• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.307-315
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• 2001

Objective: To evaluate the clinical outcomes and influencing factors of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) in patients with failed pregnancy after microsurgical reversal of tubal sterilization. Materials and Methods : From January, 1997 to December, 2000, IVF-ET was performed in two groups; the study TR (tubal reanastomosis) group consisted of 147 cycles in 66 patients with failed microsurgical reversal of tubal sterilization, and the control group of 115 cycles in 67 patients with bilateral tubal occlusion (BTO). The two groups were evaluated and compared for clinical characteristics, clinical pregnancy rates, and factors influencing the outcomes of IVF-ET. Results: Compared with the control BTO group, age and the previous parity were significantly higher ($36.3{\pm}2.7$ vs. $33.6{\pm}2.0$ years, p<0.05; $1.6{\pm}0.7$ vs. $0.2{\pm}0.4$, p<0.05), and the clinical pregnancy rate per cycle was significantly lower (23.8% (35/147) vs. 29.3% (34/115), p<0.05) in the TR group. Difference in the clinical pregnancy rates was age-related, since there was no significant difference between the two groups, except for the previous parity ($1.6{\pm}0.7$ vs. $0.1{\pm}0.3$, p<0.05), when the patients aged 37 years or older were excluded. No difference was found in terms of the following: the proportion of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) cycles with GnRH agonist ultrashort protocol, the duration of COH, the dosage of gonadotropins used, and the numbers of oocytes retrieved and of embryos transferred, irrespective of age correction. Conclusions: The outcomes of IVF-ET following the failed microsurgical reversal of tubal sterilization depend upon patient age. The previous fertility of patients does not seem to be a factor of better IVF-ET prognosis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.229-238
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• 2006

Background and Objetive : The aim of this study is to report 3 cases of facial palsy following microvascular decompression in hemifacial spasm patients. It is a rare disease, with few research on the effect of acupuncture therapy on it. Material and Method : We selected 3 cases of facial palsy following microvascular decompression in hemifacial spasm patients, among patients who visited the Facial palsy Clinic of Kyunghee Oriental Medical Center. We treated them with acupuncture therapy(ST6, ST4, BL2, TE17, GV24, GV14, and Ex-HN4 of the healthy side, and LI4 and ST36 of both sides) and aroma therapy. After treatment we observed and checked any changes within clinical symptoms using the House-Brackmann Grade and the Yanagihara's Unweighted Grading System. Result and Conclusion : 1. All three cases were of hemifacial spasm patients who had facial palsy following microvascular decompression. The patients visited 27 months(Case1), 2 months(Case2) and 7 months(Case 3) after the surgery respectively. 2. Period of time till complete recovery is 23 months(Case1), 8 months(Case2) and 3 month (Case3) respectively. 3. All three cases had symptoms of sequelae: retraction of mouth toward the healthy side and involuntary spasm of lips. The later the initiation of treatment after the sugery, the more severe symptoms of sequelae.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 1997

A peripheral nerve when approximation of the ends imparts tension at the anastomosis and with a relatively long segment defect after excision of neuroma and neurofibroma cannnot be repaired by early primary suture. The one of the optimistic reconstruction method of severed peripheral nerves is to restore tension-free continuity at the repair site putting an autogenous nerve graft into the neural gap despite of ancipating motor or sensory deficit of the donor nerve area. To overcome the deficit of the autogenous nerve graft, several other conduits supplying a metabolically active environment which is able to support axon regeneration and progression, providing protection against scar invasion, and guiding the regrowing axons to the distal stump of the nerve have been studied. An author have used ipsilateral femoral vein, ipsilateral femoral vein filled with fresh thigh muscle, and autogenous sciatic nerve for the sciatic nerve defect of around 10 mm in length to observe the regeneration pattern in rat by light and electron microscopy. The results were as follows. 1. Light microscopically regeneration pattern of nerve fibers in the autogenous graft group was more abundant than vein graft and vein filled with muscle group. 2. On ultrastructural findings, the proxial end of the graft in various groups showed similar regenerating features of the axons, myelin sheaths, and Schwann cells. The fascicular arrangement of the myelinated and unmyelinated fibers was same regardless of the type of conduits. There were more or less increasing tendency in the number and the diameter of myelinated fibers correlated with the regeneration time. 3. In the middle of the graft, myelinated nerve fibers of vein filled with muscle group were more in number and myelin sheath was thinner than in the venous graft, but the number of regenerating axons in autogenous nerve graft was superior to that in both groups of the graft. The amount of collagen fibrils and amorphous materials in the endoneurial space was increased to elapsed time. 4. There was no difference in regenerating patterns of the nerve fibers of distal end of the graft. The size and shape of the myelinated nerve fbers were more different than that of proximal and middle portion of the graft. From the above results, the degree of myelination and regenerating activity in autogenous nerve is more effective and active in other types of the graft and there were no morphological differences in either ends of the graft regardless of regeneration time.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.9-28
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• 1997

Adequate vascularization is pivotally essential for a successful nerve graft. Theoretically, the immediate vascularization will inhibit fibroblast infiltration and stimulate nerve cell regeneration. In this study, histomorphological and electrophysiological studies were performed to determine if vascularized grafts are functionally superior. In rat model, a 4cm segment of the sciatic nerve was obtained and placed as a non vascularized graft on one side, and as a vascularized graft connected to the inferior gluteal vessels on the opposite side. To determine the compound action potential of the gastrocnemius muscle, electromyography was done after 2, 3 and 4 months. Histomorphologically, the distribution of myelinated nerve fibers and Schwann cell were evaluated after toluidine blue staining, The following resutls were obtained: 1. The electrophysiological studies showed no difference between the nonvascularized and vascularized grafts. 2. Two and three months after grafting, myelinated nerve fibers were more abundant in the vascularized proximal, middle and distal areas in all nerve fibers of varying diameters. 3. In the post-nonvascularized graft 2-month group, a few myelinated nerve fibers were present in the proximal and middle areas, but none distally. In the post-vascularized graft 2 month group, myelinated nerve fibers ranging $2-8{\mu}m$ were present in all three areas. 4. In the post-nonvascularized graft 3 month group, a few myelinated nerve fibers ranging in $2-6{\mu}m$ were present in all three areas, but in the post-vascularized graft 3 month group, many myelinated nerve fibers ranging in $2-10{\mu}m$ were present in all three areas. 5. In the post-graft 4-month group, more myelinated nerve fibers were present in all three areas of the vascularized grafts. However, nerve fibers of less than $2{\mu}m$ in diameter were more abundant in the non vascularized grafts. 6. Schwann cells were more abundant in the proximal, middle and distal areas of the post-vascularized 2, 3 and 4-month grafts. Based on these findings, the immediate restoration of circulation in vascularized nerve grafts allows for the increased number of surviving Schwann cells, rapid healing of the axon and myelin sheath changes which occur during Wallerian degeneration, and thus is able to stimulate a morphologically optimal regeneration.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.73-79
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• 1997

Complete denervation after severe brachial plexus injury make significant muscle atrophy with loss of proper function. It is much helpful to reconstruct the essential function of the elbow flexion movement in patient with total loss of elbow flexion motion after brachial plexus lesion which was not recovered with nerve surgery or long term conservative treatment from onset. In whole arm type brachial plexus injury, if there were no response to neurotization or neglected from injury, the volume of the denervated muscle is significantely reduced month by month. About 18 months most of the muscle fibers change to fibrous tissues and markedly atrophied irreversibly, further waiting is no more meaningful from that period. Authors performed 14 cases of functioning gracilis muscle transfer from 1981 to 1995 with microneurovascular technique, neuromusculocutaneous free flaps were performed for reconstruction of lost elbow flexion function. Average follow-up period was 5 years and 6 months. We used couple of intercostal nerves as a recipient nerve which were anastomosed to muscular nerve from obturator nerve in all cases. Recipient vessels were three deep brachial artery and eleven brachial artery which were anastomosed to medial femoral circumflex artery with end to end or end to side fashion. Average resting length of the transplanted gracilis were 24 cm. We can get average 54 degree flexion range of elbow with fair muscle power from flail elbow. There were one case of muscle necrosis with lately developed thrombosis of microvascular anastomosed site which comes from insufficient recipient arterial condition, 3 cases of partial marginal necrosis of distal skin of the transplanted part which were not significant problem with spontaneously solved with time goes by gracilis muscle has constant neurovascular pattern with relatively easy harvesting donor with minimal donor morbidity. Especially it has similar length and shape with biceps brachii muscle of upper arm and longer nerve pedicle which can neurorrhaphy with intercostal nerve without nerve graft if sufficient mobilization of the nerves from both sides of gracilis and intercostal region. Authors can propose gracilis muscle transplantation with intercostal nerves neurotization is helpful method with minimal donor morbidity for neglected brachial plexus palsy patients.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.96-102
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• 1997

The gracilis that is frequently used as a donor of free muscle trasfer is appropriate in the muscular shape and vascular position. This muscle is belonged to the second type of muscle group by the classification of the pattern of muscular nutrient vessel. The adductor branch or first perforating branch of deep femoral artery which supplies the proximal 1/3 of this muscle is a dominant one and this is used for the microscopic anastomosis of muscle or musculocutaneous flap. The minor vascular pedicles which enter the distal 1/3 of this of this muscle are branches of the superficial femoral artery and it is 0.5mm in diameter, 2cm in length with two venae comitantes. These minor pedicles supplies distal half of the gracilis muscle. This island musculocutaneous flap using distal vascular pedicle can be used to cover the defect of soft tissue around the distal femoral supra-condylar area, knee joint and proximal tibial condyle area which cause limitation of motion of knee joint, or in the cases that usual skin graft is impossible. The important operative procedure is as follows; The dissection is carried proximally and distally and the entire gracilis muscle including proximal and distal pedicle is completely dissected. After temporary blocking of the proximal vascular pedicle, the adequate muscle perfusion by the distal pedicle is identified and it is rotated to the recipient site around knee joint. The advantages of this procedure are simple, no need of microscopic vascular anastomoses and no significant functional loss of donor site. Especially in the cases of poor condition of the recipient vessel, this procedure can be used effectively. From 1991 to 1996, we performed 4 cases; complete survival of flap in 3 cases and partial survival of flap with partial necrosis in 1 case. This procedure is though to be useful in the small sized soft tissue defect of distal femoral supra-condylar area, knee joint and proximal tibial condylar area, especially in the defect of anterior aspect which expected to cause limitation of motion of knee joint due to scar contracture. But the problems of this procedure are the diameter of distal vascular pedicle is small and the location of distal vascular pedicle is not constant. To reduce the failure rate, identify the muscular perfusion of distal vascular pedicle after blocking the proximal pedicle, or strategic delay will be helpful.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to present extended indications for the use of arterialized venous flaps in reconstructing soft tissue, tendon, nerve, blood vessel, and composite tissue defects of the hand of various sizes based on researches and clinical experiences of the authors. Moreover, procedures to achieve complete flap survival and postoperative results are presented. Materials & methods: This study is based on 154 cases of arterialized venous flaps performed to reconstruct the hand during the past 11 years. The most common cause of injury was industrial accidents with 125 cases. One hundred thirty patients or 84% of the cases had emergency operation within 2 weeks of the injury. The flaps were categorized depending on the size of the flap. Flaps smaller than $10\;cm^2$ were classified as small (n=48), those larger than $25\;cm^2$ classified large (n=42) and those in between medium (n=64). Classified according to composition, there were 88 cases (57.1 %) of venous skin flaps, 28 cases of innervated venous flaps, 15 cases of tendocutaneous venous flaps, which incorporated the palmaris longus tendon, for repair of extensor tendons of the fingers, and 17 cases of conduit venous flaps to repair arterial defect. There were 37 cases where multiple injuries to multiple digits were reconstructed. Moreover, there were 6 cases of composite tissue effects that involved soft tissue, blood vessels and tendons. The donor sites were ipsilateral forearm, wrist and thenar area, foot dorsum, and medial calf. The recipient sites were single digit, multiple digits, first web space, dorsum and palm of hand, and wrist. Results: There were seven cases (4.5%) of emergent re-exploration due to vascular crisis, and 3 cases of flap failure characterized by more than 50% necrosis of the flap. The survival rate was 98.1 % (151/154). In small flaps, an average of 1.01 afferent arteries and 1.05 efferent veins were microanastomosed, and in large flaps, an average of 1.88 afferent arteries and 2.19 efferent veins were anastomosed. In 8 cases where innervated flaps were used for reconstructing the palm of the hand, the average static two-point discrimination was $10\;(8{\sim}15)\;mm$. In 12 cases where tenocutaneous flaps were used, active range of motion at the proximal interphalangeal joint was 60 degrees, 20 degrees at the distal interphalangeal joint, and 75 degrees at the metacarpophalangeal joint. Conclusion: We conclude that the arterialized venous flap is a valuable and effective tool in the reconstruction of hand injuries, and could have a more comprehensive set of indications.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.12-20
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• 2010

Purpose: Industrial punch accidents involving fingers cause segmental injuries to tendons and neurovascular bundles. Although multiple-level segmental amputations are not replanted to regain function, most patients with an amputated finger want to undergo replantation for cosmetic as much as functional reason. The authors describe four cases of digital amputation by an industrial punch that involved the reinstatement of the amputated finger involving a joint and neurovascular bundle. Amputated segments were replanted to restore amputated surfaces and distal segments. Methods: A single institution retrospective review was performed. Inclusion criteria of punch injuries requiring replantation were applied to patients of all demographic background. Injury extent (size, tissue involvement), operative intervention, pre- and postoperative hand function were recorded. Result: Four cases of amputations were treated at our institute from 2004 to 2008 from industrial punch machine injury. Average patient age was 32.5 years (25~39 years) and there were three males and one female. Sizes of amputated segments ranged from $1.0{\times}1.0{\times}1.2\;cm^3$ to $3{\times}1.5{\times}1.6\;cm^3$. Tenorrhaphy was conducted after fixing fractured bone of the amputated segments with K-wire. Proximal and distal arteries and veins were repaired using the through & through method. The average follow-up period was thirteen months (2~26 months), and all replanted cases survived. Osteomyelitis occurred in one case, skin grafting after debridement was performed in two cases. Because joints were damaged in all four cases, active ranges of motion were much limited. However, a secondary tendon graft enhanced digit function in two cases. The two-point discrimination test showed normal values for both static and dynamic tests for three cases and 9 mm and 15 mm by dynamic and static testing, respectively, in one case. Conclusion: Though amputations from industrial punch machines are technically challenging to replant, our experience has shown it to be a valid therapy. In cases involving punch machine injury, if an amputated segment is available, the authors recommend that replantation be considered for preservation of finger length, joint mobility, and overall functional recovery of the hand.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2010

Purpose: First introduced by Buncke and Rose in 1979, the neurovascular partial $2^{nd}$ toe pulp free tissue transfer has been attempted to reconstruct posttraumatic finger tip injuries. Although some surgeons prefer other reconstructive methods such as skin graft and local flap, we chose the partial $2^{nd}$ toe pulp flap owing to its many advantages. We report three successful surgical cases in which the patients had undergone this particular method of reconstruction. Methods: We retrospectively examined three cases of fingertip injury patients due to mechanical injury. Bone exposure was seen in all three cases, All had undergone partial toe pulp free flap for soft tissue defect coverage. Results: All flaps survived without any complications such as partial necrosis, hematoma or dehiscence. Although tingling sensation has returned in both cases, two-point discrimination has not returned yet. Currently no patient is complaining of any pain which gradually improved during their course of recuperation. All stitches were removed on postoperative 2 weeks. Patients are satisfied with the final surgical result and there are no signs of any edema or hematoma. Conclusion: The homodigital reconstruction of finger tip injury using the partial $2^{nd}$ toe pulp flap has numerous advantages compared to other reconstructive modalities such as its resistance to wear and tear and in that it provides a non-slip palmar digital surface. However it requires microsurgery which may not be preferred by surgeons. Advanced age of the patient can be a relative contraindication to this approach since atheromatous plaque from the donor toe can compromise flap circulation after surgery. We report three successful cases which patient age was considered appropriate. Further investigation with a larger number of cases and long term follow-up is deemed necessary.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.208-222
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• 2013

In this paper, we conducted the taxonomic study of the tribe Epilobieae Endl. and concluded that a total of nine taxa, including one Chamerion (Raf.) Raf. ex Holub and eight Epilobium L., exist in Korea. Although C. angustifolium subsp. angustifolium has been placed traditionally either in Epilobium or Chamaenerion, it can be clearly distinguished from the species of Epilobium by having alternate leaves, slightly zygomorphic flowers, non-clefted petals, and equal length of 8 stamens, supporting the recognition of genus Chamerion. All but one species of Epilobium, E. platystigmatosum, was investigated for the surface of seeds using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The seed sculpture of Korean Epilobium can be classified into three types, i.e., papillose, reticulate, and ridged. E. ciliatum subsp. ciliatum is the only species Epilobium, which has the ridged seed sculpture. E. amurense subsp. cephalostigma can be distinguished from conspecific E. amurense subsp. amurense based on leaf shape, trichome shape and distribution, size and habit. Both E. fastigiatoramosum and E. palustre have entire leaf margins, but they can be distinguished based on leaf shape, stigma, and seed sculpture; the former has elongated elliptic leaves, capitate stigma, ridged seed sculpture, whereas the latter one has elongated lanceolate leaves, club-shaped stigma, and reticulate seed sculpture. Finally, we report the first record of E. platystigmatosum in Korea, and further comparative study including conspecific populations from Japan and China can clarify the occurrence of this taxon in Korea.