• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.179-184
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• 2014

Purpose: We investigated the safety and efficacy of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) in terminally ill cancer patients. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on patients who underwent PICC at the hospice-palliative division of KEPCO (Korea Electric Power Corporation) Medical Center between January 2013 and December 2013. All PICCs were inserted by an interventional radiologist. Results: A total of 30 terminally ill cancer patients received the PICC procedure during the study period. Including one patient who had had two PICC insertions during the period, we analyzed a total of 31 episodes of catheterization and 571 PICC days. The median catheter life span was 14.0 days (range, 1~90 days). In 25 cases, catheters were maintained until the intended time (discharge, transfer, or death), while they were removed prematurely in six other cases (19%; 10.5/1000 PICC days). Thus, the catheter maintenance success rate was 81%. Of those six premature PICC removal cases, self-removal due to delirium occurred in four cases (13%; 7.0/1000 PICC days), and catheter-related blood stream infection and thrombosis were reported in one case, each (3%; 1.8/1000 PICC days). Complication cases totaled eight (26%; 14.1/1000 PICC days). The time to complication development ranged from two to 14 days and the median was seven days. There was no PICC complication-related death. Conclusion: Considering characteristics of terminally ill cancer patients, such as a poor general condition, vulnerability to trivial damage, and a limited period of survival, PICC could be a safe intravenous procedure.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.153-158
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• 2011

This study was performed in order to simplify the operation and minimize stress of donor and be readily available in the field with low cost and high quality embryos using the Direct Embryo Collection (DEC). Donors, at random stages of the estrous cycle, received a CIDR. 7 days later, 200 mg FSH was treated with 40, 30, 20, 10 mg FSH levels in declining doses twice daily by intramuscular injection for 4 days. On the 3rd day administration of FSH, 25 mg $PGF_2{\alpha}$ was administered and CIDR was withdrawn. After FSH injections were complete, donors were artificially inseminated twice at 12 hr intervals. The donor cattle received 250 ${\mu}g$ GnRH at time of 1 st insemination and embryos were recovered 8 days after the 1st insemination. Embryo collection from superovulated donors was performed to flushing by non-surgical methods of 3-way, 2-way and DEC (l-way). The average number of recovered embryos were 11.25${\pm}$0.63, 12.5${\pm}$0.65 and 11.75${\pm}$0.48 from operations of 3-way, 2-way and DEC methods, respectively. There were no significant differences among the embryo collection methods. Also, The average number of transferable embryos were 6.25${\pm}$0.48, 7.25${\pm}$0.48 and 7.25${\pm}$0.63 from each embryo collection procedures. The number of transferable embryos was no differences among the 3-way, 2-way and DEC methods, respectively. Meanwhile, the ratio of transferable embryos for all recovered embryos from DEC methods was higher as 61.7 % than 55.6 %, 58 % from methods of 3-way, 2-way. And the flushing solution required for recovering embryos by DEC method was significantly lower as 0.28${\pm}$0.32 1 than 1.8${\pm}$0.12 1, 1.75${\pm}$0.10 1 from 3-way, 2-way methods (p<0.05). Also, the time required for recovering embryos by DEC methods was significantly lower as 27${\pm}$2 min than 51${\pm}$3, 45${\pm}$2 min, respectively (p<0.05). In conclusion, these results suggest that DEC method for embryo collection may be effectively used for production of in vivo embryos using less flushing solution and, it might be effectively available in the field compared to conventional embryo recovery methods using 3-way or 2-way balloon catheter.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.63-67
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• 2007

This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of sodium carboxymethylcellulose (SCMC) for the prevention of postoperative uterus and ovary adhesion formation in the Korean black goats. Twenty adult female Korean black goats randomly were divided into five groups with four animals in each group. After the routine laparotomy, catheter for injection was inserted into the abdomen. Before abdominal closure, saline, 1% SCMC, 2% SCMC or 0.4% HA solution (50ml/10kg of body weight/head) were injected in the abdominal cavity in each group. Three weeks after surgery, second laparotomy was performed and the adhesions were scored on a scale of 0 to 10 according to their vascularity and adhesion size in uterus and ovary. This trial was repeated the four times with the interval of three weeks. In the first and second trial, the group treated with 2% SCMC significantly reduced the adhesion formation than other treatment groups (P<0.05). In the third trial, the adhesion formation was significantly reduced in 2% SCMC and 1% SCMC (P<0.05). In the fourth trial, 2% SCMC reduced the adhesion formation. However, there was no significant difference among other groups. This study showed that the 2% SCMC administered at the end of the surgery reduced the adhesion formation in the Korean black goats.