Lymphocytic infiltration of the thyroid gland is a hallmark of the human thyroid autoimmune disease. Enhanced expression of immunoglobulin and adhesion molecules are consistently found in patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases. And cytokines are implicated in enhancing the expression of adhesion molecules.It has been suggested that adhesion-molecule expression within thyroid glands mediates lymphocyte homing events to the target of the autoimmune process. The expression of ICAM-1 was shown to be up-regulated on thyroidal perifollicular endothelial cells and thyrocytes in autoimmune thyroid diseases both in vitro and in vivo.Therfore, we investigated the correlation between thyroid hormone, TSH receptor antibodies, Interleukin-6 and soluble ICAM-1 in patients with Graves' disease before and 2 months after treatment with prophylthiouracil(PTU).Serum concentrations of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1(sICAM-1), T_3, T_4, TSH-receptor antibodies(TSH-R-Ab) and Interleukin-6(IL-6) of peripheral blood monocytes were measured in patients with Graves' disease.Serum levels of sICAM-1 were elevated in patients with Graves' disease before treatment with PTU, but serum levels of sICAM-1 did not correlate with the serum concentration of thyroid hormone and TSH-R-Ab before and after treatment. In addition, no correlation between serum levels of sICAM-1 and IL-6 of peripheral blood monocyte.We conclude that although the elevated serum levels of sICAM-1 may contribute to the autoimmune process in Graves' disease, we need more future studies for the role of sICAM-1 and correlation between adhesion molecule and thyroid hormone or cytokines in patients with Graves' disease.
Antibodies ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Cytokines ; Endothelial Cells ; Graves Disease ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; In Vitro Techniques ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Interleukin-6 ; Lymphocytes ; Monocytes ; Receptors, Thyrotropin ; Thyroid Diseases ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Hormones

Dissecting aortic aneurysm is an emergency condition which requires prompt diagnosis and management. From January 1992 to December 1996, 54 patients were admitted to our department. Patients were categorized according to the Stanford classification of aortic dissection and investigation of the clinical records utilized the retrospective method. Male constituted the majority, according for 38(70.4%) of the total number of patients, whereas females accounted for 16(29.6%). Mean age was 52.1+/-2.2 years old (range:25~82). Clinical findings included chest pain in 46 cases(85.2%), renal failure in 11(20.4%), aortic insufficiency in 10(18.5%) and stroke in 9(16.7%). Predisposing factors were hypertension in 48 cases(88.9%), Marfan's syndrome in 5(9.3%) and diabetes mellitus in 1(1.8%). 21 patients(type A:12, type B:9) underwent surgical treatment. There were three(2 in type A and 1 in type B) deaths in the surgical treatment group and nine(5 in type A and 4 in type B) deaths in the medical treatment group. These results reflect our current policy in the management of dissecting aortic aneurysm.
Aortic Aneurysm* ; Causality ; Chest Pain ; Classification ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diagnosis ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male ; Marfan Syndrome ; Renal Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke

A Paralytic hip with subluxation or dislocation may be treated by any of the ischial seat brace, hip fusion, muscle or tendon transfer, and more recently Pembertons or Salters osteotomy. 61 hips on 45 cases have been reconstructed, by one or combination of various procedures at Seoul National University Hospital during the 7 year period from October 1963 to October 1970. Follow-up results of these hips were evaluated by the reporters' according to the criteria of both functional and mechanical stability. Of the 43 cases with known results 9 rated Undetermined, 2 Fair, 5 Good, and 27 Excellent. Analysis of the 27 Excellent cases suggests that the most satisfactoy results can be obtained when the hips are attacked by concomitant functional(muscle or tendon transfer) and mechanical (Pembertons or Salters osteomy) stabilizations. In our experience, a combination of muscle or tendon transfer and an arthroplasty of Pemberton or Salter type can be carried out at the same setting, and at the same time results in better and more permanent rehabilitation of the hip than either muscle or tendon transfer or arthroplaty alone and often eliminates braces and the need for hip fusion, and thus a flail hip can be functionally salvaged. Our approach has become more aggressive in recent years, and we sometimes do not hesitate radical operations in children below 5 years of age or in convalescent stage of poliomyelitis in order to prevent further progression of hip deformities. More recently, Sharrards posterior transplantation of the iliopsoas tendon, originally described for reconstruction of paralytic hips in meningomyelocele, was carried out in 4 cases of residual poliomyelitis and we are satisfied with the initial results.
Arthroplasty ; Braces ; Child ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Dislocations ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip ; Humans ; Meningomyelocele ; Osteotomy ; Poliomyelitis ; Rehabilitation ; Seoul ; Tendon Transfer ; Tendons

OBJECTIVE: Estrogen is a major regulator/modulator of bone metabolism, and bone loss in estrogen deficiency is associated with increased bone turnover, But the mechanism for estrogen action on bone metabolism is still unknown. Recent studies have suggested that the increase in bone loss induced by estrogen deficiency is mediated by increased paracrine production of bone resorbing cytokines. Among cytokines, 1nterleukin-6(IL-6) is released from osteoblasts in estrogen deficiency and increases bone resorption by stimulation of osteoclastic activities and recruitment. Thus we performed this study to evaluate the effect of ovariectomies on bone mineral density and IL-6 in cultured monocytes of peripheral blood and bone marrow. METHODS: The experimental animals were 13 female Sprague-Dawley rats that were 8 weeks of age and weighed an average of 188.5 gram at the beginning of the study. Bilateral ovariectomies were performed in all rats from a ventral approach. Bone mineral density(BMD) of the total body, spine and level of IL-6 of cultured monocytes of peripheral blood and bone marrow were measured before and 8 weeks after ovariectomy. RESULTS: 1) BMD of total body and spine were lower after ovariectomy(0.257+/-0.069g/cm2, 0,208+/-0.005g/cm2) than before ovariectomy (0.276+/-0.005g/cm2, 0.229+/-0.011g/cm2), respectively (P<0.01). 2) Although IL-6 level of cultured monocytes in peripheral blood tended to be higher after ovariectomy than before ovariectomy, this difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). 3) IL-6 level of cultured monocytes in bone marrow was higher after ovariectomy(82.78+/-4.99pg/ml) than before ovariectomy(48.85+/-2.42pg/ml)(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: It is possible that increased production of IL-6 in estrogen deficiency induced by ovariectomy occurs in the local environment of bone or bone marrow rather than in the pheripheral blood and stimulates bone resorption.
Animals ; Bone Density* ; Bone Marrow ; Bone Resorption ; Cytokines ; Estrogens ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-6* ; Metabolism ; Monocytes ; Osteoblasts ; Osteoclasts ; Ovariectomy* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spine

The epidural injection of corticosteroid reduces the inflammatory process of the neural structure and its neighbor structures. Morphine, also injected epidurally, has been reported to alleviate severe pain with the short-acting property. In attempt to prolong the effectiveness of pain relief, we have studied the effect of the epidural injection of the morphine and steroid frorg May 1987 to Oct. 1987, and compared with the effect of the epidural injection of the steroid and local anesthetics from Jan. 1986 to Oct. 1987. In this study, we obtained following results; 1. The major causative diseases were herniated necleus pulposus in 34 cases(48.5%), spinal stenosis in 16 cases(22.9%) and spondylolisthesis in 9 cases(12.9%). 2. In morphine-injected group, 100% of acute group and 92.3% of chronic group was improved. In non-morphine injected group, there was no significant difference between the acute and chroinc groups. 3. The effect of epidural morphine and steroid was as follows; Complete relief 14 cases (63.6%), marked improvement 5 cases(22.7%), moderate improvement 2 cases(9.2%) and no relief 1 case(4.6%). The overall improvement was resulted in 21 cases(95.4%). 4. The effect of epidural steroid and local anesthetics was as follows; Complete relief 10 cases(20.8%), marked improvement 14 cases(29.2%), moderate improvement 12 cases(25%~ and no relief 12 cases(25%). The overall improvement was resulted in 36 cases(75%). 5. The average duration of pain relief was 2.5 months in morphine injected group and 1.3 months in non-morphine injected group. 6. The side effects associated with opiate, such as generalized pruritus, nausea, vomiting and urinary retention were reported in 16 cases(72.7%), but responded readily to Naloxone injection and subsided within 24 hours. It is considered that epidural injection of morphine and steroid prolong the effect and duration of pain relief for low back pain and sciatica when compared with the epidural injection of steroid and local anesthetics.
Anesthetics, Local ; Injections, Epidural ; Low Back Pain ; Morphine ; Naloxone ; Nausea ; Pruritus ; Sciatica ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spondylolisthesis ; Urinary Retention ; Vomiting

Since last August, 29 cases of synovial punch biopsy have been carried out with Franklin-Silverman needle which was used in liver biopsy, instead of the specialized needle for the synovium. Authors report the applicable utility of Franklin-Silverman needle for the synovial biopsy, diagnostic value of this procedure and histopathologic findings of the results. The rate of the technical success to abtain synovial tissue was about 76%. Complications after procedure have been very rarely encountered, consisting of mild transient hemarthrosis. In 17 cases, the histopathologic changes was compatible with their clinical findings. In the remainders, we experienced the failures to get synovial tiasue at all in 7 cases and to give the significant synovial changes in 5 successful specimens. Fortunately, the important diagnostic aid was achieved in 3 cases which were conformed early diagnosis of tuberculous arthritis. This needle biopsy was also thought to contribute to rule out the gouty arthritis from other hyperuricemic conditions. But the histologic changes were non specific inflammatory findings in the synovial mambrane of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, traumatic and infectious arthritis.
Arthritis ; Arthritis, Gouty ; Arthritis, Infectious ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Biopsy ; Biopsy, Needle ; Early Diagnosis ; Hemarthrosis ; Liver ; Needles ; Osteoarthritis ; Synovial Membrane

A 55-year-old woman suffered from upper abdominal pain for two months and remained refractile against the anti-ulcer regimen. The palliative gastrectomy specimen revealed multiple shallow ulcerations on the thickened mucosal folds mainly in the antrum and body along the greater curvature where multiple, whitish nodules were found in the submucosa. Microscopically, individual submucosal nodules clearly corresponded to the necrotizing granulomatous vasculitis which were featured with diffuse fibrinoid necrosis of arterial walls accompanying granuloma formation and heavy infiltration of neutrophils, eosinophils, histiocytes and giant cells. Similar vasculitic lesions involved venules and arterioles. There were scattered vasculitic changes in the liver biopsy specimens and omentum. There were no clinical presentations or serological support of systemic involvement including systemic lupus erythematosus, Henoch-Schoenlein purpura, cryoglobulinemia or Churg-Strauss granulomatous vasculitis. We conclude that this is a hitherto undescribed primary necrotizing granulomatous vasculitis predominantly involving the stomach.
Abdominal Pain ; Arterioles ; Biopsy ; Cryoglobulinemia ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Giant Cells ; Granuloma ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Liver ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Neutrophils ; Omentum ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch ; Stomach* ; Ulcer ; Vasculitis* ; Venules

The authors carriod out lumbodorsal fasciotomy on six cases of paralytic scoliosis with pelvic obliquity. In our experience, in those older children and adolescents with paralysis in whom scoliotic curve is not severe and is more or less static, correction and maintenance of the correction can be achieved by lumbodorsal fasciotomy without resorting to spine fusion. While it is a common practice to leave a mild and static curve uncorrected, even a mild degree of scoliosis, when associated with pelvic obliquity, abduction contracture of the hip, instability of the other hip and leg length discrepancy, is a major problem in paralytic patients. Initial results indicate that lumbodorsal fasciotomy, combined with contralateral Soutters or Campbells fasciotomy if necessary, is a simple and effective method in correcting these deformities and restoring balance and function.
Adolescent ; Child ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Contracture ; Health Resorts ; Hip ; Humans ; Leg ; Methods ; Paralysis ; Scoliosis ; Spine

BACKGROUND: Trauma is the third leading cause of death, irrespective of age, and the leading cause of death in persons under 40 years of age. Computed tomography (CT) is an effective technique in the initial emergent evaluation of the abdomen and head following blunt trauma. Most chest indies are not seen on conventional chest radiography, or may be underestimated. But routine use of CT in the initial emergent evaluation of chest trauma is controversial. CT, however, has been shown to be useful in the diagnosis of unsuspected chest injuries and in directing therapeutic interventions. This review discusses the efficacy of emergent CT in patients with blunt trauma on the chest. METHODS: To evaluate the efficacy of CT of the thorax, a retrospective study comparing early thoracic CT scanning with initial chest roentgenogram(CXR) was carried out on 121 patients with blunt trauma on the chest. The interval between CXR and CT was less than 1 hour. RESULTS: Among 121 patients, 42 patients had normal initial chest roentgenogram in whom 19 patients showed normal CT findings. Sensitivities of diagnosing pneumothorax and pleural effusion by CXR were low (49.3%and 45.1%respectively), whereas 65.7% (44/67) of patients had thoracostomy only by CXR. CONCLUSIONS : Although sometimes abused in patients with chest trauma, CT of the thorax is an effective method of detecting thoracic injuries and provides accurate information regarding their pattern and extent in the initial emergent diagnosis.
Abdomen ; Cause of Death ; Diagnosis ; Emergencies* ; Head ; Humans ; Pleural Effusion ; Pneumothorax ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Injuries ; Thoracostomy ; Thorax* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Deep infection following total hip replacement arthroplasties remains one of the most serious complications in orthopaedic surgery. Between Jan. 1986 to Dec. 1991, 1130 cementless total hip arthroplasties were performed at Wilson rehabilitation hospital. Among them, fourteen patients (incidence :1.2%) developed deep wound infection, and they were retrospectively reviewed including clinical features, laboratory datas and their managements. The infection was noted in ten patients within three months, in one patient between three to twelve months and in three patients after twelve months from cementless total hip replacement arthroplasties. All of them were suffered from hip pain, six patients were manifested with generalized fever, and twelve patients with draining fistulas. Thirteen patients showed elevated ESR. Major infecting organism was Staphylococcus in ten patients. They were initially treated with meticulous debridement, ingress and eress tube irrigation, and antibiotics, but four patients had to be operated Girdlestone arthroplasties due to recurrence of infection and loosening of the prosthesis. Eight patients got quiescency from infection for at least five months from the last drainage operation. But two patients still have draining fistulas inspite of bony ingrowth achieved to the prosthesis.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Arthroplasty ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Clinical Study ; Debridement ; Drainage ; Fever ; Fistula ; Hip ; Humans ; Prostheses and Implants ; Recurrence ; Rehabilitation ; Retrospective Studies ; Staphylococcus ; Wound Infection