The management of thyroid nodules, about which widely differing views have been expressed for many years, is still a controversial subject. The primary reason for concern about thyroid nodules is that they might be malignant.The incidence of carcinoma in patients with multinodular goiters has reported to be considerably lower than in patients with a single nodule. In this retrospective study of 510 cases of thyroidectomies over a 14-year period, 151 patients with factors predisposing them to neoplasia, such as Grave's disease and thyroiditis, were eliminated. The remaining 93 patients with clinically evident multinodular goiters were compared with remaining the 226 patients with a solitary cold nodule. The incidence of carcinoma in the 266 patients with a solitary cold nodule was 15.4%. In the 93 patients with clinically evident multinodular goiters, the incidence of carcinoma was 18.3%. The difference is not significant. It is of interest that male patients with multinodular goiters had the highest incidence of carcinoma at 25.0%, whereas, males with a solitary cold nodule had an incidence of only 17.9%. In conclusion, once known factors that predispose patients to neoplasia are eliminated, there does not seem to be a significant difference in the incidence of thyroid carcinoma between patients with operatively and histopathologically proved solitary cold nodules and those with multinodular goiter.
Goiter* ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroid Nodule ; Thyroidectomy ; Thyroiditis

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of Bioactive glass on bone regeneration in the experimental mandibular bone defects. Five rabbits, weighing about 2.0kg, were used. Three artificial bone defects, 5x5x5mm in size, were made at the inferior border of the mandible. In the experimental group 1, the bone defect was grafted with Biogran and covered with Bio-Gide resorbable membrane. In the experimental group 2, Biogran was grafted only. In the control group, the bone defect was filled with blood clot and was spontaneously healed. The animals were sacrificed at 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after the graft. Microscopic examination was performed. Results obtained were as follows: In the control group, the osteoid tissue was observed at week 1 and the bone trabeculi were connected each other and matured at week 2. The lamellar bone formation appeared at week 4, and the amount of bone tissue was increased at week 8. In the experimental group 1, the fibrous tissue was filled between the granules of Bioactive glass and the cartilage formation was found adjacent to the normal bone at week 1. The bone tissue was formed between the granules at week 2, while the amount of bone tissue increased and the lamellar bone formation was observed at week 4. The lamellar bone was increased at week 8. Histologic findings were Similar between the experimental groups 1 and 2, although the amount of Bioactive glass granules lost was increased in the latter. These results suggest that new bone formation is found around the Bioactive glass granules grafted into the bone defects, and the membrane plays a role in keeping the granules and preventing the fibrous tissue invasion.
Animals ; Bone and Bones ; Bone Regeneration* ; Cartilage ; Glass* ; Mandible ; Membranes* ; Osteogenesis ; Rabbits ; Transplants

The amplification of c-myc oncogene was evaluated in 42 cases of ovarian carcinomas to correlate with clinical parameters. Using oligonucleotide primers, sequences from the c-myc exon-3 gene and from a control gene, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), were amplified simultaneously by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). After the products of differential PCR (d-PCR) were electrophoresed, slot blot hybridization was performed, and hybridized with P32 dATP-labeled myc and tPA oligonucleotide probes and then autoradiographed. The signal intensities of the two products were quantitated by densitometry and the ratios of two products (c-myc/tPA) were measured. The ovarian carcinomas showed significantly increased amplification of c-myc oncogene Oligonucleoti compared to normal control group (p<0.05). 15 of 42 cases (35.7%) showed various degrees of the MYC gene amplification up to 27 folds in various histologic types of ovarian carcinomas. No significant differences of the MYC gene amplification according to histologic subtypes, tumor action) grades and clinical stages of ovarian carcinomas were present.
Densitometry ; DNA Primers ; Genes, myc ; Oligonucleotide Probes ; Oncogenes* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship the electrodiagnostic findings with the functional outcomes in spina bifida patients and to assess usefulness of follow up electrodiagnostic study. METHOD: Initial and follow up electrodiagnostic data of 100 patients who had been diagnosed as spina bifida were obtained retrospectively. Electrophysiological diagnosis and neurological level were investigated by the findings of needle electromyography. Each patients were divided into no change, improvement and deterioration group according to follow up study. The change of urodynamic study findings and clinical findings were also investigated. The recent functional outcomes and the presence of complications were evaluated by recent outpatient record. RESULTS: 56 patients had no change, 15 patients had improvement and 29 patients had deterioration electrophysiologically. The initial electrodiagnostic findings were associated with the functional outcomes in patients with spina bifida (p<0.05). However, neurological level by electrodiagnostic findings cannot predict functional outcomes except ambulation activities. The change of electrodiagnostic findings of follow up study were related with the change of clinical findings statistically (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Follow up electrodiagnostic study as well as initial study is necessary for the evaluation of the change of neurological states in the patients with spina bifida.
Diagnosis ; Electrodiagnosis ; Electromyography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Needles ; Outpatients ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Dysraphism ; Urodynamics ; Walking

Hyperglycemia during either global or regional ischemia is widely known to be detrimental, and ischemia induced release of diverse neurotransmitters and the ensuing activation of specific postsynaptic receptors have been suggested to play a important role in the development of ischemic selective vulunerability. This study was undertaken to investigate the influence of blood glucose change on tissue concentration of some catecholamines ; dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, of the transient ischemic rat's brain, estimated by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) assay system, following transient bilateral forebrain ischemia in the rat's model subjected to 20 minutes of normothermic ischemia by two vesseles occulusion plus profound cortex, hippocampus and striatum respectively by HLPC. The concentrations of catecholamines were significantly decreased in all sampled areas in experimental groups compared with the control group(p<0.05), respectively(average decrease rate : norepinephrine 71%, dopamine 89%, serotonin 80% in frontal cortex ; norepinephrine 71%, dopamine 93%, serotonin 81% in hippocampus ; norepinephrine 33%, dopamine 35%, serotonin 78% in striatum). Dopamine was relatively decreased in concentration in frontal cortex and hippocampus, and serotonin was relatively decreased in striatum. But no statistic significancy(p>0.05) of catecholamines level between each experimental group(hyper-, hypo- and normoglycemic group) according to the change of blood sugar. The results suggested that blood glucose level did not influence the tissue concentration of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin in frontl cortex, hippocampus and striatum of transient ischemic rat's brain.
Blood Glucose* ; Brain* ; Catecholamines ; Dopamine* ; Frontal Lobe* ; Hippocampus* ; Hyperglycemia ; Ischemia ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Norepinephrine* ; Prosencephalon ; Serotonin*

The purpose of this study was to investigate the physiological effects of forward and backward walking training on lower extremity muscle strength before and after exhausting exercise. Fourteen healthy male adults were randomly divided into backward walking (BW, n=7) and forward walking (FW, n=7) training groups. Each group took part in pre-test consisted of knee extensor and flexor isokinetic peak torque (PT), total work (TW), electromyography (EMG) before and after exhausting exercise. Exhausting exercise was used to measure lower extremity endurance, which is incremental treadmill running using the Bruce protocol. The BW and FW training groups participated in a 6 weeks training program, consisted of 3 sessions per week for a total of 18 sessions. After finishing the training program, the post-test was performed using the same method. BW training group showed significant increases in knee extensor/flexor PT (4.6%/13.9%), TW (17.34%), EMG (35.9%) before exhausting exercise and PT (23.9%/18.8%), TW (46.7%), EMG (59.8%) after exhausting exercise. But FW training group did not show a significant increase in knee extensor/flexor PT (0.1%/3.2%), TW (1.8%), EMG (10.9%) before exhausting exercise and PT (2%/1%), TW (5.6%), EMG (17.2%) after exhausting exercise. BW training has positive effects on lower extremity muscle strength, especially muscle endurance that is important to prevent muscle weakness during competitive sports.
Adult ; Electromyography ; Humans ; Knee ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Muscle Strength ; Muscle Weakness ; Muscles ; Running ; Sports ; Torque ; Walking

Abscess ; Branchial Region ; Branchioma ; Clavicle ; Diagnostic Errors ; Drainage ; Epithelium ; Female ; Fistula ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lymphoid Tissue ; Male ; Neck ; Pregnancy ; Recurrence

The occurrence of subdural hygroma following pterional approach for intracranial aneurysm at Yeungnam University from March 1994 to December 1994 was studied with regard to the patients age, location of aneurysm, preoperative ventricular dilatation, operation time, cortex color, CSF flow, opening degree of Liliequist membrane, dissection degree of sylvian fissure, postoperative intradural air amount and day for mannitol infusion using chi-square test. The following results and conclusions were obtained: 1) Subdural hygroma was observed in 28 of 53 patients(52.8%). 2) The patient's age was significantly related to the occurance of subdural hygroma(p<0.05). 3) CSF flow through the basal cistern was significantly related to the occurrence of subdural hygroma(p<0.05). 4) In cases of good CSF flow, degree of Lilieqist membrane opening was significantly related to the occurrence of subdural hygroma(p<0.05). Preserving of Liliequist membrane will minimize the occurrence of subdural hygroma.
Aneurysm ; Dilatation ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Mannitol ; Membranes ; Subdural Effusion*

BACKGROUND: Chest X-ray of coal werkers' pneumoconiosis and shipyard welders' lung show similar and regular opacities mostly, it is very difficult that we distinguish the former from the latter by only chest X-ray. so we performed this study to understand the progression of the disease and to provide the disease by considering pulmonary function and other factors in proportion to the porfusion of small regular opacities of chest X-ray in both groups. METHOD: 430 coal workers' pneumoconiosis were compared with 311 shipyard welders' lung by the number, the age, the duration of dust exposure, %vital capacity(%VC), %FEV1.0, the type of ventilatory impairment, the combined pulmonary disease according to the profusion of small regular opacities on the chest radiographs, which were classiffied into category 0/1, category 1, and category 2. RESULT: 1) the percent of category 2 in coal workers' pneumoconiosis was 54.4%. the percent of category 1, and category 2 in welders' lung were 60.0%, 7.4%. the progression to the category 2 was higher in coal workers' pneumoconiosis than in welders' lung 2) The mean age was higher in coal workers' pneumoconiosis than in welders' lung, significantly increased in proportion to the progresion of profusion of small regular opacities in both groups 3) There was no difference in the duration of dust exposure by category 1/0, but the duration of dust exposure by category 1, 2 in coal workers' pneumoconiosis more significantly increased than in welders' lung, the duration in the proportion of category 2 to category 0/1, 1 significantly increased in the proportion to small regular opacities in coal workers' pneumoconiosis, but there was no significant difference in the proportion to small regular opacities in duration of dust exposure in welders' lung. 4) There was no sinificant difference of mean values of %VC(%vital capacity)in both groups except for category 1, the mean values of %VC had no relationship between the progression of small regular opacities in both groups. 5) The mean values of %FEV1.0 decreased more significantly in coal workers' pneumoconiosis than in welders" lung except for category 0/1. and decreased sinificantly in proportion to the profusion of small regular opacities in coal workers' pneumoconiosis, there was significant difference of %FEV1.0 in the proportion of category 2 to category 0/1 in welders' lung. 6) there were no significant difference of %FEV1.0, %VC in smoker and nonsmoker in both groups. 7) With regard to the type of ventilation in both groups in coal workers' pneumoconiosis 21.4 percent of patients belonged to the restrictive type, 11.6 percent to the obstructive type, 5.6 percent to the combined type, but in welders' lung 21.8 percent to the restrictive type, 2.9 percent to the obstructive type, 1.9 percent to the combined type. 8. in the pulmonary disease, the incidence of the pulmonary tuberculosis was the most in both groups, was more in coal workers' pneumoconiosis than welders' lung CONCLUSION: If we compare coal workers' pneumoconiosis with electric arc welders' lung by considering pulmonary function and other factors in proportion to the profusion of chest X-ray, I think that we will have the better result in understanding the progression of the disease and provision of the disease in both groups.
Coal* ; Dust ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lung Diseases ; Lung* ; Pneumoconiosis* ; Radiography, Thoracic* ; Thorax* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; Ventilation

The authors report the results of transsphenoidal approach(TSA) for pituitary macroadenoma performd over a 2-year period.This series consisted of 15 patients:ten for nonfunctioning, two for prolactinoma, two of cushing's disease, one of acromegaly. The presenting symptom & sign was hyperfunctioning endocrinopathy in 5 patients, headache in 11 patients, visual symptom in 11 patients. TSA was performed without lumbar catheterization and fluoroscopic mornitoring. Success rates were as follows;normalization of endocrinopathy was achieved in 100% of cases;improvement of visual field in 100% of cases. There were no surgical mortality & some complication with three transient diabetes inspidus one hypopituitarysm. Eight of 15 patients who were removed tumor subtotally were received radiotherapy. Althrough there were short-term follow up(mean 19 months), there was no recurrence. This review reconfirms that the transspenoidal approach is safer and more effective procedure than craniotomy for pituitary macroadenomas.
Acromegaly ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Craniotomy ; Headache ; Humans ; Mortality ; Prolactinoma ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Visual Fields