Drip infusion pyelography by Schencker technique was carried out on total of 20 cases, 7 normal and 13 abnormal. Of 13 abnormal cases, definite diagnosis could be obtained in 1 cases in which conventional urography had not been helpful in establishment of diagnosis, and significant information could be obtained in 6 cases. This is the first report on drip infusion pyelography in this country and no complication was observed during the examination. Drip infusion pyelography was found valuable in cases with the following problems; 1) When valuable information can not be obtained through the conventional urography. 2) When renal function is poor. 3) When delineation of anatomical details is desirable. 4) When retrograde pyelography is contraindicated. Drip infusion pyelography is a safe, new and widely accepted diagnostic procedure in urographic study.
Diagnosis ; Infusions, Intravenous* ; Urography*

To evaluate the antioxidative effect of maengjong-juk (Phyllostachys pubescens) extract coated rice in vivo system, maengjong-juk extract coated rice diets were fed to C57BL/6 mice for 16 weeks. Plasma total antioxidative capacity, hepatic lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, activities of antioxidative enzymes and total glutathione content were measured. Plasma total antioxidative capacity was elevated significantly in maengjong-juk extract diets supplemented group in a dose dependant manner. Hepatic TBARS contents were significantly decreased in maengjong-juk extract diets supplemented group compared to high cholesterol group. Maengjong-juk extract coated rice diets suppressed the protein oxidation significantly in liver. Activities of hepatic antioxidative enzymes such as total SOD, Cu,Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD, GSH-Px and catalase activities of maengjong-juk extract coated rice diets were significantly higher than those of high cholesterol diet. Total hepatic glutathione content was significantly increased by maengjong-juk extract coated rice diets administration. According to this study, numerous antioxidative materials and phytochemicals containing in maengjong- juk extracts appear to protect antioxidative systems in C57BL/6 mice fed bamboo extract coated rice diet.
Animals ; Catalase ; Cholesterol ; Diet* ; Diet, Atherogenic* ; Glutathione ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Liver ; Mice* ; Phytochemicals ; Plasma ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of laparoscopic myomectomy compared to open myomectomy METHODS: A retrospective study of 85 cases of myomectomy was performed. Twenty six cases of open myomectomy (group I) and 59 cases of laparoscopic myomectomy (group II) were done by one main surgeon from 1996 to 2002 in the department of OBGYN at Moonhwa Hospital. Group II was divided into two subgroups, group IIA and group IIB. Group IIA included 17 cases of laparoscopic myomectomy done from 1996 to 1998 during learning period. Group IIB included 42 cases of laparoscopic myomectomy performed from 1999 to 2002 after learning period. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, parity, the number of myoma, and the size of myoma between groups I and II. The intensity of postoperative pain and febrile morbidity were significantly lower in group II than in group I (P<0.05). Mean operation time was significantly shorter in group I than in group II. However, after completing the learning curve, no significant difference was found in the operation time between group I and group IIB. Blood loss was significantly decreased in group II compared to group I (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The learning curve for lasparoscopic myomectomy needed 17 cases and laparoscopic myomectomy could be an excellent minimally invasive method as an alternative of open myomectomy after learning curve.
Female ; Learning Curve* ; Learning* ; Myoma ; Pain, Postoperative ; Parity ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To evaluate potential correlation between the extent and site of avascular necrosis (AVN), as determined by preoperative magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and the development of femoral head collapse. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using clinical, radiographic and MR imaging criteria, twenty hips in 15 patients were selected for core decompression. Preoperative MR results were classified into three categories: group A, less than 15% involvement of the weight-bearing portion of the femoral head; group B, 15%-30% involvement; group C, more than 30% involvement, according to ARCO staging. We also established three groups according to site of involvement of the femoral head, namely medial, middle and lateral. RESULTS: Of 20 cases, three were stage Ia; two, Ib; four, Ic; three, IIa; two, IIb; and 6, IIc. Ten cases of Ia, Ib, IIa or IIb showed no femoral head collapse during follow-up of at least 24 months, while ten cases of Ic or IIc showed femoral head collapse. CONCLUSION: The prognosis of core decompression in patients with early AVN is related to the area of lesion in the femoral head.
Decompression* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head* ; Hip ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Necrosis* ; Prognosis ; Weight-Bearing

The throat swabs obtained from 1,098 adults and 432 children patients with respiratory diseases were examined for Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection detected by culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Antimicrobial susceptibilities of the resulting 60 M. pneumoniae isolates were evaluated by testing minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of erythromycin, minocycline, tetracycline, josamycin, sparfloxacin, ofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin by a broth micro-dilution method. In a preliminary screening, the detection rate of M. pneumoniae by PCR was 29.2% (277/948) for the adults and 28.3% (90/318) for the children. In the second survey, the isolation rate of M. pneumoniae by culture was 29.3% (44/150) for the adults, and 14.0% (16/114) for the children. The PCR detection rate was 36.7% (55/150) for the adults and 23.7% (27/114) for the children. The MIC90s of the M. pneumoniae isolates were 0.015 mg/ml for erythromycin, lower than 0.03 mg/ml for josamycin, 0.06 mg/ml for sparfloxacin and minocycline, 0.12 mg/ml for tetracycline, 0.5 mg/ml for ofloxacin and CFC-222, and 1.0 mg/ml for ciprofloxacin. The isolates were susceptible to erythromycin, josamycin, sparfloxacin, minocycline, tetracycline, and ofloxacin, but the 63.3% of them was resistant to ciprofloxacin. These results indicate that the PCR method has a significant potential as a rapid and sensitive method for early detection of M. pneumoniae infection in clinical specimens as compared with the culture method, but the PCR method could not provide any information concerning the biological chracteristics of M. pneumoniae strains. Erythromycin, josamycin, sparfloxacin, minocycline, and tetracycline could be recommended as the antimicrobial agents of choice in Korea.
Adult ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Child ; Ciprofloxacin ; Erythromycin ; Humans ; Josamycin ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Minocycline ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae* ; Mycoplasma* ; Ofloxacin ; Pharynx ; Pneumonia* ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tetracycline