No abstract available.
Animals ; Electroshock* ; Glutamate Decarboxylase* ; Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase* ; Glutamic Acid* ; Glutamine* ; Hippocampus* ; Rats*

Calcification and ossification of colon cancer is frequently encountered, especially in the mucinous carcinoma. However, cartilage formation or enchondral ossification has rarely been described in human colon cancer. This report describes a case of a 59-year-old man with retroperitoneal metastasis of mucinous adenocarcinoma of colon, which showed a widespread heterotopic ossification through membranous or enchondral ossification. The ossification appeared in apposition to tumor cell nests and in the organized mucin pool. In our knowledge, this is the first case showing enchondral ossification in gastrointestinal carcinoma in Korea.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; Cartilage ; Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Humans ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Mucins ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Ossification, Heterotopic

BACKGROUND: Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) is the most prevalent agent to cause occupational asthma (OA) in Korea. The pathogenic mechanism of TDI-induced OA is still unclear. Involvement of both immunological and non-immunologicaI mechanisms have been suggested. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a possible role of neutrophil in the development of TDI-asthma. OBJECT AND METHOD: Myeloperoxidase (MPO) as a neutrophil activation marker in both serum and induced sputum, and IL-8 in induced sputum were measured. Induced sputa and sera were collected from 15 TDI-induced OA patients (classified to group I) during TDI- bronchoprovocation test and were compared with those from 11 asthmatic subjects with negative TDI-bronchoprovocation test (group II). MPO levels were measured by radioimmunoassay, IL-8 levels, by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and albumin levels, by nephelometry. Sputum MPO and IL-8 levels were presented as a ratio to albumin. RESULT: Serum MPO level tended to decrease during the TDI-bronchoprovocation test in two groups, but no statistical significance was reached (p>0.05). However, the ratios of MPO (the ratio of MPO level measured at 30 min to MPO level at baseline, and the ratio MPO level measured at 360 min to MPO baseline) in group I were significantly lower than group II (p=0.004, p=0.03 respectively). The IL-8/albumin and MPO/albumin levels in induced sputum from group I were significantly increased after the TDI-bronchprovocation test in comparison to the baseline value which was obtained before the bronchoprovocation test (p=0.0l, p=0.02 respectively). There was a significant correlation between the percent increase of IL-8/albumin and the MPO/albumin in induced sputum (r=0.89, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest a possible involvement of neutrophil in the development of bronchoconstiction after the TDI exposure, and IL-8 might contribute to neutrophil recruitment to airway mucosa. Further investigation will be needed to investigate mechanism of neutrophil activation in the pathogenesis af TDI-induced OA.
Asthma, Occupational* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Interleukin-8 ; Korea ; Mucous Membrane ; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry ; Neutrophil Activation* ; Neutrophil Infiltration ; Neutrophils* ; Peroxidase ; Radioimmunoassay ; Sputum* ; Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate

BACKGROUND: Post-herpetic neuralgia is the most serious one of herpes zoster complications and its incidence becomes higher as the age of the patient increases. Nevertheless, besides considering the age and onset time of treatment, there is no more objective factor estimating the prognosis of post- herpetic neuralgia. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to understand the progression of herpes zoster and estimate the prognosis of post-herpetic neuralgia by practicing electrodiagnostic tests to patients with herpes zoster. METHODS: We evaluated the pain scales in 26 patients with herpes zoster on the first visit and 2 months later. We also performed electrodiagnostic tests, more objective and reproducible methods, including somatosensory evoked potentials and motor nerve conduction studies on both the involved and uninvolved sites of 32 lesions in 26 patients with herpes zoster, and then compared the results with the change of pain scales. RESULTS: 1. The pain category scale and visual analogue scale on the second examination were significantly decreased compared with those on the first examination (P<0.05). 2. Latencies of intercostal somatosensory evoked potentials recorded on scalp and spine were significantly delayed in involved sides compared with those in uninvolved sides (P<0.05). 3. In the latencies and conduction velocities of motor nerve conduction studies, no significant differences were seen between involved sides and uninvolved sides. 4. On the second examinataion, latency differences of somatosensory evoked potentials were significantly improved compared with those on the first examination (P<0.05). 5. Among the various somatosensory evoked potentials parameters, P1 latency difference of cortical somatosensory evoked potentials between involved and uninvolved sides correlated significantly with pain category scale ard visual analogue scale on second examination (r=0.48, P<0.05; r =0.51, P<0.05, respectively). N1 latency difference of spinal somatosensory evoked potentials between involved and uninvolved sides correlated significantly with a visual analoge scale on the first examination and pain category scale on the second examination (r=0.61, P<0.05; r=0.78, P<0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: Intercostal somatosensory evoked potentials can be a useful and reliable technique to predict the development and severity of post-herpetic neuralgia.
Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory ; Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Neural Conduction ; Neuralgia* ; Prognosis ; Scalp ; Spine ; Weights and Measures

OBJECTIVES: Subacute thyroiditis is a nonsuppurative inflammation of thyroid gland and is probably caused by a cytopathic virus. Typical clinical symptoms and features of subacute thyroiditis vary widely during the course of illness. It has a clinical course, evolving from hyperthyroidism through a temporary hypothyroidism to recovery. However, the final outcome of this disease remains unpredictive in some patients. Permanet hypothyroidism occurs infrequently. METHODS: Thirty-three patients proven to have subacute thyroiditis at the Ewha Womans University Hospital from September 1993 to November 1995 were studied. We analyzed their clinical features, laboratory findings, and duration of recovery to cha- racterize the course of the disease. RESULTS: 1) Total 33 patients were studied: 31 patients were female and 2 patients were male. Their mean age was 42.6+/-8.3 years old. The peak months were August through October in this study. 2) Initial mean ESR was 73.0+/-35.2mm/hr, mean T3 was 217.3+/-73.9ng/dl, mean T4 was 15.2+/-8.5microgram/ dl, and TSH was 0.06+/-0.09microIU/ml. The positive rates of antithyroglobulin and anitmicrosomal antibodies were 31% and 6% respectively, and TSH receptor antibody was elevated in one patient. 3) In the thyroid scan, 91% showed both lobes nonvisualisation, and 9% showed one lobe nonvisualization. Radioactive iodine uptake(RAIU) at 24 hour was 2.4+/-3.3%. 4) With the predisolone therapy, 90% of patients completely recovered, 57% of these patients had no hypothyroid phase and remaining 33% of them had hypothyroid phase during course of the disease. Three of the patients had permanent hypothyroidim. 5) The average duration of recovery was 3.2+/-1.4 months and it has no correlation with initial thyroid hormone levels, antithyroid antibodies and duration of steroid administration. CONCLUSION: There was no historical, physical, laboratory findings that help us predict those patients likely to have an exacerbation of the disease.
Antibodies ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Hypothyroidism ; Inflammation ; Iodine ; Male ; Prednisolone ; Receptors, Thyrotropin ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroiditis, Subacute

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Humans

BACKGROUND: This study aims to obtain basic data regarding the proper maintenance and potential role of humidifiers in the development of nosocomial pneumonia. We investigated into a spectrum of bacteria that grew after disinfection in humidifiers that were used in intensive care units (ICUs). The bacteria were isolated at different time points after disinfection. METHODS: We randomly selected 6 humidifiers that were used in an ICU and conducted a series of bacterial culture studies at 24 hr, 48 hr, 72 hr and 168 hr after disinfecting the six humidifiers. The fluid from the humidifider was cultured in the same manner as the dialysate. RESULTS: No bacteria were isolated in most of the 6 humidifiers 24 hr after the disinfection of the instruments. Gram-negative bacilli such as Acinetobacter baumannii, Burkholderia cepacia, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia were cultured at 48 hr after disinfection. CONCLUSION: Regular and thorough disinfection of humidifiers is necessary to prevent possible spread of infection via humidifiers in the ICU.
Acinetobacter baumannii ; Bacteria ; Burkholderia cepacia ; Disinfection ; Critical Care ; Intensive Care Units ; Pneumonia ; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia

Background: Postpartum thyroiditis is a painless, destructive lymphocytic inflammation of the thyroid gland that occurs during the postpartum period and is associated with a high prevalence of serum thyroid autoantibodies. Clinical symptoms and laboratory fi#ndings of postpartum thyroiditis vary widely during the course of illness and the final outcome of this disease remains unpredictive in some patients. The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical course and the predictors of the outcome of the disease. Methods: Thirty-eight patients proven to have postpartum thyroiditis at the Ewha Womans University Hospital were studied. We analyzed their clinical features, laboratory findings and duration of recovery to characterize the course of the disease. Results: Their mean age was 29.0±3.3 years and the time of diagnosis was 4.9±1.9 months after delivery. The prevailed months of delivery were November through January in this study. Twenty six patients were hypothyroid and 12 were thyrotoxic at initial thyroid function. The positive rates of antithyroglobulin and anitmicrosomal antibodies were 92%, 67% in the hypothyroid group and 75%, 67% in th thyrotoxic group respectively. TSH receptor antibodies were negative in all patients. In the hypothyroid group the titers of antimicrosomal antibodies were significantly higer than the thyrotoxic group. The titers of antimicrosomal antibodies were positively correlated with serum TSH and negatively correlated with serum T4. In all patients, the titers in thyroid function tests returned to the normal range without long-term hypothyroidism. Conclusion: The titers of antimicrosomal antibodies were significantly higher in the hypothyroid group than the thyrotoxic group. Thus the titers of antimicrosomal antibodies can help guide the physician in the care of patients with postpartum thyroiditis who will probably be hypothyroid. In this study, we were surprised that all patients became euthyroid without permanent hypothyroidism.
Antibodies ; Autoantibodies ; Clinical Study ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Inflammation ; Postpartum Period ; Postpartum Thyroiditis ; Prevalence ; Receptors, Thyrotropin ; Reference Values ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroiditis

Better palliative management of patients with disseminated cancer has prolonged their lives but has raised the incidence of pathologic fractures in their variable lives. The essence of treatment is to prolong life, maintain comfort, and stabilize the patient with metastatic disease. The treatment of pathologic fractures with internal fixation has long been accepted by orthopedic surgeons and the benefits afforded to the patient are well known, so adequate fixation is essential. A combination of methylmethacrylate and internal fixation devices can greatly enhance the stability of fixation, because diseased bone is a poor base on which to insert an internal fixation device. The authors have treated 19 cases of the pathologic fracture of spine, humerus and femur by use of bone cement with and without internal fixation devices. The results are as follwed. 1. All cases utilized methylmethacrylate and there was no complication in methylmethacrylate in itself. 2. All cases had received various type of ancillary treatment: radiation in 9 cases, chemotherapy in 4 cases and in 8 cases, conservative pain control. 3. In spinal pathologic fracture with paraplegia or neurologic deficiency, the patients could walk with walker at an average of two weeks after operation. 4. Among the 19 cases, the pain was relieved markedly and ambulation was possible easily and early after operation in 16 cases. 5. Among the 19 cases, two survived less than 2 months, 7 surrived from 2 month to 3 month, five survived from 3 months to 6 months, four survived from 6 months to a year and one survived more than a year.
Drug Therapy ; Femur ; Fractures, Spontaneous ; Humans ; Humerus ; Incidence ; Internal Fixators ; Methylmethacrylate ; Orthopedics ; Paraplegia ; Spine ; Surgeons ; Walkers ; Walking

No abstract available.
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic*