In order to examine the immunoresponse of host cells to Enterococcus faecalis, this in vitro study monitored the production of Interleukin-2 (IL-2), Interleukin-4 (IL-4) and Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) in human lymphocytes. Lymphocytes were activated with PHA in the presence or abscence of sonicated extracts of E. Faecalis (SEF) and further incubated for 72 hours. The level of each cytokine was measured by ELISA. Data were analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U test (P < 0.05). PHA-activated group did exhibit higher level of IL-2 and IL-4 than untreated control group. The levels of expression of both cytokines were significantly decreased following the treatment of high (25 microg/ml) and medium concentration (12.5 microg/ml) of SEF (P <0 .05) than those of PHA activated group. But low concentration (5 microg/ml) of SEF showed the similar level of IL-2 and IL-4 production as those of PHA activated group. TGF-beta1 was unaffected by SEF treatment. These results suggested that E. faecalis may suppress IL-2 and IL-4 production by lymphocytes and this could be one of possible factors why E. faecalis are found frequently in the teeth with failed endodontic treatment.
Cytokines ; Enterococcus faecalis* ; Enterococcus* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans* ; Interleukin-2* ; Interleukin-4* ; Lymphocytes* ; Tooth ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1*

BACKGROUND: Many countries have been legally prescribing health warning messages on cigarette packages as a part of their national policy of smoking cessation. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness for smoking cessation of graphic health warning labels, and compare them with the existing health warning messages. METHODS: From February to December 2002, we surveyed 103 smokers who were college students of fine arts. After letfing them see the graphic health warning labels, the self recorded questionnaires were collected. RESULTS: The effectiveness for the smoking cessation of the existing health warning messages was evaluated low, despite its wide recognition. But there was no difference between the visual effect and the effectiveness for the smoking cessation of the graphic health warning labels. The graphic health warning labels were more effective for the smoking cessation than the existing health warning messages, and it was the same in the subgroup analysis such as sex, degree of recognition of disease, and non- smoking planning. CONCLUSION: To quit smoking, it is reasonably concluded that the graphic health warning labels on cigarette packages was very effective. Hereafter, it is recommended more useful designs of graphic health warning labels be developed.
Humans ; Smoke* ; Smoking Cessation ; Smoking* ; Tobacco Products*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Tuberculous peritonitis is still a very important cause of exudative ascites in Korea. We analized the clinical features and laparoscopic findings in patients with tuberculous peritonitis diagnosed by laparoscopy. METHODS: We studied 51 patients who had tuberculous peritonitis confirmed by laparoscopic biopsy from 1980 to 2000, in retrospective method. RESULTS: The ratio of male to female was 1:2. The peak incidence was between 21 and 40 years of age. The mean duration of symptoms is 60 days. The most frequent chief complaints and physical findings was abdominal fullness (88.2%) and shifting dullness (94.1 %). Involvement of other organs included pulmonary tuberculosis (27.4%), cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis (3.9%). The mean ascitic fluid protein concentration was 4.9 gm/dL, mean WBC count 1,240/mm3 and lymphocyte dominant exudate 88.2%. AFB smear was positive only one patient (2.0%). Tuberculous nodules on laparoscopy were noted in all of the patients. Histolologic findings were caseating granuloma (72.6%), non-caseating granuloma (19.6%) and nonspecific inflammation (7.8%). Tissue AFB stain was positive 10 patients (19.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Tuberculous peritonitis shows nonspecific clinical features. Therefore, laparoscopic examination with biopsy is the most useful method to make differential diagnosis of patients who are suspected tuberculous peritonitis.
Ascites ; Ascitic Fluid ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Exudates and Transudates ; Female ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Korea ; Laparoscopy* ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Peritonitis, Tuberculous* ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis, Lymph Node ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

PURPOSE: To assess the value of enteral contrast media for the evaluation of pelvic masses by MR imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between April and July 1998, 16 women with pelvic masses were examined by MRI. The origin of the lesion was the ovary in twelve cases, the uterus in three, and the sigmoid in one. Using a 1.5T scanner(Magnetom Vision, Siemens), T1-weighted axial spin echo(SE), T2-weighted turbo spin echo(TSE), two-dimensional fast low-angle shot(FLASH 2D), and half-Fourier TSE(HASTE) images were obtained in all patients after the administration of Magnevist Enteral (Shering, Berlin, Germany). In each MR imaging sequence, distinction between the lesion and adjacent bowel (1, not distinguished; 2, partly distinguished; 3, clearly distinguished), artifact (0, absent; 1, mild; 2, severe), image quality (1, poor; 2, fair; 3, good), were compared before and after the use of enteral contrast media. Changes in MRI impression after the use of enteral contrast media were also evaluated. Two radiologists reached a consensus after reviewing the images. Statistical significance was determined by Wilcoxon's signed ranked test. RESULTS: For distinguishing lesions, SE T1WI and FLASH 2D with enteral contrast media were significantly superior to SE T1WI without enteral contrast media (p<0.05). With regard to image quality, FLASH 2D and HASTE, both with enteral contrast media, were significantly superior to SE T1WI and TSE T2WI, respectively, both without enteral contrast media (p<0.05). Artefacts were more frequently found after the application of enteral contrast media in conventional sequences but were not present in breathhold sequences. In two patients, MRI impression changed after the appilication of enteral contrast media. CONCLUSION: In a limited number of cases, enteral contrast media improved lesion detection, image quality and diagnostic accuracy when breathhold fast MR imaging was applied.
Artifacts ; Berlin ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Consensus ; Contrast Media* ; Female ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Ovary ; Uterus

Adrenal myelolipomas are rare, benign tumors cornposed of mature fat and bone marrow elements. Most are small, asymptomatic tumors found incidentally at postmortem examination, Fine needle aspiration biopsy can be used to confirm the diagnosis and avoid an unnecessary operation. We report a case of adrenal myelolipoma confirmed by fine needle aspiration biopsy. A 77-year-old woman with complaining of upper abdominal pain for 2 days was found to have an adrenal mass. She took dexamethasone frequently for 3 years due to multiple arthralgia. Ultrasono-graphy showed a 6cm-sized, suprarenal mass and a stone in the gall bladder with thickened wall. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scan also presented a suprarenal mass. Endocrinologic results were within normal limits. Adrenal myelolipoma was confirmed by computed tomography-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy without surgery.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged ; Arthralgia ; Autopsy ; Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Biopsy, Needle* ; Bone Marrow ; Dexamethasone ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Myelolipoma* ; Urinary Bladder

BACKGROUND: Increased left ventricular mass in patients with essential hypertension, coronary artery disease, chronic renal failure or in general population has been suggested as a useful predictor of increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Many studies have reported that left ventricular mass is correlated postively with body size. Thereafter normalization of left ventricular studies, but it is uncertain which is appropriate. This study was designed to determine the appropriate method for normalization of left ventricular mass to exclude influence of body size in normal adults. METHODS: We measured left ventricular mass 100 normal adults by M-mode echocardiogram using ASE cube method without(Devereux and Reichek's method) and with correction(Devereux and Alonso's method). Left ventricular mass were normalized for body weight, height, body surface area, body surface area1.5, height2.0 and height2.7 RESULTS: 1) Left ventricular mass by Devereux and Reichek's method correlated well with that by Devereux and Alonso's method(r=1.0,p<0.001). 2) Corrected left ventricular mass correlated well with weight(r=0.64, p<0.001), height(r=0.49, p<0.05), body surface area(r=0.53, p<0.01) and body mass index(r=0.58, p<0.001). 3) Correlation coefficients of left ventricular mass/weight with weight, of ventricular mass/height with height, of ventricular mass/height2.0 with height, of ventricular mass/height2.7 with height, of ventricular mass/body surface area with body surface area and of ventricular mass/body surface area1.5 with body surface area were 0.12, -0.05, -0.29, -0.42, 0.13 and -0.11 respectively. 4) Peak systolic wall stress correlated with age and left ventricular mass, but end systolic wall stress did not correlated with left ventricular mass. CONCLUSIONS: The current indexation method of left ventricular mass for height may reduce the variability associated with body size. Furthermore, it could be used reliably in normal Korean adults.
Adult* ; Body Height ; Body Size* ; Body Surface Area ; Body Weight ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Mortality

Despite of high recurrenre rate of oerebrovascular accidents(CVA), little attntion had been given to the features of its' recurrence. Of 167 patients with recurrent CVA between March, 1985 and Febnuary, 198.103 patients wer included in this study. Sixty of them were men and 43 of them were women, Their ages ranged from 29 to 8 years(mean. 6.5 ears), with the peak inidence in the sixth and seventh decades .The mean interval between first and second CVA was 23.4 months(range, 1to 144 months) Eighty-one patients had at least more tha one of isk factors, but onl 3 had been received proper treatment. There were tendencies to recur same type and site with the first attack, The patient with history of heart disase. Abnormal eletrocardiographic features, increased fasting bloo sugar(p<0.01), high diastolic bloo pressres (p<0.05)had poo prognois And, the patients ith embolism or hemorrhage revealed poo prognosis than the patients with trombosis(p<.05).
Embolism ; Fasting ; Female ; Heart ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Male ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Stroke*

Synovial chondromatosis is an uncommon benign lesion characterized by metaplastic cartilage formation within the synovial connective tissue which disintegrates into the joint and continues to grow. Of the eight cases of synovial chondromatosis seen by the authors, three cases involved the knee, two of these were bilateral, three cases involved the elbow, one the hip joint and one the proximal phalanx of the right middle finger. The diagnosis of synovial chondroamtosis was made by histopathological findings of the excised mass. Most synovial chondromatosis cases obtained favorable results by removing masses from the joint and at the same time performing a partial synovectomy, except one case in which degenerative arth ritis had developed proeoperatively.
Cartilage ; Chondromatosis, Synovial ; Connective Tissue ; Diagnosis ; Elbow ; Fingers ; Hip Joint ; Joints ; Knee

The Subtrochanteric fracture requires long period healing time and is difficult for treatment because it occurs in bone that is predominantly cortical and high stress concentrates in this region. The Subtrochanteric fracture is difficult for the reduction and maintenance because many of these fractures are comminuted from high velocity trauma and the angulation rotation occurs by the influence of the surrounding large and powerful muscles. During the period of February, 1980 to April, 1985, 62 cases of Subtrochanteric fractures were admitted and treated at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Keimyung University, and results were obtained as follows: 1. Of 62 cases, 42 in man and 20 in woman and diffuse in ages. 2. Causes of Subtrochanteric fractures were 32 cases of traffic accidents, 21 cases of fall or slip down, 5 cases of others, and 3 cases of pathologic fractures. 3. Of 62 cases, Type I by Zickel classification was predominant (33 cases), and Type III-A, “three-part spiral fracture“ by Seinsheimer was predominant (24 cases). 4. The better results can be achieved through the bone graft in severe comminuted fracture and through the provision of good cortical load-bearing medially between the fragment during the reduction and fixation. 5. Earlier bone union and low complication of metallic failure and nonunion were achieved with Compression Hip Screw rather than Jewett nail. 6. The causes for the 6 metallic failure cases were comminuted fracture of medial cortical bone, failure in contact and fixation of medial free fragment, and weight bearing before complete union was achieved. 7. There was a breakage in nail-plate junction when Vitalium jewett nail was used. Also there were breakage and loosening of screws when Stainless steel Jewett nail was used. 8. Further studies in the advantages and disadvantages of Zickel nail, Ender nail, Compression Hip Screw, and Kuntscher nail treatment of subtrochanteric fracture are needed.
Accidents, Traffic ; Classification ; Clinical Study ; Female ; Femur ; Fractures, Comminuted ; Fractures, Spontaneous ; Hip ; Hip Fractures ; Humans ; Muscles ; Orthopedics ; Stainless Steel ; Transplants ; Weight-Bearing

The fat embolism is a complication which occurs rarely in cases of long bone of lower extremity and pelvic bone fractures or after severe injury of soft tissue, and may result in an embolism in the lungs, brain, heart, kidneys and other important vessels when fat globules flow from bone marrow into such areas. There has been much adverse criticism about the pathogenesis of fat embolism including the incidence, diagnosis and treatment of it, and studies on this subject have been prevalent in recent years. The following results have been obtained through the study of 9 cases of fat embolism at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dong San Medical Center, Keimyung University during the period from 1973 to 1984. 1. By sex and age distribution, most of the patients were under the age of 40 and there were more male than female patients. 2. Seven cases were caused by traffic accidents and two were caused by falls accompanied by multiple fractures of the femur and pelvic bone. 3. Symptoms generally occured within 48 houres after trauma, however some cases were within 12 houres, some were 5 days and others 12 days. Clinical symptoms which were present at the time admission revealed increased erythrocyte sedimentation tates and decreased hemoglobin and platelete in most cases. Bilateral infiltrates and cotton ball appearances were found in all cases on thoracic radiology, but no fat globules were found in the urine or in frozen sections of clotted blood. 4. Blood gas analysis was performed in 4 cases and Pa02 under 60mmHg found in all cases increased gradually after treatment. 5. Of the 9 cases with fat embolism 6 cases completely recovered and three cases expired.
Accidental Falls ; Accidents, Traffic ; Age Distribution ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Blood Platelets ; Blood Sedimentation ; Bone Marrow ; Brain ; Clinical Study ; Diagnosis ; Embolism ; Embolism, Fat ; Female ; Femur ; Fractures, Multiple ; Frozen Sections ; Heart ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kidney ; Lower Extremity ; Lung ; Male ; Pelvic Bones