OBJECTIVE: This study investigated changes of Biochemical Markers of Bone turnover in Pre-, Peri-and Postmenopausal Women METHOD: The levels of Urinary deoxypyridinoline(Dpd), serum total alkaline phosphatase(TALP), osteocalcin(OC), serum calcium(Ca++) and phosphorus(P) were determined. Bone mineral density(BMD) were also measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) RESULTS: There were negative correlation between Biochemical markers of bone turnover and BMD, Biochemical markers of bone turnover in osteoporosis group were significantly higher than normal groups. Biochemical marker of bone turnover except serum calcium increased after menopause and remains elevated in late postmenopausal and elderly women. An increased bone turnover rate to sustained serum calcium in constant level is related to a high rate of bone loss in postmenopausal women and to a decreased bone mass in elderly women. CONCLUSION: Bone turnover increased not only at the time of menopause but also in the elderly women. This subsequent abnormalities of bone resorption and formation in the elderly women suggest their potential role in osteoporosis.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Aged ; Biomarkers* ; Bone Resorption ; Calcium ; Female ; Humans ; Menopause ; Osteoporosis

We studied the usefulness of prostate specific antigen (PSA) as well as prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) as marker of prostatic cancer in twelve cases of advanced prostatic cancer including 4 or stage C and 8 of stage D, 50 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 50 cases of nonprostatic diseases as normal control. The positive rates of PSA were 100% for prostatic cancer, 20% for BPH and O% for nonprostatic diseases, and those of PAP were 75% for prostate cancer, 8% for BPH and 2% for nonprostatic diseases. These results indicated hat PSA is more sensitive than PAP but less specific than PAP in diagnosis of prostatic cancer. Serum PSP level was correlated with the weight of prostate in BPH patients. Serum PSA level determined during the follow-up after endocrine therapy for prostatic cancer reflected the clinical course of the patients. Because of its relatively low specificity, PSA alone may not be useful for early diagnosis of prostatic cancer. If in combination with other diagnostic modalities, it may be useful in early diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of prostatic cancer within restricted limits.
Acid Phosphatase ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Prostate* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen* ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Sensitivity and Specificity

The investigation of systolic time intervals and hemodynamics was performed in 42 patients with liver cirrhosis by noninvascive methods. The patients were divided into four groups according to the presence or absence of anemia and/or ascites: i.e. group I; cirrhosis without anemia and ascites, group II; cirrhosis with ascites only, group III; cirrhosis with anemia only, and group IV; cirrhosis with ascites and anemia. In the resting state of the patients, the systolic time intervals and hemodynamic data were measured by the high speed simultaneous recordings of electrocardiogram, phonocardiogram, carotid and femoral arterial pulse tracings, and compared with those obtained from 155 normal adult subjects. 1. The pulse were increased considerably in group IV, and diastolic blood pressure was elevated in group II with significance. 2. The stroke volume and cardiac output were increased significantly in group III. 3. The peripheral resistance was reduced particularly in group III, and the volume elasticit coefficient was decreased in group IV. 4. The QS1 interval was prolonged significantly in group II and IV, but QS1 interval corrected by multiple regression equation proposed by our laboratory (illustrated in the text) did not show significant difference compared with that of normal subjects. 5. The left ventricular ejection time(LVET) and total electromechanical systole(QS 2) appeared to be shortened in group II and IV, but the corrected LVET and QS 2 were not different significantly from those of the normal subjects
Adult ; Anemia ; Ascites ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiac Output ; Electrocardiography ; Fibrosis ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver* ; Stroke Volume ; Systole ; Vascular Resistance

The investigation of systolic time intervals and hemodynamics was performed in 42 patients with liver cirrhosis by noninvascive methods. The patients were divided into four groups according to the presence or absence of anemia and/or ascites: i.e. group I; cirrhosis without anemia and ascites, group II; cirrhosis with ascites only, group III; cirrhosis with anemia only, and group IV; cirrhosis with ascites and anemia. In the resting state of the patients, the systolic time intervals and hemodynamic data were measured by the high speed simultaneous recordings of electrocardiogram, phonocardiogram, carotid and femoral arterial pulse tracings, and compared with those obtained from 155 normal adult subjects. 1. The pulse were increased considerably in group IV, and diastolic blood pressure was elevated in group II with significance. 2. The stroke volume and cardiac output were increased significantly in group III. 3. The peripheral resistance was reduced particularly in group III, and the volume elasticit coefficient was decreased in group IV. 4. The QS1 interval was prolonged significantly in group II and IV, but QS1 interval corrected by multiple regression equation proposed by our laboratory (illustrated in the text) did not show significant difference compared with that of normal subjects. 5. The left ventricular ejection time(LVET) and total electromechanical systole(QS 2) appeared to be shortened in group II and IV, but the corrected LVET and QS 2 were not different significantly from those of the normal subjects
Adult ; Anemia ; Ascites ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiac Output ; Electrocardiography ; Fibrosis ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver* ; Stroke Volume ; Systole ; Vascular Resistance

Kimura's disease is a rare benign disease characterized by subcutaneous or dermal tumors occurring predominantly on the head and the neck. It usually occurs in young adults without constitutional symptoms, except for peripheral blood eosinophilia. The histopathologic features of the tumor are characterized by dense lymphoid aggregates containing a prominent germinal center and by the proliferation of endothelial cells associated with varying degrees of lymphocytic, histiocytic, and eosinophilic infiltration. We report a case of Kimura's disease without peripheral blood eosinophilia in a 24-year-old male who had had a painless and slowly growing tumor-like swelling on his right groin for one year. The mass was excised, and the specimen was confirmed as Kimura's disease. After surgical excision, the lesion recurred, so 30 mg of oral prednisone was given daily for one month and then decreased gradually for another one month. Now, the lesion is completely healed.
Endothelial Cells ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Germinal Center ; Groin* ; Head ; Humans ; Male ; Neck ; Prednisone ; Young Adult

Symptomatic Rathke's cleft cysts may be confined to the sella turcica or extended upward into suprasellar area. Like the more common cystic tumor of this region, the craniopharyngioma, they produce symptoms by compression of the surrounding structures. We report a rare case of a symptomatic Rathke's cleft cyst. The importance of the intraoperative differentiation between the cyst and a craniopharyngioma is discussed.
Central Nervous System Cysts ; Craniopharyngioma ; Sella Turcica

OBJECTIVES: There has been continuous development in the area of stereoscopic medical imaging devices, and many stereoscopic imaging devices have been realized and applied in the medical field. In this article, we review past and current trends pertaining to the application stereo-imaging technologies in the medical field. METHODS: We describe the basic principles of stereo vision and visual issues related to it, including visual discomfort, binocular disparities, vergence-accommodation mismatch, and visual fatigue. We also present a brief history of medical applications of stereo-imaging techniques, examples of recently developed stereoscopic medical devices, and patent application trends as they pertain to stereo-imaging medical devices. RESULTS: Three-dimensional (3D) stereo-imaging technology can provide more realistic depth perception to the viewer than conventional two-dimensional imaging technology. Therefore, it allows for a more accurate understanding and analysis of the morphology of an object. Based on these advantages, the significance of stereoscopic imaging in the medical field increases in accordance with the increase in the number of laparoscopic surgeries, and stereo-imaging technology plays a key role in the diagnoses of the detailed morphologies of small biological specimens. CONCLUSIONS: The application of 3D stereo-imaging technology to the medical field will help improve surgical accuracy, reduce operation times, and enhance patient safety. Therefore, it is important to develop more enhanced stereoscopic medical devices.
Asthenopia ; Depth Perception ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Laparoscopy ; Patient Safety ; Vision Disparity ; Vision, Ocular

The purpose of this clinical study is to assess whether calcium hydroxide as an intracanal medication affects post-treatment pain in teeth especially odontogenic pain which comes from inflammation of the pulp and periradicular tissues when compared with no intracanal medication. From 213 patients who has been treated 237 root canals due to significant pain (moderate-to-severe), we recorded their age, sex, treated tooth, degree of pain, pre-operative states of the tooth. We classified patients into 2 test group; Group 1 (not gain intracanal Ca(OH)2), Group 2 (gain intracanal Ca(OH)2). Through the survey from the patients, we let them write down the occurrence and degree of post-treatment pain in 4hours, 2days, 7days after treatment as none, mild, moderate or severe. The followings were evaluated; the overall incidence of flare-ups, the overall incidence of post-treatment pain in each group at each time period, the incidence of post-treatment pain in each group at each time period as related to pre-operative states of the teeth. These were compared statistically with Chi-square analysis (p < 0.05). Under the condition of this investigation, no difference was observed in the incidence of post-treatment pain between the two groups. Therefore, Ca(OH)2 as intracanal medication had no effect on preventing or decreasing the post-treatment pain.
Calcium Hydroxide* ; Calcium* ; Dental Pulp Cavity ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Linear Energy Transfer ; Tooth

There has been increased dialysis because of chronic renal failure, and also has been increased cataractous changes. We found 8 eyes(5 patients) who were under dialysis and also had cataractous changes. They received cataract operations. The results were obtained as follows: 1. Male to female ratio is 4:1 and the average age of cataract patients is 45 years old. 2. The cataractous changes after dialysis occurred within 1 year(except example 1). 3. We found that the cataracts developed from posterior subcapsule of lens(except example 1) and the corrected visual acuity at 2 months after surgery were over 0.5. 4. There were no serious problems after surgery(routine I.C.C.E.). 5. On blood chemistry, the average calcium level was 7.88mg% (hypocalcemic state), and we suggest that this condition may be related with cataractous changes.
Calcium ; Cataract* ; Chemistry ; Dialysis* ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Visual Acuity

There have been no reports indicating diurnal variations in MRI at different portions of each lumbar disc. Eight asymptomatic healthy volunteers between 22 and 29 years old had MRI of their lumbar spine, twice on the same day (in the morning and evening). Forty lumbar discs were studied and the signal intensity change was measured from three portions of each disc (a total of 120 portions). No visible changes could be detected between scans by blinded observers. However, the calculated signal intensity changes showed an average loss of -20.0% (ant., 5 cases), -19.0% (mid, 2 cases), and -17.5% (post., 1 case). Height loss of the disc showed an average loss of -9.9% (ant., 4 cases), -8.3% (mid., 2 cases), and -10.4% (post., 2 cases). An increase of disc bulge at L4-5 level (18.3%) was pronounced, but L5-S1 level was less than others. Loss of body height averaged a loss of 7 mm (0.39% of body height). There was no correlation between reduced signal intensity and height loss at the ant./post. portion (p = 0.42), but there was a close relation at the mid. portion (p = 0.008). Diurnal change of the disc bulge was not correlated with reduced signal intensity (p = 0.48) or height loss (p = 0.16). Intradiscal fluid change was not necessarily influenced by the disc height loss, and height loss did not necessarily have an effect on disc bulge. But diurnal change showed a trend that was reflected in reduced signal intensity, height loss, and an increase of disc bulge which was more apparent from the ant. portion to the post, portion on moving down to the lower levels. Loss of disc height was one factor in the reduction of body height. These changes occurred randomly throughout 5 lumbar disc levels in each case.
Adult ; Circadian Rhythm* ; Female ; Human ; Intervertebral Disk/anatomy & histology ; Lumbar Vertebrae/pathology* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Male