• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.214-220
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• 2019

Background Microvascular anastomosis patency is adversely affected by local and systemic factors. Impaired intimal recovery and endothelial mechanisms promoting thrombus formation at the anastomotic site are common etiological factors of reduced anastomosis patency. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is a catechin derivative belonging to the flavonoid subgroup and is present in green tea (Camellia sinensis). This study investigated the effects of EGCG on the structure of vessel tips used in microvascular anastomoses and evaluated its effects on thrombus formation at an anastomotic site. Methods Thirty-six adult male Wistar albino rats were used in the study. The right femoral artery was cut and reanastomosed. The rats were divided into two groups (18 per group) and were systemically administered either EGCG or saline. Each group were then subdivided into three groups, each with six rats. Axial histological sections were taken from segments 1 cm proximal and 1 cm distal to the microvascular anastomosis site on days 5, 10, and 14. Results Thrombus formation was significantly different between the EGCG and control groups on day 5 (P=0.015) but not on days 10 or 14. The mean luminal diameter was significantly greater in the EGCG group on days 5 (P=0.002), 10 (P=0.026), and 14 (P=0.002). Intimal thickening was significantly higher on days 5 (P=0.041) and 10 (P=0.02). Conclusions EGCG showed vasodilatory effects and led to reduced early thrombus formation after microvascular repair. Similar studies on venous anastomoses and random or axial pedunculated skin flaps would also contribute valuable findings relevant to this topic.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.450-454
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• 2021

A 75-year-old male patient without any significant medical and habitual risk factors for acute atherosclerosis obliterans except for hypertension was diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 with dyspnea, coughing, and mild fever. After a week of hospitalization, he complained of right foot pain and numbness. The symptoms were aggravated during the next week, resulting in a complete toe color change and loss of dorsalis artery pulse. Enhanced 3-dimensional computed tomography angiography revealed thrombus formation in the right common iliac artery and a loss of blood flow below the popliteal artery on both sides. The patient underwent percutaneous balloon angioplasty with stent insertion followed by medical therapy for anticoagulation. The clinical symptoms immediately were improved after the intervention, but the great toe necrosis was not recovered. Finally, amputation of the great toe was performed.

• Clinical Pain
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.116-119
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• 2020

Cervical transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) is commonly performed to provide relief of pain caused by radiculopathy. Intra-arterial injection of particulate steroid or direct needle injury can lead to spinal artery embolism or thrombosis. Also there is a possibility of vascular spasm. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of spinal cord infarction that occurred after TFESI with non-particulate steroid in Korea. A 47-year-old female patient underwent C7 TFESI at local pain clinic. Injected materials were dexamethasone and mepivacaine. Right after the intervention, she felt muscle weakness and decreased sensation. On physical examination, she had decreased sensation from C4 to T2 dermatome in light touch and pin-prick test. Proprioception and vibration were intact. The motor grades of upper extremities were grade 1. Cervical and thoracic spine MRI was checked. Diffusion-weighted image and apparent diffusion coefficient image showed long extension of spinal cord infarction from C2 to T1 level.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.84 no.3
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• pp.713-718
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• 2023

Orthotopic liver transplantation has become the treatment of choice for patients with end-stage liver disease. Various early or delayed vascular complications, including arterial pseudoaneurysm, thrombosis, or stenosis, and venous stenosis or occlusion, may lead to graft failure. Early detection and prompt management of such complications are essential to achieve successful transplantation and prevent the need for retransplantation. This report presents differentiating points, using computed tomography and digital subtraction angiography findings and measurement of pressure gradient across the stenotic lesion, that require immediate intervention in patients with inferior vena cava stenosis after orthotopic liver transplantation.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.159-165
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• 1998

Purpose : The best prognosis for hepatocellular carcinoma can be achieved with surgical resection. However, the number of resected cases is limited due to the advanced lesion or associated liver disease. A trial of combined transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE) and local radiotherapy(RT) for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) was prospectively conducted and its efficacy and toxicity were investigated. Materials and Methods : From 1992 to 1994, 30 Patients with unresectable HCC due either to advanced lesion or to associated cirrhosis were entered in the study Exclusion criteria included the presence of extrahepatic metastasis, liver cirrhosis of Child's class C, tumors occupying more than two-thirds of the whole liver, and an ECOG scale of more than 3. Patient cHaracteristics were : mean tumor size $8.95\pm3.4cm$, serum AFP+ in all patients, portal vein thrombosis in all patients, liver cirrhosis in 22 patients, and UICC stage III and IVA in 10 and 20 patients, respectively. TACE was performed with the mixture of Lipiodol(5ml) and Adriamycin(50mg) and Gelfoam embolizatin. RT(mean dose $44.0\pm9.3Gy$) 10 days with conventional fractionation. Results : An objective response was observed in 19 patients($63.3\%$). Survival rates at 1 2, and 3 years were $67\%,\;33.3\%$ and $22.2\%$, respectively. Median survival was 17 months. There were 6 patients surviving more than 3 years. Distant metastasis occurred in 10 patients, with 8 in the lung only and 2 in both lung and bone, Toxicity included transient elevation of liver function test in all patients, fever in 20, thrombocytopenia in 4, and nausea and vomiting in 1. There was no treatment-related death. Conclusion : Combined TACE and RT appear to produce a favorable response and survival results with minimal toxicity.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.62 no.5
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• pp.421-426
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• 2007

Portopulmonary hypertension (PPHTN) is a clinically and pathophysiologically distinct complication of advanced liver disease. PPHTN is characterized by the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension in association with advanced hepatic disease-related portal hypertension. A characteristic feature of PPHTN is an obstruction to the pulmonary artery flow caused by vasoconstriction, the proliferation of the endothelium and smooth muscle components of the vascular wall, as well as in situ thrombosis. This disorder is commonly underdiagnosed but the clinical implications are significant because it has substantial effects on survival and requires special treatment. We report a case of portopulmonary hypertension in a 53-year-old woman with primary biliary cirrhosis who presented with exertional dyspnea.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.195-199
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• 1997

From Dec. 1992 to Dec. 1995, 20 patients with atherosclerotic occlusive disease in the lower extremities underwent arter al bypass surgery. The age of the patients ranged between 46 and 77 years(mean .60.8 years) and the most prevalent incidence was in the 7th decades. The mean follow up period was 18.8 months ranging from 4 to 36 months. Associated diseases were diabetus mellitus(25%), hypertension (35%), cerebrovascular accident(25%), and acute myocardial infarction(5%). Disabling intermittent claudifcation(35%), resting pain(20%) or ischemic gangrene(or ulceration)(45%) were operative indications. Aorto-bifemoral bypass in 4 cases, aorto-single femoral bypass in 2 cases, Aorto-bifemoral bypass and femoropopliteal bypass in 3 cases, aorto-single femoral bypass and femoropopliteal bypass in 1 case, femoropopliteal bypass in 4 cases, femorotibial bypass in 1 case, popliteotibial bypass 4 cases and femorofemoral bypass in 1 case were the surgical approches. Early thrombosis(2 cases) and wound infection(2 case) were main complication. Postoperative complication rate was 20% . Postoperative patency rates re 92.6% at 6 months, 84.2% at 1 year, 75.4% at 2 years and 69.4% at 3 years.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.98-105
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• 1977

A 36 year old blindman, engineer was admitted with chief complaints of hemoptysis, recurrent sore throat, pyoderma in genital organ, uveitis and thrombophlebitis for 10 years. Above the chief complaints were remission or exacerbation during hospitalization. Physicalexamination showed that left radial, ulnar & brachial pulse was not palpable. No bruit or murmur was obtained over the mass. Neurologic examination revealed no significant finding.On admission, chest P-A showed hen egg sized round & oval compact hazy density on left upper lung field. Bronchogram revealed no pathological finding and Lt. tomogram showed well define large,ovoid mass density in the superior mediastinum. Fluoroscopy finding showed nonpulsatile on left upper lung field. Pre-op. aortography was not taken, under the impression of lung Ca. rule out .sortie aneurysm, exploratory operation was performed through the 2nd intercostal space, Lt. It was performed that the mass was ascending sortie aneurysm of saccular type. Direct aneurysmectomy with multiple figure of eight suture were done without any prosthetic graft. Post-op. control I.V.C graphy showed completely obstruction sign. Postopcontrol aortography revealed good surgical result. Final, histopathological answered non-specific sortie aneurysm, saccular type. Post-op. courses were uneventful except mild neurologic disturbance with subclavian steal syndrome and associated with both lower leg pitting edema due to inferior vena cava obstruction. After op, 3 month later, discharged to home, with big systemic problem. Behcet`s syndrome reviewed with related literatures. The coexistence of mouth and genital ulceration with hypopyon mentioned by hippocrates and described by various workers in the early part of this century was first defined as a syndrome by Behcet in 1937. In 1937 Behcet described a chronic relapsing triple symptom complex of oral ulceration, genital ulceration, and ocular inflammation. The place of the syndrome as part of a systemic disorder in now clearer, and the under lying pathology appears to be a vasculitis. The disease runs a- chronic course, blindness being the greatest disability and control nervous system involvement a cause of death. Thrombophlebitis is fairly frequent, france et al [1951] giving an incidence of 25% and Dowling [1961] 12%, superficial thrombophlebitis migrans and thrombosis of large veins, including venae cavae [Thomas, 1947: Boolukos 1960] are recorded. Little attention has been paid to arterial involvement. Mishima et al. [1961] described resection cf an aortic aneurysm in a 38 year old man with Behcet`s syndorme. Mounsey in a clinicopathological conference described a case [Brit, med. J., 1966] of ruptured aortic aneurysm in Bechcet`s syndrome treated by aorto-iliac graft. Also, Shikano and Oshima et al [1963] recorded two aneyrysm of smaller arteries. Unfrequently, aortic aneurysm was presumed to be secondary to osteomyelitis of the lumber spine, though the possible association between aortic aneurysm and Behcet`s syndrome was raised. A further case is reported here, in which ascending aortic aneurysm with Behcet`s Ds. appeared to form part of this generalized disease. This is a case report of surgical experience of Behcet`s Ds. with ascending aortic aneurysm which had nearly all the typical clinical features. Above mentioned and was reviewed with related literatures.

• 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.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2007

Korean red ginseng has broad efficacious effects against hypertension, diabetes, nociception, and cancer, and it counteracts weakness. It has been reported that Korean red ginseng is able to normalize blood pressure, improve cholesterol and lower blood glucose levels. We have recently reported that Korean red ginseng extract (KRGE) significantly prevented rat carotid arterial thrombosis in vivo, and inhibited platelet aggregation ex vivo and in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of KRGE on blood circulation in human by measuring ex vivo platelet aggregation, plasma coagulation and serum lipid profiles in healthy volunteers. Subjects were randomly divided into three groups (placebo-group, KRGE-low dose group, KRGE-high dose group). Administration of KRGE to subjects significantly inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregations both in KRGE-low dose group from $72.79{\pm}20.53$ to $62.00{\pm}23.06%$ (p=0.0009), and in KRGE-high dose group from $75.14{\pm}21.86$ to $64.52{\pm}24.72%$ (p=0.0039), respectively. Administration of KRGE to subjects also significantly inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregations both in KRGE-low dose group from $85.52{\pm}12.57$ to $79.62{\pm}20.47%$ (p=0.0916), and in KRGE-high dose group from $80.24{\pm}18.11$ to $70.31{\pm}25.93%$ (p=0.0565), respectively. Whereas, KRGE has no significant effects on coagulation system, such as prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and serum lipid profiles, such as total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride. KRGE also has no significant effects on hematological and serum biochemical profiles. These results suggest that KRGE has a potential to improve blood circulation through antiplatelet activity in human, and KRGE intake may be beneficial for the individuals with high risks of thrombotic and cardiovascular diseases.