PURPOSE: A quantitative and easily measured Doppler index of combined systolic and diastolic ventricular myocardial performance (Tei index) was recently proposed as a potentially useful predictor of global myocardial performance. However, presence of heart rate fluctuation makes it unreliable. Therefore, the modified Tei index was introduced by using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) which enables measuring contraction and relaxation velocities from myocardium simultaneously. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the modified Tei index in the evaluation of global cardiac function. METHODS: Forty eight patients in the acute phase of Kawasaki disease (KD) were studied. These patients were divided into two groups according to the modified Tei index. TDI and conventional echocardiography were performed. Systolic velocity, systolic displacement, E' velocity, E' displacement, A' velocity and A' displacement were measured at the base, mid-septum and the apex of the interventricular septum. Ejection fraction (EF), Tei index and modified Tei index were estimated. RESULTS: Modified Tei index correlated negatively with systolic displacement, E' displacement and A' displacement at the base. Modified Tei index correlated positively with ESR and CRP. EF and Tei index were normal in KD patients. CONCLUSION: Modified Tei index is a safe, feasible and sensitive index for evaluating global ventricular functions in spite of normal EF and Tei index in KD.
Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Myocardium ; Relaxation ; Ventricular Function ; Ventricular Function, Left

No abstract available.
Plasmapheresis* ; Postpartum Period* ; Pregnancy*

OBJECTIVE: The fusion procedure can be an option on reoperative HNP cases. It is done routinely or on case-by-case basis. There have been no clear guideline and results about the instability rate that really needs fusion procedure. This study is done to clarify the need of fusion procedure and prognosis in the reoperation of lumbar disc herniation by regarding stability rate. METHODS: Total 27 cases with reoperative lumbar disc surgery were reviewed. Instability was tested preoperatively with X-ray findings which method was proposed by Dupuis in 1976. All operative procedures were done under microscopic magnification. The laminectomy and facetectomy amount was measured by the difference between the pre and postoperative X-ray findings. The stability test and final outcome were rated at least 6 months after the reoperation. The final results were categorized into excellent, good, fair, poor group according to the back, leg pain, walking ability, restriction of average daily life and use of analgesics. RESULTS: The average translation were 4.95%(flexion) with 5.04%(extension) for lumbar joints and 3.39%(flexion) with 4.17%(extension) for lumbosacral junction. Average flexion angulation were -2.3degrees for lumbar joints and 9.1degrees for lumbar sacral junction. The average amount of removed facet joint was 10.2%. Average 68.1% of facet joint remains after the reoperation. CONCLUSION: Fusion procedure is needed only in limited cases of recurrent disc herniation for the reason of possible instability. Routine fusion procedure should be avoided regarding stability problem. In literatures, the fusion rates shows extreme ranges from 0 to 100 % according to the authors. The prognosis was comparable with previous reports where most of the average good or excellent outcomes were ranging 60~70% of the cases without fusion procedures.
Analgesics ; Joints ; Laminectomy ; Leg ; Prognosis* ; Reoperation ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Walking ; Zygapophyseal Joint

We report herein a case of acquired periungual fibrokeratoma occuring beneath the proximal nail fold. A 0.5 X 0.3 cm sized, firm nodule was found beneath the proximal nail fold and at its distal portion longitudinal ridging of nail plate was found. Histopathological finding showed marked hyperkeratosis and acanthosis in the epidermis and thick collagen bundles were predominantly oriented in the direction of longitudinal axis of the tumor.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Collagen ; Epidermis

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to compare the results of using a locking compression plate and an unlocked plate for treating proximal humeral fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was based on 20 patients who underwent plate fixation for proximal humeral fractures out of the 87 patients with proximal humeral fractures and who were admitted from 2003 to 2007 in our hospital. Of the 20 patients, 10 were treated with a locking compression plate and the other 10 were treated with an unlocked plate. Each group was evaluated according to the humeral neck shaft angle, the period until bony union, the complications and the Constant score. The humeral neck shaft angle was based on plain x-rays taken immediately after the operation and at 6 months postoperatively. The Constant score was evaluated on the last visit to our clinic. RESULTS: There was no significant statistical difference between the two groups in terms of the neck shaft angle, the period until bony union and the Constant score. Yet, there were three cases of screw migration in the unlocked plate group. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the neck shaft angle, the period until bony union and the Constant score. The locking compression plate is considered to achieve more effective fixation for proximal humerus fractures because there were less complications such as screw migration.
Humans ; Humerus ; Neck ; Shoulder Fractures

PURPOSE: Assessment of the diameters of the aortic arches in the human fetus may be helpful in the prenatal diagnosis of aortic arch anomalies. The purpose of this study is to construct valuable reference ranges of fetal aortic arch for various fetal growth parameters in an unselected Korean population. METHODS: A prospective, cross-sectional study was performed in 98 normal singleton fetuses between 20 and 38 weeks of gestation. The transverse aortic arch diameter (TAD) and distal aorta isthmus diameter (AID) were measured in the longitudinal view during systole. The bi-parietal diameter (BPD), head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC) and femur length (FL) were obtained at the same time. Ultrasound examinations were performed with a 2.0-6.0 MHz convex probe by abdominal ultrasound. RESULTS: TAD and AID as a function of gestational age (GA) was expressed by the regression equation TAD= -1.246+0.168 X GA, and AID = -1.341+0.180 X GA; TAD and AID are expressed in millimeters and GA in weeks. TAD and AID as a function of BPD was expressed by the regression equation TAD= -1.147+0.664 X BPD, and AID = -1.152+0.696 X BPD. TAD and AID as a function of HC was expressed by the regression equation TAD = -1.187+0.182 X HC, and AID = -1.350+0.198 X HC. TAD and AID as a function of AC was expressed by the regression equation TAD = -0.528+0.173 X AC, and AID = -0.533+0.183 X AC. TAD and AID as a function of FL was expressed by the regression equation TAD = -0.519+0.799 X FL, and AID = -0.601+0.860 X FL; BPD, HC, AC and FL are expressed in centimeters. Correlations were found to be highly statistically significant in relation to GA, BPD, HC, AC, and FL respectively (P<0.0001 in all). Normal mean of TAD and AID per GA, BPD, HC, AC and FL and 95% prediction limits were also defined, respectively. CONCLUSION: New reference ranges of fetal aortic arch related to other fetal bio-parameters representing fetal growth were obtained successfully. The normative date will be helpful in the prenatal accurate diagnosis of aortic anomalies and abnormal growth of fetal aortic arches in Korea.
Aorta ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Echocardiography ; Femur ; Fetal Development ; Fetus ; Gestational Age ; Head ; Humans ; Korea ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Prospective Studies ; Reference Values ; Systole

To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of needle aspiration biopsy of seminiferous tubules (NABST) and to represent the redistributed diagnostic results corresponding to testicular volumes and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels. In this retrospective study, we investigated 65 infertile men with either azoospermia or oligoasthenoteratozoospermia. Following NABST, specimens were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and classified into five histological types. With pre-procedure FSH levels and testicular volumes, we evaluated the probabilities of detecting sperms within biopsy specimens. NABST led to the classification of normal spermatogenesis in 31 cases (47.7%), hypospermatogenesis in 23 cases (35.4%), maturation arrest in 4 cases (6.2%), and Sertoli cell only syndrome in 4 cases (6.2%). The success rate of reaching a histological diagnosis using NABST was 95.4% (62 out of 65 cases). Fourteen patients (21.5%) had a testicular volume <15 cc; of these, 8 patients (57.1%) had normal spermatogenesis, 2 patients (14.3%) had hypospermatogenesis, 2 patients (14.3%) had maturation arrest and 2 patients (14.3%) had Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCO). Twelve patients (18.5%) had an FSH level ≥10 IU; of these, 6 (50%) had normal spermatogenesis, 2 patients (16.7%) had maturation arrest and 4 patients (33.3%) had SCO. Cases with an FSH level <10 IU were positively associated with a probability of detecting sperm using NABST (p<0.001). NABST is a reliable tool for the histological diagnosis of azoospermic and oligoasthenoteratozoospermic patients. The diagnostic success rate was high and associated with pathological accuracy. NABST is a convenient procedure with few complications.
Asthenozoospermia ; Azoospermia ; Biopsy ; Biopsy, Needle ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; Hematoxylin ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Methods ; Needles ; Oligospermia ; Retrospective Studies ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Sertoli Cell-Only Syndrome ; Spermatogenesis ; Spermatozoa

OBJECTIVES: Recently, the outpatient group psychotherapy has been changed from traditional long-term therapy to short-term or time-limited therapy. The termination time and session numbers are given from start line in the time-limited therapy while 10 to 40 sessions are needed in the short-term therapy. And therapist and patients come to an agreement of the accomplishable therapeutic goal and work together actively. The time-limited group psychotherapy is being accepted newly as an efficient therapeutic modality because effective therapeutic outcomes within given time have been reported. The objectives of this study are as follows; firstly, we examine the therapeutic outcomes and the therapeutic factors after performing the time-limited group psychotherapy for outpatients in the psychiatric clinic; secondly, we analyze the characteristics showed in the process of study; lastly, we verify the feasibility and the validity of this group psychotherapy and then establish the basis of the effective outpatient therapy that would be settled down as an applicable treatment modality economically and efficiently in the current medical environment of Korea. METHODS: This study was performed weekly in total 12 sessions from July 1999, April 2000 to and each session took 70-80 minutes. The experimental group were composed of the highly-functioning psychotic patients among outpatients in the psychiatric clinic. The control group were composed of the similar patients through one-to-one matching of age, sex, diagnosis, and duration of illness. The participants were 8 patients each. BDI(Beck Depression Inventory), STAI(Spielbergs State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), MMPI(Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory), and EDMT(Ewha Defence Mechanism Test) as the evaluation scales were performed before and after treatment. And 13-therapeutic factors scale was performed just after each session and the self-report total assessment questionnaire was performed only in experimental group at the end of this study. RESULTS: The mean score of BDI was decreased significantly in experimental group in comparison with control group. The mean score of STAI-S was not changed significantly in both group, and the mean score of STAI-T was decreased in experimental group in comparison with control group. The mean score of MMPI was decreased significantly in experimental group in comparison with control group, but the comparison of difference scores(post-treatment score - pre-treatment score) between the experimental and control group was not decreased significantly. This result may come from psychopharmacotherapy and individual supportive psychotherapy given equally to both group. The mean scores of immature defence and neurotic defence in EDMT were decreased significantly in experimental group compared with control group. Comparing the therapeutic factors to divide into the first, middle, and the last stage, existential factor was ranked first, and catharsis, identification with therapist, universality, and group cohesiveness were ranked high in all stages. Interpersonal learning was ranked first in the last stage although being ranked low in the first and middle stage. The total assessment questionnaires about group psychotherapy were reported that 100% of participants were helped, 75% of participants were changed in their lives, and 75% of participants had minds to join this kind of program again if given for them. CONCLUSIONS: This result shows that not only symptom relief but also personality change was achieved when the time-limited group psychotherapy was practiced in addition to simple psychophamarcotherapy and individual supportive psychotherapy for outpatients. The degree of satisfaction for group psychotherapy of participants were evaluated highly. Group psychotherapy has been accepted in public as a therapeutic modality that must be as equally effective as psychotherapy although group psychotherapy derives from individual psychotherapy. In our current medical environment that has been changed suddenly by the separation of medical practice and pharmaceutical dispensing and the decrease of medical fee, group psychotherapy or time-limited therapy would be settled down as low-expense and high-efficiency therapeutic modalities that were as equally effective as individual psychotherapy or long-term therapy.
Anxiety ; Catharsis ; Depression ; Diagnosis ; Fees, Medical ; Humans ; Korea ; Learning ; MMPI ; Outpatients* ; Psychotherapy ; Psychotherapy, Group* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Weights and Measures

PURPOSE: Homocysteine is a strong and independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The deleterious effects of homocysteine included endothelial dysfunction, arterial intimal-medial thickening, wall stiffness and procoagulant activity. However, the precise mechanism responsible for homocysteine release in children with coronary artery disease is still unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate serum homocysteine and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-alpha levels and identify whether these levels had any association with the development of coronary artery lesions in Kawasaki disease(KD). METHODS: Serum homocysteine and TNF-alpha levels were measured in 24 KD patients(group 1, eight patients with normal coronary artery; group 2, 16 patients with coronary artery lesions) and 21 controls(group 3, 10 afebrile controls; group 4, 11 febrile controls). Blood samples were drawn from each study group before and after intravenous immunoglobulin(IVIG) therapy and in the convalescent stage. RESULTS: The homocysteine levels before IVIG therapy were significantly higher in group 1 than in group 3, and in group 2 than in group 3 and 4. The TNF-alpha levels before IVIG therapy were significantly higher in group 2 than group 3 and 4. Serum homocysteine and TNF-alpha levels were highest in group 2 before IVIG therapy. In the acute KD patients, serum homocysteine levels correlated significantly with TNF-alpha levels. CONCLUSION: The increased serum homocysteine levels in the acute stage increase the susceptibility to coronary arterial lesions in KD. TNF-alpha may also play an important role in the formation of coronary arterial lesions in KD.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Child ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Homocysteine* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Necrosis ; Risk Factors ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the difference between the midvastus and median parapatellar approach in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in terms of clinical and radiologic results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January to December 2003, 49 patients having bilateral TKA were randomized prospectivity-one knee having a vastus splitting approach and the other knee having a median parapatellar approach- to compare operation time, postoperative ROM and drain amount, knee society knee score and function score, return to SLR, patellar tilting and displacement. The data was collected during 2 years of follow-up period, and analyzed using paired t-test. RESULTS: The patients with the midvastus splitting approach performed active straight-leg raise sooner (mean, 1.8 day) than the patients operated on using median parapatellar approach (mean, 2.2 days). But, there was no statistically difference. Knee flexion was better at post-operative 4 weeks in midvastus splitting approach group (mean, 125.5 degrees) than the median parapatellar approach group (mean, 123.9 degree)(p=0.028). However, patellar displacement was more severe in midvastus splitting approach group (mean, 3.4 mm) than the median parapatellar group (mean, 1.6 mm) (p=0.035). There was 1 postoperative hematoma and avulsion fracture of patellar tendon in midvastus splitting approach group. CONCLUSION: Even though midvastus splitting approach could provides the advantage of early postoperative rehabilitation, The midvastus splitting surgical approach dose not consider as being superioir to median parapatellar approach due to severe injury of midvastus and limitation of surgical indication.
Arthroplasty* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Knee* ; Patellar Ligament ; Rehabilitation