No abstract available.
Alloys* ; Dental Porcelain*

The width of cervical canal and distance of intervertebral space were measured in 83 normal adults and 208 adult patients who complained of related symptoms, as nuchal tightness, shoulder and interscapular pain, paresthesia of arms, etc. The following results were obtained: 1. The average width of spinal canal is more 14mm in roentgen distance. 2. The common symptoms are occipital headache, pain, paresthesia, & tightness. 3. The width of spinal canal & intervertebral space of patients are significantly narrower than those of controls.
Adult ; Arm ; Headache ; Humans ; Paresthesia ; Shoulder ; Spinal Canal ; Spine*

BACKGROUND: The pathological features in asthmatic airway remodeling are diverse. The aim of this study was to examine the degree of airway vascularity in relation to the other remodeling parameters in asthmatics. METHODS: Bronchial biopsies were done in 34 asthmatic patients, and 6 control subjects. The basement membrane thickness and the subepithelial thickness were measured in the hematoxylin-eosin stained tissue, and the degree of vascularity was measured using type IV collagen immunostaining. RESULTS: 1) Compared to the control subjects, the asthmatics showed a significant increase in the basement membrane thickness (6.92+/-2.01micrometer vs 9.67+/-2.84micrometer, p<0.05) and the subepithelial thickness (44.49 +/- 31.92micrometer vs 121.22+/-72.79micrometer, p<0.05). 2) Compared to the control subjects, the asthmatics showed a significant increase in the vascular area per unit submucosal area (4.51+/-2.13% vs 10.32+/-6.08%, p<0.05). In addition, the number of vessels per unit submucosal area showed an increased tendency without statistical significance. 3) In the asthmatics, the number of vessels and the vascular area per unit submucosal area showed no correlation with the basement membrane thickness, the subepithelial thickness, the severity, the forced expiratory volume in 1 second(FEV1), and the methacholine provocative concentration 20(PC20). CONCLUSION: This study showed that vascularity was an important parameter in asthmatic airway remodeling but it was not related to the other remodeling parameters such as the basement membrane thickness and the subepithelial thickness. Each of these asthmatic remodeling parameters may have a different clinical significance. Therefore, further studies will be needed.
Airway Remodeling ; Asthma ; Basement Membrane ; Biopsy ; Collagen Type IV ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Methacholine Chloride

Scrub typhus is an acute, febrile disease of humans that is caused by Orentia Tsutsugamushi. It is transmitted through the bite of chiggers. The spectrum of the clinical severity for scrub typhus ranges from mild to sever e with fatal complication such as meningoencephalitis, pneumonitis, myocarditis. Severe pulmonary involvement e.g. acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS) and meningoencephalitis have rarely been obseved since the introduction of specific antibiotic therapy. We experienced a case of scrub typhus manifested with ARDS and meningoencephalitis. The patient was treated with doxycycline, anticonvulsant and mechanical ventilator thrapy.
Doxycycline ; Humans ; Meningoencephalitis* ; Myocarditis ; Pneumonia ; Scrub Typhus* ; Trombiculidae ; Ventilators, Mechanical

BACKGROUND: Hemoptysis is an often alarming presenting symptom and VEGF is a major regulator of both normal and abnormal angiogenesis, including many inflammatory diseases. In this report the clinical significance of the serum VEGF level in patients with hemoptysis was investigated. METHODS: Thirty-two patients with hemoptysis were evaluated. The estimated amount of hemoptysis, etiology and serum VEGF level was examined at admission and bronchial angiography was performed in 22 patients. In order to objectify the neovascularization status, one point for the presence of the A-V shunt, hypervascularity, vascular tortuosity was designated for a total of 0-3 points. RESULTS: Mean quantity of hemoptysis was 172.4+/-270.4ml. The mean angiographic neovascularization score was 1.23+/-0.75. The serum VEGF level correlated with the quantity of hemoptysis(r=0.524, p=0.002) and with the angiographic neovascularization score(r=0.441, p=0.04). Using the standard diagnostic criterion for massive hemoptysis, the serum VEGF level of patients with massive hemoptysis(642.4+/-545.6 pg/ml, n=13) was found to be higher than that of patients with non-massive hemoptysis(394.6+/-225.8 pg/ml, n=19)(p=0.069). CONCLUSION: Regardless of the etiology, the serum VEGF may contribute to abnormal neovascularization in patients with hemoptysis. Therefore, it is suggested that serum VEGF measurements may help in predicting a massive hemoptysis.
Angiography ; Hemoptysis* ; Humans ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

A malignant fibrous histiocytoma is a malignant soft tissue neoplasm that occurs frequently in the metaphyseal ends of the long bones of adults. The lung is a common site for metastasis but it is a rare site for a primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Here we report a case of a primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the lung. The patient was a 53-year-old man who presented with a moderate amount of a left pleural effusion and an ill-defined mass in the left lower lobe on a chest radiograph and a local invasion to the left 10th and 11th rib on chest CT. Under the strong suspicion of lung cancer with a pleural invasion, a serial diagnostic thoracentesis was performed. The cytologic examination of the pleural effusion revealed no malignant cells. Consequently, a thoracoscopic pleural biopsy was performed. The histological examination revealed slender spindle cells and scattered epitheloid cells arranged in a vague storiform or a whirling pattern. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells tested positive for vimentin and negative for cytokeratin, desmin, CD34 and PAS. These features were consistent with a malignant fibrous histiocytoma. This case is an unusual addition to the small number of published reports on a primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the lung.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Desmin ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous* ; Humans ; Keratins ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pleural Effusion ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Ribs ; Sarcoma* ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vimentin

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in Korean preschool children, we performed national survey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We surveyed kindergardens in seven representative cities of Korea. Before performing urine culture, we selected children by urine dipstick screening method(leukocyte esterase and nitrite test). And we analysed the incidence according to sex, age and socioeconomic status. RESULTS: Total registered population was 2,239 children and male to female ratio was 1.16. Overall, asymptomatic bacteriuria was found in 1.03%(23 children). In the male the incidence was 0.3%(3 children) and in the female it was 2.0%(19 children). Less than 4 years old children showed higher incidence (2.9%) than those of any other age groups, such as, 0.5% in 4, 1.1% in 5 and 1.3% in 6 years old. High, middle and low socioeconomic status groups showed the incidence as 0%, 0.9% and 1.4%, respectively The number of leukocyte esterase positive children was 184(8.2%) and that of nitrite positive children was 115(5.1%). Among them urine culture was performed in 175children and 23 children showed significant bacteriuria(colony count> 100,000/ml), so predictability of asymptomatic bacteriuria by dipstick test was 13.1% Radiologic study was performed in 9 children who had bacteriuria, but none of them showed urological abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: From the above data, we found that asymptomatic bacteriuria is more common in female, younger age and lower socioeconomic status among the Korean preschool children. Considering cost-benefit aspects of the screening for asymptomatic bacteriuria, however, we should re-evaluate the necessity of our study on these particular age groups.
Bacteriuria* ; Child ; Child, Preschool* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Leukocytes ; Male ; Mass Screening* ; Social Class