No abstract available.
Craniocerebral Trauma* ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Head* ; Humans

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective radiologic study. OBJECTIVES: We wanted to compare the compression ratio and kyphosis of thoracolumbar and lumbar fractures according to the radiologic measuring methods and we wanted to analyze their relationship with the stability of fracture. SUMMARY OF THE LITERATURE REVIEW: There are several methods for measuring the compression ratio and kyphotic angle in thoracolumbar fractures, but no definitive measurements and no different values according to the stability have been established. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 2002 to August 2008, the plain films, CT, MRI and medical records of thoracolumbar and lumbar fracture were reviewed. The compression ratio and kyphotic angle were calculated by several different formulas with using the lateral view of the plain X-ray film, the sagittal reconstruction image of CT and the sagittal image of MRI and the results were compared. Each subject was classified according to both McAfee's classification and the TLISS classification. RESULTS: Two hundred forty eight vertebral bodies of 205 thoracolumbar fracture patients were analyzed. The compression ratio according to formula 1, which was calculated as 1-anterior vertebral height/posterior vertebral height, was significantly correlated with Cobb's angle and the local kyphotic angle. There was no significant difference between the Cobb's angle calculated using the lateral X-ray and that using the sagittal view of CT; however, it was significantly less using the sagittal MRI view. The unstable fractures according to McAfee's classification showed a significantly higher compression ratio and kyphotic angle compared to those of the stable fractures. CONCLUSIONS: The compression ratio formula 1 was most significantly correlated with the kyphotic deformity. The unstable fractures showed a mean compression ratio higher than 30%, a mean Cobb's angle of 15degrees and local kyphotic angle of 18degrees. The sagittally reconstructed CT was a useful measuring method for the evaluation of kyphotic deformity, and it was more accurate than that of the plain film.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; X-Ray Film

To investigate whether the abnormal expression of matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs) in the aqueous humor may case the development of glaucoma, the activity of MMP in the aqueous humor of galucoma and cataract patients were measured and compared. Six primary open angle glaucoma(POAG), 2 chronic angle closureglaucoma(CACG), 2 normal tension glaucoma(NTG), and 14 cataract patients were enrolled. Aqueous humor of each patients were collected during surgery, and total protein concentration and activity of gelatinase A in the aqueous humor were measured by protein assay kit and zymography, respectively. Total protein concentration and gelatinase A activity of POAG patients were increased by 2.1 times and 3.9 times, respectively compared to those of cataract patients. However, there were no statistically significant changes in total protein concentration and gelatinase A activity of CACG and NTG patients compared to those of cataract patients. In conclusion, the development of POAG may be associated with the abnormal expression of MMP in the aqueous humor.
Aqueous Humor* ; Cataract ; Glaucoma ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle* ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; Matrix Metalloproteinases

PURPOSE: To identify novel proteins which bind to myocilin, using a yeast two-hybrid screening system. METHODS: A bait plasmid of myocilin was constructed, and then transformed into yeast AH109. The transformed yeast cells were mated with yeast Y187 containing human skeletal muscle cDNA library plasmids in 2 X YPD medium. Mated diploid yeasts were plated on synthetic dropout medium (SD/-Trp-Leu-His and SD/-Trp-Leu-His-Ade). The positive clones grown on the selective medium were amplified, sequenced, and analyzed using the database of GenBank. The expression of selected genes in trabecular meshwork (TM) cells was detected by RT-PCR. RESULTS: The expression of bait protein in yeast was confirmed by Western blot analysis. Extensive screening of a cDNA library led to the selection of twenty-four positive clones which represent eight genes, including six of cytoskeleton associated proteins such as alpha-actin, myosin regulatory light chain 2A, dynactin, syntrophin alpha1, microtubule associated protein 1B, and myosin binding protein C. CONCLUSIONS: Myocilin may interact with cytoskeleton associated proteins in TM cells. Further studies on their interactions will provide functional clues of myocilin.
Actins ; Blotting, Western ; Carrier Proteins ; Clone Cells ; Cytoskeleton ; Databases, Nucleic Acid ; Diploidy ; Gene Library ; Humans ; Mass Screening* ; Microtubules ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Myosin Light Chains ; Myosins ; Patient Dropouts ; Plasmids ; Trabecular Meshwork ; Yeasts

BACKGROUND: Primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the upper genital tract, including the endometrium, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, is extremely rare. It must be distinguished from the mucosal extension of primary cervical SCC because determination of the primary tumor site is important for tumor staging. However, patients with SCC of the fallopian tubes or ovarian surface have often undergone prior hysterectomy with inadequate examination of the cervix, making it difficult to determine the primary site. METHODS: We compared histologic findings, p16INK4a expression, and human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA status in four patients with primary SCC of the upper genital tract and five patients with primary cervical SCC extending to the mucosa of the upper genital tract. RESULTS: All five SCCs of cervical origin showed strong expression of p16INK4a, whereas all four SCCs of the upper genital tract were negative, although one showed weak focal staining. Three of the five cervical SCCs were positive for HPV16 DNA, whereas all four primary SCCs of the upper genital tract were negative for HPV DNA. CONCLUSIONS: Although a thorough histological examination is important, immunonegativity for p16INK4a and negative for HPV DNA may be useful adjuncts in determining primary SCCs of the upper genital tract.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cervix Uteri ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; DNA Probes, HPV ; DNA* ; Endometrium ; Fallopian Tubes ; Female ; Genes, p16 ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Mucous Membrane ; Neoplasm Staging ; Ovary

A case of an anterior communicating(Acom) artery aneurysm in a 36-year-old woman with polycystic kidney, and a case of multiple aneurysms(Acom. And anterior choroidal artery aneurysm) in a 49-year-old man with Marfan's syndrome are reported. Polycystic kidney was confirmed by abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography. Marfan's syndrome was diagnosed with skeletal abnormalities(dolichocephaly, highly arched palate, cleft palate, arachnodactyly and tall slender height with excessive length of limbs) and marked elongation and tortuosity of the vertebral artery on cerebral angiography. Those patients were treated with the clipping of aneurysms. We will discuss the pathogenesis of cerebral aneurysm in those diseases with stress on the important points of management.
Adult ; Aneurysm ; Arachnodactyly ; Arteries ; Cerebral Angiography ; Choroid ; Cleft Palate ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Marfan Syndrome* ; Middle Aged ; Palate ; Polycystic Kidney Diseases* ; Ultrasonography ; Vertebral Artery

BACKGROUND: Endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) has come into use and been widely extended because of the low complication rate and less-invasiveness. This article aimed to describe our experience in the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm with EVAR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted for the 22 patients who underwent EVAR in a single hospital December 2001 to June 2009. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 68.5+/-7.6 years. There were several risk factors and comorbidities in 20 patients (90.9%). The mean diameter of the aortic aneurysms was 61.2+/-12.9 mm. The mean length, diameter, and angle of the aneurysmal neck were 30.5+/-15.5 mm, 24.0+/-4.5 mm, and 43.9+/-16.0degrees, respectively. The mean follow-up period of the patients was 28.8+/-29.5 months. The 30-day postoperative mortality was none. Seven patients (31.8%) had endoleaks during the hospital stay and three patients (13.6%) had endoleaks during the follow-up period. One patient (4.5%) died due to a ruptured aortic aneurysm. The cumulative patient survival rates were 88.2%, 88.2%, and 70.6% at 1, 3, and 5 years of follow-up, respectively. CONCLUSION: EVAR is currently a safe, feasible procedure for high risk patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm because of low postoperative complication and mortality if patients are selected properly and followed up carefully.
Aneurysm ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal ; Aortic Rupture ; Comorbidity ; Endoleak ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Neck ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate

STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective radiologic study OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to analyze the signals and configurations of the MRI findings of osteoporotic vertebral fractures and the clinical consequences of each type of the MRI findings. SUMMARY OF THE LITERATURE REVIEW: There have been some reports that have focused on the MR findings for the differentiation of osteoporotic and metastatic fractures, but there are few reports on the characteristics of the early stage of osteoporotic vertebral fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 2002 to April 2008, the MRI findings and medical records of 97 patients who were diagnosed with acute or subacute osteoporotic vertebral fractures and who were followed-up for more than 1 year were analyzed. The patients with minor trauma within 3 months before obtaining MRIs and they had decreased bone density were included in this study. Those with fractures due to severe trauma or pathologic causes or normal bone density were excluded. Three spine surgeons evaluated, at three times per each surgeon, the T1-weighted, T2-weighted and fat suppression T1-enhanced sagittal images for the signal of the vertebral body bone marrow and the type of the intravertebral body lesion shape. The relationships between the type of MRI findings and the time from the trauma and the follow up clinical consequences were analyzed. RESULTS: The MRI patterns of 97 patients with 111 fractures of the vertebrae were divided into three types. There were 56 cases of Type I (50.5%), which was defined as diffuse typical signal intensity in the vertebral body, 39 cases (35.1%) of Type II, which was defined as geographic low signal in the center of the vertebral body with typical signal changes, and 16 cases (14.4%). of type III, which was defined as atypical signal intensity or a shape of lesion that did not correspond to type 1 nor type 2. The average time from trauma was 10.8+/-19.0days (0~90) for type I, 19.1+/-24.9days (0~90) for type III and 37.5+/-31.1days (0~90) for type III, which showed differences among each types (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of the relationship between the time from trauma and the signal intensity and the type of lesion on MRI examination revealed that the low signal intensity in the typical vertebral body signal or an atypical signal or shape were poor prognostic factors of osteoporotic vertebral fracture
Bone Density ; Bone Marrow ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Osteoporosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine

A 63 year-old female was brought to our hospital with severe lower back pain. She received antihypertensive drugs for 2 years but her blood pressure was normal upon arrival. She could not stand up or even walk. The MRI showed a subdural hematoma at the thoracolumbar region, which was extremely rare. The treatment applied was decompression through a spinal tap without surgery. After this, her pain subsided considerably. Two weeks later, MRI confirmed that there was no hematoma in the same region. She was discharged and has enjoyed her daily activities free of pain. A spontaneous subdural hematoma is an extremely rare disease. The condition was treated successfully in a conservative manner.
Antihypertensive Agents ; Blood Pressure ; Decompression ; Female ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; Rare Diseases ; Spinal Puncture

No abstract available.
Pyoderma Gangrenosum* ; Pyoderma* ; Ulcer*