OBJECTIVES: To induce osteogenesis of cultured mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) isolated from rat bone marrow in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: Bone marrow cells were isolated from Spraugue-Dawley rats and seeded in culture medium. MSCs were isolated from bone marrow cells and cultured. For in vitro induction of osteogenesis, MSCs were cultured in osteogenic medium. After 2 weeks, evaluation of osteogenesis was performed with alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activity, ALP immunochemical stain, von-Kossa stain for mineral deposition, and Northern blot analysis for osteocalcin m-RNA. For in vivo induction of osteogenesis, MSCs were seeded on Collagraft strips. The Collagraft strips seeded with MSCs were grafted in the subcutaneous tissue of the back of immunocompromised rats. Grafted Collagraft strips were harvested 3, 6, 9, 12 weeks after graft and stained with H-e ad toluidine blue-O stai. RESULTS: In vitro assay ALP activity was 121.27 p-nitrophenol nmol/106cell in osteogenesis induced MSCs and 75.53 p-nitrophenaol nmol/106cell in control groups. Osteogenesis induced MSCs were stongly stained by ALP immunochemical stain. Von Kossa stain showed black mineral deposition. There were strong bands in Northern blot analysis for osteocalcin m-RNA. H-E stain showed penetratin of cellular component into the pores of Collagraft strip in all specimen and showed formation of osteoid from 6 weeks after graft. Toluidine blue-O stain showed blue staining cartilagious component from 3 weeks after grafting. CONCLUSION: We could induce osteogenesis from mesenchymal stem cells in vitro and in vivo. Based on the results of this study, bone graft might be able to replaced by a new method in the near future.
Animals ; Blotting, Northern ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Bone Marrow* ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells* ; Osteocalcin ; Osteogenesis* ; Rats* ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament*

Transitional vertebrae include lumbarization and sacralization of lumbosacral region. The prevalence of transitional vertebra was reported as 3 to 21%. It is known that transitional vertebra is related to herniated nucleus pulposus and spinal stenosis but there is no report in English literature about the relationship of transitional vertebra to spondylolysis or spondylolytic spondylolisthesis. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship of transitional vertebra to spondylolysis or spondylolytic spondylolisthesis and to find out the clinical relevance for the treatment. The cases included 182 cases of spondylolysis or spondylolytic spondylolisthesis who were treated at Severance hospital from 1987 to 1993. There were 33 cases of transitional vetebra; 12 lumbarization and 21 sacralization. And there were remaining 149 cases of control group. The degree of anterior sippage was measured by Meyerding's grading and percentage of Taillard method. As the results, the degree of average anterior slippage of L4 was 14.5% in the cases of isthmic defect in L4 and sacralization. The average slippage of L4 was 11.4% in the control group. The degree of average anterior slippage of L5 was 12.5% in the cases of isthmic defect in L5 and lumbarization, and 9.5% in the cases of isthmic defect in L5 and sacralization. The average slippage of L5 was 16.2% in the control group. In summary and conclusion, the cases with isthmic defect in L4 and sacralization showed more anterior slippage than the cases with isthmic defect in L4 without transitional vertebrae, and the cases with isthmic defect in L5 and sacralization showed less anterior slippage than the cases with isthmic defect in L5 without transitional vertebrae. It is concluded that more aggressive treatment is recommended in the cases of isthmic defect in L4 and sacralization, whereas more conservative treatment is recommended in the cases of isthmic defect in L5 and sacralization.
Lumbosacral Region ; Methods ; Prevalence ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spine ; Spondylolisthesis ; Spondylolysis

No abstract available.
Animals ; Liver* ; Rats*

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study was made of patients undergoing posterolateral fusion of the lumbar spine. OBJECTIVES: To compare the clinical outcomes of the patients who underwent posterolateral fusion of the lumbar spine with commercially available allogeneic bone graft with those patients in a similar consecutive control group who underwent posterolateral fusion of the lumbar spine with autogenic bone graft and to determine whether the commercially available allogeneic bone is useful for postero-lateral fusion of the lumbar spine. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Major differences exist in the ability of an allogeneic bone graft to regenerate a viable cellular network as compared to an autogenic bone graft. This is related to the immunologic response of the host to the foreign bone. The fusion rate of deep freezing allogeneic bone graft was reported as 80-100%. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-nine patients with spondylolisthesis treated with decompression, fixation with pedicle screws and posterolateral fusion were retrospectively reviewed. Nineteen patients (group 1) were treated with commercially available allogeneic bone (Tutoplast) graft mixed with autogenic bone and the remaining 60 patients (group 2) were treated with autogenic bone graft. Operating time, amount of transfusion, duration of hospital stay, symptom improvement, fusion rate, duration of fusion, and complications were studied. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of duration of hospital stay, amount of transfusion, symptom improvement, and complications . However, there were significant differences between the allogeneic and autogenic groups in terms of operating time (212.3 versus 230.9 minutes), fusion rate (36.8% versus 98.3%), and duration of fusion (10.2 versus 6.4 months), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Commercially available allogeneic bone is less useful for posterolateral fusion of the lumbar spine.
Decompression ; Freezing ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine* ; Spondylolisthesis ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Fibrosis* ; Recurrence*

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to evaluate whether maternal body mass index measured before pregnancy are associated with an increased risk of cesarean delivery. METHODS: Maternal weight and height were prospectively collected on 819 women who delivered between 37 weeks and 42 weeks in the College of Medicine, Catholic University of Taegu-Hyosung. Statistical analysis was done using Chi-square tests, prepregnancy maternal weight and height were used to calculate the body mass index, and its contribution to the risk of cesarean delivery was determined. Women with congenital anomaly and pregestational diabetes were exclude from analysis. RESULTS: The analysis of risk factors for cesarean delivery in the 819 women revealed a decreased risk of cesarean delivery with maternal age < or =20 years and multiparity; increased risk of cesarean delivery was noted with maternal age >30 years. Increase in prepregnancy maternal body mass index and total weight gain were significantly associated with increase in the odds of cesarean delivery. CONCLUSION: The risk of cesarean delivery is associated with incremental changes in maternal weight and body mass index before pregnancy after adjustment for potential confounding factors. Prepregnancy counseling about optimizing maternal weight and monitoring weight gain during pregnancy to decrease the risk of cesarean delivery are supported by this study.
Body Mass Index* ; Counseling ; Female ; Humans ; Maternal Age ; Parity ; Pregnancy ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Weight Gain

No abstract available.
Adolescent* ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc* ; Spine*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Liver* ; Rats*

Spinal epidural abscesses were evaluated using Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 19 surgically and clinically confirmed cases, including 13 with tuberculous spondylitis and 6 with pyogenic spondylitis. We observed rim enhancement patterns in 10 patients and diffuse enhancement patterns in 9 patients. The spread patterns were localized to ventral or dorsal epidural space and encircled entire epidural space. We conclude that rim enhancement indicates abscess and diffuse enhancement indicates granulation tissue and fibrosis. Tuberculous epidural abscess spreads to ventral epidural space and pyogenic epidural abscess encircles entire epidural space.
Abscess ; Epidural Abscess* ; Epidural Space ; Fibrosis ; Granulation Tissue ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Spondylitis