Both 2-L PEG/Asc and SP/MC had adequate bowel cleansing efficacy to satisfy PDR and ADR as quality indicator and had showed similar tolerability.

Background Local symptoms and signs of snake envenomation mimic the clinical features of compartment syndrome. It is important to measure the intracompartmental pressure to diagnose compartment syndrome. In this study, we present our experiences of confirming compartment syndrome and performing fasciotomy in snakebite patients based on high intracompartmental pressure findings. Methods The medical records of patients who visited the trauma center of Wonju Severance Christian Hospital from January 2010 to December 2015 for the management of venomous snakebite were retrospectively reviewed. Starting in 2014, fasciotomy was performed in patients with an intracompartmental pressure of more than 40 mmHg in addition to the clinical symptoms of compartment syndrome. Results A total of 158 patients with snakebite came to the hospital within 48 hours for treatment. Most patients (110 patients) were bitten at the upper extremities (69.6%). Since 2014, 33 out of 59 patients were suspected to have compartment syndrome, and their intracompartmental pressures were measured. Seventeen of those patients had a high intracompartmental pressure (average, 49.6 mmHg; range, 37–88 mmHg), and fasciotomy was performed. Conclusions In this study, as many as 10.8% of all cases were in need of fasciotomy when compartment syndrome was diagnosed by measuring the intracompartmental pressure. Previously, it was reported that fasciotomy was not required in many cases of compartment syndrome originating from snakebite. However, some patients may develop very severe compartment syndrome, requiring fasciotomy.

PurposeThe aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between central lymph node (CLN) metastasis and clinicopathologic characteristics of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). In addition, we investigated the incidence and risk factors for contralateral CLN metastasis in unilateral PTC. This study suggests the appropriate surgical extent for CLN dissection.MethodsA prospective study of 500 patients with PTC who underwent total thyroidectomy and prophylactic bilateral CLN dissection was conducted.ResultsOf 500 patients, 255 had CLN metastases. The rate of CLN metastasis was considerably higher in cases of younger patients (<45 years old) (P < 0.001; odds ratio [OR], 2.357) and of a maximal tumor size greater than 1 cm (P < 0.001; OR, 3.165). Ipsilateral CLN metastasis was detected in 83.1% of cases (133/160) of unilateral PTC, only contralateral CLN metastases in 3.7% of cases (6/160), and bilateral CLN metastases in 13.1% of cases (21/160). The rate of contralateral CLN metastasis was considerably higher in cases of PTC with a large tumor size (≥1 cm) (P = 0.019; OR, 4.440) and with ipsilateral CLN metastasis (P = 0.047; OR, 2.613).ConclusionYounger age (<45 years old) and maximal tumor size greater than 1 cm were independent risk factors for CLN metastasis. Maximal tumor size greater than 1 cm and presence of ipsilateral CLN macrometastasis were independent risk factors for contralateral CLN metastasis. Therefore, both CLN dissections should be considered for unilateral PTC with a maximal tumor size greater than 1 cm or presence of ipsilateral CLN macrometastasis.

It is known that eosinophilia occurs when humans are infected with Toxocara canis or Toxocara cati. The Toxocara seropositive rate varies in different countries and environments. In Europe, the seropositive rate is 2 to 5 percent in apparently healthy urban adults, while the rate is 14.2% to 37% in rural areas [1]. In the Republic of Korea, where the prevalence of toxocariasis in dogs is 0.9% (n = 662), the toxocariasis seroprevalence among rural adults is approximately 5% [2,3]. In India, of 94 people from the general population and 30 patients with clinically suspected toxocariasis, 6 (6.4%) and 7 (23.3%), respectively, were seropositive to Toxocara excretory-secretory (ES) antigen [4]. In Slovenia, of 239 patients with ocular symptoms, 67 (28%) were Toxocara seropositive [5]. In Argentina, of 114 rural residents in estancias (cattle-or sheep-breeding ranches), 36 (31.6%) were seropositive [6]. It has also been reported that asthma patients showed a seropositive rate of 99.3% to Toxocara ES antigen [7]. In Korea, out of 127 sera from patients with eosinophilia (more than 500 / l or more than or equal to 10% WBC) who visited the hospital, 70 sera (68%) were positive to ES antigen and patients with lesions in the liver showed higher serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) values [8]. However, there is no data on the seropositive rate of toxocariasis in the general population with eosinophilia (more than or equal to 10% WBC). The present study was performed to determine what proportion of the healthy general population with eosinophilia shows seropositive against Toxocara ES antigen by ELISA and immunoblotting. MATERIALS AND METHODSFor the preparation of the ES antigen, eggs were recovered from the uterus of a T. canis adult female. They were incubated in 0.5 % formalin for 1 month at room temperature. The eggshells were broken by a homogenizer. Live larvae were collected using a Baermann s apparatus. The larvae were kept and stored in a culture medium (RPMI 1640 buffered to pH 7.2 with 23 mM L-glutamine and 100 g / ml gentamicin) at 37℃ in a CO2 incubator. Amphotericin B 1 : 1,000 (v / v) was added to the culture media to prevent fungal contamination. The supernatant was collected weekly, concentrated by ultrafiltration (10,000 KdMr exclusion limit, Amicon, Millipore, San Francisco California, USA), and used as the ES antigen. The protein concentration of the ES antigen was measured using the Lowry method. A total of 97 sera showing higher than 10% eosinophilia were collected from apparently healthy adults in Seoul with no reports of any symptoms. These sera were provided by the Korea Association of Health Seroprevalence of Toxocariasis among Healthy People with EosinophiliaKorean J Parasitol Vol. 46, No. 1: 29-32, March 2008 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2008 29 Abstract : The aim of this study is to determine the Toxocara seropositive rate among healthy people with eosinophilia. A total of 97 people residing in Seoul who were healthy and whose blood eosinophilia was over 10%, as shown by regular health check-ups in 2004, w...

PurposeThe anticancer property and cytoprotective role of selenium in chemotherapy have been reported. However, the combination effects of selenium on chemotherapy for advanced breast cancer have not yet been clearly defined. The purpose of this study was to investigate the combined effects of selenium on chemotherapy using docetaxel on breast cancer cell lines.MethodsUnder adherent culture conditions, two breast cancer cell lines, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7, were treated with docetaxel at 500pM and selenium at 100nM, 1µM, or 10µM. Changes in cell growth, cell cycle duration, and degree of apoptosis after 72 hours in each treated group were evaluated.ResultsIn the MDA-MB-231 cells, the combination therapy group (docetaxel at 500pM plus selenium at 10µM) showed a significantly decreased percentage of cell growth (15% vs. 28%; P = 0.004), a significantly increased percentage of late apoptosis (63% vs. 26%; P = 0.001), and an increased cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase (P = 0.001) compared with the solitary docetaxel therapy group. Isobologram analysis demonstrated the synergistic effect of the combination therapy in the MDA-MB-231 cells. However, in the MCF-7 cells, no significant differences in the percentage of cell growth apoptosis, the percentage of apoptosis, and the pattern of cell cycle arrest were noted between the combination therapy groups and the solitary docetaxel therapy group.ConclusionOur in vitro study indicated that the combination of selenium with docetaxel inhibits cell proliferation through apoptosis and cell arrest in the G2/M phase in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.

Background Hand injuries caused by chain saws, electric saws, and hand grinders range from simple lacerations to tendon injuries, fractures, and even amputations. This study aimed to understand the distribution of various types of hand and upper extremity injuries caused by power tools, in order to help prevent them, by investigating the incidence and cause of power tool injuries treated over a 4-year period at a single institution in Korea. Methods We reviewed the medical records of patients who visited a single institution for power tool-induced injuries from 2011 to 2014. The distribution of sex, age, injured body part, type of injury, and mechanism of injury sustained by patients who received hand and upper extremity injuries from using an engine saw, electric saw, or hand grinder was evaluated. Results Among 594 subjects who were injured by power tools, 261 cases were hand and upper extremity injuries. The average age was 53.2 years. Tendon injury was the most common type of injury. An electric saw was the most common type of power tool used. More injuries occurred in non-occupational settings than in occupational settings. Conclusions In this study, power tool-induced hand and upper extremity injuries were mostly caused by direct contact with electric saw blades. More injuries occurred due to non-occupational use of these tools, but the ratios of amputations and structural injuries were similar in the non-occupational and occupational groups.

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BackgroundThe alar and nasal tip are important subunits of the nose. Determining the optimal procedure for reconstructing a cutaneous defect in a nasal subunit depends on several factors including size, location, and involvement of deep underlying structures. We treated cutaneous defects after tumor ablation in the alar and nasal tip with a local flap, using an S-shaped design and a modified V-Y advancement flap with a croissant shape.Methods We analyzed 36 patients with skin tumors who underwent flap coverage after tumor ablation. Rotation flaps were used in 26 cases and croissant-shaped V-Y advancement flaps were used in 10 cases. The primary cause of the defects was skin cancer, except for one benign tumor. Results The mean patient age was 71 years. The size of the defects ranged from 0.49 cm2 to 3.5 cm2. No recurrence of skin cancer was noted and all flaps lasted until the end of follow-up. Partial desquamation of the epidermis was noted in one case. The postoperative appearance for most patients was excellent, objectively and subjectively.ConclusionFor cutaneous defects of up to about 4.0 cm2 of the alar and nasal tip, local flaps using our methods offered a good cosmetic and therapeutic result. The main advantage of our flaps is the minimal dissection required compared to bilobed and other local flap methods. We believe our flaps are a suitable option for alar and nasal tip reconstruction.