No abstract available.
Glomerulonephritis* ; Humans ; T-Lymphocytes*

The finger flexor injuries are very difficult to treat satisfactorily. It is usually said that the earlier the treatment performed, the better result obtained. But the delicasy of the hand anatomy and its function as well as the absence of the hand surgeon in the first aid care make the problem more complex. Even if we made the primary treatment to the flexor tendon injuries, some disabilities are often remained. We have treated fifty eight cases of old flexor tendon injuries in forty eight patients, the results can be summarized as follows. 1. The cause of the tendon damage is due to the laceration injury in the majorities of the cases. T,he tendon injuries are especially common between the late second and the early third decade. 2. In the injury of the Zone II with pulley distortion, the pulley reconstruction using palmaris longus or fascia from other sites will prevent bowstring and help the tendon function. 3. The Zone II can be subdivided into two subspecific areas. The proximal area is from the distal palmar crease to the midoprtion of porximal phalanx and the distal one is from the midportion of the proximal phalanx to the insertion of the sublimis tendon. In the proximal area one can repair the injured tendon directly after removal of the A1 and about proximal half of the A2 pulley without any subsequent bowstring if the tendon and its tunnel is relatively well preserved. Thus one can convert this proximal portion of Zone II to Zone III. So the proximal area of the Zone II should be differentiated from the remaining distal part of the Zone II. 4. At six months after the operation the result of the operation was analyzed by the percentage of the recovery, which was calculated by the postoperative active range of the interphalangeal joints divided by one hundred seventy five degrees that means the available total range of motion of normal interphalangeal joints. Excluding the cases with the tenodesis or arthrodesis, the total result revealed good or excellent in about ninty percentages with this method. 5. There were two fingers that showed a postoperative lumbrical plus state in Zone II, which were recovered spontaneously within three to four months postoperatively. So it is considered that the relative shortening of the lumbrical muscles can be treated and overcome conservatively by the active use of the fingers, and there is no need to perform an lumbrical tenotomy to correct this kind of muscle imbalance.
Arthrodesis ; Fascia ; Fingers ; First Aid ; Hand ; Humans ; Joints ; Lacerations ; Methods ; Muscles ; Patella ; Patellar Ligament ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Tendon Injuries ; Tendons ; Tenodesis ; Tenotomy ; Tibia

Arachnoid cysts represent 1 percent of all intracranial masses. Their common locations include the middle cranial fossa, the quadrigeminal cistern, the suprasellar region, the posterior fossa, and the region of the cerebral convexities. Midline cysts often create a disturbance in intracranial dynamics due to the shift and displacement of surrounding structures, and then developed hydrocephalus. So, early diagnosis and treatment of these cysts are important. The arachnoid cyst by ultrasonogram shows characteristic well capsulated homogeneous hypoechoic cyst. We report a case of prenatally diagnosed suprasellar arachnoid cyst by ultrasonogram and MRI, which was treated postnatally.
Arachnoid Cysts ; Arachnoid* ; Cranial Fossa, Middle ; Early Diagnosis ; Hydrocephalus ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Prenatal Diagnosis* ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: The level of physical adaptation through active lifestyle can result in changes in appetite; and caused by physical activity and exercise, physical adaptation may change carbohydrate and fat metabolism during exercise. This study investigated the differences in carbohydrate and fat metabolism after moderate treadmill running and the difference in appetite response before and after exercise in active, regularly exercising individuals and those inactive. METHODS: We analyzed the effects of moderate physical activity (70% of oxygen uptake reserve, 30 minutes on the treadmill) on free fatty acids, glucose, growth hormone, insulin and an appetite visual analogue scale (VAS). Our subjects included 28 healthy males who were divided into two groups, the activity group (n=14) and the inactivity group (n=14) according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). The serum samples and VAS were collected at pre, post and 30 min post-exercise. RESULTS: The results of the serum analysis showed no significant effects on free fatty acids, glucose, growth hormone and insulin between the groups, but showed significant changes in free fatty acids and growth hormone between points of measurement. Significant increases in VAS were seen with moderate exercise in both groups, with the inactivity group expressing greater hunger than the activity group. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that inactive persons were hungrier than active persons after moderate exercise. This information might be useful to staff and participants of weight loss programs.
Appetite ; Energy Metabolism ; Exercise ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified ; Glucose ; Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Hunger ; Insulin ; Life Style ; Male ; Motor Activity ; Oxygen ; Running ; Weight Reduction Programs ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Pityriasis versicolor is often found following pathologic transformation of Malassezia fungi from yeast to mycelial forms by a poorly understood mechanism and is characterized by squamous skin lesions manifesting hyper- or hypo-pigmentation. Itraconazole is a synthetic oral antifungal agent of triazole family, which acts as a selective inhibitor of the cytochrome P-450-dependent synthesis of ergosterol and is reported to demonstrate a potent antifungal efficacy against Malassezia yeasts. OBJECT: The present clinical study was designed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of one- week regimen of itraconazole by studying 20 patients with pityriasis versicolor, who were diagnosed both clinically and mycologically. In addition, we wished to identify Malassezia species from skin lesions of pityriasis versicolor and examine the possible correlation of a certain Malassezia(M.) species and pityriasis versicolor. METHODS: Twenty patients (ages, 18 to 49) were included in the study, following the diagnosis of pityriasis versicolor, which was based on clinical examinations and mycological studies (microscopy and culture). Patients received a single 200 mg dose of itraconazole (Sporanox? capsules daily with a full meal for one week. For all patients, clinical examinations and culture and microscopic studies were done before treatment, at the end of treatment, and 4 weeks later. Scales obtained from skin lesions were studied by Parker-KOH smear examination and culture studies to identify Malassezia yeasts. Cultures were done using agar media of Leeming & Notman. RESULTS: By comparing skin lesions before and immediately after treatment, marked improvement was observed in 7 patients (35%) and moderate improvement in 12 patients (60%) among a total of 20 patients, and 1 patient (5%) showed no response. On the other hand, by comparing skin lesions examined before treatment and 4 weeks after completing medication, complete cure was observed in 13 cases (65%), marked improvement in 5 (25%), and moderate improvement in 2 (10%). With culture studies before treatment, M. globosa, M. furfur, and M. restricta were isolated as a major fungal species in 18, 1, and 1 patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: The result suggested that administration of a single dose of 200 mg itraconazole (Sporanox? capsules daily for a week is a very effective treatment for pityriasis versicolor and also indicated that pityriasis versicolor is very closely related with the infection of M. globosa.
Agar ; Capsules ; Cytochromes ; Diagnosis ; Ergosterol ; Fungi ; Hand ; Humans ; Itraconazole* ; Malassezia ; Meals ; Pityriasis* ; Skin ; Tinea Versicolor* ; Weights and Measures ; Yeasts

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of the implant master cast according to the type (pick-up, transfer) and the length (long, short) of the impression copings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The metal master cast was fabricated with three internal connection type implant analogs (Osstem GS III analog), embedded parallel and with 10degrees of mesial angulation to the center analog. Four types of impression coping were prepared with different combinations of types (transfer, pick-up) and lengths (long, short) of the coping. The impressions were made using vinyl polysiloxane (one step, heavy + light body) with an individual tray, and 10 impressions were made for each group. Eventually, 40 experimental casts were produced. Then, the difference in the distance between the master cast and the experimental cast were measured, and the error rate was determined. The analysis of variance was performed using the SPSS (v 12.0) program (alpha = .05), and the statistical significance was set at P < .05. RESULTS: The ANOVA showed that the pick-up type impression coping exhibited a significantly lower error rate than the transfer type. However, no significant difference was observed with respect to the length of the impression coping. Additionally, no significant difference was observed between the parallel and mesial angulated groups. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, the pick-up type impression coping exhibited a more accurate implant master cast than the transfer type in parallel group. The accuracy of the implant master cast did not differ for different lengths of impression coping of at least 11 mm. Additionally, the accuracy of the implant cast was not different for the parallel and 10degrees mesial angulated groups.
Light ; Polyvinyls ; Siloxanes

Glucocorticoids are usually given according to a standard dosing protocol regardless of individual difference. We evaluated the pharmacokinetic characteristics of methylprednisolone and the degree of interpatient variation in stable Korean renal transplant recipients during the period of 15-21 days after transplantation. This study included 23 renal transplant recipients, 13 males and 10 females, who received kidneys from living donors with stable graft function and without episode of acute rejection. On the study day at 8 A.M., 16.3mg of ethylprednisolone sodium succinate (i.v.) was administered to each patient instead of usual dose (20mg) of prednisolone (p.o.) after sampling of 7cc of baseline blood and additional blood samples were drawn after starting infusion. Plasma was separated and analyzed for methylprednisolone level using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay, and parameters for pharmacokinetics were calculated. There was significant interpatient variation in the pharmacokinetics of methylprednisolone in our patients group. There was no significant difference in the pharmacokinetic parameters between patients with and without side effects of steroid. Korean renal transplant recipients had higher volume of distribution than black renal transplant recipients; lower clearance than white renal transplant recipients; longer t1/2 than both black and white renal transplant recipients. Even if the number of patients included in this study was too small to reach conclusion, the differences in the pharmacokinetics of glucocorticoids do not seem to be a significant risk factor for side effects of steroid after transplantation. It may be necessary to individualize the dose of a glucocorticoid to achieve an optimal effect and also we need to establish a new steroid regimen protocol for Korean renal transplant recipients.
Chromatography, Liquid ; Female ; Glucocorticoids ; Humans ; Individuality ; Kidney ; Kidney Transplantation ; Living Donors ; Male ; Methylprednisolone* ; Pharmacokinetics ; Plasma ; Prednisolone ; Risk Factors ; Sodium ; Succinic Acid ; Transplantation* ; Transplants

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the experience of Korean graduate nursing students' stressor, response, and coping. METHODS: Interviews were conducted with 37 students using broad, open-ended questions. Individual demographics were also collected. Focus Group Research was used to investigate the experience of these graduate nursing students. Data were gathered through audio taped interviews and analyzed using the Collazzi method. RESULTS: The findings related to stressors revealed 5 major themes (loading related to study, conflicts with hospital and occupation, difficulty of home management, destruction of biorhythm, loading of economy and pay for photocopying) and 15 relevant subthemes. The findings related to responses revealed 4 major themes (negative change in body, negative change in mental state, negative emotion and response about family, psychosocial loading - and 32 relevant subthemes. The findings related to coping revealed 12 major themes; for example, social support, interpretation positively, self disclosure, devoted study, temporary avoidance - and 16 relevant subthemes. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that nurses, hospitals, and other graduate schools should continue to develop of stress management programs and their linkages with more comprehensive integrated health delivery system.
Demography ; Focus Groups* ; Humans ; Nursing ; Occupations ; Periodicity ; Self Disclosure ; Students, Nursing*

We report a case of infantile acropustulosis in a 7 month-old female infant who had a family history of scabies in her parents and brother. She had pruritic papulovesicles and pustules, predominantly on the hands and feet. Histopathologically, there was a well-circumscribed unilocular, subcorneal pustule filled with neutrophils, mostly. Under the diagnosis of an infantile acropustulosis associated with scabies, she was treated with a potent topical corticosteroid and oral antihistamines without recurrence.
Diagnosis ; Female ; Foot ; Hand ; Histamine Antagonists ; Humans ; Infant ; Neutrophils ; Parents ; Recurrence ; Scabies* ; Siblings

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Intraoperative echocardiography (IOE), mostly done by transesophageal methods, provides an important means of accessing cardiac structure and function during cardiac and noncardiac surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of IOE by identifying the frequency of the use of IOE during cardiac surgery, the rate of second pump operations determined by IOE findings, and the results of the operations. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Sixty-five patients (93 lesions) underwent cardiac surgery with the concomitant IOE done by a cardiologist in a single institution between March 1997 and October 1998. The data was collected retrospectively by reviewing the hospital records and IOE videotapes. IOE was applied to 18.9% of total cardiac operations, primarily being used in MV surgery (48.4%). A pre-pump IOE was done in 2 cases and the post-pump procedure was done in the remainder. A second pump operation was performed in 4 cases (6.25%) and all of these were found to be successful after immediate re-operation. CONCLUSION: IOE was primarily used in valve operations, particularly in procedures involving the mitral valve. IOE appears to be useful in determining the immediate results following cardiac surgery and may contribute to determining the prognosis of the patient.
Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal* ; Hospital Records ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; Monitoring, Intraoperative ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Surgery ; Videotape Recording