No abstract available.
Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Nodule*

OBJECTIVE: To present the incidence and management of dural tears and cerebrospinal fluid leakage during corrective osteotomy [Pedicle Subtraction Osteotomy (PSO) or Smith-Petersen Osteotomy (SPO)] for ankylosing spondylitis with kyphotic deformity. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed for ankylosing spondylitis patients with fixed sagittal imbalance, who had undergone corrective osteotomy (PSO or SPO) at lumbar level. 87 patients were included in this study. 55 patients underwent PSO, 32 patients underwent SPO. The mean age of the patients at the time of surgery was 41.7 years (21-70 years). Of the 87 patients, 15 patients had intraoperative dural tears. RESULTS: The overall incidence of dural tears was 17.2%. The incidence of dural tears during PSO was 20.0%, SPO was 12.5%. There was significant difference in the incidence of dural tears based on surgical procedures (PSO vs. SPO) (p<0.05). The dural tears ranged in size from 12 to 221 mm2. A nine of 15 patients had the relatively small dural tears, underwent direct repair via watertight closure. The remaining 6 patients had the large dural tears, consequently direct repair was impossible. The large dural tears were repaired with an on-lay graft of muscle, fascia or fat harvested from the adjacent operation site. All patients had a successful repair with no patient requiring reoperation for the cerebrospinal fluid leak. CONCLUSION: The overall incidence of dural tears during PSO or SPO for ankylosing spondylitis with kyphotic deformity was 17.2%. The risk factor of dural tears was complexity of surgery. All dural tears were repaired primarily using direct suture, muscle, fascia or fat graft.
Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Congenital Abnormalities* ; Fascia ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Osteotomy* ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing* ; Sutures ; Transplants

OBJECTIVES: Although the mechanisms underlying the initiation and maintenance of inflammation in unilateral maxillary fungal balls (FBs) are poorly understood, the relationship between intranasal anatomy and maxillary FB is thought to play an important role. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between anatomic variations and FB. METHODS: We enrolled 140 patients who were composed of 56 patients with FB, 56 patients with unilateral chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), and 28 patients with no sinus disease. Computed tomography scans were retrospectively analyzed to identify and compare the associated nasal anatomic abnormalities. To measure the volume of the nasal cavity and middle meatus, computed tomography scans were reconstructed into three-dimensional images. RESULTS: The relatively larger volume of the middle meatus was associated with the localization of the FB in contrast with the CRS. However, the nasal-cavity volume, nasal valve area, and nasal septal deviation were not significantly associated with localization of FB. The mean volumetric and areal measurements such as nasal cavity, middle meatus, and nasal valve in FB-ipsilateral sides were not significantly different from those in contralateral sides as well as other groups. CONCLUSION: The middle meatus bears the major part of the inspiratory nasal airflow, and its volume may influence the occurrence of FB.
Humans ; Inflammation ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasal Septum ; Paranasal Sinuses ; Retrospective Studies ; Ursidae

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN 1) is characterized by the coexistence of primary hyperparathyroidism, enteropancreatic tumors, and anterior pituitary adenoma. Also adrenal adenoma, lipoma, carcinoid tumors could exist simultaneously on the atypical clinical course of MEN 1. Among these diseases, primary hyperparathyroidism is the most common manisfestation of MEN 1 syndrome. However, it sometimes presents no clinical symptoms and is incidentally detected on medical checkup. A 48-year-old woman, while undergoing a regular medical check-up, was diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism. Further studies showed concurrence of pancreatic tumor and adrenal tumor, but there was no pituitary lesion. The patient underwent parathyroidectomy with auto-implantation of parathyroid tissue, pylorus preserving pancreatico-duodenectomy and partial adrenalectomy. The pathological test confirmed it to be parathyroid hyperplasia, well-differentiated pancreatic endocrine carcinoma and adrenal cortical adenoma. We report this atypical and asymptomatic case of MEN 1 with a review of the relevant literature.
Adenoma ; Adrenalectomy ; Adrenocortical Adenoma ; Carcinoid Tumor ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism ; Hyperparathyroidism, Primary ; Hyperplasia ; Lipoma ; Mass Screening ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 ; Parathyroidectomy ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Pylorus

Angioleiomyoma is a solid benign tumor, which is often painful. It can be found in the dermis, subcutaneous fat and fascia. Peak incidence is during the fourth to sixth decades of life. Angioleiomyoma in the hand can be treated with simple excision, and is relatively rare in the hand. So far, there has been no report of angioleiomyoma in the hand in South Korea. The authors experienced two cases of angioleiomyoma in the hand; one in the second web space and the other in the fifth metacarpal region. Both patients were treated by simple excision. There was no evidence of recurrence at one-year follow up.
Angiomyoma* ; Dermis ; Fascia ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Recurrence ; Subcutaneous Fat

Intermetatarsal coalition (IC) is very rare; although few cases have been reported in foreign orthopedic journals, these have not originated in our country. We report the case of a 20-year-old man who complained of pain in the left forefoot only during long distance running (3 km). On examination, his foot shape, skin appearance, and gait were normal, with no plantar keratosis; however, the radiograph revealed coalition between the fourth and fifth metatarsals. Surgical excision was performed. In the histopathologic study, fibrous coalition was confirmed. This paper reports an uncommon case involving surgical excision of IC in the military service, involving active sport activity.
Foot ; Gait ; Humans ; Keratosis ; Metatarsal Bones ; Military Personnel ; Orthopedics ; Running ; Skin ; Sports ; Synostosis ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: To perform comparative analysis between the results of internal fixation using compression hip screw and cemented bipolar hemiarthroplasty in unstable intertrochanteric fracture in elderly patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2001 to October 2006, we reviewd 73 patients, who were treated surgically for unstable intertrochanteric fractures, with a minimum of 2 years follow up. The patient's age was older than 60 year old. The patients were divided into two groups and evaluated, retrospectively. One group was treated with cemented bipolar hemiarthroplasty (Group A, 34 cases), and the other group was treated with compression hip screw (Group B, 39 cases). We evaluated the amount of intraoperative bleeding, operative time, clinical results and complications between the two groups. RESULTS: The amount of intraoperative bleeding and operative time were no statistically significant between the two groups. Group A showed a better result than Group B for clinical outcome using Johnson Daily Activity of Life. Complications in the group A were comprised of dislocation (1 case), nonunion of greater trochanter (1 case), infection (1 case) and loosening (1 case), and those in the group B were comprised of loss of fixation (8 cases) and infection (1 case). CONCLUSION: We found that short-term outcomes of cemented bipolar hemiarthroplasty for unstable intertrochanteric fractures were satisfactory. However, a longer-follow up period is necessary to clarify the efficacy of cemented bipolar hemiarthroplasty.
Aged ; Dislocations ; Femur ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemiarthroplasty ; Hemorrhage ; Hip ; Hip Fractures ; Humans ; Operative Time ; Retrospective Studies

The C-terminal fragment of the c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase is present in the nuclei of some cells irrespective of ligand stimulation, but the responsible nuclear localization signal (NLS) has not been previously reported. Here, we report that two histidine residues separated by a 10-amino-acid spacer (H1068-H1079) located in the juxtamembrane region of c-Met function as a putative novel NLS. Deletion of these sequences significantly abolished the nuclear translocation of c-Met, as did substitution of the histidines with alanines. This substitution also decreased the association of c-Met fragment with importin beta. The putative NLS of c-Met is unique in that it relies on histidines, whose positive charge changes depending on pH, rather than the lysines or arginines, commonly found in classical bipartite NLSs, suggesting the possible 'pH-dependency' of this NLS. Indeed, decreasing the cytosolic pH either with nigericin, an Na+/H+ exchanger or pH 6.5 KRB buffer significantly increased the level of nuclear c-Met and the interaction of the c-Met fragment with importin beta, indicating that low pH itself enhanced nuclear translocation. Consistent with this, nigericin treatment also increased the nuclear level of endogenous c-Met in HeLa cells. The putative aberrant bipartite NLS of c-Met seems to be the first example of what we call a 'pH-dependent' NLS.
Active Transport, Cell Nucleus ; Amino Acid Sequence ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Nuclear Localization Signals ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met/*analysis/genetics/*metabolism ; Sequence Deletion

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Superantigens such as Staphylococcus aureus exotoxin (SE) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (NP). The aim of this study was to determine the immunologic response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to staphylococcal exotoxin B (SEB) in patients with NP. METHODS: The interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and interferon-gamma(IFN-gamma) responses of PBMCs to nonspecific mitogens such as phylohemagglutin (PHA) and SEB were examined in 24 NP patients and 16 control subjects. The presence or absence of atopy and asthma was determined to evaluate the correlation of these conditions with the levels of cytokines. RESULTS: PBMCs from the NP patients were more likely to produce IL-4 and IL-5 in response to SEB than those from controls. There was no difference in the mitogen-induced cytokine responses between NP patients and controls. SEB-induced IL-5 and IL-4 levels were higher in patients with NP with asthma than in patients with NP without asthma. CONCLUSION: Patients with NP show an exaggerated Th2 cytokine response of PBMCs to SEB.
Asthma ; Exotoxins ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-5 ; Interleukins ; Mitogens ; Staphylococcus ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Superantigens

OBJECTIVE: To illustrate the technique of single-stage posterior subtotal corpectomy and circumferential reconstruction for the treatment of unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures and to evaluate the radiographical and clinical outcomes of patients treated using this technique. METHODS: 16 consecutive patients with unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures were treated with single-stage posterior subtotal corpectomy and circumferential reconstruction. The mean patient age was 54.8 years. The mean follower up period was 25 months. Five patients suffered from T12 fractures, 10 from L1, 1 from L2. The segmental kyphosis, neurologic status, visual analogue scale for back pain was evaluated before surgery and at follow up. RESULTS: The segmental kyphotic angle improved from 18.5 degrees before surgery to -9.2 degrees at the last follow up. The mean correction angle was 28.9 degrees. The mean surgical time was 255 minutes, and a mean intraoperative blood loss was 1073 mL. Intraoperative complications included two dural tears, and a superficial wound infection. There were no other severe complications. The mean visual analog scale of back pain decreased from a mean value of 6.6 to 2 at the last follow up. CONCLUSION: The single-stage posterior subtotal corpectomy and circumferential reconstruction achieved satisfactory kyphosis correction with direct visualization of the circumferentially decompressed spinal cord, as well as good fusion with less blood loss and complications. It is a safe and reliable surgical treatment option for unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures.
Back Pain ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intraoperative Complications ; Kyphosis ; Operative Time ; Spinal Cord ; Tears ; Visual Analog Scale ; Wound Infection