Adolescence is the period in which physical, mental and social maturation occurs and it is an important transit stage, changing from childhood to adulthood. This is a period in which important changes occur physically such as rapid growth in height and weight gain but significant differences in growth may occur for the same age. Therfore, the degree of sexual maturation may be an important indicator in evaluating growth in adolescence. Six thousand five hundred and eighty six male and female students from grade 4 to senior high from Seoul, district town and countryside were evaluated for sexual maturity using Tanner staging, weight, height and body mass index and compared for growth. There was a rapid growth in height of 6.7cm in boys between the ages of 11 and 14 years and 6.3 cm in height for girls between the ages of 10 and 12 years, showing earlier growth in height for girls. Growth in height according to sexual maturation showed the greatest growth during stages 2~3 for boys and girls. Boys grew an average of 18.94 cm and girls an average of 18.03 cm in height during the whole sexual maturation period. There was an increase of 5.5 kg in weight for boys during the same age as for growth in height, that is between 11 and 14 years of age. In girls, an average weight gain of 5.1 kg occurred between 11 and 13 years of age, slightly later than that of growth in height. Rapid gain in weight occurred during Tanner stages 2~3 for girls. Total gain of 20.70 kg for boys occurred during the whole sexual maturation period while girls gained total 19.73 kg. Body mass index increased gradually during the whole adolescent period. It was greater in boys during the ages of 9 and 12 years and greater in girls the age of 13 years and again in boys after 17 years of age. During the whole maturation period, boys gained 3.24 and girls, 4.05 of body mass index showing more gain in girls. Height, weight and body mass index showed normal variations during the sexual maturation index showed normal variations during the sexual maturation period and the results may bring an increased understanding that adolescent physical growth was closely related to sexual maturation.
Adolescent* ; Body Mass Index ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Seoul ; Sexual Maturation* ; Weight Gain

A case of multiple skeletal tuberculosis with spina ventosa proved by radiological and pathologicaI methods in 3 year old Korean male child is reported. It was treated with antituberculous chemotherapy (triple method of PAS, INAH, streptomycin). At follow up check within 2 years, we obtained good healing process without other complication.
Child ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Methods ; Tuberculosis

BACKGROUND: Although anticardiolipin antibody(aCL)-related stroke is far more frequently identified in younger populations, the role of aCL in the pathogenesis of cerebral infarction may be important also in the old, stroke-prone population. We studied the clinical profiles of aCL- related stroke in elderly patient to look at its role on the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke. METHODS: We analyzed unselected patients with acute ischemic stroke and age matched controls for the presence of aCL, prospectively. Also, we studied the characteristics of these patients based on the conventional risk factors and other clinical, laboratory and radiological features in them. RESULTS: aCL was positive 30 (14.7%) of 203 stroke patients, but 11 (6.1%) in 193 control patients. The proportion of patients having more than one of the risk factors was significantly greater in aCL-positive (24/30, 80.0%) than in aCL-negative patients (100/173, 57.8%). The incidence of aCL positivity was significantly greater in patients having one or more risk factors (24/124, 19.3%) than in patients not having any of the risks (6/79, 7.6%). Two of the patients had prolonged aPTT, and only one had a lupus anticoagulant. A positive ANA and false-positive VDRL were not found in our patients. Radiological findings confer subcortical infarction. CONCLUSION: The elevated aCL are a risk marker for stroke also in the elderly population. Our aCL-positive patients generally had multiple risk factors for stroke and are associated with subcortical infarctions, contrary to previous studies. The role of aCL as a disease marker for ischemic stroke in elderly patients warrants further investigations.
Aged* ; Antibodies, Anticardiolipin* ; Cerebral Infarction ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stroke*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance(MR) imaging in the differentiation of benign and malignant soft tissue masses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR examination of 47 patients with pathologically proven soft tissue masses were reviewed. This series included 19 malignant and 28 benign masses of upper and lower extremities, body, and neck. Lesions were evaluated for their margin, signal intensity and homogeneity, pattern and degree of enhancement, involvement of the adjacent tissue, and degree of surrounding edema. RESULTS: Sixteen of benign lesions(57.1%) had well-defined and smooth margin. The tumor margin was irregular in nine lesions(47.4%), however, smooth margin was noted in five cases(26.3%) of malignant lesions. On T2-weighted images, signal inhomogeneity was noted in 84% of malignant lesions and 32% of benign lesions. On Gd-DTPA enhancement study, all malignant lesions(n=18) showed enhancement and 89% showed heterogeneously enhancing pattern. Neurovascular involvement was observed more often in malignancy(n=7) compared to benign lesion(n=1). Direct invasion of the adjacent bone was noted only in malignant lesions(n=3). Surrounding edema was revealed in two benign and 11 malignant lesions. CONCLUSION: MR imaging appears useful for differentiating malignant and benign lesions by identifying tumor margin, signal homogeneity of tumor, pattern and degree of enhancement, involvement of adjacent tissue, and surrounding edema. The nature of the lesion can be determined in the majority of cases although no unique criterion to differentiate benignancy and malignancy is identified.
Edema ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neck

No abstract available.
Fascia* ; Foot* ; Free Tissue Flaps* ; Hand* ; Rabeprazole*

No abstract available.
Arm* ; Arthrodesis* ; Contracture* ; Free Tissue Flaps*

BACKGROUND: Despite recent advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology based on the clinical symptomatology, neurobiology, and electrophysiology, little is known about the precise function the basal ganglia play in the control of movement. But rapid progress in computational neuroscience has shown networks of neural-like elements can accomplish impressive cognitive feats. We intend to make neural network model that may theoretically explain the basal ganglia function. METHODS: We used an approach to studying the function of neural system that is based on a class of computer models known as parallel distributed processors (PDP). RESULTS: We made a theoretical model that showed increased reaction time and decreased movement velocity as the amount of dopamine decreased. And the lesion studies of substantia nigra also showed increased reaction time as in bradykinesia. CONCLUSIONS: There were many problems to be solved for explaining the function of striato-pallidal and striato-pallidal-subthalamic-pallidal circuits. But we propose the neural network model would be an important tool, which may help to bridge the gap between theoretical studies on the function of the brain and experimental work on the neurobiology of the brain.
Basal Ganglia ; Brain ; Computer Simulation ; Dopamine ; Electrophysiology ; Hypokinesia ; Models, Theoretical ; Neural Networks (Computer)* ; Neurobiology ; Neurosciences ; Parkinson Disease ; Reaction Time ; Substantia Nigra

The hepatopulmonary syndrome is defined as the triad of liver disease, an increased alveolar-arterial gradient while breathing room air, and evidence of intrapulmonary dilatation. Other cardiopulmonary abnormalities(such as pleural effusion or decreased lung volumes) are common and may coexist in patients with the hepatopulmonary syndrome. An abnormal dilatation of intrapulmonary capillaries is evidenced by Tc 99m-MAA perfusion scan, contrast-enhanced echocardiography, and pulmonary angiography. We have experienced a case of hepatopulmonary syndrome in a fi7 year old woman with liver cirrhosis who complained of severe dyspnea and cyanosis. Her arterial blood gas analysis (ABGA) showed severe hypoxemia(PaO2 59mmHg), suggesting the hepatopulmonary syndrome, which was confirmed with the contrast-enhanced echocardiography. It showed delayc4 opacification of left side chambers during agitated saline injection', thus, intrapulmonary shunt was confirmed. So we report a case of hepatopulmonary syndrome with a rewiew of literature.
Angiography ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Capillaries ; Cyanosis ; Dihydroergotamine ; Dilatation ; Dyspnea ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Hepatopulmonary Syndrome* ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver Diseases ; Liver* ; Lung ; Perfusion ; Pleural Effusion ; Respiration

Primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) is a rare upper motor neuron disease characterized by selective degeneration of corticospinal and corticobulbar tracts. It is important to rule out other diseases presenting as progressive spastic paraparesis, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Though that is not so difficult as the development of imaging technique and neurophysiological tool, if one shows slow progressive spastic paraparesis clinically, and there is no abnormal CSF or EMG findings, it is not easy to differentiate between primary progressive MS and PLS. In fact, PLS is so rare that it has long been debated whether PLS is a disease entity or syndrome or a nothing. But we present a PLS patient whose brain MRI shows diffuse signal change along the bilateral corticospinal tracts and the hypoperfusion of frontal motor cortex is proved by brain SPECT.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ; Brain ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Motor Cortex ; Motor Neuron Disease* ; Multiple Sclerosis ; Paraparesis, Spastic ; Pyramidal Tracts ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

BACKGROUND: A retrospectiye study was done for understanding morbidity and mortality after major lung resection. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From June 1994 to August 1998, 203 patients received major lung resections for various causes. There were 142 males and 62 females with a mean age of 47.5 years. Initial complains were cough in 47.8%, sputum in 33.0%, hemoptysis or blood-tinged sputum in 23.2%, dyspnea in 18.2%, chest pain in 15.3%, weight loss in 10.8%, fever and chill in 4.9%. There were no complaints in 5.9% of the total patients. The underlying diseases were lung tumor(102 cases/50.2%), bronchectasis(28 cases/13.8%), aspergillosis(24 cases/1.8%), tuberculosis(20 cases/9.9%) and others (29 cases/66.5%) and pneumonectomy(68 cases/33.5%). The postoperative complications were classified as : empyema, BPF, respiratory problem, persistent air leakage over 7 days, arrhythmia, ventilator applied over 24 hours, bleeding, wound infection and chylothorax. The postlobectomy complications were revealed as follow: empyema(3.7%), BPF(2.2%), respiratory problem(5.2%), persistent air leakage over 7days(8.9%), arrhythmia(2.2%), ventilator applied over 24 hours(2.2%), bleeding(1.5%), wound infection(2.9%), chylothorax(0.7%). The postpneumonectomy complications were revealed as follow : empyema(5.9%), BPF (5.9%), respiratory problem(17.6%), persistent air leakage over 7days(0%), arrhythmia(5.4%), ventialtor apply over 24 hours(7.4%), bleeding (7.4%), wound infection(2.9%) and chylothorax(1.5%). Reoperation was done in 8 cases (4.0%). There were 5.8% operative mortalities in pneumonectomy and 0.7% in lobectomy.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Chest Pain ; Chylothorax ; Cough ; Dyspnea ; Empyema ; Female ; Fever ; Hemoptysis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Lung* ; Male ; Mortality* ; Pneumonectomy ; Postoperative Complications ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies* ; Sputum ; Ventilators, Mechanical ; Weight Loss ; Wound Infection ; Wounds and Injuries