BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Plasma levels of MCP-1, RANTES and IL-18 are related to allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis or asthma. But it is not well investigated in allergic rhinitis. We evaluated the association of plasma concentrations of these cytokines and allergic rhinitis. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: The concentrations of plasma MCP-1, RANTES and IL-18 were analyzed by ELISA. The levels of cytokines were compared between perennial allergic rhinitis patients (n=48) and controls (n=33), and this depended on symptom severity. RESULTS: Plasma levels of MCP-1 and IL-18 were significantly increased more in allergic rhinitis patients (MCP-1, 108 pg/mL, p<0.01; IL-18, 299 pg/mL, p<0.01) than in controls (MCP-1, 86 pg/mL; IL-18, 168 pg/mL). Especially, the levels of moderate-severe allergic rhinitis group (MCP-1, 116 pg/mL; IL-18, 329 pg/mL) showed higher tendency than mild one (MCP-1, 101 pg/mL; IL-18, 273 pg/mL). However, the levels of RANTES did not exhibit any differences between allergic rhinitis and control. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that plasma MCP-1 and IL-18 might be associated with nasal inflammation of perennial allergic rhinitis, especially in severely symptomatic patients.
Asthma ; Chemokine CCL5* ; Cytokines ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-18* ; Plasma* ; Rhinitis*

The authors analysed the CT findings in 75 cases diagnosed as gastric carcinoma by U.G. I.S. or endoscopy in a 3)1, year period. The comparative analysis betw~en CT findings and surgical pathologic findings was done in 55 cases who underwent surgery. 20 cases could not be operated upon because of distant metastasis. The gastric carcinoma was devided into 4′ stages according to the staging system of the American joint Committee on Cancer. The CT findings were then compared and the following results noted : 1. The relationship with gastric wall thickening and penetratioil degree of tumori no thickening (Iesser than 1.0 cm) of 3 cases showed all of T1, 11 of localized thickening (1. 0.1 .5cm) showed 7 of T2, 38 of localized thickening (more than 1.5 cm) showed 37 of T3 and 3 of diffuse thickening showed all of T4a. 2. The accuracy of Iymph node detection by CT scan, 1) Regionaf tymph node showed 86% in operative f in ding and 73% in pathologic. 2) Extragastric Iymph node showed 87% in operative finding and 89% in pathologic. 3) Retro-peritoneallymph node showed 96% in operative finding and 95% in pathologic. ic. 3. In operated cases, there was one case of false positive distant metastasis and three false negative cases. 20 cases of non-operated cases showed distant metastasis such as liver, lung or kidney. 4. 55 cases were classified as stage 1 in 4 cases, 11 in 18, 111 in 23 and IV in 10 by pathologic findings, and 1 in 3, 11 in 24, 111 in 19 and IV in 9 by CT. The overall accuracy by CT stagi ng is 75%. 5. Among a total of 75 cases, there were 46 operable cases by CT finding an d 43 operabl e cases by pathologic staging. There we re 29 inoperable cases by CT finding and 27 cases by pathologic staging. Therefore, there was a 93% overall accuracy by CT stagi ng in terms of determination of operability. 6. The accuracy of adhesion into adjacent structure by CT finding was 69%. compared with operable finding.
Endoscopy ; Joints ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lung ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Pregnancy, Heterotopic*

A case of Moya-Moya disease with AVM is reported. It is well known that Moya-Moya disease sometimes is accompanied by cerebral aneurysm. However, only four case of Moya-Moya disease with AVM have previously been published in the world. A 36-year-old women suffered from sudden onset of mental deterioration & left hemiparesis, Brain CT scan showed intraventricular hemorrage in both lateral & 3rd ventricle. Enhanced CT scan revealed irregular enhancing area in the right posterior parietal cortex. Cerebral angiography showed an arteriovenous malformation fed by basal Moya-Moya vessels & posterior meningeal artery. Emergeny external ventricular drainge was done. 2 weeks later, the patient had operation for excision of AVM & encephalomyosynangiosis.
Adult ; Arteriovenous Malformations* ; Brain ; Cerebral Angiography ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Meningeal Arteries ; Moyamoya Disease* ; Paresis ; Rabeprazole ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic*

Direct operation for ruptured aneurysm should be the choice of treatment in elderly patients same as in younger cases. The early operation is an effective and reliable method to reduce the occurrence of rebleeding, vasospasm, ischemic complication, medical complication & to shorten lengths of hospitalization. To evaluate the risk of early operation of elderly patients with ruptured cerebral aneurysm. conducted a retrospective analysis 81 elderly patients with ruptured aneurysms who were over aged 60 years between Jan 1985 to June 1988. Of these, 47 case were performed early operation in which the direct intracranial operation was carried out within 3 days after last subarachnoid hemorrage. 77 % had favorable outcome and 13% died.
Aged* ; Aneurysm, Ruptured* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: We wanted to evaluate the results of medial epicondylar osteotomy for the varus knee when performing total knee arthroplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 32 cases of medial epicondylar osteotomy for treating varus deformity, and these cases underwent operation from December 2004 to December 2007. The average age of the patients was 71.0-years-old and the average follow-up period was 23.5 months. The clinical outcomes were measured, including the Knee Society score (KSS), the function score (FS) and the range of the motion (ROM). The radiological outcomes were measured by anteroposterior simple radiographs for assessing the union state of the osteotomy site, and the valgus stress radiographs and the whole extremity radiographs were used for assessing the femorotibial angle, the mechanical axis angle and the alignment. RESULTS: The KSS improved from 46.5+/-7.6 to 89.1+/-5.9 points (p<0.001) and the FS increased from 39.5+/-9.2 to 84.2+/-8.5 points (p<0.001). The range of motion increased from 101.5+/-28.2degrees to 116.0+/-10.8degrees (p=0.006). Bony union occurred in 22 knees and fibrous union occurred in 10 knees. The femorotibial angle was corrected from varus 8.2+/-5.0degrees to valgus 5.6+/-1.5degrees (p<0.001) and the mechanical axis angle was revised from varus 13.9+/-4.5degrees to varus 0.7+/-1.6degrees (p<0.001). There were 27 neutral, 4 varus and 1 valgus alignment. On the valgus stress radiographs, the difference compared with the opposite side was 1.0+/-0.6degrees and there was no significant difference between the bony union group and the fibrous union group (p=0.175). CONCLUSION: Medial epicondylar osteotomy for the varus knee when performing total knee arthroplasty could be a useful ligament balancing technique for achieving medial stability of the knee.
Arthroplasty ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Extremities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee ; Ligaments ; Osteotomy ; Range of Motion, Articular

Nerve palsy after total knee arthroplasty is a rare complication and this is usually associated with local nerve compression or severe deformity of the knee. In many cases, the cause of nerve palsy was unknown and this is rarely associated with vascular complication. We report here on a case of the patient who had nerve palsy and delayed arterial occlusion after total knee arthroplasty.
Arthroplasty ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Humans ; Knee ; Paralysis

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical relationship between medial collateral ligament(MCL) complete detachment and mechanical alignment in total knee arthroplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From February 2001 to December 2006, we performed 290 TKAs. 9 TKAs(0.03%) happened MCL complete detachment. 1 TKA was excluded for paraplegia. All cases were women. The mean age was 71.1 years old. The mean follow-up period was 41.1 months. There were 7 degenerative osteoarthritis and 1 rheumatoid arthritis. The clinical evaluation included Knee Society Score(KSS), function score and range of motion(ROM) at preoperative, postoperative 3 months, 6 months, 12 months and final follow-up. We measured the femoro-tibial angle and the mecha- nical axis by anterior-posterior and whole lower extremity radiograph. The medial instability obtained serial valgus stress radiograph. RESULTS: There were 4 neutral and 4 varus alignment. KSS, function score, ROM was significantly improved in both group, and there were no significant differences in both group. On serial valgus stress radiograph, the difference compared with normal side decreased from 5.2 degree(postoperative 3 months) to 3.4 degree(final follow-up) in neutral alignment group, from 2.9 degree to 0.9 degree in varus alignment group. In final follow-up, it revealed that the medial instability of varus alignment group was less than that of neutral alignment group. CONCLUSION: In MCL complete detachment, some stability obtained by repair of medial collateral ligament and bracing. Whole instability was not gone. Therefore, we should make the varus alignment of prosthesis in mechanical axis line position of 34 to 67% on the medial tibial plateau.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Arthroplasty ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Braces ; Collateral Ligaments ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee ; Lower Extremity ; Osteoarthritis ; Paraplegia ; Prostheses and Implants

PURPOSE: This study was performed to characterize sepsis with thrombocytopenia in premature infants to determine if thrombocytopenia is a prognostic factor in sepsis in premature infants. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of sepsis in premature infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit(N=41) at the Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital from January 1999 to December 2002. The incidence, risk factors, symptoms, hematologic and bacteriologic findings were analyzed during episodes of sepsis. RESULTS: Of the 41 cases, 29(72%) were associated with thrombocytopenia. The ratio of male to female was 1.2 : 1. The vast majority(98%) were late-onset sepsis. The risk factors of the thrombocytopenic group were low birth weight and low gestational age. Major symptoms were poor activity (72%), apnea/tachypnea(52%), but were not significantly different between two groups. In the thrombocytopenic group(N=29), low total WBC count and high CRP level were discovered(P=0.03, P<0.01). The mean platelet count was 70.17(x103/mm3) at diagnosis of sepsis, and a mean platelet nadir was 43.10(x103/mm3). The severe thrombocytopenia(below 50x103/mm3) in the thrombocytopenic group was discovered in 69% and the duration of thrombocytopenia was about eight days. The majority of pathogens were gram-negative bacteria and candida. The thrombocytopenic group showed a pro longed length of stay and a high mortality rate. According to comparisons between the survived and expired groups, low birth weight, low gestational age, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were significantly correlated with mortality(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The sepsis with thrombocytopenia in premature infants showed late-onset sepsis and high morbidity and mortality, although differences were not significant statistically. Especially, low birth weight and low gestational aged infants should be cautiously treated and monitored.
Blood Platelets ; Candida ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; Heart ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Neutropenia ; Platelet Count ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sepsis* ; Thrombocytopenia*