No abstract available.

Clear cell sarcoma of tendon and aponeurosis is a rare malignant tumor. It occurs chiefly in young adults, predominates in women and is most common in the regions of the foot and ankle. We report a case of clear cell sarcoma of tendon and aponeurosis in s 22-year-old man. he pstient had had a asymptomatic, normal skin colored, relativerly hard, dome shsped nodule on the anterior chest for 6 months. Histopsthologic findings revealed uniform pattern composed of compact nests of round or fusiform cells which had clear cytoplasm and were surrounded by delicate framework of fibrocollagenous tissue, and the individual tumor cell had a fairly regular appearance of possessing round to avoid vesicular nucleus with prominent basophilic nucleolus. One year after surgical excision and post operative radiotherapy, there was no recurrence.
Ankle ; Basophils ; Cytoplasm ; Female ; Foot ; Humans ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Sarcoma, Clear Cell* ; Skin ; Tendons ; Thorax* ; Young Adult

In vivo 31P NMR spectroscopic study of forearm wrist flexor muscles was performed in two groups of volunteers composed respectively of 6 sedentaries and 6 canoe athletes. A continuous isometric contraction of endurance exercises was adopted in oder to assess the endurance capacity and recovery potential of skeletal muscles. Differences in high energy phosphorus metabolism between the sedentaries and athletes were evaluated with and emphasis on the intracellular pH and Pi/PCr ratio as indicators of high energy phosphorus metabolism. There were no differences of baseline pH and Pi/PCr ratio between the two groups. The athletes sustained the exercise at more acidic intracellular pH and at a higher Pi/PCr ratio of intracellular conditions for an all-out than did the sedentaries. The recovery rate of pH showed no difference between the two groups. There was a tendency of faster recovery of Pi/PCr in athletes showing half recovery time(T1/2) of 39.0±3.0 seconds as compared to that of sedentaries (55.7±7.5 seconds). The recovery rate of Pi/PCr as a function of Pi/PCr ratio at a given period of time was significantly faster in athletes than in sedentaries (P<0.001). The correlation coefficient of the recovery rate of Pi/PCr against the Pi/PCr ratio was 0.985 and 0.914 respectively for the athletes and sedentaries. The pH and the Pi/PCR ratio at an all-out state can be used as indicators of endurance capacity and the recovery rate of Pi/PCr, as a reovery potential of skeletal muscles.
Athletes* ; Exercise ; Forearm ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; In Vitro Techniques* ; Isometric Contraction ; Metabolism ; Muscle, Skeletal* ; Muscles ; Phosphorus ; Volunteers ; Wrist

PURPOSE: To describe long-term clinical results and serial changes in the postoperative range of motion (ROM) after arthroscopic treatment for a limitation of motion (LOM) of the elbow. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-three patients with LOM of the elbow were treated with arthroscopic procedures. The follow-up period averaged 42.5 months. RESULTS: The total ROM was 79.3degrees C preoperatively. From the first and second week after the operation, the ROM showed a progressive increase up to six months postoperatively (mean 109.2degrees C at 3 months and mean 118.4degrees C at 6 months follow-up). Then the ROM continued to increase slowly for a total of 1 year after the operation (mean 121.5degrees C). However, after one year postoperative, the ROM showed little further increase. The ROM acquired during surgery (mean 121.9degrees C) was usually the same range achieved by patients during the rehabilitation period (mean 122.8degrees C at an average of 42.5 months follow-up). Patients with post-traumatic stiffness had more severe flexion contracture and decreased total ROM (73.1degrees C) than those with degenerative stiffness (85.7degrees C) preoperatively. But no significant difference existed in the postoperative total ROM (post-traumatic stiffness, 122.8degrees C and degenerative stiffness, 120.5degrees C). CONCLUSION: Based on our experience, 94% of the patients obtained functional ROM after arthroscopic procedures. The minimally invasive nature of elbow arthroscopy is a safe, reproducible and effective procedure for LOM of the elbow with minimal morbidity.
Arthroscopy ; Contracture ; Elbow Joint* ; Elbow* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Rehabilitation

OBJECT: The Composite Scale by Smith et al. has been proposed as an improved measure of momingness-eveningness. This study attempted to endorse that a Korean translation of Composite Scale(KtCS) can be useful to differentiate people according to circadianrhythm types. METHOD: KtCS and Life Habit Questionnaire(LHQ) were administered to 561 university students. LHQ consisted of items questioning sleep habits on weekdays(bedtime, rising time and sleep length), the time of perceived peak alertness(mental and physical), time of perceived peak performance(mental, physical and academic), and quality of academic performance during the morning, afternoon and evening. Subjects were categorized on the basis of their KtCS scores into evening(I) types, intermediate(I) types, and morning(M) types. The cut-off points for these categories were set at the 10th and 90th percentiles. In addition 7 I-type and 7 M-type subjects were selected from the student population who had participated in the previous survey and then, oral temperature of each subject was taken every hour torn 08 : 00 to 22 : 00. To assess both the internal and the external measurement properties of KtCS, descriptive statistics, reliability and validity were examined. RESULTS: The distribution of KtCS scores was significantly, negatively skewed. The KtCS scores closest to the 10th and 90th percentiles were 26 and 41 respectively. The split-half reliability(. 85), test-retest reliability( .91), and internal consistency(Cronbach alpha, .82) were obtained above the expected. Inter-item correlations were all positive and ranged from .10-.59 with a mean of .25. Item-total correlations varied from .33 to .63 with a mean of .45. Common factor analyses confirmed three factors: preferred times of performance and going to bed, arising time, and morning alertness. The validity of KtCS was further demonstrated through strong relationships between the scale and external criteria.4 discernable difference in oral temperature between the M-type and the type across morning to evening provided additional evidence for validity of the scale. CONCLUSIONS: The results would suggest the possibility that KtCS can be employed as a tool for selection of I-type people or M-type people. It is as yet, however, uncertain that KtCS might be suitable to select people for night shiftwork because the subjects of this study are limited to university students. Therefore, future research among varying types of people are required to endorse this study.
Humans ; Reproducibility of Results

BACKGROUND: Cisplatin (CP), an antitumor agent widely used in the treatment of cancers, has nephrotoxicity. This side effect is closely related to oxidative stress. In the present study, we attempted to reduce CP-induced nephrotoxicity in rats by administering melatonin, an antioxidant. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into different groups and were treated as follows: (1) saline control; (2) CP (16 mg/kg, i.p.); (3) CP plus melatonin (10 mg/kg, i.p.). The rats were sacrificed at the 6th day after CP treatment. To evaluate renal damage, BUN, serum creatinine, creatinine clearance and microscopic examination were done. Hydrogen peroxide which is one of the oxygen free radicals, and malondialdehyde which is known as a marker of the oxygen free radical mediated injury, and the activities of the antioxidant enzymes such as superoxied dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase were also measured. RESULTS: CP-treated rats showed the increase of BUN, serum creatinine, malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in kidney. And CP-treated rats also showed the decrease of creatinine clearance and catalase levels. CP-treated rats showed severe tubular necrosis in proximal convoluted tubules under the light microscopic examination. The light microscopic finding and all of the parameters except SOD were restored in the rats injected with CP plus melatonin than those with CP alone. SOD level was higher in the rats injected with CP plus melatonin than that with CP alone. CONCIUSION: These results suggest that melatonin suppresses CP-induced nephrotoxicity by suppressing the production of reactive oxygen species via the activation of SOD and catalase.
Animals ; Catalase ; Cisplatin* ; Creatinine ; Free Radicals ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Kidney ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; Melatonin* ; Necrosis ; Oxidative Stress ; Oxygen ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Superoxide Dismutase

Miliary tuberculosis is a severe form of tuberculosis resulting from dissemination of Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli. Since symptoms appearing in patients due to miliary TB are diverse and atypical, depending on the site of invasion, early diagnosis and treatment are important. A paradoxical response of tuberculosis is a rare phenomenon and it can be a clinical difficulty to treatment especially when involving the central nervous system. We present a case report with a review of related literature about the patient who developed sudden hearing loss due to tuberculosis infection in vestibulocochlear area.
Central Nervous System ; Early Diagnosis ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; Humans ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Miliary

PURPOSE: Human astrovirus (HAstV) is known to be an important etiologic agent of acute gastroenteritis in infants worldwide. However, the prevalence of HAstV infection varies according to geographic region and patient age. The purpose of our study was to investigate the incidence of HAstV infection among hospitalized children at a tertiary hospital in Seoul. METHODS: Fecal samples were collected from hospitalized children up to five years of age with acute gastroenteritis. A total of 812 fecal samples were collected from hospitalized children with acute gastroenteritis between February 2004 and January 2005. Fecal specimens were screened for rotavirus, enteric adenovirus and norovirus by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) or reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). HAstV positive samples were characterized by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Rotavirus was detected in 16.9% (138/812), norovirus in 11.6% (94/812), and adenovirus in 4.0% (33/812) of the study population. HAstV was detected in 4.0% (33/812) samples by RT- PCR. The age distribution of HAstV positive patients was as follows: <12 month old, 82.0% (27/ 33); 1~2 years old, 6.0% (2/33); 2~5 years old, 12.0% (4/33). The seasonal distribution of HAstV positive samples was as follows; April (3), May (5), June (4), August (12), September (4), October (2), November (2), and December (1). The peak rate of HAstV infection was observed during the summer season, 2004. A mixed infection of viral agents was confirmed in 2.7% (22 /812) of the study population, most commonly with rotavirus and norovirus, and with rotavirus and HAstV. Genotype 1 was the predominant type (91%, 20/22) and genotype 8 was detected in two cases. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of HAstV infection was 4.0% in hospitalized children with acute gastroenteritis, and was especially high in infants. HAstV can be considered as an important etiologic agent of gastroenteritis in children.
Adenoviridae ; Age Distribution ; Child ; Child, Hospitalized* ; Coinfection ; Gastroenteritis* ; Genotype ; Humans* ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Incidence ; Infant ; Mamastrovirus* ; Molecular Epidemiology* ; Norovirus ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rotavirus ; Seasons ; Seoul ; Tertiary Care Centers

Anteromedial force to the knee in an extended position can cause an avulsion fracture of the proximal fibula with combined injuries to the posterolateral ligaments. Avulsion fractures of the proximal fibula are rare and current management of these fractures is based on few descriptions in literature. Various surgical methods of fixation for these fractures have been reported, but there is still no standard treatment modality. Anatomic reduction of these fractures is technically difficult, and failure of reduction may cause posterolateral instability, secondary arthritis and other complications. We present our experience with two such cases of comminuted avulsion fractures of the proximal fibular with posterolateral ligament ruptures surgically fixated with a locking compression hook plate and non absorbable sutures.
Arthritis ; Collateral Ligaments ; Fibula ; Knee ; Ligaments ; Rupture ; Sutures

PURPOSE: A spinal cord partial block technique (PBT) with dynamic multileaf collimator (dMLC) for the reduction of the spinal cord dose while keeping the tumor dose unchanged has been developed and its effectiveness has been examined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Conventional 3-D conformal therapy treatment plan is deigned prior to the PBT application. Beam parameters such as, number of beams, beam directions were determined during 3-D conformal therapy planning process. The shape and the weight of the partial block for optimizing the dose distribution are designed with the forward intensity modulated radiation therapy (fIMRT). Eight cases of lung cancer, in which it was found to be impossible to deliver enough doses to targets with the conventional technique because the doses of the normal lungs or the spinal cords were over the tolerance limit, are used to verify the usefulness of this technique. Comparison of the dose volume histogram (DVH) is performed to compare the treatment plan. RESULTS: PBT plan cauld reduce the maximum dose to the spinal cord up to 29.7% and the mean dose to the lungs up to 11.1%. CONCLUSION: All of the cases showed that the PBT plans are better than the conventional 3-D plans and the spinal cord doses or the normal lung doses can be reduced to tolerance limit
Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Spinal Cord