No abstract available.
Motor Cortex*

No abstract available.
Gonadal Dysgenesis, Mixed*

We have experienced a 50-year-old male patient, who died of multiple metastatic nodular melanoma which had the primary lesions on the right hallux and forefoot with eventual involvement of skin and internal organs. An autopsy was performed for the evidence of metastatic features of the internal organs and their spreading routes, with concurrent histopathologic findings. The autopsy findings revealed diffuse metastases to the ipsilateral femoral and inguinal lymph nodes via ascending vascular channels and to the internal organs: 1. The heart had multiple metastatic lesions on the pericardium and right ventricular wall. And the mediastinal, periaortic and periesophageal lymph nodes were also involved. 2. The both lungs were moderately indurated and focally discolored, and showed metastatic lesions in the right lower lobe and hilar areas, Melanoma cells were diffusely invaded to the interstitia and alveoli. 3. The right 5th and 6th ribs showed the invsion of melanoma cells on their bone marrows, periostia, and Haversians canals. 4. The liver was enlarged and showed multiple various sized nodules on the surface with adesion to the parts of peritoneum, omentum and diaphragm. Melanoma cells were seen mostly on and around the sinusoidal spaces and parenchyma. 5. The stomach wall had an ulcerated metastatic lesion and the melanoma cells invaded deeply into the muscle layer. 6. The pancreas was normal in its size and shape but had multiple metastatic lesions on the head and body with melanoma celi infiltration. 7. The both kidneys were grar ular surfaced and showed two metastatic lesions on the right renal cortex and two on the left. Renal tubules and parenchyma were widely invaded by melanoma cells but the glomerular tufts were intact. 8. The adreral and thyroid glands showed four and two metastatic lesions respectively and diffuse invasion of melanoma cells into the parenchyma. 9. The brain was normal in gross appearance, but the cortex was edematous and showed settered melanoma cell infiltration.
Autopsy* ; Bone Marrow ; Brain ; Diaphragm ; Hallux ; Head ; Heart ; Humans ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Melanoma* ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Omentum ; Pancreas ; Pericardium ; Peritoneum ; Ribs ; Skin ; Stomach ; Thyroid Gland ; Ulcer

No abstract available.
Humans ; Muscular Dystrophies*

No abstract available.
Muscle Spasticity* ; Paraplegia*

No abstract available.
Motor Cortex*

A cadaveric study was performed to investigate the relationship between disc degeneration and morphological changes in the intervertebral foramen of cervical spine, including the effect on the nerve root. Seven fresh frozen human cadavers were dissected from C1 to T1, preserving the ligaments, capsules, intervertebral disc and the neural structures. The specimens were scanned with MRI and then scanned through CT scan in the upright position. Direct mid-sagittal and 45 degree oblique images were obtained to measure the dimension of the intervertebral disc height, foraminal height, width, area and segmental angles. Disc degeneration was inversely correlated with disc height. There was a significant correlation between disc degeneration and foraminal width (p<0.005) and foraminal area (p< 0.05), but not with foraminal height. Disc height was correlated with foraminal width but not with height. The segmental angles were decreased more in advanced degenerated discs. There was a correlation between nerve root compression and decreased foraminal width and area (p<0.005). This information and critical dimensions of the intervertebral foramen for nerve root compression should help in the diagnosis of foraminal stenosis of the cervical spine in patients presenting with cervical spondylosis and radiculopathy.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cadaver ; Female ; Human ; Intervertebral Disk/*pathology/radiography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spine/*pathology/radiography ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*methods

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: To understand the necessity of additional anterior decompression when treating with posterior decompression for thoracolumbar and lumbar fractures, with neurologic deficit. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Additional anterior decompression is still a controversy after a posterior decompression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 38 patients who were treated with a decompression surgery for thoracolumbar and lumbar spine fractures with neurologic deficit. In the posterior decompression group, there were 26 patients, and there were 12 patients in the posterior and anterior decompression group. According to the Frankel grade, neurologic deficit was grade A 3, B 1, C 3, D 31, respectively. Unstable burst fractures were 22, flexion-distraction injuries 12, Chance fractures 2 and translational injuries 2 by the McAfee classification. Radiographic evaluation was carried out with comparison of the spinal canal encroachment and kyphotic angle. We evaluated the improvement of neurology, and compared with that of the preoperative canal encroachment. RESULTS: During the posterior decompression, 5 neural injuries were found in the post. decompression group, and 4 in the post. and ant. decompression group. There was no significant difference of neurologic improvement between the two groups (improvement in 18(69%) and 8(67%), respectively) (p>0.05). Preoperative canal encroachment was 62% and 76%, respectively. But, preoperative canal encroachment and final neurologic improvement showed no significant correlations between the two groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We could not find the difference of neurologic improvement between the post. decompression group and post. and ant. decompression group. We suggest that an additional ant. decompression for the thoracolumbar and lumbar spine fractures treated with post. decompression is not necessary.
Ants ; Decompression ; Humans ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Neurology ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Canal ; Spine

STUDY DESIGN: Case report. OBJECTIVES: To report a case of paraplegia in a patient with thoracic kyphosis after osteosynthesis for a fracture of the femur. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: There are few reports about cases of paraplegia after low extremity fracture surgery in patients with thoracic kyphosis with ankylosing spondylitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An 86-year-old female patient presented with right hip pain. She had undergone surgery for an intertrochanteric fracture of the femur in the supine position under general anesthesia. Immediately after surgery, she showed paraplegia. Postoperative thoracolumbar spine images revealed a fracture through the disc at T12 and L1. However, she did not complain of back pain or any neurologic deficits before surgery. RESULTS: Although the patient underwent emergent posterior decompression and fusion surgery, her neurologic compromise did not improve during 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to check preoperative spine radiographs before surgery in elderly patients who have a kyphotic deformity and lower extremity fractures. Surgeons should consider changing the position of the patient and the type of anesthesia used during surgery when spine stability is in doubt.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Back Pain ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Decompression ; Extremities ; Female ; Femur* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; Lower Extremity ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Paraplegia* ; Spine* ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing* ; Supine Position ; Surgeons

STUDY DESIGN: This is a literature review OBJECTIVES: We wanted to provide updated information for spine clinicians on the pathophysiology, medical treatment and the timing of surgical treatment after acute spinal cord injury. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: There are many studies concerned with understanding the mechanisms of injury and improving the neurologic function after acute spinal cord injury. However, methylprednisolone therapy has been used only recently for the treatment of this malady. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a literature review, with a particular focus on the development of pathophysiology and the emerging pharmacologic treatment of acute spinal cord injury, and on the effectiveness of performing early decompression. RESULTS: After primary mechanical impact, a complex cascade of secondary injury follows during acute spinal cord injury. Neuroprotection and axonal regeneration are the main strategies to treat spinal cord injury. Beyond methylprednisolone, a number of other pharmacological treatments have been studied for the acute treatment of spinal cord injury. Animal studies support early decompression of the injured cord. Although there is no standard regarding the timing of decompression, there are many advantages of performing early decompression in human. CONCLUSION: Although a number of pharmacological therapies seem to have neuroprotective potential, high-dose methyprednisolone therapy is the only clinically approved treatment for acute spinal cord injury. Urgent decompression for acute spinal cord injury remains a reasonable practice option.
Animals ; Axons ; Decompression ; Methylprednisolone ; Regeneration ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Spine