The author performed an experiment to measure the bonding strength of acrylic bone cement when the bonding surfaces of bones were under various conditions; namely different axial compression forces and different means of preservation of bones, in the air and in Hartman's solution. Mechanical tests for compression forces revealed that the bonding strength was greatest when the bonding surfaces were dry, being weaker when soaked with alcohol and whole blood, in that order. When different strengths of axial compression forces were applied, the bonding strength was greatest at 5 kg of compression force, being weaker at 3 kg and 1 kg, in that order. The bonding strength was greater when the bones were preserved in the air than in Hartman's solution.
Polymethyl Methacrylate

Coronary arteriovenous fistula is relatively rare disease and originates more commonly in the right than in the left cononary artery. We report one case of cononary arteriovrnous fistula which we have experienced recently in 22 years old female, who has complained of dyspnea on exertion and intermittent anterior chest pain radiating to the left shoulder for several years. It was detected by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography and confirmed by cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography. In this case, the fistula was originated from the right coronary artery and drained into the posterior wall of the right ventricle, the coronary artery was dilated(diameter=1.5cm) and tortuous and significant shunt was measured(Qp/Qs=2.31). The opening of the fistula draining into right ventricle was obliterated with sutures.
Arteries ; Arteriovenous Fistula* ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels ; Dyspnea ; Echocardiography* ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Female ; Fistula ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Rare Diseases ; Shoulder ; Sutures ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVES: Among the current therapeutic options for paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardias, only surgery and ablative techniques are curative. However, surgery is associated with substantial cost, morbidity, and rarely death. Recently, catheter ablation techniques have been developed to treat paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardias. These techniques are effective and low-risk curative treatment for supraventricular tachycardias. This article shall describe our clinical experiences in radiofrequency catheter ablation for supraventricular tachycardias and review the literature. METHODS: The study population consisted of 154 patients with supraventricular tachycardias from January 1993 to August 1995. Eighty one patients were men and seventy three patients were women, and their mean age was 41.29 +/- 15.41 years. Radio-frequency currents(mean) were applied through a catheter electrode positioned against the mitral or tricuspid annulus or a branch of the coronary sinus or atrioventricular node. RESULTS: Among 154 patients, the mechanisms for paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardias were found to be atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia involving a concealed accessory pathway in 51(33.1%), Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome in 57(37%), and atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia in 46 (29.9%). Successful outcomes were achieved in 46 of 46 patients(100%) with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia, 7 of 8 patients(87.5%) with double accessory pathways, 69 of 72 patients(95.8%) with left-sided accessory pathway, and 19 of 28 patients (67.9%) with right-sided accessory pathway. Total 141 of 154 patients(91.6%) with supraventricular had a successful outcome with radio-frequency current application(mean). CONCLUSIONS: Radiofrequency catheter ablation techniques are highly effective in ablating accessory pathways or modifying atrioventricular node, with low morbidity and no mortality.
Accessory Atrioventricular Bundle ; Atrioventricular Node ; Catheter Ablation* ; Catheters ; Coronary Sinus ; Electrodes ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mortality ; Tachycardia ; Tachycardia, Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular ; Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to find an optimal delivery route for clinical trials of intrathecal cell therapy for spinal cord injury in preclinical stage.METHODS: We compared in vivo distribution of Cy5.5 fluorescent dye in the spinal cord region at various time points utilizing in vivo optical imaging techniques, which was injected into the lateral ventricle (LV) or cisterna magna (CM) of rats.RESULTS: Although CM locates nearer to the spinal cord than the LV, significantly higher signal of Cy5.5 was detected in the thoracic and lumbar spinal cord region at all time points tested when Cy5.5 was injected into the LV. In the LV injection Cy5.5 signal in the thoracic and lumbar spinal cord was observed within 12 hours after injection, which was maintained until 72 hours after injection. In contrast, Cy5.5 signal was concentrated at the injection site in the CM injection at all time points.CONCLUSION: These data suggested that the LV might be suitable for preclinical injection route of therapeutics targeting the spinal cord to test their treatment efficacy and biosafety for spinal cord diseases in small animal models.
Animals ; Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy ; Cisterna Magna ; Fluorescence ; Lateral Ventricles ; Models, Animal ; Optical Imaging ; Rats ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivations are frequently observed in patients with active ulcerative colitis (UC), and ganciclovir therapy is effective in patients with steroid-refractory UC. This study aimed to determine the long-term outcomes of CMV reactivation and the long-term therapeutic efficacy of ganciclovir treatment. METHODS: This retrospective multicenter study included a cohort of 72 patients with moderate-to-severe UC who were evaluated for CMV reactivation at the time of their initial UC flare. Colectomy, disease relapse, and the recurrence rate of CMV reactivation were investigated. RESULTS: The mean duration of follow-up for the 72 patients was 43.16+/-19.78 months (range, 1 to 67 months). The cumulative colectomy (log-rank, p=0.025) and disease flare-up rates (log-rank, p=0.048) were significantly higher in the CMV-positive group. Of the 11 patients who were successfully treated with ganciclovir in the initial treatment, three patients (27.3%) experienced CMV reactivation, and six patients (54.5%) experienced poor outcomes, such as the need for colectomy or a steroid-dependent state. CONCLUSIONS: The patients who had CMV-reactivated UC showed poor outcomes at the long-term follow-up, and the long-term efficacy of ganciclovir therapy was marginal. Careful assessment is necessary for patients who exhibit evidence of CMV reactivation.
Antiviral Agents/*therapeutic use ; Case-Control Studies ; Cohort Studies ; Colectomy/utilization ; Colitis, Ulcerative/complications/*drug therapy ; *Cytomegalovirus ; Cytomegalovirus Infections/complications/*drug therapy ; Ganciclovir/*therapeutic use ; Humans ; Longitudinal Studies ; Remission Induction ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Treatment Outcome ; *Virus Activation

Psoriatic arthritis and avascular necrosis of the femoral head each are relatively common diseases. However, avascular necrosis of the femoral head in psoriatic arthritisis extremely rare disease and a few cases have been reported to date. It is suggested that the use of steroids or chemotherapeutic agents, hyperuricemia, alcohol abuse, immunologic disorders, coagulopathies are risk factors of the development of avascular necrosis of the femoral head in psoriatic arthritis. This report describes a 58-year-old female patient without any of forementioned risk factors who underwent total hip replacement for femoral head avascular necrosis associated with psoriatic arthritis.
Alcoholism ; Arthritis, Psoriatic* ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Female ; Head* ; Humans ; Hyperuricemia ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis* ; Rare Diseases ; Risk Factors ; Steroids