To observed whether the specific IgG antibody test using ELISA was useful in diagnosis of presently ill patients of paragonimiasis, a total of 95 sera were tested. The sera were collected from 21 egg positive cases, 8 from positive reactors of intradermal test, 7 from Clonorchis infected, 9 from other parasitic diseases and 50 from apparently non-infected cases. By the result, the sensitivity of the test was 86% and the specificity was 100%. There were no cross reactions between Paragonimus antigen and other parastic infections. Specific IgG antibody test by micro-ELISA was concluded to be useful for mass screening of the presently ill paragonimiasis in the field.
parasitology-helminth-cestoda ; Spirometra sp. ; sparganum ; sparganosis ; immunology ; diagnosis ; ELISA

PURPOSE: To evaluate the prevalence of the opacification of paranasal sinuses and to correlate the prevalence and severity of the sinus opacification with presence of upper respiratory infection (URI) in infants and children using CT. MATERIALS & METHODS: We analyzed CT scans of 162 children aged under 16 who have no signs and symptoms of paranasal sinusitis. Both sides of maxillary and ethmoidal sinuses were evaluated. We scored from 0 to 3 according to the degree of soft tissue opacification of each sinus and then summed up the scores of each sinus. We divided the children into 5 groups according to their age. We paid particular attention to the following respects: 1) the prevalence of the opacification of the paranasal sinuses in each group; 2) the difference in the prevalence between the children with and without URI ;3) the correlation between the severity of the sinus opacification and the presence of URI. RESULTS: Of 162 children, one or more paranasal sinus opacification was noted in 76(47 %):31(65%) less than 1 year old;11(52%) between 1 and 2 years old;16(53%) between 2 and 6 years old ;15(28%) between 6 and 12 years old;and 3(33%) above 12 years old. In children less than 1 year old, no significant difference in the prevalence of the sinus opacification was found between URI-positive(71%) and URI-negative(58%) subgroups. In chilren between 1 and 12 years old, although the prevalence of the sinus opacification in URI-positive subgroups was much greater than that in URI-negative subgroup, statistically significant difference was noted only in children between 2 and 6 years old. As to the correlation between the severity of the sinus opacification and the presence of URI, these was a statistically significant difference in children between 2 and 6 years old and between 6 and 12 years old. CONCLUSION: Although the exact pathophysiology is not fully understood, the opacification of the paranasal sinuses is not an uncommon finding at CT in children without the signs and symptoms of sinusitis. We think that the clinical correlation is essential in determining the diagnosis and treatment plan in cases that the sinus radiographs or CT scans show the abnormal findings.
Child* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Infant* ; Paranasal Sinuses ; Prevalence* ; Sinusitis* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

We carried out animal experiment in order to determine the effect of resection of nerves, muscles and tendons on the induction of osteoporosis. One hundred and forty rats, weighing approximately 250 gm, were divided into seven groups. In Group I, as a control group, the three skin incisions, one on the anterior aspect of the knee, one on the anteromedial aspect of proximal thigh, and one on the posterior aspect of proximal thigh were made and wounds were sutured. In Group II, the patellar tendon and the extensor digitorum longus tendon were divided to disable knee extension. In Group III, all the knee flexors were divided. In Group IV, all the knee extensors and flexors were divided. In Group V, the femoral nerve was divided to disable knee extension. In Group VI, the sciatic and obturator nerves were divided to diable knee flexion. In Group VII, the sciatic, and obtrator nerves were all divided. Before the procedures, bone density was measured by photon absorptiometry and postoperatively, the measurement was repeated every two weeks until the eighth week. At the time of each measurement, two rats were sacrificed out of each group and were submitted to microphotographic measurement of the tibial cortices. The results were as follows. l. In the muscle and tendon resection groups (Group II, Group III, Group IV), the bone density significantly decreased two weeks after operation and then, gradually increased four, six and eight weeks. 2. In the nerve resection groups (Group V, Group VI, and Group VII), the bone density decreased significantly two and four weeks after operation and then gradually increased six, and eight weeks after operation. 3. In both motor resection and denervation, the paralysis of both flexors and extensors of the knee, caused more decrease in bone density than the paralysis of either flexor or extensor. 4. In the muscle and tendon resection groups, the bone density was significantly more decrease two weeks after operation when the flexors were resected, but thereafter there was no significant difference between the flexors and extensors resection. In the nerve resection group, the paralysis of knee flexors caused more decrease in bone density than the paralysis of knee extensors throughout the entire experimental period. 5. The nerve resection groups demonstrated significantly more severe loss of bone density than muscle and tendon resection groups throughout the entire experimental period. 6. The values of bone density measured by photon absorptiometry correlated well with the cortical thickness indices. Bssed upon these observations, we came to the following conclusions. 1. The osteoporosis following injuries of the nerve, muscle, and tendon is most significant at two weeks after injury. 2. Denervation causes more severe osteoporosis than muscle and tendon injuries. 3. It is suggested that the photon absorptiometry is a reliable means in the evaluation of the osteoporosis.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Animal Experimentation ; Animals ; Bone Density ; Denervation ; Femoral Nerve ; Knee ; Muscles ; Obturator Nerve ; Osteoporosis ; Paralysis ; Patellar Ligament ; Rats ; Skin ; Tendon Injuries ; Tendons ; Thigh ; Tibia ; Wounds and Injuries

No abstract available.

Temporal and spatial expression of bmp-2 and bmp-4 was investigated in distraction osteogenesis and fracture healing models in order to delineate their roles in these new hone formation processes. Distraction osteogenesis was performed on the left tihia diaphyses of Sprague-Dawley rats, and was confirmed by serial radiographs and histologicaJ examination. Total RNA was isolated from the distraction gaps and fracture sites sequentially until the postoperative eighth week, and mRNA expression was quantitated hy competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) using specific primers for bmp-2 and bmp-4. In-situ hybridization was performed on the undemineralized tissue section of distraction osteogenesis group. Both bum-2 and bmp-4 mRNA expression increased during distraction osteogenesis and fracture healing. Increase in bmp-2 mRNA expression was more marked and prolonged in distraction osteogenesis compared with fracture healing, whereas bmp-4 mRNA expression was persistently increased in both groups. In-situ hybridization study revealed that hoth bmp-2 and bmp-4 were expressed at eariy osteohlasts producing osteoid, trabeculae-lining osteoblasts and osteocytes of regenerate bone. Enhanced new bone formation in distraction osteogenesis is associated with prolonged and increased expression of BMPs, especially BMP-2. lnspite of their structural similarity, BMP-2 and BMP-4 appear to have their distinct roles in new hone formation.
Bone Morphogenetic Proteins* ; Diaphyses ; Fracture Healing* ; Osteoblasts ; Osteocytes ; Osteogenesis ; Osteogenesis, Distraction* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger*

To evaluate the normal development of the paranasal sinuses in children with CT, authors prospectively studied with brain CT scans of 260 children without known sinus diseases, ranging in age from 7 days to 16 years. Maximal anteroposterior and transverse diameters(mm) and maximal cross-sectional area(mm2) of both sides of the maxillary sinus were measured with the aid of computer device. As to the ethmoidal and sphenoidal sinuses, we simply documented the presence of the aplastic ethmoidal sinus and calculated the age-incidence of the sphenoidal sinus pneumatization, respectively. There noted three phases in the development of the maxillary sinus. The anteroposterior and transverse diameters of the maxillay sinus increased nearly in parallel. The former was always greater than the latter. In no cases was the ethmoidal sinus aplastic and almost all sinuses were pneumatized even in infants as early as 7 days old. CT identified the conchal pattern of sphenoidal sinus pneumatization in infants as early as 11 days old. Sphenoidal sinus pueumatization was seen in 38% of the children under the age of 1 year, 82% of the children between the age of 1 and 2 years, and almost all children older than 2 years. The anteroposterior and transverse diameters of the maxillary sinus seem to reach the adult size by 8 years of age, and the conchal pattern of sphenoidal sinus pneumatization can be recognized earlier with CT than on the plain radiographs.
Adult ; Brain ; Child* ; Humans ; Infant ; Maxillary Sinus ; Paranasal Sinuses* ; Prospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Ten opening-wedge callotasis through the proximal tibia just below the tuberosity were performed using the Ilizarov apparatus in ten patients who had premature asymmetrical closure of the proximal tibial physis and subsequent genu recurvatum. In 4 knees, the genu recurvatum was due entirely to osseous deformity. In the remaining 6 knees, it was due to a combination of ossseous and soft-tissue (ligament and capsule) deformity. In the 6 knees that had combined deformity, the osseous deformity was predominant in all knees. The average age of the patients at surgery was 16.3 years (range, 11.0-20.5 years). Before operation, the average angle of recurvatum was 19.6 degree (range, 15-26 degree) with an average of 76.6 degrees of abnormal tilt of the tibial plateau. The average shortening of the ipsilateral limb in ten patients was 2.7 cm (range, 0.5-8.7 cm). The average duration of correction was 49 days (23-85 days), and the average fixation time was 150 days for management of genu recurvatum and associated limb-length discrepancy. In 3 patients, there were complications including patella infera, pin track infection and transient peroneal nerve palsy. After a mean follow-up of 4.2 years (range, 1.1-5.9 years), most patients had an excellent or good radiographic and functional results without any recurrence. We have found the Ilizarov method to be valid in the management of genu recurvatum with or without concomitant shortening, with relatively few complications, but full understanding of the basic principles and strict adherence to the details of the method must be carefully followed.
Congenital Abnormalities* ; Extremities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ilizarov Technique* ; Knee ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Paralysis ; Patella ; Peroneal Nerve ; Recurrence ; Tibia

The purpose of this study is to present a novel method of harvesting autogenous bone graft and to analyze the behavior of xenograft used for pelvic osteotomy in young children. Twenty hips of eighteen patients underwent pelvic osteotomies using xenograft (Lubhoc) from Sep. 1993 to Jun. 1996. In fitteen hips, we harvested autogenous bone avoiding damage to the chondroapophysis of iliac crest and t'illed the donor site with the xenograft. It supplemented the autogenous bone at the osteotomy site in eleven hips, and was used as a wedge without autogenous hone in five hips. During the followup, no growth disturbance of iliac crest was found. The xenograft incorporation was satisfactory at the graft donor sites and the osteotomy sites where it supplemented the autogenous bone, however, unsatistactory at the osteotomy sites where it was used alone. Our novel method of harvesting bone graft from young pelvis may help prevent growth disturbance of lilac crest, and Luhhoc is useful as space-filler of donor site and suppiementary to the autograft in pelvic osteotomy of young children.
Autografts ; Child* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heterografts* ; Hip ; Humans ; Osteotomy* ; Pelvis ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants

PURPOSE: To determine the frequency of complications and diagnostic accuracy of CT-guided percutaneous automated gun biopsy, and to compare the results with those reported for fine needle aspiration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using automated biopsy devices, 118 CT-guided percutaneous biopsies of pulmonary lesions were performed. An 18-gauge needle was used. Final diagnosis was made with operation or other methods. We retrospectively analyzed the frequency of complications and diagnostic yields of 118 biopsies. RESULT: Four of 118(3.3%) patients developed pneumothorax and two of these required chest tube insertion. Other complications were resolved spontaneously. 106 biopsies (89.8%) yielded sufficient tissue for pathologic evaluation. For cases of malignant and of benign disease, sensitivity was 91.8% and 87.7% respectively ; the corresponding figures for diagnostic accuracy were 88.5% and 78.9%. CONCLUSION: CT-guided automated gun biopsy of the pulmonary lesions is safe, witha pneumothorax rate comparable to that of fine needle aspiration. In the absence of a trained cytologist at the time of biopsy, the diagnostic accuracy of automated gun biopsy of pulmonary lesions compared favorably with the reported accuracy of fine needle aspiration.
Biopsy* ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Chest Tubes ; Diagnosis ; Needles ; Pneumothorax ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: In order to delineate its function in distraction osteogenesis, the temporal and spatial expression patterns of vasculoendothelial growth factor(VEGF) mRNA and protein were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Distraction osteogenesis was carried out in the tibiae of Sprague-Dawley rat using bilateral monofixators. Total RNA was prepared from the bone tissue including distraction gap at postoperative 1, 2, 3, 4 weeks and in unoperative one. The temporal pattern of mRNA expression was observed using reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction. Spatial expression of mRNA and protein of VEGF were observed using in-situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: VEGF mRNA was expressed throughout the whole procedure, and the relative dominance of splicing variants was changing during distraction osteogenesis. VEGF expression of both mRNA and protein was highest in the immature osteoblasts at the primary matrix front. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that VEGF plays an important role in distraction osteogenesis, not only of angiogenesis but also of osteoblastic differentiation.
Animals ; Bone and Bones ; Immunohistochemistry ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis, Distraction* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Tibia* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A