We have experienced an unusual case of mesenteric lymphangiomatosis in a 6-month-old male infant. Computedtomography (CT) disclosed fatty abdominal masses with attenuation coefficient being
Chyle ; Humans ; Infant ; Laparotomy ; Lymphangioma ; Male ; Mesentery

A Brodie's abscess is a localized form of subacute or chronic osteomyelitis that occurs most often in the long bones of the lower extremities of young adults. Before physeal closure, it most commonly occurs in the metaphysis. In adults, the metaphyseal-epiphyseal area is involved. Rarely Brodie's abscess traverses the open growth plate, affecting the epiphysis, although such extension does not commonly result in growth disturbance. We reported a subacute osteomyelitis that traversed the physis of the distal tibia in a child, which was treated by surgical curettage and intravenous antibiotics.
Abscess ; Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Child* ; Curettage ; Epiphyses ; Growth Plate ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Osteomyelitis* ; Tibia* ; Young Adult

The clinico-pathological observation was done on 28 children with recurrent hematuria, who had been admitted to the Pediatric ward of NMC from January 1981 to July 1991. The results were as follows; 1) Most of the children with recurrent hematuria were over 6 years of age(24 cases, 85.7%)and the sex ratio was about 2.5:1. 2) IgA nephropathy (17 cases, 60.7%) was the leading pathologic lesion and mild focal nonspecific glomerulonephritis (5 cases), membranous nephropathy (2 cases), minimal chage (2 cases), Alport syndrome (1case), abnormal glomerular basement membrane (1 case) followed. 3) Types of recurrent hematuria ware gross in 22 cases and microscopic in 6 cases. Flank pain was noted only 1 case. The prodromal events of hematuria were upper respiratory infection in 15 cases and severe exercise in 2 cases. 4) There were no significant differences in clinical features and laboratory findings between IgA nephropathy and other pathologic lesions, except for higher frequency of proteinuria in former group. 5) During the follow-up periods, three cases were resulted in chronic renal failure and they were two cases of IgA nephropathy Class IV and one case of Alport syndrome. And one case of IgA nephropathy was resulted in nephrotic syndrom.
Child ; Flank Pain ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glomerular Basement Membrane ; Glomerulonephritis ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous ; Hematuria* ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Nephritis, Hereditary ; Proteinuria ; Sex Ratio

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the extent of peroxynitrite generation in the pool of radicals/oxidants from intraocular inflammation using luminol-dependent chemiluminescence(LDCL)method. S-antigen induced uveitis was produced in Lewis rats. The rats were killed at the peak of inflammation, and the retinas and choroids were collected for the LDCL. Sodium bicarbonate was used to confirm the peroxynitrite signal. Superoxide dismutase(SOD), N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester(LNAME)and aminoguanidine(AG)were tried to evaluate the inhibitory effect of superoxide and nitric oxide. LDCL counts for 6 inflamed and 6 control retina/choroid preparations were 66, 429+/-413 cpm and 13, 941+/-105 cpm, respectively(p<0.01). In the presence of bicarbonate, emission was increased by 125.3+/-6.6%(n=6)and the signal was sustained for 2 hours. SOD, L-NAME and AG suppressed the LDCL by 39.8+/-6.1%(n=3), 20.4+/-4.4%(n=3) and 35.9+/-4.0 %(n=3), These observations suggest that peroxynitrite contributes considerably to the generation of the total pool of reactive species by the cellular infiltrate. The presence of a high level of peroxynitrite, a potent oxidizing and nitrating agent, in inflamed retina may cause irreversible tissue damage to the photoreceptors.
Animals ; Choroid ; Inflammation ; Luminescence* ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Nitric Oxide ; Peroxynitrous Acid ; Rats ; Retina ; Sodium Bicarbonate ; Superoxides ; Uveitis*

BACKGROUND: Despite the direct and indirect harmfulness of tobacco smoking, its consumption increases after joining the army, which is a national duty in Korea. Therefore, a study was done on soldiers, who visited a military hospital for a certain period of time in order to reduce the amount of smoking, by investigating the pattern of tobacco smoking after joining the army and the influence of anti-tobacco education on smoking. METHODS: Self-administered questionnaires were performed on 800 soldiers who visited an army hospital in Seoul, Korea, from March to May 2002. This questionnaire asked information concerning general characteristics of population, smoking status, smoking amount, anti-tobacco education and sociodemographic characteristics. Excluding 26 of them, who answered insincerely, the data collected from 774 soldiers were analyzed using SPSS/PC. RESULTS: The subjects were total 774 soldiers and the distribution of age in 20 to 22 year-olds accounted for 88%. Among the total 540 (69.7%) have answered that they smoke at present. Among them, 53.6% have stated that they had started smoking in the high school years, 12.2% while in college and 7.2% after joining the army. For the motive of smoking curiosity accounted for 52.7%. Interestingly, 39 (15%) out of 252 non-smokers before enlistment had started smoking after joining the army and 21 (4%) out of 522 smokers before enlistment had quit it. In comparison of smoking amount before and after enlistment, increment was shown in 52.1%, reduction in 12% and no change in 35.9%. The most common reason for the increase in smoking amount was stress in 82.1% and that for reduction was caring for health in 65%. Among the subjects 68.6% have answered that they have had anti-tobacco education after joining the army, and among them 59.3% received it during recruit training and 39.5% after the troop disposition. CONCLUSION: The smoking rate of soldiers who visited a military hospital was high as 69.7%. It was found out that the number of smokers and daily smoking amount increased after enlistment. Therefore, specific measures such as anti-tobacco education or stress management schemes are necessary to induce the reduction of smoking rate in the army.
Education ; Exploratory Behavior ; Hospitals, Military* ; Humans ; Korea ; Military Personnel* ; Seoul ; Smoke* ; Smoking* ; Young Adult ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of 2-D Cine PC (phase contrast) technique in visualizing the pattern and the site of abnormal CSF flow and to assess the effect of a third ventriculostomy in patients with hydrocephalus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of three normal controls and 13 patients with hydrocephalus, as shown on CT or MRI, and two patients who had undergone their third ventriculostomy. The technique was EKG-gated 2-D Cine PC MRI with velocity encoding 5cm/sec, TR 80msec, TE 12.3-15msec, and flip angle 15-60 degrees. Image quality was analyzed for variable sequences, and CSF flow was observed along the CSF flow pathway. We analyzed continuity and intensity of the CSF flow signal, and obstruction site and flow velocity degree were then defined. RESULTS: Systolic high and diastolic low signal intensity along the CSF flow-pathway, with normal asynchronicity and continuation, were clearly seen in normal controls. In three patients, there was obstruction at the ventricular level while others were either normal or showed a normal pattern with a weak signal. 'Normal' was defined as noncommunicating hydrocephalus and the latter as communicating hydrocephalus. In the two patients who had undergone ventriculostomy, a signal was in one case detected at the site of the third operation. CONCLUSION: A 2-D Cine PC CSF flow study enables us to see CSF flow signals noninvasively and to detect the site of obstruction of a CSF flow-pathway. It can therefore be useful for determining the application of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt and assessing the effect of a third ventriculostomy.
Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt ; Ventriculostomy

Birth brachial plexus palsy (BBPP) is usually caused by plexus traction during difficult delivery. Although the possibility of complete recovery is relatively high, 5% to 25% of BBPP cases result in prolonged and persistent disability. In particular, muscle imbalance and co-contraction around the shoulder and elbow cause abnormal motor performance, osseous deformities, and joint contracture. Physical and occupational therapies have most commonly been used, but these conventional therapeutic strategies have often been inadequate, in managing the residual muscle imbalance and muscle co-contraction. Therefore, we attempted to improve the functional movements, by using botulinum toxin type A, to reduce the abnormal co-contraction of the antagonist muscles.
Botulinum Toxins* ; Botulinum Toxins, Type A ; Brachial Plexus Neuropathies ; Brachial Plexus* ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Contracture ; Elbow ; Joints ; Muscles ; Occupational Therapy ; Paralysis* ; Parturition* ; Shoulder ; Traction

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether soft tissue surrounding the celiac axis, as seen on abdominal CT imaging after gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma, should be considered as the recurrence of carcinoma or postoperative change. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and forty-one abdominal CT examinations of 71 patients who had undergone subtotal or total gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma were included in our study. Conventional CT scans were obtained with 1 cm thickness and interval from the diaphragm to the kidneys after contrast enhancement. It was considered that carcinoma had not recurred if findings were negative on UGI series, endoscopy with biopsy and a normal level of carcinoembryonic antigen except for soft tissue surrounding the celiac axis on abdominal CT. We then divided subjects into a recurrence group (N = 20) and normal group (N = 51) and on initial follow-up CT (FU-CT), analyzed the incidence, margin, shape, extent, degree and pattern of attenuation of the soft tissue surrounding the celiac axis in both groups. Since the second FU-CT examination, we observed changes in the soft tissue surrounding the celiac axis. RESULTS: On initial follow-up CT, at mean 308 days after surgery, fifty-five percent(39/71) of total patients (70% (14/20) of the recurrence group and 49% (25/51) of the normal group) showed soft tissue surrounding the celiac axis. The margin was distinct in 12 (86%) of the recurrence group and indistinct in 21 (84%) of the normal group (P < 0.001). Twelve (86%) of the recurrence group showed a nodular or confluent nodular shape and 21 (84%) of the normal group showed a permeative shape (P < 0.001). Extent was unilateral in eight (57%) of the recurrence group and bilateral in 16 (64%) of the normal group. Attenuation was similar to that of the spleen and muscle in seven (50%) of the recurrence group and was similar to that of muscle in 18 (72%) of the normal group. The pattern of attenuation was homogeneous in 13 (93%) of the recurrence group and 21 (84%) of the normal group. There was no significant difference in extent, degree and pattern of attenuation between the two groups. Since the second FU-CT examination, soft tissue surrounding the celiac axis was seen to have changed. In one patient in the recurrence group it had a distinct margin, was nodular in shape, unilateral in extent and showed attenuation similar to that of the spleen. In one patient in the normal group, it had changed and had an indistinct margin, three patients showed a decrease in the amount of soft tissue and eight showed decreased attenuation. CONCLUSION: Follow-up abdominal CT is useful in the differentiation of cancer recurrence and postoperative change, and for observing changes in soft tissue surrounding the celiac axis.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra* ; Biopsy ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; Diaphragm ; Endoscopy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrectomy* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kidney ; Recurrence ; Spleen ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: Respiratory distress syndrome(RDS) is caused by a deficiency of pulmonary surfactant, which is a lipoprotein complex. Both low levels of surfactant protein A(SP-A) and SP-A alleles have been associated with RDS. However, the genes underlying susceptibility to RDS are insufficiently known. The candidate-gene approach was used to study the association between the SP-A gene locus and RDS in the genetically homogeneous Korean population. METHODS: A PCR-cRFLP-based methodology was used to detect SP-A genotype. Twenty four neonates with RDS were matched pairwise to those without RDS. RESULTS: The frequencies of specific genotypes such as 6A(2), 1A(0) were increased, but the frequency of specific 1A(2) genotype was increased in control group. 6A(2)/1A(0) were also increased in the RDS group. Infants who did not have RDS develop, despite prematurity and lack of steroid therapy, had a higher frequency of the 1A(2) allele than infants who had received steroid therapy and had RDS develop. However, infants who had received steroid therapy and had RDS develop had a higher frequency of the 1A(0) allele than infants who did not have RDS develop, despite prematurity and lack of steroid therapy. CONCLUSION: SP-A alleles/haplotypes are susceptible(6A(2), 1A(0), 6A(2)/1A(0)) or protective(1A(2)) factors for RDS. We conclude that the SP-A gene locus is an important determinant for predisposition to RDS in neonates
Alleles ; Genotype ; Humans* ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn* ; Lipoproteins ; Pulmonary Surfactants ; Steroids

Most vascular disorders tend to affect both the brain and heart, and among them, a clinical syndrome constituting cerebral aneurysm and aortic coarctation(AC) has been well recognized. Persistent hypertensive impact to the cerebral vasculature with developmental anomaly of the neural crest, precursor of ectomenchymal, would be closely associated with development of the cerebral aneurysm in AC. Gonadal steroid hormone, a guardian of the cardiovascular system, has been known for its protective effects on the vascular wall. Gonadal steroid hormone (androgen) insensitivity such as 46, XY female syndrome may increase the risk of hypertention and subsequent vascular anomalies. The authors report on a 46-year-old 46, XY female patient with AC who underwent surgical clipping of the ruptured cerebral aneurysm. Clinical implications and proposed pathogenetic mechanisms of aneurysm in this intersex syndrome are presented and discussed.
Aneurysm ; Aortic Coarctation* ; Brain ; Cardiovascular System ; Female* ; Gonads ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Middle Aged ; Neural Crest ; Surgical Instruments