No abstract available.
Cephalosporins*

This study was conducted to determine the level of inflammatory cytokines in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with meningitis. All the CSF of the patients were examined by Gram and acid-fast stain, culture, and PCR for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycoplasrma spp..The levels of sugar, protein and leukocytes count were also evaluated in the CSFs. Concentrations of Interleukin (IL)-1B, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a in the CSF were evaluated by the ELISA kit (Genzyme, USA). General bacteria, tubercle bacilli, and Mycoplasma spp. were not detected with stain and culture methods, but, Mycoplasma spp. was detected by PCR method from four (6.3%) patients with meningitis. The mean CSF concentration of IL-1B, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-cx in the control group were 0.6+/-0.2, 896.8+/-107.6, 50.1+/-5.1, and 4.8+/-1.4 pg/ml, respectively. The mean CSF concentration of IL-1B, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-a in the patients with aseptic meningitis were 3.8+/-0.6, 1261.6+/-144.3, 466.7+/-42.3, and 10.8+/-2.0 pg/ml, respectively. The mean CSF concentration of IL-1B, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-a in the patients with mycoplasmal meningitis were 10.2+/-8.1, 1979.5+/-133.8, 459.7+/-96.4, and 17.5+/-5.1 pg/ml, respectively. There were significantly differences in the levels of IL-1B, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-a between control and patients with aseptic meningitis or Mycoplasmal meningitis (each p<0.001). These results suggest that increased levels of IL-1B, IL-8, and TNF-a could be higly suggestive of meningitis.
Bacteria ; Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Cytokines ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Interleukin-6* ; Interleukin-8* ; Interleukins ; Leukocytes ; Meningitis* ; Meningitis, Aseptic ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Mycoplasma ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

No abstract available.
Humans ; Tuberous Sclerosis*

In view of the potential of replicase protein as a diagnostic reagent for human caliciviruses (HuCVs), we have cloned and over-expressed this gene from the Snow Mountain-like Korean strains in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein with glutathione S-transferase (GST, and described the preliminary antigenic characterization of the recombinant products. Each 470bp fragment corresponding to highly conserved region of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase was generated by RT-PCR from stools of two diarrheal children, cloned in pMOSBlue T-vector, and subcloned between the EcoRI and SalI restriction sites of pGEX-47-3, a GST gene fusion vector, yielding pGCVpol. This construct expressed a Snow Mountain-like HuCV replicate under the control of the IPTG-inducible pac promoter. An extract prepared by sonication of the E. coli cell inclusion bodies bearing pGCVpol products was purified and analyzed by SDS-PAGE. After Coomassie blue staining, it was shown that the recombinant replicase migrated on the gels with an approximate molecular mass of 46.5 kDa, that was subsequently cleaved into a 26 kDa GST fragment and a 20.5 kDa replicase protein upon digestion with thrombin protease. The replicase was recognized on immunoblotting with the sera from symptomatic children with the HuCV-associated diarrhea but not by asymptomatic sera from adults. The results presented the first biological activity of individually expressed HuCV replicase subunit and provided important reagents for diagnosis of HuCV infection.
Adult ; Child ; Clone Cells ; Diagnosis ; Diarrhea ; Digestion ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Escherichia coli ; Gels ; Gene Fusion ; Glutathione Transferase ; Humans ; Immunoblotting ; Inclusion Bodies ; Indicators and Reagents ; RNA Replicase ; Snow* ; Sonication ; Staphylococcal Protein A ; Thrombin

Microsurgical reconstruction is necessary for children to correct severe trauma and congenital or acuqired deformity. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether or not microsurgical reconstruction is a safe and reliable operation in children and to analyze the differences of microsurgical reconstruction in children compared to adults. The study included 12 children who underwent 13 microsurgical reconstructions among a total of 251 cases of microsurgical reconstruction from May, 1986 to August, 1998. Their ages ranged from 24 months to 14 years and 8 months. There were 7 males and 6 females. The involved sites were 9 legs, 3 hands and 1 face. The causes of microsurgical reconstruction were 9 traumas, 2 congenital anomalies, 1 acquired deformity and 1 cancer. The applied flaps were 4 scapular flaps, 2 rectus abdominis muscle flaps, 1 de-epithelized groin flap, 1 lateral arm flap, 1 forearm tendocutaneous flap, 1 forearm tendocutaneous flap, 1 latissimus dorsi muscle flap, 1 fibula flap, 1 second toe transfer, and 1 wrap-around flap. All patients have had normal growth of the donor and recipient sites without specific complications during an average 2 years follow-up. We concluded that microvascular reconstruction is a very useful and reliable procedure in children if it is performed in consideration of each child's specific characteristics and conditions.
Adult ; Arm ; Child ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Female ; Fibula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Forearm ; Groin ; Hand ; Humans ; Leg ; Male ; Rectus Abdominis ; Superficial Back Muscles ; Tissue Donors ; Toes

No abstract available.
Expressed Emotion* ; Humans

The Waltons method-a method of dynamic reconstruction of old ligament injuries of the knee and a combination procedure of O'Donoghue, Bosworth, and Slocum-was introduced with one case experience. This method seemed to be better than other reconstructive procedures, especially in the aspect of rotatory and valgus instability of the knee.
Knee ; Ligaments ; Methods

PURPOSE: To describe MR findings of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 11 MR images of six patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. The MR images were retrospectively analyzed in terms of location and signal intensity of the thrombi, parenchymal lesions such as hemorrhage and edema, and changes in follow-up study obtained in 4 patients. RESULTS: The thrombus in venous sinus was visualized on MRI in all six patients. The most frequently involved sites were superior sagittal sinus(n=4) and left transvere sinus(n=4). Signal intensity of the thrombus was isointense or hyperintense on both T1 - and T2-weighted images with loss of normal signal void of the sinus on all sequences in all patients. Parenchymal lesion was present in five of six cases, manifested as local hemorrhage in three and edema in three cases(one case overlapped). Local edema seen in three patients was completely resolved on follow-up study of seven to 29 days intervals. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that iso- or high signal intensity with loss of signal void in venous sinus is virtually diagnostic of venous sinus thromosis. If there are local parenchymal lesions such as hemorrhage and/or edema of unknown causes, cerebral venous sinus thrombosis should be included in differential diagnosis.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Edema ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial* ; Thrombosis

The purpose of this study was to detect the relationship between the diopters and corneal curvature. The objects were 752 eyes of 376 people (male 116, female 260) who visited to the department of Ophthalmology, Kyung Hee university hospital during 15 months from Aug. 1, 1985. to Nov. 10, 1986. The range of their refractory power was from 0.00 to -9.00 diopter by retinoscopy. The following results were obtained; 1. The consistent difference in the mean values of horizontal curvaturs and those of vertical curvatures by each diopter were proved to be significant(p<0.005). 2. The difference in the horizontal curvatures between each diopters of the -1.25 ~ -2.00 diopter were stastically significant(p<0.005). 3. The differences in the vertical curvatures in the constant refractive index were not stastically significant. 4. Dividing the each diopter by 3 groups and examining the difference of significancies by each other, the differences in the horizontal curvature and vertical curvatures were statically significant(p<0.005).
Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Ophthalmology ; Refractive Errors* ; Refractometry ; Retinoscopy

PURPOSE: Authors analyzed the MR findings of swollen extremities to evaluate the MR features of lymphedema and phlebedema. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed MR imagings of 17 cases of swollen extremities, including 12 lymphedemas and 5 phlebedemas. We obtained axial TI-, T2-, and Gd-DTPA enhanced T1WIs using 1.0T superconducting magnet and measured cross-sectional areas of subcutaneous and subfascial tissues of a slice with grossly largest cross-sectional area using perimeter. We also analyzed changes in the signal intensities of the subcutaneous and subfascial tissues on T2WI, presence of enhancement on Gd-DTPA enhanced T1WI, and presence of skin thickening. RESULTS: Both subcutaneous and subfascial tissues of swollen extremities were increased in the cross-sectional areas than those of contralateral normal side. The subcutaneous compartment in lymphedema was statistically significantly increased in cross-sectional area than subfascial compartment in lymphedema(p<0.005) and subcutaneous tissue in phlebedema(p<0.05). Increased signal intensities and characteristic "honeycomb appearance" of subcutaneous tissue in the lymphedema were specific findings on T2WI. CONCLUSION: MR imaging was useful and noninvasive method in the diagnosis of swollen extremities. There were increased cross-sectional area of subcutaneous compartment with "honeycomb appearance" in lymphedema and increased signal intensities of both subcutaneous and subfascial compartment in phlebedema on the T2WI.
Diagnosis ; Extremities* ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Lymphedema* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Tissue