Twelve hyperlipidemic patients taking ginseng extract 1.0 gm daily were studied for sequential changes in blood lipid levels for 16 weeks. Following results were observed. 1. HDL-C was markedly elevated from the beginning through test period while TG is conversely decreased. 2. TC and LDL-C revealed the tendency to decrease but not significant in degree. 3. No remarkable untoward reaction was observed with long term ginseng extract administration. In summary, the beneficial effect of ginseng extract on abnormal blood lipids level is unequivocal and the author recommend the use of ginseng extract to patient being on the verge of atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis* ; Humans ; Panax*

No abstract available.
Arthritis, Juvenile*

A 23-year-old male patient had 65 nodules of 0.2~0.7 cm in diameter nn scrotum. Elliptical excision was done to remove the nodules situated on the middle part of the scrotum. For small multiple nodules on the lower part of the scroelectrocogulation and curretage was performed. Excellent results were obtained by two modalities of treatment.
Calcinosis* ; Electrocoagulation ; Humans ; Male ; Scrotum* ; Young Adult

According to photothermolysis, the FPDL(flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser) treatment theoretically causes no epidermal damage, however, we have observed blister, crust and scars in clinical experiences, and we have also found that FPDL has limited effect on adults, specially, thick-skinned Asian people with rich melanin pigment. In order to explain these effects, we took biopsies and made a histologic observation and analyzed the results statistically. The biopsies were taken from 15 patients who received first treatment and stained with H&E and NBTC(nitroblue tetrazolium chloride). We measured epidermal melanin content, epidermal damage, vessel wall coagulation depth, RBC coagulation depth, mean vessel diameter and evaluated clinical results at post-treatment 6 weeks. The vessel diameter and darkness of lesion color were increased with ages. Complete vessel coagulation was restricted to small vessels. With increasing epidermal melanin content, epidermal damage increased accordingly. The clinincal results were enhanced with increasing coagulation depth of vessel walls, and deteriorated with increasing epidermal melanin content. The clinical result was not significantly correlated with RBC-coagulation depth or energy used. We observed that melanin pigments have an adverse effect on clinical results. The FPDL treatment can be a choice of treatment to children with light colored lesion, but has a limitation to Asian adults with rich melanin pigment. Therefore, repetitive treatment is necessary for improvement of clinical results.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Biopsy ; Blister ; Child ; Cicatrix ; Darkness ; Humans ; Lasers, Dye* ; Melanins

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluates the change of the left atrial appendage function before and after electrical cardioversion to understand the mechanism involved in systemic thromboembolism of atrial fibrillation. BACKGROUND: Systemic thromboembolism associated with electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation is thought to originate from the left atrium or left atrial appendage, or both.However, the mechanism involved is poorly understood. METHOD: We studied left atrial appendage function funcction with transesophageal echocardiography in 15 patients with atrial fibrillation before and after successful electrical cardioversion. We measured left atrial appendage emptying and filling velocities and left atrial appendage areas. Also we analysed the characteristic Dopper flow pattern of LAA. RESULT: Left atrial appendage emptying velocities before cardioversion were greater in patients without(32.0+/-13.2cm/sec) than in those with(21.4+/-7.6cm/sec) spontaneous echo contrast(SEC). Furthermore emptying velocities after cardioversion were significantly reduced group with (21.4+/-7.6 vs 12.2+/-9.6, p<0.05) and the groupwithout(32.0+/-13.2 vs 18.1+/-10.2, p<0.05)SEC. CONCLUSION: After electrical cardioversion for atrial fibrillation left atrial appendage function is impaired. These observations suggest that stunned left atrial appendage after cardioversion may predispose to thrombus formation, which may play a role in the mechanism involved in the occurrence of thromboembolism after cardioversion.
Atrial Appendage* ; Atrial Fibrillation* ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal* ; Electric Countershock* ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Thromboembolism ; Thrombosis

No abstract available.
Biliary Atresia*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Foreign Bodies*

The clinical applications of free have been extended tremendously in head and neck reconstruction. In a nine-year period, 92 microvascular free flaps were performed to repair the defects following major head and neck ablative surgery. Twenty-one transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps, 18 radial foream flaps, 15 latissimus dorsi muscle flaps, 12 jejunal flaps, 8 fibular osteocutaneous flaps, 6 rectus abdominis muscle flaps, 6 iliac osteomyocutaneous flaps, 2 groin fasciocutaneous flaps, 1 scapular fasciocutaneous flap, 1 parascapular osteocutaneous flap, 1 tensor fascia lata muscle flap and 1 serratus anterior muscle flap were used for reconstruction. Twenty-five maxillary defects including the orbit or skull base, 16 pharyngoesophageal defects, 15 intraoral defects, 15 mandibular defects, 13 scalp defects, 1 cervical region and 7 other facial region were covered with various free flaps. The overall success rate of the flaps was 95.6%. The complications included total flap loss (3 cases), partial flap loss (1 case), recurrence of primary tumors (15 cases), cerebrospinal fluid leakage (3 cases), fistula formation (3 cases) and infection (5 cases). Superficial temporal artery, facial artery, superior thyroidal artery, lingual artery, occipital artery, transverse cervical artery were commonly used recipient arteries and 7 cases of vein grafts were used if indicated. End to end anastomosis was performed in 84 cases and end to side anastomosis in 8 cases. The average follow-up period was 42 months, ranging from 6 months to 8 years. One patent died during postoperative intensive care due to sepsis and 19 patients died because of recurrence of tumors and underlying medical diseases during the follow-up period. Although free flaps may appear to be riskier than traditional forms of reconstruction, they offer the surgeon a greater spectrum of reconstructive options. Free flap reconstruction also improves the quality of life and minimizes the loss of function. Limitations of the use of free flaps result only from a lack of technical skills and specialized equipment.
Arteries ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Fascia Lata ; Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Free Tissue Flaps* ; Groin ; Head* ; Humans ; Critical Care ; Myocutaneous Flap ; Neck* ; Orbit ; Quality of Life ; Rectus Abdominis ; Recurrence ; Scalp ; Sepsis ; Skull Base ; Superficial Back Muscles ; Temporal Arteries ; Thyroid Gland ; Transplants ; Veins