This study was performed in order to evaluate the sero-epidemiological status of toxoplasmosis in pregnant Korean women. Among 5, 175 sera and 750 amniotic fluid samples obtained from pregnant women, 41 serum samples (0.79%) and 10 (1.33%) amniotic fluid samples tested positive for IgG antibodies by ELISA. Fifty one cases showing a score more than 0.25 on ELISA were tested for PCR reaction against the SAG1 gene. Only one case of the 51 ELISA positive cases exhibited a positive reaction on all tests. This case had a history of acute nephropyelitis during early pregnancy, but fortunately, had delivered a phenotypically healthy baby. In this study, the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women was found to be comparatively low, consistent with previous reports from Korea. However our trials, performed with a variety of diagnostic tools, were considered to be useful for the precise diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis.
Adult ; Animals ; Antibodies, Protozoan/*blood ; Female ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications/diet therapy/*epidemiology ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Toxoplasma/*immunology ; Toxoplasmosis/*epidemiology

No abstract available.
Funnel Chest*

No abstract available.
Trophoblasts*

OBJECTIVE: Spinal instrumentation without fusion often fails due to biological failure of intervertebral joints (spontaneous fusion, degeneration, etc). The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of fixation rigidity on viability of intervertebral joints. METHODS: Twenty pigs in growing period were subjected to posterior segmental fixation. Twelve were fixed with a rigid fixation system(RF) while eight were fixed with a flexible unconstrained implant(FF). At the time of the surgery, a scoliosis was created to monitor fixation adequacy. The pigs were subjected to periodic radiological examinations and 12pigs (six in RF, six in FF) were euthanized at 12-18months postoperatively for analysis. RESULTS: The initial scoliotic curve was reduced from 31+/-5degrees to 27+/-8degrees in RF group (p=0.37) and from 19+/-4degrees to 17+/-5degrees in FF group (p=0.21). Although severe disc degeneration and spontaneous fusion of facet joints were observed in RF group, disc heights of FF group were well maintained without major signs of degeneration. CONCLUSION: The viability of the intervertebral joints depends on motion spinal fixation. Systems allowing intervertebral micromotion may preserve the viability of intervertebral discs and the facet joint articular cartilages while maintaining a reasonably stable fixation.
Cartilage, Articular ; Intervertebral Disc ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; Joints* ; Scoliosis ; Swine ; Zygapophyseal Joint

No abstract available.
Birds* ; Orientia tsutsugamushi* ; Rickettsia*

Spinal epidural abscesses were evaluated using Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 19 surgically and clinically confirmed cases, including 13 with tuberculous spondylitis and 6 with pyogenic spondylitis. We observed rim enhancement patterns in 10 patients and diffuse enhancement patterns in 9 patients. The spread patterns were localized to ventral or dorsal epidural space and encircled entire epidural space. We conclude that rim enhancement indicates abscess and diffuse enhancement indicates granulation tissue and fibrosis. Tuberculous epidural abscess spreads to ventral epidural space and pyogenic epidural abscess encircles entire epidural space.
Abscess ; Epidural Abscess* ; Epidural Space ; Fibrosis ; Granulation Tissue ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Spondylitis

Spinal stenosis is defined as diminition in the size of the spinal canal that produces nerve entrapment resulting in symptoms, the most common of which is low back pain & radiating pain to leg. The central spinal canal contains the dura and other meninges, and inside these, the nerves of the cauda equina. The nerve root canal contains the spinal nerve from the point which the dura leaves the intervertebral foramina. Each foramen is a door through which the nerve enters to the nerve root canal. In its canal the nerve passes behind the disc and then in front of the superior articular process of the lower vertebra. Pathological and anatomical changes by various cases can produce narrowing of the central and nerve root canal. But they are sometimes not important because they are not severe enough to cause nerve entrapment and such medical treatment, Spinal stenosis is only significant when nerves are entraped, indicated by severe leg pain and sometime by sensory and motor changes. Spinal stenosis is classified into two groups: congenital and acquired. Among acquired groups, the combined type is most common and significant. Authors have experienced 61 cases of spinal stenosis and among these, 58 cases were treated surgically between 1981 and 1984 at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Eulji Glneral Hospital, Daejeon. The following results were obtained. 1. There were 52 males and 33 females, and peak incidence in 5th and 6th decade(69%) 2. The most common type by Arnoldi's etiological classification was combined type(69%) 3. The most common chief complaint on admission was low back pain and radiating pain to leg (43%) 4. The most common sign was limitation of lumbar hyperextension (75.9%) and S.L.R.test was positive in only 12 cases(20.7%). 5. The common findings of myelography were hour glss appearance (39.7%) and complete block (27.6%), and simple radiologic findings were hypertrophy of facet joint, osteophyte formation in the periphery of vertebral bodies involved and narrowing of disc speace. 6. The A-P diameter of spinal canal was between 14.44 mm and 14.97 mm in simple findings, and the A-P diameter of dural sac between 8.10 mm and 9.19 mm in myelography. The spinal index was between 1:4.90 and 1:5.60. 7. Decompressive surgery was done in the 2 levels in 39 cases (67.3%), 3 levels in 10 cases (17.2%) and 1 level in 9 cases (15.5%). Discectomy was done in 40 cases (69%) and partial laminectomy was done in 58 cases (100%). 8. The most common site was L3,4-L4,5 (36.2%).
Cauda Equina ; Classification ; Dental Pulp Cavity ; Diskectomy ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Incidence ; Laminectomy ; Leg ; Low Back Pain ; Male ; Meninges ; Myelography ; Nerve Compression Syndromes ; Osteophyte ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Nerves ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spine ; Zygapophyseal Joint

No Abstract Available.
Depression* ; Primary Health Care*

No Abstract Available.
Depression* ; Primary Health Care*

BACKGROUND: Cerebral white matter lesions(WMLs), such as leukoaraiosis, may be related to damage from cerebral ischemia and may also be associated with the degenerative process. The apolipoprotein E (APOE) 4 allele is a risk factor for degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer`s disease, and ischemic brain damage through acceleration of atherosclerosis. No study has been performed regarding WMLs and APOE genotype in Korea. We investigated the association between WMLs and APOE among Koreans. METHODS: Brain MRI was performed in 225 subjects(ages 61 to 85 years) without neuropsychiatric disease randomly selected from the Ansan Health Cohort Study. WMLs observed on 225 MRI scans were rated in terms of severity by 2 raters. All study subjects underwent APOE genotyping. RESULTS: WMLs were observed in 109(48.4%) of subjects. In the subjects with WMLs, the distribution of APOE genotypes was 0.9% for epsilon 2/epsilon 2, 11.0% for epsilon2/epsilon3, 1.8% for epsilon2/epsilon4, 61.5% for epsilon3/epsilon3, 22.9% for epsilon3/epsilon4, and 1.8% for epsilon4/epsilon4, respectively. The distribution of APOE genotypes did not differ between subjects with and without WMLs. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that there is no association between WMLs and APOE genotypes in Koreans.
Acceleration ; Alleles ; Apolipoproteins E ; Apolipoproteins* ; Atherosclerosis ; Brain ; Brain Ischemia ; Cohort Studies ; Genotype ; Gyeonggi-do ; Korea ; Leukoaraiosis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Risk Factors