No Abstract Available.

PURPOSE: To compare the results of posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction by open and arthroscopic method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1995 to 1997, 18 reconstructions of posterior cruciate ligament were performed. Group 1 (open method) was composed of 9 cases and group 2 (arthroscopic method) was consisted of 9 cases. After 21-month follow-up, The two groups were compared by clinical and radiologic methods. RESULTS: Clinically, Lysholm knee score was 80 points in group 1 and 83 points in group 2 after operation. Post operative results by Hughston's criteria were good in 5, fair in 2 and poor in 2 cases (group 1) and good in 6, fair in 2 and poor in 1 cases (group 2). Radiologically, post operative average of posterior drawer stress view was 5.2 mm (group 1) and 5.0 mm (group 2). Almost double the operation time was taken to reconstruct posterior cruciate ligament by arthroscopic method than open method. There were technical errors in 2 cases performed by arthroscopic method. CONCLUSIONS: The results of both methods had no significant difference. We think that the reconstruction of PCL using patellar tendon by open method is a recommendable treatment method together with arthroscopic method, if the merits or demerits of both methods are considered carefully. But more long-term follow-up is necessary to compare the results of PCL reconstruction by open and arthroscopic methods.
Follow-Up Studies ; Knee ; Patellar Ligament ; Posterior Cruciate Ligament

No abstract available.
Shoulder*

Inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus(ILVEN) is a rare variant of epidermal nevus characterized by an early age of onset, an unilateral pruritic inflammatory psoriasiform lesion, and relative refractoriness to treatment. It has been reported that ILVEN mainly occur in the lower extremities but develop in the upper extremities, neck and trunk. Herein, we present a case of ILVEN occurring in the left temporal scalp of a 32-year-old woman which, in our review of literature, has not been reported as a development site.
Adult ; Age of Onset ; Female ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Neck ; Nevus ; Nevus, Sebaceous of Jadassohn* ; Scalp* ; Upper Extremity

Tumoral calcinosis is a very rare disease in which calcium deposit is accumulated on soft tissue around joints without specific metabolic disorder of calcium or predisposing illnesses. Its causes have not been revealed clearly, and the disease has been known to occur rarely among Asian patients. We report a case of a multiple giant tumoral calcinosis patient who complained of painful masses in the groin region as well as in both buttocks and sacral area. The patient was evaluated to differentiate with other causes and have been treated with surgical excision. We present this case with a review of literature.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Buttocks ; Calcinosis* ; Calcium ; Groin ; Humans ; Joints ; Pelvis* ; Rare Diseases

Urotensin II (UII) is a mitogenic and hypertrophic agent that can induce the proliferation of vascular cells. UII inhibition has been considered as beneficial strategy for atherosclerosis and restenosis. However, currently there is no therapeutics clinically available for atherosclerosis or restenosis. In this study, we evaluated the effects of a newly synthesized UII receptor (UT) antagonist, KR-36996, on the proliferation of SMCs in vitro and neointima formation in vivo in comparison with GSK-1440115, a known potent UT antagonist. In primary human aortic SMCs (HASMCs), UII (50 nM) induced proliferation was significantly inhibited by KR-36996 at 1, 10, and 100 nM which showed greater potency (IC₅₀: 3.5 nM) than GSK-1440115 (IC₅₀: 82.3 nM). UII-induced proliferation of HASMC cells was inhibited by U0126, an ERK1/2 inhibitor, but not by SP600125 (inhibitor of JNK) or SB202190 (inhibitor of p38 MAPK). UII increased the phosphorylation level of ERK1/2. Such increase was significantly inhibited by KR-36996. UII-induced proliferation was also inhibited by trolox, a scavenger for reactive oxygen species (ROS). UII-induced ROS generation was also decreased by KR-36996 treatment. In a carotid artery ligation mouse model, intimal thickening was dramatically suppressed by oral treatment with KR-36996 (30 mg/kg) which showed better efficacy than GSK-1440115. These results suggest that KR-36996 is a better candidate than GSK-1440115 in preventing vascular proliferation in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and restenosis.
Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; Carotid Arteries ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Ligation ; Mice ; Muscle, Smooth* ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; Neointima ; Phosphorylation ; Reactive Oxygen Species

Urotensin II (UII) is a potent vasoactive peptide and mitogenic agent to induce proliferation of various cells including vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). In this study, we examined the effects of a novel UII receptor (UT) antagonist, KR-36676, on vasoconstriction of aorta and proliferation of aortic SMCs. In rat aorta, UII-induced vasoconstriction was significantly inhibited by KR-36676 in a concentration-dependent manner. In primary human aortic SMCs (hAoSMCs), UII-induced cell proliferation was significantly inhibited by KR-36676 in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, KR-36676 decreased UII-induced phosphorylation of ERK, and UII-induced cell proliferation was also significantly inhibited by a known ERK inhibitor U0126. In mouse carotid ligation model, intimal thickening of carotid artery was dramatically suppressed by oral treatment with KR-36676 (30 mg/ kg/day) for 4 weeks compared to vehicle-treated group. From these results, it is indicated that KR-36676 suppress UII-induced proliferation of VSMCs at least partially through inhibition of ERK activation, and that it also attenuates UII-induced vasoconstriction and vascular neointima formation. Our study suggest that KR-36676 may be an attractive candidate for the pharmacological management of vascular dysfunction.
Animals ; Aorta ; Carotid Arteries ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Ligation ; Mice ; Muscle, Smooth ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; Neointima ; Phosphorylation ; Rats ; Vasoconstriction

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to investigate postnatal changes in growth and insulin, leptin, IGF-I, adiponectin, and ghrelin, and to examine the relationship of these hormones with catch-up growth in full-term small for gestational age (SGA) infants. METHODS: SGA was defined as a birth weight less than the ten percentile. Weight and height were measured at birth, 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years of age in 70 SGA infants (40 females and 30 males). The infants were subdivided according to their weight and height catch-up growth (CUG) at 2 years old. CUG is defined as reaching a standard deviation score (SDS) of > -2 SDS. Blood samples were serially taken for insulin, leptin, insulinlike growth factor (IGF)-I, adiponectin, and ghrelin. RESULTS: 1) Dramatic CUG for weight and height occurred during the first year of life; weight and height growth gain decreased thereafter. 2) Non-catch-up growth (NCUG) infants showed more decreased weight and height growth gain than CUG infants between the first and second year of life. 3) Weight CUG was 77.1% and height CUG was 75.8% in the SGA infants. 4) Weight CUG infants showed significantly higher leptin and ghrelin levels than in weight NCUG infants at the age of 1 year (P <0.05). 5) Height CUG infants showed significantly higher leptin and ghrelin levels than in height NCUG infants at the age of 1 year (P <0.05). CONCLUSION: CUG for weight and height occurred during the first year of life and growth velocity decreased thereafter. Significant corresponding changes occurred with regard to serum leptin and ghrelin.
Adiponectin ; Birth Weight ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Ghrelin ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Small for Gestational Age ; Insulin ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Leptin ; Parturition

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study OBJECTIVES: To analyze the serial results of selective nerve root blocks in herniated lumbar disc patients. LITERATURE REVIEW SUMMARY: To our knowledge there has been no study demonstrating the serial efficacy of root blocks for patients with a herniated lumbar disc only. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Selective nerve root blocks were performed in 36 patients who had a lumbar disc herniation only, with radiculopathy, between November 2002 and April 2003. The diagnoses were made by CT or MRI, which agreed with the symptoms and physical examinations. There were 31 men and 5 women, with a mean age of 28.2 years. The mean interval between the onset and procedure was 7.6 weeks, ranging from 1 to 26 weeks. Mono- and double-segment injections were used in 18 cases, respectwely. The straight leg raising angle, visual analogue pain scale, and motor and sensory functions were investigated before, immediately, 2 days, and 1 and 3 months after the procedure. RESULTS: The mean straight leg raising angle improved significantly, from 28+/-9 degrees to 53+/-18 degrees, immediately, and was maintained until 3 months after the procedure (P<0.001). The visual analogue pain scale was also improved, from 4.6+/-0.9 to 2.0+/-1.5, immediately, and was maintained until 3 months after the procedure (P<0.001). Two of ten patients with motor weakness, and six of eighteen with sensory deficit were improved. There was no procedure related complication; however, surgical treatment was performed in two patients who showed no improvement until 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: Selective nerve root block is a safe and effective treatment method to obtain a rapid and remarkable improvement of radiculopathy in herniated lumbar disc patients.
Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Leg ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Pain Measurement ; Physical Examination ; Prospective Studies ; Radiculopathy ; Sensation

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study OBJECTIVES: To analyze the serial results of selective nerve root blocks in herniated lumbar disc patients. LITERATURE REVIEW SUMMARY: To our knowledge there has been no study demonstrating the serial efficacy of root blocks for patients with a herniated lumbar disc only. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Selective nerve root blocks were performed in 36 patients who had a lumbar disc herniation only, with radiculopathy, between November 2002 and April 2003. The diagnoses were made by CT or MRI, which agreed with the symptoms and physical examinations. There were 31 men and 5 women, with a mean age of 28.2 years. The mean interval between the onset and procedure was 7.6 weeks, ranging from 1 to 26 weeks. Mono- and double-segment injections were used in 18 cases, respectwely. The straight leg raising angle, visual analogue pain scale, and motor and sensory functions were investigated before, immediately, 2 days, and 1 and 3 months after the procedure. RESULTS: The mean straight leg raising angle improved significantly, from 28+/-9 degrees to 53+/-18 degrees, immediately, and was maintained until 3 months after the procedure (P<0.001). The visual analogue pain scale was also improved, from 4.6+/-0.9 to 2.0+/-1.5, immediately, and was maintained until 3 months after the procedure (P<0.001). Two of ten patients with motor weakness, and six of eighteen with sensory deficit were improved. There was no procedure related complication; however, surgical treatment was performed in two patients who showed no improvement until 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: Selective nerve root block is a safe and effective treatment method to obtain a rapid and remarkable improvement of radiculopathy in herniated lumbar disc patients.
Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Leg ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Pain Measurement ; Physical Examination ; Prospective Studies ; Radiculopathy ; Sensation