Spinal fusion has performed for instability and anatomical reconstruction since 1985 by Barthe. Bone grafts and synthetic materials has been used for spinal fusion, but they have several limitations and complications. Recently a new synthetic polymer B.O.P.(Biocompatible Osteoconductive Polymer) was developed and it overcome the limitations of other materials. The B.O.P. showed no foreign body reaction and gave scaffolding for the osteoconduction and osteointegration. Authors operated 35 cases of spinal fusion with B.O.P. and the results and literature reviews were discussed.
Bone Regeneration ; Bone Substitutes ; Foreign-Body Reaction ; Polymers ; Spinal Fusion* ; Transplants

Anterior interbody fusion has used for instability and anatomical reconstruction in various cervical diseases since 1958 by cloward. Bone grafts such as autograft, allograft, xenograft and synthetic materials were utilized in fusion as a graft material. But conventional fusion materials have problems including postoperative morbidity, transmission of diseases, foreign body reaction, collapse, prolongation of operation time. A new synthetic material, Biocompatible Osteoconductive Polymer(B.O.P) is developed and it was useful for cervical anterior interbody fusion as a substitute for other fusion materials.
Allografts ; Autografts ; Foreign-Body Reaction ; Heterografts ; Transplants

Mayer-Rokitansky-Kster-Hauser Syndrome is characterized by the absence of the vagina and uterus, the presence of apparently normal tubes and ovaries, feminine appeara-nce, normal female secondary sexual characteristics, a normal 46,XX karyotype, and a fem-inine psychosexual orientation. Various methods of surgical treatment have been introduced, but the ideal method is still not found. The two cases reviewed in this paper were all treated with McIndoe operation using full thickness skin graft. Both women were satisfied with vaginal depth and excellent result was achieved. We report two vaginoplasties in patients of Mayer-Rokitansky-Kster-Hauser Syndr- ome including a brief review of literature.
Female ; Humans ; Karyotype ; Ovary ; Skin ; Transplants ; Uterus ; Vagina

BACKGROUND: The correlation between the high resolution computed tomography(HRCT) emphysema score and the physiologic parameters including resting and exercise pulmonary function test was investingated in 14 patients(60.6±10.3 years) with pulmonary emphysema. METHODS: The patients underwent a HRCT, a resting pulmonary function test, and incremental exercise testing(cycle ergometer, 10 W/min). Computed tomography scans were obtained on a GE highlight at 10 mm intervals using 10 mm collimation, from the apex to the base after a full inspiration. The emphysema scores wer determined by a CT program 'Density mask' outlining the areas with attenuation values less than -900 HU, indicating the emphysema areas, and providing an overall percentage of lung involvement by emphysema. RESULTS: Among the resing PFT parameters, only the diffusing capacity(r=-0.75) and PaO2 (r=-0.66) correlated with the emphysema score(p<0.05). Among the exercise test parameers, the emphysema score correlated significantly with the maximum power(r=-0.74), maximum oxygen consumption(r=-0.68), anaerobic threshold(V-slope method : r=-0.69), maximal O2-pulse(r=-0.73), and the physiologic dead space ratio at the maximum workload(r=-0.80)(p<0.01). CONCLUSION: We could find that exercise testing parameters showed a much better correlation with the HRCT emphysema score, which is known to have a good correlation with the pathologic severity than the resting PFT parameters. Therefore it is suggested that exercise testing is superior to resting PFT for estimating in the estimation of the physiologic disturbance in emphysema patients.
Emphysema* ; Exercise Test ; Humans ; Lung ; Oxygen ; Pulmonary Emphysema ; Respiratory Function Tests

Authors measured the Y-shaped angle made by both yellow ligaments and both laminae named Y-angle at the spinal CT scan in normal and lumbar stenosis group. The normal range of Y-angle is between 60 degrees and 95 degrees. Lumbar stenosis is classified into narrow Y-angle stenosis(<60 degrees) and wide Y-angle stenosis(>95 degrees) by Y-angle. Narrow Y-angle stenosis is most common in degenerative spondylotic stenosis. Wide Y-angle is most common in congenital stenosis. The Y-angle is a simple and useful diagnostic indicator in the diagnosis of lumbar spinal stenosis on CT scan and MRI scan.
Constriction, Pathologic* ; Diagnosis ; Ligaments ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Reference Values ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spine* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

A case of extradural cavernous hemangioma on lumbar spine combined with ruptured disc is reported. Cavernous hemangiomas are uncommon vascular malformation of the central nervous system. In the spine, the majority of these lesions are from secondary extensions of vertebral hemangiomas. Occurrence of a primary extradural cavernous hemangioma is relatively rare. Authors report a case of extradural cavernous hemangioma of the spine with the review of literatures.
Central Nervous System ; Hemangioma ; Hemangioma, Cavernous* ; Spine ; Vascular Malformations

No abstract available.
Biopsy* ; Hemoglobinuria, Paroxysmal* ; Kidney* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging*

The combination therapy of pegylated interferon and ribavirin is the mainstay of treatment for chronic hepatitis C patients. Anti-viral therapy is commonly associated with side effects such as headache, fever, myalgia, and arthralgia. However, anti-viral therapy can continue because these side effects are mostly mild and can be improved with supportive management. Anti-viral therapy should be stopped promptly if serious side effects, such as interstitial pneumonitis or hemolytic anemia occur, although those serious side effects are rare. There were a few case reports of interferon-related interstitial pneumonitis worldwide. In Korea, one atypical case report of interstitial pneumonitis has been reported, which followed the combination therapy of interferon-alpha and ribavirin in a patient with chronic hepatitis C. We present a case of interstitial pneumonitis and pancytopenia following the combination therapy of pegylated interferon and ribavirin in a patient with chronic hepatitis C.
Anemia, Hemolytic ; Arthralgia ; Fever ; Headache ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; Interferons ; Korea ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Pancytopenia ; Polyethylene Glycols ; Recombinant Proteins ; Ribavirin

The combination therapy of pegylated interferon and ribavirin is the mainstay of treatment for chronic hepatitis C patients. Anti-viral therapy is commonly associated with side effects such as headache, fever, myalgia, and arthralgia. However, anti-viral therapy can continue because these side effects are mostly mild and can be improved with supportive management. Anti-viral therapy should be stopped promptly if serious side effects, such as interstitial pneumonitis or hemolytic anemia occur, although those serious side effects are rare. There were a few case reports of interferon-related interstitial pneumonitis worldwide. In Korea, one atypical case report of interstitial pneumonitis has been reported, which followed the combination therapy of interferon-alpha and ribavirin in a patient with chronic hepatitis C. We present a case of interstitial pneumonitis and pancytopenia following the combination therapy of pegylated interferon and ribavirin in a patient with chronic hepatitis C.
Anemia, Hemolytic ; Arthralgia ; Fever ; Headache ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; Interferons ; Korea ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Pancytopenia ; Polyethylene Glycols ; Recombinant Proteins ; Ribavirin

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The correlations between plaque characteristics and plaque rupture location according to segmental lesion analysis have not been well defined. The aim of this study was to assess those characteristics of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) culprit lesions according to segmental lesion geometry using virtual histology intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS). METHODS: Sixty single discrete lesions found in the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary arteries of 60 patients with STEMI were included. Each lesion was divided into 3 segments based on lumen area (LA) index, calculated by dividing the lesion LA by the reference LA. RESULTS: Among the 3 segments, the mid-segment showed the highest proportion of necrotic core (NC; proximal, mid-, and distal segments: 20.9±11.8%, 22.7±11.3%, and 17.5±11.2%, respectively, p=0.044). VH-IVUS-derived thin-cap fibroatheroma (VH-TCFA) was also more frequently found in the mid-segment than in proximal and distal segments (36.7%, 58.3%, and 16.7%, p < 0.001). The mid-segment also showed the highest prevalence of plaque rupture (45.0%, 78.3% and 11.7%, p < 0.001) and thrombus (61.7%, 95.0%, and 41.7%, p < 0.001) compared to proximal or distal segments. When the lesions were divided into 2 groups according to the median value (4.0 mm2) of minimum lumen area (MLA), plaque rupture at the distal segment was observed only in high MLA lesions (23.3% vs. 0.0%, p=0.011). CONCLUSION: Analysis of longitudinal lesion geometry using the LA index can be useful in evaluating plaque vulnerability and the incidence of plaque rupture and thrombus in STEMI patients.
Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Humans ; Incidence ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Prevalence ; Rupture ; Thrombosis ; Ultrasonography