The single enzyme P-450c17 hydroxylase catalyzes the 17a-hydroxylation of both pregnenolone and progesterone and the side-chain cleavage of 17a-hydroxypregnenolone and 17a-hydroxypro- gesterone to dehydroepiandrosterone and androstenedione. This enzyme is located in the endoplasmic reticulum and consists of a P-450c17 and a specific flavoprotein NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase. The clinical picture and hormonal pattern in 17a-hydroxylase deficiency have been consistent in both genotypic sexes with hypergonadotropic hypogonadism in whom the virtual absence of gonadal steroids results in a female phenotype with primary amenorrhea and pseudohermaphro- ditism in the male and underdeveloped secondary sex characteristics and hypermineralocorticoidism with hypertension, hypokalemia, suppressed renin-angiotensin system and extremely reduced aldo-sterone production. A 17-year-old girl visited endocrine clinic because of amenorrhea, absence of pubic and axillary hair, and hypertension. she had elevated levels of serum corticosterone, deoxycorticosterone(DOC), 18-hydroxycorticosterone(18-OHB). Stumulation with ACTH effected minimal increase in the elevated steroids and the ACTH-stimulated 18-OHB to aldosterone ratio was more than 280. These hormonal patterns appear to be homozygote in 17a-hydroxylase deficiency.
Adolescent ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Aldosterone ; Amenorrhea ; Androstenedione ; Corticosterone ; Dehydroepiandrosterone ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; Female ; Flavoproteins ; Gonads ; Hair ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypogonadism ; Hypokalemia ; Male ; Oxidoreductases ; Phenotype ; Pregnenolone ; Progesterone ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; Sex Characteristics ; Steroids

PURPOSE: To evaluate dysphagia objectively and quantitatively, and ta clarify the effect of neck position and viscosity changes in patients with aspiration and laryngeal penetration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 35 patients with dysphagia and 21 normal controls using videofluoroscopy and scintigraphy. Videofluoroscopy was performed with barium with three different viscosity, and scintigraphy was done, with water, yogurt, and steamed egg mixed with Tc-99m tin colloid. 1f aspiration was found during videofluoroscopic examination, patients neck position was changed and study repeated. Videofluoroscopy was analyzed qualitatively. We calculated 7 quantitative parameters from scintigraphy. According to the videofluoroscopic findings, we divided patients into 3 subgroups; aspiration, laryngeal penetration, and no-aspiration group. RESULTS: The result of videofluoroscopy revealed that the most cornmon finding was the delay in triggering pharyngeal swallow. Pharyrigeal transit time (PTT) and pharyngeal swallowing efficiency(PSE) in patients with aspiration were significantly different from other groups. After neck position change, aspiration could be reduced in all of 7 patients, and laryngeal penetration reduced hy about 82%. PTT ancl PSE were also improved after position change. Aspiration and laryngeal penetration occurred more frequently in thin liquid swallowing than in thick liquid and solid swallowing. CONCLUSION: PTT and PSE were useful for the evaluation of dysphagia. Aspiration and laryngeal penetration could be reduced when appropriate position assumed, We could decrease the chance of aspiration by changing the patient diet consisIency. Scintigraphy might be useful tool to quantitate and follow up these changes.
Barium ; Colloids ; Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders* ; Diet ; Evaluation Studies as Topic* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neck ; Ovum ; Radionuclide Imaging* ; Steam ; Tin ; Viscosity ; Water ; Yogurt

OBJECTIVES: This study is to see the transition and pattern of the industrial iureal worker, and to develop the prediction model. METHODS: The data of the study are based on the samples from data-warehouse of Occupational Safety & Health Research Institute and are summed monthly from Jan 1986 to Dec 1999. This study data used data mart and Meta data from DW in KOSHA. The prediction model of the injured worker in Industry is designed by using a winters time series method after data preparing (i. e. sample, explore, modify) from DW. RESULTS: Thls predicted model obtained Winters-method multiplicative in exponential smoothing among applied all models, after the tlme series (total 163 months). It showed that the prediction power was 95.5 %. CONCLUSIONS: In the process of exploring the data, totally the rate of industrial injureal workers reduced, and in the yearly circulation, in February and September the number is the lowest but in June, July, October and November the higher. The number of monthly average injureal workers is 8709 (95 % confidence interval 8277, 9140). From the developed prediction model, since Aug 1999 the industrial injureal worker reduced rapidly in Dec 1999 and first period of 2000. But In second period of 2000 the number of the injured workers is increasing. To conclude, as the total economic situation is becoming better in 2000 than In 1999, its is supposed that the injured workers will increase more than the predictive injured workers because of the increase of production rate and labor force.
Academies and Institutes ; Data Mining* ; Employment ; Humans ; Occupational Health

Since last August, 29 cases of synovial punch biopsy have been carried out with Franklin-Silverman needle which was used in liver biopsy, instead of the specialized needle for the synovium. Authors report the applicable utility of Franklin-Silverman needle for the synovial biopsy, diagnostic value of this procedure and histopathologic findings of the results. The rate of the technical success to abtain synovial tissue was about 76%. Complications after procedure have been very rarely encountered, consisting of mild transient hemarthrosis. In 17 cases, the histopathologic changes was compatible with their clinical findings. In the remainders, we experienced the failures to get synovial tiasue at all in 7 cases and to give the significant synovial changes in 5 successful specimens. Fortunately, the important diagnostic aid was achieved in 3 cases which were conformed early diagnosis of tuberculous arthritis. This needle biopsy was also thought to contribute to rule out the gouty arthritis from other hyperuricemic conditions. But the histologic changes were non specific inflammatory findings in the synovial mambrane of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, traumatic and infectious arthritis.
Arthritis ; Arthritis, Gouty ; Arthritis, Infectious ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Biopsy ; Biopsy, Needle ; Early Diagnosis ; Hemarthrosis ; Liver ; Needles ; Osteoarthritis ; Synovial Membrane

Persistent trigeminal artery is an embryonic remnant of the anastomotic channel linking the internal carotid artery and the basilar artery. Cases of vertebrobasilar insufficiency caused by the persistent trigeminal artery with internal carotid artery stenosis has been described previously, but vertebrobasilar insufficiency entirely due to in situ stenosis of the persistent trigeminal artery has not been reported. A 71-year-old man presented with frequent dizzy episodes. The brain MRI showed no parenchymal lesions. MR angiography showed poor visualization of vertebrobasilar system. He was diagnosed as having vertebrobasilar insufficiency. Cerebral angiography revealed that there was complete occlusion at the vertebrobasilar junction, and the basilar artery was supplied by the persistent trigeminal artery which had severe stenosis at its origin. There was no stenosis of the internal carotid artery of both sides. We believe that this is the first report of vertebrobasilar insufficiency due to stenosed persistent trigeminal artery, without internal carotid artery stenosis.

PURPOSE: In order to study the frequency and the site of pain with shoulder impingement syndrome accompanied by myofascial pain syndrome (MPS), and to see how the treatment of impingement syndrome effects the improvement in myofascial pain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among patients diagnosed with shoulder impingement syndrome with MPS and who complained around of shoulder muscle pain 53 subjects were selected as subjects for this study. Patients were divided into three groups according to method of treatment; the first group was the cases who received impingement injection test, the second group were only carried out isometric strengthening exercise of the periscapular muscles and the rotator cuff, and the third group was the cases who failed conservative treatment and had a surgical operation. All subjects had a physical examination before treatment to see if the MPS was present in the muscles around the shoulder, the range of motion of shoulder, and the American Shoulder and Elbow Society (ASES) shoulder score were measured. RESULTS: There was no relation to between age, gender, impingement signs, tenderness around the joints, the range of motion and ASES shoulder score. The VAS was reduced from 6.2+/-2.3 to 1.2+/-1.5 (p<0.01), and ASES shoulder score increased from 32.1+/-15.3 to 87.5+/-17.7 (p<0.05). The differences among treatments of the three groups were not significant in pain and treatment outcome (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Treatment of shoulder impingement syndrome reduced the symptoms of MPS, thus shoulder impingement syndrome can be the one of the causes of MPS.
Elbow ; Humans ; Joints ; Muscles ; Myalgia ; Myofascial Pain Syndromes* ; Physical Examination ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Rotator Cuff ; Shoulder Impingement Syndrome* ; Shoulder* ; Treatment Outcome ; Trigger Points

A through understanding of the biomechanics of the cervical spine is necessary to apply its knowledge to management of cervical disorders intelligently. In this article authors tried to fully review the biomechnics of cervical spine by, first, going over the basic anatomical and physiological characteristics of the cervical spine. Then, with these in mind, related kinemtics are reviewed with discussion of some of important clinical applications related to these facts. Finally, diagnostic points of cervical instability are stressed which can be used some of the guidelines in management of such patients in actual clinical situations.
Biomechanical Phenomena ; Humans ; Spine*

Sinusitis manifested as symptomatic imflammation of the paranasal sinuses is a common pediatric diagnosis. Many studies have focused more directly on the question of relationship between allergy and sinusitis but the relevance of the relationship between allergy and sinusitis still needs further examination, The purpose of this study is to assess of relationship of allergy to extent or severity of sinusitis. A clinical evaluation was performed on 199 children, age 2 to 15 years, in whom the diagnosis of sinusitis was confirmed by paranasal sinus radiographic assessment at our hospital Pediatric OPD and in the ward from July 1991 to June 1993. The results were as follows: 1) Male was more prominent than female (M:F ratio 1.76:1). The age distribution, 100 cases(55.2%) of the total case were 4-7 year old. 2) The symptoms were coughing, most common (77,9%), rhinorrhea, nasal discharge and nasal stuffiness, in decreasing order. The clinical signs were postnasal drip (62.8%), most common, throat injection, wheezing sound, and allergic shiner in decreasing order. Eighty eight patients were evaluated acute and compared with 111 patients with chronic sinusitis. 3) Comparable study between two groups were summarized as follwos: (1) There was no significant difference in age and sex distribution between acute and chronic group. (2) The lowest seasonal incidence of acute group was seen in summer and autumn but there was no significant variation between both group (p>0.05). (3) Allergc disease was more prevalent in chronc group than acute group (p<0.05). Asthma incidence was higher in chronic group than acute group (p<0.05). (4) The frequency of total IgE level checked by PRIST higher than 200 IU/ml in acute group and chronic group was 23.2% and 42.3%, respectively (p<0.05). The incidence of positive skin prick test in acute group and chronic group was 25.0% and 46.5% respectively (p<0.05). (5) Otitis media, nasal polyp and adenoid hypertrophy incidence were higher in chronic group than acute group (p<0.05). (6) There was no significant difference if ESR between both groups. The eosinophilia in peripheral blood higher than 5% in the acute group and chronic group was 15.9% and 42.3% respectively (p<0.05). (7) The patients with chronic group had more severe involvement of the paranasal sinuses than acute group (p<0.05). (8) There were no significant difference in chest radiographic findings and follow up paranasal sinus radiographic findings after treatment (P>0.05).
Adenoids ; Age Distribution ; Asthma ; Child* ; Cough ; Cyprinidae ; Diagnosis ; Eosinophilia ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Hypertrophy ; Immunoglobulin E ; Incidence ; Male ; Nasal Polyps ; Otitis Media ; Paranasal Sinuses ; Pharynx ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Respiratory Sounds ; Seasons ; Sex Distribution ; Sinusitis* ; Skin

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

Ossification and calcification of the spinal ligaments frequently cause pressure upon the spinal cord andnerve roots. Authors reviewed 150 cases of C-spine CT, 80 cases of T-spine CT, and 725 cases of L-spine CT whichwere carried out a Pusan Natina University Hospital for 2 years from May 1983 to May 1985. We analysed 34 caseswhich showed ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) and ligamentum flavum (OLF) of these 955cases. The results are follows: 1. The male ot female ratio of spinal ligamentous ossification was 26:8. The 5thdecade group (24.41%) was the most prevalent age group. 4th decade(26.4%), 6th decade(23.52%), 7th decade(11.76),3rd decade (8.8%), and 8th decade(2.94%) in that order. 2. Of 955 cases of spine CT, the incidence of OPLL was 25cases(21.51%) and that of OLF was 10 ases(1.05%). 3. Regional incidence of spinal ligamentous ossification was asfollows. 1) In case of OPLL, cervical area was 19/150(12.67%) and lumbar area was 6/725 (0.83%). 2) In cases ofOLF, Thoracic area was 3/80(3.75%) and lumbar area was 8/725(1.10%). 4. The most frequent length of OPLL was 4body length (32%) and the most frequent locations are C4 and C5(68%). The types fo OPLL were 15 cases(60%) ofsegmental type, 8 cases(32%) of continuous type, and 2 cases(8%) of mixed type in that order. All segmental typeswere degree 1 or 2 and most continuous and mixed type (80%) were degree 2 or 3 dural sac effect. 5. The number ofinvolved interlaminar spaces in OLF was 1 to 5 interspaces and most of OLF were found at low thoracic and lumbararea. 6. There could be noted high correlation between the spinal ligamentous ossification and degenerative discdisease, The incidence of associated disc disease was 18/25(72%) in OPLL and 8/10(80%) in OLF.
Busan ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Ligaments ; Ligamentum Flavum ; Male ; Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament ; Spinal Cord ; Spine