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

STUDY DESIGN: The treatment of a stable fracture around thoracolumbarjunction is a controversial subject. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the result from long term follow-up of the stable spinal fracture around thoracolumbar junction according to the operation, osteoporosis and in situ extension bar, respectively. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The thoracolumbar junction is a transitional zone in which the kyphotic angle of thoracic spine is continued to the lordotic angle of lumbar splne. So it is prone to be injured biomechanically, and the stability of the spine around thoracolumbar junction is not determined yet. METHODS: We studied retrospectively 105 cases of the stable fracture around thoracolumbar junction from January 1985 to December 1995. The criteria of the stability were a compression fracture by Denis F., a bursting fracture without involvement of posterior column, a neural enchroachment of bony fragment below 30%, fracture without subluxation or dislocation in spinal junction. RESULTS: The most common cause was traffic accident and, the first lumbar vertebrate was common site. Below 30% of initial compression, the progression was not exceded 5% in operative group. But in nonoperative group, anterior compression was more progressed than initial compression over 5%. The degree of anterior compression was affected by osteoporosis and in situ extension bar just after injury. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest an anterior compression abode 30% in spinal body of thoracolumbar junction for an additional operative indication. The prognosis may be affected by osteoporosis and in situ extension bar.
Accidents, Traffic ; Dislocations ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Fractures, Compression ; Osteoporosis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures ; Spine ; Vertebrates

BACKGROUND: Neurofibroma, the hallmark of neurofibromatosis, is a cutaneous or subcutaneous lesion, with a variable clinical presentation. Histologically, neurofibroma consists of proliferation of nerve derived cellular elements, together with an abundant, collagenous extracellular matrix. Specifically, neurofibroma has been shown to contain 30-50% collagen in its matrix. Objective 5. METHODS: We examined the expression of extracellular matrix genes (collagen, fibronectin, laminin), TGF-b mRNA and Ha-ras oncogene mRNA by using Northern and slot-blot hybridization and immunoperoxidase stains. Result: In Northern blot analysis, Ha-ras and TGF-b genes revealed respectively, 8.8kb and 2. 5kb sized mRNA transcripts in neurofibroma. These parameters were normal in the control. The expression of these genes were 1.9, 2.0 fold increased in neurofibroma. In slot-blot analysis, expression of type I collagen showed fibronectin genes to be 2,401+210, 540+43, respectively, in neurofibroma. So there were 3.7 fold, 2.1 fold, differences respectively, compared to the normal control. However, there were no significant changes of type IV collagen and laminin Bl mRNA levels between neurofibroma and normal skin tissues. Irnmunoperoxidase staining by rnonoclonal anti type IV collagen antibody in neurofibroma showed type IV collagen to be diffusely and weakly stained in tissue. On staining by monoclonal anti-laminin antibody, laminin was stained in a matrix and around vessels. CONCLUSION: The increased expression of extracellular matrix genes may suggest that there is a subpopulation of fibroic cells in neurofibroma which are stimulated by TGF-b. Ha-ras genes which might have accumulated with the differentiation of neural tissue may be related to the pathogenesis of neurofibroma tissue formation. Further studies are needed to determine whether the other factors are related to the pathogenesis of neurofibroma.
Blotting, Northern ; Collagen ; Collagen Type I ; Collagen Type IV ; Coloring Agents ; Extracellular Matrix* ; Fibronectins ; Genes, ras* ; Laminin ; Neurofibroma ; Neurofibromatoses* ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin

PURPOSE: We investigated the statistical methods to compose the functional brain map of human working memory and the principal factors that have an effect on the methods for localization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Repeated PET scans with successive four tasks, which consist of one control and three different activation tasks, were performed on six right-handed normal volunteers for 2 minutes after bolus injections of 925 MBq H0 at the intervals of 30 minutes. Irnage data were analyzed using SPM96 (Statistical Parametric Mapping) imple-mented with Matlab (Mathworks Inc., U.S.A.). Images from the same subject were spatially registered and were normalized using linear and nonlinear transformation methods. Significant difference between control and each activation state was estimated at every voxel based on the general linear model. Differences of global counts were removed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with global activity as covariate. Using the mean and variance for each condition which was adjusted using ANCOVA, t-statistics was performed on every voxel To interpret the results more easily, t-values were transformed to the standard (saussian distri-bution (Z-score). RESULTS: All the subjects carried out the activation and control tests successfully. Average rate of correct answers was 95%. The numbers of activated blobs were 4 for verbal memory I, 9 for verbal memory II, 9 for visual memory, and 6 for canjunctive activation of these three tasks. The verbal working memory activates predominantly left-sided slruetures, and the visual memory activates the right hernisphere. CONCLUSION: We conclude that rCBF PET imaging and statistical parametric mapping method were useful in the localization of the brain regions for verbal and visual working memory.
Brain Mapping* ; Brain* ; Electrons* ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Memory ; Memory, Short-Term ; Positron-Emission Tomography*

PURPOSE: For the purpose of using Re-188 as a therapeutic radionuclide, we performed the quality control of the W-188/Re-188 generation system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Several quality control tests of the Re-188 eluate from generator were carried out of about 300 days. After elution of Re-188 with normal saline (20 ml), chromatogram and gamma-ray spectrum of Re-188 eluate were obtained. The presence of aluminum which was derived from the elumina bed of the generator was detected by using aluminum ion indicator kit. Re-188 eluate was allowed to decay for several days, and then W-188 breakthrough in the Re-188 eluate was measured by detecting gamma-ray at 227 keV and 290 keV. The pH and the pyrogenicity of the eluate were checked. The Re-188 eluate from the generator was 67.4+/-7.0% of W-188 during 270 days, and it was hightest at third day after previous elution. Radiochemical purity of Re-188 eluate obtained from chromatogram was higher than 99%. Gamma-ray spectrum of Re-188 eluate showed a peak at 155 keV. Aluminum ion and W-188 contamination were not detected. The pH of Re-188 eluate was 3 and the concentration yield was 85%. CONCLUSION: Our experiments and results on quality control tests of Re-188 eluate from W-188/Re-188 generator may be useful for setting W-188/Re-188 generator in hospitals.
Aluminum ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Quality Control*

PURPOSE: For the purpose of using Re-188 as a therapeutic radionuclide, we performed the quality control of the W-188/Re-188 generation system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Several quality control tests of the Re-188 eluate from generator were carried out of about 300 days. After elution of Re-188 with normal saline (20 ml), chromatogram and gamma-ray spectrum of Re-188 eluate were obtained. The presence of aluminum which was derived from the elumina bed of the generator was detected by using aluminum ion indicator kit. Re-188 eluate was allowed to decay for several days, and then W-188 breakthrough in the Re-188 eluate was measured by detecting gamma-ray at 227 keV and 290 keV. The pH and the pyrogenicity of the eluate were checked. The Re-188 eluate from the generator was 67.4+/-7.0% of W-188 during 270 days, and it was hightest at third day after previous elution. Radiochemical purity of Re-188 eluate obtained from chromatogram was higher than 99%. Gamma-ray spectrum of Re-188 eluate showed a peak at 155 keV. Aluminum ion and W-188 contamination were not detected. The pH of Re-188 eluate was 3 and the concentration yield was 85%. CONCLUSION: Our experiments and results on quality control tests of Re-188 eluate from W-188/Re-188 generator may be useful for setting W-188/Re-188 generator in hospitals.
Aluminum ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Quality Control*

Background: Korea National Health Checkup Programs are aimed at the prevention and early detection of cardiovascular disease in adults. To establish a countermeasure for this tendency, The current Korea National Health Checkup Programs have been providing Health Risk Appraisal (HRA) since 2009, thereby focusing on individual lifestyle correction. However, from 2018, the dyslipidemia screening exam cycle has been changed from 2 to 4 years. Methods: In this study, we try to investigate whether policy decisions are valid based on domestic reports that have influenced policy decisions. First, considering the epidemiology of the domestic cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome, the change of the 4-year cycle is appropriate or not. Second, whether the research method that applies came to make policy decisions appropriate or not. Third, our study also investigates whether the direction of policy decision was suitable for the second comprehensive national examination plan. Results: The data that are used in the previous study were that of 10 years ago and there also was a problem in selecting the data, especially the use of one of the research methods to calculate the signal to noise ratio that was aimed at improving health had some problems. This is a research method that does not match with the aim itself. Conclusion Changing the screening cycle for dyslipidemia does not match the recent trend of general screening to effectively prevent cardiovascular disease in improving individual lifestyles in the national health checkup plan. Studying the relationship with metabolic syndrome, which can be an intermediate stage of cardiovascular disease, could be a policy direction that is more suitable for the national health examination comprehensive plan.

OBJECTIVE: This study was to investigate the clinical efficiency of clomiphene citrate/GnRH antagonist protocol comparing with the clomiphene citrate only protocol in infertile women with normal ovulatory cycles. METHOD: Among 116 patients, 43 were received assisted reproductive technologies using natural ovulatory cycle, 38 and 35 were received clomiphene citrate only protocol and clomiphene citrate/GnRH antagonist combined protocol, respectively, and the clinical results were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: In each group, basal levels of LH, FSH, E2 and FSH, E2 on hCG day injected were not different, but LH level and endometrial thickness on hCG injected day were decreased significantly and the pregnancy rate was increased significantly in clomiphene citrate/GnRH antagonist group. CONCLUSION: The pregnancy rate was increased significantly in clomiphene citrate/GnRH antagonist group compared with natural ovulatory cycle and clomiphene citrate only group.
Clomiphene* ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy Rate ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted

No abstract available.
Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*

An 41-year-old woman with chronic active hepatitis developed multible asymptomatic erythematous papules, plaques and purpuras on the both lower leg, feet, forearms and hands. Some lesions progressed to ulcers with central black colored necrotic eschars. Biopsies and cultures demorrstrated a fungus, aspergillus fumigatus a the etilogic agent. No evicience of involvement of other organs by aspergillus fumigatus was found. Intravenous amphotericin B therapy was discontinued because of he immediate adverse effects. The patient received treatment with oral itaconazole(200mg/day) and intravenous fluconazole(400mg/day), but skin lesions have been recurring repeatedly.
Adult ; Amphotericin B ; Aspergillosis* ; Aspergillus fumigatus ; Biopsy ; Female ; Fluconazole ; Foot ; Forearm ; Fungi ; Hand ; Hepatitis* ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Humans ; Leg ; Purpura ; Skin ; Ulcer