No abstract available.
Craniocerebral Trauma* ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Head* ; Humans

To investigate whether the abnormal expression of matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs) in the aqueous humor may case the development of glaucoma, the activity of MMP in the aqueous humor of galucoma and cataract patients were measured and compared. Six primary open angle glaucoma(POAG), 2 chronic angle closureglaucoma(CACG), 2 normal tension glaucoma(NTG), and 14 cataract patients were enrolled. Aqueous humor of each patients were collected during surgery, and total protein concentration and activity of gelatinase A in the aqueous humor were measured by protein assay kit and zymography, respectively. Total protein concentration and gelatinase A activity of POAG patients were increased by 2.1 times and 3.9 times, respectively compared to those of cataract patients. However, there were no statistically significant changes in total protein concentration and gelatinase A activity of CACG and NTG patients compared to those of cataract patients. In conclusion, the development of POAG may be associated with the abnormal expression of MMP in the aqueous humor.
Aqueous Humor* ; Cataract ; Glaucoma ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle* ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; Matrix Metalloproteinases

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective radiologic study. OBJECTIVES: We wanted to compare the compression ratio and kyphosis of thoracolumbar and lumbar fractures according to the radiologic measuring methods and we wanted to analyze their relationship with the stability of fracture. SUMMARY OF THE LITERATURE REVIEW: There are several methods for measuring the compression ratio and kyphotic angle in thoracolumbar fractures, but no definitive measurements and no different values according to the stability have been established. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 2002 to August 2008, the plain films, CT, MRI and medical records of thoracolumbar and lumbar fracture were reviewed. The compression ratio and kyphotic angle were calculated by several different formulas with using the lateral view of the plain X-ray film, the sagittal reconstruction image of CT and the sagittal image of MRI and the results were compared. Each subject was classified according to both McAfee's classification and the TLISS classification. RESULTS: Two hundred forty eight vertebral bodies of 205 thoracolumbar fracture patients were analyzed. The compression ratio according to formula 1, which was calculated as 1-anterior vertebral height/posterior vertebral height, was significantly correlated with Cobb's angle and the local kyphotic angle. There was no significant difference between the Cobb's angle calculated using the lateral X-ray and that using the sagittal view of CT; however, it was significantly less using the sagittal MRI view. The unstable fractures according to McAfee's classification showed a significantly higher compression ratio and kyphotic angle compared to those of the stable fractures. CONCLUSIONS: The compression ratio formula 1 was most significantly correlated with the kyphotic deformity. The unstable fractures showed a mean compression ratio higher than 30%, a mean Cobb's angle of 15degrees and local kyphotic angle of 18degrees. The sagittally reconstructed CT was a useful measuring method for the evaluation of kyphotic deformity, and it was more accurate than that of the plain film.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; X-Ray Film

A 63 year-old female was brought to our hospital with severe lower back pain. She received antihypertensive drugs for 2 years but her blood pressure was normal upon arrival. She could not stand up or even walk. The MRI showed a subdural hematoma at the thoracolumbar region, which was extremely rare. The treatment applied was decompression through a spinal tap without surgery. After this, her pain subsided considerably. Two weeks later, MRI confirmed that there was no hematoma in the same region. She was discharged and has enjoyed her daily activities free of pain. A spontaneous subdural hematoma is an extremely rare disease. The condition was treated successfully in a conservative manner.
Antihypertensive Agents ; Blood Pressure ; Decompression ; Female ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; Rare Diseases ; Spinal Puncture

PURPOSE: Based on the results of the relative risk model of Korean breast cancer, the aim of this study was to develop a Korean breast cancer risk assessment tool which would display the absolute breast cancer risks of Korean women. METHODS: The tool was developed in the three steps: selection of risk factors and relative risks, calculation of baseline breast cancer incidences, and estimation of absolute breast cancer risks. The risk factors used in this tool were age, family history of first- and second-degree relatives, body mass index, age at first delivery, history of breast-feeding, and a special test on the breasts. A program was developed in an HTML file, which was used for input of the risk factors, and a CGI file, which was used to calculate the risk and display the results. RESULTS: The program was stored in the Internet web page, http://home.dankook.ac.kr/breast/brca/brca.htm. After receiving an input of risk factors, the program was able to calculate the relative risk compared to all the age groups, the estimated absolute risks following 5 and 10 years, and the estimated absolute risks up to ages 64 and 74 years. The estimated risks of Korean women using this tool were less than those reported by the NCI risk assessment tool. The risk of breast cancer was highest in the fifth decade. CONCLUSION: In this study, we developed a web page containing a Korean breast cancer risk assessment tool. This program may be useful for the assessment of individual breast cancer risks, the selection of screening tools, and the evaluation of preventive options for risk reduction.
Body Mass Index ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Internet ; Mass Screening ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: Based on the results of the relative risk model of Korean breast cancer, the aim of this study was to develop a Korean breast cancer risk assessment tool which would display the absolute breast cancer risks of Korean women. METHODS: The tool was developed in the three steps: selection of risk factors and relative risks, calculation of baseline breast cancer incidences, and estimation of absolute breast cancer risks. The risk factors used in this tool were age, family history of first- and second-degree relatives, body mass index, age at first delivery, history of breast-feeding, and a special test on the breasts. A program was developed in an HTML file, which was used for input of the risk factors, and a CGI file, which was used to calculate the risk and display the results. RESULTS: The program was stored in the Internet web page, http://home.dankook.ac.kr/breast/brca/brca.htm. After receiving an input of risk factors, the program was able to calculate the relative risk compared to all the age groups, the estimated absolute risks following 5 and 10 years, and the estimated absolute risks up to ages 64 and 74 years. The estimated risks of Korean women using this tool were less than those reported by the NCI risk assessment tool. The risk of breast cancer was highest in the fifth decade. CONCLUSION: In this study, we developed a web page containing a Korean breast cancer risk assessment tool. This program may be useful for the assessment of individual breast cancer risks, the selection of screening tools, and the evaluation of preventive options for risk reduction.
Body Mass Index ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Internet ; Mass Screening ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors

Progressive ischemia can result in gangrenous changes of the tissues. Most commonly the digits are affected initially, but progression to the hand is not unusual. Small amounts of infection superimposed on a severe chronic ischemic state can progress very rapidly to gangrene. Clinically, dry and wet gangrene should be differentiated. Dry gangrene represents mummification of tissue, and active purulent tissue and cellulitis are absent. Wet gangrene is characterized by active infection with cellulitis and purulent tissue planes and is an indication for urgent amputation to prevent ascending infection. We experienced a case of dry gangrenous extremity due to septic shock after anethesia.
Amputation ; Cellulitis ; Extremities* ; Gangrene ; Hand ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Shock, Septic*

No abstract available.
Pyoderma Gangrenosum* ; Pyoderma* ; Ulcer*

PURPOSE: To identify novel proteins which bind to myocilin, using a yeast two-hybrid screening system. METHODS: A bait plasmid of myocilin was constructed, and then transformed into yeast AH109. The transformed yeast cells were mated with yeast Y187 containing human skeletal muscle cDNA library plasmids in 2 X YPD medium. Mated diploid yeasts were plated on synthetic dropout medium (SD/-Trp-Leu-His and SD/-Trp-Leu-His-Ade). The positive clones grown on the selective medium were amplified, sequenced, and analyzed using the database of GenBank. The expression of selected genes in trabecular meshwork (TM) cells was detected by RT-PCR. RESULTS: The expression of bait protein in yeast was confirmed by Western blot analysis. Extensive screening of a cDNA library led to the selection of twenty-four positive clones which represent eight genes, including six of cytoskeleton associated proteins such as alpha-actin, myosin regulatory light chain 2A, dynactin, syntrophin alpha1, microtubule associated protein 1B, and myosin binding protein C. CONCLUSIONS: Myocilin may interact with cytoskeleton associated proteins in TM cells. Further studies on their interactions will provide functional clues of myocilin.
Actins ; Blotting, Western ; Carrier Proteins ; Clone Cells ; Cytoskeleton ; Databases, Nucleic Acid ; Diploidy ; Gene Library ; Humans ; Mass Screening* ; Microtubules ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Myosin Light Chains ; Myosins ; Patient Dropouts ; Plasmids ; Trabecular Meshwork ; Yeasts

A case of an anterior communicating(Acom) artery aneurysm in a 36-year-old woman with polycystic kidney, and a case of multiple aneurysms(Acom. And anterior choroidal artery aneurysm) in a 49-year-old man with Marfan's syndrome are reported. Polycystic kidney was confirmed by abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography. Marfan's syndrome was diagnosed with skeletal abnormalities(dolichocephaly, highly arched palate, cleft palate, arachnodactyly and tall slender height with excessive length of limbs) and marked elongation and tortuosity of the vertebral artery on cerebral angiography. Those patients were treated with the clipping of aneurysms. We will discuss the pathogenesis of cerebral aneurysm in those diseases with stress on the important points of management.
Adult ; Aneurysm ; Arachnodactyly ; Arteries ; Cerebral Angiography ; Choroid ; Cleft Palate ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Marfan Syndrome* ; Middle Aged ; Palate ; Polycystic Kidney Diseases* ; Ultrasonography ; Vertebral Artery