecystic fluid collection.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic* ; Cholecystitis ; Cholecystitis, Acute* ; Dilatation ; Drainage ; Empyema ; Gallbladder ; Gallstones ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Intraoperative Complications ; Multivariate Analysis ; Risk Factors ; Sex Distribution

No abstract available.
Cholera* ; Korea*

OBJECTIVES: To determine the relations between seven blood lipids such as total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), HDL-cholesterol(HDL), LDL-cholesterol(LDL), apolipoprotein A-1(Apo A1), apolipoprotein B(Apo B) and lipoprotein(a)(Lp(A)) and the coronary heart diseases(CHD), the quantitative techniques of meta-analysis were applied to studies of blood lipids and CHD in Koreans. METHODS: We searched the Korean and the English literature published from 1980 to August, 1997 by manual search and bibliography review. Information on sample size, study design, participant characteristics(gender, age) and blood lipid levels were abstracted by reviewers using inclusion criteria. Estimates of the effect sizes of blood lipid levels on CHD in Koreans and corresponding 95% confidence intervals were calculated using random-effect models. RESULTS: We identified 16 case-control studies to apply meta-analysis. The overall effect sizes for CHD were 20.3(95% CI : 14.23-26.22) in TC, 24.8(95% CI : 12.6-36.86) in TG, 15.16(95% CI : 3.99 - 26.33) in LDL, -3.48(95% CI : -5.79 - -1.17) in HDL, -9.78(95% CI : -16.98 - -2.58) in Apo-a1, 17.88(95% CI : 9.72 - 26.05) in Apo B and 18.95(95% CI : 17.88 - 20.02) in Lp(a). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested that seven blood lipids were significantly associated with CHD in Koreans. Well-designed and prospective studies between blood lipids and CHD in Koreans should be performed.
Apolipoproteins ; Apolipoproteins B ; Case-Control Studies ; Coronary Disease* ; Heart ; Risk Factors* ; Sample Size

PURPOSE: The hepatolithiasis and associated cholangitis result in liver atropy, biliary stricture, liver abscess and intrahepatic malignancy, and a hepatic resection should be performed in such cases. The technical difficulty and accompanied inflammation with a hepatic resection frequently cause postoperative complications. Therefore, the factors affecting the postoperative complications were evaluated. METHODS: Twenty one patients, with hepatolithiasis that had received a hepatectomy at the Department of Surgery, Eulji University Hospital between March 2001 and January 2003, were reviewed. RESULTS: The postoperative complications were intraabdominal abscess (7 cases), pleural effusion (3 cases), wound complication (3 cases), T-tube site leakage (1 case), cardiac arrest (1 case), acute pancreatitis (1 case), hepatitis A (1 case) and delayed gastric emptying (1 case). The overall complication rate was 57% (12/21 patients) and the most common complication was an intraabdominal abscess (7 cases). The factors that may affect these complications were analyzed. Preoperative percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) increased the postoperative complications, which was statistically significant (p=0.027). Especially, preoperative PTBD and hepaticojejunostomy increased the rate of an intraabdominal abscess, which was statistically significant (p=0.026, p=0.008). CONCLUSION: With hepatolithiasis requiring hepatic resection there is a need to avoid unnecessary preoperative PTBD and bypass surgery for the reduction of postoperative complications, including an intraabdominal abscess. Conversely, it is considered important to remove every stone and avoid needless bypass surgery under an operation and for a hepatic resection to be performed after removing PTBD, where possible.
Abscess ; Cholangitis ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Drainage ; Gastric Emptying ; Heart Arrest ; Hepatectomy ; Hepatitis A ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Liver ; Liver Abscess ; Pancreatitis ; Pleural Effusion ; Postoperative Complications* ; Wounds and Injuries

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the advantages of adequate PTGBD in patients with acute complicated cholecystitis. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of a database that was collected from September 2001 to July 2008. Acute cholecystitis with gangrene or perforation was defined as acute complicated cholecystitis. A PTGBD was performed for the patients immediately after the diagnosis using US or CT and then a tubogram was performed after 5~7 days. After evaluating the gallbladder (GB) and common bile duct (CBD) with a tubogram, we removed the drainage and the patients underwent a LC after readmission. RESULTS: Three hundred seventy four of the 893 patients who were diagnosed with acute cholecystitis underwent PTGBD. While 19 (3.2%) of the total acute cholecystitis patients were converted to open cholecystectomy due to severe inflammation, 14 (3.7%) acute complicated patients were converted to open cholecystectomy. In 79 patients, the pre-operative tubogram showed the presence of CBD stone and so ERCP was performed. There was no post-operative death. CONCLUSION: Performing PTBGD in patients with acute complicated cholecystitis allows the early relief of the symptoms of acute cholecystitis. This allows for sufficient evaluation and treatment for CBD during the PTGBD state. Further, PTBGD decreases the mortality and morbidity in the high-risk patients due to sufficient evaluation and management of the underlying critical disease. PTBGD allows for performing elective cholecystectomy when the patient is in a better condition for surgery. Therefore, PTGBD can be useful for treating acute complicated cholecystitis.
Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic ; Cholecystitis ; Cholecystitis, Acute ; Common Bile Duct ; Drainage ; Gallbladder ; Gangrene ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purposes of this study was to investigate the characteristics of gentamicin-induced vestibulotoxicity of s otolith organs by assessing the results of earth vertical and the off-vertical axis rotation tests with a morphologic study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rabbits were grouped into two groups, ototoxic and ototoxic prevention group. Vestibulotoxicity was induced by injecting gentamicin (GM) into the peritoneum. Prevention of the vestibulotoxicity was studied by injecting NMDA receptor inhibitors (MK-801), iron chelating agents (deferoxamine) peritonially, and osmotic pumps filled with neurotrophic factors (GDNF, BDNF), respectively. The animal rotation system was designed to rotate the animal sinusoidally or in velocity step (constant velocity) rotation. Off-vertical rotation was applied to evaluate the otolithic function. Scanning electron microscopy were examined for the structural changes of the otolithic organs. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: GM-induced vestibulotoxicity was confirmed by gain decreasing in the earth vertical SHA rotation test and bias decreasing in the off-vertical rotation test. However, changes in modulation was not definite. Bilateral prevention of GM-induced vestibulotoxicity was confirmed by systemic injection of deferoxamine and MK-801, and characteristics of unilateral prevention was confirmed by local application of the neurotrophic factors using osmotic pumps. In the SEM study, the GM-induced hair cell damages of the vestibule were identified, which was prevented by the preventive drugs. The reduction of bias value without change of modulation was comparable with the reduction of gain in the earth vertical axis rotation after GM-induced vestibulotoxicity.
Rabbits ; Animals ; Drug Toxicity

PURPOSE: Although interest in the role played by vitamin D in bone health is increasing, little is known about the role of this vitamin in musculoskeletal pain in children. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in children presenting with nonspecific lower extremity pains. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2011 to 2012, 183 children underwent evaluation for nonspecific lower-extremity pains. Patients with valid causes, such as fractures or transient synovitis, were excluded, as were those with underlying medical conditions, such as cerebral palsy and metabolic disease. Ultimately, 140 patients met the inclusion criteria. Levels of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25-(OH)D], the ideal indicator of vitamin D status, were measured in these children. RESULTS: Eighty-seven boys (62.1%) and 53 girls (37.9%) were included. The mean age at presentation was 5.2 years (range, 2-15). Serum 25-(OH)D levels were <10 ng/mL in 5.7% of patients, 10 to <20 ng/mL in 51.4%, 20 to <30 ng/mL in 37.9%, and > or =30 ng/mL in only 5.0%. Most patients visited the hospital in the winter (41.4%) (summer, 12.9%), and serum 25-(OH)D levels were also lowest in the winter (17.2+/-5.5 ng/mL). CONCLUSION: This study found a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency in Korean children with nonspecific lower-extremity pains, indicating a positive association between vitamin D deficiency and growing pains. More attention should be directed toward vitamin D and its role in the optimization of bone health.
Adolescent ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/*statistics & numerical data ; Calcifediol/administration & dosage ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Musculoskeletal Pain/drug therapy/etiology ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Seasons ; Vitamin D/*analogs & derivatives/blood ; Vitamin D Deficiency/blood/complications/*ethnology ; Vitamins/administration & dosage

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of sperm motility stimulants on the hyperactivation (HA), acrosomal reaction (AR) and sperm penetration assay (SPA) in fresh and frozen-thawed spermatozoa from fertile men. METHODS: We treated the semen samples obtained from 20 normospermic men (fresh semens from 10 and cryopreserved ones from 10) with pentoxiphylline (PF) and 2-deoxyadenosine (2-DXA) to evaluate the change of the patterns of motility using the computerized motility analyzer. The semen samples treated with motility stimulants were incubated in the medium with calcium ionophore A23187 for the examination of the proportion of acrosome lost spermatozoa. Finally we performed SPA in both groups for the evaluation of fertilizing capacity after stimulant treatments. RESULTS: In both fresh and cryopreserved semen samples, the addition of PF and 2-DXA significantly altered the patterns of motility (ALH, VCL, HA) known to have association with sperm quality without increasing the number of sperms with progressive motility and velocity. A23187 induced AR was also augmented by the treatment with PF and 2-DZA. Although the treatment with PF did not increase the mean rates of egg penetration significantly, in selected cases in the cryopreserved semen group, the improvement of the motility pattern was impressive. CONCLUSION: PF and 2-DXA can improve the quality of sperm function in both fresh and frozen-thawed semen from normal fertile men and may increase the sperm penetration rate of zona-free hamster eggs in selected samples of the frozen-thawed semen. The results suggest that PF and 2-DXA pretreatment can be used in the clinical practice for intrauterine insemination (IUI) program with frozen-thawed sperms as well as with samples from men with abnormal semen parameters. In addition, it may be a cost- effective therapy to try IUI combined with such a pretreatment for the couples planned to enter into the ART program.
Acrosome ; Acrosome Reaction ; Animals ; Calcimycin ; Calcium ; Cricetinae ; Eggs ; Family Characteristics ; Fertilization in Vitro* ; Humans ; Insemination ; Male ; Ovum ; Semen ; Sperm Motility* ; Sperm-Ovum Interactions ; Spermatozoa*