No abstract available.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Sputum*

No abstract available.
Humans* ; Lymphokines* ; Monocytes* ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium*

PURPOSE: To obtain magnetization transfer ratio(MTR) of the annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus and to assess the feasibility of utilizing the changes of these MTRs as an early indicator of disk degeneration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR images of lumbar spine with magnetization transfer(MT) technique in 42 patients were obtained. spin echo techniques (600/14) with same TR/TE with 1KHz off-resonance saturation were employed in 1.0T MR system. MTRs were calculated in two regions, anterior annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus, and the results were compared between the normal and degenerative disks, from grade I to IV, on T2-weighted images. RESULTS: MTRs of the nucleus pulposus were 17.6% in the normal disks, and 26.7%, 28.4%, 29.1%, 29.7% in degenerative disks, from grade I to IV, respectively, with a significant difference(P<0.05). On the other hand, MTRs in the annulus fibrosus were 30.2% in the normal disks and 31.5%, 33.2%, 32.1% and 35.6% in degenerative disks, from grade I to IV, respectively, without significant difference. CONCLUSION: Since MTRs are significantly higher in degenerative nucleus pulposus than those of the normal disks, increased MTRs in the nucleus pulposus can be used as an early sign of the degeneration of the nucleus pulposus.
Hand ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Spine

PURPOSE: Magnetization transfer imaging(MTI) is a new imaging contrast technique. Our MT pulse sequence is designed as fixed time interval between echo and MT pulse. This study was peformed to evaluate the influence of variations in TR/TE on MTR in T1 weighted image of normal brain tissue on this kind of MT pulse sequence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven healthy volunteers in twenties of age as the objectives, MRI was taken under various TR/TE(TR/TE ;700/14, 650/14, 750/14, 700/20 and 1500/20 msec). MTR was calculated from signal intensities measured at the same point in both pre and post MT images and statisticslly analyzed. The MR imager used in this study was 1.0T Magnetom 42SP(Siemens, Erlangen, Germany) and the parameters of additional MT pulse sequence were offset 1000Hz and bandwidth 250Hz, and posteriorly located to echo with 7.7 msec fixed interval. Offset of this MT pulse was variable. RESULT: In white matter of brain tissue from a normal person, MTR was 34-39%(average 37%) for TR and TE of 700/14 in T1WI and 33-36%(average 35%) for TR/TE of 650/14, and 34-38%(average 35%) for TR/TE of 750/14 which showed no statistical difference. However, in case of 1500/20 of TR/TE, MTR was 26-28%(average 26%) which is statistically significant. With TR/TE of 700/14 as the standrd value, the MTR of gray and white matter were 37% and 29% respectively, showing a definite difference of statistical means. Signal from CSF in ventricles is rarely influenced by MT pulse. CONCLUSION: Conclusively, a subtle variation in TR/TE in T1WI has little influence on MTR but wide range of variation in TR/TE as in proton density image induces significant difference in MTR on this kind of MT pulse sequence. Therefore, the exchangeable usage of MTR data would be possible in narrow range of TR/TE change but difficult in wide range of variation.
Brain* ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Protons ; Reference Values*

Cutaneous fistula of dental origin is the most common type of cutaneous fistula that is formed on the face and neck. This lesion can be a diagnostic challenge to clinicians who are not familiar with cutaneous fistula since many patients with cutaneous fistula of dental origin do not have any complaints such as toothache. Diagnostic errors may result in multiple excisions, biopsies, and ineffective long-term antibiotic therapy. However, if the lesion could be suspected of being of dental origin, the diagnosis can be easily confirmed by radiologic examinations. We report four cases of cutaneous fistula of dental origin. All four patients had a characteristic cutaneous findings with chronically draining, fixed, erythematous papule on their nasolabial fold or submental region. Ultrasonography, fistulography or plain roentgenography were needed to confirm the diagnosis of cutaneous fistula originating from dental problems.
Biopsy ; Cutaneous Fistula* ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Errors ; Humans ; Nasolabial Fold ; Neck ; Radiography ; Toothache ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Age Factors* ; Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic*

No abstract available.
Aneurysm* ; Arteries*

No abstract available.
Humans* ; Lymphocytes* ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium*

BACKGROUND: Norwegian scabies is a highly infectious disease characterized by crust formation, different from ordinary scabies, and is caused by Sarcoptes scabiei. After the patient in our case was diagnosed with Norwegian scabies, active measures were taken to prevent its transmission within the hospital. Methods: A 66-year-old female patient was admitted to the general ward of a university hospital on January 23rd, 2008 and 6 days later, she was found to have been infected with Norwegian scabies all over the body. For epidemiological investigation, those who had been in contact with the patient were identified and interviewed. The patient was advised to follow the contact precaution, and linen the patient used was cleaned thoroughly. The surrounding environment was decontaminated by applying surface disinfectant. Preventive cream against the Norwegian scabies was distributed to staff members and patients who had been exposed to the patient, and appointed a dermatologist to educate them on how to use of medicine, what the mechanism of the disease is, what cautions must be taken, and how to write an ex post facto report. RESULTS: After the confirmation of the 1st case, no additional cases have been reported in the hospital during the ensuing 2 months. Therefore, prompt prevention and infection control activities against Norwegian scabies can be thought to have been successful. CONCLUSION: Whena patient with an uncertain skin disease is admitted, pertinent measures must be taken from the moment the patient is admitted and contact precaution should be applied both to the patients and the staff members. When a scabies patient is detected in an institution, the medical staff must enforce as much active preventive measures as possible, and by doing so, there will be a better chance to prevent the outbreak of scabies in the hospital.
Aged ; Bedding and Linens ; Communicable Diseases ; Cross Infection ; Female ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Medical Staff ; Patients' Rooms ; Sarcoptes scabiei ; Scabies ; Skin Diseases

Tumor-draining lymph node (TDLN) lymphocytes contain immunologically sensitized to tumor but functionally deficient T cells. The 30 kDa protein antigen, a major secreted protein antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, exhibits strong T cell stimulatory effect. In this study, it examined that the feasibility of using M tuberculosis 30 kDa antigen to stimulate tumor-draining lymph node cells for the generation of specific immune effector cells. Freshly isolated TDLN lymphocytes could directly respond to the 30 kDa antigen alone and their proliferative responses were markedly augmented by stimulation with rIL-2. TDLN cells were stimulated with the 30 kDa antigen for various time intervals and examined for the induction of IFN-r and IL-4 mRNA using RT-PCR. The expression of IFN-r mRNA was greatly augmented after 1 wk, whereas IL-4 mRNA is markedly decreased after 1 wk. Cytotoxic T cell activities induced by the 30 kDa antigen was also evaluated. TDLN cells stimulated with the 30 kDa antigen alone were able to generate remarkable cytotoxic response to K562 or Daudi cell lines after 6 days of culture. And their cytotoxic effects were highly augmented by stirnulation with rIL-2. These results suggest that the 30 kDa antigen of M. tuberculosis may selectively activate Thl cells of TDLN lymhocytes and induce the cytotoxic T cell activities. In conclusion, the 30 kDa antigen can be used as a biologic response modifier in tumor immunology.
Allergy and Immunology ; Cell Line ; Interleukin-4 ; Lymph Nodes* ; Lymphocytes* ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; RNA, Messenger ; T-Lymphocytes ; Th1 Cells* ; Tuberculosis