PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of magnetization transfer contrast(MTC) andfat-suppression(FS) in variable spin-echo and gradient-echo sequences for articular cartilage imaging and todetermine the optimal pulse sequences. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using variable 7-pulse sequences, the knees of 15pigs were imaged Axial images were obtained using proton density and T2-weighted spin-echo (PDWSE and T2WSE),turbo spin-echo (TSE), multiplanar gradient-echo (MPGR), and 3D steady-state gradient-echo (3DGRE) sequences, andthe same pulse sequences were then repeated using MTC. Also T1-weighted spin-echo(T1WSE) and 3D spoiledgradient-echo(3DSPGR) images of knees were also acquired, and the procedure was repeated using FS. For each knee,a total of 14 axial images were acquired, and using a 6-band scoring system, the visibility of and thevisibilities of the the articular cartilage was analyzed. The visual effect of MTC and FS was scored using a4-band scale. For each image, the signal intensities of articular cartilage, subchondral bone, muscles, and salinewere measured, and signal-to-noise ratios(SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratios(CNR) were also calculated. RESULTS: Visibility of the cartilage was best when 3DSPGR and T1WSE sequences were used. MTC imaging increased the negativecontrast between cartilage and saline, but FS imaging provided more positive contrast. CNR between cartilage andsaline was highest when using TSE with FS(-3 5 1 . 1 +/-15.3), though CNR between cartilage and bone then fell to-1 4 . 7 +/-10.8. In MTC imaging using MPGR showed the greatest increase of negative contrast between cartilage andsaline(CNR change=-74.7); the next highest was when 3DGRE was used(CNR change=-34.3). CNR between cartilage andbone was highest with MPGR(161.9 +/-17.7), but with MTC, the greatest CNR decrease(-81.8) was observed. Thegreatest CNR increase between cartilage and bone was noted in T1WSE with FS. In all scans, FS provided acartilage-only positive contrast image, though the absolute value of CNR was lower than that of MTC imaging. CONCLUSION: The most prominent effects of MTC and FS were seen in MPGR and T1WSE, respectively, though forcartilage, optimal high signal intensity and contrast can be achieved using 3DGRE with MTC, and 3DSPGR with FS.
Cartilage ; Cartilage, Articular* ; Knee ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Muscles ; Protons

Dukes' stage of colorectal carcinoma has proven to be the most reliable and conventional prognostic indicator, followed by histological grade, lymph node metastases, tumor size, vascular and neural invasion. Flow cytometric analysis of DNA ploidy and S-phase fraciion (SPF) was examined to elucidate the correlations between sex, age, preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) value, Dukes' stage, tumor site, size, gross features, histologic grade, and survival rate in 117 paraffin-embedded tissues of 68 cases of colorectal adenocarcinoma in Dukes' stage and 39 cases of colorectal adenoma and 10 cases of normal colonic mucosa. DNA aneuploidy was detected in 30 cases(44%) in adenocarcinomas and 6 cases (15%) in adenomas. Although the DNA ploidy and SPF did not show any correlation with sex, age, preoperative serum CEA level, Dukes' stage, tumor size, site and gross features, the incidence of DNA aneuploidy in the moderately differentiated adenocarcinomas was significantly higher than that of the well differentiated adenocarcinomas (p=0.0127) An apparent correlation was found between survival rate and DNA ploidy, Dukes' stage, histologic grade and preoperative serum CEA value. Dukes' stage was the most reliable prognostic indicator (p=0.0106), followed by histologic grade (p=0.0230), DNA aneuploidy (p=0.0251) and preoperative serum CEA level. (p=0.0369) In the patients with Dukes' stage C, DNA aneuploidy was more important than histologic grade as a prognostic indicator (p=0.0202). Although high SPF, greater than 21% in adenocarcinoma, was associated with the lower 5-year survival rate (12.0%), it was not statistically significant. These results suggest that DNA aneuploidy is regarded as biologic aggressiveness and considered as independent and/or dependent prognostic indicator along with Dukes' stage. However, prognostic utility of the SPF was not significant.
Incidence ; Adenocarcinoma ; Adenoma

Acrysof intraocular lens (IOL) (Alcon,Dallas,USA), the first commercially available foldable acrylic IOL, which was approved for marketing in the United states on December, 1994 and in the Korea on August, 1997.It is made with an acrylic/methacrylic polymer. Characteristics of the Acrysofistiguished from commonly used foldable silicon IOLs include improved elastic properties (not slippery when wet), slow and controlled unfolding, and a high refractory index resulting in a thinner lens. We experienced vacuolesin Acrysof IOLs which has no visual influence in 4 cases and report this unusual cases with a review of available literature.
Korea ; Lenses, Intraocular* ; Marketing ; Polymers ; Silicones ; United States ; Vacuoles*

Hepatitis G virus (HGV) is a single-strand RNA virus in the Flaviviridae family, it was recently identified from the plasma of a patient with chronic hepatitis. HOV infection may cause acute and chronic liver disease by blood transfusion, drug addicts, hemophilia, and multiple sexual partners. But clinical significance of infectious pathway is still unclear. In this report, we amplified HGV RNA by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) by primers within the highly conserved 5'-noncoding region (NCR) and used restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method for the polymorphism analysis of amplified HGV gene. HGV was shown to be present in 7 of 78 (9.0%) from HCV RT-PCR positive serum samples and 5 of 58 (8.6%) from HCV RT-PCR negative serum samples. From the RFLP method HGV divided into four genotypes in 12 positive samples. Therefore, HGV genotype was distributed at least four different types in Korea.
Blood Transfusion ; Drug Users ; Flaviviridae ; GB virus C* ; Genotype ; Hemophilia A ; Hepatitis* ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver Diseases ; Plasma ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length* ; RNA ; RNA Viruses ; Sexual Partners

STUDY OBJECTIVE: We evaluate the clinical characteristics and natural history of patients presenting with spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPNM) . DESIGN: A retrospective case series was conducted to identify patients diagnosed with SPNM. ICD-7(J98.2) discharge codes were used for Jan. 1993 to Aug. 1996 at four institutions , and emergency department(ED) records and admission charts were reviewed. Clinical features, interventions, complications, setting, etiology, symptoms, and length of hospital stay were recorded. PARTICIPANTS: All ED patients more than 12 years old with a diagnosis of SPNM. RESULTS: Thirteen cases were identified. Age range was 14 to 58 years(mean 24 years). Presenting symptoms were chest pain in eight(62%), dyspnea in six(46%), both symptoms in three(23%), no complaints in three(23%). Seven(54%) patients complained only of throat discomfort. Seven(54%) had subcutaneous emphysema, and two(15.3%) had a small pneumothorax. Two(15.3%) were smokers. Three(23%) had normal esophagograms and another three had normal chest CT findings. Two cases(15.3%) were associated with inhalational drug use and three cases were due to exercise. Nine cases(69%) had a history of "Valsalva-type" maneuver. Two patients(15%) had a history of antituberculous treatment and one(7.7.%) had suffered from bronchial asthma. Mean hospital days were 7.3 days(range 3 to 14), none of all needed any intervention. Specifically, no patient developed a subsequent pneumothorax or airway compromise. Seven cases(54%) were received prophylactic antibiotics. CONCLUSION: Most simple SPNM cases are benign disease and most of them(78%) had shown typical chest pain, dyspnea and subcutaneous emphysema. Inhalational drug use is not a main cause of SPNM yet, but increase in use of bronchoinhalers is a suspicous cause of SPNM.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Asthma ; Chest Pain ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Mediastinal Emphysema* ; Natural History* ; Pharynx ; Pneumothorax ; Retrospective Studies ; Subcutaneous Emphysema ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Adenocarcinoma in adenomyosis is unusual and it is mostly associated with adenocarcinoma in the endometrial mucosa. In contrast, adenocarcinoma arising in adenomyosis without endometrial adenocarcinoma is extremely rare and it suggests that it arises de novo from adenomyosis. We report a case of adenocarcinoma arising in adenomyosis in 44-year-old woman. The endometrial cavity contained a polypoid lesion with atypical hyperplasia, but no evidence of adenocarcinoma in the endometrial mucosa. Simple, complex and atypical hyperplasia associated with well differentiated adenocarcinoma was also noted in the areas of adenomyosis.
Female ; Humans ; Adenocarcinoma

Inflammatory pseudotumor of the liver is a relatively rare entity, and frequently misdiagnosed as a malignant tumor. We report a case of inflammatory pseudotumor involving the liver in a 53year-old man. The liver function test and serum alpha-fetoprotein level were within normal range. His preoperative diagnosis was as hepatocellular carcinoma by radiologic studies, and ultrasonography guided fine needle aspiration cytology and biopsy were done but confirmative diagnosis of malignancy or pseudotumor was not given. Grossly a relatively well marginated reddish brown soft mass with focal hemorrhage, measuring 5.0 cm in the largest diameter, was noted in the left lobe of liver. Surrounding hepatic parenchyma was yellowish brown in color without cirrhosis. Microscopically the mass showed typical findings of inflammatory pseudotumor and the ing liver tissue revealed diffuse fatty change and moderate chronic inflammatory cell on in the portal areas.
Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular

No Abstract Available.
Fas Ligand Protein* ; Keratoconus*

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to find out about the factors related to administration of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in postmenopausal women. METHODS: One thousand seventy three postmenopausal women living in Busan and Kimhae were surveyed from August, 2000 to February, 2001. The subjects were asked whether they were receiving the HRT or not and about several factors that have known to be related to receiving the HRT. RESULTS: Among the total, 16.3% of women were current users, 12.4% were ex-users, and 71.2% were non-users. There were significant differences in age, marital status, number of children, education level, and income among the three groups. The proportions of hysterectomy and health-related behaviors were higher among current and ex-users than non-users. The current users were receiving the HRT by continuous combination method rather than cyclic therapy. Among them, 70% responded 'physician's recommendation' as the main reason for receiving the HRT. Among the current users 48% responded 'improved general condition' for receiving as the main reason the HRT currently. However, 29% of ex-users stopped therapy because of side effects. Among non-users 55% have not been provided with information about the HRT. Women having regular exercise at least once a week were 3.5 times more likely to be current users (95% C.I.: 1.3~9.6). One year after menopause women were 1.2 times (95% C.I: 1.0~1.4) more likely to be current users. CONCLUSION: Postmenopausal women who exercised regularly and experienced menopause at an older age seemed to be more likely current users. Therefore, women having such characteristics may need more adequate information about the HRT.
Busan ; Child ; Education ; Female ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Hormone Replacement Therapy* ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Marital Status ; Menopause

BACKGROUND: Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), one of the eosinophil granule proteins released during allergic reactions, may play a major role in the allergic inflammatory process. The measurement of ECP in serum may be a useful indicator of eosinophil activity in ongoing inflammatory processes. We investigated the clinical utility of ECP measurement in serum in patients with bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis, after standardizing sample processing. METHODS: We measured the serum ECP levels in patients with bronchial asthma (n=38), chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) (n=13), respiratory symptoms (n=19), allergic rhinitis (n=26), non-allergic rhinitis (n=24), and atopic dermatitis (n=10) and in normal healthy controls (n=16) by the fluoroenzyme immunoassay using Pharmacia CAP System, and evaluated the correlation between ECP level and blood eosinophil number, or ECP and IgE levels. Blood eosinophil number was counted by the automated cell counter. RESULTS: Serum ECP levels were significantly higher in patients with bronchial asthma (15.6+/- 12.6 g/L), COPD (13.3+/-7.2 g/L), allergic rhinitis (23.8+/-13.2 g/L), and atopic dermatitis (20.6+/- 18.4 g/L) than in normal controls (7.5+/-4.2 g/L) (P <0.05). ECP levels were also significantly higher in patients with bronchial asthma and COPD than in patients with simple respiratory symptoms (6.9+/-4.7 g/L), whose ECP levels did not statistically differ from those in normal controls. ECP levels were also significantly higher in patients with allergic rhinitis than in patients with non-allergic rhinitis (9.5+/-5.1 g/L), whose ECP levels did not statistically differ from those in normal controls. Serum ECP level and eosinophil number in peripheral blood were correlated only in patients with bronchial asthma (r=0.53, P <0.01) and no correlation between ECP and IgE levels was found in all of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: ECP is the one of the secretory components released from the eosinophil granule and measurement of ECP in serum might be one of the noninvasive tool to assess the activity in relation to eosinophil involvement in various allergic diseases.
Asthma ; Cell Count ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein* ; Eosinophil Granule Proteins ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoassay ; Immunoglobulin E ; Lung Diseases, Obstructive ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Rhinitis