Herpes simplex esophagitis has been recognized with increased frequency as an opportunistic infection in immunosuppressed or debilitated patients. However, it is also documented as self-limited esophagitis in apparently healthy patients. We report two cases of herpetic esophagitis diagnosed by biopsies. One case was noted in an immunocompetent patient having gastric peptic ulcer who had clinical improvement with symptomatic treatment. And the other was noted in an immunosuppressed patient having chemotherapy for gastric carcinoma who had resolution of symptoms with acyclovir therapy. Histologically, esophageal mucosa exhibited erosion and inflammatory cellular exudate with intranuclear eosinophilic inclusions in the epithelial cells. These were confirmed by the PCR and immunohistochemical stain for herpes simplex virus using a biopsy material.
Acyclovir ; Biopsy ; Drug Therapy ; Eosinophils ; Epithelial Cells ; Esophagitis* ; Exudates and Transudates ; Herpes Simplex* ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane ; Opportunistic Infections ; Peptic Ulcer ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Simplexvirus

We assessed the accuracy of clinical evaluation, arthrography, and arthroscopy in the diagnosis of meniscal lesions in twenty-nine knees in which arthrotomy and menisectomy were performed after evaluation by these three methods, At surgery, thirty menisci of twenty-nine knees were removed, of which twenty-eight were abnormal and two were normal. In these thirty menisci, a correct diagnosis was made clinically eighteen times, arthrographically twenty times, and arthroscopically twenty-seven times. Posterior horn tears of medial meniscus and discoid lateral meniscus were well visualized but lateral meniscal tears were poorly visualized on arthrogram. The errors of arthroscopy occurred in two tears confined to outer one half of medial menscal posterior horn, and in a normal meniscus as false positive. Based on this study, it was concluded that both the arthrography and arthroscopy are valuable techniques for the diagnosis of meniscal lesions, and that we can expect correct diagnosis of all the meniscal lesions by the use of complementary roles of the two and by the experiences.
Animals ; Arthrography ; Arthroscopy ; Diagnosis ; Horns ; Knee ; Menisci, Tibial ; Tears

Ligamentous injury of the knee which could be easily occur in sports or traffic accidents resulted in more and severe disability than that of other joints. Rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament which restrain hyperextension, excessive rotation and anterior motion of tibia on femur is the most frequent and significant injury of the knee. Its treatment and clinical significance is one of the most controversial issue and its incidence tends to increase. From 1983 to 1985, modified Scott operation were performed on 10 patients at the department of orthopedic surgery, Chung Ang university hospital. Following results are obtained. 1. No limitation of range of motion of the knee was developed. 2. Intra-articular fixation by use of pull-out wire was done and special consideration was done for the site of fixation on tibia plateau and method of dilatation of posterior capsule. 3. Of the ten patients, nine had negative anterior drawer test, postoperatively.
Accidents, Traffic ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; Dilatation ; Femur ; Humans ; Incidence ; Joints ; Knee ; Ligaments ; Methods ; Orthopedics ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Rupture ; Sports ; Tibia

The relative rarity and anatomical position of presacral tumors may lead to difficulty in diagnosis and surgical treatment. The clinical features and surgical approach of 4such tumors(teratocarcinoma 1, endodermal sinus tumor 1, chordoma 1, neurilemmoma 1) have therefore reviewed. Low back pain or sacral pain was present in 3patients although all tumors were palpable on rectal examination. Surgical resection was carried out using the posterior transverse approach in Kraske's prone position. Complete surgical excision was performed in 3cases(chordoma, teratocarcinoma, neurilemmoma) and incomplete excision in 1 case(endodermal sinus tumor). A review of literature concerning these tumors and the surgical approach are presented.
Chordoma ; Diagnosis ; Endodermal Sinus Tumor ; Low Back Pain ; Neurilemmoma ; Prone Position ; Teratocarcinoma

The intra-articular tibial plateau fracture can induce many complications of the knee joint after conservative treatment or operative treatment. Recent experience could decrease the complications with accurate anatomical reduction, stable internal fixation and early knee ROM exercise, but still unsatisfactory results were reported from 20% to 40%. The authors analyzed the 30 cases that could be follow-up from 1 year to 6 years and were treated with operative methods, and the following results were obtained. 1. The most common cause of injury was traffic accident (14 cases-46.4%). 2. The most common fracture type by Hohls classification was type VI (13 cases-43.1%). 3. According to Blokker's criteria, 26 cases (86.7%) among 30 cases had satisfactory results. 4. The one of the most important factor influencing end results was thught to be the anatomical reduction of the articular margin.
Accidents, Traffic ; Classification ; Follow-Up Studies ; Knee ; Knee Joint

OBJECTIVE: Adult onset Still s disease is an acute systemic inflammatory disorder. There are no pathognomonic symptoms or specific laboratory abnormalities. In recent reports, serum ferritin concentration is increased in active disease phase and decreased after defervescence. Our purpose was to determine the clinical significance of serum ferritin as an indicator for disease activity. METHODS: Seven patients who were diagnosed as adult onset Still s disease at Samsung Medical Center between October 1994 and March 1997, were reviewed. In these patients we checked leukocyte count, ESR, CRP and serum ferritin concentrations at the time of diagnosis and during follow-up periods and recorded febrile events during follow-up periods. RESULTS: At the time of diagnosis and during febrile periods, the concentrations of ferritin were extremely high(927ng/ml to 96,650ng/ml normal 10-290.8 ng/ml). The values were unrelated to other manifestations of the disease or laboratory findings. The ferritin concentrations decreased rapidly after adequate treatment. Eleven febrile reattacks happened in 7 patients. Serum ferritin concentrations were increased in 8 febrile attacks, while leukocyte count, ESR, and CRP were increased in 5, 5, 6 febrile attacks respectively, There were 10 events of increased serum ferritin concentrations in 7 patients during follow-up periods and 8 events were related with fever. The increases of other laboratory tests were similar. CONCLUSIONS: In all patients, serum ferritin concentrations were increased at the time of diagnosis and closely related to fever. During follow-up periods, serum ferritin concentrations are helpful in monitoring disease activity and guiding decisions about treatment.
Adult* ; Diagnosis ; Ferritins* ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Still's Disease, Adult-Onset*

No abstract available.
Mycoplasma pneumoniae* ; Mycoplasma* ; Pneumonia* ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma*

No abstract available.
Colorectal Neoplasms*

No abstract available.
Head* ; Neck*

OBJECTIVES: The analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) is a useful non-invasive tool to investigate the autonomic nerve function. Previous studies on the relationship between HRV and depression have been reported controversial results. Similarly, the correlation between the serum lipids and depression is debatable. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between heart rate variability, lipid profile and depression. METHODS: A total of 42 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 32 age and sex-matched normal subjects who had no previous history of major medical and mental illnesses were recruited for this study. A structured-interview was used to assess the general characteristics and psychiatric illness. HRV measures were assessed by time-domain and frequency-domain analyses. Psychological symptoms were measured using the Hamilton rating scale for anxiety (HAM-A), Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAM-D). In addition, the evaluation for lipid profile was performed by blood test. RESULTS: In serum lipid profile test, MDD group showed higher cholesterol (197.68+/-42.94 mg/dL vs. 176.85+/-34.68 mg/dL, p=0.044), TG (139.45+/-92.54 mg/dL vs. 91.4+/-65.68 mg/dL, p=0.018), LDL (130.03+/-33.18 vs. 106.62+/-27.08, p=0.004) level than normal control group. In HRV time domain analyses, the standard deviation of the NN interval (SDNN) was decreased in MDD group than normal control group, but was not significant (32.82+/-14.33 ms vs. 40.36+/-21.40ms, p=0.078). ApEn (Approximate Entrophy) was significantly increased in MDD group than normal control group (1.13+/-0.11 vs. 0.91+/-0.18, p<0.001). ApEn was correlated with LDL level (r=0.277, p=0.028), HAM-D scores (r=0.534, p<0.001) and HAM-A scores (r=0.470, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: MDD patients showed increased ApEn, one of the HRV measurement. And this ApEn was correlated with LDL, HAM-D and HAM-A scores. In this study, the analysis of ApEn would be a useful test of MDD.
Anxiety ; Autonomic Pathways ; Cholesterol ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Heart ; Heart Rate ; Humans