No abstract available.
Rectal Prolapse*

No abstract available.
Rectal Neoplasms*

No abstract available.
Acetazolamide* ; Aneurysm* ; Brain* ; Humans ; Perfusion* ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the urinary concentrations of hydroxyridinium crosslinks of collagen in patients with osteoarthritis(OA) or rheumatoid arthritis(RA), and to compare its clinical correlation with the classic indices of the disease activity of RA. METHODS: Concentrations of urinary pyridinoline (Pyd) and deoxypyridinoline(Dpd) were measured in urinary samples collected from 18 control patients, 35 patients with OA, 45 patients with RA by competitive enzyme immunoassay using microplate coated with monoclonal antibody. RESULTS: 1) Mean urinary concentrations of Pyd in OA patients were 33.5nmol/mmol creatinine, in RA patients were 50.0nmol/mmol creatinine which were higher than the values in controls (25.1 nmol/mmol creatinine). Also, mean concentrations of Dpd in OA patients were 9.2nmol/mmol creatinine, in RA patients were 10.1nmol/mmol creatinine which were higher than the values in controls(5.6nmol/mmol creatinine)(p<0.01). 2) Mean urinary concentration of Pyd was 50.0 nmol/mmol creatinine in RA patients, which was significantly higher than the values in OA(33.5 nnmol/mmol creatinine)(p<0.05), but the mean Dpd concentratians were not significantly different between the two groups. 3) The concentrations of urinary Pyd in RA patients was significantly correlated with the biologic markers indicating inflammatory activity such as ESR(r=0.68, p<0.001), CRP(r=0.72, p<0.001) and the number of tender joint(r=0.66, p<0.01) CONCLUSION: Urinary concentrations of Pyd and Dpd were significantly higher in OA and RA patients than in controls, Especially urinary Pyd concentrations were significantly increased in RA patients than in OA patients, and strongly correlated with disease activity index of rheumatoid arthritis. The mean Dpd concentration, bone specific analogue, in RA patients was not significantly different from that of OA patients and it was not correlated with disease activity index Thus measurement of urinary Pyd might provide a sensitive, noninvasive biochemical marker for studying activity of RA.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Biomarkers ; Collagen ; Creatinine ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Osteoarthritis

No abstract available.
Femur* ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary* ; Tibia*

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to determine prevalence of potential heterogeneous vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (h-VRSA) among methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolated in Korea by using Mu-3 agar and to determine the effect of in vitro vancomycin exposure on the resistance. METHODS: MRSAs isolated in 1980-1999 were screened for the presence of VISA or h-VRSA using Mu-3 agar. MIC of vancomycin was tested by NCCLS agar dilution and broth microdilution tests. Suspected h-VRSA were selected by vancomycin-containing media and change of resistance was determined by population analysis. A strain with Mu50 type growth was serially exposed to 8 pg/ml of vancomycin containing media and change of the vancomycin resistance was determined. RESULTS: Among the 455 MRSA isolates, 18 (3.9 %) grew on selective brain heart infusion agar (BHIA), and 354 (77,8%) on Mu-3 agar, 66 (14.5%) with Mu3 type growth and 78 (17.1%) with Mu50 type growth. MIC of vancomycin was 11 pg/ml for some of the isolates when inocula were approximately 10' CFU, but VISA was not present when tested by NCCLS broth microdilution test. Exposure of the isolates to van-cornycin raised the MIC. Serial exposure once to 8 pg/ml of vancomycin resulted in significant decrease of cells susceptible to 8-12 pg/ml of vancomycin. CONCLUSION: VISA was not present among the test isolates, but 34.2% were suspected to be potential h-VRSAs, suggesting possible emergence of VISA if vancomycin was administered prolonged period. It is considered that suitable screening media are vancomycin containing BHIA for VISA and Mu-3 agar for h-VRSA. The isolates showing Mu50 type growth on Mu-3 agar are not always VISA, but rather h-VRSA.
Agar* ; Brain ; Heart ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Methicillin Resistance ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Prevalence ; Staphylococcus aureus* ; Staphylococcus* ; Vancomycin Resistance ; Vancomycin*

Acute mountain sickness is an illness caused by climbing to a high altitude without prior acclimatization. Neurological consequences, like parkinsonism following acute mountain sickness without lesion of brain MRI have been reported rarely. A healthy 56-year-old man presented with dysarthria and gait disturbance. Neurological examination revealed tremor of hands, limb rigidity, and bradykinesia. The symptoms developed approximately 30 days following a 3,500 m climb of the Annapurna in the Himalayas. Brain MRI did not reveal any abnormalities including globus pallidus. The parkinsonism symptoms persisted for about 3 months before a complete recovered was made. We suggest that parkinsonism can develop after climbing to a high altitude but that the symptoms can be transient if a brain MRI detects no abnormalities.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of ovat hyperthyroidism ar hypothyroidism has been estimated up to 5% in the general populatian. Subclinical hyperthyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism have pevalences of approximately 1% and 6%, ectively. The prevalence of hypothyroidism may be associated with excessive intake of iodine in iodine sufficient areas. Therefore, we assumed the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in Karea might be different from those af Western cauntries. However, thete have been no surveys to examine the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in Karea. We performed the study to investigate the prevalence of thyrotoxicosis and hypothyroidism in Korean adults. METHODS: This study was performed in 15019 subjects (8275 men, 6744 women; between 17 and 87 years of age) visited in health promotion center of Samsung Medical Center for 12 months in 1996. Serum T3, T4, and TSH concentrations were measured with RIA or IRMA using commercial kits. History of thyroid dysfunction and current medication were obtained from medical records. The criteria for thyrotoxicosis were TSH level below than 0.30 mU/L and increased T3 or T4 levels (T3 > 3.1 nmol/L or T4 > 152 nmol/L). Patients who had TSH level above than 5.0 mU/L and T4 level below than 77 nmol/L met the criteria for hypothyroidism. RESULTS: The prevalence of thyrotoxicosis was 5.5/1000 population (men 3.6/1000, women 7.7/1000) with peak prevalence in fifth decade. The prevalence of previously undiagnosed thyrotoxicosis was 4.0/1000 (men 2.9/1000, women 5.3/1000). The prevalence of hypothyroidism was 2.8/1000 population (men 1.1/1000, women 4.9/1000) with peak prevalence in seventh decade. The prevalence of previously undiagnosed hypothyroidism was 1.6/1000 (men 0.6/1000, women 2.S/1000). The prevalence of subclinical thyrotoxicosis was 12.4/1000 population (men 11.8/1000, women 13.0/1000). The prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism was 18.2/1000 population (men 11.2/1000, women 26.7/1000) which frequency was increased with age. CONCLUSION: Although the prevalence of thyrotoxicosis and hypothyroidism was not significantly different from those of other countries, it was lower than expected and female preponderance is not significant. The prevalence of subclinical thyrotoxicosis and subclinical hypothyroidism was lower than those of other countries. The prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism was higher in women and old ages. (J Kor Soc Endecrinol 14:301~313, 1999)
Adult ; Female ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Hypothyroidism* ; Iodine ; Male ; Medical Records ; Prevalence* ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyrotoxicosis*

Colorectal cancer(CRC) is the most common gastrointestinal malignancy in the Western world. The total number of CRC cases in Korea is increasing probably due to western-style diets. CRC is relatively uncommon in the young adult group. Nevertheless, these cases warrant special attention because they are often diagnosed in an advanced stage and are more likely to involve a family history of CRC. Controversies still exist over the determination of the age range and over the true value of age factor in the prognosis for the young adults. The aim of this study is to calculate the incidence, to evaluate the clinicopathologic characteristics and the outcome of management of young adult with CRC. A retrospective review of 864 patients with an adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum, who were surgically treated and followed-up in our Department of the Kang Buk Samsung Hospital, Sung Kwun Kwan University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, between January 1970 and December 1995 was performed. Among these patients, 138 were in the young adult group, aged less than 40. All cases accompanied by familial adenomatous polyposis coli and ulcerative colitis were excluded. Young adults accounted for 16.0% of all patients with CRC, showing no significant sex difference compared with the control group. The rectum and sigmoid colon were the most frequent sites of the lesion (80.4%). The incidences of Dukes' stage C and poorly differenciated adenocarcinoma cases were significantly higher in the young adult group (p<0.05). The curative resection rate of tumors in young patients was 93.4%. Despite of the more advanced stage and poorly differenciation, the stage-related and overall 5-year survival rate was not significantly different between old and young patients (57.9% and 59.4% in young and old patients, respectively). CRC in young adults in Korea is increasing in number, but its proportion is decreasing. The results of our study indicate that the prognosis and the stage-related survival for CRC in young adults are not related to age.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenomatous Polyposis Coli ; Age Factors ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; Colon ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Diet ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Prognosis ; Rectum ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Sex Characteristics ; Survival Rate ; Western World ; Young Adult*

Ewing's sarcoma is a highly anaplastic, small round cell tumor, primarily arising in the intramedullary portion of the bone, and metastasis is common. Its origin is unknown. We describe a case of cutaneous metastatic Ewing's sarcoma in the pubic area in a 23-year-old female, who had been diagnosed as having Ewing's sarcoma of the pelvic bone three years ago, and treated by wide excision, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Histopathologic examination of her nodular lesion revealed a tumor of small round cells whose membranes were positive for CD99. She was managed by conservative treatment but expired one month later. To our knowledge, Ewing's sarcoma metastatic to the skin has not been reported previously in the world. This case supports the neuroectodermal origin of this tumor and that cutaneous metastasis of this tumor is a hallmark of grave prognosis.
Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Membranes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neural Plate ; Pelvic Bones ; Prognosis ; Sarcoma, Ewing* ; Skin ; Young Adult