No abstract available.
Humans ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Peritonitis*

PURPOSE: To assess the usefulness of T2-weighted oblique coronal MR imaging (T2OCI) in the differential diagnosis of complete and partial tears of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the knee. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three patients with ACL tear (16 complete and 17 partial tears), comfirmed by arthroscopy, were included in this study. Conventional MR imaging and T2OCI were performed, and the findings were retrospectively reviewed by two radiologists in terms of continuity, shape, axis and internal signal intensity of the ligament. Each finding was tested if there were stastistically significant differences in its prevalence between partial and complete tears. The diagnostic accuracy of T2OCI and conventional MR imaging in the detection of partial and complete tears of the ACL were compared. RESULTS: Conventional MR imaging revealed no statistically significant finding for differential diagnosis of complete and partial ACL tears. The reliable and statistically significant (p<0.001) findings of T2OCI were complete discontinuity of the ligament in cases involving complete ACL tears (14 of 16 complete tears and 2 of 17 partial tears) and the preservation of the band form for partial ACL tears (2 of 16 complete tears and 15 of 17 partial tears). The accuracy of T2OCI and conventional MR imaging was 88% and 70%, respectively. CONCLUSION: When ACL injury is vague on conventional MR images, a modality which is more useful in the differential diagnosis of partial and complete tears of the ACL, and in predicting the site of a tear, is T2-weighted oblique coronal imaging.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Arthroscopy ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Humans ; Knee* ; Ligaments ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Humans ; Iron* ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory*

PURPOSE: To evaluate usefulness of volume rendering technique using 3D visualization software on PC in patients with suspected intracranial aneurysm on brain MRA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed prospectively 21 patients with suspected aneurysms on the routine MIP images which were obtained 15 degree increment along axial and sagittal plane, among 135 patients in whom brain MRA was done due to stroke symptoms for recent 5 months. The locations were the anterior communicating artery (A-com) in 8 patients, the posterior communicating artery (P-com) in 3, the ICA bifurcation in 5, the MCA bifurcation in 4, and the basilar tip in one. Male to female ratio was 14:7 and mean age was 62 years. MRA source images were sent to PC through LAN, and the existence of aneurysm was evaluated with volume rendering technique using 3D visualization software on PC. The presence or absence of aneurysm on MIP and volume rendering images was decided by the consensus of two radiologists. RESULTS: We found the aneurysms with volume rendering technique, from 1 patient among 8 patients with suspected aneurysm at A-com and also 1 patient among 3 patients with suspected aneurysm at P-com on routine MIP images. Confirmative angiography and interventional procedures were done in these 2 patients. The causes for mimicking the aneurysm on MIP were flow displacement artifact in 9, normal P-com infundibulum in 2, and overlapped or narrowed vessels in 8 patients, and among them confirmative angiography was done in 2 patients. CONCLUSION: Volume rendering technique using visualization software on PC is useful to scrutinize the suspected aneurysm on routine MIP images and to avoid further invasive angiography.
Aneurysm* ; Angiography ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Arteries ; Artifacts ; Brain* ; Consensus ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Local Area Networks ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Stroke

BACKGROUND: There are different models of skin substitutes, but no skin substitutes have the characteristics of native skin. It was reported that the incubation of skin substitutes in medium containing ascorbic acid extends cellular viability and promotes formation of an epidermal barrier in vitro. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to observe the effects of ascorbic acid on the proliferation of keratinocytes and on the reconstruction of epidermis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Normal human keratinocytes and fibroblasts were isolated and used for culturing living skin equivalent (LSE). RESULTS: When ascorbic acid was added, the expression of p63 and a6 integrin was definitely increased compared to control models. In addition, ascorbic acid increased the proliferation of normal human keratinocytes at a dose dependent manner. Especially, ascorbic acid induced the phosphorylation of ERK and up-regulation of EGF-R CONCLUSION: Results suggest that ascorbic acid is essential in the control of keratinocyte proliferation and basement membrane formation. Ascorbic acid-related keratinocytes proliferation is seemed to be mediated by ERK phosphorylation and EGF-R up-regulation.
Ascorbic Acid* ; Basement Membrane ; Epidermis ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Keratinocytes* ; Phosphorylation ; Skin* ; Skin, Artificial ; Up-Regulation

While studies spanning four decades have reported that most people undergoing cosmetic interventions are satisfied with the results, what has been less studied is the outcome in psychosocial terms. Authors have attempted to evaluate whether improvement in psychosocial wellbeing following cosmetic enhancement can be objectively evaluated. From August, 2002 to June, 2003, forty patients who have received cosmetic surgery such as blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, facial scar revision, mammoplasty were investigated on anxiety, depression and social discomfort by answering questionnaires repeatedly at preoperative, immediately postoperative and 3 months postoperative visits. The results were analyzed and statistically processed using psychological methods including Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck's Depression Inventory(BDI), Social Avoidance & Distress Scale(SAD), Sheehan's Disability Scale. The study observed that there happens anxiety and depression, social discomfort at work and home, and various social activities have decreased in the patients after cosmetic surgeries. But satisfactory feeling in general lives of the patients has not been improved after cosmetic surgeries. In our study, cosmetic surgeries gave the patients enhancement in several psychosocial problems, but long term improvement about the satisfaction of general life needs other changes in wide range of life.
Anxiety* ; Blepharoplasty ; Cicatrix ; Depression* ; Female ; Humans ; Mammaplasty ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rhinoplasty ; Surgery, Plastic*

PURPOSE: There are many prognostic indicators of bladder tumors including clinical, pathological and molecular markers based on tumor-related factors. This study was performed to evaluate the significance of an elevated level of serum creatinine for predicting progression and recurrence of superficial bladder tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred forty-seven patients that initially presented with a superficial bladder tumor(pTa or pT1) except for a carcinoma in situ were retrospectively analyzed according to several factors such as tumor stage, grade, size, multiplicity and serum creatinine for tumor recurrence and progression after a primary transurethral resection. RESULTS: The elevated serum creatinine group consisted of 20 patients 11 patients experienced recurrence(55.0%) and 3 patients experienced progression(15.0%). The control group consisted of 127 patients 39 patients experienced recurrence(30.7%) and 13 patients experienced progression (10.2%). The presence of an elevated level of serum creatinine and tumor multiplicity were statistically significant prognostic factors for tumor recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: These results can be helpful for predicting the prognosis of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and for planning therapeutic and follow-up strategies.
Carcinoma in Situ ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; Creatinine* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Recurrence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder*

PURPOSE: A phase II study of etoposide, ifosfamide, cisplatin combination chemotherapy and concurrent thoracic irradiation in patients with untreated limited small cell lung cancer (SCLC) was conducted to assess toxicities, response rate, response duration, and median survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with histologically confirmed SCLC with a ECOG criteria 2 and adequate renal function and bone marrow reserve were eligible. Each cycle consisted of VP-16 100 mg/m i.v, days 1-3, ifosfamide 1,200 mg/m i.v. days 1-3 with Mesna, and cisplatin 30 mg/m i.v. days 1-3. Cycles were repeated every 21 days. Concutrent thoracic itradiation was given as total 40-45 Gy for 4-5 weeks beginning within 24 hours of the third cycle. Patients with complete remission received prophylactic cranial irradiation after the 6th cycle. RESULT: Forty two patients with limited SCLC were treated at Seoul National University Hospital between December 1993 and August 1996. Three patients were not evaluable because of lost to follow up (2 patients) and one treatment-related early death. Of 39 evaluable patients, responses were seen in 38 (97%) patients including 22 (56%) complete responses and 16 (41%) partial responses. The median remission duration was 65 wks. The median disease free survival was 60 wks. The median overall survival was not reached and 2-year survival was 69% with median duration of follow up of 63.5 wks. Hematologic side effects (WHO Gr>III/IV) of evaluable 228 cycles of chemotherapy were leukopenia in 34%, thrombocytopenia in 16%. One patient expired after prolonged leukopenia and sepsis. Nonhematologic side effects (WHO Gr>II) included nausea and vomiting (17%) and peripheral neuropathy (2%). CONCLUSION: VIP combination chemotherapy with concurrent thoracic irradiation is effective and tolerable in limited SCLC.
Bone Marrow ; Cisplatin* ; Cranial Irradiation ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination* ; Etoposide* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ifosfamide* ; Leukopenia ; Lost to Follow-Up ; Mesna ; Nausea ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Seoul ; Sepsis ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma* ; Thrombocytopenia ; Vomiting

Arcanobacterium haemolyticum is a cause of chronic skin ulcers in diabetic patients and respiratory infection, especially pharyngitis in healthy person. Less frequently, it is a cause of osteomyelitis, meningitis, pneumonia, abscess, endocarditis and sepsis. We isolated A. haemolyticum from 5 patients including foot or back ulceration in 3 diabetic patients, wound on calcaneus in a chronic osteomyelitis patient and peritonsillar abscess in a pharyngitis patient. A. haemolyticum is usually isolated with other microorganisms and coryneform bacilli which are often considered to be nonpathogenic normal flora or contaminants in wound infections. The correct diagnosis of this microorganism is important for proper treatment and prevention of serious infections.
Abscess ; Arcanobacterium* ; Calcaneus ; Diagnosis ; Endocarditis ; Foot ; Humans ; Meningitis ; Osteomyelitis ; Peritonsillar Abscess* ; Pharyngitis ; Pneumonia ; Sepsis ; Skin Ulcer* ; Ulcer ; Wound Infection ; Wounds and Injuries

BACKGROUND: We performed a prospective clinical study to evaluate the ultrastructural integrity of the myocardium after using Histidine-Tryptophan-Ketoglutarate (HTK) solution in comparison with blood cardioplegic solution during congenital heart surgery. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Twenty two patients with acyanotic heart disease, who were scheduled for elective open heart surgery, were randomized into two groups. The HTK Group (n=11) received HTK cardioplegic solution; the blood group (n=11) received conventional blood cardioplegic solution during surgery. The preoperative diagnoses included ventricular septal defect (n=9) and atrial septal defect (n=2) in each group. A small biopsy specimen was taken from the right ventricle's myocardium, and this was processed for ultrastructural examination at the end of 30 minutes of reperfusion. Semiquantitative electron microscopy was carried out "blindly" in 4 areas per specimen and in 5 test fields per area by 'random systematic sampling' and 'point and intersection counting'. The morphology of the mitochondrial membrane and cristae were then scored. The interstitial edema of the myocardium was also graded. RESULT: The semiquantitative score of the mitochondrial morphology was 19.65+/-4.75 in the blood group and 25.25+/-5.85 in the HTK group (p=0.03). 6 patients (54.5%) in the blood group and 3 patients (27.3%) in the HTK group were grade 3 or more for the interstitial edema of the myocardium. CONCLUSION: The ultrastructural integrity was preserved even better with HTK solution than with conventional blood cardioplegic solution.
Biopsy ; Cardioplegic Solutions* ; Diagnosis ; Edema ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Humans ; Microscopy, Electron ; Mitochondrial Membranes ; Myocardial Reperfusion ; Myocardium ; Prospective Studies* ; Reperfusion ; Thoracic Surgery