Twenty-four hands of eighteen patients of carpal tunnel syndrome were treated with two or times injection of 5 mg dexamethasone and three weeks splinting at the department of orthopedic surgery, Korea University Hospital From Jan. 1980 to Feb.1985. The results obtained were as follows; 1. Physical findings consisted of sensory disturbances in sixteen hands, positive Tinel sign in thirteen, positive Phalen test in eighteen and thenar atrophy in eight. 2. On electromyographic study, delay of motor conduction velocity of the median nerve was noted in twelve cases and sensory nerve velocity in fifteen. 3. Fifteen patients(eighteen cases) were followed up from 6 months to 30 months. Twelve cases(60%) were improved and three cases were recurred.
Atrophy ; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ; Clinical Study ; Dexamethasone ; Hand ; Humans ; Korea ; Median Nerve ; Orthopedics ; Splints

We report a case of dedifferentiated liposarcoma of retroperitoneum as a recurrent form in a 41 year old male. The patient received a extirpation for retroperitoneal mass and diagnosed as myxoid liosarcoma 4 years ago. The patient experienced 3 recurrences over a period of 4 years and diagnosed as myxoid liposarcoma in the second, third recurrence also. Histologically, the mass was composed of several clearly distinct elements : well differentiated liposarcoma, myxoid liposarcoma, myxoid malignant fibrous histiocytoma, poorly differntiated sarcoma, and fibrosarcoma. Immunohistochemically, S-100 protein was expressed in the area of spindle cell sarcoma, well differentiated liposarcoma, and malignant fibrous histiocytoma but alpha-1-antichymotrypsin was only expressed in the area of myxoid malignant fibrous histiocytoma.

No abstract available.
Broad Ligament* ; Female ; Leiomyoma* ; Leiomyosarcoma*

In order to find out the relationship between arachidonic acid(AA) metabolites and the development of vasospasm following a subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH), we evaluated the cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) levels of the two main AA metabolites, prostacyclin(PGI2) and thromboxane A2(TXAZ) by measuring their stable degredation products 6-keto-prostaglandin F1alpha(PGF1) and thromboxane B2(TXB2) using radioimmunoassay methods in 32 patients after an aneurysmal rupture and in 11 patients without an aneurysmal rupture as a control group. We compared the data between aneurysmal ruptured patients and control group patients. We also divided the data of the aneurysmal ruptured patients into 3 groups checking them between 1-4, 5-11, and 12-28 days after the SAH, and compared the data among the groups, then the data was also compared between non-vasospasm and clinical or severe angiographic vasospasm groups of patients. The results showed that the AA metabolism was enhanced after the SAH, The TXB2 increased the greatest amount in 1-4 days after the SAH and significantly decreased statistically 12 days after the SAH(p<0.002). This study also showed that the TXB2 level was significantly higher statistically in 1 to 4 days in the clinical or angiogrophically severe vasospasm group than in the non-vasospasm group of patients(p<0.032). PGF1 did not show any statistically significant changes according to the number of SAH days or a difference between the vasospasm and non-vasospasm groups. This result suggests if the AA metabolites are involved in the pathogenesis of cerebral vasospasm, and the lumbar CSF levels of AA metabolites in aneurysmal patients reflect the arterial synthesis of PGI2 and platelet origin of TXA2, the elevation of TXA2 or other vasoconstrictor prostaglandins is more likely to play a major role in the pathogenesis of vasospasm than PGI2 deficiency. The measurements of the CSF TXB2 in 1 to 4 days after a SAH may have an expectant value in the development of clinical or severe angiographic vasospasm(exclude the accompanying intraventricular hemorrhage patients).
Aneurysm* ; Arachidonic Acid ; Blood Platelets ; Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Epoprostenol ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Prostaglandins I ; Radioimmunoassay ; Rupture ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage* ; Thromboxane A2 ; Thromboxane B2* ; Vasospasm, Intracranial

PURPOSE: To determine the MR imaging findings of spinal cord decompression sickness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analysed the spinal MR images of eight patients (M : 6, F : 2) with decompression sickness affecting the cervical spine (n=1) or thoracic spine (n=7). The observed extent, location, continuity, signal intensity and contrast enhancement pattern of spinal cord lesions were analysed. RESULTS: The chief MR finding was continuous (n=2) or non-continuous (n=3) high signal intensity on T2-weighted images in the posterior paramedian spinal cord. In three cases, additional T2 signal abnormality in the ventral horn of the gray matter was observed. There was no signal intensity abnormality on T1- weighted images or abnormal enhancement on post-Gadolinium T1-weighted images. In one case, cord swelling in addition to T2 signal abnormality was observed. CONCLUSION: MR imaging is useful for evaluating spinal cord lesions in patients with decompression sickness.
Animals ; Decompression Sickness* ; Decompression* ; Horns ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord* ; Spine

PURPOSE: To evaluate the utility of fluid-attenuated inversion recovery(FLAIR) sequence by comparing thesignal intensities in various cerebral lesions with those on T2-weighted MR imaging. MATERIALS & METHODS: In 41patients who showed different signal intensities between T2-weighted images and FLAIR sequences, we reviewed theVirchow-Robin space(VRS), acute or chronic infarctions including lacunar cavities, and postoperativeencephalomalacia. In all patients, the location, shape and size of abnormal signal intensities were evaluated. RESULTS: The hyperintensities of VRS and lacunar infarctions on T2-weighted imaging appeared as hypointensitieson FLAIR imaging. The hyperintense rims or crescents around lacunar cavities were only detected on FLAIR imaging.The extent of acute and chronic infarctions with homogenous hyperintensities seen on T2-weighted images was welldelineated on FLAIR imaging. Postoperative encephalomalacia and adjacent lesions showed low and high signalintensities, respectively, on FLAIR imaging, though they were hyperintense on T2-weighted images. CONCLUSION: ForVRS, infarction and encephalomalacia, FLAIR provides images that are superior to T2-weighted images, and may thusbe useful as an additional MR sequence in various cerebral lesions.
Encephalomalacia ; Humans ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Stroke, Lacunar

BACKGROUND: It has been known that the sero- logic markers of infectivity and viral replication in patients with hepatitis B virus(HBV) infection are hepatitis B e antigen(HBeAg), HRV DNA and HBV DNA polymerase. METHODS: In order to clarify the relationship between chronic liver diseases and HBV infection, and the mechanism of chronicity in HBV related liver diseases, the expression patterns of hepatic HBeAg by imrnunohistochemical stain and histologic activity index(HAI) were studied from 10% formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissues in 114 patients performed liver biopsy. RESULTS: The results were as follows: 1) Incidence of serum HReAg positivity in HBsAg positive patients was 74.6% and that of hepatic HBeAg expression was 77.6% among serum HBeAg positive cases. Hepatic HBeAg expression was 72.4% in serum HBeAg negative cases. 2) In serum HBeAg positive cases, almost all infected hepatocytes exhibited cytoplasmic HBeAg expression and half of patients showed nuclear HBeAg expression, but cytoplasmic HBeAg expression was solely predominant in serum HBeAg negative cases. Hepatic HBeAg expression showed a decreasing trend from AVH and CPH, through CAH, to cirrhosis with or without HCC, which was a consistent finding with serum HBeAg in decreasing manner. Hepatic HBeAg expreassion was highly sustained in about 60-90% of cases, regardless of duration of their illnesses. 3) HAI showed slighf3y higher tendency in patients with hepatic HBeAg negative expression than in positive cases. CONCLUSION: The above results suggest that HBeAg may play a role as a viral target antigen for immune-mediated liver injury and may be also related to the pathogenetic mechanism of chronicity in chronic hepatitis B.
Biopsy ; Cytoplasm ; DNA ; Fibrosis ; Formaldehyde ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Hepatitis* ; Hepatocytes ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver ; Liver Diseases ; Logic ; Paraffin

INTRODUCTION: Fibrous-osseous lesions of the jaws are difficult to diagnose precisely until excised biopsy results are found, so they might be confused with malignant lesions. This clinical study focused on the diagnostic aids of lesions that demonstrate different clinical, radiologic, and histological findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 16 patients with benign fibrous-osseous lesions on the jaws (6 fibrous dysplasias, 6 ossifying fibromas, 3 cemental dysplasias, and one osteoblastoma) were reviewed. Nine patients with malignant fibrous-osseous lesions (8 osteosarcomas and one Ewing's sarcoma) were also retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Osteosarcoma patients complained of facial swelling and tooth mobility. The radiographic findings showed the irregular resorption of cortical bone and periosteal reactions. Histological features included cellular pleomorphism and atypical mitosis. An Ewing's sarcoma patient complained of tooth mobility and facial swelling. Onion-skin appearance and irregular expansile marginal bony radiolucency were seen in the radiography. Fibrous dysplasia patients complained of facial swelling and asymmetry. The radiographic features were mostly ground-glass radiopacity. Histological findings showed a bony trabeculae pattern surrounded by fibrous ground substances. Ossifying fibroma patients complained of buccal swelling and jaw pains, showing expanded cortical radiolucent lesions with a radiopaque margin. Histological findings were revealed as cellular fibrous stroma with immature woven bones. In cemental dysplasia, most of their lesions were found in a routine dental exam. Well-circumscribed radiopaque lesions were observed in the radiography, and cementum-like ossicles with fibrous stroma were seen in the microscopy. An osteoblastoma patient complained of jaw pain and facial swelling. Radiographic findings were mottled, dense radiopacity with osteolytic margin. Trabeculae of the osteoid with a vascular network and numerous osteoblasts with woven bone were predominantly found in the microscopy. CONCLUSION: Our study showed similar results as other studies. We suggest the clinical parameters of diagnosis and treatment for malignant and benign fibrous-osseous lesions of the jaws.
Biopsy ; Fibroma, Ossifying ; Humans ; Jaw ; Microscopy ; Mitosis ; Osteoblastoma ; Osteoblasts ; Osteosarcoma ; Retrospective Studies ; Sarcoma, Ewing ; Tooth Mobility

OBJECTIVES: Human osteoarthritis is a heterogeneous and multifactorial disease characterized by the progressive deterioration of the cartilage of diarthrodial joints. In some instances, there is an identifiable cause, such as trauma or congenital malformation, but, mostly the etiology remains unknown. Since familial aggregation is seen, genetic factors may be important, particularly in osteoarthritis of the hand. METHODS: Blood samples from patients and controls were obtained for DNA analysis. Exon 31 of type II procollagen gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction, and screening for the mutation was undertaken using a restriction enzyme digestion (Dsa I). RESULTS: The patients phenotype represented typical, but earlyonset and family history, osteoarthritis. No mutation in exon 31 of type II procollagen gene could be identified. CONCLUSION: Screening of the 31 exon did not, however, reveal any mutation. It needs further evaluation in other sites of type II procollagen genes.
Cartilage ; Collagen Type II ; Digestion ; DNA ; Exons ; Hand ; Humans ; Joints ; Mass Screening ; Osteoarthritis* ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Procollagen*

BACKGROUND: Ferulic acid (FA) is a naturally occurring nutritional compound. Although it has been shown to have antihypertensive effects, its effects on vascular function have not been intensively established. The aim of this study was to assess the vasoreactivity of FA in chronic two-kidney, one-clip (2K1C) renal hypertensive rats. METHODS: Hypertension was induced in 2K1C rats by clipping the left renal artery and age-matched rats that received a sham treatment served as a control. Thoracic aortas were mounted in tissue baths to measure isometric tension. The effects of FA on vasodilatory responses were evaluated based on contractile responses induced by phenylephrine in the aortic rings obtained from both 2K1C and sham rats. Basal nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability in the aorta was determined by the contractile response induced by NO synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). RESULTS: FA induced concentration-dependent relaxation responses which were greater in 2K1C hypertensive rats than in sham-clipped control rats. This relaxation induced by FA was partially blocked by the removal of endothelium or by pretreating with L-NAME. L-NAME-induced contractile responses were augmented by FA in 2K1C rats, while no significant differences were noted in sham rats. FA improved acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent vasodilation in 2K1C rats, but not in sham rats. The simultaneous addition of hydroxyhydroquinone significantly inhibited the increase in acetylcholine-induced vasodilation by FA. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that FA restores endothelial function by altering the bioavailability of NO in 2K1C hypertensive rats. The results explain, in part, the mechanism underlying the vascular effects of FA in chronic renal hypertension.
Animals ; Aorta ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Baths ; Biological Availability ; Coumaric Acids ; Endothelium ; Hydroquinones ; Hypertension ; Hypertension, Renal ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Phenylephrine ; Placebos ; Rats ; Relaxation ; Renal Artery ; Salicylamides ; Vasodilation