A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for detection of the pathogenic Yersinia pestis from other Yersinia spp. was developed. Five Y. pestis strains, ninety-two other Yersinia species and twenty-four Enterobacteriaceae strains were collected in Korea and from other countries. Oligonucleotide primers were designed from pathogenic gene of antiphagocytic protein capsule gene (fra 1) and plasminogen activator gene (pla). The 428 bp DNA fragment was amplified from five Y. pestis which contained the fra I gene. No product was amplified from other Yersinia species and other strains of the Enterobacteriaceae. The 439 bp DNA fragment was amplified from three K pestis which contained the pla gene. No product was amplified from two Y. pestis, other Yersinia species and other strains of the Enterobacteriaceae. These showed that the designed primers were specific for detection of Y. pestis among other Yersinia species and Enterobacteriaceae strains. Amplification was successful whether the template was derived from purified DNA or from aliquots of boiled bacterial suspension. The detection limits were 100 pg of DNA and 100 colony forming units (CFU) for fra I and 100 pg DNA and 10 CFU for pla, respectively. Our results prove that the PCR method using specific primers for Y. pestis is a rapid and convenient procedure for routine clinical detection and identification of Y. pestis.
DNA ; DNA Primers ; Enterobacteriaceae ; Korea ; Limit of Detection ; Plasminogen Activators ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Stem Cells ; Yersinia pestis* ; Yersinia*

A nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was applied to detect and identify pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis. We used photochemical postamplification procedure with 8-methoxypsoralen to control carryover contamination. Using the ail and inv gene, the sensitivity and specificity of DNA amplification by nested PCR was considerably improved. The amplified fragment sizes were 298 bp for the ail gene and 295 bp for the inv gene. Amplification was successful when the template was derived from three sources: purified DNA, aliquots of boiled bacterial suspension and aliquots of lysed bacterial suspension. The detection limits were 10 fg of DNA and 2 * 10 colony forming units (CFU) for Y. enterocolitica and 10 fg DNA and 2 CFU for Y. pseudotuberculosis.
DNA ; Limit of Detection ; Methoxsalen ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stem Cells ; Yersinia enterocolitica* ; Yersinia pseudotuberculosis* ; Yersinia*

Sternocostoclavicular hyperostosis is a benign ossifying diathetic disorder characterized by hyperostosis and soft tissue ossification of the clavicles, anterior portion of the first ribs, and manubrium, with variable hyperostosis or ankylosis in the spine and sacroiliac joints. A review of the literature and our own case describes the clinical findings and its characteristic features in RI, CT, and plain film.
Ankylosis ; Clavicle ; Hyperostosis ; Hyperostosis, Sternocostoclavicular* ; Manubrium ; Ribs ; Sacroiliac Joint ; Spine

No abstract available.

Hemangiopericytoma is an uncommon mesenchymal neoplasm that may occur anywhere in the body but is most commonin the lower extremities and retroperitoneum. Radiologically, the tumor is mainly a solid hypervascular mass, andwhen large, has some cystic and necrotic portions. It can compress or displace adjacent tissue and organs, and maycause related symptoms. The authors encountered a case of hemangiopericytoma of the popliteal fossa as amultichambered cystic mass containing various-staged hemorrhagic fluid, and report this case together with its MRimaging findings.
Hemangiopericytoma* ; Lower Extremity

The term "traction alopecia" refers to hair loss resulting from excessive hair pulling, usually on the scalp periphery. The most common causes of traction alopecia are hairstyles that cause tension and use of hair extensions or curlers. Several case reports suggest that the long-term use of a hairpin can also induce traction alopecia. A 39-year old nun presented with asymptomatic severe patches of hair loss on both temples, where hairpins had been applied for 7~8 years in conformance with her employment uniform. Histological examination showed absence of hair follicles, and several fibrous tracks replacing hair follicles. Although there was no significant inflammatory response, cicatricial change was evident. To our knowledge, there has been no report of cicatricial traction alopecia induced by hairpin wearing in the Korean literature. Herein, we report a case of cicatricial traction alopecia caused by hairpin wearing and review the relevant literature.
Alopecia* ; Employment ; Hair ; Hair Follicle ; Scalp ; Traction*

Diffuse lung disease is amenable to diagnosis by means of clinical evaluation, bronchoalveolar lavage, transbronchial biopsy, and lung biopsy. The recently introduced technique of thoracoscopic wedge biopsy provides the potential advantages of greater selection of biopsy sites and reduced postoperative pain compared with those associated with standard open lung biopsy. Video assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsy was performed in 22 patients for the diagnosis of diffuse lung disease during the period from August 1994 to December 1996, and the following results were obtained: 1. The patients were 14 men and 8 women. The average age was 54.6 years. 2. 13 lung biopsy specimens were obtained from the right lower lobe, 4 from the right upper lobe, 3 from the right middle lobe, 3 from the left upper lobe, and 3 from the left lower lobe. 3. A comparison of pulmonary function tests between preoperative and postoperative values showed no significant differences in FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC(p>0.05). 4. All patients were pathologically diagnosed and the most common disease was usual interstitial pneumonia(8/22). In conclusion, thoracoscopic lung biopsy was a safe and effective diagnostic method of diffuse lung disease.
Biopsy* ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial* ; Lung* ; Male ; Pain, Postoperative ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Thoracoscopy

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term effectivensess of intracavitary urokinase with percutaneous catheter drainage in Ioculated thoracic empyemas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 15 patients were identified as second stage of Ioculated thoracic empyema by estimating nature of pleural fluid, chest PA, lateral decubitus view and CT scan. Under the guidance of fluoroscopy or ultrasound, catheter was inserted percutaneously. Instillation of urokinase was started when amount of drained fluid became less than 30ml per day with 100,000U of urokinase mixed with 100ml of normal saline. Trial of urokinase was repeated until complete drainage of empyema was demonstrated on plain chest film obtained after 48 hours. RESULTS: Successful complete drainage was achieved in 14 of 15 patients. In long-term study, complete resorption was demonstrated in 11 of 12 patients. Average dosage of used urokinase was 330,000U and mean duration of catherter insertion was 35 days. CONCLUSION: lntracavitary urokinase with percutaneous catheter drainage is a safe and effective method to facilitate drainage of Ioculated empyema and to prevent recurrence.
Catheters ; Drainage ; Empyema ; Empyema, Pleural* ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term effectivensess of intracavitary urokinase with percutaneous catheter drainage in Ioculated thoracic empyemas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 15 patients were identified as second stage of Ioculated thoracic empyema by estimating nature of pleural fluid, chest PA, lateral decubitus view and CT scan. Under the guidance of fluoroscopy or ultrasound, catheter was inserted percutaneously. Instillation of urokinase was started when amount of drained fluid became less than 30ml per day with 100,000U of urokinase mixed with 100ml of normal saline. Trial of urokinase was repeated until complete drainage of empyema was demonstrated on plain chest film obtained after 48 hours. RESULTS: Successful complete drainage was achieved in 14 of 15 patients. In long-term study, complete resorption was demonstrated in 11 of 12 patients. Average dosage of used urokinase was 330,000U and mean duration of catherter insertion was 35 days. CONCLUSION: lntracavitary urokinase with percutaneous catheter drainage is a safe and effective method to facilitate drainage of Ioculated empyema and to prevent recurrence.
Catheters ; Drainage ; Empyema ; Empyema, Pleural* ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator*

Subglottic stenosis is more likely to develop secondary to endotracheal intubation if one or more traumarelated risk factors are involved. Subglottic stenosis have been dealt with many medicosurgical procedures such as dilatation, stent, laryngofissure with or without skin of mucosal graff, and segmental resection. We report longterm failure of expandable metallic stent in the treatment of subglottic tracheal steno$is in 4 cases which had been presented with respiration difficulty due to framework problem of subglottic trachea after surgical operation.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Dilatation ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Respiration ; Risk Factors ; Skin ; Stents* ; Trachea ; Tracheal Stenosis*