PURPOSE: To evaluate further the right minor and major fissure on thin-section narrow-interval CT scans with particular emphases on orientation, degree of completeness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thin section CT scans from 10 mm distal to carina to the proximal basal segmental bronchus were obtained at 5 mm invervals in 50 consectutive subjects. Orientation, degree of completeness, and the relationship of the minor and major fissure on thin-section CTscans were analyzed. RESULTS: Four principal types of the minor fissure could be identified according to the highest point of the upper surface of the middle lobe. At bronchus intermedius level, the major fissure appeared with its medial end anterior to lateral end in 45 subjects. The minor fissure was complete in only 10 subjects (20%). Completely absent minor fissure was noted in four subjects (8%). The major fissure was incomplete in 17 subjects (34%) at bronchus intermedius level. the minor and major fissure intersected each other in only 27 subjects (54%). The hig best point of intersection was variable. CONCLUSION: There are much more variations in the fissural complex in our study than in previous reports and these variations can be visualized well on thin-section CTscans.
Bronchi ; Lung* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

The CT findings were reviewed in two patients with injuries to the gallbladder following blunt trauma. In one patient high attenuation of intraluminal blood clot within the gallbladder and associated hemoperitoneum were identified. Another patient was represented hemoperitoneum and bile leakage into the peritoneal cavity due to laceration of the fundus of the gallbladder which appeared contrasted.
Bile ; Gallbladder ; Hemoperitoneum ; Humans ; Lacerations ; Peritoneal Cavity

The purpose of this study is to analyze occupational history of coal miners with pnemoconiosis. In this study, occupational chracteristics of 49 coal miners with pneumoconiosis were compared with those of 45 coal miners without pneumoconiosis but in similar age category (43-52 years of age) based on interview survey. Various indices on occupational characteristics were developed for the following areas: duration of employment, perception of working condition, working density, dust concentration, temperature, humidity, and experience of respirator wearings. Perception of working condition were measured in 5 points scales but experiences of respirator wearing was measured in 3 points scale. Each index was multiplied by duration of employment. From the analysis, only the experience of respirator wearing showed statistically significant difference between the two groups. Therefore, respirator wearing seemed to be effective in reducing occurrence of pneumoconiosis.
Coal* ; Dust ; Employment ; Humidity ; Pneumoconiosis* ; Ventilators, Mechanical ; Weights and Measures

The result of artificial skins made with collagen is poor after grafting over the full thickness wounds due to their rapid degradation by enzymatic cleavage. This study is an in vivo study of an artificial skin made with a biodegradable polymer, which can better address the problem of the collagenous artificial dermis. To investigate the availability of a biodegradable polymer for an artificial dermis and to get an information about the optimal degradation rate of a polymer for an artificial dermis, we made an artificial dermis by seeding of fibroblasts within the vicryl mesh and made a bilayer artificial skin by covering the artificial dermis with cultured keratinocytes. And these artificial dermis and artificial skin were evaluated in a full thickness wound model. The results are as followings: 1. The artificial dermis was available for grafting for 1 week culture of vicryl mesh-fibroblast. 2. The artificial dermis retarded the contraction of full thickness wounds. 3. The artificial dermis generated the granulation tissue and accepted the STSG completely. 4. The generated tissue from the artificial dermis had incorporated into the surrounding tissue by 4 weeks postgrafting. 5. Vicryl in the artificial dermis became to biodegrade from the culture period and absorbed completely by 5 weeks. 6. The epidermal portion was poorly differntiated during in vitro culture period. In conclusion, the polymer-fibroblast graft can retard the wound contraction and generate a new tissue permitting a useful dermal replacement. And to get more optimal results, another polymer which has slower biodegradation rate than vicryl should be used for the artificial dermis and the epidermal portion should be differentiated after in vivo grafting.
Collagen ; Dermis* ; Fibroblasts ; Granulation Tissue ; Keratinocytes ; Polyglactin 910 ; Polymers ; Skin, Artificial ; Transplants ; Wounds and Injuries

Glomus tumor arises from the subcutaneous glomus body, which is an arteriovenous anastomosis involved in the regulation of cutaneous blood circulation and are widely distributed in the body, especially the hand. Twelve patients (male 3, female 9) with glomus tumors of the hand, who were operated from Jan. 1986 to Dec. 1994 were selected. The lesions were distributed in the distal phalanges of the thumb (6 cases), the index (3 cases), the ring finger (2 cases) and the little finger (1 case). All patients had the classic triad of symtoms: pain, tenderness and temperature sensitivity. Palpable mass (4 cases) and bluish purple discoloration in the skin (6 cases) were also presented. They had no trauma history and on the roentgenography, bone change detected in 2 cases. A simple excision with partial nail extraction was done in all cases. The symtoms were disappeared in all cases and no recurrence was found. For a complete cure, meticulous complete excision is the only recommended treatment.
Arteriovenous Anastomosis ; Blood Circulation ; Female ; Fingers ; Glomus Tumor* ; Hand* ; Humans ; Radiography ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Thumb

SUMMARY: The present study was carried out to evaluate whether the coculture system of human embryos with Vero cells can improve the quality of embryo or overcome the repetitive implantation failures in order to obtain pregnancy. From January to December 1996, a total 202 cases which patients with the problems of repetitive implantation failures (group I) or those with the poor embryonic quality in their previous cycles (group II) was analysed. The quality of cocultured embryo, pregnancy, on-going and implantation rates between coculture and control groups were compared. Of 93 cases in group I, coculture was performed in 34 cases and conventional IVF for the rest. Of 109 cases in group II, 36 for coculture and 73 for conventional IVF. In group I, pregnancy, on-going and implantation rates in coculture group (14/34 (41.2%), 9/34 (26.5%), 16/81 (19.8%), respectively) were higher than those of control (11/59 (18.6%), 8/59 (13.6%), 12/152 (7.9%), respectively). There is significance in the pregnancy and implantation rates (p=0.028 and p=0.015). In group II, pregnancy, on-going and implantation rates in coculture group (8/36 (22.2%), 5/36 (13.9%), 8/87 (9.2%), respectively) were higher than those of control (5/73 (6.8%), 3/73 (4.1%), 3/158 (1.9%), respectively). Like the result of group 1, there is significance in the pregnancy and implantation rates (p=0.028 and p=0.022). Coculture system with Vero cells works well in the groups of the two indications. Although the case of 3 day-coculture was small as 15 cases in group II, 3 day-coculture improved pregnancy rate (4/15 (26.7%)). Therefore, 3 day-coculture with assisted hatching is recommended to the patients with poor embryonic quality. In conclusion, coculture system with Vero cells can be suggested as an effective method which improves pregnancy rate in those who have repetitive implantation failures or whose embryonic quality was poor in their previous cycles.
Coculture Techniques* ; Embryonic Structures ; Humans ; Humans* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Prognosis* ; Vero Cells

Left atrial myxoma is well-known mimicker of systemic vasculitis. In general, however, these patients showed some symptoms and signs of cardiovascular disease. We experienced a patient with left atrial myxoma who first presented as vasculitis without any symptoms and signs suggesting cardiovascular disorders. A 45 year-old lady showed tender skin nodules, livedo reticuiaris-like skin lesions, severe constitutional symptoms, multiple cerebral infarctions, and elevated ESR and globulin. Skin biopsy findings were thought to be consistent with polyarteritis nodosa. Echocardiography was performed as a routine test for evaluating suspected vasculitis patients and it revealed left atrial myxoma. However, we were not able to detect any auscultation abnormality, even after echocardiography, After echocardiography, we found the tumor emboli in skin biopy specimen with deeper section. This case demonstrated the importance of suspecting the possibility of left atrial myxoma when performing diagnostic work-up for vasculitis.
Auscultation ; Biopsy ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cerebral Infarction ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Myxoma ; Polyarteritis Nodosa ; Skin ; Systemic Vasculitis ; Vasculitis

We report a case of Holt-Oram syndrome associated with tetralogy of Fallot. Right thumb was digitalized, and left thumb was hypoplastic and dislocated at metacarpopharygeal joint. Thrombocytopenia in peripheral blood and megakaryocytic hypoplasia in bone marrow was accompanied. Brief review was done with emphasis on embryologic pathogenesis.
Bone Marrow ; Joints ; Tetralogy of Fallot ; Thrombocytopenia ; Thumb

Highly specific and sensitive immunoassay method for soluble human recombinant interleukin-6 (hu rlL-6) was established by two different immunization methods. One is conventional method by Freund's adjuvant method and the other is special method which is directly injected to mouse spleen. Among seven established monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), two typical monoclonal antibodies, designated YB3 (IgG1) and NY2 (IgM), were further characterized. These mAbs highly bound to IL-6, however did not show cross reactivity with IL-1B and IL-2. As the results of ELISA inhibition assay and western blotting method, it was further identified that YB3 and NY2 had high binding specificity with IL-6. And the limiting detection amount of rlL-6 for YB3 was 5 ng/ml and for NY2 was 0.5 ng/ml. Furthermore, N-glycosylated human rlL-6 was also bound to YB3 on ELISA. On the other hand YB-3 furtherly recognized N-glycosylated human rlL-6 by sandwich ELISA method. These mAbs may be of use to diagnose the gynecopathy which contains abortion and preterm labor.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal* ; Blotting, Western ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Freund's Adjuvant ; Hand ; Humans ; Immunization ; Immunoassay ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-6 ; Mice ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Pregnancy ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spleen

It is usually difficult to obtain an exact reduction of bony mallet finger involving more than one third of the articular surface by closed manipulation and extension splinting and needs the operative treatment to obtain an exact anatomical reduction. Operative treatment of a mallet finger is a difficult procedure, fraught with many potential problems, including intraoperative fragmentation of dorsal lip fracture, difficulty of exposure and anatomical reduction of the fragment, skin slough, and postoperative loss of fixation. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the fixation technique and to reduce intraoperative complications. We retrospectively reviewed 13 patients of bony mallet fingers, who were treated by tension wire fixation between January 1994 and August 1995 at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kwangmyung Sung Ae Hospital. There were 6 male and 7 female pateints. The most common cause was sports injury (6 cases). According to Wehbe and Schneider classification, 8 cases were type II and subtype B, 7 cases were the other types. According to modified Abouna and Brown criteria, the clinical results were success in 10 cases and failure in 3 cases. Postoperative complications were superficial infeciton (2 cases), skin necrosis (1 case), nail deformity (1 case) and secondary extensor tendon rupture (1 case). In conclusion, tension wire fixation of bony mallet finger was a simple and effective fixation of the fragment under the direct vision, which make it possible to exercise early and fix sturdily. But it should be avoided some pitfalls associated with internal fixation of small bony fragments.
Athletic Injuries ; Classification ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Female ; Fingers* ; Humans ; Intraoperative Complications ; Lip ; Male ; Necrosis ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture ; Skin ; Splints ; Tendons