This study was performed in order to evaluate the sero-epidemiological status of toxoplasmosis in pregnant Korean women. Among 5, 175 sera and 750 amniotic fluid samples obtained from pregnant women, 41 serum samples (0.79%) and 10 (1.33%) amniotic fluid samples tested positive for IgG antibodies by ELISA. Fifty one cases showing a score more than 0.25 on ELISA were tested for PCR reaction against the SAG1 gene. Only one case of the 51 ELISA positive cases exhibited a positive reaction on all tests. This case had a history of acute nephropyelitis during early pregnancy, but fortunately, had delivered a phenotypically healthy baby. In this study, the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women was found to be comparatively low, consistent with previous reports from Korea. However our trials, performed with a variety of diagnostic tools, were considered to be useful for the precise diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis.
Adult ; Animals ; Antibodies, Protozoan/*blood ; Female ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications/diet therapy/*epidemiology ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Toxoplasma/*immunology ; Toxoplasmosis/*epidemiology

The metastatic malignant tumor of the hand is rare condition, and has difficulty in diagnosis at presentation due to simulating other diseases such as osteomyelitis, felon, paronychia, rheumatoid arthritis, and so forth. The treatment of them is very limited and the prognosis is poor. We experienced and going to report two cases of metastaic tumor of the hand, one was from rectal cancer which associated with rheumatoid arthritis and another was from brochogenic carcinoma.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Diagnosis ; Hand* ; Osteomyelitis ; Paronychia ; Prognosis ; Rectal Neoplasms

An appreciation of the radiation changes in the brain adjacent to radiated glioma is of considerable importance from both clinical and pathological standpoint because the alteration in the brain parenchyma may result in a picture that mimics recurrence of the neoplasm. A 35 years old woman was admitted because of deterioration of consciousness which has started about 20 days ago. Past history revealed removal of left frontal brain tumor 4 years earlier and the diagnosis was grade II astroma. Postoperative radiation was done at that time. Sine then, she has been doing well. Computerized tomogram showed an ill defined huge low density mass at right frontal and left posterior parietal areas, which was irregularly enhanced in postcontrast study. Unlikely to the usual brain tumors, there was no mass effect on adjacent structures. Histologically acellular necrotic zone was alternating with hypercellular zone and most striking changes were vascular and glial reaction. Most of the vessels showed acellular hyliane thickening of their wall and some vessels were almost completely occluded. There was marked glial proliferation with considerable cellular and nuclear irregularities. Gemistocytic astrocytes were frequently seen and some were multinucleated.
Female ; Humans

No abstract available.
Fetal Blood* ; Growth Hormone* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I* ; Somatomedins* ; Umbilical Cord*

The authors have reviewed 11 cases of prosthetic replacement for severe proximal humeral fractures which were treated from March 1989 to December 1993, paying particular attention to the range of motion attained after surgery and the factors which influence the limitation of shoulder motion. The results of this study were as follows: l. Among the 11 cases, 10 cases showed sttisfactory pain relief. 2. Active motion of the shoulder averaged 91° of forward flexion, 72.8° of abduction and 35° of external rotation. 3. The humeral offset averaged 30.9mm in normal shoulder and 18.9mm in affected shoulder. 4. In 6 cases which the humeral offset measured over 20mm, active motion averaged 104° of forward flexion and 83° of abduction and 5 cases showed satisfactory results. 5. In 5 cases which the humeral offset measured under 20mm, active motion averaged 104° of forward flexion and 83 of abduction and 5 cases showed unsatisfactory results. 6. Prosthetic replacements were performed within 1 week after injury in 7 cases and among these 5 cases showed satisfactory results. The range of motion after prosthetic replacement for severe proximal humeral fracture was disappointing. We concluded that limited range of motion is mainly due to reduced humeral offset and restoration of humeral offset by appropriate reattachment of greater tuberosity will allow better clinical result.
Range of Motion, Articular ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Fractures

The Sjogren-Larsson syndrome is genetically determined syndrome with autosomal recessive inheritence and characterized by the three cardinal signs: congenital ichthyosis, spastic di/tetraplegia, and mental retardation. Ocular signs include ectropion, blepharitis, conjunctivitis, keratitis, and macular glistening spot. The authors have experienced a case of Sjogren-Larsson syndrome that showed classical triad and macular glistening spot in a 16 month old boy.
Blepharitis ; Conjunctivitis ; Ectropion ; Humans ; Ichthyosis ; Infant ; Intellectual Disability ; Keratitis ; Male ; Muscle Spasticity ; Sjogren-Larsson Syndrome*

Hemangioma appearing on the conjuntiva is a rare benign tumor which may be derived from vessels of conjuntiva, sclera, ocular muscles and orbit. Recently, we have experienced two cases of well encapsulated movable, round and slightly nodular conjuntival masses which had smooth, dark bluish-red colored surfaces. The masses were simply excised and histopathologic study revealed cavernous hemangioma.
Hemangioma ; Hemangioma, Cavernous* ; Muscles ; Orbit ; Sclera

Warrdenburg's syndrome, a rare hereditary disease, may be transmitted as an irregular autosomal dominant traits, which is distinguished by lateral displacement of the medial canthi and inferior lacrimal puncta, broad and prominant nasal root, hyperplasia of the medial portions of the eye-brows, white or grey colored forelock, partial or total heterochromia of the irides, congenital deafness, etc. Recently, the authors have experienced three cases of Waardenburg's syndrome in one family. They were 29 year old male, his 4 year old son and 3 year old daughter. We report these interesting cases with a brief review of literatures.
Adult ; Child, Preschool ; Deafness ; Genetic Diseases, Inborn ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Male ; Nuclear Family ; Waardenburg Syndrome*

No abstract available.
Funnel Chest*

Pro-oxidant properties of ascorbate have been studied with uses of brain tissues and neuronal cells. Here we address potential mechanism of ascorbate coupling with glutamate to generate oxidative stress, and the role which oxidized ascorbate (dehydroascorbate) transport plays in oxidative neuronal injury. Ascorbate in neurones can be depleted by adding glutamate in culture medium since endogenous ascorbate can be exchanged with glutamate, which enhances ascorbate/ dehydroascorbate transport by depleting ascorbate in the neurons with the glutamate-heteroexchange. However, ascorbate is known readily being oxidized to dehydroascorbate in the medium. Glutamate enhanced the dehydroascorbate uptake by cells via a glucose transporter (GLUT) from extracellular region, and cytosolic dehydroascorbate enhanced lipid peroxide production and reduced glutathione (GSH) concentrations. Iso-ascorbate, the epimer of ascorbate was ineffective in generating the oxidative stress. These observations support the current concept that the high rates of dehydroascorbate transport via a GLUT after the release of ascorbate by glutamate leads to peroxidation, the role of glutamate on ascorbate/ dehydroascorbate recycling being critical to induce neuronal death via an oxidative stress in the brain injury.
Animals ; Ascorbic Acid/analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; Biological Transport/drug effects ; Cerebral Cortex/*drug effects/*metabolism ; Cytochalasin B/pharmacology ; Dehydroascorbic Acid/*metabolism ; Glutamic Acid/*pharmacology ; Glutathione/metabolism ; In Vitro ; Lipid Peroxidation/*drug effects ; Male ; Oxidation-Reduction/drug effects ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances/metabolism