Recently, the importance of interferons as immune modulators has been recognized. Measurement of serum or tissue levels give only a partial picture of interferon activity, since antiviral effects persist after levels become undetectable. Neverthless, serum levels correlate reasonably well with clinical effects. Authors have analyzed the serum interferon levels in 12 patients with varicelIa and 25 with herpes zoster and the results are compared with healthy normal control. The results are as follows. The mean value of serum interferon levels showed no significant difference between patients group with varicella and with herpes zoster (8. 4+8, 5units/ml) and normal healthy control group (6. 2+7. 2 units/ml), 2, The mean value of serum interferon levels showed no significant difference between patients group with varicella (9. 2+7. 8 unit/ml) and normal healthy control group. 3 The mean value of serum interferon levels showed no significant difference between patients group with herpes zoster (8. I+9. 0 units/ml) and normal healthy control group. 4 The mean value of serum interferon levels showed no significant difference between patients group of varicella and those of herpes zoster.
Chickenpox ; Herpes Zoster ; Herpesvirus 3, Human* ; Humans ; Interferons*

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Infant*

OBJECTIVES: To inquire the prevalence and the risk factors for myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) on young boys in order to use these results as the fundamental data for the prevention of their MPS. METHODS: For 7 days in May 1999, this research was taken on 489 male students ranging from 6th to 12th grade. We randomly selected a class for every group and from these classes we operated physical examinations, self-reported questionnaires and from a rehabilitation doctor, MPS test was taken. Thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis were also taken by using the inclinometer. We defined MPS as a regional pain complaint, palpable taut band that is painful on compression. RESULTS: The shoulder MPS prevalence of the subjects were 29.7 persons/100 persons. The statistics revealed that as grades went up, the percentage significantly increased in the MPS prevalence. As of case-control study, 145 students who were tested postive in all aspects were placed as cases, and 176 students who were perfectly normal as controls on risk factors. As a result of comparing the student groups who were satisfied with their chairs to the student groups were not satisfied, the latter showed a significantly higher odds ratio (p<0.01). By the multiple logistic regression test, we concluded that the MPS disease was prevailed far more in the students in the higher grades (Odds ratio: 1.16, 95% C.I.: 1.03-1.31), and also those who were dissatisfied with their chairs than in the ones who were satisfied (Odds ratio: 1.92, 95% C.I.: 1.17-3.17). CONCLUSIONS: Significant correlations showed between the MPS diagnosed group and the students who are dissatisfied with their chairs. As a result, more research and observation has to be made concerning this disease, and the desks and chairs should be adjusted to suit the student? physical standards.
Animals ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; Logistic Models ; Lordosis ; Male ; Myofascial Pain Syndromes* ; Odds Ratio ; Physical Examination ; Prevalence* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rehabilitation ; Risk Factors* ; Shoulder

Clinical findings, electrocardiographic voltage and left ventricular function were evaluated in 104 patients with percardial effusion. Patients were classified into three groups by the amounts of pericardial effusion measured by two-dimensional echocardiography. 49 patients had small pericardial effusion, 31 moderate effusion and 24 large effusion. In 47 patients the effusions were clinically unsuspected prior to echocardiographic examination. Pericardial friction rub was noted in 14 patients, two-thirds of whom had moderate to large effusions. There was no relationship between the size of effusion and the presence of friction rub. Total QRS amplitudes were lower in patients with moderate to large effusions than those in control group. Maximum diastolic endocardial velocity(DEVM) and E-F slope of the anterior mitral leaflet were decreased significantly in patients with moderate to large effusions as compared with those with small effusions. As a result, authors concluded that reduction in the QRS voltages in serial ECGs may suggest the presence and the amount of pericardial effusion and also DEVM and E-F slope of the anterior mitral leaflet can be sensitive measures of left ventricular relaxation in patients with pericardial effusion.
Echocardiography* ; Electrocardiography* ; Friction ; Humans ; Pericardial Effusion* ; Relaxation ; Ventricular Function, Left*

No abstract available.
Athletes* ; Forearm* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy* ; Metabolism* ; Phosphorus*

A cross-sectional study was conducted for detecting the risk factors and to propose an effective control program for occupational low back pain. The subjects were 1,665 male production workers employed at a steel factory and a welding material manufacturing factory. The data were collected by a self-reported questionnaire and a medical examination with a rehabilitation specialist for ten days in September, 1997. The contents of the questionnaire were as follows: general characteristics, physical characteristics, employment status, type of work, working environment and the experience of low back pain. The number of cases with symptoms of occupational low back pain were 321, so the point prevalence was 19.3 persons/100 persons. The number of cases with a history of occupational low back pain for one year were 554, so the one year period prevalence was 33.3 persons/100 persons. The point and one year period prevalences of occupational low back pain showed no significant differences in age, marital status, educational level and body mass index. The point and one year period prevalences of occupational low back pain showed no significant differences in alcohol drinking, smoking, stretching exercise and regular exercise. The point and one year period prevalences of occupational low back pain were significantly higher in the unsatisfied group than the satisfied group(p < 0.01), However, no significant differences were found among tenures and shift work. The point and one year period prevalences of occupational low back pain were significantly higher in the lifting of heavy materials group than the nonlifting group(p < 0.01). However, no significant differences were found among posture of the waist and the working posture. Through the multivariate logistic regression, significantly associated factors with occupational low back pain were found to be dissatisfaction with job(point prevalence: OR=1.78, 95% CI: 1.21-2.61; one year prevalence: OR=1.76, 95% CI: 1.26-2.47), lifting of heavy materials(point prevalence: OR=1.94. 95% CI: 1.44-2.61: one year prevalence: OR=2.17, 95% CI: 1.70-2.77) and tenure(point prevalence: OR=1.03. 95% CI: 1.01-1.06: one year prevalence: OR=1.02, 95% CI: 1.00-1.05).
Alcohol Drinking ; Body Mass Index ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Employment ; Humans ; Lifting ; Logistic Models ; Low Back Pain* ; Male ; Marital Status ; Posture ; Prevalence* ; Questionnaires ; Rehabilitation ; Risk Factors* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Specialization ; Steel* ; Welding*

The authors report three cases of ossification of ligamentum flavum causing thoracic myelopathy. The symptoms of all cases were numbness in the legs and feet and motor weakness. Preoperative diagnosis were simple spine X-ray, metrizamide CT and magnetic resonance imaging. There was satisfactory improvement in all cases after total laminectomy and medial facetectomy.
Diagnosis ; Foot ; Hypesthesia ; Laminectomy ; Leg ; Ligamentum Flavum* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Metrizamide ; Spinal Cord Diseases* ; Spine

OBJECTIVES: A study was conducted for investigating the status of simple X-rays on lumbosacral regions at pre-employment health examination and analysing the effectiveness of simple X-rays on lumbosacral regions. METHODS: The study data were pre-employment health examination data in a university hospital from Jan 3, 1993 through October of 1997. And, 97 newly employed workers who claimed no low back pain at pre-employment health examination of a certain company were follow-up survey about low back pain and related factors in April, 1995 and October of 1997. The data were collected by a self-reported questionnaire and a medical examination with a rehabilitation specialist. RESULTS: Taking the simple X-rays on lumbo-sacral regions was 1, 591 workers(10.5%) among 15,166 pre-employment health examination from Jan 3, 1993 through October of 1997. And yearly application rates of these X-ray tests have been significantly statistical increasing (p<0.01). 2. The abnormal findings of simple X-rays on lumbo-sacral regions at pre-employment health examination were 40 workers. But, there was not significantly statistical difference between normal and abnormal group for the complaint rate of low back pain. 3. The number of case with symptoms of low back pain at the follow-up survey were 46, so the incidence density was 37. 1 persons/ 100 person-years. And the incidence density was not significantly statistical difference between normal and abnormal group of simple X-rays on lumbo-sacral regions. 4. Through the multivariate logistic regression, significantly associated factors with low back pain were found to be tenure(OR=0.36, 95%CI: 0.17-0.79), lifting of heavy materials(OR=5. 86, 95%CI: l. 58-21. 74). CONCLUSION: The simple X-rays on lumbo-sacral regions at pre-employment health examination is required further research for utilizing pre-employment health examination according to above results.
Follow-Up Studies ; Incidence ; Lifting ; Logistic Models ; Low Back Pain ; Lumbosacral Region ; Questionnaires ; Rehabilitation ; Specialization

PURPOSE: This study was performed to elucidate the clinical pictures of acute focal bacterial nephritis(nephronia) in children. METHODS: We reviewed 9 children with nephronia diagnosed by ultrasonography or computed tomography of kidneys from September 1994 to August 2004. RESULTS: The overall male to female ratio was 2:1, and the age distribution ranged from 0.1 to 6 years(mean 2.8+/-2.2). The cardinal symptoms were fever, chills, abdominal pain and dysuria/frequency. The initial leukocyte count was 21,000+/-5,600/uL; ESR, 60+/-23 mm/hr; CRP, 17+/-10 mg/dl. Pyuria was noted in every patient and persisted for 10.5+/-7.8 days after antimicrobial treatment. Abdominal sonography demonstrated focal lesion of ill-defined margin and low echogenicity in 5 of 9 patients(55.6%), while computed tomography revealed nonenhancing low density area in all patients(100%). Three of 9 patients(33.3%) had vesicoureteral reflux, greater than grade III. The initial (99m)Tc-DMSA scan showed one or multiple cortical defects in every patient, and improvements were noted in 2(33.3%) of 6 patients who received follow up scan after 4 months. Intravenous antibiotics was given in every patient under admission. Total febrile period was 11.8+/-6.3 days(pre-admission, 4.0+/-3.0; post-admission, 7.8+/-5.5 days) and the patients needed hospitalization for 17.2+/-8.1 days. CONCLUSION: For the early diagnosis of 'acute focal bacterial nephritis' we should perform renal computed tomography first rather than ultrasonography, when the child has toxic symptoms and severe inflammatory responses in blood and urine.
Abdominal Pain ; Age Distribution ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Child* ; Chills ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Kidney ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Nephritis* ; Pyuria ; Ultrasonography ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the head and neck are known for their aggresive growth and propensity to metastasize, which often results in poor prognosis. Tumor cell interaction with the basement membrane has historically been viewed as the crucial step in tumor invasion and future metastasis. The invasive and metastatic process of malignant tumors requires the expression and activation of proteolytic enzymes which facilitate the progression of tumor cells in different ways. Among these proteolytic enzymes, collagenase-3 (matrix metalloproteinase-13) is a recently identified member of the MMP family, and is expressed in breast carcinomas and in articular cartilage from arthritic patients. The substrate specificity of MMP-13 is exceptionally wide as compared to other MMPs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed immunohistochemical stains on 10 normal mucosas and 35 SCCs of the head and neck with anticollagenase-3 antibody and analysed the staining patterns. RESULTS: As a result, the expression of the MMP-13 were detected in 23 of the 35 SCCs (66%), but no expression was detected in any of the 10 normal mucosa. The expression of MMP-13 in most tumors was localized predominantly in neoplastic cells at the invading periphery of the tumor (74%;17/23). A significant correlation was found between MMP-13 expression and local tumor invasion but no correlation was observed between expression and the age, sex of the patients, histological grade, lymph node metastases, recurrence, or the stage of the tumors. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that MMP-13 expression may contribute to the progression of a significant subset in SCCs of the head and neck. In the future, it is likely that elucidation of the regulatory mechanisms of the MMP-13 in SCCs may prove to be beneficial in developing novel therapeutic modalities for preventing invasion of these neoplastic cells.
Basement Membrane ; Breast Neoplasms ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cartilage, Articular ; Cell Communication ; Coloring Agents ; Head* ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Metalloproteases ; Mucous Membrane ; Neck* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Peptide Hydrolases ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Substrate Specificity