OBJECTIVE: Protocols for posterior circulation ischemic stroke have not been established by randomized clinical trials. Mechanical endovascular thrombectomy (MET) devices are evolving, and many of these devices already developed or in development are suitable for posterior circulation MET. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated the medical records of patients who underwent MET for posterior circulation ischemic stroke from January 2012 to August 2016. Fifteen patients were included. MET was performed in patients with or without injected intravenous tissue plasminogen activator. MET was considered in patients with a National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score of 4 or more, older than 18 years, with definite occlusion of the basilar artery or posterior cerebral artery (PCA), and who arrived at the hospital within 24 hours from onset. RESULTS: The direct catheter aspiration technique was used in five cases, and the stent retrieval technique was used in seven cases. The stent retrieval technique with the direct aspiration technique was used in three cases. Recanalization failed in two cases. Basilar occlusion without PCA involvement is the only effective factor of successful recanalization (p = 0.03). Successful recanalization (p = 0.005) and the presence of a posterior communicating artery (p = 0.005) affected the good outcome at discharge. CONCLUSION: An early diagnosis and active MET may improve the patient outcome. MET may help recanalization and good flow restoration and the potential for a good outcome.
Arteries ; Basilar Artery ; Catheters ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Posterior Cerebral Artery* ; Stents ; Stroke ; Thrombectomy* ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator

BACKGROUND: Correct transfusion of blood product to the right patient requires multiple processes. Errors occurring in the pre-transfusion checking step can result in a serious incident. The role of patients in the safe blood transfusion practice has been investigated. METHODS: We have adopted patient involvement in bedside checking using patient's signature since 2010. We conducted a retrospective review of transfusion medical records during January 2013. The signatures of doctors, nurses, and patients were audited and the reasons for omitting patient's signature were examined. RESULTS: The practice of patient's signature was performed after the problems of procedures were improved. A total of 4697 blood products for 576 patients were issued. The first transfused products were 426 units of RBC (74.0%), 56 units of platelet (9.7%), and 34 units of fresh frozen plasma (5.9%). Completion of patient's signature was observed in 336 patients (63.5%). The reason for omitting patient's signature was operation (104, 18.1%), unclear consciousness or sedation (75, 13.0%), and neonate or infancy (7, 1.2%). CONCLUSION: Patient involvement in the pre-transfusion checking process by writing down the patient's own signature could be achievable. In case of no patient's signature as with an operation, sedation, and neonate or infancy, specific attention is required to ensure a safe transfusion practice.
Blood Platelets ; Blood Transfusion ; Consciousness ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Medical Records ; Plasma ; Retrospective Studies ; Writing

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of three different culture media on the development of canine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos. Canine cloned embryos were cultured in modified synthetic oviductal fluid (mSOF), porcine zygote medium-3 (PZM-3), or G1/G2 sequential media. Our results showed that the G1/G2 media yielded significantly higher morula and blastocyst development in canine SCNT embryos (26.1% and 7.8%, respectively) compared to PZM-3 (8.5% and 0%) or mSOF (2.3% and 0%) media. In conclusion, this study suggests that blastocysts can be produced more efficiently using G1/G2 media to culture canine SCNT embryos.
Animals ; Blastocyst/cytology ; Cloning, Organism/*veterinary ; Culture Media/metabolism ; Dogs/*embryology ; Embryo Culture Techniques/*veterinary ; *Embryonic Development ; Nuclear Transfer Techniques/*veterinary

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cardiac troponins are associated with increased mortality, even among patients with no coronary artery disease. Elevated cardiac troponin levels are frequently observed in patients without significant coronary lesions, although the mechanism underlying this finding is unclear. The aim of our study was to evaluate the association between the levels of cardiac troponin and coronary flow reserve (CFR). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We evaluated serum cardiac troponin-I in 19 patients (9 female; age 61.9+/-10.9 year-old). All patients had an ejection fraction >40% and angiographically normal coronary arteries. Simultaneous measurements of fractional flow reserve (FFR), the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR), and CFR measurements using an intracoronary temperature- and pressure-sensing guidewire under basal conditions and during maximal hyperemia were performed in three vessels: the left anterior descending artery (LAD), left circumflex artery (LCX) and right coronary artery (RCA). RESULTS: All patients were followed for a median of 13 months. FFR, IMR, and CFR measurements were performed successfully in all subjects. Mean CFRs of LAD, LCX, and RCA were 1.98+/-1.20, 2.75+/-2.11, and 4.44+/-2.51, respectively. Mean IMRs of LAD, LCX and RCA were 33.28+/-18.78, 29.11+/-26.70, and 30.55+/-23.65, respectively. There was a poor correlation between CFR and troponin-I values in each vessel. In selecting the lowest value of CFR in each patient as the corresponding value, the lowest CFR was not associated with troponin-I levels (r=-0.219, p=0.367). CONCLUSION: In patients without significant coronary lesions, the correlation between CFR and troponin-I level was not significant using a thermodilution technique. Further study of a larger population with longer-term follow-up may be needed to more fully understand microvascular dysfunction.
Arteries ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperemia ; Microvessels ; Mortality ; Thermodilution* ; Troponin I ; Troponin* ; Vascular Resistance

The purpose of study is to investigate whether glass rod detector (GRD) would be suitable for dosimeter of radiotherapy units. A GRD is used for the measurement of the output factors and x-axis beam profiles from Gamma Knife. The output factors measured with GRD from the 14, 8 and 4 mm collimators relative to the 18 mm collimator are 0.980+/-0.013, 0.949+/-0.013 and 0.872+/-0.012, respectively. The output factors obtained with a GRD are within 1.0% in good agreement with the values recommended by the manufacture. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) of x-axis beam profiles measured with GRD are 5.9 mm at a 4 mm collimator.
Glass* ; Radiotherapy

PURPOSE: To analyze the long-term stability of Farmer-type cylindrical ionization chambers by calibration factor provided from the KFDA (Korea Food Drug Administration) MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cylindrical ionization chambers used in this study were the PTW 30001 (30006), 30013, 30002, 30004, 23333, the Capintec PR06C, the NE 2571, the Exradin A12 and the Wellhofer FC65G (IC70). We were analyzed that the N(k) and N(D,W) calibration factor for the cylindrical chambers and compared between the measured N(D,W) and calculated N(D,W) calibration factor. RESULTS: We have observed that the long-term stability of the PTW 30013 (30006), the Wellhofer FC65G (IC70) and the NE 2571 has varied within 0.2%. The measured N(D,W) calibration factor was about 1.0% higher than the calculated N(D,W) that determined by the N(k) calibration factor. CONCLUSION: The study has evaluated that the long-term stability of the cylindrical chambers through analysis for the Nk and N(D,W) calibration factor. It has contributed to the improvement of clinical electron dosimetry in radiotherapy centers.
Calibration ; Radiotherapy

An anastomotic pseudoaneurysm after the aortic replacement surgery is a rare complication which could be lethal when it ruptures. So it should be corrected whenever it is found after the aortic surgery. The authors performed three surgical corrections in 2 cases. The first case is type B chronic aortic dissection with abdominal aortic aneurysm. After an abdominal aortic replacement, the patient developed an anastomotic pseudoaneurysm. We treated him with a thoracoabdominal aortic replacement. The second case is ruputred throacoabdominal aortic aneurysm. After a thoracoabdominal aortic replacement, the patient developed an anastomotic pseudoaneurysm in the proximal anastomosis. We treated her with aortic arch replacement. But She developed another pseudoaneurysm in the aortic root anastomotic site. So we performed secondary operation to reinforce the anastomosis. They all recovered from the operations without any complication and are being followed up.
Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, False* ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal ; Humans ; Rupture

BACKGROUND: As a result of endoscopic development and diagnostic technical improvements, the detection rate of early gastric cancer (EGC) has been increased and the prognosis of patients has been improved with surgical treatment. The most important factor for the prognosis of patients with EGC is the presence of regional lymph node metastasis, whose incidence is approximately 3% in patients with intramucosal EGC and 20% in patients with submucosal EGC. Recently, endoscopic resection has become the modality of treatment widely accepted in well selected cases of EGC. We have reviewed the results of endoscopic resection of EGC during 10 years and follow-up. METHODS: Over a ten year period from 1989 to 1999, 47 EGCs were resected endoscopically and the mean age of patients was 62.6 +/- 9.5 years. Thirty-six cases were treated by endoscopic mucosal resection and 11 cases were treated by snare polypectomy. RESULTS: Thirty-five cases were defined as complete resection by pathologic study and 33 cases were enrolled in follow-up study group. During follow-up period, there were 6 cases of death which was not related to the original disease. The mean follow-up duration of the survival group was 36.5 +/- 25.7 months. Local recurrence was detected in 1 case and a new lesion developed on the other site in 1 case. CONCLUSION: It appeared that endoscopic resection is an effective therapeutic procedure for some cases of EGC.
Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; SNARE Proteins ; Stomach Neoplasms*

No abstract available.
Chemokine CCL2* ; Endometriosis* ; Endometrium* ; Female ; Humans ; Monocytes*

BACKGROUND: Compliance, defined as the extent to how a persons behavior concides with medical prescription or advice, has great influence on the treatment. Compliance can be a problem when dealing with chronic medical disorder requiring lifestyle changes and long term treatment. Elderly patients are thought to have more difficulty following prescription because they are generally prescribed more medication, and have more chronic disease. Thus we conducted this study to exam the medication compliance, and the factors associated with compliance in elderly patients. METHODS: The study population consisted of 60 patients (men 31, women 29), older than 60years, who visited a geriatric center in a university hospital in September 1, 1998 for one week. We used Moriskys self-reported questionnaire which consisted of 4 questions by telephone interview to figure out compliance, and asked 11 questions that may influence compliance, and then collected data sex, age, number of medication, complexity of prescription, physician number, follow-up days etc. by medical records. We defined compliance as given positiing answers to all of the four questions. We analyzed the correlation between compliance and associated factors with X2-test. RESULTS: Twenty one patients(35%) of the 60 patients were non-compliant. The factors associated with medication compliance were knowledgement of the disease (p=0.020), satisfaction with physician (p =0.012), explanation from physician (p=0.050), number of physician (p=0.024), number of medication (p=0.007), complexity of prescription (p=0.002). But there was no relationship between medication compliance and sex, age, education, perceived seriousness of illness, perceived effiicacy of treatment, family support, physical disability, treatment duration, adverse effect, and follow-up days. CONCLUSIONS: Thirty five percent, of the subjcts were non-compliant. In the factors associated with compliance, the doctor/patient factors as satsfaction with physician, number of physican, number of medication, complexity of prescription have more correlation than patient/disease factos. Therefore, we emphasize the role of doctor for improving medica compliancetion
Aged* ; Chronic Disease ; Compliance* ; Education ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Life Style ; Medical Records ; Medication Adherence* ; Patient Education as Topic ; Prescriptions ; Surveys and Questionnaires