No abstract available.
Spinal Cord Vascular Diseases*

No abstract available.
Aneurysm* ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus*

No abstract available.
Sepsis* ; Yersinia*

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) can be used to assess the therapeutic response of brain abscess. METHODS: A study was conducted on 10 consecutive patients with brain abscess. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with diffuse-weighted imaging (DWI) was performed at 3 and 6 weeks after surgical treatment and intravenous antibiotics therapy and FDG-PET at 6 weeks after treatment. The extent of the abscess, signal changes on MRI, and FDG-PET standardized uptake values were analyzed and correlated with the response to therapy. RESULTS: Aspiration or craniotomy with excision of the abscess followed by intravenous antibiotics for 6-8 weeks resulted in good recovery with no recurrence. In 10 patients, two had low signal intensity on the DWI; one had no uptake on FDG-PET imaging after 6 weeks antibiotics and discontinued intravenous treatment, but the other patient had diffuse, increased uptake on FDG-PET imaging after 6 weeks antibiotics and underwent an additional 2 weeks of intravenous antibiotics. The remaining eight patients had high signals on the DWI. Four had no uptake on FDG-PET imaging and the treatment period varied from 6 to 8 weeks (mean, 6.75 weeks). Among the other four patients, FDG was accumulated in a diffuse or local area corresponding to a high signal area within the DWI and 2 weeks of intravenous antibiotics was added. CONCLUSION: MRI plus FDG-PET improved the accuracy of assessing therapeutic responses to antibiotics treatment of brain abscess and aided in optimizing therapy.
Abscess ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Brain ; Brain Abscess ; Craniotomy ; Electrons ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Recurrence

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate plasma levels of endostatin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in normal subjects and in patients with pituitary adenoma and to evaluate change in these levels following stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for pituitary adenoma. METHODS: Peripheral venous blood was collected from five patients with pituitary adenoma before SRS using Gamma Knife and at the 1 week and 1 month follow-up visits. Plasma endostatin and VEGF levels were measured using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 10 healthy volunteers as controls. RESULTS: Mean baseline plasma endostatin level (105.3 ng/mL, range, 97.0-120.2 ng/mL) in patients with pituitary adenoma was higher than that of the healthy controls (86.6 ng/mL, range, 71.3-98.2 ng/mL) (p=0.001). Mean plasma VEGF level was 89.5 pg/mL (range, 24.1-171.8 pg/mL) in patients with pituitary adenoma at baseline and 29.3 pg/mL (range, 9.2-64.3 pg/mL) in the control group (p=0.050). Plasma endostatin level changed to 106.6 ng/mL 1 week after SRS and decreased to 95.9 ng/mL after 1 month. Plasma VEGF level following SRS decreased to 74.1 pg/mL after 1 week and 79.0 pg/mL after 1 month. There was a trend toward decreased plasma endostatin and VEGF concentrations 1 month after SRS compared to baseline levels (p=0.195, p=0.812, respectively). CONCLUSION: Plasma endostatin and VEGF levels in patients with pituitary adenoma were significantly elevated over controls at baseline, which decreased from baseline to 1 month after SRS for pituitary adenomas.
Endostatins* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Follow-Up Studies ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Pituitary Neoplasms* ; Plasma ; Radiosurgery* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

No abstract available.
Gram-Positive Cocci*

The role of the donor and recipient gender have been a controversial point in the outcome of renal transplantation and the pathophysiologic mechanisms are not understood clearly. In order to evaluate the effect of gender on the renal graft survival, we reviewed our 400 consecutive living donor renal transplantation. The patients were divided into four groups, Group 1; male donor and male recipient(n=152), Group 2; female donor and male recipient(n=61), Group 3; male donor and female recipient(n=135), and Group 4; female donor and female recipient(n=52). To estimate the transplant outcome between the groups, we analyzed patient and graft survival, acute tubular necrosis, BUN, creatinine and rejection episode for maximum 5 years after transplantation. The level of BUN(34.7+/- 26.4, 19.8+/- 6.4, 30.5+/- 14.6, 23.1+/- 10.5 in group 1,2,3,4 respectively) and serum creatinine(2.62+/- 2.3, 1.48+/- 1.1, 2.24+/- 1.2, 1.65+/- 0.9 in group 1,2,3,4 respectively) were higher in male recipient groups regardless of donor gender. However, donor and recipient gender had no influence on post-graft blood pressure and acute tubular necrosis(p>0.05). Acute rejection episode was predominent at female donor graft than male donor graft(36.4% vs 30.1%). The 5 year graft survival in group 1,2,3,4 were 67.8, 67.2, 60.1, 72.7% and patient survival were 76.9, 75.6, 72.6, 80.5% in their orders. These results suggest that donor and recipient gender might play a role in the outcome of renal transplantation. The mechanism of these results must be analyzed by further evaluation using larger patient group.
Allografts* ; Blood Pressure ; Creatinine ; Female ; Graft Survival ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; Living Donors ; Male ; Necrosis ; Tissue Donors* ; Transplants

The role of the donor and recipient gender have been a controversial point in the outcome of renal transplantation and the pathophysiologic mechanisms are not understood clearly. In order to evaluate the effect of gender on the renal graft survival, we reviewed our 400 consecutive living donor renal transplantation. The patients were divided into four groups, Group 1; male donor and male recipient(n=152), Group 2; female donor and male recipient(n=61), Group 3; male donor and female recipient(n=135), and Group 4; female donor and female recipient(n=52). To estimate the transplant outcome between the groups, we analyzed patient and graft survival, acute tubular necrosis, BUN, creatinine and rejection episode for maximum 5 years after transplantation. The level of BUN(34.7+/- 26.4, 19.8+/- 6.4, 30.5+/- 14.6, 23.1+/- 10.5 in group 1,2,3,4 respectively) and serum creatinine(2.62+/- 2.3, 1.48+/- 1.1, 2.24+/- 1.2, 1.65+/- 0.9 in group 1,2,3,4 respectively) were higher in male recipient groups regardless of donor gender. However, donor and recipient gender had no influence on post-graft blood pressure and acute tubular necrosis(p>0.05). Acute rejection episode was predominent at female donor graft than male donor graft(36.4% vs 30.1%). The 5 year graft survival in group 1,2,3,4 were 67.8, 67.2, 60.1, 72.7% and patient survival were 76.9, 75.6, 72.6, 80.5% in their orders. These results suggest that donor and recipient gender might play a role in the outcome of renal transplantation. The mechanism of these results must be analyzed by further evaluation using larger patient group.
Allografts* ; Blood Pressure ; Creatinine ; Female ; Graft Survival ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; Living Donors ; Male ; Necrosis ; Tissue Donors* ; Transplants

Pediatric head injury is a leading cause of disability or death in children. Reducing morbidity and mortality require careful attention to the factors leading to poor prognosis. In this regards authors reviewed the clinical features of pediatric head injury to find out the prognostic factors. From 1992 to 1996, 96 pediatric head injury patients were admitted to our hospital. Seventy eight of them(81.3%) were transferred from the other hospitals. Pedestrian vehicle accident and fall were the leading causes. Clear or drowsy patients account for 42.7 %, stuporous, semicomatose or comatose, 57.3%. Early seizures were noted in 18(18.8%). Outcome were good in 68(70.8%), moderate to severe disability 18(18.8%), vegetative 3(3.1 %), and died 7(7.3%). Consciousness level was the most significantly related with poor prognosis. Radiological deterioration, hematoma or edema, was noted in thirteen patients, and their prognosis was significantly worse than others(p=0.01). Those patients with complications occurred during admission such as pneumonia or electrolyte imbalance showed poorer prognosis (p<0.05). In conclusion outcome of the pediatric head in Jury was significantly related to the initial mentality, worsening of hematoma or edema on follow up CT scan, and complications such as pneumonia and electrolyte imbalance during admission . Early recognition of these factors would contribute to the improvement of the outcome of the pediatric head injury patients.
Child ; Coma ; Consciousness ; Craniocerebral Trauma* ; Edema ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head* ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Mortality ; Pneumonia ; Prognosis ; Seizures ; Stupor ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

From November 1992 to October 1994, 71 patients with spondylolisthesis underwent transpedicular fixation and fusion using VSP system. Two groups of were studied, in order to compare comcomitant posterolateral and posterior lumbar interbody fusion with regard to operating time, blood loss, degree of reduction, fusion rate, clinical results, and complications. Results showed 31 good, 11 fair, and 3 poor in the posterolateral fusion group and 23 good, 1 fair, and 2 poor in the posterior lumbar interbody fusion group. Implant failure occurred in 2 patients and consisted of screw breakage. Posterior lumbar interbody fusion with internal fixation provides a highly successful method for maintaining interbody height and obtaining arthrodeis.
Humans ; Spondylolisthesis*