No abstract available.
Humans ; Liver Diseases* ; Liver*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Liver Diseases* ; Liver*

No abstract available.
Graves Disease* ; Humans ; Liver Function Tests* ; Liver*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although the only therapy of proven benefit for chronic hepatitis C is interferon alpha, the rate of sustained response after treatment with interferon is less than 25%. A 6-month course of combination therapy with interferon and ribavirin was associated with higher rate of long-term response than either interferon or ribavirin alone. Pilot studies suggested that combination of interferon and ursodeoxy-cholic acid (UDCA) resulted in higher biochemical response than interferon alone. We investigated the rates of end of treatment response(ETR) and sustained response(SR) of combination therapy of interferon e2a, ribavirin and UDCA and compared it with interferon a 2a alone. METHODS: Ninty-five naive patients with chronic hepatitis C who have been positive for anti-HCV by 3rd generation EIA and HCV RNA by RT-PCR and had elevated level of ALT over 6 months were included. They were assigned to three groups. Thirty seven patients in group 1 were treated with interferon a 2a (3MU thrice weekly) in combination with ribavirin (600mg/day) and UDCA (600mg/day) for 6 months. Twenty nine patients in group 2 were treated with the same dose of interferon a 2a alone for 6 months. Changes of ALT and HCV RNA were observed over 12 months (average 3029 mos) after the end of treatment in both groups. Twenty nine patients in group 3 were observed over 12 months without antiviral treatment. HCV genotypes were tested by Innop-Lipa in 24 patients in group 1. RESULTS: In group 1, not only ETR (68%) but also 12 month SR rate (54%) was significantly higher than group 2(31%, 21% respectively). There was no difference in relapse rate between two groups. The level of ALT became normalized and HCV RNA negative within 1 month after treatment in most responders in group l. Genotype 1b was associated with lower ETR and SR than non-lb, although not significant stastistically. CONCLUSION: Both the ETR and 12 month SR rate were significantly higher after combination treatment of interferon a 2a, ribavirin and UDCA than interferon e 2a alone in chronic hepatitis C. It is suggested that this combination is preferable to interferon alone in the treatment of naive patients with chronic hepatitis C.
Genotype ; Hepatitis C, Chronic* ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha* ; Interferons* ; Recurrence ; Ribavirin* ; RNA

Traumatic loss of a finger in part or in which inevitably leads to significant functional deficit and a distortion in body image of the inflicted individual. The available reconstructive option in these circumstances have been toe to finger transfer using microsurgical technique, flap coverage after bone graft, and osteodistraction of the remnant finger. Each method carries advantages and drawbacks inherent in the technique, and generally requires long operative time and hospitalization. Furthermore, the postoperative results after such procedures can be said to be less satisfactory in aesthetic perspectives. Apart from the toe to finger transfer, not much can be sought in terms of functional recovery of the reconstructed part, For a long time finger prosthesis have been used as a replacement of the lost finger part, but it fails to deliver functional strength and tends to be dislodged rather easily. To overcome these shortcomings in the technique, an osseointegrated finger prosthesis has recently been devel-oped. Thumb, index and middle finger in 3 patients were reconstructed with this osseointegrated finger prosthesis. The procedure requires two procedures; the first stage involves placement of a titanium screw in the phalangeal or metacarpal bone proper, followed by fixation of an abutment onto the titanium screw 3 months after the primary operation. The skin surrounding the abutment is thinned out to minimize mobility of the prosthesis at this second stage of operation. After wound stabilization in 2-3 weeks, a custom-made silicone finger prosthesis is made and attached to the implanted abutment using super power magnets. The entire procedure requires 4 months up to the completion, but the procedures can be carried out on the outpatient basis under local anesthesia, not having to interfere with the daily activities of the patient. The aesthetic results with osseoperception have been found to be rewarding, and usual activity like a hand writing and typewriting have been possible. This alternative method could be used for finger reconstruction in cases of usual reconstructive surgery being impossible.
Anesthesia, Local ; Body Image ; Fingers* ; Hand ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Operative Time ; Outpatients ; Prostheses and Implants* ; Reward ; Silicones ; Skin ; Thumb ; Titanium ; Toes ; Transplants ; Wounds and Injuries ; Writing

No abstract available.
Free Tissue Flaps* ; Rectus Abdominis*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to discuss the characteristic CT and MR findings in persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous(PHPV) and to compare the detectability of those findings in each modality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated CT and MR findings in 32 patients with PHPV. Twenty-five patients had CT, 13 patients had MR, and 6 patients had both CT and MR. RESULTS: Major findings of PHPV in 32 patients on both imaging modalities were lens deformity(78%), shallow anterior chamber(72%), heterogeneous vitreous opacity(72%), enhancing hyaloid artery or remnant of fibrotic hand(69%), and microophthalmos(67%). Minor findings were retinal detachment(22%), and vitreous hemorrhage(6%). In MRI, lens deformity(92%) and shallow anterior chamber(85%) were detected most commonly whereas in CT, opaque vitreous(80%) was the most common finding. Findings of enhancing hyaloid vessel or remnant of fibrotic band, considered characteristic of PHPV, were more commonly detectable in MR (85%) than CT(52%). CONCLUSION: Characteristic MR and CT findings of PHPV were lena deformity, shallow anterior chanber, heterogeneons vitreons opacity, enhanciny hgalind artery or remnant fibrotic band, and microphthalmos. MR seemed to be more useful than CT in detecting Globe pathology.
Arteries ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Microphthalmos ; Pathology ; Retinaldehyde ; Retrospective Studies

Fibrous dysplasia of bone is a condition affecting one or more bones, usually not disabling, of slow progress, and showing a tendency to become arrested. The etiology of fibrous dysplaia is unknown but it is now believed to be a developmental error in which primitive fibrous tissue proliferates within the bony medulIa and encroaches upon the cortex from within, often producing expansion. The process may be localized to a small segment or may involve almost the entire shaft of the bone, and it may be monostotic, monomelic or polyostotic. In the latter form some patients exhibit a remarkable combination of skin pigmentation and endocrine disturbances. This paper reports the one case of polyostic and three cases of monostotic fibrous dysplasia. The disgnosis was made by clinical, radiological and histological findings.
Fibrous Dysplasia of Bone ; Fibrous Dysplasia, Monostotic ; Humans ; Skin Pigmentation

No abstract available.
Hypopituitarism* ; Hypothyroidism*

The authors dissected and examined a horseshoe kidney from the cadaver of a 54-year-old Korean female. The results were as follows. Other congenital anomalies or complications were not found, and no renal stones showed on plain radiography of the horseshoe kidney. The horseshoe kidney was located in the area between the 12 th thoracic vertebra and the 4th lumbar vertebra, with the superior extremity of the left kidney 10mm more inferior than that of the right. The isthmus connecting the bilateral kidneys was located at the level of the 3rd lumbar vertebra. The size of the kidney was 102mm × 52mm × 44mm (right) and 108mm × 62mm × 34mm (left), and the superoinferior and anteroposterior lengths of isthmus were 22mm and 10mm, respectively. The abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava passed posteriorly to the isthmus, with the inferior mesenteric artery and lumbar splanchnic nerve passing anteriorly. Some grooves were found on the anterior surface of the bilateral kidney. The hilum of the right kidney faced the anteromedial direction and that of the left kidney faced the anterolateral direction. At the hilar plane, the right renal arteries and veins passed anteriorly and posteriorly to the renal pelvis ; the left renal arteries passed posteriorly to the renal pelvis, with the left renal veins passing anteriorly and posteriorly. Three branches of the right renal arteries passed renal hilum, while two branches did not, and two branches of the left renal arteries passed renal hilum, while six branches did not. The two arteries arising from the aortic bifurcation were distributed to the isthmus. The number of renal veins passing the renal hilum were three in the right, and two in the left. The right and left ovarian veins drained to the renal veins. There were 12 minor calyces distributed normally in the right kidney, 13 minor calyces distributed radially in the left kidney, and 3 minor calyces in the isthmus, composed of parenchyme. The left portion of the horseshoe kidney was concluded to have developed poorly, on the basis of incomplete ascension and abnormal rotation during development, the imperfect configuration of the renal shape, and the abnormal distribution of the renal vessels and renal calyces.
Aorta, Abdominal ; Arteries ; Cadaver ; Extremities ; Female ; Fused Kidney* ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kidney Pelvis ; Mesenteric Artery, Inferior ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Renal Artery ; Renal Veins ; Spine ; Splanchnic Nerves ; Veins ; Vena Cava, Inferior