A particular problem associated with osseointegrated implants is the fact that the implants lack a periodontal ligament. Thereby, marginal inflammation around an implant may cause more serious bone loss than does marginal inflammation around teeth with a periodontal ligament. In addition, osseointegrated implants are ankylosed and do not haute the same mobility as natural teeth with a periodontal ligament. Implants with a periodontal ligament would eliminate these problems. In order to explore the possibility of producing a periodontal ligament around titanium dental implants, a study of the attachment of cultured periodontal ligament cells to titanium was carried out. Periodontal ligament cells obtained from premolar teeth of individuals undergoing tooth extraction for orthodontic reasons were cultured on titanium-coated epon blocks. Sections of the blocks were cut perpendicular to the surface of the cell layer. Transmission electron microscopy of the periodntal ligament cells/titanium interface showed that there was no evidence of attachment at the cultured periodontal ligament cells titanium interface. The microfilaments, commonly located adjacent to the titanium surface, run mostly parallel to the titanium surface. The study showed that cultured periodontal ligament cells did not create an attachment structure on a titanium surface similar to that of natural teeth.
Actin Cytoskeleton ; Bicuspid ; Dental Implants ; Inflammation ; Ligaments ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Periodontal Ligament* ; Titanium* ; Tooth ; Tooth Extraction

Nine patients of clinically definite multiple sclerosis (MS) were examined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 1.0T. The MS plaques were seen in the brain and spinal cord in eight and three patients. respectively. The frequent sites of MS plaques were periventricular white matter, brain stem, and cervical cord. The shape of most brain MS plaques was round or finger-like configuration. The MS plaques showed high signal intensity on R2 weighted images and low or iso signal intensity on T1 weighted images in all nine cases. Contrast enhancement was seen in 4 cases. Mild brain atrophy was noted in 2 cases and mass effect in 1 case. The sites of cord MS plaques in three patients were C2-C4, C2-C5, and C4-C6 levels respectively. The cord MS plaques showed high signal intensity on T2 weighted image and contrast enhancement on Gd-DTPA enhanced T1 weighted images in all 3cases with mild cord expansion in 2 cases. In conclusion, MRI is a useful diagnostic tool in evaluationg the MS plaques involving central nervous system.
Atrophy ; Brain ; Brain Stem ; Central Nervous System ; Cervical Cord ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Multiple Sclerosis* ; Spinal Cord ; White Matter

Simulated three-dimensional (3D) imaging represents reformation of conventional sectional imaging data into a series of images that closely resemble the original studied structure. We tried to make 3D mucosal surface images of the sinonasal cavities, pharynx and larynx, and evaluated the feature of normal anatomy in 28 subjects. In the sinonasal cavities, 3D imaging was capable of demonstrating the inner wall of paranasal sinuses and its openings, and general status status of the nasal cavity. In the nasal cavity. In the nasopharynx, 3D imaging provided an easy concept of sectional images as 3D picture and displayed anatomic subsites and lesions comparable to that in fiberscope. In addition, 3D imaging had advantages in overcoming the technical limitations in fiberscope. In the larynx and hypopharynx, 3D imaging gave a 3D concept of the laryngeal structures and presented additive information not seen in axial iamges thus enabling access to regions beyond the scope of fiberscope. In conclusion, 3D imaging allows an easy conceptualization of transaxial CT images in complex anatomic areas and provides additional in formations undetectable in transaxial CT. We believe that the spaces of the sinonasal cavities, pharynx and larynx would be a new field of application of 3D image.
Hypopharynx ; Larynx* ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasopharynx ; Paranasal Sinuses ; Pharynx*

Simulated three-dimensional (3D) imaging represents reformation of conventional sectional imaging data into a series of images that closely resemble the original studied structure. We tried to make 3D mucosal surface images of the sinonasal cavities, pharynx and larynx, and evaluated the feature of normal anatomy in 28 subjects. In the sinonasal cavities, 3D imaging was capable of demonstrating the inner wall of paranasal sinuses and its openings, and general status status of the nasal cavity. In the nasal cavity. In the nasopharynx, 3D imaging provided an easy concept of sectional images as 3D picture and displayed anatomic subsites and lesions comparable to that in fiberscope. In addition, 3D imaging had advantages in overcoming the technical limitations in fiberscope. In the larynx and hypopharynx, 3D imaging gave a 3D concept of the laryngeal structures and presented additive information not seen in axial iamges thus enabling access to regions beyond the scope of fiberscope. In conclusion, 3D imaging allows an easy conceptualization of transaxial CT images in complex anatomic areas and provides additional in formations undetectable in transaxial CT. We believe that the spaces of the sinonasal cavities, pharynx and larynx would be a new field of application of 3D image.
Hypopharynx ; Larynx* ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasopharynx ; Paranasal Sinuses ; Pharynx*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety, feasibility and effectiveness of an endoluminally-placed bifurcated stent-graft (Vanguard) for the treatment of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). METHODS: Transluminal endovascular stent-graft placements were attempted in 29 patients (28 male, mean age 69+/-7 years) with AAAs involving the common iliac arteries from Aug. 1997 to Jan. 1999. Endovascular therapy was performed in the cardiac catheterization laboratory with epidural anesthesia. One side of the femoral artery was opened by surgical cutdown for the bifurcated stent-graft entry and the other side was punctured percutaneously for the straight stent-graft. Computed tomography and/or intraarterial angiography were performed during an average follow-up of 10 months (2-18 months). RESULTS: Primary success rate was 75.9% (22 of 29 patients) and the overall success rate was 79.3% with successful correction of one perigraft leak. Twenty patients (69.0%) had significant coronary artery disease. There were two technical failure cases, the one was tortuous iliac vessel with spasm, the other was disconnection of the stent-graft connecting portion. Complications related to procedure occurred in 13.8% of patients (4 of 29 patients) and two of these four patients had procedure-related mortality because of acute renal failure following contrast overdose and sepsis after operation. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular treatment of infrarenal AAA with bifurcated stent-graft (Vanguard<0A397>) is effective, feasible and relatively safe. However, further investigation for the outcome, complication and long-term follow-up are needed.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; Angiography ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal* ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Endoleak ; Femoral Artery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Iliac Artery ; Male ; Mortality ; Sepsis ; Spasm

Authors presented the serial changes of brain MRI findings in two cases of cryptococcal meningitis. The MRI findings of the first patient (53-year-old female) consisted of dilated Virchow-Robin spaces, leptomeningeal enhancement, cryptococcomas and hydrocephalus. Dilated Virchow-Robin spaces were noted on the first MR obtained 33 days after symptom onset. The size and number of dilated Virchow-Robin space gradually decreased since 119 days after symptom onset (62 days after treatment). Faint leptomeningeal enhancement was found at cerebellar region on the first MRI, which became more distinct and intense on the day 119, probably due to improper treatment. The leptomeningeal enhancement decreased on the day 156. Mild hydrocephalus was noted on MRI obtained 70 days after symptom onset, which markedly aggravated on the day 119. It decreased after steroid therapy alone. Enhancing crytococcomas of variable size were noted at the right temporal lobe and cerebellum on MRI of the day 119, which decreased in size and number on the day 156. On the day 295 MRI showed nearly disppearance of the dilated Virchow-Robin space, but faint leptomeningeal enhancement, cerebellar crytococcomas and hydrocephalus still remained. The MRI findings of the second patient (36-year-old female) showed the findings similar to those of the first patient. Initial MRI obtained 18 days after symptom onset showed no abnormal findings. Dilated Virchow-robin spaces were noted on the day 36 (13 days after treatment onset), which nearly disappeared on the day 109. Enhancing cryptococcomas in both basal ganglia and cerebral cortex and leptomeningeal enhancement were noted on MRI of the day 136. Both cryptococcomas and leptomeningeal enhancement decreased in size and enhancing degree on the day 157. Hydrocephalus was noted on the day 109.
Basal Ganglia ; Brain ; Cerebellum ; Cerebral Cortex ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Meningitis, Cryptococcal ; Temporal Lobe

Authors presented the serial changes of brain MRI findings in two cases of cryptococcal meningitis. The MRI findings of the first patient (53-year-old female) consisted of dilated Virchow-Robin spaces, leptomeningeal enhancement, cryptococcomas and hydrocephalus. Dilated Virchow-Robin spaces were noted on the first MR obtained 33 days after symptom onset. The size and number of dilated Virchow-Robin space gradually decreased since 119 days after symptom onset (62 days after treatment). Faint leptomeningeal enhancement was found at cerebellar region on the first MRI, which became more distinct and intense on the day 119, probably due to improper treatment. The leptomeningeal enhancement decreased on the day 156. Mild hydrocephalus was noted on MRI obtained 70 days after symptom onset, which markedly aggravated on the day 119. It decreased after steroid therapy alone. Enhancing crytococcomas of variable size were noted at the right temporal lobe and cerebellum on MRI of the day 119, which decreased in size and number on the day 156. On the day 295 MRI showed nearly disppearance of the dilated Virchow-Robin space, but faint leptomeningeal enhancement, cerebellar crytococcomas and hydrocephalus still remained. The MRI findings of the second patient (36-year-old female) showed the findings similar to those of the first patient. Initial MRI obtained 18 days after symptom onset showed no abnormal findings. Dilated Virchow-robin spaces were noted on the day 36 (13 days after treatment onset), which nearly disappeared on the day 109. Enhancing cryptococcomas in both basal ganglia and cerebral cortex and leptomeningeal enhancement were noted on MRI of the day 136. Both cryptococcomas and leptomeningeal enhancement decreased in size and enhancing degree on the day 157. Hydrocephalus was noted on the day 109.
Basal Ganglia ; Brain ; Cerebellum ; Cerebral Cortex ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Meningitis, Cryptococcal ; Temporal Lobe

No abstract available.
Technetium Tc 99m Dimercaptosuccinic Acid*

BACKGROUND: Total occlusion of the infrarenal abdominal aorta is a very rare disease in clinical practice. The clinical outcome may be poor unless management is attempted promptly. Surgical bypass has been recommended as the treatment of choice for these lesions. However, there was relatively high surgical mortality and morbidity associad with aorto-bifemoral bypass graft in patients with other systemic disease, especially coronary artery disease. As a result, the use of, thrombolysis with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) has recently been extended to this disease as an alternative method to surgery. PTA is technically simpler with less morbidity and mortality than surgery.We report our experience with thrombolysis and balloon angioplasty of total aortic occlusion in 14 patients between March 1991 and December 1996. METHODS: Fourteen patients, whose mean age was 59+/-13 years (11 male, 3 female), serve as the study's patients. Aortography was introduced via transbrachial artery. The end hole multipurpose catheter with guidewire was introduced into the thrombotic portion of the total occlusion. Urokinase was infused into the thrombus through the catheter if there were no contraindications. in sysremic thrombolysis. Thrombolytic therapy was continued until the thrombi was resolved and flow was restored. Balloon dilatation was followed in residual stenotic lesions. Stents were implanted in case of suboptimal results after ballooning. RESULTS: Clinical findings were resting leg pain in 6 patients, gangrene in 5 patients, and claudication in 3 patients. The causes of aortic occlusion were thromboembolism in 4 patients and thrombosis of an atherosclerotic aorta in 10 patients. Location of obstruction was below the renal artery in all cases. The clinical outcome of interventional therapy was successful in all cases except one patients. Operative treatment was undertaken in 2 cases because they could not received thrombolytic therapy due to contraindication and complication of thrombolytic therapy (gastrointestinal bleeding). Near normal revascularization was achieved in 3 patients by thrombolytic therapy only. PTA was performed at the stenotic after thrombolytic therapy in 4 patients. Stenting were performed at the stenotic sites after balloon dilatation in another 4 patients. There was bleeding complication in one case. CONCLUSIONS: Interventional therapy such as thrombolytic therapy with PTA is an effective and safe treatment modality for abdominal aortic total occlusion in selected cases. These techniques were very useful in some high risk patients who received surgical bypass procedures.
Angioplasty ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; Aorta ; Aorta, Abdominal* ; Aortography ; Arteries ; Catheters ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Dilatation ; Gangrene ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Leg ; Male ; Mortality ; Rare Diseases ; Renal Artery ; Stents ; Thromboembolism ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Thrombosis ; Transplants ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

The antihypertensive effect of carteolol hydrochloride was observed in 20 cases of essential hypertension, and following results were obtained. 1. Mean drops in systolic and diastolic blood pressure by carteolol hydrochloride were 13mmHg and 9mmHg. The results of antihypertensive therapy revealed good control in 25%, fair control in 35%, poor in 20% and failure in 20% of the cases. 2. After the administration of carteolol hydrochloride, no drop in average heart rate was observed. 3. The side effect of carteolol was mild indigestion in two cases.
Blood Pressure ; Carteolol* ; Dyspepsia ; Heart Rate ; Hypertension