No abstract available.

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy in patients with a transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis and the ureter. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 30 patients underwent nephroureterectomy for an upper tract transitional cell carcinoma. Of these, 16 underwent a retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy(RNU) and 14 an open nephroureterectomy(ONU). After the retroperitoneal radical nephrectomy had initially been performed, a 5-6cm modified Gibson incision was then created to allow dissection of the lower ureter and bladder cuff and extraction of the intact specimen. A retrospective chart review was performed and the operating time, blood loss, analgesic requirement, ambulation time, interval to resume oral intake, hospital stay and complications assessed in both surgical groups. RESULTS: The RNU was superior to the ONU group with regard to blood loss(240.6+/-103.1 versus 519.3+/-62.3ml, p<0.05), analgesic requirement (118.8+/-24.7 versus 240+/-26mg, p<0.05), ambulation time(21.5+/-3.7 versus 36.3+/-5.1 hours, p<0.05), interval to resume oral intake(34+/-3.3 versus 58+/-7.1 hours, p<0.05), and hospital stay(5.5+/-1.4 versus 10.9+/-3.9days, p<0.05). Complications developed in 6 and 14 of the RNU and ONU patients, but all of complications in both group were resolved with conservative management. The mean operating time of the RNU group was longer than that of the ONU group(270.6+/-53.2 versus 233.6+/-20.2 mins, p<0.05). The operating time of the initial 8 patients in the RNU group(311.3+/-38.8 mins) was significantly longer than that of the ONU group(p<0.05). However, the difference in the operating times between the final 8 patients in the RNU group(230+/-7.5 mins) and those in the ONU group were not significant(p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy is better tolerated by patients than an open nephroureterectomy as the surgery for an upper tract transitional cell carcinoma, and is also an efficacious alternative to open surgery. However, a long-term oncological evaluation will be required.
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* ; Humans ; Kidney Pelvis ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Nephrectomy ; Pelvis ; Retrospective Studies ; Ureter ; Urinary Bladder ; Walking

We report a case of a 30 year-old woman who presented with acute scalp hair loss induced by isonicotinic acid hydrazide gap (INH). Considerable hair loss started within 4 weeks of INH administration. There was no evidence of dermatitis, allergic reaction, or any other cause for the hair loss. INH was discontinued, and the hair loss stopped within 4 weeks, with new hair growth seen. There was complete recovery of hair loss after 12 weeks of alopecia. Medication-induced hair loss is an occasional adverse effect of many drugs, however hair loss induced by INH has been reported in only 1 case. The complete recovery from anagen effluvium is difficult to explain, but it could have been due to the early discontinuance of INH.
Adult ; Alopecia ; Dermatitis ; Female ; Hair ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Isoniazid ; Scalp

BACKGOUND: Interferon-alpha2b has already proven to be effective in the clinical treatment of virus-originated diseases such as hairy cell leukemia, condyloma acuminatum, and AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma. The use of recombinant interferon-alpha2b may allow various types of wart to be treated relatively atraumatically and with less incidence of recurrence. OBJECTIVE: We tried to compare the effectiveness and safety of intralesional injections of recombinant interferon-alpha2b with natural interferon-alpha2b in the treatment of patients with various types of wart. METHOD: Patients with more than two warts were treated by injecting the different warts with 0.5 to 1.0X105 IU/1mm3 of recombinant and natural interferon-alpha2b, twice per week for 4 to 20 weeks. The response to treatment was followed up at 36 weeks. RESULTS: At the end of treatment, clearing of the treated warts had occurred in 83.3% of the recombinant interferon-alpha2b group and 91.6% of the natural interferon-alpha2b group. A more rapid cure rate was observed in the natural interferon-alpha2b group than in the recombinant interferon-alpha2b group. The rest showed partial improvement. With evaluation for relapse up to 16 weeks after treatment, warts were found to relapse in 11.1% of both the recombinant and natural interferon groups. CONCLUSION: Intralesional natural interferon-alpha2b has a better therapeutic effect than recombinant interferon-alpha2b, and may be considered as a therapeutic modality of recalcitrant verruca or when it can be anticipated that destructive techniques or blistering agents will not be tolerated.
Blister ; Humans ; Incidence ; Injections, Intralesional ; Interferons ; Leukemia, Hairy Cell ; Recurrence ; Sarcoma, Kaposi ; Warts*

A Bednar tumor is a rare pigmented subtype of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP). The clinical and histopathological findings of Bednar tumors are identical to DFSP, except for the presence of melanin-containing cells within the lesion. We present a case of a Bednar tumor on the left anterior chest of a 58-years-old woman. It was presented as an asymptomatic, firm, hyperpigmented 1.8x2.7cm sized nodule with surrounding erythematous patch which had been present for over 35 years. The tumor was treated by wide local excision of the lesion. There has been no evidence of recurrence during a 1 year follow-up period.
Dermatofibrosarcoma ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Thorax

The diabetic thick skin syndrome is a common disease in the children of diabetes mellitus. But, it has not been reported in Korea. It is characterized by the stiff joints of hands and the indurated skin of both hands and arms. The simple screening test is prayer sign that patient is unable to bring fingers together because of contractures of proximal and distal interphalangeal joints. We present an 11-year-old Korean child with stiff joints of both hands and waxy, indurated skin of both hands and forearms that had been increasing in extent for the last 4 years.
Arm ; Child ; Contracture ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Fingers ; Forearm ; Hand ; Humans ; Joints ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Religion ; Skin*

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is known to be one of the most lethal cancers among all cancer types, with a relative 5-year survival rate of less than 8%. Currently, surgery is the only probable curative treatment for PDAC which is available for only 10-15% of the patients diagnosed with the cancer. Organoids resemble the original tissue in morphology and function with self-organizing capacity. Organoids can be cultured with high effectiveness from individual patient derived tumor tissue which makes them an extremely fitting model for translational uses and the improvement of personalized cancer medicine. Before personalized medicine based on organoids can be applied in the clinic, the improvement of drug screening platforms in terms of sensitivity and robustness is necessary.

Coronary artery spasm under general anesthesia induces interruption of blood flow of coronary arteries and can be detected by a sudden ST elevation on electrocardiogram, which may be followed by severe cardiovascular complications. We have experienced a case of a sudden ST elevation on a 52-year-old patient with no history of coronary artery diseases undergoing spine surgery under general anesthesia. Following administration of nitroglycerin, ST elevation returned to normal. Postoperative coronary angiogram showed positive on ergonovine provocation test and the patient was diagnosed as variant angina. Correlating with the results, we concluded that the ST elevation was probably due to coronary artery spasm. Although the definite mechanism of the coronary artery spasm is unclear. A-adrenergic stimulation by phenylephrine may have acted as a solitary factor or as one of many factors. Early administration of nitroglycerin and calcium channel blocker seems to be useful in treatment and prevention of recurrence.
Anesthesia, General ; Calcium Channels ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Electrocardiography ; Ergonovine ; Humans ; Nitroglycerin ; Phenylephrine ; Recurrence ; Spasm ; Spine

Bradycardia may occur during spinal anesthesia with atropine commonly used as a treatment. A 44-year-old female with no known history of any underlying diseases, developed a coronary spasm following ventricular tachycardia when 0.5 mg of atropine was injected intravenously to treat bradycardia during spinal anesthesia. The imbalance caused by atropine in the sympathovagal activity may predispose the coronary artery to develop spasms with ventricular tachycardia. Therefore prudent use of atropine should be accompanied by close monitoring.
Anesthesia, Spinal ; Atropine ; Bradycardia ; Coronary Vessels ; Female ; Humans ; Spasm ; Tachycardia, Ventricular