Tuberculosis of the vertebral column is a slowly developing disease, characterized by pain, spinal deformity, and occasionally paralysis. The following varieties of vertebral tuberculosis are commonly recognized, such as a central variety, metaphysial tuberculosis (inter-vertebral articular type), an anterior or periosteal variety, appendiceal tuberculosis, and a true tuberculous arthritis. Among these appendiceal tuberculosis is rare. This form of Potts disease may be unilateral or bilateral and may be isolated or present at multiple levels. Disk space changes and deformity are minor features, but large paravertebral abscesses are invariable. Extradural extension may lead to the development of paraplegia. Two cases of destructive lesions at the neural arch of 10th. and 11th. thoracic vertebra were revealed to be appendiceal tuberculosis. All cases treated with antituberculous medication, radical curettage and body jaket casts and made recoveries. Patients had no complaints and no evidence of recurrence. A brief summary of the literature is submitted.
Abscess ; Arthritis ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Curettage ; Humans ; Paralysis ; Paraplegia ; Recurrence ; Spine ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Spinal

The treatment of extensive soft tissue injury of the lower extremities is known to be one difficulty in the field of orthopedic surgery. At present, reconstructive surgery with large cutaneous flaps is being employed, and the authors present 2 cases of a combination of flaps for extensive soft tissue injury of the lower extremity at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery of Severance Hospital during a 5 months period from June, 1983 to November, 1983. The results of the study are as follows: 1. A one-stage reconstruction of extensive soft tissue injury was done with a combination of a scapular and a latissimus dorsi flap. 2. There was no limitation of motion of the shoulder in spite of the excision of the scapular and the latissimus dorsi flaps around the axillary area. 3. The primary closure of the donor flap sites was feasible. 4. The reconstructive surgery of the extensive soft tissue injury using the above combination of the scapular and latissimus dorsi flaps can be used without restriction as to the age of the patient.
Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Orthopedics ; Shoulder ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; Superficial Back Muscles ; Tissue Donors

OBJECTIVE: To understand the difference of defecation physiology between postpartum and postoperative women. METHODS: Between July 1998 to April 1999, we performed defecogram and pudendal nerve motor latency to 31 women, who were 8 postoperative women, 9 post cesarean-section state women, and 14 normal vaginal delivery-state women. RESULTS: According to the defecogram results, only squeezing angles of the anorectal angle were significantly increased(96.0 vs 72.3, 74.9 degree) in normal vaginal delivery-state women compared to post cesarean-section state and postoperative women, but rest and evacuation angles were not. And to pudendal nerve latency, there were no statistically significant difference. CONCLUSION: We concluded that the pudendal plexus was damaged during labor, therefore its ability to control puborectalis muscle was damaged. So, the anorectal angles of squeezing of postpartum women were significantly increased, compared to those of post cesarean section women or postoperative women.
Cesarean Section ; Defecation* ; Female ; Humans ; Physiology* ; Postpartum Period* ; Pregnancy ; Pudendal Nerve*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the necessity for repair of associated deltoid ligament rupture in lateral malleolar fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty of twenty-five patients were evaluated. Each received surgical treatment without repair of the ruptured deltoid ligament. We found that the medial clear space was widened more than 5 mm in intraoperative stress tests which had been done between May 2003 and June 2008. We did follow-up on these patients for more than 1 year after surgery. At the final follow-up, radiologic and clinical assessment were evaluated on plain X-ray and according to Olerud Molander ankle scores. RESULTS: Open reduction and internal fixation of the lateral malleolar was done in all cases and an additional transfixation screw was needed in 17 patients who had concurrent syndesmotic disruption. Average medial clear space widening before surgery was 9.28 mm (7.0-17.14 mm), at final follow-up time it was 3.43 mm (2.9-5.28 mm). And there were 8 (40%) good, 10 (50%) fair and 2 (10%) poor ratings on radiologic evaluation, but the mean clinical score was 93.75, with 17 (85%) being excellent, 2 (10%) good and 1 (5%) fair on clinical evaluation. CONCLUSION: In the treatment of lateral malleolus fracture associated with disruption of the deltoid ligament, satisfactory clinical results could be obtained including lateral joint stability, with accurate anatomical reduction and internal fixation of the lateral malleolus and distal tibio-fibular joints. Medial joint stability could be obtained without deltoid ligament repair.
Animals ; Ankle ; Exercise Test ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joints ; Ligaments ; Rupture

PURPOSE: The evaluation of clinical skills and attitudes is an essential component of any examination assessing clinical competency. Objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) was introduced in the 1980's to medical educators for the objective evaluation of clinical competency. In this study, the authors describe and analyse their experience with developing and implementing the OSCE for the board licensure examination of plastic surgeons in Korea. METHODS: We developed a 50-minute long OSCE consisting of ten 5-minute (4.5 minute for examination at each station and 0.5 minute for transfer) stations, duplicated. We divided 74 applicants into 8 groups (about 10 applicants per group). Four stations out of the ten in each station-set used a standardized patient (SP). We compared the scores of the duplicated station-sets to assess the reliability of scoring between station-sets. And we analysed the applicants' questionnaire survey feedbacks on this experience administered at the end of the examination. RESULTS: The passing rate of the examination was 100%. The total scores were statistically different between the two station-sets. Applicants were satisfied with the examination, and felt that the problem-solving processes adopted in each station were valid and appropriate for the assessment of clinical competency for board licensure examination. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the OSCE can be widely applied to board licensure examinations of various specialties.
Clinical Competence ; Humans ; Korea ; Licensure* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The number of physically disabled in Korea and their biodemographic characteristics are estimated through a national sample survey of about 100,000 population or 22,134 households. The results showed that 7.98 persons per 1,000 population were found to be physically disabled including inconvenience to body or limb, as well as being mute, deaf or blind. Males had a higher prevalence ratio of disability compared to females, particularly in rural areas, among the less educated, divorced or widowed males.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Disabled Persons*/classification ; Female ; Human ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Age ; Rural Population ; Sex Factors ; Socioeconomic Factors

PURPOSE: Hypopharyngeal cancer is diagnosed at the advanced stage in most cases, which the prognosis known to be poor. Thus, the efficacy of induction chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy, with regards to the response and survival rate for stage IV hypopharyngeal cancer patients, was examined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 1998 to February 2000, 18 cases were diagnosedas AJCC stage IV hypopharyngeal cancer without distant metastasis. These patients were treated with induction chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy, and the results retrospectively analyzed. The regimen of the induction chemotherapy was the 5-FU and cisplatincombination, at 3-week intervals for, 2 cycles. The total radiation dose for the primary lesion and metastatic lymph nodes was 68.4~72.0 Gy (median: 70.2 Gy). RESULTS: The median follow up period was 28 months, ranging from 7 to 99 months. The 3-year overall survival and disease-free survival rate were 41.7 and 31.1%, respectively. In 6 cases (33.3%), conservation of the larynx for over 3 years was possible. After the induction chemotherapy there were 16 partial responses (88.8%), 1 complete response and 1 with no response (5.6% each), therefore, 17 of the 18 cases (94.6%) showed responses. After the completion of the induction chemotherapy and radiotherapy, a complete response was noted in 13 cases (72.2%), a partial response in 5 (27.8%), with an overall response rate of 100%. In the analysis of the prognostic factors influencing the survival rate, the 3-year and disease-free survival rates for the complete and partial response groups were 43.1, and 20.0%, and 39.6, and 20.0%, respectively (p=0.0003, p=0.002). Only the final response after treatment completion was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: For stage IV hypopharyngeal cancer, induction chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy was an effective treatment, with no severe side effects.
Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy ; Fluorouracil ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms* ; Induction Chemotherapy* ; Larynx ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVES: Leptin is a 16-kD protein encoded by the ob/ob gene and represent the amount of body fat. In pregnancy, it is thought to act in intrauterine fetal growth and energy metabolism. In this study, we investigated the effect of gestational age, fetal sex, maternal body mass index (BMI), and fetal weight estimated by ultrasound on amniotic fluid and maternal serum leptin levels at mid-trimester, respectively. METHODS: Amniotic fluid and maternal blood sampling were collected from women who was performed for genetic amniocentesis at mid-trimester (n = 26). Leptin concentrations were measured by a specific radioimmunoassay (RIA) employing human recombinant leptin. Mean gestational age was 18.19+/-1.77 weeks. Mean maternal BMI was 23.83 +/-5.12kg/m2. Male fetus was 10, and female 16. Mean fetal weight estimated by ultrasound was 254.42+/-83.80gm. RESULTS: Mean maternal leptin level( 12.49+/-4.46 ng/mL) was significantly higher than mean amniotic leptin level(5.06+/-3.20 ng/mL)( p = 0.0001) at mid-trimester. But there was no significant correlationship between maternal and amniotic leptin levels( p = 0.1376). Maternal leptin concentrations at mid-trimester were correlated positively with maternal BMI(y = 2.24 + 0.43 x, R2 = 0.494, p = 0.0103). In contrast, leptin levels in amniotic fluid did not correlate with maternal leptin levels, gestational age, fetal sex, maternal BMI, and fetal weight estimated by ultrasound respectively. CONCLUSION: Maternal leptin level was higher than amniotic leptin level and could represent maternal fat mass. It was suggested that amniotic leptin level was not associated with several factors such as maternal, fetal, and amniotic factors.
Adipose Tissue ; Amniocentesis ; Amniotic Fluid* ; Body Mass Index ; Energy Metabolism ; Female ; Fetal Development ; Fetal Weight* ; Fetus ; Gestational Age* ; Humans ; Leptin* ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Radioimmunoassay ; Ultrasonography*

Background/Aims: Bacteria-derived outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are commonly associated with various biological activities and functions. Helicobacter pylori-derived OMVs are thought to contribute to pathogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the effects of H. pylori-derived OMVs. Methods: H. pylori strains were isolated from patients with gastritis, gastric ulcer, or gastric cancer using endoscopic biopsy. The U-937, AGS, and MKN-45 cell lines were exposed to H. pylori and H. pylori-derived OMVs. The expression of interleukin 8 (IL-8) messenger RNA (mRNA) was assessed using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and real-time RT-PCR, and IL-8 secretion was analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation was evaluated by Western blotting. Results: H. pylori and H. pylori-derived OMVs induced the expression of IL-8 mRNA and protein. Importantly, the bacteria induced higher IL-8 mRNA and protein expression than the OMVs. IL-8 expression was induced to different levels in response to H. pylori-derived OMVs from hosts with different gastric diseases. Western blotting revealed the increased phosphorylation and reduced degradation of inhibitor of NF-κB alpha in cells exposed to OMVs. Conclusions H. pylori-derived OMVs may aid the development of various gastric diseases by inducing IL-8 production and NF-κB activation.

Background/Aims: Bacteria-derived outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are commonly associated with various biological activities and functions. Helicobacter pylori-derived OMVs are thought to contribute to pathogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the effects of H. pylori-derived OMVs. Methods: H. pylori strains were isolated from patients with gastritis, gastric ulcer, or gastric cancer using endoscopic biopsy. The U-937, AGS, and MKN-45 cell lines were exposed to H. pylori and H. pylori-derived OMVs. The expression of interleukin 8 (IL-8) messenger RNA (mRNA) was assessed using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and real-time RT-PCR, and IL-8 secretion was analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation was evaluated by Western blotting. Results: H. pylori and H. pylori-derived OMVs induced the expression of IL-8 mRNA and protein. Importantly, the bacteria induced higher IL-8 mRNA and protein expression than the OMVs. IL-8 expression was induced to different levels in response to H. pylori-derived OMVs from hosts with different gastric diseases. Western blotting revealed the increased phosphorylation and reduced degradation of inhibitor of NF-κB alpha in cells exposed to OMVs. Conclusions H. pylori-derived OMVs may aid the development of various gastric diseases by inducing IL-8 production and NF-κB activation.