No abstract available.
Osteolysis*

Intracranial aspergillosis is rare and often fatal, and the brain is the third most frequent origine involved, precede by the lung and the gastrointestinal tract. Two routes of infection are considered important for infection of the central nervous system with aspergillus ; direct spread of infection, mostly within the paranasal sinuses, or hematogenous spread, usually originated from the lung. Paranasal sinus mucocele is a chronic expanding lesion lined by sinus mucosa and containing thickened mucus. Complication arise as a result of infection or expansion of mucoceles. Mucoceles that invade adjacent area, such as the orbits or anterior cranial fossa, can cause complication by a mass effect. The authors report their surgical experience of intracranial aspergillus abscess combined with large frontal mucopycele.
Abscess* ; Aspergillosis ; Aspergillus* ; Brain ; Central Nervous System ; Cranial Fossa, Anterior ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Lung ; Mucocele ; Mucous Membrane ; Mucus ; Orbit ; Paranasal Sinuses

Recently limb sparing surgery is accepted as an alternative method in the management of muskuloskeletal tumors of the extremity without undue compromise to the patient s life. But the limb sparing procedure results in large osseous and soft tissue defects. To fill these defect, several options have been used such as tumor prosthesis, temporary spacer with cementation, allograft, and autograft(fresh, autoclaved, low heat treated, and extracorporeal irradiated). To identify the indica- tions ot' individual option, we studied 66 cases of musuloskeletal tumors of extremity which were treated with wide or marginal resection and reconstructive surgery from June, 1990 to June, 1997, in which 48 cases were osteosarcomas, 3 chondrosarcomas, 2 synovial sarcomas. I liposarcoma, 1 giant cell tumor, I malignant lymphoma, and 10 metastatic bone tumors. The location of the lesion were distal femur in 24, proximal tibia in 24, proximal femur in 9, proximal humerus in 6, tibial midshaft in 1. distal radius in 1, and calcaneus in 1. In Enneking stages about primary bone tumors 6 cases were IIA, 42 IIB, and 8 III. We reconstructed the osseous defect with tumor prosthesis in 22 cases, temporary spacer in 9(later, 4 cases was changed to tumor prosthesis for staged operation), allograft in 25, and autograft in 14(low heat treated in 2, irradiated in 12). Total functional result by Enneking system was 71.5% . 80.8% with tumor prosthesis, 50.5% with temporary spacer, 70% with allograft, 75.3% with autograft. Infections were occurred in 18% of the patients treated with tumor prosthesis, 34% with allograft, 0% with temporary spacer or low heated autograft, and 18% with irradiated autograft. Delayed union or nonunion was occurred in l5% of the patients treated with allograft, 40% with autograft. There were 2 cases of metal failure and 2 cases of graft fracture using autograft. In conclusion, we propose that the indication of the tumor prosthesis is for the skeletally matured patient, patient with high-grade malignant tumor, older patients, and patient who have limited life expectancy. The reconstruction with allograft have several advantages for the patients with henign bone tumor and locally aggressive or low-grade malignant tumor. The temporary spacer may be used as staged operations for the skeletally immature patient and patient who have an extreme hone and soft tissue defects after limb sparing operation. The recycling autograft may be applied to the patients at any age with minimal bony involvement of tumor. The low heat treated autograft may be useful in the patients requiring intercalary reconstruction, and the irradiated autograft may he useful in the patients with periarticular involvement.
Allografts ; Autografts ; Calcaneus ; Cementation ; Chondrosarcoma ; Extremities* ; Femur ; Giant Cell Tumors ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Humerus ; Life Expectancy ; Liposarcoma ; Lymphoma ; Osteosarcoma ; Prostheses and Implants ; Radius ; Recycling ; Sarcoma, Synovial ; Tibia ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Carolic restriction as a treatment for obesity causes catabolism of body protein stores and produces negative nitrogen balance. GH administration causes acceleration of lipolysis and promotion of nitrogen conservation. We evaluated the effects of GH treatment and caloric restriction on lipolysis, anabolic effects and body composition in obese subjects. METHODS: 24 obese (20% over IBW) subjects (22 women and 2 men; 22-46yr old) were fed a diet of 25kcal/kg IBW with 1.2g protein/kg IBW daily during treatment. The subjects were assigned at random to either treatment with recombinent human GH (n=12, 0.06U/kg IBW every other day) or placebo (n 12, vehicle injection) for 12 weeks. Body fat was assessed by impedence and abdominal fat, visceral fat area at the umbilicus level and muscle area of mid thigh level were measured using computed tomography. RESULTS: Fraction of body weight lost as fat lost was significantly greater in GH treatment than in placebo group (1.21+-0.48%/kg, vs 0.52+-0.28%/kg, p0.05). GH treatment caused significant decrease in visceral fat area (35.3% vs 28.5%, p<0.05). In placebo group, there were significant loss of muscle area (-4.8 +-2.6cm ) and lean body mass (-2.62 +-1.51kg) after treatment. In contrast, GH treatment group had more increase in muscle area (3.5+-2.3cm ) and lean body mass (1.13 +-1.04kg) and positive nitrogen balance (1.81+-4.06g/day). GH injections cuased a 1.6-fold increase in IGF-I, despite caloric restriction. GH responses to L-dopa stimulation were blunted in all subjects and GH responses were increased after treatment. Both group showed hyperinsulinemia during oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and after treatment, they had decreased in insulin secretion. However, GH treatmnent group had not significant decrease, because GH might induce insulin resistance. FFA response areas during OGTT markedly decreased after treatment in both group. In GH treatment group, more decrease of FFA responses might result from the antilipolytic effect by higher level of insulin or more decrease in amount of fat. CONCLUSION: This study has demonstrated that in obese subjects fed hypocaloric diet, GH accelerates body fat loss and exerts anabolic effects.
Abdominal Fat ; Acceleration ; Adipose Tissue ; Adult* ; Anabolic Agents ; Body Composition ; Body Weight ; Caloric Restriction ; Diet* ; Female ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Growth Hormone* ; Humans ; Hyperinsulinism ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; Levodopa ; Lipolysis ; Male ; Metabolism ; Nitrogen ; Obesity ; Thigh ; Umbilicus

Clinical manifestations of hypothyroidism are very various and these degree are related to the severity and duration of the disease. Pericardial effusions, one of the manifestations of hypothy-roidism, were relatively common in the past. However, recently they may not be so frequent representative of hypothyroid subjects. The higher frequency of Hashimotos thyroiditis in Turners syndrome, especially those with an X-isochromosome, compared with the general population is well known. The pathophysiological process of autoimmunity is thought to be linked with the presence of an abnormal X-chromosome. Recently we experienced a case of X-isochromosome Turners syndrome with hypothyroidism and pericardial effusion and report it with reviews of the literatures.
Autoimmunity ; Hypothyroidism* ; Pericardial Effusion* ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroiditis ; Turner Syndrome*

PURPOSE: To compare the ratio of renal cortical thickness to renal parenchymal thickness in early diabetic nephropathy and in normal control group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed spiral CT in 17 patients suffering from diabetic nephropathy without renal failure or renal atrophy. The normal control group consisted of 19 persons who were normal on renal function test and did not show any abnormality of the kidney. Renal cortical and parenchymal thicknesses were measured at renal hilum level perpendicular to the renal surface by electronic caliper on contrast-enhanced transverse scan demonstrating the cortical nephrogram phase. Using student's test, the difference in renal parenchymal and cortical thickness between the two groups was tested for statistical significance. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in renal parenchymal thickness between the two groups(P>0.05) ; the patient group had a thicker renal cortex than the normal control group however (P<0.05). The ratio of renal cortical thickness to parenchymal thickness in early diabetic nephropathy patients(Rt.:0.041+/-0.051, Lt.:0.382+/-0.053) was significantly higher than in the normal control group (Rt.:0.331+/-0.067, Lt.:0.323+/-0.064). CONCLUSION: The kidney of early diabetic nephropathy patients had a thicker renal cortex than normal kidney.
Atrophy ; Diabetic Nephropathies* ; Humans ; Kidney ; Renal Insufficiency ; Tomography, Spiral Computed*

PURPOSE: To compare the ratio of renal cortical thickness to renal parenchymal thickness in early diabetic nephropathy and in normal control group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed spiral CT in 17 patients suffering from diabetic nephropathy without renal failure or renal atrophy. The normal control group consisted of 19 persons who were normal on renal function test and did not show any abnormality of the kidney. Renal cortical and parenchymal thicknesses were measured at renal hilum level perpendicular to the renal surface by electronic caliper on contrast-enhanced transverse scan demonstrating the cortical nephrogram phase. Using student's test, the difference in renal parenchymal and cortical thickness between the two groups was tested for statistical significance. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in renal parenchymal thickness between the two groups(P>0.05) ; the patient group had a thicker renal cortex than the normal control group however (P<0.05). The ratio of renal cortical thickness to parenchymal thickness in early diabetic nephropathy patients(Rt.:0.041+/-0.051, Lt.:0.382+/-0.053) was significantly higher than in the normal control group (Rt.:0.331+/-0.067, Lt.:0.323+/-0.064). CONCLUSION: The kidney of early diabetic nephropathy patients had a thicker renal cortex than normal kidney.
Atrophy ; Diabetic Nephropathies* ; Humans ; Kidney ; Renal Insufficiency ; Tomography, Spiral Computed*

Influenza virus culture was performed in 149 patients with influenza-like illness who were admitted or visited to the Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center from january, 1991 to March, 1991. The results were as follows; 1) Of the 149 patients, influenza virus were isolated in the 15 cases. 15 isolates were characterized by the WHO Collaborating Center for influenza: 7 cases were very similar to influenza A/Taiwan/1/86 (H1N1), 1 case was A/Beijing/353/89 (H3N2), 7 cases were B/Guangdon-g/55/89. 2) The age of 15 patients who were confirmed by viral isolation was between 11 months to 10 years. 3) The most common clinical symptoms were fever, vomiting, cough, nausea in deceasing order. 4) Of the total 149 patients, Reye syndrome occured in two patients and myositis occured in one: Influenza A/Taiwan/1/86 (H1N1) virus was isolated in one Reye syndrome patient.
Chungcheongnam-do ; Cough ; Fever ; Humans ; Influenza, Human* ; Myositis ; Nausea ; Orthomyxoviridae ; Pediatrics ; Reye Syndrome ; Seoul* ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The mechanism responsible for the generation of ectopic beats in pulmonary veins (PVs) remains to be well defined. The present study examines the electrophysiological characteristics of the PVs and other regions of the canine left atrium (LA) under low dose (300 micrometer) caffeine condition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Transmembrane action potentials were recorded from the left superior PVs, PV-LA junctions (PLJ, atrium <5 mm from the PV ostium), LA appendage (LAA) or Bachmann's bundle (BB) in arterially perfused canine LA-PV preparations, using floating glass microelectrodes. Rapid atrial pacing (cycle lengths 140-300 ms, 10 sec) was used to induce delayed afterdepolarizations (DAD) at the baseline and under low dose (300 micrometer) caffeine conditions. RESULTS: Spontaneous diastolic depolarization or triggered activity (TA) was not observed in any of the recording area under the baseline condition. DAD and TA were induced by caffeine in 4/8 PVs and in 3/8 PLJs, but in no LAA (0/6) or BB (0/5). These TA and DAD were also observed after termination of pacing-induced atrial tachyarrhythmia. DAD was abolished by pretreatment of the atria with verapamil or propranolol (1.0 micrometer). CONCLUSION: Spontaneous diastolic depolarization was not present in perfused canine left atria or proximal PV. Pulmonary veins and adjacent areas displayed an increased susceptibility to develop DAD-induced TA under low dose caffeine condition. This distinctive electrophysiological property of the PV and PLJ area may contribute to the arrhythmogenic substrate responsible for the ectopic activity that initiates atrial fibrillation.
Action Potentials ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Caffeine ; Calcium ; Glass ; Heart Atria ; Microelectrodes ; Propranolol ; Pulmonary Veins* ; Tachycardia ; Verapamil

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of a home-made histographic analysis system using a lung volume controller. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Our study involved ten healthy volunteers, ten emphysema patients, and two idio-pathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients. Using a home-made lung volume controller, images were obtained in the upper, middle, and lower lung zones at 70%, 50%, and 20% of vital capacity. Electron beam tomography was used and scanning parameters were single slice mode, 10-mm slice thickness, 0.4-second scan time, and 35 -cm field of view. Using a home-made semi-automated program, pulmonary parenchyma was isolated and a histogram then obtained. Seven histographic parameters, namely mean density (MD), density at maximal frequency (DMF), maximal ascending gradient (MAG), maximal ascending gradient density (MAGD), maxi-mal descending gradient (MDG), maximal descending gradient density (MDGD), and full width at half maxi-mum (FWHM) were derived from the histogram. We compared normal controls with abnormal groups includ-ing emphysema and IPF patients at the same respiration levels. RESULTS: A normal histographic zone with +/-1 standard deviation was obtained. Histographic curves of normal controls shifted toward the high density level, and the width of the normal zone increased as the level of inspi-ration decreased. In ten normal controls, MD, DMF, MAG, MAGD, MDG, MDGD, and FWHM readings at a 70% inspiration level were lower than those at 20% (p<0.05). At the same level of inspiration, histograms of emphysema patients were located at a lower density area than those of normal controls. As inspiration status decreased, histograms of emphysema patients showed diminished shift compared with those of normal con-trols. At 50% and 20% inspiration levels, the MD, DMF, and MAGD readings of emphysema patients were significantly lower than those of normal controls (p<0.05). Compared with those of normal controls, his-tograms of the two IPF patients obtained at three inspiration levels were located in an area of higher density. CONCLUSION: Using a home-made histographic analysis system which included a lung volume controller, pa-tients with diffuse parenchymal lung disease could be distinguished from normal controls. The method may be useful for the diagnosis and follow up of diffuse parenchymal lung diseases.
Diagnosis ; Emphysema ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Lung Diseases* ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Lung* ; Pilot Projects* ; Pulmonary Emphysema ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; Reading ; Respiration ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vital Capacity