From retrospective review of 111 tibial fractures treated by interlocking intramedullary nailing, 38 operative errors in 28 cases(25%) were included in this study. The errors were classified into two categories. The first category included eighteen errors that related to fracture reduction; nine angular malalignments, four failures in closed nailing to open the fracture site, two peroneal nerve palsies, two shortenings of tibial length(more than 1cm), and one rotational malalignment. The second category comprised twenty errors that related to the nailing itself; eight protrusions of proximal nail tip, five overdistractions of fracture gap (more than 3mm), four additional fragmentations, two mistakes in interlocking screw insertion, and one ankle joint injury by the distal nail tip. Functional results of those 28 cases at the last follow-up(average, 17.5 months; range, 9 to 29 months) were excellent or good in only 60.8 per cent, while the control group treated by adequate operative technique showed excellent or good results in 92.8 per cent.
Ankle Joint ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; Paralysis ; Peroneal Nerve ; Retrospective Studies ; Tibial Fractures

PURPOSE: Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-7 have been implicated in tumor growth and metastasis. This study aimed to investigate the expressions of MMP-2 and -7 in colorectal cancer and to evaluate their values as prognostic markers. METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining for MMP-2 and -7 was done in 144 resected colorectal cancer specimens. Clinicopathological data and survival results were compared with regard to the expression results. RESULTS: The expression rates of MMP-2 in tumor cells in the tumor center and the tumor border were 16.7% and 38.9%, respectively. That of MMP-2 in stromal cells was 27.8%. MMP-7 immunoreactivities of tumor cells in the tumor center and the tumor border were 6.9% and 23.6%. The expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-7 were correlated. MMP-2 expression in stromal cells was more increased in the distal part of the colorectum: 8.8% in right colon cancer, 29.5% in left colon cancer and 36.4% in rectal cancer. MMP-2 expression of tumor cells in the tumor border was correlated with T-stage. MMP-7 expression of tumor cells in the tumor border was increased in case of infiltrative cancer compared with fungating tumor. The expression patterns of MMP-2 and -7 were not correlated with other clinicopathological factors, including tumor markers, node metastasis, distant metastasis, lymphatic invasion, tumor differentiation, and recurrence. No significant associations between the overall and disease-free survival rates and the MMP-2 and -7 expression patterns were noted. CONCLUSION: The high expression rates of MMP-2 and -7 in tumor borders suggest that MMP-2 and -7 have some role in tumor invasion, but in this study, MMP-2 and -7 did not appear to be significant predictors of prognosis in colorectal cancer.
Colonic Neoplasms ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Disease-Free Survival ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Recurrence ; Stromal Cells ; Biomarkers, Tumor

Pedicle screw systems are stronger than previously used Harrington instruments. The systems have been thought to provide sufficient stability to the thoracolumbar burst fractures by merely short segment fusion. Currently some authors reported the metal failure and the loss of correction after the short segment instrumentations. Thirty-nine patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures underwent the long segment pedicle screw instrumentation and anterior interbody fusion at Ewha University Hospital from January 1991 to October 1993. Of these patients, thirty-two were reviewed in an attempt to analyze the result of the operation technique. The mean follow-up was 26 months. L1 was the most common level and twenty patients had neurologic deficits. The anterior decompression and interbody fusion were performed 2 weeks after the posterior instrumentation. We encouraged early ambulation with TLSO brace as soon as possible. Bony union was obtained in all cases and completed at an average 4.4 months after the operation. The average preoperative kyphosis, 17.4 became 3 after the operation and it was measured 4.2 at the final follow-up. The average correction loss was 1.2. Of the twenty patients with neurologic deficit, ten improved by one Frankel grade and four improved by two grades. Postoperative complications were three cases of the donor site pain. There was no metal failure. These data suggest that the long segment pedicle screw instrumentation and anterior interbody fusion are able to provide sufficient stability and the recommendable procedure for the thoracolumbar burst fractures than short segment instrumentation.
Braces ; Decompression ; Early Ambulation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Pedicle Screws ; Postoperative Complications ; Spine ; Tissue Donors

This study aimed to compare the increment in plasma potassium concentration ([K+]) as well as the role of internal K+ balance for its changes following acute K+ supplementation between conventional 2.5% glucose (GD) and non-glucose containing dialysate (icodextrin, ID) in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. A total of 9 stable CAPD patients (5 men and 4 women; age, 56+/-13 years; 7 type-2 diabetics and 2 non-diabetics) on daily 4 exchanges of 2 L of glucose dialysate underwent the 6-hr dwell on fasting in the morning with 2 L of 2.5% glucose mixed with 20 mEq/L of KCl, and then the same regimen was repeated with icodextrin after 1-wk interval. The degree of intraperitoneal absorption was comparable, 65+/-2% in GD and 68+/-2% in ID, respectively (p=NS). However, despite the similar plasma K+ levels at the baseline of both regimens, its increment was significantly less in GD than ID, which was accompanied by more marked increase in the calculated intracellular K+ redistribution (68+/-3% vs. 52+/-3%, p<0.05). The basal levels of insulin were similar between the GD and ID groups. However, the change, checked up after 2 hours' dwell, from the basal insulin levels was much lower on ID. ID with a lesser degree of transcelluar K+ shift by the decreased secretion of insulin is more effective than the conventional glucose solution for acute K+ repletion via dialysate during CAPD. Furthermore, these results suggested that the role of insulin for the internal K+ balance was intact even in type-2 diabetic patients on CAPD
Absorption ; Fasting ; Glucans ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hypokalemia ; Insulin ; Male ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory ; Plasma ; Potassium

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is very common in chronic hemodialysis patients. But impact of predialysis systolic blood pressure on cardiovascular mortality is not clear and it's investigation is not thoroughgoing enough in Korea. METHODS: We assessed the prevalence and control rate of hypertension in a cross sectional study of 81 clinically stable hemodialysis patients who had been treated with regular hemodialysis sessions in the Hanyang University Guri Hospital. To investigate the impact of predialysis systolic blood pressure on cardiovascular mortality, we retrospectively reviewed in May 2001 predialysis blood pressure and covariable factors of 115 hemodialysis patients who were monitored from the start of hemodialysis for more than 2 months between May 2001 and May 2004 in the Hanyang University Guri Hospital and local dialysis centers. Exclusion criteria were as follows: change to CAPD, transplantation, transfer to another dialysis center, non compliant, death due to accident and self withdrawal and hemodialysis for less than 2 months. RESULTS: The majority of hemodialysis patients (83%) take antihypertensive medications. Pre and post dialysis mean blood pressure was 153.2+/-14.5/86.9+/-4.7 mmHg, 145.5+/-17.1/84.2+/-5.2 mmHg respectively. Predialysis systolic blood pressure that was higher than 140 mmHg documented in 83% of patients. On the other side, predialysis diastolic blood pressure that was higher than 90 mmHg was only seen in 23 % of patients. Predialysis systolic hypertension was not associated with an increase in short term cardiovascular mortality. On the other hand, hypoalbuminemia and diabetes mellitus were associated with an increase in short term cardiovascular mortality. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that control of hypertension, particularly systolic hypertension, in chronic hemodialysis patients, is insufficient, despite the use of antihypertensive drugs. The overall impact of predialysis systolic hypertension on cardiovascular mortality tends to be increased, but it was not associated with short term cardiovascular mortality.
Antihypertensive Agents ; Blood Pressure* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Dialysis ; Hand ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Hypoalbuminemia ; Korea ; Mortality* ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory ; Prevalence* ; Renal Dialysis* ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: Exaggerated pro-inflammatory reactions during the acute phase of Kawasaki disease (KD) suggest the role of immune dysregulation in the pathogenesis of KD. We investigated the profiles of T regulatory cells and their correlation with the clinical course of KD. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected from 17 KD patients during acute febrile and subacute afebrile phases. T cells expressing CD4, CD25, and Foxp3 were analyzed using flow cytometry, and the results were correlated with the clinical course of KD. RESULTS: The percentage of circulating CD4+CD25highFoxp3+ T cells among CD4+ T cells was significantly higher during the subacute afebrile phase than during the acute febrile phase (1.10%+/-1.22% vs. 0.55%+/-0.53%, P=0.049). Although levels of CD4+CD25lowFoxp3+ T cells and CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T cells were only slightly altered, the percentage of CD4+CD25+Foxp3- T cells among CD4+ T cells was significantly lower during the subacute afebrile phase than during the acute febrile phase (2.96%+/-1.95% vs. 5.64%+/-5.69%, P=0.036). Consequently, the ratio of CD25highFoxp3+ T cells to CD25+Foxp3- T cells was higher during the subacute afebrile phase than during the acute febrile phase (0.45%+/-0.57% vs. 0.13%+/-0.13%, P=0.038). CONCLUSION: Decreased CD4+CD25highFoxp3+ T cells and/or an imbalanced ratio of CD4+CD25highFoxp3+ T cells to CD4+CD25+Foxp3- T cells might play a role in KD development. Considering that all KD patients were treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), recovery of CD4+CD25highFoxp3+ T cells during the subacute afebrile phase could be a mechanism of IVIG.
Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; T-Lymphocytes

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the expressions of CD44 and CD133 in colorectal cancer tissue by using immunohistochemical staining and to analyze the clinical significance of the expressions related to other clinicopathological data and survival results. METHODS: One hundred sixty-two patients with a biopsy-proven colorectal adenocarcinoma who were operated on between January 1998 and August 2004 were enrolled in this study. Immunohistochemical staining for CD44 and CD133 was performed on primary colorectal cancer tissue, metastatic lymph nodes, and synchronous and metachronous metastatic tumor tissues if available. RESULTS: CD44 expression was stronger in the primary tumor than in metastatic lymph nodes (P < 0.001), and CD133 expression tended to be stronger in primary tumor than in metastatic lymph nodes (P = 0.057). No significant correlation was found between the CD44 and the CD133 expressions. The cases with recurrence showed low expression of CD44 (P = 0.017). CD133 expression was lower in cases with elevated CA 19-9 serum levels (P = 0.028) and advanced T stage (P = 0.038). Multivariate analysis proved that low expression of CD44 was an independent prognosis factor for short disease-free survival (P = 0.028). CONCLUSION: Low CD44 expression was correlated with increased tumor recurrence and short disease-free survival, and low CD133 expression was associated with advanced tumor stage. We suggest that further studies be performed to evaluate whether the immunohistochemical method for determining the CD44 and the CD133 expressions is appropriate for exploring cancer stem-cell biology in patients with colorectal cancer.
Adenocarcinoma ; Antigens, CD40 ; Biology ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplastic Stem Cells* ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Stem Cells

We encountered one case of Chinese Herb Nephropathy in Korea. But clinical feature of our case was different from those of CHN in Belgium. The purpose of this case report was clarified the features of CHN in Asia. The subjects consisted of a patient diagnosed as interstitial nephritis in Hanyang University Hospital and of those reported in the literature in Asia and Belgium. We investigated the clinical and histological features of CHN patients in Asia and compared them with the Belgian cases. The remarkable differences were as follows; (1) relatively high prevalence in males compared with Belgian cases, (2) digestion with multiple object and mode in Asia, (3) Most of renal failure in Asia were improved or were in stable status. (4) Fanconi's syndrome was found in most cases of Asia. In conclusion, CHN in Asia has some characteristics distinguished from Belgian Chinese Hreb Nephropathy. These findings could indicate that susceptibility to aristolochic acid may be different among races. Furthermore, it is likely that different components of AA could cause different features, that the amount of ingested AA, mode in digestion, or interaction with other components except nephrotoxic agent such as AA might reflect clinical pictures. Other hypothesis may be some other toxic substances affecting the clinical findings although they are not identified at present. Further studies must be undertaken to clarify these differences.
Asia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Belgium ; Continental Population Groups ; Digestion ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Nephritis, Interstitial ; Prevalence ; Renal Insufficiency

Arterial thrombosis is relatively rare compared with venous thrombosis in nephrotic syndrome. However, the assessment of its pathogenesis and risk factors in individual patient with nephrotic syndrome is necessary to allow appropriate prophylactic management because it is a potentially serious problem. Hereby, with review of the literature, we report a case of a 53 yr-old man with cerebral infarction associated with nephrotic syndrome due to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis during the course of treatments with diuretics and steroid. It reveals that the hypercoagulable state in nephrotic syndrome can be associated with cerebral infarction in adults. Prophylactic anticoagulants can be considered to reduce the risk of serious cerebral infarction in nephrotic patients with risk factors such as severe hypoalbuminemia and on diuretics or steroid treatment, even in young patients regardless of types of underlying glomerular diseases.
Cerebral Infarction/epidemiology/*etiology/pathology ; Human ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nephrotic Syndrome/*complications/epidemiology ; Risk Factors