Many types of osteotomy have been proposed for the treatment of cubitus varus deformity of the elbow, and various methods for fixation of the osteotomy site have also been described. However, no method has been perfect. We treated two cases of cubitus varus elbow deformity with step-cut osteotomy using a new fixation method with two crossing screws and an anatomically designed locking plate. Active assisted elbow range of motion (ROM) exercise was permitted at postoperative 3 days, after removal of the drainage. Preoperative and postoperative humerus-elbow-wrist angles and ranges of motion of the two patients were compared. At 3 months follow-up, each patient had recovered the preoperative elbow ROM, and achieved the complete bony union of the osteotomy site and proper correction of the cubitus varus deformity. In addition, the appropriate remodeling of the lateral bony protrusion was observed. Therefore, we introduce a new fixation method for achievement of stable fixation allowing immediate postoperative elbow motion after corrective osteotomy for cubitus varus deformity in young adults.
Congenital Abnormalities* ; Drainage ; Elbow* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Osteotomy ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Young Adult*

BACKGROUND: In two-kidney one clip Goldbaltt hypertensive rats(2K1C GHR), clipped kidney may be exposed to low pressure and unclipped kidney to high pressure. In addition, both kidneys may have a different amount of adenosine which is increased by ischemia and plays an important role for renin release. The aim of this study was to invstigate the responsmiveness for renin release to adenosine agonists and antagonist in clipped and unclipped kidney of 2K1C GHR. METHODS: Emplying kidney slices from both unclipped and unclipped kidney of 2K1C GHR, the alteration by adenosine agonists and antagonist of renin release was studied. RESULTS: The renal renin content and basal renin release from unclipped kidney slices were suppressed, whereas those from clipped kidney were augmented Adenosine Al receptor agonist, cyclohexyladenosne(CHA), phenylisopropyl adenosine(PIA) and adenosine caused a decrease in renin release from clipped kidney slices. Adenosine A2 receptor agonist, NECA, and nonspecific adenosine receptor aganist, 2-chloroadenosine(CA) caused an increase in renin release from clipped kidney slices. Adenosine receptor antagonist, 8-phenyltheophylline(8-PT) caused an increase in renin release from clipped kidney slices. In unclipped kidney, however, the renin release in response to NECA, CA or 8-PT was reversed and the decreasing effect of renin release to CHA and adenosine was slightly inereased. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the responsiveness of adenosine receptors, which may participate in renin release is modified in clipped and unclipped kidney of 2K1C GHR.
Adenosine* ; Adenosine-5'-(N-ethylcarboxamide) ; Animals ; Hypertension, Renovascular ; Ischemia ; Kidney ; Rats* ; Receptors, Adenosine A2 ; Receptors, Purinergic P1 ; Renin*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Phase IIb clinical study of Stillen(TM), a novel cytoprotectant, for gastritis showed 180 mg of Stillen, t.i.d. for 2 weeks results in a significant increase of cure rate when compared with a placebo group. It is reported that antioxidative effect and strengthening the endogenous cytoprotective molecules of the gastric mucosa play a pivotal role for cytoprotective action of Stillen(TM). The aim of this phase III multicenter, double-blind comparative study was to assess the efficacy of Stillen(TM) for the treatment of erosive gastritis. METHODS: Five hundred and twelve patients with erosive gastritis were enrolled and divided into three groups. Each group received 180 mg or 360 mg of Stillen(TM) or 600 mg of cetraxate (Neuer(TM)) t.i.d. for 2 weeks, respectively and a follow-up endoscopic examination for evaluation. RESULTS: Patients treated with 180 mg and 360 mg of Stillen(TM) had a significantly improved endoscopic cure rate of gastritis (55.6% and 57.5%, respectively) compared with patients treated with 600 mg of cetraxate (35.5%, p<0.001). Endoscopic improvement rate was also significantly higher in 180 mg group (67.3%) and 360 mg group (65.0%) of Stillen(TM) treated patients than cetraxate treated group (46.4%, p<0.001). During the study, both Stillen(TM) and cetraxate were well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: These results clearly demonstrate that Stillen(TM) is an efficacious, safe, and well-tolerated treatment for gastritis.
Follow-Up Studies ; Gastric Mucosa ; Gastritis* ; Humans

Many types of osteotomy have been proposed for the treatment of cubitus varus deformity of the elbow, and various methods for fixation of the osteotomy site have also been described. However, no method has been perfect. We treated two cases of cubitus varus elbow deformity with step-cut osteotomy using a new fixation method with two crossing screws and an anatomically designed locking plate. Active assisted elbow range of motion (ROM) exercise was permitted at postoperative 3 days, after removal of the drainage. Preoperative and postoperative humerus-elbow-wrist angles and ranges of motion of the two patients were compared. At 3 months follow-up, each patient had recovered the preoperative elbow ROM, and achieved the complete bony union of the osteotomy site and proper correction of the cubitus varus deformity. In addition, the appropriate remodeling of the lateral bony protrusion was observed. Therefore, we introduce a new fixation method for achievement of stable fixation allowing immediate postoperative elbow motion after corrective osteotomy for cubitus varus deformity in young adults.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Drainage ; Elbow ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Osteotomy ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the mechanical stability of three types of plate systems for opening wedge high tibial osteotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight fresh frozen porcine tibia specimens were assigned to three different fixation device groups: Aescular group (16 specimens) was fixed with Aescular plates; Puddu group (16 specimens) with a Puddu plate, and TomoFix group (16 specimens) with a TomoFix plate. We compared axial displacements under compression loads from 200 to 2,000 N and maximal loads at failure among 8 specimens per group. We also compared displacements under cyclic load after 100 cycles at a compressive load of 2,000 N among 8 specimens per group. RESULTS: In all three groups, displacement under compression load increased with the increase in the axial compressive load; however, no significant intergroup differences were observed in the mean values under tested loading conditions. The mean maximal loads at failure were not significantly different (6,055, 6,798, and 6,973 N in the Aescular, Puddu, and TomoFix groups, respectively; p=0.41). While the TomoFix group showed less extension and strain during the cyclic load test, the mean values showed no significant differences among groups. CONCLUSIONS: All three plate systems were found to provide fixation stability suitable for bearing axial compression and cyclic loads while walking.
Knee ; Osteotomy ; Tibia ; Walking

Here, we report a case of Cowden syndrome with an unusual clinical course of late-onset oral papillomatosis and a novel germline PTEN mutation. Cowden syndrome is the most common phosphatase and tensin homolog hamartomatous tumor syndrome. It is characterized by multiple hamartomas in the gastrointestinal tract and mucocutaneous lesions such as trichilemmomas, oral papillomatosis, facial papules, and acral keratoses. Patients with Cowden syndrome have a higher risk of malignancies, especially breast, colon, and thyroid cancers. A 53-year-old female presented with cobblestone-like papillomatous papules on the lower gums that developed 1 year earlier. She had no other mucocutaneous lesions besides oral papillomatosis. Gastrointestinal endoscopy and colonoscopy revealed multiple hamartomas in the stomach and colon. The patient had a history of breast cancer and multinodular goiter diagnosed 4 and 5 years ago, respectively. She was diagnosed with Cowden syndrome and a novel PTEN mutation was confirmed by direct sequencing.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Gingiva ; Goiter ; Hamartoma ; Hamartoma Syndrome, Multiple* ; Humans ; Keratosis ; Middle Aged ; Papilloma ; Stomach ; Thyroid Gland

PURPOSE: To compare the postoperative complications and cost-effectiveness of simultaneous and staged bilateral total hip arthroplasty (THA), using a minimally invasive two-incision technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All 206 patients who underwent simultaneous or staged bilateral THA using a modified, minimally invasive two-incision between January 2004 and November 2009 were registered and divided into a simultaneous bilateral THA group (group A, 147 patients) and staged bilateral THA group (group B: 59 patients). Staged THA was performed on group B with interval of at least 2 months between the initial and second surgery. Clinical evaluations, amount of blood loss, need for transfusion, complications and costeffectiveness were compared. RESULTS: Perioperative morbidity rates were similar in the two groups (P=0.546) and overall complications were not significant between the groups. Average length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in group A than in group B (average 14.6 days vs. 25.3 days; P<0.001). Total medical cost was significantly higher in group B than in group A (average 9,236 US dollars vs. 11,163 US dollars). Patients in group A required more blood transfusions than those in group B (3.02 vs. 1.90 units; P=0.003), although blood loss in the two groups were similar (892 vs. 917 ml P=0.613). CONCLUSION: Comparison of intra- and postoperative complications support the conclusion that simultaneous bilateral THA compares favorably with staged THA in terms of outcomes, complications and cost-effectiveness.
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip* ; Blood Transfusion ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Methods ; Postoperative Complications*

Distal caries of the second molar is common indication for the mandibular third molar surgery and there are no universally acceptable predictive criteria for distal caries of the second molar. To analyze the correlation of the distal caries of the second molar and the eruption state of the mandibular third molar using panoramic radiographs statistically and propose the acceptable guideline for preventive extraction of the mandibular third molar. 786 patients who were extracted the mandibular third molar from 2002 to 2006 at Samsung medical center were examined. The presence and absence of distal caries of mandibular second molar, age, gender, angulation, impaction degree, distance between distal cementoenamel junction of the second molar and mesial cementoenamel junction of the mandibular third molar were assessed. 79.6% of third molars had a mesial angulation of between 40 degrees and 80 degrees. The mean age of third molar removal for distal caries of second molar was 33.86+/-9.81. The prophylactic removal of a mesio-angular third molar about 40 degrees and 80 degrees could prevent distal cervical caries forming in the mandibular second molar.
Humans ; Molar ; Molar, Third ; Root Caries ; Tooth Cervix

BACKGROUND: To determine the association between lunate morphology and the scapholunate instability using radiographic images, and investigate the association between lunate morphology and scaphoid fracture location. METHODS: Between January 2003 and December 2011, we retrospectively evaluated the plain radiographs and computed tomography (CT) images of 70 patients who underwent surgical intervention for a scaphoid nonunion, in order to determine the association between lunate type (I or II) and scapholunate instability or scaphoid fracture location. We determined the scaphoid fracture location using the fragment ratio and measured the radiolunate angle and capitate-triquetrum (C-T) distance. RESULTS: A type II lunate was present in 68.6% (48 of 70 cases). Mean fragment ratio of fracture location was 50.6% in the type II lunate group and 56.2% in the type I lunate group (p = 0.032). Sixteen of the 70 patients had dorsal intercalated segmental instability (DISI) deformities. Nine of 22 cases showed DISI deformity in type I lunate and 7 of 48 cases showed DISI deformity in type II lunate (p = 0.029). However, there were no significant differences between the presence of DISI deformity and fracture location (p = 0.15). Morphologic comparisons by both plain radiography and CT indicated a mean C-T distance in the type I lunate group (22 cases) of 2.3 mm and 5.0 mm in the type II lunate group (48 cases). The C-T distances were significantly correlated with lunate morphology (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A type II lunate was associated with low incidence of DISI deformity and proximal location of fracture in patients presenting with a scaphoid nonunion.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Humans ; Incidence ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: To determine the association between lunate morphology and the scapholunate instability using radiographic images, and investigate the association between lunate morphology and scaphoid fracture location. METHODS: Between January 2003 and December 2011, we retrospectively evaluated the plain radiographs and computed tomography (CT) images of 70 patients who underwent surgical intervention for a scaphoid nonunion, in order to determine the association between lunate type (I or II) and scapholunate instability or scaphoid fracture location. We determined the scaphoid fracture location using the fragment ratio and measured the radiolunate angle and capitate-triquetrum (C-T) distance. RESULTS: A type II lunate was present in 68.6% (48 of 70 cases). Mean fragment ratio of fracture location was 50.6% in the type II lunate group and 56.2% in the type I lunate group (p = 0.032). Sixteen of the 70 patients had dorsal intercalated segmental instability (DISI) deformities. Nine of 22 cases showed DISI deformity in type I lunate and 7 of 48 cases showed DISI deformity in type II lunate (p = 0.029). However, there were no significant differences between the presence of DISI deformity and fracture location (p = 0.15). Morphologic comparisons by both plain radiography and CT indicated a mean C-T distance in the type I lunate group (22 cases) of 2.3 mm and 5.0 mm in the type II lunate group (48 cases). The C-T distances were significantly correlated with lunate morphology (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A type II lunate was associated with low incidence of DISI deformity and proximal location of fracture in patients presenting with a scaphoid nonunion.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Humans ; Incidence ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies