No abstract available.
Subcutaneous Tissue*

The purposes of this study were to test the negative association between schizophrenia and rheumatoid arthritis(RA) and to clarify the role of prolactin and estrogen as protective factors in this association. The author compared the prevalence rate of RA between 561 patients with schizophrenia and 222 patients with mood disorder. For investigating the role of estrogen and prolactin, the author checked the plasma prolactin and estradiol level in 80 patients with paranoid schizophrenia and 77 patients with RA. The results were as follows. 1) Epidemiological data The prevalence rate of RA in the schizophrenic group was 0/561 and that of RA in the mood disorder group was 2/222. To compare these results between two groups, the author applied the Binomial test using the average prevalence rate of RA(0.8%) in the general population as a reference rate. The prevalence rate of RA in the schizophrenic group was significantly lower than that of RA in the general population. However, the prevalence rate of RA in the mood disorder group was not significantly different to that of RA in the general population. 2) Comparison of plasma prolactin and estradiol level between two groups. The plasma level of prolactin in the schizophrenic group was significantly higher than that of prolactin in th RA group(p=0.000). However, the plasma level of estradiol in the schizophrenic group was significantly lower than that of estradiol in the RA group(p=0.017). These results were not consistent across gender. To contrast with the results in the female group, which were consistent with the results in the total subjects, for the male group, the plasma levels of prolactin and estradiol in the schizophrenic group were significantly higher than those of prolactin and estradiol in th RA group. These results support the results of previous studies which confirm the negative association between schizophrenia and RA. These results also suggest that the elevation of plasma prolactin level in the patient with schizophrenia has a antirheumatic effect while the elevation of plasma estradiol level in the patients with RA has a anti-schizophrenic effect, and that these effects act as a possible mechanism in the negative association between two disorders. However, these results suggest that this association is specific to female patients.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Epidemiology* ; Estradiol ; Estrogens* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mood Disorders ; Plasma ; Prevalence ; Prolactin* ; Schizophrenia* ; Schizophrenia, Paranoid

Recently, the Supracondyle fracture of the femur is so severe and comminuted that it is difficult to treat open reduction and rigid fixation sufficiently due to violent traffic accident and external forces. The associated injuries are accompanied variously. So compliactions of the supracondyle fractures 'including joint.. stiffness, delayed union, infection are serious. However development of internal implant and operation skill result in relatively satisfactory function than conservative management. The authors reviewed. 20 cases of the supracondyle fracture of the femur treated at Yeungnam University Hospital from 1989. Dec. To 1992. Jan. The results were as follows 1. The male was common(70%). The 2nd-4th decade was most(87%). 2. The most common cause of injuries was traffic accident. The rate of open fracture was 35%, most of it was traffic accident. 3. According to the ASIF group classification, 4 cases were type A, 4 in type B, 12 in type C (10 in type C2&C3). 4. Accompanied injuries included multiple fractures in 9 cases and femoral artery injury in 1 case. 5. Among the 20 cases, conservative treatment was done in 5 cases and operative treatment was done in 15 cases. 6. Functional results (by Schatzker criteria) were as follows. The satisfactory results were achieved in 40% of cases in consevative treatment and 67 in operative treatment. 7. The average time of partial weight bearing was 15 weeks. 8. Complications were knee stiffness in 6 cases and 4 in delayed union.
Accidents, Traffic ; Classification ; Femoral Artery ; Femur* ; Fractures, Open ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Male ; Weight-Bearing

No abstract available.
Acceleration* ; Lasers, Semiconductor* ; Wound Healing* ; Wounds and Injuries*

There have been many debates concerning operative decompression of treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures with retropulsed bone fragment. From March 1988 to February 1992, authors treated thirty-three thoracolumbar burst fractures by using transpedicular screw fixation and posterior fusion via the posterior approach. We attempted to reduce retropulsed fragment by ligamentotaxis alone and not to do posterolateral nor anterior decompression. After the reduction of fractured spine by posterior instrumentation, we tried to determine the efficiency of reduction of the retropulsed fragment by ligamentaxis along. As a method, we compared the change of anteroposterior, transverse to diameter and area of spinal canal of fractured spine between preoperative and the postoperative situation. The results were as follows; 1. The mean anteroposterior and transverse diameter of the spinal canal on computed tomogram film was 10.1mm & 21.8mm preoperatively & 12.4mm & 23.2mm postoperatively, showing an increase. 2. The area of spinal canal of involved spine on CT film was evaluated preoperatively & post-operatively, the mean spinal canal invasion rate decreased from 36.3% preoperatively to 14.3% postoperatively. 3. The degree of reduction of middle height on plain x-ray and reduction of spinal canal invasion on computed tomogram were statistically correlated(p < 0.01). 4. There was no correlation between the degree of canal narrowing and degree of neurologic impairment. also, there was no correlation between the reduction of retropulsed fragments and subsequent neurologic impairment. 5. There was the relatively satisfactory enlargement of the spinal canal on computed tomogram at the follow-up So we suggest that it is possible to get enough decompression through reduction of retropulsed fragment by ligamen to taxis alone without posterolateral decompression.
Decompression ; Follow-Up Studies ; Methods ; Spinal Canal ; Spine

The radial head forms articulation with radial head fossa of proximal ulna and capitellum, and it ditectly contributes pronation and supination of forearm and also flexion and extension of elbow. There were debates in treatment of radial head fracture especially in displaced or communited fracture. From January 1982 to February 1992, we experienced and analysed 29 cases of radial head fracture. They were treated with conservative treatment or operative treatment according to type The results were as follows; 1. We could get better results with open reduction and internal fixation with miniscrew than radial head excision in type 11 radial head fracture. 2. There were unfavorable results of valgus instability, weakness in all cases of radial head excision.
Elbow ; Forearm ; Head ; Pronation ; Supination ; Ulna

We present the first report of fetal alcohol effect in a 12 year-old child in Korea. The mother had consumed 162 g of alcohol per week continuously during pregnancy. His first febrile seizure occurred before he was 1 year old, and became more frequent 2 years later. He started showing signs of right paraplegia when he was 3.5 years old and brain MRI revealed periventricular leucomalacia near the left ventricle. He was microcephalic and his growth was retarded. He was irritable, impatient, impulsive, and inattentive, and showed disinterest in school activities and aggressive and dangerous behavior. After the diagnosis of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder was made, psychopharmacological treatment and family support was initiated. After 10 months, he still had intermittent ideas of reference, although the aggressive behavior, inattentiveness, and impulsivity had improved. Using this case study, we stress the importance of maternal alcohol history in patients with these characteristics.
Brain ; Child ; Dangerous Behavior ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Leukomalacia, Periventricular ; Mothers ; Paraplegia ; Pregnancy ; Seizures ; Seizures, Febrile

No abstract available.
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens* ; Humans ; Prevalence*

Spinal epidural hematoma (SEH) causing acute myelopathy is rare. The usual clinical presentation of a SEH is sudden severe neck or back pain that progresses toward paraparesis or quadriparesis, depending on the level of the lesion. Recent studies have shown that early decompressive surgery is very important for patient's recovery. We experienced five patients of cervico-thoracic epidural hematomas associated with neurologic deficits that were treated successfully with surgical intervention.
Back Pain ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Neck ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Paraparesis ; Quadriplegia ; Spinal Cord Diseases

In modem medical industries as in others, it has been emphasized by many experts such as Dr. Mayer and Dr. Donabedean that there should be quality assurance activities applying statistical knowledges in the processes of medical management and medical staff themselves for the better medical care and customer satisfaction. Three of our quality assurance programs for the purpose of shortening the treatment time In the department of emergency medicine in Keimyung University, Dong-San Medical Center had been carried out during the period of June 94 through December 95. Our methodology was mainly the process emphasized ; finding the causes of delaying factors in various processes related to the works of nurses, doctors, laboratory services, radiology services etc. in the emergency room, holding various meetings among the related groups with genuine discussions, notifying the new results in each step, encouraging the positive ones and also applying the new leadership technics. During the period of June 94 through December 95(for 1.5 years), the average E.R. patient treatment time from registrations to dispositions had been reduced by about 2 hours (from 5 hours 3 minutes to 2 hours 5 minutes) and its variations among the different specialities had been narrowed down to significant degree (p<0.05) revealing the preprogram base line standard deviation of 2.43 to 1.28 in post program through continuous quality assurance programs. It was also noted that the successful results of Q/A program have been closely related to the fact that the process should be designed and redesigned repeatly as needed and that all the participants related were actively involved in the planning and redesigning processes.
Emergency Medicine ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Leadership ; Medical Staff ; Modems