Although anterior fusion has several advantages in the management of fracture-dislocations of cervical spine than posterior methods, it has not been used in common. Because, it does not give sufficient stability to prevent the dislodgment of the graft and angular deformity and it requires prolonged rigid external immobilization. In order to promote the stability and to reduce the external support, authors have fixed with plate and screws in anterior spine fusion for various type of fracture-dislocations of cervical spine, and report the results of 29 consecutive cases. Minimum follow-up period was 6 months (Av. 12mos.). Two level fixation after anterior decompression by corpectomy was done in 7 cases. Ambulation was started from the day after operation with aid of orthosis, regardless of the neurological status. Bone union was observed in all, but one expired case, within 2–3 months. There was no failure in fixation and no worsening in neurology. Improvement of neurological status were observed in 17 patient during and follow up periods of treatment, among 23 patient with neurological symptoms on arrival. The observed complications of hoarseness(2 csses), dysphagia(2 cases) and Horner's syndrome(1 case) were improved later, but the patient with pneumonia was expired one month after operation. It is concluded that the procedure is a safe and better alternative for the fracture-dislocations including flexion injury between C2-T1, because it provides good stability, rapid union, short external support and possibility of neural decomprssion.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Decompression ; Dislocations ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Neurology ; Orthotic Devices ; Pneumonia ; Spine ; Transplants ; Walking

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of balloon catheter dilatation in the treatment of esophageal achalasia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven patients(three males and four females) with esopha-geal achalasia were treated with balloon catheter dilatation. Balloon catheters of variable sizes were used depending on patient's conditions. The patients were followed up over a period of 12-39months. RESULTS: Balloon catheter dilatation in esophageal achalasia was successful in all patients without esophageal perforation. All patients were relieved from dysphagia. Recurrence was not found in 5 patients on long term follow-up study, but was seen in 2 patients after 18 and 21 months, respectively. CONCLUSION: Balloon catheter dilatation was a safe and effective method in the treatment of esophageal achalasia with low recurrence rate of 29% on follow-up study.
Catheters* ; Deglutition Disorders ; Dilatation* ; Esophageal Achalasia* ; Esophageal Perforation ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Male ; Recurrence

The vagina is an infrequent site of primary sarcomas, which are less than 2% of all malignant vaginal neoplasm. The most common malignant mesenchymal tumor of the vagina is rhabdomyosarcoma, but leiomyosarcoma is rare type tumor of the vagina. Microscopically, spinle cells with pleomorphic nuclei and mitotic figures were frequently noted, but cross-striations were not found in the tissue. Alpha-smooth muscle actin and desmin were positive, but sarcomeric actin was negative in the tumor cells. The authors report a case of primary leiomyosarcoma of the vagina with brief literature review.
Actins ; Desmin ; Leiomyosarcoma* ; Rhabdomyosarcoma ; Sarcoma ; Vagina* ; Vaginal Neoplasms

Endometriosis is an enigmatic disease of menstruating females affecting the reproductive life. We report herein a case of perineal endometriosis in a 33-year-old woman. The patient presented two rounded, thickened plaques bilaterally on the perineum for about four year. The plaque on the right side was located mainly at the episiotomy scar. Histologic examination showed confirmative feature of glandular structures embedded in the cellular stroma and predecidual changes of late secretory phase of endometrium. Radical operation of total hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy and partial excision of perineal lesions were performed. There was complete resolution with no relapse by the 6-month follow-up. This is of a very rare occurrence and three cases have been reported in the Korean literatures up to date.
Adult ; Cicatrix ; Endometriosis* ; Endometrium ; Episiotomy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Ovariectomy ; Perineum ; Recurrence

We reported herein a rare case of a 65-year-old female who lead intestinal tuberculosis of about 2 months duration, with little late development of metastatit berculosis abscess of the skin. The lesions were egg tow wolnut-sized abscesses or nodules occu in, on the back, right flank and lower abdomen with no pain or mild tenderness. Physical exami saion was unremarkable on dissemination of other sites. The tuberculin test was negative. The skin esions were diagnosed by clinical, histopathologic features, and positive results for Mycobactc iuntuberculosis in smear.; and cultures in the pus discharge: as well as polymerase chain reaction nethod on the nodular lesion. A barium enema showed the findings of intestinal tuberculosis, with positive culture in the stool. A combined treatment was intituted. During the initial 4 month, utaneous lesions did not respond and in some cases worsened with the multidrug of isoniazicr fampin, pyrazinamide and streptomycin, all of which were surgically excised. Thereafter, the drugs of isoniazid and rifampin were further administered for ahout 14 months, with the complete resecution of both lesions and the systemic symptomatolo. There was no relapse at follow-up after 6 months.
Abdomen ; Abscess* ; Aged ; Barium ; Enema ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Isoniazid ; Ovum ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pyrazinamide ; Recurrence ; Rifampin ; Skin* ; Streptomycin ; Suppuration ; Tuberculin Test ; Tuberculosis*

An outbreak of dermatosis occurred at a machinery manufacture factory in kyongju on Aug 1995. Authors conducted a questionnaire survey among 92 workers in the factory and a dermatologist examined their skin lesions. Authors also collected moths and identified them. The results are as follows; 1. Forty-two cases of dermatosis were identified with attack rate of 45.7%. Attack rate was not different by company, age, sex, educational level and duration of employment. Attack rate was 47.8% among productive workers, 25.0% among clerical workers and 100.0% among patrolmen. 2. Two cases among 42 dermatosis cases and three subjects among 50 non-cases had a history of same dermatosis last year. Four of dermatosis cases had a history of dermatosis among their family members. 3. skin lesions of the cases were scattered or grouped rice-sized erythematous papules or vesicles. Duration of dermatosis from the onset to the time of survey was from one day to more than 30 days. The most frequent site of skin lesion was the arms(81.0%), and it was also observed at the neck(47.6%), abdomen(45.2%), chest(42.9%), legs(38.1%) and back(35.7%). skin lesion was aggravated with sweating(31.0%), after shower(16.7%) and with scratching(l1.9%). 4. Moths were collected and identified as Euproetis subflava(Bremer). Many poisons stings were observed on their wngs which is harmful to human. 5. Contact with moths' wing droppings to two authors on their forearms for provocation resulted in severe immediate pain followed by prolonged pruritus. Erythematous macules quickly appeared and suoceeded by firm wheal-like red papules. Authors thought that the outbreak of dermatosis was brought about by Euproetix subflava(Bremer). Further studies on the factors contributing to the prosperity of the moths in this area are needed.
Bites and Stings ; Employment ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Forearm ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Korea ; Moths* ; Poisons ; Pruritus ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Skin ; Skin Diseases* ; Wings, Animal

Desmoplastic trichiepithelioma is a solitary tumor of the hair follicle with female preponderance, most commonly located on the face. Clinically the lesions appear annular and firm with a raised border and a depressed nonulcerated center, but the appearance is not so distinctive to hair follicle tumors that definite dignosis is established by the histopathologic findings. We report herein a case a case of desmoplastic trichoepithelioma in a 21-yeaar-old woman who had an asymptomatic hard, annular lesion, 0.4cm sized in diameter with a raised border and a depressed center on the right cheek. Histopathologic findings showed narrow strands of basaloid cells, horny cysts and desmoplastic stnoma, the features corresponding to the desmoplastic trichoepithelioma.
Cheek ; Female ; Hair Follicle ; Humans

No Abstract Available.

Bipotent progenitors for T and natural killer (NK) lymphocytes are thought to exist among early precursor thymocytes or liver lymphocytes. The identification of such a progenitor population or mature NK cells in such organs remains undefined. Here we report the identification of a novel receptor of NK cells, p58 (HLA class I-specific inhibitory receptors), in fetal thymocytes and fetal liver lymphocytes. Our finding suggests the NK cells mature in the developmental stage during feta1 ontogeny. Flow cytometric analysis revealed p58 positive cells in thymocytes or in fetal liver lymphocytes and reverse transcription PCR also showed amplification of p58 RNA. The result of single stranded conformational polymorphism (SSCP) showed it discriminates one or two base pair differences of the p58 gene. Although the question still remains as to whether the expression of p58 is due to the NK cells or natural T cells, it is clear the p58 is expressed in fetal thymocytes or liver lymphocytes. And SSCP analysis using appropriate sets of primers used in this study, is helpful to study the diversity of p58.
Base Pairing ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Liver* ; Lymphocytes* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA ; T-Lymphocytes ; Thymocytes*

PURPOSE: Extrapleural fat hypertrophy is thought to be associated with findings of chronic pleural or pulmonary parenchymal diseases, and more favours clinical course of benign disease rather than malignant disease which is rapidly progressive. Recently, however, we observed frequent extrapleural fat hypertrophy in CT scens of lung cencer patients, especially those with complicated ones. We studied the frequency of extrapleural fat hypertrophy and the relationship between the extrapleural fat hypertrophy and the complications of lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analized the CT findings in 95 patients with primary lung cancer. 85 patients were confirmed pathologically and 10 patients were confirmed by clinical and radiological follow-up studies. RESULTS: Among the 95 patients, 79 patients were associated with more than one complications(Lung collapse, pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis., pleural reaction, pleural metastasis, empyema, chest wall invasion). Extrapleural fat hypertrophy was observed in 43(54%) patients with complication, and 2(13% ) patients without complication. The frequency of the extrapleural fat hypertrophy was 40%(14/35) in patients with only parenchymal complicated patients, 33%(2/6) in patients with only pleural complication, and 71%(27/38) in patients with both parenchymal and pleural complications. CONCLUSION: Extrapleural fat hypertrophy was more frequently observed in complicated lung cancer patients rather than non-complicated, and higher frequency of the extrapleural fat hypertrophy was noted in those with more than two complications. It was concluded that extrapleural fat hypertrophy in lung cancer patients was non-specific finding caused by associated complication. Its mechanism is thought to be chronic pleural irritation and negative thoracic pressure.
Empyema ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertrophy* ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pneumonia ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Wall ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary