PURPOSE:Several drugs such as insulin, propranolol, levodopa, glucagon and clonidine have been used for pharmacological growth hormone(GH) provocative test, and each medical center chooses different combinations of drugs during GH provocative tests. In this study, authors compared three drugs insulin(RI), clonidine(C), and propranolol-levodopa(P-L) in terms of GH secretory ability to select the most effective drug. METHODS:Study patients consisted of 63 children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency, who were diagnosed 'H deficiency'in the department of pediatrics, Kyungpook National University Hospital between January, 1995 and December, 1995. Peak values of GH by each drug were analyzed and following results were obtained. RESULTS:Numbers of patients who showed peak GH values of < or = 5ng/mL, 6-9ng/ mL or > or = 10ng/mL were 23, 22 and 18 respectively in GH provocative test using RI, 48, 12 and 3, respectively in GH provocative test using P-L, 55, 8 and 0, respectively in GH provocative test using C. The numbers of patients showing peak growth hormone values over 6ng/mL were more significantly in GH provocative test using RI than those using P-L or C(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Among drugs authors have been using in GH provocative tests, RI was more effective in stimulating growth hormone secretion than P-L or C. Authors feel that RI should be included in GH provocative tests for the diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency.
Child ; Clonidine* ; Diagnosis ; Glucagon ; Growth Hormone* ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Insulin* ; Levodopa ; Pediatrics ; Propranolol

No abstract available.
Cesarean Section, Repeat* ; Female ; Fistula*

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to perform a clinical analysis of nine patients with giant aneurysms managed with endovascular embolization. METHODS: From March 2000 to September 2009, nine cases of giant intracranial aneurysms were treated (five unruptured and four ruptured). The nine patients included two males and seven females who were 47 to 72 years old (mean, 59.2 years old). The types of giant intracranial aneurysms were eight internal carotid artery aneurysms and one vertebral artery aneurysm. Treatment for each aneurysm was chosen based on anatomic relationships, aneurysmal factors, and the patients' clinical state. Three patients underwent endovascular coiling with stent and six initially underwent endovascular coiling alone. Medical records, operation records, postoperative angiographies, and follow-up angiographies were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Eight out of nine patients showed good clinical outcomes. (six were excellent and two were good) after a mean follow-up period of 27.9 months. Six (67%) of the nine patients had a near-complete occlusions on the post-operative angiogram (mean, 13.5 months after the procedure). Occlusion rates of 90% or higher were obtained for eight (89%) of all the patients. One patient died due to multiple organ failure. Stents were ultimately required at some point for managing four aneurysms. Two patients needed additional procedures because of aneurysm regrowth. CONCLUSION: Endovascular treatment could be an alternative option for managing giant aneurysms adjuvant to surgical intervention.
Aneurysm ; Angiography ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Male ; Medical Records ; Multiple Organ Failure ; Stents ; Vertebral Artery

Serum immunoglobulins from Israeli carp (I. carp) were purified using affinity chromatography. Fish were immunized with purified mouse IgG, and the specific fish antibodies purified from the immune serum on a mouse IgG-immobilized agarose gel. Rabbit anti-carp Ig (Raclg) antibodies were produced following hyperimmunization with mlgG specific I. Carp Ab. SDS-PAGE analysis under reducing condition showed that I. carp Ig (clg) were composed of two u-like heavy chains with about 82 and 50 kD, respectively and one light chain with about 25 kD. On immunoblotting analysis, however, Raclg failed to react with light chain. When both protein A and protein G purified normal clg were compared with mlgG specific clg, no significant structural differences among them were observed. To investigate if there is any homology between other fish Ig molecules, cross-reactivity of Raclg against Ig molecules from 6 different fish sera and mouse control serum was checked on immunoblotting analysis. As a result, Raclg responded to only carp and tilapia Ig molecules, indicating that both tilapia and carp are very closely associated, especially, in the genetic basis of immunoglobulin structure. In flow cytometry study, Raclg appeared to recognize 45.8% of carp Ig+, 14.5% of catfish Ig+ and <5% of tilapia Ig+ cells. The result suggest the heterogeniety between receptor immunoglobulins on B-like lymphocytes and soluble immunoglobulins in serum. It is crucial to obtain pure fish immunoglobulins to produce reagent antibodies as tools for the study of their specific immune response.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Carps* ; Catfishes ; Chromatography, Affinity ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Flow Cytometry ; Immunoblotting ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulins* ; Lymphocytes ; Mice ; Sepharose ; Staphylococcal Protein A ; Tilapia

High-protein anti-D reagents prepared from pools of human serum have been used for routine RhD typing but, low-protein, saline reactive anti-D reagents formulated predominantly with monoclonal antibodies are in current use. Because some of the high-protein reagents contain macromolecular additives that may cause red cells coated with immunoglobulin to aggregate spontaneously, antisera with these additives may produce a false-positive reaction. A four-day old male was admitted due to severe jaundice. Initially, the RhD type of the newborn using a high-protein reagent was D-positive and then, using two low-protein reagents, it was D-negative. The blood type of the mother was B, CDe, and that of the newborn was B, CcdEe. The direct antiglobulin test on the newborn's RBC was positive. Anti-E and anti-c were identified in the mother's serum and anti-E only was identified in the newborn's serum. The newborn was treated with phototherapy for 10 days and discharged as recovered. We present a case of hemolytic disease of the D negative newborn, which showed a discrepancy between high protein anti-D and low protein anti-D. With a review of literature, the newborn was possibly misinterpreted as D positive.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Coombs Test ; Humans ; Immune Sera ; Immunoglobulins ; Indicators and Reagents ; Infant, Newborn* ; Jaundice ; Male ; Mothers ; Phototherapy

Two patients, bulging fetal membrane accompanied with cervical dilatation & effacement in the late second-trimester, were treated by modified Shirodkar method. Pregnancies were prolonged effectively and viable fetuses were delivered in both cases. Our cases may help make objective decision prior to attempting cerclage placement when cervix is markedly dilated and something should be done to save pregnancy.
Cervix Uteri ; Extraembryonic Membranes* ; Female ; Fetus ; Humans ; Labor Stage, First ; Pregnancy ; Uterine Cervical Incompetence*

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to determine the amount of ptosis correction in congenital unilateral ptosis patients who had been performed frontalis suspension with autologous fascia lata under general anesthesia. METHODS: The subjects consisted of 27 patients with unilateral ptosis who had been performed frontalis suspension with autologous fascia lata under general anesthesia. At 1,4,8,and 12 weeks, the width of interpalpebral fissure was measured with videocamera. RESULTS: The mean preoperative interpalpebral fissure was 3.9+/-1.2 mm. At intraoperation, the mean interpalpebral fissure was 4.5+/-0.4 mm. The mean postoperative interpalpebral fissures were 6.8+/-0.6 mm, 7.8+/-0.8 mm, 6.8+/-0.8 mm, and 6.7+/-0.8 mm at 7+/-1, 29+/-3, 57+/-4, and 96+/-9 days. In preoperative severe ptosis group (ptosis amount 4 mm), the mean postoperative interpalpebral fissure was smaller than the other group. CONCLUSIONS: The postoperative interpalpebral fissure was stabilized after the 2-month follow-up. The results of this study suggest that the amount of ptosis correction should be modified in consultation with preoperative ptosis amount.
Anesthesia, General ; Fascia Lata* ; Fascia* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to estimate the economical impacts of surgical site infection (SSI) after general surgeries. METHODS: A prospective study was performed with the surgeries from September to December, 2002 and the SSI cases were collected based on the definitions of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The length of stay (LOS) and the hospital charge for the SSI group were compared with the non-SSI (NSSI) group by a matched cohort study for age, sex, operation procedure, and NNIS risk groups. RESULTS: There were 1,007 cases of surgeries and the 52 cases of SSI and the 26 cases have been matched. The LOS of the SSI group was 5.2 days longer than that of the NSSI group (P<0.05) which was significant, The injection and dressing meal, and total hospital charge were \157,562, \72,251, and \2,153,964 more in SSI group than those of NSSI group (P<0,05) for post-operation stay. The charge of medication and room in SSI group were \558,146 and \723,114 more than those of the NSSI group, but there were no significant difference. CONCLUSION: The SSI could increase the LOS and the hospital charge; therefore, this economic loss had an impact on the hospitals as well as the patients. To estimate the economic impacts of SSI precisely, however, further studies are needed to analyze and control other factors for the cost such as a type of surgery. In addition, the scope and setting of cost analysis should be expanded into the aspects of an individual, the hospital, and society.
Bandages ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Cohort Studies ; Costs and Cost Analysis ; Hospital Charges ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Meals ; Prospective Studies

The purpose of this study is to find the optimal reconditioning method for a debonded bracket base. In this study, metal brackets and ceramic brackets are used. There are devided into five groups by reconditioning methods (A : control(new bracket), B : heat treated, C : grinded with green stone, D : sandblasting for four seconds, E : sandblasting for eight seconds). Each reconditioned brackets were bonded and shear bond strength was measured by universal testing machine. After debonding, enamel surfaces were examined under stereoscopic microscope to determine the adhesive remnant index. The Microstructure of reconditioned bracket were examined by SEM (JSM 5200, Japan) and stereoscopic microscope (SZ-ST, Japan). 1. In metal bracket groups, sandblasting for eight seconds revealed the greatest shear bonding strength and its strength was above that of control group. 2. In ceramic bracket groups, sandblasting for eight seconds revealed the greatest shear bonding strength but its strength was below that of control group. 3. As sandblasting time was increased, shear bonding strengh of metal bracket was increased very much, but in ceramic brackets, shear bonding strength exhibited limited increase. This difference was caused by macro-mechanical retentive areas of ceramic brackets were broken for their brittle characteristics of material.
Adhesives ; Ceramics ; Dental Enamel ; Hot Temperature ; Orthodontic Brackets*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Submandibular space might be estimated as the most common space of deep neck infection. It may, in certain cases, be treated conservatively with no need for early open surgical drainage. The purpose of this study is to review the clinical course and outcome in treatment of submandibular abscess. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A retrospective study was peformed for 9 years on 49 cases admitted from June 1994 to January 2003 for deep neck infection limited to the submandibular space. All patients were treated with intravenous antibiotics. The conservative group was treated with antibiotics only or combination therapy with needle aspiration. The surgical group was treated with intraoral or external drainage. Contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) imaging was conducted for all cases and had confirmed that they all had an abscess in the submandibular space. RESULTS: The mean period of hospitalization was 7.6 days, with 35 patients treated with IV antibiotics only and 3 patients with aspiration in the conservative group. On the other hand, 3 patients were treated with intraoral drainage and 8 patients with external drainage in the surgical group. One patient required tracheotomy because of severe dyspnea. There was no complication observed in any cases. CONCLUSION: SSubmandibular abscess is an infection of deep neck space and is considered as the most common infection. Conservative treatment is a good therapeutic choice in cases with localized submandibular absess.
Abscess* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Drainage ; Dyspnea ; Hand ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Neck ; Needles ; Retrospective Studies ; Tracheotomy