Of all the primary central nervous system tumors, the medulloblastoma, glioblastoma multiforme, ependymoma and pineal germinoma tend to exfoliate in the cerebrospinal space. With all other types of the tumor, abnormal cells may seldom be definitely identified in the cerebrospinal fluid. Up to now the tumor cells have been rarely found in CSF cases of retinoblastoma. We have experienced a case of advanced retinoblastoma that showed exfoliated cells in spinal fluid.

STUDY DESIGNS: A retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the clinical and radiological outcomes of spontaneous reduction via minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (Mini-TLIF) as the treatment for low-grade symptomatic spondylolisthesis. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Although minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion is technically demanding, this procedure is an effective method for spontaneous reduction of low grade spondylolisthesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed consecutive series of 41 patients with low grade spondylolisthesis who underwent minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion, between April 2008 and July 2009. The minimum follow-up period was 2 years. Clinical evaluation was performed by an analysis of Visual Analogue Scale and Oswestry Disability Index. For the radiological evaluation, disc space height, slip percentage, and slip angle were analyzed. At the final follow-up, the fusion rate was analyzed according to the Bridwell's anterior fusion grade. RESULTS: For the evaluation of clinical outcomes, the Visual Analogue Scale for back pain decreased from 6.8+/-1.2 to 2.0+/-1.1, and that for radiating pain decreased from 7.9+/-1.3 to 1.7+/-1.1. Oswetry Disability Index decreased from 38.5+/-8.4 to 13.4+/-6.1. For the radiological evaluation, disc space height increased from 8.4+/-2.14mm to 11.8+/-1.54mm(P<0.05), slip percentage was reduced from 18.4+/-5.1% to 13.3+/-3.1%(P<0.05) and slip angle decreased from 10.6+/-4.5degrees to 6.2+/-3.4degrees (P<0.05). At the final follow-up, radiological union was obtained in 38 cases (92.7%). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion appears to be an effective method for spontaneous reduction of low grade spondylolisthesis if the surgeon becomes familiar with this method.
Back Pain ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Spondylolisthesis

PURPOSE: The pharmacologic effect of atropine on HPS can be considered to control pyloric muscle spasm. Therefore, we studied the effects of intravenous atropine sulfate on the clinical course of HPS, and periodically observed the ultrasonographic appearance of the pyloric muscles after atropine treatment. METHODS:From April 1998 to May 1999, 14 infants who were diagnosed with HPS were treated with intravenous atropine sulfate. Intravenous atropine sulfate was administered at an initial dose of 0.04mg/kg/day, which was divided into 8 equal doses. The daily dose was increased by 0.01 mg/kg/day until vomiting was controlled for an entire day while infants received unrestricted oral feeding. Ultrasonographic examinations were performed during hospitalization and repeated at least every 2 months until normalization of pyloric muscles was confirmed. RESULTS: Intravenous atropine was effective in 12 of 14 infants with HPS and the conditions of 9 of them improved. Two infants who were not free from vomiting despite a week of intravenous atropine sulfate treatment underwent pyloromyotomy. A series of ultrasonographic examinations were done after vomiting had improved with intravenous atropine sulfate. The ultrasonographic findings showed good passage of gastric contents through pyloric canals despite thickening of the pyloric muscles. CONCLUSION: Intravenous administration of atropine sulfate is an effective therapy for HPS and can be an alternative to pyloromyotomy. (J Korean Pediatr Soc 2000;43:763-768)
Administration, Intravenous ; Atropine* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Infant ; Muscles ; Pyloric Stenosis, Hypertrophic* ; Spasm ; Vomiting

No abstract available.
Incontinentia Pigmenti*

By recent advance of immunologic techniques, it made possible to measure the immune cells and NK cell activity in peripheral blood of various immune altered eonditions. NK cell activity is related not only to malignancies but also to viral infectiona. The facts that the impairment of cell mediated immunity inducea the herpes zoster infection and frequent association with herpes zoster in the patienta with malignancy promote author to atudy the alteration of immune cells and NK cell activity in peripheral block. So author evaluated irnmune cells and NK cell activity of 18 patients with berpes zoster. The results are as follows; 1. The mean value of T cells, T cells showed significant differences between patients group(58.4-i-6.9%, 33.7-+11.7%) and normal healthy control group (68. 6+ 4. 7yo, 44. 2+-7. 0%) but T,' and B cells showecl no significant between patientagroup(6.9-+2.4%, 12.5+-5.7%) and.controlgroup(7.8-1.5%, 13.9-+2.3g%), statistically. 2. The mean value of NK cell activity in patients with herpes zoster group (62. 9+-ll. 2%) showed no significance cornpaired with the mean value of normal healthy control group(57. 9+-l4. 8%), statiatically.
B-Lymphocytes ; Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunologic Techniques ; Killer Cells, Natural* ; T-Lymphocytes

Pneumoconisosis was the first reported occupational disease in korea and was the most common occupational disease until 1990. Nowadays pneumoconiosis is the second most common occupational disease which accounts for more than at least 40% of all the occupational diseases in Korea. Many studies have been carried out in the prevalence rate, incidence rate, and risk factors assessment of pneumoconiosis. Workers exposed to dust used to take health examination once annually by the Industrial Safety and Health Act(1981). The number of coal workers has steadily decreased due to coal rationalization projects which have been strongly driven by the government since 1988 and the occupational environment has been improving. So, the incidence rate of pneumoconiosis will probably be lower in the future. But a disease control system administed for patient control and compensation, which is not involved in epidemiologic studies may not figure out the prevalence rate, incidence rate, mortality rate and the extent of severity of pneumoconiosis. Several problems and expected solutions are mentioned here as follows: 1. workers exposed to dust and pneumoconiosis patients are under government control, but the retired workers are not. Since we evaluate only visiting retired workers, we don't know exactly the current status and whole scale of the retired workers. If possible, the construction of cohort in all the retired workers is needed. 2. Since most of pneumoconiosis patients retired from the work and had changed their job, it is difficult to figure out the prevalence rate of pneumoconiosis just depending on the annual health exam for those workers at risk. So, systemic control for all pneumoconiosis patients is needed. 3. It is difficult to diagnose the onset of pneumoconiosis. We make a decision the time when the patient is diagnosed with pneumoconiosis on its onset. It is difficult to estimate it, especially in the case of retired workers because we can evaluate only persons with respiratory symptoms. The solution of such a problem is construction of cohort in all of the retired workers. 4. Because the patients who died outside of hospital don't seem to be reported, the mortality rate of pneumoconiosis is underestimated. So, systemic control and follow-up observation for all pneumoconiosis patients is needed. 5. A definite severity classification criteria for pneumoconiosis hasn't been established in Korea. We should try to make one. 6. Since workers who had exposed to dust in various mines at least 1 yr are subject to pneumoconiosis laws, workers easily don't report their full dust exposure history. Therefore we can't obtain the exact lifetime dust exposure from administrative data. We should try to make basic raw data of whole dust exposure in workers. It's concluded that the construction of cohort in workers who are or were exposed to dust in various mines is required and epidemiologic study of pneumoconiosis should be carried out with the administrative control of pneumoconiosis side by side. With the database of these materials, we can speculate and devise the measure for the further affecting subjects who are presumed to be most common in manufacturing industries.
Classification ; Coal* ; Cohort Studies ; Compensation and Redress ; Dust ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Jurisprudence ; Korea* ; Mortality ; Occupational Diseases ; Pneumoconiosis* ; Prevalence ; Rationalization ; Risk Factors

The plica is remaining synovial septa in adult life which developed in early fetal life. The suprapatellar plica separates the suprapatellar pouch from the knee joint which sometimes has chnical significance according to its shape, but it has been occasionally overlooked and also pathophysiology of symptomatic plicae may be hard to explain. The authors experienced 7 cases of suprapatellar plica syndrome which mimic soft tissue tumor in 7 patients who had complained of vague pain and ill defined mass around the knee and by arthroscopy found the imperforated suprapatellar plica in which increased hydraulic pressure cavity evokes the clinical symptoms and signs exarnination from 1992 to 1997. We suggest that the suprapatellar plica with complete septum might be clinically significant in patients who are in active life.
Adult ; Arthroscopy ; Humans ; Knee ; Knee Joint

The incidence of the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder secondary to the traumatic brain injury, such as traffic accidents, is increasing; the variety of the treatment modality is also increasing. This case was studied to see if OROS Methylphenidate(Concerta), which is one of the most commonly used medication in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder patients, not only improves the patient's attention, but also their impulsivity, hyperactivity and aggression. According to the case result, the medication showed an improvement of the impulsivity, aggression, and attention in the secondary Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder patients after the traumatic brain injury.
Accidents, Traffic ; Adult* ; Aggression ; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity ; Brain Injuries* ; Humans ; Impulsive Behavior ; Incidence ; Methylphenidate*

No abstract available.
Fibrin*

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) has not been studied as extensively as therapeutic agents of osteoporosis, but the anabolic effect of parathyroid hormone on the skeleton has been demonstrated in several studies. The current study was undertaken to assess the effect of parathyroid hormone on bone mass and its biomechanical competence using ovariectomized rat model. Fifty female Sprague Dawley rats of 3 months old were randomized into five groups, 10 in number for each groups. Group I: sham-operation, Group II: ovariectomy (OVX) plus saline injection, Group III: OVX plus PTH 20ug/kg, Group IV: OVX plus PTH 40ug/kg, Group V: OVX plus PTH 80ug/kg. Treatment regimens were initiated 8 weeks after ovariectomy and continued for 4 weeks thereafter. Bone mineral density was measured in proximal one-third level of tibia by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (QDR-2000, Hologic, U.S.A). Biomechanical competence was assessed in lumbar vertebral body by universal testing machine (Instron-4467, U.S.A). The average of bone mineral density in sham operated group was 0.088+/-0.0084g/cm (2), and in control group (OVX +/- saline)was 0.065+/-0.0095g/cm (2). Bone mineral density decreased in control group significantly. The average of bone mineral densities in Group III, IV, V (OVX + PTH) were 0.071+/- 0.0089, 0.081+/-0.0086 and 0.084+/-0.0093g/cm (2), respectively. This showed that parathyroid hormone injected groups had significantly higher bone mass than control group (p<0.0#5), and the increment was in proportion to the amount of parathyroid hormone in the range (p<0.05). The average of biomechanical competence of lumbar vertebral body in sham operated group was 30.036.24 MPa and was 25.11+/-5.69 MPa in control group. In Group III, IV,V they were 25.74+/-6.77, 27.96+/-5.17 and 29.83+/-5.79 MPa, respectively. Above results seem supportive of the phenomenon that parathyroid hormone exert anabolic effect on osteoporotic bones in certain experimental condition.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Anabolic Agents ; Animals ; Bone Density* ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Mental Competency ; Models, Animal ; Osteoporosis ; Ovariectomy ; Parathyroid Hormone* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skeleton ; Spine* ; Tibia*