Necleolar organizer regions(NORs) ARE LOOPS OF DNA which transcribe to ribosomal RNA by RNA polymerase I. Since NOR-associated proteins are argyrophilic, silver staining method has been used for demonstration of AgNORs. The numbers and/or configurations of NORs may reflect the activities of cells in hyperplastic and neoplastic conditions. To evaluated the applicability of AgNORs in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma, the author had performed silver staining on the routinely processed, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections of 14 cases of normal liver(control), 23 cirrhotic liver, and 21 hepatocellular carcinoma. The results are summarized as follows: 1) The mean number of AgNORs per nucleus(mAgNOR) of normal liver, cirrhotic liver and hepatocellular carcinoma was 1.45+/-0.07, 2.53+/-0.38 and 5.52+/-1.63, respectively. The difference of mAgNOR between normal and cirrhotic liver, and between cirrhotic liver and hepatocellular carcinoma was statistically significant, respectively(p<0.01). 2) The percentage of nuclei showing five or more AgNORs per nucleus(pAgNOR) was 0.07% in normal liver, 7.59% in cirrhotic liver, and 60.49% in hepatocellular carcinoma. 3) AgNORs in hepatocellular carcinoma were large, pleomorphic and irregularly clumped, in addition to increase of mAgNOR and high pAgNOR. In conclusion, the increase of mAgNOR, high pAgNOR and large, irregular AgNORs are regarded as an additional helpful finding for the histopathological diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop a web-based exercise program based on a preliminary survey and to evaluate its effect for promotion of exercise among chronic patients. METHODS: For the preliminary survey, an investigation of internet use among chronic patients and a review of existing 20 exercise-related web-sites were undertaken. The web-site was developed and evaluated by user satisfaction with the site and expert validity. To evaluate the effect of the site, exercise stage and commitment to a plan for exercise were compared before and after using the site. RESULTS: The content of the web-site included exercise and health, exercise prescription, chronic disease and exercise, and my page. The users rated 3.89 for system, 3.81 for content, and 3.60 for design in the satisfaction with the site. Experts rated 4.62 for feedback and privacy, 4.31 for purpose, 4.23 for authorship, 3.76 for content, 3.71 for design, 3.62 for functionality in the evaluation of the site. The commitment to a plan for exercise after using the site was significantly higher than that before using it. CONCLUSION: This site can be facilitated to enhance physical activity for chronic patients and further effort to continuously use and revise the site is recommended.
Authorship ; Chronic Disease ; Humans ; Internet ; Motor Activity ; Prescriptions ; Privacy ; Program Development*

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of intermittent mechanical traction with spinal decompression therapy (SDT), using the newly introduced device DRX 3000(R), in patients suffering from low back pain associated with lumbosacral disc herniation documented on MRI. METHOD: Thirty-five patients with low back pain with or without lower extremity radiating pain were prospectively enrolled in this study. They were all diagnosed with lumbosacral disc herniation according to physical examinations and MRI. Patients over age 60 years or those with previous spinal surgery, spondylolisthesis, severe osteoporosis, rheumatic diseases, hypertension, and other serious medical problems were excluded. Patients were randomly assigned to intermittent mechanical traction group (15 patients) or SDT group (20 patients) and compared visual analog pain scale (VAS) pre- and post-treatment. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in VAS in SDT group compared to intermittent mechanical traction group. The mean reduction in VAS for intermittent mechanical traction group equaled 1.93+/-0.83 (from 6.4+/-1.28 to 4.5+/-1.22) while the mean reduction in VAS in SDT group equaled 4.35+/-2.21 (from 6.9+/-1.86 to 2.6+/-1.43) (p=0.0006). CONCLUSION: Spinal decompression therapy can be used as an effective treatment for discogenic low back pain without serious complications.
Decompression ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Low Back Pain ; Lower Extremity ; Osteoporosis ; Pain Measurement ; Physical Examination ; Prospective Studies ; Rheumatic Diseases ; Spondylolisthesis ; Stress, Psychological ; Traction

No abstract available.
Alopecia* ; Scalp* ; Tissue Expansion*

Lichen aureus is a variant of pigmented purpuric lichenoid dermatitis. The skin lesions usually appear asymptomatic rusty, copper, or orange colored roundish lichenoid erythematous-purpuric papules and patches on the lower extremities. Histologically, the epidermis shows minimal changes, with a dense lymphohistiocytic infiltrate observed in the superficial derrnis, typically distributed in a band-like fashion. The typical lesion is a single patch localized on the lower extremity. We report a rare case of segmental lichen aureus localized on the right lower extremity.
Citrus sinensis ; Copper ; Dermatitis ; Epidermis ; Lichens* ; Lower Extremity ; Skin

No abstract available.
Antibodies* ; Coxiella burnetii* ; Coxiella* ; Korea* ; Prevalence*

Calcareous corpuscles are a characteristic structure found in larval and adult stage cestodes. These corpuscles are known to contain several protein components and to possess protein-binding activity. However, the proteins bound to calcareous corpuscles in situ have not been studied. The present study was undertaken to identify the proteins on calcareous corpuscles. Calcareous corpuscles were purified from the plerocercoids (= spargana) of Spirometra erinacei, and serially dissolved using 0.1 M sulfamic acid solution. Collected supernatants were examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and silver staining. The results showed that only the fraction remaining after the 19th dissolved fraction contained proteins. A total of 20 protein molecules were detected in gel, with major bands at 56, 53, 46, 40, 35, 29, 28, 24.5, 21, 19, 16, 13, 10 and 8 kDa. In particular, the proteins corresponding to the 21 and 16 kDa bands were most abundant. Our results demonstrated for the first time the protein contents of the calcareous corpuscles of spargana. Further studies on the functions of these proteins are required.
Animals ; Centrifugation ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Helminth Proteins/analysis/*metabolism ; Molecular Weight ; Protein Binding ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Silver Staining ; Sparganum/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Spirometra/*metabolism ; Sulfonic Acids

The incidence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) has increased with the advanced technology of society. A careful evaluation of associated problems, initial severity, and complications is important for the acute management and rehabilitation of patients with TBI. To predict the rehabilitation potentials of patients with TBI, we have retrospectively investigated the causes, types of injury, associated problems, and complications in 186 patients and also assessed the rehabilitation outcomes by measuring the functional gains according to the types of brain injury and the initial severities evaluated by the Glasgow coma scale in 82 patients. The functional gains were measured by differences of the Mini-mental status examination, PULSES profile, and Barthel index of pre- and post-rehabilitation states. The incidence of TBI was highest in the 3rd decade men and the most common cause was a traffic accident (120 cases, 64.5%). The types of brain injury were a diffuse axonal injury, 87 cases (46.8%); epidural hematoma, 21 cases (11.3 %); subarachnoid hemorrhage, 25 cases (13.4%); subdural hematoma, 28 cases (15.1%); and intracerebral hematoma, 25 cases (12.9%). Common associated problems were fractures and injuries of nervous system. The 7th cranial nerve and the peroneal nerve were the most common injuries for cranial and peripheral nerves, respectively. Common complications were pulmonary and skin disorders. Total hospital stay and the duration for rehabilitation were not significantly different by the types of injury. Functional gain tended to be higher in the intracerebral hematoma compared to the other types of brain injury. The functional gain was statistically higher in patients with initial severity of moderate degree according to the Glasgow coma scale. In conclusion the moderate traumatic brain injured patients seem to have a higher potential for the good functional outcome.
Accidents, Traffic ; Brain ; Brain Injuries* ; Cranial Nerves ; Diffuse Axonal Injury ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural ; Humans ; Incidence ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Nervous System ; Peripheral Nerves ; Peroneal Nerve ; Rehabilitation* ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Treatment Outcome*

Hydrocephalus occurs frequently after stroke and has been reported to affect the functional outcome. We investigated 77 stroke patients retrospectively to evaluate whether or not hydrocephalus affects the functional outcome. The patients were divided into three groups: Group 1, 20 patients without hydrocephalus; Group 2, 28 patients with early onset hydrocephalus; Group 3, 29 patients with delayed onset hydrocephalus. Functional status was evaluated by 3 functional indices, Mini-Mental Status Examination(MMSE), Barthel index, and PULSES profile. These 3 functional indices were compared between pre- and post-rehabilitation stages in Groups 1 and 2, and compared among pre-rehabilitation, post-hydrocephalus, and post-rehabilitation stages in Group 3. Significant functional improvements were shown in the post-rehabilitation stage in Groups 1 and 2 (P<0.05). In Group 3, the functional improvements were shown in the post-rehabilitation stage when compared to the pre-rehabilitation stage, but without statistical significance. However, significant functional improvements were demonstrated in the post-rehabilitation stage compared to the post-hydrocephalus stage in Group 3 (P<0.05). In comparing the three groups, the final functional outcome was found to be best in Group 1 and worst in Group 3. We suggest that the time from the onset of hydrocephalus to diagnosis and management is more important than the presence of hydrocephalus itself in the stroke patient in respect to functional outcome.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus* ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke*

The non-surgical treatment for the fresh humeral shaft fracture would appeared to be not sufficient in respect of immobilization and maintenance of the contact surface of the fracture ends, which have had stimulated surgeons to perform internal fixation. This might be one of the reasons to produce non-union of humeral shaft fracture, supplemented by increasing incidence of fractures due to car and machinary accident. Authors have experienced 18 cases of non-union of humeral shaft fracture and accomplished solid union in all cases by osteosynthesis accompanied by autogenous bone graft. In detail: 1. Non-union was prevalent in the agr group of 20 to 40 and mostly in male. Site of non-union was found mostly at the lower 2/3. 2. The cause of the fracture was mainly due to the car and machinary accident. Initial treatments were surgical in 14 out of 18 cases, and 12 cases of this surgically treated group were treated within 2 days after the injury. 3. On retrospective analysis of medical records and X-ray films, probable cause of the non-union were supposed to be too early performed inadequate internal fixation and post-operative infection in the operated cases, whereas distraction of fracture ends due to poor external fixation and infection in the cases treated conservatively. 4. 16 cases of established non-union were treated by authors with rigid internal fixation and additional bone graft, and 1 case with bone graft only. 5. Authors have utilized shoulder spica or long arm cast post-operatively for 1 to 4 months. 6. Union was obtained in all cases. Developed transient radial nerve palsy in 4 cases; and neighbouring joints contracture in 2 cases, which required considerable time of physical therapy.
Arm ; Contracture ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Incidence ; Joints ; Male ; Medical Records ; Paralysis ; Radial Nerve ; Retrospective Studies ; Shoulder ; Surgeons ; Transplants ; X-Ray Film