Various etiologies of hallux valgus and metatarsus primus varus have been reported, but still they are not conclusively established. Furthermore, between hallux valgus and metatarsus primus varus, the question is unanswered as to which is the cause and which is the result. To determine the primary cause and attribution of high heeled position to hallux valgus and metatarsus primus varus, we selected three different types of dancer. Traditional dancers wear cotton sox and strike the heels first to move, modern dancers walk or run and jump on naked feet, and ballerinas stand, walk or jump on their toes with hard wooden shoes, so the latter two types of dancers move with extremely high-heeled position. We analyzed the plain AP roentgenography of 84 feet for 16 ballerinas, 13 modern and 13 traditional dancers. The results were as follows : 1. First metatarsalgia was noted in 38% of modern dancers and 43% of ballerinas but none in traditional dancers. 2. The mean hallux valgus angle was 13.6°±2.7° in traditional dancers, 13.5°±3.8° in modern dancers, 18°±3.3° in ballerinas which are statistically significant between ballerinas and modern, traditional dancers(P < 0.01). 3. The mean intermetatarsal angle was 10.5°±1.4° in traditional dancers, 10.6°±1.1° in modern dancers, 10.8°±1.5° in ballerinas, and metatarsus primus varus angle was 17.6 °±5.1°, 18.3°±2.7°, 19.4°±3.6°, respectively, which were all statistically insignificant(P>0.01). Therefore, it is concluded that medio-lateral compression of shoes may be the principal contributor for the hallux valgus rather than high heel, and hallux valgus is the primary deformity.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Dancing ; Foot ; Hallux Valgus ; Hallux ; Heel ; Metatarsalgia ; Radiography ; Shoes ; Strikes, Employee ; Toes

No abstract available.
Endometriosis* ; Female ; Humans

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to nfluence of sequential embryo transfers in an invitro fertilization was examined. METHOD: After in vitro fertilization, a maximum of 6 fertilized oocytes was enrolled in this study. At day 3 after an oocytes retrieval, embryos with good quality were transferred (mean 4.9), remaining embryos (mean 2.0/cycle) were cryopreserved at blastocyst stage (Group 1). At day 5 after oocytes collection, second a embryos had reached the blastocyst stage (Group 2) using P1 supplemented with 10 SSS and 30% Follicular fluid. No statistical difference in the pregnancy rate could be seen between the group without a second embryo transfer (n=21; 28.6%) and the group with a second transfer (n=52; 28.8%). RESULTS: The incidence of multiple pregnancy rate per embryo transfer was not statistically different between both group and no high-rank multiple pregnancy (greater than triplete) were observed (o.9%, 15.4%, respectively, p=0.74, chi2). Out of 114 cycles (506 embryos) cultured embryos in group 2, 52 cycles (159 embryos, 29.8%) reached the blastocyst stage. CONCLUSION: The second transfer did not have a significant effect on the pregnancy rate. The most important factor for the pregnancy seems to be the quality of the embryos transferred on day 3 following oocyte retrieval. We recommend embryo transfer is performed only one, day 2~3 or D5.
Blastocyst ; Embryo Transfer* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Fertilization ; Fertilization in Vitro* ; Follicular Fluid ; Incidence ; Oocyte Retrieval ; Oocytes ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Pregnancy, Multiple

Traumatic spondylolisthesis of the axis is the fracture of both pedicles and is called commonly as hangman' s fracture. The fractures with the anterior displacement more than 3mm and the angulation, more than 11 degrees were classified as unstable and the surgical methods were recommended for the treatment of the fractures. As for the surgical methods, anterior C2-3 fusion with plate fixation or transpedicular screw fixation were used. However, the differences between the clinical results of both methods were not reported in the literatures. In order to clarisy the clinical results of both methods, the authors evaluated the clinical results of 11 patients treated by anterior plate fixation and 7 patients treated by transpedicular fixation who were operated on between Mar. 1987 and,Jan: 1992. Minimum follow-up period was 12 months. 1. As the surgical complications, two cases of transient dysphagia in anterior fixation group and three cases of malinserted screw in transpedicular fixation group were observed. 2. Limitation of rotatory neck motion, less than 20 degrees in one direction was observed in four cases of transpedicular fixation group. 3. Anterior angulation, more than 10 degrees was noted in three cases of transpedicular group. 4. Mild intermittent neck pain was observed in two cases of anterior fixation group and two cases of transpedicular fixation group. Constant neck pain was present in three cases of transpedicular fixation group. 5. Over-all clinical results were excellent or good in all of anterior fixation group, and in four of seven transpedicular group. Although the clinical materials were limited in number, method of anterior plate fixation was recommended by the authors in the management of traumatic spondylolisthesis of axis, because of the easier technique and the better clinical results than the transpedicular screw fixation.
Deglutition Disorders ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Methods ; Neck ; Neck Pain ; Spine ; Spondylolisthesis

BACKGROUND: There is a fundamental limitation in securing adequate amounts of blood without the donation from voluntary donors. In order to ensure the adequacy of the blood supply and the safety of blood, it is essential to encourage donors to remain in the pool. Therefore, the primary goal of this study was to investigate the factors related to a repeated donation behavior. METHODS: Blood donors from the 28 blood centers of Korean Red Cross were mailed a questionnaire between September 1 and 30, 2003. The samples calculated by the total annual number of donors were allocated to each center. A total of 1,400 questionnaires were distributed at 28 regional centers, 681 subjects from 14 centers responded. The final sample was 655 in this study. RESULTS: Based on the result of logistic regression analysis after an adjustment, men are likely to donate regularly than women (OR=3.11). In addition, those 20 or over were more likely to be regular donors than those 16~19 years old (OR=2.28), and people who did not want a monetary reward (OR=3.74) or believed it is never given to them (OR=3.52) were more likely to donate frequently than people who think they deserved a reward. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, it is important to encourage women to donate. Since a monetary incentive or reward is not supposed to increase the rate of blood donation, it needs to develop more effective incentives such as a donor's health management or blood credit.
Blood Donors* ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Motivation ; Postal Service ; Red Cross ; Reward ; Tissue Donors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between endometriosis and polymorphisms of N-acetyl transferase 2 (NAT2), glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1), and cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1 genes in Korean infertile patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 303 infertile patients who had undertaken diagnostic laparoscopy during January, 2001 through December, 2003 at Samsung Cheil Hospital enrolled in this study. The patients were grouped according to laparoscopic findings: minimal to mild endometriosis (group I: n=147), moderate to severe endometriosis (group II: n=57), normal pelvic cavity (n=99). Peripheral blood was obtained and genomic DNA was extracted. The genotypes of each genes were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). For NAT2, RFLP was used to detect the wild type (wt) and mutant (mt) alleles, enabling classification into slow (mt/mt) or fast (wt/wt or wt/mt) acetylation genotypes. For GSTM1, PCR was used to distinguish active (+/- or +/+) from null (-/-) genotypes. For CYP1A1, MspI digestion was used to detect the wild type (A1A1), heterozygote (A1A2) or mutant (A2A2) genotypes. RESULTS: The genotype frequencies of NAT2 slow acetylator was 12.8%, 10.9%, 12.8% in group I, group II and control, respectively. The genotype frequencies of GSTM1 null mutation was 55.3%, 41.8%, 53.2% in group I, group II and control, respectively. The genotype frequencies of CYP1A1 MspI polymorphism was 16.3%, 9.1%, 18.1% in group I, group II and control, respectively. No significant difference was observed between endometriosis and normal controls in the genotype frequencies of the NAT2, GSTM1, CYP1A1 MspI polymorphism. CONCLUSION: The NAT2, GSTM1, CYP1A1 gene polymorphism may not be associated with the susceptibility of endometriosis in Korean women.
Acetylation ; Alleles ; Classification ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System* ; Cytochromes* ; Digestion ; DNA ; Endometriosis* ; Female ; Genotype ; Glutathione Transferase* ; Glutathione* ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Transferases*

Familial lichen planus is an uncommon disease, and there are 104 cases reported in the English literature. Several theories regarding the etiopathogenesis of lichen planus have been proposed. However, immunological mechanisms and genetic susceptibility have been emphasized the most. Several reports showed HLA analysis in lichen planus patients, and recently 2 cases have revealed an increased frequency of DR1 antigen in patients with lichen planus compared to a control group. We observed two brothers with typical skin lesions of lichen planus of almost simultaneous onset. We confirmed lichen planus by skin biopsies in both brothers and analyzed HLA typing. We also observed the occurrence of DR1 antigen in both of them.
Biopsy ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Histocompatibility Testing ; Humans ; Lichen Planus* ; Lichens* ; Siblings ; Skin

Generalized plane xanthoma is less common and usually involves the eyelids, lateral side of the neck, upper trunk, and extremities. Lesions, however, may appear on any portion of the body. Cutaneous xanthomas may occur in hyperlipidemic and in normolipidemic states. Generalized normolipidemic plane xanthoma is often associated with multiple myeloma, other reticulo-endothelial malignancies and monoclonal gammopathy with unknown significance(MGUS). We wish to report two eases of generalized plane xanthoma associated with IgG monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance.
Extremities ; Eyelids ; Immunoglobulin G ; Multiple Myeloma ; Neck ; Paraproteinemias* ; Xanthomatosis*

Primary ovarian pregnancy is comparatively rare in ectopic pregnancy. Ovarian pregnancy occurs in corpus luteum cyst and is usually accompanied with the rupture of ovary and a massive hemoperitoneum. It presents as a hemorrhagic ovary and frequently misdiagnosed as a ruptured corpus luteum. Spiegelberg's criteria should be fulfilled for the diagnosis of ovarian pregnancy. Two cases of ovarian pregnancy were presented with a brief review of the literatures.
Corpus Luteum ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Hemoperitoneum ; Ovarian Cysts ; Ovary ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic* ; Rupture

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) causes chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, primary B-cell gastric lymphoma, and adenocarcinoma of the stomach. The overall seroprevalence of H. pylori infection in Korea was 46.6%, and the seroprevalence increased with age and was highest in patients in their 40s. Only a fraction of people infected with H. pylori develop clinical disease. Mucosal inflammation is the basic mechanism underlying the disease development in which tissue destruction may be initiated and maintained by both the bacterial toxins and immune responses by the host. H. pylori infection can be diagnosed either by invasive techniques requiring endoscopy with biopsy (histological examination, culture, and polymerase chain reaction) or noninvasive techniques (urea breath test, serology, and detection of H. pylori antigen in stool specimens). The eradication of H. pylori infection is not easy and requires combinations of antibiotics. Even with the most effective treatment regimen currently available, the eradication is not successful in about 10~20% of patients. Seven-day triple therapy (proton pump inhibitor, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin) has been the first-line therapy for H. pylori infection in Korea. In case of failure, quadruple therapy (proton pump inhibitor, a bismuth salt, metronidazole, and tetracycline) is a very effective second-line regimen. If two or more eradication treatments fail, bacterial resistance to antibiotics should be evaluated and the regimen of third-line therapy should be selected according to the antimicrobial susceptibility results.
Adenocarcinoma ; Amoxicillin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; B-Lymphocytes ; Bacterial Toxins ; Biopsy ; Bismuth ; Breath Tests ; Diagnosis ; Endoscopy ; Gastritis ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Korea ; Lymphoma ; Metronidazole ; Peptic Ulcer ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Stomach