After reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament, increased idameter of femoral or tibia1 bone tunnel has been obsened on plain radiogram. The etiology of radiographic tunnel enlargement is not well understood and the significance of this tunnel enlargement is unknown. This retrospective study reviewed tibial tunnel diameter in 34 cases of anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions. And we evaluated the correlation between the tibial tunnel enlargement and the position of screw fixation, instability, choice of graft, and clinical results at 1 year postoperatively. AII operation was per formed using a single incision technique. After 3 or 4 months and one year after operation, the diameter of tibial tunnel was measured with digital caliper on the plain radiogram. Tibial tunnel sclerotic margins were measured in the level Of medial tibial plateau on the lateral view of knee. Average tunnel enlargement of 3 allografts was 1.62mm and that of 15 autografts was 2.03mm. No significant difference was seen in KT-10000 arthrometer measurements between enlarged group (amount of enlage-ent >+1 S.D) and not-enlarged group (less than +1 S.D). No coelation was present between the increased tunnel diameter and Lysholm score. Cases with 10mm or more vertical distance between the most proximal point of tihial interference screw and the level of m4eial tibial plateau had average 1.15mm tibial tunnel enlargement and cases with less than 10mm vertical distance ha & I average 2.52mm tibial tunne] enlargement;the difference was not significant (P>0.05). The tibial tunnel enlargement was not correlated with position of screw, clinical results, stability of knee. The tibial tunnel enlargement was not caused hy only mechanical factor such as motion of intra-tunnel portion of graft-tendon.
Allografts ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Autografts ; Knee ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplants

The original technique for endoscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction has several potential complications because of constraints imposed by working through the tibial tunnel: improper femoral tunnel placement, violation of the femoral tunnel posterior wall, femoral interferenc screw divergence, graft laceration during screw insertion, and distal tibial bone block prr>trusion. We performed 25 endoscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions with bone-tendon-bone graft using a mo3ified technique that minimizes each of these problems, through the use of a anteromedial portal more centrally and distally placed than the original that portal. Postoperative radiographic review showed femoral screw divergence in 20% of cases (2 in the anteroposterior plane, 2 in the lateral plane and 1 in both planes), but the average angles (AP: 0.52+- 1.85, Lateral: 1.48+-3.30) were insignificant. There was no graft damage during screw insertion or grafttunnel mismatch. We concluded that this modified technique allows simplified, reproducible tunnel and interference screw placement.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction* ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Knee ; Lacerations ; Transplants

To evaluate the intra-articular pathology of popliteal cysts of knee, we performed arthroscopy on patients with popliteal cysts between February 1992 and February 1995. Thirty-one patients (32 cases) have been treated by excision of cyst after arthroscopy. Mean duration of follow-up was 15 months (13-19 months). Location of cysts was in the right knee in 17 cases, in the left knee in 13 cases, and bilateral in one case. Pain or swelling was present in 12 (38%), giving-way was reported by 4 cases. Three cases revealed quadryceps atrophy. The McMurray test was postive in 6 cases. After arthroscopy, the cysts were excised. Ninteen cases (59%) had associated intra-articular lesions: seven medial meniscal tears, two lateral meniscal tears, seven had chondral damages, one had medial plica syndrome, and one had rheumatoid arthritis, Communication between the cyst and the knee was present in 7 cases (22%), all of whom were over 40 years of age. Thirteen cases was younger than 30 years of age, and 11 cases of these cases had no intra-articular pathology. Two other cases had lateral meniscal tears and medial plica syndrome, respectively. We recommend arthroscopy in middle and older aged patients with popliteal cysts for evaluating and treating intra-articular lesions.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Arthroscopy* ; Atrophy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee* ; Pathology ; Popliteal Cyst*

BACKGROUND: Exercise testing is an importnat diagnostic and prognostic procedure in the assessment of patients with ischemic heart disease. But standard ST-segment depression criteria was not high enough to estimate coronary srtery disease. Recently, the heart rate adjustment of ST segment depression, ST segment/heart rate slope and index, have been proposed as a more accurate criteria for diagnosing significant coronary artery disease. The objective of this study was to compare the discriminating power of proposed ST segment/heart rate slope and index with that of a standard method of assessing exercise-induced ST segment depression for estimating coronary artery disease. METHODS: Sixty nine patients with ischemic heart disease were studied with exercise treadmill testing and coronary angiography. Computer-measured ST-segment amplitudes were obtained and analysis of the heart rate-adjusted ST segment depression(ST/HR slope and big up tri, Delta ST/HR index) was done. The sensitivity, specificity, and extent of coronary artery disease on each criteria were compared. RESULTS: 1) The sensitivity of big up tri, Delta ST/HR index partition of 1.6uV/beats/min was slightly higher(83%) and the specificity of ST/HR slope partition of 2.4uV/beats/min was higher(87%) than the standard exercise electrocardiographic criteria. 2) Early onset of ischemic ST-segment depression, profound ST-segment depression(> or =2mm), and downsloping ST-segment were associated with more extensive coronary artery disease. 3) On ST/HR slope, no CAD was 1.7+/-0.26uV/beats/min, one vessel disease was 2.6+/-0.34 uV/beats/min, two vessel disease was 2.7+/-1.36uV/beats/min, one vessel disease was 2.8+/-0.35uV/beats/min, and on big up tri, Delta ST/HR index, no CAD was 1.8+/-0.38uV/beats/min, one vessel disease was 2.8+/-1.36uV/beats/min, two vessel disease 3.4+/-1.44uV/beats/min, and three vessel disease was 3.7+/-2.95uV/beats/min. The increment of ST/HR slope and big up tri, Delta ST/HR index were associated with the coronary artery disease and its severity, but the correlations were not high enough. CONCLUSION: The heart rate adjustment of ST segment depression was not high enough for improved detection of coronary artery disease, compared with standard ST-segment depression criteria. But these indexes can be improved the clinical usefulness of the treadmill exercise test for coronary aretry disease.
Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Depression* ; Electrocardiography ; Exercise Test ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Myocardial Ischemia* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

The types of the synovial plicae were classified according to the classification of Kim and Choe(1997). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic ability of MRI for synovial plicae. We retrospectively reviewed the MR findings of the knee in 95 cases of 91 patients. In all 95 cases, findings of arthroscopy and MR images were available. MRI was performed with a 1.5 Tesla Magnetom(Siemens) using a round surface coil. Pulse sequence were Tl weighted image(TR 650ms /TE 20ms) and T2 weighted image(TR 2000ms/TE 70ms). MR images could not show the infrapatella plicae and lateral plicae clearly, but some suprapatellar plicae were shown in T2 weighted MR images (37.5% of hole type, 80% of complete type, 26% of medial type). In 20(22%) of the 90 cases with medial patella plicae proved by arthroscopy, a low intensity band was shown above the medial condyle of the femur on T2 weighted MR images. These 20 cases included 3 of fenestra type, 9 of wide shelf type and 8 of medial shelf type. The low intensity band seen on T2-weighted MR images and its anatomical relation to the medial femoral condyle are helpful in diagnosing the presence of medial shelf type and wide shelf type of medial plicae.
Arthroscopy* ; Classification ; Femur ; Humans ; Knee* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Patella ; Retrospective Studies

Congenital lipoid adrenal hyperplasia, the most severe form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia, is caused by mutations in the steroidogenic acute regulatory protien (StAR). It is characterized by failure of synthesis of all three classes of adrenal steroids and massive accumulation of lipids and cholesterol in the adrenal cortex. The computed tomography (CT) unequivocally delineated massively enlarged adrenal glands of fat-tissue attenuation, enabling early diagnosis and replacement therapy. We report a case of congenital lipoid adrenal hyperplasia, in which CT established that lipoid deposition at the adrenal cortex disappeared after the adrenal hormone replacement therapy.
Adrenal Cortex ; Adrenal Glands ; Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital ; Cholesterol ; Early Diagnosis* ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Hyperplasia* ; Steroids

communicable diseases. The purposes of the study is to estimate reporting proportion of National Notifiable Infectious Diseases(NNIDs) and investigate characteristics related to reporting using KAP(knowledge, attitude, practice) model. METHOD: We surveyed randomly selected 2,185 physicians (speciality: internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, dermatology, general physicians) of their knowledge, attitude, and practice of NNIDs reporting through self-administered mail questionnaires. Of them, 231 physicians responded (response proportion: 10.6%). RESULT: The reporting proportion was estimated to 27.0%. Recognition level (knowledge) of NNIDs was relatively high with proportion of 69.4%, and attitude (public health importance) of reporting was 65.8%. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that knowledge, attitude significantly affected physicians' reporting in a positive direction (O.R. 6.2, 6.2 respectively). Whereas, senior age group, specialty (family medicine, pediatrics, dermatology) showed significantly lower reporting. General (tertiary care) hospital level of care showed significantly higher reporting practice (alpha=0.05). CONCLUSION: The NNIDs reporting proportion, 27.0% is similar with those studied recently. Continuous efforts to increase the performance level of communicable diseases surveillance system. Of those, restructuring surveillance systems considering characteristics of notifiable diseases classes must be stressed. Educational approach of physicians needs to be tailored specially to newly-designated diseases such as Group II, Designated Group NNIDs.
Communicable Diseases* ; Dermatology ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; Logistic Models ; Pediatrics ; Postal Service ; Surveys and Questionnaires

In the endoscopic one-incision anterior cruciate ligament(ACL) reconstruction, placing the graft's tendon-bone interface flush with the intraarticular femoral tunnel results in frequent distal graft protrusion. On the contrary, we occasionally found that the intraarticular posterior cruciate ligament(PCL) length was longer than patellar tendon length and had a great difficulty in performing the endoscopic one-incision technique of PCL reconstruction. The purpose of this study is to get a certain guideline in the endoscopic one-incision technique of cruciate ligament reconstruction by measuring intraarticular distance of ACL, PCL and patellar tendon and by measuring distance between the insertion of pes anserinus and medial tibial plateau in 19 cadaveric knees. The results were as follows; 1. The average patellar tendon length was 36.2±4.7mm(range 24.7-45.0). 2. The average ACL length was 23.7±3.9mm(range 16.5-30.3). 3. The average PCL length was 32.7±3.8mm(range 25.4-41.0). 4. The average distance between the insertion of pes anserinus and medial tibial plateau was 38.3±5.4mm(range 27.2-53.6). Clinical Relevance: Since Korean patellar tendon is shorter than Caucasian's and intraarticular distance of ACL is same as Caucasian's, graft-tunnel mismatch doesn't seem to be a major problem with the accurate technique of the endoscopic one-incision ACL reconstruction in Korean patients. It is possible to interfere with the pes anserinus if the length of the tibial tunnel is needed more than 44.8 mm, It is very difficult to perform an endoscopic one-incision PCL reconstruction if the length of patellar tendon is less than 35mm because intraarticular distance of PCL is sometimes longer than patellar tendon in such cases.
Adult ; Cadaver ; Humans ; Knee ; Ligaments ; Patellar Ligament ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a common, chronic skin disease characterized by recurrent erythematous skin plaque. Psoriatic lesion of patients exibits hyperproliferation of epidermis, a variable inflammatory cell infiltrate, and abnormalities of the papillary dermal blood vessels. Expansion of the dermal microvasculature and increased expression of VEGF in keratinocytes are prominent features of psoriasis. The normal appearing skin of psoriatic patients may respond to an injury with the appearance of a psoriatic lesion. It has been demonstrated that trauma or pressure on the skin develop psoriasis from normal appearing skin of psoriatic patients and temporary obligation of the vessels prevented the `Koebner phenomenon'. These clinical observations indicate the importance of the vascular compartment in the initiation of the psoriatic lesion. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the relationship between expression of VEGF and pressure in the development of Koebner phenomenon. METHOD: Metal sinker (10g) was added to the cultured HaCaT cells for 24 hours and the expression of VEGF was checked by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: HaCaT cells pressured by metal sinker showed increased expression of VEGF compared to control cells. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that pressure probably induces the Koebner phenomenon through VEGF-induced angiogenesis.
Blood Vessels ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratinocytes ; Microvessels ; Psoriasis* ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

OBJECTIVE: We studied the expression of epidermal growh factor(EGF) and transforming growth factor(TGF)-a and epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) in human trophoblast and decidua at the first and third trimester. METHODS: To confirm the expression of EGF, TGF-a and EGFR immunohisochemically in human trophoblast and decidua, we used monoclonal antibodies to EGF, TGF-a and EGFR. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical stainings using anti-EGF, anti-TGF- a and anti-EGFR antibodies showed a specific stainings in human trophoblast and decidua at the first and third trimester. The staining intensity of EGF in the trophoblast was light to moderate at the first trimester and moderate at the third trimester, and that in the decidua was light to moderate at the first trimester and light at the third trimester. The patterns of expression of TGF- a in the trophoblast and decidua were similar to that seen with EGF in the trophoblast and that of EGFR in trophoblast and decidua were similar to that seen with EGF in decidua. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that EGF, TGF-a and EGFR may play an important role in human trophoblast and decidua during gestation.
Antibodies ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Decidua* ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Trophoblasts*