No abstract available.
Fingers* ; Replantation*

PURPOSE: Defecography is a technique of examining the rectum and anal canal by using fluoroscopy during defecation. This study was done to determine the range of normal findings of defecography in young asymptomatic Korean volunteers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine asymptomatic young volunteers underwent defecography. Anorectal angle, perineal descent, length and width of anal, rectocele, rectal intussusception and incontience were evaluated. RESULTS: The range of anorectal angle was 82 degrees-149 degrees in resting state, compared to the 63 degrees -116 degrees in squeezing state, and 95 degrees -116 degrees in straining state respectively. The pelvic floor in straining state descended on average of 1.62cm from the inferior margin of ischial tuberosity that its broad range of position from --5.2cm to 0.8 cm implies a wide variation of anorectal angle and periheal descent. Mild degree of rectocele with less than 2cm of depth was found in 12 out of 29 cases. Rectal intussusception was noted in six and rectal incontinence was seen in one case. Formation of rectocele and intussusception during defecation was common in asymptomatic young volunteers. CONCLUSION: The wide range of defecographic measurements warrants the necessity of other complementary studies on anorectal function to improve the diagnostic accuracy. The interpretation of defecographic measurement should therefore be made with caution and should not be used as the sole criteria for seliction of treatment modality.
Anal Canal ; Defecation ; Defecography ; Fluoroscopy ; Intussusception ; Pelvic Floor ; Rectocele ; Rectum ; Volunteers*

Although extrahepatic metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma are frequent as about 64%, implants involving the peritoneum are rare. We presented a cases, whieh is hepatocellular carcinoma with metastasis to visceral peritoneum revealing multiple, hard, variable-sized and nodular mass including large mass over 10 cm in size. The presence of tumor was diagnosed by serum alpha fetoprotein, abdaminal CT, celiac and SMA angiography and biopsy with laparoscopy.
alpha-Fetoproteins ; Angiography ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Laparoscopy ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Peritoneum

Adenocarcinoma of the bladder is a rare tumor. It's incidence figures in the ranges of 0.5 to 2.0 percent of all epithelial bladder neoplasms. Adenocarcinoma of the bladder occurs more frequently in areas which schistosomiasis is endemic and is the most common malignant tumor arising in the exstrophic bladder or urachus. Primary adenocarcinoma of the bladder must be carefully differentiated from the adenocarcinomas that originate within the urachus, prostate, seminal vesicle, breast, gastrointestinal tract or other organs. This report describes a 43 years old male who was diagnosed as an infiltrative adenocarcinoma of the bladder by the preoperative evaluation and transurethral resection of bladder and was confirmed by the pathologic examination following pelvic exenteration as the primary adenocarcinoma or the bladder extended to the prostate and rectum and was followed by chemotherapy without evidence of metastasis.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Adult ; Breast ; Drug Therapy ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pelvic Exenteration* ; Prostate ; Rectum ; Schistosomiasis ; Seminal Vesicles ; Urachus ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder*

H.S.G. has been proven to be an important diagnsotic method in clinical gyencology for under 50 yrs. It isvaluable in the investigation of the uterine and tubal factors of female infertility. Hysterosalpingograms of 81 patients with infertility were analysed and following brief results were obtained. 1. Ratio between primary andsecondary infertility was 3:5, 2ndary infertility was more frequent. 2. Age distribution was more frequnet under 30 years of age than over 30 years of age. 3. Abnormal uterine finding was only seen in 18 cases, abnormal tubalfinding was only seen in 25 cases and combined uterine and abnormalities were seen in 14 cases. 4. Abnormaluterine findings were malposition (12 cases), filling defect (5), spastic uterus(5), irregular contour (3),arcuate uterus(3), dideplphia(1), in order of frequency. 5. Abnormal tubal findings were hydrosalpinx (21 cases), occlusion(19), intravasation (6), beaded appearance(3), & diverticula(2) , in order of frequency. 6. Negativefinding in both uterus and tube was seen in 23 cases. 7. In 2 cases, pregnancy after the H.S.G. examination wasconfirmed.
Age Distribution ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility ; Infertility, Female ; Methods ; Muscle Spasticity ; Pregnancy ; Uterus

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the components for vocational rehabilitation program including the strengths and job simulation, and to provide the data of the upper extremity strengths for a successful return to work. METHOD: Sixty normal untrained subjects(male 30, female 30) were examined for the grip and pinch strengths using Jamar dynamometer and Preston pinch gauge, and the strengths of five simulated tasks using work simulation of Cybex 6000 Testing and Rehabilitation System(Cybex, Division of Lumex, inc., USA). RESULTS: The values during the tasks were significantly different in males compared to females(p<0.01). Strengths of the right upper extremity by Jamar dynamometer, Preston pinch gauge, gripping device, T-handle(radial direction), and flutted knob(radial direction) were significantly different compared to the left(p<0.01). Grip strengths between Jamar dynamometer and gripping device of Cybex were highly correlated(p<0.01). All the measured values were significantly correlated with both weight and height(p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The results of this study can be used as a baseline data for the vocational rehabilitation in patients with a disability of upper extremity.
Female ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Male ; Pinch Strength ; Rehabilitation ; Rehabilitation, Vocational ; Return to Work ; Upper Extremity*

Purpose: To investigate the differences in the frequency of post-fitting denture check-ups based on gender, age, insurance status, denture arch, and type among patients aged 65 and above. Methods: This research analyzed 988 patients from National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital’s Department of Prosthodontics, who had denture fittings over the last 10 years. Variables including gender, age, insurance status and type, denture arch, and denture type were assessed. Statistical analyses were performed at a 5% significance level. Results: The study incorporated 988 dentures, revealing a median of 3 check-ups post-fitting. Male patients significantly had more visits than females (P = .017), and those with full metal dentures visited significantly more than those with partial dentures (P = .005). Other variables were not significantly influential on the post-fitting check-up frequency. Conclusion Within this study’s confines, an increase in denture adjustment sessions was observed for male patients and those with full metal dentures.

Idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis (IHP) is a rare, chronic nonspecific and granulomatous inflammatory disorder of the dura with unknown etiology. The diagnosis can be established by open biopsy and exclusion of all other specific granulomatous and infectious diseases. We report a typical case of spinal IHP occurring in a long segment of cervical and thoracic dura from C6 to T8. The patient was 56-yr-old female, who had been suffered from pain on her upper back and both arms for 3 months and recent onset motor weakness of both legs. During the 9 months of follow-up period, she experienced the improvement of her neurologic symptoms with combined therapy of partial excision and corticosteroid medication. Since early surgical intervention and subsequent pulse ste-roid therapy are mandatory for this disease to avoid irreversible damage of nervous system, the identification of this unique disease entity is essential on frozen diagnosis. A few cases have been reported in Korean literature.
Case Report ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Human ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meningitis/diagnosis/*pathology/therapy ; Middle Age ; Spinal Diseases/diagnosis/*pathology/therapy

No abstract available.
Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Stomach Neoplasms*

OBJECTIVE: Thoracoscopic spinal surgery provides minimally invasive approaches for effective vertebral decompression and reconstruction of the thoracic and thoracolumbar spine, while surgery related morbidity can be significantly lowered. This study analyzes clinical results of thoracoscopic spinal surgery performed at our institute. METHODS: Twenty consecutive patients underwent video-assisted thoracosopic surgery (VATS) to treat various thoracic and thoracolumbar pathologies from April 2000 to July 2006. The lesions consisted of spinal trauma (13 cases), thoracic disc herniation (4 cases), tuberculous spondylitis (1 case), post-operative thoracolumbar kyphosis (1 case) and thoracic tumor (1 case). The level of operation included upper thoracic lesions (3 cases), midthoracic lesions (6 cases) and thoracolumbar lesions (11 cases). We classified the procedure into three groups: stand-alone thoracoscopic discectomy (3 cases), thoracoscopic fusion (11 cases) and video assisted mini-thoracotomy (6 cases). RESULTS: Analysis on the Frankel performance scale in spinal trauma patients (13 cases), showed a total of 7 patients who had neurological impairment preoperatively : Grade D (2 cases), Grade C (2 cases), Grade B (1 case), and Grade A (2 cases). Four patients were neurologically improved postoperatively, two patients were improved from C to E, one improved from grade D to E and one improved from grade B to grade D. The preoperative Cobb's and kyphotic angle were measured in spinal trauma patients and were 18.9+/-4.4 degrees and 18.8+/-4.6 degrees, respectively. Postoperatively, the angles showed statistically significant improvement, 15.1+/-3.7 degrees and 11.3+/-2.4 degrees, respectively (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Although VATS requires a steep learning curve, it is an effective and minimally invasive procedure which provides biomechanical stability in terms of anterior column decompression and reconstruction for anterior load bearing, and preservation of intercostal muscles and diaphragm.
Decompression ; Diaphragm ; Diskectomy ; Humans ; Intercostal Muscles ; Kyphosis ; Learning Curve ; Pathology* ; Spinal Fractures ; Spinal Fusion ; Spine ; Spondylitis ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Weight-Bearing