From March 1990 to February 1992, 40 cases of lumbar spondylolisthesis underwent transpedicle fixation and fusion using VSP system and PWB system. The diagnosis were isthmic types in 17 cases(male;9, female;8) and degenerative types in 23 cases(male;5, female;18), ranging in ages from 34 to 68 years with a mean age of 52 years. The preoperative slip measured less than 20% in 11 cases, between 20 and 40% in 27 cases and more than 40% in 2 cases. At an average 19 months follow up(range;9~33months), the degree of slip correction averaged 43% in isthmic group, 51% in degenerative group, a solic fusion based on radiologic evaluation was achieved in 85%. Overall results showed 77% good, 18% fair and 5% poor. Complications included superficial infection in 2 cases, screw breakage in 1 case and screw loosening in 2 cases.
Diagnosis ; Spondylolisthesis*

The authors analyzed and compared three prognostic factors of the intraparenchymal metastatic brain tumors, regardless of therapeutic modalities, to evaluate the value of time-interval between diagnosis of primary cancer and brain metastasis as a prognostic factor. Our of the 109 patients of metastatic brain tumor admitted to Kosin Medical College from 1984 to 1991, 93 patients were included in this retrospective study. The survival time of these patients was statistically evaluated according to each prognostic factor. The results were as follows. Patients with mild or no neurological deficits and patients with moderate neurological deficits showed longer survival than the patients with severe neurological deficits(P<0.001). The presence of systemic metastasis at the time of diagnosis also significantly shortened overall survival(P<0.0095). Primary-to-metastatic interval did not significantly affect overall survival(P<0.6164), but the patients with brain metastasis detected within 1 year after diagnosis of the primary cancer had a longer median survival than those detected after 1 year(P<0.001). We conclude that the primary-to-metastatic interval is not valuable as a prognostic factor for intraparenchymal metastatic brain tumor, and further prospective study tailored to each specific condition will be needed for more accurate evaluation of prognostic factors.
Brain Neoplasms ; Brain* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Prognosis* ; Retrospective Studies

The author described a comparative study of 2 different experiemental methods of reperfusion models in rat;1) transcranial method(TC) and 2) extracranial method(EC). The transcranial method was performed by a direct approach to the middle cerebral artery(MCA) after temporozygomatic craniotomy in which a wire was hooked on the proximal portion of middle cerebral artery(MCA) and pulled it to make occlusion of MCA. For the extracranial method, a nylon surgical thread was inserted intraluminally along the internal carotid artery(ICA) to reach the anterior communicating artery. Recirculation of blood was accomplished by removal of the hook or of the thread after 4 hours occlusion of MCA. Two different models were subdivided into 4 chronological groups:pre-reperfusion, 30 minutes, 2 hours, and 48 hours after reperfusion. The differences were evaluated with morphometric analysis after neutral red(NR) or tetrazolium salt(TTC) staining. From the evaluation of initial ischemic area, the extracranial method showed a larger infarct volume as compared to the transcranial method(p=0.013). Mean value(SD) of infracted area of EC and TC were 28.7%(4.4%) and 14.4%(8.1%) respectively. Recovery from the initial ischemia after reperfusion was gradually achieved in both of two groups(p<0.05). The restoration of blood flow after reperfusion was more rapid in EC group and only 2 hours' reperfusion was enough to show no difference between two methods. In TC group followed by 48 hours' reperfusion, 40% of animals resulted in gross infarction of MCA territory as noted with TTC stain, most probably due to reperfusion failure. EC group showed only one such a case(12.5%). But this difference was not in the range of significance statistically. From a technical point of view, EC was more simple, needed less time since a craniotomy was not performed, and required no manipulation of the brain or any intracranial vessels. From these results the author concluded that the extracranial method is a more reliable and technically more manageable one to be used as a reperfusion model for investigating the focal cerebral ischemia.
Animals ; Arteries ; Brain ; Brain Ischemia ; Craniotomy ; Infarction ; Ischemia ; Middle Cerebral Artery* ; Nylons ; Rats* ; Reperfusion*

Ocular metastasis of metastatic carcinoma is the most common intraocular malignancy. The most common pr1mary Site of the lntraocular metastatic tumor is the breast ln women and the lung 1n men respectlvely and the choroid Is by far the most common site for intraocular metastasis. RadlOtherapy has been reported hlghly effect1ve in pal1iative treatment for metastatic tumor. We experienced a case choroidal metastasis in a known metastatic breast carcinoma patient and gained clinical lmprovement by rad1otherapy in this case.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Choroid* ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis*

VAHS is characterized by viral-like prodromal symptoms, high fever' malaise, hepatosp lenomegaly, pancytopenia. The dignosis is based on a bone marrow biopsy specimen that demonstrates histiocytic hyperplasia with prominent hemophagocytosis of red blood cells, platelets, and nucleated hematopoietic cells Recently, the use of immunosuppressants tends to increase due to increase of autoimmune disease and organ transplantation patients. A large portion of leukemia and organ transplant patients developed VAHS as a secondary viral infection after anticancer drug and immunosuppressants therapy was administered In the field of ophthalmology, VAHS can occur by administration of immunosuppressants in corneal transplantation and autoimmune uveitis patients. Recently we experienced a case of fatal VAHS in a young uveitis patient who had been treated with immunosuppressants. We report this specfic case with literature review bec,lUse of the need for careful observation of general findings occurring during treatment of immunosuppressants such as corticosteroid.
Autoimmune Diseases ; Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Corneal Transplantation ; Erythrocytes ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Leukemia ; Ophthalmology ; Organ Transplantation ; Pancytopenia ; Prodromal Symptoms ; Transplants ; Uveitis*

The questions concerning storage temperature and storage duration of the fortified ophthalmic antibiotic solutions are raised. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the influence of fortified ophthalmic antibiotic solutions on its biological and physical properties according to the storage temperature and duration as time goes by. We examined the changes of pH, absorbance spectra, and anti-microbial activity of cefradine(63mg/ml)and gentamicin sulfate(13.6mg/ml) over a four-week period. The results were as follows: There was no difference between the potency of fortified GM solutions stored at 4 degrees C and that at 24 degrees C for 4 weeks. The cefradine stored 24 degrees C exhibited significant changes in both its tJotency and stability after ithe seventh day of storage. The cefradine stored at 4 degrees C exhibited changes in Its absorbance spectra day by day and potency after 14th day.
Cephradine ; Gentamicins ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Ophthalmic Solutions*

The distribution and morphology of cholecystokinin-8 (CCK 8)-, neuropeptide Y (NPY)-, Substance P (SP)- and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-immunoreactivity were examined in the cat superior colliculus (SC) by means of immunohistochemistry. Judging from this study, some neuropeptides-IR neurons may be present in the superficial layers of the sc. And these neurons and neuropeptides may be involved in the functions of the superficial layers.
Animals ; Brain* ; Cats* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Neurons* ; Neuropeptide Y ; Neuropeptides ; Substance P ; Superior Colliculi* ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

The urachus is a normal embryonic remnant of the primitive dome. It generally exists as a fibrous cord extending from the dome of the bladder to the umbilicus. Disorders of the urachus are developed as a result of its incomplete regression. The urachal cyst is the most common urachal anomaly, and is usually asymptomatic in infancy and childhood. However, when the cysts are large or accompanied with secondary infection, they may be detected in its early stage. A sonography or CT scan may be helpful to confirm the diagnosis of urachal cyst. The managements of infected urachal cyst are varied from simple drainage to radical excision. Here, we report an unusual case of urachal cyst infection that occurred during corticosteroids therapy in a girl with IgA nephropathy.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Coinfection ; Drainage ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Umbilicus ; Urachal Cyst ; Urachus ; Urinary Bladder

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) commonly occurs in childhood and adolescence and diabetic nephropathy is a serious metabolic complication of T1DM that leads to serious morbidity. With poor glycemic control prepubertal diabetes duration contributes to the risk of long-term microvascular complications, however, the younger age at onset or longer prepubertal diabetes duration seems to prolong the time to development of microalbuminuria or later end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Therefore, there have been a few cases of diabetic nephropathy in prepubertal patients and therefore the ESRD cases developed during adolescence in T1DM children were very rare. Here we report an adolescent with T1DM who had poor glycemic control and was diagnosed as diabetic nephropathy in a prepubertal period and leading to end-stage renal disease during adolescence.
Adolescent ; Child ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical value of bicarbonate gap (BG) in acute gastroenteritis by comparison of clinical manifestations and laboratory findings. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 135 patients who had acute gastroenteritis. We classified them into two groups: BG< or =-5 (group A), BG>-5 (group B). We made a comparative study for clinical manifestations, serum electrolyte, albumin, protein, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, anion gap (AG), delta anion gap (deltaAG) and delta bicarbonate (deltaHCO3-) between the two groups. RESULTS: The duration of hospitalization and diarrhea was significantly longer in group A than group B. In laboratory findings, serum sodium, serum total CO2, total protein, AGcorrected and deltaAG were lower in group A than group B. deltaHCO3- and chloride were higher in group A than group B. CONCLUSION: BG may be a sensitive predictor enough to access the severity of acute gastroenteritis.
Acid-Base Equilibrium ; Acidosis ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Creatinine ; Diarrhea ; Gastroenteritis ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Sodium