No abstract available.
Neural Tube Defects*

PURPOSE: To investigate the changes in postural balance before and after total hip arthroplasty (THA) using computerized dynamic posturography MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective study of 18 patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty. We evaluated each patient's postural balance prior to, and at least 12 months after, total hip arthroplasty by using computerized dynamic posturography. We compared the preoperative equilibrium scores with the postoperative equilibrium scores. Clinical results were assessed for all patients preoperatively and postoperatively using the Harris hip scoring system. We investigated whether postural balance improves, and what factors were related to this parameter. RESULTS: Patients showed significant improvement in postural balance by means of proprioception after total hip arthroplasty (p<0.05). We found, during intercepting visual compensation, that an increase in the Harris hip score was correlated with an improvement in balance (p<0.01, r = 0.649). CONCLUSION: Patients with Total hip arthroplasty showed improvement in dynamic postural balance through proprioceptive recovery, and balance improved as the Harris hip score increased. This resulted in decreased pain, recovery of articular function, enhancement of physical activity, and ultimately improvement in postural balance by means of total hip arthroplasty.
Arthroplasty ; Compensation and Redress ; Hip ; Humans ; Motor Activity ; Postural Balance ; Proprioception ; Prospective Studies

Turnip yellow mosaic virus (TYMV) is a spherical plant virus that has a single 6.3 kb positive strand RNA as a genome. Previously, we have made the recombinant TYMV construct containing a 0.7 kb eGFP gene or a 1.8 kb GUS gene. The genomic RNAs from these constructs were efficiently encapsidated. To examine in more detail whether size constraint exists for replication and packaging of TYMV, we have inserted into the TY-GUS an extra sequence derived from either eGFP or GUS. We also made a recombinant containing RNA1 sequence of Flock house virus. These TYMV recombinants were introduced into Nicotiana benthamiana leaves by agroinfiltration. Northern blot analysis of the viral RNAs in the agroinfiltrated leaves showed that the genomic RNA band from the recombinant TYMV became weaker as longer sequence was inserted. The result also showed that the efficiency of genomic RNA encapsidation decreased sharply when an extra sequence of 2.2 kb or more was inserted. In contrast, the recombinant subgenomic RNA containing an extra sequence of up to 3.2 kb was efficiently encapsidated. Overall, these results show that size constraint exists for replication and encapsidation of TYMV RNA.
Blotting, Northern ; Genome ; Genome Size* ; Plant Viruses ; Product Packaging* ; RNA ; RNA, Viral ; Tobacco ; Tymovirus*

BACKGROUND: The incidence of herpes zoster is higher among patients with impaired cell mediated immunity. Herpes zoster skin lesions frequently become more severe and run a more protracted course in such patients. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to firstly elucidate whether there are changes in cell mediated immunity, even in immunocompetent, patients with herpes zoster, and secondly to investigate relationships between these change and the clinical appearance of herpes zoster. METHODS: T lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood and delayed hypersensitivity reactions using the Multitest(R) CMI kit were measured in 33 healthy patients with herpes zoster and 28 controls. RESULTS: As compared with controls, there was a slight decrease in percentages of CD4 lymphocytes, a significant decr eas in percentages of CD8 lyrnphocytes, and a slight increase in CD4/ CD8 ratios in the acute phasr of herpes zoster. The percentages of CD3 lymphocytes were also significantly decreased. Based on the severity of the skin lesion, there was a significant increase in duration of acute herpetic pain. However, there were no signigicant differences in percentages of T lymphocyte subsets based on the severity of skin lesion and duration of acute horpetic pain. In delayed hypersensitivity reations with the Multitest(R)" CMI kit, the intensity and frequencies of positive reactions were significintly decreased in the patients group. CONCLUSIONS: There are significant changes in peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets and delayed hypersensitivity reactions even in other wise healthy patients.
Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity, Delayed ; Immunity, Cellular ; Incidence ; Lymphocytes ; Skin ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets*

Cutaneous metastasis from internal malignacy is recognized but infrequently occuring manifestation. The prostatic carcinoma rarely acts as a primary source for cutaneous metastasis. We report a case of cutaneous metstasis from prostatic carcinoma. A 82-year-old male presents multiple painless erythematous nodules on suprapubic area, having an episode of surgical removal of prostate carcinoma two years ago. Histologic finding shows atypical anaplastic cell infiltration at the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, forming dermal tumor island, and have features similar to primary prostatic carcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining for prostate specific antigen shows positive reaction within cells, can assist in localization of the metatatic adenocarcinoma to a prostate origin.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged, 80 and over ; Dermis ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Subcutaneous Tissue

Cutaneous metastasis from internal malignacy is recognized but infrequently occuring manifestation. The prostatic carcinoma rarely acts as a primary source for cutaneous metastasis. We report a case of cutaneous metstasis from prostatic carcinoma. A 82-year-old male presents multiple painless erythematous nodules on suprapubic area, having an episode of surgical removal of prostate carcinoma two years ago. Histologic finding shows atypical anaplastic cell infiltration at the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, forming dermal tumor island, and have features similar to primary prostatic carcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining for prostate specific antigen shows positive reaction within cells, can assist in localization of the metatatic adenocarcinoma to a prostate origin.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged, 80 and over ; Dermis ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Subcutaneous Tissue

An inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor is an uncommon type of tumor composed of spindle-shaped myofibroblast admixed with mature plasma and inflammatory cells. It is most common in the lungs and in various organs; however, a few cases of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the breast have been reported in the literature. To date, there are no typical radiologic findings but an ill-defined marginated mass which was a suspicious malignancy has been reported in the literature. Here, we describe the mammographic and ultrasonographic findings of a case of an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the breast with a spiculated margin which was strongly suspect as being a malignancy in a 36-year-old woman.
Adult ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Female ; Granuloma, Plasma Cell ; Humans ; Lung ; Mammography ; Myofibroblasts ; Plasma

Thirthy-eighthy cases of abdominal aortic aneurysm(AAA) were surgically treated between January 1991 and December 1995 at the Dept. of Surgery, Chonnam University Hospital. Patients were divided into 20 elective cases and 18 emergency cases and analysed on the basis of sex, age, chief complaints, associated diseases, size of aneurysm, operating time, mortality and cause of death. The initial presentation was usually abdominal or back pain in elective cases, but palpable mass and abdominal distension in emergency cases were ruptured. There was no positive relationship between the size of AAA and the incidency of the rupture. There were no deaths in elective cases, but 12 ruptured AAAs died in 18 emergency cases(66.7%). Overall surgical mortality was 31.3%. The causes of death were postoperative bleeding(5), acute renal failure(3), myocardial infarction(3), and sepsis(1). For AAAs, surgical intervention is recommended and operation must be performed before rupture regardless of the size.
Aneurysm ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal* ; Back Pain ; Cause of Death ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Mortality ; Rupture

Intestinal obstruction is a rare but important complication of pregnancy and puerperium leading to increased maternal and fetal motality. Diagnosis is often delayed or missed because many of the manifestations of intestinal obstruction such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain can be interpreted as pregnancy related symptoms. This delay in diagnosis or misdiagnosis, reluctance to surgery during pregnancy are thought to be responsible for the high maternal and fetal death rate. So we report a case of postpartum small bowel obstruction following vaginal delivery with a review of the literature.
Abdominal Pain ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Errors ; Fetal Death ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Nausea ; Postpartum Period* ; Pregnancy ; Vomiting

OBJECTIVES: The authors present three cases of brain tumors in which epidural hematomas(EDHs) were developed postoperatively in the remote areas from craniotomy sites. The preventive tactics as well as possible mechanisms of development of remote EDH are discussed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The magnetic resonance imagings of three patients revealed a left lateral ventricular mass located just aside of foramen Monro in a 27-year-old male, a large cystic mass in the temporal lobe in a 35-year-old male, and a partially calcified pineal mass in a 27-year-old male patient. The surgical removals of these tumors were performed without any noticeable events during surgery via left frontal transcortical transventricular approach for lateral ventricular tumor, left temporal craniotomy for cystic temporal tumor, and right occipital transtentorial approach for pineal tumor. RESULTS: Postoperative EDHs remote from the sites of craniotomy were detected by the immediate postoperative computerized tomographic scans. We obtained good outcomes without any morbidity in all three patients with emergent evacuation of the hematoma. The pathologic diagnoses were lateral ventricular ependymoastrocytoma, temporal craniopharyngioma and mixed germinoma of the pineal region. CONCLUSION: It is postulated that a sudden reduction of intracranial pressure(ICP) at the time of tumor removal may strip the dura from the inner table of the skull to cause EDH from the remote site of craniotomy. Gradual reduction of ICP with slow drainage of cerebrospinal fluid before tumor removal as well as lowering the head position of patient during surgery might be helpful for preventing this unusual complication.
Adult ; Brain Neoplasms* ; Brain* ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Craniopharyngioma ; Craniotomy ; Diagnosis ; Drainage ; Germinoma ; Head ; Hematoma* ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial ; Pinealoma ; Skull ; Temporal Lobe