We experienced one case of severe pituitary dwarfism in a 16 years old male boy that magnetic resonance image(MRI) revealed transection of the pituitary stalk with the ectopic location of posterior pituitary gland and hypoplastic anterior pituitary gland. The serum growth horrnone(GH) response to clonidine and L-dopa revealed severe GH deficiency. The patient revealed normal response in TSH, prolactin and LH, FSH to TRH and LHRH respectively. So far, the primary cause of idiopathic pituitary dwarfism in many patients was due to hypoxic injury to hypothalmus by perinatal insults. In this patients, there was no history of perinatal insults and postnatal head trauma. We report a case of severe dwarfism due to hypogenesis of anterior pituitary gland.
Clonidine ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Dwarfism ; Dwarfism, Pituitary ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Humans ; Levodopa ; Male ; Pituitary Gland ; Pituitary Gland, Anterior ; Pituitary Gland, Posterior ; Prolactin

Owing to the focal wall defect covered with thin fibrous tissues, an aneurysm arising from the dorsal wall of the internal carotid artery (ICA) is difficult to manage either surgically or endovascularly and is often associated with high morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, the definitive treatment modality of such highly risky aneurysm has not yet been demonstrated. Upon encountering the complex intracranial pathophysiology of such a highly precarious aneurysm, a neurosurgeon would be faced with a challenge to decide on an optimal approach. This is a case of multiple paraclinoid aneurysms including the ICA dorsal wall aneurysm, presented with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage. With respect to treatment, direct clipping with a Sundt graft clip was performed after multiple endovascular interventions had failed. This surgical approach can be a treatment modality for a blood blister-like aneurysm after failed endovascular intervention(s).
Aneurysm* ; Carotid Artery, Internal* ; Mortality ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Transplants*

The “delta phalanx”, first named by BlundeII Jones in 1964, is a triangular(“delta-shaped”) or trapezoidal phalanx with C-shaped epiphyseal plate causing progressive angular deformity of the digit with growth. Neither splinting nor physical therapy is effective in improving the condition. Surgical correction is indicated and several methods of correction have been reported. Authors have experienced a rare case of “delta phalanx” occuring in the proximal phalanx of the syndactylous digit.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Growth Plate ; Splints ; Syndactyly

Fourty one cases of open fractures of tibial shaft complicated with varying degrees of soft tissue injuries were trested by one-plane unilateral external fixation with AO fixator. In seventeen csses among them, interfragmental lag screw fixation was applied in addition, for more rigidity and stability of the fixation. All of thern were followed up at least for one year and we obtained the following results. 1. Rigid stable external fixation provided by additional minimum internal fixation may not increase the rate of infection but rather enhance prompt primary bone healing. 2. One-plane unilatersl external fixation may facilitate good access to the wound for subsepuent reconstructive procedures, and enhance pain-free early full range of joint motion, thus promote early bone union. 3. Comparing with bilsteral fixation, there wss almost no difference in the union time of the fracture even with one-plsne unilatersl fixation.
Clinical Study ; External Fixators ; Fractures, Open ; Joints ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; Tibia ; Wounds and Injuries

PURPOSE: For the production and evaluation of the tissue-equivalent phantom. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used agarous gel and oil as a basic component of the mixture and added Tween 80 for the stabilization of phantoms. We did the test for homogeneity and measured T1 and T2 relexation times of each phantom tube. RESULTS: T1 relaxation time ranged from 642 to 2781 msec and T2 relaxation times from 42 to 157 msec. Each phantom was significantly different in T1 relaxation time and T2 relaxation time (p < .0001). CONCLUSION: Tissue equivalent phantom may provide good information on the optimal sequence before MR imaging of patients and may be valuable if it is used with the patients' MR imaging.
Agar ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Polysorbates ; Relaxation

No abstract available.
Aneurysm* ; Angiography* ; Circle of Willis*

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of 166 patients was undertaken to observe radiologically the changes of adjacent segments at follow-up more than three years after lumbar fusion. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to analyse the changes of adjacent segments and to correlate these changes to the length of using level and to the degree of deviation from physiologic lumbar lordosis. The authors also correlate these radiologic changes to the clinical symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In simple x-ray, authors observed traction spur, disc space narrowing, endplate sclerosis and vacuum phenomenon of adjacent segments. Authors used Gelb's criteria in segmental lordosis angle(SLA) and Katz's classification in clinical results. RESULTS: The average age was 49.6 years old and the average follow-up period was 57.2 months(4 years and 9.2 months). We observed radiologically the traction spurs in 35 cases(21.1%), end-plate sclerosis in 32 cases(19.3%), disc space narrowing in 33 cases(19.9%) and the vacuum phenomenon in 10 cases(6.0%). The numbers of fusion segments and the degree of unphysiologic segmental lordosis angle in fusion segments were related with the frequency and degree of changes of adjacent segments(P<0.05). The clinical results showed satisfaction in 142 cases(85.5%), unsatisfaction in 24 cases(14.5%) and low back pain in 24 cases(14.5%), leg pain in 11 cases(6.6%) and extension of fusion level in 4 cases(2.4%). In low back pain patients more than two kinds of radiological changes were frequently observed than the patients without low back pain(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The radiological changes of adjacent segments were more frequently observed in long fusion and in fusion with unphysiologic lumbar lordosis angle. And these changes are frequently associated with low back pain. Thus long fusion and fusion with unphysiologic lumbar lordosis angle should be avoided if possible.
Animals ; Classification ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Leg ; Lordosis ; Low Back Pain ; Retrospective Studies ; Sclerosis ; Spinal Fusion* ; Traction ; Vacuum

Recently, the role of vitamin D in immunomodulation has been studied and shown to be significantly associated with immune function. A causal relationship exists between vitamin D and innate and adaptive immunity to infections. Recent findings on the function of vitamin D may explain aspects of the pathophysiology of various allergic diseases including allergic rhinitis, asthma, and even chronic rhinosinusitis.
Adaptive Immunity ; Asthma ; Immunomodulation ; Rhinitis ; Vitamin D*

No abstract available.
Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous*

CD44 is a hyaluronic acid receptor that exists as a standard 90-kd form (CD44H) as well as several CD44 variants isoforms are produced through alternative splicing. Alternatively spliced variants of the CD44 molecule have been found to be associated with invasive and metastatic potential of cancer cells and poor prognosis in several types of carcinoma. The purpose of the present study is to define the expression of CD44H and CD44v6 in ovarian tumors and to investigate whether the expression of these molecules is associated with adverse prognosis. We evaluated the expression of CD44 isoforms in 58 ovarian tumors by means of immunohistochemistry, and correlated between CD44 expression and the histologic types, tumor grade, peritoneal implants, pseudomyxoma peritonei and FIGO stage. While the CD44H was commonly expressed in ovarian tumors, the CD44v6 was expressed in a minor proportion of serous tumors in comparison with frequent expression of v6 isoform in mucinous tumors. The CD44H expression was significantly higher in stage I/II than in stage III. However, there was no correlation between the expression of CD44 and the presence of peritoneal implants or pseudomyxoma peritonei. These results suggest that CD44H could play an important role in the adhesive function in the lower stage of the ovarian tumor and reduced expression in the higher stage might be related to the metastasis and widespread invasion of ovarian carcinoma cells.
Adhesives ; Alternative Splicing ; Female ; Hyaluronic Acid ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mucins ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Ovary ; Prognosis ; Protein Isoforms ; Pseudomyxoma Peritonei