Purpose: Fournier's disease is polymicrobial necrotizing fasciitis of the perineal, perianal, or genital areas. The objective of this study was to investigate patients with Fournier's gangrene and to determine risk factors that affect mortality. Methods: This study was a retrospective clinical study. Clinical presentations and outcomes of surgical treatments were evaluated in 27 patients with Fournier's gangrene that were treated in a single institution from January 2000 to March 2009. Results: The mean age of patients was 52.8±14.4 yr, and the male-to-female ratio was 25:2. Among the predisposing factors, diabetes mellitus was the most common (n=8, 29.6%). The most common infection source was anorectal (n=16, 59.3%). Sepsis on admission was detected in 16 cases (59.3%). Four patients died during treatment, for an overall mortality of 14.8%. A logistic regression test showed a Fournier's gangrene severity index greater than 9 and sepsis on admission to be prognostic factors. Conclusion:The mortality rate was higher in patients with sepsis on admission and with a Fournier's gangrene severity index greater than nine.

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TS genotyping on paraffin-embedded fixed tissues proved to be the most useful method for prediction of outcome of 5-FU treatment in patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma.

A new and patented polishing tool called Orthogonal Velocity field Tool (OVT) was built and its material removal characteristics from Chemical Vapor Deposition Silicon Carbide (CVD SiC) mirror surfaces were investigated in this study. The velocity field of OVT is produced by rotating the bicycle type tool in the two orthogonal axes, and this concept is capable of producing a material removal foot print of pseudo Gaussian shapes. First for the OVT characterization, we derived a theoretical material removal model using distributions of pressure exerted onto the workpiece surface, relative speed between the tool and workpiece surface, and dwell time inside the tool- workpiece contact area. Second, using two flat CVD SiC mirrors that are 150 mm in diameter, we ran material removal experiments over machine run parameter ranging from 12.901 to 25.867 psi in pressure, from 0.086 m/sec to 0.147 m/sec tool in the relative speed, and 5 to 15 sec in dwell time. Material removal coefficients are obtained by using the in-house developed data analysis program. The resulting material removal coefficient varies from 3.35 to 9.46 um/psi hour m/sec with a mean value of 5.90 ± 1.26(standard deviation). We describe the technical details of the new OVT machine, the data analysis program, the experiments, and the results together with the implications to the future development of the machine.

In recent years, high performance visible and IR cameras have been used widely for tactical airborne reconnaissance. The process improvement for efficient discrimination and analysis of complex target information from active battlefields requires for simultaneous multi-band measurement from airborne platforms at various altitudes. We report a new dual band airborne camera designed for simultaneous registration of both visible and IR imagery from mid-altitude ranges. The camera design uses a common front end optical telescope of around 0.3m in entrance aperture and several relay optical sub-systems capable of delivering both high spatial resolution visible and IR images to the detectors. The camera design is benefited from the use of several optical channels packaged in a compact space and the associated freedom to choose between wide (~3 degrees) and narrow (~1 degree) field of view. In order to investigate both imaging and radiometric performances of the camera, we generated an array of target scenes with optical properties such as reflection, refraction, scattering, transmission and emission. We then combined the target scenes and the camera optical system into the integrated ray tracing simulation environment utilizing Monte Carlo computation technique. Taking realistic atmospheric radiative transfer characteristics into account, both imaging and radiometric performances were then investigated. The simulation results demonstrate successfully that the camera design satisfies NIIRS 7 detection criterion. The camera concept, details of performance simulation computation, the resulting performances are discussed together with future development plan.

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Purpose: Spontaneous hemoperitoneum is not a common disease but may cause a fatal outcome. Warfarin is a coumarin anticoagulant, used widely for therapeutic and prophylactic anticoagulation. Although, it is considered a life saving medicine, it is associated with significant adverse effects including intraabdominal bleeding. Literatures about spontaneous hemoperitoneum in patients taking anticoagulants have been reported, but until now there have not been a definite establishment in diagnostic criteria and treatment strategy. Methods: Among 209 patients who were diagnosed hemoperitoneum from Jan 2005 through May 2009, we identified 9 patients with spontaneous hemoperitoneum without any trauma history or solid organ abnormalities. All 9 patients were taking warfarin for various durations. Initially, we evaluated vital signs, laboratory, CT findings, and clinical course, retrospectively. In addition, we analyzed risk factors potentiating the pharmacologic effect of anticoagulants. Results: One of the most prominent features in this study is that all patients showed prolonged international normalized ratio (6.36∼15.11). One patient received an exploratory laparotomy for hemoperitoneum secondary to warfarin, presenting as a localized peritonitis in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. Mean hospital stay was 15.2 days. Five patients were transfused with packed red blood cells (500∼1,000 ml) and fresh frozen plasma (300∼900 ml). All patients were discharged without any mortality. Conclusion: It is important to identify and confirm the factors that can potentiate the pharmacologic effect of anticoagulants, when acute abdomen is suspected in patients taking anticoagulants. If the patients are hemodynamically stable, they can be treated without surgical intervention. (J Korean Surg Soc 2010;78:369-375)

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