35 neurogenic tumors of the thorax were analyzed with plain film and CT scan. Radiological analysis emphasizedshape, location calcification, bone change, pleural change in plain film and calcification, cystic change, bonechange, pleural change, presence of contrast enhancement in CT scan. The results were as follows; 1. Age may bethe most important clinical factor for differential diagnosis. 2. Plain film findings(35 cases); 1) The mostcommon shape in the ganglion series tumor (ganglioneuroma, ganglioneuroblastoma, neuroblastoma), was elongation(80%) and these tumors generally had tapered borders(50%). In contrast with those of the genglion series, nervesheath tumors(schwannoma, neurofibroma, malignant Schwannoma) showed a definite tendency to be roudn (95%) and thesulcus effect was more frequetnly seen(67.5%). Most of the masses were smooth. The lobulated masses were commonlymalignant ganglion series tumors. 2) Though overall incidence of calcification was low(8.6%), it was observed morefrequently in ganglion series tumors(20%). 3) Associated bony abnormality were generally observed in large tumorsabove 5cm in long axis, especially in neuroblastoma and ganglioneuroblastoma. 4) Tumors showed pleural effusionwere all malignant. 3. CT findings (17 cases); 1) The overall incidence of cystic change of the mass was 23.6%. Itwas most common in Schwannoma(60%). 2) The contrast enhancement was noted in 64.7%. It's degree was variable andshowed no predilection to any specific tumors. 3) The incidence of calcification, associated bony abnormality andpleural effusion were similiar to plain film. Confident specific diagnosis can be made in most of the neurogenictumors of the thorax by shape of the mass in plain film and internal architecture in CT combined with patient'sage as clinical information.
Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Ganglion Cysts ; Ganglioneuroblastoma ; Incidence ; Neuroblastoma ; Neurofibroma ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of a structured preoperative PCA education to that of the usual informal teaching provided by hospital staff in alleviating postoperative pain through more effective use of PCA therapy. METHOD: As an advanced research, the knowledge about the use of PCA therapy and the attitude about the use of the pain medicine were estimated, and then as a later research, the knowledge about the use of PCA therapy, the attitude about the use of the pain medicine, and the score of the pain were estimated. RESULT: The experimental group those who received structured preoperative PCA education had statistically significant higher knowledge regarding the use of PCA therapy(p=0.026) and more positive attitudes toward using pain medicine(p=0.004). The experimental group those who received structured preoperative PCA education reported better pain control 4(p= 0.002), 8(p=0.014) and 24 hours(p=0.018) after the operation. CONCLUSION: The structured preoperative PCA education increases the knowledge for the use of patient's PCA therapy and changes their attitude toward the use of the pain medicine positively and consequently enable the use of PCA therapy to be more effective and then finally reduced the patient's pain after the operation.
Education* ; Pain, Postoperative* ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis* ; Patient Education as Topic

In order to evaluate the possible roles of secretory proteases in the pathogenesis of amoebic keratitis, we purified and characterized a serine protease secreted by Acanthamoeba lugdunensis KA/E2, isolated from a Korean keratitis patient. The ammonium sulfate-precipitated culture supernatant of the isolate was purified by sequential chromatography on CM-Sepharose, Sephacryl S-200, and mono Q-anion exchange column. The purified 33 kDa protease had a pH optimum of 8.5 and a temperature optimum of 55 degrees C. Phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride and 4- (2- Aminoethyl) -benzenesulfonyl-fluoride, both serine protease specific inhibitors, inhibited almost completely the activity of the 33 kDa protease whereas other classes of inhibitors did not affect its activity. The 33 kDa enzyme degraded various extracellular matrix proteins and serum proteins. Our results strongly suggest that the 33 kDa serine protease secreted from this keratopathogenic Acanthamoeba play important roles in the pathogenesis of amoebic keratitis, such as in corneal tissue invasion, immune evasion and nutrient uptake.
Acanthamoeba/*enzymology/isolation & purification/pathogenicity ; Acanthamoeba Keratitis/*parasitology ; Animals ; Cornea/parasitology ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Korea ; Serine Endopeptidases/chemistry/*isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Substrate Specificity ; Temperature ; Virulence Factors

No abstract available.

Primary biliary cirrhosis, a chronic, progressive, and often fatal cholestatic liver disease, is characterized by destruction of intrahepatic bile ducts, portal inflammation and scarring, and the eventual development of cirrhosis and liver failure. We reviewed four cases of primary biliary cirrhosis primarily suspected with peritoneoscopic liver biopsy specimens. All patients were female and their age ranged from 29 to 50 years(median age: 43.8 years). Presenting symptoms were typically pruritus and/or upper abdominal discomfort. On physical examination, interus was presented in 3; hepatomegaly in 3; chronic liver disease stigmata in one. Co-existing autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto' thyroiditis and Sjoegren' syndrome were found in 2 cases. Biochemical tests of liver function revealed a cholestatic pattern. An antimitochondrial-antibody test was positive in 2 out of 3 patients(75%). Increase levels of serum immunoglobulins, especially of IgM, were evident in 3 cases. Histologic staging(Ludwig et al.) disclosed stage I lesion in one, stage III in two, and stage IV in the remaining one.
Female ; Humans ; Biopsy

No abstract available.
Clone Cells* ; Humans* ; Influenza, Human* ; Polysaccharides*

The purpose of this study is to identify the effects of sexual rehabilitation education on the knowledge of sexual activities and satisfaction of sexual activities of spinal cord injury clients by the method of Nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest group. The study period was between Jan. 6th and Apr. 11th, 1999. The experimental group was 21 spinal cord injury clients from one general hospital, and the control group was 21 spinal cord injury clients from three University hospital. Sexual rehabilitation education was done with manuals and video-tapes. Education time was 90 minutes a week for 4 weeks. The study tool was 20 questionnaires about sexual knowledge, designed Song, Chung Sook(1990) and 10 questionnaires from Derogatis's Derogatis Sexual Function Inventory for satisfaction of sexual activities(1979) translated by Jang, Soon Boke(1989). Analysis of data was done by x2 -test, t-test, repeated measures ANOVA and simple main effect with SAS/PC. The results are as follows. The 1st. hypothesis, "The group educated about the sexual rehabilitation has more sexual activities knowledge than those of the uneducated group." is significant statistically(F=12.06, p=0.001). The 2nd. hypotheses, "The group educated about the sexual rehabilitation has more satisfaction of sexual activities than those of the uneducated group." is significant statistically(F=5.04, p=0.030). According to the results, sexual rehabilitation education helps spinal cord injury clients to gain knowledge of sexual activities and satisfaction of sexual activities.
Education* ; Hospitals, General ; Music ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rehabilitation* ; Sexual Behavior* ; Spinal Cord Injuries* ; Spinal Cord*

No abstract available.
Cervix Uteri* ; Female ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

No abstract available.
Cervix Uteri* ; Female ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

Apoptosis is a distinct mechanism of cell death involved in many physiological and pathological processes. Various stimuli, including phagocytosis of bacteria, can induce apoptosis. As the cells proceed through apoptosis, functional activities decline in accord with phenotypic changes. However, decline in functional activities does not mean instantaneous shut-down of all functions, which is rather the characteristic of necrosis. Phagocytosis and oxidative burst are two of the major tasks of mloid cells for engulfment and killing of microbes. It was reported that the myeloid cells which phagocytosed bacteria underwent apoptosis, rendering resolution of acute inflammation. On the contrary, it was known that phagocytosis of latex beads did induce apoptosis. However, we found phagocytosis of latex beads within the apoptotic cell fraction. Thus we investigated whether phagocytosis of latex beads induced apoptosis or apoptotic cells phagocytosed the beads. We used human promyelocytic cell line HL-60 cultured for 4 days in RPMI1640 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and 1 uM all-trans retinoic acid for phagocytic assay. Phagocytic activity was analyzed by flow cytometry after shaking incubation of HL- 60 cells (5 x 10 cells/ml) with fluorochrome-cougated latex beads for 1 hour at 37C followed by elimination of the un-phagocytosed beads by centrifugation on the density of fetal bovine serum. Apoptotic cells were identified as subdiploid fraction by staining the cells with DNA-dye. To investigate whether phagocytosis of latex beads leads to apoptosis or apoptotic cells phagocytose the beads, the cells wbich had phagocytosed the beads were sequentially analyzed before and after 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 hours of incubation. On the other hand, the apoptotic cell fraction was sorted to be analyzed for phagocytic activity. The sorted cells were also analyzed by chemiluminescence assay for capability of oxidative burst by stimulation with PMA (5 mM). The results showed little increase in the apoptotic fraction among phagocytic cells during incubation up to 24 hours. Rather the sorted apoptotic cells did phagocytose latex beads. But the sorted cells did not show any capability of oxidative burst. Taken these results into consideration, the apoptotic cells seemed to be on the way of dying process in which oxidative burst was lost while phagocytic activity remained. Thus it was suggested that the primitive function of phagocytosis remained longer in the cells proceeding through apoptosis, while oxidative bunt, requiring mitochondrial function, was lost earlier.
Apoptosis ; Bacteria ; Cell Death ; Cell Line ; Centrifugation ; Flow Cytometry ; Hand ; Homicide ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Luminescence ; Microspheres ; Myeloid Cells ; Necrosis ; Pathologic Processes ; Phagocytes ; Phagocytosis ; Respiratory Burst ; Tretinoin