No abstract available.
Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic*

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has been widely used in the clinic because of the benefit of high spatial and temporal resolution, and the excellent anatomical tissue contrast. Cancer-targeted MR molecular imaging comprises 3 major components: a relevant molecular target which is specifically highly expressed on the membrane of the cancer cell; a target specific imaging probe which is composed of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle coreconjugated target specific ligand such as antibody, peptide, and molecules; MR imaging hardware and software which are sensitive to the imaging probe. Among the various molecular targets, HER2/neu receptor antibody, folic acid, and arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) are well known targeting ligands. The sensitivity of the cancer-targeted MR imaging is affected by the magnetic susceptibility of the T2 contrast agent, resolution of the image, targeting efficiency of the imaging probe, and image acquisition pulse sequence. Recently, successful cancer-targeted MR imaging with T1 contrast agent and cancer-specific molecular MR imaging using innate contrast of the cancer cell by chemical exchange phenomenon without using the imaging probe has been introduced. Cancer-targeted MR molecuar imaging is a robust diagnostic method to detect cancer at the cellular stage of the cancer development and it would help improve early detection rate of the cancer.
Ferric Compounds ; Folic Acid ; Iron ; Ligands ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Magnetics ; Magnets ; Membranes ; Molecular Imaging ; Nanoparticles

The Ilizarov technique has been used successfully in the treatment of nonunion of long bone accompanied by infection, severe bone and soft tissue defects, and deformity. We report the results of treatment of 21 cases of nonunion using the Ilizarov technique. There were 20 males and 1 female with an average age of 34.2 years (range, 8-72 years). The average follow up period was 45 months (range, 12-74months). Infected nonunion(15/21 cases) was the most common cause of nonunion. The treatment methods include simple compression method(4 cases) and internal and external bone transport method(17 cases). Bony union was achieved in 20 cases out of 21 cases. One case is still having difficulty in achieving union. The mean time to union was 7.3 months in femurs and 6.3 months in tibias. The amount of bone defect that developed after the removal of infected bone fragments and soft tissue averaged 3.8cm (range, 2.3-9cm). The healing index, in cases of bone transport, was an average of 45 days per cm (range, 30-62 days per cm). Complications developed in 17 cases out of 21 cases. Pin site infection occurred in 5 cases, premature consolidation in ~1 case, angulation deformity in 2 cases, LOM of the knee in 2 cases, equinus deformity in 2 cases, ankle stiffness in 3 cases, and nonunion in 1 case. The Ilizarov technique is thought to be effective in the treatment of complicated nonunion combined with shortening, deformity, bone defect and infection. However, in order to reduce complications caused by the Ilizarov method, accurate surgical techniques and postoperative care are necessary.
Ankle ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Equinus Deformity ; External Fixators* ; Female ; Femur ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ilizarov Technique ; Knee ; Male ; Postoperative Care ; Tibia

Failure of fixation of intertrochanteric fractures that have been treated with a fixed-angle sliding hip-screw device is frequently related to the position of the lag screw in the femoral head. The purpose of this study is to introduce the concept of the tip-apex distance and to demonstrate its clinical usefulness as a predictor of cutout of the screw used for fixation of the intertrochanteric fractures of the hip. The tip-apex distance is the sum of the distance from the tip of the lag screw to the apex of femoral head on an anteroposterior radiograph and this distance on a lateral radiograph after controlling for magnification. To determine the value of tip-apex distance in the prediction of cutout of the lag screw, 67 intertrochanteric fractures that have been treated with a fixed-angle sliding hip screw device were studied. The minimum duration of follow-up was three months during which period all of the fractures either healed or had failure of the fixation. The average tip-apex distance was 21mm (range,22.8-65.8mm) for the successfully treated fractures compared with 35mm (range,8.4-65.8mm) for those in which the screw cutout. There was strong statistical relationship between an increasing tip-apex distance and the rate of cutout. An unstable fracture, a poor reduction were also associated with a significantly increased risk of failure due to cutout.
Femur ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head ; Hip Fractures* ; Hip*

The purpose of this paper was to report clinical results and complications of high tibial osteotomy with fibular shaft osteotomy for medial unicompartmental osteoarthritis with varus deformity of the knee. Especially, the complications related to fibular shaft osteotomy were surveyed and analysed. Among one hundred and thirty-one cases which underwent high tibial osteotomy from Nov 1993 to May 1999, twenty-five cases underwent it combined with fibular shaft osteotomy and followed up at least more than 2 years. Average follow-up period were 47 months. Hospital for special surgery(HSS) knee score and femorotibial angle from weight bearing anteroposterior roentgenography of the knee were evaluated and measured. HSS knee score was improved from average 69 points preoperatively to 93 points in average at the final follow-up. Femorotibial angle was varus 2.9 degrees in average preoperatively and improved to valgus 8.1 degrees in average postoperatively and valgus 6.6 degrees at the final follow-up. Complications were tender- ness near to fibular shaft osteotomy in 9 cases, superficial peroneal nerve injury in 8 cases, non-union of fibu- lar osteotomy in 7 cases, non-union or delayed union of tibia osteotomy in 3 cases. High tibial osteotomy with fibular shaft osteotomy was a effective procedure in improving clinical results of osteoarthritis of the knee. However care must be taken to avoid complications rel#ated to fibular osteotomy
Congenital Abnormalities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Knee ; Osteoarthritis ; Osteotomy* ; Peroneal Nerve ; Radiography ; Tibia ; Weight-Bearing

BACKGROUND: The propose of this study was to identify the level of medical technologists' perception of and compliance with hospital infection control guidelines. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted for 65 medical technologists working at three university hospitals in Seoul and Kyunggi areas. The questionnaire was composed of 34 questions on the general characteristics (14 items) of individual responders and about infection control guidelines (20 items). Their response was marked on the basis of 5 points for each question. RESULTS: The mean scores of the perception of and compliance with the infection control guidelines were 4.62+/-0.34 and 3.85+/-0.42, respectively. The female technologists scored significantly higher than did the male counterparts in the participation level of the infection control guidelines (P<0.05). The medical technologists who had participated in an infection control educational program were more likely than those who had not to show a higher compliance level on the infection control guidelines (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated that the development of infection control educational programs for medical technologists and a supportive policy of the hospital administration should contribute to the prevention of nosocomial infections.
Compliance* ; Cross Infection* ; Female ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hospital Administration ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Male ; Medical Laboratory Personnel ; Seoul ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVE: In vitro fertilization (IVF) and a prolonging the time of culture may be helpful in establishing a viable pregnancy through a selection effect. Some embryos do not develop beyond the 4-cell stage and some may not develop to the blastocyst stage. We have evaluated the safety of SET and the outcomes of pregnancy. METHODS: Sperms were treated with Ham's F-10 supplemented with 10% human follicular fluid (hFF). Oocytes or fertilized oocytes were cultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) with 10% or 20% hFF respectively. Up to five oocytes were inseminated with approximately 200,000 sperm cells/2 ml in each well. Fertilization was examined in the following morning and fertilized oocytes were co-cultured until embryo transfer. Vero cells for co-culture were prepared in Tissue Culture Medium - 199 (TCM-199) with 10% fetal bovine serum. At the two to four cell and blastocyst on day 2 and day 5, embryo and blastocyst grading were evaluated. Pregnancy rate was determined after transfer of human embryos at the two to four cell stage on day 2 (Group I) or subsequent transfer of embryos on day 2 and at the blastocyst stage on day 5 (Group II). For statistically significant when rho value was less than 0.05. RESULTS: No differences was found in the fertilization between Group I(81.0%, 98/121) and Group II(81.8%, 180/220). In case of cleavage rate, no difference was found in Group I(95.9%, 94/98) and Group II(66.7%, 12/18) than in Group (26.3%, 5/19). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that SET is safe and effective, and significantly increases the pregnancy rate.
Blastocyst ; Coculture Techniques ; Eagles ; Embryo Transfer* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Fertilization ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Follicular Fluid ; Humans ; Oocytes ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Spermatozoa ; Vero Cells

OBJECTIVE: In the preparation of ICSI, cumulus and corona cells should be removed from the oocytes by using a combination of enzymatic (hyaluronidase) and mechanical (pipetting) methods. But little is known about the effects of different degrees of oocyte denudation and incubation time between denudation and sperm injection on the outcomes of ICSI. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of varying the degrees of oocyte denudation and the lengths of incubation time from denudation to sperm injection on the outcomes of ICSI. METHODS: In experiment 1, patients (oocytes) were grouped into group A and B according to the degree of denudation, complete and partial, respectively. In experiment 2, patients (oocytes) were grouped into group I, II and III according to the length of incubation time of denuded oocytes until sperm injection as < 1, 1~2 and >2 hours, respectively. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the degree of oocyte denudation on the survival, fertilization and development rates after ICSI procedure. In case of the incubation time of denuded oocytes until ICSI, survival rates was higher in group III (83.1%) than in group I (61.5%, p<0.05) or group II (64.3%). However no statistically significant differences were found between incubation time and fertilization or development rates. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals that the outcomes of ICSI are not affected by the degree (complete or partial) of oocyte denudation. However the denuded oocytes with incubation period of more than 2 hours show better outcomes of ICSI than those with the incubation period of less than 2 hours.
Fertilization ; Humans* ; Oocytes* ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic* ; Spermatozoa ; Survival Rate

No abstract available.
Animals ; Mice*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluat the effects of a culture medium with glucose in the presence of glutamine on the development of mouse embryos. METHODS: Two-cell embryos recovered from ICR mice at 48 hrs after hCG injection (mated just after hCG injection) were cultured in DMEM (with 20% hFF) supplemented with or without glucose on the presence of glutamine. Embryos were cultured under three different glucose regimens: (1) 0 mM (control); (2) 0.5 mM (group I); or (3) 3.15 mM (group II), and were analyzed at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours intervals. Chi-square test (x2-test) was used to compare values of groups. RESULTS: No differences were found in the number of embryos showing morula (control: 37.5%; group I: 51.0%; group II: 48.4%), blastocyst (control: 21.5%; group I: 33.3%; group II: 34.4%) and blastocyst and hatching or hatched blastocyst (control: 81.9%; group I: 83.3%; group II: 82.8%) between groups at 24 hrs, 48 hrs or 72 hrs respectively. However at 96 hrs, the number of hatched and attached blastocyst was significantly higher in group I (82.3%) and II (78.5%) than control (63.2%; P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The addition of glucose (0.5 mM) to the DMEM, as energy source, improved the rate of development of late stage embryos in mice.
Animals ; Blastocyst ; Eagles* ; Embryonic Development* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Glucose* ; Glutamine* ; Mice* ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Morula ; Pregnancy