For many years, healing membranous bone fractures have been known to show a persistent lucency at the fracture interface. Radiographic follow-up has proven to be of little value as a guideline for healing of mandibular fractures. Recently, a fracture has been treated by rigid internal fixation by metallic plate and screws rather than closed reduction and wire fixation, we expected that some difference in the radiographic features of fracture healing. To investigate these questions we undertook a retrospective radiographic and clinical analysis of 33 followed patients with fractures of the body and angle of the mandible from 1993 to 1997. There were 26 male and 7 female patients ranging in age between 5 and 74 years, with an average of 29.7 years. All patients were managed by open reduction with metallic plates and screws. The length of follow-up ranged from 9 to 187 weeks. Total 81 radiographic follow-up films were obtained and divided into 3 grades according to the degree of radiolucency of fracture lines; grade 0 radiolucent fracture line and no evidence of fracture interface calcification, grade 1 decreased radiolucent area and evidence of fracture interface calcification, and grade 2 disappearance of fracture line.Until follow-up of 8 weeks, all of the radiographs showed grade 0. From 8 weeks to 16 weeks, 62.5 percent showed grade 0 and 37.5 percent showed grade 1. From 16 weeks to 48 weeks, 38.5 percent showed grade 1 and 61.5 percent showed grade 2. After follow-up of 48 weeks, all showed grade 2.In this study we have shown that the radiographic disappearance of mandibular fracture lines was usually accomplished by 48 weeks. We feel that radiographic union of the mandible is lagging well behind clinical union, but disapperance of the fracture line in rigidly fixated mandibular fracture was occurred earlier than healed by fibrous union. We propose that radiographic union of the mandible by approximately 1 year can be a guideline for the normal mandibular bone healing.
Female ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Fracture Healing ; Fractures, Bone ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible ; Mandibular Fractures* ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Epilepsy*

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of CarnitilR (acetylcarnitine, Hanmi, Korea) therapy in idiopathic oligoasthenospermic men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-four subfertile men with abnormal semen parameters were treated between March, 2003 and March, 2004 with 3 g of CarnitilR daily for 3 months. Changes in semen parameters were evaluated 3 months after this therapy. RESULTS: The mean age was 34.2 years and the mean follow-up duration was 3.7 months. In asthenospemic patients (n=28), semen analysis before and after CarnitilR treatment showed an increase in volume (2.64+/-1.65 ml vs. 3.10+/-1.60 ml), motility (35.1+/-17.7% vs. 45.9+/-20.4%) and viability (51.4+/-20.3% vs. 59.3+/-13.6%) respectively. In oligoasthenospermic patients (n=16), semen analysis before and after CarnitilR treatment showed an increase in sperm count (10.7+/-54.4 million/ml vs. 38.4+/-32.5 million/ml) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that in idiopathic oligoasthenospermic men the empirical medical therapy with acetylcarnitine may be considered as primary treatment.
Acetylcarnitine* ; Carnitine ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; Male ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count

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

No abstract available.
Aneurysm* ; Arteries*

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate the relationship between the levels of IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the peritoneal fluid(PF) of women with and without endometriosis and infertile women. Design: Prospective and case-control study. Setting: University hospital. Patients: Twenty-nine women with laparotomy or laparoscopic findings of minimal to severe endometriosis, and twenty-eight women with no visual evidence of pelvic endometriosis and with benign gynecologic disease. Main Outcome Measures: PF IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels were determined using commercial ELISA. IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentrations were compared among women with and without endometriosis, and with infertile and fertile women, and then also compared according the revised American Fertility Society classification. RESULTS: IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentrations were higher than in the PF of women with endometriosis than in matched normal controls. Cyclic variations in IL-6 concentrations were seen in PF from patients with endometriosis: the concentrations in the secretory phase were significantly higher than those in the proliferative phase. IL-6 concentrations were higher than in the PF among of infertile women than in fertile women. A significant correlation between PF IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentrations and endometriosis stage III and IV was noted. CONCLUSIONS: Increased PF levels of IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in patients with endometriosis may be relate to endometriosis-associated infertility and to the pathogenesis of endometriosis suggesting that partially contribute to the disturbed immune regulation observed in patients with endometriosis.
Ascitic Fluid* ; Case-Control Studies ; Classification ; Endometriosis* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Fertility ; Genital Diseases, Female ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular* ; Infertility ; Interleukin-6 ; Laparotomy ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Prospective Studies ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Under specific circumstances the appendix vermiformis may be an appropriate organ for replacement of a large ureteral defect or efferent loop in continent urinary diversion. Since 1995 we have applied the appendix in ureteral substitution (3 cases) and continent urinary diversion (3 cases). Primary diagnoses included complete lower ureteral stricture due to urinary tuberculosis (3 cases), invasive bladder tumor (1 case), areflexic neurogenic bladder (1 case), and contracted bladder (1 case). In all patients who have been replaced the ureter with appendix, clinical symptoms were markedly improved and degree of hydronephrosis decreased. Other patients with continent urinary diversion using appendix achieved dryness and low postoperative complications. we anticipate that the appendix will be used more commonly in the future as a ureteral substitute or continent urinary diversion as more urologists become more comfortable with it through its use in various reconstructive procedures.
Appendix* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Postoperative Complications ; Tuberculosis ; Ureter ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic ; Urinary Diversion

OBJECTIVE: Because endometriosis is difficult to diagnose and has a high recurrence rate after treatment, a reliable serum marker of endometriosis is necessary. Therefore, the aim of this study is to measure the serum levels of CA125 and CA19-9 in patients with endometriosis before and after treatment and during recurrence, and to assess the usefulness of these levels in the diagnosis, clinical follow up and prediction of recurrence in endometriosis. METHODS: Eighty-eight patients who visited the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Ewha Mokdong Hospital from January 1994 to December 1998 and were diagnosed as endometriosis by laparoscopy or explo-laparotomy were enrolled as subjects. A retrospective analysis of serum CA125 and CA19-9 levels at 1 month before and 3 to 6 months after initiation of treatment was done. RESULTS: The serum CA125 and CA19-9 levels of endometriosis group(81.0+/-252.5, 36.6+/-53.4 ; mean+/-2SD, U/ml) before treatment was significantly higher than control group(11.6+/-12.8, 9.4+/-8.6)(p<0.05). Overall sensitivity rate for CA125, CA19-9 levels and both was 53.4%, 42.9% and 64.3% respectively. The sensitivity rate for endometriosis, stage 3 and 4(85.4%, 55.0%) was significantly higher than that, stage 1 and 2(p<0.05). The serum CA125 level in endometriosis group showed a significant increment according to stages(p<0.05) while the serum CA19-9 level showed an increasing trend(p=0.055) and both levels decreased significantly after treatment(p<0.05). The serum CA125 level was also higher at recurrence after treatment(p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The serum CA125 and CA19-9 levels are a useful marker for diagnosing severity of disease, monitoring efficacy of treatment and predicting recurrence in endometriosis.
Biomarkers ; Diagnosis ; Endometriosis* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Obstetrics ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

It is known in general that neoplasms of smooth mucsle appear very rarely in the oral region, probaly because in the oral region with histopathologic investigations have been reported. This report presents an unusual case of angioleiomyoma that developed on the lower lip of a 48-year the course of one year and the immunohistochemical findings of the angioleiomyyoma are described.
Angiomyoma* ; Lip*

BACKGROUND: Mixed venous oxygen saturation (SO2) monitoring turned out to be invaluable in following up systemic cardiovascular status. But balloon-tipped flow-directed thermodilution catheter (Swan-Ganz catheter) insertion carries additional inherent risks other than those of central venous catheterization, and it costs much more expense than simple venous catheter. There has been a lot of papers which argue that central venous catheterization may substitute for the Swan-Ganz catheterization. In addition, it may be very difficult or impossible to insert the Swan-Ganz catheter in pediatric patients. This study was performed to determine whether Swan-Ganz catheterization might be replaced by the central venous catheterization in regards to SO2. METHODS: In 17 pediatric open heart surgery (OHS) patients, from the central venous catheter, the tip of which had been located in the center of right atrium (RA) and pulmonary artery, blood samples were drawn for gas analysis simultaneously, which was done immediately after emergence from cardiopulmonary bypass. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between RA blood and mixed venous blood gas analyses except oxygen saturation. The oxygen saturations of both were linearly correlated with each other. The relation was SO2=17 0.8 SRAO2 (R=0.77, p<0.05) CONCLUSIONS: It may be concluded that RA blood may be used for blood gas analysis in place of mixed venous blood immediately after pediatric open heart surgery.
Blood Gas Analysis ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass* ; Catheterization, Central Venous ; Catheterization, Swan-Ganz ; Catheters ; Central Venous Catheters ; Heart Atria ; Heart* ; Humans ; Oxygen* ; Pulmonary Artery ; Thermodilution ; Thoracic Surgery*