• Archives of Hand and Microsurgery
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.281-289
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• 2018

Purpose: Preoperative surgical planning utilizing computed tomography angiography (CTA) has now become a routine in many practices. We analyzed the course of the deep inferior epigastric artery (DIEA) and its perforators (DIEP) that would either facilitate or hinder flap dissection based on CTA to aid surgical planning. Methods: The 115 consecutive patients who underwent abdominally based free flap breast reconstruction were enrolled in this prospective study. DIEA/P courses were categorized mainly according to their intramuscular courses and their incidences were investigated. Results: A total of 425 perforators were identified preoperatively on the CTA, with an average number of 3.7 distinctly visualized in the entire flap territory. Eighty-nine perforators (20.9%) had a favorable (less than 1 cm intramuscular course) pattern, namely long submuscular (34.8% of the patients), long subfascial (15.6%), and total circummuscular (13.9%). Overall 56.5% of the patients had at least one favorable DIEA/P. On the other hand, absence of DIEA and absence of adequate (>1 mm) DIEP was reported in 3 and 8 hemiabdomen. Conclusion: Preoperative CTA evaluation of DIEA/P can be used to identify favorable as well as unfavorable courses for dissection to aid surgical planning.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.69-72
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• 2013

Carcinosarcoma is a rare malignant, biphasic tumor comprised of carcinoma and sarcoma components. In the gastrointestinal tract, carcinosarcoma is most frequently seen in the esophagus and rarely in the stomach. We report a 51-year-old female patient with 2-month-history of epigastric pain and dyspepsia. Endoscopic finding revealed a huge ulcerative lesion that infiltrated from the antrum to the mid-body. An endoscopically taken biopsy revealed poorly differentiated malignant round cell neoplasm. After the palliative subtotal gastrectomy, immunohistochemical studies showed two positive reactions for the epithelial marker and mesenchymal marker. Based on the above findings, the patient was diagnosed with gastric carcinosarcoma. The immunohistochemical analysis is a critical method in making an accurate diagnosis of carcinosarcoma.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.5-12
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of hand acupuncture on relieving of abdominal pain. Method: Fifty-five middle school students who complained abdominal pain were selected as subjects. There were 35 students in the experimental group while 20 students were in the control group. Convenience assignment was used. The experimental group received hand acupuncture treatment which was to puncture corresponding points (epigastric pain A8, A12, A16, K9, F4, E42; lower abdominal pain A1, A4, A6, A8, J1, H2) on both the palm and the back of a hand with disposable acupuncture needles, and then to remove them after a 20-30min. recess during the subjects was in supine position on a bed. Result: Degree of subjective pain decreased statistically in the experimental as compared to the control group. No statistical significant differences were found in objective pain and comfort between experimental and control group. Conclusion: These findings indicate that hand acupuncture is an effective method for reducing abdominal pain. Therefore, hand acupuncture could be considered as an independent nursing intervention for abdominal pain reduction.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.599-602
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• 2019

We report a case of autologous breast reconstruction in which a thoracodorsal vessel was used as a recipient vessel after a hypoplastic internal mammary vessel was found on preoperative computed tomography (CT) angiography. A 46-year-old woman with no underlying disease was scheduled to undergo skin-sparing mastectomy and breast reconstruction using a deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap. Preoperative CT angiography showed segmental occlusion of the right subclavian artery with severe atherosclerosis and calcification near the origin of the internal mammary artery, with distal flow maintained by collateral branches. The thoracodorsal artery was selected to be the recipient vessel because CT showed that it was of adequate size and was not affected by atherosclerosis. The patient experienced no postoperative complications, and the flap survived with no vascular complications. The breasts were symmetrical at a 6-month follow-up. This case highlights that preoperative vascular imaging modalities may help surgeons avoid using diseased vessels as recipient vessels in free flap breast reconstructions.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.274-277
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• 2004

The heterotopic pancreas is defined as the presence of pancreatic tissue lacking anatomical and vascular continuity from the main body of pancreas. Its incidence has been reported as widely ranging from 0.55~13.7% in autopsy studies and 0.2% in upper abdominal laparotomies. The most common sites are the antrum of stomach, duodenum and proximal jejunum. But, lesions have also been found in the ileum, Meckel diverticulum, common bile duct and the esophagus. Most cases are incidentally encountered during surgery, and on rare occasions, epigastric pain, hemorrhage, gastric outlet obstruction and intussusception have been directly attributable to the presence of the heterotopic pancreas. A 3-month-old boy presented with 1-day history of vomiting and irritability. Intussusception was confirmed on ultrasound scan. At laparotomy there was an irreducible ileoileal intussusception, the intussuscepted portion of ileum was resected and end to end anastomosis was performed. Histologically, the mass was found to be composed of pancreatic tissue.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.238-242
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• 2017

The most common anatomic variant seen in donor kidneys for renal transplantation is the presence of multiple renal arteries, which can cause an increased risk of complications. Accessory renal arteries should be anastomosed to the proper source arteries to improve renal perfusion via the appropriate vascular reconstruction techniques. In microsurgery, 2 kinds of vascular augmentation methods, known as 'supercharging' and 'turbocharging,' have been introduced to ensure vascular perfusion in the transferred flap. Supercharging uses a distant source of the vessels, while turbocharging uses vascular sources within the same flap territory. These technical concepts can also be applied in renal transplantation, and in this report, we describe 2 patients who underwent procedures using supercharging and turbocharging. In one case, the ipsilateral deep inferior epigastric artery was transposed to the accessory renal artery (supercharging), and in the other case, the accessory renal artery was anastomosed to the corresponding main renal artery with a vascular graft (turbocharging). The transplanted kidneys showed good perfusion and proper function. No cases of renal failure, hypertension, rejection, or urologic complications were observed. These microsurgical techniques can be safely utilized for renal transplantation with donor kidneys that have multiple arteries with a lower complication rate and better outcome.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.65-67
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• 2017

Even though Neptunea contricta appears similar to Batilus cornutus and Rapana venosa, they are different in tetramine content which inhibits the neuronal calcium channel. Therefore, mistaking Neptunea contricta for Batilus cornutus or Rapana venosa, can result in the occurrence of toxic symptoms. Three patients developed nausea, epigastric pain, chest pain, dizziness, blurred vision, dyspnea, hypertension and tachycardia after eating Neptunea contricta. Moreover, consumption of one only piece was sufficient to cause symptoms because each Neptunea contricta has 17.3 mg of tetramine. Accordingly, care should be taken when patients are consuming more than 5 pieces because toxic symptoms such as dyspnea can occur. Moreover, correct species identification is important because the quantity of tetramine varies among sea snail species. Finally, it is important to educate people to remove the salivary glands completely before consuming Neptunea contricta.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.45-54
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• 2014

Objectives This research was proposed to present Clinical Practice Guideline(CPG) for Soeumin Disease of Sasang Constitutional Medicine(SCM): Greater Yin Symptomatology. This CPG was developed by the national-wide experts committee consisting of SCM professors. Methods First, it was performed that search and collection of literature related SCM such as "Dongeuisusebowon", Textbook of SCM, Clinical Guidebook of SCM and Fundamental research to standardize diagnosis of Sasang Constitutional Medicine. And journal search related clinical trial or Human complementary medicine of SCM was performed domestic and overseas. Finally, 1 article was selected and included in CPG for Greater Yin Symptomatology of Stomach Cold-based Interior Cold disease in Soeumin disease. Results & Conclusions CPG of Greater Yin symptomatology in Soeumin Disease include classification, definition and standard symptoms of each pattern. Greater Yin symptomatology is classified into mild and moderate pattern by severity. Greater Yin Symptomatology Mild pattern is classified into Greater Yin Symptomatology accompanied abdominal pain and bowel irritability and Greater Yin pattern accompanied Epigastric stuffiness and fullness. And Greater Yin Symptomatology moderate pattern is classified into Greater Yin pattern accompanied Jaundice, Greater Yin pattern accompanied Edema and Greater Yin pattern by Yin toxin.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.287-294
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• 2006

Vascular thrombosis and ischemic necrosis still remain the most significant threats to the survival of free flaps. To date, neutrophils have been implicated in the pathogenesis of postischemic injury. Several studies have demonstrated that modulating the neutrophil response to ischemia-reperfusion injury can decrease the extent of the injury. In addition, some authors noticed that mast cell counts were also increased in flaps exposed to state of ischemia/reperfusion. So, we designed to evaluate the role of mast cells in ischemia/reperfusion by blocking histamine and to compare the effect of L-arginine, a nitric oxide precursor which is known to prevent neutrophil-mediated tissue injury. Epigastric island skin flaps were elevated in 30 rats and rendered ischemic. Thirty minutes prior to reperfusion, the rats were treated with intraperitoneal saline, diphenhydramine, cimetidine, and L-arginine. The necrosis rate of flap at 7 days, the number of neutrophils and mast cells at 20 hours were evaluated. In conclusion, histamine receptor blockers as well as L-arginine significantly decreased flap necrosis in a rat skin island ischemia-reperfusion flap model, but the protective effect was not significantly different in both agent groups.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.218-221
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• 2015

Gastric metastasis from ovarian carcinoma is extremely rare and the prognosis for patients is poor. We report a case of multimodal treatment improving the survival time of a patient with gastric metastasis from ovarian cancer. A 73-year-old woman with known serous ovarian cancer was admitted to the hospital due to epigastric pain and dyspepsia. On esophagogastroduodenoscopy, a protruding mass was noted at the gastric antrum. She underwent distal gastrectomy with Billroth I anastomosis and lymph node dissection, including the para-aortic lymph nodes. The final pathology revealed gastric metastasis from ovarian serous adenocarcinoma. In this case, after cytoreductive surgery, chemotherapy was performed each time a recurrence was diagnosed, and remission was accomplished. She survived for 108 months after the first diagnosis of the metastatic tumor in the stomach. Multimodal treatment of metastatic lesions since the first diagnosis allowed the patient to survive longer than those in previous reports.