• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1204-1208
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• 2000

Objectives : At the closure of the transsphenoidal approach(TSA), the proper sellar floor reconstruction plays an important role in preventing postoperative complications. The septal cartilage, perpendicular plate of nasal septum, and the sphenoid sinus bone are usually used to repair the sellar floor as a bone splint. The authors evaluate the usefulness of a silicone plate as a substitute for bone splint to close a defect of the sellar floor. Materials and Methods : A silicone plate was used to repair the sellar floor in 7 patients with sellar lesions which included four pituitary adenomas, two Rathke's cleft cysts and one metastatic tumor. Among seven cases, five cases underwent a standard TSAs and two received a extended TSAs. The trajectories of the approach were sublabial in four cases and endonasal routes in three cases. The silicone plate for implantation was cut to a size of slightly larger than that of bone window and inserted with a three-pronged fork, and then adjusted precisely. Results : In six patients, there were no complications which related to sellar floor reconstruction. A postoperative cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) rhinorrhea was observed in one patient with pituitary macroadenoma. Conclusions : From the authors' experience, the advantages of the silicone plate are its simplicity of molding to fit any size of sellar floor defects, and easy detection of previously created bone window at reoperation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.108-118
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• 1999

Background: To evaluate the risk factor and long-term result of arterial switch operation , a retrospective study was done. Material and Method: A retrospective analysis was done to evaluate the early and long-term results on 58 patients who underwent an arterial switch operation(ASO) for transposition of the great arteries(TGA) with intact ventricular septum, between January 1988 and December 1996. Beforesurgery, 36 patients(62.1%) underwent balloon atrial septostomy, 32 patients(51.7%) received PGE1 infusion, and preparatory banding of pulmonary artery was performed on 6 patients(mean LV/RV pressure ratio 0.53$\pm$0.11). Result: The age at operation ranged from 1 to 137 days(mean 24$\pm$26 days) and the weights ranged from 1.8 to 6.8 kg (mean 3.5$\pm$0.8 kg). There were 14 early deaths(24.1%), but of the last 24 patients operated on since 1994, there were only 2 early deaths(8.3%). In the risk factor analysis, the date of operation was the only risk factor for early death(p-value < 0.01). Eight of the 14 early deaths were due to acute myocardial failure(mainly inadequate coronary blood flow). The length of follow-up ranged from 2 months to 8 years, average of 36$\pm$27 months. The follow-up included sequential noninvasive evaluations and 21 catheterizations and angiographic studies performed 5 to 32 months postoperatively with particular attention to the great vessel and coronary anastomosis, ventricular function, valvular competence, and cardiac rhythm. There were 5 late deaths(11.4%), one of thesedeaths was related to the late coronary problems, two to aspiration, one to uncontrolled chronic mediastinitis, and one to progressive aortic insufficiency and heart failure. The most frequent postoperative hemodynamic abnormality was supravalvular stenosis and the degree of pulmonary or aortic obstruction had slowly progressed in some cases, however there were no children who had to undergo a reoperation for supravalvular pulmonary or aortic stenosis. Aortic regurgitation was identified in 9 patients, which was mild in 7 and moderate in 2 and had progressed in some cases. Two patients who had an unremarkable perioperative course were identified as having coronary artery obstructions. The other late survivors were in good condition, were in sinus rhythm, and had normal LV functions. Actuarial survival rate at 8 years was 68.8%. Conclusion: We concluded that anatomic correction will be established as the optimal approach to the TGA with intact ventricular septum, though further long-term evaluations are needed.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.213-221
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• 2011

Equilateral venus, Gomphina veneriformis exposed to tribultyltin chloride (TBTCl) for 36 weeks was showed ultrastructural changes of the mantle. The fine mantle had 4-folds and its epidermal layer consisted of simple columnar epithelial cells and ciliated cells and secretory cells. Inner and outer epidermal layer covered connective tissue. The mantle exposed to TBTCl at 12 weeks was decreased cilia in the inner epidermal layer, and observed extension of the hemolymph sinus and destruction of the septum. At 20 weeks, it revealed vacuole formation and pycnosis in the cytoplasm, and scattered muscular fiber. After 28 weeks of exposure, the mantle revealed partially degenerative changes in the epidermal layer. In the ciliated cells, basal body was isolated from the cilia and rootlet complex and basal foot were scattered. The sarcolemma had debris fiber. At 36 weeks, it observed degenerative cells that it revealed disappearance of the cilia, atrophic nucleus, poorly membrane and destruction of the cresternae in the mitochondria, and increasing heterophagosome. The outer epithelial cell had necrotic nuclus, numeous lysosome and disappearance of the microvilli. Therefore, results of this study suggested that chronical TBTCl exposure in the Gomphina veneriformis induced the disorders of shell growth and physiological function with histopathological changes of the mantle.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.5-9
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• 1999

Background: Ebstein anomaly is a rare congenital disease distinguished by its unique deformity in tricuspid valve and right ventricle & atrium. In its surgical treatment , tricuspid valve reconstruction and valve replacement are well known method, but various surgical methods were suggested. Material and Method : From January 1984 to December 1995, 8 patients with Ebstein anomaly underwent surgical correction. Age and sex distribution, clinical symtoms, radiologic findings, preoperative studies, operative findings, operative methods and its results were analyzed. Result: The sex ratio was 5 to 3(male : female). Patients' ages were averaged 17.6(2-28) years. In all cases, it showed typical deformities of the tricuspid valve. Associated anomalies were permenant foramen ovale, atrial septum defect, pulmonary stenosis. Surgical procedures included tricuspid valve replacement(n=4) and tricuspid valve reconstuction(n=4). Two cases of sinus tachycardia and complete AV block occured postoperatively. There were two hospital death and no late death. All survivors are in NYHA class I or II with median follow up of 64.8 months. 2-D echocardiogram disclosed improvement tricuspid regurgitation during the follow up period. Conclusion: Even though operative method of Ebstein anomaly should be decided according to each anatomical characteristics, we recommended that tricuspid valvuloplasty and plication can be one of the good methods method in the selective cases.