PURPOSE: We performed this study to describe the findings of MR Myelography(MRM) of herniated disc disease, spinal stenosis and spinal tumor and to evaluate the usefulness of the MRM in comparison to MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MRI and MRM were performed in 31 patients with herniated disc disease(12 patients), spinal stenosis(11 patients) and spinal tumor(8 patients). MRI and MRM were done with 1.5-T Signa MR, using fat suppressed heavily T2-weighted fast spin echo technique. We retrospectively analyzed MRM images about the thecal sac indentation, compression or displacement of the nerve root, extent and degree of narrowing of spinal canal, relationship between spinal tumor and spinal cord. MRM findings were compared with MRI in all cases. RESULTS: In 18 herniated disc cases of 12 patients, focal filling defect with cutoff or displacement of the nerve root in eight cases of paracentral herniated disc was seen. Cutoff and displacement of the nerve root were more clearly delineated on MRM than rvlRI. In the patients of spinal stenosis(11 cases), hourglass deformity of the thecal sac or complete spinal block of the subarachnoid space was clearly demonstrated. The extent and severity of spinal stenosis were more accurately evaluated on MRM than MRI. MRM finding of intramedullary tumor(3 cases) was enlargement of spinal cord. Five cases of intradural extramedullary tumor showed intradural filling defect, which caused contralateral displacement of the spinal cord with meniscus sign on inferior margin of the mass. CONCLUSION: MRM shows characteristic findings of herniated disc disease, spinal stenosis and spinal tumor. MRM yields excellent definition of the thecal sac, nerve roots and nerve root sleeves in relation to herniated disc and may be more accurate in evaluation of the degree and extent of spinal stenosis than MRI.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Myelography* ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Diseases ; Spinal Stenosis ; Subarachnoid Space

It is aging fast in Korea like other Asian countries. Social care systems, human resources, and appropriate senior products for elderly people are important factors to keep the society ealthy and productive. In this paper, we introduce the current status of senior products and standards in Korea including the Korea Senior Product Association (KSPA); present general status of the senior industry in Korea,long-term care insurance program for the elderly as well as welfare items; discuss problems and importance of standardization in the senior industry, the scope of senior products, and the current status of standardization.

Distinction of antemortem changes from postmortem artifacts is of obvious importance in determining the cause of death. Problems in differential diagnosis may occur as a result of faulty autopsy technique, decomposition changes and destructive environmental factors. Recently we experienced a formation of tyrosine crystals on the gastric and esophageal mucosa of decomposed corpse. The tyrosine crystals found on the gastric and esophageal mucosa were very similar and small pin-head sized whitish gray granules. At first we suspected them as a certain drugs or toxic substances. But the granular materials were confirmed as tyrosine crystals by infrared spectrum analysis. So we report here as a first confirmed case in korea. We think the tyrosine crystal is formed by putrefactive processes and consider as one of the putrefactive artifacts.
Artifacts* ; Autopsy ; Cadaver ; Cause of Death ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Gastrointestinal Tract* ; Korea ; Mucous Membrane ; Spectrum Analysis ; Tyrosine*

This study was conducted to develop a computerized food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for assessing nutritional status of women of child-bearing age. Computerized food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) that reflect intakes of energy, carbohydrate, fat and protein was developed for women of child-bearing age. This FFQ is composed of 61 foods or food groups containing 192 dish items. To estimate of energy intake easily, we have developed a computer program that can be viewed on a computer screen in an actual size of dish items. Nutrient intakes of the last three months by the FFQ was validated with comparing the result of a 3-day diet record through 92 college students aged from 20 to 30. The level of energy, carbohydrate and sodium of estimating by the FFQ method was significantly higher than the level of a 3-day diet records method (p < 0.01). Pearson's correlation coefficients between the two methods were 0.50 for carbohydrate (p < 0.01), 0.55 for energy (p < 0.01) and 0.56 for protein (p < 0.01). Spearman's correlation coefficients were 0.53 for carbohydrate (p < 0.01), 0.55 for energy (p < 0.01) and 0.52 for protein (p < 0.01). The percent of subject in the lowest quartile in a 3-day diet record belonged to the first and second lowest quartile in food frequency questionnaire is 78.2% in energy, 91.3% in carbohydrate, 78.2% in protein, 69.5% in fat. Also, the percent of subject in the highest quartile in a 3-day diet record belong to the first and second highest quartile in food frequency questionnaire is 78.3% in energy, 73.9% in carbohydrate, 82.6% in protein, and 73.9% in fat. On the whole, the result of this study seemed to be in good agreement with other studies. Therefore, the FFQ developed by this study is considered to be a reliable tool to assess nutrients and food intakes for women of child-bearing age.
Aged ; Diet Records ; Energy Intake ; Female ; Humans ; Nutritional Status ; Sodium ; Software

Carotenoid-rich foods focus one's attention on the prevention age-related diseases. This study was conducted to investigate the carotenoid status and look into the factors that affect the bioavailability of carotenoid in 121 elderly nonsmoking Korean women. Carotenoids and lipids in plasma, and nutrient intakes including carotenoid were studied. The mean plasma total-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations were 220.0 mg/dl, 49.5 mg/dl, 139.2 mg/dl and 157.4 mg/dl, respectively. Significantly positive correlations were found between the plasma lutein + zeaxanthin, lycopene and beta-carotene concentrations and the intake of fruits (r = 0.17, r = 0.20, r = 0.19). However, significantly negative correlations were found between the plasma lutein+zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene concentrations that adjusted for carotenoid intakes and intakes of vegetables (r = - 0.21, r = - 0.19), and between plasma lutein+zeaxanthin, lycopene and beta-carotene concentrations that adjusted for carotenoid intakes and intakes of fruits (r = - 0.21, r = - 0.18, r = - 0.24). After the adjustment for plasma lipids, there was no correlation between the plasma carotenoid concentrations and the carotenoid-rich foods. However, after adjustment for fiber intake, significantly strong positive correlations were found between the plasma carotenoid concentrations and carotenoid-rich foods. The plasma levels of carotenoid biomarkers (plasma carotenoid concentrations adjusted for dietary fiber intakes) decreased with age, and the plasma levels of lycopene biomarkers (plasma lycopene concentrations adjusted for dietary fiber intakes) increased with regular exercise. However alcohol drinking had no impact. These results suggested that age, physical activity, and dietary fiber intake affected the bioavailability of carotenoid. Therefore, when the elderly have carotenoid-rich foods, they should consider ways of increasing the bioavailability of carotenoid through cooking methods and physical activity.
Aged* ; Alcohol Drinking ; beta Carotene ; Biological Availability* ; Biomarkers ; Carotenoids ; Cooking ; Dietary Fiber ; Female ; Fruit ; Humans ; Lutein ; Motor Activity ; Plasma ; Triglycerides ; Vegetables

A 19-year-old man was referred to Seoul National University Dental Hospital for evaluation of a large painless swelling of the left mandibular angle area in August, 1999. The growth had been first noted 6 years ago. He had visited other hospital in 1997. In spite of the treatment given at the hospital, the mass continued to grow rapidly. Conventional radiographs in 1999 showed an expansile, lobulated, and destructive lesion of the left mandibular body. CT scan demonstrated an expansile mass with a corticated margin. Bony septa were seen within the lesion. Internal calcification noted on the bone-setting CT image, and corresponded to the hypointense area in T1-weighted MRI image. MRI clearly delineated the extent of the lesion which had heterogenous intermediate signal intensity in T1-weighted images and heterogenous hyperintense signal intensity in T2-weighted images. The lesion was well-enhanced. Histopathologically, the lesion was completely encapsulated. Multinucleated giant cells were presented in a fibrous background, demonstrating a storiform pattern. Areas of osteoid rimmed by a few osteoblasts were scattered throughout the lesion. Inflammatory cells, blood vessels, and hemosiderin deposition were also shown. CGCG may show lots of internal calcification foci on the CT, and varied signal intensity in MRI. More cases will be needed to understand the features of the CT and MR finding of CGCG.
Blood Cells ; Diagnosis* ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Giant Cells* ; Granuloma, Giant Cell* ; Hemosiderin ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Osteoblasts ; Seoul ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

A primary adenosquamous carcinoma of the liver is a rare subtype of a cholangiocarcinoma. Adenosquamous carcinoma is known to have an aggressive biologic behavior and is associated with a poor prognosis. Recently, we experienced a case of a primary adenosquamous carcinoma of the liver. A 69-year-old man was subjected to a right hemicolectomy five months ago due to an ascending colon cancer. At a periodic check-up, abdominal ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a ~1.1 cm-sized hepatic mass which was highly suspicious of being a hepatic metastasis from the ascending colon cancer. A hepatic segmentectomy was performed. The tumor was microscopically composed of an adenocarcinoma and a squamous cell carcinoma, and it was different from the previous colon cancer as determined by immunohistochemistry. Three months after the hepatic segmentectomy, multiple hepatic metastasis was found and the patient has been treated as an outpatient with capecitabine.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Adenosquamous* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; Colon* ; Colon, Ascending ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Outpatients ; Prognosis ; Ultrasonography ; Capecitabine

PURPOSE: To clarify the value of mass screening for thyroid cancer by ultrasonography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the incidence of thyroid nodules and the detection rate of malignant nodules in 2856 patients who underwent screening thyroid ultrasonography while undergoing breast ultrasonography. We also analyzed the ultrasonographic characteristics of nodules in the screening (34 patients) and clinical (48 patients) groups which were diagnosed with thyroid cancer. RESULTS: The incidence of thyroid nodules detected by ultrasonography was 39% and the detection rate of thyroid cancer was 1.19% in the screening group and 17% in the clinical group. The mean size of nodules in clinical group was larger than that in the screening group (p<0.05) and the prevalence of nodules with ill-defined margin in the screening group was higher than that in the clinical group (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in internal echogenicity, shape, presence of internal calcifications, lymph node metastasis and extrathyroidal extension between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Although the incidence of thyroid cancer was low, sonographic screening for thyroid cancer while undergoing breast ultrasonography could be valuable.
Breast* ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes ; Mass Screening* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prevalence ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroid Nodule ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Mammary*

An 85-year-old male visited our hospital because of dyspnea. Chest radiography showed marked cardiomegaly and pneumonic infiltration. Transthoracic echocardiography showed moderate pericardial effusion, which resulted in effusive constrictive pericarditis and severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction. During the hospital course, the patient developed cardiogenic shock and was treated with an inotropic agent and intra-aortic balloon pump. The patient's vital signs were stabilized after pericardiocentesis and drainage. A yellowish purulent pericardial effusion was drained and Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated. Bacterial purulent pericarditis was not uncommon before the antibiotics era, but it is extremely rare nowadays. Here, we report a case of purulent bacterial pericarditis presenting with severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction and cardiac tamponade.
Aged, 80 and over ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cardiac Tamponade ; Cardiomegaly ; Drainage ; Dyspnea ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Male ; Pericardial Effusion ; Pericardiocentesis ; Pericarditis ; Pericarditis, Constrictive ; Shock, Cardiogenic ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Thorax ; Ventricular Dysfunction ; Vital Signs

An 85-year-old male visited our hospital because of dyspnea. Chest radiography showed marked cardiomegaly and pneumonic infiltration. Transthoracic echocardiography showed moderate pericardial effusion, which resulted in effusive constrictive pericarditis and severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction. During the hospital course, the patient developed cardiogenic shock and was treated with an inotropic agent and intra-aortic balloon pump. The patient's vital signs were stabilized after pericardiocentesis and drainage. A yellowish purulent pericardial effusion was drained and Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated. Bacterial purulent pericarditis was not uncommon before the antibiotics era, but it is extremely rare nowadays. Here, we report a case of purulent bacterial pericarditis presenting with severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction and cardiac tamponade.
Aged, 80 and over ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cardiac Tamponade ; Cardiomegaly ; Drainage ; Dyspnea ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Male ; Pericardial Effusion ; Pericardiocentesis ; Pericarditis ; Pericarditis, Constrictive ; Shock, Cardiogenic ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Thorax ; Ventricular Dysfunction ; Vital Signs