In the antero-posterior and lateral viewe of the lumbar X-ray film of 258 normal Korean adults(120 males, 138 females), the following measurement was made ; the measurement of the interpeduncular distance, anteroposterior diaameter, width of the lumbar vertebral body and height, and thickness of the pedicle. The mean value of interpeduncular distances and anteroposterior diameter of each lumbar vertebral level was measured in relation to the variables of sex and age. The value of interpeduncular distance at each level was related to the pedicle index and width of the vertebral bodies. Statistical analysis was made. The percentage of type A was 74.42%, type B 21.32%, type C 4.26%, but type D was not observed. The mean value of the interpeduncular distances of each level of the lumbar vertebra was measured. In male, Ll was 23.57mm, L2 24.29mm, L3 25.36mm, L4 27.09mm, and L5 was 29.77mm. In female, Ll was 22.24mm, L2 23.03mm, L3 24.11mm, L4 25.70mm, and L5 28.29mm. The difference between male and female was significant (P<0.05). The difference between each age group was not signifcant (F>3.58). There was no significant relationship between the interpeduncular distance, anteroposterior diameter, pedicle indices and the width of the body at all levels.
Adult* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Spinal Canal* ; Spine ; X-Ray Film

Chronic cavities of the dorsum of the foot often have bare bone and are unsuitable for free skin grafting. Local Flaps are often impossible because of surrounding scar tissue and dead space. A simple method is presented; it consists of the excision of the lesion, filling the cavity by a two staged random-pattern de-epithelialised turn over flap, and skin graft.
Cicatrix ; Foot ; Methods ; Skin ; Skin Transplantation ; Transplants

A beta-glucan synthase gene was isolated from the genomic DNA of polypore mushroom Sparassis crispa, which reportedly produces unusually high amount of soluble beta-1,3-glucan (beta-glucan). Sequencing and subsequent open reading frame analysis of the isolated gene revealed that the gene (5,502 bp) consisted of 10 exons separated by nine introns. The predicted mRNA encoded a beta-glucan synthase protein, consisting of 1,576 amino acid residues. Comparison of the predicted protein sequence with multiple fungal beta-glucan synthases estimated that the isolated gene contained a complete N-terminus but was lacking approximately 70 amino acid residues in the C-terminus. Fungal beta-glucan synthases are integral membrane proteins, containing the two catalytic and two transmembrane domains. The lacking C-terminal part of S. crispa beta-glucan synthase was estimated to include catalytically insignificant transmembrane alpha-helices and loops. Sequence analysis of 101 fungal beta-glucan synthases, obtained from public databases, revealed that the beta-glucan synthases with various fungal origins were categorized into corresponding fungal groups in the classification system. Interestingly, mushrooms belonging to the class Agaricomycetes were found to contain two distinct types (Type I and II) of beta-glucan synthases with the type-specific sequence signatures in the loop regions. S. crispa beta-glucan synthase in this study belonged to Type II family, meaning Type I beta-glucan synthase is expected to be discovered in S. crispa. The high productivity of soluble beta-glucan was not explained but detailed biochemical studies on the catalytic loop domain in the S. crispa beta-glucan synthase will provide better explanations.
Agaricales ; Cell Wall ; Classification ; Clone Cells* ; Cloning, Organism* ; DNA ; Efficiency ; Exons ; Glycogen Synthase ; Humans ; Introns ; Membrane Proteins ; Open Reading Frames ; RNA, Messenger ; Sequence Analysis

A chemical mutagenesis technique was employed for development of mutant strains of Sparassis crispa targeting the shortened cultivation time and the high beta-glucan content. The homogenized mycelial fragments of S. crispa IUM4010 strain were treated with 0.2 vol% methyl methanesulfonate, an alkylating agent, yielding 199 mutant strains. Subsequent screening in terms of growth and beta-glucan content yielded two mutant strains, B4 and S7. Both mutants exhibited a significant increase in beta-glucan productivity by producing 0.254 and 0.236 mg soluble beta-glucan/mg dry cell weight for the B4 and S7 strains, respectively, whereas the wild type strain produced 0.102 mg soluble beta-glucan/mg dry cell weight. The results demonstrate the usefulness of chemical mutagenesis for generation of mutant mushroom strains.
Agaricales ; Efficiency ; Mass Screening ; Mesylates ; Methyl Methanesulfonate ; Mutagenesis ; Sprains and Strains

Schwannomas are benign nerve sheath tumors that can originate at any anatomic sites. These tumors are usually soitary, benign, and slow-growing masses attached to large nerve trunks. These tumors have been described as arising in the pelvic retroperitoneum. We present two cases of pelvic retroperitoneal Schwannomas with a brief review of literatures.
Nerve Sheath Neoplasms ; Neurilemmoma*

No abstract available.
Smoking* ; Tobacco Products*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Peritoneoscopy allows the clinician to assess the activity of the surface of the liver and helps him to make a prognosis in cases of liver disease by judging the structural changes of the surface. In chromoperitoneoscopy using an intravenous injection of indocyanine green (ICG), hepatic parenchyme is stained after intravenous injection of ICG while interstitial connective tissue, fatty deposition and hepatoma are not. So diagnostic accuracy is, therefore believed to be elevated in chromoperitoneoscopy than conventional peritoneoscopy or blind liver biopsy. This study was performed to assess the clinical usefulness of chromoperitoneoscopy in various chronic liver diseases. METHODS: Intravenous ICG was administered at 2 mg/Kg mixed with 20 cc of saline in 30 cases with several kinds of hepatic disorders during conventional peritoneoscopic examinatians. Liver surface was examined 5 minutes after ICG injection.
Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Connective Tissue ; Indocyanine Green* ; Injections, Intravenous* ; Laparoscopy ; Liver Diseases* ; Liver* ; Prognosis

Rapamycin, a macrocyclic lactone, is effective in reducing the incidence of acute rejection after renal transplantation. The inhibitory effects of rapamycin on lymphocyte proliferation and the molecular mechanisms that were involved have been described. However, its effects on glomerular mesangial cells have not been clearly understood, and here, we examined the effect of rapamycin on platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) - induced extracellular matrix synthesis as well as cell proliferation in mesangial cells. Rat mesangial cells were isolated from the glomeruli of Sprague-Dawley rats and cultured with Dulbecco's modified Eagles medium containing 20% fetal bovine serum. Different concentrations of rapamycin were administered 1 hour before the addition of 10 ng/ml of PDGF into growth arrested and synchronized cells. Cell proliferation was assessed by [3H]thymidine incorporation, total collagen synthesis by [3H]proline incorporation, and fibronectin secretion into the medium by Western blot analysis. In the mesangial cells, PDGF increased cell proliferation by 4.6-fold, total collagen synthesis by 1.8-fold, and fibronectin secretion by 3.2-fold. Rapamycin above 10 nM significantly inhibited PDGF-induced proliferation and collagen synthesis, but the treatment of rapamycin up to 1micrometer did not show any significant effects on PDGF-induced fibronectin secretion. These inhibitory effects of rapamycin on PDGF-induced mesangial cell proliferation and collagen synthesis reflect the potential value of rapamycin in the prevention and treatment of glomerulosclerosis in patients with chronic allograft nephropathy.
Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen/*antagonists & inhibitors/biosynthesis ; Fibronectins/*biosynthesis ; Glomerular Mesangium/cytology/drug effects/*metabolism ; Immunosuppressive Agents/*pharmacology ; Male ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor/*pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Sirolimus/*pharmacology

Subacute thyroiditis is a frequent benign thyroid disease associated with previous viral upper respiratory tract infection. Known complications of this disease are long-standing subclinical hypothyroidism, persistent anterior neck pain and rarely Graves disease. In general, thyroid abscess is an uncommon disease because of anatomic isolation of the gland and its rich system of drainage for blood and lymph. Especially, development of thyroid abscess in subacute thyroiditis is extremely rare phenomenan, but significant bad outcomes can be resulted. Its clinical BACKGROUND containes immune-suppressed state, anatomic defect, presence of underlying other thyroid disease and of non-thyroidal infectious foci. We experienced a case of subacute thyroiditis complicated with streptococcal thyroid abscess during glucocorticoid therapy. The patient was a 19-year-old female who was admitted due to anterior neck pain for 1 month. Typical subacute thyroiditis was suggested from initial laboratory findings including CBC, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, serum T3, T4, TSH levels, thyroid scan & thyroid uptake. But during oral prednisolone therapy, unexpected bacterial thyroid abscess was developed. We report this unusual case with review of literatures.
Abscess ; Blood Sedimentation ; Drainage ; Female ; Graves Disease ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Neck Pain ; Prednisolone ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Thyroid Diseases ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroiditis, Subacute* ; Young Adult

Amyloidosis is a disorder characterized by extracellular deposition of amyloid materials in multiple organs and tissues. Amyloidosis commonly shows a systemic involvement. Gastrointestinal involvement is common in amyloidosis and is usually asymptomatic. The gastrointestinal manifestations include gastroparesis, diarrhea, steatorrhea, constipation, intestinal pseudo-obstruction, and bleeding. The diagnosis of amyloidosis is difficult because there are absence of systemic symptoms and nonspecific endoscopic findings. Asymptomatic multiple myeloma is an asymptomatic plasma-cell proliferative disorder associated with a high risk of progression to symptomatic multiple myeloma or amyloidosis. Recently, we experienced a 60-year-old man who presented with hematochezia and weight loss as manifestations of gastrointestinal amyloidosis involving the stomach and the colon induced in asymptomatic multiple myeloma confirmed by endoscopic biopsies and bone marrow biopsy. We report a case with a review of the literature.
Amyloid ; Amyloidosis ; Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Colon ; Constipation ; Diarrhea ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Gastroparesis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; Steatorrhea ; Stomach ; Weight Loss