No abstract available.
Animals ; Rats* ; Urinary Bladder*

No Abstract Available.
Adipose Tissue* ; Glomus Tumor*

BACKGROUND: It has been widely accepted that the prevalence of tinea pedis in soldiers may be higher due to their occlusive army boots and communal baths. OBJECTIVE: Our study was designed to investigate the prevalence of tinea pedis in Korean soldiers monthly throughout the year by the ranks of the soldiers and also to verify whether tinea pedis is one of the occupational diseases in Korean soldiers. METHODS: We examined the feet of soldiers in a battalion monthly throughout the year. On those with suspected skin lesions, microscopic examinations along with fungus cultures were performed in July, 1996. RESULTS: Average prevalence of tinea pedis throughout the year was 51.5% on clinical examination. The highest prevalence was 74.0% in August and the lowest in February by 36.7% . The prevalence of tinea pedis by rank was 38.3%(18/47) in the new private group, 61.7%(29/47) in the private group, 84.8%(67/79) in the private 1st class group, 72.4%(55/76) in the corporal group and 70.9%(39/55) in the sergeant group in July, 1996. Dermatophytes were demonstrated microscopically in 59.1%(123/208) of the specimens examined. Cultures were positive in 93 cases, i.e., from 44.7% of those examined. CONCLUSION: The major factor contributing to the highest prevalence of tinea pedis in August among the months of the year seems to be the hot and damp weather conditions(especially in July and August). Considering the fact that the prevalence of tinea pedis in winter season was also higher by 36.7-40.2%, Korean soldiers seem to possess higher risk of tinea pedis due to their tight-fitting army boots. The spread of infection among non-infected soldiers might have resulted from the communal bath and Korean traditional habit of taking-off their shoes in a large dormitory where they sleep together. Moreover, the fact that the prevalence of tinea pedis increases markedly with their ranks suggests that tinea pedis should be considered as an occupational disease among Korean soldiers.
Arthrodermataceae ; Baths ; Foot ; Fungi ; Humans ; Military Personnel* ; Occupational Diseases ; Prevalence* ; Seasons ; Shoes ; Skin ; Tinea Pedis* ; Tinea* ; Weather

BACKGROUND: High-resolution carotid ultrasonography is considered a fundamental technique for the investigation of the vascular system. However, it is still very unclear whether ultrasonographic studies of carotid arteries are useful for the prediction of cardiovascular events in patients with coronary heart disease. We have tried to assess the usefulness of carotid ultrasonography to predict the severity of coronary artery stenosis in the patients with ischemic heart disease. METHODS: We studied in 80 patients(53 men, 27 women) with acute chest pain, mean ages 63.1 10.8 yr(35 to 84 yrs), who underwent both coronary angiography and carotid ultrasonography with 10 MHz transducer. The patients who had received revascularization procedure were excluded. We classified the patients into two groups, the control group without significant coronary stenosis(23 patients) and the coronary artery disease(CAD) group(57 patients) with significant stenosis(>50%). The intima-media thickness (IMT) was measured in the far wall of CCA at 10 mm proximal to carotid bulb and the abnormal IMT was defined when the measurement was greater than mean IMT+2 SD of control group(>0.99 mm). Serum total cholesterolQlC), low density lipoprotein(LDL), high density lipoprotein(HDL), triglyceride(TG) and lipoprotein (a) (LP(a)) were measured and history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and smoking were investigated. RESULTS: A significant difference in IMT of the CCA was found between control and CAD group(0.75+/-0.12mm vs. 1.02+/-0.34 mm; p<0.001). Also a significant difference in the existence of plaque(control; 26.1% vs. CAD; 73.7%, p<0.00l) and the number of plaque(control; 0.39+/-0.94 vs. CAD; 2.20+/-1.87 p<0.001) was found. The existence and number of carotid plaque were more conelated with coronary artery stenosis severity than carotid IMT. The sensitivity of IMT for prediction of significant CAD was 42.1%, the specificity 95.7%, the positive predictive value 96%, and the negative predictive value 40%. The sensitivity of plaque presence on the carotid artery for prediction of CAD was 73.7%, the specificity 73.9%, the positive predictive value 87.5% and the negative predictive value 53.1%. Among the risk factors, age and LP(a) were correlated with IMT of CCA, and diabetes, hypertension, age were correlated with the presence of plaque. Smoking and hypertension were correlated with coronary artery disease. CONCLUSION: Carotid atherosclerosis was significantly correlated with severity of coronary atherosclerosis. We therefore suggest that carotid ultrasonography is useful to predict the severity of coronary artery stenosis and that the best index of coronary artery stenosis severity may be carotid plaque rather than carotid intima-media thickness.
Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Disease ; Coronary Stenosis* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Lipoprotein(a) ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Risk Factors ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Transducers ; Ultrasonography*

We reviewed 46 hips of the 36 patients treated with free vascularized fibular graft for avascular necrosis of femoral head with a mean follow-up of 39.9 months (ranging from 2 years to 6 years 4 months). There were thirty-four men and two women. The mean age of patients at the time of operation was 36.6 years (ranging from seventeen to fifty-seven years). The procedure was performed on both hips in ten patients. Of the 46 hips, twenty-nine were idiopathic, ten alcoholic, six steroid induced, and one traumatic. According to Ficats stage, there were eighteen in Stage 2A, fifteen in Stage 2B and thirteen in Stage 3. According to Ohzonos classification, there were four in Type 1B, forty in Type 1C and one in Type 3B. Clinical assessments according to the cause and severity of the disease were evaluated using Harris hip scoring system. Thirty-two hips(69.6%) were excellent, 9 hips(19.6%) were good, 2 hips(4.3%) were fair, and 3 hips(6.5%) were poor. Therefore clinically satisfactory results, including excellent and good, were obtained in 41 hips(89.2%). Radiographic assessments according to healing of avascular necrosis lesion and collapsing the femoral head postoperatively were performed. Thirty hips(65.2%) were excellent, 9 hips(19.6%) were good, 4 hips(8.7%) were fair, and 3 hips(6.5%) were poor. Therefore radiographic satisfactory results were obtained in 39 hips(84.8%). Clinical and radiographic assessments according to Ohzonos classification were also evaluated. Clinically satisfactory result were obtained in 6 hips(100%) of Type 1A and 3B in 33 hips(82.5%) of Type 1C. The etiological factors didn t affect the results. There were two cases of peroneal nerve palsy in which one was irreversible and one case of clawing of great toe as complications. In conclusion, free vascularized fibular graft appears to be a very effective method for Ficats stage 2A, 2B, and early stage 3 of symptomatic avascular necrosis of femoral head, in Ohzonos Type 1C which have a high incidence of collapse.
Alcoholics ; Animals ; Classification ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head* ; Hip ; Hoof and Claw ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Necrosis* ; Paralysis ; Peroneal Nerve ; Toes ; Transplants*

We report a case of intracranial dissemination developing approximately 4 months after partial removal of a spinal cord anplastic astrocytoma in a 22-year-old male. He presented with paraplegia on initial admission at a local hospital. Spinal magnetic resonance (MR) images disclosed multiple intramedullary lesions at the T3-11. The tumor was partially removed. The final histologic diagnosis was anaplastic astrocytoma. Four months after the operation, he was admitted with the symptoms of headache and deterioration of consciousness. MR images showed enhanced lesions in the anterior horn of the left lateral ventricle, and septum pellucidum. He underwent computed tomography-guided stereotactic biopsy and histological appearance was consistent with anaplastic astrocytoma. The clinical course indicates that the tumor originated in the spinal cord and extended into the subarachnoid space, first the spinal canal and later intracranial.
Animals ; Astrocytoma ; Biopsy ; Consciousness ; Headache ; Horns ; Humans ; Lateral Ventricles ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Male ; Paraplegia ; Septum Pellucidum ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Cord ; Subarachnoid Space ; Young Adult

Urinary stones are rarely seen in the urethra and are usually encountered in men with urethral stricture or diverticulum. The case of a 52-year-old woman presented, who consulted for weak stream associated with repeated urinary infections. The diverticulum was approached via vaginal route and the extraction was successful. The patient has been well, with no dysuria, dyspareunia, incontinence for 3-month follow-ups.
Calculi ; Diverticulum ; Dyspareunia ; Dysuria ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rivers ; Urethra ; Urethral Stricture ; Urinary Calculi

Aneurysms arising from ICA bifucation are relatively rare. But they are paticulary difficult to treat surgically because of perforating arteries surrounding and adherent to the aneurysm. In an effort to determine their best management policy, and to improve their surgical outcome, a retrospective clinical analysis of 30 patients who underwent direct surgery from ICA bifucation aneurysm between January, 1984 and December, 1994 was performed. In the same period, total 990 patients with intracranial aneurysms were admitted in our department. The result of carotid bifucation aneurysm surgery was worse than the total surgical result. Motality and morbidity rates were 3/30(10%), 5/30(16%). Surgical complications in this group of aneurysms usually came from injury of perforating arteries, and the causes of death were intraoperative premature rupture and vasospasm. The surgical treatment of aneurysms of internal carotid bifucation is discussed, emphasizing the importance of avoiding damage to perforating vessels and premature rupture. A classification of these aneurysms, according to angiographic and anatomical considerations, is proposed. We suggest that four types of aneurysmal orientation at the bifucation of the internal carotid artery be distinguished:either projecting superiorly, anteriorly, inferiorly, or posteriorly. Posterior orientation was found in 13 cases(43.3%). Superior orientation was found in 11 cases(36.7%), inferior orientation was found in 4 cases(13.3%), and anterior orientation was found in 2 cases(6.7%). From an analysis of these cases and a review of the literature, some characteristics of these aneurysms and their surgical strategies are described.
Aneurysm* ; Arteries ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Cause of Death ; Classification ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture

No abstract available.
Humans ; T-Lymphocytes*

BACKGROUND: Ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation can induce apoptosis of melanocytes and melanoma cells. However, mechanism of UVB-induced apoptosis of melanoma cells is not clarified yet. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to study the molecular mechanism of UVB-induced apoptosis of melanoma cells. METHODS: G361 lightly pigmented melanoma cells were analyzed for apoptotic mechanism by flow cytometry and western blotting. RESULTS: G361 melanoma cells showed apoptotic features with gradual increment of UVB doses by MTT and flow cytometry. Western blotting disclosed activation of caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) after UVB irradiation. CONCLUSION: In this study, we showed that UVB-induced apoptosis of melanoma cells is mediated by PARP activation which is induced by caspase cascade.
Apoptosis* ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 3 ; Caspases* ; Cell Line* ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans* ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma*