Epidemiologic investigation was conducted on January, 1993 in Seoul to identify the cause of an infant methemoglobinemia. Field investigation of the area of outbreak, survey of household and family members, analysis of ground water, and blood tests of involved family members were performed. Following results were obtained. On analyzing the quality of the ground water on patients's household high levels of nitrate was found indicating contamination of water as the cause of a methemoglobinemia outbreak. On analyzing the quality of the ground waters on seven other places within the neighborhood five were contaminated by nitrate in concentration that exceeded the permissible limit implying presence nearby source of contamination. Sources of contamination were thought to be originating from human waste in conventional bathroom facilities, chicken manure used in nearby orchards and plant fields or fertilizers. But the results of water analysis with presence of bacteria or E.coli, concentration of potassium, phosphate and the past history of diarrhea among family members, chicken manure suggested the most possible source of contamination. To evaluate the health status of members in the neighborhood past history was reviewed revealing no prior existence of patient with cyanosis and 65 people in the neighborhood had normal levels of methemoglobin concentration in their blood. Conclusively, the ground water on patient's household was contaminated with nitrate and despite provision of adequate water supply, family members of the patient along with distrust in the water supply system had used ground water as their source of drinking water resulting of methemoglobinemia. Many suburban area of Seoul and country side thought to be having similar problems concerning contaminated ground water supply and dormant outbreak of patients as a result of the drinking of the contaminated water. Epidemiologic investigation and water analysis of ground waters are advised.
Bacteria ; Chickens ; Cyanosis ; Diarrhea ; Drinking ; Drinking Water ; Family Characteristics ; Fertilizers ; Groundwater ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Infant* ; Manure ; Methemoglobin ; Methemoglobinemia* ; Plants ; Potassium ; Residence Characteristics ; Seoul ; Water ; Water Supply

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare factors that influence degenerative changes in patients undergoing total laminectomy and patients undergoing partial laminectomy. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Lumbar or lumbosacral fusion with total or partial laminectomy may result in adjacent segment problems of the upper segment. However, the differences between the two procedures that may influence adjacent segment instability are still controversial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 95 patients, followed up for at least 2 years, who had been treated with short level (at most 2 levels) posterior lumbar interbody fusion with pedicle fixation, secondary to spinal stenosis. Treatment procedures included total laminectomy (42 cases) and partial laminectomy (53 cases). We analyzed the preoperative status of the intervertebral discs (Thompson grade), difference of disc height, and difference between preoperative segmental sagittal angle and last follow-up sagittal angle. We excluded cases that required revision secondary to infection, nonunion, or hematoma formation. However, we included cases that required revision due to adjacent segmental problems during the follow-up period. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients treated with total laminectomy was 59.0+/-10.9 years, and of the patients treated with partial laminectomy was 58.8+/-10.2 years. The preoperative Thompson grade showed no statistical difference. The difference in disc height and segmental sagittal angle between the preoperative and last follow-up examinations showed no statistical difference between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in the radiographic or clinical outcomes based on removal or preservation of posterior structures. Nevertheless, we need further follow-up to evaluate adjacent segment degeneration.
Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Laminectomy ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fusion ; Spinal Stenosis

OBJECTIVES: DNA polymerase (pol) of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) includes 3 different domains such as terminal protein (TP), reverse transcriptase (RT) and RNase H. Humoral immune responses to each of these proteins have not been well documented previously, although antibody to pol was detected in serum of patients with chronic hepatitis B. We have constructed TP (amino acids 1-182), RT (amino acids 346-685) and RNase H (amino acids 690-832). METHODS: By ELISA using each protein expressed in E. coli as antigens, the corresponding antibodies were tested in serum from 40 patients with type B viral chronic liver diseases. (20 HBeAg-positive and 20 HBeAg-negative). As negative controls, sera from 3 healthy young men were used. With the mean values of the OD, which were tested 4 times per each test sample and 3 times per each control sample, we considered to be positive if the mean OD of each test sample is 2-fold or higher than that of controls. RESULTS: Five of 40 sera (12.5%) contained one or two different antibodies detectable by this method: 4 of 20 HbeAg-positive sera (20%) and 1 of 20 HbeAg-negative sera (5%). Anti-TP, anti-RT and anti-RNase H antibodies were detected in 2.5% (1/40), 10% (4/40) and 7.5% (3/40), respectively. Among 4/20 HbeAg-positive ELISA-positive sera, anti-TP, anti-RT and anti-RNase H were positive in 5% (1/20), 20% (4/20) and 10% (2/20), respectively, while 1 HBeAg-negative ELISA-positive sera were positive only for anti-RNase H. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the corresponding antibody responses to individual recombinant peptides derived from 3 domains of DNA polymerase may tend to be detected more frequently in HBeAg-positive sera than in HBeAg-negative sera from various patients with type B viral chronic liver diseases.
Adult ; Antibodies, Antinuclear/analysis* ; Biological Markers/analysis ; DNA Polymerase II/immunology* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/analysis* ; Hepatitis B Virus/immunology* ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/immunology* ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; Odds Ratio ; Reference Values ; Substances: DNA Polymerase II ; Substances: Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Substances: Biological Markers ; Substances: Antibodies, Antinuclear

Bilateral ectopic testes, located in the perineum is a rare disease with no cases reported yet in Korea. We report a case of bilateral perineal ectopic testes in a 7-month-old infant who visited for evaluation of both non palpable testis in scrotum. External genitalia was male in appearance and cystic masses were palpated in both inguinal area. Serum testosterone level was lower than 0.01 ng/mL and suspicious hernial sac-like structures were seen in both inguinal area on pelvic ultrasonography. After 4 weeks of total 12,000IU hCG(human chorionic gonadotropin) therapy in pediatrics, serial follow up was done for 2 months and bilateral palpable masses were identified on deep perineal area, so bilateral orchiopexy was carried out.
Chorion ; Follow-Up Studies ; Genitalia ; Humans ; Infant ; Korea ; Male ; Orchiopexy* ; Pediatrics ; Perineum ; Rare Diseases ; Scrotum ; Testis* ; Testosterone ; Ultrasonography

Neomorphogenesis using tissue engineering technique by cell transplantation with biodegradable polymer has been introduced as a new method to achieve organ replacement or to create new tissues. Using this tissue engineering technique, neocartilage formation can be possible when isolated chondrocyte is combined with biocompatible and biodegradable polymer scaffolds. The purposes of this study are to investigate whether chondrocyte-polyglycolic acid(PGA) polymer can be designed to induce cartilage formation in a predetermined shape, to analyze the properties of neocartilage by histologic and immunohistochemical study. Chondrocytes were isolated from the articular cartilage of swine shoulder joint and seeded onto four PGA polymers(disc shape, diameter;1cm, thickness; 0.3 cm) at a concentration of 5 x 107 chondrocytes per cm3. Chondrocyte-PGA polymers were implanted into left side of subcutaneous pockets on the dorsa of 4 athymic mice. PGA polymers without chondrocyte were implanted into the right side of subcutaneous pockets of the same animals as a control study. The chondrocyte-PGA polymers were harvested 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks after implantation and investigated grossly, histologically and immunohistochemically. Chondrocytes were also cultured in Ham's F-12 medium under 5% CO2 incubator at 37degrees C and analyzed by histologic and immunohistologic study. The analysis confirmed the following results: 1. In vitro study, it was confirmed by Hematoxylin-Eosin (H-E) stain and toluidine blue stain that histologic findings of cultured chondrocyte corresponded to normal chondrocyte. 2. After 4 weeks of implantation of chondrocyte-PGA polymer, specimens changed in gross finding to pearly white opalescence and firm on palpation and this findings were accentuated progressively. But PGA polymers without chondrocyte could not maintain its shape and were resolved gradually. 3. The appearance of normal immature cartilage was detected at 2 weeks of implantation of chondrocyte-PGA polymer in H-E stain and toluidine blue stain. Maturation process of cultured chondrocyte was observed by steps in the 4th, 6th and 8th week. 4. Using the immunohistochemistric study, the presences of Type II collagen and CD44 were confirmed in cultured chondrocytes. This finding meant that neocartilage could inherit the original properties of chondrocyte. 5. Nipple-shaped cartilage discs which could assure the mechanical and histologic properties of normal cartilage were successfully created. It seems to be possible to apply this method to other kinds of manufacture with various shaped-PGA polymer. This study showed not only new cartilage formation could be possible using chondrocyte and PGA polymer but also engineered tissue could be one of the modalities to treat the patients suffering from the shortage of tissue in the future. With further prudent researches, tissue engineering technique can be a distinguished armament in reconstruction of human body including cartilage.
Animals ; Cartilage ; Cartilage, Articular ; Cell Transplantation ; Chondrocytes* ; Collagen Type II ; Human Body ; Humans ; Incubators ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Palpation ; Polymers ; Shoulder Joint ; Swine ; Tissue Engineering ; Tolonium Chloride ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Mesothelioma*

We report a series of 19 consecutive patients with post-traumatic cerebral infarction. Post-traumatic cerebral infarction(PTCI) was diagnosed by CT within 24 hours of admission in 6 cases and up to 14 days after admission in 13 cases of 1092 patients who required cranial CT for trauma during the period. The frequency, vaascular territories, cause, and mortality rate of post traumatic cerebral infarction were discussed.
Cerebral Infarction* ; Humans ; Mortality

No abstract available.
Humans

While pleural effusion in multiple myeloma is relatively infrequent, myelomatous pleural effusion is extremely rare. We experienced a 61-year-old woman with IgD-lambda multiple myeloma and pleural effusion. The diagnosis was made originally by pleural biopsy, pleural fluid cytology and immunoelectropheresis of pleural fluid. Transient improvement of the pleural effusion was observed after administration of combination chemotherapy of vincristine, melphalan, cyclophosphamide, prednisone (VMCP)/vincristine, cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, prednisone (VCAP). Two months later, myelomatous pleural effusion recurred and no response to salvage therapy was observed. We reviewed the clinical feature of this case and literature concerning myelomatous pleural effusion.
Antineoplastic Agents, Combined/administration & dosage* ; Case Report ; Cyclophosphamide/administration & dosage ; Female ; Human ; Melphalan/administration & dosage ; Middle Age ; Multiple Myeloma/pathology ; Multiple Myeloma/drug therapy* ; Multiple Myeloma/complications* ; Plasma Cells/pathology ; Pleural Effusion/radiography ; Pleural Effusion/pathology ; Pleural Effusion/etiology* ; Prednisone/administration & dosage ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vincristine/administration & dosage

While pleural effusion in multiple myeloma is relatively infrequent, myelomatous pleural effusion is extremely rare. We experienced a 61-year-old woman with IgD-lambda multiple myeloma and pleural effusion. The diagnosis was made originally by pleural biopsy, pleural fluid cytology and immunoelectropheresis of pleural fluid. Transient improvement of the pleural effusion was observed after administration of combination chemotherapy of vincristine, melphalan, cyclophosphamide, prednisone (VMCP)/vincristine, cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, prednisone (VCAP). Two months later, myelomatous pleural effusion recurred and no response to salvage therapy was observed. We reviewed the clinical feature of this case and literature concerning myelomatous pleural effusion.
Antineoplastic Agents, Combined/administration & dosage* ; Case Report ; Cyclophosphamide/administration & dosage ; Female ; Human ; Melphalan/administration & dosage ; Middle Age ; Multiple Myeloma/pathology ; Multiple Myeloma/drug therapy* ; Multiple Myeloma/complications* ; Plasma Cells/pathology ; Pleural Effusion/radiography ; Pleural Effusion/pathology ; Pleural Effusion/etiology* ; Prednisone/administration & dosage ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vincristine/administration & dosage