This study was conducted to determine the level of inflammatory cytokines in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with meningitis. All the CSF of the patients were examined by Gram and acid-fast stain, culture, and PCR for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycoplasrma spp..The levels of sugar, protein and leukocytes count were also evaluated in the CSFs. Concentrations of Interleukin (IL)-1B, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a in the CSF were evaluated by the ELISA kit (Genzyme, USA). General bacteria, tubercle bacilli, and Mycoplasma spp. were not detected with stain and culture methods, but, Mycoplasma spp. was detected by PCR method from four (6.3%) patients with meningitis. The mean CSF concentration of IL-1B, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-cx in the control group were 0.6+/-0.2, 896.8+/-107.6, 50.1+/-5.1, and 4.8+/-1.4 pg/ml, respectively. The mean CSF concentration of IL-1B, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-a in the patients with aseptic meningitis were 3.8+/-0.6, 1261.6+/-144.3, 466.7+/-42.3, and 10.8+/-2.0 pg/ml, respectively. The mean CSF concentration of IL-1B, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-a in the patients with mycoplasmal meningitis were 10.2+/-8.1, 1979.5+/-133.8, 459.7+/-96.4, and 17.5+/-5.1 pg/ml, respectively. There were significantly differences in the levels of IL-1B, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-a between control and patients with aseptic meningitis or Mycoplasmal meningitis (each p<0.001). These results suggest that increased levels of IL-1B, IL-8, and TNF-a could be higly suggestive of meningitis.
Bacteria ; Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Cytokines ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Interleukin-6* ; Interleukin-8* ; Interleukins ; Leukocytes ; Meningitis* ; Meningitis, Aseptic ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Mycoplasma ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Tracheal tumors are uncommon comprising less than 0.1% of all malignancies. Metastatic tracheal tumors, especially form the extrathoracic sites, are exceedingly rare. Ovarian cancer tends to metastasize to the serous cavities and the lymph nodes. One large autopsy study reported tracheal involvement in 1% of patients who had died from ovarian cancer. Other studies have not mentioned tracheal involvement at all. Since the main symptoms of cough, hemoptysis, or wheezing are nonspecific, patients may be initially treated for other conditions including asthma or bronchitis. Here we describe a metastatic tracheal tumor from an overain carcinoma that was initally treated for bronchial asthma.
Asthma ; Autopsy ; Bronchitis ; Cough ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Respiratory Sounds

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anatomical outcomes of vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane removal in highly myopic eyes with retinal detachment caused by a macular hole. Nineteen, consecutive, highly myopic eyes with full thickness macular hole with retinal detachment were treated by vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane removal, endolaser photocoagulation on the center of the hole and fluid gas exchange. In five eyes with other peripheral breaks, scleral buckling (3 cases), encircling (1 case) and barrier laser (1 case) were combined. In 15 eyes (79.0%) the macular hole was closed after the initial surgery. In 4 eyes (21%) the macular hole was reopened, but these were successfully treated with fluid gas exchange (1 case) or macular buckling (3 cases). The visual acuity was improved in 15 eyes (79.0%). In conclusion, these results suggest that the removal of the perifoveal internal limiting membrane may be an important adjuvant in the treatment of the myopic macular hole with retinal detachment.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Basement Membrane/surgery ; Comparative Study ; Female ; Fundus Oculi ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myopia, Degenerative/*complications ; Retinal Detachment/etiology/*surgery ; Retinal Perforations/*complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Treatment Outcome ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy/*methods

In order to evaluate the confounding factors of neurobehavioral tests and the neurobehavioral effects in the workers exposed to organic solvents, NCTB was carried out on 100 workers. 46 workers had never been exposed to neurotoxic substances, and the others were being exposed to the solvents, mainly toluene. Simple reaction time, digit symbol, Santa Ana dexterity test and persuit aiming were different with age in non exposure group. Simple reaction time was carried out well in males, and digit symbol and persuit aiming were in females. There was no difference at educational level when the subject was educated over 12 years. Santa Ana dexterity and Benton visual test differed according to exposure level to toluene, however simple reaction time didn't. The acute neurotoxic effect was not excluded in this study. But, NCTB could be used to evaluate and prevent neurobehavioral changes in workers exposed to neurotoxic solvents in Korea.
Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Reaction Time ; Solvents* ; Toluene

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether the degree of melanin pigmentation of fundus or intraocular pressure would have influence on the determination of laser power for effective transpupillary thermotherapy(TTT). METHODS: TTT was performed on 6 eyes of each of the brown, yellow and white rabbits. Immediately after diode laser irradiation to posterior pole, retinal periphery, and iris with various power(2 mm, 60 or 120 sec), macular threshold power(MTP), peripheral threshold power(PTP), and iris threshold power(ITP) were defined as a maximum power not causing any ophthalmoscopic change on the respective laser site. To assess the influence of intraocular pressure, TTT was performed with the eyeballs compressed as much as retinal arterial pulsation disppeared. Three weeks after laser irradiation, funduscopic and fluorescein angiographic appearance were correlated with histopathologic findings. RESULTS: We found no difference of MTP between brown and yellow rabbit but their MTP were smaller than that of white one(P<0.05). There was positive correlation between MTP, PTP and ITP in all experimental species. ITP/MTP and PTP/MTP were 3.45+/-0.68, 1.09+/-0.10 in brown rabbit, 3.84+/-0.79, 1.12+/-0.13 in yellow rabbit and 4.13+/-0.43, 1.16+/-0.14 in white rabbit respectively. When TTT was performed with the eyeball compressed, the laser spot looks whiter in all cases than without. Microscopic examination revealed occlusion of choriocapillaris and photoreceptor degeneration in the laser spots formed by MTP. CONCLUSION: When performing TTT, one should reduce the laser power according to the amount of melanin pigmentation of fundus and intraocular pressure. Empirical laser burn to the retinal periphery will be a helpful mean to determine optimal laser power for TTT.
Burns ; Choroidal Neovascularization ; Fluorescein ; Hyperthermia, Induced* ; Intraocular Pressure ; Iris ; Lasers, Semiconductor ; Melanins ; Pigmentation ; Rabbits ; Retinaldehyde

The writers performed Sbarbaro type total hip replacement arthroplasty on two cases with degenerative arthriris of both hips complicated by avascular necrosis of the femoral head. In each case, the procedure was carried out on the worse hip, while in one case a standard femoral head prosthesis was inserted to the less severely involved hip. The Sbarbaro type prosthesis consists of a modified Austin Moore head component and an acetabular cup with tynes that fix the metal to the acetabulum and does not require the use of cement. The initial results in both cases, evaluated by the method of D'Aubigne and Postel, are as follows; Grade 5 for pain(pain both slight or intermittent), Grade 5 for motion(very good or 161 to 210 degrees), and Grade 5 for ability to walk(very good; no cane or crutch but a slight limp).
Acetabulum ; Arthroplasty ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Canes ; Head ; Hip ; Hip Prosthesis ; Methods ; Necrosis ; Prostheses and Implants

Delayed diagnosis of the compartmental syndrome and subsequent delay in performing the fasciotomy can result in needless loss of function and possible amputation of the involved extremity. Unfortunately early evidence of this syndrome is difficult to assess. A direct measurement of the tissue pressure within a closed compartment has been developed which provides physicians with reliable information for determining the need for fasciotomy. In the 27 cases of the tibia fracture, tissue pressure was measured directly by method of the needle manometer in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Han Kang Sung Sim Hospital from March, 1979 to August, 1979. The results were as follows: 1. The highest mean tissue pressure per hour was 28 mmHg in anterior compartment at 24 hours after trauma, and 28.4 mmHg in deep post compartment at the same hours. 2. The highest pressure measured in all cases was 38 mmHg in anterior compartment at 24 hours and 39 mmHg in deep posterior compartment at 48 hours after trauma. 3. The return of increased tissue pressure to less than 10 mmHg took 122.6 hours in anterior and 124.4 hours in deep posterior compartment. 4. Tissue pressre was higher when there was associated fibula fracture. 5. Tissue pressure was higher in displaced fractures than in undisplaced fractures. 6. Tissue pressure was higher when fracture was in its upper one-third. 7. Tissue pressure was higher in comminuted fracture than simple fracture.
Amputation ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Extremities ; Fibula ; Fractures, Comminuted ; Methods ; Needles ; Orthopedics ; Tibia

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: To investigate changes in the ovary revealed by MR imaging before and after radiotherapy in premenopausal patients with cervical carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three premenopausal patients with cervical carcinoma underwent radiation therapy at an average dosage of 11,279 (external: 5,352; internal: 5,927) cGy. Before and after this therapy, all underwent pelvic MR imaging using a 1.5T MR scanner (GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, U.S.A.). The average interval of follow-up MR imaging was 7.2 months, and axial T1-weighted and axial and sagittal T2-weighted MR images were obtained. The presence, size number of follicles, and differentiation of the zonal anatomy of the ovary were determined by two radiologists, who reached a consensus. RESULTS: After radiation therapy, all patients ceased menstruation. For ovaries, the detection rates before and after radiation therapy were 94% (62/66) and 39% (26/66) (p<0.05), respectively, and average ovary size was 2.6x1.9x2.2 cm before and 1.7x1.3x1.4 cm after therapy (p<0.05). The average number of ovarian follicles before and after therapy was 5.1 and 3.1, respectively (p<0.05). T2-weighted imaging, demonstrated differentiation of zonal anatomy in 74% of cases (46/62) before radiotheraphy, and 15% (4/26) after (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study has shown that after radiation therapy in premenopausal patients with cervical cancer, detection rates, average size, and the number of ovaries decreased, findings which are similar to those for normal postmenopausal ovary. MR imaging can reveal structural change in ovaries.
Cervix Uteri* ; Consensus ; Female ; Fluconazole ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Menstruation ; Ovarian Follicle ; Ovary* ; Radiotherapy* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

PURPOSE: To assess the diagnostic efficacy of macular and peripapillary retinal thickness measurements for the staging of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and the prediction of disease progression. METHODS: In this prospective study, 149 diabetic patients (149 eyes) and 50 non-diabetic control subjects were included. Baseline optical coherence tomography was employed to measure retinal thickness in the macula (horizontal, vertical, and central) and the peripapillary zone (superior, inferior, nasal, and concentric to the optic disc). Seven baseline parameters were correlated with the DR stages identified by fluorescein angiography. Baseline retinal thickness was compared between groups of patients requiring panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) within 6 months (PRP group) and patients not requiring PRP (No-PRP group). RESULTS: Macular and peripapillary retinal thicknesses in diabetic subjects were significantly greater than that in normal controls (p<0.05). All retinal thickness parameters, and particularly peripapillary circular scans, tended to increase with increasing DR severity (p<0.05). The baseline thicknesses of the peripapillary circular scans were greater in the PRP group than in the no-PRP group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Peripapillary retinal thickness may prove to be a useful criterion for DR severity and may also serve as an indicator of disease progression.
Aged ; Diabetic Retinopathy/*diagnosis/surgery ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Humans ; Light Coagulation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Optic Disk ; Prospective Studies ; Retina/*pathology/surgery ; *Severity of Illness Index ; *Tomography, Optical Coherence