PURPOSE: We wanted to analyze the efficacy of hydroxyapatite as a bone graft extender and we wanted to compare the bone fusion rate between hydroxyapatite and allogenous bone as an adjunct to autogenous iliac bone graft in posterolateral spinal fusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study included 19 patients who were treated with decompression and posterolateral spinal fusion using hydroxyapatite on right side and frozen allogenous bone on left side as an adjunct to autogenous iliac bone graft, and all the procedures were performed between May 2003 and August 2004. Fusion was determined by the final radiographic findings with using Christiansen's classification. RESULTS: There were 3 male and 16 female patients. Their average age was 65.5 years (range: 48-81) and the average follow-up period was 21.5 months (range: 12-36). Fusion was performed in 3.4 segments (range: 2-6) on average per patient. Of all the 65 segments that underwent fusion, 63 segments (96.9%) in group using hydroxyapatite and 54 segments (83.1%) in group using allogenous bone were determined to be fused, and the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.074). CONCLUSION: Hydroxyapatite as adjunct to autogenous iliac bone for use in posterolateral spinal fusion showed a high fusion rate and it seemed to be useful as a bone graft extender for reducing the volume of the autogenous iliac bone.
Bone Transplantation ; Decompression ; Durapatite ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Spinal Fusion ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: CDX1 and CDX2, members of the caudal-type homeobox gene family, control proliferation and differentiation of intestinal mucosal cells. Their expression is reduced commonly in colorectal cancers, but reports about the relationship between their expression and the clinicopathologic features are rare. The aim of this study was to examine CDX1 mRNA and CDX2 mRNA expression in colorectal cancers and to assess the relationship between their expression and the clinicopathologic features. METHODS: CDX1 mRNA and CDX2 mRNA expression were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction in 48 colorectal cancers and their adjacent non-tumorous normal mucosas. RESULTS: CDX1 mRNA and CDX2 mRNA expression were decreased significantly in colorectal cancers than in normal mucosas (p=0.001, p=0.042, respectively). In comparison with paired normal mucosas, colorectal cancers showed decreased CDX1 mRNA expression in 64.6% (31/48) and decreased CDX2 mRNA expression in 66.7% (32/48). There was a statistically significant correlation between CDX1 mRNA and CDX2 mRNA expression in colorectal cancers (r=0.543, p<0.001). CDX1 mRNA and CDX2 mRNA expression were not related to age, sex, location of cancer, differentiation, lymphatic or vascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, stage and serum carcinoembryonic antigen level in colorectal cancers. CONCLUSION: CDX1 mRNA and CDX2 mRNA expression were decreased significantly in colorectal cancers, but were not related to the clininopathologic features.
Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Genes, Homeobox ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Mucous Membrane ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger*

BACKGROUND: CDX1 and CDX2 are members of the caudal-type homeobox gene family and control the proliferation and differentiation of intestinal mucosal cells. Their expressions are commonly reduced in colorectal cancer, but reports about the relationships between their expressions and clinicopathologic features are rare. The aim of this study was to examine the expressions of CDX1 and CDX2 mRNAs in colorectal cancers and to assess the relationships between their expressions and clinicopathologic features. METHODS: CDX1 and CDX2 mRNA expressions were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction in 48 colorectal cancers and in adjacent non-tumorous normal mucosal tissue. RESULTS: CDX1 and CDX2 mRNA expressions were significantly reduced in colorectal cancer tissues versus normal mucosal tissues (p=0.001, p=0.042, respectively). As compared with paired normal mucosal tissues, colorectal tissues showed reduced CDX1 mRNA expression in 64.6% (31/48) and reduced CDX2 mRNA expression in 66.7% (32/48) of cases. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between the expressions of CDX1 mRNA and CDX2 mRNA in colorectal cancer (r=0.543, p< 0.001). However, the expressions of CDX1 and CDX2 mRNAs were not related to age, sex, cancer location, differentiation, lymphatic or vascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, stage or serum carcinoembryonic antigen level. CONCLUSIONS: CDX1 and CDX2 mRNA expressions were found to be significantly reduced in colorectal cancers, but these expressional changes were not found to be related to clinicopathologic features.
RNA, Messenger/*metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Humans ; Homeodomain Proteins/*metabolism ; Female ; Colorectal Neoplasms/*metabolism