Recently MRI has been shown to be a sensitive and specific study for the noninvasive detection of meniscal tears and several MRI findings of bucket-handle meniscal tears have been reported. Therefore, the MRI findings of the menisci proven to be the bucket-handle tear with arthroscopy were evaluated and the typical MRI findings seen to be the bucket-handle meniscal tear of the knee were analysed. 76 patients with proven bucket-handle meniscal tears arthroscopically were reviewed retrospectively, in which MRI was performed in 24 patients. The 3 typical findings of bucket-handle meniscal tears were assessed: double PCL (posterior cruciate ligament) sign, flipped meniscus sign, and fragment in the intercondylar notch. In 245 cases of meniscus tears, bucket-handle meniscal tears were 76 cases (31.0%) with 52 cases at medial meniscus and 24 cases at lateral meniscus. As to clinical and physical findings of the bucket-handle meniscal tears, McMurray test, locking, joint line tenderness and giving way sense were presented in orders. The sites of bucket-handle meniscal tear were medial meniscus in 17 cases and lateral in 7 cases. The double PCL sign was seen in 10 cases (58.8%) of in medial bucket-handle meniscal tears and in 3 cases (42.9%) of 7 lateral bucket-handle meniscal tears. The flipped meniscus sign were seen in 3 cases (17.6%) of medial bucket-handle meniscal tears and in 3 cases (42.9 %) of lateral bucket-handle meniscal tears. Fragments were identified in the intercondylar notch in 8 cases (47.1%) of medial bucket-handle meniscal tears and in 3 cases (42.9%) of lateral bucket-handle meniscal tears. There were 19 cases (79.2%) in which at least one or more typical findings were presented on MR images. The MRI is a sensitive study for detection of bucket-handle meniscal tears but precise interpretation of MRI is needed for diagnosis of bucket-handle tears. In this respect, the above three typical findings are helpful and reproducible for diagnosis of bucket-handle meniscal tears with MR images; double PCL sign, fragment in the intercondylar notch and flipped meniscus sign.
Arthroscopy ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee Joint* ; Knee* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Menisci, Tibial ; Retrospective Studies

Malignancy may cause variable musculoskeletal symptoms which resemble connective tissue disorder. This symptoms as a fine sign of hidden neoplasm can precede the diagnosis of underlying malignancy. But only one case of stomach cancer associated with cancer arthritis was reported in the world. This fact is very interesting in Asia which has high prevalence of stomach cancer. We experienced one case of gastric adenocarcinoma with oligoarthritis involving both knee and right elbow. A 48-year-old man was diagnosed stomach cancer by gastric endoscope and biopsy. After then, he complained pain, tenderness, heating sensation, swelling of both knee and right elbow with high fever. Both knee MRI showed abundant synovial effusion and soft tissue edema. Full dose of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug was not effective to control fever and arthritis. But fever and arthritis were gone after resection of tumor.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Arthritis ; Asia ; Biopsy ; Connective Tissue ; Diagnosis ; Edema ; Elbow ; Endoscopes ; Fever ; Heating ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Knee ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Sensation ; Stomach Neoplasms

OBJECTIVES: This study determined the work schedules of public project workers who work an irregular shift and assessed the effect of these schedules on depression. METHODS: Study subjects were 2934 laborers who are members of seven labor unions. Each was given a questionnaire requesting basic personal information, habits, socioeconomic status, and work schedules. Information gathered on work schedules included daytime, nighttime, and weekend work hours. Depression was evaluated using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), with Laborers who checked "not depressed" and "slightly depressive" categorized to a low-risk group, whereas laborers who checked "depressed" and "severely depressed" were categorized to a high-risk group. We used the Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression to examine associations between work schedules and depression. RESULTS: Laborers on an irregular work schedule averaged 47.8 hours/week and laborers who working over 48 hours/week comprised over half (54.5%) of the total population. Laborers performing night work, Sunday work, and Saturday work more than once in a month made up 25.7%, 30.8% and 33.5% of the examined population, respectively. A high-risk for depression was identified in 10.4% of laborers. Using logistic regression, depression was statistically associated with working : over 10 hours a day (OR=1.63, 95% CI 1.10~2.43), night work (OR=2.20, 95% CI 1.46~3.32), Sunday work (OR=1.81, 95% CI 1.15~2.85) and Saturday work (OR=1.82 95% CI 1.18~2.82). CONCLUSION: A significant number of laborers with irregular working shifts work long hours and on weekends. Depression was significantly associated with this type of work schedule.
Appointments and Schedules ; Depression ; Humans ; Labor Unions ; Logistic Models ; Public Sector ; Questionnaires ; Social Class

BACKGROUNR/AIMS: Heterogeneity of liver cell populations within the hepatic lobules can affect xenobiotic reaction. In this study, we attempt to clarify the stereological distribution of the y-GTP positive foci in hepatic lobule initiated by diethylnitrosamine and promoted by phenobarbital. METHODS/METERIALS: To the five Sprague-Dawley rats, one day after birth, diethylnitrosamine (0.15 pmole/pn) was intraperitoneally injected and by the weaning at four weeks of life, 0.035% phenobarbital in drinking water was fed for four weeks, at which time the rats were sacrified to obtain the livers. Livers were fixed in fresh cold ethanol acetic acid. Ihe 200 cotmecutive tissue sections were stained by histochemistry for y-GIP and countastained with toluidine blue ar HkE. Employing Zeiss microprojector, y-GTP foci wae traced. And then the largest cross-sectian (size class: 65-165 pm in diameter) of 52 y-GTP foci were selected. Using microscopic grid, distances fiom center of y-GlP foci to nearest centtal vein and bile ductule was measured. As a control group, out of 52 random points determined by rareken digit table, the distances were measured by the same romr. RESULT: the diameter Aom the central points of y-GIP positive foci to the neatest bile ductules was measured as 0.234620+0.14899mm (mean+SD) and the diameter from random points to the neatest bile ductules was measured as 0.303080+0.19582mm (mean+SD). Y-GTP positive foci located within 0.3mm diameter fram bile ductules were counted as 73.1% of 52 foci, whereas that of random points were only 55.8%. Accoring to Aequency table analysis by Shapiro-Wilk W test, there was significant difference by W-value (0.812065) and p-value (0.0144866). CONCLUSION: Stereologically, y -GTP positive foci initiated by diethylnitros;unine, promoted by phaxkarbital in neonatal Spague-Dawley rats were non-rarxlanly distributed in peripcetal atea (Rappaport zone I) in hepatic lobule during hepatocarcinogenesis.
Acetic Acid ; Animals ; Bile ; Diethylnitrosamine ; Drinking Water ; Ethanol ; Liver* ; Parturition ; Phenobarbital ; Population Characteristics ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley* ; Tolonium Chloride ; Veins ; Weaning

Most esophageal lipomas are discovered incidentally and are small and asymptomatic. However, large (>4 cm) lipomas may cause various symptoms, including dysphagia, regurgitation, or epigastric discomfort. We present a 45-year-old woman with intermittent sudden choking and globus pharyngeus. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and endoscopic ultrasound revealed an approximately 10.0×1.5 cm pedunculated subepithelial tumor in the upper esophagus, identified as the cause of her symptoms. A thoracic computed tomography scan revealed a fat attenuated longitudinal mass along the upper esophagus, suggestive of a lipoma. Endoscopic resection of the lesion was performed with a detachable snare to relieve her symptoms, and the pathologic findings were consistent with a lipoma.
Airway Obstruction* ; Deglutition Disorders ; Endoscopy ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Esophagus ; Female ; Humans ; Lipoma* ; Middle Aged ; SNARE Proteins ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: The purpose of this report is to clarify the clinicopathologic features, survival rates and prognostic factors of gastric cancers in young age group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 133 patients with gastric cancer under 30 years of age who underwent surgery from January 1986 to December 1995 at the Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital. We have analyzed the sex, age, Borrmann type, histologic differentiation, Lauren classification, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, location of tumor, size of tumor, curability and extent of operation. The 5 year survival rates and prognostic factors were also evaluated. The Kaplan-Meier method, Log-Rank test and Cox hazards proportional mode were used for the statistical analyses. RESULTS: The overall 5 year survival rate was 55.3% in all 133 patients in contrast to 67.4% in 108 patients who underwent gastric resections. Significant prognostic factors were Borrmann type, histologic differentiation, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, location of tumor, size of tumor, curability and extent of operation in univariate analysis. Lymph node metastasis was the only significant independent prognostic factor in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: In our study, the 5 year survival rate in young age group was comparable to that of prevalent age group. This is attributed to the relatively higher incidence of early gastric cancer and more frequent curative resections in this young age group.
Classification ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Seoul ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Survival Rate*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatocytes on the hepatic lobule mipate from portal zone to centrilobular mea as the DNA synthesis within it. And also, the xenobiotic reactions reveal characteristic differences associated with zone specific metabolism in the liver acinus. In this study, the zonal distribution of ethylnitrosourea (ENU)-induced hepatic precancerous lesion was stereologically investigated. METHODS: Nine B6C3F1 mices were given I.p. injection of ENU (60 ug/pn body weight) when the pups were 15 days old prior to sacrifices at 8 weeks of life. All the 150 consecutive sections, 3 p m in thickness, were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and identified the basophilic precancerous lesions with 80-165 p m diameter in equatorial plane by the Zeiss microprojector. And then the distances from the center of selected foci to terminal hepatic vein or portal vein branches were estimated under the microscopic fields. As a control group, the same estimations were performed from the random points by the appointments of random digit table. RESULTS: Mean distance between ENU-induced 52 hepatocellular foci and the nearest terminal hepytic vein was 181.15+112.39 p m (Mean+ SD), but that of randomly selected 104 points was 291.73+157.98pm (Mean+5D) (Students t-test, p<0.0005). Substantially, 52.7% of ENU-induced 52 hepatocellular foci were within 300 p m from the terminal hepatic vein, but randomly selected 104 points were only 50.9% (Shapiro Wilk W test, w=0.819857, p=0.048038). Mean distance from ENU-induced 52 foci to portal vein was 398.85+149.98pm (Mean+SD), but that from the randomly selected 104 points was 315.87+145.79 pm (Mean+SD)(Students t-test, p<0.0005). CONCLUSION: Stereologically, ENU-induced mice liver cell foci distribute non-randomly to Zone III, centrilobular zone of mouse hepatic acini where promote invasion toward terminal hepatic veins.
Animals ; Appointments and Schedules ; Basophils ; Cholestasis ; DNA ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Ethylnitrosourea ; Fluconazole ; Hematoxylin ; Hepatic Veins ; Hepatocytes ; Liver ; Metabolism ; Mice* ; Portal Vein ; Veins

Nitric oxide (NO) has been considered as an important mediator in inflammatory phases and in loss of cartilage. In inflammatory arthritis, NO levels are correlated with disease activity and articular cartilage is able to produce large amounts of NO with the appropriate inducing factor such as cytokines. The old animals are shown to have a greater sensitivity to NO than young animals. This study evaluated the basal production of NO in normal and OA-affected chondroyctes from young and old patients and compared the levels of NO formation in response to IL-1beta. The results showed that the basal levels were 7-fold higher in old chondrocytes than those of young cells. However, the IL-1beta induced NO production was seen to decrease with age. Aminoguianidine (AG), a competitive inhibitor of iNOS, inhibited NO formation completely in both chondrocytes from young and old individuals. However, at the same concentration of AG it caused partial inhibition of NO and iNOS formation in chondrocytes from OA-affected individuals. In addition, although the IL-1beta induced NO production was much lesser than that of young chondrocytes, the inhibition of collagen production by IL-1beta was prominent in old chondrocytes and OA-affected chondrocytes. These results suggest that age-related differences in the regulation of NO production and collagen production, which may affect the ageing cells and osteoarthritic changes in some way.
Aging/*physiology ; Cartilage, Articular/*physiopathology ; Cells, Cultured ; Chondrocytes/*metabolism ; Collagen Type II/metabolism ; Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology ; Guanidines/pharmacology ; Human ; Interleukin-1/pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide/*biosynthesis ; Osteoarthritis/*metabolism

Nitric oxide (NO) has been considered as an important mediator in inflammatory phases and in loss of cartilage. In inflammatory arthritis, NO levels are correlated with disease activity and articular cartilage is able to produce large amounts of NO with the appropriate inducing factor such as cytokines. The old animals are shown to have a greater sensitivity to NO than young animals. This study evaluated the basal production of NO in normal and OA-affected chondroyctes from young and old patients and compared the levels of NO formation in response to IL-1beta. The results showed that the basal levels were 7-fold higher in old chondrocytes than those of young cells. However, the IL-1beta induced NO production was seen to decrease with age. Aminoguianidine (AG), a competitive inhibitor of iNOS, inhibited NO formation completely in both chondrocytes from young and old individuals. However, at the same concentration of AG it caused partial inhibition of NO and iNOS formation in chondrocytes from OA-affected individuals. In addition, although the IL-1beta induced NO production was much lesser than that of young chondrocytes, the inhibition of collagen production by IL-1beta was prominent in old chondrocytes and OA-affected chondrocytes. These results suggest that age-related differences in the regulation of NO production and collagen production, which may affect the ageing cells and osteoarthritic changes in some way.
Aging/*physiology ; Cartilage, Articular/*physiopathology ; Cells, Cultured ; Chondrocytes/*metabolism ; Collagen Type II/metabolism ; Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology ; Guanidines/pharmacology ; Human ; Interleukin-1/pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide/*biosynthesis ; Osteoarthritis/*metabolism

BACKGROUND/AIMS: As one of biological modifiers of immune reaction, thymomodulin is known to be peptide derivatives of thyrnic acid. Lysate, and thymomodulin can stimulate antibody formations by increasmg the functions of B and T tymphocytes. Furthermore, GM-CSF and TNF can be released by thymomodulin resulting in relief from bone marrow suppression. And these actions of thymomodulin affer a new therapeutic modality in chronic diseases ot the liver as well as chronic hronchitis. Although interferons are frequently under trials for chronic viral hepatitis B. anothersome of side etTec ts and cost effectiveness is often refractory to be used. Herein, this study was intended to estimate the effectiveness and side effects of per oral thymomodulin. METHODS: Forty one patients with chronic viral hepatitis showing positivity of HBsAg over 6 months were treated with per oral thymomodulin (15mlAmg/ml, h vice daily, over 6 months), Clinical data of preand post-trial states were prospectively investigated. RESULTS: As a result, negative conversion of HBV DNA izvealed 20.6% out ol 34 patients showed HBsAg positivity. HBeAg was isappeared in 10.4 % among the 29 cases. Only two cases were shown the clearance of HBsAg. However. These data are statistically insignificant in comparison to the control group (p>0.05, chi-square test). The desirable effects were noticed as disappearance of acne in 5 cases, and amelioration of menstrual abnormalities in 3 cases. Undesirable side effects were only mild nausea in 3 cases, and indigestion in 2 cases. CONCLUSIONS: On thc basis of these data, it is suggested that oral thymomodulin is an easy and safe therapeutic approach in chronic viral hepatitis B but remains to be heralded by long-term clinical trials.
Acne Vulgaris ; Bone Marrow ; Chronic Disease ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; DNA ; Dronabinol ; Dyspepsia ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Interferons ; Liver ; Nausea ; Prospective Studies