PURPOSE: To describe CT findings and differential points of cystic thymic lesions. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We evaluated retrospectively total 19 masses with well marginated cystic lesions at thymic area on CT scans. They were 10 teratomas, 3 congenital thymic cysts, 2 multilocular thymic cysts(associated with thymoma and myasthenia gravis in each), 2 cysts Assciated with thymic Hodgkin's lymphomas an ectopic parathyroid cyst, and an infected thymic cyst. The radiological abnormalities evaluated were thickness of the wall, presence or abscene of septa, mural nodule, solid component, calcification and fat component. RESULTS: All three cases of congenital thymic cysts and an ectopic parathyroid cyst appeared as thin-walled unilocular cyst with homogeneous internal density and without identifiable solid component. In multilocular thymic cyst, there were thick wall and solid components(n=2), thick internal septa and calcifications(n=l). The cysts of teratomas manifested thick walls(n=9), internal septa(n=4), calcifications(n=6), fat components(n=4), and solid components(n=4). Cysts in Hodgkin's diseases appeared as multilocular or unilocular and had thick wall and septa without calcification. infected thymic cyst presented with multilocular cystic mass with identifiable wall and septa, calcification, and solid components. CONCLUSION: The thymic diseases with cystic lesion include teratomas, congenital thymic cysts, multilocular thymic cysts, parathyroid cyst, .and Hodgkin's disease. Congenital thymic cyst and ectopic parathyroid cyst are thin-walled unilocular cystic lesions. Cystic lesions associated with teratoma, Hodgkin's disease, and multilocular thymic cyst are thick-walled cystic lesions with or without solid component.
Hodgkin Disease ; Mediastinal Cyst ; Myasthenia Gravis ; Retrospective Studies ; Teratoma ; Thymoma ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVE: The aim of study was to analyze obstetric and neonatal causes of Korean neonatal deaths. METHODS: The study subjects are a cohort of infants who were born during 1996 and who died before their first birthday. The data were collected through three stages of the study: the collection of existing data, a national infant mortality survey at medical facilities, and data integrating and adjusting process. The sources of existing data were health insurance data and the resident registration data. The National infant mortality survey was conducted by both 'Ministry of Health and Welfare' and 'Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs'. 3930 medical and health facilities where obstetrics services are available were surveyed during November 1998. The survey results were computerized to match data sets, and any overlap among different data sets were filtered. Causes of deaths were grouped according to the KCD (Korean Standard Classification of Diseases). Causes of neonatal death were further analyzed using composite causes combining obstetric and neonatal conditions. RESULTS: Causes of 2,433 neonatal death were known out of 2,856 deaths. "Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period" comprised 77.1% of neonatal death, being the most common cause. The next common cause was 'congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities', constituting 15.7% of neonatal death. Among the 'certain conditions originating in the perinatal period', 'respiratory distress of newborn' constituted 17.1% of neonatal deaths and 'disorders related to short gestation and low birth weight', constituted 15.6% of neonatal deaths. Neonatal sepsis constituted 14.8% of neonatal death. Among congenital malformations 'congenital malformation of the heart' was most common, constituting 6.2% of neonatal death. 'Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period' was more important cause of preterm neonatal death. Of the related maternal condition, idiopathic preterm birth, multifetal pregnancy, premature rupture of the membranes and hypertensive diseases during pregnancy were common conditions. Congenital malformation was the most important cause of term neonatal death. CONCLUSION: Prematurity-related condition was more important cause of preterm neonatal death while congenital malformation was the most important cause of term neonatal death.
Cause of Death ; Classification ; Cohort Studies ; Dataset ; Gestational Age ; Health Facilities ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Mortality ; Insurance, Health ; Membranes ; Obstetrics ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Premature Birth ; Rupture ; Sepsis

No abstract available.
Lung*

No abstract available.
Female ; Granulosa Cells* ; Interferon-alpha* ; Rodentia*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe sports injuries among elderly people and to compare physical activity, perceived health status and exercise self-efficacy between elderly people who had experienced a sports injury and elderly people who hadn't. METHODS: The sample of this study were 100 elderly in Korea, 51 of whom had had a sports injury. The study used questionnaires to gather data. There were 8 demographic factors, 4 factors related to physical activity, perceived health status and exercise self-efficacy of the subjects. Data were analyzed by frequencies, chi-square test, and t-test. RESULTS: Among the sports injured elders, one occurrence of a sport injury was 86.3%. There were more outdoor than indoor sports injuries of elders (66.7%), and sports injuries of elders occurred more in the winter (82.7%). The major cause of the sports injuries was loss of balance. Ankles were frequently damaged from these injuries. The most significant change after the sports injury was reduction of physical activity (60.8%). There were significant differences between sports injured elderly and non-injured elderly for age (χ2=2.58, p=.011) and the amount of physical activity (t=1.96, p=.050), but there was no significant difference in perceived health status and exercise self-efficacy. CONCLUSION: To prevent sports injuries in the elderly means to maintain a medium level of physical activity and to improve their balance.
Aged* ; Ankle ; Athletic Injuries* ; Demography ; Humans ; Korea ; Motor Activity* ; Sports*

No abstract available.
Anemia, Dyserythropoietic, Congenital*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical results of retrograde intramedullary fixation of metacarpal shaft fractures using two pre-bent Kirschner wires. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between March 2006 and May 2008, 19 cases (17 patients) of metacarpal shaft fractures were treated with the retrograde intramedullary Kirschner-wire fixation and followed at least one year. The exclusion criteria were thumb metacarpal fractures, comminuted fractures and irreducible metacarpal spiral shaft fracture by closed manipulation. At final follow up all the cases were assessed with total active motion(TAM), rotational deformity, bony union and angular deformity based on the plain radiographes. RESULTS: At the last follow-up, all cases achieved bony union. Five cases showed less than 5degrees of dorsal angular deformity. The average union period was 6.3 weeks (range, 5-9weeks). Fifteen cases (79%) showed excellent results, four cases good results based on TAM. No case showed rotational deformity. Two cases had skin irritation by distal wire end, which was subsided after wire removal. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with a metacarpal shaft fracture, retrograde intramedullary fixation using two pre-bent K-wires can provide satisfactory clinical results.
Bone Wires ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Comminuted ; Humans ; Skin ; Thumb

PURPOSE: To compare the effect of breast milk containing fortifier with preterm formula on bone mineral metabolism in premature infants, we evaluated the state of bone mineralization, biochemical alteration and the frequency of rickets during the first five months of life. METHODS: Fourteen fortified breast milk-fed infants and eleven preterm formula-fed infants who were born at Il-Sin Christian Hospital from August, 1996 through July, 1997, were studied. The breast milk-fed group received human milk fortifier. The intake of Ca, P, Mg, protein, and fat was calculated at one month of age. Birth weight and weight at one, two and five months of age were measured. Serum Ca, P, alkaline phosphatase and 25-hydroxyvitamine D were measured at one month of age, and the wrist received X-ray examinations monthly. Total body bone mineral content was measured by Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (Lunar WI) at two and five months of age. RESULTS: The two groups were similar in birth weight, gestational age, and weight at one, two and five months of age. Enteral Ca, P, protein, Mg, and fat intake, and urinary excretion of Ca, P were similar among the two groups. Serum Ca, P, ALP and 25-hydroxyvitamin D were not different. Occurrence of rickets and bone mineral content were similar among the two groups. CONCLUSION: Fortified breast milk-fed infants and preterm formula-fed infants showed no difference in total body bone mineral content and occurrence of rickets. Ultimately, we could enhance the advantage of breast milk fed to premature infants by adding fortifier.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Birth Weight ; Bone Density ; Breast ; Calcification, Physiologic ; Gestational Age ; Humans* ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Metabolism* ; Milk, Human* ; Rickets* ; Wrist

Citrullinemia is an inborn error of urea cycle metabolism caused by deficiency of arginosuccinate synthetase. It is characterized by hyperammonemia and high citrulline level in serum, CSF and urine. The clinical symptoms include vomiting, lethargy, seizure, coma and ultimately death if hyperammonemia is not controlled. We report a case of 9- day old male with citrullinemia who was initially treated with sodium benzoate during acute stage followed by gradual weaning to discontinuation. Hyperammonemia was well controlled by low protein milk diet and arginine.
Arginine* ; Citrulline ; Citrullinemia* ; Coma ; Diet* ; Humans ; Hyperammonemia ; Lethargy ; Ligases ; Male ; Metabolism ; Milk ; Seizures ; Sodium Benzoate ; Urea ; Vomiting ; Weaning

PURPOSE: Our purpose was to examine the relationship between the intrauterine infection and the concentration of cord blood interleukin 6 in preterm infants. METHODS: Patients delivering preterm infants because of spontaneous preterm labor were evaluated for clinical signs of chorioamnionitis, which was defined as a temperature of >or=37.8 degrees C along with >or=2 of the followings : Significant maternal tachycardia (>or= 100/min), fetal tachycardia (>or=160/min), purulent discharge, uterine tenderness, and leukocytosis (WBC >or=15,000c ells/mm3). Their placentas were examined for histologic chorioamnionitis. Cord blood was assayed for Interleukin 6 and CRP. And Interleukin 6 and CRP were sequentially determined at 12-24hour and at 36-48 hour. An elevated interleukin 6 was determined to be 20 pg/mL. Infants were evaluated for the evidences of early and late neonatal sepsis, respiratory distress syndrome, necrotizing enterocolitis, intraventricular hemorrhage, neonatal pneumonia, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. RESULTS: Umbilical cord blood interleukin 6 was significantly higher in the presence of intrauterine infection than in the absence of intrauterine infection (208.4+/-426.3 pg/mL VS 13.3+/-20.6 pg/mL P=0.018). And the frequencies of histologic chorioamnionitis, early neonatal sepsis, neonatal pneumonia, and morbidity were significantly higher in the presence of intrauterine infection than in the absence of intrauterine infection (P=0.003, P=0.000, P=0.042, and P=0.000, respectively). There was significant difference in gestational age, but no significant differences in maternal age, parity, birth weight, method of delivery, respiratory destress syndrome, necrotizing enterocolitis, intraventricular hemorrhage, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Using receiver operator characteristic curves, the best cutoff for interleukin 6 was found to be 20 pg/mL. CONCLUSION: Cord blood interleukin 6 was significantly elevated in the intrauterine infection in the preterm infant.
Birth Weight ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; Chorioamnionitis ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing ; Female ; Fetal Blood* ; Gestational Age ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Interleukin-6* ; Interleukins* ; Leukocytosis ; Maternal Age ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Parity ; Placenta ; Pneumonia ; Pregnancy ; Sepsis ; Tachycardia