The characterization of genetic variation at the level of DNA has generated significant advances in gene mapping and disease diagnosis, and forensic identification of individuals. It is now possible to identify individual DNA from various tissue specimens, like hair, using the PCR and oligonucleotide probes. To date, however, the number of hairs needed, the preservation conditions, and the kinds of hair suitable for DNA extraction have not been well known. We performed DNA extraction using hairs from different body sites, using different numbers of hairs, under various different preservation conditions to investigate the acquisition conditions of DNA data from hair using PCR and specific HLA-DQA probe. HLA-DQA genotyping of DNA extracted from peripheral blood was performed to compare the results of hair and blood HLA-DQA genotyping from individuals. The results are as follows: 1) The concentration of DNA extracted from a single strand of hair is 5.23+/-0.54 g/ml. It is possible to extract sufficient DNA for HLA-DQA genotyping from a single strand of hair. 2) DNA concentration is different according to body site. Concentrations are 7.01+/-0.33 g/ml in scalp hair, 6.28+/-0.29 g/ml in axillary hair, and 6.10+0.24 microgram/ml in pubic hair. 3) There is no difference between the electrophortic bands resulting from DNA extracted from the hair of an individual preserved under different conditions, such as room temperature, exposure to sunlight, exposure to low temperature (+4degrees C), or exposure to moisture. 4) There is no difference between the electrophoretic bands resulting from DNA extracted from hair of a single individual preserved for different lengths of time. 5) In an individual, the HLA-DQA genotype obtained from peripheral blood is identical to that obtained from hair. Even though the amout of DNA obtained from hair is limited, it is possible to identify the HLA-DQA genotype of an individual using a single strand of hair. This requires adequate extraction of DNA for PCR analysis using an allele specific probe. We believe that HLA-DQA genotyping using the PCR method on DNA extracted from hair is useful for disease diagnosis and forensic science.
Alleles ; Chromosome Mapping ; Diagnosis ; DNA* ; Forensic Sciences ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Hair* ; Oligonucleotide Probes ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Scalp ; Sunlight

The thoracic and lumbar spine fractures were usually combined with neurological deficit. But the prognostic factors in degree of neurological damage and process of the recovery are controversial. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the factors affected neurological injury and the recovery. The 31 cases who had been performed surgical interventions due to traumatic thoracic or lumbar spine fractures with the neurological deficits were studied according to the radiographic findings of the spinal columns and neurological changes of the injured cord and/or the roots. The duration of mean follow-up was 32.6 months, and all cases were evaluated by motor index score and Frankel grade. Total cases were divided into complete paralytic (N=8) and partial paralytic(N=23) group. In incomplete paraplegia group, the neurological recovery rate was better than complete group(P < 0.001) and neurological recovery period was shorter than complete group (P=0.005). The neurologic deficits according to the Frankel grade were higher in Chance fracture, flexion-distraction and translation (complete paraplegia: 4/7 cases, 57.1%) than unstable bursting fracture (complete paraplegia: 4/24 cases, 16.7%)(P=0.031). The recovery rate of Chance fracture, flexion-distraction and translation were worse than unstable bursting fracture (0.001). The fracture which occurred in T5-11 showed higher incidence of complete paraplegia(75%) compared with that of the T12-L1(30.8%) & L2-4(7.1%)(p=0.021). The neurological recovery in motor index score in L2-4 was higher than T5-11 or T12-L1(P=0.0017). There was no correlation in kyphotic deformity and anterior body height loss between complete and incomplete paraplegia groups. But the A-P diameter of compromised neural canal showed significant difference between complete and incomplete paraplegia group(P=0.027)
Body Height ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Incidence ; Neural Tube ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Paraplegia ; Spine

In order to investigate the factors influencing QOL and life satisfaction of the physically disabled, the author interviewed, by using structuralized questionnaire, 440 individuals among the physically disabled who were participated in Health Examination from April to July, 1997. The questionnaire consisted of the general characteristics(sex, age, marital status, family number, etc), the Reintegration to Normal Living Index(RNLI) to assess QOL, and the single item of five-likert scale to evaluate life satisfaction. The means of RNLI were 16.2+/-4.8 in total score, 12.2+/-3.4 in daily functioning and 4.0+/-2.1 in perception of self. The respondents were less reintegrated toward social activities and relationships than impairments or disabilities. While the satisfied group was 47.3%, the dissatisfied group was 52.7%. As the results of multiple regression and logistic regression analysis, the significant predictors of QOL were age, education, job, grade of disability and subjective health status. The life satisfaction were related to economic status, job and subjective health status. To improve QOL and life satisfaction of the physically disabled, it is important that we improve their basic socioeconomic status by getting a job through rehabilitation education and induce them to have positive self-assessment by extending the opportunity of social participation.
Daegu* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Disabled Persons* ; Education ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Marital Status ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rehabilitation ; Self-Assessment ; Social Class ; Social Participation

BACKGROUND: Although there are improvements of clinical symtoms after bronchodilator inhalation in COPD patients, it has been noted that there was no increase of FEV1 in some cases. FEV1 did not reflect precisely the improvement of ventilatory mechanics after bronchodilator inhalation in these COPD patients. The main pathophysiology of COPD is obstruction of airway in expiratory phase but in result, the load of respiratory system is increased in inspiratory phase. Therefore the improvement of clinical symptoms after bronchodilator inhalation may be due to the decrease of inspiratory load. So we performed the study which investigated the effect of bronchodilator on inspiratory response of vetilatory mechanics in COPD patients. METHODS: In 17 stable COPD patients, inspiratory and expiratory forced flow-volume curves were measured respectively before bronchodilator inhalation. l0mg of salbutamol solution was inhaled via jet nebulizer for 4 minutes. Forced expiratory and inspiratory flow-volume curves were measured again 15 minutes after bronchodilator inhalation. RESULTS: FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC% were 0.92 +/-0.34L(38.3+/- 14.9% predicted), 2.5+/-0.81L (71.1 +/-21.0% predicted) and 43.1+/-14.5% respectively before bronchodilator inhalation. The values of increase of FEV1, FVC and PIF(Peak Inspiratory Flow) were 0.15 +/-0.13L(relative increase: 17.0%), 0.58+/-0.38 L(29.0%) and 1.0+/-0.56L/sec(37.5%) respectively after bronchodilator inhalation. The increase of PIF was twice more than FEV1 in average(p<0.001). The increase of PIF in these patients whose FEV1 was not increased after bronchodilator inhalation were 35.0%, 44.0% and 55.5% respectively. CONCLUSION: The inspiratory parameter reflected improvement of ventilatory mechanics by inhaled bronchodilater better than expiratory parameters in COPD patients.
Albuterol ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Mechanics ; Nebulizers and Vaporizers ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* ; Respiratory System

Sixteen microvasular free flap transfers have performed during recent two years in this department, which was first attempt in Korea. Neurovascular free flap was nine and vascular free flap was seven. The donor flaps were thirteen dorsalis pedls falps, two groin flaps and one latissimus dorsi flap respectively. The recipient sites were heel pad loss, vital organ exposure and scar contracture lesions in extremity. Their main cause of soft tissue defect was traumatic in all. All patients have experienced more than two times of split thickness skin graft before free flap transfer. The success rate of vascular free flap transfer was 94%. The only one failure case was due to venous thrombosis, but secondary split thickness skin graft performed with satisfactory result. The follow up period was from 5 months to 20 months. Sweating in transferred free flap was found at all neurovascular free flap within postoperative 4 months. Adequate 2-point discrimination was obtained at six patients of nine neurovascular free flaps and protective sensation seems to progressively improve in remained three patients. Two point discrimination was shortened at hand after neurovascular dorsalis pedis flap transfer in two cases. The weight bearing function at heel pad region and tactile sensation at hand have satisfactorily recovered after free flap transfer. Free flap transfer have many advantages compare to conventional skin graft, such as shorter therapeutic time, lesser physical and economic burdens, primary covering to vital organs and protective sensation of neurovascular free flap transfer. The most important factors are meticulous microvascular operation technique and anatomic knowledge.
Cicatrix ; Contracture ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Extremities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Groin ; Hand ; Heel ; Humans ; Korea ; Microsurgery ; Sensation ; Skin ; Superficial Back Muscles ; Sweat ; Sweating ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants ; Venous Thrombosis ; Weight-Bearing

It is notoriously difficult to obtain a sound bony union of congenital paeudarthrosis of tbe tibia with conventional methods. This paper is the results of using the free vascularized fibular graft for congenital pseudarthorsis of the tibia in 7 patients since 1978 in this hospital, which is the first attempt in Korea. During the follow-up periods from 9 months to 32 months, 5/7 patients(71%) had good or excellent bony union, 2 patients had bone resorption at tbe distal site of grafted bone and required a second supplementary cancellous bone graft with electrode insertion. So it is thought that the free vascularized fibular graft is one of good methods of treatment for congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia.
Bone Resorption ; Electrodes ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Pseudarthrosis ; Tibia ; Transplants

Chordomas are maligaant tumors which arise in the remnants of the embryonic notochord, and exhibit a definite predilection for the extremes of the spinal axis, the great majority arising either in the basioccipital or in the sacrococcy geal regions. Particularly, complete surgical removal is almost impossible, therefore, local recurrence after the surgical removal of this tumor is common or rule. This report describes a csse of chordoma arising sacrococcygeal region treated with block resection.
Chordoma ; Notochord ; Recurrence ; Sacrococcygeal Region

Purpose: To identify inflammatory factors that may serve as biomarkers for dry eye syndrome using a hyperosmotic dry eye syndrome model. Methods: Cultured human conjunctival epithelial cells were subjected to 400, 450, 500, and 550 mOsm/L NaCl, and cell viability was assessed in response to osmolarity. The relative expression of inflammatory factors was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, and MMP-9 according to the NaCl concentration. Results: An increase in the concentration of NaCl led to a notable decrease in cell viability (p < 0.05). IL-8, TNF-α, and MMP-9 expression levels increased significantly in proportion to NaCl concentration (p < 0.05). Conclusions IL-8, TNF-α, and MMP-9 may serve as effective biomarkers in dry eye studies.

Endometriosis at the site of episiotomy scar following vaginal delivery and abdominal scar following cesarean section are rare conditions among the extrapelvic endometriosis implantation. We have experienced five cases of extrapelvic endometriosis : four cases at the site of abdominal scar following cesarean section, and one case at the site of episiotomy scar following vaginal delivery. We report the five cases with brief review of the concerned literature.
Cesarean Section* ; Cicatrix* ; Endometriosis* ; Episiotomy* ; Female ; Pregnancy

Congenital diverticulum of the left ventricle is a very rare disease. Ventricular diverticulum is usually associated with other anomalies including intracardiac and midline thoracoabdominal defect. We describe a case with congenital left ventricular diverticulum presenting as an isolated lesion. A 37-year-old man presented with 4-year history of chest pain. Diverticulum was diagnosed by echocardiography and left ventriculogram.
Adult* ; Chest Pain ; Diverticulum* ; Echocardiography ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Rare Diseases