The autogenous fascia graft has been used for various surgical purposes because it has good durability, a gliding capacity, elasticity and a high survival rate. However, few studies have reported histological changes of the graft in various situations. This study attempted to determine histomorphologic changes after autogenous fascia graft in various surgical conditions. The results revealed were as follows: 1. The tension applied to grafts plays the key role in the survival rate of autogenous fascia grafts. 2. Rolling the fascia reduced the volume and weight after autogenous graft due to fibrosis and central fatty degeneration. 3. Autogenous fascia graft covering silicone blocks showed its fascial structure and reduction of the formation of fibrous capsule around the silicone.
Elasticity ; Fascia ; Fibrosis ; Silicones ; Survival Rate ; Transplants*

BACKGROUND: The Q-switched ruby laser has recently shown that it can remove tattoos with-out scarring. Therefore the Q-switched ruby laser is expected to be effective in the treatment of nevus of Ota, which contains pigmented cells in the dermis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of Q-switched ruby laser in the treatment of nevus of Ota. METHODS: Twenty-five patients (6 men, 19 women) with nevus of Ota on the face were treat-ed. The age of the patients ranged from 3 to 62 years. The energy fluence used varied from 6 to 8.5 J/cm². Treatment intervals ranged from 1 to 3 months, and the number of treatments ranged from 2 to 9. Photographs were taken of all patients before and on every return visit. The photographs were then compared with each other. After completion of treatment, we evaluated some parameters including the extent of pigment-free area within the skin lesions (score 0-4), degree of lightening in the remaining skin lesions (score 0-3), and patient's own or their parents' opinions on the result of treatment (score 0-3). The scores of the above three parameters were added and the resulting scores were designated as excellent (score 9-10), good (score 7-8), moderate (score 5-6) and poor (score 0-4). RESULTS: Excellent treatment response (score 9-10) was obtained in 6 of the 25 patients. In all patients disappearance of pigmentation on a 40 percent or larger area was seen. One month after completion of treatment, the remaining lesion size was less than 40 percent of the original lesion in 21 (84.0%) patients. The degree of lightening in the remaining lesion was marked (score 3) in 22 (88%) patients. No scarring was noted following treatment. Transient hyperpigmentation was noted in 7 patients, and transient hypopigmented areas were noted in one patient. CONCLUSION: Q-switched ruby laser appears to be an effective and safe modality for the treatment of nevus of Ota.
Cicatrix ; Dermis ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Lasers, Solid-State* ; Male ; Nevus of Ota* ; Nevus* ; Pigmentation ; Skin

No abstract available.
Anesthesia* ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Phadiatop test which was developed for screening of atopy in eastern asia area, has not been sufficiently evaluated in Korea. In our previous study, the clinical usefulness of Phadiatop test for screening of atopy was evaluated on atopics and non-atopics defined by the results of skin prick tests with 10 inhalant allergens in Korea. In this study, we evaluated the usefulness of Phadiatop test for screening of atopy based on the level of CAP specific IgE in Korean asthmatics. METHODS: On 136 Korean asthmatics, the level of CAP specific IgE to 10 important inhalant allergens and the level of Phadiatop specific IgE to mixture of 8 important inhalant allergens in Korea were measured. Atopics and non-atopics were defined by the results of CAP specific IgE and the sensitivity, specificity, predictive value of a positive and negative result, and concordance rate of Phadiatop test were estimated. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity, predictive values of a positive and negative result, and concordance rate of Phadiatop test were 90.5%, 95.0%, 99.1%, 63.3%, and 91.2%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Phadiatop test was very sensitive, rapid and convenient, and corresponded well to the results of CAP specific IgE. We concluded that Phadiatop test is very useful as a screening tool of atopy in Korea.
Allergens ; Asthma ; Far East ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Korea ; Mass Screening* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Skin

No abstract available.
Aspirin* ; gamma-Globulins* ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome*

BACKGROUND: Video-assisted thoracic surgical procedure via thoracoscopy has recently gained popularity, as it avoids a thoracotomy, reducing intraoperative blood loss, postoperative pain, respiratory dysfunction and hospital stay. However, to visualize adequately the intrathoracic structures, creation of artificial pneumothorax by carbon dioxide insufflation during thoracoscopy would cause significant hemodynamic compromise. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of CO2 insufflation into the pleural cavity on the hemodynamics and the arterial blood gas tension under general anesthesia. METHODS: Twenty-five patients, after intubation with single lumen endotracheal tube, underwent enflurane (1~2%) and N2O-O2 (1:1) general anesthesia. Before placement of a thoracoscope, the baseline mean arterial pressure and heart rate were obtained. Measurements were taken at 5, 10, and 20 min. after the beginning of carbon dioxide insufflation (3~5 mmHg) and 10 min. after gas evacuation. Blood gas analyses were done before, during CO2 insufflation and after CO2 evacuation. Data were analyzed using Student t-test. RESULTS: Positive-pressure CO2 insufflation (3~5 mmHg) caused a decrease of mean arterial pressure (5~7%) and an increase of airway pressure (1.5 times) and heart rate (13~20%) throughout the gas insufflation period (p<0.05). Blood gas analyses revealed no significant change. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that low CO2 insufflation pressures (3~5 mmHg) may cause cardiovascular depression during thoracoscopy. Therefore careful monitorings should be done during this procedure.
Anesthesia, General* ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Carbon Dioxide* ; Carbon* ; Depression ; Enflurane ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Insufflation* ; Intubation ; Length of Stay ; Pleural Cavity ; Pneumothorax, Artificial ; Postoperative Hemorrhage ; Thoracic Surgical Procedures ; Thoracoscopes ; Thoracoscopy* ; Thoracotomy

No abstract available.
Hip* ; Pyomyositis*

BACKGROUND: In pregnancy, paternal human leukocyte antigen (HLA) that the fetus possesses can induce the development of cytotoxic HLA antibodies in the pregnant women. We investigated the frequency and the characteristics of HLA antibodies during the pregnancy in Koreans. METHODS: Sera from 192 pregnant women (46 in the 1st trimester, 120 in the 2nd and 26 in the 3rd trimester) were tested for the presence of HLA antibody. Home made lymphocyte panel from 36 volunteers whose HLA-A, B and C antigens had been already identified 3nd formerly frozen in a liquid nitrogen tank were dispensed in duplicate into 72-well microplates and used as testing trays Test sera of one pregnant women with one negative control serum were dispensed in each plate and the plates were tested by microlymphocytotoxic method using anti-human immunoglobulin. The results were observed under fluorescence microscope and PRA (panel reactive antibody) values were determined by the percentage of wells showing positive reactions. HLA antibody specificities were identified by analysis of reaction characteristics. RESULTS: Among the 192 sera, 22 (11.5%) showed positive PRA value (PRA > 0%) in HLA antibody screening tests, in which 20 were less than 50% and 2 were more than 50% of PRA value. Two of the 46 subjects (4.3%) in the 1st trimester, 15 of the 120 (12.5%) in the 2nd and 5 of the 26 (19 2%) in the 3rd trimester were positive for HLA antibody. Among the 22 positive sera , specificities of HLA antibodies were identified in 14 (64%) sera: 8 sera had HLA antibody against single private HLA antigen. 5 had HLA antibodies against two or more antigens. and 1 sera showed anti-Bw4 antibody. CONCLUSION: In 192 pregnant women, 22 (11.5%) had HLA-A, B antibodies and they showed higher frequencies with the progress of pregnancy. Most of the pregnant women who were positive for HLA antibodies showed PRA value less than 50%. HLA antibody specificities were identified in 14 out of 22 positive sera (64%).
Antibodies* ; Antibody Specificity ; Female ; Fetus ; Fluorescence ; HLA-A Antigens* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Leukocytes ; Lymphocytes ; Mass Screening ; Nitrogen ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women* ; Volunteers

The magnetic resonance images (MRI) of 30 patients with surgically or biochemically confirmed pituitary adenomas (20 macroadenomas, 10 microadenomas) were retrospectively evaluated. Ten patients had hyperprolactinemia, another eight had acromegaly, another eight had nonfunctioning adenoma and four had Cashing disease. The examination were performed at a 1.5-T superconducting MR system using a multisection spin-echo technique with 3mm-thick sections and a 256×224 matrix. TI weighted sagittal and coronal images were obtained before and within 30 minutes after the administration of Gd-DTPA (0.1mmol/kg). Analysis of the MRI was focused on the signal intensity and enhamcement patterns of the pituitary adenoma before and after Gd-DTPA administration. Compared with endocrinologic diagnosis, macroadenoma showed heterogeneous enhacement in 55%, rim enhancement in 35% and homogeneous enhancement in 10%, Conclusively, the enhancement patterns of the pituitary adenoma did not correlate with the subtypes made according to hormone production.
Acromegaly ; Adenoma ; Diagnosis ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Humans ; Hyperprolactinemia ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Pituitary Neoplasms* ; Retrospective Studies

We describe a 23-year-old man showing typically clinical and histological features of targetoid hemosiderotic hemangioma. About 35 cases of this newly-described entity have been reported since the first description by Santa Cruz and Aronherg in 1988. It is important to distinguish these tumors from patch stage Kaposi's sarcoma, retiform hemangioendothelioma and progressive lymphangioma.
Hemangioendothelioma ; Hemangioma* ; Humans ; Lymphangioma ; Sarcoma, Kaposi ; Young Adult