No abstract available.
Germ Cells* ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal*

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of Cable plate fixation for the treatment of periprosthetic femoral fracture after hip arthroplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 10 cases of periprosthetic femoral fractures after hip arthroplasty between Nov. 2002 and May 2004. The mean follow up periods were 20 months. The fractures were classified according to Vancouver classification. Seven cases of type B1, one case of type B3 and two cases of type C were treated with open reduction and internal fixation with Cable plate. Evaluation of results was based on mean union time, postoperative complications and Harris hip score. RESULTS: The mean time for bony union was 4.8 months in type B1, 6 months in type B3 and 8 months in type C fracture. As for complications, there were refracture, metal breakage and nonunion. The postoperative mean Harris hip score was 91.5 points for type B1, 85 points for type B3 and 72.5 points for type C fracure. CONCLUSION: Cable plate can be useful for treatment of periprosthetic femoral fractures after hip arthroplasty, but the selection of treatment methods should be cautiously made according to the type of fracture and status of patients.
Arthroplasty ; Classification ; Femoral Fractures* ; Femur ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip ; Humans ; Postoperative Complications

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to illustrate MR patterns of signal intensity of proximal femur in normal subjects according to the age distribution. METHOD AND MATERIAL: Tl-weighted MR images of the proximal femur in 125 subjects, aged 13 days to 25 years, were retrospectively analyzed. Age distribution was classified to 4 groups;below 4 months, 5 months to 4 years, 5 years to 14 years, and 15 years to 25 years. RESULTS: By the age of 4 months, the non-ossified femoral epiphysis was seen as intermediate-signal-intensity cartilage. At 5 months-4 years, the ossified fernoral capital epiphysis was seen within intermediate-signal-intensity cartilage and appeared as decreased or increased signal-intensity red or yellow marrow surrounded by a rim of low-signal-intensity cortical bone. At 5-14 years, the ossified femoral capital and greater trochanteric epiphysis were seen within the intermediate-signal-intensity cartilage and appeared as decreased or increased signal-intensity red or yellow marrow. At 15-25 years, the proximal metaphyseal marrow showed increased signal intensity. Four patterns of the metaphyseal marrow were recognized by Ricci et al. The frequency of pattern la progressively decreased with age. Pattern 2 and 3 were visible in the 15-25 years age group. CONCLUSION: An understanding of the spectrum of normal age-related change of the proximal femoral cartilage and marrow patterns serves as the foundation for interpretation of proximal femur pathologies.
Age Distribution ; Bone Marrow ; Cartilage ; Epiphyses ; Femur* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Pathology ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to obtain basic data about the megakaryocyte colony formation of fetal liver cells by using immunocytochemical staining and ex vivo culture with growth factors. METHODS: The mononuclear cells were isolated from fetal liver and bone marrow with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura(ITP) and pancytopenia. These mononuclear cells were cultured in MegaCultTM-C(Stem Cell Tech, Canada) media in the presence of growth factors and CFU-Megakaryocyte(CFU-Mk) colonies were counted on day 12. The expansion of CD34+ and CD41+ cell was analyzed by flow cytometry after 5 days incubation using flask culture. RESULTS: The numbers of CFU-Mk colonies of mononuclear cells obtained from fetal liver in the 11th week gestational age were more than those in the 19th week specimens; growth factors could not enhance the colony expansion in all cases. Total numbers of CFU-Mk colony of fetal liver cells were higher than bone marrow from ITP or pancytopenia groups. The numbers of pure or large CFU-Mk colonies of fetal liver cells were also higher than bone marrow specimens. The rate of CD34+ cell expression of fetal liver was increased after flask culture and the enhancement effect of epression was seen only in cases which added thrombopoietin. The rate of CD41+ cell expression of fetal liver was increased after incubation, but the enhancement effect of growth factors was unclear. CONCLUSION: This study revealed good results about the megakaryocyte colony assay of fetal liver mononuclear cells using MegaCultTM-C media. This study suggests that the fetal liver could be a good source of megakaryocytic progenitor cells for clinical application in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Bone Marrow ; Flow Cytometry ; Gestational Age ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Liver* ; Megakaryocytes* ; Pancytopenia ; Stem Cells ; Thrombopoietin

A five-year-old boy received a blunt trauma on chest by a kindergarten bus on Feb. 29, 1996. Pulmonary hemorrhage and pericardiac effusion were developed, followed by multi-organ failure threatening his life. All symptoms were improving when pansystolic harsh murmur (III/IV) originating from a tiny ventricular rupture with a blood leak to the pericardial space was auscultated on the 12th day after the trauma. This murmur disappeared with the left ventricular healing and progressive aneurysmatic formation. Howeve, on the 61st day after the trauma a continuous murmur (II/III) of aortic dissecting aneurysm on the left upper sternal border and dorsum was newly auscultated. Two-dimensional color doppler echocardiogram and aortogram by femoral artery catheterization revealed aneurysmatic dilatations of both the left ventricular free wall and descending aorta immediately after the origin of the subclavian artery with mild mitral regugitation. The patient underwent successful corrective surgery.
Aneurysm* ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; Aorta, Thoracic* ; Automobiles* ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Dilatation ; Femoral Artery ; Heart Ventricles* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Male ; Rupture ; Subclavian Artery ; Thorax

A hand-arm vibration syndrome, local vibration illness, occurs in some workers who use hand held vibration tools. It consists of white fingers, diffusely distributed finger neuropathy, pain in the hand and arm, and a small excess risk of osteoarthritis. This study is aimed to identify effective methods to confirm local vibration illness among various health exams, which are mentioned in worker's special health exam regulation. In addition, this study is aimed to quantitatively assess the daily vibration exposure level as a major determinant of vibration illness. The subjects, 46 vibration workers, were selected according to the results of the first special health exam about vibration hazards at shipbuilding industry in 1997. They all had experiences of work related blanching of fingers. Fifteen controls, who had no vibration exposure at all, were also recruited to compare their test results with the results of vibration workers. We adopted 1 subjective and 6 objective tests to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility for confirming local vibration illness. These tests were history taking of subjective symptoms according to the Stockholm classification, checking blood pressure of finger, checking grasp power, checking finger skin temperature, nail-bed pressing test, vibration perceptional threshold test, and skin prick test for pain perception. Among these, checking skin temperature, nail-bed pressing test, and vibration perception test included cold water provocations. We also estimated some vibration exposure levels of hand held vibration tools by using previously published data from one automobile company. In conclusion, history taking of subjective symptoms according to the Stockholm classification, nail-bed pressing test, and vibration perceptional threshold test were discovered to be effective to diagnose local vibration illness. Furthermore, vibration perceptional threshold on right fingers showed a dose-response relationship to daily vibration exposure levels. The parameter beta was 0.0005(+/-0.0002), and statistically significant by REM (random effects model).
Arm ; Automobiles ; Blood Pressure ; Classification ; Fingers ; Hand ; Hand Strength ; Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome ; Osteoarthritis ; Pain Perception ; Skin ; Skin Temperature ; Vibration* ; Water

BACKGROUND: Selective neck dissection has been performed as a primary purpose of management for the lymph node groups that are at highest risk of containing metastasis according to the location of the primary tumor. OBJECTIVES: We were to evaluate the clinical application and effectiveness of selective neck dissection through analysis of the medical records about treatment results and postoperative recurrences. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The medical records of 61 patients who had 86 neck dissections performed at the Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital during the period of 1993 through 1995 were reviewed. RESULTS: Forty four selective neck dissections had been performed in 35 patients. Sites of primary tumor were 22 larynx cancers(62.9%), 5 thyroid cancers(14.3%), 4 tongue cancers(11.4%), 2 lip cancers(5.7%), 1 oropharynx cancer(2.9%) and 1 malignant melanoma(2.9%). The types of neck dissection were 29 lateral neck dissections(65.9%), 9 supraomohyoid neck dissections(19.2%), 5 anterior neck dissections(11.4%), and 1 posterolateral neck dissection(2.3%). Elective neck dissections were performed on 26 Cases(59.1%). Lymph nodes were histologically positive in 10 of 18 therapeutic neck Dissections(55.6%) and in 5 of 26 electeve neck dissections(19.2%). Recurrence in the dissected neck occured in two cases(4..5%) of selective neck dissections. Both of the two cases were larynx cancer, which developed concomitant primary and neck recurrence after lateral neck dissection. CONCLUSION: Selective neck dissection was effective approach to neck management of head and neck cancer patients.
Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; Larynx ; Lip ; Lymph Nodes ; Medical Records ; Neck Dissection* ; Neck* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Oropharynx ; Recurrence ; Thyroid Gland ; Tongue

Osteoporosis is caused by an imbalance of osteoclasts and osteoblasts, and the major treatment technique for treating osteoporosis is to reduce the activity of osteoclastic bone resorption. Limonium tetragonum (LT) is a medicinal plant that contains bioactive molecules with anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Its effects on osteoclastogenesis, however, remain unclear.Limonium tetragonum extract (LTE) was examined for its inhibitory effect on osteoclastogenesis by TRAP and pit formation assay. As a result, LTE also significantly reduced TRAP formation, the capability to resorb calcium phosphate-coated plates, and F-actin ring formation.LTE reduced RANKL-induced activation of the MAPKs ERK, JNK, and p38 and the production of the transcription factors c-Fos and NFATc1 required for osteoclastogenesis. LTE also reduced the expression of osteoclastogenesis-related genes such as matrix metalloproteinase-9, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, and receptor activator of NF-κB. These findings suggest that LTE might be a promising treatment option for bone disorders caused by aberrant osteoclast production and function.

OBJECTIVES: In order to understand the biological basis of neurodevelopmental perspectives of mental disorders, the authors investigated the developmental and regional changes in the phosphorylation of the transcription factor CREB following the electroconvulsive shock(ECS) in rat brain. METHODS: Rats of various age groups (7, 14, 21 days postnatal and adults) were given ECS and their hippocampi and cerebella were dissected at specified time points. The content of CREB and phosphorylated CREB were measured by immunoblot analysis. RESULTS: The amount of CREB increased in the hippocampus and decreased in the cerebellum according to the age. Baseline levels of CREB phosphorylation in both tissues were increased from postnatal 14 days, and it was proportional to the amount of CREB protein in the cerebellum. In the hippocampus, ECS increased the phosphorylation of CREB at postnatal 21 days, but in the cerebellum, ECS did not increased the phosphorylation of CREB in any age group. CONCLUSION: CREB mediated signal transduction pathways showed developmental and tissue-specific changes. ECS increased the phosphorylation of CREB in the hippocampus by postnatal 21 days, but not in the cerebellum. CREB activation is supposed to be related with the inducdion of c-fos after ECS in the hippocampus. However, the Ser-133 phosphorylation of CREB could not completely explain the developmental and tissue specificity of c-fos induction.
Animals ; Brain* ; Cerebellum ; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein ; Electroshock* ; Hippocampus ; Humans ; Mental Disorders ; Organ Specificity ; Phosphorylation* ; Rats* ; Signal Transduction ; Transcription Factors