Morphological characteristics of human embryos of Carnegie stage 17 were described. The crown rump length of these embryos were 11.7-13.6mm. These embryos were characterized externally by ventrally directed nasal pits, 6 distinct auricular hillocks, finger rays in the hand plate, digital plate at the lower limb bud, herniation of a part of midgut through umbilical cord, and internally by the partial fusion of ventral and dorsal pancreas, prominent nasal sac which is not open to primitive oral cavity, formation of segmental and some subsegmental bronchial buds, branching of metanephrotic pelvis, crescent-shaped lens cavity, and imminent semicircular ducts.
Crown-Rump Length ; Embryonic Structures* ; Fingers ; Hand ; Humans* ; Lower Extremity ; Mouth ; Pancreas ; Pelvis ; Semicircular Ducts ; Umbilical Cord

Although several kinds of instrumentation systems are available for the transpedicular screw fixation in the treatment of spondylolisthesis, the clinical results and the difference between them remdins unclear. In order to study the feasibility of Zielke instrumentation system for that purpose, the author analysed the clinical results of 73 patients with mild or moderate degree of spondylolisthesis who were instrumented with the systems and followed up 25 months in average(Min. 12Ms). The results between the groups with different rod thickness in the system, 3.2mm(20 patients), 4mm(33 patients) and 5mm(20 patients), were compared to study the most appropriate thickness. Reduction of the deformity were done by aid of temporarilly applied Harrington system in 3.2mm group. Inlayed reduction potential coming from the jointing mechanism was utilized in the cases with less than 30% of slippage in 4 and 5mm group. Percentage of slippage was changed from 20% preoperatively, to 4% postoperatively and 6% at the end of follow up. The methods of fusion after reduction and fixation were anterior in 25 and posterolateral in 48. Bony fusion was achieved in all but one with pathological spondylolisthesis. Rod failures were observed in two of 3.2mm and one of 4mm group, and loosening of the joint were developed in three of 5mm group. Clinically, 93% of the patient showed excellent and good results at the end of follow up. From the results, we concluded that the instrumentation is a efficient method of treatment with several advantages in the reduction capacity and the stability of fixation. However, this system has several points in its mechanics that needs to be improved.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joints ; Mechanics ; Methods ; Spondylolisthesis

Results from two in vitro assays, Pharmacia CAP system(CAP) and fluoroallergosorbent test(FAST), for detecting serum specific IgE to three allergens, mugwort, Derraatophagoides pteronyssinus, and eat epithelium, were compared with skin prick test(SPT) results in 53 atopie dermatitis patients with positive SPT and 25 non-atopic controls. Using SPT results as the reference standards, CAP achieved higher sensitivity than FAST in determination of three allergens. CAP for measuring total IgE and eosinophil cationic protein(ECP) was also compared with FAST and ECP radioimmunoassay(RIA), respectively. In comparison of two assays for total serum IgE, the values obtained with CAP were significantly higher than those with FAST. In comparison of CAP and RIA for measuring ECP, the values obrained with CAP were significantly higher than those with RIA and the differences between ECP values of two assays were significant in high ECP group(>8.3 micro gram/1). These results suggest that CAP is the preferred test and seems to be more appropriate method for detection of specific IgE and ECP in patients with allergic digeases.
Allergens ; Artemisia ; Dermatitis ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein* ; Eosinophils* ; Epithelium ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Radioimmunoassay* ; Skin

No abstract available.
Cell Line* ; Humans* ; Monocytes*

No abstract available.
Female ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced* ; Iron* ; Pregnancy

Spinal epidural hematoma is a rare complication of epidural anesthesia and most commonly associated with intraoperative or postoperative anticoagulant administration. We describe the case of an acute thoracolumbar epidural hematoma at the T12-L4 level complicated by cauda equina syndrome, which occurred after placement of spinal epidural catheter for anesthesia and anticoagulant therapy for acute myocardial infarction developed postoperatively. In our experience, the spinal epidural catheterization and anticoagulant therapy may potentially increase the risk of epidural hematoma formation.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Epidural* ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Cauda Equina* ; Hematoma* ; Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal ; Heparin* ; Myocardial Infarction ; Polyradiculopathy*

No abstract available.
Pyelonephritis, Xanthogranulomatous* ; Wilms Tumor*

The incidence of thyroid cancer is rapidly increasing worldwide. Recently, attention to quality of life (QOL) issues has been increasingly addressed in the management of cancer. The goal of this review is provide a systematic overview for clinical factors associated with QOL in patients with thyroid cancer. Age is often cited as a QOL predictor with older patients more vulnerable than younger patients. High levels of fatigue and psychological distress such as anxiety and depression might be associated with decreased QOL. Although surgery for thyroid cancer leads to worse QOL shortly, there is a trend towards recovery with time. Levothyroxine treatment in thyroid cancer can result in similar or slightly impaired QOL. Thyroid hormone withdrawal causes significant reductions of QOL of thyroid cancer patients. The use of recombinant human thyrotropin (rhTSH) instead of thyroid hormone withdrawal can prevent QOL deterioration by thyroid hormone withdrawal. Generally, thyroid cancer survivors have a similar or slightly worse QOL compared with the normative population. In conclusion, thyroid cancer has a considerable impact on QOL of patients, and therefore multidisciplinary approach with special concern for QOL is recommended.
Anxiety ; Depression ; Fatigue ; Humans ; Incidence ; Quality of Life* ; Survivors ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyrotropin ; Thyroxine

Each three rabbit corneas were stored in McCarey-Kaufman medium at 4 degrees C for 5, 9 and 14 days and used as donor materials in 6mm partial penetrating corneal allografts. These results were compared to that group of penetrating keratoplasties with corneas stored conventional moist chamber at 4 degrees C for 5 days. All the M-K media stored corneas for 5 and 9 days were in clear graft after keratoplasty during the observation period of 6 months but the corneas stored for 14 days were developed eventvally irreversilde opaque after grafts. At 6 months after keratoplasties allthe rabbits eyes were enucleated and sectioned for histopathologic study of endothelia with the light and electron microscopes. Endothelia of the corneas stored for 5 and 9 days showed rarely endothelial degenerative changes. But the corneas stored up to 14 days showed significant changes including of disappearanee of most endothelial membranes and cytoplasms in light microscopies and swelling of nucleus, dispersed chromatin clump, multiple small and large vacuoles in cytoplasm and occasional autolysis of cytoplasm were observed in electron microscopies.
Allografts* ; Autolysis ; Chromatin ; Cornea* ; Corneal Transplantation ; Cytoplasm ; Humans ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating ; Membranes ; Microscopy ; Rabbits ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants ; Vacuoles

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of combined transvaginal ultrasound and beta-hCG discriminatory zone for diagnosing intrauterine pregnancy, abortion, and ectopic pregnancy in early abnormal pregnancy. METHODS: Initial ultrasound findings and beta-hCG level were compared with final pregnancy outcome in 164 early pregnant women who visit our hospital with vaginal bleeding or abdominal pain. The sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value by the combination of two diagnostic tools were calculated. Statistic analysis of collected data used x2 of SPSS(9.0). RESULTS: Of 90 women with normal outcome, 64(71.1%) had a gestational sac 5mm, and in 47 cases, the hCG level was above 1,800 mIU/ml. Transvaginal ultrasound was non-diagnostic in 47(28.6%) of 164 women, and especially, 43(53.1%) of 81 cases with beta-hCG levels below 1,800 mIU/ml. The portion of accurate ultrasound diagnosis was significantly higher in women above 1,800 mIU/ml (85.5%, 71 of 83 cases) compard with levels below 1,800 mIU/ml (37.0%, 30 of 81 cases) : P < 0.001; Relative Risk(RR) 2.31; CI 95%. Sensitivity of transvaginal ultrasound diagnosis of intrauterine pregnancy, abortion, and ectopic pregnancy was 90.2%, 79.3%, and 66.7% in women who presented with beta-hCG levels above 1,800 mIU/ml, and 41.0%, 23.5%, and 75% below 1,800 mIU/ml, respectively. And, negative predictive value was 83.9%, 89.7%, and 98.8% in each of intrauterine pregnancy, abortion, and ectopic pregnancy above 1,800 mIU/ml, and 64.6%, 60%, and 97.3% below 1,800 mIU/ml, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of transvaginal ultrasound for diagnosing abnormal early pregnancy were poor except cases of ectopic pregnancy when beta-hCG levels were low than discriminatory zone. Ultrasound impressions were well related with beta-hCG levels.
Abdominal Pain ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Gestational Sac ; Humans ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Pregnant Women ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography* ; Uterine Hemorrhage