BACKGROUND: Menopause leads to rapid bone loss, mainly as a result of estrogen deficiency and peri and postmenopausal symptoms are related with estrogen deficiency. We investigated the relationship between peri and postmenopausal symptoms and vertebral bone mineral density(BMD). METHODS: Study subjects were women aged above 40 years underwent a vertebral bone density measurement with dual energy x-ray absorptiometry(DEXA). We examined the relationship between the menopausal symptoms by Kupperman index including vasomotor symptom and vertebral BMD in 74 perimenopausal and 205 postmenopausal women. RESULTS: On the basis of vertebral fracture threshold, 169 subjects were osteoporotic group and the others were nonosteoporotic group. Menopausal index was significantly high in osteoporotic group. And the osteoporotic one also complained of vasomotor symptom more severely. These findings were more definite during perimenopausal and early postmenopausal periods than late period. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that menopausal symptoms of peri and early menopausal period are significantly related with vertebral bone loss and helpful in predicting the vertebral osteoporosis.
Bone Density* ; Estrogens ; Female ; Humans ; Menopause ; Osteoporosis ; Postmenopause

No abstract available.
Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin* ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to illustrate MR patterns of bone marrow of calvarium and vertebral body in normal subjects according the age distribution and to understand the course of the fatty replacement from red marrow. METHODS AND MATERIAL: We retrospectively evaluated MR examinations of the calvaria(n=71), cervical spine(n=71), thoracic spine(n=65), Imbar spine(n =68) in subjects without bone marrow abnormality whose age ranged 3 weeks to 74 years. Three distinctive patterns were categorized on Tl-weighted images of the skull. In pattern 1, uniformly low signal intensity with or without very small areas of high intensity in frontal and occipital bones is noted. In pattern 2, frontal and occipital bones have uniformly high signal intensity, and patchy area of high intensity appears in parietal bone. In pattern 3, the entire skull has uniformly high signal intensity. In the spine, four patterns were categorized on Tl-weighted MR images. In pattern 1, the vertebral body has uniformly low signal intensity except for linear areas of high intensity superior and inferior to basivertebral vein. In pattern 2, bandlike and triangular areas of high signal intensity are found in the periphery. Pattern 3 and 4 have diffusely distributed areas of high signal intensity; pattern 3 consist of numerous indistinct dots measuring a few millimeter or less, and pattern 4 consist of fairly well marginated areas ranging in size from 5 to 1.5cm. RESULT:In the calvaria, 73% of pattern 1 were younger than 20 years, pattern 2 were evenly distributed, and 86% of pattern 3 were older than 40 years. In the spine, 87% of pattern 1 were younger than 40 years, 72% of pattern 3 were in 40 to 50 years, and 87% of pattern 4 were older than 50 years. Pattern 2 were evenly distributed in the cervical and thoracic spine, but in the thoracic spine 62% were younger than 30 years. CONCLUSION:It is concluded that younger age group shows mainly pattern 1, whereas elderly group has pattern 3 or 4 in the calvarial and vertebral body marrow. This suggests that conversion to fatty marrow begin locally and progress diffusely with age.
Age Distribution* ; Aged ; Bone Marrow* ; Humans ; Occipital Bone ; Parietal Bone ; Retrospective Studies ; Skull* ; Spine ; Veins

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and effect of various cryopreservation method on the survival and the cytoskeletal stability of metaphase II mouse oocyte. METHODS: Mouse ovulated oocytes were collected and cryopreserved by a modified slow-freezing method with 1.5 M 1,2-propanediol (PrOH)+0.1 M sucrose or by vitrification using cryo loop and EM grid with 40% ethylene glycol+0.6 M sucrose. Four hours after thawing, intact oocytes were fixed and stained with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated monoclonal anti-beta-tubulin antibody to visualize spindle and propidium iodide (PI) to visualize chromosome. Spindle morphology was classified as follows: normal (barrel-shaped), slightly and absolute abnormal (multipolar or absent). RESULTS: Survival rate of the frozen-thawed oocytes in vitrification group was significantly higher than that of slow-freezing group (62.7% vs. 24.4%, p<0.01). Vitrification with cryo loop showed significantly higher survival rate than that with EM grid (67.7% vs. 53.5%, p<0.05). On the other hand, proportion of normal spindle and chromosome configurations of the frozen-thawed oocytes between two vitrification group was not significantly different. CONCLUSION: For mouse ovulated oocytes, vitrification with cryo loop may be a preferable procedure compared to slow-freezing method. Further study should be needed to investigate developmental competency of frozen-thawed mouse oocytes.
Animals ; Cryopreservation* ; Fluorescein ; Hand ; Metaphase ; Mice* ; Oocytes* ; Propidium ; Propylene Glycol ; Sucrose ; Survival Rate ; Vitrification

PURPOSE: We reviewed the clinical and radiological outcomes of total hip arthroplasty and bipolar hemiarthroplasty for avascular necrosis of the femoral head. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 1986 to December 1989, 24 cases were treated with total hip arthroplasty and 27 cases with bipolar hemiarthroplasty for avascular necrosis of the femoral head. Clinical outcomes were assessed using Harris Hip Score. Serial radiographs of the hip were used to assess stability of the femoral component, change of the acetabular cup angle, osteolysis of acetabulum or femur, wear of polyliner and erosion of the acetabular cartilage. RESULTS: The average Harris Hip Score was 93.1 in bipolar hemiarthroplasty group and 86.8 in total hip arthroplasty group at last follow up. Femoral osteolysis was observed in 17 patients of 24 total hip arthroplasties and in 14 patients of 27 bipolar hemiarthroplasties. Acetabular osteolysis was observed in 8 cases of 24 total hip arthroplasties. Revision was undertaken 8 cases (33.3%) in the total hip arthroplasty group and 6 cases (22.2%) in the bipolar hemiarthroplasty group. The main causes of revision were wear of polyliner and severe osteolysis in the total hip arthroplasty group and erosion of the acetabular cartilage in the bipolar arthroplasty group. CONCLUSION: The main cause of failure after total hip arthroplasty for avascular necrosis of the femoral head was using a 32 mm femoral head and a polyliner less than 8mm thickness.
Acetabulum ; Arthroplasty* ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Cartilage ; Femur ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head* ; Hemiarthroplasty ; Hip* ; Humans ; Necrosis* ; Osteolysis

Carcinoid is a tumor that primarily affects the intestinal tract, which arises from entero-chromaffin cells. Rectal carcinoid tumor is a relatively rare neoplasm originated in Kul-chitszky cell and clinicians have the difficulties in predicting their malignant potential and in proper treatment. These cells are found to increase in the distal small intestine, are common in the appendix, and then decrease within the mucosa of the colon from cecum to rectum. In the cumulative world literature, the incidence of carcinoids of rectum is slightly higher than 10 percent. All of these tumors are within reach of the rigid procto-sigmoidoscope, most being located between 4 and 13 cm from the anal verge. Eighty five percent are found on the anterior and lateral walls. The tumors are usually submucosal and light yellowish or reddish color. The vast majority of rectal carcinoid tumors are be-nign, which can be treated by local excision safely. Lesions larger than 2 cm and invading the muscular wall of the rectum should be considered malignant, which are treated by more radical surgery such as abdominoperitoneal resection. We experienced a case of rectal carcinoid tumor, which was excised by endoscopic polypectomy, so we present this case with a review of relevant literatures.
Appendix ; Carcinoid Tumor* ; Cecum ; Colon ; Incidence ; Intestine, Small ; Mucous Membrane ; Rectum

We attempted to identify parasite DNA in the biliary stones of humans via PCR and DNA sequencing. Genomic DNA was isolated from each of 15 common bile duct (CBD) stones and 5 gallbladder (GB) stones. The patients who had the CBD stones suffered from cholangitis, and the patients with GB stones showed acute cholecystitis, respectively. The 28S and 18S rDNA genes were amplified successfully from 3 and/or 1 common bile duct stone samples, and then cloned and sequenced. The 28S and 18S rDNA sequences were highly conserved among isolates. Identity of the obtained 28S D1 rDNA with that of Clonorchis sinensis was higher than 97.6%, and identity of the 18S rDNA with that of other Ascarididae was 97.9%. Almost no intra-specific variations were detected in the 28S and 18S rDNA with the exception of a few nucleotide variations, i.e., substitution and deletion. These findings suggest that C. sinensis and Ascaris lumbricoides may be related with the biliary stone formation and development.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Animals ; Ascaridida/genetics/isolation & purification ; Ascaris lumbricoides/genetics/isolation & purification ; Base Sequence ; Clonorchis sinensis/genetics/isolation & purification ; Common Bile Duct/*parasitology ; DNA, Helminth/*genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Face/parasitology ; Female ; Gallbladder/parasitology ; Gallstones/*parasitology ; Helminths/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/*methods ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S/genetics ; Sequence Alignment

No abstract available.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay*

BACKGROUND: Calcinosis cutis may occur when connective tissue is abnormal (dystrophic), or where calcium or phosphate levels in the blood are high(metastatic); alternatively, there may be no obvious underlying cause(idiopathic). The exact incidence of calcinosis cutis in dermatologic patients is not well-kniown and the pathomechanism of it remains to be elucidated. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to analyze the incidence, clinical and histopathological features of calcinosis cutis. METHODS: We studied 72 patients with calcinosis cutis who visited our department between January 1985 and December 1996. The patients were classified into 3 types (dystrophic, metastatic, and idiopathic) and were analyzed clinically and histopathologically. Results : The results were summerized as follows; 1. There were 60 cases(83.3%) and 12 cases(16.7%) of the dystrophic and idiopathic types, respectively but the metastatic type was not observed. The frequency of dystrophic calcification in individual disorders was 88.2% in pseudoxanthoma elasticum, 66.7% in trichilemmal cyst and dermatomyositis, and 64.6% in pilomatrichoma. 2. In the idiopathic type, it was common in females aged over 50 years and the mean duration of lesions was 2.8+/-2.0 years. The predilection site was the flank(5 cases) and most of the lesions(7 cases) showed skin-colored nodules 3. Histopathologically, calcified material of the idiopathic type was located predominently in the dermis(10 cases) and was present as large masses surrounded by a foreign body reaction. 4. In the dystrophic type, calcified deposits were noted predominently within the shadow cells of pilomatricoma, in the degenerated elastic fibers of pseudoxanthoma elasticum, and in the keratinized area of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, trichilemmal cyst, and epidermal cyst. Foreign body reactions with giant cells and mononuclear cell infiltrations were often found around large deposits of calcium. Conclusion : The incidence of calcinosis cutis in dermatologic patients is relatively low, but a variety of disorders can be associated with cutaneous calcification. Therefore, dermatologists should be familiar with the different forms of cutaneous calcification and the dermatoses that manifest them.
Calcinosis* ; Calcium ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Connective Tissue ; Dermatomyositis ; Elastic Tissue ; Epidermal Cyst ; Female ; Foreign Bodies ; Foreign-Body Reaction ; Giant Cells ; Humans ; Incidence ; Pilomatrixoma ; Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum ; Skin Diseases

No abstract available.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay*