OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between amniotic fluid interleukin-8 and the presence, severity and pattern of acute inflammatory lesions in the placenta delivered after preterm labor with intact membranes. METHODS: The relationship between placental histologic finding and amniotic fluid interleukin-8 was examined in 46 consecutive patients who were admitted with the diagnosis of preterm labor with intact membranes and who delivered singleton gestations within 5 days. RESULTS: The prevalence of acute histologic chorioamnionitis was 63.0%(29/46) and that of positive amniotic fluid culture was 17.4%(8/46). The most frequent site of histologic inflammation was chorion-decidua(56.5%, 26/46). The median amniotic fluid interleukin-8 increased significantly according to the presence and higher severity of inflammation in each type of placental section (p<0.05 for each). Three patterns of inflammation were identified in chorion-decidua: non-marginating, marginating, and mixed. Median amniotic fluid interleukin-8 and the rate of severe histologic chorioamnionitis (grade> or = 4) increased significantly in the order of non-marginating, marginating, and mixed (p<0.05 for each). CONCLUSION: Both the presence and greater severity of acute histologic chorioamnionitis are associated with an elevated amniotic fluid interleukin-8. A marginating and mixed pattern of inflammation are associated with a higher amniotic fluid interleukin-8. Amniotic fluid interleukin-8 is a reliable prenatal marker of histologic chorioamnionitis.
Amniotic Fluid* ; Chorioamnionitis ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation* ; Interleukin-8* ; Membranes ; Obstetric Labor, Premature* ; Placenta ; Pregnancy ; Prevalence

148 male and 153 female college students attitude toward weight control, diet behaviors and food habits were investigated by self questionnaire. Among the students, underweight students were 11.0%, normal weight students were 63.5% and obese students were 25.6% by RBW standard, and underweight students were 16.0%, nromal weight students were 70.4% and obese students were 13.6% by BMI standard. However, more than 10% of male and 38% of female students thought they were obese even thought their body weight were normal. Female students tended to overeat when they were stressed or in a bad mood and generally all participants had poor scores on the dietary attitudes test, however, male students had significantly higher scores than female students. Female students tended to choose food more for its taste. Collegestudents are in early stage of adult life and their dietary attitudes, food behaviors and life style will continue to their later life. Therefore college students need more good nutrition knowledge, positive dietary attitudes, modified life styles to prevent and treat collegestudents obesity.
Adult ; Body Weight ; Diet* ; Female ; Food Habits* ; Humans ; Life Style ; Male ; Obesity ; Thinness ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Humans

Repairing of lacrimal canalicular laceration has some controversies on the golden time of surgery, the suture method, and the materials for stent. Recently, intubation of silicone tubes has become popular for repair of lacrimal canalicular injuries. Thirty-two cases of injured lacrimal canaliculi were repaired with use of silicone tube stents. The surgery can be done with monocanalicular(10 patients) or bicanalicular(22 patient) methods. The follow-up period was from two to eighteen months(mean ten months). Seven cases using the monocanalicular method and nineteen cases using the bicanalicular method were successful. Three cases of monocanalicular method had epiphora with canalicular obstruction due to early loss of the silicone tube. In monocanalicular method, postoperative complications were punctal granuloma(1 case), punctal slits(2 cases), and early loss of the silicone tube(3 cases). In bicanalicular method, postoperative complications were persistent epiphora during the period of intubaion(4 cases), conjunctival irritation sign(3 cases) and loop retraction(1 case). In conclusion, the success rate of bicanalicular stents were higher than that of monocanalicular stents for canalicular laceration. But the bicanalicular stent had some complications including cosmetic problem, possibility of injuries to the normal canaliculus during intubation, conjuntival irritation sign, and loop retraction.
Follow-Up Studies ; Intubation* ; Lacerations ; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases ; Postoperative Complications ; Silicones* ; Stents ; Sutures

Most proximal humeral fractures respond satisfactorily to simple conservative treatment, but operative treatment is recommended in cases where poor results are anticipated by prolonged immobilization, or because of severe displacement and comminution. We used a minimal internal fixation and tension band technique in severely displaced and comminuted cases to achieve firm fixation and avoid subacromial impingement. Passive range of motion of the involved shoulder began within the first postoperative day and active range of motion exercise was encouraged as soon as possible within the first postoperative week. Between February 1996 and November 1997, we operated using this technique on 15 patients ranging in age from 16 to 71 years (average 52). Follow-up averaged 13 months. During the follow-up period, all patients except one patient, had a active full range of motion on the affected limb. According to the evaluation on the 10 patients who had follow- up periods over 12 months by Hawkins rating scale of shoulder function, 6 patients had achieved a good result and 4 patients had achieved a fair result at the last follow up. In conclusion, tension band technique with minimal internal fixation could afford sufficient fracture stability to allow early, aggressive rehabilitation. As a method of internal fixation on a proximal humerus fracture, this technique may have particular advantages in elderly osteoporotic patients.
Aged ; Extremities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Humerus ; Immobilization ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Rehabilitation ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Fractures*

Treatment of rotator cuff tears by open subacromial decompression has known successful in decreasing pain and restoring function in patients who have failed nonoperative treatment. But, open rotator cuff repair may result in significant deficits in strength and active motion by deltoid separation from the acromion. Deltoid detachment may be avoided by repair using mini-open technique. Arthroscopic subacromial decompression and the rotator cuff repair revel satisfactory results. Subacromial decompression involves decompression of the coracoacromial arch including routine release or resection of the coracoacromial ligament. Recent ligament-cutting studies have confirmed the role of the coracoacromial ligament as a static restraint to superior humeral head displacement. Complete resection of the coracoacromial ligament may be avoided through minimized arthroscopic acromioplasty. We evaluated all 11 patients with rotator cuff tears who underwent arthroscopic minimized subacromial decompression and rotator cuff repairs using mini-open technique. Their average age was 53 years (26 to 64 years); and the average follow-up was 13 months. Preoperatively, all patients complained pain and weakness. Follow-up using modified Hospital for Special Surgery shoulder score showed good to excellent results in 10 cases and poor results in 1 case an average 13 months postoperatively. We found that arthroscopic minimized subacromial decompression and repair using mini-open technique are safe, effective procedure for addressing cuff tears of a wide range of sizes.
Acromion ; Decompression ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Humeral Head ; Ligaments ; Rotator Cuff* ; Shoulder

Collagenous colitis is an uncommon condition charaeterized clinically by diarrhea and weight loss and histologically by thickening of the subepithelial collagen band with chromic inflammation. Laboratory tests of blood, urine and stool, and colonscopic findings are usually normal. The etiology of collagenous colitis is unknown. We report a case of collagenous colitis improved after treatment with sulfasalazine with review of literatures.
Colitis, Collagenous* ; Collagen* ; Diarrhea ; Inflammation ; Sulfasalazine ; Weight Loss

OBJECTIVE: To study the safety and efficacy of using rectangular titanium cage(RABEA) for anterior cervical fusion, we have compared the results of fusion performed by using fibula allograft and RABEA cage. METHODS: Total of 74 patients with single level cervical discectomy were included in this study. Allogenic fibula bone graft alone was done in 38 patients and RABEA cage was inserted in 36 patients. Retrospective clinical analysis was based on review the symptoms and radiological findings on both two groups at postoperative 12 months. RESULTS: Solid fusion was achieved in 95% of patients who received rectangular titanium cage and 74% of patients who received fibula allograft. According to Odom's criteria, 92% of patients were found to have excellent or good results in the RABEA cage group and 68% of patients in allograft group. Functional outcome was assessed according to Odom's criteria and patient's postoperative satisfaction index(PSI). Better clinical outcome and solid fusion could be achieved by rectangular titanium cage fusion than allogenic fibula graft after single level anterior cervical discectomy. CONCLUSION: We believe that RABEA cage is an effective and safe cervical fusion substitute for single level cervical fusion after discectomy.
Allografts* ; Diskectomy* ; Fibula* ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Titanium* ; Transplants

No abstract available.
HIV ; Humans* ; Mothers* ; Pregnancy*

PURPOSE: It is important to differentiate malignant from benign lesions of intraocular masses in choosing therapeutic plan. Biopsy of intraocular tumor is not recommended due to the risk of visual damage. We evaluated the usefulness of F-18-FDG PET imaging in diagnosing intraocular neoplasms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: F-l8-FDG PET scan was performed in 13 patients (15 lesions) suspected to have malignant intraocular tumors. There were 3 benign lesions (retinal detachment, choroidal effusion and hemorrhage) and 10 patients with 12 malignant lesions (3 melanomas, 7 retinoblastomas and 2 metastatic cancers). Regional eye images (256*256 and 128*128 matrices) were obtained with or without attenuation correction. Whole body scan was also performed in eight patients (3 benign and 6 malignant lesions). RESULTS: All malignant lesions were visualized while all benign lesions were not visualized. The mean peak standardized uptake value (SUV) of malignant lesions was 2.64+/-0.57 g/ml. There was no correlations between peak SUV and tumor volume. Two large malignant lesions (>1000 mm3 ) showed hot uptake on whole body scan. But two medium-sized lesions (100-l000 mm3) looked faint and two small (<100 mm3) lesions were not visualized. The images reconstructed with 256*256 matrix showed lesions more clearly than those with 128X128 matrix. CONCLUSION: F-18-FDG PET scan is highly sensitivity in detecting malignant intraocular tumor. For the evaluation of small-sized intraocular lesions, whole body scan is not appropriate because of low sensitivity. A regional scan with sufficient acquisition time is recommended for that purpose. Image reconstruction in matrix size of 256*256 produced clearer images than the ones in 128X128, but it does not affect the diagnostic sensitivity.
Biopsy ; Choroid ; Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Melanoma ; Orbital Neoplasms ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Retinoblastoma ; Tumor Burden ; Whole Body Imaging