No abstract available.

Arthroscopic synovectomy has some limitations for adequate posterior visualization, and it is difficult to establish the posterior portal because of potential damage to neurovascular structures. The purpose of this study is to introduce a newly designed arthroscopic technique passing through posterior septum and to review the arthroscopic synovectomy using transposterior septal portal in the knee. Routine arthroscopic examination of the knee joint is performed using standard anterolateral and anteromedial portals. Posterior arthroscopic technique is divided into four steps. The first step is to make a posteromedial portal. The second step is to make a posterolateral portal. The third step is to make a hole at the posterior septum and to examine the posterolateral compartment. The fourth step is to examine the posteromedial compartment by switching the arthroscope to the posterolateral portal in the same manner. This technique provides complete visualization of the posterior compartment of the knee joint including the posterior aspect of the medial and lateral femoral condyles, posterior horn of both menisci, the posterior cruciate ligament(PCL), the meniscofemoral ligament, posterior aspect of the popliteal tendon, and the posterior capsule. We reviewed 47 cases(of 43 patients) of arthroscopic synovectomy using anterolateral, anteromedial and transposterior septal portal. The results were assessed with follow up of at least 1 year using the criteria of pain, synovitis, effusion, and range of motion. In 15 case rheumatoid arthritis, we had good result in 14 cases, but 1 case of recurrence was noted at 2 months after surgery. Non specific synovitis, 11 cases, had the similar result of rheumatoid arthritis. In 9 cases with hemophilic arthritis, pain and effusion were improved, but range of motion was improved minimally. In 2 cases with gouty arthritis, 2 cases with tuberculous arthritis, and I case with pigmented villonodular synovitis(PVNS), range of motion was rather reduced. It is considered that arthroscopic technique using transposterior septal portal is safe procedure without damaging the PCL, posterior capsule, neurovascular structures, and very efficient method in removing hypertrophied synovium or debris of persistent synovitis or arthritis of the knee joint and helpful in removing encapsulated loose bodies located behind the PCL.
Animals ; Arthritis ; Arthritis, Gouty ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Arthroscopes ; Arthroscopy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Horns ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Ligaments ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Recurrence ; Synovial Membrane ; Synovitis ; Tendons

We have employed the external akeletal fixation devices, that is Hoffmann apparatus and Pin and Resin fixation method, for the treatment of 44 cases of long bone fractures from Dec. 1978 to Dec. 1981. The following are our impressins. 1. Hoffmann apparatus and Pin and Resin fixation method proved to be effective and useful measure for the management of fractures of long bones, particulary in cases of the open tibial fractures. 2. Employing the Hoffmann apparatus to the tibial model, the possible limit of correction of the fracture alignment was calculated. It was found that the average angle of correction of deformity can be managed up to 20 degrees in varus and valgus deformity, 70 degrees in anterior angulation, 40 degrees in posterior angulation and 70 degrees in rotation. 3. Pin and Resin fixation method is one of effective means in immobilization of long bones. It is simple to apply, easy to manipulate and inexpensive while offering fair fixation without much complications and therefore we recommend the method as the best alternative to expensive Hoffmann apparatus. 4. The complications of Hoffmann apparatus and Pin and Resin fixation method were pin tract infections and ankle stiffness which were generally minor and prevented by more careful aseptic technique and encouraging early joint motion.
Ankle ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Fracture Fixation ; Fractures, Bone ; Immobilization ; Joints ; Methods ; Tibial Fractures

No abstract available.
Humans ; Nephritis, Interstitial* ; Nephrotic Syndrome*

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the somatostain analogue, octreotide, pretreatment before ovulation induction with human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) affects ovarian response, and ovulation induction outcome in infertile patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) resistant to clomiphene citrate (CC) METHODS: From November 1998 to June 1999, 30 infertile patients with PCOS unresponsive to CC were randomly allocated either octreotide pretreatment (treatment group) (n = 15) or hMG alone (control group) (n = 15) groups. In the treatment group, 100 g of octreotide were administered daily for 7 days after progesterone injection for withdrawal bleeding, and then hMG was administered for ovulation induction. RESULTS: There were no differences in the total number of hMG ampules required and the duration of hMG administration between the two groups. The number of follicles of 10-14 mm diameter on the day of hCG injection was significantly less in the treatment group than that in the control group (4.3 +/- 2.5 vs. 9.6 +/- 4.4, p < 0.001). The serum estradiol (E2) level on the day of hCG injection was significantly lower in the treatment group, with 1579.2 +/- 421.0 pg/ml compared with 2120.3 +/- 512.7 pg/ml in the control group (p < 0.001). The hematocrit level on the day of hCG injection was also significantly lower in the treatment group than that in the control group (36.9 +/- 2.1% vs. 40.8 +/- 2.9%, p < 0.05). The incidence of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) seemed to be lower in the treatment group, but the difference did not achieve significance (6.7% vs 20.0%). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that octreotide pretreatment before ovulation induction could improve hormonal milieu compared to hMG alone, and therefore may be effective in ovulation induction for patients with PCOS resistant to CC.
Clomiphene ; Estradiol ; Female ; Gonadotropins ; Hematocrit ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Octreotide ; Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome ; Ovulation Induction* ; Ovulation* ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome* ; Progesterone ; Somatostatin*

No abstract available.
Cisplatin* ; Hearing*

Investigations into the development of new therapeutic agents for lung inflammatory disorders have led to the discovery of plant-based alternatives. The rhizomes of Anemarrhena asphodeloides have a long history of use against lung inflammatory disorders in traditional herbal medicine. However, the therapeutic potential of this plant material in animal models of lung inflammation has yet to be evaluated. In the present study, we prepared the alcoholic extract and derived the saponin-enriched fraction from the rhizomes of A. asphodeloides and isolated timosaponin A-III, a major constituent. Lung inflammation was induced by intranasal administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to mice, representing an animal model of acute lung injury (ALI). The alcoholic extract (50–200 mg/kg) inhibited the development of ALI. Especially, the oral administration of the saponin-enriched fraction (10–50 mg/kg) potently inhibited the lung inflammatory index. It reduced the total number of inflammatory cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Histological changes in alveolar wall thickness and the number of infiltrated cells of the lung tissue also indicated that the saponin-enriched fraction strongly inhibited lung inflammation. Most importantly, the oral administration of timosaponin A-III at 25–50 mg/kg significantly inhibited the inflammatory markers observed in LPS-induced ALI mice. All these findings, for the first time, provide evidence supporting the effectiveness of A. asphodeloides and its major constituent, timosaponin A-III, in alleviating lung inflammation.
Acute Lung Injury ; Administration, Intranasal ; Administration, Oral ; Alcoholics ; Anemarrhena* ; Animals* ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Herbal Medicine ; Humans ; Lung* ; Mice ; Models, Animal* ; Plants ; Pneumonia* ; Rhizome*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of MR imaging for diseases of the small intestine, emphasizing a comparison with CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-four patients who underwent both CT and MR imaging using FLASH 2D and HASTE sequences were analyzed. All patients had various small bowel diseases with variable association of peritoneal lesions. We compared the detectabilities of CT and MR imaging using different MR pulse sequences. The capability for analyzing the characteristics of small intestinal disease was also compared. RESULTS: MR imaging was nearly equal to CT for detecting intraluminal or peritoneal masses, lesions in the bowel and mesentery, and small bowel obstruction, but was definitely inferior for detecting omental lesions. The most successful MR imaging sequence was HASTE for demonstrating bowel wall thickening, coronal FLASH 2D for mesenteric lesions, and axial FLASH 2D for omental lesions. MR imaging yielded greater information than CT in six of 12 inflammatory bowel diseases, while it was equal to CT in six of seven neoplasms and inferior in five of seven mesenteric ischemia. In determining the primary causes of 15 intestinal obstructions, MR imaging was correct in 11 (73%) and CT in nine (60%) patients. CONCLUSION: MR imaging can serve as an alternative diagnostic tool for patients with suspected inflammatory bowel disease, small intestinal neoplasm or obstruction. is a high-speed, heavily T2-weighted sequence with a great sensitivity for fluid (11). This advance may make it possible to use breath-hold turbo spin-echo MR.
Comparative Study ; Female ; Human ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/*diagnosis ; Intestinal Neoplasms/*diagnosis ; Intestinal Obstruction/*diagnosis ; Intestine, Small/*pathology ; *Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Age ; *Tomography, X-Ray Computed

We report a case of a 25-year old man with chronic kidney disease with secondary hyperparathyroidism who had persistent elevation of serum parathyroid hormone level after the immediate total parathyroidectomy and autotransplantation. To localize supernumerary (ectopic) parathyroid gland, we checked Tc-99m MIBI scintigraphy, MDCT and PET-CT. Contrast-enhanced MDCT showed a small strong enhancing lesion over left bracheocephalic vein, and PET-CT showed multiple brown tumors. We removed the supernumerary parathyroid gland and got a rapid drop of parathyroid hormone level.
Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary ; Parathyroid Glands ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Parathyroidectomy ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi ; Veins

OBJECTIVE: To compare the usefulness of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and MR angiography (MRA) in differentiating malignant from benign intraductal papillary mucinous tumors of the pancreas (IPMTs), and to determine the findings which suggest malignancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During a 6-year period, 46 patients with IPMT underwent MRCP. Morphologically, tumor type was classified as main duct, branch duct, or combined. The diameter of the main pancreatic duct (MPD), the extent of the dilated MPD, and the location and size of the cystic lesion, septum, and communicating channel were assessed. For all types of IPMTs, enhanced mural nodules and portal vein narrowing were evaluated at MRA. RESULTS: Combined-type IPMTs were more frequently malignant (78%) than benign (42%) (p < 0.05). Compared with benign lesions, malignant lesions were larger, and the caliber of the communicating channel was also larger (p < 0.05). Their dilated MPD was more extensive and of greater diameter (p < 0.05), and the presence of mural nodules was more frequent (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Combined MRCP and MRA might be useful for the differential diagnosis of malignant and benign IPMTs of the pancreas.