To know testicular growth and operative results after orchiopexy in unilateral cryptorchidism a retrospective study was performed on 56 patients at least 8 months after orchiopexy due to unilateral cryptorchidism by palpation of testis, inspection of operation scar, evaluating testis volume using Prader orchidometer, and interviewing with the patients and their parents about previous undescended testis. Their medical records were also reviewed. Patients' mean age at orchiopexy was 6 years and 8 months. Mean duration after orchiopexy was 3 years and 7 months at the time of followup. Inguinal orchiopexy was performed in all patients except one. Operative success was defined as scrotal position of previous undescended testis without atrophy Testis volume ratio was defined as T2/T1 (T1=volume of previous undescended testis, T2= volume of contralateral descended testis). Mean testicular volume was 3.66+/-3.12ml in previous undescended testis and 5.11+/-5.42ml in contralateral descended testis, respectively(p>0.05.) In patients with public hair mean testicular volume was 8.76+/-2.30ml in previous undescended testis and 13.5+/-4.80ml in contralateral descended testis, respectively(p<0.01). Testis volume ratio had moderate correlation with age at orchiopexy and age at followup(r=0.44, 0.46, respectively). Operative success rate was 88%. Of 47 parents who accompanied by patients 32 were satisfied, 7 were intermediate, 8 were unsatisfied with previous undescended testis associated with size, position, and/or consistency. Inguinal operation scar was cosmetically better in transverse skin incision than in oblique skin incision(p<0.01). Moderate correlation of testis volume ratio with age at orchiopexy might suggest that early orchiopexy enhances catch-up growth of previous undescended testis. Moderate correlation of testis volume ratio with age at followup and significant difference of mean testicular volume between previous undescended testis and contralateral undescended testis in patients with public airs, might imply that growth of previous undescended testis become retarded comparing to that of contralateral descended testis at puberty which is critical period for testicular growth. These should be confirmed via prospective long-term studies which include early orchiopexy and more accurate measurement of testis volume using ultrasonography. Appropriate surgical treatment of cryptorchidism needs various orchiopexy techniques and proper selection of surgical options including orchiectomy.
Adolescent ; Atrophy ; Cicatrix ; Critical Period (Psychology) ; Cryptorchidism* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hair ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Records ; Orchiectomy ; Orchiopexy* ; Palpation ; Parents ; Puberty ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Testis ; Ultrasonography

Traumatic atlanto-occipital dislocation is usually fatal. To date, few cases have been reported in the literature because survival after traumatic atlanto-occipital dislocation is extremely rare. We present the case of a 47-year-old man with traumatic atlanto-occipital rotatory posterior dislocation combined with atlanto-axial rotatory subluxation and treated by occipito-cervical fusion using Bohlman's triple wiring technique.
Dislocations* ; Humans ; Middle Aged

PURPOSE: Urinary tract infection (UTI) in children is the most common disease during the infantile period, therefore early diagnosis and treatment are important. Pyuria is a useful clinical parameter for the initial diagnosis of a UTI. In this study we aimed to compare the clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings in relation to the duration of pyuria in infants with UTIs. METHODS: Three hundred seventy-four infants <12 months of age who were admitted between January 1995 and December 2005 for the first episode of a febrile UTI were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups according to the duration of pyuria as follows: group 1, pyuria resolved <3 days after initial treatment; and group 2, pyuria lasted at least 3 days after initial treatment. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups in relation to gender, age, total duration of fever, and organisms in the urine. Group 2 had a significantly higher peripheral blood leukocyte count (14,360.86+/-5,526.16 cells/mm3 vs. 11,822.55+/-5,687.26 cells/mm3, P<0.001), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (32.81+/-19.34 mm/hr vs. 23.74+/-20.43 mm/hr, P<0.001), and C-reactive protein (6.84+/-5.68 mg/dL vs. 3.78+/-3.99 mg/dL, P<0.001) than group 1. There was a significantly higher incidence of hydronephrosis and a higher grade of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in group 2 compared to group 1. CONCLUSION: In infants with UTI, pyuria of longer duration is related to severe UTI and higher grade VUR, therefore aggressive radiologic studies may be necessary.
Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; Child ; Early Diagnosis ; Fever ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Incidence ; Infant ; Leukocyte Count ; Pyuria ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Tract ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux

The purpose of this study was to develop the CORE Program for sex offenders and to determine its effectiveness. The CORE Program was designed with an aim to achieve cognitive restructuring, improve the ability to empathize in interpersonal relationships, and enhance self-esteem and intimacy. We conducted this program over 48 sessions for 28 sex offenders. The effectiveness of the program was evaluated using the Interpersonal Responsiveness Index (IRI), Self-esteem Questionnaire (SEQ), UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLALS), Coping Using Sex Inventory (CUSI), Rape Myth Acceptance Scale (RMAS), and Wilson's Sex Fantasy Questionnaire (WSFQ). The data were analyzed using paired t-tests. Our results showed no significant changes in the SEQ, UCLALS, and IRI scores after the treatment program. However, the scores for the CUSI, RMAS, and WSFQ significantly improved after this program. In this paper, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the CORE Program for sex offenders. We also discuss the limitations of our study and provide suggestions for future research. Our findings indicate that this treatment program should be provided to sex offenders for preventing recidivism.
Criminals ; Fantasy ; Humans ; Loneliness ; Paraphilic Disorders ; Rape ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an important role in the normal morphogenesis, maintenance, and repair of matrix and also have important functions in pathologic conditions characterized by excessive degradation of extracellular matrix, such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, periodontitis and in tumor invasion and metastasis. In this study, expression of MMP-1 and -2 mRNA in retrodiscal tissue of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) was examined and compared with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and surgical findings. MMP mRNAs in the retrodiscal tissue samples were detected by reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction. TMJ internal derangement (ID) was categorized as normal disc position, disc displacement with reduction, early stage of disc displacement without reduction (DDsR) and late stage of DDsR. TMJ osteoarthrosis (OA) was classified with normal, mild and advanced OA. The amount of synovial fluid collection was divided into not detected, small, large and extremely large amount on MR T2-weighted imaging. Perforation and adhesion were examined during open surgery of the TMJ. Six out of 37 samples were excluded because of little amount of extracted total mRNA. MMP-2 mRNA was detected whole joints, and so the MMP-2 mRNA seems to be expressed normally in retrodiscal tissue. However, MMP-1 mRNA was expressed in 8 of 31 joints. Frequencies of MMP-1 mRNA expression according to the TMJ IDs, amount of synovial fluid and surgical findings made no significant difference. MMP-1 mRNA was detected more frequently in OA groups (7/16 joints, 43.8%) than in normal bony structure group (1/15,joints, 6.7%). Expression of MMP-1 mRNA in retrodiscal tissue might be related with OA of the TMJ.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Collagenases ; Extracellular Matrix ; Gelatinases ; Joints ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1* ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Morphogenesis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Osteoarthritis ; Periodontitis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA, Messenger* ; Synovial Fluid ; Temporomandibular Joint*

Between November 2005 and March 2006, a total of 253 poultry flocks in the Gyeonggi-do of Korea were examined for seroprevalence against avian influenza (AI) using a hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test and an agar gel precipitation test. No low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) virus was isolated from 47 seropositive flocks that lacked clinical signs during sampling. The unadjusted percentage of seroprevalence rates of layer and broiler flocks were not significantly different, i.e., 26% (25/96) and 23% (22/97), respectively. The HI titer of the layers (mean = 89) was higher than the broilers (mean = 36; p < 0.001). A cross-sectional study was conducted for the seroprevalence of LPAI in the layers. Of 7 risk factors, farms employing one or more workers had a higher seropositive prevalence as compared to farms without hired employees (adjusted prevalence OR = 11.5, p = 0.031). Layer flocks older than 400 d had higher seropositivity than flocks younger than 300 d (OR = 4.9, p = 0.017). The farmers recognized at least one of the clinical signs in seropositive flocks, such as decreased egg production, respiratory syndromes, and increased mortality (OR = 2.3, p = 0.082). In a matched case-control study, 20 pairs of case and control flocks matched for type of flock, hired employees, age, and flock size were compared. Frequent cleansing with disinfectants was associated with a decreased risk of seropositivity (OR = 0.2, p = 0.022). Although there was a low statistical association, using a foot disinfectant when entering the building led to a decreased rate of seropositivity (OR = 0.3, p = 0.105).
Animals ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests ; Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype/*genetics ; Influenza in Birds/*epidemiology/*virology ; Korea/epidemiology ; Poultry ; Risk Factors ; Seroepidemiologic Studies

No abstract available.
Replantation

Many chemical compopunds are converted into reactive electrophilic metabolites by the oxidative(Phase I) enzymes, which are mainly cytochrome P-450 enzyme(CYPs). Phase II conjugating enzymes, such as glutathione S-transferase(GST), usually act as inactivation of enzymes. Genetic polymorphisms have been found to be associated with increased susceptibility to cancer of the lung, bladder, breast and colorectal. Many of the poly-morphic genes of carcinogen metabolism show considerably different type of cancer among different ethnic groups as well as individuals within the same group. The aim of this study is (1) to establish the frequencies of genetic polymorphisms of GSTM1 and CYP1A1 in Korean oral squamous cell carcinoma(SCC), (2) to associate oral SCC with the risk of these genetic polymor-phisms. The genetic polymorphisms of the GSTM1 and the CYP1A1 genes among 50 Korean oral SCC were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction(PCR). The results suggest that the homozygote and the mutant type of CYP1A1 MspI polymorphisms may be associated with genetic susceptibility to oral SCC in Korean. A combination of the GSTM1 null type with the homozy-gote( m1/m1), and the mutant(m2/m2) type of CYP1A1 MspI polymorphisms showed a relatively high risk of oral SCC in Korean. In the smoking group, the GSTM1 wild genotype may be the high risk factor of oral SCC in Korean. These data coincide with the hypothesis which states that different susceptibility to cancer of genetic poly-morphisms exist among different ethnic group and different types of human cancer.
Breast ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1* ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; Ethnic Groups ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Glutathione Transferase* ; Glutathione* ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Metabolism ; Polymorphism, Genetic* ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Urinary Bladder

The antihypertensive effect of clonidine was evaluated in 129 patients with essential hypertension of mild to moderate severity with a dosage of one tablet(0.075mg) a day for 71 patients of Group I and two tablets a day for 58 patients of Group II. The results were as follows : 1) Of 71 patients of Group I, 34 patients(47.9%)showed good antihypertensive effect(greater than 15 mmHg drop in mean diastolic pressure) and 11 patients(15.5%) showed fair effect(10-14 mmHg drop in mean diastolic pressure). 2) Of 58 patients of Group II, 39 patients(67.2%) showed good effect and 7 patients(12.1%) showed fair effect. 3) The side effect observed was transient and tolerable dry mouth, which developed in 5.6% of Group I patients and 13.6% of Group II patients.
Clonidine* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Mouth ; Tablets

There is a need of training and rehabilitation system for the patients who have problems in postural balance control due to diseases, accidents or age. We have implemented the training simulator which can apply virtual exercise for the training of patients. The system is composed of exercise recording, graphic simulator and training unit. We loaded two CCD cameras and three gyro-sensors on the exercise recording platform. Two CCD cameras are separated by 6.5cm to simulate human eyes and record slightly different images for each eye. Three gyro-sensors record acceleration in X, Y, Z axes respectively. These signals are sampled with 0.1 sec time intervals(10Hz) and converted to digital format. To integrate two video signals into one, only odd fields from left camera and even fields from right camera are multiplexed to compose a recording video signal. Digitized acceleration signals are recorded in blanking timing interval of NTSC signal format. Simulated bed positions are displayed on the monitor in graphic format. Training unit consisted of HMD and titling bed. Each recorded image is displayed on HMD while the tilting bed is controlled by the recovered accelerated signals. We have recorded the exercises while walking and driving. These recorded exercises are simulated with HMD and graphic display of position.
Acceleration ; Exercise ; Humans ; Postural Balance* ; Rehabilitation* ; Walking