We examined a male infant with transient increase in alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activity. The 25-month-old infant was admitted to a local hospital because of pneumonia of unknown etiology. Initial laboratory investigation revealed a serum ALP of 11,260U/L, which was comparable to that of bone isoenzyme on the electrophoresis pattern, There was no evidence of hepatitis, skeletal or intestinal diseases. The hyperphosphatasemia disappeared 3 months later. We report a case of transient hyperphosphatasemia diagnosed inci- dentally in the course of management of pneumonia. (J Korean Pediatr Soc 2000;43:856-860)
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Child, Preschool ; Electrophoresis ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Infant ; Intestinal Diseases ; Male ; Pneumonia

The twelve cases of metallic failure after compression plate fixation which were observed and treated at Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Busan National University Hospital were clinically analysed. The results were summerized as follows; 1. Age and sex of the patients was male in his active age in life. 2. The causes of fracture were traffic accidents and industrial accidents. The sites of fracture were femur in 11 cases and tibia 1 case. 3. The types of fracture were comminuted in 11 cases and short oblique in 1 case. 4. The 6 patients were not cooperative and began walking at their will after postoperative 4 weeks despite doctors order of nonweight bearing. Average duration of immobilization was 6 weeks. 5. Metallic failure occurred as screw failure in 1 case, plate failures through empty hole in 4 cases and plate failures through hole filled with screw nearest to the sites of fracture in 7 cases. 6. Interval between operation and metallic failure was 6.25 months average. The 75% of the metallic failure occurred between 4 to 7 months. 7. Treatments of metallic failures were cast immobilization with bone grafting in 1 case at tibia, intramedullary nailing with bone grafting in 1 case at femur and compression plate fixation with bone grafting in 10 cases at femur. 8. Causes of failure after internal fixation 1). Insufficient bone support Inadequate inter-fragmentary compression 9 cases Absence of cancellous bone graft 8 cases Empty plate hole 4 cases Remaining defects 3 cases 2). Inadequate postoperative treatment 6 cases.
Accidents, Occupational ; Accidents, Traffic ; Bone Transplantation ; Busan ; Femur ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Male ; Orthopedics ; Tibia ; Transplants ; Walking

Cranial fasciitis is a rare morphological variant of nodular fasciitis. It is characterized by a rapid growing fibroblastic proliferative lesion that develops chiefly in childhood. It has varying size and involves the soft tissues of the scalp and the underlying skull. Accurate diagnosis and surgical excision is the key to management. Prognosis is good with rare recurrence. We report a case of cranial fasciitis in the temporal fossa of a 20-month-old girl and present a review of the literature.
Diagnosis ; Fasciitis* ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Infant ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Scalp ; Skull

It is generally accepted that in acute pancreatitis, the enzymes normally excreted by the pancreas are released from the disrupted parenchyma into the extraductal space and taken up by way of the lymphatics and capillaries. The enzymes in the blood stream may appear in high concentration in the serum. Therefore, serum amylase and lipase determinations has long been a mainstay in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis and other pancreatic diseases. However, many investigators have claimed that the urinary output of amylase may be elevated more consistently in acute pancreatitis than in the serum concentration of either amylase or lipase, and urinary amylase measurement is a more sensitive reflection of the presence of pancreatitis and of its clinical course than is the measurement of serum amylase or lipase. Clinically, one of the ominous signs which may develop during the early course of acute pancreatitis is severe hypotension. But, no agreement has been reached among investigators as to the cause of the hypotension, although several investigators have implicated a blood volume deficiency resulting form inflammatory process, and hypercalcemia. Perhaps, the majority have attributed the hypotension to systemic effect of some of the pancreatic enzymes, especially trypsin. Nevertheless, the correction of these factors sometimes fail to restore a normal blood pressure clinically. The purpose of the present investigation was to observe the relationships between serum concentration and urinary output of pancreatic enzymes, and to determine the degree of hypotension resulting from the systemic administration of pancreatic enzymes. These experimental procedures, consisted of heteroinfusion of human pancreatic juice and homoinfusion of canine pancreatic emulsion intravenously, and pancreatic ductal ligation in dogs. Blood and urine samples for the enzyme analysis were collected serially thorough the femoral vein and ureteral catheter before and after the procedure. Blood pressure was measured consistently by the kymograph before and after infusion of pancreatic juice. Activities of amylase and lipase were determined by methods of Nelson and, Cherry and Crandall, respectively. The results obtained are summarized as follows; 1. Following intravenous infusions of pancreatic juice exogenously. serum and urine concentrations of amylase and lipase increased rapidly, but these enzymes decreased rapidly in urinary excretion and gradually in serum concentration. Urinary recovery of amylase was approximately 10% of the total infused amount of pancreatic juice at the end of 4 hours. 2. Following ligation of the pancreatic duct, the amylase and lipase levels of serum rose gradually and reached the maximum at 24-48 hours after ligation and then gradually fell. The output of these enzymes in the urine were relatively constant while serum enzymes were increased. 3. When the human pancreatic juice was infused, hypotension was pronounced, and it was deeper and more prolonged in hypotensive effect with infusion of highly concentrated juice in the enzyme activities. With human pancreatic juice, a more sustained hypotension occurred than was observed after infusion of canine pancreatic emulsion. As a result of this investigation, it is felt that the hypotension in acute pancreatitis is probably the result of pancreatic enzymes itself. 4. In postinfusion period, the urine volume was markedly decreased following hypotension, and the urine volume was increased following blood pressure to normal level. This suggests that urine volume may diminish resulting from transient acute renal failure due to hypotensive effect by pancreatic enzymes.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Amylases ; Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Volume ; Capillaries ; Diagnosis ; Dogs* ; Femoral Vein ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia ; Hypotension ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Ligation ; Lipase ; Pancreas ; Pancreatic Diseases ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Pancreatic Juice ; Pancreatitis ; Prunus ; Research Personnel ; Rivers ; Trypsin ; Urinary Catheters

No abstract available.
Cyclophosphamide* ; Hypersensitivity*

The effect of labetalol on induced hypotension was studied in 13 patients undergoing major spine surgery. Hypotension was induced with initial dose of labetalol 0.4 mg/kg i.v. followed by 0.01 mg/kg/min i.v.infusion. BP, HR, and CVP were measured before, during, and after hypotension. Anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane (0.5-2 vol%) and N2O in 50% O2 supplemented by pancuronium. The time to systolic BP 75-85 mmHg or mean BP 55-65 mmHg was 18.5+/-2.8min and the time for systolic BP to recover 90% of prehypotensive value was 45.5+/-4.2 min. Heart rate was reduced signiTicantly after hypotension but remained stable at 80-90 beats/min thereafter. Central venous pressure showed no significant change irrespective of hypotension. The results suggest that combined use of fentanyl with labetalol or disuse of pancumnium may reduce the required dose of labetalol.
Anesthesia ; Central Venous Pressure ; Fentanyl ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypotension* ; Isoflurane ; Labetalol* ; Pancuronium ; Spine*

Collagen is the major component of scar tissue. Considerable progress of fibroblast growth kinetics and of collagen synthesis has been achieved in the past decade. We have been interested in fibroblasts activities as they are expressed by cells cultured in collagen substrate. This study is to examine the effects of collagen substrate and peptide growth factors In culture medium on DNA and protein synthesis of human dermal fibroblasts. Collagen, interleukin-1(IL-1) and transforming growth factor-beta(TGF-beta) were added to fibroblast culture media according to the designed experiment model and DNA and protein synthesis were measured by [3H]-thymidine, [3H]-leucine, and [3H]-proline incorporation method. The morphological features of fibroblasts were observed by light microscope. The results were as follows ; 1) There were significant decreases of DNA and protein synthesis of cultured fibroblasts in the presence of collagen substrate compared with those in Control groups(p<0.01). 2) DNA and protein synthesis were decreased as dose dependant manner of collagen density in culture media. 3) Morphological features of fibroblasts became less stellate and flat, more spindle-like in the presence of collagen. 4) In responsiveness to IL-1, collagen non-treated groups responded to IL-1 but collagen treated groups were unresponsive to IL-1 (P<0.05). 5) Cells In collagen non-treated groups responded to TGF-beta as dose-related manner(P<0.01). Collagen treated groups desponded to TGF-beta but did not show TGF-beta dose-dependant relationship. In Conclusion, collagen substrate in the culture medium could lower the DNA and protein synthesis of fibroblasts. Cells in collagen substrate were unresponsive or less responsive to peptide growth factors than those in non-collagen substrate.
Cicatrix ; Collagen* ; Culture Media ; DNA* ; Fibroblasts* ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Interleukin-1 ; Kinetics ; Transforming Growth Factor beta

There have been several reports of more than one type of porokeratosis occurring in the same family or the same individual. We hope to support the view of different phenotypic expressions of a common genetic aberration by describing an additional case of porokeratosis of Mibelli on the perianal area and DSAP on the face, forearms occurring in a 45-year-old man.
Actins* ; Forearm ; Hope ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Porokeratosis*

PACS (Picture Archiving and Communications System) is a computer-based image storage and retrieval system that can store, recall and display medical images rapidly on high resolution workstations. The image acquisition system consists of direct digital interface to computed radiography (CR) system. We reviewed X-rays of 84 patients who had both studies of Dual energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) and AP, lateral views of lumbar vertebrae between January and December of 1995. We tried to verify the clinical implication of pixel values on PACS for DXA by comparing pixel values and bone mineral density (BMD) of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th lumbar vertebrae. They were all female between 44 and 72 years old, average age of 59. Bone mineral density (BMD), represented in DXA of a total of 252 vertebrae were mostly in the range of between 0.228 (22%) and 1.318 (121%). Pixel values of the AP and lateral views of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th vertebrae in the PACS workstation were closely correlated to bone mineral density (p=0.0001). The values of the DXA (bone mineral density and T score) get comparatively lower as the pixel values get smaller. In conclusion, the pixel value on PACS interfaced to CR could be utilized as an easy, speedy and economical tool for screening of osteoporosis.
Absorptiometry, Photon* ; Aged ; Bone Density ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Mass Screening ; Osteoporosis ; Radiography ; Spine

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to increase the knowledge of the intra- and extra-spinal alignments and to help recovery of sagittal alignment in operation by measuring the normal values of the spinal alignment in relation to hip axis as well as those of the thoracic, thoracolumbar junction, lumbar and lumbosacral junction of sagittal alignment and their correlation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Whole spine standing lateral radiographs were taken in young 100 adults without spinal abnormalities clinically and radiographically. Intraspinal alignment was measured with angles of thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, maximum thoracic kyphosis, maximum lumbar lordosis, angle of the thoracolumbar junction, sacral inclination, segmental angles and disc angles respectively with special emphasis on lumbar lordosis. Extraspinal alignment was measured with sacropelvic angle, spinopelvic balance and spinal balance in relation to hip axis. Correlations among these parameters were analyzed. RESULTS: Lumbar lordosis and thoracic kyphosis were measured -49 degree(-22 - -79 degree) and 32 degree(6 degree-56 degree), respectively. Slight amount of kyphosis in thoracolumbar junctional area was considered normal. Lumbar lordosis had significant correlation with thoracic kyphosis and sacral inclination. However, there was no correlation between thoracic kyphosis and sacral inclination. Lowest two lumbar segments comprised 71% of total lordosis. Lumbar lordosis usually started at L1-2 and gradually increased at each level caudally to the sacrum. Sacropelvic angle, spinopevlic balance and spinal balance were measured -11 degree(-6 degree - 24 degree), -4 cm (-10 - 2 cm), and -2 cm (-7 - 4 cm) respectively with C7 positioned posterior to hip axis mostly. CONCLUSIONS: There was a wide range of normal sagittal alignment of the thoracic and lumbar spines, and normal values of these alignments were not easily defined. Therefore, normal patterns of sagittal curvature and sagittal balance should be more emphasized.
Adult ; Animals ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Hip ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; Lordosis ; Reference Values ; Sacrum ; Spine*