Surgical excision of the subcutaneous tissues, with or without skin excision in the axillary hair-bearing area, has been the treatment of choice for Treating axillary a osmidrosis for the several decades. However, long periods of postoperative immobilization of a shoulder joint, partial necrosis of skin flaps or hematoma and the possibility of unsightly scars are frequent complications. For the purpose of reducing these complications, we performed ultrasonic aspiration of subcutaneous fat of the axilla, including the apocrine gland, using ultrasonic liposuction technique under confirmation of endoscopy via one small skin incision. From November 1997 to December 1998, a total of 134 patients (93 women and 41 men) received surgery for bilateral axillary osmidrosis on an outpatient basis. Sixty patients were evaluated more than 6 months after surgery. Among these patients, 6patients complained of a persistent foul odor(10%). Five patients received secondary ultrasonic aspiration for persistent foul odor and were then cured. We concluded that our method has several advantages such as 1) preservation of skin flap vascularity for the prevention of flap necrosis and axillary hair, 2) minimal scarring and bleeding, 3) shorter operation time and postoperative immobilization of the shoulder joint, 4) increased patient comfort, and 5) a safer operative method for recurred cases as a secondary method.
Apocrine Glands ; Axilla ; Cicatrix ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Hair ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Lipectomy ; Necrosis ; Odors ; Outpatients ; Shoulder Joint ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Ultrasonics*

Sacral pressure sores have been treated by a variety of surgical methods. complete treatment needs wide excision and coverage with healthy tissue which has constant and sufficient blood supply. Use of gluteus maximus muscle flap with or without overlying skin is a revolutionary method because of the reliability of blood supply. However, it is technically a little bit complicated, and future reconstruction for recurrent decubitus is especially limited in paraplegic patients. The development of gluteal perforator-based flap with para-sacral perforator introduce a new treatment modality for the sacral pressure sores. Total 10 cases of sacral pressure sores were treated with gluteal perforator-based flap. There were minimal postoperative complications except wound dehiscence in one case. This flap has a many advantage of no transection or sacrifice of the gluteus maximus muscle, elevation time for the flap is short, reliable blood flow of the perforator, large rotation arc and no post-operative hindrance to walking in patients who are not paraplegic. The disadvantages of this perforator-based flaps are the anatomical variation in the location of perforators and the need for technically careful dissection.
Humans ; Postoperative Complications ; Pressure Ulcer* ; Skin ; Walking ; Wounds and Injuries

Our objective was to determine the risk factors associated with the development of functional constipation (FC) in young children attending daycare centers. A cross-sectional survey using a questionnaire based on the Rome III criteria was conducted in children aged 25 to 84 months from 3 randomly selected daycare centers in January 2016. The items in a questionnaire were statistically compared in the constipated and non-constipated groups. A total of 212 children were included and FC was found in 8.5%. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that maternal history of constipation (odds ratio [OR] = 4.1, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.2-13.9), history of painful defecation before age 1 (OR = 10.4, 95% CI 1.1-101.3), history of painful defecation during toilet training (OR = 28.9, 95% CI 1.9-423.8), no or difficult defecation at a daycare center (OR = 5,804.6, 95% CI 134.4-250,718.4), no meat consumption (OR = 10.1, 95% CI 1.2-88.1), and 500 mL or less of water intake per day (OR = 9.9, 95% CI 0.9-99.5) were powerful predictors of FC in young children (P < 0.05). Additionally, the constipated group was significantly associated with 2 hours or less of outdoor play activities per day, entry into daycare centers before 24 months age, 6 hours or more of attendance at a daycare center per day, breastfeeding for less than 6 months, 3 meals or less per day, and 3 or fewer servings of fruits and vegetables per day (P < 0.05). The findings of this study can guide parents, daycare teachers, and clinicians in prevention, early recognition and early intervention for the risk factors associated with FC in young children.
Child ; Child Day Care Centers ; Child, Preschool ; Constipation/*diagnosis ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Drinking ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Our objective was to determine the risk factors associated with the development of functional constipation (FC) in young children attending daycare centers. A cross-sectional survey using a questionnaire based on the Rome III criteria was conducted in children aged 25 to 84 months from 3 randomly selected daycare centers in January 2016. The items in a questionnaire were statistically compared in the constipated and non-constipated groups. A total of 212 children were included and FC was found in 8.5%. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that maternal history of constipation (odds ratio [OR] = 4.1, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.2-13.9), history of painful defecation before age 1 (OR = 10.4, 95% CI 1.1-101.3), history of painful defecation during toilet training (OR = 28.9, 95% CI 1.9-423.8), no or difficult defecation at a daycare center (OR = 5,804.6, 95% CI 134.4-250,718.4), no meat consumption (OR = 10.1, 95% CI 1.2-88.1), and 500 mL or less of water intake per day (OR = 9.9, 95% CI 0.9-99.5) were powerful predictors of FC in young children (P < 0.05). Additionally, the constipated group was significantly associated with 2 hours or less of outdoor play activities per day, entry into daycare centers before 24 months age, 6 hours or more of attendance at a daycare center per day, breastfeeding for less than 6 months, 3 meals or less per day, and 3 or fewer servings of fruits and vegetables per day (P < 0.05). The findings of this study can guide parents, daycare teachers, and clinicians in prevention, early recognition and early intervention for the risk factors associated with FC in young children.
Child ; Child Day Care Centers ; Child, Preschool ; Constipation/*diagnosis ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Drinking ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Since the first report by Tansini in 1896, the latissimus dorsi muscle free flap has been widely used for various types of soft tissue defect due to reliable anatomy with a sufficient diameter of neurovascular pedicle and a sizable muscle. However, for relatively small soft tissue defect, latissimus dorsi free flap offers several distinct disadvantages of donor site including loss of the posterior axillary fold and flattening of the posterolateral chest wall, weakness of upper arm strength in extension, adduction and internal rotation. We treated three patients having various types of soft tissue defect using segmental latissimus dorsi muscular free flap depending on its descending branch of thoracodorsal neurovascular pedicles. There were no serious complications during 18 months of mean follow-up. We concluded that this method has some advantages such as no weakness of strength of the upper arm including walking on crutches, preserving the posterior axillary fold, preventing winging of the scapula and increased chance of using a flow-through technique. Here we present our cases of reconstruction of soft tissue defect using segmental latissimus dorsi free flap with a review of the literature.
Arm ; Crutches ; Follow-Up Studies ; Free Tissue Flaps* ; Humans ; Scapula ; Superficial Back Muscles* ; Thoracic Wall ; Tissue Donors ; Walking

Cleft lip is one of the most common congenital deformities in craniofacial region. However, despite many reports on the outcome of various surgical techniques from individual medical centers, the evaluation of the outcome has been based on the subjective observation. Therefore, developing a new technique of objective and scientific evaluation for the nasal deformity of secondary cleft lip and nasal deformity is important to improve the management of the cleft lip patients. The authors have proposed a new scoring model to evaluate objectively the nasal deformity. The authors put 'x' axis on the nostril sill of noncleft side and 'y' axis on nasal tip at a right angle to x axis. The nostril of noncleft side was turned around the y axis to form the mirror image on the cleft side, and following four parameters were recorded: (1) angle difference between two nostril axis, (2) center of the nostril and distance between two centers, (3) the overlapped area of two nostrils and (4) the overlapped area ratio of two nostrils. The post-surgery images were evaluated by the three plastic surgeons, using the scale of 5 percentiles. The four parameters of each image were measured using a newly developed software and correlation coefficients of each parameter and the evaluation scale by the surgeons were obtained. Among the scores from scoring model, errors greater than 10 percents were found only in 2 of 14 cases (2/14=14%), but among the scores from examiners, errors of greater than 10 percents were 4 from 14 cases (4/14=29%). Based on the results, deviation among the individual examiners can be reduced using the objective evaluation program developed in this study. The correlation coefficients between the normalized overlap area (0.78) and the distance between the centers of two nostrils (-0.82) with the evaluated scale by surgeons were high. However, the relative area and the degree difference of two nostril axis were found to be not such a good parameters in the evaluation of the nasal deformity. We developed scoring model from analysis of nostril shape and neural network which is able to evaluate cleft lip nasal deformity objectively after selection of proper parameters.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Cleft Lip* ; Congenital Abnormalities* ; Humans ; Nose*

Bacillus anthracis is a soil pathogen capable of causing anthrax in animals and humans. To establish a method for specifically detecting B. anthracis, we used nested polymerase chain reaction. Outer and inner sets of oligonucleotide primers were designed from the protective antigen (pag) gene and from the cya gene of the plasmid pXO1. Ainplification of 482 bp or 208 bp DNA fragment obtained from a nested PCR method provided the basis for rapid and reliable assay for the detection and identification of B. anthracis.
Animals ; Anthrax ; Bacillus anthracis* ; Bacillus* ; DNA ; DNA Primers ; Humans ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Soil

PURPOSE: This study was done to compare clinical nurses' knowledge and visual differentiation diagnostic ability for the pressure ulcer classification system (PUCS) and incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD). METHODS: A convenience sample of 602 nurses took the pressure ulcer classification system and incontinence-associated dermatitis knowledge test (PUCS & IAD KT) and completed the visual differentiation tool (VDT), consisting of 21 photographs with clinical information. RESULTS: The overall mean score for correct answers was 14.5 (+/-3.2) in PUCS & IAD KT and 11.15 (+/-4.9) in PUCS & IAD VDT. Incorrect responses were most common for statements related to stage III, IAD for PUCS & IAD KT, and suspected deep tissue injury (SDTI), unstageable, and stage III for PUCS & IAD VDT. Significant correlations were found between PUCS & IAD KT and VDT (r=.48, p<.001). Factors affecting scores for PUCS & IAD VDT were PUCS & IAD KT, frequency of pressure ulcer, IAD management and participation in wound care education programs. CONCLUSION: Results indicate that nurses have an overall understanding of PUCS & IAD, but low visual differentiation ability regarding stage III, SDTI, and unstageable ulcers. Continuing education is needed to further improve knowledge and visual differentiation ability for PUCS & IAD.
Adult ; Dermatitis/*classification/complications/pathology ; Education, Continuing ; Educational Measurement ; Fecal Incontinence/complications ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Male ; Nurses/*psychology ; Pressure Ulcer/*classification/pathology ; Questionnaires ; Urinary Incontinence/complications

This study was designed to examine the effects of two antidepressant drugs on the expression of c-fos mRNA in cultured embryonic rat hippocampal neurons. The drugs used were imipramine and amitriptyline. On the fourth day of culture, hippocampal neurons were treated with variable concentrations of each drug. Competitive RT-PCR(Reverse Transcriptase-PCR) analysis was used to quantify the c-fos mRNA expression induced by each drug. Experimental results showed that acute and direct treatment with imipramine and amitriptyline with relatively low concentrations(imipramine < or =10micrometer, amitriptyline < or =10micrometer) had no inductive effect on the expression of c-fos mRNA in the rat hippocampal neurons. However, after treatment with relatively high concentrations(imipramine > or =100micrometer, amitriptyline > or =100micrometer) c-fos mRNA was not detected. These findings suggest the followings. Firstly, the action mechanisms of these drugs on the hippocampal neurons might not be mediated by c-fos but by other immediate-early genes(IEGs). Secondly, their actions may be mediated indirectly via other areas of the brain. Thirdly, the expression of c-fos might be inhibited by high concentrations of these drugs, or the high concentrations could induce cell death. Finally, though cell death remains to be confirmed, the inhibition of c-fos induction or cell death could play a role in the cognitive impairments known to be adverse effects of some antidepressants. This study is believed to be a first step toward understanding the mechanisms of learning and memory. Further studies are needed to investigate the expression of various IEGs and changes in the hippocampal neurons of rat resulting from chronic treatment with antidepressant drugs.
Amitriptyline ; Animals ; Antidepressive Agents* ; Brain ; Cell Death ; Imipramine ; Learning ; Memory ; Neurons* ; Rats* ; RNA, Messenger*

BACKGROUND: Leptin, produced in the adipose tissue, is involved in the regulation of body weight. The release of the leptin is increased in obese adults even in children. This study investigated whether the serum leptin in cord blood was related to babys birth weight and metabolic parameters. METHODS: 71 pairs of singleton pregnancy babies and their mother were studied. Babies are classified in LGA (large for gestational age), AGA (appropriate for gestational age), SGA (small for gestational age) three groups. After delivery, cord blood and maternal venous blood samples were drawn. We measured the plasma leptin, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, insulin and proinsulin in cord and maternal serum. RESULTS: The concentration of leptin from cord blood was increased in LGA babies and decreased in SGA babies compued with the level in AGA babies. There was positive correlatian (r=0.55, p<0.01) between the plasma leptin level in cord and birth weight. There were positive correlatian between both the plasma proinsulin (r=0.37, p<0.01) and IGF-1 (r=0.32, p<0.01) and birth weight, too. But there was no difference between female and male baby's cord blood leptin level. In multiple regression analysis, cord blood leptin level was found independent factor related to birth weight ( p=0.001) CONCLUDION : The plasma leptin, proinsulin and IGF-1 is correlates to the birth weight. These data provide evidence that leptin and proinsulin are highly related to the nutritional status already during the fetal periods, and effect on the intrauterine fetal growth.
Adipose Tissue ; Adult ; Birth Weight* ; Body Weight ; Child ; Female ; Fetal Blood* ; Fetal Development ; Humans ; Insulin ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Leptin* ; Male ; Mothers ; Nutritional Status ; Parturition* ; Plasma ; Pregnancy ; Proinsulin