Experimental findings have suggested that the metabolic activities of articular cartilage can be influenced by mechanical stimuli. Our recent mathematical analysis predicted that cyclic compressive loading may create periods of intermittent negative hydrostatic pressure within the cartilage extracellular matrix. Therefore, we hypothesize that intermittent negative hydrostatic pressure, created in the cartilage extracellular matrix during dynamic compression, has a stimulative effect on the biosynthesis of chondrocytes. In order to test this hypothesis, the present study developed a custom designed negative pressure generator to subject a monolayer culture of chondrocytes to an intermittent negative pressure. It was found that the intermittent negative pressure produced a 40% increase in proteoglycan and a l7% increase in non-collagenous protein synthesis during the pressurization period(p (0.05). The collagenous protein synthesis was not affected by the intermittent negative pressure regimen used in this study. After the intermittent negative pressurization, the metabolic activities of the chondrocytes returned to normal(control level). The intermittent negative pressure also produced an increase in the mRNA signals for aggrecan. Therefore, we conclude that intermittent negative pressure may be one of the major mechanical stimulators of chondrocytes in articular cartilage during dynamic compression.
Aggrecans ; Cartilage ; Cartilage, Articular ; Chondrocytes* ; Collagen ; Extracellular Matrix ; Hydrostatic Pressure* ; Metabolism* ; Proteoglycans ; RNA, Messenger

PURPOSE: This study investigated the clinical and radiological outcomes of patients undergoing provisional fixation in conjunction with locking plate fixation. Miniplates were used as the reduction plates for the surgical treatment of severe comminuted metadiaphyseal fractures with an intra-articular fracture of the distal radius. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The radial length, radial inclination, volar tilt, and radial intra-articular step-off were measured preoperatively, postoperatively, and at one year after surgery in 12 patients (eight males, four females, mean age 55.4 years old). The patients underwent volar locking plate fixation with miniplate as a reduction plate for severe comminuted metadiaphyseal fractures with an intra-articular fracture of the distal radius. Clinical evaluations were conducted using the modified Mayo wrist score (MMWS). RESULTS: Bone union was achieved in all cases. The mean MMWS was 81.8 points, including two excellent, three good, and seven fair cases. Radiological improvements were observed in the average radial length (preoperative, 6.4 mm; postoperative, 11.8 mm), average radial inclination (10.2° to 22.4°), average volar tilt (−4.5° to 10.6°), and average radial intra-articular step-off (4.8–0.8 mm) (all, p<0.05). Radiographic measurements obtained immediately after surgery and at the final follow-up revealed insignificant decreases in radial length (0.6 mm), radial inclination (0.4°), and volar tilt (0.9°) (all, p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Miniplate fixation can be an effective treatment option as a reduction plate for the treatment of distal radial fractures, which is challenging to reduce and maintain due to severely comminuted metadiaphysis fractures with the intra-articular fracture.
Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Comminuted ; Humans ; Intra-Articular Fractures ; Male ; Radius ; Wrist

Venous hemangioma is a vascular tumor that has been reported by such diverse names as; "cirsoid aneurysm", "arteriovenous hemangioma", "acral arteriovenous tumor" according to the author's opinions of its origin and histopathologic classification. It is benign and rarely biopsied, and it is also rarely reported in dermatology literature. We present two cases of venous hemangioma. The first case was a 64-year-old man who was presented with an elliptical dark-red plaque with overlying several grouped papules on the left periorbital area which had been present for 7 years. The second case was a 56-year-old man who was presented with a single red papule on the right postauricular area which had been present for 4 months. Histopathologically, there were a well-circumscribed proliferation of thick-walled muscle-containing blood vessels in the dermis. Intermingled with the thick-walled blood vessels, there were also thin-walled dilated blood vessels. In both cases, the thick-walled blood vessels resembled arteries, but they lacked elastic fibers on the Verhoeff van Gieson stain.
Arteries ; Blood Vessels ; Classification ; Dermatology ; Dermis ; Elastic Tissue ; Hemangioma* ; Humans ; Middle Aged

No abstract available.

Purpose: To analyze various prognostic factors and surgical outcomes in patients who underwent radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy of a renal cell carcinoma with renal vein or inferior vena caval thrombosis. Materials and Methods: Among 44 patients with confirmed renal cell carcinomas and renal vein or inferior vena caval thrombosis, between December 1993 and June 2000, 42 having undergone radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy were retrospectively studied. 2 patients were excluded due to no operation performance. The 5-year disease-specific survival rates were analyzed according to various prognostic factors, including age, gender, clinical symptoms, tumor side (Rt. vs. Lt.), thrombus position (renal vein vs. IVC), histopathological cell type, lymph node involvement, pT stage irrespective of thrombus, Fuhrmann nuclear grade and invasion to perinephric fat, vessel, renal pelvis or adrenal gland. Results: The overall 5-year disease-specific survival rate of all the patients was 55%. A univariate analysis of the 42 patients showed that the position of the tumor thrombus, histopathological cell type and invasion to the adrenal gland had a significant impact on the survival. On multivariate analysis, the tumor thrombus location and histopathological cell type were independent prognostic factors for the survival. The 5-year disease-specific survival rates of the patients with a renal vein thrombus (n=23) and with IVC (inferior vena cava, n=20) were 75 and 20%, respectively. The 5-year disease-specific survival rate of the patients with a conventional cell type (n=32) was 68%, and patients with other pathologic cell types had no significant follow-up periods. Conclusions: The tumor thrombosis position, histopathological cell type and invasion to the adrenal gland are considered as clinically significant prognostic factors in patients with a renal cell carcinoma with vein thrombosis after radical nephrectomy with a thrombectomy. Meticulous radical nephrectomy with thrombectomy will be beneficial to the survival of patients with a renal cell carcinoma and vein thrombus.
Adrenal Glands ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kidney Pelvis ; Lymph Nodes ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nephrectomy ; Prognosis ; Renal Veins ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Thrombectomy ; Thrombosis* ; Veins

Regionalization of high-risk perinatal care has been advocated because intensive care for small and ill newborn infants lowers mortality and morbidity. This report is based on analysis of admissions to the Neonatal Intensive Care unit (NICU) at the Wonju christian Hospital during the 4-year period from January, 1988 to December, 1991. There were 786 inborn infants and 1155 outborn infants admitted to the NICU. The results of our study follow; 1) Mean gestational ages were 36.8 weeks in inborn infants and 39.0 weeks in outborn infants. Mean birth weight was 2.5kg in inborn and 3.0kg in outborn infants. 2) The high-risk maternal factors, such as cesarian section delivery, eclampsia, preeclampsia, multiple pregnancy and placental anomaly were significantly more frequent in inborn infants than in outborn infants. 3) Perinatal sphyxia, HMD and transient tachypnea of newborn (TTN) were more common in inborn than in outborn infants, but pneumonia, meconium aspiration syndrome, and seizure were more common in outborn infants. 4) The positivity of bacterial cultures in blood and urine was higher in outborn infants than in inborn infants. The most frequently isolated microorganism was staphylococcus species in both inborn and outborn infants. 5) Hospital days, duration of TPN, duration of mechanical ventilation, frequency of seizure, and frequency of transfusion were longer or more frequent in inborn than in outborn infants. 6) Mortality rate was higher in inborn infants than in outborn infants. 7) In outborn infants, mortality rate was higher in infants whose transporting time was longer than 2 hours than for infants within 2 hour distances. However, this difference was not statistically significant. 8) These findings suggest that many lower birth weight and severly ill infants were not transported to the NICU of Wonju Christian Hospital perhaps due to poor transport systems, distance or socio-economic status. In conclusion, the improvement of transporting systems and socio-economic conditions will be required within this region.
Birth Weight ; Eclampsia ; Female ; Gangwon-do ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn ; Critical Care ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Meconium Aspiration Syndrome ; Mortality ; Perinatal Care ; Pneumonia ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Multiple ; Respiration, Artificial ; Seizures ; Staphylococcus ; Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn

Fetal bilateral renal agenesis is a lethal congenital anomaly. An early and reliable prenatal diagnosis is extremely important as it may offer options for pregnancy termination as early as possible. The criteria for the ultrasonographic diagnosis of bilateral renal agenesis are severe oligohydramnios, nonvisualization of the bladder, and the empty renal fossa. However, severe oligohydramnios makes it difficult to diagnose the disease because of poor sonographic resolution. We present two cases of bilateral renal agenesis, one is diagnosed by ultrasonography after amnioinfusion at 24 weeks gestation, the other is diagnosed postnatally after term delivery.
Diagnosis ; Female ; Oligohydramnios ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Bladder

PURPOSE: For the correction of ptosis with very poor levator function, frontalis sling operation with various materials has been used. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the modified Crawford technique using preserved fascia lata. METHODS: The photographs and charts of 46 patients who underwent frontalis sling operation using preserved fascia lata from June 2001 to February 2004 at our hospital were retrospectively reviewed. The eyelid crease approach was used with the suturing of the sling material directly to the tarsus. RESULTS: The patients were 27 males and 19 females. There were 20 (44%) unilateral cases and 26 (56%) bilateral cases. The age of the patients ranged from 1 to 65 years at the time of surgery, with an average age of 8.3 years. The success rate was 93% (43/46 patients) for a mean postoperative follow-up of 9 months (range 4~26 months). The complications consisted of one case of overcorrection and 2 cases of undercorrection. Knot exposure occurred in 2 cases. CONCLUSIONS: The modified Crawford technique using preserved fascia lata appears to be an effective treatment for severe ptosis. The lid crease formation provides good cosmetic results and the direct suturing of the preserved fascia lata to the tarsus prevents its migration.
Ankle ; Blepharoptosis ; Eyelids ; Fascia Lata* ; Fascia* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.

A 16-year-old girl was transferred to the department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery because of a spontaneous pneumothorax with prolonged air leakage. Chest computed tomography demonstrated a cystic lesion measuring 2×3 cm and involving the left upper lobe. Left upper lobectomy was performed via video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. A pathologic examination of the specimen revealed a mesenchymal cystic hamartoma. Despite the rarity of pulmonary mesenchymal cystic hamartoma, it should be considered a potential cause of pneumothorax for patients with a large pulmonary cyst. Further, surgical resection must be considered because serious complications such as hemothorax, hemoptysis, and malignant transformation have been reported.
Adolescent ; Female ; Hamartoma* ; Hemoptysis ; Hemothorax ; Humans ; Lung* ; Pneumothorax ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Thorax