Human epidermal cells were obtained from suction blisters of 14 healthy individuals, and were cultured for 24-96 hours st a concentration of 1x 10(7)/ml, 5 x 10(6)/ml, 1 x 10(6)/ml, 5 x 10(5)/ml. Cells were also cultured with or without stimulants such as phorbol myristic acetate(PMA), muramyl dipeptide(MDP), and endotoxin. Then, cell-free supernatants of cultured epidermal cells were tested for ETAF by a thymocyte prolifera.tiom assay. The results were as follows : 1, The highest activity of ETAF was produced by fresh epidermal cells(EC) at a concentration of 1 x10(7)ml. Its highest 3H-TdR was 4928+/-2480cpm. The highest activity of ETAF was produced by cultured EC at a concentration of 5 x10(6)/ml. Its highest 3H-TdR was 13983+/-8045 cpm. 2. The highest activity of ETAF was produced by fresh EC with n culture time of 24 hours. Its highest 3H-TdR was 5357+/-3760cpm. The highest activity of ETAF was produced by cultured EC with a culture time of 72 hours. Its highest 3H-TdR was 11905+/-5327cpm. 3. The highest activity of ETAF was produced by both fresh and cultured EC at a titer of 1: 8 dilution of cell-free supernatants. 1ts highest 3H-TdR was 4928 +/-2480cpm in the fresh EC, and 11905+/-5327cpm in the cultured EC. 4. Alhen fresh EC was stimulated with PMA, MDP and endotoxin, higher activity of ETAF was found in the group stimulated with PMA or MDP compared with its control group. But lower activity of ETAF was found in the group stimulated with endotoxin compared with its control group. The 3H-TdR was 6000+/-1936 cpm in the group stimulated with PMA, 6945+/-3182 cpm in the group stimulated with MDP, and 36943+/-36861cpm in the group stimulated with endotoxin.
Blister ; Humans* ; Suction ; Thymocytes

The unilateral megalencephaly is a rare brain malformation characterized by cerebral asymmetry and cortical dysplasia caused by faulty migration of the subependymal neuroblasts. We experienced a case of unilateral megalencephaly in a two day-old male with the chief complaint of asymmetric head appearance. Large left hemisphere with agyria, pachygyria, dilatation of lateral ventricle, and the thick cortex of the ipsilateral hemisphere were showed in brain MRL, Clinical findings in this case were intractable seizure, hemiparesis, and psychomotor retardation. A review of literatures was also presented briefly.
Brain ; Dilatation ; Head ; Humans ; Lateral Ventricles ; Lissencephaly ; Male ; Malformations of Cortical Development ; Paresis ; Seizures

PURPOSE: Patients requiring urethral reconstruction due to failed hypospadias repairs present a considerable technical challenge. Herein we report the experience of redo urethroplasties for complicated recurrent hypospadias. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1987 to 1997, we performed redo urethroplasty in 11 cases with complicated recurrent hypospadias. Types of recurrent hypospadias were coronal (1 case), distal shaft (4 cases), mid-shaft (1 case), and penoscrotal (5 cases) hypospadias. The interval between the last operation and redo operation was distributed from 8 months to 5 years. We analysed preoperative status, operative methods and their complications retrospectively. RESULTS: We performed urethroplasties using scrotal skin flap or buccal mucosal graft in only 2 cases. In spite of a paucity of usable penile skin, we performed urethroplasties with maximal use of remaining penile skin. Mathieu method was used in one case with coronal type. Mustarde operation was used in 4 cases with distal shaft hypospadias. And in 5 cases with penoscrotal type, we used Thiersch-Duplay method. Six of 11 patients had complications such as urethrocutaneous fistulas (4 cases) or recurrent hypospadias (2 cases) which were managed successfully later. CONCLUSIONS: Urethroplasty using penile skin maximally such as Mathieu, Mustarde, or Thiersch-Duplay methods appears to achieve success in patient with recurrent hypospadias subsequent to previous failed repairs.
Female ; Fistula ; Humans ; Hypospadias* ; Male ; Mustard Plant ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Transplants

Symptomatic primary heart tumors are rare in newborn. Cardiac rhabdomyoma is the most common lesion of the primary heart tumors and over half of them are related to kthe tuberous s clerosis. We described a case of cardiac rhabdomyoma, in a 2 day-old female newborn who presented with dyspnea and cyanosis. A 2D Echocardiogram demonstrated two masses; one is in the rt. ventricle and another is in the interventricular septum. Additional cardiac masses and cerebral tubers and subependymal giant cell astrocytoma were found at autopsy.
Astrocytoma ; Autopsy ; Cyanosis ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Heart Neoplasms* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Rhabdomyoma ; Tuberous Sclerosis*

PURPOSE: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) is known for improving final adult height in patients with central precocious puberty (CPP). This study aimed to investigate the age of menarche and near adult height in girls with CPP who had been treated with GnRHa. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we reviewed the medical records of 71 Korean girls with CPP who had started menarche or reached over 13 years of bone age after long-term GnRHa treatment. We estimated near adult height using the Bayley-Pinneau method and identified the age of menarche in girls with CPP. RESULTS: Mean chronological and bone age at menarche were 11.9+/-0.7 and 12.8+/-0.4 years, respectively. The period between menarche and the end of treatment was 14.0+/-5.6 months. Posttreatment near adult height was 163.8+/-4.7 cm, which was significantly greater than pretreatment predicted adult height (158.7+/-4.1 cm). CONCLUSION: GnRHa treatment in girls with CPP could improve final adult height and made the age of menarche close to that of the general population.
Adult* ; Female ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone* ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Menarche* ; Puberty, Precocious* ; Retrospective Studies

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review was carried out on 23 patients with rigid fixed kyphosis who underwent surgical correction for their deformity. PURPOSE: To report the results of surgical correction of fixed kyphosis according to the surgical approaches or methods. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Surgical correction of fixed kyphosis is more dangerous than the correction of any other spinal deformity because of the high incidence of paraplegia. METHODS: There were 12 cases of acute angular kyphosis (6 congenital, 6 healed tuberculosis) and 11 cases of round kyphosis (10 ankylosing spondylitis, 1 Scheuermann's kyphosis). Patients were excluded if their kyphosis was due to active tuberculosis, fractures, or degenerative lumbar changes. Operative procedures consisted of anterior, posterior and combined approaches with or without total vertebrectomy. Anterior procedure only was performed in 2 cases, while posterior procedure only was performed in 8 cases. Combined procedures were used in 13 cases, including 4 total vertebrectomies. RESULTS: The average kyphotic angle was 71.8degrees preoperatively, 31.0degrees postoperatively, and the average final angle was 39.2degrees. Thus, the correction rate was 57% and the correction loss rate was 12%. In acute angular kyphosis, correction rate of an anterior procedure only was 71%, correction rate of the combined procedures without total vertebrectomy was 49% and correction rate of the combined procedures with total vertebrectomy was 60%. In round kyphosis, correction rate of posterior procedure only was 65% and correction rate of combined procedures was 59%. The clinical results according to the Kirkaldy-Willis scale demonstrated 17 excellent outcomes, 5 good outcomes and one poor outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicates that the combined approach and especially the total vertebrectomy showed the safety and the greatest correction rate if acute angular kyphosis was greater than 60 degrees.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kyphosis* ; Paraplegia ; Retrospective Studies ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Tuberculosis

PURPOSE: Combination therapy of alpha-blockers and 5alpha-reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) is widely used for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). We aimed to study the effect on prostate volume and symptoms of shifting to monotherapy in patients who previously received a combination therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study was conducted of 60 patients who were diagnosed with BPH. Patients were aged 45 years or older and had a prostate volume of 30 cc or more, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) of 12 or above, maximal flow rate (Qmax) of 15 ml/s or less, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of less than 10 ng/ml. The patients initially received a combination therapy of doxazosin 4 mg/day and finasteride 5 mg/day for 3 months and were then randomly assigned to receive monotherapy for 3 months. The factors were then compared. RESULTS: A total of 30 patients were assigned to doxazosin (group 1) and 30 to finasteride (group 2) after the combination therapy. The percentage changes in prostate volume, IPSS, and Qmax during the period from post-combination therapy to post-monotherapy were not significantly different between the two groups (p=0.052, 0.908, 0.081), whereas PSA significantly decreased in group 2 (p<0.001). IPSS was not significantly different at post-combination therapy and at post-monotherapy in both groups (p=0.858, 0.071). The prostate volume significantly increased from 40.97 cc at post-combination therapy to 44.29 cc at post-monotherapy in group 1 (p=0.001) and insignificantly increased from 38.32 cc to 38.61 cc in group 2 (p=0.696). CONCLUSIONS: Although the duration of drug administration was short in this study, 5-ARI monotherapy could maintain the alleviated symptoms and reduce the risk of acute urinary retention and surgery due to prostate regrowth in BPH patients whose symptoms improved with combination therapy.
Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists ; Aged ; Doxazosin ; Finasteride ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Urinary Retention

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Septoplasty is often dismissed as a simple procedure and this can lead to unsatisfactory results. Although multiple techniques of septal surgery have been performed, approximately 20 to 30% of patients find their symptoms are not corrected adequately. Causes of failure may be found in the inherent memory of that cartilage possesses or in the requirement to end septal correction surgery when support of nose is at risk for compromise. The purpose of this study was to introduce and evaluate the efficacy of an anchoring suture-a new technique for correction of septal deviation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 40 patients who underwent septoplasty with anchoring suture between October 2003 and December 2004. All patients completed their symptom, discomfort score on visual analogue scale (VAS) and acoustic rhinometry was performed before and 2 months after septoplasty with anchoring suture. Data was analyzed by paired t-test. RESULTS: Patients symptom and discomfort score were decreased and acoustic rhinometry parameters were increased significantly. There was no complication reported. CONCLUSION: Anchoring suture is simple, safe and attractive method for correction of septal deviation and some aspects do require further investigation.
Cartilage ; Humans ; Memory ; Nasal Septum ; Nose ; Rhinometry, Acoustic ; Suture Techniques ; Sutures*

BACKGROUND: The esthetic and functional outcomes of periorbital defect reconstruction are very important because of the complex anatomy and specialized functions of this region. The orbicularis oculi myocutaneous (OOMC) flap is useful for the reconstruction of periorbital defects. But, according to the location and depth of the defects, the reconstruction using OMC flaps with various techniques is rare. The authors have used various kinds of OOMC flaps in various situations and we present an analysis of our experiences. METHODS: From November 2001 to July 2017, we used 36 OOMC flaps to reconstruct 30 periorbital defects in 25 patients. We analyzed the cause of the defect, its location, the type of concomitant surgery, the method of flap movement, and complications. RESULTS: Of the 30 defects, basal cell carcinoma was the most common cause, accounting for 20 cases. When the used OOMC flap was classified according to the location of the defects, the switch flap was used in nine cases among 15 defects of lower eyelid, and the V-Y advancement flap was mainly used for other parts. As surgical methods according to the depth of defect were classified, all cases involving the tarsal plate were reconstructed with a composite graft. In case of skin and muscles, they were reconstructed only with OOMC flap or with full-thickness skin graft. CONCLUSION: The OOMC flap provides good skin quality that is very similar to that of the defect tissue. Depending on the location and depth of the defect, the OOMC flap may be used properly in a variety of ways to achieve good results.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Eyelids ; Humans ; Methods ; Muscles ; Myocutaneous Flap* ; Skin ; Surgical Flaps ; Transplants

An ectopic thyroid is caused by abnormalities in migration of the thyroid during development and rarely occurs in the thoracic cavity or the abdominal cavity. We report the case of a 64-year-old female who had abnormal findings from a thyroid hormone test during follow-up after thyroid cancer surgery. Based on the radioisotope diagnostic test, an ectopic thyroid inside the thoracic cavity was suspected. Through surgical treatment, the patient was diagnosed with ectopic intrapulmonary thyroid. Ectopic intrapulmonary thyroid is reported to be very rare and the case is described along with a literature review.
Abdominal Cavity ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Emigration and Immigration ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Thoracic Cavity ; Thyroid Dysgenesis ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms