PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between MR changes of the nucleus pulposus and the time interval after traumatic disc herniation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: T2-weighted MR images of 132 patients with back pain and/or sciatica were reviewed. The changes of signal intensity, central cleft and height of the nucleus pulposus were used as criteria of disc degeneration and they were graded as normal, mild, moderate and severe degrees of degeneration. Putting these criteria together we provided integrated grade of degeneration of the nucleus pulposus(grade 0-3). To get the preliminary data for normal and age-related disc degeneration, we measured the disc height by age groups and disc levels and analyzed the realtionship between the age of the patients and the signal intensity, cleft and height in normal disc levels of the 132 patients. In 68 patients of 88 levels disc herniation, we analyzed the relationship between symptom duration and the degree of degeneration. Among these 68 patients we selected 14 patients(16 levels) who were under 30 years of age and had history of recent trauma to minimize data distortion from age related degeneration and ambiguity of initiation point of degeneration. In this group we analyzed the relationship between the time period after traumatic disc herniation and the degree of degeneration. RESULTS: The age of the patient had close relationship with the grade of signal intensity, central cleft, and disc height and grade of degeneration of the nucleus pulposus in normal discs. in 88 levels of herniated discs, the duration of symptom and degree of degeneration showed moderate correlation. In 14 patients of disc herniation who were under 30 years old and had trauma history in recent 2 years, grade 1 disc degeneration occured in average 3.7 months after trauma. CONCLUSION: Although it was difficult to proceed statistical analysis in the last group because of small patients number, the degree of degeneration of nucleus pulposus had close relationship with the duration after traumas or duration of symtoms.
Adult ; Back Pain ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Sciatica

This report presents a case of a 17-year-old-girl who developed a, Kaposis varicelliforrn eruption(eczema herpeticum) during oral prednisolone therapy in order to control pemphigus foliaceus. Diagnosis was made by the history, clinical feature and histologic examination. Within 24 hours after the initiation of therapy with ribavirin(Viramid), new lesions had ceased to develop.
Diagnosis ; Kaposi Varicelliform Eruption* ; Pemphigus* ; Prednisolone

No abstract available.
Arnold-Chiari Malformation* ; Diagnosis* ; Prenatal Diagnosis* ; Ultrasonography*

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacterial Infections ; Dental Caries ; Drainage ; Head ; Humans ; Incidence ; Ludwig's Angina ; Neck ; Penicillins ; Periodontal Diseases ; Suppuration ; Surgery, Oral ; Tracheostomy

The present study was deigned to elucidate the effects of the Co-60 gamma irradiation and/or calcium-deficient diet on the periodental tissue formation in rat pups. The pregnant three-week old Sprague-Dawley rats were used for the study. The experimental groups was divided into two groups, irradiation/normal diet group(Group 2) and irradiation/calcium-dificient diet group(Group 1). The abdoment of the rats at the 19th day of pregnancy were irradiated with single absorbed dose of 350 cGy. The rats pups were sacrificed on the 14th day after delivery, and the maxillae including molar tooth sections for light and trasmission electron microscopy. Some of tissue sections for light microscopy were stained immunohistochemically with anti-fibronectin antibodies. The results were as follows ; 1. In the periodontal ligament forming area, the fibroblasts of Group 2 showed irregular arrangement and low activity. The immunoreactivity between the fibroblasts and collagen fibers was decreased, compared with Group 1. The fibroblasts of Group 3 showed atrophic change and clumped nucleus. The collagen fibers showed cystic change and low immunoreactivity to the fibronetin. 2. In the cementum forming area, the cementoblasts of Group 2 showed decrease of number and atrophic change. The cementoblasts of Group 3 showed edematous change, atrophy of cytoplasm, and clumping of nucleus. 3. In the alveolar bone forming area, the bone of Group 2 was thin and various degree of immunoreactivity to the osteonectin, Group 3 showed edematous osteoblasts, fibrous degeneration of bone marrow, and weak immunoreactivity tothe osteonectin.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Atrophy ; Bone Marrow ; Collagen ; Cytoplasm ; Dental Cementum ; Diet* ; Fibroblasts ; Maxilla ; Microscopy ; Microscopy, Electron ; Molar ; Osteoblasts ; Osteonectin ; Periodontal Ligament ; Pregnancy ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tooth

BACKGROUND: After the resurgence of endemic malaria case in 1993, the number of malaria cases is increasing in succeeding years and most of patients were soldiers who served in the northern parts of Kyeonggi-do and Kangwon-do. Because group donations of blood from soldiers are frequent in these area, it is possible that donated blood from these area cause malaria. So we examined blood donation history of malaria patients to know their donation behavior. METHODS: The subject was 1,671 malaria patients who were diagnosed in 1997 and referred to blood transfusion research institute and their past donation history, time and frequency of donation were examined. The database consisted of malaria patients and blood donors who are known to be related with transfusion-transmitted malaria has been retrieved at each red cross blood center for every blood donors. The results were analyzed from January to December, 1998. RESULTS: About 60% (1,017) of 1,691 malaria patients in 1997 had donated their blood before diagnosis. The number of one time donation was 268; two time 289; more than three time was 460. Two hundred thirty six donors were checked by malaria registry file. In 236 donors, 92 cases were diagnosed with malaria, 96 cases were suspected to have malaria, 48 cases were namesakes. Conclusion: Because some malaria patients donate their blood after their diagnosis, it would be necessary to operate 'the computerized retrieving programme'to detect their donation after the diagnosis. Also, an education for malaria patients for their risk of transmitting malaria and strict history taking from donors for malaria will be required.
Academies and Institutes ; Blood Donors* ; Blood Transfusion ; Diagnosis ; Education ; Gangwon-do ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Malaria* ; Military Personnel ; Red Cross ; Tissue Donors

The purpose of this study was to observe mandibular condyle shape and position in an asymptomatic population. In o rder to carry out this study, 142 temporomandibular joints in 71 adults(35 males, 36 females), who were asymptomatic for temporomandibular joint disorders and had no history of prosthodontic or orthodontic treatments, were selected, and rad iographed using the Accurd-200 head holder(Denar Co., U.S.A.) for lateral individualized corrected tomograms. Mandibular condyles were classified morphologically and evaluated in positional relationships with articular fossae and articular eminences at centric occlusiohn and 1 inch mouth opening. The obtained results were as follows : 1. In the classification of mandibular condyle shape, the convex type was more prevalent in trascranial radiograms and tomograms taken at medial, central, and lateral locations. 2. In the mandibular condyle position at centric occlusion, the mandibular condyles were palced posterior to the center of articular fossae in trascranial radiograns and anterior to the center of articular fossae in tomograns taken at medi al, central, and lateral locations. 3. In the mandibular condyle position in right and left TMJs at centric occlusion, the mandibular condyles were placed bilateral asymmetric relationships to the articular fossae in trascranial radiograms and tomograms taken at medial, cent ral, and lateral location, 4. In the mandibular condyle position at 1 inch mouth opening, the mandibular condyles were placed anterior to the arti cular eminences in trascranial radiogramas and tomograms taken at central location and posterior to the articular eminen ces in tomograms taken at medial and lateral locations.
Classification ; Head ; Humans ; Male ; Mandibular Condyle* ; Mouth ; Prosthodontics ; Temporomandibular Joint ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

No abstract available.
Anencephaly* ; Humans ; Pregnancy, Twin* ; Twins*

Three combinations of cloths were evaluated for the protective effects of different kinds of clothings in cold environments. Table 1 shows tile components of tile three models of clothings. A prototype was made by putting a sheet of vinyl at the middle layer of raw cotton in a fabric-quilt cloths. A glove mannequin was covered by each of these cloths. The globes contained 1,000 cc of hot water about 40 degrees C. Tele-thermisters were fixed in order to check the temperature of cloths space and water temperature for evaluation of caloric-loss and climate of clothings. Results are summarized as follows : 1) Without wind, there is no significant difference of air temperatures between ski-parka and quilt wear clothing. 2) The prototype with vinyl sheet best protects against wind, the next is the ski-parka. Quilt-wear protects the least. 3) It is well-known that a working-clothing needs not have any separate liners nor outers. 4) For innermost layer of a clothing preventing cold, a cotton-fabrics is recommended and a water-proof cloths for outer layer. 5) Heat-loss was calculated from the cooling degrees of water. Calorie-loss was 910ca1/m2/hr. when bared, but with the prototype of vinyl sheets the calorie-loss was 350cal/m2/hr. (38.5% of bared). Quilt-wear and ski-parka were 380(41.8%) and 440 cal/m2/hr. (48.4%) respectively.
Climate ; Clothing* ; Manikins ; Water ; Wind*

No abstract available.