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

No abstract available.
Child* ; Hip* ; Humans ; Osteoma, Osteoid*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: It has been reported that the difference in the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype due to genetic heterogeneity of HCV influence the clinical features, prognosis of HCV associated liver disease and response to interferon therapy. Prevalence of different genotypes of HCV may also vary between geographic areas. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the response to interferon alpha (IFN-a) therapy and HCV genotypes in patients with chronic HCV infection in Taegu and its environs. METHODS: One hundred seventy six patients known to be HCV antibody and HCV-NA positive were evaluated for HCV genotypes by restriction fragment length polymorphism. Among patients who had elevated ALT levels, 67 patients have been investigated for the role of the HCV genotype on disease outcome and the response of IFN-a therapy. RESULTS: Genotype 1b were found in 59.0% of patients (103/176), genotype 2a in 37.5% (66/176). The mode of transmission of HCV infection was guessed as transfusion in genotype 1b, but as parenteral infection in genotype 2a. According to their response to IFN-a therapy, 73 patients were divided into three groups, complete response, 18 (60%) of 30 patients with genotype 2a and 21 (48.8%) of 43 patients with genotype 1b: partial response, 5 (16.7%) of 30 patients with genotype 2a and 7 (16.2%) of 43 patients with genotype 1b: no response, 7 (23.3%) of 30 patients with genotype 2a and 15 (34.9%) of 43 patients with genotype 1b. Good response to IFN-a therapy was observed among patients group showing normal platelet count in patients with genotype 1b and normal GGT in patients with genotype 2a. CONCLUSIONS: The most frequently identified genotype was genotype 1b in Taegu and its environs, followed by genotype 2a. The HCV genotype was not a reliable predictor of response to IFN-a therapy. When a standardized regimen of IFN-a was administered, pretreatment serum platelet counts and GGT level seem to be useful predictor of IFN-a therapy in HCV infection. Further investigations are required in order to establish a correlation between viral factors and therapeutic responses.
Daegu* ; Genetic Heterogeneity ; Genotype* ; Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; Interferons ; Liver Diseases ; Platelet Count ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Prevalence ; Prognosis

STUDY DESIGN: Authors experienced three cases of malignant schwannoma arising from multiple neurofibromatosis and invading the vertebrae. OBJECTIVE: To report treatment results and preventive idea in three cases of malignant schwannoma transformed from neurofibromatosis within the retroperifoneal area and invading the vertebrae. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The patients with neurofibromatosis are clearly at increased risk to develop the malignant schwannoma. A review of Korean literature revealed no such cases. RESULTS: The first case presented in the L4 body and was treated by surgical excision and chemotherapy, but she expired due to secondary metastasis in six months after diagnosis. The second case was treated by diagnostic biopsy and chemotherapy with adriamycin, ifosfamide, DTIC, mesna. He eventually lived for 14 months. After a diagnostic biopsy, the third case died due to lung metastasis before we could begin the treatment. CONCLUSION: We recommend that neurofibromatsis patients be regularly followed-up and if necessary, CT examination of spine or abdomen should be done. If a malignant schwannoma is detected, then early treatment can be started.
Abdomen ; Biopsy ; Dacarbazine ; Diagnosis ; Doxorubicin ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Ifosfamide ; Lung ; Mesna ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neurilemmoma* ; Neurofibromatoses ; Spine*

Choledochal cyst, or cystic dilatation of the common bile duct, is generally considered to be an uncommon indiopathic congenital condition that may produce symptoms in infancy but more of ten is discovered at some time during the first two decades of life. Female patients have outnumbered males 3 or 5 to1, and almost cases reported by many authors had more than two symptoms among the classic triad of abdominal mass, jaundice and upper abdominal pain. Authors would like to submit here with the brief review of the literature and report on 2 cases of idiopathic dilatation of the common bile duct that they had experiences among the Pediatric inpatient at Busan St. Benedict Hospital, and the diagnosis was established by clinical, laboratory, X-ray and surgical findings. Cases I in 14 year old girl was complained of severe abdominal distension, jaundice, pruritus and abdominal mass. On 7th admission day, exploratory laparatomy was done and choledochal cyst of 1722cm in size was confirmed and has been followed up for 1 year after Roux-en-Y choledochojejunsotomy without any complications. Cases II in 9 year old boy was complained of intermittent fever, jaundice, colicky abdominal pain and upper abdominal mass. On 6th admission day, exploratory laparatomy was done and choledochal cyst of 1015cm in size was confirmed and has been followed up for 1 year after choledochoduodenostomy with cholecystectomy without any complications.
Abdominal Pain ; Adolescent ; Busan ; Child ; Cholecystectomy ; Choledochal Cyst ; Choledochostomy ; Common Bile Duct* ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation* ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Jaundice ; Male ; Pruritus

Pulmonary function tests were conducted in 60 male adults and 60 female adults at 20~79 years of age. They showed noevidenee of pulmonary disease on clinical symptoms, X-ray finidngs and past history. We wanted to evaluate the deterioration of pulmonary functional reserve in the aged. The results were as follows: 1) In males, FVC decreased significantly (p <0.01) from 4440+/-271.38 ml in 20~29 year-old subjects to 3090+/-445.75 ml 70~79 year-old subjects. The correlation coefficient with age was-0.6846. 2) In females, FVC decreased significantly (p<0.01) from 2097+/-479.42ml in 20~29 year-old subjects to 2142+/-233.13ml in 70~79 year-old subjects The correlation coefficient woth age was 0.6454. 3) In males, FEV, decreased significantly (p<0.01) from 4005+/-268.26 ml in 20~29 year-old subjects to 2373+/-326.36ml in 10~79 year-old subjects. The correlation coefficient with age was-0.8229. 4) In females, FEV1 decreased significantly (p<0.01) from 2586+/-519.00 ml in 20~29 yrar-old subjects to 1645+/-330.36ml in 70~79 year old subjects The correlation coefficient with age was 0.7013. 5) In males, FEV1/FVC decreased significantly (p<0.01) from 90.17+/-4.90% in 20~29 year-old subjects to 76.72+/-8.13% in 70~79 year-old subjects. The correlation coefficient with age was-0.5595. 6) In females, FEV1/FVC decreased significantly (p<0.01) from 88.66+/-6.58% in 20-29 year-old subjects to 76.80+/-9.32% in 70~79 year-old subjects. The correlation coefficient with age wae-0.4489.
Adult* ; Aging* ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; Male ; Respiratory Function Tests

High tibial osteotomy has been widely accepted as a method of treatments for middle-aged varus osteoarthritides with uncompartmental involvements. There have been several reports regarding the managements of fibula and their complications during the valgization procedure of tibia. They are, for example, osteotomy of fibular diaphysis or neck and excision of fibular head. Each level of fibular management is often complicated by nonunison, peroneal nerve palsy and lateral instability respectively. We have reviewed 20 cases of cases of high tibial osteotomy using proximal tibiofibular arthrolysis performed between March 1987 and February 1993. This method has proved excellent exposure of upper lateral tibia for the wedge removal, internal fixation and relief of the tethering effect of fibula. There was no peroneal nerve palsy relate to this degenerative change of the proximal tibiofibular was 3.4mm(range 1-11mm) and there was neither degenerative change of the proximal tibiofibular joint nor varus instability. In conclusion the arthrolysis of proximal tibiofibular joint can be highly recommended in high tibial osteotomy.
Diaphyses ; Fibula ; Head ; Joints ; Methods ; Neck ; Osteoarthritis ; Osteotomy ; Paralysis ; Peroneal Nerve ; Tibia

OBJECTIVE: We wanted to assess the role of the popliteal lymph nodes for differentiating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from osteoarthritis (OA), and we also wanted to investigate the relationship between the popliteal lymph nodes and the inflamed synovial volume (ISV) by using contrast enhanced (CE), fat suppressed, three dimensional-fast spoiled gradient echo (3D-FSPGR) MR imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Contrast enhanced 3D-FSGPR MR imaging of 94 knees (21 with RA and 73 with OA) was analyzed. A lymph node was defined as being 'observed' if it could be seen in at least two planes of the three orthogonal reformatted planes. The number of observed lymph nodes, the mean of the smallest dimension of each lymph node and the existence of central fatty change were recorded. The OA group was graded according to the ISV calculated by a segmentation method: grade I was < 20 cm3; grade II ranged from 20 cm3 to 40 cm3; and grade III was > 40 cm3. Statistical analysis of the number and the mean size of the popliteal lymph nodes among the four groups (the RA group and the grade I-III OA groups) was performed. RESULTS: The prevalence of the observed popliteal lymph nodes was significantly different between all the OA groups or between the grade III OA group and the RA group (p < 0.0001, 0.0001, respectively). The popliteal lymph node was observed in 32 out of 73 OA cases, whereas it was visible in all of the 21 RA cases. The number (mean+/-standard deviation) of lymph nodes in the grade I OA group, the grade II OA group, the grade III OA group and the RA group was 1.2+/-0.4, 1.2+/-0.4, 1.3+/-0.5, and 2.7+/-1.1, respectively. The mean size (mean+/-standard deviation) of the lymph nodes was 3.8+/-1.0 mm, 3.6+/-1.1 mm, 4.1+/-0.8 mm, and 5.4+/-1.3 mm, respectively. The incidence of central fatty changes was significantly lower in the RA group than in all the OA groups and the grade III OA group. When differentiating RA from OA, and when the differentiation was confined to the RA group and grade III OA group, respectively, the criteria of the number of lymph nodes, their size, their central fatty change and a combination of all these three criteria showed statistical significance (Az values for the former were 0.869, 0.847, 0.776, and 0.942; Az values for the latter were 0.855, 0.799, 0.712, and 0.916). The number and mean size of the lymph nodes correlated with the ISVs (r = 0.49, p < 0.001; 0.50, 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: The number, size and central fatty changes in the popliteal lymph nodes observed on the MR images might serve as simple and useful markers in differentiating RA disease from OA disease. These markers would be particular helpful in cases of severe synovial enhancement where the ISVs of both RA and OA overlap. The number and mean size of the lymph nodes also correlated well with the ISV.
Adult ; Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/*diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Knee ; *Lymph Nodes ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis/*diagnosis ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Retrospective Studies ; Synovial Membrane/*pathology

PURPOSE: X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) is a humoral immunodeficiency disease caused by a mutation in the Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) gene resulting in defective B cell differentiation. Because it is a relatively rare disorder, it is difficult for clinicians to have a comprehensive understanding of XLA due to a lack of exposure to the disease. Clinical presentations of patients with XLA were analyzed and discussed to improve care plans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During a 20 year period, from January 1987 to June 2006, a total of 19 patients were diagnosed as XLA in the Department of Pediatrics at Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea. A retrospective analysis of the clinical presentations of those patients was performed. RESULTS: The mean age of the XLA patients included in the study was 4.89 years, with a range of 6 months to 13 years. Twelve patients were diagnosed before age 5, while the other 7 patients were diagnosed after age 5. Recurrent infections observed in the patients included pneumonia, acute otitis media, septic arthritis, skin infection, sepsis, sinusitis, acute gastroenteritis, cervical lymphadenitis, epididymitis, meningitis, osteomyelitis, urinary tract infection and encephalitis. Frequency of admissions was variable from 0 to 12 times, depending on the time at which immunoglobulin therapy was started. Six cases had family histories positive for XLA. BTK gene mutations were found in 8 cases. CONCLUSION: The overall prognosis of XLA is good as long as patients are diagnosed and treated early with regular intra venous gamma globulin therapy before the sequelae of recurrent infections appear.
Adolescent ; Agammaglobulinemia/complications/*diagnosis/drug therapy/genetics ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Genetic Diseases, X-Linked/enzymology/genetics/pathology ; *Hospitals ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/genetics/metabolism ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors