We built the hypothesis that the hypertrophic callus formation is mediated by beta-endorphin that stimulates secretion of GH and increase circulation growth factor activity in head injury patient. We classified 4 groups such as 5 normal person(control), group I;5 patients with only fracture, group II;5 patients with fracture and head injury, group III; 5 patients with only head injury, group IV. We obtained the samples of serum from each group at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 weeks after trauma and assessed the serum level of GH, GHRH, somatostatin. The serum level of GH was statisticallyu higher in group III, IV than group I, II. There was not significant difference in serum level of GHRH. The serum level of somatostatin was higher in group II, III, IV than group I, but there was no statistical significance in each group. GH has a important role in hypertrophic callus formation in severe head injury patients, but there was no evidence that the mechanism is mediated by beta-EndorphinGHRH & somatostatin-GH-GF-1, beta-FGF axis. There may be a another mechanism in increasing GH that was stimulated by beta-endorphin in thalamus and lateral ventricle, and it should be necessary for further evaluation of it.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; beta-Endorphin ; Bony Callus ; Craniocerebral Trauma* ; Head* ; Humans ; Lateral Ventricles ; Somatostatin ; Thalamus

BACKGROUND: The bone mineral densities of men decrease with increasing age like women. The incidence of osteoporosis gradually increase according to increasing proportion of older people, but the studies on osteoporosis of men are now beginning. The association between the bone mineral density and behavioral factors among adult men in Korea were studied. METHODS: The study subjects who visited health promotion center of one hospital located in Seoul from April to May 2001, aged 28 to 76 years, were all mearsured bone mineral density at left calcaneus using quantitative ultrasonography (QUS). We interviewed all subjects to get the information about past medical history and behavioral risk factors such as smoking, drinking, intake of dairy food, and exercise patterns. We also checked height, weight, blood chemistry including alkaline phosphatase and Prostate Specific Antigen. We calculated the Pearson's partial correlation coefficient between Speed of Sound (SOS) and each variables after adjusting age and body weight, and compare the mean SOS among each categories of the variables using Analysis of Covariance (ANACOVA). Finally, multiple regression analysis was done, using the model including significant variables of baseline analysis. RESULTS: One hundred six men, who did not have any metabolic disease influencing bone mineral density, were included. Age and smoking amount were negatively correlated and body weight was positively correlated with SOS. In univariate analysis, exercise, past history of fracture and dairy food intake was significantly associated with bone mineral density of men. In multiple regression analysis, body weight and dairy food intake were positively associated, but age and smoking amounts were negatively associated with bone mineral density. CONCLUSION: To increase bone mineral density of men, one should maintain adequate body weight, ingest dairy food regulary and reduce smoking amount or quit smoking.
Adult* ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Body Weight ; Bone Density* ; Calcaneus ; Chemistry ; Drinking ; Eating ; Female ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea* ; Male ; Metabolic Diseases ; Osteoporosis ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Risk Factors ; Seoul ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: To find out the process of bone remodelling and risk factors in birth-associated femoral fracture. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We evaluated the four femoral fractures in three neonates about the obstetric and family history, and measured the angulation at the fracture site and the angle between the proximal and distal epiphysis of the femur on the radiographies taken at regular intervals. RESULTS: The incidence of birth-associated femoral fracture was 0.06%. In two cases, fracture angulation and interepiphyseal angle had been decreased. However the angular deformity was worsened in two cases, but the interepiphyseal angle had been decreased regardless to the change of fracture angulation. So the alignment of epiphyseal plate came to normal alignment of joint surface. CONCLUSION: The underlying disorder should be searched, because of its rarity. The physeal reorientation that makes joint alignment near normal irrespective of amount of angular deformity is assumed as the predominant mechanism in remodelling process of the angular deformity.
Congenital Abnormalities* ; Epiphyses ; Femoral Fractures ; Femur ; Growth Plate ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Joints ; Risk Factors

A virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome is characterized by high fever, liver dysfunction, coagulation abnormalities, pancytopenia, and a benign histiocytic proliferation with prominent hemophagocytosis in bone marrow, lymph node, spleen, and liver. Three phases of disease progression can be defined. In the first week, there is mild leukocytosis and myeloid hyperplasia in the marrow and the fever is resistant to antipyretics and antibiotics. In the second phase, usually corresponding to the 2nd to 3rd week of the illness, the fever persists and jaundice and hepatosplenomegaly may develop and the marrow now reveals the presence of atypical or transformed T lymphocytes and a scattering of histiocytes with hemophagocytosis. In the third phase, the disease progresses to a full-blown hemophagocytic syndrome with coagulopathy and lung infiltrates. The marrow in this stage is usually hypoplastic with florid histiocytic proliferation and hemophagocytosis and the patients usually die within 1-2 months. We describe a pregnant woman with fatal hemophagocytic syndrome. Virologic study strongly suggests that Epstein-Barr virus implicated in the pathogenesis of this patient.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Antipyretics ; Bone Marrow ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Fever ; Herpesvirus 4, Human* ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Jaundice ; Leukocytosis ; Liver ; Liver Diseases ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic* ; Pancytopenia ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Spleen ; T-Lymphocytes

The routine screening of patients for hypercalcemia has increased the incidence of hyperpa-rathyroidism, But, Primary hyperparathyroidism is relatively rare disease in korea. Especially, primary hyperparathyroidism caused by parathyroid chief cell hyperplasia has not been reported. The numbers of patients with bone disease, renal stones, other severe complication has declined, but the numbers of patients with psychiatric and neuromuscular disturbance or with asymptomatic disease has increased. We experienced a case with severe bone diseases due to primary hyperparathyroidism caused by parathyroid chief cell hyprepiasia which was confirmed through the mearsurement of serum calcium and parathyroid hormone, neck CT scanning and surgical exploration and which was managed by total parathyroidectomy with autotransplantation.
Asymptomatic Diseases ; Autografts ; Bone Diseases* ; Calcium ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia ; Hyperparathyroidism, Primary* ; Hyperplasia* ; Incidence ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Neck ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Parathyroidectomy ; Rare Diseases ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Amniotic Fluid* ; Animals ; Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Humans* ; Mice*

No abstract available.
Amniotic Fluid* ; Animals ; Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Humans* ; Mice*

Multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) is an uncommon, asymmetric motor neuropathy. As MMN is a treatable disorder, its differentiation from lower motor neuron disease is important. Evidence of conduction block (CB) or positive IgM anti-GM1 is considered one of important markers for the diagnosis. However, some patients with atypical MMN have no detectable CB or anti-GM1 antibody. We experienced a case of MMN with focal nerve enlargement on ultrasound. Ultrasound can be a valuable tool in supporting the diagnosis of MMN.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; Motor Neuron Disease ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Diagnosis ; Myotonia ; Polyneuropathies ; Relaxation

Uterine sarcoma is a rare female neoplasm that accounts for about 2-4% of all uterine malignancies. According to the classification of Norris and Taylor, the subgroup of endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS), comprising approximately 7-15% of all uterine sarcomas, can be divided into low-grade ESS and high-grade ESS and is characterized by proliferations composed of cells with endometrial stromal cell differentiation. We experienced this infrequent malignant tumor in a 52-year old woman and was treated by total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy followed by adriamycin chemotherapy. We present a case of low-grade ESS with a brief review of the literature.
Classification ; Doxorubicin ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Middle Aged ; Sarcoma ; Sarcoma, Endometrial Stromal* ; Stromal Cells