Serum is free of cellular components. Because DNA is located in the nuclei or mitochondria of cells, serum could be assumed DNA free. Few previously published case reports to date have used serum for DNA typing. Here, we report on human genotyping via short tandem repeat (STR) analysis using serum as a sample, and discuss problems involved in the process.
DNA Fingerprinting* ; DNA* ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats* ; Mitochondria

PURPOSE: To classify the cavernous sinus lesions, to describe their radiological findings, and to assess the usefulness of MR compared to CT. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Fourty-five patients with lesions involving the cavernous sinus proved by histological and/or clinical and imaging methods were studied retrospectively and classified into neoplastic, vascular, and inflammatory lesions. CT and MR findings were compared in 21 patients evaluated by both modalities simultaneously according to these 4 categories. RESULTS: Pitiutary macroadenoma was the most common cavernous sinus lesion(42%). Diffuse convex bulging of the lateral wall of cavernous sinus was the most frequent radiological finding(84%), and the others were encasement of the cavernous carotid artery(49%), remodelling of the surrounding bones(44%), and complete obliteration of Meckel's cave(38%), in descending order of frequency. Bulging of the lateral wall of cavernous sinus was equally well demonstrated on both modalities, but encasement or displacement of the cavernous carotid artery and complete or partial obliteration of Meckel's cave were much better delineated on MR than on CT with the ratio of 3.8:1 and 4.6: 1, respectively. Only bone changes were much better demonstrated on CTthan on MR with the ratio of 3.8: 1. CONCLUSION: MR issuperior to CTin demonstrating thecavernouscarotid artery encasement and obliteration of Meckel's cave, but CT is much better than MR in demonstrating bone changes.
Arteries ; Carotid Arteries ; Cavernous Sinus* ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies

DNA profiling with sets of short tandem repeat (STR) markers is the most popular method for identifying human DNA in forensics. Identification by STR typing might fail when DNA is degraded or is present in low amounts, such as in disaster victim identification (DVI) samples. In such cases, more information might be obtained by using additional markers such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Multiplex PCR and microarray are convenient techniques to analyze SNP markers. We used an AccuID(TM) Chip, SNP-based DNA chip manufactured by DNA Link Corporation, to confirm genetic relationship between two human bone samples that had been buried for more than 50 years and blood samples from the alleged descendants of the sources of the bone fragments. The chip combines an Affymetrix resequencing array with a multiplex PCR technology and can genotype hundreds of SNP markers in a single experiment. Genotyping the two bone samples yielded 90.5 and 77 SNP markers. The commonly genotyped markers (61 and 47 SNP loci) in each bone-family pair provided high paternity indices to support the genetic relationships in both cases.
Disasters ; DNA Fingerprinting ; DNA* ; Forensic Anthropology* ; Genotype ; Humans* ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis* ; Paternity ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

No abstract available.
Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Nodule*

In 1988, a new fascioutaneous flap, the Lateral supramalleolar flap, was introduced by Masquelet and Roman. The flap is designed on the lower third of the aspect of leg, and supplied by a cutaneous branch from the perforating branch of the peroneal artery. This perforating branch continues distally deep to the fascia along the anterior ankle and into the foot. This can be use as either proximally based rotation flap or distally based reversed pedicle island flap giving the flap an arc of rotation that allows coverage of the dorsal, lateral and plantar aspects of the foot, the posterior heel and the lower medial portion of the leg. The authors have recently used this flap for 13 cases of foot and ankle soft tissue defect reconstruction and all the cases, except two partial marginal necrosis, good postoperative course. In our opinion, this flap is useful for reconstruction of foot and ankle soft tissue defect which does not need nerve innervation. The main advantages of the flap are as follows 1. It may be a rather large flap(15× 9cm2 ). 2. The pedicle is long(8cm) and easy to dissect. 3. The pivot of the pedicle is distal(sinus tarsi) and allows great local possibilities of coverage. 4. It does not require the sacrifice of a main artery.
Ankle ; Arteries ; Fascia ; Foot ; Heel ; Leg ; Necrosis

Fibular fractures that begin proximal to the tibial plafond are assumed to include an injury of the syndesmosis. Many surgeons have treated this injuries by rigidly repairing the medial and lateral malleoli with trans-syndesmotic fixation. However, recently, some demonstrated that a trans-syndesmotic screw places biomechanical restrictions on the tibiotalar joint and is not required to maintain the integrity of the distal tibiofibular joint in cadava models. Thirty eight patients of ankle fracture with syndesmotic injury treated at Sun General Hospital from January 1989 to June 1994 week analyzed in clinical and radiologic aspect. The results obtained from this study were as followings. 1. If rigid anatomic medial and lateral joint fixation was obtained, syndesmotic screw fixation was not required to maintain the integrity of the syndesmotic. 2. Repairting the deltoid ligament did not enhance treatment results when fibular fracture and syndesmotic had been fixed anatomically. Therefore, we believe that syndesmotic screw fixation was indicated only when medial and lateral stabilization could not be achieved adequately.
Ankle Fractures ; Ankle Injuries ; Ankle ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Joints ; Ligaments ; Solar System ; Surgeons

Humans ; Malocclusion ; Mandible ; Molar ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Osteotomy ; Regeneration

Nonsurgical endoscopic or percutaneous dilatation and insertion of an endoprosthesis is the treatment of choice in the majority of patiens with incurabie malignant biliary obsturction. But these palliative treatment of extrahepatic cholestasis with an endoscopic or percutaneous biliary endoprosthesis is limited by clogging. One of the factors thought to be of importance is the diameter of the stent. So in order to avoid being limited by the size of the instrumentation channel of the endoscope, expandable stents have been developed. Wallstent is braided in the form of a tubular mesh from surgical grade stainless alloy. This prosthesis is geometrically stable, pliable and self expanding. Its elastic properties are such that its diameter can be substantially reduced by moderate elongation. The stent is constrainded on a small diameter delivery catheter(total outside diameter: 9 French). During the implantation procedure the final position of the partially released endoprosthesis can be adjusted by gradual removal of the delivery catheter. If full expansion to 30 French occurs, the stent will be shortened by approximately 30% to their normal length range between 34-102mm. Now in this article we report a new method for endoscopic retrograde placement of biliary Wallstent in a patient with obsturctive jaundice due to periampullary choangiocacrcinoma.
Alloys ; Catheters ; Cholestasis, Extrahepatic ; Dilatation ; Endoscopes ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Palliative Care ; Prostheses and Implants ; Stents

PURPOSE: To evaluate the morphological differences between malignant and inflammatory lesions that arise from the cecal or pericecal region on CT by analyzing not only the mass itself but also the changes of surrounding structures. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We reviewed CT scans of 38 cases of cecal lesions confirmed by pathology(16 malignant lesions and 22 inflammatory lesions). The analytical points were :the changes of bowel wall mass, the changes of surrounding structures, strands of retroperitoneal fat, pericecal fluid collection, and regional lymphadenopathy. RESULTS: The malignant bowel wall thickening(18.0mm) was thicker than inflammatory one(ll.4mm)(p < 0.001). Concentric bowel wall thickening was seen in 87.5%(14/16) of malignant lesions and 36%(8/22) of the inflammatory lesions. The pericecal fat stranding was circumferential in 84%(16/22) of inflammation and eccentric in 64%(916) of malignancy(p < 0.01). Pericolic fat infiltration was more extensive in inflammatory lesions(p < 0.005). The strands of retroperitoneal fat were more frequently found in inflammatory lesions(p < 0.05). The pericecal fluid collection was seen in 55%(12/22) of inflammatory lesions and none of malignant lesions. There was no difference in the presence of pericecal lymphadenopathy between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Malignant cecal masses have thicker and concentric bowel wall thickening, and narrower and eccentric pericolic fat infiltration. On the other hand, inflammatory masses have relatively thinner and eccentric bowel wall thickening, and more extensive and circumferential pericolic fat infiltration sometimes accompanied by abnormal fluid collection.
Cecum* ; Hand ; Inflammation ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Tumors of the major duodenal papilla are being recognized more often because of the increased use of diagnostic upper endoscopy and ERCP. The standard of management for ampullary tumor is local surgical excision or pancreaticoduodenectomy, but these procedures are associated with significant mortality, as well as post-operative and long-term morbidity. Endoscopic snare papillectomy was introduced as an alternative to surgery, but post-procedure complications are serious drawback. The most serious complications are perforation, delayed bleeding and pancreatitis. Identification of high risk patients, early recognition of complications, and aggressive management abates frequency and severity. Prevention and management of endoscopic duodenal papillectomy-induced complications will be reviewed in this article.
Adenoma ; Ampulla of Vater ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Endoscopy ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Mortality ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; Pancreatitis ; SNARE Proteins*