We present two patients with a cerebral palsy who developed cervical myelopathy long from term involuntary movements. Frequently instability with a premature onset of spondylosis of the cervical spine is found in an athetoid cerebral palsy patient. These structural abnormalities appear to be related to the athetoid motion of neck in a cerebral palsy. The combination of a disk degeneration and listhetic instability with a narrow canal predisposes these patients for the relatively rapid progression to a devastating neurological defect. Early surgical management is a treatment of choice for the cervical myelopathy associated with an athetoid cerebral palsy.
Cerebral Palsy* ; Dyskinesias ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; Neck ; Spinal Cord Diseases* ; Spine ; Spondylosis

OBJECTIVE: In the human body the embryo initially gmws in the fallopian tube which is maintained in an 3-8% O2 concentration environment, and various substances such as growth factors and antioxidants present in tbe tubal fluid assists in maintaining a healthy environment for embryo development. But in IVF programs embryo cultures are conducted in incubators with 21.9% O2 and 5% CO2 condition, and such high oxygen concentrations have been reported to increase the production of oxygen free radicals within the embryo and is detrimental to the growth and development of the embryo. The objective of this study, therefore, is to determine the culture conditions which will decrease oxygen free radical production and thereby minimize the injury to the embryo. METHODS: Six to eight week old ICR strain mice embryos were cultured in 5% or 21.9% O2 conditions and in culture media to which inaement concentrations of superoxide dismutase (SOD) had been and the H2O2 concentration within the embryo, embryo developmental rate, and degree of fragmentation of the embryos was investigated. RESULTS: The control gmup embryos which were cultured in 21.9% O2 condition without addition of SOD showed developmental arrest at the 2-cell stage or fragmentation, while those cultured in 21.9% O2 condition with addition of SOD showed development to the blastocyst stage with deaeased fragmentation. In particular, the blastulation and fragmentation rates were the lowest in the group to which 500 IU/ml of SOD was added, but in the 5% O2 enviranment group many embryos reached the blastocyst stage and with no difference in frapnentation with or without addition of SOD. The HO relative intensity (120.5+/-20.2) within the embryos cultured in 21.9% O2 environment without SOD was significantly higher than that (56.8+/-10.8) of group with SOD (p<0.05). As showing that in the 5% O2 environment group without SOD it was 43.8+/-7.8 and in the group with SOD it was 37.3+/-5.4, the H2O2 concentration within embryos cultured in 5% 02 condition was significantly lower those that of 21,9% 02 environment regardless of SOD addition (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The optimal oxygen concentration in incubator for mice embryo cultures is that which is similar to the 5% 0 concentration in vivo. When 20% 02 incubators are routinely used, the addition of SOD to the culture media will decrease the H2O2 concentration within the embryos with subsequent improvement in development. The optimal concentration which should be used is thought to be 500 IU/ml. It is suggested that the use of the above method in human IVF-ET programs will lead to improved embryo quality and enhanced pregnancy rates.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; Blastocyst ; Culture Media ; Embryonic Development ; Embryonic Structures* ; Fallopian Tubes ; Female ; Free Radicals ; Growth and Development ; Human Body ; Humans ; Incubators ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Mice* ; Oxygen* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Superoxide Dismutase* ; Superoxides*

BACKGROUND: Previously developed diagnostic assays to detect antibodies against HIV have difficulties in diagnosing the infected blood prior to seroconversion. Various 3.5 generation HIV diagnostic assays developed in the Republic of Korea also have the same problem. Newly developed LG HIV Ag-Ab Plus (LG Life Science, Seoul, Korea) is the product to overcome this limitation. METHODS: Sensitivity of both LG HIV Ag-Ab Plus and Enzygnost HIV Integral (Dade Behring, Marburg, Germany) were evaluated by using 82 anti-HIV 1 positive samples, 2 anti-HIV 1 group O positive samples (Vital products, Boynton Beach, FL, USA), 25 anti-HIV 2 positive samples, 5 anti-HIV panels (Boston Biomedica, Inc., MA, USA). Specificity of both product were evaluated using 1081 Anti-HIV negative samples (1000 healthy donors, 13 alcoholics sera, 20 end-stage renal disease sera, 20 HBsAg positive sera, 22 anti-HBs antibody positive sera, 6 anti-HCV positive sera). Seroconversion window was evaluated by using 4 seroconversion panels. Intrapersonal and interpersonal reproducibility of the test were also evaluated. RESULTS: Sensitivity of LG HIV Ag-Ab Plus to sera of healthy donor was 99.9% and that to sera of patients with other underlying diseases was 100%. Sensitivity of both LG HIV Ag-Ab plus and Enzygnost HIV integral assays to sera of HIV infected patients was 100%. Sensitivity of LG HIV Ag-Ab Plus to BBI panel was comparable or better than that of Enzygnost HIV Integral. Analysis of window period using seroconversion panels showed no difference between both tests. CONCLUSION: Sensitivity and specificity of LG HIV Ag-Ab Plus was comparable to that of Enzygnost HIV Integral. It also had an excellent result in analysis of window period using seroconversion panels. So, newly developed LG HIV Ag-Ab Plus assay, by using it in screening donated blood, may provide significant contribution in safety of donated blood.
Alcoholics ; Antibodies ; Biological Science Disciplines ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; HIV* ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Mass Screening ; Republic of Korea ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Seoul ; Tissue Donors

OBJECTIVE: We used the radiologic foot mapping system to evaluate the characteristics of hallux valgus. METHOD: We studied the radiographs of 47 feet of 29 patients who had the hallux valgus. The weight bearing foot AP and lateral views of both sides were taken. The hallux valgus angle, first and second, first and fifth, and second and fifth metatarsal angles were measured with conventional methods. In addition we measured metatarsus primus varus (MPV) and proximal first metatarsal inclination (PFMI) angles. On lateral views, we measured calcaneal pitch, talar pitch and arch depth. By mapping system, we marked T1 through T5, MH1 through MH5, MB1 through MB5, CC, TN and NC, respectively. RESULTS: The first and fifth metatarsal angles were significantly larger in the patients with hallux valgus (p<0.05). The metatarsus primus varus angle was significantly larger in the patients with hallux valgus (p<0.05). The X coordinates at T1 and MH1 were significantly larger in the patients with hallux valgus (p<0.05). The Y coordinates of the MB1, NC and TN were significantly larger negative values in the hallux valgus patients (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In hallux valgus, the first metatarsocuneiform joint is the site of origin of metatarsus primus varus. The lateral splaying was present from the 5th toe to tarsal bones in hallux valgus groups.
Foot* ; Hallux Valgus* ; Hallux* ; Humans ; Joints ; Metatarsal Bones ; Tarsal Bones ; Toes ; Weight-Bearing

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the survival rate among Korean dialysis patients changed during the period between 2005 and 2008 in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 32357 patients who began dialysis between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2008 were eligible for analysis. Baseline demographics, comorbidities, and mortality data were obtained from the database of the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service. RESULTS: Kaplan-Meier curves according to the year of dialysis initiation showed that the survival rate was significantly different (log-rank test, p=0.005), most notably among peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients (p<0.001), although not among hemodialysis (HD) patients (p=0.497). In multivariate analysis, however, patients initiating either HD or PD in 2008 also had a significantly lower risk of mortality compared to those who began dialysis in 2005. Subgroup survival analysis among patients initiating dialysis in 2008 revealed that the survival rate of PD patients was significantly higher than that of HD patients (p=0.001), and the survival benefit of PD over HD remained in non-diabetic patients aged less than 65 years after adjustment of covariates. CONCLUSION: Survival of Korean patients initiating dialysis from 2005 to 2008 has improved over time, particularly in PD patients. In addition, survival rates among patients initiating dialysis in 2008 were different according to patients' age and diabetes, thus we need to consider these factors when dialysis modality should be chosen.
Adult ; Aged ; Comorbidity ; Female ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/*mortality/therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Peritoneal Dialysis/*statistics & numerical data ; Registries ; Renal Dialysis/*statistics & numerical data ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk ; Survival Analysis ; Survival Rate/*trends ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: It is important to know one's own exact blood type. While the primary purpose of blood donation is an adequate blood supply, it is also an excellent opportunity for donors to confirm their blood type. Over 5% of the total population in Korea donated bloods in 1997. This study was carried out to investigate the relationship between increased participation in blood drives and an increase in members of the public's knowledge of their own blood type. METHODS: 271,346 blood donors at Dung-Bu Red Cross Blood Center answered to a questionnaire. The discrepancy ratio between perceived and actual ABO blood type was obtained through answerey questionnaire. Another 3,058 answered a more detailed questionnaire to probe their general knowledge of ABO and Rh(D) blood types were analyzed. RESLUTS: The discrepancy ratio between real and perceived ABO blood types was 1% but only 90.7% were confident of their ABO blood type. Only 58.3% were correctly answered to their Rh(D) blood type, and 98.7% of the donors who knew his or her Rh(D) blood type as negative were proved to be Rh(D) positive. The ABO discrepancy ratio was lower in females and it has decreased as blood donations increased (p<0.01). The discrepancy ratio increases with the age of the donor, and respondents over 30 had a higher discrepancy than those under 30 (p<0.01). Knowledge of Rh(D) blood type in transfusion was not well known to the general public. CONCLUSION: The study shows that the discrepancy ratio between real and perceived ABO blood type has decreased as a national blood donation rate has increased. Nevertheless, to increase the public's knowledge of blood type in relation to transfusion, especially to increase awareness of Rh(D) blood type, it is needed to conduct test exactly and to educate the result and general knowledge of blood type and tranfusion to the public.
Blood Donors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Questionnaires ; Red Cross ; Tissue Donors* ; Volunteers*

BACKGROUND: Technique failure is an important issue for peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. In this study, we aimed to analyze technique failure rate in detail and to determine the predictors for technique failure in Korea. METHODS: We identified all patients who had started dialysis between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2008, in Korea, using the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database. A total of 7,614 PD patients were included, and the median follow-up was 24.9 months. RESULTS: The crude incidence rates of technique failure in PD patients were 54.1 per 1,000 patient-years. The cumulative 1-, 2-, and 3-year technique failure rates of PD patients were 4.9%, 10.3%, and 15.6%, respectively. However, those technique failure rates by Kaplan–Meier analysis were overestimated compared with the values by competing risks analysis, and the differences increased with the follow-up period. In multivariate analyses, diabetes mellitus and Medical Aid as a crude reflection of low socioeconomic status were independent risk factors in both the Cox proportional hazard model and Fine and Gray subdistribution model. In addition, cancer was independently associated with a lower risk of technique failure in the Fine and Gray model. CONCLUSION: Technique failure was a major concern in patients initiating PD in Korea, especially in diabetic patients and Medical Aid beneficiaries. The results of our study offer a basis for risk stratification for technique failure.
Diabetes Mellitus ; Dialysis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Insurance, Health ; Korea ; Multivariate Analysis ; Peritoneal Dialysis* ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Risk Factors ; Social Class

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Since comorbidities are major determinants of modality choice, and also interact with dialysis modality on mortality outcomes, we examined the pattern of modality choice according to comorbidities and then evaluated how such choices affected mortality in incident dialysis patients. METHODS: We analyzed 32,280 incident dialysis patients in Korea. Patterns in initial dialysis choice were assessed by multivariate logistic regression analyses. Multivariate Poisson regression analyses were performed to evaluate the effects of interactions between comorbidities and dialysis modality on mortality and to quantify these interactions using the synergy factor. RESULTS: Prior histories of myocardial infarction (p = 0.031), diabetes (p = 0.001), and congestive heart failure (p = 0.003) were independent factors favoring the initiation with peritoneal dialysis (PD), but were associated with increased mortality with PD. In contrast, a history of cerebrovascular disease and 1-year increase in age favored initiation with hemodialysis (HD) and were related to a survival benefit with HD (p < 0.001, both). While favoring initiation with HD, having Medical Aid (p = 0.001) and male gender (p = 0.047) were related to increased mortality with HD. Furthermore, although the severity of comorbidities did not inf luence dialysis modality choice, mortality in incident PD patients was significantly higher compared to that in HD patients as the severity of comorbidities increased (p for trend < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Some comorbidities exerted independent effects on initial choice of dialysis modality, but this choice did not always lead to the best results. Further analyses of the pattern of choosing dialysis modality according to baseline comorbid conditions and related consequent mortality outcomes are needed.
Cerebrovascular Disorders ; Comorbidity ; Dialysis* ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Korea* ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Mortality* ; Myocardial Infarction ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Renal Dialysis

Kikuchi's disease is a self-limiting benign disease characterized by cervical lymphadenopathy, but it can be mistaken for malignant disease, and when involved lymph nodes are unusually located, diagnosis can be more difficult. The authors report the case of a 19-year-old man with Kikuchi's disease, who had isolated intraabdominal lymphadenopathy and increased 18-fluoro-deoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in positron emission tomographycomputed tomography (PET-CT). Although its incidence is extremely rare, intra-abdominal Kikuchi's disease with increased FDG uptake in PET-CT image should be considered in the differential diagnosis when constitutional symptoms mimic those of malignant lymphoma.
Abdomen ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Electrons ; Histiocytic Necrotizing Lymphadenitis ; Humans ; Hydrazines ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Lymphoma ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To compare the long-term effect and safety of an epidural steroid injection in spinal stenosis patients, with or without local anesthetics. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients diagnosed with spinal stenosis were included and randomly divided into two groups. Translaminar epidural and selective nerve root spinal injection procedures were performed using steroids mixed with local anesthetics or normal saline. The effects of spinal injection procedures were measured with visual analogue scale (VAS) and functional rate index (FRI). These measurements were performed before injection, at 1 month after injection and at 3 months after injection. The occurrence of side effects was investigated each time. RESULTS: The VAS and FRI scores were significantly reduced in both the local anesthetics group and normal saline group at 1 and 3 months after the injection. However, there was no significant difference in VAS and FRI score reduction between the two groups each time. Side effects are not noted in both groups. CONCLUSION: The spinal injection procedures using steroids mixed either with local anesthetics or normal saline have an effect in reducing pain and improving functional activities. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in relation to side effects and the long-term effects of pain and function.
Anesthetics ; Anesthetics, Local* ; Humans ; Injections, Epidural ; Injections, Spinal ; Spinal Stenosis* ; Steroids