The frequency of HLA-B27 antigen in 24 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and 11 patients with psoriatic arthritis were examined using the standard micro-lympho- cytotoxicity technique. There was a high frequency of HLA-B27 in psoriatic spondylitis with or without peripheral arthritis (83.3%) compared to controls (4.7%) and the relative risk of HLA-B27 for developing psoriatic spondylitis was 82.5% which indicates a strong association between HLA-B27 and psoriatic spondylitis in Korean populations. However, there was no stastical significance observed in the groups of patients with peripheral arthritis alone or psoriasis vulgaris in regard to the frequency of HLA-B27.
Arthritis ; Arthritis, Psoriatic ; HLA-B27 Antigen ; Humans ; Psoriasis* ; Spondylitis

BACKGROUND: Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is a genetic disorder of the melanin pigment system in which melanin synthesis is reduced or absent in the skin, hair, and eyes. OCA is classified into two major types, and tyrosinase-related OCA can be produced by mutations of the structural gene for tyrosinase enzyme (TYR gene). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the segregation of mutant alleles of the TYR gene in tyrosinase-negative and tyrosinase-positive Korean OCA patients and families. METHODS: We amplified exon I, II, and III of the TYR gene of Korean OCA patients and their families by polymerase chain reactions (PCR), and analyzed the mutations by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis in exon I and single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analyses in exon II and exon III. RESULTS: Two tyrosinase-negative cases showed mutations in exon I. Four tyrosinase-nega-tive cases and one tyrosinase-positive case showed mutations in exon II, and one tyrosinase-neg- ative case showed mutations in exon III. In summary, we found three kinds of mutation in four tyrosinase-negative OCA patients and one tyrsinase-positive OCA patient. CONCLUSIONS: RFLP and SSCP analysis can provide a basis for a rapid and sensitive screening system to detect TYR gene mutations of Korean OCA patients and their families.
Albinism, Oculocutaneous* ; Alleles ; Exons ; Hair ; Humans ; Korea* ; Mass Screening ; Melanins ; Monophenol Monooxygenase ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; Skin

PURPOSE: The buttocks region has been associated with allure and sex appeal for centuries. Gluteal implants enable buttocks remodeling in a way that is not possible in other methods. One of the reasons that render gluteal implant surgeries unpopular is the fear of complications, the main problems being seroma, wound dehiscence, extrusion, and a visible or palpable implant. The authors present the XYZ technique, which provides anatomical reference points to guide the intramuscular dissection procedure in a feasible and safe way, resulting in a lower complication rate. METHODS: The XYZ procedure was done for buttock augmentation on 8 patients from December 2009 to June 2010. Patient's ages ranged from 27 to 44 with a mean age of 36. Seven patients were applied the 250cc sized Elastomer implants with one patient 290cc sized implant. Preoperative marking was done with the patients in the standing position. Bisection of the gluteus maximus muscle was done at the midpoint thickness to create a plane for implant insertion, which is called the sandwich plane. RESULTS: The 8 cases were performed safely without major complications. However one patient had minor wound dehiscence, and was managed with conservative treatment. Another patient had a discomfort on the buttocks for a long time. The patients were followed up for average 6 months. All patients were satisfied with the aesthetic results. CONCLUSION: In performing the XYZ technique for gluteal augmentation, the surgeon must split the muscle into two equal halves with anatomical reference points to guide the muscle detachment in a symmetrical way at an adequate depth. This method provides a guideline for the surgeon in determining the ideal plane during intramuscular dissection and gives predictable results with low complication rates. Intramuscular gluteoplasty with gluteal implants offers predictable, aesthetically pleasing results without contour irregularities and only a low incidence of major complications.
Buttocks ; Elastomers ; Humans ; Incidence ; Muscles ; Seroma

OBJECT: In order to compare several Obstetric characteristics and outmmes of teenage pregnancy. METHODS: The 10 year clinical records of 11,583 women undergoing Cesarean section and delivery were reviewed in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Incheon Christian Hospital from July 1, 1989 to June 30, 1999. There were seventy-eight pregnancies under age 20 and we compared them with two hundred pregnancies aged 20-29 who were randomly chosen during the same periods as the control group. RESULT: The following results were obtained. The proportion of birth by teenagers increased from 0.5% of all birth in 1989 to 2.61% in 1999. The most of cases were in high teen group, age 14- 19.The majority(50.5%) were in the age of 19. Seventy two cases(92.3%) had no previous pregnant history. Six cases had one previous pregnant history. The frequencies of prenatal care were significantly lower than that of the control group(p<0.05). The mean gestational period was 36+4weeks, and showed significant difference between the study group and the control group(39+3 weeks). The incidence of preterm labor was significantly different between the two proups(p<0.05). But the incidence of postterm delivery were not significantly different between the two groups. The mean weight gain of pregnant teenagers revealed 10.64kg, significantly less profound than the control group. The matemal weight gain of control group revealed 12.95kg, respectively. The mean birth weight(2.54kg) of infant was significantly less profound than the control group. The incidence of birth of small for gestational age(birth weight 1,500-2,499gm ; 14.5%) was significantly increased among study group than the control group(1%). The rate of abdominal delivery(21.8%) were not significantly decreased than the control group(47%). The incidence of cephalopelvic disproportion and malpresentation for cesarean section were somewhat higher than the control group, and were statistically significant(p<0.05). During the antepartun period, anemia, pyelonephritis, and preterm labor occurred more frequently in the teenage pregnancy than the control group, but not statistically significant. Among postpartum complications, incidence of anemia(51.3%) increased significantly. The perinatal mortality, intrauterine growth retardation, congenital anomaly occurred more frequently than the control group. CONCLUSION: These results show that pregnancy of teenage will be comeout high risk and complications. And then we will be more concern and study about teenage pregnancy.
Adolescent ; Anemia ; Cephalopelvic Disproportion ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Incheon ; Incidence ; Infant ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Obstetrics ; Parturition ; Perinatal Mortality ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy in Adolescence* ; Prenatal Care ; Pyelonephritis ; Weight Gain

No abstract available.
Tenosynovitis*

No abstract available.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Humans

PACS (Picture Archiving and Communications System) is a computer-based image storage and retrieval system that can store, recall and display medical images rapidly on high resolution workstations. The image acquisition system consists of direct digital interface to computed radiography (CR) system. We reviewed X-rays of 84 patients who had both studies of Dual energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) and AP, lateral views of lumbar vertebrae between January and December of 1995. We tried to verify the clinical implication of pixel values on PACS for DXA by comparing pixel values and bone mineral density (BMD) of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th lumbar vertebrae. They were all female between 44 and 72 years old, average age of 59. Bone mineral density (BMD), represented in DXA of a total of 252 vertebrae were mostly in the range of between 0.228 (22%) and 1.318 (121%). Pixel values of the AP and lateral views of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th vertebrae in the PACS workstation were closely correlated to bone mineral density (p=0.0001). The values of the DXA (bone mineral density and T score) get comparatively lower as the pixel values get smaller. In conclusion, the pixel value on PACS interfaced to CR could be utilized as an easy, speedy and economical tool for screening of osteoporosis.
Absorptiometry, Photon* ; Aged ; Bone Density ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Mass Screening ; Osteoporosis ; Radiography ; Spine

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis(OA) has become one of the most important medical problem among the old age because it causes severe functional disability, but, up to date, the therapeutic methods for OA have not been so satisfactory to the patients with OA. Authors have investigated the effectiveness of intramuscular stimulation(IMS) therapy as an substitutive therapy for the relief of pain and dysfunction in patients with OA of the knee. METHODS: Eighteen patients who had visited the department of family medicine, Korea university anam hospital, with symptomatic OA of the knee during the period from March 1 to May 31. 2001 were included in this study and treated with IMS therapy on the quadriceps and hamstring muscles four times during two weeks. Patients self-scored Korean Western Ontario and McMaster universities Osteoarthritis Index (KWOMAC) at baseline and after the last therapy. The result was analysed by paired t-test and ANOVA. RESULT: Patients improved on KWOMAC scales for pain, stiffness, function and total scores after IMS therapy(p<0.05). The demographic characteristics such as body mass index (BML), duration of disease, affected site, radiologic finding did not have influence on the result of this study. No adverse effects of IMS therapy were reported. CONCLUSION: In this study, the improvement of pain, stiffness, and function of knee joint after treatment was reported. This study suggest that IMS is an effective and safe substitutive therapy for patients with OA of Knee.
Body Mass Index ; Humans ; Knee Joint* ; Knee* ; Korea ; Muscles ; Ontario ; Osteoarthritis* ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis(OA) of the knee represents a common chronic disease, especially in the elderly, leading to functional impairment and disability. And OA patients have depressive symptoms frequently. Several factors contribute to the level of depressive symptoms. Authors tried to assess these factors and show effect of these factors to depressive symptoms. Through this study in the future physicians must consider psychiatric problems besides the pain itself in the treatment of OA patients. METHODS: Subjects included in this study were 64 knee joint OA patients. We obtained depressive symptoms from the CES-D(The Korean version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale), level of pain, stiffness, functional disability from KWOMAC(WOMAC Korean Version 2, The Korean version of Western Ontario and Macmaster Osteoarthritis Index Score) and other factors able to contribute to depressive symptoms. RESULT: We divided the patients into two groups using CES-D cut-off score of 21. Each group consists of 46(CES-D<21) and 18(CES-D> or =21) patients. Frequency of sleep disturbance and pain consistency and level of pain, stiffness and functional disability were different significantly between two groups(p<0.0l). Through the correlation analysis level of pain, stiffness and functional disability were associated with CES-D score significantly(p<0.0l). And through the stepwise multiple regression analysis we demonstratred that the CES-D score influenced by level of functional disability, BMI, disease duration and, pain but only level of functional disability and BML were statistically significant(p<0.0l). Level of functional disability explained 46% of CES-D score(partial R2=0.46) so influenced on depressive symptoms most effectively. CONCLUSION: This study suggested that functional disability was most important factors to explain depressive symptoms of knee joint OA patients.
Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Depression ; Humans ; Knee Joint* ; Knee* ; Ontario ; Osteoarthritis*

The purpose of the study was to assess the role of two types screws(bicortical screws with 3.5mm diameter and monocortical screws with 4.5mm diameter) in anterior cervical spinal fusion. Seventy patients surgically treated on the same surgeon was retrospectively reviewed. All patients were managed as the same technique(modified Smith-Robinson technique) and the same non-locking plate system(Top plate system), but the bicortical screws were used in 40 patients(Group 1) and the monocorical screws in 30 patients(Group 2). The overall fusion rate during the 3 months follow up at least was to be satisfied on the both groups. The complication from the Group 2 was never seen but Group 1 was observed in 5 patients; one as slip of grafted bone, 2 as screw loosening, 1 as psychologic intolerance and 1 as CSF leakage. The monocortical screw was considered to be superior than bicortical screw and was related to the screw diameter.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fusion ; Transplants