No abstract available.
Gastrointestinal Neoplasms* ; Thymidine Kinase* ; Thymidine*

No abstract available.
Pheochromocytoma* ; Pregnancy*

Hand and wrist tuberculosis in adults are relatively rare disease. The purpose of treatment is to minimize the limitation of motion and to relieve the pain and swelling of involved joints. The treatments consist of curettage of bone, synovectomy and arthrodesis, which were combined with chemotherapeutic agents for tuberculosis. In the period from June 1989 to Oct. 1993, we performed operative treatment in twelve cases of hand and wrist tuberculosis(hand in 3, wrist in 9). We performed curettage and synovectomy in eight cases and arthrodesis in four. The length of follow up was over one year in all cases. Patients were evaluated by clinical examination, radiography and the Robins criteria for clinical results. The results were analysed, as follows, l. Eight patients who had tenosynovitis with moderate joint destruction were treated by curettage and synovectomy, and seven patients(87.5%) of them were evaluated "good" by Robins criteria. 2. Arthrodesis was performed in four patients who had severe joint destruction, and demonstrates "good" results in 75% of cases. 3. One patient who was treated by synovectomy, complaint intermittent pain after three years postoperatively, but no active lesion was visible on the bone scanning. 4. One patient who was performed wrist arthrodesis feels discomfort during lift up heavy products due to insufficient grip power. In conclusion, the synovectomy and curettage in early diagnosed and not so much advanced hand wrist tuberculsis is more preferable, but arthrodesis is inevitable in advanced cases with profound degree of bony destruction and nonviable cartilage in operative findings, for painless and powerful joint.
Adult ; Arthrodesis ; Cartilage ; Curettage ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand Strength ; Hand ; Humans ; Joints ; Radiography ; Rare Diseases ; Songbirds ; Tenosynovitis ; Tuberculosis ; Wrist

99m Tc-pyrophosphate was investigated for use as an indicator of intestinal infarction in intussusceptedbowel. Irreducible intussusceptions were created in 18 rabbits by surgery. 99mTc-pyrophosphate was then injectedintravenously 6-12, 18, 24 and 30-40 hours later for external scanning. In 15 of the rabbits, infaractiondeveloped with intussusception, and 13 of them demonstrated increased uptake of 99m Tc-pyrophosphate on externalinvivo scintiscans. The remained 2 of them showed no evidence of increased uptake. So false negative cases were2(sensitivity 86.7%). The 3 rabbits without infarction showed no increased uptake of radionuclide. Specimenscanning confirmed increased uptake of radionuclide in the infarcted segments. These observations suggest that 99mTc-pyrophosphate is a reliable indicator of the intestinal infarction that sometimes occures with intestinal intussusception.
Infarction ; Intussusception ; Rabbits ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Technetium Tc 99m Pyrophosphate

BACKGROUND: Among the various factors affecting bone mass and bone metabolism, aging and menopause play a major role. After the disappearance of the menstrual cycle, estrogen deficiency is the most important factor in bone loss. It is still unclear whether women with early menopause have a rate of bone loss different from women whose menopause has occurred later. Various biochemical bone markers are increased after menopause but it is still unclear whether women with early menopause have biochemical bone markers different from women whose menopause has occurred later. The aim of this study was to establish whether healthy women with early or normal menopause have different bone mass, biochemical bone markers and rates of bone loss. METHODS: Postmenopausal healthy women were divided into two groups according to their age at menopause(AAM): one group with AAM > 43 years, and the other group with AAM 50 years. Bone mass was measured using a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry(DEXA) in the lumbar, femur neck, femur trochanter, and Wards triangle. Serum levels of bone alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin, and urine levels of calcium, deoxypyridinoline and type I collagen N-telopeptide were measured using a commercial kit. RESULTS: Age and body mass index in the early menopause group were different from those in the normal menopause group. All the bone mass and the biochemical bone markers in the early menopause group were not different from those in the normal menopause group. We selected 15 subjects from the two groups matched by age and BML Bone mass of femur neck in the early menopause group was lower than in the normal menopause group matched by age and BMI. Bone mass in lumbar, femur trochanter, and Wards triangle was lower in the early menopause group than in the normal menopause group, but the difference between the two groups was not significant. After adjusting years since menopause, we didnt find the difference of bone mass between the two groups. All the bone biochemical markers were not different in the two groups matched by age and BMI. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that women with early menopause dont lose bone faster than women with normal menopause.
Aging ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Biomarkers ; Body Mass Index ; Bone Density* ; Calcium ; Collagen Type I ; Estrogens ; Female ; Femur ; Femur Neck ; Humans ; Menopause* ; Menstrual Cycle ; Metabolism ; Osteocalcin

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the prevalence of thyroid cancer in patients with cold thyroid nodules and the impact of sex, age, hardness of nodule, and multinodularity as factors able to predict the probability of malignancy in patients with nodular thyroid diseases. METHODS: We examined a 728 patients who visited Seoul National University Hospital with one or more cold thyroid nodules between Jan. 1996 and Dec. 1997. After clinical evaluations including medical history, physical examinations(size, hardness and multiplicity of nodule), fine needle aspiration biopsies and cytologic examinations were carried out. RESULTS: Among the 728 cases, 76 cases(10.4%) were diagnosed as cancer and 602 cases (82.6%) were diagnosed as benign nodule. The prevalence of cancer was significantly lower in female patients with cold nodules(9.4%, 62/662) than in males(17.5%, 11/63)(p=0.041). Age was an important factor in both sexes. The proportion of nodules that were malignant was lower in patients of 20-60 years old(8,9%, 56/632) than patients younger than 20 years old(1S.1%, 2/11) or older than 60 years old(18.3%, 15/82)(p=0.019). The prevalence of cancer was significantly higher in hard nodules(36.3%, 41/113) than firm(5.2%, 30/574) or soft nodules(5.3%, 2/38)(p= 0.001). There was no size difference between malignant(25.2 +- 13.7mm) and benign nodules(25.3 +- 8.9mm)(p=0.9425). The prevalence of thyroid cancer in solitary nodule(10.6%, 63/593) was not different from that in multiple nodules(7.6%, 10/132)(p=0.293). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that thyroid nodules of the patients who are younger than 20 years old or older than 60 years old, male, as well as hard nodule require more careful evaluation for the risk of thyroid malignancies.
Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Female ; Hardness ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence* ; Seoul ; Thyroid Diseases ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroid Nodule* ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether there is an association between the characteristics of pain in endometriosis and chronic stress. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Fifteen women were diagnosed as endometriosis by diagnostic laparoscopy and 14 asymptomatic volunteers were enrolled. Case group was divided into two groups with their pain duration and severity. Saliva was collected four times a day with commercial collector, Salivette. Salivary cortisol was analyzed by enzyme immunoassay. Statistical association was assessed with Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U test, and repeated measures ANOVA test. RESULTS: In the curve showing diurnal changes of cortisol level, morning rise in cortisol level was significantly blunted among patients compared with control group (p<0.05). Among two patient groups, there was no significant correlation with disease severity, but with duration (p<0.05). CA 125 level, pain scaling score, and age showed no significant correlation. CONCLUSION: Morning rise in salivary cortisol level is blunted in women especially with chronic endometriosis. These is findings might be a small clues that the changes in the salivary cortisol level can be a sign of chronic stress state.
Endometriosis* ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Laparoscopy ; Saliva ; Volunteers

OBJECTIVES: We wanted to investigate the relationship between job stress and liver dysfunction in Korean male white collar workers. METHODS: A total of 700 male white collar workers who worked at one electronic institute and who participated in an annual surveillance program were recruited: 664(94.9%) workers were initially recruited and the data for 36 workers was excluded due to poor responses and a past history of liver disease. The questionnaire survey included the participants' general characteristics, the job-related factors, the health-related behaviors and job stress. Job stress was assessed using the Korean Occupational Stress Scale-Short Form (KOSS-SF). We merged the job stress data with the individual liver function results by conducting annual surveillance. Multiple logistic regression analysis with adjusting it for the confounding variables, including alcohol drinking and the body mass index (BMI), was used to evaluate the relationship between job stress and liver dysfunction. RESULTS: After adjustment for the confounding variables, the proportion of liver dysfunction cases was significantly higher in the groups with a high level of job stress, as assessed by the 'job demands and total score'. After conducting a stratified analysis with considering alcohol drinking and the BMI, the prevalence odds ratio of liver dysfunction was higher in the groups with a high level of job stress, as assessed by the 'job demands and total score'. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that the level of job stress (and especially that assessed by the job demands and total score) is related to liver dysfunction. Thus, further preventive efforts and studies are needed to reduce job stress and address liver dysfunction.
Alcohol Drinking ; Body Mass Index ; Confounding Factors (Epidemiology) ; Electronics ; Electrons ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Diseases ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires

OBJECTIVES: We wanted to investigate the relationship between job stress and liver dysfunction in Korean male white collar workers. METHODS: A total of 700 male white collar workers who worked at one electronic institute and who participated in an annual surveillance program were recruited: 664(94.9%) workers were initially recruited and the data for 36 workers was excluded due to poor responses and a past history of liver disease. The questionnaire survey included the participants' general characteristics, the job-related factors, the health-related behaviors and job stress. Job stress was assessed using the Korean Occupational Stress Scale-Short Form (KOSS-SF). We merged the job stress data with the individual liver function results by conducting annual surveillance. Multiple logistic regression analysis with adjusting it for the confounding variables, including alcohol drinking and the body mass index (BMI), was used to evaluate the relationship between job stress and liver dysfunction. RESULTS: After adjustment for the confounding variables, the proportion of liver dysfunction cases was significantly higher in the groups with a high level of job stress, as assessed by the 'job demands and total score'. After conducting a stratified analysis with considering alcohol drinking and the BMI, the prevalence odds ratio of liver dysfunction was higher in the groups with a high level of job stress, as assessed by the 'job demands and total score'. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that the level of job stress (and especially that assessed by the job demands and total score) is related to liver dysfunction. Thus, further preventive efforts and studies are needed to reduce job stress and address liver dysfunction.
Alcohol Drinking ; Body Mass Index ; Confounding Factors (Epidemiology) ; Electronics ; Electrons ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Diseases ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Graves' disease and primary myxedema are thought to be caused by the action of TSH receptor autoantibodies(thyroid stimulating antibody; TSAb & thyroid stimulation blocking antibody; TSBAb). Thus, detection of these antibodies is crucial in diagnosis and in follow up of those patients. Recently, a sensitive method using human TSH receptor transfected Chinese Hamster Ovary(CHO) cells has been developed. However, the complexity of IgG purification procedure is considered as a limitation for its clinical application as a routine test. The aim of this study is to determine whether polyethylene glycol(PEG)-precipitated immunogiobuIin fraction could substitute for purified IgG. METHODS: We developed optimal conditions for TSAb and TSBAb assays using crude, PEG precipitated immunoglobulin fraction; and evaluated the correlation of TSAb and TSBAb activities between thase measured using crude immunoglobulin fraction and purified IgG to clarify the usefulness of PEG-precipitated immunoglobulin fraction. TSH receptor expressing wild type CHO cells were used in TSAb and CHO cells expressing chimeric TSH receptor(Mc2; 90-165 amino acid residues were substituted by those of rat LH/CG receptar) were used in TSBAb assay to minimize the possible disturbing effects of TSAb in serum. RESULTS: The optimal serum amount for TSAb and TSBAb assay using PEG-precipitated immunoglobulin fraction were 250mL serum equivalent/well and 50mL serum equivalent/well, respectively. The optimal incubation time for both assays were 2 homs, and aptimal ccrncentration of bTSH for TSBAb assay was 0.1U/L. TSAb activities measured with PEG-precipitated immunoglobulin were significantly correlated with those measured with purified IgG in 26 patients with Graves diseases(r=0.93, p<0.001). Although TSBAb activities measured using PEG-precipitated imrnunoglobulin were conelated with those measured using purified IgG in 20 patients with primary myxedema(r=0.86, p<0.001), the positive rate in TSBAb assay using PEG-precipitated immunoglobulin was lower than that of usmg purified IgG(20% v.s. 65%) because of negative conversion of TSBAb activities in samples with weakly positive TSBAb activities measured using purified IgG. CONCLUSION: PEG-precipitated immunoglobulin fraction could be used instead of purified IgG in TSAb assay using hTSHR-tranasfected wild type CHO cells with equal sensitivity and specificity. This simple and practical TSAb assay using PEG-precipitated immunoglobulin in hTSHR-transfected CHO cells would be useful in clinica1 practiee.
Animals ; Antibodies* ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; CHO Cells ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus* ; Diagnosis ; Graves Disease ; Humans ; Humans* ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulins* ; Myxedema ; Polyethylene Glycols* ; Polyethylene* ; Rats ; Receptors, Thyrotropin* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thyroid Gland