To improve integrative medicine in Japan, it is important to understand characteristics of Japanese medical care and acupuncture and advance consideration on them. Medical care including acupuncture and moxibustion is affected by society culture and history, so different countries have different characteristics. Many practitioners of acupuncture and moxibustion have few opportunities to know the circumstances of acupuncture and moxibustion in each country. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to contribute to the development of Japanese acupuncture and moxibustion by understanding each country's medical systems, education, instruments used, technical skills, therapeutic approaches, clinical examination methods, and so on. Many people will recognize acupuncture and moxibustion's peculiarities and universalities, and broaden the network of mutual understanding that crosses borders.

Focal nodular hyperplasia is a benign hepatic tumor mainly composed of nodules of hepatocytes and Kupffer cells separated by fibrous septa. In general, it is difficult to differentiate focal nodular hyperplasia and hepatocellular carcinoma on ultrasonography, conventional CT(computerized tomography), and angiography. But IV bolus CT is of particular value in the diagnosis of focal nodular hyperplasia because it can divide enhanced CT into early and late phase and can characterize tumor vascularity and analyze any intratumoral elements. In our case, it was seen as a hypoechoic mass lesion on ultrasonograpl'hy and hyperdense mass lesion on early-phase IV bolus CF and isodense mass, lesion on late-phase IV bolus CT. On angiography, hypertrophy of the feeding artery and tumor staining were well visualized. The patient underwent operation and the mass was pathologically confirmed to a focal nodular hyperplasia. We report the first case of focal nodular hyperplasia on IV bolus CT in Korea.
Angiography ; Arteries ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Diagnosis ; Focal Nodular Hyperplasia ; Hepatocytes ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Korea ; Kupffer Cells ; Liver* ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Bone and Bones* ; Dental Implants*

No abstract available.
Peptic Ulcer Perforation* ; Peptic Ulcer*

No abstract available.

We investigated the distribution of S-100 protein positive dendritic cells in the skin lesions with tuberculoid sturcture. For this study, we selected the paraffin blocks of biopsied specimens with the characteristic histopathology of lupus vulgaris (5cases), tubereulosis verrucosa cutis (1 case), lupus milaris disseminatus faciei (4 cases), and erythema induratum (7 cases). The cells were identified by immunohistochemical demonstration in paraffin sections. The results were as follows: 1. S-100 protein positive dendritic cells were regularly visualized in all lesions examined. 2. S-100 protein positive dendritic cells appeared usually between the lymphohistiocytic infiltrates around the tuberculoid granulomas in contrast to the cells of monocyte-macrophage system which were within the granulomas. And they appeared occasionally (e.g. in a case of lupus vulgaris) between epitheloid cells in the granulomas. 3. S-100 protein positive dendritic cells were more numerous in the granulomatous lesions which showed the well-formed tuberculoid sturcture. From these results, we suggested the S-100 protein positive dendritic cells act as accessory cells in the pathogenesis of the granulomatous lesions by the delayed type hypersensitivity.
Dendritic Cells* ; Erythema Induratum ; Granuloma ; Hypersensitivity ; Lupus Vulgaris ; Paraffin ; S100 Proteins ; Skin*

No abstract available.
Transplants*

Locking of the metacarpophalangeal(MP) joint of thumb in mild hyperextension is relatively uncommon problem. The most frequently recognized cause appears that proximal palmar ligament or volar plate were ruptured tranversely with its distal part riding over the volar prominence of the radial condyle of the first metacarpal head. We experienced two cases of locking of the MP joint of the thumb due to volar plate injury. Closed reduction was failed in both cases and open reduction was done by cutting the constricted ligament hundle over the radial condyle of the first metacarpal head. Our description of this mechanism is supported by expeimental evidence that we obtained from the cadeveric specimens. The height of radial side condyle of first metacarpal head is higher than ulna side of that by 1.76mm in both hands of 16 cadeveric specimen. So we are going to report these cases with a review of the literature, and suggest that the preferable location of surgical incision in open reduction is radial side of metacarpal head.
Hand ; Head* ; Joints ; Ligaments ; Metacarpal Bones* ; Metacarpophalangeal Joint* ; Thumb* ; Ulna ; Palmar Plate

A case of fibrolipomatous hamartoma of the median nerve in the palm and digits of the hand in a 14 year old man developed in the right hand is reported. This is rare disease characterized by fatty and fibrous tissue infiltration in themedian nerve of the palm and digits. This case was treated by limited debulking of the redundant tumor tissue and excision of the transverse carpal ligament. This case was performed with relief of the symptom.
Hamartoma ; Hand ; Ligaments ; Median Nerve ; Rare Diseases

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of surgical treatment in adolescent patients suffering from navicular stress fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 11 adolescent patients aged 14 to 19, who underwent an operation for navicular stress fracture between 2005 and 2008 were recruited. Clinical outcomes were evaluated by the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) midfoot score and visual analogue scale (VAS) score. RESULTS: The mean VAS score before the operation was 7.7. A score of 2.9 was confirmed at final follow up after the operation. The mean final follow-up period was 22.1 months. There was a statistically significant improvement in the VAS score between before and after the operation (p=0.01), and similarly, the AOFAS score also showed an improvement, from 46.5 to 80.7 (p=0.01). The pain that remained after the operation, according to the VAS score, was severe in three patients (27.3%), tolerable in seven patients (63.6%), and free of pain in one patient (9.1%). CONCLUSION: In navicular stress fracture in adolescents, careful selection of patients who could benefit from surgical treatment is recommended.
Adolescent* ; Ankle ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Fractures, Stress* ; Humans