The short release half-life of carbon monoxide (CO) is a major obstacle to the effective therapeutic use of carbon monoxide-releasing molecule-2 (CORM-2). The potential of CORM-2-entrapped ultradeformable liposomes (CORM-2-UDLs) to enhance the release half-life of CO and alleviate skin inflammation was investigated in the present study. CORM-2-UDLs were prepared by using soy phosphatidylcholine to form lipid bilayers and Tween 80 as an edge activator. The deformability of CORM-2-UDLs was measured and compared with that of conventional liposomes by passing formulations through a filter device at a constant pressure. The release profile of CO from CORM-2-UDLs was evaluated by myoglobin assay.

Four trials of external quality assessment in diagnostic hematology were performed in 2008 with average 822 participating laboratories in Korea. We performed quality assessment for white blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell count, platelet count, blood cell morphology, prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time. The response rate was more than 96.5%. The coefficients of variation in hemoglobin, hematocrit and RBC was stable but variable in platelet count and WBC count according to measuring cell count. Test results of blood cell morphology showed variation among various cell morphologies.
Blood Cells ; Cell Count ; Erythrocyte Count ; Hematocrit ; Hematology ; Hemoglobins ; Korea ; Leukocyte Count ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Platelet Count ; Prothrombin Time

Four trials of external quality assessment in diagnostic hematology were performed in 2007 with average 722 participating laboratories in Korea. We performed quality assessment for white blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell count, platelet count, blood cell morphology, prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time. The response rate was more than 95.2%. The coefficients of variation in hemoglobin, hematocrit and RBC were stable but variable in platelet count and WBC count according to measuring cell counters. Test results of blood cell morphology showed variation among various cell morphologies.
Blood Cells ; Cell Count ; Erythrocyte Count ; Hematocrit ; Hematology ; Hemoglobins ; Korea ; Leukocyte Count ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Platelet Count ; Prothrombin Time

Four trials of external quality assessment in diagnostic hematology were performed in 2007 with average 722 participating laboratories in Korea. We performed quality assessment for white blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell count, platelet count, blood cell morphology, prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time. The response rate was more than 95.2%. The coefficients of variation in hemoglobin, hematocrit and RBC were stable but variable in platelet count and WBC count according to measuring cell counters. Test results of blood cell morphology showed variation among various cell morphologies.
Blood Cells ; Cell Count ; Erythrocyte Count ; Hematocrit ; Hematology ; Hemoglobins ; Korea ; Leukocyte Count ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Platelet Count ; Prothrombin Time

Cutaneous angiosarcoma is a rare, aggressive vascular malignancy with a grave prognosis. It usually arises in the scalp or face as a locally-advanced patch, plaque or tumor at presentation and most often affects males and the elderly. Histopathologically, well-differentiated angiosarcomas are composed of well- or ill-formed vascular channels, often lined by flattened atypical endothelial cells and are distinguished from benign counterparts by their so-called "collagen dissection pattern" and anastomosing architecture. Varied differentiation may be observed even in the same tumor. Epithelioid angiosarcoma is a rare variant of poorly-differentiated angiosarcoma. The patients were seven cases of angiosarcomas including an epithelioid variant. They were six males and one female with an age range between 65~84 years (avg. 74 years). Lesions resembled seborrheic dermatitis, erysipelas or "spreading bruise" that varied from blue to red in color and from papule to mass in size. They revealed satellite lesions far from the main lesion in some cases. Skin biopsies were performed for all patients and histopathologic features were compatible with angiosarcoma and epithelioid angiosarcoma. We herein report seven angiosarcomas of diverse clinical features because their early detection and precise differential diagnosis should be mandatory for effective management.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Dermatitis, Seborrheic ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Endothelial Cells ; Erysipelas ; Female ; Hemangiosarcoma* ; Humans ; Male ; Prognosis ; Scalp* ; Skin

PURPOSE: The vein graft was considered as a useful conduit for nerve defect. But the problem is that it might be collapsed in long vein graft state. A new experimental model using vein graft filled with hyaluronic acid was considered. METHODS: Thirty rats were used for the experimental animal. In group I, one side of the femoral nerve was exposed and a segment was removed about 15mm. The neural gap was connected with nerve graft. In group II, the nerve gap was connected with vein graft only. In group III, the nerve gap was connected with vein graft filled with hyaluronic acid. A walking track analysis was made periodically for 2 months and NCV(nerve conduction velocity) was executed at the end of the experiment. And morphologic studies were also done for all groups RESULTS: In a walking track analysis, the toe-spread was widen and the foot-length was lengthened. The recovery of the toe-spread and foot length was checked 2 weeks interval, periodically for two months. The SFI (sciatic function index) was -52.5+/-8.2 in group I, -68.1+/-4 in group II, -55.3+/-7.9 in group III. In electrophysiological study, NCV(nerve conduction velocity) was 26.71+/-3.11m/s in group I, 17.94+/-4.35 m/s in group II, 25.69+/-2.81m/s in group III. The functional recovery in group I and III was superior to that the group II statistically(p<0.05) Under electromicroscopic study, the number of the myelinated axons were 1419.1+/-240 in group I, 921.7+/-176.8 in group II, 1322.2+/-318 in group III. The number of the myelinated axons were much more in group I and III than group II statistically (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study suggested that the vein graft filled with hyaluronic acid is more effective than vein graft only for the conduit of the nerve gap. It was thought that the technique could be used in clinical cases with nerve defects as an alternative method to classical nerve grafts.
Animals ; Axons ; Femoral Nerve ; Foot ; Hyaluronic Acid* ; Models, Animal* ; Models, Theoretical ; Myelin Sheath ; Nerve Regeneration* ; Rats* ; Transplants* ; Veins* ; Walking

PURPOSE: The vein graft was considered as a useful conduit for nerve defect. But the problem is that it might be collapsed in long vein graft state. A new experimental model using vein graft filled with hyaluronic acid was considered. METHODS: Thirty rats were used for the experimental animal. In group I, one side of the femoral nerve was exposed and a segment was removed about 15mm. The neural gap was connected with nerve graft. In group II, the nerve gap was connected with vein graft only. In group III, the nerve gap was connected with vein graft filled with hyaluronic acid. A walking track analysis was made periodically for 2 months and NCV(nerve conduction velocity) was executed at the end of the experiment. And morphologic studies were also done for all groups RESULTS: In a walking track analysis, the toe-spread was widen and the foot-length was lengthened. The recovery of the toe-spread and foot length was checked 2 weeks interval, periodically for two months. The SFI (sciatic function index) was -52.5+/-8.2 in group I, -68.1+/-4 in group II, -55.3+/-7.9 in group III. In electrophysiological study, NCV(nerve conduction velocity) was 26.71+/-3.11m/s in group I, 17.94+/-4.35 m/s in group II, 25.69+/-2.81m/s in group III. The functional recovery in group I and III was superior to that the group II statistically(p<0.05) Under electromicroscopic study, the number of the myelinated axons were 1419.1+/-240 in group I, 921.7+/-176.8 in group II, 1322.2+/-318 in group III. The number of the myelinated axons were much more in group I and III than group II statistically (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study suggested that the vein graft filled with hyaluronic acid is more effective than vein graft only for the conduit of the nerve gap. It was thought that the technique could be used in clinical cases with nerve defects as an alternative method to classical nerve grafts.
Animals ; Axons ; Femoral Nerve ; Foot ; Hyaluronic Acid* ; Models, Animal* ; Models, Theoretical ; Myelin Sheath ; Nerve Regeneration* ; Rats* ; Transplants* ; Veins* ; Walking

PURPOSE: To determine the patterns of evaluation and treatment in patients with breast cancer after mastectomy and treated with radiotherapy. A nationwide study was performed with the goal of improving radiotherapy treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A web-based database system for the Korean Patterns of Care Study (PCS) for 6 common cancers was developed. Randomly selected records of 286 eligible patients treated between 1998 and 1999 from 17 hospitals were reviewed. RESULTS: The ages of the study patients ranged from 20 to 80 years (median age 44 years). The pathologic T stage by the AJCC was T1 in 9.7% of the cases, T2 in 59.2% of the cases, T3 in 25.6% of the cases, and T4 in 5.3% of the cases. For analysis of nodal involvement, N0 was 7.3%, N1 was 14%, N2 was 38.8%, and N3 was 38.5% of the cases. The AJCC stage was stage I in 0.7% of the cases, stage IIa in 3.8% of the cases, stage IIb in 9.8% of the cases, stage IIIa in 43% of the cases, stage IIIb in 2.8% of the cases, and IIIc in 38.5% of the cases. There were various sequences of chemotherapy and radiotherapy after mastectomy. Mastectomy and chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy was the most commonly performed sequence in 47% of the cases. Mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy followed by additional chemotherapy was performed in 35% of the cases, and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy was performed in 12.5% of the cases. The radiotherapy volume was chest wall only in 5.6% of the cases. The volume was chest wall and supraclavicular fossa (SCL) in 20.3% of the cases; chest wall, SCL and internal mammary lymph node (IMN) in 27.6% of the cases; chest wall, SCL and posterior axillary lymph node in 25.9% of the cases; chest wall, SCL, IMN, and posterior axillary lymph node in 19.9% of the cases. Two patients received IMN only. The method of chest wall irradiation was tangential field in 57.3% of the cases and electron beam in 42% of the cases. A bolus for the chest wall was used in 54.8% of the tangential field cases and 52.5% of the electron beam cases. The radiation dose to the chest wall was 45~59.4 Gy (median 50.4 Gy), to the SCL was 45~59.4 Gy (median 50.4 Gy), and to the PAB was 4.8~38.8 Gy, (median 9 Gy) CONCLUSION: Different and various treatment methods were used for radiotherapy of the breast cancer patients after mastectomy in each hospital. Most of treatment methods varied in the irradiation of the chest wall. A separate analysis for the details of radiotherapy planning also needs to be followed and the outcome of treatment is needed in order to evaluate the different processes.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Korea* ; Lymph Nodes ; Mastectomy* ; Mastectomy, Radical ; Radiotherapy ; Thoracic Wall

A 45-year-old male presented with left pulsatile tinnitus and left conjunctival chemosis after blunt head trauma. Cerebral angiography demonstrated a left carotid-cavernous sinus fistula associated with a persistent primitive trigeminal artery. The fistula was packed with detachable coils through the transvenous approach and was successfully occluded without complication, while preserving the patency of the persistent primitive trigeminal artery. The patient's symptoms resolved soon after treatment. Persistent primitive trigeminal artery can be associated with a traumatic cavernous sinus fistula and transvenous coil embolization can be a safe and effective method to immediately occlude the fistula.
Arteries* ; Carotid-Cavernous Sinus Fistula ; Cavernous Sinus ; Cerebral Angiography ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Embolization, Therapeutic* ; Fistula* ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tinnitus

Four trials of external quality assessment in diagnostic hematology were performed in 2005 with about 500 participating laboratories in Korea. We performed quality assessment for white blood cell count, hemoglobin, red blood cell count, platelet count, white cell differential count, red blood cell morphology. The response rate was more than 97%. The coefficients of variation in hemoglobin and RBC number was stable but variable in platelet number and WBC number according to measuring cell counts. Test results showed wide variation according to measuring machine and reagents.
Cell Count ; Erythrocyte Count ; Erythrocytes ; Hematology* ; Indicators and Reagents ; Korea* ; Leukocyte Count ; Platelet Count