To observed whether the specific IgG antibody test using ELISA was useful in diagnosis of presently ill patients of paragonimiasis, a total of 95 sera were tested. The sera were collected from 21 egg positive cases, 8 from positive reactors of intradermal test, 7 from Clonorchis infected, 9 from other parasitic diseases and 50 from apparently non-infected cases. By the result, the sensitivity of the test was 86% and the specificity was 100%. There were no cross reactions between Paragonimus antigen and other parastic infections. Specific IgG antibody test by micro-ELISA was concluded to be useful for mass screening of the presently ill paragonimiasis in the field.
parasitology-helminth-cestoda ; Spirometra sp. ; sparganum ; sparganosis ; immunology ; diagnosis ; ELISA

This study was designed to investigate the quality of life(QOL) In the patients with traumatic brain injury(TBI), in view of the global, psychosocial and neurobehavioral aspects of QOL. Thirty-one patients with TBI and corresponding matched controls were rated with a global measure(Quality of Life-Index, QL-Index), a psychosocial measure(Sickness Impact Profile ; SIP), and a self-rating(Head Injury Symptom Checklist: HISCL) and an objective symptom scales(Neurobehavioral Rating Scale, NRS). The results were as follows: 1) There were significant differences between the TBI and the control groups in the level of QOL measured by all scales(p<0.01). 2) On QL-Index, the decrement of QOL was 67.4+/-19.2 in TBI group, and 8.1+/-6.4 in control group. In TBI group, the severity of impairment was highest in activity(involvement in own occupation)', and the following items were 'Outlook in Life', 'Perception of own Health', 'Activities of Daily Living', and 'Support of Family and Friends' in decreasing order of severity. 3) On SIP, the degree of psychosocial dysfunction was 67.2+/-20.1 in TBI group, and 8.5 +/-6.9 in control group. In TBI group, the impairment was highest in 'Work' and the following items were 'Home Management' and 'Social Interaction', with 'Body Care and Movement' and 'Eating' the lowest. 4) On HISCL the severity of subjective symptoms of TBI patients was highest in 'Memory', and the next were 'Concentration' and 'Home sensitivity' and the lowest were 'Light sensitivity' and 'Insomnia' 5) On NRS, the severity of objective symptoms of TBI patients was highest in 'Somatic concern', 'Depressive mood', and 'Anxiety' in decreasing order. Among the flour factors of HRS, the severity of impairment was highest in Factor III (Somatic/Anxiety), and the next were Factor I(Cognition/Energy), Factor II(Metacognition), and Factor IV(Language). 6) There was significant correlation among the total scores of all the above scales in the patients with TBl(p<0.01).
Brain ; Brain Injuries* ; Checklist ; Flour ; Humans ; Quality of Life* ; Rehabilitation ; Thromboplastin ; Weights and Measures

This study was designed to investigate the differences of quality of life(QOL) between traumatic brain injury(TBI) and control groups, and also between mild traumatic, brain injury (MTBI) and severe traumatic brain injury (STBI) groups, in term of the global, the psychosocial and the neurobehavioral aspects of QOL. Twenty-three patients with MTBI, 23 patients with STBI and 31 normal control group were rated with a global measure(Quality of Life Index ; QOLI), a psychosocial measure(Sickness Impact Profile SIP), and a self-rating(Head Injury Symptom Checklist ; HISCL) and an objective symptom scales(Neurobehavioral Rating Scale ; NRS) The result were as follows : 1) Comparison with a control group showed that the brain-injured had expenenced significant impairment in QOL measured by above all scales(p<.01). 2) On QOLI of the patients with TBI, the decrement of QOL was not significantly different between MTBI and STBI groups. In these groups, the severity of impairment was highest in acfivify(involvement in own occupation) and the next was outlook in life. 3) On the data from SIP, psychosocial dysfunction was significantly greater in MTBI than STBI(p<.05), whereas physical impairment was similar in both groups of TBI. 4) The severity of subjective complaints on HISCL was significantly greater in(p<.05). Particularly MTBI patients experienced more severe distress from pain, noise sensitivity, and insomnia than STBI patients(p<.05). 5) On NRS, the severity of objective symptoms of both TBI groups was highest in somatic concern, depressed mood, and anxiety in decreasing order. MTBI groups had significandy higher scores than STBI group on the subscales of somatic concern, depressed mood, fatigue, and inaffention(p<.05). In summary, the decrement of QOL in the MTBI group was much the same as STBI groups. These data suggest that symptomatic MTBI as well as STBI patients may experience impaired QOL in a number of domain well beyond the acute post-injury phases, and that severity of injury, defined by duration of loss of consciousness and post-traumatic amnesia, and finding of neuroimaging techniques, is not apperaciable related to the QOL.
Amnesia ; Anxiety ; Brain ; Brain Injuries* ; Checklist ; Fatigue ; Humans ; Neuroimaging ; Noise ; Quality of Life* ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Unconsciousness

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to investigate the long-term psychosocial outcome of the patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) about five years after initial assessment of disability. The psychosocial outcome was evaluated in the areas of cognitive function, neurobehavioral symptoms, socio-occupational function, purpose of life, and quality of life. METHODS: Twenty seven patients with TBI (TBI-S) were selected, who had admitted to the department of Neuropsychiatry of the Wonkwang University Hospital with a primary diagnosis of TBI for the initial assessment of disability during the period 1994-1998. At first, the author assessed their functions with the Neurobehavioral Rating Scale, Social Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale, and Quality of Life Index. And the patients completed the Korean Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Rey-Kim Memory Test and Kims Executive Function Test, the Head Injury Symptom Checklist, Korean version of SmithKline Beecham Quality of Life Scale and Purpose-in-Life Test. The data from the TBI-S were compared between those from the TBI patients (TBI-C) who had received brain injury at the similar time and the TBI-S and admitted for the assessment of disability. RESULTS: Although there was no significant difference between the two TBI groups in the areas of cognitive function, such as general intelligence, verbal comprehension, visuo-spatial function, attention, memory, and executive function, the TBI-S showed significantly lower neurobehavioral symptoms, higher socio-occupational functioning, and higher purpose in life and quality of life levels than the TBI-C. Though 5 years had passed since injury the TBI-S still had various emotional and somatic symptoms and remained at the relatively lower levels in psychosocial functioning. CONCLUSION: The overall long-term psychosocial outcome of the TBI patients depends significantly on the status at the initial assessment of disability about 5 years ago. The improvement was seen in the areas of neurobehavioral symptoms and socio-occupational functioning but not in cognitive function. In spite of the improvement in some areas they still remained at relatively low levels in purpose-in-life and quality of life. This findings suggest that the specialized medical and social support is needed for their rehabilitation.
Adult ; Brain Injuries* ; Checklist ; Comprehension ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Diagnosis ; Executive Function ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Memory ; Neuropsychiatry ; Quality of Life ; Rehabilitation

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to investigate the long-term psychosocial outcome of the patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) about five years after initial assessment of disability. The psychosocial outcome was evaluated in the areas of cognitive function, neurobehavioral symptoms, socio-occupational function, purpose of life, and quality of life. METHODS: Twenty seven patients with TBI (TBI-S) were selected, who had admitted to the department of Neuropsychiatry of the Wonkwang University Hospital with a primary diagnosis of TBI for the initial assessment of disability during the period 1994-1998. At first, the author assessed their functions with the Neurobehavioral Rating Scale, Social Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale, and Quality of Life Index. And the patients completed the Korean Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Rey-Kim Memory Test and Kims Executive Function Test, the Head Injury Symptom Checklist, Korean version of SmithKline Beecham Quality of Life Scale and Purpose-in-Life Test. The data from the TBI-S were compared between those from the TBI patients (TBI-C) who had received brain injury at the similar time and the TBI-S and admitted for the assessment of disability. RESULTS: Although there was no significant difference between the two TBI groups in the areas of cognitive function, such as general intelligence, verbal comprehension, visuo-spatial function, attention, memory, and executive function, the TBI-S showed significantly lower neurobehavioral symptoms, higher socio-occupational functioning, and higher purpose in life and quality of life levels than the TBI-C. Though 5 years had passed since injury the TBI-S still had various emotional and somatic symptoms and remained at the relatively lower levels in psychosocial functioning. CONCLUSION: The overall long-term psychosocial outcome of the TBI patients depends significantly on the status at the initial assessment of disability about 5 years ago. The improvement was seen in the areas of neurobehavioral symptoms and socio-occupational functioning but not in cognitive function. In spite of the improvement in some areas they still remained at relatively low levels in purpose-in-life and quality of life. This findings suggest that the specialized medical and social support is needed for their rehabilitation.
Adult ; Brain Injuries* ; Checklist ; Comprehension ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Diagnosis ; Executive Function ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Memory ; Neuropsychiatry ; Quality of Life ; Rehabilitation

We have reviewed our experiences of computerized tomography(CT) in the fracture of the spine. Between December 1983 and June 1985, we treated 33 fractures of the spine in 32 patients. We have used CT for the diagnosis of fractures of the spine in 29 cases (28 patients). Also we have used Louis scoring system to evaluate the stability of the fractured spine. The results are as follows. 1. CT has many advantages that were not given from simple radiograp hies or laminagrams. It reveals the vertebral body, vertebral column, posterior compartments and surrounding soft tissues excellently, and it is easy to interpretate. Also it can be done comfortably and rapidly without the need of manipulations. 2. We could acquire many informations from post-operative or long term following up of CT examinations. 3. If the Louis score is higher than 3, we should think it is unstable, and should take internal fixation of the vertebral column. 4. There is a correlation between Louis score and neurologic signs (p < 0.01). If there was a neurologic sign with low Louis score, less than 1, the recovery was soon, less than 24 hours. 5. According to CT findings for fragmentation or location of fragment, we can alternate an anterior decompression or a posterior decompression. 6. It is necessary to use CT as a initial diagnostic procedure with the simple radiographic examination in spine fracture.
Clinical Study ; Decompression ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Spine

Osteopoikilosis is an asymptomatic osteosclerotic dysplasia, initially described by Albers-Schönberg and Ledoux-Lebard and associates. This disorder is described as extremely rare. Inherited and sporadic cases of osteopopikilosis have been reported. A Case of familial osteopoikilosis is presented with a brief review of literatures.
Osteopoikilosis

A case of Lymphangiomatosis of the skeleton and soft tissue in a 23 years old woman is presented. Lymphangiomatosis are benign tumors formed of lymphatic vessel and like hemangiomatosis are probably best thought of as harmatomatous malformation. As term imply, the endothelial space in these lesions are lymph-rather than blood containing. Bone involvement are very rare condition that affect mainly the ilium and features a largely lytic pattern, consisting of tiny elliptical radiolucents slots. Treatment and Prognosis depend on the site and extent of involvement and progression. Although irradiation may be the treatment of choice, the lesions have not been usually successfully treated.
Female ; Humans ; Ilium ; Lymphatic Vessels ; Prognosis ; Skeleton

Ligament and tendon prostheses have all suffered because of failure of the particular material that has used in the past. Various materials, including, silk, nylon, Dacron, and combinstions of other synthetic substances, have all enjoyed temporary vogues and have vogues and have all passed out of habitual use because of collapse of the material employed. In an attempt to find an alternative material for use as a tendon or ligament prosthesis, a fundamentally new approach to the problem has been used, namely, that of tendon ligament induction. Carbon fiber has an attraction as a biologic implant because of its inherently inert nature when used in the pure form. Within recent years, it has been possible to manufacture filamentous carbon fiber of high purity and constant filament size, and this material has been examined as a tendon and ligament prosthesis. Both achilles tendons of 14 adult Korean rabbits were replsced with carbon fiber reinforced epoxies(CFRE, it was developed in department of chemical engineering, Chungnam national university, Daejeon, Korea) after artificially rupture, and serial histologic examination of neotendon formations and biologic responces in vivo were done during 8 weeks. The results obtained were as followings ;1. Hemorrhage and inflammatory reactions were observed at 2–3 weeks after operations. 2. Foreign body reactions were developed at 4 weeks after operation, also observed proliferations of foreign body giant cells and histiocytes. 3. Fibroblasts were increased at 4 weeks after operation, and most severe poliferations at 5–6 weeks. 4. Foreign body reactions and fibroblasts were markedly decreased at 7–8 weeks after operation, and examination of the collagen itself showed it to be closely similar to that found on the normsl side.5. Thus, it appeared that the carbon fiber initially acted as a tendon prosthesis.
Achilles Tendon ; Adult ; Carbon ; Chemical Engineering ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Collagen ; Fibroblasts ; Foreign Bodies ; Giant Cells, Foreign-Body ; Hemorrhage ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Ligaments ; Nylons ; Polyethylene Terephthalates ; Prostheses and Implants ; Rabbits ; Rupture ; Silk ; Tendons

Neurilemmoma is a benign neoplasm arising from the Schwann cell of the nerve sheath. Acoustic nerve is the most common site of neurilemmoma and mandible is the most frequently involved in intraosseous neurilemmoma. Extradurally located dumbbell type neurilemmoma was rarely reported. The histology of neurilemmoma was first described by Verocay in 1908 and elaborated upon by Stout in 1935. Characteristic histologic patterns of neurilemmoma were encapsulation and Verocay bodies, Antoni type A and B areas, palisading nuclei, and lack of malignant characteristics. We experienced such a rare case of neurilemmoma which probably arised from the left first lumbar spinal nerve root, and located extradurally and paravertebrally, and confirmed by radiologic and pathologic findings.
Cochlear Nerve ; Mandible ; Neurilemmoma ; Spinal Nerve Roots