We have observed that the companion shadow of the upper rib may be misinterpreted as a small pnemothorax or pleural plaque associated with asbestosis. To observe the radiographic characteristics of the normal companion shadow, we analyzed, on the posteroanterior(PA) chest radiographs, the companion shadow of 50 normal cases. Factors such as occurrence on each rib, the sharpness of the margin, the relative position to the rib, the shape and the thickness were observed. Also, we analyzed the displaced pleura of 4 pneumothorax cases to differentiate their frndings from the findings of normal companion shadows. On 50 normal chest radiographs, 192 compaion shadows were observed on the first to fourth ribs. In 173 of those shadows, the visceral margin of the companion shadow on the second rib simulated pneumothorax more closely than those on any othe rivs due to its apical location and thinness. In six of 50 normal cases, the companion shadow on the first or second rib showed an inw rdly convex lower margin, mimicking pleural plaque. The compaion shadow was suggested on the plain chest radiograph by the following characteristics imultiplicity(47/50), thicker than normal pleura(3/4), persistent on serial filma with the same shape and specific location(4/4).
Asbestosis ; Friends* ; Humans ; Pleura ; Pneumothorax ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Ribs* ; Thinness

Erdheim Chester disease (ECD) is very rare non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) which occurs in the skeletal system and multiple organs. As it is progressive, sometimes it causes fatal results. However, it is often misdiagnosed as LCH or multiple bone metastasis and, thus, is very difficult to diagnose. In Korea, only 10 cases were first reported in 1999. In particular, there have been a few orthopedic approaches or reports in English-speaking literatures, and no report has been issued in Korea. The authors performed bone biopsy in patients with knee and lower extremity pain who were referred for the integrated treatment. We attempts to report this diagnosis experience with literature review.
Biopsy ; Erdheim-Chester Disease ; Histiocytosis ; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell ; Humans ; Knee ; Korea ; Lower Extremity ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Orthopedics

No abstract available.
Lipopolysaccharides* ; Otitis Media with Effusion* ; Otitis Media* ; Otitis*

No abstract available.
Retrospective Studies* ; Tracheal Stenosis*

BACKGROUND: Herpes zoster with generalized varicelliform eruptions occurs in 2 to 10% of patients with herpes zoster. It occurs mainly in old or debilitated persons especially those who have immunologic defects such as lymphoproliferative diseases, AIDS, or recipients of immunosuppressive therapy. The reported incidence of herpes zoster with generalized varicelliform eruptions is variable. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the incidence and clinical features of herpes zoster with generalized varicelliform eruptions. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical data of 962 patients with herpes zoster by retrospective methods. The annual incidence, age, sex, seasonal variation, predilection sites, and associated conditions of herpes zoster with generalized varicelliform eruptions were analyzed from January 1990 to December 1996 (7 years). RESULTS: 1. Among 962 patients, 8 patients with herpes zoster revealed generalixed varicelliform eruptions (0.83%). 2. The age ranged from 20 to 85 and the majority of cases occurred in the 6th decade. There were 4 females and 4 males. 3. Past histories of malignancy were observed in 2 patients. However, there were no signs of malignancy at the time of diagnosis of herpes zoster with generalized varicelliform eruptions. 4. The most common site of initial lesion was the thoracic dermatome,followed by the lumbar and the cervical ones. CONCLUSION: From our observation, it is suggested that herpes zoster with generalized varicelliform eruptions may occur in patients without underlying malignancy or immunosuppressive disorders. Sudden incidental uprising of herpes zoster with generalized varicelliform eruptions was observed in 1996.
Clinical Study* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Seasons

No abstract available.
Leydig Cell Tumor*

No abstract available.
Diverticulum*

PURPOSE: To examine the fate of muscle-derived stem cells (MDSC) after injection into different host conditions and provide an insight for their mechanism of action. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MDSCs differentiated in vitro towards the endothelial lineage and transfected with lentivirus tagged with green fluorescent protein (GFP) were injected into two animal models mimicking vascular diseases: hindlimb ischemia and carotid injury models. Injected cells were tracked at the site of injection and in remote organs by harvesting the respective tissues at different time intervals and performing immunofluorescent histological analyses. Stem cell survival was quantified at the site of injection for up to 4 weeks. RESULTS: MDSCs were successfully tagged with fluorescent material GFP and showed successful implantation into the respective injection sites. These cells showed a higher affinity to implant in blood vessel walls as shown by double fluorescent co-stain with CD31. Quantification of stem cell survival showed a time-dependent decrease from day 3 to 4 weeks (survival rate normalized against day 3 was 72.0% at 1 week, 26.8% at 2 weeks and 2.4% at 4 weeks). Stem cells were also fo und in distant organs, especially the kidneys and liver, which survived up to 4 weeks. CONCLUSION: MDSCs were successfully tracked in different vascular disease models, and their fate was assessed in terms of cell survival and distribution. Better understanding of the donor cell properties, including their interaction with the host conditions and their mechanism of action, are needed to enhance cell survival and achieve improved outcomes.
Adult Stem Cells ; Animals ; Blood Vessels ; Cell Survival ; Hindlimb ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Kidney ; Lentivirus ; Liver ; Models, Animal ; Stem Cell Niche ; Stem Cells* ; Tissue Donors ; Vascular Diseases

OBJECTIVE: CDA (Clinical Document Architecture) is a markup standard for clinical document exchange. In order to increase the semantic interoperability of documents exchange, the clinical statements in the narrative blocks should be encoded with code values. Natural language processing (NLP) is required in order to transform the narrative blocks into the coded elements in the level 3 CDA documents. In this paper, we evaluate the accuracy of text mapping methods which are based on NLP. METHODS: We analyzed about one thousand discharge summaries to know their characteristics and focused the syntactic patterns of the diagnostic sections in the discharge summaries. According to the patterns, different rules were applied for matching code values of Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT). RESULTS: The accuracy of matching was evaluated using five-hundred discharge summaries. The precision was as follows: 86.5% for diagnosis, 61.8% for chief complaint, 62.7%, for problem list, and 64.8% for discharge medication. CONCLUSION: The text processing method based on the pattern analysis of a clinical statement can be effectively used for generating CDA entries.
Diagnosis ; Natural Language Processing ; Semantics ; Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine

Membranous fat necrosis is a variant of fat necrosis characterized by the presence of membranocystic foci which is lined by eosinophilic, homogeneous and crenulated membrane that has pseudopapillary projections. Membranous fat necrosis may be idiopathic or has been associated with many local and systemic diseases. The pathogenesis of membranous fat necrosis is uncertain but trauma may be suspected in our case. We describe a case of lipoma with membranous fat necrosis.
Eosinophils ; Fat Necrosis* ; Lipoma* ; Membranes