No abstract available.
Calcium* ; Chemotaxis* ; Neutrophils*

The main goals of treatment of malignant bone tumor are the prolongation of life survival and the improvement of quality of life. In growing children, however, leg length discrepancy (LLD) is one of major problem in the treatment of malignant bone tumors. Therefore, the precise understanding of growth in children is essential, and the prediction of LLD is critical in deciding the time and options of surgery. In addition, to use the adequate method of growth expectation, periodic follow-up and collaboration with patient's parents are needed.
Child ; Cooperative Behavior ; Humans ; Leg ; Life Support Care ; Parents ; Quality of Life

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

BACKGROUND: Herpes zoster with generalized varicelliform eruptions occurs in 2 to 10% of patients with herpes zoster. It occurs mainly in old or debilitated persons especially those who have immunologic defects such as lymphoproliferative diseases, AIDS, or recipients of immunosuppressive therapy. The reported incidence of herpes zoster with generalized varicelliform eruptions is variable. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the incidence and clinical features of herpes zoster with generalized varicelliform eruptions. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical data of 962 patients with herpes zoster by retrospective methods. The annual incidence, age, sex, seasonal variation, predilection sites, and associated conditions of herpes zoster with generalized varicelliform eruptions were analyzed from January 1990 to December 1996 (7 years). RESULTS: 1. Among 962 patients, 8 patients with herpes zoster revealed generalixed varicelliform eruptions (0.83%). 2. The age ranged from 20 to 85 and the majority of cases occurred in the 6th decade. There were 4 females and 4 males. 3. Past histories of malignancy were observed in 2 patients. However, there were no signs of malignancy at the time of diagnosis of herpes zoster with generalized varicelliform eruptions. 4. The most common site of initial lesion was the thoracic dermatome,followed by the lumbar and the cervical ones. CONCLUSION: From our observation, it is suggested that herpes zoster with generalized varicelliform eruptions may occur in patients without underlying malignancy or immunosuppressive disorders. Sudden incidental uprising of herpes zoster with generalized varicelliform eruptions was observed in 1996.
Clinical Study* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Seasons

Therapeutic irradiation may produce a variety of adverse side effects on the central and the peripheral nervous systems. These adverse effects are divided into two main groups; transient and permanent. Four major clinical syndromes have been described in relation to permanent radiation injury of the nervous system: encephalopathy, cranial neuropathy, myelopathy, and peripheral neuropathy. Among them, delayed encephalopathy represents the major hazard in CNS irradiation. The characteristic MR imaging pattern of radiation induced delayed necrotizing leukoencephalopathy is symmetric, high-signal foci on T2WI in the periventricular white matter. We report a case of suspected post-irradiation leukoencephalopathy showed progressive mental change, quadriparesis, and urinary incontinence with characteristic MR findings who had taken therapeutic irradiation 12 months ago.
Cranial Nerve Diseases ; Leukoencephalopathies* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Nervous System ; Peripheral Nervous System ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Quadriplegia ; Radiation Injuries ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; Urinary Incontinence

No abstract available.
Bone Regeneration* ; Bone Substitutes*

Mitochondrial DNA (mt DNA) and the non-recombining region of the Y chromosome are passed down, unaltered, from generation to generation, matrilineally and patrilineally, respectively. Therefore, the Y-chromosome DNA and mtDNA are known as lineage markers, and they play important roles in studies based on human migration and evolutionary history. Y-chromosome DNA is used in forensic analysis to identify individuals involved in cases of sexual assault. In this paper, we review the methods of statistical evaluation of lineage markers used in forensic identification. We also review the combined approach of autosomal and lineage marker evidence.
DNA ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; Human Migration ; Y Chromosome

The lipid lowering effects of bezafibrate were evaluated in 18 patients with hyperlipidemia, i.e. over 200mg/dl of cholesterol and/or of cholesterol and/or triglyceride before treatment. The materials were 18 patients(male:8, female:10);7 with diabetes mellitus, 8 with congestive cardiomyopathy, 1 with parkinsonism, The serum lipid concents were measured with enzyme method before and 6 weeks after the treatment with daily 600mg of bezafibrate administered per oral and the differences were observed. 1) The level of serum cholesterol was reduced from 262.8mg/dl(+/-58.9SD) before treatment to 191.3gm/dl(+/-31.3SD) after 6 weeks treatment(p<03.005). 2) The level of serum triglyceride was reduced from 231.8mg/dl(+/-104SD) before treatment to 144.4mg/dl(+/-51SD) after 6 weeks treatment(p<0.005). 3) The level of serum HDL increased from 47.2mg/dl(+/-19.7SD) before treatment to 61.3mg/dl(+/-13.9SD) after 6 weeks treatment(p<0.005). 4) The level of serum LDL was reduced from 169.3mg/dl(+/-52.4SD) before treatment to 101.2mg/dl(+/-29.5SD) after 6 weeks treatment(p<0.05). 5) HDL/Cholesterol ratio was increased from 17.8%(+/-5.4SD) before treatment to 32.6%(+/-7.9SD) after 6 weeks treatment(p<0.005). 6) HDL/LDL ratio was increased from 29.2%(+/-10.8SD) before treatment to 67.2%(+/-30.8SD) after 6 weeks treatment(<0.005). The side effects of bezafibrate such as G-I trouble, myositis, hypersensitivity, elevation of BUN and creatinine were not observed.
Bezafibrate* ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; Cholesterol ; Creatinine ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias* ; Hypersensitivity ; Myositis ; Parkinsonian Disorders ; Triglycerides

Coronary artery steonosis can be effectively treated by non-operative percutaneous tansluminal coronaryangioplasty(PTCA). We performed PTCA in three patients with coronary artery stenosis, who were referred to thedepartment of radiology, from January to Dec. in 1985. The results were as follows; 1. The locations of coronaryartery stenosis were the proximal anterior descending branch of left coronary artery. 2. The number of stenoticlesions was single without calcium plaque in all three cases. 3. The extent of coronary artery disease is focal,under 2cm in length. 4. PTCA was performed successfully with satisfactory post-dilatation results in all cases. 5.Severe complications such as arterial intimal dissection, acute myocardial infarction, did not occurred. PTCA hasmany advantages over vascular surgery on surgical, economical, and psychological aspects.
Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Calcium ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Stenosis ; Coronary Vessels ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction

Allergic contact dermatitis that is attributable to contact with environmental sensitizers boine by a second individual, especially in marital or sexual relationships, has been described as connubial contact dermatitis. Severely pruritic multiple erythematous plaques, vesicles and bullae in a 35-year-old woman occurred on the face, posterior area of the neck, breasts, buttock, and both upper arms. No direct contact to allergens was obtained. However her husband had eaten some cooked sprouts from a lacquer tree for lunch at a restaurant the day before her eruption, then he caressed her that night. A patch test with extracts of lacquer tree in ethanol(2%), crushed extracts of lacquer tree (as is), and urushiol(0.002% pet.) on the patients back showed strong positive reactions.
Adult ; Allergens ; Arm ; Breast ; Buttocks ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Dermatitis, Contact* ; Female ; Humans ; Lacquer ; Lunch ; Neck ; Patch Tests ; Restaurants ; Rhus* ; Spouses ; Trees