PURPOSE: We evaluated the validity of robotic surgery (RS) for pediatric choledochal cyst (CC) in comparison to open surgery (OS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2009 to April 2013, clinical data from 79 consecutive pediatric patients with CC, who underwent RS (n=36) or OS (n=43) performed by a single pediatric surgeon, were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: In the RS group, the age of the patients was significantly older, compared to the OS group. Operation and anesthesia times were significantly longer in the RS group than the OS group. Fluid input rates to maintain the same urine output were significantly smaller in the RS group than the OS group. The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status, length of postoperative hospital stay, and the incidence of surgical complications did not differ significantly between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Although early complications could not be avoided during the development of robotic surgical techniques, RS for pediatric CC showed results comparable to those for OS. We believe that RS may be a valid and alternative surgery for pediatric CC. After further development of robotic surgical systems and advancement of surgical techniques therewith, future prospective studies may reveal more positive results.
Age Distribution ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Choledochal Cyst/*surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Length of Stay/statistics & numerical data ; Male ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures/*methods ; Postoperative Complications/epidemiology ; Postoperative Period ; Prospective Studies ; Reproducibility of Results ; Retrospective Studies ; *Robotics ; Treatment Outcome

Polyorchidism is a very rare congenital anomaly and about 100 cases have been documented in the literature until today. Polyorchidism or supernumenary testis is defined as the presence of more than 2 histologically proven testes. In most case, polyorchidism have characteristics of unilateral involvement and three testis and mainly finding in left-side testis. And although patient age was various, average age was about 18-year-old in previous review of article. We report a rare case of polyorchidism that an old age patient had an incidentally found right accessory testis in operating a testicular injury.
Adolescent ; Humans ; Testis

Members of the inhibitors of differentiation (Id) family of helix-loop-helix (HLH) proteins are known to play important roles in the proliferation and differentiation of many cell types. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) regulates proliferation and differentiation by activating TSH receptor (TSHR) in thyrocytes. In this study, we found that Id2, one of the Id family proteins, is a major target for regulation by TSH in FRTL-5 thyroid cells. TSH rapidly increases the Id2 mRNA level in FRTL-5 thyroid cells but the Id2 protein showed biphasic regulatory patterns, being transiently reduced and subsequently induced by TSH treatment. Transient reduction of Id2 protein was noted within 2 hr of TSH treatment and was mediated by proteasomal degradation. Moreover, reduced Id2 expression correlated with the activity of the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase pathway, which is activated by TSH. Although TSH increases the activity of the Id2 promoter, TSH-induced activation of this promoter was independent of c-Myc. Id2 did not alter TTF-1- and Pax-8-mediated effects on the regulation of the Tg promoter. Thus, in summary, we found that TSH regulates Id2 expression, but that Id2 does not alter the expression of thyroid-specific genes, such as Tg, in FRTL-5 thyroid cells.
1-Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/metabolism ; Animals ; Cattle ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; *Gene Expression Regulation ; Inhibitor of Differentiation Protein 2/metabolism ; Insulin/metabolism ; Paired Box Transcription Factors/metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc/metabolism ; Rats ; Thyroglobulin/metabolism ; Thyroid Gland/*cytology ; Thyrotropin/*metabolism

The choice of reconstruction in hypopharynx cancer is dependent on oncologic needs of the situation. If the cervical or thoracic esophagus is involved in hypopharynx cancer, esophagectomy and gastric pull-up or jejunal free flap graft or colon interposition are indicated. Colon interposition for esophageal reconstruction in hypopharynx cancer is performed only in patients whose stomach cannot be used for reconstruction because of the postgastrectomised status or simultaneous gastric cancer. We have recently experienced a case of total pharyngo-laryngo-esophagectomy and colon interposition in a patient with hypopharynx cancer who had received subtotal gastrectomy due to stomach cancer in the past. We provided a review of the current literature regarding colon interposition for esophageal reconstruction in hypopharynx cancer.
Colon* ; Esophagectomy ; Esophagus ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms ; Hypopharynx* ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Transplants

Pheochromocytoma is originated from chromaffin cells of sympathetic nervous system and clinical symptoms are caused by catecholamine released from tumor. In typical cases, periodic attacks of hypertension, palpitation, headache, and sweating are main symptoms. But, the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma is sometimes difficult since its clinical presentation is quite variable. We evaluated a 25-year-old woman who was admitted because of left flank pain and seizure. She had a history of hemoptysis and toxemia. During the hospitalization, she experienced generalized seizure once more. The clinical diagnosis of pheochromocytoma was proven by highly elevated urinary catecholamines and confirmed histologically after operation. We think it is the first case report of pheochromocytoma manifested by seizure in korea, so we report this case with literature review.
Adult ; Catecholamines ; Chromaffin Cells ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Flank Pain ; Headache ; Hemoptysis ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Korea ; Pheochromocytoma* ; Seizures* ; Sweat ; Sweating ; Sympathetic Nervous System ; Toxemia

OBJECTIVE: Recently, the serotonin-dopamine interaction is being regarded as a possible mechanism for both less extrapyramidal symptoms and good therapeutic effect on negative symptoms which are outstanding advantages of atypical antipsychotics. The goal of the study was to further define serotonin dopamine interaction in three different brain area of rats ; prefrontal cortex, striatum and nucleus accumbens. METHOD: The rats used in this study weighed 150-300gm. Under the aesthesia with pentothal sodium(25 mg/kg), stainless steel cannula was inserted in the right substantia nigra according to atlas(Paxinous and Watson) and 6-OHDA was injected at the rate of 1 mul/min to make a unilateral substantia nigra lesion. A week later, apomorphine (s. c. 0.1 mg/kg) was injected through the cannula and the rats with circling behavior counting more than 200 for an hour were selected for the study. Three weeks after that, the rats were further divided into 3 groups according to the brain area that permanent stainless steel cannula was implanted : prefrontal cortex group, striatum group and nucleus accumbens group. Within each group comparison was done between the number of circling behavior obtained by the injection of vehicle plus apomorphine and the one obtained by the injection of ritanserin plus apomorphine. Wilcoxon signed ranks test was used in data-analysis. RESULTS: The effect of ritanserin on the circling behavior in prefrontal cortex was absent but in striatum and nucleus accumbens, increasing effect was noted. CONCLUSIONS: It might be suggested that serotonin has an inhibitory control on dopaminergic function in striatum and nucleus accumbens.
Animals ; Antipsychotic Agents ; Apomorphine ; Brain ; Catheters ; Dopamine ; Nucleus Accumbens ; Oxidopamine ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Rats* ; Ritanserin* ; Serotonin ; Stainless Steel ; Substantia Nigra ; Thiopental

OBJECTIVES & METHODS: To compare a drinking culture between Korean and Chinese University students, an appropriate questionnaire was developed and surveyed to 244 Korean students and 220 Chinese students with a co-administration of NAST to rule out problem drinkers from November 1997 to April 1998. RESULTS: 1) The numbers of problem drinker detected by NAST were 39 for Korean students and 20 for Chinese students. They were all excluded in the analysis. 2) Drinking rate for Korean students was 94.1% , much higher than that of Chinese, 62.6% and drinking frequency was also higher in Koreans The most preferred alcoholic liquor was beer for both countries and the most preferred place for drinking was beer house for Korean and home for Chinese. SuJack(passing one's own glass to other people) was also found to be practiced among small percentage of Chinese students, 18.7%. 3) As for the drinking motivations, emotional one and expectation for the alcoholic effect itself were negative for both countries. However, social one was strong for Koreans and neutral for Chinese. 4) As for the drinking behaviors, both countries showed autonomous and abstinent behavior: drinking manner and group solidarity were counted more importantly by Koreans while objectives of drinking was considered more importantly by Chinese. 5) As for the drinking perceptions, both countries showed a negative attitude toward admiration of alcoholic usefulness but positive attitude toward the need for social regulation of alcohol and generosity toward a drunken behavior. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that drinking culture of Korean and Chinese University students is the same in terms of autonomous and abstinent behavior but quite different in terms of certain other drinking behavior and perception which might be related to their economical and cultural differences.
Alcoholics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Beer ; Drinking Behavior* ; Drinking* ; Glass ; Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of various concentrations of glutamate(10(-8), 10(-6) and 10(-4) M) on the circling movement induced by apomorphine in the unilateral substantia nigra-lesioned rats. Subcutaneous apomorphine(0.1 mg/kg) elicited contralateral circling movement(641.7+/-163.9/hr), Glutamate(10(-6)-10(-4) M) significantly reduced the numbers of apomorphine-induced circling movement. This reducing effect of glutamate was antagonized and/or reversed by 10(-7) M GABA antagonist bicuculline. These results suggest that glutamate reduces circling movement induced by apomorphine and this reducing effect of glutamate may be mediated by increased GABA concentration in striatum and substantia nigra.
Animals ; Apomorphine ; Bicuculline ; Dopamine ; GABA Antagonists ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; Glutamic Acid* ; Rats* ; Substantia Nigra

This study was conducted to determine the effect of large amounts of whole cow's milk intake on serum levels of minerals and lipids. Subjects were normal infants who were brought to the pediatric hospital for vaccination at the age of 7-26 months after birth, living in Eumsung-Choongbuk area. The serum concentrations of the imnerals(calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc and copper), lipids and fatty acids composition were analyzed in 38 infants which consumed large amount of whole cow's milk(over 700ml/day). The results obtained are summarized as follows : 1) The mean levels of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium in the serum of the total subjects were 7.56+/-0.51mg/dl, 11.12+/-0.72mg/dl and 1.62+/-0.13mg/dl respectively. The serum concentrations of iron, zinc and copper in total subjects averaged 72.42+/-1.62 microgram/dl, 76.29+/-3. 62 microgram/dl and 86.44+/-2.98 microgram/dl respectively. 2) The mean serum concentrations of triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL and LDL in the total number of subjects were 96.84+/-9.22mg/dl, 133.45+/-6.30mg/dl, 32.79+/-1.77mg/dl and 81.29+/-4.81mg/dl respectively. 3) The average percentages of SFA, MUFA and PUFA inth total serum fatty acids were 38.98+/-2.42%, 25.82+/-0.98% and 37.30+/-1.09% respectively and the mean omega6/omega3 fatty acids ratio was 13.48. In general, the levels of serum minerals and omega3 fatty acid composition in the subjects of this study, who were whole cow's milk fed infants were lower than those reported in breast milk or formula fed infants. Therefore, the intake of large amount of whole cow's milk in the weani ng period should be controlled and adequate for the infant's nutritional status.
Calcium ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Copper ; Fatty Acids* ; Hospitals, Pediatric ; Humans ; Infant ; Iron ; Magnesium ; Milk* ; Milk, Human ; Minerals* ; Nutritional Status ; Parturition ; Phosphorus ; Trace Elements* ; Triglycerides ; Vaccination ; Zinc

Tardive dyskinesia(TD) is a serious side effect of long-term treatment with neuroleptic medications. To investigate if glutamatergic hyperfunction is associated with TD, effect of MK-801 on the prevention and treatment of TD was studied using a rat model, i.e., vacuous chewing movements(VCM). When comparing VCM scores of Group I(haldol decanoate+MK-801) with that of Group II(hadol decanoate+phosphate buffer saline), late measured VCM scores of former were significantly lower than that of latter, meaning that MK-801 is effective in the prevention of VCM. Furthermore, when MK-801 is also effective in the treatment of VCM. From the above results, it is suggested that glutamatergic hyperfunction might be involved in the development of TD and MK801 could be effective in the prevention and treatment of it.
Dizocilpine Maleate* ; Mastication ; Models, Animal ; Movement Disorders*