The computed tomography (CT) number is closely related to hematocrit level according to many of the previous reports. We measured the CT number in various organs, such as the frontal white matter, basal ganglia, occipital white matter, cerebrospinal fluid, liver, abdominal aorta, spleen, kidney, and psoas muscle. We correlated the CT numbers of the organs with hematocrit levels which were graded into 10% increments (20.0-29.9%, 30.0-39.9%, 40.0-49.9%). Thus the change of CT numbers in various organs according to the hematocrit level was analyzed. The increased CT numbers according to the 10% increment of hematocrit in the frontal white matter, basal ganglia, occipital white matter, liver, abdominal aorta, spleen, and psoas muscle were 1.3, 1.5, 1.6, 3.3, 5.3, 3.8, 2.4 respectively. Even though the CT numbers of the cerebrospinal fluid and kidney were not influenced by hematocrit level the CT numbers in most of the there organs postitively correlated with hematocrit level. Therefore, it was concluded that in the differential diagnosis using CT numbers, the hematocrit level of patient must be taken into consideration.
Aorta, Abdominal ; Basal Ganglia ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hematocrit* ; Humans ; Kidney ; Liver ; Psoas Muscles ; Spleen ; White Matter

No abstract available.
Gastric Mucosa* ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter*

No abstract available.
Pregnancy*

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.
Glomerular Basement Membrane*

Advanced techniques of nasal endoscopy made it possible to approach the optic nerve, pituitary gland, and anterior skull base transnasally. Epidural or brain abscess caused by ascending infection through the defect of the fovea ethmoidalis can be drained with reduced morbidity by endoscopic sinus surgery. Recently we have experienced a brain abscess that was managed by endoscopic transnasal drainage successfully.
Brain Abscess* ; Brain* ; Drainage* ; Endoscopy ; Optic Nerve ; Pituitary Gland ; Skull Base

OBJECTIVETo summarize and critically evaluate the evidence for and against the effectiveness of Eastern-Western integrative medicine (EWIM) for health care compared to Eastern medicine (EM) or Western medicine (WM) alone.

METHODSSystematic searches were conducted on five Korean medical databases. Manual searches were also conducted through nine major Korean medical journals. Prospective randomized clinical trials (RCTs) were included if EWIM was tested for any type of conditions compared to EM or WM.

RESULTSThere were one hundred forty-one possibly relevant studies were identified, and seven RCTs were included. The risk of bias was high in most studies. The EWIM methods were compared with EM or WM in patients with pain conditions in four studies. These studies showed favorable effects of EWIM on pain reduction in patients with shoulder pain and chronic headache compared with EM, while the other RCTs failed to do so in traffic injury patients. Two studies tested EWIM in patients with Bell's palsy compared with EM and found acute functional improvement. An RCT comparing EWIM with WM in patients with acne showed a significant difference.

CONCLUSIONThe results of our systematic review suggest that there is limited evidence for the superiority of EWIM over EM or WM in the treatment of pain and acute symptom improvement in patients with Bell's palsy. The evidence from our analysis was limited from the low number of RCTs included and the high risk of bias. Future RCTs appear to be warranted.

Delivery of Health Care ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; statistics & numerical data ; Publication Bias ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; statistics & numerical data ; Republic of Korea ; Treatment Outcome

This study evaluated the influence of application time of self-etching primers on microtensile bond strength (microTBS) to dentin using three self-etching primer adhesive systems. Dentin surfaces were exposed from forty-eight human molars. They were conditioned with three self-etching primers (Clearfil SE Bond [SE], Unifil Bond [UF], Tyrian SPE + One Step Plus [TY]) and different primining times (10s, 20s, 30s and 40s). Composite resins were bonded to dentin surfaces and specimens were made. microTBS was tested and statistically compared using by one-way ANOVA and Tukey's Test The results of this study presented that priming time for 10s in SE and UF groups and for 30s and 40s in TY group was highly decreased microTBS to dentin.
Adhesives ; Composite Resins ; Dentin* ; Humans ; Molar

Purpose of the present study was to find the optimal ovulation induction medicine for the maturation and development of immature oocytes and culture media for 2-cell embryos in the mouse model. ICR female mouse aged 6 to 8 weeks, were stimulated with 5 IU PMSG injection. At 47 to 50 hour post-PMSG injection, ovaries were dissected out and oocytes-cumulus complexes were punctured. The oocyte-cumulus complexes were cultured in media containing various ovulation induction medicine, CC, HMG and Metrodin for 18 hours. Female ICR mice were stimulated with 5 IU PMSG and 48 hours later were injected 5 IU of hCG, then female and male mice were mated. At 48 hour post-hCG injection, oviducts were dissected out and 2-cell embryos were flushed. The 2-cell embryos were cultured in various media, Ham's F-10 media of milli-Q water (3degrees), Ham's F-10 media of HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography, Baxter) water, Medicult media, HTF (human tubal fluid) media for 96hours. The results were as follows. 1. When the oocytes-cumulus complexes were cultured in 10(-9)microgram/ml~ 10(-8)microgram/ml of CC, those were suppressed in meiotic maturation (28.2~ 33.7%). Whereas the oocytes-cumulus complexes were cultured in 10(-7)microgram/ml~10(-4)microgram/ml, these were not effected in meiotic maturation (54.5~72.7%). 2. When the oocytes-cumulus complexes were cultured in 10(-4)microgram/ml~ 10(-1)microgram/ml of Metrodin, those were suppressed in meiotic maturation (35.7~ 41.5%). Meanwhile the oocytes-cumulus complexes were cultured in 10(-7)microgram/ml~10(-5)microgram/ml, those were not effected in meiotic maturation (54.2~ 70.3%). 3. When the oocytes-cumulus complexes were cultured in 10(-5)microgram/ml~ 10(-4)microgram/ml of HMG, those were suppressed in meiotic maturation (48.2~ 50.4%). As being cultured in 10(-7)microgram/ml~10(-6)microgram/ml, increased in meiotic maturation (75.8~80.7%). 4. When the 2-cell embryos were cultured in Ham's F-10 media of milli-Q wats. ( 3degrees), Ham's F-10 media of HPLC (high performance liquid chromatograpy, Banter) water, Medicult media, HTF (human tubal fluid) media, developmental rates to blastocyst and hatching for 96 hour were 50.0%, 45.2%, 71.5% and 95.6%, respectively.
Animals ; Blastocyst ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Culture Media ; Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mice* ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Oocytes* ; Ovary ; Oviducts ; Ovulation Induction* ; Ovulation* ; Urofollitropin ; Water

The authors conducted a clinical observation of 55 cases of solitary pulmonary nodules at Yeungnam University Hospital from June 1986 to October 1990, and the following results were obtained: 1. The age distribution was ranged from 18 to 77 years, and the male-to female ratio was 1.8:1. 2. Among 55 cases of nodules, 28 cases were benign and 27 cases were malignant nodules, and of malignant nodules, the primary lung cancer was 23 cases and of benign nodules, 18 cases were tuberculoma. 3. 23 cases (41.8%) was asymptomatic and the other 32 cases were symptomatic; chest pain 12 cases, hemoptysis; 8 cases, cough; 8 cases and dyspnea; 4 cases. 4. The non-smoker-to-smoker ratio was 1:1.04, but among 23 smoker over 20 pack years, 14 cases were malignant nodules. 5. According to nodular size, there is no striking differences between benign and malignant nodules except 3-4 cm sized nodules. 6. The lobar distribution of nodules, 35 cases were in the right lung (upper lobe; 14 cases, middle lobe; 11 cases, and lower lobe; 10 cases) and 23 cases were in the left lung (upper lobe; 9 cases, lower lobe; 11 cases), and the malignant nodules were most commonly observed in the right upper lung.
Age Distribution ; Chest Pain ; Cough ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule* ; Strikes, Employee ; Tuberculoma