No abstract available.
Pneumoconiosis* ; Thorax*

A follow-up study was made of 26 knees of 21 patients who underwent arthroscopic synovectomy between October 1982 and August 1983 in Catholic Medical College and Center. The patient's ages ranged from 3 to 66 years of age. There were 14 female patients and 7 male patients in this series. The follow-up period of all patients was a minimum of twelve months to a maximum of 20 months. The average follow-up of the whole group was 16.8 months. The abnormal findings were rated from 0 to 4 according to Marmors rating system. Final clinical evaluations of the patients were done according to the modified criteria of Sledge et al. The results were as follows; 1. Rheumatoid Arthritis Of 14 knees, 3 joints(21.4%) were rated “excellent”, 6(42.9%) were “good”, and 5(35.7%) were “fair”. There was no case of “unimproved”. 2. Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis The results of all 5 knees were satisfactory. Of 5 knees, 4 joints(80%) were rated excellent and one joint (20%) was good. 3. There were 3 knees of osteoarthritis, 3 knees of chronic synovitis and one knee of pigmented villonodular synovitis. Their final results were all satisfactory. Three joints were rated excellent and the other 3 joints were good. 4. Of 26 knees, as a whole, 10 joints (38.5%) were rated “excellent”, 11 joints (42.3%) were “good”, 5 joints (19.2%) were “fair” and no joint was “unimproved”. There were 5 recurrences of active synovial disease in this series, and these patients all were “classic” rheumatoid arthritis. But surprisingly the average patient in this group of recurrence did well even after recurrence. These patients all had less pain and effusion than before operation. 5. The major cause of unsatisfactory results other than recurrence of synovitis were articular degeneration (joint space narrowing) and patellofemoral osteoarthritis (4 knees). 6. A good range of motion with the shortest rehabilitation period can be expected if alternate flexion and extension splints are applied on alternate days for less than a week following the surgery. In conclusion, one may state that the arthroscopic synovectomy is worth considering for the treatment of various kinds of synovitis of the knee joint and when the rheumatoid process follows a favourahle course.
Arthritis, Juvenile ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee Joint ; Knee ; Male ; Osteoarthritis ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Recurrence ; Rehabilitation ; Splints ; Synovitis ; Synovitis, Pigmented Villonodular

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between radiation-induced activation of DNA repair genes and radiation induced apoptosis in A431 cell line. MATERALS AND METHODS: Five and 25 Gys of gamma radiation were given to A431 cells by a Cs-137 cell irradiator. Apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry using annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate and propidium iodide staining. The expression of DNA repair genes was evaluated by both Northern and Western blot analyses. RESULTS: The number of apoptotic cells increased with the increased radiation dose. It increased most significantly at 12 hours after irradiation. Expression of p53, p21, and hRAD50 reached the highest level at 12 hours after 5 Gy irradiation. In response to 25 Gy irradiation, hRAD50 and p21 were expressed maximally at 12 hours, but p53 and GADD45 genes showed the highest expression level after 12 hours. CONCLUSION: Induction of apoptosis and DNA repair by ionizing radiation were closely correlated. The peak time of inducing apoptosis and DNA repair was 12 hours in this study model. hRAD50, a recently discovered DNA repair gene, was also associated with radiation-induced apoptosis.
Apoptosis* ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line* ; DNA Repair* ; DNA* ; Flow Cytometry ; Gamma Rays ; Humans* ; Propidium ; Radiation, Ionizing

Conjoined twins occur when there is imcomplete fission of the inner cell mass later at approximately 13 to 15 days after fertilization. The earlist case in the literat.ure appears to be that of the Biddenden Maids who were born in England in 1100. since then over two hundred cases of successful separation were reported on literature. And also successful separation cases were reported by Seung et al.(1991) in Korea. Conjoined twins occur between one in 50,000 to 100,000 births but real incidence is one in 200,000 because two thirds are stillbirth or died immediately after birth. The conjoined twins are not associated with maternal age, race or family history and 70 % of them are females. We experienced a case of conjoined twins with omphalopagus and performed surgical separation. A brief review of related literatures was done.
Animals ; Continental Population Groups ; England ; Female ; Fertilization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Maternal Age ; Murine Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Parturition ; Stillbirth ; Twins, Conjoined*

We studied the association of nonspecific bronchial hyperresponsiveness with general characteristics, exposure concentration, respiratory symptoms, chest x-ray findings, past histories and pulmonary function. We determined bronchial hyperresponsiveness by methacholine challenge test. And we conducted a respiratory symptom questionnaire and performed spirometry on 111 workers occupationally exposed to isocyanates in various industries. About 21.6% of subjects had bronchial hyperresponsiveness. No significant differences were observed between the hyperresponsive and non-responsive group with respect to age, sex, employment period, height, and smoking histories cough and breathlessness were significantly associated with the bronchial hyperresponsiveness. The hyperresponsive group had more experience of bronchitis and asthma in the past than the non-responsive group. The lower FEV1 and FEV1 % were closely related with bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Bronchial hyperrespoosiveness seems to be associated with some of respiratory symptoms, past histories and pulmonary function parameters in workers exposed to isocyanates.
Asthma ; Bronchitis ; Cough ; Employment ; Isocyanates* ; Methacholine Chloride ; Occupations ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Spirometry ; Thorax

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of the patients who have a fixation failure of instrumentalion for the spinal fusion in lumbar region. OBJECTIVES: To assess the incidence and different types of the mechanical failure of fixation and to evaluate their managements and their influences on the progression of a spinal fusion and to the clinical outcomes. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Most of the spine surgeons have been experiencing the mechanical failures after instrumentations for a spinal fusion, eden though the incidence is decreasing with a modification of the implants. Reports on this problem are sporadic in conjunction with the other topics, rarely focusing on their management and their influences on the final outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 338 consecutive patients who had a lateral fusion in the lumbar region with an instrumentation of pedicle screws and rods, mostly with decompression, were reviewed to analyse the fixation failures of instrumentation after surgery. RESULTS: There were 26 patients (7.7%) who had the fixation failures of instrumentation, in terms of loosening around the pedicle screws in 18 patients (5.3%), the breakage of the pedicle screws in fide patients (1.5%), and the migration of a rod in three patients (0.9%). They were managed by prolonged use of brace and ergonomic back cares. Even with the fixation failures, 19 patients (73.1%) disclosed solid union uneventfully, but one patient had re-operation to obtain solid fusion. The final outcomes were satisfactory in 22 patients (84.6%), including four of six patients who had pseudoarthrosis. CONCLUSIONS: The fixation failure of instrumentation after a spinal fusion in lumbar region was not rare, but the progression of a spinal fusion usually quite well achieved and the final outcomes were not so bad, even with the implant failures and pseudoarthrosi s. Except for the persistently symptomatic pseudoarthrosis, only a prolonged use of brace and the ergonomic back cares are recommended for symptomatic patients.
Braces ; Decompression ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lumbosacral Region* ; Pseudarthrosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fusion* ; Spine

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant* ; Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract*

Since the 1960's, Korea has achieved rapid economic growth, longer life expectancy, accelerated urbanization and a westernization of diet. Cardiovascular disease has become the leading cause of death; however the prevalence of ischemic heart disease(IHD) remains low. A cross-sectional multiphasic screening service for 18,426 persons aged 30 64 years in a Medical Aid Program in Kyonggi-do Province was conducted from 1991 to 1993. Total cholesterol(TC), Fasting blood glucose(FBG), blood pressure(BP), and electrocardiographic(EKG) data were collected. The result as follows; 1. On the EKG findings, the age-adjusted prevalence of myocardial ischemia and myocardial infarction was 1.45% in men and 2.06% in women. 2. The mean blood pressure was 122.9/78.8mmHg. The age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension was 11.05% in men and 9.02% in women. The prevalence of hypertension showed increasing tendency according to age increase. In all age group, the prevalence of hypertension was higher in men than women. 3. The mean total cholesterol level was 184.4mg/dl in men and 189.2mg/dl in women. The age-adjusted prevalence of hypercholesterolemia was 4.88% in men and 5.67% in women. The total cholesterol level showed increasing tendency according to age increase, except 55 64 age group in men. 4. The prevalence of hyperglycemia is 5.8%. The age-adjusted prevalence of hyperglycemia is 6.72% in men and 4.50% in women. The prevalence of hyperglycemia showed increasing tendency according to age increase. 5. On the EKG findings, the prevalence of myocardial ischemia and myocardial infarction was higher in hypertension than normal, in all age group of men and women less than 40 years-old. Only in women more than 40 years-old, the prevalence of myocardial ischemia and myocardial infarction was higher in hypercholesterolemia and hyperglycemia. Nevertheless there is not statistical association between ischemic heart disease and previous risk factors in other age group, the prevalence of myocardial ischemia and myocardial infarction was higher in hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and hyperglycemia than normal. The result of this study suggest that relationships between major risk factor of ischemic heart disease and ischemic heart disease is similar to existing theory.
Adult ; Blood Glucose* ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cause of Death ; Cholesterol* ; Diet ; Economic Development ; Electrocardiography* ; Fasting* ; Female ; Gyeonggi-do ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Hyperglycemia ; Hypertension* ; Korea ; Life Expectancy ; Male ; Multiphasic Screening ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia* ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Urbanization

No abstract available.
Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Cesarean Section* ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Pregnancy

Metanephric adenoma is a rare renal epithelial tumor. Its light microscopic features are very characteristic, and immunohistochemical and electron microscopic studies are not critical to the diagnosis. The literature indicate that, to date, the tumor has behaved in a benign fashion, and predominantly but not exclusively occurred in middle-aged women. It occurs in a wide range up to 11 cm and is usually an incidental finding but may be symptomatic with hematuria or flank pain. Recently, we have experienced a case of renal tumor showing distinctive adenomatous features, which is incidentally found in a 52-year-old female. This tumor is confined to the renal cortex and is well-circumscribed with a characteristic uniform and orderly proliferation of compact well-differentiated small tubules lined by bland oval cells with a very low level of mitotic activity. The term metanephric adenoma is appropriate for this tumor because it accurately describes its bland proliferation of tubules and reflects the embryonic architectural and cytological appearance of this proliferation. The pattern of the tumor, with its occasional papillary glomeruloid- like bodies and foci of elongated tubules, is reminiscent of the fetal metanephric kidney.
Adenoma* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Flank Pain ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Incidental Findings ; Kidney* ; Middle Aged