There are many kinds of instrumentation systems for posterior operation in the treatment of scoliosis. Cotrel-Dubousset (C-D) system is most widly used for its excellent correction potential and stability. However there were some problems in C-D hook system such as hook dislodgement and correction loss. So, in order to reduce these problems we use transpedicular screw system and compare the results between two systems. We studied 44 cases of scoliosis ( hook 19 cases, screw 25 cases) who were operated with C-D instrumentation from February 1988 to August 1995. The average follow-up period was 54 months in hook group and 23 months in screw group. 1. Operation time was 241 minutes in hook group and 223 minutes in screw group. Average amount of transfusion was 5.0 pints in hook group and 4.6 pints in screw group. 2. Involved segments of main curvature were 7.0 in hook group and 6.6 in screw group. 3. Scoliotic curve was changed from 49degrees to 13degrees (73%) in hook group and from 47degrees to 12degrees (74%) in screw group. Loss of correction during follow up period was 7degrees in hook group and 3 in screw group. 4. Thoracic kyphosis was changed from 24degrees to 26degrees in hook group and from 27degrees to 30degrees in screw group. Lumbar lordosis was changed from 26degrees to 29degrees in hook group and from 26degrees to 31degrees in screw group. 5. Correction rate of rotation of apex vertebrae by Pedriolle method was 43% (from 20degrees to 12degrees) in hook group and 50% (from 22degrees to 11degrees) in screw group. 6. Complications were two cases of hook dislodgement, one delayed deep infection and four cases of progression of curvature in hook group and one case of malinsertion of screw and two cases of progression of curvature in screw group. In conclusion, these results suggested that screw system is more effective than hook system on rotational correction of apex vertebra and prevention of loss of correction.
Animals ; Follow-Up Studies ; Kyphosis ; Lordosis ; Scoliosis* ; Spine

Normal C3WHeN strain mice exposed to topical 8inethoxypsomlen plus long wave ultraviolet (PUVA) showed a reduction in contact hypersensitivity, (CH) which was localized to the skin in the area of PUVA treatment (local suppression), whereas systemic PUVA treatment caused diffuse suppression of CH reaction, regardless of the application site of 2,4-dinitro-1-fluorobenzene (DNFB). There seem to be two different mechanisms responsible for CH reduction by PUVA. Local suppression by topical PUVA treatment was thought to be a result of blocking the afferent phase of immune response, it was associated with a lack of CH effector cells in the peripheral lymph nodes and could not be reversed by indomethacin treatment. Diffuse suppression induced by systemic PUVA treatment seemed to be associated with blocking of egress of effector cells from the regional lymph nodes, this depressed CH response was prevented when indomethacin was administered before PUVA treatment.
Animals ; Dermatitis, Contact* ; Indomethacin ; Lymph Nodes ; Mice ; Skin

This study was performed to investigate the clinical efficacy of intralesional recombinant interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in the treatments of warts, using a placebo comparison. Warts of each groups were injected with INF-γ containing 5×10⁶ IU/ml (high dose), 1×10⁶ IU/ml (low dose), or distilled water for injection as placebo, respectively, twice weekly for three weeks. The final therapeutic efficacy was determined on the fourth week after the beginning of therapy. Among the 74 patients with periungual warts, plantar warts, or warts of other sites, complete clearing of the treated warts at week four occurred in 56% of the 36 patients receiving the high dose IFN-γ compared to 30% of the 53 receiving the low dose IFN-γ and 17% of the 36 receiving the placebo. Marked improvement showing 75% or greater regression of wart lesions was noted as 89% of patients receiving the high dose INE compared with 55% receiving the low dose IFN and 50% receiving the placebo. The group of patients with warts of other sites showed the best response. The group receiving the high dose IFN experienced some adverse effects more frequently or more severely than the group receiving low dose IFN. However, the effects were relatively tolerable to the patients. Therefore, intralesional injection of the high dose IFN-γ may be more useful in treating warts than a low dose IFN-γ.
Humans ; Injections, Intralesional ; Interferon-gamma* ; Treatment Outcome ; Warts* ; Water

No abstract available.
Fetal Development* ; Pregnancy*

Midazolam is a new water soluble benzodiazepine which used to induce anesthesia. The drug possesses properties similar to those of benzodiazepines(sedative, anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, muscle-relaxant) and has low toxicity compared with thiopental which is world-wide used for induction agent. Midazolam is characterized by slow onset of action, more gradual effects on circulation, low frequency of thrombophlebitis and greater degree of antegrade amnesia. Because of these characteristics midazolam is used as an alternative induction agent. As an induction agent, in order to evaluate the properties of midazolam compared with thiopental, 60 patients were divided into 2 groups. Group I, thiopental 5 mg/kg induction group; Group II, midazolam 0.15mg/kg induction group. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, pulse rate, induction time and recovery time were measured in each group. Frequency of the throm bophlebitis, retrograde and antegrade amnesia were evaluated. In group I, systolic blood pressure decreased significantly and pulse rate increased signifi-cantly. In group II, diastolic pressure decreased significantly and pulse rate increased signifi-cantly. Induction time and recovery time were delayed significantly in group II than group I. In group II, frequency of the thrombophlebitis was lower and antegrade amnesia was greater than group I. Retrograde amnesia did not occured in both groups. On the basis of these data, midazolam used for induction maintains hemodynamic stability, induces anesthesia smoothly, produces low frequency of the thrombophlebitis and high frequency of antegrade amnesia. Therefore it is concluded that midazolam is safe and effective induction agent and may offers an advantage over thiopental in situations where hemodynamic stability is crucial.
Amnesia ; Amnesia, Retrograde ; Anesthesia ; Benzodiazepines ; Blood Pressure ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Midazolam* ; Thiopental* ; Thrombophlebitis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: There is considerable variance in individual susceptibility to hepato-toxic effects of ethanol as evidenced by the finding that only about 10-20% of alcoholics develop alcoholic liver cirrhosis. The aims of this study were, 1) to get the data on the genetic polymorphisms of three major ethanol-metabolizing enzymes (ADH, CYP2E1, ALDH) in normal Korean adults, and to search for the specific genotypes influencing alcohol drinking behavior by the comparison of allele frequencies between healthy control group and heavy drinker group with or without liver disease, 2) to investigate the influence of the genetic polymorphisms of these enzymes on the susceptibility to alcoholic liver disease by the comparison of allele frequencies between heavy drinker group without liver disease and alcoholic liver cirrhosis group. METHODS: Healthy control group included 53 healthy males in military service without evidence of liver disease or alcoholism. Heavy drinker group without liver cirrhosis included 29 males who had been drinking 80g or more of alcohol daily for more than ten years but did not have any clinical evidence of liver disease. Alcoholic cirrhosis group included 43 male patients who had drunk 80g or more of alcohol daily for more than ten years and had clinical evidences of overt cirrhosis. Subjects with hepatitis B surface antigen or anti-hepatitis C antibody were excluded. Genotypes of the three enzymes were determined by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) with genomic DNAs extracted from peripheral leukocytes. RESULTS: 1) In healthy Korean males, allele frequency of ADH22, ADH31, CYP2E1 c2 and ALDH22 was 81%, 94%, 30% and 14%, respectively. 2) The absence of ALDH22 or CYP2E1 c2 allele were significant risk factors for being a heavy drinker (odds ratio,' 0.09, 0.42, respectively). 3) Although it was not associated with the polymorphism of each ethanol-metabolizing enzymes, the susceptibility to alcoholic liver cirrhosis was significantly associated with combined genotypes of ADH2(22) & ADH3(1+1)& CYP2E1 B or C. COMCLUSION: Genetic polymorphisms of ethanol-metabolizing enzyrnes are significantly associated with the suseptability to alcoholic liver disease as well as alcohol drinking behavior.
Adult ; Alcohol Drinking ; Alcoholics* ; Alcoholism ; Alleles ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1 ; DNA ; Drinking ; Ethanol ; Fibrosis ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic* ; Liver Diseases ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic ; Male ; Military Personnel ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic* ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Imrnortalized human fetal liver cell lines established by transfecting simian virus 40 T gene wae found to lose differentiated liver cell functions in successive long-term culture. Butyrate, known as a differentiation-promoting agent for a variety of cancer cell lines, is produced in the colon by bacterial flora and selectively transported into the liver though the portal blood flow. Therefe, butyrate might play a role in the maintenance of differentiation in hepatocytes in vivo. In thepresent study, the effects of butyrate on cell growth and differentiation in human fetal liver cell lines was investigated. METHODS: Human fetal liver cell lines imrnortalized by SV 40 T antigen were treated with sodium butyrate (1mM), and cell growth rate after butyrate treatment were nmsured by the number of viable cells, determined by trypan blue dye exclusice method. The effects of sodium butyrate on the hepatocyte-specific differentiatian were assessed by albumin and alfa-fetoprotein (AFP) mRNA expression, analyzed using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, and were also by the increment of albumin secretion into culture media, determined by a competitive inhibition ELISA. RESULTS: Treatment with sodium butyrate resulted in a cessation of cellular proliferation and alterations in cellular morphology (increased cell size and polygonal change in shape). The level of albumin mRNA after sodium butyrate treatment was elevated by about two times as compared to that of control. In contrast, AFP mRNA expression were dennstrated neither before nor after sodium butyrate treatment. The average amount of albumin released in the medium was less than 6pghnl/10'cells/2days in the absence of sodium butyrate, and increased to 17 p g/ml/10'cells/2days at day 2, 21ugfml 10'cells/2days at day 4 in the presence of sodium butyrate, and these levels thereafter were over 10 times higher than that in the absence of sodium butyrate until day 10. CONCLUSION: These mults indicate that treatment of immcetalized fetal liver cell lines with butyrate leads to inhibition of cellular proliferation and promotion of adult hepatocyte-specific differentiation.
Adult ; Antigens, Viral, Tumor ; Butyrates ; Butyric Acid* ; Cell Line* ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Size ; Colon ; Culture Media ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Hepatocytes ; Humans* ; Liver* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; Simian virus 40 ; Sodium* ; Trypan Blue

A retrospective clinical observation was done in 90 cases of acute myocadial infarction admitted to Hanyang University Hospital from July 1972 to Dec. 1980. The following results were obtained. 1) The ratio of male to female was 2.3:1. Most patients(63.2%) were in the age groups between the 6th and 7th decades. 2) The main symptoms of acute myocardial infarction were chest pain(76.6%), dyspnea (64.4%), radiating pain(27.7%), epigastric pain(18.8%) and palpitation(15.5%). The painless infarction accounted for 11.1% of all cases. 3) The most common preceding disease was hypertension(38.5%) and other associated diseases were diabetes mellitus(13.2%), C.V.A.(8.8%), angina pectoris(8.8%), previous myocardial infarction(6.6%) and drug intoxication(3.3%). No preceding diseases were found in 12.0% of cases. 4) The anterior wall infarction was 45.5% of 90 cases, inferior wall infarction 22.2%, antero-inferior wall infarction 11.2%, subendocardial infarction 7.7%, posterolateral infarction 2% on ECG. 5) The mortality rate of patients according to the Killip class was 4.2% in class I, 14.3% in class II, 50% in class III and 76.9% in class IV. Group of high Killip class was associated with high mortality. 6) In long term prognosis according to Norris' coronary prognostic index, the highest value was 11.72 with average value of 7.02+/-2.65 in survival group, whereas in death group, the lowest value was 5.08, the highest 16.88 and average value was 10.4+/-3.86. 7) High risk subgroup who complicated within the first 4 admission days, occupied 21.1% and low risk subgroup without complication occupied 46.7%. After the 5th admission days, 2.2% of high risk subgroup was expired, whereas there was no death cases in low risk subgroup. 8) Average duration of hospitalization was 22.4+/-9.5 days in high risk subgroup and 17.3+/-6.8 days in low risk subgroup. In low risk subgroup, 10 cases were discharged within the 7th day of admission and 30 cases after the 8th day of admission. 9) 89.5% of total death occured within the 4th hospitalized day, and 66.7% of cases under systolic BP of 84mmHg were expired. Definite cardiomegaly on chest X-ray and past history of myocardial infarction were associated with high mortality. Half of cases with pulmonary edema were died.
Cardiomegaly ; Dyspnea ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Infarction ; Male ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Prognosis ; Pulmonary Edema ; Retrospective Studies ; Thorax

No abstract available.
Cleft Palate* ; Muscles* ; Palate, Soft*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Lens culinaris agglutinin-A reactive alpha-fetoprotein (AFP L3) has been reported to be highly specific for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The present study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of AFP-L3 for the diagnosis of HCC in the patients either with chronic liver disease or with HCC in complete remission who showed significant increment of serum AFP level and no mass lesion in the liver on ultrasonography. METHODS: A total numer of 34 patients (24 with chronic liver disease, 10 with HCC in complete remission) were enrolled, who showed significant increment of serum AFP level and no mass lesion in the liver on ultrasonography. Serum AFP L3 levels were analysed by AFP differentiation kit L. Abdominal spiral CT or ultrasonogram was performed at 1-3 month intervals and all of the patients were followed up for more than 6 months. RESULTS: Among 24 patients with chronic liver disease, two were positive (higher than 15%) for AFP L3; however, HCC was not detected in these patients, while HCCs were detected in two of 22 patients negative for AFP L3 during followe-up. Eight of the 10 patients with HCC in complete remission were positive for AFP L3; recurrent HCCs were detected in 7 of those 8 patients as well as in the rest 2 patients negative for AFP L3 during follow-up. The overall sensitivity and specificity of AFP L3 measurement for the detection of HCC within 6 months of follow-up were 63.6% and 87.0%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive value for HCC in patients with chronic liver disease were O% and 90.9% and for recurrent HCC in HCC patients in remission were 87.5% and ON, respectively. CONCLUSION: The measurement of AFP L3 is suggested to be useful for the diagnostic strategy in patients either with chronic liver disease or hepatocellular carcinoma in complete remission, who showed progressive increment of serum AFP level and no mass lesion in liver on ultrasonogram.
alpha-Fetoproteins* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Diagnosis* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lens Plant* ; Liver Diseases* ; Liver* ; Recurrence ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Ultrasonography*