Cerebellar degeneration is a group of diseases that manifests as progressive ataxia, that finally led to death without specific treatment. We report here two patients with cerebellar degeneration, who had shown an improvement and less progressive course, which is associated with panax ginseng intake. Patient 1 was a 60-year-old woman with multisystem atrophy (MSA) type C with 5 year history of ginseng ingestion. Patient 2 was a 54-year-old woman with spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) type 6, who had a history of ginseng intake for 30 months. Both the patients showed atrophic change in the cerebellum by brain magnetic resonance imaging. Cerebellar functions had been semi-quantified by International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) and monitored before and after the ginseng ingestion every 6 to 12 months. In Patient 1 with MSA type C, ICARS had improved from 21 to 17.5 ± 1.8 in the following 5 years. In Patient 2 with SCA, ICARS also showed an improvement from 22 to 6.0 ± 1.0 over 30 months. However, when she stopped taking ginseng, it progressed up to 13 points in two years. These observations provide a potential disease-modifying effect of ginseng on patients with cerebellar degeneration.
Cerebellar Ataxia ; Cerebellar Diseases

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate whether maternal serum human chorionic gonadotropin(hCG) level measured during second trimester could be used as a predictor of pregnancy-induced hypertension. METHODS: Between March 1996 and November l997, 505 pregnant women undergoing second trimester(14-22 weeks of amenorrhea) triple marker screening for neural tube defect and Down syndrome who delivered at our institution were reviewed. All samples were assayed in the same laboratory and medical records were reviewed about medical and obstetrical history. RESULTS: Maternal serum human chorionic gonadotropin level(multiples of the median, MoM) was significantly higher in the pregnancy-induced hypertension group than in the control group. With the use of 2. l multiples of the median as a cutoff value, the sensitivity of human chorionic gonadotropin as a screening marker for development of pregnancy-induced hypertension was 38.7%, the specificity was 95.9%, positive predictive value was 38.7% and negative predictive value was 95.9%. Conlusion: We suggest that second trimester maternal serum human chorionic gonadotropin levels can be used clinically as an early predictive marker for pregnancy-induced hypertension.
Chorion ; Chorionic Gonadotropin* ; Down Syndrome ; Female ; Humans ; Humans* ; Hypertension* ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced ; Mass Screening ; Medical Records ; Neural Tube Defects ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Cholera enterotoxin (CT) is a major virulence determinant of Vibrio cholerae 01. CI' is known to be the major virulence factor of Vibrio cholerae 01 and in accordance with the recent report showing which V. cholerae non-01 has ctx gene, we performed the molecular genetic study for the detection of ctx gene related to the production of CT at the subject Vibrio spp. except for V. cholerae non-01 and V. cholerae non-01 stock cultured in the laboratory of microbiology, College of Medicine, Pusan National University and the Vibrio spp. isolated from the marine products of Pusan General Fish Market and the sea water, and then its results are as follows: 1. PCR for the detection of ctx gene at the subject of V. cholerae 01:61H-151 having the ctx gene of which the denaturation is 1 rninute at 95'C, annealing to 1min, 30 sec at 60'C, the extension to be 1min. 30 sec at 72'C and 30 or 40 cycles. ctx gene was detected from 4 strains of V. cholera non-01 derived from the environment isolates. 2. Adjusting the quantity of chromosomal DNA used as template DNA to be from 0.1 pg to 1 ng, in order to know the PCR conditions for the effective search of ctx gene, and the detection limit of the system was 10 pg of chromosomal DNA. 3. The broth culture was used for template DNA, ctx gene of 302 bp was detected from 4 V. cholerae non-01, as in the case of chromosomal DNA, and the cell number was possible to be detected to 3 * 10.4. We attempted the confirmation of ctx gene through Southern blot hybridization, labeling with P and then it was confirmed only from 4 V. cholerae non-01 as like PCR results. 5. As the result of the sensitivity of PCR and Southern blot hybridization, it was shown to be possible which 10 pg was detected in case of chromosomal DNA and in case of cultured broth, the cell number was detected until 10 at PCR and Southern blot hybridization, and thus it was examed which its sensitivity was same.
Blotting, Southern ; Busan ; Cell Count ; Cholera Toxin* ; Cholera* ; DNA* ; Enterotoxins ; Limit of Detection ; Molecular Biology ; Operon* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Seawater ; Vibrio cholerae* ; Vibrio* ; Virulence

Trichost.asis Spinulosa consists of several fasciles of reta ned vellus hairs in the hyperkeratotic sebaceous follicles, resulting in a dark slightly raied horny follicular spines, resembling comedones on the trunk and face. The condition is relatively common, particulary among the age, but is usually overlooked on routine skin examination as the patient is rarely aware of it.. We report 6 cases of trichostasis spinulosa, which showed numerous asymptomatic tiny black comedo-like dots on their backs. We obtained the follicular material by tweezer, which consised of several vellus hairs surrounded by a keratinous plug. Histologic examination was done in 3 patients, one of whom showed a rarely reproted double follicle and double papilla. With scanning electron microscopy, we observed multiple vellu hairs embedded in a keratotic plug, emerging from a hair follicle opening.
Hair ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Skin ; Spine

No abstract available.
Cholecystectomy*

Total hip replacement arthroplasty has become an established procedure in the management of painful arthritic hip in past two decades. However there is no many reports that concern follow-up study in total hip replacement arthropiasty. This is a follow-up study in 100 total hip replacement arthroplastics in 86 patients of 157 total hip replacement arthroplasties in 135 patients, performed at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, between November 1973 and December 1979. The longest fallow-up was 5 years and the shortest 6 months, the average being 2 years and 6 months. 1. There were 54 males (63%) and 32 females (37%). 2. The underlying diseases of 100 hips were avascular necrosis of 35 hips, septic hip residua of 31 hips, primary osteoarthritis of 9 hips, old hip fracture of 9 hips, Legg-Perthes disease of 7 hips, rheumatoid arthritis of 5 hips, congenital dislocation of 3 hips, and failed endoprosthesis of 1 hip. 3. The types of prosthesis used were Muller ones in 82 hips, T-28 in 17 hips, and Charniey and Harris type one case respectively. 4. In the half cases of a hundred total hip replacement arthroplasties, the anterolateral or posterolateral approach was used without trochanteric osteotomy. 5. Postoperative complications were as follows: 13 cases of wound problem including 3 early deep infections, 2 dislocations, 1 femoral nerve palsy, 3 peroneal nerve palsies, 1 acetabular perforation, 2 femoral shaft perforations, 14 trochanteric problems including 11 cases of wire breakage, 2 nonunions, and 3 cases of trochanteric bursitis 3 ectopic ossifications, 3 cases of radiological loosening including 2 femoral and 1 acetabular. 6. The range of motion were improved from 28 to 5 of flexion contracture, from 91 to 101 of further . flexion, and from 16 to 48 of abduction in the average. 7. The improved ranges of motion were varied with disease group rather than type of prosthesis and the length of neck of prosthesis. 8. The function of each hip was evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively by the method of Harris and d'Aubigne, and improved from 55.3 and to 88.2 by Harris score and from 11.2 to 15.8 d Aubigne respectively.
Acetabulum ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Arthroplasty ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Bursitis ; Contracture ; Dislocations ; Female ; Femoral Nerve ; Femur ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip ; Humans ; Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease ; Male ; Methods ; Neck ; Necrosis ; Orthopedics ; Osteoarthritis ; Osteotomy ; Paralysis ; Peroneal Nerve ; Postoperative Complications ; Prostheses and Implants ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Seoul ; Wounds and Injuries

No abstract available.

The basic technique for total reconstruction of the microtia was established by Tanzer, who utilized autologous rib cartilages for constructing the auricular framework. In order to decrease the number of surgical stages and to achieve maximal convolution, we employed a surgical procedure with simultaneous three layered costal cartilage grafting for the high profiled auricle, concha formation and lobule rotation. However, we performed ear elevation as an additional procedure for some patients who had decreased helical height due to absorption of cartilage framework or postoperative trauma and who had wanted to wear the spectacles or to have more natural appearance of auriculocephalic sulcus. From August 1988 to October 1997 we had performed surgeries for the ear elevation of 58 patients in 177 patients with total ear reconstruction, using various elevation methods; skin graft, local flap, and local with costal cartilage block. When the ear elevation was performed with skin graft, postoperative contraction of the grafted skin was inevitable. In cases with two skin flaps, it was difficult to stabilize and maintain the correct projection of the constructed ear. So we elevated the reconstructed ear by utilizing a costal cartilage block, two skin flaps to cover the posterior region and skin graft. We conclude that the local flap with costal cartilage block is one of the most favorable methods in ear elevation which can maintain the adequate projection and make natural looking auriculocephalic sulcus.
Absorption ; Cartilage ; Ear* ; Eyeglasses ; Humans ; Ribs ; Skin ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Scalp* ; Skin* ; Transplants*

No abstract available.
Cervix Uteri* ; Female ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging*