We recently encountered two cases of emphysematous pyelonephritis with abscess formation, which have recovered by only conservative treatment and percutaneous abscess drainage(PAD). Two patients had diabetes mellitus. in the first case, initial CT showed left intrarenal abscess with air-fluid level. In the second case, CT showed right perirenal abscess with air-fluid level. PAD was performed under CT and US guidances, respectively. Both patients were successfully treated with PAD and conservative treatment. Follow up after confirmation of abscess resolution by CT scan and contrast study through the catheter, we removed catheters two months and 40 days after PAD respectively.
Abscess* ; Catheters ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Drainage* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Pyelonephritis* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Dermatitis* ; Streptococcus pyogenes

Neuroblastoma stage IV-S patients have frequent spontaneous remission and high survival rate. Many investigators have recommended minimal or no therapeutic intervention ; however, some patient do experience progressive disease and ultimately die of neuroblastoma. We experienced a case of stage IVS neuroblastoma with N-myc amplification and coagulopathy. This patient has treated with combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy, then remained disease free for 1 year on the follow up till March, 1997.
Drug Therapy, Combination ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neuroblastoma* ; Remission, Spontaneous ; Research Personnel ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVES: It has been constantly reported that mismatch negativity (MMN) is impaired in patients with schizophrenia. However, the mechanism which relates impaired MMN and schizophrenia is not clear yet. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between MMN and clinical variables including functional status in patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: The present study assessed MMN using passive auditory oddball task in 26 patients with schizophrenia and 48 healthy controls. Repeated measures Analysis of Variance with age as a covariate was carried out for comparing peak amplitude and latency of MMN at 8 central line electrodes (FPz, Fz, FCz, Cz, CPz, Pz, POz, Oz) across groups. Pearson's correlation was performed to reveal the relationship between MMN and clinical variables including neurocognitive test results and the Global Assessment of Functioning score. RESULTS: MMN amplitude was significantly reduced in patients with schizophrenia compared with healthy controls. Pearson's correlation showed that subsets of short form of Korean Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale scores and GAF scores were associated with MMN amplitude in patients with schizophrenia. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that MMN amplitude is associated with current functional status including cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia.
Adult ; Analysis of Variance ; Electrodes ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Schizophrenia*

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the point prevalence of anxiety, depression and the associated risk factors in hospitalized patients with cancer. METHODS: A total of 114 patients with cancer who admitted to the Cancer Center in St. Mary's Hospital were enrolled for a day. The patients were asked to complete Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS). Sociodemographic and cancer related clinical variables were also evaluated. RESULTS: The point prevalence of anxiety and depression was 10.5% and 34.2%, respectively, as assessed with HADS. Logistic regression models revealed that distant metastasis was significantly associated with anxiety in patients with cancer and previous chemotherapy and Low socioeconomic status were significantly associated with depression. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that more than one third of patients with cancer suffer from either anxiety or depression. In addition, previous chemotherapy as well as low socioeconomic status and distant metastasis were associated risk factors of anxiety and depression, respectively. These findings suggest the need for screening and systematized psychosocial intervention for psychological distress in hospitalized patients with cancer.
Anxiety* ; Depression* ; Drug Therapy ; Hospitals, General* ; Humans ; Inpatients* ; Logistic Models ; Mass Screening ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prevalence* ; Risk Factors ; Social Class

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The success of implants depends on intimate and direct contact of implant material on bone tissue and on functional relationship with soft tissue contact. Creation and maintenance of osseointegration depend on the understanding of the tissue's healing, repairing, and remodeling capacity and these capacities rely on cellular behavior. Altering the surface properties can modify cellular responses such as cell adhesion, cell motility, bone deposition. Therefore, various implant surface treatment methods are being developed for the improved bone cell responses. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the responses of osteoblast-like cells to surface- modified titanium. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The experiment was composed of four groups. Group 1 represented the electropolished surface. Group 2 surfaces were machined surface. Group 3 and Group 4 were anodized surfaces. Group 3 had low roughness and Group 4 had high roughness. Physicochemical properties and microstructures of the d iscs were examined and the responses of osteoblast-like cells to the discs were investigated. The microtopography was observed by SEM. The roughness was measured by three-dimension roughness measuring system. The microstructure was analyzed by XRD, AES. To evaluate cell responses to modified titanium surfaces, osteoblasts isolated from calvaria of neonatal rat were cultured. Cell count, morphology, total protein measurement and alkaline phosphatase activities of the cultures were examined. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The results were as follows 1. The four groups showed specific microtopography respectively. Anodized group showed grain structure with micropores. 2. Surface roughness values were, from the lowest to the highest, electropolished group, machined group, low roughness anodized group, and high roughness anodized group. 3. Highly roughened anodized group was found to have increased surface oxide thickness and surface crystallinity. 4. The morphology of cells, flattened or spherical, were different from ach other. In the electropolished group and machined group, the cells were almost flattened. In two anodized groups, some cells were spherical and other cells were flattened. And the 14 day culture cells of all of the groups were nearly flattened due to confluency. 5. The number of attached cells was highest in low roughness anodized group. And the machined group had significantly lower cell count than any other groups(P<.05). 6. Total protein contents showed no difference among groups. 7. The level of alkaline phosphatase activities was higher in the anodized groups than electropolished and machined groups(P<.05).
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Bone and Bones ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Count ; Cell Movement ; Edible Grain ; Crystallins ; Osseointegration ; Osteoblasts ; Rats ; Skull ; Surface Properties ; Titanium*

Clinical scales are important tools for quantitatively evaluating impairments and disabilities related to diseases. Clinical scales are also used in many clinical studies to assess therapeutic effects. Spinal cord disorders cause neurological deterioration, which leads to functional and social disabilities. For many neurological disorders that cause myelopathy, including multiple sclerosis and other inflammatory demyelinating diseases, numerous drugs are being developed and studied for clinical use. Thus, clinical scales for myelopathy are important for both the medical field and general public. This review article describes the clinical scales for myelopathy, especially those that are widely used and established. We expect that this review will help readers choose the scales appropriate for their purposes.

Clinical scales are important tools for quantitatively evaluating impairments and disabilities related to diseases. Clinical scales are also used in many clinical studies to assess therapeutic effects. Spinal cord disorders cause neurological deterioration, which leads to functional and social disabilities. For many neurological disorders that cause myelopathy, including multiple sclerosis and other inflammatory demyelinating diseases, numerous drugs are being developed and studied for clinical use. Thus, clinical scales for myelopathy are important for both the medical field and general public. This review article describes the clinical scales for myelopathy, especially those that are widely used and established. We expect that this review will help readers choose the scales appropriate for their purposes.

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*

No abstract available.
Panniculitis, Lupus Erythematosus*