Few morphometric data on the thickness and the inclination of vertebral lamina are found with its frequent involvement in many surgical procedures. The thickness in the middle of right vertebral lamina and the angle between the superior border of lamina and sagittal plane were measured in 90 dried vertebral columns. 1. The laminae of the cervical vertebrae were generally thin and they became gradually thicker down to the lumbar vertebrae. The lamina of the fifth lumbar vertebra was the thickest (9.4mm) and that of the fifth cervical was the thinnest (2.9mm). The thickest lamina appeared in second cervical, twelfth thoracic and fourth lumbar vertebrae in 71%, 44% and 36%, respectively. 2. The angles between superior border of long axes of the laminae and the sagittal plane were the widest in thoracic vertebrae, and narrower in lumbar, the narrowest in cervical vertebrae. The angle of eithth thoracic was the widest (59.8°) and that of the fifth lumbar was the narrowest (48.6°). Widest angle of lamina appeared in seventh cervical, sixth thoracic and fifh lumbar vertebra in 27%, 20% and 48%, respectively. 3. No significant differences were found in the thicknesses and the angles of inclination of vertebral laminae between males and females.
Adult* ; Cervical Vertebrae ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Male ; Spine ; Thoracic Vertebrae

OBJECTIVE: Pelviscopic surgery has been used in the treatment of some gynecologic disease. And now, it is applied in almost all cases of gynecologic disease. This study is performed to evaluate the clinical advantages of pelviscopic surgery. Mehtods: From March, 1997 to February 1999, total 310 cases were received laparoscopic surgery on dept. OBGY of Seonam University hospital and Chosun University hospital. We reviewed the chart and analyzed these cases about age, parity, clinical indication, operation type, duration of hospitalization, operation time and complication. RESULTS: The results of this study were summarized as follows : 1. The mean age of patients was 32.1 years old with ranges between 15 and 54 years old. 2. The mean parity of the patients was 1.33. 3. The common indications were ectopic pregnancy (33.5%), ovarian cyst (28.4%) and uterine myoma (16.5%). 4. The frequent types of surgery were salpingectomy (23.2%), adnexectomy (22.6%) and laparoscopy assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) (13.9%). 5. The operation time was variable according to the types of operation and difficulty. 6. The mean duration of hospitalization was 4.17 days. 7. The most frequent complication was hemorrhage at the trocar site. CONCLUSION: Pelviscopic surgery is useful and recommended for the treatment of gynecologic disease, because this is safe and has many advantages. So, we expect the number and indication of pelviscopic surgery will be increased in future.
Female ; Genital Diseases, Female ; Hemorrhage ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hysterectomy, Vaginal ; Laparoscopy ; Leiomyoma ; Middle Aged ; Ovarian Cysts ; Parity ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Salpingectomy ; Surgical Instruments

No abstract available.
Epidemiologic Studies* ; Female ; Humans

Femoral arteriography has assumed in recent years a greater clinical and surgical significance, especiallysince the advent of arterial grafting for occlusive arterial disease. Evaluation of the site and extent ofocclusion, the state of distal arterial tree and degree of collateral circulation can best be obtained byserialographic studies. Authors analyzed 28 cases of clinically and radiologically diagnosed Buerger's disease inGURO hospital radiology, College of medicine, Korea university, during last 6 months from March to August, 1984.The results are as follows; 1. The age distribution were between 20 and 50 years old, and most commonly involvedage group was 20-29. 2. The most frequent finding was the obstruction of peripheral artery with or withougcollateral vessel and almost all patient had occlusion more than 1 segmental branch. 3. The most frequentlyinvolved arteries in Buerger's disease were trifurcation area below the knee joint, anterior and posterior tibialartery and peroneal artery. Peroneal artery was less commonly involved than anterior or posterior tibial artery.
Age Distribution ; Angiography ; Arteries ; Collateral Circulation ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; Korea ; Thromboangiitis Obliterans ; Tibial Arteries ; Transplants ; Trees

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

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pure pontine infarct is defined as an infarct limited to the pons without the evidence of any other brainstem infarct. This study was designed to assess the etiology, lesion topography, and clinical characteristics of pure pontine infarcts. METHODS: Sixty-six patients with pure pontine infarcts, shown on magnetic resonance imaging, were divided into three groups(Group I(n=32) : unilateral lesion reaching the ventral surface of the pons(>1.5cm in size), Group II(n=27) : single or multiple lesions, separated from the surface(<1.5cm), Group III(n=7) : bilateral extensive lesion reaching the ventral surface). Clinical characteristics including the risk factors and the symptomotology were evaluated. Conventional or magnetic resonance angiography was performed in 37 patients(Group I ; 18/32, Group II ; 14/27, Group III ; 5/7). RESULTS: Pontine lesions in Group I(number of lesions = 36) were located longitudinally in the upper (8/36, 22.2%), middle(11/36, 30.6%), and lower(17/36, 47.2%) pons. Thirty-seven patients, in whom angiography was performed, were classified etiologically in each groups. In Group I, fourteen patients had basilar artery branch disease and four had large artery disease. In Group II, all had small artery disease. In Group III, three patients had large artery disease and two had basilar artery branch disease. The most frequent risk factor in pure pontine infarct was hypertension in all three groups. CONCLUSION: The lower region of pons is the most vulnerable site of pure pontine infarct. Basilar artery branch disease was the most common cause of the pure pontine infarct(43.2%). Small artery disease occupied 37.8% and large artery disease(18.9%) was less common.
Angiography ; Arteries ; Basilar Artery ; Brain Stem ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pons ; Risk Factors

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Cisterna Magna*

OBJECTIVE: Immunofluorescence microscopy including confocal laser scanning microscopy and electron microscopy were used to study the production of fibronectin, tenascin, and laminin in the cumulus-corona (CC) cells surrounding mature, unfertilized oocytes after ovulation in view of their presumptive importance in the coordination of the processes leading to fertilization and early embryo cleavage, including the final maturation of the ovum, the sperm-egg interaction, and the complex biochemical mechanism between the ovum and the oviduct. METHODS: Mature oocyte-cumulus complex (OCC) was cultured for 24 and 48 hour and fixed in 3.7% formaldehyde. Specimens were incubated with a mixture of primary monoclonal antibodies recognizing different epitopes of fibronectin, tenascin, and laminin, and then with a mixture of secondary antibodies containing FITC, TRITC, and Cy-5 conjugated antibodies. Observation was made by confocal laser scanning microscope equipped with epifluorescece optics. Transmission electron microscopy were used to observe the OCC at 24 and 48 hours after cultrue. RESULTS: The immunocytochemical date demonstrated that CC masses are capable of producing fibronectin and tenascin but their production is heterogeneous in the CC population. Immunoreactivity to fibronectin and tenascin was shown mostly by inner corona cells, and the intensity of immunofluorescence decreased from the central corona cells to the peripheral cumulus cells. Colocalization of fibronectin and tenascin was evident in most CC cells. Moreover, fibronectin and tenascin immunoreactive material was observed in the intracytoplasmic areas, at the plasma membrane level as well as in the extracellular matrix. Whereas, laminin immunofluorescence was found around plasma membrane and extracellular area, but a intracytoplasmic reaction was rarely observed. The distribution of laminin immunofluorescence was similar to that of fibronectin and tenascin, but in some cumulus cells, colocalization between them was not found. Ultrastructurally, cumulus cells projected numerous long, thin microvilli into the intercellular area and some micovilli penetrated into zona pellucida. The inner layer of the cumulus mass was loose arrangement of relatively uniform, small cells with widened intercellular spaces, whereas in the outer layer, cumulus cells are rather larger in size and compact arrangement by narrow, irregular spaces. A small and large linear gap junctions were easily found at cell contacts. The cytoplasm of most cells had abundant organelles typical of steroidogenesis: numerous mitochondrias, a well-developed smooth endoplasmic reticulum, electron dense lipid droplets, and bundles of microtubules and microfilaments. Rudimentary disrupted basal lamina along the cytoplasmic border was rarely seen in a few inner conora cells. CONCLUSION: Even though the functional role of these extracellular matrix proteins remains still unclear, it is reasonable to suggest that they are necessary in various steps of the reproductive process. Cumulus cells appears to be a heterogeneous and dynamic system for suitable microenviroment of fertilization. And functional differences between corona and cumulus cells during the oocyte denudation may be accounted for particular distribution of these adhesive proteins and steroidogenesis-related organelles.
Actin Cytoskeleton ; Adhesives ; Animals ; Antibodies ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Basement Membrane ; Cell Membrane ; Cumulus Cells ; Cytoplasm ; Embryonic Structures ; Endoplasmic Reticulum, Smooth ; Epitopes ; Extracellular Matrix ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins ; Extracellular Space ; Female ; Fertilization ; Fibronectins* ; Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Formaldehyde ; Gap Junctions ; Immunohistochemistry ; Laminin* ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Microscopy, Electron* ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Microtubules ; Microvilli ; Mitochondria ; Oocytes ; Organelles ; Oviducts ; Ovulation ; Ovum ; Sperm-Ovum Interactions ; Tenascin* ; Zona Pellucida

A total of 33 patients with infective endocarditis were observed in the Guro and Hye Hwa Hospitals of Korea University Between September, 1981 and Feb, 1987. Among thses patients four patients presented with heart murmur and heart failure and had vegetation like findings observed on the two dimensional echocardiography. But these patients did not have any fever or leukocytosis in the peripheral blood and the repeated blood cultures were negative. They showed the immunologic phenomena of infective endocarditis such as microscopic hematuria in 4 patients, rheumatoid factor in 3 patients, false positive VDRL in one patient. The serum complement was decreased in 2 patients in whom it was checked. We report these 4 patients because we think these patients might be in the clinical stage in which the infecting organism is spontaneously cleared but the immunologic sequelae are remained.
Complement System Proteins ; Echocardiography ; Endocarditis* ; Fever ; Heart Failure ; Heart Murmurs ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Korea ; Leukocytosis ; Rheumatoid Factor