Ultrasonographic findings in 34 cases of primary hepatoma, and 18 cases of secondary hepatoma, which had been proved histopathologically or suspected clinically and ultrasonographically, were reviewed. The results were summarized as follows. 1. Among 52 cases, 40 cases were male and 12 cases were female. The male predominent than the female with the ratio of 4:1. In 52 cases, 40 cases (77%) of the patients were between 41 years and 60 years.2. The most common ultrasonographic finding of hepatoma was discrete homogeneous hyperechoic mass. 3. Primaryhepatomas were usually solitary and relatively large, while secondary hepatomas were usually multiple andrelatively small. 4. Hepatitis, liver cirrhsis, and clonorchiasis were more common in primary hepatomas than secondary hepatomas.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Clonorchiasis ; Female ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Liver ; Male

OBJECTIVE: The association of neurotrophic factors with the etiology of schizophrenia has been widely studied. Among them, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is known to promote the survival and differentiation of dopaminergic neurons. Considering dopamine hypothesis and neurodevelopmental theory, GDNF gene may be related with schizophrenia. In this study, we tried to clarify the association between schizophrenia and GDNF gene polymorphism. METHODS: Genotype and allele frequencies in the promoter and intron regions of GDNF gene were studied by using restriction fragment length polymorphism to compare 180 Korean schizophrenics with 105 Korean controls. RESULTS: We found significant differences between the schizophrenics and the controls in genotype and allele frequencies of BsaI polymorphism in the promoter region of GDNF gene (x2=18.208, df=2, p=0.0001/x2=11.264, df=1, p=0.0008). But no significant differences were found in intron region (p=0.06, p=0.984). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that polymorphism of GDNF gene might be related to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.
Dopamine ; Dopaminergic Neurons ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor* ; Introns ; Nerve Growth Factors ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Schizophrenia

The platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been advocated as a way to introduce increased concentrations of growth factors and other bioactive molecules to injured tissues in an attempt to optimize the local healing environment. A 94-yr-old woman with various comorbidities presented with a two-week history of severe cutaneous ulcer on the left dorsum of foot. It was caused by recurrent mechanical trauma and did not respond to several wound debridement and simple dressings. However, after she was completed on seven times of autologous PRP treatments, we observed complete healing of the skin lesion within 3 months. Herein, we report a case of recalcitrant cutaneous ulcer with various comorbidities and discuss about the promising possibility of autologous PRP as an effective alternative therapeutic modality.
Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; *Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Skin Ulcer/complications/*therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Wound Healing

PURPOSE: To investigate the rate of lateral retinacular release and the contributing factors between the patellar resur- faced total knee arthroplasty(TKA) and patellar retained TKA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From Jan. 2003 to Jan. 2006, 179 cases(90 patella retained, PR; 89 patellar resurfaced, PS) were enrolled in this study. To investigate the contributing factors on the lateral retinacular release along the patellar replacement, the preoperative and postoperative radiographic evaluation was done. Patellar height, congruence angle and medial displacement was measured with the Merchant view. Anterior-posterior knee distance was measured at a lateral film. The statistical significance between two groups was analyzed using the student's t-test. RESULTS: Lateral retinacular release was done in 59 of 179 cases. Thirty-six cases of PR group and 23 cases of PS group were undertaken. The rate of lateral retinacular release was higher in PR group(p<0.05). The difference between preoperative and postoperative patellar height at a Merchant was 2.5, 0.5mm reduction in PS and PR group respectively. PS group showed more medial displacement(mean 2.5mm) than PR group(mean 1.2mm)(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In PR group, higher rate of a lateral retinacular release was shown than PS group. Less reduction of patellar height and less medial displacement of patella might be related with the high rate of a lateral retinacular release in PR group.
Arthroplasty* ; Knee* ; Patella*

Adult ; Child ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Maxilla ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Osteotomy ; Recurrence ; Surgery, Oral

0.05). Amnesia during local injection was observed in eight patients (34.8%). Compared with the preoperative anxiety score, the intraoperative anxiety score was decreased.CONCLUSION: In this study, we found cardiovascular and respiratory stability in intravenous sedation using dexmedetomidine with pethidine, in plate and screw removal, after orthognathic surgery. Furthemore, intravenous sedation using dexmedetomidine with pethidine shows adequate analgesic and sedative effects.]]>
Amnesia ; Anxiety ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Dexmedetomidine ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Meperidine ; Orthognathic Surgery ; Oxygen

Phacomatosis pigmentokeratotica (PPK) is a rare syndrome defined by the association of an organoid nevus occasionally with sebaceous differentiation, a speckled lentiginous nevus, and other extracutaneous anomalies. A preterm male infant of only 830 g at 27 week gestational age had an organoid nevus showing sebaceous differentiation. Also, he had multiple speckled-lentiginous nevus. Correlating the observed clinical presentation with the histopathological findings, the diagnosis of PPK was established. There have been less than 10 cases of PPK without extracutaneous manifestation. We present an uncommon case of a preterm patient with PPK who had no extracutaneous abnormalities.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Male ; Nevus, Pigmented/*diagnosis/pathology ; Skin Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the shear bond strength between Ni-Cr alloy and composite resin using universal adhesive systems coMPared to conventional method using metal primers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For this study, a total of 120 cast commercial Ni-Cr alloy (Vera Bond 2V) disks were embedded in acrylic resin, and their surfaces were smoothed with silicon carbide papers and airborne-particle abrasion. Specimens of each metal were divided into 6 groups based on the combination of metal primers (Metal primer II, Alloy primer, Metal & Zirconia primer, MKZ primer) and universal adhesive systems (Single Bond Universal, All Bond Universal). All specimens were stored in distilled water at 37degrees C for 24 hours. Shear bond strength testing was performed with a universal testing machine at a cross head speed of 1 m/min. Data (MPa) were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and the post hoc Tukey's multiple comparison test (alpha=.05). RESULTS: There were significant differences between Single Bond Universal, All Bond Universal, Metal Primer II and Alloy Primer, MKZ Primer, Metal & Zirconia Primer (P<.001). CONCLUSION: Universal Adhesive system groups indicated high shear bond strength value bonded to Ni-Cr alloy than that of conventional system groups using primers except Metal Primer II. Within the limitations of this study, improvement of universal adhesive systems which can be applied to all types of restorations is recommended especially non-precious metal alloy. More research is needed to evaluate the effect of silane inclusion or exclusion in universal adhesive systems.
Adhesives ; Alloys* ; Head ; Water

BACKGROUND: Despite improved operator technique and advanced equipment designs, acute closure and restenosis remain as serious limitations to both the short and long-term success of balloon angioplasty. Atherectomy is a new transluminal interventional technique for the treatment of coronary artery obstructive disease. We evaluate preliminary experience of directonal coronary atherectomy (DCA) for complex coronary artery lesions. METHODS: We tried DCA in the 16 lesions of 15 nonrandomized sequential patients(mean age 66 years, M/F : 12/3) with coronary artery lesions that were ostial lesion in 4, ulcerated and/or eccentric in 13, restenosis after PTCA in 2 and after stent implantation in 2. The target vessel was right coronary artery in 7 and left anterior descending artery in 9. RESULTS: Primary success was achieved in 14 of 16 lesions (88%) by atherectomy and in 5(36%) by additional use of balloon angioplasty. Atherectomy retrieved tissue in 15 out of 15 attempts(100%). One patients suffered acute closure due to large dissection during the DCA which was solved successfully after stent implantation. CONCLUSIONS: Atherectomy can predictably treat selected patients with eccentric, ostial bulky coronary lesions with overall safety comparable to that of conventional balloon angioplasty, although the procedure as currently performed does not appear to prevent restenosis.
Angioplasty, Balloon ; Arteries ; Atherectomy ; Atherectomy, Coronary* ; Coronary Vessels ; Equipment Design ; Humans ; Stents ; Ulcer