Spinal epidural abscesses were evaluated using Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 19 surgically and clinically confirmed cases, including 13 with tuberculous spondylitis and 6 with pyogenic spondylitis. We observed rim enhancement patterns in 10 patients and diffuse enhancement patterns in 9 patients. The spread patterns were localized to ventral or dorsal epidural space and encircled entire epidural space. We conclude that rim enhancement indicates abscess and diffuse enhancement indicates granulation tissue and fibrosis. Tuberculous epidural abscess spreads to ventral epidural space and pyogenic epidural abscess encircles entire epidural space.
Abscess ; Epidural Abscess* ; Epidural Space ; Fibrosis ; Granulation Tissue ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Spondylitis

Milk of calcium located in the breast is typically a benign entity. However, carcinoma may incidentally arise adjacent to or even within milk of calcium. Consequently, the characteristics of all observed calcific particles should be carefully analyzed. In this study, we report a case of carcinoma presented as malignant microcalcifications mixed within milk of calcium in a breast.
Breast Neoplasms/*chemistry/radiography ; Calcium Carbonate/*analysis ; Carcinoma, Ductal/*chemistry/radiography ; Female ; Humans ; Mammography ; Middle Aged

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence of sacral insufficiency fracture in osteoporotic patients with compression fracture of the thoracolumbar (T-L) spine on magnetic resonance image (MRI), and to analyze the correlation of variable clinical factors and the incidence of sacral insufficiency fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 160 patients (27 men, 133 women; age range of 50 to 89 years) who underwent spinal MRI and had compression fracture of the T-L spine. Compression fractures due to trauma or tumor were excluded. We evaluated the incidence of sacral insufficiency fracture according to the patients' age, sex, number of compression fractures, and the existence of bone marrow edema pattern of compression fracture. During the same period, we evaluated the incidence of spinal compression fracture in the patients of pelvic insufficiency fracture. RESULTS: Out of the 160 patients who had compression fracture in the T-L spine, 17 (10.6%) had insufficiency fracture of the sacrum. Compression fracture occurred almost 5 times more frequently in women (27:133), but the incidence of sacral insufficiency fracture was 2/27 for men (7.4%) and 15/133 for women (11.3%), with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.80). According to age, the ratio of insufficiency fracture to compression fracture was 0% (0/23) in the 50's, 10.6% (7/66) in the 60's, 12.5% (7/56) in the 70's, and 20.0% (3/15) in the 80's. In respect of single and multiple compression fracture, the incidence of sacral insufficiency fracture was 8/65 for men (12.3%) and 9/95 for women (9.5%), showing no significant difference (p=0.37). In the patients with and without compression fracture with bone marrow edema, insufficiency fracture occurred in 5/76 (6.6%) and 12/84 (14.3%), respectively. On the other hand, of the 67 patients who had pelvic insufficiency fracture, 27 (40.3%) also had spinal compression fracture. CONCLUSION: About 10% of the patients with osteoporotic compression fracture in the T/L spine also had pelvic sacral insufficiency fracture, which was not uncommon. These findings suggest the need to consider the possibility of pelvic sacral insufficiency fracture in cases of T/L spinal MRI for patients with osteoporotic compression fracture.
Bone Marrow ; Edema ; Female ; Fractures, Compression* ; Fractures, Stress* ; Hand ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Osteoporosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sacrum ; Spine*

The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in the microbiological safety of food ingredients supplied to elementary school food services during processing. For this purpose, fifteen food ingredients and twelve factories were chosen in the provinces of Daegu and Gyeongbuk. Total plate counts and coliform counts were reduced in the ingredients after washing, but they increased after packing. After packing, the following levels of total plate counts and coliforms were detected, respectively: peeled bellflower roots (1.2~3.6x10(6), 3.1~4.6x10(5) CFU/g), blanched vegetables (5.6x10(3)~2.0x10(5), <5~1.5x10(4) CFU/g), soybean curd ( <5~5.4x10(3), <5~2.2x10(3) CFU/g), buckwheat starch jelly ( <5, <5 CFU/g), soybean sprouts (1.2x10(6)~1.8x10(7), 2.4x10(5)~4.3x10(6) CFU/g), mackerel (2.2x10(2), 1.3x10(2) CFU/g), chicken (3.8x10(4), 6.7x10(2) CFU/g), pork (6.7x10(2), <5 CFU/g), and beef (9.4x10(2)~5.2x10(4), <5~2.1x10(3) CFU/g). Generally, the microbiological safety of the food ingredients was better during the processing stage than during the other stages, with the exception of packing. Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, and Bacillus cereus were detected in small amounts on the peeled bellflower roots, chicken, and pork, respectively. These results indicate that peeled bellflower roots, chicken, and pork need to be sanitized at the washing stage and cross contamination must be prevented at the packing stage.
Bacillus cereus ; Chickens ; Codonopsis ; Fagopyrum ; Food Services ; Humans ; Perciformes ; Soybeans ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Starch ; Vegetables

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate short-term and long-term skeletodental outcomes of Class III activator treatment. METHODS: A Class III activator treatment group (AG) comprised of 22 patients (9 boys, 13 girls) was compared with a Class III control group (CG) comprised of 17 patients (6 boys, 11 girls). The total treatment period was divided into three stages; the initial stage (T1), the post-activator treatment or post-mandibular growth peak stage (T2), and the long-term follow-up stage (T3). Cephalometric changes were evaluated statistically via the Mann-Whitney U-test and the Friedman test. RESULTS: The AG exhibited significant increases in the SNA angle, ANB angle, Wits appraisal, A point-N perpendicular, Convexity of A point, and proclination of the maxillary incisors, from T1 to T2. In the long-term follow-up (T1-T3), the AG exhibited significantly greater increases in the ANB angle, Wits appraisal, and Convexity of A point than the CG. CONCLUSIONS: Favorable skeletal outcomes induced during the Class III activator treatment period were generally maintained until the long-term follow-up period of the post-mandibular growth peak stage.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incisor ; Retrospective Studies

Mold form fungi such as Fusarium, Acremonium, and Sporothrix species are thought to represent contamination or harmless colonization when isolated from immunocompromised patients. More recently, the pathogenic role of these fungi has been clearly established. The role of implantable subcutaneous central catheters as potential portals of entry for mold form fungus has been underestimated. We describe four cases of implantable subcutaneous central catheter- related mold form fungemia in patients with cancer. One patient responded well only after removal of the implantable subcutaneous central catheter, two patients responded after catheter-removal and IV fluconazole but one patient did not in spite of catheter-removal and amphotericin B.
Acremonium ; Amphotericin B ; Catheters ; Central Venous Catheters* ; Colon ; Fluconazole ; Fungemia* ; Fungi ; Fusarium ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Sporothrix

Using three different types of the ankle joint, i.e., the fixed, single-axis, and multi axis type, the gait characteristics of transfemoral amputees were investigated to understand the biomechanics of ankle joint motion during gait of transfemoral amputees with a SNS (swing and stance phase) control prosthesis controlling the flexion-extension of knee in the stance phase unlike conventional swing control prostheses. The socket pressure was measured to explain the resulting gait characteristic of the transfemoral amputees for different ankle joint components. Based on the results from the gait characteristics, socket pressure, knee flexion-extension behavior, and ground reaction vector, the fixed type ankle joint could be considered as the most appropriate ankle joint for the transfemoral amputees using the SNS control prosthesis.
Amputees* ; Ankle Joint ; Ankle* ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Freedom* ; Gait* ; Humans ; Knee ; Prostheses and Implants*

Using three different types of the ankle joint, i.e., the fixed, single-axis, and multi axis type, the gait characteristics of transfemoral amputees were investigated to understand the biomechanics of ankle joint motion during gait of transfemoral amputees with a SNS (swing and stance phase) control prosthesis controlling the flexion-extension of knee in the stance phase unlike conventional swing control prostheses. The socket pressure was measured to explain the resulting gait characteristic of the transfemoral amputees for different ankle joint components. Based on the results from the gait characteristics, socket pressure, knee flexion-extension behavior, and ground reaction vector, the fixed type ankle joint could be considered as the most appropriate ankle joint for the transfemoral amputees using the SNS control prosthesis.
Amputees* ; Ankle Joint ; Ankle* ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Freedom* ; Gait* ; Humans ; Knee ; Prostheses and Implants*

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess rotational patterns of dentofacial structures according to different vertical skeletal patterns by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and analyze their influence on menton deviation in skeletal Class III deformity with mandibular asymmetry. METHODS: The control group consisted of 30 young adults (15 men, 15 women) without any severe skeletal deformity. The asymmetry group included 55 adults (28 men, 27 women) with skeletal Class III deformity and at least 3-mm menton deviation from the midsagittal plane; it was divided into the hyperdivergent and hypodivergent subgroups using a mandibular plane angle cutoff of 35degrees. Fourteen rotational variables of the dental arches and mandible were measured and compared among the groups. Correlations between menton deviation and the other variables were evaluated. RESULTS: The asymmetry group showed significantly larger measurements of roll and yaw in the mandible than the control group. The hypodivergent subgroup showed significant differences in maxillary posterior measurements of yaw (p < 0.01) and maxillary anterior shift (p < 0.05) compared with the hyperdivergent subgroup. All the mandibular measurements had significant correlations with menton deviation (p < 0.01). Most measurements of roll were positively correlated with one another (p < 0.01). Measurements of yaw and roll in the posterior regions were also positively correlated (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Menton deviation in skeletal Class III deformity with mandibular asymmetry is influenced by rotation of mandibular posterior dentofacial structures. The rotational patterns vary slightly according to the vertical skeletal pattern.
Adult ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography* ; Congenital Abnormalities* ; Dental Arch ; Facial Asymmetry ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible ; Young Adult

Steatocystoma multiplex is a rare, inherited disorder that is characterized by multiple, asymptomatic, variably sized dermal cysts. The condition is transmitted in an autosomal dominant fashion; although sporadic cases have been documented. Keratin 17 has been proposed to be an important factor in inherited steatocystoma. In this study, a 29-year old man has a 4-year history of asymptomatic, movable, skin-colored nodules on his face, neck, scalp, anterior chest and back. His father and elder-brother have similar lesions. Histologically, the cysts show a thin stratified squamous epithelium with sebaceous glands arising from its wall and an absence of the granular cell layer. Generally, there are two treatments-medical treatment and surgical treatment. In case of non- inflamed lesions, surgical excision or drainage is regarded as the best treatment. We tried excisional biopsy and until now there has been no recurrence in the operation area over the past 12 months following the operation.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Drainage ; Epithelium ; Fathers ; Humans ; Keratin-17 ; Neck ; Recurrence ; Scalp ; Sebaceous Glands ; Steatocystoma Multiplex* ; Thorax