There have been ongoing social discussions on revision of the abortion law since the Constitutional Court ruled it nonconformity to the constitution on April 11, 2019. Thus, Korean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korean Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Korean College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and Korean Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists organized 'special committee for abortion law' to support social discussion on the revision of the abortion law, and they prepared official opinions of obstetrics for medical issues including doctors' right to refuse abortion. In the future, the committee will continue to adapt to changes of medical environment especially after the revision of the abortion law by collecting its members' feedbacks.

There have been ongoing social discussions on revision of the abortion law since the Constitutional Court ruled it nonconformity to the constitution on April 11, 2019. Thus, Korean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korean Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Korean College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and Korean Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists organized 'special committee for abortion law' to support social discussion on the revision of the abortion law, and they prepared official opinions of obstetrics for medical issues including doctors' right to refuse abortion. In the future, the committee will continue to adapt to changes of medical environment especially after the revision of the abortion law by collecting its members' feedbacks.

Authors report a case of a painless acute dissecting aneurysm of the descending aorta in a patient who presented with unexplained hypotension followed by simultaneous paraplegia and right arm monoparesis. To our knowledge, case like this has not been reported previously. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and spine revealed hemodynamic cerebral infarction and extensive cord ischemia, respectively. Computerized tomography angiography confirmed a dissecting aneurysm of the descending aorta. The cause of the brain infarction may not have been embolic, but hemodynamic one. Dissection-induced hypotension may have elicited cerebral perfusion insufficiency. The cause of cord ischemia may be embolic or hemodynamic. The dissected aorta was successfully replaced into an artificial patch graft. The arm monoparesis was improved, but the paraplegia was not improved. In rare cases of brain and/or spinal cord infarction caused by painless acute dissecting aneurysm of the aorta, accurate diagnosis is critical because careless thrombolytic therapy can result in life-threatening bleeding.
Aneurysm, Dissecting* ; Angiography ; Aorta* ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Arm ; Brain ; Brain Infarction ; Cerebral Infarction ; Diagnosis ; Hemodynamics ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Infarction* ; Ischemia ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Paraplegia ; Paresis ; Perfusion ; Spinal Cord Ischemia ; Spinal Cord* ; Spine ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Transplants

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the anatomic relationships between neurovascular structures and the transverse carpal ligament so as to avoid complications during endoscopic carpal tunnel surgery. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients (age range, 35-69 years) with carpal tunnel syndrome were entered into the study. We examined through wrist magnetic resonance imaging in three different positions (neutral, radial flexion, and ulnar flexion) and determined several anatomic landmark (distance from the hamate hook to the median nerve, ulnar nerve, and ulnar vessel) based on the lateral margin of the hook of the hamate. The median nerve and ulnar neurovascular structure were studied with the wrist in the neutral, ulnar, and radial flexion positions. RESULTS: The ulnar neurovascular structures usually passed just over or ulnar to the hook of the hamate. However, in 12 hands, a looped ulnar artery coursed 0.6-3.3 mm radial to the hook of the hamate and continued to the superficial palmar arch. The looped ulnar artery migrates on the ulnar side of Guyon's canal (-5.2-1.8 mm radial to the hook of the hamate) with the wrist in radial flexion. During ulnar flexion of the wrist, the ulnar artery shifts more radially beyond the hook of the hamate (-2.5-5.7 mm). CONCLUSION: It is appropriate to transect the ligament greater than 4 mm apart from the lateral margin of the hook of the hamate without placing the edge of the scalpel toward the ulnar side. We would also recommend not transecting the transverse carpal ligament in the ulnar flexed wrist position to protect the ulnar neurovascular structure.
Anatomic Landmarks ; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ; Hamate Bone ; Hand ; Humans ; Ligaments ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Median Nerve ; Ulnar Artery ; Ulnar Nerve ; Wrist

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to quantify and compare the expressions of CRP and M-CSF in the gingival tissues of the patients with chronic periodontitis associated to hypertension. METHODS: Gingival tissue samples were obtained during periodontal surgery or tooth extraction. Clinically healthy gingival tissue samples from systemically healthy 12 patients were categorized as group 1 (n=12). Inflammatory gingival tissue samples from patients with chronic periodontitis were categorized as group 2 (n=12). Inflammatory gingival tissue samples from patients with chronic periodontitis associated with hypertension were categorized as group 3 (n=12). Tissue samples were prepared and analyzed by Western blotting. The quantification of CRP and M-CSF were performed using a densitometer and statistically analyzed by one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey test. RESULTS: There were significant differences between group 1 and group 2 and between group 1 and group 3 in both CRP and M-CSF. The differences between group 2 and group 3 were not statistically significant in both proteins. However, the expression levels of CRP and M-CSF in hypertensive inflammatory gingiva showed increased tendency compared to non-hypertensive inflammatory gingiva. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that CRP and M-CSF might be used as inflammatory and bone resorption markers in periodontal diseased tissue. It is assumed that hypertension may be associated with the progression of periodontal inflammation and alveolar bone resorption.
Blotting, Western ; Bone Resorption ; C-Reactive Protein ; Chronic Periodontitis ; Gingiva ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Inflammation ; Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Macrophages ; Proteins ; Tooth Extraction

PURPOSE: In 2000, the American Heart Association and International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation published guidelines for CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation), and these guidelines were revised in 2005. Many physicians perform CPR differently than suggested by these guidelines. We investigated guideline conformation rates for CPR by non-emergency physicians. METHODS: From January 1st, 2005, to December 31st, 2005, and from January 1st, 2007, to September 30th, 2007, 103 in-hospital CPR cases were enrolled. We separated the 103 cases into two groups: 2005 patients and 2007 patients. Fifty-two cases in the 2005 group and 51 cases in the 2007 group were enrolled. The defibrillation method, defibrillation energy, epinephrine use, and atropine use were analyzed. RESULTS: Nineteen cases (82.6%) in the 2005 group and three cases (21.4%) in the 2007 group were performed using the appropriate defibrillation method (p=0.0002). Seventeen cases (73.9%) in the 2005 group and four cases (28.6%) in the 2007 group received the appropriate defibrillation energy (p=0.0069). Seven cases (14.0%) in the 2005 group and 16 cases (32.0%) in the 2007 group used the appropriate epinephrine dose (p=0.0325). Fourteen cases (28.0%) in the 2005 patient group and 14 cases (29.2%) inthe 2007 patient group used the appropriate atropine dose (p=0.8983). CONCLUSION: Although CPR guidelines were renewed in 2005, many physicians do not follow these guidelines. We suggest that adequate information, education, feedback, and further study are needed for guideline conformation.
American Heart Association ; Atropine ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Electric Countershock ; Epinephrine ; Humans ; Nerve Growth Factors ; Resuscitation ; S100 Proteins

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The use of self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) is a safe and efficacious method for palliating malignant gastric outlet obstruction. However, few reports have assessed clinical outcome after the insertion of SEMS for malignant gastric outlet obstruction caused by stomach cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of uncovered SEMS in patients with malignant gastric outlet obstruction caused by stomach cancer. METHODS: We evaluated 62 patients with gastric outlet obstruction caused by stomach cancer treated by the implantation of uncovered SEMS. A total of 62 patients (43 males, 19 females) were treated between August 2000 and March 2007. A scoring system was used to grade the ability to eat. RESULTS: Stent implantation was successful in 61 (98.4%) patients. Relief of obstructive symptoms was achieved in 49 (80.3%) patients. The mean survival duration was 143 days. The mean stent patency time was 103.5 days. An improvement in the ability to eat using the scoring system was statistically significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic placement of uncovered SEMS is a safe and effective treatment for the palliation of patients with inoperable malignant gastric outlet obstruction caused by stomach cancer.
Gastric Outlet Obstruction ; Humans ; Male ; Stents ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms

Epithelial differentiation and morphogenesis in skin and oral mucosa were elucidated using various experimental tools. However, tongue epithelial differentiation has not been examined properly yet. In this study, we identified the relationship between morphological changes and localizations of differentiation markers, such as cytokeratins and PAX 9 in mice embryonic tongue development. Protective barrier formation and localization pattern of cytokeratins in tongue epithelium were examined with toluidine blue staining and immunohistochemistry respectively. Localization patterns of PAX 9 and Cytokeratin 14 were coincided during tongue epithelium development. In addition, compared with Ki67 localizations, marker for cell proliferation, localization patterns of PAX 9 and Cytokeratin 14 would suggest that these factors would involve in tongue barrier formation through cell proliferation. Based on these results, tongue epithelial differentiation would begin at E14 with the specific localizations of PAX 9 and Cytokeratin 14 prior to protective barrier formation then Cytokeratin 1, keratinization marker, would involve in protective barrier and filiform papillae formations.
Animals ; Antigens, Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Epithelium ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratin-14 ; Keratins ; Mice ; Morphogenesis ; Mouth Mucosa ; Skin ; Tolonium Chloride ; Tongue

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The catheter probe endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) system is widely used to evaluate upper gastrointestinal tract lesions. The depiction of the esophageal wall by probe EUS remains problematic due to the difficulty of the filling of water in the esophageal lumen. In addition, filling the esophagus with water can be associated with an increased risk of aspiration. To resolve such problems, we recently applied the use of probe EUS with the jelly-filled method for the evaluation of subepithelial lesions. The procedure is characterized by filling the esophageal lumen with jelly. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of probe EUS by using the jelly-filled method for esophageal subepithelial lesions. METHODS: We analyzed the records of the patients with suspected subepithelial lesions at the time of endoscopy that was performed from November 2005 to June 2007. Esophageal subepithelial lesions with both EUS findings and pathological reports were retrospectively compared. RESULTS: The study included 181 patients (96 males, 85 females), with an average age of 55.5 years (age range, 29~78 years). Sixty-eight patients had lesions in the upper esophagus, 60 patients had lesions in the middle esophagus and 53 patients had lesions in the lower esophagus. Secondary layers of esophageal lesions were predominant (91/181) in the cases. Pathological findings were available for 34 patients. Compared with the pathological findings, the diagnostic accuracy of EUS was 91.1%. CONCLUSIONS: Probe EUS by using the jelly-filled method is convenient and safe to perform and provides clear and full-circumferential imaging of a lesion. It is an alternative method to use in place of previously used probe-EUS procedures for the assessment of esophageal subepithelial lesions.
Catheters ; Endoscopy ; Endosonography ; Esophagus ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Male ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Retrospective Studies ; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract

PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the accuracy of ultrasound in detecting and estimating the size of pneumothorax METHODS: This was a prospective study with convenience sampling, based on researcher availability. Inclusion criteria were chest pain, sudden dyspnea, and chest trauma. Bedside ultrasound examination was performed to determine the presence of "lung sliding" and "comet tail" artifacts in order to rule out pneumothorax and the location of "lung point" when pneumothorax was detected. RESULTS: There were 97 patients enrolled; The cause of pneumothorax was spontaneous in 64 cases and traumatic in 33 cases. The Pearson correlation coefficient between ultrasound estimates and pneumothorax size by Collins method on erect chest X-ray was 0.874 (p<0.000), and the coefficient between ultrasound estimates and pneumothorax size on computed tomography was 0.820 (p<0.000). CONCLUSION: Ultrasound is more sensitive and specific than supine chest X-ray and even erect chest PA for the diagnosis of pneumothorax. Ultrasound allowed skilled physicians to approximate the size of pneumothorax accurately with good correlation with results obtained by both computed tomography and erect chest X-ray.
Artifacts ; Chest Pain ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Humans ; Pneumothorax* ; Prospective Studies ; Thorax ; Ultrasonography*