Accepted methods of treatment of lumbar burst fractures include conservative therapy, posterior reduction and instrumentation, and anterior decompression and instrumentation. Surgery aims at the correction of the kyphotic deformity and at the decompression of the spinal cord thereby reducing pain and allowing early patient mobilization. Posterior-only procedures usually rely on ligamentotaxis or manual tamping of bone fragments for decompression of the spinal canal. Transpedicular corpectomy allow for circumferential surgery through a single posterior approach. The authors use an expandable cage to restore the normal spinal curvature and to prevent the kyphotic deformity.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Decompression ; Humans ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Curvatures

OBJECTIVE: This study was to investigate the clinical efficiency of clomiphene citrate/GnRH antagonist protocol comparing with the clomiphene citrate only protocol in infertile women with normal ovulatory cycles. METHOD: Among 116 patients, 43 were received assisted reproductive technologies using natural ovulatory cycle, 38 and 35 were received clomiphene citrate only protocol and clomiphene citrate/GnRH antagonist combined protocol, respectively, and the clinical results were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: In each group, basal levels of LH, FSH, E2 and FSH, E2 on hCG day injected were not different, but LH level and endometrial thickness on hCG injected day were decreased significantly and the pregnancy rate was increased significantly in clomiphene citrate/GnRH antagonist group. CONCLUSION: The pregnancy rate was increased significantly in clomiphene citrate/GnRH antagonist group compared with natural ovulatory cycle and clomiphene citrate only group.
Clomiphene* ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy Rate ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted

OBJECTIVE: This study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to contrast the differential brain activation patterns in response to visual stimulation with both male and female erotic nude pictures in male-to-female (MTF) transsexuals who underwent a sex reassignment surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of nine healthy MTF transsexuals after a sex reassignment surgery underwent fMRI on a 3.0 Tesla MR Scanner. The brain activation patterns were induced by visual stimulation with both male and female erotic nude pictures. RESULTS: The sex hormone levels of the postoperative MTF transsexuals were in the normal range of healthy heterosexual females. The brain areas, which were activated by viewing male nude pictures when compared with viewing female nude pictures, included predominantly the cerebellum, hippocampus, putamen, anterior cingulate gyrus, head of caudate nucleus, amygdala, midbrain, thalamus, insula, and body of caudate nucleus. On the other hand, brain activation induced by viewing female nude pictures was predominantly observed in the hypothalamus and the septal area. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that distinct brain activation patterns associated with visual sexual arousal in postoperative MTF transsexuals reflect their sexual orientation to males.
Adult ; Arousal/physiology ; Brain Mapping/*methods ; Erotica ; Female ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones/blood ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Photic Stimulation ; Transsexualism/*psychology

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate screw joint stability and sagittal fit between internal connection implant fixtures of two different manufacturers and customized abutments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Internal connection implant systems from two different manufacturers (Biomet 3i system, Astra Tech system) were selected for this study (n=24 for each implant system, total n=48). For 3i implant system, half of the implants were connected with Ti ready-made abutments and the other half implants were connected with Ti CAD-CAM custom ones of domestic-make (Myplant, Raphabio Co., Seoul, Korea) and were classified into Group 1 and Group 2 respectively. Astra implants were divided into Group 3 and Group 4 in the same way. Micro-CT sagittal imaging was performed for fit analysis of interfaces and preloading reverse torque values (RTV) were measured. RESULTS: In the contact length of fixture-abutment interface, there were no significant differences not only between Group 1 and Group 2 but also between Group 3 and Group 4 (Mann-Whitney test, P>.05). However, Group 2 and Group 4 showed higher contact length significantly than Group 1 and Group 3 in abutmentscrew interface as well as fixture-screw one (Mann-Whitney test, P<.05). In addition, RTV was lower in CAD-CAM custom abutments compared to ready-made ones (Student t-test, P<.05). CONCLUSION: It is considered that domestically manufactured CAD-CAM custom abutments have similar fit at the fixture abutment interface and it could be used clinically. However, RTV of CAD-CAM custom abutments should be improved for the increase of clinical application.
Computer-Aided Design* ; Joints ; Seoul ; Torque

No abstract available.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/therapeutic use ; Helicobacter Infections/complications/drug therapy ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Peptic Ulcer/drug therapy/*etiology ; Recurrence ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors ; Smoking

Interferon-gamma has been suggested as a cytokine of connective tissue stabilizer. In addition, it has also been demonstrated that this cytokine inhibited bone remodeling activities of the bone derived cells. In order to illuminate the effects of this cytokine in orthodontic force induced bone remodeling, it was administered to primary cultured periodontal ligament cells which have been known to have some osteoblast like characteristics. Interferon-gamma slightly decreased [3H]thymidine incorporation rate without a significant change in the total cellular DNA content up to 1000 U/ml, which meant these doses were not cytotoxic to the cell. Total protein synthesis was not influenced by various concentration of interferon-gamma whether it was determined by the [3H]proline incorporation rate or by the Lowry smethod. The effect of interferon-gamma on the individual protein was, however, differential, ie, it increased [3H]proline incorporation into the noncollagenous protein marginally, while it decreased [3H]proline incorporation into the collagen, so that it caused dose-dependent suppression of the relative collagen synthesis. On the contrary, the fibronectin synthesis determined by the ELISA was increased by 1000 U/ml of interferon-gamma. The differential effects of the interferon-gamma on the collagen and fibronectin synthesis exhibited not only their protein level but also the steady state mRNA level. Interferon-gamma decreased steady state level of alpha1(I) procollagen mRNA significantly, while showing no significant changes in the fibronectin mRNA level. In addition to this, it was also found that indomethacin did not affect on the interferon-gamma induced collagen decrease in this cell, which meant prostaglandins were not involved in the process of interferon-gamma induced collagen decrease. So it can be concluded that the incubation of periodontal ligament cells with 1000 U/ml of interferon-gamma for 24 hr showed differential effects on the type I collagen and fibronectin gene expression. The decrease in relative collagen synthesis in the protein level was related with decrease in the steady state level of mRNA, while the increase in the fibronectin synthesis in the protein level was not correlated with the mRNA level.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Bone Remodeling ; Collagen Type I ; Collagen* ; Connective Tissue ; DNA ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fibronectins* ; Gene Expression ; Indomethacin ; Interferon-gamma* ; Osteoblasts ; Periodontal Ligament* ; Procollagen ; Prostaglandins ; RNA, Messenger

OBJECTIVE: By using a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique we assessed brain activation patterns while subjects were viewing the living environments representing natural and urban scenery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 28 healthy right-handed subjects underwent an fMRI on a 3.0 Tesla MRI scanner. The stimulation paradigm consisted of three times the rest condition and two times the activation condition, each of which lasted for 30 and 120 seconds, respectively. During the activation period, each subject viewed natural and urban scenery, respectively. RESULTS: The predominant brain activation areas observed following exposure to natural scenic views in contrast with urban views included the superior and middle frontal gyri, superior parietal gyrus, precuneus, basal ganglia, superior occipital gyrus, anterior cingulate gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, and insula. On the other hand, the predominant brain activation areas following exposure to urban scenic views in contrast with natural scenes included the middle and inferior occipital gyri, parahippocampal gyrus, hippocampus, amygdala, anterior temporal pole, and inferior frontal gyrus. CONCLUSION: Our findings support the idea that the differential functional neuroanatomies for each scenic view are presumably related with subjects' emotional responses to the natural and urban environment, and thus the differential functional neuroanatomy can be utilized as a neural index for the evaluation of friendliness in ecological housing.
Adult ; Brain Mapping/*methods ; Emotions/physiology ; Environment ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Linear Models ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods ; Male ; *Photic Stimulation

Most of the basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) are effectively treated using standard conventional therapeutic modalities, but the complete removal of the tumor is difficult if the subclinical extension of BCCs is deep and wide. These difficulties are solved by Mohs micrographic surgery which provides the highest possible cure rates and the lowest normal tissue loss. Mohs micrographic surgery is an ideal method for the treatment of skin cancer in that it provides unsurpassed cure rates and maximum preservation of normal tissue by complete surgical margin control. We studied 40 patients with 40 basal cell carcinomas (22 primary, 18 recurrent) treated by Mohs micrographic surgery from January, 1992 through October, 1995 at Dong-A University Hospital. We evaluated the depth and lateral margins of excision by Mohs microgrphic surgery according to the anatomic locations, histologic type, size, and primary/recurrent state of basal cell carcinomas. There was no recurrence during follow-up period up to 3 years. We can draw the guidelines for complete surgical margin control out of our results. The guidelines are as follows. 1. The frist excision should be done with lateral safety margin of 2 mm in primary BBCs. 2. The frist excision should be done with lateral safety margin of 4 mm in recurrent BBCs. 3. The frist excision should be done with lateral safety margin of 4 mm in longer than 15 mm-sized BBCs. 4. The additional excision should be done with the every 2 mm lateral safety margin until the tumor completely removed. 5. The frist excision should be done with the surgical depth to periosteum, perichondrium especially in BBCs on nose.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mohs Surgery* ; Nose ; Periosteum ; Recurrence ; Skin Neoplasms

A 47-day-old male infant presented with fever, poor oral intake, irritability, and right-sided bluish buccal swelling. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the neck showed a round mass lesion of about 2.0x1.5 cm that suggested abscess formation in the right masticator space. Ultrasound-guided extraoral aspiration of the abscess at the right masseter muscle was successful. Staphylococcus aureus was identified in the culture from the aspirated pus and blood. Appropriate antibiotics were given and the patient recovered. The patient underwent follow-up ultrasonography that showed an improved state of the previously observed right masseter muscle swelling at about 1 month after hospital discharge. A masticator space abscess usually originates from an odontogenic infection in adults. We report a case of masticator space abscess in a 47-day-old infant in whom septicemia without odontogenic infection was suspected.
Abscess ; Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteremia ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Masseter Muscle ; Neck ; Sepsis ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Suppuration

Methotrexate has been used to treat refractory psoriasis for many years. Despite its well-established clinical efficacy, drawbacks to methotrexate usage include a number of deleterious effects including hepatotoxicity, bone marrow suppression, and interstitial pneumonitis. We experienced a case of liver cirrhosis m patient with active psoriasis receiving long-term ora1 methotrexate therapy, and reported this case with review of literature.
Bone Marrow ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver* ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Methotrexate* ; Psoriasis