We developed an animal model to recreate the condition of an open fracture in communication with the maxillary sinus. We then studied wound healing of the sinus wall structures following fracture in the presence of autogenous bone and alloplastic implant. This model is designed to simulate the repair of an orbital floor fracture in humans. The New Zealand White rabbit was used as the animal model. Standardized 8mm defects were made bilaterally in the maxillary sinuses to include bone and mucosa in 36 rabbits. Two different implants and autogenous calvarial bone graft were placed in the soft-tissue pockets to obturate the defects, exposing one surface of the implant to the open sinus. Medpor porous polyethylene, silicone and calvarial bone implant were compared. Animals were killed at 1, 2 and 8 weeks after implantation. Gross examination of the specimens for the amount of mucosal closure and implant tissue fixation was performed. Histological sections were evaluated for bone and soft-tissue morphology juxtaposed to the implant. Complete closure of the mucosal defect was demonstrated with each type of implant. Medpor implants showed both vascular and soft-tissue ingrowth into pores by week 1. Bone ingrowth was seen by week 2. Closure of the Medpor obturated defects occurred more rapidly than in the silicone group. The Medpor implants and calvarial bone demonstrated bone and soft-tissue fixation, callus formation and maturation, while mature overlying mucosa was reconstituted over the defects. Silicone implants demonstrated a fibrous tissue reaction within 1 week of implantation and they never became fixed to bone or soft tissue. Maxillary sinus wall regeneration occurred in all defects. This study supports clinical observations of maxillary sinus wall regeneration in humans.
Animals ; Bony Callus ; Fractures, Open ; Humans ; Maxillary Sinus ; Models, Animal ; Mucous Membrane ; New Zealand ; Orbit ; Polyethylene ; Rabbits ; Regeneration ; Silicones ; Tissue Fixation ; Transplants ; Wound Healing

No abstract available.
Membranes* ; Pregnancy* ; Rupture*

Menetrier's disease is a rare disease characterized by the presence of large rugal folds involving part or all of the stomach. Patients with hypertrophic gastropathy often have distressing abdominal symptoms, weight loss and edema due to gastric protein loss. The 48-year-old male patient was admitted to the Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital with cheif complaints of indigestion and epigastric pain. The diagnosis of Menetriers disease is established by radiologic, endoscopic, and pathologic examination. He was treated with soft diet, antacid, H2- receptor antagonist, and IV albumin. We report a case of Menetriers disease with brief review of literatures.
Diagnosis ; Diet ; Dyspepsia ; Edema ; Gastritis, Hypertrophic* ; Heart ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rare Diseases ; Stomach ; Weight Loss

OBJECTIVE: Notochordal cells in the intervertebral disc interact with nucleus pulposus (NP) cells and support the maintenance of disc homeostasis by regulation of matrix production. However, the influence of notochordal cells has not been evaluated in the annulus fibrosus (AF), which is the primary pain generator in the disc. We hypothesized that the notochordal cell has the capacity to modulate inflammatory mediators secreted by AF cells secondary to stimulation. METHODS: Notochordal and AF cells were isolated from adult New Zealand white rabbits. AF pellets were cultured with notochordal cell clusters or in notochordal cell-conditioned media (NCCM) for 24 or 48 hours with proinflammatory cytokines at varying concentrations. Gene expression in AF pellets were assayed for nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2, and interleukin (IL)-6 by real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: AF pellet in NCCM significantly decreased the iNOS and COX-2 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels compared to AF pellets alone and AF pellets with notochordal cells (p < 0.05). AF pellet resulted in dose-dependent iNOS and COX-2 expression in response to IL-1beta, stimulation, demonstrating that 1 ng/ml for 24 hours yielded a maximal response. AF pellet in NCCM significantly decreased the expression of iNOS and COX-2 in response to 1ng/ml IL-1beta, stimulation at 24 hours (p < 0.05). There was no difference in IL-6 expression compared to AF pellets alone or AF pellets with notochordal cell clusters. CONCLUSION: We conclude that soluble factors from notochordal cells mitigate the gene expression of inflammatory mediators in stimulated AF, as expected after annular injury, suggesting that notochordal cells could serve as a novel therapeutic approach in symptomatic disc development.
Adult ; Cytokines ; Gene Expression ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukins ; Intervertebral Disc ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Notochord ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; Rabbits ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA

OBJECTIVE: Symptomatic disc degeneration develops from inflammatory reactions in the annulus fibrosus (AF). Although inflammatory mediators during annular inflammation have been studied, the roles of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we evaluated the production of MMPs and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMPs) during annular inflammation using an in vitro co-culture system. We also examined the effect of notochordal cells on annular inflammation. METHODS: Human AF (hAF) pellet was co-cultured for 48 hours with phorbol myristate acetate-stimulated macrophage-like THP-1 cells. hAF pellet and conditioned media (CM) from co-cultured cells were assayed for MMPs, TIMPs, and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 levels using real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and enzyem-linked immunosorbent assay. To evaluate whether notochordal cells affected MMPs or TIMPs production on annular inflammation, hAF co-cultured with notochordal cells from adult New Zealand White rabbits, were assayed. RESULTS: MMP-1, -3, -9; and TIMP-1 levels were significantly increased in CM of hAF co-cultured with macrophage-like cells compared with hAF alone, whereas TIMP-2 and IGF-1 levels were significantly decreased (p<0.05). After macrophage exposure, hAF produced significantly more MMP-1 and -3 and less TIMP-1 and -2. Interleukin-1beta stimulation enhanced MMP-1 and -3 levels, and significantly diminished TIMP-2 levels. Co-culturing with rabbit notochordal cells did not significantly influence MMPs and TIMPs production or COL1A2 gene expression. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that macrophage-like cells evoke annular degeneration through the regulation of major degradative enzymes and their inhibitors, produced by hAF, suggesting that the selective regulation of these enzymes provides future targets for symptomatic disc degeneration therapy.
Adult ; Coculture Techniques ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Inflammation* ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Interleukin-1beta ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration* ; Macrophages ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Myristic Acid ; Notochord ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rabbits ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2

A case of surgically treated intervertebral disc extrusion with intraoperatively confirmed intradiscal hematoma in a 30-year-old physical trainer is presented. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging revealed downward migrating disc herniation, without definite suggestive findings of intradiscal hematoma. Intervertebral disc herniation with concomitant intradiscal hematoma is extremely rare, but could occur in patients who have excessive axial stress to the spine occupationally. In our case, the patient was an occupational physical trainer who had repetitive minor trauma to the lumbar spine. Although the patient did not have any clear history of major trauma to the spine, the intraoperative findings revealed intradiscal hematoma, which is very rare. The presence of intradiscal hematoma is to be suspected even when preoperative imaging studies shows indefinite findings of hematoma, considering the change in signal intensity of hematoma by time.

Fractures at the thoracolumbar region are commonly followed after major traumatic injuries, and up to 20% of these fractures are known to be burst fractures. Making surgical decisions for these patients are of great interest however there is no golden standard so far. Since the introduction of Thoracolumbar Injury Classification and Severity (TLICS) score in 2007, it has been widely used as a referential guideline for making surgical decisions in thoracolumbar fractures. However, there is still limitations in this system. In this clinical case report, we introduce a L1 burst fracture after motor vehicle injury, who was successfully treated conservatively even while she was graded as a TLICS 5 injury. A case report is presented as well as discussion on the limitations of this grading system.

BACKGROUND: First of all, this study was performed to assess the result of curative radiotherapy and to evaluate different possible prognostic factors for squamous cell carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx treated at the Pusan National University Hospital. The second goal of this study was by comparing our data with those of other study groups, to determine the better treatment policy of supraglottic cancer in future. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Thirty-two patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx were treated with radiotherapy at Pusan National University Hospital, from August 1985 to December 1996. Minimum follow-up period was 29 months. Twenty-seven patients (84.4%) were followed up over 5 years. Radiotherapy was delivered with 6 MV photons to the primary laryngeal tumor and regional lymphatics with shrinking field technique. All patients received radiotherapy under conventional fractionated schedule (once a day). Median total tumor dose was 70.2 Gy (range, 55.8 to 75.6 Gy) on primary or gross tumor lesion. Thirteen patients had induction chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (1-3 cycles). Patient distribution, according to the different stages, were as follows: stage I, 5/32 (15.6%); stage II, 10/32 (31.3%); stage III, 8/32 (25%); stage IV, 9/32 (28.1%). RESULTS: The 5-year overall survival rate of the whole series (32 patients) was 51.7%. The overall survival rate at 5-years was 80% in stage I, 66.7% in stage II, 42.9% in stage III, 25% in stage IV ( p= 0.0958). The 5-year local control rates after radiotherapy were as follows: stage I, 100%; stage II, 60%; stage III, 62.5%; stage IV, 44.4% ( p=0.233). Overall vocal preservation rates was 65.6%, 100% in stage I, 70% in stage II, 62.5% in stage III, 44.4% in stage IV ( p=0.210). There was no statistical significance in survival and local control rate between neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy group and radiotherapy alone group. Severe laryngeal edema was found in 2 cases after radiotherapy, emergent tracheostomy was done. Four patients were died from distant metastsis, : three in lung, one in brain. Double primary tumor was found in 2 cases, one in lung (metachronous), another in thyroid (synchronous). Ulcerative lesions were revealed as unfavorable prognostic factor ( p=0.0215), and radiation dose (more or less than 70.2 Gy) was an important factor on survival ( p=0.0302). CONCLUSIONS: The role of radiotherapy in the treatment of supraglottic carcinoma is to improve the survival and to preserve the laryngeal function. Based on our data and other studies, early and moderately advanced supraglottic carcinomas could be successfully treated with either conservative surgery or radiotherapy alone. Both modalities showed similar results in survival and vocal preservation. For the advanced cases, radiotherapy alone is inadequate for curative aim and surgery combined with radiotherapy should be done in operable patients. When patients refuse operation or want to preserve vocal function, or for the patients with inoperable medical conditions, combined chemoradiotherapy (concurrent) or altered fractionated radiotherapy with or without radiosensitizer should be taken into consideration in future.
Appointments and Schedules ; Brain ; Busan ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Cisplatin ; Drug Therapy ; Fluorouracil ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Induction Chemotherapy ; Laryngeal Edema ; Larynx* ; Lung ; Photons ; Radiotherapy* ; Survival Rate ; Thyroid Gland ; Tracheostomy ; Ulcer

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the bile ducts (IPMNs-B) are uncommon lesions that are characterized by innumerable papillary fronds that contain fine vascular cores, enriched mucin production and bile duct dilatation. IPMNs-B are histologically similar to intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas and they are occasionally associated with hepatolithiasis. IPMNs-B are considered to be relatively low-grade malignancy and they merit consideration for aggressive surgery. Thus, early and precise diagnosis is important to maximize patient survival. From July 2002 to March 2006, we identified four patients with IPMNs-B at our hospital. In three patients, intrahepatic or extrahepatic bile duct stones were associated with their condition. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance cholangiography were done in all four cases and this demonstrated marked dilatation of the biliary tree. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography was done in two cases and a large amount of mucin that was draining from the patulous orifice of the duodenal papilla was seen on endoscopy. However, two cases were initially misdiagnosed as intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma or choledochal cyst with intrahepatic bile duct stones. All the cases underwent ipsilateral hemihepatectomy with caudate lobectomy. Histologically, one case showed to be adenoma, one case was borderline and two cases were invasive adenocarcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenoma ; Bile Ducts* ; Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Bile* ; Biliary Tract ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; Cholangiography ; Choledochal Cyst ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation ; Endoscopy ; Humans ; Mucins* ; Pancreas

OBJECTIVE: Hemangiopericytoma is known as a malignant tumor originating from pericytes and rarely occurs in the central nervous system. We present 6 cases of pathologically confirmed meningeal hemangiopericytoma. METHODS: Retrospective study was done based on patient's recordings including radiological studies. Each case of tumors was treated surgically and postoperative radiotherapy was done. RESULTS: There were 5 cases of intracranial and 1 case of spinal hemangiopericytomas. Three of 5 intracranial hemangiopericytomas were located at tentorial region. Total tumor removal was done in 4 cases and postoperative local recurrence (or regrowth) was noted in 3 cases despite of postoperative external radiation therapy, 2 of which had died. CONCLUSION: Our cases show more frequent tentorial locations and poor clinical outcomes of hemangiopericytomas compared with meningiomas.
Central Nervous System ; Hemangiopericytoma* ; Meningioma ; Pericytes ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies