In man the epiglottis is a thin lamella of yellow elastic cartilage. The upper part is free and is known asleaf and lower part participates in the formation of the anterior wall of the vestibule of the larynx. Theipithelial covering extends forwards onto the base of the tongue over the medial glossoepiglottic folds. The sidesof epiglottis are connected with the cartilages of Wrisberg and arytenoid cartilage by the aryepiglottic fold. Inview of these anatomical complexities, the function and physiology of the epiglottis have been debated sinceMagendi(1815), who proposed the theory that the epiglottis acts as a flap valve to prevent food entering thewindpipe, and who found that he could remove the free part of the epiglottis in dog without spoiling the dog.Follwoing the introduction of laryngoscopy(Garcia, 1815; Liston, 1840; Czermark, 1861) and modern cineradiographicequipments in 1950's, the anatomy and physiology of epiglottis has become much clearrer. Age as it is seen on thelateral x-ray of the neck. In the present study we have made an attempt to systematically analyze aging changes ofthe epiglottis in the lateral x-ray of the neck in 245 healthy adults. The age ranged from 16 to 65 years old.Based on our observation the epiglottis was classified into type A, B, and C according to their curvatures. Thus,type A represented those with posterior curvature, type B those with straight epiglottis and type C anteriorcurvature. Type C was sudivided into I, II and III according to the degree of curvature. Thus, type C-I, C-II andC-III represented mild, moderated and marked anterior curvature, respectively. Type A epiglottis was found in thesecond, third and fourth decades and type C-III in the older age group. Type A was least comon and type C mostprevalent. It seems that the epiglottis inclines anteriorly with backward curvature with age (p<0.0001).
Adult ; Aging ; Animals ; Arytenoid Cartilage ; Cartilage ; Dogs ; Elastic Cartilage ; Epiglottis ; Humans ; Larynx ; Neck ; Physiology ; Tongue

OBJECTIVE: To observe the ipsilateral upper limb function after stroke comparing proximal with distal part and to determine how they recover after stroke. METHOD: Cohort study of 72 patients with stroke in the middle cerebral arterial territory undergoing multidisciplinary stroke rehabilitation program. The main outcome was assessed by the Manual Function Test (MFT) for upper limb function, weekly. RESULTS: The recovery time of the ipsilateral upper limb to maximum function was 32.4+/-15.4 days. The functions of the ipsilateral shoulder and hand after stroke decreased significantly. Even at the maximum recovery, complete recovery was not seen. For ipsilateral shoulder, more severe functional deficits were seen with subcortical lesion than with cortical lesion, whereas for ipsilateral hands, no difference was seen between them. CONCLUSION: Therefore, the fact that recoveries of the shoulders and hands were different according to the presence of cerebral cortical or subcortical lesions suggests that the brain structures that control these areas or the recovery mechanisms might be different.
Brain ; Cohort Studies ; Hand ; Humans ; Rehabilitation ; Shoulder ; Stroke* ; Upper Extremity*

Ectopia cordis is defined as a congenital malposition of the heart partially or completely outside the thorax and often associated with sternal and congenital heart defects:surgical repair is generally unsuccessful because of the magnitude of the deformity and the associat-ed intracardiac anormalies. Four types of ectopia cordis are described : cervical, thoracic, abdominal and thoracoa- bdominal. Cervical and thoracic type are often fatal within days, because the heart is expo- sed and malformed. Abdominal type carries a better prognosis because cardiac abnormalities are less often found. The prognosis of thoraco-abdominal type mainly depends on the pre- sence of intracardiac abnormalities. We have experienced a case of thoracic ectopia cordis at 25 weeks' gestation by ultra- sonography, so present the case and the review with literature briefly.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Ectopia Cordis* ; Heart ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis* ; Prognosis ; Thorax

Inflammatory pseudotumor of the lung is considered to be a rare, benign, neoplastic lesion, consisting mainly of spindle mesenchymal cells, sometimes in such a way that its histological appearance mimics that of a spindle cell sarcoma, fibrous histiocytoma or fibrosarcoma. A case of inflammatory pseudotumor of the lung occurring in a 13-year-old boy is reported with pathologic findings, including its ultrastructure. The patient had had no symptoms and accidentally discovered his condition after a chest X-ray examination at a regular school physical check up. The mass was located in the suprahilar area of the left lung. Exploratory thoracotomy revealed a large mass that was removed, together with the left upper lobe of the lung. Microscopically, the mass was composed of numerous interstitial inflammatory cells, mainly lymphoplasma cells. Ultrastructurally, the spindle-shaped mesenchymal cells were arranged haphazadly and the normal pulmonary structure was nearly totally destroyed. Emphasis is given to complete resection of the tumor for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
Adolescent ; Child ; Fibrosarcoma ; Granuloma, Plasma Cell ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Plasma Cell Granuloma, Pulmonary* ; Sarcoma ; Thoracotomy ; Thorax

OBJECTIVE: We observed the nature of ipsilateral weakness, not hemiplegic side after stroke. And we studied correlation between ipsilateral weakness and neurologic recovery of hemiplegia. METHOD: This study was prospective, follow-up clinical trial. Ipsilateral motor power was checked serially in 20 subjects using Nicholas Manual Muscle Tester (NMMT) (shoulder abduction, wrist extension, hip flexion, ankle dorsiflexion). The subjects are first attacked hemiplegic stroke patients. Other outcome measures are Mini-mental Status Examination (MMSE) and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). We studied correlations between motor power recovery in ipsilateral limbs and recovery of neurologic impairment in hemiplegic limbs of stroke patients through SPSS 7.0 program. RESULTS: Ipsilateral motor power in early stage stroke patients is significantly low compared with that of normal subject except ankle dorsiflexion (p<0.05). Comparing ipsilateral proximal with distal limbs power in pre and post multidisciplinary rehabilitation program, upper proximal part recovered faster than the distal part, but which was not statistically significant. Recovery of ipsilateral upper proximal and distal limb weakness is associated with neurologic recovery in hemiplegic side. CONCLUSION: After the stroke, ipsilateral upper limb motor weakness does occur and which follows similar neurologic recovery pattern to the hemiplegic side. Ipsilateral cortical and subcortical tracts take effect on the neurologic recovery of contalateral side.
Ankle ; Extremities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemiplegia* ; Hip ; Humans ; National Institutes of Health (U.S.) ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Prospective Studies ; Rehabilitation ; Stroke* ; Upper Extremity ; Wrist

No abstract available.
Diabetes Insipidus* ; Pregnancy*

No abstract available.
Follow-Up Studies* ; Hyperthyroidism*

No abstract available.
Bone Regeneration ; Calcium* ; Heterografts ; Humans* ; Osteoblasts* ; Osteogenesis*

In order to study the treatment of aneurysms, the technique of making experimental aneurysms in laboratory animals must be established. In our study, to examine the feasibility of making experimental aneurysm and selective angiography on the common carotid artery in rabbits and to determine the size of experimental aneurysm after surgery, saccular aneurysms were fashioned on the right common carotid artery in 17 rabbits using a vein pouch technique. Selective angiography of the common carotid artery was performed immediately after surgery, and at 1 week, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks after surgery. Also, histological changes in the aneurysms were observed. In 16 rabbits with established successful experimental aneurysm, no differences were found in diet intake and behavior before and after surgery. The patency of the carotid artery was confirmed by selective angiography. The average size of the aneurysm immediately after surgery was similar to that of 1 week postoperatively in selective angiography, however it increased with time at 4weeks and 8 weeks. Histologically, infiltration of inflammatory cells and hemorrhage were found at the junction of the carotid artery and the vein pouch at 1 week, which disappeared at 4 weeks and 8 weeks. This study suggests experimental saccular aneurysm using the vein pouch technique might form aneurysms similar to that of the human in its properties such as increment of size, and selective angiography might be suitable for assessment of experimental aneurysm. Therefore, this animal model may be suitable for investigating new treatment methodologies for human aneurysms.
Aneurysm ; Angiography ; Animals, Laboratory ; Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery, Common ; Diet ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Models, Animal ; Rabbits ; Veins

BACKGROUND: Loss of bone mass is usually detected after bone marrow transplantation (BMT), especially during the early post-transplant period. But little is known about the long-term effects of BMT on bone mineral metabolism. METHODS: We have investigated prospectively 12 patients undergoing BMT (4 autologous, 8 allogeneic) for hematologic diseases (8 leukemia, 3 SAA, 1 MDS). Serum concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, creatinine, gonadotropins, sex hormones and bone turnover markers (osteocalcin and ICTP) were measured. The samples were collected before BMT and 1, 2, 3, 4, and 12 weeks, 6 months and 1, 2 years thereafter. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured with DEXA (Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) before BMT, 1 year and 2 year after BMT. In patients with amenorrbea, hormone replacement therapy was started from around 1 year after BMT RESULTS: 1. The mean bone loss in the lumbar spine, calculated as the percent change from the baseline to the level at 1 year and 2 year was 7.3% and 1.9%, respectively. The mean bone loss in the total proximal femur from the baseline to the level at 1 year and 2 year was 8.0% and 8.3% respectively. 2. The serum ICTP increased progressively until four weeks after BMT. Thereafter, it decreased gradually to reach basal values after one year and thereafter no more change until 2 year. Serum osteocalcin decreased progressively until three weeks after BMT. After that, it increased and reached basal values after 3 months. Osteocalcin increased at 6 month transiently but thereafter, it decreased to the level of slightly above basal value at 2 year. 3. Patients who were treated with TBI or pateints with GVHD had a tendency of lower BMD at l year and 2 year after BMT than those of patients without TBI or GVHD. 4. Eight out of nine women went into a menopausal state immediately after BMT and remained amenorrhea, evidenced by high gonadotropins and low estradiol levels. In contrast to women, gonadotropins and testosterone levels were not changed significantly in men after BMT. CONCLUSION: The rapid impairment of bone formation and the increase in bone resorption, as shown by the biochemical markers in this study, might play a role in bone loss after BMT. The efficacy of HRT for the correction of hypogonadism and bone loss was evidenced by 2 year BMD which was much more increased compared to 1 year BMD, especially in vertebra.
Amenorrhea ; Biomarkers ; Bone Density ; Bone Marrow Transplantation* ; Bone Marrow* ; Bone Resorption ; Calcium ; Creatinine ; Estradiol ; Female ; Femur ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; Gonadotropins ; Hematologic Diseases ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Leukemia ; Male ; Metabolism* ; Osteocalcin ; Osteogenesis ; Phosphorus ; Prospective Studies* ; Spine ; Testosterone