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

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied over the prefrontal cortex on the improvement of verbal, visuospatial working memory and naming in healthy adults. METHOD: Thirty two healthy adults (15 males and 17 females, mean age 37.3+/-13.0 years) were enrolled in this study. The subjects were divided into four groups randomly. They underwent sham or anodal tDCS over the left or right prefrontal cortex, for 20 minutes at a direct current of 1 mA. Before and immediately after tDCS, the subjects performed the Korean version of the mini-mental state exam (K-MMSE) and stroop test (color/word/interference) for the screening of cognitive function. For working memory and language evaluation, the digit span test (forward/backward), the visuospatial attention test in computer assisted cognitive program (CogPack(R)) and the Korean-Boston Naming Test (K-BNT) were assessed before tDCS, immediately after tDCS, and 2 weeks after tDCS. RESULTS: The stroop test (word/interference), backward digit span test and K-BNT were improved in the left prefrontal tDCS group compared with that of the sham group (p<0.05). The stroop test (interference) and visuospatial attention test were in the right prefrontal tDCS group compared with that of the sham group (p<0.05). Their improvement lasted for 2 weeks after stimulation. CONCLUSION: tDCS can induce verbal working memory improvement and naming facilitation by stimulating the left prefrontal cortex. It can also improve the visuospatial working memory by stimulating the right prefrontal cortex. Further studies which are lesion and symptom specific tDCS treatment for rehabilitation of stroke can be carried out.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Memory, Short-Term ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Salicylamides ; Stroke ; Stroop Test

Isolated ACTH deficiency is a uncommon disorder causing secondary adrenocortical insufficiency. Less than 200 cases have been reported in the world. The major clinical manifestations are hypoglycemia, weight loss, hypotension, anemia, weakness, nausea, inability to excrete water load, and hyponatremia. A 56-year-old male was admitted because of weakness, fatigue, nausea and vomiting. He was pallor and not associated with hyperpigmentation. The basal plasma ACTH and cortisol levels were 8.30 pg/ml and 0.6 ug/dl. The serum cortisol did not response to rapid ACTH stimulation test. On combined pituitary stimulation test, the cortisol did not response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia. Other anterior pituitary hormones showed normal responses except elevated prolactin level. Six months after glucocorticoid replacement therapy, the elevated basal prolactin level returned to normal. Brain MRI did not show any anatomic abnormalities of the sellar and suprasella area. We report a case of isolated ACTH deficiency accompanied by hyperprolactineia, which respond to glucocorticoid replacement therapy.
Adrenal Insufficiency ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone* ; Anemia ; Brain ; Fatigue ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Hyperpigmentation ; Hyperprolactinemia* ; Hypoglycemia ; Hyponatremia ; Hypotension ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nausea ; Pallor ; Pituitary Hormones, Anterior ; Plasma ; Prolactin ; Vomiting ; Water ; Weight Loss

OBJECTIVE: Bacteroides fragilis is the most frequently isolated anaerobes in tissue of intraabdominal infection, particularly in intraabdominal sepsis or abscess. In acute experimental model with an intraabdominal infection, the response to B. fragilis is characterized by infiltration of neutrophils and monocytes. To understand the pathogenesis of B. fragilis infection, it is important to explore the mechanism for inflammatory signals such as chemokines induced by this bacteria. The goal of this study was to determine whether peritoneal monocytes or fibroblasts surrounding with intraabdominal abscess induced by B. fragilis could express chemokines such as monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) or macrophage inflammatory protein-1a (MIP-1a). METHODS: 1) After C57BL/6 mice were intraperitoneally inoculated with abscess-inducing agents containing B. fragilis, RNA was extracted from the intraperitoneal tissues of the mice using Ottawa sand and the guanidinium thiocyanate-phenol-chloroform method in 3 days later. 2) After C57BL/6 mouse peritoneal monocytes were infected with B. fragilis for 1, 4 and 9 hours, cellular RNA was extracted from the cells. 3) Fibroblasts isolated from intraabdominal abscess nodules induced by B. fragilis infection were growth in tissue culture for 3 to 4 weeks. After the fibroblasts were stimulated with IL-1alpha (0.1-10 ng/ml) or TNFalpha (0.1-10 ng/ml) for 24 hours, total cellular RNA was extracted. MCP-1 or MIP-1alpha mRNA expression was assessed using RTPCR. MCP-1 or MIP-1alpha proteins in cluture supernatants or tissue extracts were also measured by ELISA. RESULTS: 1) MCP-1 or MIP-1alpha mRNA was highly expressed in peritoneal tissue of C57BL/6 mice bearing with intraabdominal abscess induced by B. fragilis. 2) Expression of MCP-1 mRNA increased at 9 hours in mouse peritoneal monocytes infected with B. fragilis. MIP-1alpha mRNA was initially expressed and perisisted in the monocytes infected with B. fragilis for 9 hours. MCP-1 or MIP-1alpha proteins was also parallel to the expression of those chemokines. 3) The fibroblasts isolated from intraabdominal abscess nodules by B. fragilis infection constitutively expressed MCP-1, MIP-1alpha, production in the fibroblasts was significantly upregulated in response to proinflammatory cytokines produced in the monocytes, including IL-1alpha and TNFalpha, but MCP-1 production were not. The normal fibroblasts from uninfected mice didnot show significant production of MCP-1 or MIP-1a in response to IL-1a or TNFalpha. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that peritoneal monocytes and fibroblasts surrounding with abscesses induced by B. fragilis produce MCP-1 or MIP-1a. Furthermore, it could be extrapolated that those effects may play a role in the formation of intraabdominal abscess nodules.
Abscess* ; Animals ; Bacteria ; Bacteroides fragilis* ; Bacteroides* ; Chemokine CCL2* ; Chemokine CCL3 ; Chemokines ; Cytokines ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fibroblasts ; Guanidine ; Intraabdominal Infections ; Macrophages* ; Mice ; Models, Theoretical ; Monocytes* ; Neutrophils ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Sepsis ; Silicon Dioxide ; Tissue Extracts ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha