PURPOSE: We studied the effectiveness and toxicities of 5-fluorouracil+leucovorin, combination chemotherapy in advanced or recurred colo-rectal cancer patients, who didn't have previous chemotherapy and enrolled from August 1993 to July 1998. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients were treated with leucovorin followed by 5-fluorouracil for 5 consecutive days every 4 weeks. Among 43 patients who were enrolled, 40 patients received treatment at least 2 courses, and they were evaluable. Male to female ratio was 21 to 19. In serum CEA level, 27 patients were greater than 5 ng/ml and 13 were less than 5 ng/ml. And primary site was colon in 21 patients and rectum in 19 patients. RESULTS: The complete response rate was 7,5% and the partial response rate was 25%. The median survival duration was 14.7 months, the median response duration was 16.0 months, and median time to progression was 7.3 months. In the analysis of response, survival duration, time to progression according to various characteristics of patients, serum CEA level and liver involvement were revealed significant difference in survival duration, time to progression (p=0.0122, 00350 & 0.0202, 0.0123) on univariate analysis, but no significant difference on multivariates. Hematologic and non-hematologic toxicities were mild and tolerable. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that the combination of 5-fluorouracil (370 mg/m) and leucovorin (20 mg/m) is effective and tolerable regimen in advanced or recurred colo-rectal cancer patients without previous chemotherapy.
Colon ; Drug Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination* ; Female ; Fluorouracil* ; Humans ; Leucovorin* ; Liver ; Male ; Rectal Neoplasms* ; Rectum

No abstract available.
Laparotomy* ; Sutures* ; Wound Infection* ; Wounds and Injuries*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Horns* ; Knee ; Menisci, Tibial*

Endoscopic ACL reconstruction using bone-patellar tendon-bone has been considered the gold standard in the field of reconstructive ACL surgery. Technically, graft must be placed at isometric point. But it is difficult to evaluate the placement of graft postoperatively. The purpose of this study is to determine the radiological ideal position of graft by comparing postoperative results with the graft placement. Seventy cases of endoscopic ACL reconstruction were reviewed and classified according to the femoral and tibial graft position on radiologic imaging. The femoral graft position was classified in relation to angle of graft on anterior position view and distance from posterior margin of graft to the inner surface of posterior cortex on lateral view. The tibial graft position was classified in relation to intercondylar eminence on anterior posterior view and lateral view. Knee score (modified Marshall, Lysholum), manual anterior instability test (Lachman test, Pivot shift test) and arthrometer measurement were checked to evaluate postoperative results in each case. The results of this study implicate that knee joint in which femoral graft was oriented at direction of 11 o clock centring around 68 degree respect to tibial joint and placed within 3mm from posterior cortex showed higher knee score and lesser laxity. In cases of tibial side, the graft oriented to intercondylar eminence (AP view) and placed anterior to intercondylar eminence (lateral view) showed higher knee score and lesser laxity.
Joints ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Patellar Ligament* ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Ephedrine* ; Rabbits*

Absorption ; Adult ; Animals ; Bicuspid ; Blood Platelets ; Bone Density ; Bone Development ; Centrifugation ; Dogs ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Osteogenesis ; Peri-Implantitis ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Durapatite* ; Dust* ; Rabbits* ; Transplants*

Although sacrococcygeal mass is rare and usually found in infants or children, adolescent or adult patients with protruding mass in sacrococcygeal region occasionally come to us simply for a cosmetic problem. In this situation, even though there is no definite neurological deficit, it should be evaluated whether or not the underlying bony pathology or dural defect exists. Few cases about the sacrococcygeal mass have been reported in adults. We reviewed our cases including preoperative evaluation methods and postoperative diagnosis. From March, 1993 to February, 1997, we experienced 6 adult patients with sacrococcygeal mass and no neurological abnormality. Preoperative evaluation were made by plain X-ray, myelogram, computed tomography(CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as needed. Postoperative diagnoses were 2 meningoceles, 2 lipomyelomeningoceles, 1 desmoid tumor, and 1 teratoma. From our experiences, CT or MRI is essential to evaluate the sacrococcygeal mass preoperatively. These methods can visualize the precise anatomic location and extent of the mass, its relation to the spinal cord, and associated bony abnormalities. MRI is superior to CT, especially in defining the nature of the mass and involvement of the spinal cord. Conclusively, even a simple mass in the sacrococcygeal region in adults needs MRI or CT evaluation, and MRI is the most valuable method of evaluating the mass preoperatively and provides important information to establish a treatment plan.
Adolescent ; Adult* ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Fibromatosis, Aggressive ; Humans ; Infant ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meningocele ; Pathology ; Sacrococcygeal Region* ; Spinal Cord ; Teratoma

Proliferative scarring in the form of keloids and hypertrophic scars continues to be a clinical problem for some patients. The lack of an animal model for such scarring has been an obstacle to studying the biology and effective therapy of these entities. Consequently we created an accurate reproductive animal model to systematically study them. Human proliferative scars were explanted into flaps based on isolated vascular pedicles in congenitally rats. We compared the procollagen type III peptide levels of proliferative scar tissue before and after explanting. The procollagen type III peptide levels of explanted proliferative scar tissue remained increased as before explanting. Histological analysis of the explanted proliferative scar tissue revealed that all explants retained their original histotypic character even after 1 year. We could also retain the volume of implanted proliferative scar for 1 year and studied in vitro cellular proliferation. Fibroblast cultures from explanted scars demonstrated less aggressive growth characteristic than those from original surgical specimens. The advantages of this animal model are as follows: 1. The explants retain their histotypical character for a long period. 2. Placement of the explants outside the dorsum of a nude rat makes serial observation and measurement easier. 3. Agents under test can be injected into the explants through a catheter inserted into a single pedicle of island flap without the possibility of spreading systematically.
Animals* ; Biology ; Catheters ; Cell Proliferation ; Cicatrix* ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; Collagen Type III ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Keloid ; Models, Animal* ; Rats ; Rats, Nude

To investigate the effects of prostaglandin E1(PGX1) in prevention of proliferative scar formation, we cultured fibroblasts of normal skin (NS), hypertrophic scar (HS) and keloid (KL) tissues obtained from patients. We have compared type I collagenase production of cultured fibroblasts from normal skin, hypertrophic scar, and keloid tissues under various concentrations of PGE1. Our results demonstrate that type I collagenase production was significantly increased after addition of PGE1 in HS and KL, but not NS. Type I collagenase production of HS and KL fibroblasts were increased similarly in 10M and 10M of PGE1 and maximally increased in the concentration of 10M. This promotive effects of PGE1 on the production of type I collagenase was larger in KL than in HS. These results also suggest that PGE1 may play the promotive effects on type I collagenase production in dose-dependent manner. PGE1 may have a role in the prevention of hypertrophic scar and keloid by enhancing the production of type I collagenase of HS and KL fibroblasts. The promotive effects of PGE1 on type I collagenase production was variable depending on its concentration, and its effects was maximum in certain optimal condition. The maximally effective concentration of PGE1 in the prevention of proliferative scar formation should be searched in further investigations for clinical use.
Alprostadil ; Cicatrix ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic* ; Collagenases* ; Fibroblasts* ; Humans ; Keloid* ; RNA, Messenger* ; Skin