No abstract available.
Osteoporosis* ; Spondylolisthesis*

We report a case of recurrent low grade endometrial stromal sarcoma in the right ureter in 64 years old female with review of literature.
Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Sarcoma, Endometrial Stromal* ; Ureter*

No abstract available.
Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable* ; Hemorrhage* ; Thrombin*

PURPOSE: To introduce a new genetic method for the diagnosis of Avellino corneal dystrophy (ACD), which is non-invasive and can be easily performed on an outpatient basis, and to evaluate the relationship between the degree of corneal opacity and age or sex. METHODS: A genetic study was performed on 11 patients who had a specific corneal opacity by slit-lamp examination and on four normal patients by using a specific adhesive tape to obtain epidermal keratinocytes. Corneal dystrophy was diagnosed according to the genetic study. RESULTS: All 11 patients were confirmed as having heterozygous ACD. Heterozygous ACD patients were classified into five stages: trace, mild, moderate, severe, or very severe, based on slit-lamp photography status. Corneal stages had no relationship with sex (p=0.982), but the severity of ACD increased with age (p=0.005). CONCLUSIONS: A non-invasive sticker-type genetic study kit, the "U-gene test" is a good method to diagnose corneal dystrophy genetically. Avellino corneal dystrophy becomes more severe over time but has no relationship with sex.
Adhesives ; Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary ; Corneal Opacity ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; Outpatients ; Photography

In this paper, the real-time telemedicine system based on multimedia data was designed. In order to describe patients to medical specialists, the system included multimedia data. The prototype system designed in this paper effectively integrated multimedia components in a single computer, as well as compromise the compression, interface, medical imaging standards and modular software architectures. The mobile bed was manufactured to improve the movement of the system. Two experiments had been conducted to evaluate the technical functionality and clinical usability. Using the data compression and priority control, the telemedicine system transmitted multimedia data in real-time at the internet and the ethernet network. Inter-hospital experiments and Sang-Am World-Cup Stadium experiments demonstrate the feasibility to be effectively used.
Data Compression ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Emergencies* ; Humans ; Internet ; Multimedia* ; Specialization ; Telemedicine*

Preoperative assessment of electrocardiographical(EKG) abnormalities in the patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH) is importment. Authors analyzed 58 SAH patients who had EKG abnormalities of neurogenic origin. EKG abnormalities consisted of T wave abnormality, arrhythmia, ST segment change, QT prolongation and U wave. Five patients were dead in this study because of brain swelling(3 cases) and cerebral spasm(2 cases). EKG abnormalities were normalized 13 days after aneurysmal SAH. Radioactive nuclear(99mTc-pyrophosphate) scan of myocardial revealed normal findings in the patients with EKG abnormalities of neurogenic origin. It is concluded that life-saving surgical intervention need not be delayed in the patients with EKG abnormalities of neurogenic origin. On the other hand, patients who had cardiac origin EKG abnormalities need a careful and detailed preanesthetic cardiac evaluation.
Aneurysm* ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Brain ; Electrocardiography* ; Hand ; Humans ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

To evaluate the coronary vasomotor tone in vasospasic angina, we compared the diameters of non-spastic segments of vasospastic group with those of control group. The internal diameters of each segment of three major coronary arteries were measured on the basal coronary angiogram, and nitroglycerin administration after provocation with ergonovine or acetylcholine. The vasospastic angina group consisted of 26 patients(20 males, 6 females, mean age of 54 years) and control group consisted of 25 patients (7 males, 18 females, mean age of 55 years). The basal coronary arterial diameters in vasospastic angina group were smaller than those in control group(p<0.05) except the distal segment of right coronary artery. The percent dilation ratio in vasospastic angina group was greater than that in control group(p<0.05). In vasospastic angina group there was no significant difference in the degree of constriction after provocation with ergonovine or acetylcholine between proximal and distal segment. These observations suggest that in vasospastic angina, basal coronary arterial tone is increased in the entire coronary arterial tree and the localized spasm may reflect local hyperrespon siveness.
Acetylcholine ; Constriction ; Coronary Vessels ; Ergonovine ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Nitroglycerin ; Spasm

OBJECTIVE: Epigallocatethin gallate(EGCG) is a major green tea polyphenol and is known to have potent antioxidative and antiproliferative actions. This study is performed to investigate the antioxidative effect of EGCG on the various oxidative insults in mouse cerebral cortical cell cultures. METHODS: Mixed cortical cell cultures containing both neuron and glia prepared by plating fetal mice cortical cells on to an established glia of 24 well vessels. At 13-15 days in vitro, oxidative neuronal deaths were induced by the addition of oxidants into the cortical cultures. Iron ion(FeCl2), copper ion(CuCl2), sodium nitroprusside(SNP) and buthionine sulfoximine(BSO, a glutathione depletor) were used as oxidants. Cell death was assessed by LDH assay after microscopic examination. RESULTS: All four oxidants induced neuronal cell death associated with cell body swelling, which was markedly inhibited by Trolox(100muM), a vitamin E analog. EGCG(1-10muM) markedly inhibited the neuronal cell death induced by 20muM CuCl2, 1muM SNP, or 1mM BSO. Unexpectedly the neuronal cell death induced by 20muM FeCl2 was augmented by treatment with 1 or 3muM EGCG. EGCG itself induced concentration- and exposure time-dependent cell death at more than 30muM concentrations. EGCG(30, 100muM) injured not only neuronal cells but glial cells after 48 hour exposure. The EGCG-induced cytotoxicity was partially inhibited by protein synthesis inhibitors, cycloheximide(0.1 or 1mug/ml) and emetine (1mug/ml) or high potassium media(10 or 25mM) but was not affected by Trolox. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the dual antioxidative-cytotoxic actions of EGCG are concentration-dependent and that the antioxidative aciton depends on the kind of oxidative insults, and that the EGCG-induced cytotoxicity be relevant to protein synthesis and/or membrane depolarization.
Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques* ; Cell Death ; Copper ; Emetine ; Glutathione ; Iron ; Membranes ; Mice ; Neuroglia ; Neurons ; Oxidants ; Potassium ; Protein Synthesis Inhibitors ; Sodium ; Tea ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins

Among the 98 patients who underwent operations for thoracolumbar spinal lesions from May 1989 to September 1994, the authors performed clinical analysis of 72 patients who were followed-up for more than 12 months. There were 52 cases of trauma, 18 cases of tuberculous spondylitis, and 2 cases of metastatic tumor. After partial or toal vertebrectomy, interbody fusion was performed using autogenous iliac bone or autogenous ribs which were taken while approaching the thoracic spine, and stabilized using Kaneda devices. Complete neural decompression was possible under direct vision in all cases. Neurologic deficits improved to an average of 1.7 grades using a modified Frankel scale. Patients with tuberculous spondylitis did not show recurrence or any evidence of increased risk of secondary infection caused by instrumentation. Loosening or breakdown of instruments occurred in 4 patients, and spinal deformity in 7 patients, but reoperation was not needed in any of these patients. By anterior decompression, interbody fusion and stabilization using Kaneda device in thoracolumbar spinal lesions, we could obtain satisfactory neurologic improvement as well as immediate firm stability and high fusion rate involving only a minimum(usually two) number of motion segments as compared with the posterior approach.
Coinfection ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Decompression ; Humans ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Recurrence ; Reoperation ; Ribs ; Spine ; Spondylitis

Truncus arteriosus is a rare congenital heart disease which is diagnosed in from 1 to 2 percent of congenital cardiac birth. Whithout surgical intervention, survival beyond infancy is unusual. Unoperated patients who survive to adult life have associated pulmonary stenosis or have developed pulmonary arteriolar disease. We report a case of truncus arteriosus in a 17-year-old man with a review of literature.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Parturition ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis ; Truncus Arteriosus*