OBJECTIVE: Although there are several explanations for a duplicated middle cerebral artery (DMCA), its embryological origin is still an open question. We reviewed these anomalous vessels to postulate a theory of their different origins, sizes, and courses. METHODS: A retrospective review of 1,250 cerebral angiographies, 1,452 computed tomography (CT)-angiographies, and 2,527 magnetic resonance (MR)-angiographies was performed to identify patients with DMCA. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients had 25 DMCAs. Conventional angiography detected nine patients with DMCA (9/1250, 0.72%), MR-angiography detected seven patients with DMCA (7/2527, 0.28%), and CT-angiography detected nine patients with DMCA (9/1452, 0.62%). The DMCAs originated near the internal carotid artery terminal in eight patients (type A), and between the origin of the anterior choroidal artery and the terminal internal carotid artery in 17 patients (type B). The diameters of the eight type A DMCAs were the same or slightly smaller than those of the other branch of the DMCA. All type A DMCAs showed a course parallel to that of the other branch of the DMCA. The diameters of the 17 type B DMCAs were the same, slightly smaller, or very much smaller than that of the other branch of the DMCA. Nine type B DMCAs showed parallel courses, and the other eight curved toward the temporal lobe. CONCLUSION: The two branches of the type A DMCAs can be regarded as early bifurcations of the MCA. The branches of the type B DMCAs had parallel courses or a course that curved toward the temporal lobe. The type B DMCA can be regarded as direct bifurcations of the MCA trunk or the early ramification of the temporal branch of the MCA.
Angiography ; Arteries ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Cerebral Angiography ; Choroid ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Retrospective Studies ; Temporal Lobe

PURPOSE: To evaluate the radiographic changes in distal radius fractures treated conservatively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 55 patients with a distal radius fracture treated by conservative treatment. Average age was 57.6 years. According to the AO classification, 17 were A2 fractures followed by C1 (13 cases), C2 (9 cases), C3 (7 cases), B1 (6 cases) and A3 (3 cases). Closed reduction and U-shaped splint were applied as initial treatment. Long arm cast followed by short arm cast were applied for intraarticular or metaphyseal comminuted fractures. Radial inclination angle, radial length and volar tilt angle in each radiograph were measured and evaluated by statistic analysis. Radiographic changes according to ages, comminution of metaphysis and fracture type were also evaluated. RESULTS: Radial inclination, radial length and volar tilt were 22.8degrees, 12.0 mm and 8.5degrees after closed reduction, 22.1degrees, 10.5 mm and 7.7degrees at casting, 20.1degrees, 8.7 mm and 4.5degrees at cast off, and 18.7degrees, 7.4 mm and 4.1degrees at last follow-up. All three values had statistical significances between casting and removal of cast (p<0.001, p<0.001, p=0.002). Radial inclination angle and radial length in the group over 60 years had statistical significances between casting and removal of cast, comparing with the group under 60 years (p=0.037, p=0.045). CONCLUSION: Loss of reduction was more prominent between 3 to 6 weeks after injury, especially in the group 60 years or older.
Arm ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Comminuted ; Humans ; Radius ; Radius Fractures ; Splints

PURPOSE: To evaluate the radiographic changes in distal radius fractures treated conservatively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 55 patients with a distal radius fracture treated by conservative treatment. Average age was 57.6 years. According to the AO classification, 17 were A2 fractures followed by C1 (13 cases), C2 (9 cases), C3 (7 cases), B1 (6 cases) and A3 (3 cases). Closed reduction and U-shaped splint were applied as initial treatment. Long arm cast followed by short arm cast were applied for intraarticular or metaphyseal comminuted fractures. Radial inclination angle, radial length and volar tilt angle in each radiograph were measured and evaluated by statistic analysis. Radiographic changes according to ages, comminution of metaphysis and fracture type were also evaluated. RESULTS: Radial inclination, radial length and volar tilt were 22.8degrees, 12.0 mm and 8.5degrees after closed reduction, 22.1degrees, 10.5 mm and 7.7degrees at casting, 20.1degrees, 8.7 mm and 4.5degrees at cast off, and 18.7degrees, 7.4 mm and 4.1degrees at last follow-up. All three values had statistical significances between casting and removal of cast (p<0.001, p<0.001, p=0.002). Radial inclination angle and radial length in the group over 60 years had statistical significances between casting and removal of cast, comparing with the group under 60 years (p=0.037, p=0.045). CONCLUSION: Loss of reduction was more prominent between 3 to 6 weeks after injury, especially in the group 60 years or older.
Arm ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Comminuted ; Humans ; Radius ; Radius Fractures ; Splints

The use of cement in total hip replacement arthroplasty has long controversial. However, since the 1980s, osteolysis has occurred with high frequency in cementless total hip replacement arthroplasty, and has been a significant cause for loosening. Recently, a cemented femoral stem has been frequently used because of improvements in cement techniques, materials for joint arthroplasty, design, etc. Also, the use of an acetabular cup with cement seems desirable where indications are for a revision procedure or where there is an aged patient with severe osteoporosis, and where the patient requires a broad bone graft due to an acetabular bone defect. The purpose of this article was (i) to review how to fix an acetabular cup with cement and a femoral stem in current hip replacement arthroplasty procedures and (ii) to review possible directions for further development.
Aged ; Arthroplasty ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Humans ; Joints ; Osteolysis ; Osteoporosis ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Calcium plays a key role in vascular contraction and regulates receptor sensitivity to certain neurotransmitters. Calcium channel blockers are useful in the treatment of both clinical and experimental hypertension. The present study was designed to examine whether there is an alteration of the activity of calcium channels in association with the development of hypertension. METHODS: Deoxycorticosterone acetate(DOCA)-salt hypertension was made by subcutaneous implantation of DOCA(200mg/kg)strip plus saline drinking(1%) and 2-kidney, 1 clip(2KIC)hypertension by clipping the left renal artery with a silver clip(internal gap of 0.2mm). They were used 4 weeks later. Age-matched normal rats served as a control. Mean arterial pressure(MAP) and heart rate(HR) were continuously recorded from the right femoral artery. The drugs were administered intravenously. RESULTS: Vehicle alone was without effect on MAP or HR. In normotensive rats, nifedipine infusion(5 and 10ug/kg/min)caused a dose-dependent decrease in MAP without significant changes in HR, while Bay k 8644(Bay K, 5 and 10 ug/kg/min) increased MAP transiently. Both the depressor response to nifedipine and the pressor response to Bay k were more marked in DOCA-salt hypetensive rats than in normotensive rats. The maximal changes in MAP indced by nifedipine(5 and 50 ug/kg) or Bay K(5 and 50 ug/kg) were also enhanced in 2KIC hypertensive rats as compared with control rats. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that calcium channel inhibitors and activators can affect on the regulation of blood pressure in an opposite fashion. It is also suggested that the activity of calcium channels might be altered in the developement of experimental hypertension.
3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester* ; Animals ; Bays* ; Blood Pressure ; Calcium ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; Calcium Channels ; Desoxycorticosterone ; Femoral Artery ; Heart ; Hypertension ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Nifedipine* ; Rats* ; Renal Artery ; Silver

BACKGROUND: Many Studies regarding hemodynamic changes by various vasodilators, such as nitroprusside, nifedipine, and hydralazine have been reported, however little data are available upon acute hemodynamic change due to captopril, an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor especially in chronic regurgitant valvular heart disease. Therefore the aim of this study is to evaluate the acute hemodynamic effects of sublingual captopril in patients with regurgitant valvular heart diseases. METHODS: Among the 9 patients enrolled in this study, 5 patients mitral regurgitation, 2 had aortic regurgitation, and 2 had both. Five had patients were male and 4 were female. Before, 15 minutes and 30 minutes after administration of 25mg of captopril via sublingual route, forward cardiac output was measured three times using Swan-Ganz catheter. Right and left cardiac catheterization were also done at each phase and measurement of pulmonary capillary wedge pressures, pulmonary artery pressures, right atrial pressures, aortic pressures, left ventricular pressures were done. RESULTS: 1) Heart rate, pulmonary capillary wedge pressures, cardiac output and cardiac indices left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, diastolic and mean aortic pressures, and diastolic pulmonary artery pressure showed no significant change after administration of sublingual captopril. 2) Systolic aortic pressure decreased significantly from basal value(130+/-35) to 15 minute value(126+/-39). 3) Systemic vascular resistance at 15 minute showed significant reduction as compared with basal value(from 1743+/-551 to 1642+/-491). Pulmonary vascular resistance at 30 minutes(254+/-193) was significantly lower than basal value(282+/-229). CONCLUSIONS: Reductions of systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance occurred relatively rapidly, however, acute effects on cardiac output and pulmonary capillary wedge pressures were not evident. Clinical implication of sublingual captopril in patients with regurgitant valvular heart diseases is worth evaluationg by more extensive hemodynamic studies.
Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Arterial Pressure ; Arteries ; Atrial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Capillaries ; Captopril* ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Cardiac Output ; Catheters ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Heart Valve Diseases* ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Hydralazine ; Male ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Nifedipine ; Nitroprusside ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Wedge Pressure ; Vascular Resistance ; Vasodilator Agents ; Ventricular Pressure

BACKGROUND: CarboMedics and St.Jude Medical bileaflet valves are in widespread use but few noninvasive studies about the two types of valves were performedd. The aim of this study was to assess the characterisics of the normally functioning CarboMedics and St.Jude Medical prosthesis in the mitral position. METHODS: Patients with normally functioning CarboMedics and St.Jude Medical valve in the mitral position were included. They underwent transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography 7 to 14days after mitral valve replacement. With the use of color flow Doppler transesophageal echocardiography, we measured the length, width, and area of maximal physiologic regurgitation and by using 2-D transesophageal echocardiography, we measured the opening and closing angles of the bileaflet valves and we tried to elucidate whether spontaneous echo contrast is present in the left atrium. RESULTS: 31 pateints underwent mitral valve replacement with CarboMedics and 10 patients with St.Jude Medical. The length of maximal physiologic regurgitation ranged from 11mm to 44mm in carboMedics mitral valve and from 12mm to 36mm in St.Jude Medical mitral valve. The area ranged from 0.19cm2to 3.48cm2in CarboMedcs and from 0.58cm2to 4.49cm2in CarboMedics and The mean opening and closing angles are 83.2(+/-1.1)degrees, 22.3(+/-1.3)degrees in CarboMedics and 86.5(+/-1.2)degrees 26.2(+/-3.2)degrees in St.Jude Medical. Spontaneous echo contrast was positive in 66% of patients, of whom patioents with atrial fibrillation showed nuch higher revalence of SEC than patients with sinus rhythm. CONCLUSION: These finding valve will give us a reference valvue for the evaluation of prosthetic valve function in mitral position.
Atrial Fibrillation ; Echocardiography* ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Mitral Valve* ; Prostheses and Implants

BACKGROUND: Endothelin, a very potent vasoconstricting substance released from the endothelium, has been known to be elevated in various cardiovascular disorders, however, the sites of endothelin porduction as well as the influence of acute hemodynamic changes upon plasma endothelin-1 concentration remains elucidated. METHODS: In order to evaluate the probable site of endothelin production and relationship between levels of plasma endothelin and hemodynamic variables, six patients with moderate to severe mitral stenosis underwent percutaneous mitral commissurotomy(PMC) were included. Measurement of mean pulmonary arterial pressure, cardiac output as well as plasma endothelin-1 concentration of renal vein, main pulmonary artery, and ascending aorta were performed before and 20 minutes after PMC. RESULTS: After PMC, cardiac output increased significantly, whereas mean pulmonary artery pressure and transvalvular pressure gradient were reduced significantly(both p<0.05). Before PMC, plasma endothelin-1 concentration tended to be higher in renal vein(6.12+/-3.7pg/ml) and pulmonary artery(5.07+/-1.7) than that in aorta(3.05+/-1.2pg/ml). After hemodynamic improvement with PMC, plasma endothelin-1 concentration decreased at all the site, however the change at pulmonary artery was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that endothelin-1 may be produced mainly somewhere in systemic venous circulation such as kidney rather than pulmonary circulation, and plasma endothelin-1 concentration tends to decrease in response to the acute hemodydnamic im provement.
Aorta ; Arterial Pressure ; Cardiac Output ; Endothelin-1* ; Endothelins ; Endothelium ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Kidney ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; Plasma* ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Circulation ; Renal Veins

BACKGROUND: The main cause of atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease is known to be atherosclerotic processing. In patients with atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease, other atherosclerotic diseases are frequently combined, especially coronary artery disease. There were some suggestions that the risk factors of the atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease be different from the those of the coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the independent risk factors for the atheroslerotic peripheral vascular disease(PVD) without influence of coronary artery disease(CAD). METHODS: The study population was male patients with atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease(n=66) documented by peripheral angiogram form February 1991 to Octobor 1993, and during their abmission all patients with suspected atherosclerotic peripheral vascular diaease underwent both peripheral angiogram and coronary angiogram. Careful history taking and physical examination and lipid battery sampling after at least 14 hours of fasting were also performed. RESULTS: 60% of patients with peripheral vascular disease also had coronary artery disease. There was no significant difference in total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholestrerol, triglyceride between patients with peripheral vascular disease and age-matched control. The prevalence of hypertension was higher in patients with peripheral vascular disease but with no statistical significance. Smoking(p<0.0001) and diabetes(p<0.05) were strongly associated with peripheral vascular disease. When patients without coronary artery disease were compared to control from the viewpoint of risk factors again, the results were the same, that is, smoking and diabetes were also associated with periperal vascular diseaes. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of associated coronary artery disease was relatively high in patients with atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease. And smoking and diabetes seem to be important risk factors of atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease.
Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Fasting ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male ; Peripheral Vascular Diseases ; Physical Examination ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Triglycerides

PURPOSE: Smoking cessation is strongly recommended for every smoker after ischemic stroke, but many patients fail to quit smoking. An improved smoking cessation rate has been reported with intensive behavioral therapy during hospitalization and supportive contact after discharge. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the usefulness of the timely interventions for smoking cessation in men with acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: Patients who participated in the timely interventions strategy (TI group) were compared with those who received conventional counseling (CC group). In the TI group, a certified nurse provided comprehensive education during admission and additional counseling after discharge. Outcome was measured by point smoking success rate and sustained smoking cessation rate for 12 months. RESULTS: Participants, 157 men (86 of the TI group and 71 of the CC group), were enrolled. Mean age was 58.25 ± 11.23 years and mean initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 4.68 ± 5.46. The TI group showed a higher point smoking success rate compared with the CC group (p= .003). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the TI group was 2.96-fold (95% CI, 1.43~6.13) more likely to sustain smoking cessation for 12 months than the CC group. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate that multiple interventions initiated during hospital stay and regular follow-up after discharge are more effective than conventional smoking cessation counseling in men with acute ischemic stroke.
Behavior Control ; Cerebral Infarction ; Counseling ; Education ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Logistic Models ; Male ; National Institutes of Health (U.S.) ; Smoke* ; Smoking Cessation* ; Smoking* ; Stroke*