No abstract available.
Coronary Artery Bypass* ; Coronary Vessels*

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the efficacy of two chemiluminescence immunoassays that detect treponemal antibodies, Centaur Syphilis and Immulite Syphilis, in comparison with Mediace Treponema pallidum latex agglutination (TPLA). METHODS: The study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, we tested 1,147 serum samples that were sequentially submitted for routine syphilis serology. In the second phase, we tested a panel of 119 frozen serum samples that had previously tested positive by Mediace RPR. The kappa value, total agreement percentage, and sensitivity and specificity were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 1,147 random samples, 24 (2.09%) tested positive with Centaur Syphilis, 16 (1.39%) with Immulite Syphilis, and 19 (1.66%) with Mediace TPLA. Of the 119 Mediace RPR-positive samples, 103 (86.6%) tested positive with Centaur Syphilis, 101 (84.9%%) with Immulite Syphilis, and 105 (88.2%) with Mediace TPLA. The percent agreements (kappa values) were 98.8% (0.934) between Centaur Syphilis and Mediace TPLA, 99.0% (0.94) between Immulite Syphilis and Mediace TPLA, and 99.2% (0.955) between Centaur Syphilis and Immulite Syphilis. To measure the sensitivity and specificity of each treponemal test, samples showing agreement in three or four of the tests (three treponemal tests and Mediace-RPR) were regarded as true positive (n=117) or true negative (n=1,142). The respective values for sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 99.6% for Centaur Syphilis, 98.3% and 100% for Immulite Syphilis, and 99.2% and 99.7% for Mediace TPLA. CONCLUSIONS: Results from the three treponemal assays were in good agreement. Greater sensitivity of Centaur Syphilis and greater specificity of Immulite Syphilis were suggested.
Agglutination ; Antibodies* ; Immunoassay ; Latex ; Luminescence ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Syphilis* ; Treponema pallidum

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the efficacy of two chemiluminescence immunoassays that detect treponemal antibodies, Centaur Syphilis and Immulite Syphilis, in comparison with Mediace Treponema pallidum latex agglutination (TPLA). METHODS: The study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, we tested 1,147 serum samples that were sequentially submitted for routine syphilis serology. In the second phase, we tested a panel of 119 frozen serum samples that had previously tested positive by Mediace RPR. The kappa value, total agreement percentage, and sensitivity and specificity were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 1,147 random samples, 24 (2.09%) tested positive with Centaur Syphilis, 16 (1.39%) with Immulite Syphilis, and 19 (1.66%) with Mediace TPLA. Of the 119 Mediace RPR-positive samples, 103 (86.6%) tested positive with Centaur Syphilis, 101 (84.9%%) with Immulite Syphilis, and 105 (88.2%) with Mediace TPLA. The percent agreements (kappa values) were 98.8% (0.934) between Centaur Syphilis and Mediace TPLA, 99.0% (0.94) between Immulite Syphilis and Mediace TPLA, and 99.2% (0.955) between Centaur Syphilis and Immulite Syphilis. To measure the sensitivity and specificity of each treponemal test, samples showing agreement in three or four of the tests (three treponemal tests and Mediace-RPR) were regarded as true positive (n=117) or true negative (n=1,142). The respective values for sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 99.6% for Centaur Syphilis, 98.3% and 100% for Immulite Syphilis, and 99.2% and 99.7% for Mediace TPLA. CONCLUSIONS: Results from the three treponemal assays were in good agreement. Greater sensitivity of Centaur Syphilis and greater specificity of Immulite Syphilis were suggested.
Agglutination ; Antibodies* ; Immunoassay ; Latex ; Luminescence ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Syphilis* ; Treponema pallidum

A retrospective study of 29 cases of brain-stem gliomas(BSG's) from 1989 to 1993, was performed to determine prognostic factors. Our study also analyzed clinical features, growth patterns, pathologic findings and modalities of treatment in patients with brain-stem gliomas. The patients ranged in age from 6 to 65 years, most commonly in the first decade. The symptom duration prior to diagnosis was 1/2 to 6 months(mean 1 1/2 months). The most common symptom and sign were cranial nerve palsies, especially 6th or 7th cranial nerve. The growth patterns of BSG's were classified into diffuse tumors(7 patients), exophytic(9 patients), focal(2 patients) and cervicomedullary(1 patient). Twenty three of 29 patients were diagnosed pathologically by means of stereotactic biopsy(13 patients) and ope surgery(10 patients). The Pathologic findings were low grade astrocytoma in 9 patients, oligodendroglioma(3 patients), malignant astrocytoma(7 patients), and glioblastoma mulitiforme(4 patients). A significant correlation between diffuse growth pattern and malignant pathologic finding could be obtained(P=0.05). The methods of radiation therapy for BSG's were conventional(10 patients), hyperfractionated(13 patients), and Gamma knife radiosurgery(6 patients). The median survival time was 12 months. The Poor prognostic factors determined in our study were 1) short symptom duration prior to diagnosis(< or = 2 months), 2) diffuse growth pattern, 3) malignant pathologic finding, 4) tumor without cystic portion, and 5) tumor without hydrocephalus.
Astrocytoma ; Cranial Nerve Diseases ; Cranial Nerves ; Diagnosis ; Glioblastoma ; Glioma ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pathology* ; Prognosis* ; Retrospective Studies

The purpose of this study was to construct a Korean version of the Geriatric Social Readjustment Questionnaire (K-GSRQ), to investigate its applicability to the elderly and to compare cross-cultural differences in the perception of the life events between Koreans and Americans. The K-GSRQ consists of 33 items. Most of the life events considered as crucial in old age were similar in ranking in comparison between Koreans and Americans. Some differences in ranking can be attributed to the differences in Socio-cultural backgrounds. The K-GSRQ was applied to controls, neurotic cases and cases with physical illnesses. The result suggest that the Korean version of the Geriatric Social Readjustment Questionnaire is applicable for the study of the health status of the elderly in Korea.
Aged ; Cross-Cultural Comparison ; *Geriatrics ; Human ; Korea ; Life Change Events ; *Perception ; *Questionnaires ; *Social Adjustment ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; United States

PURPOSE: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common form of leukemia in western countries but it has been reported rarely in Korea. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics, treatment responses and prognosis of the patients with CLL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 17 patients with CLL diagnosed at the Catholic University of Taegu-Hyosung & Kyungpook National University Hospital from Jan. 1986 to Mar. 1996. RESULTS: There were 9 males and 8 females and the mean age was 55 years. The majority of patients had systemic symptoms (77%) and advanced clinical stage (Binet stage C, 70%) at the time of diagnosis. The bone marrow histology was reviewed in 13 cases and patients were subdivided into those with a diffuse (9cases) and nondiffuse (4cases) pattern of bone marrow histology. In patients with advanced clinical stage, diffuse pattern was predominated and showed poor survival. 14 patients were treated with chlorambucil/steroid or combination chemotherapy. Among the 13 evaluable patients, 1 (8%) achieved a complete response and 7 (54%) achieved partial responses, and median survival duration was 18months. 11 patients died after 2~18 months of follow-up and infection was the main cause of death. CONCLUSION: Poor prognostic factors, such as high blood lymphocyte counts, diffuse bone marrow involvement pattern & advanced clinical stage, are common in our patients at presentation & showed poor survival.
Bone Marrow ; Cause of Death ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Korea ; Leukemia ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell* ; Lymphocyte Count ; Male ; Medical Records ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: We wished to compare the ability of ultrasonography and radiography performed on the same day to detect rib fractures in minor chest injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred and fifteen patients with minor chest injuries were selected. Radiography and ultrasonography were performed on the same day with these patients. Chest wall pain was the only presenting symptom. Two radiologists performed ultrasonography. Fractures were identified by a disruption of the anterior margin of the rib and costal cartilage. The incidence and location of fractures and complications revealed by radiography and ultrasonography were compared. RESULTS: Radiographs revealed the presence of 70 rib fractures in 50 (23%) of 215 patients and ultrasonography revealed the presence of 203 rib fractures in 133 (62%) of 215 patients. Ultrasonography uniquely identified 133 rib fractures in 83 patients. Ultrasonography identified a 2.9 fold increase in the number of fractures in a 2.6 fold number of subjects as compared to radiography. Of the 203 sonographically detected fractures, 201 were located in the rib, one was located at the costochondral junction, and one in the costal cartilage. There were no complications seen by either radiography or ultrasonography. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography reveals more fractures than those that may be overlooked on radiography for minor chest injuries.
Cartilage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Radiography* ; Rib Fractures* ; Ribs* ; Thoracic Injuries* ; Thoracic Wall ; Thorax* ; Ultrasonography*

PURPOSE: Loss of hippocampal interneurons in dentate gyrus has been reported in patients with severe temporal lobe epilepsy and in animals treated with kainic acid(KA). Interneurons contain Ca2+- binding protein parvalbumin(PV). The effects of kainic acid on parvalbumin-immunoreactive (PV-IR) interneurons in dentate gyrus were investigated in organotypic hippocampal slice cultures. METHODS: Cultured hippocampal slices from postnatal day nine C57/BL6 mice were exposed to 10 muM KA, and were observed at 0, 8, 24, 48, 72 hours after a one hour KA exposure. Neuronal injury was determined by morphologic changes of PV-IR interneuron in dentate gyrus. RESULTS: Transient(1 hour) exposure of hippocampal explant cultures to KA produced marked varicosities in dendrites of PV-IR interneuron in dentate gyrus and the shaft of interbeaded dendrite is often much thinner than those in control. The presence of varicosities in dendrites was reversible with KA washout. The dendrites of KA treated explants were no longer beaded at 8, 24, 48 and 72 hours after KA exposure. The number of cells in PV-IR interneurons in dentate gyrus was decreased at 0, 8 hours after exposure. But there was no significant difference in 24, 48 and 72 hours recovery group compared with control group. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that loss of PV-IR interneurons in dentate gyrus is transient, and is not accompanied by PV-IR interneuronal cell death.
Animals ; Carrier Proteins ; Cell Death ; Dendrites ; Dentate Gyrus* ; Epilepsy* ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe ; Humans ; Interneurons* ; Kainic Acid ; Mice* ; Neurons

Milia are benign primary or secondary keratinous cysts. Multiple eruptive milia (MEM) and milia en plaque (MEP) are rarely reported. A 21-year-old male presented with multiple skin-colored papules on the abdomen and both acral regions, and erythematous plaques featuring similar papules on the wrist and the dorsa of the feet. A biopsy confirmed MEP and he was diagnosed with both MEM and MEP. We thus report a rare case of simultaneous MEM and MEP.
Abdomen ; Biopsy ; Foot ; Humans ; Keratosis ; Male ; Skin Diseases ; Wrist ; Young Adult*

Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor is a neoplasm that most often arises in anatomically discernible peripheral nerves or neurofibroma. This rare tumor usually has a strong association with neurofibromatosis type 1. Nearly half of these malignant tumors arise in individuals affected with neurofibromatosis type 1. Neurofibromas often first appear around the time of puberty, increase in size and number during pregnancy, and shrink after giving birth. Because growth hormone (GH) concentration increases during puberty and pregnancy, it is possible that GH influences the growth of these tumors. A 33-year-old pregnant woman presented with a 4-month history of a painful, huge mass growing on the right breast. She suffered from neurofibromatosis type 1, with multiple cafe au lait spots and neurofibromas. The clinical and histopathological findings showed a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor. We report a case of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor on the right breast in a pregnant woman with neurofibromatosis type 1.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Breast ; Cafe-au-Lait Spots ; Female ; Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Neurofibroma ; Neurofibromatoses* ; Neurofibromatosis 1 ; Parturition ; Peripheral Nerves* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Puberty