Purpose: The vascular clipping system (VCS) is beneficial as it is simple and easy to apply for microvascular suturing. Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) creation is a very basic standard technique of microvascular surgery. In this study the VCS and the conventional suture methods were compared in a rabbit model using the carotid artery and vein to create an AVF. Methods: There were 28 rabbits assigned equally into 2 groups using the AVF creation method (conventional suturing or the VCS procedure). Histopathology was performed on fixed samples. The procedure time of the 2 methods and changes in histopathology of tissue samples after surgery were compared. Results: The VCS procedure showed a lower degree of fibrosis and hyperplasia histologically compared with the conventional suture method. The VCS was quicker to perform and no significant anastomosis stricture was observed. Conclusion In a rabbit model of AVF, the VCS has benefits over the conventional suture method. The VCS provides comparable patency rates, produces fewer side effects such as fibrosis and hyperplasia, and takes less operation time than suturing. The VCS is expected to be useful for cases where renal patients need periodic hemodialysis and thus repetitive access to a vessel.

Purpose: The vascular clipping system (VCS) is beneficial as it is simple and easy to apply for microvascular suturing. Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) creation is a very basic standard technique of microvascular surgery. In this study the VCS and the conventional suture methods were compared in a rabbit model using the carotid artery and vein to create an AVF. Methods: There were 28 rabbits assigned equally into 2 groups using the AVF creation method (conventional suturing or the VCS procedure). Histopathology was performed on fixed samples. The procedure time of the 2 methods and changes in histopathology of tissue samples after surgery were compared. Results: The VCS procedure showed a lower degree of fibrosis and hyperplasia histologically compared with the conventional suture method. The VCS was quicker to perform and no significant anastomosis stricture was observed. Conclusion In a rabbit model of AVF, the VCS has benefits over the conventional suture method. The VCS provides comparable patency rates, produces fewer side effects such as fibrosis and hyperplasia, and takes less operation time than suturing. The VCS is expected to be useful for cases where renal patients need periodic hemodialysis and thus repetitive access to a vessel.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of our new video-assisted asthma education program on patients' knowledge regarding asthma and asthma control. METHODS: Adult asthmatics who were diagnosed by primary care physicians and followed for at least 1 year were educated via smart devices and pamphlets. The education sessions were carried out three times at 2-week intervals. Each education period lasted at most 5 minutes. The effectiveness was then evaluated using questionnaires and an asthma control test (ACT). RESULTS: The study enrolled 144 patients (mean age, 56.7±16.7 years). Half of the patients had not been taught how to use their inhalers. After participating in the education program, the participants' understanding of asthma improved significantly across all six items of a questionnaire assessing their general knowledge of asthma. The proportion of patients who made errors while manipulating their inhalers was reduced to less than 10%. The ACT score increased from 16.6±4.6 to 20.0±3.9 (p<0.001). The number of asthmatics whose ACT score was at least 20 increased from 45 (33.3%) to 93 (65.3%) (p<0.001). The magnitude of improvement in the ACT score did not differ between patients who received an education session at least three times within 1 year and those who had not. The majority of patients agreed to the need for an education program (95.8%) and showed a willingness to pay an additional cost for the education (81.9%). CONCLUSION: This study indicated that our newly developed education program would become an effective component of asthma management in primary care clinics.
Adult ; Asthma* ; Education* ; Humans ; Nebulizers and Vaporizers ; Pamphlets ; Physicians, Primary Care ; Primary Health Care*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to gather three-dimensional data to detect fish bones as an esophageal foreign body model and to assess the possibility that this method could be applied for cases of real fish bone foreign body (FBFB). MATERIALS AND METHOD: Fish bones from two species were collected and sizes were measured. Pork meat loaf was placed flat into a plastic box containing plaster cast and bones were laid over the meat layer. Another layer of meat was placed on the bones, then another layer of plaster cast, and the final layer of meat were placed. The meat-bone sandwich was regarded as a fish bone foreign body model of esophagus. The model was imaged using computed tomography (CT) scan and the CT data were reconstructed three-dimensionally making multi-planar reconstruction, maximal intensity projection, and volume rendering images. We tried to find tools to detect the shape and lying position of the FBFB model. The above tools were applied to 3 FBFB cases to verify effectiveness of the tools. RESULTS: Multi-planar reconstruction, maximal intensity projection, and volume rendering images were reconstructed easily. After single or more processing, all of the bones could be detected. The shape and lying positions could be detected using tools made from FBFB models. CONCLUSION: Reconstructed images of CT data readily enabled the detection of fish bone in the esophageal model and real cases.
Casts, Surgical ; Deception ; Esophagus ; Foreign Bodies* ; Meat ; Plastics

It was sometimes difficult to differentiate between acute-onset chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (A-CIDP) and subacute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (SIDP). The CNS involvement of these polyneuropathies has rarely reported in the literature. We present the case of a 42-year-old man who developed rapidly developing inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy followed by right optic neuritis. This case showed progressive motor weakness and sensory dysfunction with time to nadir at 8 weeks, demyelination in nerve conduction study, no other etiology of neuropathy, no relapse during follow-up of 18 months, good response to steroid and complete recovery which favor SIDP more than A-CIDP. We experienced the case of SIDP associated with optic neuritis.
Demyelinating Diseases ; Follow-Up Studies ; Neural Conduction ; Optic Neuritis ; Polyneuropathies ; Recurrence

Parotid sialolithiasis accounts for 10 to 20% of all cases of sialolithiasis that involves the head and neck and presents management challenges for a variety of reasons. In this report, we present a rare case of removing a double stone in Stensen's duct by anexternal approach (open parotid sialolithotomy).
Head ; Neck ; Salivary Duct Calculi ; Salivary Ducts ; Salivary Gland Calculi

PURPOSE : The purpose of this study was to develop the radiographic technique for detecting the demineralization which is known as indication of dental caries MATERIALS AND METHODS : This technique was based on the comparing of multiple radiographs which was irradiated by multiple X-ray spectra. For the meaningful comparing, the multiple radiographs were reconstructed to the dosimetrically consistent images using a standard material. The difference of resulting images of same target with multiple spectra represents the difference of response of material as regards the spectra. RESULTS : We have found about 10% of demineralization of dental hard tissues particularly in the proximal region through the analyzing of differences. CONCLUSION : Most intriguing thing in this investigation was that the method to analyze difference shows us to an anatomic structure of dental hard tissues even if absolute values of optical density were excluded during the procedures.
Dental Caries

PURPOSE: Revascularization is a useful method for treating Kienbock's disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of the second dorsal metacarpal vascular pedicle to treat Kienbock's disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out on 9 patients who had undergone vascular pedicle graft for Kienbock's disease between 1999 and 2003. The mean follow up period was 35 months. At the time of surgery, 2 patients were graded as stage II, 6 as IIIa and 1 as IIIb. The ulnar variance was neutral in all cases. A vascular pedicle graft using second dorsal metacarpal vessel were performed and temporary scaphotrapeziotrapezoid (STT) fixation were applied for 6 months. RESULTS: Wrist motion except for the radial deviation and grip strength had improved significantly. The patients returned to work after an average of 22 weeks. Resorption of the sclerosis was observed in 7 cases, but lunate collapse was observed in the simple radiograph in 6 cases. According to Lichtman's criteria, 7 cases were satisfactory but 2 cases with a relative old age were unsatisfactory. According to Nakamura's classification, 5 cases were good, 3 cases were fair and 1 case was poor. CONCLUSION: In Kienbock's disease with neutral ulnar variance, a revascularization procedure of vascular pedicle graft with temporary STT fixation is a good treatment method but the patient's age should be considered when determining the revascularization procedure. A prospective study will be needed to determine the optimal duration of temporary STT fixation.
Classification ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Osteonecrosis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Sclerosis ; Transplants* ; Wrist

BACKGROUND: Bulla is an air-filled space within the lung parenchyma resulting from deterioration of the alveolar tissue. Molecular mechanism of the formation of the bulla is not well described. Fibroblast growth factor(FGF)-7, bone morphogenetic protein(BMP) receptor, and transforming growth factor(TGF)-beta receptor are known to have a stimulatory or inhibitory role in the lung formation. We investigated to see if these growth factor or cytokine receptors are involved in the bulla formation by immunohistochemical staining of bullous lung tissues from patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Bullous lung tissues were obtained from 31 patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax, including 30 males and 1 female from 15 to 39 years old. The bullous tissues were obtained by video-thoracoscopic surgery and/or mini-thoracotomy and fixed in formalin. Blocks of the specimens were embedded with paraffin and cut into 5~6 micrometer thick slices. The sections were deparaffinized and hydrated and then incubated with primary antibodies against FGF-7, BMP-RII, or TGF-RII. RESULT: Of the 31 patients, 24 were TGF-RII positive including 18 strong and 6 weak positives. Observation with high magnification showed that strong immunostaining was detected in the boundary region between bullous and normal lung tissues. In contrast, all of the sections were negative with FGF-7 or BMP-RII antibodies. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that overexpression of TGF-beta RII may be involved in the formation of bulla, although further molecular studies are needed to find out more detailed molecular mechanisms.
Adult ; Antibodies ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; Formaldehyde ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Paraffin ; Pneumothorax* ; Receptors, Cytokine ; Transforming Growth Factor beta

PURPOSE: Adenomatous polyps in the stomach are rather uncommon, however are related to a malignant transformation. So, in such cases it is important to predict cancer risk and to select an appropriate surgical method. The aim of this study is to examine clinicopathologic factor for predicting malignancy and determine appropriate surgical management of gastric adenomatous polyps. METHODS: A total 41 patients who underwent surgery from 1996 to 1999 for gastric adenomatous polyps at the Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital were included this study. All patients had undergone preoperative endoscopic biopsy and histology was confirmed. Authors analyzed the clinicopathologic factors associated with malignancy and the outcome of surgical treatment. RESULTS: Of the 41 patients, 17 patients had an adenomatous polyp alone, 24 patients had an adenomatous polyp associated with malignancy. The location, number, size and morphology of the polyp were not associated with malignancy. Only cellular atypism in the preoperative biopsy was significantly associated with malignancy. 31 patients underwent subtotal gastrectomy whereas 10 patients wedge resection. All lymph nodes resected in patients with adenocarcinoma were negative. Recurrence of polyp or adenocarcinoma had not occurred in any patients after follow-up of mean 22 months. CONCLUSION: Cellular atypism detected in preoperative histology was associated with malignancy in gastric adenomatous polyp. Lymph node metastasis was negative in patients with malignancy. Our findings support the wedge resection withsafe margin as being appropriate in surgical management of gastric adenomatous polyps.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenomatous Polyps* ; Biopsy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Polyps ; Recurrence ; Seoul ; Stomach