Isolated heaptic tuberculous granuloma with no coexistent tuberculosis elsewhere in the body is extremely rare. We report a case of pathologically proven tuberculous granuloma in the liver followed with both IV bolus and portal CT scans. The lesion on preenhanced CT scan showed undefinable isodensity. After IV bolus injection, it showed poor enhancement with central low-density and surrounding hyperdenity due to compensatory hypervascularity of the left lobe of liver in early phase. It showed peripheral rim enhancement in late phase and in delayed phase showed relatively homogeneous but slightly decreased contract enhancement. On portal CT scan, it showed a hypodense portal defect similar to other hepatic mass lesions. During follow-up studies, it was a slowly growing mass which was more easily detectable by prtal CT scans than bolus CT scans.
Follow-Up Studies ; Granuloma* ; Liver ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis

Dermal wound healing is a complex process that involved inflammation leading to re-epithelialization, granulation tissue, and tissue remodeling. Previous studies from our laboratory have shown that polysaccharides isolated from fungus, Phellinus gilvus (PG) have various anti-inflammatory activities. In present study, we have assessed the effect of polysaccharides from PG on the dermal wound healing of polysaccharides from PG in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model. Six of 6-mm circular wounds were created with biopsy punch on the 4th day after induction of diabetes. After 24 hours, each test substance was applied to the wound twice a day for next 5 days. Circular wounds treated with PG showed significantly reduced wound contraction and complete reepithelialization, as compared to wounds of non-treated (p < 0.05). These results show that polysaccharides isolated from PG enhanced wound repair in diabetic impaired healing, and could be developed as a wound healing agent in such clinical settings.
Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology ; Basidiomycota/*metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/*pathology ; Histocytochemistry ; Male ; Polysaccharides/isolation&purification/*pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin/*injuries ; Streptozocin ; Wound Healing/*drug effects ; Wounds, Penetrating/*drug therapy

General information is summarized, that is necessary to introduce a scientific assessment of the human health and exposure issue concerning dioxin and dioxin-like compound. Scientific literatures were reviewed to assess the background exposures to the dioxin-like compounds for normal residents. Epidemiologic studies were also reviewed to assess malignant and nonmalignant effects of dioxins. In 1997, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) as a human carcinogen, primarily based on occupational cohort studies. The US Environmental Protection Agency made the same decision in it's Draft Dioxin Reassessment. Epidemiologic evidences point to a generalized excess of all cancers, without any pronounced excess at specific sites. Reported non-cancer effects included a range of conditions affecting most systems. Among them, chloracne, elevation in gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), and alterations in reproductive hormones are related to TCDD. Other adverse outcomes, such as lipid concentrations, diabetes, circulatory and heart diseases, immunologic disorders, neurobehavioral effects, and developmental outcomes require further study before their respective relationships to TCDD can be more definitively assessed.
Chloracne ; Cohort Studies ; Dioxins* ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Heart Diseases ; Humans* ; International Agencies ; Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin ; Transferases ; United States Environmental Protection Agency

In fusion of lumbar spine, every fused motion segments shows varisble limitation of motion in flexion, extension and lateral bending according to their types and level of fusion. The motion segment of lumbar spine is three joint complex which consists of posterior two articular facet joints and an anterior intervertebral disc. Nowadays, orthopedic surgeon prefer anterior fusion due to direct identification and removal of diseased tissue, reduction of fractured fragments, restoration of intrevertebral space, early rehabilitation and no damage of nerve root and cord, and is prefered short Segmental Spinal Instrumentation(e.g. Cotrel Dubousset Instrumentation, etc.) due to short and rigid fusion, no necessity of external support and low limitation of motion. We studied 58 cases of fused lumbar spine which had been operated since Sep.1983, by X-ray overlay method and 20 cases of healthy lumbar spine as eontrol group. In this study, we obtained following results ; 1. Harrington Rod Instrumentation reveals the most remarkable limitation of motion, whereas, C.D.I. and A.I.F. reveal the least limitation of motion. 2. Distinct differencies of motion are repersented by its range of fusion and range of motion in 2 segmental fusion reveals remarkable decreasement from range of motion in single segmental fusion. 3. In single segmental fusion, the most limitation of motion was represented in Harrington Rod Instrumentation and posterior fusion with bone graft. There is remarkable decreasement of flexion at lumbosacral junction by its site of fusion. 4.In double segmental fusion, the most limitation of motion was represented in Harrington Rod Instrumentation and there is no significant difference of motion by its site of fusion.
Intervertebral Disc ; Joints ; Methods ; Orthopedics ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Rehabilitation ; Spine ; Transplants ; Zygapophyseal Joint

Background: Cardiac tamponade results in a hemodynamic disorder associated with decreased cardiac output and blood pressure. To improve cardiac output in a subject with cardiac tamponade, cardiotonic drugs and vasodilators with blood volume expander can be used. The purpose of this study was to observe the hemodynamic effects of cardiotonic drugs and vasodilators following administration of plasma expander in the dogs with cardiac tamponade. Method: Three groups of dogs were studied during the induced cardiac tamponade. Following infusion of pentastarch, group I received dobutamine by dripping of 10 microg/kg/min, followed by injection of 20 microg/kg/min, group II received hydralazine (20 mg, 40 mg) and group III received sodium nitroprusside (5 microg/kg/min, 10 microg/kg/min). The heart rate, blood pressure, cardiac output and pulmonary arterial occluded pressure were measured. The atrial transmural pressure was calculated by subtracting intrapericardial pressure from mean atrial pressure. Results: Cardiac output was increased in the groups I and II, but mean arterial pressure was increased in only the group I. Atrial transmural pressure was not changed in all three groups. Conclusion: The most pronounced hemodynamic improvements during the cardiac tamponade is observed in group I with pentastarch-dobutamine combination.
Animals ; Arterial Pressure ; Atrial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Volume ; Cardiac Output ; Cardiac Tamponade* ; Cardiotonic Agents ; Dobutamine* ; Dogs* ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics* ; Hydralazine* ; Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives* ; Nitroprusside* ; Plasma ; Vasodilator Agents

To investigate the effect of tumor removal and administration of OK432 on the splenic natural killer (NK) cell activity in the subcutaneous tumor bearing rats, NK cell activity assay using a 4-hour 51Cr release assay and flow cytometric analysis for NK cell population were performed. The results were as follows: 1. Splenic NK cell activity and population in the subcutaneous tumor bearing rats decreased along with the growth of the tumor. 2. The rats with subcutaneous tumor removal showed decrease of splenic NK cell activity, but splenic NK cell population was not decreased. 3. In the rats with subcutaneous tumor removal and OK432 administration, splenic NK cell activity was significantly increased 1 week after administration of OK432 and then gradually returned to normal, whereas increase of NK cell population was not significant. In the present study, splenic NK cell activity was significantly decreased despite removal of subcutaneous tumor. But with the administration of OK432, splenic NK cell activity returned to normal. Considering the role of NK cells on the first line of defense against the metastatic implantation of circulating tumor emboli, we suggest that perioperative administration of immunopotentiator such as OK432 may improve the patient's outcome after surgery of human neoplasm.
Animals ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural* ; Picibanil* ; Rats* ; Spleen

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value and optimal sampling time of serum S-100B protein for the prediction of poor neurological outcomes in post-cardiac arrest (CA) patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH). METHODS: We prospectively measured serum S100 calcium binding protein beta subunit (S-100B protein) levels 12 times (0-96 hours) after the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). The patients were classified into two groups based on cerebral performance category (CPC): the good neurological outcome group (CPC 1-2 at 6 months) and the poor neurological outcome group (CPC 3-5). We compared serial changes and serum S-100B protein levels at each time point between the two groups and performed receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for the prediction of poor neurological outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 40 patients were enrolled in the study. S-100B protein levels peaked at ROSC (0 hour), decreased rapidly to 6 hours and maintained a similar level thereafter. Serum S-100B protein levels in the poor CPC group (n = 22) were significantly higher than in the good CPC group (n = 18) at all time points after ROSC except at 4 hours. The time points with highest area under curve were 24 (0.829) and 36 (0.837) hours. The cut-off value, the sensitivity (24/36 hours) and specificity (24/36 hours) for the prediction of poor CPC at 24 and 48 hours were 0.221/0.249 ug/L, 75/65% and 82.4/94.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Serum S-100B protein was an early and useful marker for the prediction of poor neurological outcomes in post-CA patients treated with TH and the optimal sampling times were 24 and 36 hours after ROSC.
Area Under Curve ; Heart Arrest* ; Humans ; Hypothermia* ; Prospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: To evaluate the difference between the predicted postoperative refraction and the actual postoperative refraction after simultaneous vitrectomy and cataract surgery with sulcus fixation of an intraocular lens (IOL). METHODS: The records of patients with simultaneous vitrectomy and cataract surgery with sulcus IOL implantation (group 1) and with in-the-bag IOL implantation (group 2) were reviewed. We compared the spread between the predicted and actual refractive errors in the two groups. RESULTS: Group 1 consisted of 19 eyes in 19 patients and group 2 consisted of 23 eyes in 20 patients. The spread between the predicted and actual refraction (spread = actual-predicted) was -0.71 +/- 1.02 D in group 1 (p = 0.012) and -0.07 +/- 0.74 D in the group 2 (p = 0.86). The actual refractive errors in group 1 shifted toward myopia from the predicted in-the-bag refraction when compared with group 2. CONCLUSIONS: For the implantation of an IOL in the sulcus after simultaneous vitrectomy and cataract surgery, the IOL power should be approximately 1.0 D less than the power for in-the-bag fixation.
Cataract ; Humans ; Lenses, Intraocular* ; Myopia ; Refractive Errors* ; Vitrectomy

A 26-year-old Korean man had an erythematous scaly plaque on his right thigh for fifteen years. He was diagnosed with chronic eczema and treated with topical steroid, but no clinical improvement was obtained for 15 years. Laboratory studies including complete blood cell count, urinalysis, liver and renal function test, and peripheral blood smear were normal. A biopsy specimen showed hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, and mononuclear cellular infiltration in the epidermis. These cells had a perinuclear halo and showed a Pautrier's microabscess like configuration. In the dermis, there was a band like infiltration of inflammatory cells. Infiltrates of the epidermis were negative for leukocyte common antigen(CD45) and positive for Pan T cell(CD45RO). He was treated with topical PUVA twice a week for twelve weeks. Clinical and pathological improvements were obtained. We propose PUVA may be a useful therapeutic modality to treat Woringer Kolopp disease.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Blood Cell Count ; Dermis ; Eczema ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; Liver ; Pagetoid Reticulosis* ; Thigh ; Urinalysis

The exact incidence of esophagitis in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) remains poorly understood in Korea. To determine incidence of esophagitis in GERD, from August 1988 to July 1993, endoscopy, esophageal manometry with Bernstein test, and ambulatory 24 hour esophageal pH monitoring were carried out in a group of 349 patients with symptoms of heartburn or noncardiac chest pain. Based on these studies, 151(40%) patients had some degree of GERD and pstients were categorized as having: pathologic reflux, 98 patients; symptomatic reflux, 42 patients; and sensitive mucosal reflux, 11 patients. Among 151 patients with GERD, 27 patients(18%) had some degree of esophagitis. In conclusion, 40% of patients with symptoms suggestive of GERD have GERD. GERD is divided into subgroups; pathologic reflux, symptomatic reflux, and mucosal sensitive reflux. Less than 20% of GERD have esophagitis or esophageal mucosal injury and these low incidence of mucosal injury in Korean may be due to increased esophageal mucosal resistance.
Chest Pain ; Endoscopy ; Esophageal pH Monitoring ; Esophagitis* ; Esophagitis, Peptic ; Gastroesophageal Reflux* ; Heartburn ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Korea ; Manometry