• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.569-573
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• 2007

Purpose: The selection of the recipient vessels in breast reconstruction has a great influence on the surgical result and the shape of the reconstructed breast. We would like to introduce the criteria for the selection of recipient vessels in delayed reconstruction of the breast. Methods: We studied 56 patients with delayed breast reconstruction using free TRAM flaps from April 1994 to December 2006. The thoracodorsal and the ipsilateral internal mammary vessels were used as recipients in 25 patients each, the opposite internal mammary vessels in 3 patients, the thoracoacromial vessels in 2 patients, and the transverse cervical artery with the cephalic vein in 1 patient. The survival rate of the flaps, the vessel diameter, the length of the pedicles, and the convenience of vessel dissection were studied. Results: The diameter of the recipient vessel did not influence the anastomosis. The operation time, the survival rate of flap, the postoperative complications showed no significant difference according to the recipient vessel. Dissection of the thoracodorsal vessels was tedious due to scar formation from the prior operation. Dissection of the internal mammary vessels proved to be relatively easy, and the required length of the pedicle was shorter than any other site, but the need for removal of rib cartilage makes this procedure inconvenient. Conclusion: The first choice of the recipient vessel in immediate breast reconstruction is the thoracodorsal vessels, but in cases of delayed reconstruction the internal mammary vessels are favored as the first choice, because the thoracodorsal vessels have a high unusability rate. If the ipsilateral internal mammary vessels prove to be useless, the contralateral vessels can be used. The thoracoacromial vessels are useful, when the mastectomy scar is located in the upper portion. The transverse cervical artery and the cephalic vein can serve as the last resort, if all other vessels are unreliable.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.9-18
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• 2010

Objectives : This study will broaden understanding of acupotomy therapy through comparison of side effects and complication which can be caused by the mechanism of treatment, surgical methods, and procedure by acupotomy therapy and epidural neuroplasty. Moreover, through an in-depth analysis of headache affected by two procedures, this research is supposed to find prospective cures for headache after acupotomy therapy. Methods : To compare acupotomy therapy with epidural neuroplasty this research was done using a comparative analysis eight theses about acupotomy therapy since 1995, as well as eleven theses about epidural neuroplasty since 2000. Other theses and data were used as references in the process of comparative analysis. Results : Acupotomy therapy and epidural neuroplasty, new treatments of damaged discs in the spine and stenosis made in 1990s, have the mechanism of treatment in common in that adhesion, a node or scar caused by the soft tissue damage is removed by putting catheter or acupuncture into the lesions. Epidural neuroplasty has additional injection into the lesions, which is different from acupotomy therapy in the process of surgical procedure. There are various reports of positive effects about curative effect in these two treatments. The two procedures may cause various complications. Headache may be a complication after surgery. The headache after acupotomy therapy is characterized as being an ache in the body, which is similar to that of post-dural puncture headache in the outbreaks and symptom. Headache after percutaneous epidural neuroplasty appears in general, which is similar to a headache as a result of the increased pressure of the brain spinal cord regardless of posture. Conclusions : Although they are alike in the mechanism of treatment, surgical methods and side effects, and complication after they are carried out as a result of analyzing theses related to acupotomy therapy and percutaneous epidural neuroplasty, there is a difference in aspects and mechanism of headaches experienced after the procedure.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.276-283
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to report bowel sound patterns recorded in 3 diseases associated with structural deformity of the pylorus-duodenum. Methods: : Bowel sound recording is a useful non-invasive tool for the evaluation of gastrointestinal motility. However, the difficulty in manual attachment of the electronic stethoscope on the abdominal wall and noise production against bowel sound signals have prohibited its widespread use. Therefore, I developed a new apparatus that eliminates the noise; it contains a sound absorbing device and a holder for the head of stethoscope. Using the new bowel sound recording system, bowel sounds of the patients were recorded repeatedly. The endoscopic and abdominal computed tomography findings were obtained from other hospitals' medical record, and all patients were confirmed to have structural deformity in the pylorus-duodenum. The records of each patient were compared and assessed. Results: : Patients had either duodenal ulcer scar, pyloric stricture, or far advanced malignant stomach cancer, as diagnosed by the gastroscopy. Their dominant frequency of bowel sound obtained from the new system was checked more than 2 times at regular intervals. All 8 recordings in the 2 patients with duodenal ulcer scar (5 times) or pyloric stricture (3 times) showed a decrease in postprandial than fasting dominant frequency. One patient with stomach cancer showed no significant change between postprandial and fasting states at 2 recordings. Conclusions: The analysis of dominant frequency in bowel sounds can indicate the existence of pyloric obstruction that could delay gastric emptying.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.325-328
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• 2008

Purpose: Steatocystoma multiplex is a rare benign disease that occurred multiply on whole body surface. Many physicians have tried managing steatocystoma in variable methods. However it is hard to define the optimal way to cure steatocystoma. We performed both aspiration and excisional method to study the usefulness of both methods. Methods: A 28-year-old woman has asymptomatic multiple subcutaneous nodules on whole body. Most lesions were aspirated with 26-guage needled 3 cc syringe but large and purulent three nodules were excised. Results: We diagnosed the lesion histologically as steatocystoma multiplex. Aspirated wound healed without scar, excised wound remained scar but esthetically acceptable. Axillary lesion contained so clustered type cysts that was difficult to aspirate whole cyst. Thus additional excisional method was needed. Conclusion: There are many practical methods to cure steatocystoma. However, there is no appropriate method to cure it. Therefore we should select different therapeutic method according to anatomical location and cyst size. Especially at subcutaneous fat-rich lesion like axilla and abdomen, it is better to excise the clustered cyst than to aspirate.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.813-817
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• 2007

Purpose: The zygomatic arch is a key element which composes the facial contour. In many cases of zygomatic arch fracture, it is difficult to fix rigidly the fractured segments. If reduced bone segments were not fixed rigidly, they are proven to be displaced by mastication or unintentional external forces. So, unfixed zygomatic arch fracture after reduction may require a external device of prevention of collapse. We introduce a new protector which stabilizing the fractured segments to prevent for collapse of the reduced zygomatic arch fracture. Methods: After reduction of zygomatic arch with blind approach(Gillies', Dingman or Keen's approach), bone segments was pulled with percutaneous traction suture in medial aspect of zygomatic arch. Then, the suture was fixed with Aqua $splint^{(R)}$, externally. And intraoperative and postoperative X-ray was done. The splint was removed on 14 days after the operation. Results: 5 patients were treated with this method. 4 patients of total patients had no collapse in zygomatic arch. There was minimal collapse in one patient. Postoperative complications such as facial nerve injury, mouth opening difficulty, contour deformity, infection, scar were not observed. Conclusion: In comparison with other techniques, this technique has several advantages which are simple and easy method, short operation time, no scar, less soft tissue injury, and facilitated removal of splint. Therefore, Aqua $splint^{(R)}$ would be a good alternative to prevent for collapse in unstable zygomatic arch fractures

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.337-340
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• 2008

Purpose: Herpes zoster is a common dermatologic disease characterized by unilateral pain and vesicular lesions over the unilateral sensory dermatomes being caused by the reactivation of Varicella zoster virus and its incidence seems to be increasing recently. In case of involving the ganglion of the fifth cranial nerve(trigeminal nerve), it can descend down the affected nerve into skin, then producing an eruption in the dermatome. Among the patients, about 40 - 50% had associated conditions such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, pulmonary tuberculosis, liver diseases, peptic ulcer, hypothyroidism, pharyngitis but rare facial trauma. Methods: Retrospective study was done for 3 cases of Herpes zoster from May 2000 to May 2007, which had been treated with acyclovir and steroid. Results: The clinical course was uneventful. Follow-up length was about 3 months. After treatment, the patients became stable and there was no complications. Conclusion: Herpes zoster was commonly associated with systemic disorders and the treatment duration was prolonged in associated diseases. But herpes zoster occurring specifically at the site of previously traumatized facial skin has not yet been reported. We experienced the treatment of herpes zoster developing within recent operative facial scar and three cases are presented with the review of literatures. Finally, facial trauma might be a risk factor for herpes zoster in traumatized patients.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.304-308
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• 2010

Purpose: Many causes for triggering or locking of the fingers have been discussed in other literatures. The most common one is known stenosing tenosynovitis, which causes, a mismatch between the volume of the flexor tendon sheath and its contents. However, repeated trauma to the hand is uncommon cause of trigger finger. Therefore, we present a case of a rare condition of stenosing tenosynovitis which developed from a repeated relatively weak superficial flexor tendon injury. Methods: The patient was a 62-year-old woman who showed a painless, fixed and round mass on her right hand with no particular cause. Active and passive range of motion of the metacarpophalangeal joint of long finger was limited in flexion and extension. Ultrasonographic finding showed injured flexor digitorum superficialis tendon had fibrillar architecture with swelling between hyperechoic synovial membrane and hypoechoic surrounding area. Surgical exploration revealed that a bunched portion of the flexor digitorum superficialis and A1 pulley cause triggering during operation after adhesiolysis of scar tissue. Results: After releasing the A1 pulley, the range of motion of the metacarpophalangeal joint of long finger showed no limitation and histological examination of the subcutaneous tissue revealed fibrous fatty degeneration. In this case, releasing the A1 pulley with adhesiolysis of the subcutaneous scar tissue was successful and we obtained good functional outcome. Conclusion: We examined a patient in whom a repetitive impact forces to the palm caused longitudinal tear of the flexor tendon, leading to trigger finger. We experienced a rare case of stenosing tenosynovitis and trigger finger caused after close injury to flexor digitorum superficialis and its degenerative changes that caused mass like effect. To the best of authors' knowledge, our case of close injury to the flexor digitorum superficialis and unique morphologic change before rupture of tendon is rarely to be reported.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.676-680
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• 2010

Purpose: Median nerve entrapment syndrome within carpal tunnel is usually called carpal tunnel syndrome and it is the most common form of peripheral nerve entrapment syndrome. Many factors such as diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, hormonal replacement theraphy, corticosteroid use, rhematoid arthritis and wrist fractures may cause carpal tunnel syndrome. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of median nerve entrapment syndrome due to adhesion of laceration wound after suicidal attempt. Methods: A 28-year-old woman presented with a sensory change and thenar hypotrophy on her left hand. On her history, she attempted suicide by slashing her wrist. Initial electromyography (EMG) showed that the nerve conduction velocities of median nerve was delayed. Therefore, we performed surgical procedures. When exploration, Fibrous scar tissue observed around the median nerve but nerve had not been injured. Transcarpal ligament was completely released and adjacent fibrous tissue was removed to decompress the median nerve. Results: The postoperative course was uneventful until the first year. Opposition difficulty and thenar hypotrophy were improved progressively after the surgery. Sensory abnormality was slowly improved over one year. Conclusion: We report a case of median nerve entrapment syndrome that was caused by adhesion of laceration wound after suicidal attempt. This is an unusual cause of median nerve entrapment syndrome, the symptoms were relieved after transcarpal ligament release and fibrous scar tissue removal.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.326-332
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• 1978

There appears some conduction defects frequently after total correction of Tetralogy of Fallot. Common defect is right bundle branch block due to surgical intervention. We experienced complete A-V block which occured 3 months later after total correction of Tetralogy of Fallot in a 8 year old boy. The patient was completely free of any A-V block after the operation for 3 months, and sudden onset of A-V block with coupled premature ventricular contractions resulted him in shock state during the attack of severe bronchopneumonia for 4 days prior to the second visit. Emergency implantation of Cordis demand type temporary pacemaker was necessary to control the complete heart block with bradyarrhythmia and frequent ventricular fibrillation. Permanent cardiac pacemaker was implanted two weeks later as indicated with Cordis Stanicor lambda demand pacemaker, and the patient was discharged uneventfully on the 8th post implantation day with the heart rate of 72/min. Another 3 months after the implantation, the patient was transported to this hospital as dead on arrival after an accidental fall from a 2 meter height, and all possible cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed for 60 minutes at the emergency room in vain. Autopsy was done to find out the cause of sudden death and the etiology of complete heart block. Microscopic focal infarctions with scar formation were noted along the course of conduction system in the interventricular septum, which might be the main cause of complete heart block during the attack of severe bronchopneumonia complicated with acute bacterial endocarditis. The tip of the pacemaker wire was slipped from the granulation scar at the apex of the right ventricular cavity, and this might be the direct cause of pacing failure and death.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.195-204
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• 2015

Several researches are focused on improving the value of fine chemicals based on biomass resources due to environmental and other concerns associated with the use of petroleum-based products. Therefore, the synthesis and application of estolides derived from plant-based waste oil materials and their application as lubricants and as processing oil for butyl rubber products have been studied. Four kinds of estolide were prepared with conversions of 71~92% over 24h using various vegetable oils, as determined by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. FT-IR spectroscopy determines the esterification of estolides using 2-ethylhexyl alcohol. The estolides have iodine values of 35~90, α-ester/α-acid ratios of 0.45~0.55, and total acid number of 114~134 mg KOH g^–1. Four ball wear tests show that the wear scar diameters (WSDs) of estolides as base oil significantly decreased to 0.328~0.494 mm, compared to WSDs of 0.735 and 0.810 mm of WSD for 150N and Yubase 6, respectively, as general base oil. Thus, the estolides have better wear resistance and satisfying design objectives for the engineering of a variety of lubricant base oils.