STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-four cases of surgically treated spinal stenosis which were followed up for more than 5 yeras were analysed. OBJECTIVES: To know the relationship between long-term clinical results and various clinical factors. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Pedicle screw fixation is a common procedure after wide decompression for spinal stenosis. But, there is few report showing its long-term result. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the long term results of surgically treated spinal stenosis patients according to the sex, method of fusion, level of fusion, radiologic change of adjacent level, hardware problem and complication. There were 11 males and 23 females. Average age was 53.2 years(range 34-68 years). Radiographically follow up was averaged 72 months(range 60-104 months). Clinically follow up period was averaged 76 months(range 60-113 months). Eight patients were operated with PLIF and 26 patients were with posterolateral fusion. One level surgery was done in 18 patient and more than two level in 16 patients. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients(79%) showed satisfactory result at 2year and 5 year follow-up. Two patients showed change of clinical result during follow-up. Clinical result was much better in monosegmental surgery and in male sex. Six patients showed narrowing of disc space at non-surgery level and 2 patients had compression fracture. Complications were 1 deep infection, 2 dural tears, 9 donor site pain, 2 metal failures and 1 metal pull-out. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that there is no significant change of clinical results between two year follow-up and five year follow-up. Clinical complications and metal problems are not related with the unsatisfactory results. Multiple level surgery and female sex are two variables related with the unsatisfactory clinical outcome.
Decompression* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Fractures, Compression ; Humans ; Male ; Spinal Stenosis* ; Tissue Donors

STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-fiye thoracolumbar and lumbar burst fractures treated with pedicle screw instrumentation were assessed on loss reduction. OBJECTIVE: To compare the mechanical results of simple posterior fixation and posterior fixation with anterior augmentation by anterior interbody fusion, disc space fusion or longer construct. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Althrough the pedicle screw instrumentation provides good mechanical stability, two segment fixation without anterior column augmentation may not be adequate to withstand the repeated axial load. METHODS: Fifteen patients were treated with two segment fixation alone(Group 1), seven with anterior interbody fusion(Group 2), another seven with disc space fusion(Group 3) and remaining six with longer construct involving two segments abode the fracture(Croup 4). Change of anterior body height, upper disc height, lower disc height, kyphotic angle, inter-screw angle and gross screw bend- ing were measured using post-operative and follow-up lateral radiographs. RESULTS: Comparing the two groups(Croup 1 Ys. Group 2, 3, 4), the Group 1 showed definitely more loss of reduction than those groups which had anterior augmentation. But, loss of anterior body height was not significantly different. Comparing the four groups, loss at upper and lower disc height was significantly greater in the Group 1 than the Group 2. Change of kyphotic angle was significantly higher in the Group 1 than the Group 4 and change of inter-screw angle was also higher in the group 1 than every other group. Seyen patients in the Group 1 showed gross screw bending, but none in the Group 2, 3 and 4. All the seven patients with screw bending showed loss of inter-screw angle more than 5 . CONCLUSIONS: These results mean that anterior column augmentation is necessary for the treatment of thoraco-lumbar burst fracture. All the three methods(Group 2,3,4) are effective to prevent excessive loss of correction and screw bending. The best method should be selected considering the characters of each fracture.
Body Height ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans

Flavimonas oryzihabitans is a gram-negative, glucose non-fermentative bacillus, and is rarely reported as a pathogen in human. In recent years, reports of infection due to F. oryzihabitans, especially in immunocompromised patients with indwelling catheter or peritoneal Tenckhoff catheter have increased. We report two cases of F. oryzihabitans peritonitis in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD).
Bacillus ; Catheters ; Catheters, Indwelling ; Glucose ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Peritonitis* ; Pseudomonas*

No abstract available.
Abdominal Cavity* ; Abscess* ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor* ; Drainage*

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Sun exposure and therapeutic irradiation have been shown to induce alterations in extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, including elastin, glycosaminoglycan and collagens. The integrity of the connective tissue mainly depends on balanced rates of matrix synthesis and degradation of the extracellular matrix. Therefore, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) may be involved in ultraviolet irradiation (UVR)-induced alterations in ECM proteins. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of UVA as well as UVB irradiations on ST-1 gene expression in cultured human skin fibroblasts. METHODS: After exposure of different doses of UVA and UVB on cultured human skin fibroblasts, we examined the expression of ST-1 gene by Northern blot analysis, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) assay with CAT construct containing AP-1 binding site. Additionally, we carried out the gel mobility shift assay to investigate the effects of UVR on the DNA-binding activity of AP-1. RESULTS: After UVR on fibroblasts, the steady-state levels of ST-1 mRNA were in-creased in response to UVA and UVB by 2.5-fold and 4.2-fold, respectively, as compared with controls. Similar results were obtained by CAT assay showing that CAT activity increased as the UVA and UVB doses increased. Furthermore, gel mobility shift assay demonstrated that both UVA and UVB increased AP-1 DNA binding complexes. CONCLUSION: UVB as well as UVA up-regulated ST-1 gene expression at transcriptional levels in vitro. We speculate that modulation of MMPs, including ST-1, gene expression by UVR may contribute to the connective tissue damage related to photoaging and other photocutaneous disorders.
Animals ; Binding Sites ; Blotting, Northern ; Cats ; Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase ; Collagen ; Connective Tissue ; DNA ; Elastin ; Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibroblasts* ; Gene Expression ; Humans* ; In Vitro Techniques ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin ; Solar System ; Transcription Factor AP-1

No abstract available.
Child* ; Epilepsy* ; Humans

We present a case of lymphangioma circumscriptum in a 17 year-old girl according to tihe clinical and histopathological findings. This case is unusual in that lesions developed on the vulva and thigh without preceding lymphedema. Our patient had a plaque of grouped vesicle-like papules resembling frog's apawn on The both labia majora of vulva and several scattered, skin tag like soft papules on the right upper thigh of theree years duration. Histopathologic findings showed variable sized, dilatated lymphatic channels lined by single layer of normal endothelial cells confined to the only upper dermis.
Adolescent ; Dermis ; Endothelial Cells ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphangioma* ; Lymphedema ; Skin ; Thigh ; Vulva*

No abstract available.
Dermatofibrosarcoma* ; Mohs Surgery*

No abstract available.
Popliteal Artery