No abstract available.
Angelica*

Radiologic findings of the 29 cases of radiation pneumonitis and fibrosis diagnosed by chest radiography atSeoul National University Hospital were evaluated and compared with clinical symptoms according to the passage oftime after radiation therapy. The resuls were as follows; 1. The first radiographic signs of radiation pneumonitisand fibrosis were observed 7.6 weeks and 19.3 weeks after radiation therapy respectively. Especially in 8 cases ofsmall cell ca., they were found 5.6 weeks and 10.4 weeks, appearing slinghtly earlier than those of 12 cases ofsquamous cell ca. of lung. 2. The appearing time and severity of the radiographic changes of radiation pneumonitisand fibrosis had no specific relationship with field size, tumor dose or time-dose-fractionation factors of thetreatment. 3. The most constant and characteristic radiological finding of radiation pneumonitis was the sharp andstraight margin of the lesion, which was not that of normal anatomical structures of the lung. Other findings werediffuse haziness, indistinct normal pulmonary markings, alveolar and nodular densities, air-bronchograms andindistinctness of heart border. In radiation fibrosis stage, the lesion characteristic and constant finding. Otherfindings were indistinctness of heart border, diaphragmatic tenting and compensatory emphysema.
Emphysema ; Fibrosis ; Heart ; Lung ; Radiation Pneumonitis ; Radiography ; Thorax

Core decompression is still widely used in avascular necrosis of the femoral head but the results are unpredictable and the indications are not settled yet. The reparative process of the decompressed femoral head is poorly understood. Seven cases in 5 patients were undertaken THRA following failed decompression and these were studied for the radiological and pathological changes of the core tracts. The lesions of failed cases were involved more than 1/3 of femoral head on MRI and all cases were stage II A or B. The extent of the necrotic area in MRI was enlarged with crack, sclerosis and sometimes gas collection. Depression of the subchondral plates were also observed. Capillary ingrowth or neovascularization was not found at all and there were only fibrosis, inflammatory response and foreign body reactions.
Capillaries ; Decompression* ; Depression ; Fibrosis ; Foreign Bodies ; Head* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Necrosis* ; Sclerosis

PURPOSE: To compare the tissue reactions of various water-soluble and oil-based contrast agents on the endometrium, salpingeat mucosa, and peritoneum. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three rabbits were used for evaluating the histologic reactions of uterine endometrium, salpinx, and peritoneum. Hysterosalpingography(HSG) was underwent in these rabbits by using Lipiodol, Hexabrix, Rayvist, Ultravist-300, Ultravist-370, and normal saline. Pathotogic results were obtained in each of the six groups from the uterine endometrium, salpingeal mucosa, and peritoneum without knowledge of the contrast agent used and time interval from HSG. RESULTS: Mild inflammations were observed in the endometrium, salpingeal mucosa, and peritoneum during the first week of HSG in all rabbits in which water-soluble contrast agents were used. Although there was no significant difference in the degree of inflammation among the groups using various contrast agents, the group with oil-based contrast agent(Lipiodoi) showed delayed absorption of contrast agent in the peritoneum, frequent intravasation, fat granuloma, peritoneal adhesion, or uterine infarction. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that water-soluble contrast agents can be used safely for HSG, but the use of oil-based contrast agent is questionable in safety and should be avoided in patients with tubal obstruction, salpingitis, or endometritis.
Absorption ; Contrast Media* ; Endometritis ; Endometrium* ; Ethiodized Oil ; Fallopian Tube Diseases ; Fallopian Tubes ; Female ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Infarction ; Inflammation ; Ioxaglic Acid ; Mucous Membrane* ; Peritoneum* ; Rabbits ; Salpingitis

Spontaneous testicular hemorrhagic necrosis is a rare disease usually associated with testicular torsion. Partially involved and suspicious testis tumor cases are also defined from orchiectomy specimens. Herein, a spontaneous hemorrhagic necrosis, without any testicular torsion, but with involvement of the whole testicle and epididymis, is reported. A 21 year old patient, who presented with a painless left testicular enlargement of several days duration was believed, based on physical examination, ultrasonography and elevation of serum LDH, to have a testicular tumor. Diagnosis was made only after radical orchiectomy and histopathological examination.
Diagnosis ; Epididymis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Male ; Necrosis* ; Orchiectomy ; Physical Examination ; Rare Diseases ; Spermatic Cord Torsion ; Testis* ; Ultrasonography ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) therapy on swallowing dysfunction in patients with chronic (more than 6 months) dysphagia caused by stroke. METHOD: A total of 16 patients with stroke-caused swallowing disorders based on a videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) were treated with NMES for two weeks. NMES was applied to the skin over the anterior neck muscles for one hour a day. Swallowing function was evaluated by the functional dysphagia scale using the VFSS, clinical dysphagia scale and the American Speech-Language Hearing Association National Outcomes Measurements System Swallowing Scale (ASHA NOMS scale) before and after electrical stimulation. Follow up VFSS was performed one month after intervention. RESULTS: After completing ten treatment sessions, aspiration, reflex coughing and the total score in the clinical dysphagia scale were significantly decreased (p<0.05). There was also a significant improvement in the ASHA NOMS scale (p<0.05). Regarding the functional dysphagia scale, the residue in the valleculae and piriformis sinus, and total scores were significantly decreased (p<0.05). Specifically, the scores of the pharyngeal phase were mainly decreased as compared to that of the oral phase. In addition, these effects were maintained one month after the intervention as measured with functional dysphagia scale. CONCLUSION: After ten sessions of NMES, we found improvement in dysphagia parameters in chronic dysphagia patients. Specifically, residue in the valleculae and piriformis sinus, and a parameter of the pharyngeal phase were significantly improved.
Cough ; Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders* ; Electric Stimulation Therapy* ; Electric Stimulation* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hearing ; Humans ; Neck Muscles ; Reflex ; Skin ; Stroke*

BACKGROUND: To investigate how many rookie pitchers suffered from injuries while playing in the amateur league without guidelines for prevention of excessive pitching, we analyzed their amateur pitching patterns based on the pitch count, use of breaking balls, and pitches during winter camp. METHODS: Forty-one rookie pitchers who graduated from high school or university in 2013 and joined professional baseball teams. Participants were interviewed by a trainer using our questionnaire. Injury inclusion criteria were 1) history of shoulder surgery, 2) history of elbow surgery, 3) shoulder pain requiring treatment, and 4) elbow pain requiring treatment. RESULTS: Mean number of pitches per game and warm-up pitches for practice was 84.5 pitches (range, 15 to 130 pitches) and 16.4 pitches (range, 2 to 210 pitches), respectively. Mean number of pitches during the last year was 906.9 (range, 80 to 2,000). Mean number of maximal pitches was 127 pitches (range, 50 to 210 pitches). Fourteen pitchers had pitched over 150 pitches. Twenty-seven pitchers (65.9%) had pitched in spite of enduring pain. During winter training (mean 1.8 months), mean number of pitches per day was 162.5 pitches, and 20 pitchers (48.8%) had practiced pitching excessively despite the cold weather. Twenty-six rookies (63.4%) had shoulder pain or history of shoulder surgery, and 31 pitchers (75.6%) had elbow pain or history of elbow surgery. Only four participants (9.8%) did not have pain and history of surgery. CONCLUSIONS: For young baseball pitchers, guidelines for prevention of excessive pitching and for regulating the winter training program may be needed.
Baseball* ; Education ; Elbow* ; Humans ; Shoulder Pain ; Shoulder* ; Weather

PURPOSE: In order to elucidate the neurotoxic mechanism of oxygen radicals which are pathological factor of ischemia, we evaluated the oxidant-induced neurotoxicity and the neuroprotective effect of antioxidant on cultured cerebral neurons derived from neonatal mouse. METHODS: Neurotoxic effect was investigated after cultured mouse neuronal cells were exposed to oxygen radicals which were generated enzymatically by reaction of xanthine oxidase (XO) and hypoxanthine (HX). And also the neuroprotective effect of antioxidant was assessed with catalase. Both effects determined by cell viability were assessesd by MTT assay and neurofilament enzymeimmuno assay (EIA). In order to see the histologic change microscopic exam also done on the cerebral neuronal cells. RESULTS: 1) Oxygen radicals were toxic on cultured mouse cerebral neurons in dose- and time-dependent manner. 2) The value of lethal concentration50 (LC50) of oxygen radicals was estimated at a concentration of 25mU/ml xanthine oxidase (XO) and 0.2mM hypoxanthine (HX) in these culture. 3) Catalase was effective in blocking the neurotoxicity induced by oxygen radicals at a concentration of 50ug/ml. 4) Oxygen radicals induced the decrease of cell number and the loss of neurites in cultured mouse cerebral neurons. CONCLUSION: It is suggest that oxygen radicals cause the neurotoxicity and the selective antioxidants such as catalase are very effective in blocking oxidant-mediated neurotoxicity on cultured cerebral neurons of neonatal mouse.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; Catalase ; Cell Count ; Cell Survival ; Hypoxanthine ; Ischemia ; Mice* ; Neurites ; Neurons* ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Oxygen* ; Reactive Oxygen Species* ; Xanthine Oxidase

Traumatic abdominal wall hernia after blunt abdominal trauma is rare. The prevalence of traumatic abdominal wall hernia in published series is approximately 1%. Recently, by the use of computed tomography has increased the number of occult traumatic abdominal wall hernias (TAWH). A 47-year-old woman presented to the emergency room soon after a traffic accident. She was fully conscious and complained of diffuse, dull, abdominal pain. She had a seat belt on at the time of the accident. Initial computed tomography showed that the lower left abdominal wall had a defect and that a part of the small bowel had herniated through the defect. During the operation, we made an incision at the defect site and confirmed the defect. The defect size was about 15x5 cm. The muscle layers were repaired in layers with absorbable sutures. Prolen mesh was layed down and fixed on the site of the repaired muscle defect. After 6 months, hernia had not recurred, and no weakness of the repaired abdominal wall layers was identified. The patient`s postoperative body functions were normal.
Abdominal Pain ; Abdominal Wall ; Accidents, Traffic ; Emergencies ; Female ; Hernia ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Muscles ; Prevalence ; Seat Belts ; Sutures

Thrombomodulin (TM) is thrombin receptor present on the luminal surface of endothelial cells. Because the thrombin-TM complex acts as an anticoagulant, the functional variants or deficiency of TM may lead to increment of thrombotic tendency. In this study, we screened the genetic variants of the TM gene in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) and analyzed the genotype to elucidate the effects of genetic variations of TM gene on the development of the MI. We screened a promoter region and coding sequence of the TM gene using single strand conformation polymorphism-heteroduplex analysis and identified three common genetic variants: those were TM G-33A, TM Ala455Val, and TM C1922T. The genotype frequencies were investigated in the patients with MI (n=234) and control subjects (n=291) by the method of allele-specific oligomer hybridization. The frequencies of mutant genotypes (TM -33A, TM 455Val, and TM 1922T) were higher in patient group compared to the control subjects in males while there were no significant differences in females. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, TM 455Val and TM 1922T alleles were independent risk factors for MI (OR[95% CI: 1.799[1.125-2.878] p=0.014 and 5.624[1.019-31.025], p=0.048, respectively) in males. However, the genetic variations were not independent risk factors for MI in females. There were significant linkage disequilibriums among three genetic variants. These linkage disequilibriums explain the similar effects of three genetic variants on the development of MI. To investigate the effect of the TM G-33A mutation on TM promoter activity, the two TM promoter constructs (pTM-355 and pTM-125, bearing TM -33G or TM -33A) containing of firefly luciferase gene were transfected into HepG2, BAE, and CHO cells. The promoter activities were higher in the promoter constructs with TM -33G compared to the constructs with TM -33A in pTM-355. These results suggest the possibility of the positive predisposing effect of TM -33A allele on MI in males. The functional study for TM Ala455Val and TM C1922T should be followed to elucidate the genotype effects of these mutations on the development of MI. In this study, we identified three genetic variants of TM gene and showed the significant associations between genetic variants and MI in males. These results proposed that TM gene is an attractive candidate for genetic risk factor for MI in Koreans.
Alleles ; Animals ; CHO Cells ; Clinical Coding ; Cricetinae ; Endothelial Cells ; Female ; Fireflies ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Humans ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Logistic Models ; Luciferases ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Phenobarbital ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Receptors, Thrombin ; Risk Factors* ; Thrombomodulin