The use of a cast-brace in the treatment of tibial fractures was first applied by the authors since 1964 in an attempt to prevent stiffness of the knee resulted from prolonged cast immobilization. The authors attempts on all 43 cases throughout the experimental period were proved satisfactory, among which, however, only a few case showed unwanted result such as delayed union in the early clinical experience.
Immobilization ; Knee ; Lower Extremity ; Tibial Fractures

Mesenchymal Chondrcsarcoma is a rare malignant tumor originally described by Lichtenstein and Bernstein in 1959. Since the original description, several other reports of this tumor have been published, bringing the total numbers of cases in the literature to about Sixty-five. We report a case of Mesenchymal Chondrosarcoma in an 11-year-old boy who complained of a palpable mass in the region of the left iliac crest.
Child ; Chondrosarcoma, Mesenchymal ; Humans ; Male

The fractures of the cervical spine are relatively uncommon, but they may cause serious neurologic deficits temporarily or permanently. So, it is very important to treat the patients early by way of exact evaluation for the sites and the mechanisms of the injuries. The authors reviewed retrospectively 188 cervical spinal fractures in 100 patients from Sep. 1984 to Aug. 1990. Commonly involed levels were C5 and C6 in lower cervical level and C2 in upper cervical level and the sites in each spine were body; lamina and odontoid process. The hyperflexion injury was the most common type of the cervical spinal fractures occupying 53% of all cervical fractures and cause more multipe fractures(2.26 fractures/patient) than in hyperextension (1. 68 fractures/patient). In hyperflexion injuries, body, transverse and spinous process were commonly involved but lamina fracture was relatively common in hyperextension injury. The dislocations associated with fractures were developed most commonly in hyperflexion injury and 70% of these were anterior dislocation and the most commonly involved levels were C5-6 and C6-7. In conclusion, hyperflexion injury needs more close examination for the entire spinal levels than injuries of other mechanisms because it results in more severe fractures with or without dislocation and relatively frequent multiple fractures in different levels.
Dislocations ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Odontoid Process ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures* ; Spine

With the recent introduction and development of the detachable balloon system, it has become the treatment of choice in the management of carotid cavernous fistulas(CCFs). But, since most delivery systems for embolization of CCF mainly depend on flow guidance for balloon delivery, in cases of small fistula, pseudoaneurysm and arterialized venous collaterals, failure of balloon embolization can occur. To overcome these limitations, the authors designed and used a new versatile, steerable, and flow-guided detachable balloon system by using a Tracker catheter system with silicone or latex balloons. Using this maneuver, we could get successful fistula occlusion in 7 out of 8 patients(silicone balloon). But in one case, we had to occlude the internal carotid artery at the fistula site, proximal and distal cervical portions of the internal carotid artery. This balloon delivery system proved to provide high selectivity for fistula and relatively ease of handing.
Aneurysm, False ; Balloon Occlusion ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Catheters* ; Fistula* ; Hand ; Latex ; Silicon* ; Silicones*

The changes in the size of human oviduct and ovary after immersion in formalin (4%, 10%) were investigated. The results were as follows : 1. After fixation, the length of oviduct was significantly reduced to 93%, but the cross sectional area of oviduct was significantly increased. The length of oviduct showed no significant difference between 4% and 10% formalin. The length of ovarian ligament was also significantly reduced to 84% after fixation. 2. After fixation, the volume of oviduct was increased significantly and showed a difference between the two fixatives. The volume of oviduct in 4% formalin has increased to 107%, as compared to 103% increase in 10% formalin. 3. After fixation, the volume of ovary was increased significantly and showed a difference between the two fixatives. The volume of ovary in 4% formalin has increased to 109%, as compared to 103% increase in 10% formalin.
Animals ; Female ; Fixatives ; Formaldehyde* ; Humans* ; Immersion* ; Ligaments ; Ovary* ; Oviducts*

Pulmonary vascular hypertension is characterized by migration and proliferation of smooth muscle cells accompanying abnormal synthesis and accumulation of extracellular proteins in vascular wall. The aim of this study is to define the role of endogneous TGF-betas and PDGF in the process of remodeling vessels through determining the temporal and spatial distribution of these growth factors in hypertensive pulmonary vessels in monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension in rat. Sprague-Dawley rats were sacrificed 12 hours, 1, 2, 4, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28, and 56 days after treatment. The morphometric analysis of medial thickening and immunohistochemical study using antibodies to TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, TGF-beta3, and PDGF were performed. Immunoreactivities for TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta3 were increased from the 14th day in the medial smooth muscle cells and PDGF showed increased expression from the 21st day in the medial smooth muscle cells. No difference in TGF-beta2 immunoreactivity was found between control and experimental groups. The expression of TGF-beta1, TGF-beta3 and PDGF increased in medial layers with the progressive thickening of pulmonary arteries which was considered to have close relation to medial hypertrophy of pulmonary arterioles. In the case of PDGF, however, the morphologic change occurred before increase in immunoreactivity was observed in the medial layer of pulmonary arterioles. Moreover, the function of isoforms of TGF-beta has yet to be completely elucidated; the different affinity to receptors and the degree of expression of these receptors that are supposed to affect the function of growth factors. Thus, further studies are needed.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Arterioles ; Hypertension ; Hypertension, Pulmonary* ; Hypertrophy ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Monocrotaline ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Protein Isoforms ; Pulmonary Artery ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Transforming Growth Factor beta2 ; Transforming Growth Factor beta3

No abstract available.
Blood Pressure* ; Body Mass Index*

Kawasaki disease is described by fever lasting five days or more, bilateral conjunctival injection, changes of lips and oral cavity, polymorphous exanthema, acute non-purulent cervical lymphadenopathy, and changes of extremities. Atypical Kawasaki disease is defined as fewer than 4 of 6 criteria described above including coronary artery abnormalities. Especially, atypical clinical manifestations of Kawasaki disease appear in infants younger than 6 months old of age. Thus we recommend echocardiography in early infancy who has prolonged fever in order to diagnose atypical Kawasaki disease and treat early. We have experienced three cases of atypical Kawasaki disease with coronary aneurysm who were admitted because of fever and revealed coronary aneurysm on echocardiography.
Coronary Aneurysm* ; Coronary Vessels ; Echocardiography ; Exanthema ; Extremities ; Fever ; Humans ; Infant ; Lip ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Mouth ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome*

No abstract available.
Fetus* ; Humans* ; Infant, Newborn* ; Keratins*

Between August 1994 and June 1995, seventeen patients diagnosed as having partial or complete ruptures of the anterior cruciate ligament on MRI were managed by non-operative methods. Among them four patients were excluded due to operation during follow-up and the results were evaluated at a one year follow-up. We selected the patients prospectively for non-operative care using the selection criteria of age, degree of instability, activity level and patient compliance. The average age of them was 37.7 years. Initially knee stress test and MRI were checked, and Cybex study and Lysholm knee scoring were done at post-trauma one year follow-up. They were managed conservatively by ROM and muscle strengthening exercises and a brace fitting schedule for three months. Among them, six cases had partial tears and seven had a complete tear initially. At the one year follow-up, five of six cases who had shown partial ruptures, and two of seven cases with complete tears, recovered continuity of the ruptured ACL on MRI. Their Lysholm knee score was 84.4, and the Cybex test showed no difference in muscle power between the injured and uninjuried side. Those patients who had loss of continuity on follow-up MRI showed Lysholm score of 57.4 and decreased muscle power on Cybex study. Although there are still controversies about the adequate management of ACL injuries, our study suggests that conservative management is a viable alternative to surgery as long as the patients are selected prudently. For more concrete results, however, careful analysis based on a longer follow up period is necessary.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Appointments and Schedules ; Braces ; Exercise ; Exercise Test ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Patient Compliance ; Patient Selection ; Prospective Studies ; Rupture*