Low back pain and sciatica is one of the troublesome problems in the orthopedic field. Many authors reported the pathogenesis of the low back pain and sciaticadue to disc prolapse. Prior to 1934, when the connection between sciatica and disc prolapse was established, non-surgical management was almost always the therapy of choice. The surgical alternative, was established in the middle of the 1930's by the work of Mixter and Barr and others. Even if many patients obtained symptomatic relief from discectomy alone, many authors proposed intervertebral fusion to prevent aggravation of segmental instability. We reviewed the cases of 60 patients who underwent anterior lumbar spine fusion for herniated lumbar disc, and were followed for 10 months to 9 years from January 1975 to December 1984. We results were as follows. l. Among 60 patients, 45(75%) were successful, and 56(93.3%) were effective. 2. Fifty-eight patients(96.7%) showed bony union which took place in 7.9 months on an average. 3. Ambulation started with Knight-Kim type back brace in 10.2 days on an average after operation, and discharged in 11.5 days on an average. 4. When duration of symptoms was less than 6 months, and the involved level was confined in one level and was L4 intervertebral disc, the results were good. 5. Postoperative wound infection was noted in 5%, and 22 patients(36.7%) complained of postsympathectomy symptoms.
Arthrodesis ; Braces ; Diskectomy ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Low Back Pain ; Orthopedics ; Prolapse ; Sciatica ; Spine ; Surgical Wound Infection ; Walking

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the interrelationship between homocysteine and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) mutation in patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Homocysteine and MTHFR mutation were tested by fluorescent polarizing immunoassay and PCR-RFLP method, respectively. RESULTS: In patients with homocysteine level less than 5 mmol/L, there was no case of normal group but there were four cases of heterozygosity and one case of homozygosity. In patients with homocysteine level 5~10 mmol/L, the number of normal, heterozygosity and homozygosity group were eleven, eighteen and eight, respectively. In patients with homocysteine level 10~15 mmol/L, the number of normal, heterozygosity and homozygosity group were four, one and one, respectively. In patients with homocysteine level more than 15 mmol/L, there was no case of normal and heterozygosity group but there were two cases of homozygosity. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperhomocysteinemia due to MTHFR mutation is a cause of recurrent spontaneous abortion. And there was a significant relationship between homocysteine and MTHFR mutation.
Abortion, Spontaneous* ; Female ; Homocysteine* ; Humans ; Hyperhomocysteinemia ; Immunoassay ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)* ; Pregnancy

We present a case of 15 months old male with Multilocular cystic nephroma (MLCN) which contains fibroblast, smooth muscles, skeletal muscles and well differentiated tubular structure in the septa without evidence of blastemal or embryonal elements. There is no evidence of metastasis and local recurrence after post-op 2 years.
Child* ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Muscle, Smooth ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between anger expression and self-esteem in nursing college students. METHODS: A total of 297 subjects aged between 18 and 28 were selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected from March 2 to 25, 2011 using a self-reporting questionnaire. Collected data were analyzed with SPSS/WIN 15.0. RESULTS: Differences in anger expression according to general characteristics were as follows. There were significant differences in violent attitude depending on gender (t=3.003, p<.01). Violent actions differed significantly depending on year in school (F=3.279, p<.05) and whether there is a dual income families (t=-2.23, p<.05). There were significant differences in self-esteem depending on year in school (F=4.553, p<.01), school record (F=15.18, p<.001) and the economic status of the parents (F=4.878, p<.01). There were positive correlations between violent attitude and violent actions, except between violent actions and self-esteem. 10.3% of the variance in violent actions was explained by violent attitude, self-esteem and school in year and perceived acceptance. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study may be useful in understanding the anger expression of nursing college students and developing more specific programs to improve personality and self-control of the mind.
Aged ; Anger ; Humans ; Parents ; Self Concept ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: All though the cause of alopecia areata is not known, many studies have recenty focused on the autoimmunity of alopecia areata. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to detect autoantibodies against hair follicular antigens and compare the autoantibody level before and after treatment of alopecia areata. METHODS: We collected serum from: (a) 7 alopecia areata patients with good therapeutic responses, (b) 5 alopecia areata patients with poor therapeutic responses (c) 5 normal control people. First, we detected the antigens of hair follicles with SDS-PAGE. Secondly we reacted the antigens with the patients' and normal control serums by Western blotting. RESULTS: The follicular antigens were seen in the range of 44kD-57kD. Autoantibodies obviously apparent in patients of alopecia areata but not in the normal control. High concentrations of were Autoantibodies against follicular antigens seemed to be present in the patients with good therapeutic responses and as they had been treated well, the level of autoantiboies has decreased. Autoantibodies, however, were present in small amounts and were almost an changed between before and after treatment in the patients with poor therapeutic responses except for one case. CONCLUSION: There are kinds of autoantibodies against hair follicles in the serums of alopecia areata patients, and the titers of antibodies may be correlated with therapeutic responses.
Alopecia Areata* ; Alopecia* ; Antibodies ; Autoantibodies* ; Autoimmunity ; Blotting, Western ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Hair Follicle* ; Hair* ; Humans

The study presents the application of STR polymorphisms to male identification in the cases of a serial rapist in Korea. Since October 2000 a rapist from Cheongju city (a town located in central district) committed at least 36 rapes. DNA profiles obtained from semen stains, buccal cells and tongue tissue left at the scenes of crime and vaginal swabs of victims gave information that one and the same man had committed all the rapes. The Y-chromosome haplotype (12 loci) obtained was used for the identification process of rapist in mixed genotypes including victim's alleles. The crime scene data were referred from investigating police authorities described the relationship of victim to the offender, victim's age, time and place of sexual assault and rape locations. The behavioural analysis of crime scenes showed more similarities than differences for related crimes. These components were usually assessed in terms of proximity in time and space. Certain crime scene aspects of a serial rapist help identify components of offender spatial behaviour. As a result of this work, future research on the geography of rape and behavioural aspects of rapist will be directed towards those aspects of offences, which have been identified as relevant to the distance between an offender's base, and the site where he approached his victim.
Alleles ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Coloring Agents ; Crime* ; Criminals ; DNA ; Genotype ; Geography ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Korea ; Male* ; Police ; Rape ; Semen ; Tongue

PURPOSE: This study was to identify the relationship among self-management, economic stability, self-esteem, self-achievement and predictor of the self-achievements in elders. METHODS: A total of 294 subjects aged between 60 and 92 were selected through convenient sampling. Data were collected by self-reported questionnaire from May to June, 2008. Collected data were analysed by the SPSS/WIN 15.0 program. RESULTS: Self-management, economic stability, self-esteem, self-achievement were positively correlated. The most significant predictor of self-achievement in elders were self-management and self-esteem. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that self-achievement is influenced by self-management and self-esteem and needed for aged well.
Self Care ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: As co-factors of metalloenzymes, zinc(Zn) and copper(Cu) have a considerable effect on nearly all the metabolism that takes place in organs of the body, including the skin. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate zinc and copper status in alopecia areata patients. METHODS: We measured serum levels of zinc and copper in 30 cases of alopecia areata patients and 10 normal individuals by atomic absorption spectrometry. Furthermore, we studied the significance of the ratio between serum levels of the two metals. RESULTS: The serum levels of zinc were significantly lower in alopecia areata patients than in healthy controls. The serum levels of copper were slightly lower in alopecia areata patients than in healthy controls. Ratios of Cu/Zn were slightly higher in alopecia areata patients than in healthy controls. But their differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: We suggest that a serum Zn assay should be included in the chemical assessment of patients with alopecia areata.
Absorption ; Alopecia Areata* ; Alopecia* ; Copper* ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Metals ; Skin ; Spectrum Analysis ; Zinc*

PURPOSE: This study was to identify the relation between productive activity and physical and psychological ability in elders. METHODS: A total of 294 subjects aged between 60 and 92 were selected through convenient sampling. Data were collected with a self-reported questionnaire from May to June, 2008. Collected data were analyzed by SPSS/PC Win. 15.0. RESULTS: Of variance in productive activity, 13.3% was explained by house ownership, number of diseases, and successful aging. Of variance in physical and psychological ability, 25.4% was explained by house ownership, perceived health, number of diseases, and successful aging. The correlation coefficient between productive activity and physical and psychological ability was significant (r=.32, p<.001) CONCLUSION: Findings of this study may be useful in understanding the health status of community-dwelling elders and developing more specific health promotion programs.
Aging ; Aptitude ; Health Promotion ; Motor Activity ; Ownership ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of a comprehensive smoking cessation program for Korean adolescents. METHOD: The study design was quasi-experimental with one pre and three post-tests. The three posttests were done immediately after, three months later, and six months after the completion of the program. A total of 43 high school students who smoked participated in the study with 22 in the experimental group and 21 in the control group. The smoking cessation program consisted of 9 sessions with content on enhancement of self-efficacy, stress management, correction of distorted thoughts, consciousness raising, and assertiveness training. The study variables were urine cotinine levels, self-efficacy, stress, and stages of changed behavior. RESULTS: Urine cotinine levels significantly decreased in the experimental group after the program (F=3.02, p=.06) but significantly increased in the control group (F=6.32, p=.004). Self-efficacy and the degree of stress did not change in either group. The stages of smoking cessation behavior tended to change when compared with raw data for the experimental group. For most participants, the stages of change had been precontemplation and contemplation, but changed to action and maintenance stage among the experimental group. CONCLUSION: The program was effective in smoking cessation and influencing stages of change but did not change psychosocial factors such as self-efficacy and stress. It is suggested a program should be developed to change psychosocial variables on a long-term basis. It is also desirable to involve peers and families of adolescents who smoke when planning programs to enhance social support.
Adolescent ; Adolescent Behavior ; Adolescent Health Services/*organization & administration ; Adolescent Psychology ; Analysis of Variance ; Attitude to Health ; Cotinine/urine ; Educational Status ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Korea ; Longitudinal Studies ; Needs Assessment ; Patient Education as Topic/*organization & administration ; Personality Inventory ; Program Development ; Program Evaluation ; Questionnaires ; School Health Services/*organization & administration ; Self Efficacy ; Smoking/*prevention & control/psychology/urine ; Smoking Cessation/*methods/psychology ; Stress, Psychological/complications/psychology