Experimental findings have suggested that the metabolic activities of articular cartilage can be influenced by mechanical stimuli. Our recent mathematical analysis predicted that cyclic compressive loading may create periods of intermittent negative hydrostatic pressure within the cartilage extracellular matrix. Therefore, we hypothesize that intermittent negative hydrostatic pressure, created in the cartilage extracellular matrix during dynamic compression, has a stimulative effect on the biosynthesis of chondrocytes. In order to test this hypothesis, the present study developed a custom designed negative pressure generator to subject a monolayer culture of chondrocytes to an intermittent negative pressure. It was found that the intermittent negative pressure produced a 40% increase in proteoglycan and a l7% increase in non-collagenous protein synthesis during the pressurization period(p (0.05). The collagenous protein synthesis was not affected by the intermittent negative pressure regimen used in this study. After the intermittent negative pressurization, the metabolic activities of the chondrocytes returned to normal(control level). The intermittent negative pressure also produced an increase in the mRNA signals for aggrecan. Therefore, we conclude that intermittent negative pressure may be one of the major mechanical stimulators of chondrocytes in articular cartilage during dynamic compression.
Aggrecans ; Cartilage ; Cartilage, Articular ; Chondrocytes* ; Collagen ; Extracellular Matrix ; Hydrostatic Pressure* ; Metabolism* ; Proteoglycans ; RNA, Messenger

It is known that the toe-flexors exert some power generation in ankle plantar flexion. However, there has been no paper published in which the power generation was quantified. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to quantify the amount of contribution of the toe-flexors to the ankle plantar-flexion in normal and rapid walking using the kinetic data of three dimensional gait analysis system. In order to restrict the action of the toe-flexors, we designed special braces which can be applied to the forefeet of the examinee during walking. We performed the gait analysis in ten normal adult volunteers with and without braces, and evaluated the moment and power of toe-flexors during terminal stance and pre-swing phase of gait cycle. Gait analysis was done with the VICON 3-dimensional motion analysis system (VICON, Oxford Metrics, Oxford, England) and 2 force plates (AMTI, Advanced Mechanical Technoiogy, Newton, MA, U.S.A,). The kinetic results are as follows: l. Average speeds of normal and rapid walking were 1.12m/sec and 1.41m/sec respectiveIy. 2. In normal walking, peak ankle plantar-tlexion moment decreased 5.5% with braces, and sum of ankle plantar-flexion moment decreased 12.3% with braces. Both of the results were not significant statistically (p>0.05). Peak ankle power generation decreased 11.0% with braces, and sum of ankle power generation decreased 10.4% with braces. These decreases were also insignificant statistically (p>0.05). 3. In rapid walking, peak ankle plantarflexion moment decreased 26.7% with braces. The decrease was horderline significant statistically (p=0.062). The sum of ankle plantar-tlexion moment decreased 26.6% with braces, but the decrease was not significant statistically (p>0.05). Peak ankle power generation decreased 40.2% with braces, and sum of ankle power generation decreased 37.9% with braces. These decreases showed borderline significance statistically (p=0.062). In conclusion, toe-flexors may contribute about 10% of the total ankle plantar-flexion power generation, and the contribution will be increased with increase of walking velocity. We must be very careful to sacrifice the toe-flexors in cases with weak triceps power.
Adult ; Ankle* ; Braces ; Gait ; Humans ; Toes* ; Volunteers ; Walking*

This is a report of clinical study on the 63 patients of symptomatic urinary tract infection who were hospitalized at the Department of Pediatrics in Kangnam General Hospital during the period between the May of 1989 and the September of 1992. The observation results were as follows: 1) The frequency of urinary tract infection (UTI) was the highest in children under the age of one year (66.7%). 35 patients were male, while the other 28 were female. The ratio of male and female patients was 1.25:1. 2) Fever was observed in most of the cases. Systemic nonspecific manifestation was predominant in the infancy and early childhood, whereas local symptom of UTI was predominant in the late childhood. Among the 35 male patients, 32 cases were phimoses. As for the other 3 cases, Phimoses were not identified. 3) E. coli had the most frequency (65.3%), followed by Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas in descending order. 4) In the vitro antimicrobial susceptibility test, Gram negative organisms such as E. coli Klebsiella, Enterobacter were sensitive to cefotaxime, amikacin, and ampicillin/sulbactam. Meanwhile, Gram positive organisms such as Staphylococcus, Enterococcus were sensitive to vancomycin and cephradine. 5) The renal ultrasonography test was performed for 59 patients, 13 cases of whom showed abnormal findings. 6 cases out of the 13 abnormal patients had hydronephrosis. 6) DMSA renal scan was performed for 40 patients within 2 months of an acute pyelonephritic attack. Signs of pyelonephritic change were found in 18 patients. DMSA scan was repeated 4~12 months later in 4 of these patients. This showed renal cortical scarring in all patients. 7) Voiding cystourethrographic findings in 38 patients showed vesicoureteral reflux in 13 patients. 8) We performed urine culture again after 48 hours from the beginning of therapy and 85.5% of the cases became sterile. 9) The recurrent percentage of UTI was 23.8% with the ratio of 1:1.5 between male and female. Most of the patients were clildren under the age of one year. 10) Operations were made on two cases showing the increase of reflux during the follow-up of unilateral Grade ll and Grade 3 reflux, respectively. Operations were also performed on other two cases with bilateral Grade IV reflux. All the cases were good after the operations. In the meantime, as for another two cases having the right reflux of Grade lland the bilateral reflux of Grade lll, the refluxes were able to be reduced by prophylaxis only, in the course of following up.
Amikacin ; Cefotaxime ; Cephradine ; Child* ; Cicatrix ; Enterobacter ; Enterococcus ; Female ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Infant* ; Klebsiella ; Male ; Pediatrics ; Phimosis ; Pseudomonas ; Staphylococcus ; Succimer ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract* ; Vancomycin ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux

OBJECTIVE: The measurement of liver size can be used for the diagnosis of the fetal growth abnormality (FGR, macrosomia etc.). The purpose of this study was to evaluate a mathematical relationship between the fetal liver size(liver length or volume) and the gestational age in the normal pregnancies. Brief comparisons were also tried on the base of the degree of the correlation between liver length and its volume. METHODS: We collected 54 singleton pregnancies of 20 to 36weeks of gestation for measuring fetal liver length and 57 singleton pregnancies for measuring fetal liver volume. We used Combison 530 utrasonic machine(Kreztechnik AG, Zipf, Austria). RESULTS: There was significant correlation between liver size( length and volume) and gestation age. And the liver volume better correlated with gestational age than liver length(r=0.93 : r=0.78, p<0.0001, p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Ultrasonic measurement of fetal liver size is a reliable indicator of fetal growth, especially liver volume. Therefore these data may have a potential value for the prediction of abnormal fetal growth(FGR, macrosomia).
Diagnosis ; Fetal Development ; Gestational Age* ; Liver* ; Pregnancy* ; Ultrasonics

Hyponatremia is frequently seen in intracranial hemorrhagic patients and has been often attributed to inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone. But in recent years, a number of studies have shown that hyponatremia in many patients with intracranial disease may actually be caused by cerebral salt wasting (CSW) syndrome and circulating Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) are probably involved. This report describes a patient who developed bacterial meningites caused by pseudomonas aeruginosa and CSW syndrome after removal of pituitary adenoma. CSW syndrome resolved by fluid and salt replacement after 4 months.
Humans ; Hyponatremia ; Meningitis* ; Meningitis, Bacterial ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Pituitary Neoplasms* ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Pseudomonas* ; Wasting Syndrome*

No abstract available.
Colitis, Ulcerative* ; Ulcer*

Lyme disease is a common vector-borne disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi. Erythema migrans represents the most common manifestation during the early phase of this disease;however, systemic manifestations involving the nervous system, joints, or heart are known to occur. We report a case of Lyme disease accompanied by cardiac complications in a 13-year-old Korean male adolescent. The patient developed annular erythematous lesions on his lower extremities after a field trip during his visit to Connecticut, USA, for a boarding school camp, and his skin lesions were consistent with erythema migrans. Indirect immunofluorescence assay and Western blot analysis for Lyme immunoglobulin M showed positive results. Electrocardiography revealed a first-degree atrioventricular block, and he was diagnosed with Lyme carditis and received a 4-week course of oral doxycycline. Follow-up electrocardiography performed a week later revealed normal findings, and the patient showed an uneventful recovery. Lyme carditis often presents as an asymptomatic heart block that can progress to an advanced heart block; however, this condition is reversible with appropriate antibiotic treatment.

Lyme disease is a common vector-borne disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi. Erythema migrans represents the most common manifestation during the early phase of this disease;however, systemic manifestations involving the nervous system, joints, or heart are known to occur. We report a case of Lyme disease accompanied by cardiac complications in a 13-year-old Korean male adolescent. The patient developed annular erythematous lesions on his lower extremities after a field trip during his visit to Connecticut, USA, for a boarding school camp, and his skin lesions were consistent with erythema migrans. Indirect immunofluorescence assay and Western blot analysis for Lyme immunoglobulin M showed positive results. Electrocardiography revealed a first-degree atrioventricular block, and he was diagnosed with Lyme carditis and received a 4-week course of oral doxycycline. Follow-up electrocardiography performed a week later revealed normal findings, and the patient showed an uneventful recovery. Lyme carditis often presents as an asymptomatic heart block that can progress to an advanced heart block; however, this condition is reversible with appropriate antibiotic treatment.

The use of angiographic embolization gas been well described for the control of gynecologic bleeding. Recently, we have experienced the successful embolization in two case of serons bleeding related to giynecologic malignancy. Clinical evaluation revealed a gynecologic cancer with active bleeding. Becaause we judged that conservative management was unable to cuntrol the bleeding, we underwent an angiographic embolization. The result presented here indicates that angiographic embolization is a relatively safe, effective and rapid procedure that should be considered early in management of gynecohogic cancer bleeding that is unresponsive to conservative management.
Hemorrhage*

Periventricular leukomalacia is a major cause of neuro-developmental delay in premature infant. Although it develops in only a small percentage of preterm infants, the condition poses a major problem. The pathogenesis of periventricular leukomalacia is not well established. Because of the topography of the lesion, a decreased cerebral perfusion occurred before delivery is thought to be a critical pathogenetic factor. Therefore, hypoxic brain damage is thought to be a major cause of periventricular leukomalacia. The importance of neurochemically mediated injury to the white matter has been stressed. Recently, high incidence of placental chorioamnionitis with periventricular leukomalacia. We experienced a case of periventricular leukomalacia related to chorioamnionitis. The pathology of placenta was chorioamniontis, and it was thought to be a cause of periventricular leukomalacia. So, we report our case with a short literature review to ensuring that chorioamionitis without perinatal asphyxia cause a periventricular leukomalacia.
Asphyxia ; Chorioamnionitis* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoxia, Brain ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Leukomalacia, Periventricular* ; Pathology ; Perfusion ; Placenta ; Pregnancy