No abstract available.
Oral Health*

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of an intervention that combined the abdominal drawing-in maneuver and frequency-specific neuromuscular electrical stimulation on changes in trunk muscle activity, muscle fatigue, and balance in stroke patients. Methods: Thirty stroke patients were randomly assigned to two groups. Fifteen subjects were assigned to group I which performed the abdominal drawing-in maneuver combined with low-frequency neuromuscular electrical stimulation and the other 15 subjects to group II where the abdominal drawing-in maneuver was combined with high-frequency neuromuscular electrical stimulation. Muscle activity and fatigue were measured using surface electromyography before the intervention. Balance was measured using the Trunk Impairment Scale and re-measured after six weeks of intervention for comparative analysis. Results: Both groups showed a significant increase in muscle activity and balance (p < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between the groups (p > 0.05). In the changes in muscle fatigue, only the experimental group II showed a significant increase in muscle fatigue (p < 0.05). The difference between the groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion It was confirmed that among stroke patients, the combination of the abdominal drawing-in maneuver and low-frequency neuromuscular electrical stimulation was more effective in changing the muscle activity and balance of the trunk by minimizing the occurrence of muscle fatigue compared to the combination of the abdominal drawing-in maneuver and high-frequency stimulation. These results can be used as basic data for clinical trunk stabilization training.

The AO internal fixation system(the Fixateur Interne) is effective in reducing and stablizing a variety of unstable thoracolumbar fracture patterns. It is relatively effective in decompressing the canal of retropulsed bony fragments associated with burst fracture. Sixty-Two patients with unstable thoracolumbar spine fractures were treated with the AO internal fixator. They were followed for an average of 21 months(range 15-29 months). A compartive radiographic analysis of kyphosis and vertebral height was made using pre-operative, post-operative and follow-up radiogram. Changes in neural canal compromise were measured in 18 cases of burst fractures. Failure of instrumentation occured in 9 cases which were carefully analyzed. Recently, we've constructed the system of which the Schanz screws would be directed divergently in sagittal plane in the hope that the load to the screws might be reduced, thus the failure rate.
Follow-Up Studies ; Hope ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Kyphosis ; Neural Tube ; Spine

PURPOSE: The spectrum of melanoma antigen gene (MAGE)-expressing tumor is very wide and the gene of MAGE express antigens that are targets for specific recognition by cytotoxic T lymphocytes derived from tumor-bearing patients. All of these characteristics represent MAGE as tumor vaccine can be useful for cancer prevention or treatment. Here, we detected MAGE-3 gene expression in cancer cell lines and evaluated recombinant MAGE-3 protein producibility of MAGE plasmid to develope MAGE DNA vaccine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MAGE-3 gene expression of cancer cell lines was evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chanin reaction (RT-PCR). Two kinds of MAGE-3 expressing plasmids were constructed and their MAGE-3 protein producibility was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting using monoclonal anti-MAGE-3 antibody. RESULTS: Among 13 cell lines, SNU484, AMC-HN-3, AMC-HN-4, AMC-HN-7, HeLa, NCI H1703 and HT29 expressed MAGE-3 mRNA. In order to make MAGE plasmid, cDNA that showed 100% DNA homology with MAGE-3 gene was cloned into pcDNA 3 plasmid and pSecTag plasmid. Intracytoplasmic and secretory recombinant MAGE-3 was produced by MAGE-3 containing pcDNA 3 plasmid and pSecTag plasmid, respectively. CONCLUSION: In this study, we showed high expression frequency of MAGE-3 in cancer cell line, and established two kinds of plasmid that produce recombinant MAGE-3 in cell lines. We expect these plasmids will be used in cancer treatment or MAGE-3 function study in future.
Cell Line ; Clone Cells ; DNA* ; DNA, Complementary ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Immunoblotting ; Immunohistochemistry ; Melanoma ; Plasmids* ; RNA, Messenger ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of venous stenting in the treatment of venous obstruction or stenosis of symptomatic deep vein thrombosis (DVT). METHOD: Eight consecutive patients with lower extremity DVT underwent venous stenting. The duration of symptoms were 20 days or less in 6 cases (acute) and above than 20 days in 2 cases (chronic). The cause of DVT was venous thrombophlebitis in 7 cases and extrinsic compression in 1 case. The indication of venous stenting is venous obstruction or stenosis after aspiration thrombectomy and direct catheter thrombolysis. The exclusion criteria were successful treatment of DVT with aspiration thrombectomy, direct catheter thrombolysis and percutaneous angioplasty. The follow-up examination was performed 1 week, 2~3 month interval by Doppler ultrasound, which was evaluated thrombi formation and patency of venous stenting. If the lesion detect in Doppler, second intervention was performed. RESULT: The venous stenting was successfully performed in all cases. Initial aspiration thrombectomy was performed in all cases. The urokinase was performed in 4 cases which was 500,000~750,000 IU (mean, 675,000) during from 2 to 8 hours (mean, 4). After that, the venous stenting was performed at the site of the venous occlusion and stenosis. The direct venography after stenting showed good reconstruction of vein and adequate restoration of venous flow. Seven patients relieved from lower extremity swelling without recurrence. One patient had re-thrombosis after venous stenting, which was successfully treated with percutaneous angioplasty. The follow-up duration was from 3 to 14 months (mean, 8 months). There were no thrombi in follow-up Doppler and normal regular life was resumed without lower extremity swelling. CONCLUSION: Venous stenting in the treatment of deep vein thrombosis is an effective and safe treatment method in the venous obstructive or stenotic remnant lesion despite following aspiration thrombectomy, direct catheter thrombolysis and percutaneous angioplasty.
Angioplasty ; Catheters ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lower Extremity* ; Phlebography ; Recurrence ; Stents* ; Thrombectomy ; Thrombophlebitis ; Thrombosis ; Ultrasonography ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; Veins ; Venous Thrombosis*

No abstract availble.
Aged ; Duodenal Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Esophagoscopy ; Female ; Helicobacter Infections/*diagnosis ; *Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery

Lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia(LIP) is characterized by a massive infiltration of the interstitium of the lung by mature lymphocytes, plasma cells and reticuloendothelial cells. LIP may be associated with autoimmune diseases including Sjogrens syndrome, SLE, myasthenia gravis, pernicious anemia, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and HIV or an EB virus infection. There is a possibility of LIP progressing to a pulmonary or systemic lymphoma. The therapeutic response to corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressive drugs varies. Here we report a case of LIP that was diagnosed by an open lung biopsy and clonality study. The patient was a 36 year-old man without antuimmune disease or HIV infection. He was admitted as a result of severe hypoxemia showing PaO2 of 48.3 mmHg. The patient was treated with corticosteroids after the diagnosis and had fully recovered without a sequalae or relapse.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune ; Anemia, Pernicious ; Anoxia ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; HIV ; HIV Infections ; Humans ; Lip ; Lung ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial* ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphoma ; Myasthenia Gravis ; Plasma Cells ; Recurrence ; Sjogren's Syndrome

Purpose: To assess the predictive factors and describe the imaging features of mediastinal lymph node (MLN) metastases in patients with head and neck cancer. Materials and Methods: We compared the clinical features and disease characteristics (sex, age, site of primary tumor, histologic type, history of prior treatments, TNM stages, and metastasis in cervical LNs) of patients with head and neck cancers between the MLN metastasis and no MLN metastasis groups. We also evaluated the chest CT (distribution and maximum dimension of the largest LN) and PET/CT (maximum standardized uptake value) features of MLN metastases based on the MLN classification. Results: Of the 470 patients with head and neck cancer, 55 (11.7%) had MLN metastasis, involving 150 mediastinal stations. Hypopharynx cancer, recurrent tumor, T4 stage, N2/N3 stages, and M1 stage were found to be significant predicting factors for MLN metastasis. The most common location of MLN metastasis was ipsilateral station 2 (upper paratracheal LNs, 36.4%), followed by ipsilateral station 11 (interlobar LNs, 27.3%) and ipsilateral station 10 (hilar LNs, 25.5%). Conclusion Metastasis to MLNs should be considered in patients with head and neck cancer, especially in cases that are associated with a hypopharyngeal cancer, recurrent tumor, and high TNM stages.

Purpose: To assess the predictive factors and describe the imaging features of mediastinal lymph node (MLN) metastases in patients with head and neck cancer. Materials and Methods: We compared the clinical features and disease characteristics (sex, age, site of primary tumor, histologic type, history of prior treatments, TNM stages, and metastasis in cervical LNs) of patients with head and neck cancers between the MLN metastasis and no MLN metastasis groups. We also evaluated the chest CT (distribution and maximum dimension of the largest LN) and PET/CT (maximum standardized uptake value) features of MLN metastases based on the MLN classification. Results: Of the 470 patients with head and neck cancer, 55 (11.7%) had MLN metastasis, involving 150 mediastinal stations. Hypopharynx cancer, recurrent tumor, T4 stage, N2/N3 stages, and M1 stage were found to be significant predicting factors for MLN metastasis. The most common location of MLN metastasis was ipsilateral station 2 (upper paratracheal LNs, 36.4%), followed by ipsilateral station 11 (interlobar LNs, 27.3%) and ipsilateral station 10 (hilar LNs, 25.5%). Conclusion Metastasis to MLNs should be considered in patients with head and neck cancer, especially in cases that are associated with a hypopharyngeal cancer, recurrent tumor, and high TNM stages.

or =2 mm and <6 mm), partial opacification (membrane thickness>6 mm but not complete), total opacification, and polypoidal mucosal thickening. The diameters of the maxillary sinus ostium on the coronal cross-sectional view were also calculated.RESULTS: Out of 166 maxillary sinuses in 83 patients, 42 (25.3%) maxillary sinuses before surgery and 37 (22.3%) maxillary sinuses after surgery showed abnormalities. A decrease in the diameters of maxillary ostium was observed after surgery (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in mucosal thickness both, preoperatively and postoperatively.CONCLUSION: The orthognathic surgery didn't deteriorate the maxillary sinus abnormaility. Despite the low prevalence of sinus complications in orthognathic surgery, all the patients should be informed of the possibility of sinusitis that could require the surgical intervention before surgery.]]>
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Humans ; Maxillary Sinus ; Orthognathic Surgery ; Osteotomy ; Prevalence ; Sinusitis