PURPOSE: It is known that single umbilical artery is frequently associated with gastrointestinal or urogenital anomaly, however, routine renal sonography has been debated in healthy neonate with isolated single umbilical artery. This study is designed to determine the usefulness of routine renal sonography in apparently healthy infants with an isolated single umbilical artery. METHODS: Thirty healthy neonates with a single umbilical artery without a major anomaly from January 1995 to July 2002 were enrolled. The authors investigated the clinical background of babies and their mothers after renal sonography after 72 hours of age. When the abnormalities were found at the first renal sonography, the severity of hydronephrosis and degree of obstruction and renal function were analyzed by follow up renal sonography, voiding cystourethrography(VCUG) and technetium-99m-dimercaptosuccinic acid(DMSA) scan or technetium-99m-mercaptoacetyl-triglycerine (MAG3) scan. RESULTS: Among the 30 healthy patients with isolated single umbilical artery, five patients(16.7%) showed abnormalities on first renal sonography with one major(3.3%) and four(13.4%) minor renal anomaly(minimal or mild hydroneohrosis). One major renal anomaly(severe hydronephrosis) showed severe decreased renal function on MAG3 scan without reflux, and the other four minor regressed spontaneously on follow up study. CONCLUSION: The value of routine early renal sonograpy for detecting renal anomaly in healthy infants with an isolated single umbilical artery remained unclear because most of the anomalies would regress spontaneously in the follow up study.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn ; Mass Screening* ; Mothers ; Single Umbilical Artery*

Two distinct hantaviruses have been isolated from Apodemus agrarius in 1976 and Rattus norvegicus in 1980 in Korea. Since our serosurveys conducted in 1994, a genetically distinct hantavirus from Apodemus peninsulae has been investigated. To isolate hantavirus from A. peninsulae captured in Korea, the lung homogenate of seropositive A. peninsulae inoculted Vero E6 cells. Viral antigen was detected in a progressively higher percentage of cells with subsequent passage after 80 days postinoculation. The new isolate from seropositive Apodemus peninsulae was designated Suchong virus after Suchong valley located in northeastern region of South Korea. Comparing with hantaan virus 76-118 strain, Suchong virus-1, 2, 3 and 4 showed the similarity of 71.0~91.8% at nucleotide and 90.9~94.8% at amino acid sequences in 231 nucleotides region of M segment, and the similarity of 75.1~81.0% at nucleotide and 97.5~100% at amino acid sequences in 237 nucleotides of S segment.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Hantaan virus ; Hantavirus* ; Korea ; Lung ; Murinae* ; Nucleotides ; Population Characteristics* ; Rats

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Maxillary sinus mucoceles are usually developed long after Caldwell-Luc's operation, which are known as postoperative cheek cysts and common in Korea. However, primary mucoceles of the maxillary sinus are relatively rare compared to frontal or ethmoid sinus mucoceles. This study aims to describe the clinical manifestation of the primary maxillary sinus mucoceles and to determine the long-term efficacy of the surgical treatment. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Seven cases, comprised of 2 women and 5 men with an age range of 23 to 72 years, finally diagnosed as primary maxillary sinus muco (pyo)celes between March 1995 and July 2004 were studied. The presenting signs and symptoms, radiological findings, and surgical management were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: All patients complained of nasal obstruction, while only one patient had cheek pressure and pain. In the endoscopic nasal examination, the medial wall of maxillary sinus was bulging with prolapsed middle meatal mucosa in 6 cases. Five patients were treated with endonasal endoscopic sinus surgery and two with sublabial approach. Intraoperative cultures grew organisms in four patients. In all patients, the middle meatal antrostomy openings were patent without recurrence at the latest follow-up ranging from 11 to 47 months. CONCLUSION: A primary maxillary sinus mucocele appears as a bulging medial wall with unilateral nasal obstruction. Endoscopic sinus surgery is a reliable therapeutic measure with lesser morbidity and favorable long-term outcome.
Cheek ; Endoscopy ; Ethmoid Sinus ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Maxillary Sinus* ; Mucocele* ; Mucous Membrane ; Nasal Obstruction ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: We designed this study to evaluate the interobserver reliability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), post-myelographic computed tomography (CT-myelogram) and myelography for the diagnosis of lumbar spinal stenosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty two patients with lumbar spinal stenosis were evaluated preoperatively by MRI, CT-myelography, and myelography by four observers. For each set of scans, the examiners assessed the presence or absence of; 1) intervertebral disk protrusion, 2) facet arthrosis, 3) ligamentum flavum hypertrophy, and 4) nerve root impingement. The severities of 1) central, 2) lateral, 3) foraminal and 4) entire spinal stenosis were graded using a four-point scale range from 1 (no stenosis) to 4 (severe stenosis). RESULTS: Kappa statistical analysis revealed moderate interobserver agreement in terms of disk protrusion (0.49), nerve root impingement (0.42) and lateral stenosis grade based on MRI. Low levels of agreement were found for facet arthrosis and ligamentum flavum hypertrophy. Relatively higher levels of agreement were found for nerve root impingement, lateral stenosis and entire stenosis, graded by MRI and for central stenosis graded by myelography. CONCLUSION: The results of this study reflect that MRI showed relatively higher levels of interobserver reliability than the other diagnostic modalities in the evaluation of patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Intervertebral Disc ; Ligamentum Flavum ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Myelography ; Spinal Stenosis*

No abstract available.
Administration, Oral ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*administration & dosage ; Bone Diseases, Infectious/diagnosis/*drug therapy/microbiology ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Joint Diseases/diagnosis/*drug therapy/microbiology ; Male ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Middle Aged ; Republic of Korea ; Staphylococcal Infections/diagnosis/*drug therapy/microbiology ; Staphylococcus aureus/*drug effects/isolation & purification ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate the effect of isoflavone supplementation on hormone levels, lipid profiles and total antioxidant status in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. METHODS: Total 11 women with polycystic ovary syndrome were supplemented daily with 150mg of isoflavone for 6 months. Blood samples were collected 0, 3, and 6 months after supplement of isoflavone for analysis of LH, FSH, E2, testosterone, free testosterone, SHBG levels, serum lipid profiles, and total antioxidant status (TAS). RESULTS: After 6 months isoflavone supplementation, the hormone levels did not change significantly. Serum lipid profiles did not show any significant change in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, lipoprotein(a), and free fatty acid levels. However, there was significant increase in HDLcholesterol (p<0.05) for 3 months. Total antioxidant status was increased significantly after isoflavone supplementation for 6 months (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Isoflavone supplementation showed positive effects on the HDL-cholesterol and total antioxidant status. it is implicated that isoflavone supplementation will may have a effect on cardiovascular disease in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Female ; Humans ; Lipoprotein(a) ; Plasma* ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome* ; Testosterone ; Triglycerides

The appearance of a tumor in the chest wall is rare compared to that in any other part of the body. It can be classified into benign and malignant types and can be located in the rib, clavicle, sternum, cartilage and soft tissues. Tumors that are metastatic are commonly located in the lung, breast, bone and pleura. But, the soft tissue mass of anterior chest wall is rarely metastasized from a distant organ that is not confined to the thoracic cavity. This and thus has rarely been described. A 68-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a chief complaint of resting dyspnea. A huge non-tender mass of about 10*15 cm in size was visible on his left lower anterior chest wall. We pathologically confirmed that the mass was a metastatic renal cell carcinoma of clear cell type by incision biopsy. Through an incision biopsy, the mass was pathologically confirmed as a metastatic renal cell carcinoma of the clear cell type.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Breast ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Cartilage ; Clavicle ; Dyspnea ; Humans ; Lung ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Pleura ; Ribs ; Sternum ; Thoracic Cavity ; Thoracic Wall* ; Thorax*

We describe a 28-year old man in otherwise apparently good health, in whom pain in his left knee joint caused by avascular necrosis led to a diagnosis of polyarteritis nodosa (PAN). The angiogram showed multiple microaneurysmal and thrombotic lesions, notably in the renal, mesenteric and tibial arteries. A skin biopsy of the upper dermis of the left thigh with an erythematous skin rash showed the infiltration of mononuclear leukocytes in the perivascular area. During hospitalization, he was diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B, and was treated with lamivudine, and corticosteroid, azathioprine to control the PAN. The knee joint pain improved progressively, and the patient could walk normally after several months. This case is an unusual presentation because the initial manifestation of PAN was avascular necrosis.
Azathioprine ; Biopsy ; Dermis ; Exanthema ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; Lamivudine ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; Necrosis ; Osteonecrosis ; Polyarteritis Nodosa ; Skin ; Thigh ; Tibial Arteries

PURPOSE: To evaluate between DHS and ITST nail (2nd generation) on the treatment of unstable femur intertrochanteric fracture in patients over 70 years old. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 61 cases of unstable intertrochanteric fracture (grouped 37 patients with DHS and 24 patients with ITST) who were taken the operation from Mar. 2003 to Sep. 2007 were analysed regarding to union time, sliding length of lag screws, operation time, blood loss, postoperative complications and functional recovery score by Skovron. RESULTS: The mean union time was 14.7 weeks in study group (ITST). The mean union time was 16.2 weeks in control group (DHS). The lag screw slidings were 7.2 mm in study group and 8.7 mm in control group. The operation times were 57.9 min in study group and 76.9 min in control group. The amount of blood loss were 67.7 ml in study group and 227.4 ml in control group. The complications were 4 cases in study group and 4 cases in control group. The Skovron recovery scores were 76.5% in study group and 73.7% in control group. CONCLUSION: From a practical point of short operation time, less amount of bleeding and less complication, author think that the ITST nail is useful implant for treatment of unstable femur intertrochanteric fracture in patient of old age.
Femur ; Hemorrhage ; Hip ; Humans ; Nails ; Postoperative Hemorrhage

Several blood dyscrasias associated with clozapine have been well known to clinicians and potentially life threatening agranulocytosis has been widely reported. However, there is little report regarding incidence, progression and associated features of eosinophilia associated with clozapine. In clinical studies, the onset of eosinophilia usually occurs artier 3 to 5 weeks of treatment and rarely were cases fatal with medical complication. We report the first case of severe eosinophilia, bilateral pleural effusion, asicites, hepatitis and cholecystitis associated with clozapine that would be fatal. Eosinophilia occurred after 19 days of treatment with clozapine and all the clinical conditions improved along with interruption of clozapine treatment. It is suggested that eosinophilia may be more severe side effort than has ether been known and close hematologic monitoring should be done during early treatment of clozapine.
Agranulocytosis ; Ascites* ; Cholecystitis ; Clozapine ; Eosinophilia* ; Ether ; Hepatitis* ; Incidence ; Pleural Effusion*