Eosinophils play a major role in the airway inflammation in asthma. to verify an association between airway responsiveness of asthmatics and eosinophil and/or ECP, we measured serum ECP in 23 children with atopic asthma during acute attacks and stable states, and in 10 normal healthy controls. Peak flows were monitored in 15 children. The data suggest that serum ECP levels were higher in acutely ill asthmatics than in stable state. With successful therapy for asthma, serum ECP levels were mostly decreased. However, rising ECP values after treatment may suggest unsatisfactory results with conventional therapy despite a predicatable PEFR. ECP should prove a helpful for monitoring airway responsiveness which had been evoked by inflammation and/or late phase reaction in asthma.
Asthma* ; Child* ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein ; Eosinophils* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate

In case of the large bone defect due to severe varus or valgus deformity in total knee replacement, there are many different methods for reconstruction of the bone defect for insertion of the tibial component after resection of the proximal tibia. Total knee replacement using the autogenous bone graft were performed in 27 knees (18 patients) with tibial bone defect. Authors report the methods and results with an average 23 months follow-up. We used the bone removed from distal femur and calculated the size of the proximal tibia. We used the screws, if necessary, for rigid fixation of the grafted bone. l. According to the type of bone defect, central defect type were 3 knees, peripheral defect type were 13 knees and combined type were 11 knees. 2. In A-P view of x-ray, the size of bone defect of the tibial plateau ranged 5mm to 25mm (average 11.1mm) in height. 3. Screws were used for fixation of grafted bone in 14 knees and the average size of the screws was 27.8mm. 4. Bony union of the grafted bone achieved from 3 months to 12 months (average 5.7months). 5. Average knee ROM was 105 degrees and improved post-operatively 121 degrees, and average flexion contracture was 22.4 degrees and improved post-operatively 7.5 degrees. 6. Post-operative tibiofemoral angle was average 7.5 degrees valgus. 7. Average knee rating score was 54.5 and improved post-operatively 89.2. 8. The comlication of bone graft was partial resorption in 1 case and the loosening or displacement due to screw were abscent.
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Contracture ; Femur ; Follow-Up Studies ; Knee ; Tibia ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Foot* ; Hand*

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the clinical outcomes and associated repair integrity in patients treated with arthroscopic repair for a transtendinous rotator cuff tear followed by resection of the remnant rotator cuff tendon. METHODS: Between July 2007 and July 2011, we retrospectively reviewed patients who were treated for transtendinous full-thickness tears in the tendinous portion of the rotator cuff by arthroscopic repair. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, the Shoulder Rating Scale of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), the Constant-Murley score, a visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score, and range of motion (ROM). The repair integrity was determined by magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasonography. RESULTS: There were 19 shoulders with transtendinous full-thickness tears in the tendinous portion of the rotator cuff. The ASES, UCLA, Constant-Murley, and VAS pain scores showed significant improvements in function and symptoms (all p<0.001). The active ROM for forward flexion and abduction was also significantly improved (p=0.002 and p<0.001, respectively). The postoperative radiological examination showed cuff integrity without a re-tear in 68.4% of patients. However, the UCLA, ASES, and Constant-Murley scores were not significantly different between healed and re-torn group (p=0.530, p=0.885, and p=0.262, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Although repair of transtendinous rotator cuff tears followed by resection of the remnant rotator cuff tendon in the footprint has a relatively high re-tear rate, no significant difference was observed in the short-term clinical results between the re-tear and healed groups.
Arthroscopy ; California ; Elbow ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Retrospective Studies ; Rotator Cuff* ; Shoulder ; Surgeons ; Tears* ; Tendons ; Ultrasonography

Glial choristoma is defined as a mass that is composed of mature, normal brain tissue, isolated from the cranial cavity or spinal canal. The involvement of an extracranial non-midline location, especially the middle ear or mastoid region, is quite exceptional. We report here on a case of glial choristoma of the middle ear in a 2-year-old boy. He presented with otalgia and otorrhea that had lasted for 6 months, and radiological studies revealed a mass-like lesion with soft tissue density in the middle ear cavity. The patient underwent simple mastoidectomy and tympanoplasty. Histologically, the mass was composed of disorganized but mature, normal glial tissue with immunoreactivity for glial fibrillary acidic protein. The patient had no previous history of head trauma or surgery, and no evidence of central nervous system connection was noted on the radiological or operative findings. This mass was regarded as a primary glial heterotopia rather than an acquired encephalocele.
Brain ; Central Nervous System ; Child, Preschool ; Choristoma* ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Ear, Middle* ; Earache ; Encephalocele ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; Humans ; Male ; Mastoid ; Neuroglia ; Spinal Canal ; Tympanoplasty

No abstract available.
Child* ; Hematuria* ; Humans ; Jeollabuk-do* ; Prevalence*

No abstract available.

Hemorrhagic cystitis is potentially life-threatening sequellae of chemotherapy using oxazaphosphorine alkylating agents (cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide). Mesna contains a sulfhydryl group that is believed to bind acrolein within the urinary collecting system and reduce the hemorrhagic cystitis without affecting the chemotherapeutic potential. To date, about thirty cases of hypersensitivity or allergic reactions of the delayed and urticarial type associated with mesna have been reported. We reported two patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who developed facial rash and flushing associated with mesna which imitate malar rash.
Acrolein ; Alkylating Agents ; Cyclophosphamide ; Cystitis ; Drug Therapy ; Exanthema* ; Flushing ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Mesna*

OBJECTIVE: Pfirrmann disc degeneration grade is one of morphologic disc degeneration grading system and it was reliable on routine T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the agreement of Pfirrmann disc degeneration grade, and check the alternative technique of disc degeneration grading system. METHODS: Fifteen volunteers (4 medical doctors related to spinal disease, 2 medical doctors not related to spinal disease, 6 nurses in spinal hospital, and 3 para-medicines) were included in this study. Three different digitalized MR images were provided all volunteers, and they checked Pfirrmann disc degeneration grade of each disc levels after careful listening to explanation. Indeed, all volunteers checked the signal intensity of disc degeneration at the points of nucleus pulposus (NP), disc membrane, ligaments, fat, and air to modify the quantitative Pfirrmann disc degeneration grade. RESULTS: Total 225 grade results of Pfirrmann disc degeneration grade and 405 signal intensity results of quantitative Pfirrmann disc degeneration grade were analyzed. Average interobserver agreement was "moderate (mean±standard deviation, 0.575±0.251)" from poor to excellent. Completely agreed levels of Pfirrmann disc degeneration grade were only 4 levels (26.67%), and the disagreement levels were observed in 11 levels; two different grades in 8 levels (53.33%) and three different grades in 3 levels (20%). Quantitative Pfirrmann disc degeneration showed relatively cluster distribution with the interobserver deviations of 0.41-1.56 at the ratio of NP and disc membrane, and it showed relatively good cluster and distribution indicating that the proposed grading system has good discrimination ability. CONCLUSION: Pfirrmann disc degeneration grade showed the limitation of different interobserver results, but this limitation could be overcome by using quantitative techniques of MR signal intensity. Further evaluation is needed to access its advantage and reliabilities.
Discrimination (Psychology) ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration* ; Ligaments ; Membranes ; Spinal Diseases ; Volunteers

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