No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn*

No abstract available.
Osteomyelitis* ; Skull Base* ; Skull*

Acute thyroid abscess is an uneommon type of neck infection. We experieneed a case of staphylococcal thyroid abscess in 29 year old man, diagnosed by needle aspira~tion and culture of the aspirate. The patient had complained fever and slowly growing anterior neck swelling. Needle aspiration of the cold nodule prior to broad spectrum antibiotics was performed. After Surgical excision combined with antibiotics, he was discharged with elinical improvement. The laboratory diagnosis and clinical course was summarized and is reported with relevent references.
Abscess ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; Fever ; Humans ; Neck ; Needles ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Staphylococcus ; Thyroid Gland

OBJECTIVES: It is widely accepted that estrogen has favorable effects on cardiovascular diseases, especially in the postmenopausal women. Endothelin-1(ET-I), released from the vascular endothelium, is a 21-amino acid peptide with strong vasoconstrictor activity. However, the effect of estrogen on the vasoconstriction to ET-1 has not been extensively studied. METHODS: To investigate the effect of estrogen (175beta-estradiol) on the vascular contraction to ET-1, porcine coronary artery(PCA) rings were suspended in organ chambers(37 degrees C, 95% O2/5% CO2) for measurement of isometric tension change. Endothelium was removed mechanically if necessary. In acute experiments, vascular rings were preincubated for 15minutes with 3different concentrations of 170beta-estradiol(10(-6), 10(-5), 10(-4)M) and concentration-contraction curves to cumulative doses of ET-1 were constructed. In the experiments after a longer exposure to 17beta-estradiol, the vessels with endothelium were exposed in the 5% CO2 incubator to 3different concentrations of 17beta-estradiol(10(-9), 10(-8), 10(-7)M) for 44-50 hours, and then concentrationcontraction curves to ET-1 were obtained. RESULTS: Incubation for 15minutes with 170beta-estradiol(10(-4)M) inhibited ET-1-induced contraction in the vessels with endothelium(area under the curve and maximal contraction, p<0.05 compared with control). This effect persisted regardless of the sex and the presence or absence of the endotheliurn. Incubation of the vessels far a longer time with 170beta-estradiol(44-50 hours) resulted in the inhibition of maximal contraction to ET-1(p<0.05) by a lower concentration of 175beta-estradiol(10(-7)M) than in acute experiments in male PCA rings, but an enhanced contraction to ET-1(area under the curve; p<0.05) by 10M of 175beta-estradiol was observed in female PCA rings. CONCLUSION: Short-time incubation with 17Pbeta-estradiol has an inhibitory effect on the contraction to ET-1 in PCA rings. This effect is independent of the presence of the endothelium and the sex of the pigs. A longer incubation with 17beta-estradiol results in a similar inhibitory effect on male(but not female) PCA rings, suggesting that a sex-related difference may exist concerning the effect of 17beta-estradiol on ET-1-induced contraction.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Coronary Vessels* ; Endothelin-1* ; Endothelins ; Endothelium ; Endothelium, Vascular ; Estrogens ; Female ; Humans ; Incubators ; Male ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Swine ; Vasoconstriction

Nitric oxide(NO) has been known to play an important role as a signal molecule in many parts of the organism as well as a cytotoxic effector molecule of the nonspecific immune response. Excessive NO has been reported to exert cytotoxic effect by direct toxicity or by reacting to superoxide radicals during ischemia-reperfusion. Therefore is strongly needed a study directly measuring NO release designed to better clarify roles of NO in ischemia-reperfusion injury and its mechanism. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized with urethane(1g/kg) intraperitoneally, and pedicled gastrocnemius muscle flaps were elevated. The elevated flaps were subjected to 4 hours of arterial ischemia and then reperfused for 2 hours. And then NO current was measured in the gastrocnemius muscle using NO-selective microelectrode system. NO release gradually increased and then decreased in the rat gastrocnemius muscle during both ischemic and reperfusion period. The average NO releases from baseline during ischemia and reperfusion were 10405 +/- 2663 and 2513 +/- 970 picoamperes(pA), respectively. The ischemia-reperfusion caused substantial histological damage in the skeletal muscle, in which a profusion of red blood cells was observed due to extravasation of vessels, rupturing of microcirculation, and leukocyte infiltration, compared to the damage in control and ischemic rat gastrocnemius muscles. From the above results, ischemia-reperfusion injury was developed more severely during reperfusion than ischemia, and NO increased during ischemia and reperfusion as a biphasic pattern in the rat gastrocnemius muscle.
Animals ; Erythrocytes ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Leukocytes ; Male ; Microcirculation ; Microelectrodes ; Muscle, Skeletal* ; Muscles ; Nitric Oxide* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion ; Reperfusion Injury ; Superoxides

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine differential findings between Type I degenerative endplate changes and diskitis on MR images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR images(T1, T2 weighted or Gradient echo) of L-spine in twelve patients with a Type I degenerative endplate change and nine patients with diskitis were reviewed for the morphologic and signal intensity changes of intervertebral disc, vertebral endplate and vertebral body. RESULTS: involvement of the marrow of one side of intervertebral disk was noted in 33%(4/12) of Type I endplate changes, and 11%(1/9) of diskitis. Decreased signal intensity of intervertebral disc was seen in 92% (11/12) of Type I endplate changes, and 11%(1/9) of diskitis on T2 weighted or Gradient echo image. Loss of intranuclear cleft signal was noted in 17%(2/12) of Type I endplate changes, and 78%(7/9) of diskitis. Even disc space narrowing was seen in all cases of Type I endplate changes, but uneven narrowing was seen in 44%(4/9) of diskitis. Only partial cortical disruption was noted in 42%(5/12) of Type I endplate changes, while partial or total cortical disruption was noted in 89%(8/9) of diskitis. The extent of marrow involvement more than 2/3 was noted in 8%(1/12) of Type I endplate changes, but 56%(5/9) of diskitis. The margin of signal intensity change was well defined in 33%(4/12) of Type I endplate changes, but that of diskitis was ill defined in all cases(9/9). Gadolinium enhancement was homogeneous in all cases(5/5) of Type I endplate changes, and 63%(5/8) of diskiris. CONCLUSION: We conclude that involvement of one side of endplate, decreased signal intensity of intervertebral disc on T2 weighted or gradient echo image, even narrowing of disc space, lesser extent of marrow involvement, well defined margin and homogeneous enhancement pattern are the findings of Type I degenerative endplate changes on MR images.
Bone Marrow ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Discitis* ; Gadolinium ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging*

No abstract available.
Osteoarthropathy, Primary Hypertrophic*

Recurrent peritonitis is the major complication of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and a common reason for discontinuation of this form of therapy. Polymicrobial peritonitis by gram- negative organisms suggests intraabdominal pathology not directly associated with CAPD, necessitating early removal of catheter and/or abdominal exploration. The source of infection may still be gastrointestinal, especially in light of the polymicrobial gram-negative peritonitis and rarely be gastrointestinal malignancy. We recently experienced a case of 64-year-old woman with recurrent CAPD peritonitis by polymicrobial gram-negative organisms, originated from colon cancer. Colon cancer was confirmed by barium enema, abdominal CT and colonoscopic biopsy. She underwent right hemicolectomy and removal of catheter simultaneously. The biopsy revealed a moderately to poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with abundant mucin production.
Adenocarcinoma ; Barium ; Biopsy ; Catheters ; Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; Enema ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mucins ; Pathology ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Peritonitis* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

It has been emphasized that the treatment of choice for the trochanteric fracture of the femur is open reduction and rigid internal fixation. Regarding the stability of the fracture, most reports were focused on the comminution of the medial cortex, but few reports were paid attention to the additional fracture of the greater trochanter. This paper was aimed to evaluate the fragment of the greater trochanter on the maintenance of reduction. We treated 23 cases of unstable trochanteric fractures in which 16 cases were treated with Dynamic Hip Screw (DHS) alone, and 7 cases were treated with DHS and additional DHS Trochanter Stabilizing Plate (TSP). We compared the two groups and the results were as follows: 1. The average lag screw slipping distance was 17.1mm in DHS Group and 10.0mm in TSP Group. 2. The average distance of lateral displacement of greater trochanter over the trochantric fractures was 11.5mm in DHS Group and no change in TSP Group. The above results suggested that the comhined use of DHS Trochanter Stabilizing Plate with Dynamic Hip Screw provided good results in the treatment of uristable intertrochanteric fractures with completely detached greater trochanter and reverse oblique fracture.
Femur* ; Hip Fractures* ; Hip*

The aim of this study was to measure the dentinal tubular fluid flow (DFF) during and after amalgam and composite restorations. A newly designed fluid flow measurement instrument was made. A third molar cut at 3 mm apical from the CEJ was connected to the flow measuring device under a hydrostatic pressure of 15 cmH2O. Class I cavity was prepared and restored with either amalgam (Copalite varnish and Bestaloy) or composite (Z-250 with ScotchBond MultiPurpose: MP, Single Bond 2: SB, Clearfil SE Bond: CE and Easy Bond: EB as bonding systems). The DFF was measured from the intact tooth state through restoration procedures to 30 minutes after restoration, and re-measured at 3 and 7days after restoration. Inward fluid flow (IF) during cavity preparation was followed by outward flow (OF) after preparation. In amalgam restoration, the OF changed to IF during amalgam filling and slight OF followed after finishing. In composite restoration, application CE and EB showed a continuous OF and air-dry increased rapidly the OF until light-curing, whereas in MP and SB, rinse and dry caused IF and OF, respectively. Application of hydrophobic bonding resin in MP and CE caused a decrease in flow rate or even slight IF. Light-curing of adhesive and composite showed an abrupt IF. There was no statistically significant difference in the reduction of DFF among the materials at 30 min, 3 and 7 days after restoration (P > 0.05).
Adhesives ; Bisphenol A-Glycidyl Methacrylate ; Dentin ; Hydrostatic Pressure ; Molar, Third ; Paint ; Resin Cements ; Tooth ; Tooth Cervix