STUDY DESIGN: The purpose of this study was to determine whether facet joint orientation and/or tropism influences the prevalence of disc degeneration in MRI in young patients. OBJECTIVE: 41 patients with disc degeneration disease including HNP in MRI were assesed on facet joint angles and tropism between 18 and 30 years old. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUD DATA: The patients who had back pain had association between disc degeneration and facet tropism in adults. But some authors have suggested that facet tropism has no clinical relevance. Physiologic aging and premature disc degeneration induce a gradual loss of water and proteoglycan from nucleus pulposus. METHODS: We reviewed the 41 MRI of lumbar spine with disc degeneration and measured facet joint angles on the mid-disc cut, which was parallel to inferior vertebral end-plate of superior vertebra. In simple X-ray, we reviewed relation between the transitional vertebrae and disc degeneration. It was analyzed statistically the facet joint angles and facet tropism in each levels. RESULTS: The mean facet angles was more increased in upper vertebral facet joints but statistically nonspecific. The facet tropism was not significant in all lumbar levels and the effects of transitional vertebrae on disc degeneration were ignorable and unclear. CONCLUSIONS: No statistical relationship was found among the magnitude of the angle and facet tropism and the presence of disc degeneration at any levels in young patients.
Adult ; Aging ; Back Pain ; Equidae ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Prevalence ; Proteoglycans ; Spine ; Tropism* ; Young Adult* ; Zygapophyseal Joint

Two isotypes of nm23 gene have been reported as multifunctional genes as well as CD44 gene. In tumor, both of genes, one isotype of human nm23, nm23-H1 and splice variants of surface glycoprotein CD44[CD44 v8-10], are correlated with tumor growth and metatastic potential[Keim et al., 1992 ; Dall et al., 1995]. However, the correlation of expression between these genes in tumor was not reported. In this immunohistochemical study on skin cancers, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma, we intended to clarify the differences of expression on the basis of origins of skin tumors, basal cell, prickle cell, melanin producing cell, and compare the alterations of expressions between two genes in each tumor, respectively. The conclusion of this comparison is that relative parallel alteration in expressions between nm23-H1/NDP kinase and CD44 v8-10 was observed in basal cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma with inverse relation in differentiation. In squamous carcinoma, the expressions of two genes were much associated with differentiation. On the periphery of tumor, very low level of nm23-H1 protein and high level of CD44 v8-10 protein were detected.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Humans* ; Melanins ; Melanoma ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; Phosphotransferases* ; Skin Neoplasms* ; Skin*

No abstract available.
Ammonium Compounds* ; Ammonium Sulfate* ; Animals ; Bromodeoxyuridine* ; CHO Cells* ; Chromosome Aberrations* ; Cricetinae ; Humans ; Siblings* ; Sister Chromatid Exchange*

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a gram-negative halophilic organism commonly associated with outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis which also sometimes causes serious wound infection. It is an uncommon cause of bacteremia. We have experienced a case of bacteremia due to Vibrio parahaemolyticus in a 59-year old man who initially presented with edema and dyspnea. He was diagnosed as liver cirrhosis, gastric cancer, and hepatoma. On hospital day 13, Vibrio parahaemolyticus was isolated from blood culture. The isolate showed typical cultural and biochemical characteristics such as salt tolerance and did not ferment lactose. The isolate was intermediate to ampicillin but susceptible to other agents.
Ampicillin ; Bacteremia* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Disease Outbreaks ; Dyspnea ; Edema ; Gastroenteritis ; Humans ; Lactose ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Middle Aged ; Salt-Tolerance ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Vibrio parahaemolyticus* ; Vibrio* ; Wound Infection

Ulcerative colitis is diffuse inflammatory condition at mucosal lining of the colon & rectum and rare in Korea but there are no pathognomonic features or specific diagnostic tests. However, recently the diagnostic methods for ulcerative colitis are much developed and the incidence of ulcerative colitis is increased in Korea. Therefor, an analysis of 31 cases of ulcerative colitis which was diagnosed and treated in the department of the YeungNam University Hospital from May l983 to April 1991 was reviewed. The results were as following: 1) The sex distribution assumed a ratio of 1 to 2.1 and the age distribution was vqriable but the most prevalent age group was 5th decade(29.0%). 2) The most common clinical manifestations were abdominal pain & bloody diarrhea. 3) As to the extent of disease determined by the barium enema & endoscopy, rectum or rectosigmoid colon was involved in majority of the cases 22.6%, 41.9 (respectively). 4) Significant laboratory findings were elevated ESR, anemia, leukocytosis, hypoalbuminemia. 5) The endoscopic examination was performed in all 31 cases and showed sinificant findings such as hyperemia, mucosai edema, superficial ulceration & mucosal friability. 6) 23 of 26 cases treated by sulfasalazine medication showed improved, and 3 cases were improved by steriod medication and the surgical operation was indicated in 1 case.
Abdominal Pain ; Age Distribution ; Anemia ; Barium ; Colitis, Ulcerative* ; Colon ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Diarrhea ; Edema ; Endoscopy ; Enema ; Humans ; Hyperemia ; Hypoalbuminemia ; Incidence ; Korea ; Leukocytosis ; Rectum ; Sex Distribution ; Sulfasalazine ; Ulcer*

Sixteen patients who had radial head fractures were treated with open reduction and internal fixation using Herbert screws (10 patients), and with silastic prosthetic replacement (6 patients) from March, 1992 to December, 1994 in Chungnam National University hospital. The average duration of follow up was 19.5 months. The purpose of this study is to examine the role of Herbert screw fixation and silicone replacement arthroplasty and to asscess the clinical results of two groups functionally, radiologically in raidial head fractures. By functional rating index (modified After B.F. Morrey et al), the results were classified as excellent (9 patients), good (6 patients), fair (No patient) and poor (1 patient). Nine of the ten patients treated by open reduction and internal fixation using Herbert screws had resulted in excellent or good. All patients were inserted silastic implants were showed excellent or good results. Especially, in Mason Type III radial head fractures, three of four patients treated by Herbert screws and all 5 patients treated by silastic prosthesis were considered to excellent or good results. We concluded that Herbert screw fixation or silastic prosthetic replacement had satisfactorily appeared to be the alternative treatment option for Mason Type III radial head fractures.
Arthroplasty, Replacement ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head* ; Humans ; Prostheses and Implants ; Silicones

No abstract available.

Marjolin's ulcer is a malignant degeneration of cicatrical tissue, especially in chronic burn scar. Since the first description by Jean Nicholas Marjolin(1828), many studies for Marjolin's ulcer have been performed and reported. From 1985 to 1997, we experienced 20 cases in 14 patients diagnosed as Marjolin's ulcer clinically, and we analysed malignant transformation rate, induction period of Marjolin's ulcer and prevention of Marjolin's ulcer, etc. The results are summarized as follows. 1) The sex distribution was predominant in male(64.3%). 2) The most common cause of injury was flame burn(78.6%). 3) The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 45.6 years and the average lag period was 20.6 years. 4) The pathologic types of Marjolin's ulcer were squamous cell carcinoma(57.2%), followed by dyspasia(28.6%), acnthosis and hyperkeratosis(14.2%). 5) The locations of ulcers were frequently on the lower extremity(42.9%), followed by upper extremity(35.7%) and trunk (21.4%). 6) The lymph node involvements were 3 patients out of the 8 patients who were confirmed as squamous cell carcinoma. 7) The modalities of treatment were skin graft (18 cases, 12 patients), myocutaneous flap(1 case, 1 patient), fasciocutaneous flap(1 case, 1 patient).
Burns ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cicatrix ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Sex Distribution ; Skin ; Transplants ; Ulcer*

No abstract available.

Cholangiocarcinomas have several histologic types, but intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with sarcomatous change is rare. A 71-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of fever which had lasted two months. Ultrasonography (US) of the upper abdomen demonstrated a huge hepatic mass with central solid and peripheral cystic portions, and computed tomography (CT) revealed a heterogeneous hepatic mass with a central area in which enhancedment was delayed. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) disclosed a huge mass of predominantly low signal intensity at T1WI, and peripheral portions of high signal intensity and a central portion of intermediate signal intensity at T2WI. The pathologic diagnosis was cholangiocarcinoma with sarcomatous change.
Abdomen ; Aged ; Cholangiocarcinoma* ; Diagnosis ; Fever ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Ultrasonography