PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the width of symphysis pubis and its radiographic appearance in different age and sex, and it was aimed to establish a radiographic diagnosis criteria for diastasis of the joint. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The width and the appearance of symphysis pubis were observed by pelvic X-ray in 92 males and 169 females who had no history of any joint disease. The mean width of symphysis pubis was calculated and data were analyzed by age, sex and parity using student t-test. RESULTS: The mean width of symphysis pubis was 2.88+/-0.71 mm in male group and was 3.24+/-0.68 mm in female group. It was 3.34+/-0.84 mm in parturient and 2.82+/-0.55 mm in nullipara and the difference between these two groups was significant (P<0.05). Osteoarthritic changes were noted in most cases over 60 irrespective of sex. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results from this study and reported value of physiological relaxation of symphysis pubis through pregnancy and labor, a separation over 6 mm and/or a vertical migration over 3mm can be diagnosed as diastasis of symphysis pubis. This criteria would facilitate the earlier diagnosis of relaxation and separation of this joint by labor or trauma.
Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Joint Diseases ; Joints ; Male ; Parity ; Pregnancy ; Radiography ; Relaxation

BACKGROUND: The proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cell(VSMC) is a part of the major pathogenic mechanism for atheroscle- rosis. It has been reported that L-type calcium channel plays a role in the VSMC proliferation in diabetic rats. But there is a little study results about the association between L-type calcium channel and VSMC proliferation by glucose concentrations in culture media. So we examined the association between voltage-dependent L-type calcium channel of VSMCs and the proliferative activity of vascular smooth muscle cells. METHODS: Rat aortic VSMCs were isolated from the aorta of OLETF rat by enzyme method. VSMCs were cultured in various concentrations of glucose(5.5, 25 mM). The VSMCs(1x104 cells in 24-well plates) were incubated in the presence of Bay K 8644 (10-6M) with/without verapamil(10-6M) for 48 hours. Then the proliferation was assessed by MTT(methylthiazole tetrazolium) assay and expression of L-type calcium channel mRNA was measured by RT-PCR. RESULTS: The proliferative ability and the expression of L-type calcium channel of cultured VSMCs were increased dose-dependently by the glucose concentrations(p<0.05). Bay K 8644 enhanced the proliferation of VSMC and verapamil blocked the incremental effects induced by Bay K 8644. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that L-type calcium channel may play a role in VSMC proliferation of OLETF rat.
3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester ; Animals ; Aorta ; Calcium Channels, L-Type* ; Cell Proliferation* ; Culture Media ; Glucose* ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular* ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred OLETF* ; RNA, Messenger* ; Verapamil

No abstract available.
Fever* ; Mucous Membrane* ; Tongue*

Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is a serious postoperative complication. Prompt diagnosis of PTE is important but it is difficult because clinical manifestations of PTE are not obvious in most cases. A 59 year-old woman received cholecystectomy and choledocholithotomy under general anesthesia. At the 9th postoperative day, syncope, hypoxemia and hypotension were developed suddenly and the patient was transfered to intensive care unit. PTE was suspected with hemodynamic monitoring from pulmonary arterial catheter and echocardiography and diagnosed with lung perfusion scan and venogram of lower extremities. Proper cardiopulmonary support was done and the patient was recovered and discharged in improved condition. In conclusion, if a patient have syncopal attack with shock in postoperative period, PTE must be thought to be an one of possible causes of syncope and thoroughly investigated.
Anesthesia, General ; Anoxia ; Catheters ; Cholecystectomy ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Intensive Care Units ; Lower Extremity ; Lung ; Middle Aged ; Perfusion ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Period ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Shock ; Syncope

No abstract available.

Primary malignant melanornn of the vagina is rare, with only about 130 reported cases worldwide. They presumably arise from melanocytes that are present in the vagina in 3% of normal wornen. Vaginal melanoma accounts for less than 1% of melanomas and less than 3% of primary malignant tumors of the vagina. Most of patients complain vaginal bleeding, vaginal discharge, foreign body sensation in order. The best treatment of vaginal melanoma rernains eni.gmatic, Many authors indicate that radical surgery may be the pcferred approach and the number of reported cases treated with radical surgery is increasing. But other author comment that no significant change in survival is apparent with radical surgery. Overall prognosis is poor as most patients have deeply penetrating lesions at the time of diagnosis. Recently, not only the effort to increase the survival rate but the quality of life including sexual function after treatment is becoming an important issue about treatment ot cancer patients. We experienced a case of primary malignant melanoma of the vagina treated with radical surgery and restored the sexual function by vulvovaginal reconstruction using gracilis myocutaneous flap. So we report this case with brief literature review.
Diagnosis ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma* ; Myocutaneous Flap ; Prognosis ; Quality of Life ; Sensation ; Survival Rate ; Uterine Hemorrhage ; Vagina* ; Vaginal Discharge

14-3-3 proteins are cytoplasmic proteins of about 29 kDa and have a minimum of seven isoforms. This protein is important in signal transduction with the ability of binding with phosphoserine of many signalling proteins. We expressed 14-3-3 protein tagged with 6 histidine residues in E. coli and purified the protein by nickel affinity chromatography. Using this purified protein as an antigen, we made rabbit antisera and mouse monoclonal antibodies to 14-3-3 zeta isoform. We subcloned cDNA of 14-3-3 zeta isoform derived from HeLa cell lamda gt 11 library into an E. coli expression vector which is designed to express heterologous protein with N- terminal 6 hidtidine tag. BALB/c mice were immunized with purified 14-3-3 protein and the hybridoma clones which produce monoclonal antibodies angainst 14-3-3 protein were selected. These monoclonal antibodies reacted with the recombinant protein expressed in E. coli as well as the 29-kDa native protein in various cell lines. However, they did not immunoprecipitate 14-3-3 protein. The monoclonal antibodies produced in this study can be valuable tools for the identification of the 14-3-3 in signal transduction study.
14-3-3 Proteins ; Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Cell Line ; Chromatography, Affinity ; Clone Cells ; Cytoplasm ; DNA, Complementary ; Escherichia coli* ; Escherichia* ; HeLa Cells ; Histidine ; Humans* ; Hybridomas ; Immune Sera ; Mice ; Nickel ; Phosphoserine ; Protein Isoforms ; Signal Transduction ; Staphylococcal Protein A

No abstract available.
Colonoscopy*

Xeroderma pigmentosum is characterized by sunlight sensitivity, autosomal recessive inheritance, and multiple cutaneous malignant melanoma, angiosarcoma and fibrosarcoma. Some patient also demonstrate neurological manifestations, ie, mental deficiency, microcephaly, ataxia, choreoathetosis, and deafness. A 22 year old Korean soldier was seen at the Capital Armed Forces General Hospital in May of 1974 because of pigmentation and ulceration on the exposed area. Since the age of 3, the patient has suffered from freckles on exposed area and the lesions were gradually increased in number. About 3 years ago, he observed nodule on the left side of face, which underwent ulceration eventually. There were no history of unconsciousness, convulsion or other neurological symptoms. The histopathological picture in the margin of ulcerated lesion revealed hyperkeratosis and acanthosis in epidermis, and masses of various shaped and sized composed of basalioma cells in dermis. The peripheral cell layer of the tumor masses showed pallisade arrangement of the nuclei.
Arm ; Ataxia ; Deafness ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; Fibrosarcoma ; Hemangiosarcoma ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Ichthyosis* ; Intellectual Disability ; Melanoma ; Melanosis ; Microcephaly ; Military Personnel ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Pigmentation ; Seizures ; Sunlight ; Ulcer ; Unconsciousness ; Wills ; Xeroderma Pigmentosum* ; Young Adult

The Becker's nevus (pigmentary hairy edidermal nevus) is a variety of epidermal nevus in which epidermal thickening may be minimal, and hairiness and pigmentation obvious. Characteristically it is a unilateral lesion of the shoulder in males but it may affect other sites, be multiple and bilateral, and be found in women and negroes. Histologically nevus cells are not seen in the dermis. A man aged 25 had the nevus covering extensive area on his right shoulder since 2 years ago. The pigmentation was dark brownish and hairy. The pigmented area was noninfiltrated and in place showed perifollicular darkening. Coarse hairs were noticed since a year. ago. The histopathological picture showed hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, papillomatosis and increased melanin pigments in the basal cell layer. Nevus cells were not seen in the dermis.
African Continental Ancestry Group ; Dermis ; Female ; Hair ; Humans ; Male ; Melanins ; Nevus* ; Papilloma ; Pigmentation ; Shoulder