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*

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

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

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

BACKGROUND: Pain on injection of rocuronium is a common clinical problem. We compared the efficacy of lidocaine, ketorolac, and the 2 in combination as pretreatment for the prevention of rocuronium-induced withdrawal movement. METHODS: For this prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study a total of 140 patients were randomly allocated to one of 4 treatment groups to receive intravenously placebo (saline), lidocaine (20 mg), ketorolac (10 mg), or both (n = 35 for each group), with venous occlusion. The tourniquet was released after 2 min and anesthesia was performed using 5 mg/kg thiopental sodium followed by 0.6 mg/kg rocuronium. The withdrawal response was graded on a 4-point scale in a double-blind manner. RESULTS: The overall incidence of withdrawal movements after rocuronium was 34.3% with lidocaine (P = 0.001), 40% with ketorolac (P = 0.004), and 8.6% with both (P < 0.001), compared with 74.3% with placebo. There was a significantly lower incidence of withdrawal movements in patients receiving the lidocaine/ketorolac combination than in those receiving lidocaine or ketorolac alone (P = 0.009 and 0.002, respectively). The incidence of moderate to severe withdrawal movements was 14.3% with lidocaine, 17.2% with ketorolac, and 2.9% with lidocaine/ketorolac combination, as compared to 45.7% with the placebo. There was no significant difference in withdrawal movement between the lidocaine group and the ketorolac group. CONCLUSIONS: Ketorolac pretreatment had an effect comparable to that of lidocaine in attenuating rocuronium-induced withdrawal movements and the lidocaine/ketorolac combination pretreatment, compared with lidocaine or ketorolac alone, effectively reduced withdrawal movements during rocuronium injection.
Androstanols ; Anesthesia ; Double-Blind Method ; Humans ; Incidence ; Ketorolac ; Lidocaine ; Prospective Studies ; Thiopental ; Tourniquets

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the amino acids composition, safety and efficacy of formulas recently developed by Korean dairy companies for children with inherited metabolic disorder. METHODS: The determination of amino acids concentration was performed on eight Korean formula samples. The samples were hydrolyzed with 6N HCL or performic acid and analyzed by amino acid analyzer. RESULTS: No phenylalanine, methionine or leucine was observed in PKU-1 and PKU-2 Formulas, Methionine-Free and Leucine-Free Formula, respectively. BCAA-Free Formula was free from leucine, isoleucine, and valine and MPA Formula did not contain methionine and valine. Protein-Free formula did not include any amino acids. UCD Formula contained arginine but was free of alanine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, proline and serine. Methionine-Free Formula contained higher amounts of cystine and tyrosine was higher in PKU-1 and 2 Formulas. The amounts of isoleucine and threonine were minimal in MPA Formula. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that the eight special formulas, developed for the first time by a Korean dairy company for children with inherited metabolic disorder contain appropriate amino acids with proper contents. Both the total amino acid amounts and specific amino acid concentrations of the formulas were appropriate for related diseases, which could be used safely by the patients with inherited metabolic disorder. For UCD Formula that contains arginine, we suggest that arginine be removed from the formula in order to use for any urea cycle defect patients before the specific diagnosis is made.
Alanine ; Amino Acids ; Arginine ; Aspartic Acid ; Child* ; Cystine ; Diagnosis ; Glutamic Acid ; Glycine ; Histidine ; Humans ; Isoleucine ; Leucine ; Methionine ; Phenylalanine ; Proline ; Serine ; Threonine ; Tyrosine ; Urea ; Valine

Anti-GQ1 antibody is found in patients with Miller-Fisher syndrome (MFS), atypical MFS, and Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis (BBE). These conditions are various manifestations of post-infectious autoimmune disorders, and anti-GQ1b antibodies play a core pathogenic role. So they are referred as the 'anti-GQ1b antibody syndrome'. We report two cases of recurrent anti-GQ1b antibody syndrome.
Antibodies ; Brain Stem ; Encephalitis ; Humans ; Miller Fisher Syndrome ; Recurrence

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*