No abstract available.
Epidermis* ; Psoriasis

OBJECTIVES: We performed anterior spinal fusion and instrumentation in treatment of spinal tuberculosis. The clinical results of this operation and metal-related complications were evaluated to determine the rationale of anterior instrumentation in active tuberculous lesion. METHODS: From July 1989 to February 1993, we treated twenty-one patients with spinal tuberculosis by radical resection of the tuberculous lesion and bone grafting, followed by anterior instrumentation using Zielke rod system. The changes in spinal deformity were measured from lateral spinal radiographs obtained preoperatively and postoperatively at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years and final follow-up. The recurrence of infection and possible complications were also observed clinically and radiologically. RESULTS: The mean kyphotic angle was decreased preoperatively from 21 degrees to 16 degrees at final follow-up in patients with thoracolumbar tuberculous lesions. The mean deformity angle was corrected 7 degrees in thoracolumbar tuberculosis and 12 degrees in lumbar tuberculosis compared with the preoperative deformity angle. There was not any persistence or recurrence of infection possibly related to the instrumentation. All patients were allowed early ambulation with the aid of a light brace. CONCLUSION: The clinical and radiological results suggested that the anterior instrumentation seemed to be one of the rational approaches for providing immediate stability in treating severe spinal tuberculosis without any significant risk of persistence or recurrence of infection.
Bone Transplantation ; Braces ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Early Ambulation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Spinal Fusion ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Spinal*

A 13 years old boy who had typical triad of tuberous sclerosis-adenoma cebaceum, mental deficiency, and epileptic seizure-was presented. He also had some white patches on his right buttock and shagreen patches on his right thigh. The finding of histopathologic biopsy was compatible with an angiofibromatosis. The pedigree of his family was investigated and seemed to be a sporadic.
Adolescent ; Biopsy ; Buttocks ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability ; Male ; Pedigree ; Thigh ; Tuberous Sclerosis*

No abstract available.

Chitin and chitosan, polysaccharides made up of polymeric N-acetly glucosamine and D-glucosamine, are widely found in nature, forming the skeletons of crustaceans and insects, as well as the components of bacteria cell walls. Chitin and chitosan have been known to have many useful biological properties such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, antimicrobial activity, and wound healing. There properties have been known to be different depending on the degree of deacetylation of chitin, but it has not yet been fully evaluated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the wound healing effect by the degree of deacetylation. Full-thickness skin incision was made on the backs of Sprague-Dawley rats. Three concentrations of powder, comprising 90% chitin, 50% chitin and 10% chitin, were separately embedded in the wounds of 3 rat groups. The wound-breaking strength and the collagen-hydroxyproline content of the skin at the wound sites were measured and histological examination was performed at postoperative 3, 7, and 10 days. The 50% chitin group had the highest tensile strenght of all groups. But the 50% chitin and 90% chitin groups had the lowest collagen hydroxyproline levels among all groups. The wounds treated with 50% chitin powder were completely reepithelialized and granulation tissue in the wound was observed 7 days after initial wounding. The arrangement of collagen fibers in the skin was ordered and similar to normal skin The 50% chitin powder is considered to be the most efficient wound healing accelerator among different concentrations of chitin powder.
Animals ; Bacteria ; Cell Wall ; Chitin* ; Chitosan* ; Collagen ; Glucosamine ; Granulation Tissue ; Hydroxyproline ; Insects ; Polymers ; Polysaccharides ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skeleton ; Skin ; Wound Healing* ; Wounds and Injuries*

We reported 3 cases of intestinal anisakiasis. The patients had abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting, after eating raw sea-fishes 1 to 5 days before. Intestinal resection was performed under the impression of mechanical obstruction or cancer. The resected intestines showed marked edema, congestion or hemorrhage in the mucosa. Microscopically the larvae were found in the submucosa or inner muscle layer, and surrounded by phlegmonous inflammation with intense eosinophilic infiltration. The larvae were identified as Anisakis spp. by multiple sections.

Vitamin D deficiency rickets is a metabolic disorder of growing bone, which is still important nutritional problem in developing countries. Recently we had expirienced 2 cases of typical vitamin D deficiency rickets, who were fed with only thin rice gruels and not fed any nutrient diets, breast milk, vitamin D supplements and almostly not to be exposured to sunlight for a long period of time due to poor socio-economic condition. Treatments were consisted of 600,000 units of vitamin D injection, high protein, high calorie diets and frequent exposures to sunlight. All of two were improved in clinical and laboratory findings after above therapy.
Developing Countries ; Diet ; Milk, Human ; Rickets ; Sunlight ; Vitamin D Deficiency* ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS: The heat produced during polymerization of polymer-based provisional materials may cause thermal damage to the vital pulp. PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the exotherm reaction of the polymerbased provisional materials during polymerization by differential scanning calorimetry and to compare the temperature changes of different types of resins. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Three dimethacrylate-based materials (Protemp 3 Garant, Luxatemp Plus, Luxatemp Fluorescence) and five monomethacrylate-based material (Snap, Alike, Unifast TRAD, Duralay, Jet) were selected. Temperature changes of polymer-based provisional materials during polymerization in this study were evaluated by D.S.C Q-1000 (TA Instrument, Wilmington, DE, USA). The following three measurements were determined from the temperature versus time plot: (1) peak temperature, (2) time to reach peak temperature, (3) heat capacity. The data were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA and multiple comparison Bonferroni test at the significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: The mean peak temperature was 39.5 degrees C (+/- 1.0). The peak temperature of the polymer-based provisional materials decreased in the following order: Duralay > Unifast TRAD, Alike > Jet > Luxatemp Plus, Protemp 3 Garant, Snap, Luxatemp Fluorescence. The mean time to reach peak temperature was 95.95 sec (+/- 64.0). The mean time to reach peak temperature of the polymer-based provisional materials decreased in the following order: Snap, Jet > Duralay > Alike > Unifast TRAD > Luxatemp Plus, Protemp 3 Garant, Luxatemp Fluorescence. The mean heat capacity was 287.2 J/g (+/- 107.68). The heat capacity of the polymer-based provisional materials decreased in the following order: Duralay > TRAD, Jet, Alike > Snap, Luxatemp Fluorescence, Protemp 3 Garant, Luxatemp Plus. CONCLUSION: The heat capacity of materials, determined by D.S.C., is a factor in determining the thermal insulating properties of restorative materials. The peak temperature of PMMA was significantly higher than others (PEMA, dimethacrylate). No significant differences were found among PEMA (Snap) and dimethacrylate (P > 0.05). The time to reach peak temperature was greatest with PEMA, followed by PMMA and dimethacrylate. The heat capacity of PMMA was significantly higher than others (PEMA, dimethacrylate). No significant differences were found among PEMA and dimethacrylate (P>0.05).
Calorimetry, Differential Scanning* ; Crowns* ; Denture, Partial, Fixed* ; Fluorescence ; Hot Temperature ; Polymerization ; Polymers ; Polymethyl Methacrylate

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of proximal femoral nail in the treatment of intertrochanteric fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors investigated the classificaton of fracture, operation time, the amount of intraoperative and postoperative bleeding, the amount of transfusion, postoperative ambulation status, bone union time and the complication among 45 cases who were treated with proximal femoral nail from Jan. 2001 to June 2002. RESULTS: The mean operation time was 116 minutes, and the amount of bleeding was 524 ml in average. The amount of intraoperative transfusion was 1.4 pints and that of postoperative transfusion was 1.1 pints. The complications were the intraoperative penetration of antirotational screw through the femoral neck in 2 cases, separation of the fracture fragment while inserting the nail in 4 cases, irritation of skin by retropulsion of antirotation screw in 2 cases, and penetration of antirotation screw through femoral head in 1 case. CONCLUSION: Proximal femoral nail was effective for the treatment of intertrochanteric fracture, however the surgeon should be carful about collision of the insertion handle against pelvis when the fracture line coincides with the insertion point of nail, especially in obese patients.
Femur ; Femur Neck ; Head ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Pelvis ; Skin ; Walking

Gastric wall abscess is a one form of phlegmonous gastritis and there are scare reports on this. Gastric wall abscess is a purulent inflammatory disease and it is commonly caused by a focal injury to the gastric mucosa such as a penetrating trauma from an ingested foreign body or an endoscopic biopsy where by bacterial infection occurs throughout all the layers of the gastric wall. With symptoms such as abdominal pain and fever, making the diagnosis after an operation was possible in the past, but it has recently become possible to make the diagnosis before the operation via esophagogastroduodenoscopy, endoscopic ultrasonography and/or abdominal computed tomography. We recently experienced a case of gastric wall abscess that was associated with a foreign body (presumably a fish bone) in a healthy middle aged woman. By performing generalized esophagogastroduodenoscopy and abdominal computed tomography at a primary medical institution, we made an early diagnosis and treated the patient. Herein, we report on this case and we review the relevant literature.
Abdominal Pain ; Abscess ; Bacterial Infections ; Biopsy ; Cellulitis ; Early Diagnosis ; Eating ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Endosonography ; Female ; Fever ; Foreign Bodies ; Gastric Mucosa ; Gastritis ; Humans ; Middle Aged