BACKGROUND: The effects of intravenous thrombolytic therapy depend on maintaining the patency of infarct-related artery in acute myocardial infarction. Thirty-two patients with acute myocardial infarction and ST segment elevation were studied to determine the usefulness of early resolution of ST segment elevation as an index of recanalization after intravenous urokinase administration. METHOD: 32 patients(male 24, female 8, mean age+/-standard deviation 62+/-11 years) were given intravenous urokinase therapy for acute myocardial infarction. Patients were classified into two groups according to changes of Summation operator ST segment elevation : early resolution(group I)=resolution to <25% of peak value within 12 hours of commencing urokinase therapy : no resolution(group II)=decreased in Summation operator ST segment elevation to > or =25% of peak value. The relationship between early changes in Summation operator ST segment elevation, time to peak creatinine kinase(CK), peak CK, changes of QRS score and & stenosis of infarct-related artery were investigated in both group. RESULTS: 1) The Summation operator ST segment elevation decreased by more than 75% of initial Summation operator ST within 12 hours after urokinase administration in 13 patients(40.6%). 2) The initial Summation operator ST segment was higher in the early resolution group than in the nonresolution group(26.0+/-4.2 vs 15.2+/-1.9mm, p<0.05). 3) The initial QRS score in both groups were not different significantly(7.2+/-0.9 vs 5.4+/-0.6 p<0.05), but QRS score decreased in the early resolution group and did not change in the no resolution group(-0.69+/-0.23 vs 0.63+/-0.16, p<0.05). 4) The early resolution group showed higher peak CK level(2409.2+/-347.7 vs 1445.2+/-280.4, p<0.05) and earlier peak time(10.6+/-1.0 vs 24.2+/-4.6, p<0.05). 5) There was no total occluded artery in both group, but the early resolution group tended to less stenosis in infarct related arteries(66.7+/-80 vs 86.7+/-3.3%, p=0.13) in predischarge coronary angiography. CONCLUSIONS: Early ST resolution after intravenous urokinase administration in acute myocardial infarction is an useful clinical index of recanalization or benefit induced by thrombolytic therapy.
Arteries ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Creatinine ; Female ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator*

INTRODUCTION: The fixation strength of transpedicular screw system in the vertebral hody relied on bone quality and anatomical characteristics of vertebral pedicle, designs of screw and types of connection(rod or plate) with screw. The purpose of this study is to verify the biomechanical nature of the transpedicular fixation in spine under various conditions with porcine vertebrae. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Fresh porcine vertebrae and the custom-made screws were used in this experiment. To reduce the errors caused by vertebral bodies of different size and quality, vertebral bodies having regular range of pedicular width(10.0 to 11.5mm) and hone density(more than 1.0 gm/cm2) were used. The pedicle screws were inserted in the same procedure and axial pull out test was performed with using the Material Testing System(lntron8511, Canton, USA). The experiments were performed in four types to assess the difference of strength accroding to designs of the screw hy using two group of screws. The first group of screw was designed according to the outer and inner diameter and the second group was designed according to the shape, pitch, and thread profile of screw. Experiment I was perfomed to evaluate the effect of screw diameters on the biomechanical pull-out strength hy using the first group of custom-made pedicle screw which fixed all other factors except the diameter of screw. Experiment I was to verify the effect of screw shape, experiment III to verify the effect of pitch and experiment IV to verify the effect of thread profile. RESULTS: The results of experiments were summarized as follows: Experiment I showed that the screw of larger outer diameter had greater holding strength. Experiment II showed that the holding strength of cylindrical shaped screw is superior to that of conical shaped screw. Experiment III showed that there is no statistical significance between different modes of pitch. Experiment IV showed that the holding strength of buttress shape of thread profile is superior to that of V-shape. CONCLUSION: It seemed that the fixation strength of the screw was more powerful with 1 mm increment of outer diameter in 4-7mm of outer diameter, 3mm of pitch and buttress shape of thread of the screw with the same operation technique.
Spine

In order to study effect of corpus callosotomy for epileptic lesions located at sensory-motor cortex/cortices, changes in amplitude, frequency of background activity and frequency of abnormal discharges of postcallosotomy electroenencephalography(EEG) recordings were observed in the crystal penicillin induced epileptic models of rats. In control group of 10 rats, simple right(craniotomy was) done and needle electrodes were bilaterally inserted into parietal and occipital scalp, connected to EEG recording system. Experimentally induced epileptic group was obtained by instillation of 1-2 drops of crystal penicillin solution(800,000 IU/ml) at right parietal area(20 rats). Postcallosotomy group was consisted of the animals streotactically performed callosotomy with blunt ended stainless steel, sized 3 mm, width and 0.5 mm, thickness(20 rats). Preoprative and postoperative EEG recordings were obtained in each animals over 20 minates. The results were as follows; 1) Bialteral synchronous epileptic discharges were shown in experimetally induced epileptic group, which compared to control group. 2) Section of the corpus callosum caused the abolition of bilateral synchronous epileptic discharges, when compared to experimentally induced epileptic group. 3) Frequency of abnormal discharges in the contralteral hemisphere was more decreased than crystal penicillin-instillated lesion in postcallosotomy group. 4) The Background activity of postcallosotomy group was slower than control group. From the results of EEG analysis, corpus callosum might paly a important role in formation of bilateral synchronous discharges and callosotomy was seemed to be an effective method to control crystal penicillin induced epileptic rats, which had epileptic focus in sensory-motor cortex.
Animals ; Corpus Callosum ; Electrodes ; Electroencephalography ; Needles ; Penicillins ; Rabeprazole ; Rats* ; Scalp ; Seizures ; Stainless Steel

OBJECTIVE: To classify the findings of magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar interspinous ligaments in relation to the lumbar disc herniation, disc degeneration, and lordosis. METHOD: The subjects were 45 herniated intervertebral disc(HIVD) patients and 35 normal subjects on MRI finding. The magnetic resonance features of the interspinous ligament were classified into five categories according to their signal intensities: type 1A (low intensity on T1- and T2- weighted images without hypertrophy of spinal process); type 1B (same signal pattern as in type 1A with hypertrophy of spinal process); type 2 (low intensity on T1- and high intensity on T2-weighted images); type 3 (high intensity on T1-weighted images); type 4 (others). RESULTS: The most common type in both HIVD patients and normal subjects was type 3. The mean age and disc degeneration grade of the type 1B ligaments were significantly higher. Lordosis of type 1B of L5-S1 interspinous ligament was increased with significant difference. CONCLUSION: The classification of the MRI findings of interspinous types didn't show statistical difference between HIVD patients and normal subjects, but was helpful in assessing the degree of the degeneration of the intervertebral disc and age.
Animals ; Classification* ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; Intervertebral Disc* ; Ligaments* ; Lordosis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the curvature of the cervical spine and various clinical parameters and to identify the validity of new curvature measurement methods. METHOD: The cervical spine curvature was assessed on lateral view of plain radiographs by three measurement indices. Index 1 is the ratio of length of line drawn by C2-C7 posteroinferior points and the longest length of vertical line to the posterior curve of C2-C7. Index 2 is the angle formed by three points of index 1. Index 3 is the sum of each distance from line drawn by C2-C7 posteroinferior point to C3-C7 posterior mid-points. The difference of each group and the relationship between pain scale and three indices were statistically analyzed by t-test and Pearson's correlation test. RESULTS: Sixty-three percent of control group patients showed a straight or kyphotic curvature and younger women group was more likely to have a straight curvature than other age groups. The newly designed measurement methods reflect the diagnostic significance of cervical curvature type measurement. Cervical lordosis did not exactly correlate with pain scale, symptom duration and the difference of clinical diagnosis. But the patients showing interval changes of pain scale were revealed the correlative change of curvature indices with each correlation coefficient of -0.43, -0.69 and -0.55 respectively. CONCLUSION: The altered cervical curvature is less valuable for the diagnostic significance and did not relate to the pain scale and duration, but cervical curvature reflect the interval change of the pain scale.
Animals ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Lordosis ; Neck Pain* ; Spine*

A case of T8-9 disc herniation presenting with signs of spinal cord compression is reported. The patient was subjectd to a transpedicle approach through a midline incision and was cured completely. The other surgical techniques and the diagnostic value of the spine CT are also discussed.
Humans ; Spinal Cord Compression ; Spine

We report three cases of coincidental cerebral aneurysm with pituitary tumor. In our hospital the incidence of such cases was 4.4% of 68 patients with pituitary tumors from March, 1970 to October, 1990. Cases No. 1 was a 47-year-old female suffering from progressive loss of visual acuity. Preoperative brain C-T scan and angiographies revealed unruptured posterior communicating aneurysm with pituitary tumor. Case No. 2 was a 39-year-old male suffering from headache after head trauma with acromegaly. Preoperative brain C-T scan and angiographies appeared unruptured anterior communicating aneurysm and pituitary tumor. Case No. 3 was a 62-year-old female suffering progressive loss of visual acuity and headache. Left middle cerebral artery aneurysm and pituitary tumor were found by preoperative brain C-T scan and angiographies. All cases were operated by transcranial route and performed tumor removal after primary clipping of aneurysm. Postoperatively remained tumor of all cases was treated by radiosurgery successfully.
Acromegaly ; Adult ; Aneurysm ; Angiography ; Brain ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Female ; Headache ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary Neoplasms* ; Radiosurgery ; Visual Acuity

An experiment was planned to observe the histopathological alteration with administration of the Rheomacrodex and blood pressure changes in induced cerebral infarct after occlusion. Eighty well developed cats, weighing 2.3 to 3.5kg, were used in this experiment. The right MCA was exposed through temporal approach and the proximal part of the MCA was occluded with a silver clip. The animals were divided into 4 groups: The control group was comprised of 20 cats with occlusion of the right MCA alone, Rheomacrodex-treated group was comprised of 20 cats after occlusion of right MCA, induced hypotension and hypertension groups consisted in each 20 cats following occlusion of the MCA. The animals were sacrificed at intervals of 3 hours, 6 hours, 24 hours, 1 week and 2 weeks respectively after occlusion of the MCA. The animals were studied for clinical deficits and histopathological changes of the cerebral infarct according to the time courses. The results obtained were as follows: 1) In the control group, severe contralateral hemiplegia was developed in the early stage following the MCA occlusion, however the neurological deficits were progressively improved to the state of abnormal walking in 24 hours to 2 weeks. The hemorrhagic infarct was involving the basal ganglia, internal capsule and extending to the cortex with mild brain edema in the early stage and the area of the infarct was gradually enlarged from 6 hours to 24 hours following the MCA occlusion. Although the brain edema of surrounding area of the lesion was remained unchanged, the size and distribution of the infarct were decreased in one week to 2 weeks. Extensive ischemic neuronal damage was observed in the control group. 2) In the Rheomacrodex-treated group, mild to moderate neurological deficit was developed in the early stage after MCA occlusion and the deficit was less severe than control group. The clinical deficit was improving in the time course and one case had shown completely normal activity in 2 weeks. The distribution of the infarct was well defined and it was smaller than control group. The infarct mainly involved the basal ganglia and internal capsule. The area of the infarct was gradually enlarged from 6 hours to one week after MCA occlusion, then the extent of the infarct was decreased in 2 weeks. The ischemic neuronal change in this group was less severe than control group. 3) In the induced hypotension group, the early neurological deficit was worse than that of the control group and severe hemiplegia was developed in one week. There was minimal improvement of the neurological deficit in 2 weeks. The area of the infarct was ill-defined and hemorrhagic extending a large portion of the brain with severe brain edema. The infart was involving the basal ganglia, internal capsule, claustrum and the cortex from 3 hours to 24 hours after the occlusion and the area of the infarct was not changed during the observation. Severe ischemic nerve cell change or resolution of the cells was oserved in this group. 4) In the induced hypertension group, the neurological deficit was mild and it was better than that of the control group. The distribution of the infarct was well localized and minimum in extent. The extent of the infarct was not changed during the observation. There was no observable gross brain edema and the ischemic nerve cell changes were not severe.
Animals ; Basal Ganglia ; Blood Pressure* ; Brain ; Brain Edema ; Cats ; Dextrans* ; Hemiplegia ; Hypertension ; Hypotension ; Internal Capsule ; Middle Cerebral Artery* ; Neurons ; Silver ; Walking

No abstract available.
Pneumoconiosis* ; Welding*

The average interval from first operation to recurrence is about 4 years and the reported shortest interval of malignant meningioma is about 6 months. The authors reported a case of rapidly regrowing benign meningioma, located on the outer 1/3 of the right sphenoid wing. The patient was free of recurrence only at 4 months after the first surgery in spite of macroscopic complete removal of the tumor. Factors associated with recurrence of meningioma are also discussed.
Humans ; Meningioma* ; Recurrence