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

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

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

No abstract available.
Cisterna Magna*

Total 7,446 pedicle measurements were made from T1 to L6. Direct dimensional measurements were obtained from dried adult human spinal columns. Parsmeters considered were the pedicle isthmus diameter in the coronal and sagittal planes, pedicle angles in the transverse and sagittal planes, and the depth to the anterior cortex in a line parallel to the midline of the vertetral body and along the pedicle axis. The results were as follows. 1. The widest pedicle transverse diameters were seen at L6, the narrowest at T4. 2. The widest pedicle superoinferior diameters were seen at T12, the narrowes at T1. 3. In the transverse plane, the posterolateral to anteromedial pedicle axis orientations were seen at all levels except at T12 and T12. 4. In the sagittal plane, the pedicles angled caudally at L5 and cephaladly from L3 to T1. 5. In the thoracolumbar junction, the percentage less than 6mm in the transverse diameters of pedicles is most high at L1(27%) and followed by at the level L2, T11 and T12. 6. The use of 6mm transpedicular screws can be expected to violate the cortex of the pedicles in a significant number in the upper lumbar spine. 7. The 5mm transpedicular screws can be used safely below the T11 level. 8. It is advisable to use roentgen image intensifier during insertion of the transpedicular screws.
Adult ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Spine

PURPOSE: To obtain magnetization transfer ratio(MTR) of the annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus and to assess the feasibility of utilizing the changes of these MTRs as an early indicator of disk degeneration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR images of lumbar spine with magnetization transfer(MT) technique in 42 patients were obtained. spin echo techniques (600/14) with same TR/TE with 1KHz off-resonance saturation were employed in 1.0T MR system. MTRs were calculated in two regions, anterior annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus, and the results were compared between the normal and degenerative disks, from grade I to IV, on T2-weighted images. RESULTS: MTRs of the nucleus pulposus were 17.6% in the normal disks, and 26.7%, 28.4%, 29.1%, 29.7% in degenerative disks, from grade I to IV, respectively, with a significant difference(P<0.05). On the other hand, MTRs in the annulus fibrosus were 30.2% in the normal disks and 31.5%, 33.2%, 32.1% and 35.6% in degenerative disks, from grade I to IV, respectively, without significant difference. CONCLUSION: Since MTRs are significantly higher in degenerative nucleus pulposus than those of the normal disks, increased MTRs in the nucleus pulposus can be used as an early sign of the degeneration of the nucleus pulposus.
Hand ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Spine

No abstract available.
Animals ; Linoleic Acid* ; Macrophages, Peritoneal* ; Mice*

We experienced a case of adenocarcinoma arising in sacrococcygeal teratoma. The patient was a 52-year-old woman. She was admitted due to one month of sacral pain. She had a sacral mass since birth. On physical examination, anal fistula was present at the perianal area and pus drainage was noted. MR image showed multiple variable-sized cysts with inhomogeneous density. Resected specimen, mesuring 12.5 7.0 cm in diameter, showed multiple variable-sized cystic lesions admixed with grayish solid portion. The cysts contained mucoid material. The microscopic examination showed mature teratoma composed of cysts lined by pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium, intestinal mucosa, mature cartilage, bone, and fat tissue. A moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma developed from the cystic area in the mass.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Adult ; Cartilage ; Drainage ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa ; Middle Aged ; Mucous Membrane ; Parturition ; Physical Examination ; Rectal Fistula ; Suppuration ; Teratoma*

The incidence of colorectal cancer has been increased gradually and it was about 6.9% of all malignancies in Korea. Early diagnosis was recognized as the most important factor influencing the prognosis of colorectal cancer and the incidence of early colorectal cancer was increasing. Thus great change was observed in the treatment of early colorectal cancer, endoscopic therapy as well as curative surgical resection is being accepted. We report a case of effective and safe endoscopic therapy for early rectal cancer in 5S-year-old male patient. He presented with rectal prolapse and bleeding of a year's duration. A large polypoid mass with fine nodular surface and thick, short stalk was seen in the rectum at 4cm above the anal verge during flexible sigmoidoscopy. After the histologic examination of specimen obtained by bite biopsy, CT scan of pelvic cavity and ultrasonogram of abdomen, the tumor was removed safe and completely by 2 sessions of piecemeal polypectomies and strip biopsy. He has been well without symptoms and signs of recurrence of rectal cancer for 20 months.
Abdomen ; Biopsy* ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Early Diagnosis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Prognosis ; Rectal Neoplasms* ; Rectal Prolapse ; Rectum ; Recurrence ; Sigmoidoscopy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

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