To our knowledge, MR findings of neuroshistosomiasis has not been reported in Korea. A case of neuroshistosomiasis involving cerebellum and presumably spinal cord is reported. A 40 year old man who had lived in Middle East complained of low back pain and progressive paraparesis for 6 months, and subsequently developed headache, dizziness and diplopia. On cervical spine MRI, there was diffuse enlargement of cervical cord with increased signal intensity on T2 weighted image and nodular heterogenous enhancement after Gd-DTP^ administration. Brain MR imaging obtained 4 months later showed ill-defined, irregularly enhancing heterogenous mass in cerebellar vermis which was proved to be a granulomatous lesion containing shistosomiasis mansoni ova.
Adult ; Brain ; Cerebellum ; Diplopia ; Dizziness ; Granuloma* ; Headache ; Humans ; Korea ; Low Back Pain ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Middle East ; Myelitis, Transverse* ; Neuroschistosomiasis* ; Ovum ; Paraparesis ; Spinal Cord ; Spine

No abstract available.

A simple definition of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is necessary to establish clinical practical guidelines. The Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (K/DOQI) defined CKD as kidney damage or a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 for 3 months or more, irrespective of cause. In addition, the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcome (KDIGO), provided evidence-based understanding of CKD and established global consensus while identifying a collaborative research agenda and plan for the practical definition and classification of CKD. To identify CKD, estimation of the GFR from the serum creatinine and the presence of albuminuria are essential. The GFR estimation needs the application of appropriate equations, such as the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study equation or the Cockcroft-Gault formula, and calibration of the serum creatinine. Albuminuria can be detected using an albumin-to-creatinine ratio >30 mg/g in two of three spot urine collections. With the CKD guidelines of K/DOQI and KDIGO, the diagnosis and early detection of CKD, which may need a Korean estimation equation, are improving and should help to reduce the prevalence and incidence of end-stage renal disease in Korea.
Albuminuria ; Calibration ; Consensus ; Creatinine ; Diet ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Incidence ; Kidney ; Kidney Diseases ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Prevalence ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Urine Specimen Collection

PURPOSE: This study was done to identify levels of physical fitness in student nurses and to ascertain the relationship among the different aspects of physical fitness of strength, power, muscle endurance, agility, balance and flexibility. METHOD: The participants were 266 students selected from one college of nursing. From May 1 to July 31 in 2003, physical constitution, muscle strength (grip strength, back strength), power (standing long jump), muscle endurance (sit-ups), agility (whole body reaction time-light, sound), balance (close-eyes foot-balance), and flexibility (sitting trunk flexion) were measured. RESULT: The mean(standard deviation) for grip strength was 22.59(3.93) kg., for back strength, 48.52(12.85) kg., for standing long jump, 135.29(20.54) m., for sit-up's, 23.66(9.35) per minute, whole body reaction time (light), 0.43(0.11) sec, whole body reaction time (sound), 0.50(0.16) sec, close-eyes foot-balance, 33.35(38.67) sec, and sitting trunk flexion 34.72(9.37) cm. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the physical fitness of student nurses is very low compared to the results in a report from the Korea Sports Science Institute. It is necessary to include exercise programs for student nurses in order to improve their physical fitness.
Constitution and Bylaws ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Korea ; Muscle Strength ; Nursing ; Physical Fitness* ; Pliability ; Reaction Time ; Sports ; Students, Nursing

No abstract available.
Adenoids* ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic* ; Diagnosis*

Matrix producing carcinoma of the breast is a variant of heterologous metaplastic carcinoma which is defined as "overt carcinoma with direct transition to a cartilagenous and/or osseous stromal matrix without an intervening spindle cell zone or osteoclastic cells". This tumor is very rare, occuring in less than 0.2% of total breast carcinoma, but the prognosis is better than other metaplastic carcinoma. We experienced a case of fine needle aspiration(FNA) cytologic finding of matrix producing carcinoma of the breast. A 75-year old woman, who presented a right huge breast mass(9x8cm) during 10months, was examined. Mammography reveals right lateral mass with even density without calcification. Breast ultrasonography shows multifocal hypoechogenic cystic change in the huge mass, suggesting resolving hematoma or carcinoma or sarcoma with necrosis. On cytologic finding of FNA, myxoid matrix was the dominant feature and the rest of the material was composed of scanty isolated atypical cells with large irregular nuclei. The histologic finding was moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma with abundant cartilagenous matrix and focal squamous metaplasia.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Female ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Mammography ; Metaplasia ; Necrosis ; Needles ; Osteoclasts ; Prognosis ; Sarcoma ; Ultrasonography, Mammary

No abstract available.
Appendicitis* ; Appendix ; Immunoglobulins*

PURPOSE: While treating 14 phenylketonuria(PKU) patients, we evaluated bone density, changes in bone age, andbony changes such as spiculation or metaphyseal widening. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 14 PKU patients agedbetween 1 month and 14 years(mean, 6.4 years) were under dietary treatment. Eight and eleven patients underwentradiography of the left hand and wrist and bone densitometry(BMD) of the lumbar spine, respectively. The resultswere reviewed with regard to abnormal bony changes, delayed bone age, and osteopenia. Patients were assigned toeither the early or late treatment group, depending on whether or not dietary therapy was started before 3 monthsof age. Those in whom a blood phenylalanine level of under 10 mg/dl was maintained were assigned to the 'goodcontrol' group; others were classified as 'variable control'. The findings of radiographs of the left hand andlumbar BMD were evaluated in relation to the time of dietary therapy, and adequacy of treatment. RESULTS: Onlumbar BMD, four of 11 patients (36%) showed reduced bone density of more than 1 S.D. None of the 11 who underwentradiography of the left hand showed bony abnormalities such as spiculation or metaphyseal widening. In four of the11, bone age was less than chronological age by at least one year. According to Fisher's exact test there was norelation between delayed bone age , osteoporosis and the time and adequacy of dietary therapy (p >0.05). CONCLUSION: None of the 14 PKU patients who underwent dietary therapy had bony abnormalities such as spiculationor metaphyseal widening. In four of the 11, bone age was at least one year less than chronological age, and onlumbar BMD, osteoporosis was seen. For the evaluation of bone change in PKU patients, plain radiography and BMDare thus complementary.
Bone Density ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Hand ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Osteoporosis ; Phenylalanine ; Phenylketonurias* ; Radiography ; Spine ; Wrist

Anterior cervical fusion without internal fixation destabilizes an already unstable spine and can result in tenuous bone graft stability and potential for incorporation. Anterior fusion of cervical spine with screw-plates is gaining in popularity in the management of anterior cervical spine instability. Eighty six cases that underwent anterior fusion with or without internal fixation and autogenous iliac bone graft were compared and analyzed. The pathologies included 40 cases of cervical disc disease, 43 of cervical spondylosis and 3 of ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament. Changes in the alignment of the total cervical spine and of the fused segment were evaluated in both groups. Dislodgement of the grafted bone, which was observed in 2 of 11 cases in the nonplate group, was not seen in the plate group. Hardware failure was developed in 3 of 24 cases in the bicortical group, but not in 51 cases in the unicortical group. Alignment of the cervical spine was corrected and relatively well manintained in the plate group compared with the nonplate group. We concluded that a unicortical screw fixation was superior than a bicortical screw and a fusion without plating system could not keep a cervical lordotic curve in the treatment of the degenerative cervical disease.
Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament ; Pathology ; Spine* ; Spondylosis ; Transplants

PURPOSE: Renal scar or reflux nephropathy, known as a major cause of end-stage renal failure and hypertension in children and young adults, is frequently detected in pediatric urinary tract infection(UTI) patients at their first infections. So early and accurate diagnosis, and follow up of renal scar are very important. We performed this study to recognize the importance of radiologic examinations for detection of renal scar and vesicoureteral reflux(VUR) in pediatric UTI patients at their first attacks, and to compare the accuracy and usefulness of DMSA renal scan with renal ultrasonography and IVP in early detection and follow up of renal scar. We also wanted to find the association of renal scar with VUR detected by VCUG, and increased C-reactive protein(CRP) level. METHODS: We studied on 41 pediatric UTI patients without past medical history of UTI, who were admitted to the Department of Pediatics, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital from May 1993 to August 1995. On admission a blood sample was taken for the determination of CRP. Renal ultrasonography and DMSA renal scan were performed within five days after admission. Eight weeks later, with repeated studies of renal ultrasonography and DMSA renal scan, IVP and VCUG were also performed for all patients. RESULTS: 1) The incidence of UTI was most prevalent in infancy grou(56%). The ratio of male to female patients was 4.8:1 under the age of one year, and 1:2 over the age of one year. 2) At admission, 21 of 41 patients(51%) showed renal scars in the DMSA renal scans. At follow up of DMSA renal scans, 8 weaks later, 7 of 21 initially abnormal cases(33%) became normal while 14 cases(67%) continued to show renal scars. Twenty initially normal cases continued to show normal DMSA renal scans at follow up. 3) Renal ultrasonography showed 10 abnormal cases among 41 cases(24%) at admission, and 7 abnormal cases(17%) at follow up. IVP showed 13 abnormal cases among 41 cases(32%). 4) For detection of renal scar, sensitivity and specificity of DMSA renal scan were 95% and 100%, sensitivity and specificity of renal ultrasonography were 45% and 90%, and sensitivity and specificity of IVP were 59% and 100% retrospectively. 5) VCUG showed reflux in 13 patients among 41 patients(32%). Among 20 patients with normal DMSA renal scan, only two patients(10%) showed VUR in VCUG, and they were classified as grade I and II VUR by International Reflux Study Committee classifications. Among 21 patients with abnormal by DMSA renal scan, 11 patients(52%) showed VUR in VCUG, of whom 9 patients were classified as severe reflux above grade III. 6) The mean CRP level in the patients with normal DMSA renal scan was 9.6mg/L, significantly lower than mean CRP level of patients with abnormal DMSA renal scan which was 60.57mg/L(p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: For early detection of renal scars and reflux nephropathy, appropriate radiologic investigations including DMSA renal scan and VCUG should be done to all pediatric UTI patients at their first attacks. DMSA renal scan seemed to be better radiologic method than renal ultrasonography and IVP in early detection of renal scar and have association with VUR. We also found that blood CRP level is easy and useful test for early suspection of upper UTI.
C-Reactive Protein* ; Child ; Cicatrix ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Succimer* ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract* ; Young Adult