BACKGROUND: There is increasing concern in many countries about the problem of drug-resistant tuberculosis. Prevalence of primary drug-resistant tuberculosis is the optimal epidemiological indicator for long term monitoring of national tuberculosis control program. Our purpose was The purpose of our study is to assess clinical characteristics and socioeconomic status of patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis. METHODS: We studied 68 cases with durg-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection diagnosed at the Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital from March, 1995 to February, 2000. RESULTS: Patients with primary drug-resistant tuberculosis(PDR) were younger(39.6±16.3 years vs. 48.2±16.5 years; p<0.05), had more population of less than more were under the age of 40 years aged-group(62.9% vs. 36.4%; p<0.05) and were more highly educated than those with acquired drug-resistant tuberculosis(ADR)(38.9% vs. 11.1%; p<0.05). In patients with ADR, the rates of familial history of tuberculosis and living in a rented house residence in a rented house were increased higher than compared with to those of patients with PDR. Patients with ADR had more involved lobes(2.0±0.8 vs. 1.4±0.7; p<0.01) and longer treatment duration than those with PDR(18.3±7.2 months vs. 10.6±6.3 months; p<0.05). Patients with ADR showed larger numbers of resistant were resistant to more number of drugs, lower hospitalization rate and higher rate of self-interruption of medication than those with PDR. In patients with PDR, mono-drug resistance was increased, whereas poly-and multi-drug resistances were decreased compared with those with ADR. Resistance to isoniazid was the highest among antituberculosis drugs, and resistance to isoniazid in patients with ADR was higher than that in patients with PDR(90.9% vs. 71.4%; p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ADR were more likely to include more population be of lower socioeconomic class, and patients with PDR seem seemed to be young and socially active population. For control of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, proper isolation and prevention of patient with drug-resistant tuberculosis are needed.
Female ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Isoniazid ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Prevalence ; Social Class ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant*

No abstract available.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast*

In the treatment of malleolar fracture, anatomical reduction and rigid internal fixation are essential to prevent the complications such as infection, malunion or nonunion, traumatic arthritis, skin necrosis and joint contracture. But it is often difficult to obtain rigid fixation for medial malleolar fracture because of its comminution or thin cortex with osteoporosis. Generally, two operative methods are available for medial malleolar fracture, which are malleolar lag screw fixation and tension band wiring. The purpose of this paper is to analyze which operative method is better for anatomical reduction and rigid fixation and has less postoperative complications for medial malleolar fractures. From March 1992 through March 1995, 88 patients had undergone surgical intervention for medial malleolar fractures. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to operative method for medial malleolar fracture. For one group, malleolar lag screw together with or without a K-wire was used in 48 patients, and for the other group, tension band wiring was used in 40 patients. The average follow-up periods were 14 months in screw fixation group and 13 months in tension band wiring group. The average union time were 15.4 weeks (8-17 weeks) in screw fixation group and 12.2 weeks (6-15 weeks) in tension band wiring group. 27 cases (56%) showed excellent result in screw fixation group and 30 cases (75%) in tension band wiring group. In the patient over 50 years old, 2 (15%) in 13 cases showed excellent result of screw fixation group, while 5 (45%) in 11 cases of tension band wiring group. We concluded that tension band wiring is a better method for medial malleolar fracture to obtain early union and to prevent postoperative complications, especially in the elderly patient.
Aged ; Arthritis ; Contracture ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joints ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Osteoporosis ; Postoperative Complications ; Skin

The antiphospholipid syndrome is characterized by arterial thrombosis, venous thrombosis, pregnancy wastage, and thrombocytopenia associated with a persis tently positive lupus anticoagulant and/or moderate to high positive anticardiolipin antibodies(IgG or IgM). The antiphospholipid antibodies have been detected in many medical conditions, but the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) has mainly been restricted to the primary antiphospholipid syndrome and APS associated with systemic lupus erythematosus. Rarely, the APS has been reported in other autoimmune disorders in the literature. We describe a woman with a limited form of scleroderma and the APS manifested by complete occlusion of left axillary artery with probable thrombotic occlusive nature, thrombocytope nia, prolonged aPTT, and persistently positive lupus anticoagulant.
Antibodies, Antiphospholipid ; Antiphospholipid Syndrome* ; Axillary Artery ; Female ; Humans ; Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Pregnancy ; Scleroderma, Limited* ; Thrombocytopenia ; Thrombosis ; Venous Thrombosis

PURPOSE: To identify the four layers based on intranodular vascular nature visible in multiphase incremental bolus dynamic CT and to determine any differential points according to various factors of liver abscess with this vascular nature or not. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We categonized 29 cases of confirmed liver abscess into three different groups according to presence of four layers visible in early phase(arterial phase) of CT. Three groups were compared in regard to the results of antiamebic antibody test and bacteriologic study and presense of cholangitic abscess and internal septation. RESULTS: We could separate four layers, innermost hypodense central cavitary lesion, hyperdense granular tissue, hypodense abscess wall and outermost hyperdense compensatory hypervascular zone in 18 cases(62%), only two layers, cavity and wall in six cases(21%), and characteristically we could find three layers without innermost cavitary lesion in five cases(17%). But we couldn't find significant correlations between various clinical factors of liver abscess and our vascular groups. CONCLUSION: Our method of CT could represent four layers based on vascularity in 62% of cases. And also could find the unusual inflammatory mass containing three layer which must be differentiated from other malignant solid mass. But we couldn't find differential point between various clinical factor of liver abscess and imaging diagnosis. We think that with the improvement of hardware such as spiral CT, identification of four layers will be earier and will be very helpful in early detection and proper treatment planning of liver abscess.
Abscess* ; Diagnosis ; Liver Abscess* ; Liver* ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

Before impression making in the fixed restorations or other prosthesis, hemostatic solutions are used for hemostasis and moisture control. Hemostatic solutions effectively control bleeding but their major ingredients, acid removes smear layers which are formed in the tooth preparation, exposes the dentinal tubular orifices which are occluded by smear layers, makes dentinal tubular fluid displace more easily to the various external stimulus, and according to the hydrodynamic theory, consequently causes dentin hypersensitivity. To know the effect of hemostatic solutions on dentin permeability, coronal dentin discs, 1 mm in thickness, were prepared from extracted third molars free from decay and wear, and a spilt chamber device was used. Hydraulic conductance values and SEMs, which were measured before and after treatment with Astringedentr , Altract and Epri-dent , were compared and analyzed. The following conclusion were drawn : 1. Hydraulic conductance values which wee measured after the treatment of hemostatic solutions were increased in all groups(p<0.05). 2. %change values of hydraulic conductance were compared but no significant difference was found among the three hemostatic solutions(p<0.05). 3. on SEM observations of all groups, after treatment smear layers were removed and dentinal tubular orifices were partially exposed. on the basis of these conclusions, the reckless use of hemostatic solutions should be restricted, and when in use, various methods should be considered to protect dentin.
Dentin Permeability* ; Dentin Sensitivity ; Dentin* ; Hemorrhage ; Hemostasis ; Hydrodynamics ; Molar, Third ; Prostheses and Implants ; Tooth Preparation

A study of the volume and linear measurements of the breast to determine new nipple positions for 142 subjects was undertaken. Volume determination was done by using the Grossman-Roudner device. The size and shape of the female breast may differ significantly, and such size and linear measurements have to be measured accurately prior to breast aesthetic surgery. Statistical analysis of these results are closely related to physical constitution(height, weight, chest circumference). There have been increasing changes in linear measurement and decreasing changes in breast volume during the last 10 years, The results were as follows: 1) the mean distance from the midclavicular point to the nipple was 19.5cm, the distance from the sternal notch to the nipple was 19.4cm, the distance between nipples was 18.6cm, and the areolar diameter was 3.3cm, 2) the regression equation for the midclavicular point to the nipple was 7.236+ 0.00077x height(cm)+ 0.233 x weight(kg), for the sternal notch to the nipple was 8.845-0.0039 x height(cm)+ 0.214x weight(kg), for the distance between nipples was 11.192 - 0.0033xheight(cm)+ 0.151x weight(kg), and for the areolar diameter was 4.031+0.02xheight(cm)-0.048 x weight(kg),3) the mean value of breast volume of the left side was 209.6cc, and that of the right side was 211.8cc, 4) the regression equation for the mean breast volume was -137.673 + 6.668 x weight(kg), which was equal to -528.414 + 9.115x chest circumference under the axilla(cm) and -468.420 + 8.298 x chest circumference across the nipple (cm). In conclusion, these data could be useful for numerous aspects of breast surgery, including augmentation mammoplasty, mastopexy, reduction mammoplasty, and correction of asymmetrical breasts as the standard for Korean females, if we know the body constituents (weight, chest circumference) before surgery.
Breast* ; Female* ; Humans ; Mammaplasty ; Nipples ; Thorax

No abstract available.

Facial asymmetry is the most frequent disease in craniofacial deformities. And the primary causing area of that is mostly placing in mandible. That is to say, it is known that primarily, mandible grows excessively or deficiently, and other facial region involving maxilla undergoes compensatory growth secondarily, so asymmetric face develops. In facial asymmetry, the surgical correction of undergrowth is more difficult than that of overgrowth and the reason of it is the postoperative relapse caused by stress of surrounding soft tissues. It means the stress of surrounding soft tissues occurring after bone lengthening and reducing above stress is the same meaning with reducing postoperative relapse. Among various areas, mandibular ramus is the most difficult area to lengthen vertically and maintain its length. The reason of it is considered by many authors as the stress of surrounding pterygomasseteric sling which is enveloping lower border of mandible and interrupting elongation of ramal height. So we applied two different surgical procedures in which pterygomasseteric slings have different stress respectively to monkeys which have similar masticatory function and anatomy to human being and compared relapse by radiographic film and observed periodically the histochemical change of masseteric muscle fiber. So we could see the following results. The relapse was less in EVRO group in which we separated pterygomasseric sling in inferior border and didn't approximate muscle sling after vertical lengthening to minimize the stress of soft tissues than IVRO group in which we elongated ramal height preserving pterygomassetric sling. Of course, we could see a problem in EVRO group such as bone resorption in inferior border caused by uncovering the periosteum of inferior border. But we expect that such problem will be solved by developing periosteum substitutes for covering the exposed bone and minimizing the surgical trauma. In histochemical study of masseteric muscle fiber, the fiber constituents of EVRO group in which we minimized soft tissue stress was changed immediately after operation and maintained it for 1 year, whereas that of IVRO group in which we preserved soft tissue stress was changed in more portion after operation and recovered it by 1 year . By the histochemical results, we can see that the recovery of fiber constituents reflect the recovery of muscle stress and it is closely related with relapse phenomenon.
Bone Lengthening ; Bone Resorption ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Facial Asymmetry ; Haplorhini ; Humans ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Periosteum ; Recurrence* ; X-Ray Film

No abstract available.
Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic*