BACKGROUND: Pregnancy in human and rodents is associated with dramatic matemal metabolic changes. Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are mitogenic peptides that are essential for fetal and maternal tissue growth during pregnancy. They circulate complexed primarily with a serum IGF-binding protein (IGFBP-3) which regulates the availability of the IGFs to their specific target tissues. METHODS: To examine the changes of IGFs and IGFB-3 during pregnancy, we measured serum total IGF-I, free IGF-I, IGF-II and IGFBP-3 by using specific radioimmunoassay, immunoradio-metric assay, western ligand blot and western immunoblot. Blood samples were obtained from 88 pregnant women between 6-40 weeks gestation. RESULTS: While serum IGF-I levels increased up to 50% in late pregnancy, serum IGF-II levels remained unchanged. However, serum free IGF-I levels were significantly higher during pregnancy than in nonpregnancy. Western ligand blot analysis revealed that IGFBP-3 in pregnancy serum was significantly decreased at 6 weeks of gestation, continued decreased level until term, and returned to a nonpregnant level by postpartum 10 day. Serum IGFBP-3 profiles in Western immunoblot analysis revealed that 30 kDa fragments of IGFBP-3 were detectable in pregnancy serum but not in nonpregnancy serum. In contrast, serum IGFBP-3 levels using radioimmunoassay was significantly increased in late pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: 1) serum IGF-I was significantly elevated in late pregnancy 2) serum IGF-II was not significantly changed 3) free IGF-I significantly elevated throughout gestation 4) intact IGFBP-3 was markedly reduced after 6 weeks of gestation.
Blotting, Western ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor II ; Peptides ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Radioimmunoassay ; Rodentia ; Somatomedins

Malakoplakia is an uncommon granulomatous disease most frequently found in the bladder or ureter. Howevcr, it has been reyorted in almost every ather organ and structure, the colon is the most common site of malakoplakia outside the urogenital tract and colonic carcinoma is the most commonly associated disease. A case of malakoplakia of the colon in a 54-year-old female is reported. Sigmoidoscopy revealed multiple whiteyellowish nodules simulating polypoid lesion at 10cm from the anal verge. The biopsy showed characteristically comprised submucosal proliferations of histiocyte and chronic inflammatory cells with typical cytoplasmic inclusions known as Michaelis-Gutmann bodies. Intravenous pyelogram showed no evidence of involvement of the urinary system. These nodules were removed by endoscopic polypectomy, So far, this is the first case of isolated colonic malakoplakia in Korea.
Biopsy ; Colon ; Female ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Inclusion Bodies ; Korea ; Malacoplakia* ; Middle Aged ; Rectum ; Sigmoidoscopy ; Ureter ; Urinary Bladder

A case of resected primary duodenal cancer associated with early gastric cancer is reported. A 67-year-old male complaining of nausea and vomiting was admitted. Endo-scopic examination showed an ulcerative lesion withblood clot in the angle of the stomach and stricture in the duodenum. The stomach lesion was proven to be signet ring cell carcinoma by biopsy. Exploratory laparotomy was done and frozen specimen of duodenum was revealed to be malignant. Subtotal gastrectomy and pancreaticoduodenectomy with lymph node dissection were done and the specimen from stricture of duodenum was proven to be adenocarcinoma. The gastric cancer was limited to the mucosa and metastasis was not recognized in regional lymph node, Furthermore, there was normal mucosa between gastric cancer and duodenal cancer. Therefore, cancers in the stomach and duodenum were considered to be a case of double prim~iary cancer.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Duodenal Neoplasms* ; Duodenum ; Esophagus* ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Intestines* ; Laparotomy ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Mucous Membrane ; Nausea ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Stomach* ; Ulcer ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: To evaluate the findings of subchondral cyst of the humeral head, as seen on shoulder MRarthrography MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-three patients( M:F=62:1 ; mean age 23 years) who underwent shoulder MRarthrography between September 1996 and May 1998 were retrospectively reviewed. No patient had a history of eithershoulder dislocation or certain diseases known to be commonl accompanied by subchondral cysts. All MR images wereobtained using a 1.5 Tesla unit after intraarticular injection of 20ml of diluted contrast material. T1 andT2-weighted axial, oblique coronal, and oblique sagittal images were analysed for the presence, location, number,shape, size, and connection to the joint cavity of subchondral cysts. RESULTS: We identified 58 subchondral cystsin 43(71.7%) of 63 cases. All were located in the posterolateral portion of the humeral head, and on the physealline. Twenty-eight patients(65.1%) had one cyst, and 15(34.9%) had two. Thirty-four cysts(58.6%) were round orovoid in shape and, 2-8mm in diameter(average, 3.9mm) ; 24(41.4%) were lobulated and 3-10mm in diameter(average5.3mm). Fifty-three cysts(91.4%) were connected to the joint cavity. CONCLUSIONS: In symptomatic patients, the incidence of subchondral cyst of the humeral head was 71.7%. All were located in the posterolateral portion, andon the physeal line. Most subchondral cysts were connected with the joint cavity.
Bone Cysts* ; Dislocations ; Humans ; Humeral Head* ; Incidence ; Injections, Intra-Articular ; Joints ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Retrospective Studies ; Shoulder

PURPOSE: To assess the accuracy of magnetic resonance(MR) arthrography in the diagnosis of anterior labral tear of the shoulder. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between Semptember 1996 and February 2000, MR arthrography of the shoulder was performed in 281 patients with a history of shoulder pain or instability. Among this total, only 157 shoulders in 154 patients who underwent arthroscopy or open surgery 0 to 230 (average, 20.9) days after MR arthrography were included in this study; the subjects comprised of 150 males and 4 females with an average age of 23.3 years. MR arthrographs of these 154 patients were analyzed for the presence of anterior labral tears, and the findings were correlated with the arthroscopic and surgical findings. Anterior labral tear was classified as A to D according to its location, as determined by arthroscopy and surgery. (A=4 to 6 o 'clock direction, anteroinferior; B=2 to 4 o 'clock direction, central; C=12 to 2 o 'clock direction, anterosuperior; D= SLAP lesions). The retrospective analysis of MR arthrographs showing false-positive and negative findings was also undertaken. RESULTS: In the diagnosis of anterior labral tear, MR arthrography showed a sensitivity of 94%, a specificity of 90% and an accuracy of 91%. Anterior labral tears were confirmed by arthroscopy or surgery in 62 of the 157 shoulders (39%). Among 62 lesions, two (3%) were observed in area A, 32(52%) in area A+B, nine (15%) in area A+B+C, one(2%) in area A+B+D, 13(21%) in area A+B+C+D, two (3%) in area B+C, one(2%) in area B+D, and two(3%) in area C. Among ten false-positive cases, seven were focal lesions (two, three and two lesions in area A, B and C, respectively), and in the remaining three cases, located in area A+B, MR arthrography revealed thickening and deformation. All four false negatives were focal lesions (two in area A and two in area C). CONCLUSION: Other than in focal lesions, in which accuracy was relatively low, MR arthrography showed high sensitivity, specificity and accuracy in the diagnosis of anterior labral tear of the shoulder.
Arthrography* ; Arthroscopy ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Shoulder Pain ; Shoulder*

BACKGROUND: For the rapid sequence induction of general anesthesia, succinylcholne, a depolarizing muscle relaxant, has been used. But succinylcholine has many side effects, so various efforts using nondepolarizing muscle relaxants have been tried. We have tried and observed the effect of a curonium-lidocaine mixture administration. METHODS: 120 patients who were scheduled for elective surgery were randomly assigned in 6 groups (Group I, II, III, IL, IIL, IIIL). For groups I, II and III vecuronium was administered only 0.10 mg/kg, 0.12 mg/kg, and 0.15 mg/kg, respectively. For each member of groups IL, IIL and IIIL, lidocaine 1.5 mg/kg was added to the dose of vecuronium of groupI, II and III. The vecuronium or vecuronium- lidocaine mixture was injected for 15 seconds and then thiopental sodium was injected for 15 seconds. 90 seconds after the administration of the vecuronium or vecuronium-lidocaine mixture, every patient was intubated. Intubation condition scores, TOF responses of the adductor pollicis of the thumb, arrhythmia, heart rates, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial blood pressure were checked and compared. RESULTS: Intubation condition scores were better in groups IL, IIL and IIIL in comparison with groups I, II and III. The TOF responce of the adductor pollicis of the thumb showed a statistically signifiant difference between the lidocaine groups and the nonlidiocaine groups. The time elapsed before the disappearance of TOF was less in the lidocaine groups. Changes of systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate were no difference in the lidocaine groups and the nonlidocaine groups. CONCULUSIONS: The results suggest that administration of a vecuronium-lidocaine mixture administraion improves the intubation condition score during a rapid sequence induction of general anesthesia and shortens the time of the disapprearance of the TOF response.
Anesthesia, General ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Intubation ; Lidocaine ; Neuromuscular Blockade* ; Succinylcholine ; Thiopental ; Thumb ; Vecuronium Bromide*

BACKGROUND: For the rapid sequence induction of general anesthesia, succinylcholne, a depolarizing muscle relaxant, has been used. But succinylcholine has many side effects, so various efforts using nondepolarizing muscle relaxants have been tried. We have tried and observed the effect of a curonium-lidocaine mixture administration. METHODS: 120 patients who were scheduled for elective surgery were randomly assigned in 6 groups (Group I, II, III, IL, IIL, IIIL). For groups I, II and III vecuronium was administered only 0.10 mg/kg, 0.12 mg/kg, and 0.15 mg/kg, respectively. For each member of groups IL, IIL and IIIL, lidocaine 1.5 mg/kg was added to the dose of vecuronium of groupI, II and III. The vecuronium or vecuronium- lidocaine mixture was injected for 15 seconds and then thiopental sodium was injected for 15 seconds. 90 seconds after the administration of the vecuronium or vecuronium-lidocaine mixture, every patient was intubated. Intubation condition scores, TOF responses of the adductor pollicis of the thumb, arrhythmia, heart rates, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial blood pressure were checked and compared. RESULTS: Intubation condition scores were better in groups IL, IIL and IIIL in comparison with groups I, II and III. The TOF responce of the adductor pollicis of the thumb showed a statistically signifiant difference between the lidocaine groups and the nonlidiocaine groups. The time elapsed before the disappearance of TOF was less in the lidocaine groups. Changes of systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate were no difference in the lidocaine groups and the nonlidocaine groups. CONCULUSIONS: The results suggest that administration of a vecuronium-lidocaine mixture administraion improves the intubation condition score during a rapid sequence induction of general anesthesia and shortens the time of the disapprearance of the TOF response.
Anesthesia, General ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Intubation ; Lidocaine ; Neuromuscular Blockade* ; Succinylcholine ; Thiopental ; Thumb ; Vecuronium Bromide*

PURPOSE: To evaluate by means of MR arthrography the causal relationship between anterior capsularattach-ment type and anterior instability of the glenohumeral joint. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-five patients (M:F=64:1; mean age, 23 years), who had undergone shoulder MR arthrography were retrospectively reviewed. There wasno history of traumatic dislocation, and medical records relating to anterior instability were available. Physicalexamination revealed anterior instability in 25 patients(Group A), while in 40 (Group B), this was eithersuspicious or absent. With the aid of general anesthe-sia, 32 patients who had undergone surgery were physicallyexamined. Anterior instability was evident in 16 patients(Group C), and suspicious or absent in the remaining 16(Group D). All images were obtained after in-traarticular injection of Gd-DTPA. Fat-suppressed T1 axial imagingwas used to evaluate anterior capsular at-tachment type at mid and distal three-fourths levels of the glenoidfossa. The causal relationship between ante-rior capsular attachment types and anterior instability was analyzedusing the x2 test RESULTS: In group A, type I was most common at distal three-fourths level, and types I and IIwere equal and more common than type III at mid level. In group B, type I anterior capsular attachment type wasmost com-mon at both mid and distal three-fourths level. In these groups, no statistical significance was notedbetween anterior capsular attachment type and anterior instability (p value 0.611: 0.567). In group C, types I andII were equal and more common than type III at both mid and distal three-fourths level, while in group D, type IIwas most common at mid level, and type I was most common at distal three-fourths level. In these groups, nostatistical significance was noted between anterior capsular attachment type and anterior instability (p val-ue,0.772). CONCLUSION: There was no statistically significant difference between anterior capsular attachment typeand anterior instability of the shoulder joint.
Arthrography* ; Dislocations ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Joint*

PURPOSE: To compare the clinical and radiologic outcomes of various surgical techniques for an isolated fracture of greater tuberosity of the humerus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From February 2001 to December 2008, 31 patients, who underwent an operation for isolated greater tuberosity fracture and were followed up for more than 1 year, were enrolled in this study. The mean age at the time of operation was 49.3 years (range, 23-73 years). The operation methods included in this study were as follows: a transosseous suture using nonabsorbable suture material (16 cases), a fixation by cannulated screws (10 cases), tension band wiring (2 cases), bony fragment excision with rotator cuff repair (2 cases), and percutaneous pinning (1 case). RESULTS: At the last follow-up, the average Constant score was 79.4 and Korean Shoulder Score (KSS) was 81.2. Among the various operation methods used in this study, the transosseous suture had the highest scores with 82.5 in Constant score and 89.3 in KSS. Bone union was achieved at average 10.3 weeks (range, 7-15 weeks), and there were 2 cases in which the reoperation was required due to internal fixation failure. Postoperative shoulder stiffness occurred in 3 cases, and all the cases were done with the deltopectoral approach. CONCLUSION: Clinically and radiologically satisfactory results were obtained using various operation techniques for an isolated greater tuberosity fracture of the humerus. The transosseous suture showed relatively better results than the other methods used in this study. To achieve favorable clinical and radiologic results, it is important to select an appropriate surgical approach and fixation method according to the fracture site, degree of displacement, and size of fragment.
Displacement (Psychology) ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Humerus ; Reoperation ; Rotator Cuff ; Shoulder ; Sutures

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the radiologic and clinical outcomes after tension band wire fixation of Neer type II distal clavicle fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six patients with Neer type II distal clavicle fractures who underwent tension band wire fixation from March 2002 to May 2011 were included in the study. Fifteen cases were classified as Neer type IIa and 11 cases as type IIb. The postoperative mean follow-up period was 14.3 months. Clinical and radiologic evaluation was performed at two weeks, six weeks, three months, six months, and 12 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Bony union on X-rays was observed at an average of 11.7 weeks (range 8-20 weeks) postoperatively. The overall visual analogue scale score for pain was 1.23+/-2.75 postoperatively. The overall postoperative University of California at Los Angeles score increased to 33.5+/-2.15 from the preoperative score of 21.6+/-1.91 (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Among various methods of treatment for Neer type II distal clavicle fracture, K-wire and tension band fixation was used and relatively satisfactory radiological and clinical results were obtained. This surgical method yields excellent clinical results, owing to its relatively easy technique, fewer complications, and allowance of early rehabilitation.
California ; Clavicle* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Rehabilitation