No abstract available.
Hair ; Scalp

No abstract available.
Arthroplasty* ; Knee* ; Osteoarthritis*

The insulin-like growth factor (IGF)s are believed to one of several growth factors that play an adjunctive role in ovarian follicular development. These factors circulate bound to a family of IGF-binding protein (IGFBP)s. It is known that circulating IGFBPs are involved in the transport of IGFs to tissues and modulate IGFs actions at local tissue. The purposes of this study were to evaluate changes in serum IGFBPs profiles during normal ovulatory menstrual cylce and to compare serum IGFBPs profiles in periovulatory phase of between normal ovulatory menstrual cylce and controlled hyperstimulated cycle. Fasting blood samples were obtained from 15 normal healthy women throughout normal ovulatory menstural cycle and on the day of aspiration of oocyte from 10 patients undergoing ovarian hyperstimuation for in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer. Serum IGFBP-1-IGFBP-4 were measured by western ligand blot and immunoprecipitation. Serum 17beta-estradiol was determined by radioimmunoassay. Type and molecular weight of serum IGFBP did not changed during normal ovulatory menstural cycle. No significant variation in the relative proportion and level of each IGFBP was found throughout normal ovulatory menstural cyle. Also, the relative proportion and level of each IGFBP did not correlated with serum 17beta-estradiol level. There was no significant difference in the relative proportion and level of each serum IGFBP between on the day of ovulation in normal ovulatory menstrual cylce and on the day of aspiration of oocyte in controlled hyperstimulated cycle. Our data indicate that IGFBPs have regulatory functions in ovary through an paracrine and autocrine rather than endocrine mechanism during normal ovulatory menstural cycle.
Fasting ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoprecipitation ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins* ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Menstrual Cycle* ; Molecular Weight ; Oocytes ; Ovary ; Ovulation ; Radioimmunoassay

PURPOSE: We have examined the utility of 99mTc-MAG3 perfusion indices for assessing renal graft function in early post-transplantation period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study included 80 renal transplant recipients (48 men and 32 women, mean age: 40.3 years). Diagnosis was based on biopsy, laboratory data and clinical course. Renal scintigraphy (RS) was obtained using 100 MBq of 99mTc-MAG3 from 11 days to 23 days of kidney transplantation. We measured 5 indices in whole-kidney (WK) and cortical (C) renograms; Hilson's perfusion index (PI), transplant perfusion index (TP) and transplant function index (TF) as perfusion parameter, and the time to peak activity (Tmax) and the ratio of renal counts at 20 min to that at 3 min (K20/3) as functional parameter. RESULTS: The diagnoses at the day of RS were normal graft (NG) in 44, acute rejection (AR) in 14, acute tubular necrosis (ATN) in 10, and Cyclosporine A nephrotoxicity (CsA) in 12. TP and TF were significantly decreased in AR, ATN and CsA, compared to those in NG. K20/3 of AR and ATN were significantly greater than that of NG. WK-Tmax of AR was significantly longer than that of NG. K20/3 of AR and C-K20/3 of ATN were significantly prolonged relative to those of CsA. There were no statistically significant perfusion indices among complication groups. CONCLUSION: TP and TF reflecting microperfusion and initial tubular extraction are reliable in assessing graft function. However, it is required to correlate perfusion indices with functional indices and clinical course in differentiating from one another among complication groups.
Biopsy ; Cyclosporine ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; Male ; Necrosis ; Perfusion* ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Technetium Tc 99m Mertiatide* ; Transplantation ; Transplants

We experienced a case of Turner variant in 17 year old girl. She showed normal appearance except short stature. The patient was born at term with a birth weight of 2200g and her height was below the 3 percentile at admission. Thelarche appeared at the age of 13 years. FSH and LH levels were elevated, estradiol was within normal range, but progesterone level was decreased, bone age was 14 to 15 year old, and the small sized uterus was detected by abdominal ultrasonogram. Karyotype analysis revealed 46,XXp+(Xqter-->Xp22::Xp22-->Xqter). Her height didn't grow properly despite serial growth hormone therapy, because her epiphyseal growth plate was nearly closed.
Adolescent ; Birth Weight ; Estradiol ; Female ; Growth Hormone ; Growth Plate ; Humans ; Karyotype ; Progesterone ; Reference Values ; Turner Syndrome ; Ultrasonography ; Uterus

Pharmacotherapy of bipolar disorder is a rapidly evolving field. Mood stabilizers and anticonvulsants have varying biochemical profiles which may predispose them to different adverse effects and drug-drug interactions. Several of the new anticonvulsants appear less likely to have the problems with drug-drug interaction. To provide more effective combination pharmacotherapies, clinicians should be allowed to anticipate and avoid pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic drug-drug interactions. We reviewed the role of cytochrome P450 isozymes in the metabolism of the drugs and their interactions. The drug-drug interactions of several classes of drugs which used as mood stabilizers and new anticonvulsants, some of which may have psychotropic profiles, are discussed mainly in this article. Finally, potential pharmacokinetic interactions between the benzodiazepines and other coadministered drugs are discussed briefly.
Anti-Anxiety Agents* ; Anticonvulsants ; Benzodiazepines ; Bipolar Disorder ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; Drug Therapy ; Isoenzymes ; Metabolism

200 cases of bone and joint tuberculosis complicated with mixed infection treated at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, National Medical Center through the year of 1958 to 1971 were analyzed and reported in this paper. 1. All the mixed infections complicated in bone and joint tuberculosis occurred secondarily as a complication of the formation of fistula in this series. 2. The incidence of the fistula formation as a complication of bone and joint tuberculosis was considerably higher as 117 out of 200 cases in the age group of 10–30 years compared with other age groups. Accordingly the incidence of mixed infection was higher in this age group than other groups in same proportion in this seiies. 3. Mixed infection occurred relatively earlier after the fistuIar was formed. 46 out of 200cases (23%) had mixed infection one month after the fistula was formed. 4. Majority of the fistula developed spontaneously as 129 out of 200 cases (64.5%) 5. 135 cases of fistula developed during the treatment with PAS. and INH, and 11 cases developed fistula during triple antituberculosis therapy with PAS. INH. and Streptomycin. 6. Majority of the causative microorganism was Staphylococcus aureus as 210 out 360 cultures. (58.3%). 7. The result of the treatment was evaluated, and the result of radical operation gave remarkably higher incidence of healing, 110 out of 130 cases, than that of medical treatment, 33 healing out of 64 cases.
Coinfection ; Fistula ; Humans ; Incidence ; Joints ; Orthopedics ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Streptomycin ; Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular

This study was designed to validate the usefulness of the near point of convergence(NPC)test in determination of dominant & non-domnant eyes in intermittent exotropia patients. We performed NPC test in 36 intermittent exotrpic patients, and then, determined the non-dominant eye which deviated outward beyond the NPC. The dominant eyes determined by the NPC were compared to those that were determined by amblyopia, sensory fusion and photophobia. Best corrected visual acuity was used to divide patients into two groups : 26 patients without amblyopia, and 10 with amblyopia. Among the amblyopia group, if the eyes with better visual acuity were taken as dominant eyes, then eight(80%)cases were identical with the NPC test and two(20%)cases were different. Ten patients had sensory anomaly, and among then, nine(90%)cases were identical with the NPC test and one(10%)case was different. Twenty six(64%)patients had photophobia in one eye and all(100%)cases were identical with the NPC test. In intermittent exotropia, determination of dominant eye by the NPC test showed high coincidence with other tests. Therefore, we suggest that the NPC test is an easy and accurate method in determining either the dominant or non-dominant eye for surgery.
Amblyopia ; Dominance, Ocular* ; Exotropia* ; Humans ; Photophobia ; Visual Acuity

The purpose of this study was to assess the results of passive release of the pulley with needle under local anesthesia performed at the out patient department. There were 68 fingers of 54 patients. Fifteen patients(27.8 %) were male and 39 patients(72.2 %) were female. Involved fingers were 28 thumbs(41.2 %), 7(10.3 %) index fingers, 14(20.6 %) middle fingers, and 19(27.9 %) ring fingers. Ages were varied-between 41 years and 61 years old. Rheumatoid fingers were 12(17.6 %). The others had no underlying disease. An 18 gauge needle was introduced distal to the palpable nodule. The pulley was released passively when the PIP joint was extended. The follow-up period was 4.5 years on average(range; 1-8 years). At final follow-up local recurrence was noted in 1-2 weeks in 7 cases(10.3 %), which was due to technical fault in early trial cases. The patients complained of pain for a few days and mild tenderness for less than 2 weeks. In three cases adhesion occurred, which was resolved in a week by maniqulation. There was no difference between rheumatoid arthritis and the other underlying diseases as far as rate of recurrence was concerned. From these results it would be suggested that the passive release of pulley with needle is an effective method for the treatment of adult trigger finger.
Adult ; Anesthesia, Local ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Female ; Fingers ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joints ; Male ; Methods ; Needles ; Recurrence

BACKGROUNDS: Percutaneous radiofrequency neurotomy of posterior primary ramus has been in use as a treatment for persistent, mechanical low back pain for two decades. However, there has been limited studies regarding to prognostic factors related to outcome. We report our experience with at least 2-year follow up with special aftention on prognostic factors. METHODS: Of total 228 patients who underwent percutaneous radiofrequency neurotomy (PRN) of posterior primary ramus for refractory low back pain during last 3 years, 128 patients whose pain was considered to be originated from facets joints or their surrounding soft tissue and responded to temporary blocks were assigned to a group II. All patients had more than 6 months of pain. These patients were compared with 100 patients to whom PRN were provided for chronic nonspecific low back pain without all inclusion criteria (Group I). RF procedures were done under local anesthesia with C-arm intensifier guidance. Pain reliefs were estimated at 1week, 1month, 6months and 2 years using visual analog scale(VAS). For patients with more that 50% reduction of previous pain was regarded as positive responder. Various clinical variables such as age, sex, symptom duration, types of pain, bilaterality, and previous surgery were studied for prognostic factors. RESULTS: Positive responders were 56% at 1week, 46% at lmonth, 18% at 6months, and 13% at 2years after PRN in group I, and 78.9% at lweek, 75.4% at lmonth, 62.5% at 6months, and 54.7% at 2years in group II. Some variables were found to be significantly related to outcome including prominent local tenderness, percussion tenderness, combination of symptoms with pain on gefting up, extension, transitional movement, pain radiating to buttock and/or posterior thigh, and good immediate response. Age, sex, symptom duration, bilaterality, imaging study results, previous lumbar surgery, and degrees of pain relief from diagnostic block were not related to outcome. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that PRN of posterior primary ramus has a moderate overall long-term beneficial effect, with no morbidity in our series. But, the long-term good results will be anticipated only in properly selected patients with low back pain originating from facet joints and surrounding structures.
Anesthesia, Local ; Buttocks ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joints ; Low Back Pain* ; Percussion ; Thigh ; Zygapophyseal Joint