No abstract available.
Animals ; Ethanol* ; Interleukin-2* ; Interleukin-6* ; Rats*

The authors analysed 261 cases of mycoplasmal pneumonia in children who were admitted to the pediatric department of Seoul Adventist Hospital between July 1986 and June 1991. The result obtained were as follows; 1) Yearly distribution of the cases showed high in 1987 and 1991, but no significant difference was noted in seasonally or monthly distribution. 2) The peak incidence of age was between 2 and 6 years of age, and the sex ratio of boy to girl was 1.1:1. 3) pulmonary manifestations were asthma in 21 cases (8.0%), atelectasis in 5 cases (1.9%), emphysema in 3 cases (1.2%), pleural effusion in 16 cases (6.1%), otitis media in 4 cases (1.2%) and sinusitis in 9 cases (3.4%). 4) Extrapulmonary complication were hepatitis in 53 cases (20.3%), skin rash in 9 cases (2.4%), proteinuria in 6 cases (2.3%), and hematuria in 4 cases (1.5%). 5) On the chest X-ray examination, the most common type of pneumonia was interstitial pneumonia (94 cases, 39.8%), and unilateral involvement was common (85.6%), and the most common involvement was right lower lobe (83 cases, 41.4%). 6) The relationship between the type of pneumonia and cold agglutinini titer, and between the type of pneumonia and Mycoplasma antibody titer were not found (P>0.05). 7) In the 16 cases of pleural effusion, The type of pneumonia was lobar, lobular (9 cases), bronchopneumonia (7 cases), and interstitial type was not present. The site of pneumonia was left (6 cases), right (9 cases), and 1 case showed bilatrality. The extent of pleural effusion was mild (10 cases), moderate (3 cases), and severe (3 cases). The result of pleural fluid exam in severe cases was all exudate. 8) The mean duration of admission was most common from 6 to 10 days. the mean duration of admission by the type of pneumonia was lobar, lobar (10.71+/-3.40), interstitial (8.78+/-2.14), and bronchopneumonia (8.83+/-2.47). 9) Both mycoplasma antibody test and cold agglutinin test were carried out in 185 cases and sensitivity of mycoplasma antibody test was 55.1%.
Asthma ; Bronchopneumonia ; Child* ; Emphysema ; Exanthema ; Exudates and Transudates ; Female ; Hematuria ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Male ; Mycoplasma* ; Otitis Media ; Pleural Effusion ; Pneumonia* ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma* ; Proteinuria ; Pulmonary Atelectasis ; Seasons ; Seoul ; Sex Ratio ; Sinusitis ; Thorax

STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective study analyzing the results of chip PLIF with pedicle screw instrumentation for various spinal lesions. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the clinical and radiologic results of chip PLIF and to compare the amount of blood loss and transfusion and operation time with the ordinary PLIF. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: The ordinary PLIF has 86-95% of radiologic union rate and 80% of clinical satisfactory rate. The problems of ordinary PLIF were donor site morbidity, limited bone resources, prolonged operation time and excessive blood loss. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty patients were treated by chip PLIF utilizing cubical chip bone obtained from spinous process, facets and lamina from October 1995 to October 1997. Twenty-four patients, followed up over 12 months, were included in this study. Radiologic union, disc space collapse and change of kyphotic angle were assessed by simple X-ray and clinical results by improvement of back pain, radicular pain and change of neurological deficits. Twenty-nine patients treated by ordinary PLIF were compared concerning the operation time, amount of blood loss and transfusion. RESULTS: The mean age was 51.5 years(27-68 years) and mean follow-up was 20.7 months(12-30 months). Complete radiologic union rate was 47.6%, which was lower than ordinary PLlf. Satisfactory clinical result rate was 79%, which was similar with other fusion methods. Operation time, amount of blood loss and transfusion were less than the ordinary PLIF. There were three complications that were one dural tear ailed two pedicle screw breakages. CONCLUSION: There was no relationship between radiologic union rate and clinical satisfactory result after chip PLIF. Although operation time is relatively short and blood loss is less, it's not a good method to obtain nice bony union in spinal lesions.
Back Pain ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Tissue Donors

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the human pulpal response to Dentin Bonding Desensitizer. Class v cavities were prepared on the buccal surfaces of the first premolars and Dentin Bonding Desensitizer(ALL-BOND Desensitizer, Bisco, Inc. U.S.A.) was applicated in ten experimental teeth, or ZOE(PROPAC, GC Co. TOKYO, JAPAN) cement in eight control teeth and cavities were filled with light curing glass ionomer(Fuji II LC, GC Co., TOKYO, JAPAN). At 3-day and 25-day postoperative interval, pulpal response was observed and evaluated histologically with light microscope. The results were as follows. : 1. At 3-day postoperative interval, the control teeth were grade 1 inflammatory cell response and grade 1 connective tissue response. 2. At 25-day postoperative interval, all control teeth were grade 1 inflammatory cell response and in three control teeth grade 1 connective tissue response were observed, and one teeth showed grade 2 connective tissue response. 3. At 3-day postoperative interval, the experimental teeth were grade 1 inflammatory cell response and grade 1 connective tissue response. Below the cavity a few inflammatory cell(PMNs) in odontoblastic layer, increased blood vessels and pulpal cells were seen and this pulpal response was similar to control teeth. 4. At 25-day postoperative interval, in four experimental teeth grade 1 inflammatory cell response and grade 1 connective tissue response were observed, and one experimental teeth showed mild inflammatory response. 5. At 3-day and 25-day postoperative interval, no reparative dentin deposition was seen. 6. Both experimental and control group, pulpal response showed difference between 3 and 25-day of postoperative interval. In control teeth, increased predentin and pulpal cells were seen and in experimental teeth, congestion of blood vessels and increased pulpal cells were seen. In conclusion, the pulpal irritation due to this Dentin Bonding Desensitizer was not severe, and it was considered that agent was not harmful to the human pulp.
Bicuspid ; Blood Vessels ; Connective Tissue ; Dentin* ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Glass ; Humans* ; Odontoblasts ; Tooth

We aimed to identify the clinical variables associated with a better glucose-lowering response to the sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor ipragliflozin in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We especially focused on urinary glucose excretion (UGE). This was a single-arm multicenter prospective study. A total of 92 people with T2DM aged 20 to 70 years with glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels ≥7.0% and ≤9.5% were enrolled. Ipragliflozin (50 mg) was added to the background therapy for these people for 12 weeks. After 3 months treatment with ipragliflozin, the mean HbA1c levels were decreased from 7.6% to 6.9% and 62.0% of the people reached the HbA1c target of less than 7.0% (P<0.001). In addition, body weight, blood pressure, and lipid parameters were improved after ipragliflozin treatment (all P<0.001). The baseline HbA1c (r=0.66, P<0.001) and morning spot urine glucose to creatinine ratio (r=−0.30, P=0.001) were independently associated with the HbA1c reduction. Ipragliflozin treatment for 12 weeks improves glycemic control and other metabolic parameters. A higher HbA1c and lower UGE at baseline predicts a better glucose-lowering efficacy of ipragliflozin.
Blood Pressure ; Body Weight ; Creatinine ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Glucose ; Glycosuria ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Prospective Studies ; Sodium ; Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2

PURPOSE: To evaluate the repeatability of macular thickness and total macular volume measurements made using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) in normal subjects and subjects with macular disease. METHODS: Among a total of 108 subjects, there were 50 normal subjucts, 20 patients with diabetic macular edema, 10 patients with retinal vein occlusion, 15 patients with age-related macular degeneration, and 13 subjects with other conditions. Two serial macular measurements were obtained from each subject by a single experienced examiner using spectral domain OCT. The repeatability of the measurements was evaluated by comparing two consecutive foveal and perifoveal thickness measurements and total macular volume measurements. The intraclass correlation coefficient was also calculated to evaluate the repeatability of measurements made in normal and macular disease subjects. Result: Spectral domain OCT measurements of macular thickness and macular volume were found to be consistent. Measurements of normal subjects were the most consistent, followed by measurements of patients with age-related macular degeneration, retinal vein occlusion, and diabetic macular edema. CONCLUSIONS: Although measurements made using spectral domain OCT were repeatable across all subjects, they were more consistent in normal subjects than in patients with macular disease. The differences in repeatability should be considered in the context of diseased pathologic anatomy. Physicians should remain cautious when using these measurements for clinical evaluation.
Humans ; Macular Degeneration ; Macular Edema ; Retinal Vein Occlusion ; Tomography, Optical Coherence

BACKGROUND: Periampullary cancer is a relatively common malignancy, and its incidence is increasing. Prognosis in these patients depends upon resection of the tumor because surgery is the only effective treatment for irradicating the disease. There has, therefore, been a renewed interest in the role of serological markers early diagnostic tools for periampullary cancer. The potential role of serological markers is not limited only to early detection, but may also be of assistance in the difficult clinical dilemma of differentiating periampullary cancer from other diseases. Furthermore, serological markers of periampullary cancer might be used in follow-up patients after treatment, particularly after surgical resection, in order to select those with minimal disease likely to respond better to adjuvant treatment and/or radiotherapy. METHODS: From March 1989 to May 1997, 54 patients were admitted to Sanggye Paik Hospital, InJe University, and had pathologically confirmed periampullary cancer. Of those, 28 patients underwent a biliary bypass or a drainage procedure [Group I], and the others received resection procedures (Whipple's operation or pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy)[Group II]. Preoperative and postoperative serum levels of bilirubin, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and carbohydrate antigen 19-9(CA19-9) were measured in all patients. We evaluated the relation of the postoperative increase or decrease in those tumor markers to survival, and we discuss the usefulness of those markers as prognostic indicators in periampullary cancer. In this study, we focused on the changes in the CEA and the CA19-9 levels as function of the serum bilirubin concentration change. RESULTS: The bilirubin, CEA, and CA19-9 concentrations decreased significantly in Groups I and II after operation. The correlation between the decreases of the bilirubin and the CEA levels was statistically significant, but that between the bilirubin and CA19-9 had no statistical significance, in spite of the fact that the preoperative and the postoperative tumor marker concentrations had changed markedly. The reason for the statistical insignificance of the CA19-9 result may be the its relatively small sample size and the wide standard variation. The overall median and mean survival time of Group I were 4 months and 11 months, respectively, and those of Group II were 17 months and 21 months. CONCLUSION: We found that the serum the CEA and the CA19-9 levels could be used as a useful prognostic indicator change according to the serum bilirubin concentration even after a biliary drainage procedure and a biliary bypass. We conclude that various biliary bypass and drainage procedures can be effective treatments in periampullary cancer. However, because it is thought that many tumor markers are greatly affected by hyperbilirubinemia, liver dysfunction or cholestasis, further studies of the exact mechanism for the decrease or the increase in the tumor marker level as a function of the serum bilirubin concentration are mandatory. Precise information obtained by using multivariate analysis of large samples is essential for more accurate evaluation.
Biomarkers, Tumor ; Bilirubin* ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; Cholestasis ; Drainage* ; Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia ; Incidence ; Liver Diseases ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy* ; Prognosis ; Pylorus* ; Radiotherapy ; Sample Size ; Survival Rate

Mycobacterium neoaurum is rapidly growing mycobacteria that can cause human infections. It commonly causes bloodstream infections in immunocompromised hosts, and unlike other mycobacteria species, it rarely causes pulmonary infections. We confirmed the first pulmonary infection case in Korea caused by M. neoaurum using full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Diseases/*diagnosis/microbiology ; Mycobacterium/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Mycobacterium Infections/*diagnosis/microbiology ; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria/genetics/isolation & purification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Republic of Korea ; Sequence Analysis, RNA

Fetal cystic hygromas are congenital malformations of the lymphatic system manifested as single or multiloculated fluid-filled cavities in the neck region. Cystic hygroma is characterized by cystic appearance of posterior or lateral portion of the neck. A case of cystic hygroma, diagnosed antenatally by ultrasound at the 11(+1)th week of pregnancy and confirmed by autopsy, is presented with a brief review of literatures.
Autopsy ; Gestational Age* ; Lymphangioma, Cystic* ; Lymphatic System ; Neck ; Pregnancy ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: To determine computed tomography (CT) criteria for cardiomegaly. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed posteroanterior chest radiographs and CT scans of 200 patients (M:F=130:70, mean age 49 years old) that were performed on the same day. On plain radiographs, the cardiothoracic ratio (R) was calculated using a standard method. On CT, we measured the maximal cardiac width (D(c)) and the maximal thoracic width of a patient (D(t1)). A second thoracic width was measured at the same scan level of D(c). Thus, two cardiothoracic ratios were derived in one patient-D(c)/D(t1) (R(1)) and D(c)/D(t2) (R(2)). We analyzed the appropriateness of R(1) and R(2) in the diagnosis of cardiomegaly to establish criteria for the use of the cardiothoracic ratio (ROC curve). RESULTS: When cardiomegaly was defined as a value of R that was greater than 0.5, both R(1) and R(2) were useful indicators of cardiomegaly. For a cut-off value of 0.5 for the cardiothoracic ratio for cardiomegaly, the sensitivity of R(1) and R(2) was 84% and 68%, respectively, and the specificity of R(1) and R(2) was 72% and 86%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The cardiothoracic ratio on CT can be easily obtained by measurement of the maximal cardiac width divided by the maximal thoracic width at the same scan level. When the cardiothoracic ratio on CT is over 0.5, the presence of cardiomegaly can be suggested.
Cardiomegaly* ; Diagnosis ; Heart ; Humans ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed