Growth factors influencing the function of chondrocytes are insulin-like growth factor I(IGF-I), basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF), transforming growth factor-beta1(TGF-beta1), and epidermal growth factor(EGF). To find out the role of four kinds of growth factors in the biosynthesis of type I and II collagen represented as the phenotype of the disc cells, we cultured the disc cells isolated from rabbit intervertebral discs primarily and then checked cell proliferation, the expression of type I and II procollagen mRNA, and the immunohistochemical stains with type I and II collagen antibodies during in vitro culture in the maintenance medium containing low serum concentration with adding four kinds of growth factors. The results are as follows. FBS(10% Fetal bovine serum) group showed the highest cell proliferation potential. EGF and TGF groups showed remarkable cell proliferation, but there was no significant difference in IGF and FGF groups comparing to control group. A partial clone that encodes the rabbit type II procollagen C-propeptide region(RbCo12A1) was successfully isolated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction using total RNA extracted from articular chondrocytes of rabbits. The identity of the cDNA clone was confirmed by DNA sequencing of the polymerase chain reaction products. A comparison of human al(II) cDNA sequence showed high sequence homology(83.6%). Type I procollagen mRNA expressed highly in EGF group. FGF, IGF, and TGF groups showed no significant expression comparing to control group. FBS group showed lower expression than control group. Type II procollagen expression was increased with passage of time, so at Day 10 it was the highest in all groups. Control group showed the highest expression among 6 experimental groups. The expression of type II procollagen in FGF and TGF groups was slightly lower than that of control. EGF and IGF groups showed markedly decreased expression comparing to control group. That in FBS group was the lowest, so it was three times lower than control group. In immunohistochemical stains with type I collagen, there was no difference among control, FBS, and EGF groups. FGF, IGF, and TGF groups showed increased positivity on stain comparing to control group, but the positivity didnt exceed 10%. For type II collagen, EGF and FGF groups showed decreased positivity, but there was no significant difference in FBS, IGF, and TGF groups comparing to control group. On the basis of this study, it may be concluded that TGF-pl showed the possibility of regeneration or delay the degeneration process of the intervertebral disc through the contribution to the stimulatory effects of cell proliferation and the synthesis of type II collagen. For the clinical use of this, more studies about the combination effects with FBS or other kinds of growth factors and finding out the ideal concentration about TGF-pl will be needed.
Antibodies ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured* ; Chondrocytes ; Clone Cells ; Collagen Type I ; Collagen Type II ; Collagen* ; Coloring Agents ; DNA, Complementary ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins* ; Intervertebral Disc* ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Procollagen ; Rabbits ; Regeneration ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

No abstract available.
Spondylolisthesis* ; Zygapophyseal Joint*

No abstract available.
Spondylolisthesis*

The results of surgical treatment for isthmic spondylolisthesis in children and adolescent have been well documented. Successful clinical results with fusion can be expected in children and adolescent. But in adults, instability was not the only problem. In addition to their instability, adults were more likely to have degenerative disc changes and nerve compression not solved by fusion only. The role of decompression in the surgical treatment of adult isthmic spondylolisthesis remains controversial. Anterior interbody fusion could obtain indirect decompression of nerve root through widening of intervertebral space. Posterolateral fusion with transpedicular fixation could get direct decompression. So, the purpose of this study is to compare the clinical results of the anterior interbody fusion and the posterolateral fusion with transpedicular fixation for the treatment of isthmic spondylolisthesis in adults. We reviewed the clinical data of 40 adult patients who had been taken operation due to isthmic spondylolisthesis from June, 1977 to June, 1994. The anterior interbody fusion was performed in 20 patients (Group I) and the posterolateral fusion with transpedicular fixation was performed in 20 patients (Group II). The mean age of group I was 44.1 years old (21-62), and that of group II was 41.3 years old (21-57). The gender of patients was 8 males and 12 females in group I, and 5 males and 15 females in group II. The symptoms and signs of group I and II were similar. The duration of follow-up was average 3.6 years (1.1-16 years) in group I and average 2.3 years (1.1-6 years) in group II. The anterior slippage of group I by Taillard method was 16.1% and was corrected into 10.4% after opera-up was average 3.6 years (1.1-16 years) in group I and average 2.3 years (1.1-6 years) in group II. The anterior slippage of group I by Taillard method was 16.1% and was corrected into 10.4% after operation. That of group II was 15.2% and corrected into 9.8% after operation. The fusion rate at 12 months after operation was 90% in group I and 95% in group II. The clinical results were analysed by Kim's criteria that was focused on the improvement of clinical symptoms. The satisfactory results were obtainted in 85 % of group I and 90 % of group II. So there was no significant difference of clinical results between the anterior interbody fusion and the posterolateral fusion with transpedicular fixation for the treatment of isthmic spondylolisthesis in adults (p<0.05).
Adolescent ; Adult* ; Child ; Decompression ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Spondylolisthesis

Pathological laughing and crying(PLC) is a condition that is characterized by episodic, brief, contextually inappropriate, uncontrollable outbursts of laughing and/or crying. It can be observed in patients with various neurological disorders. PLC often causes distress in interpersonal functioning and activities for patients and their families. PLC can be recognized easily with proper understanding of the condition and its nature. Also it generally shows good response to various pharmacological treatments. This review aims to encourage the diagnosis and treatment of PLC by providing definition and clinical presentation of PLC, analysis of its pathophysiology and various current treatment options.
Crying* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Nervous System Diseases

No abstract available.
Finite Element Analysis* ; Prostheses and Implants* ; Tooth*

OBJECTIVE: The effects on spermatogenesis by expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Testicular specimens were obtained from 40 infertile males due to primary testicular failure and from 10 fertile males with other urologic problems. The specimens of infertile males were devided into 4 groups according to histologic findings; Sertoli cell only syndrome (A), maturation arrest (B), hypospermatogenesis (C) and sloughing and disorganization (D). VEGF and ET-1 expression were detected with immunohistochemical stain. RESULTS: VEGF expression on Leydig cell was detected in all cases. But, VEGF expression rates on germ cell were significantly higher in infertile group B, C, D compared to that of the control group (p<0.05). ET-1 expression rates on Leydig cell was significantly lower in all infertile group compared to that of the control group (p<0.05). But, ET-1 expression rates on Sertoli cell was significantly higher in all infertile group compared to that of the control group (p>0.05). In germ cell of infertile group, LH, FSH and prolactin were significantly decreased, and estradiol is increased in positive stain group on ET-1 immunohistochemical stain (p<0.05). VEGF and ET-1 expression were not correlated mean seminiferous tubule diameter (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal spermatogenesis would be reflected in VEGF expression in germ cell.
Endothelin-1* ; Estradiol ; Germ Cells ; Humans ; Male ; Oligospermia ; Prolactin ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Sertoli Cell-Only Syndrome ; Spermatogenesis ; Testis* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Some of the techniques for bone grafting for delayed union or nonunion of the long bone are used currently. In 1991, at arthroscopy workshop in Phoenix, Arizona, Lanny L. Johnson, M.D. reported a case of endoscopic bone grafting for the delayed union on the humerus. He suggested the possibilities of endoscopic bone grafting such as minimal incision, magnified visualization, accurate debridement, accurate graft placement, vascular preservation, outpatient surgery and reduced cost. The author performed endoscopic bone grafting and extra-articular adhesionlysis on the delayed union of femur with extra-articular ankylosis. The patient was a 28 year old housewife with blood type Rh(-). The duration after initial operation was more than 9 months. The result of the graft was satisfactory. In the future endoscopic bone grafting could be performed for nonunion, delayed union and congenital bone defect.
Ambulatory Surgical Procedures ; Ankylosis ; Arizona ; Arthroscopy ; Bone Transplantation ; Debridement ; Education ; Femur ; Humans ; Humerus ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Coagulase negative staphylococcus (CNS) spp. is a major pathogenic organism of nosocomial and community-acquired urianry tract infections, and causes infrctions in the immunocompromised host, and in particular, bloodstream infetions in patent with indwelling devices. High prevalance of methicillin resistance has been noticed in CNS which also have been recongnized as an important multidrug resistant pathogen. The optimal phenotypic method for detecting methicillin resistance still remains controversial, and new guidelines for detecting methicillin resistance of CNS was proposed by NCCLS in January 1999. We evaluated the relationship between mecA gene by PCR method and antimicrobial susceptibility tests according to the new NCCLS guidelines. METHODS: A total of 82 CNS isolates were examined for MICs and penicillin MICs by disk diffusion and agar dilution method according to NCCLS guidelines, and detections, and detection of mecA gene by PCR. RESULT: In disk diffusion method, 66 strains (80.5%) and 63 strains (76.8%) showed resistance to penicillin and oxacillin, respectively, and in agar dilution method, 71 strains(86.6%) and 53 strains (64.6%), respectively. In PCR method, mecA genes were detected in 49 strains(59.8%). Comparing with mecA gene detection by PCR method, the sensitivity of disk diffusion and agar dilution method was 95.8% and 89.8%, repectively. However, the sensitivity of disk diffusion and agar dilution method was 65.3% and 75.5%, respectively using previous NCCLS criteria. CONCLUSION: The new criteria of NCCLS detects the methicillin resistance induced by mecA gene more sensitively than previous one.
Agar ; Coagulase* ; Diffusion ; Immunocompromised Host ; Methicillin Resistance ; Oxacillin ; Penicillins ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Staphylococcus*

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the effect of preoperative fatty degeneration of deltoid and teres minor muscles on the clinical outcome in patient with reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA). METHODS: Nineteen patients with RTSA were enrolled. The mean follow-up period was 16.1 months. The fatty degeneration of three distinct parts in each deltoid and the teres minor muscle was measured using a preoperative magnetic resonance imaging. Postoperatively, the muscle strengths for forward elevation (FE), abduction (Abd), and external rotation (ER) were measured using a myometer at the last follow-up. The parameters for clinical outcome were Constant Score (CS) and Korean Shoulder Score (KSS). RESULTS: The number of cases was 10 in group 1 and 9 in group 2. The strength of FE and Abd were significantly higher in group 1 (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively), and the strength of ER was not different significantly between two groups (p=0.065). For the clinical outcome, both CS and KSS were higher in group 1 (p=0.002 and p=0.002, respectively). The number of patients in group A was 11, and group B was 8. Although there was not a significant difference in terms of FE and Abd between group A and B (p=0.091, p=0.238), ER was significantly higher in group A (p=0.012). We did not find a significant difference in the clinical scores (CS, p=0.177 and KSS, p=0.238). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest the importance of a preoperative evaluation of the fatty degeneration of deltoid and teres minor muscles for predicting postoperative strength and clinical outcome.
Arthroplasty* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Muscle Strength ; Muscles* ; Shoulder*