PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of magnetization transfer contrast(MTC) andfat-suppression(FS) in variable spin-echo and gradient-echo sequences for articular cartilage imaging and todetermine the optimal pulse sequences. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using variable 7-pulse sequences, the knees of 15pigs were imaged Axial images were obtained using proton density and T2-weighted spin-echo (PDWSE and T2WSE),turbo spin-echo (TSE), multiplanar gradient-echo (MPGR), and 3D steady-state gradient-echo (3DGRE) sequences, andthe same pulse sequences were then repeated using MTC. Also T1-weighted spin-echo(T1WSE) and 3D spoiledgradient-echo(3DSPGR) images of knees were also acquired, and the procedure was repeated using FS. For each knee,a total of 14 axial images were acquired, and using a 6-band scoring system, the visibility of and thevisibilities of the the articular cartilage was analyzed. The visual effect of MTC and FS was scored using a4-band scale. For each image, the signal intensities of articular cartilage, subchondral bone, muscles, and salinewere measured, and signal-to-noise ratios(SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratios(CNR) were also calculated. RESULTS: Visibility of the cartilage was best when 3DSPGR and T1WSE sequences were used. MTC imaging increased the negativecontrast between cartilage and saline, but FS imaging provided more positive contrast. CNR between cartilage andsaline was highest when using TSE with FS(-3 5 1 . 1 +/-15.3), though CNR between cartilage and bone then fell to-1 4 . 7 +/-10.8. In MTC imaging using MPGR showed the greatest increase of negative contrast between cartilage andsaline(CNR change=-74.7); the next highest was when 3DGRE was used(CNR change=-34.3). CNR between cartilage andbone was highest with MPGR(161.9 +/-17.7), but with MTC, the greatest CNR decrease(-81.8) was observed. Thegreatest CNR increase between cartilage and bone was noted in T1WSE with FS. In all scans, FS provided acartilage-only positive contrast image, though the absolute value of CNR was lower than that of MTC imaging. CONCLUSION: The most prominent effects of MTC and FS were seen in MPGR and T1WSE, respectively, though forcartilage, optimal high signal intensity and contrast can be achieved using 3DGRE with MTC, and 3DSPGR with FS.
Cartilage ; Cartilage, Articular* ; Knee ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Muscles ; Protons

The proliferating trichilemmal tumor (PTT) is a rare, usually benign, tumor arising from the outer root sheath of the hair follicle. The usual clinical presentation is in a form of subcutaneous nodule in the scalp of elderly woman. Histopathologically, characteristic proliferation of the outer root sheath epithelium such as trichilemmal keratinization and nodular organization is observed as well as cellular atypia which may lead to impression of malignancy. The author report a case of proliferating trichilemmal tumor arisen in the thigh of a 24-year-old male within duration of 3 months which is quite an unusual clinical presentation.
Aged ; Epithelium ; Female ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Male ; Scalp ; Thigh ; Young Adult

The authors present a case of spontaneous discitis in a 1-year-old female who presented with fever and limping gait. The erythrocyte sediment rate was increased. The roentgenograms revealed normal appearnce, and radioactive bne scan showed increased uptake at the affected level. Discitis should be considered in any child with limping gait or leg pain, refusal to walk, or abdominal pain. Early recognition may avoid unnecessary diagnotic and treatment procedures.
Abdominal Pain ; Child* ; Discitis* ; Disulfiram ; Erythrocytes ; Female ; Fever ; Gait ; Humans ; Leg

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate clinical features and causative organisms in febrile infants younger than three months, to help identification of high risk patients for serious bacterial infection (SBI). METHODS: A total of 313 febrile infants younger than three months, who had visited Seoul National University Children's Hospital from January 2008 to December 2010 were included. Clinical features, laboratory findings, causative organisms, and risk factors of SBI were analyzed by retrospective chart review. Causative bacterial or viral pathogens were identified by gram stain and cultures, rapid antigen tests, or the polymerase chain reaction from clinically reliable sources. RESULTS: Among 313 infants, etiologic organisms were identified in 127 cases (40.6%). Among 39 cases of bacterial infections, Escherichia coli (66.7%) and Streptococcus agalactiae (12.8%) were common. Enterovirus (33.7%), respiratory syncytial virus (19.8%), and rhinovirus (18.8%) were frequently detected in 88 cases of viral infection. Patients with SBI (39 cases) showed significantly higher values of the white blood cell count (14,473+/-6,824/mm3 vs. 11,254+/-5,775/mm3, P=0.002) and the C-reactive protein (6.32+/-8.51 mg/L vs. 1.28+/-2.35 mg/L, P<0.001) than those without SBI (274 cases). The clinical risk factors for SBI were the male (OR 3.7, 95% CI 1.5-8.9), the presence of neurologic symptoms (OR 4.8, 95% CI 1.4-16.8), and the absence of family members with respiratory symptoms (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.2-11.3). CONCLUSION: This study identified common pathogens and risk factors for SBI in febrile infants younger than three months. These findings may be useful to guide management of febrile young infants.
Bacterial Infections ; C-Reactive Protein ; Enterovirus ; Escherichia coli ; Fever ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhinovirus ; Risk Factors ; Sepsis ; Streptococcus agalactiae

No abstract available.
Immunocompromised Host* ; Trichosporon*

The pinch graft is one type of skin graft and is indicated in small, chronic stubborn wounds or ulcers where cosmetic results are not paramount. It is a common procedure for the rapid healing of leg ulcers in countries where these are very common, such as in western society. However, it is an unfamiliar procedure to dermatologists in Korea where leg ulcers are quite rare. We treated a case of leg ulcer in systemic sclerosis using pinch grafts with satisfactory results. The pinch graft may be a useful treatment method for skin ulcers in dermatologic surgery under adverse conditions.
Dermatologic Surgical Procedures ; Korea ; Leg Ulcer* ; Leg* ; Scleroderma, Systemic* ; Skin ; Skin Ulcer ; Transplants* ; Ulcer ; Wounds and Injuries

Quaternium-15 (Dowicil 200) which is a water-soluble antimicrobial agent and a formaldehyde releaser is widely being used as a preservative in cosmetics and medicaments these days. However, there are scanty reports about it in the Korean literature. Recently, we have experienced two cases of Quaternium-15 contact dermatitis probably related with their cosmetics and topical medicament, respectively. We report our cases with the patch test results.
Dermatitis, Contact* ; Formaldehyde ; Patch Tests

Formalin is a 37 5pg aqueous solution of formaldehyde gas and formaldehyde may be present in products as an active ingredient, preservative or contaminant. This contamination may be from the container, the package material or in situ formation by degradation of the formaldehyde releasers. The free formaldehyde content was determined in the 50 kinds of Korean shampoos by quantitative analysis recently described, the lutidine method, which is simple, rapid and used for colored products which cannot be analysed by the chrornotropic acid method. Formaldehyde has been found in 46 out of the 0 samples, i.e., 90g., and the concentration ranged from 0. 1 to 78. 6 pg/ml(0. 1 78. 6 ppm).
Formaldehyde*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Moral Development* ; Students, Medical*

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (Osler-Weber-Rendu disease) is a familial disease that is characterized by delicate, ectatic vessels in the skin, mucous membrane and viscera. These patients have a generalized vascular derangement including pulmonary A-V fistula and angiomatosis. Episodes of hemorrhage in cornbination with a familial history and cutaneous telangiectasia are diagnostic. We preaented a typical case of hereditary hemorrhagic telangieetasia in a 3-year-old female who had. two episodes of hemoptysis and compatible telangiectatic skin lesion. Her pulmonary and hepatic angiornas were also proved by pulmonary and aortic angiography.
Angiography ; Angiomatosis ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Fistula ; Hemoptysis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane ; Skin ; Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic* ; Telangiectasis ; Viscera