No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Respiration, Artificial*

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that the regulation of hair growth might involve complex interaction between dermal papilla cells and hair matrix cells. Dermal papilla cells secrete diffusible factors that would act an hair matrix cells. During anagen the papilla appears to have prominent capillary loop, whereas in telogen it is nonvascularized. Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) was recently reported to be produced by dermal papilla cells in rats. OBJECTIVES: We performed this study in order to evaluate the effect of VEGF on human hair growth in vitro and on the proliferation of dermal papilla cells and to define the splice forms of VEGF. METHODS: To detect the isoforms of VEGF, RT-PCR was performed on RNA isolated from dermal papilla cells and RT-PCR products were hybridized with VEGF-specific oligonucleotide probe located in exon 4. Isolated human hair follicles were cultured with various concentrations of VEGF165 and VEGF121. Hair follicle growth was measured by an Olympus inverted microscope with an eyepiece measuring graticule. RESULTS: The following results were obtained from this study. 1. Southern hybridization and size calculation of RT-PCR products revealed that mRNA species corresponding to 121, 165, 189, and 206 amino-acid forms of VEGF were praduced by cultured human dermal papilla cells. 2. 10 ng/ml of rhVEGF165, 0.1 ng/ml of rhVEGF165 and 10 ng/ml of rhVEGF121 stimulated follicle elongation in vitro(p < 0.05). 3. rhVEGF165 and rhVEGF121 had no effect on the numbers and thymidine incorporation of dermal papilla cells. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that VEGF is produced by dermal papilla cells and is able to promote hair growth in vitro. Increased hair growth by VEGF might occur other than by proliferation of dermal papilia cells.
Animals ; Capillaries ; Endothelial Growth Factors* ; Exons ; Hair Follicle ; Hair* ; Humans ; Protein Isoforms ; Rats ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Thymidine ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Basal cell carcinoma(BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are very prevalent neoplasms of the human skin. Ultraviolet radiation in sunlight is a well-established mutagen of the p53 gene and is one of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. The newly-formed vascular network is important for neoplasms to grow beyond a size of about 1 mm2. Recent reports have suggested the hypothesis that a mutant p53 protein is closely related with capillary density. Immumohistochemistry for p53 protein and CD34 was performed in 20 cases of BCCs and 14 SCCs to evaluated the relationship between p53 protein and capillary density. The results were as follows:1. The microvessels stained by CD34 were mainly located in the interface of tumor cells and stroma. 2. There was no difference in the microvessel density according to the histologic types and age of the patients, but a higher microvessel density was noted in male patients. 3. The aggressive BCCs and the less-differentiated SCCs showed higher p53 immunostaining. 4. The mean microvessel density of cases showing strong positive immunostaining of the p53 gene(54.73+/-17.75) was higher than that of others(39.75+/-18.30). These results suggested that p53 protein expression and microvessel density are not related to the histologic types and age of the patients, but that differentiation and biologic behavior such as the infiltrating property of tumors and the microvessel density are closely related to p53 protein expression.
Capillaries ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Genes, p53 ; Humans ; Male ; Microvessels* ; Skin* ; Sunlight

A 35 years old female patient was admitted to our neuro-pain clinic with symptoms of low back pain(L4, L5 level) radiated to both lower(L3, L4, L5 level) extremities that developed 6 years prior to admission. Upon initial physical examination, motor weakness or sensory deficit was absent. But on straight leg raising test, it was restricted to 60 degree in both lower extremities. Low back pain and radiating pain improved significantly after we performed epidural steroid injection. However on the next day of procedure the patient complaints more pain and started to experience severe pain during overnight for 3 days. On computer tomography(CT, L3-S1 level), we find suspicious lesion of herniated nucleus pulposus at L5-S1. Otherwise were within normal limits. Based on these symptoms, to find the other lesions, subsequently magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) was performed. Spinal tumor was seen at L2-3 level(2 2 4 cm). Neurosurgical surgery was recommended, and operation was performed. The patient was diagnosed to ependymoma after excision and cytologic studies. Even if one lesion was diagnosed, it must be put off until any other diseases or underlying cancer are ruled out. We report a patient with spinal cord tumor missed on CT, but revealed on MRI in the evaluation and management of herniated nucleus pulposus related(L5-S1) low back pain.
Adult ; Ependymoma ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans ; Leg ; Low Back Pain ; Lower Extremity ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Physical Examination ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms* ; Spinal Cord*

BACKGROUND: It is clinically important to know the distance of upper airway for airway management and respiratory care. The knowledge is useful for avoiding many possible complications due to endotracheal intubation by appropriate choice of endotracheal tube depth. METHODS: We investigated the distance from nose to carina according to the patient,s age, weight, height, sex with computed Tomography in 100 adults who had no anatomical abnormality of the upper airway, neck and head. RESULT: The length between upper incisor and vocal cord was 15.0+/-0.8 cm in male and 13.9+/-0.6 cm in female. The length between vocal cord and carina was 13.2+/-0.8 cm in male and 11.9+/-0.9 cm in female. The length between upper incisor and carina was 28.3 0.9 cm in male and 25.9+/-1.2 cm in female. The length between nose and vocal cord was 17.7+/-0.9 cm in male and 15.9+/-0.8 cm in female. The length between nose and carina was 30.9+/-1.2 cm in male and 27.9+/-1.3 cm in female. The distance of upper airway increased according to patient, s (n=100) height, weight and age(p<0.05). The distance of upper airway not increased according to female patient, s (n=36) age(p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The length between vocal cord and carina, nose and carina, incisor and carina increased according to patient, s (n=100) height, weight and age.
Adult ; Airway Management ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Incisor ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Male ; Neck ; Nose ; Vocal Cords

Pseudomonas stutzeri is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped, motile, single polar-flagellated, soil bacterium that was first isolated from human spinal fluid and is widely distributed in the environment. It was isolated as an uncommon opportunistic pathogen from humans, and a few cases of P. stutzeri-induced peritonitis have been reported in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Catheter removal with antibiotic treatment is generally recommended because peritonitis by Pseudomonas species is commonly associated with catheter-related infection. Here, we describe the first case of P. stutzeri-induced peritonitis in an 82-year-old woman in Korea. She had received two antipseudomonal antibiotics, an aminoglycoside (isepamicin, Yuhan corporation, Seoul, Korea) and a fluoroquinolone (ciprofloxacin), and was successfully treated without removal of the CAPD catheter.
Aged, 80 and over ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Catheter-Related Infections ; Catheters ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory ; Peritonitis ; Pseudomonas ; Pseudomonas stutzeri ; Soil

Regulation for new standardized rescue record from of the 119 EMS system was established by law from February 1, 1998. We have recently evaluated the effectiveness of the record from. Records of 192 patients who visited the Emergency department of Sangggye Paik Hospital. Inje University by the 119 EMS system from February 1 to February 28, 1998 were analyzed statistically according to the contents of record form. In conclusion, the new standardized rescue record form of the 119 EMS system was effective in giving information of patients' history and analysing of the 119 EMS system. But, Detailed modification of the record form about disease entities is needed for proper initial evaluation of emergency patient.
Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Jurisprudence ; Retrospective Studies*

Purpose: Splenectomy for patients with remnant gastric cancer has been controversial. The purpose of this study is to identify the impact of splenectomy in the treatment of remnant gastric cancer. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 285 patients with remnant gastric cancer who underwent completion total gastrectomy with or without splenectomy in Samsung Medical Center, between September 1996 and December 2017. We used a 1:1 propensity score matching method for the analysis. The matching factors were age, sex, and pathologic stage. After the matching process, we compared the 5-year overall survival (OS) and the disease-free survival (DFS) between patients with and without splenectomy during completion total gastrectomy. Results: The median duration of follow-up was 58.0 months (range, 0–132 months). After propensity score matching, there were no statistically significant differences between the splenectomy group (n = 77) and no splenectomy group (n = 77) in terms of clinicopathological features. The 5-year OS rate between the no splenectomy and splenectomy group were not significantly different. There was no significant difference between 5-year DFS of the matched groups. Multivariate analysis revealed that splenectomy is not a significant prognostic factor in terms of 5-year OS (no splenectomy vs. splenectomy; 61.5% vs. 60.2%, P = 0.884) or DFS (74.9% vs. 69.8%, P = 0.880). Conclusion Splenectomy has no impact on the OS and DFS in patients with remnant gastric cancer. Splenectomy during completion total gastrectomy may not be necessary.

BACKGROUND: The pilots with cardiovascular events have a possibility for a risk of suffering from sudden incapacitation which is closely related to flying safety. The coagulation factors such as fibrinogen, factor VII, and factor VIII are possibly related to cardiovascular events. Several studies for general population have shown that an increase of those coagulation factors with age, a correlation of Factor VII and fibrinogen with BMI, and of fibrinogen with smoking. However, this study is to find out whether pilots' age, body weight, body mass index (BMI) and smoking are related to the baseline measurement of coagulation factor VII, factor VIII and fibrinogen. METHOD: Samples were taken from 21 pilots from Asiana Airlines: 11 smokers and 10 non-smokers. In order to measure the relationship between age, body weight, BMI, and the coagulation factors, Pearson correlation was used in this analysis. Independent two sampled t-test was used to analyze the correlation between smoking and the coagulation factors. RESULTS: Mean age, mean height, mean body weight and mean BMI of pilots were examined: 38 years, 171.81 cm, 70.67 Kg and 23.94 Kg/m(2). Mean fibrinogen, mean factor VII, and mean factor VIII were also obtained: 236.0 mg/dl, 92.93%, and 60.16%. The coagulation factor VII, factor VIII and fibrinogen were not significant related to age, body weight, BMI, smoking of pilots. CONCLUSION: This study has no correlation between age, body weight, BMI, smoking and the coagulation factors because the age of this study does not have pilots with over 60 years old and healthy behaviors (e.g., exercise, smoking, drinking, etc.) of most pilots are relatively well.
Blood Coagulation Factors* ; Body Height* ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Diptera ; Drinking ; Factor VII* ; Factor VIII ; Fibrinogen* ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Smoke* ; Smoking*

PURPOSE: Occult intertrochanteric fractures are misdiagnosed as isolated greater trochanteric fractures in some cases. We investigated the utility of three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis and outcome management of occult intertrochanteric fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study involved 23 cases of greater trochanteric fractures as diagnosed using plain radiographs from January 2004 to July 2013. Until January 2008, 9 cases were examined with 3D-CT only, while 14 cases were screened with both 3D-CT and MRI scans. We analyzed diagnostic accuracy and treatment results following 3D-CT and MRI scanning. RESULTS: Nine cases that underwent 3D-CT only were diagnosed with isolated greater trochanteric fractures without occult intertrochanteric fractures. Of these, a patient with displacement received surgical treatment. Of the 14 patients screened using both CT and MRI, 13 were diagnosed with occult intertrochanteric fractures. Of these, 11 were treated with surgical intervention and 2 with conservative management. CONCLUSION: Three-dimensional CT has very low diagnostic accuracy in diagnosing occult intertrochanteric fractures. For this reason, MRI is recommended to confirm a suspected occult intertrochanteric fracture and to determine the most appropriate mode of treatment.
Diagnosis ; Femur* ; Fractures, Closed ; Hip Fractures ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging