Long segmental fixation with TSRH posterior instrumentation for 19 patients who had unstable thoracolumbar fracture was performed between October 1992 and April 1995. The patients were followed for an average of 22 months. Measurements of the deformity angle, kyphosis, vertebral height, and the intervertebral angle were made. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to configurations of instruments for lower segmental fixation. For one group, only hooks were used, and for the others group pedicular screws and lateral offset hooks were used together at the same segment. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to anlyze the correctability following long segmental fixation and to compare one segmental fixation using both screws and lateral offset hook systems with two segmental fixation using hook systems for distal fixation. There was an overall correction of kyphosis at follow-up of 6.9degrees (27.1%) after a loss of 4.3degrees from operative correction. Overall correction of deformity angle was 8.2degrees (32.2%). Loss of vertebral height at final follow-up was 4.4%. And loss of intervertebral angle was 2.0degrees at follow-up. There was no difference of overall results between the hook group and the pedicular screw with lateral offset hook group. However, there was a significant improvement of the correction of kyphosis and restoration of vertebral height in patients who underwent operation within 7 days after injury, as compared to delayed operation. Therefore, the timing of surgery is the most important factor in order to correct the deformity caused by unstable thoracolumbar fractures. There was no significant loss of correction and no metallic failure. Therefore, rodding long with the method of one segment distal fixation using screws and lateral offset hook together can provide excellent correctability, maintenance of correction, preservation of distal lumbar joints, prevention of implant failure and complication.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joints ; Kyphosis

In this study, the authors attempted to investigate distribution of the house dust mites in Korea on a nationwide scale. Mites were isolated and classified from 211 house dust samples which were collected from 7 urban areas and 3 rural areas. The result were as follows: 1) Nineteen species of mites were identified in this study including 4 new species which were not recorded in Korea. 2) The most frequent house dust mites were Pyroglyphid mites. Among then, Derntatophagoides farinae was found to be dominant species in Korea since this species was more widely distributed and more frequently found than D. pteronyssinus, 3) The occurence rates of Dermatophagoides sp. in the urban areas were higher than that in the rural areas, but vice versa in the occurence rates of other mites accidently found in the dust samples.
Dust* ; Korea ; Mites ; Pyroglyphidae*

Chancroid is an acute localized, autoinoculable venereaI disease caused by Haemophilus ducreyi, characterized clinicaIly by painful ulceration at the site of incubation, and frequently accompanied by regional lymphadenopathy, and short incubation period. Three cases of chancroid were seen in Won Ju city, Kangwondo, Korea. All of the patients were male, and painful ulcers developed on genital region in 2 to 3 days after sexual contacts. Direct smear showed the characteristic "school-of-fish" arrangement of Haemophilus ducreyi by Gram stain. There were no regional lymphadenopathies and VDRL test were negative. Treatments were done with sulfisoxazole (Gantrisin) in case I, with sulfamethoxydiazine(Bayrena) and streptomycin in case 2, and with sulfamethoxydiazine and tetracycline in case 3 with exccllent results.
Chancroid* ; Gangwon-do ; Haemophilus ducreyi ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Male ; Streptomycin ; Sulfameter ; Sulfisoxazole ; Tetracycline ; Ulcer

BACKGROUNDS: An inhibitory effect of magnesium L-ascorbyl-2-phosphate (VC-PMG, a stable derivative of ascorbic acid) on melanogenesis has been described. Furthermore, glabridin in licorice is known to have inhibitory effects on melanogenesis and widely used for raw materials for depigmenting agents. OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study are to provide objective data by measuring the visual clinical effects of VC-PMG with the colorimeter and to promote the development of de-pigmenting agents. METHODS: 20 volunteers joined the study. With an artificial UVB irradiation, eight tanned areas were made on the inner side of the forearm. During two months, each tanned area was treated with five whitening cosmetics with 3% VC-PMG and increasing concentration of licorice from 0% to 3%. Darkness degree of each area was measured weekly by the colorimeter and the visual assessment. RESULTS: For all cosmetics, whitening effect was measured by colorimeter and visual as-sessment. The cosmetic containing VC-PMG 3% and licorice 1% had more whitening effect than any other cosmetics of different concentrations. Moreover, VC-PMG 3% alone also had whitening effect in some volunteers. CONCLUSION: VC-PMG was clinically found to have whitening effect.
Ascorbic Acid* ; Darkness ; Forearm ; Glycyrrhiza ; Magnesium* ; Triacetoneamine-N-Oxyl ; Vitamins* ; Volunteers

By light and scanning electron microscopy, the morphologies of Korean pubic louse(Phthirus pubis) were described and measured. Especially, electron microscopic structures of palpus, tuft organ, sensilla basiconicum and palpal lobe were reviewed in detail. The variations were obserbed in the number of dorsal setae and the setae of membranous processes of abdomen. And also, the importance of public health and epidemiological aspects was discussed.
Abdomen ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning* ; Phthiraptera* ; Phthirus* ; Public Health ; Sensilla

No abstract available.
Humans ; Interferon-alpha* ; Interferons* ; Melanoma* ; Ulcer*

Only several stages of conventional operation have been able to treat the open fracture of the limb with extensive bone and soft tissue loss. So we, authors, reviewed 25 cases of vascularized osteocutaneous fibulat transfer which were performed to the extensive bone defect of the limb and associated soft tissue injury(from May 13, 1982 to September 30, 1988). In 25 cases, one case was a chronic osteomyelitis combined pseudocarcinomatous epithelial hyperplasia of surrounding soft tissue, the other(24 cases) were the open comminuted fractures with the extensive bone and soft tissue loss of the limbs. The average size of the skin flap was 12.33 × 5.83cm, the average length of vascularized fibula was 16.5cm in length. The complications were fractures of grafted fibula, partial necrosis of both ends of the skin flap and uncontrolled infection of proximal end of grafted fibula. During postoperative period, the patency of the anastomoses were monitored by observing the color of the skin of buoy skin flap. The average amounts hypertrophied fibula at 12 months after operation were 20.6cm. And the following remarkable result were obtained. 1. With the uncontrolled bone infection, the vascularized osteocutaneous fibular transfer was able to be performed. 2. During the follow up period, the grafted fibula had been hypertrophied. 3. In roentgenogram, as compared with conventional bone graft, grafted bone was not resorbed and early united. 4. In adult, free fibula can be obtained and grafted as 23cm as long and the skin flap with fibula can be obtained and grafted as 21 × 7cm as large in or experience. 5. In the vascularized osteocutaneous fibula transfer, the patency of anastomoses was monitored indirectly by confirming skin flap. 6. The fractured fibula was united early by cast immobilization, and it was hypertrophied at the fracture site. 7. The vascularized osteocutaneous fibula transfer is also useful in application of the other long bones.
Adult ; Extremities ; Fibula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Comminuted ; Fractures, Open ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Immobilization ; Microsurgery ; Necrosis ; Osteomyelitis ; Postoperative Period ; Skin ; Transplants

Ants(Family Formicidae) are very successful organisms occuring in trernendous numbers worldwide in terrestrial habitats. All ant species may bite, and on species sting. 48 species in 26 genus have been reported in Korea, but only systemic reaction induced by the anti Brachyponera chinersis, has been reported in the Korea terature. A 48 year old man was stung on the neck, abdomen, and dorsum of the hand by flying stinging ants. He experienced moderate pain, burning and itching sensation. Clinical course and histopathologic findings of the lesions caused by the stinging ant was observed without specific treatment. The stinging ants collected from t,he patient.s skin and his house were identified as Euponera chosensis belonging to Subfamily Ponerinae. To the best of our know ledge, this is the first clinical repor of the insect sting by Euponera chosensis in the Korean literature.
Abdomen ; Ants ; Bites and Stings ; Burns ; Diptera ; Ecosystem ; Hand ; Humans ; Insect Bites and Stings* ; Insects* ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Pruritus ; Sensation ; Skin

To determine the types of metabolic a cidosis using anion gap in acute infantile diarrhea and to correlate it with clinical outcome, we examined 103 infants admitted with acute diarrhea. The serum electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride, phosphorus), creatinine, CO2 content and anion gap were measued on first admission day. They were classified group A with normal anion gap (8~16mEq/L) and group B with increased anion gap (>16mEq/L). The results were as follows. 1) The number of group A with normal anion gap (11.6+/-3.3mEq/L) was 62 and the number of group B with incresed anion gap(21.1+/-5.5mEq/L) was 38. 2) The duration of diarrhea was significantly prolonged in group B (9.0+/-2.5 days), compared with group A (5.9+/-1.1 days)(p<0.001). 3) The duration of admission was significantly prolonged in group B(5.6+/-2.2 days), compared with group A (4.+/-01.4days)(p<0.001). 4) Infants in group B, compared with group A, were significantly more severe dehydrated (p.
Acid-Base Equilibrium ; Acidosis* ; Creatinine ; Diarrhea ; Diarrhea, Infantile* ; Electrolytes ; Humans ; Infant ; Potassium

We examined a male infant with transient increase in alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activity. The 25-month-old infant was admitted to a local hospital because of pneumonia of unknown etiology. Initial laboratory investigation revealed a serum ALP of 11,260U/L, which was comparable to that of bone isoenzyme on the electrophoresis pattern, There was no evidence of hepatitis, skeletal or intestinal diseases. The hyperphosphatasemia disappeared 3 months later. We report a case of transient hyperphosphatasemia diagnosed inci- dentally in the course of management of pneumonia. (J Korean Pediatr Soc 2000;43:856-860)
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Child, Preschool ; Electrophoresis ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Infant ; Intestinal Diseases ; Male ; Pneumonia