PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of change of polyethylene resin type and manufacturing method on the wear of polyethylene tibial component. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen MG I and 10 MG II components were retrieved at revision surgery. Each polyethylene tibial component was graded for surface wear damage. Density profiles of the polyethylene were measured to examine the extent of oxidative degradation of the polyethylene. RESULTS: The primary damage mode of the MG I retrievals was scratching and metallic debris, but the primary damage mode of the MG II was delamination (P<0.05). For the implants with implantation time of 5 years or more, the MG II polyethylene had a higher density value (0.959+/-0.002 g/cc, n=7) compared with the MG I (0.948+/-0.004 g/cc, n=11). Both delamination and polyethylene degradation increased with length of implantation time for the MG II components (P<0.01). Even after gamma sterilization, the directly molded 1900 MG I components experienced significantly less delamination and degradation than the machined GUR 415 MG II tibial components. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that delamination of polyethylene tibial components is influenced by resin type and/or manufacturing method
Fungi ; Polyethylene* ; Sterilization

No abstract available.
Peripheral Nerves* ; Regeneration*

We studied 600 normal lower extremities of Korean students of elementary school in order to establish normal values for the rotational profile and to define any differences between ethnic groups. Rotational profile examined at this study included medial and lateral rotation of the hip and thighfoot angle. The mean value of medial rotation of the hip was 48 degrees with a range of 35 to 64 degrees in male subjects, and 50 degrees with a range of 35 to 60 degrees in female subjects. The mean value of lateral rotation of the hip was 57 degrees with a range of 43 to 75 degrees, and 53 degrees with a range of 40 to 72 degrees in female subjects. Unlike medial rotation, lateral rotation of the hip was greater in male than in female subjects by a mean difference of 4 degrees(T-test, p<0.05). The mean value of thigh-foot angle was 10 degrees with a range of -2 to 23 degrees in male subjects, and 12 degrees with a range of 0 to 21 degrees in female subjects. The total range of hip rotation was slightly greater in Korean than in Caucasians or in Chinese, but, to conclude this, more large study by the same methods will be needed in other areas of Korea.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Ethnic Groups ; Female ; Hip ; Humans ; Korea ; Lower Extremity* ; Male ; Reference Values

No abstract available.
Dyspnea* ; Hypothyroidism*

No abstract available.
Connective Tissue Diseases* ; Connective Tissue* ; Diagnosis*

Malposition of the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) venous cannula in the azygos vein is not frequently reported. We hereby present such a case, which occurred in a neonate with right-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Despite ECMO application, neither adequate flow nor sufficient oxygenation was achieved. On the cross-table lateral chest radiograph, the cannula tip was identified posterior to the heart silhouette, which implied malposition of the cannula in the azygos vein. After repositioning the cannula, the target flow and oxygenation were successfully achieved. When sufficient venous flow is not achieved, as in our case, clinicians should be alerted so they can identify the cannula tip location on lateral chest radiograph and confirm whether malposition in the azygos vein is the cause of the ineffective ECMO.
Azygos Vein* ; Catheters* ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation* ; Heart ; Hernias, Diaphragmatic, Congenital* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Oxygen ; Radiography, Thoracic

Purulent pericarditis is an infrequent but fulminant and frequently lethal disease. Purulent pericarditis tends to occur as direct extension of bacterial pneumonia or empyema in past. In recently, purulent pericarditis tends to occur in adult via contiguous spread from an early postoperative infection after thoracic surgery or trauma, infection related to infective endocarditis, extension from a subdiaphragmatic suppurative source, and hematogenous spread during bacteremia. Endogenous causes of purulent pericarditis are frequently characterized as esophageal perforations. Common causes of esophageal perforations related to purulent pericaditis which usually develop in association with mediastinitis, pneumonia and empyema include corrosive esophagitis, complication after esophageal and tracheal instrumentation and Boerhaave's syndrome. There is very little reference to the development of pericarditis in associated with esophageal perforation which does not directly communicate with the pericardium. while, although most uncommon, it is well documented that the esophagus can perforate directly into the pericardium and produce pericarditis. We experienced a case of acute purulent pericarditis after esophageal and pericardial perforation by a small fish bone in a previously healthy man. The patient was treated successfully with systemic antibiotics and pericardiotomy.
Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteremia ; Empyema ; Endocarditis ; Esophageal Perforation ; Esophagitis ; Esophagus ; Foreign Bodies* ; Humans ; Mediastinitis ; Pericardiectomy ; Pericarditis* ; Pericardium ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Bacterial ; Thoracic Surgery

OBJECTIVES: This study was planned to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of cefazedone in the treatment of patients with infectious disease in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. METHOD: Cefazedone was used in 20 patients with infectious disease in obstetrics and gynecology, who visited the department of obstetrics and gynecology, Yonsei university college of medicine, from June 1998 through July 1999. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 42.5 years(range of 18 to 68 years) and 17 of patients were diagnosed as pelvic inflammatory disease(PID), 2 were urinary tract infection due to huge ovarian tumor, and 1 was Bartholin's gland abscess. Cefazedone was proven its efficacy in treating infections of obstetrics and gynecology so as to reach 100% of response rate. The cefazedone was sensitive to all isolated organisms - G. vaginalis, E. coli, Staphylococcus, coagulase (+), etc. In the course of treatment, 1 patient experienced mild nausea, another 1 patient complained mild diarrhea, and another 1 patient showed transient leukopenia but their symptoms and signs were disappeared with only conservative management. There was no significant renal and hepatic function changes. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that cefazedone is relatively effective in treating infections of obstetrics and gynecology to show excellent antibacterial effects and low incidence of complications.
Abscess ; Coagulase ; Communicable Diseases ; Diarrhea ; Gynecology* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Leukopenia ; Nausea ; Obstetrics ; Staphylococcus ; Urinary Tract Infections

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Child* ; Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the serum levels of IL-10 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis are different from those of normal controls and SLE patients and to find out any correlation with disease activity parameters of rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: Sera from 20 healthy normal persons, 16 rheumatoid arthritis patients and 16 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus were collected and measured for IL-10 and IL-6. Various disease activity parameters were measured in RA patients. RESULTS: The serum level of IL-10 in RA patients was significantly elevated compared to normal controls but lower than those of SLE patients. In RA patients there was no definite correlation between the disease activity parameters and serum IL-10 levels. Despite significant improvements in terms of various disease activity parameters, there was no significant change of serum IL-10 levels after treatment in RA patients. In seropositive RA patients, positive correlation was found between serun IL-10 and rheumatoid factor levels. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that the serum IL-10 levels in patietns with RA are elevated compared to normal controls but lower than those of SLE patients. There was no correlation between serum IL-10 levels and disease acivity parameters of RA.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Humans ; Interleukin-10* ; Interleukin-6 ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Rheumatoid Factor