SMAS(Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome) is a disease caused by a chronic obstruction of the duodenum(transverse portion), which is hardly detectable. However, it is known that when the superior mesenteric artery and abdominal aorta form a narrow angle, that the transverse portion of the duodenum is pressed down between the superior mesenteric artery and the abdominal aorta, and that this can lead to obstruction of the duodenum. Measuring this angle is a complicated job using conventional angiography, and results often turns out to be inaccurate. In addition, no attempt has been made to determine the value of this angle in Koreans. In this study, we conducted abdominal CT angiography using MIP(maximum intensity projection) on patients with no clinical evidence of SMAS in order to determine the angle at which the superior mesenteric artery branches from the abdominal aorta by using PC based software(Rapidia ver. 1.2) for the image reconstruction. Accordingly, we found that the mean angle between the abdominal aorta and the superior mesenteric artery was 50.05+/-15.87 degrees on average, and that the angle in men(53.64+/-16.57 degrees) is higher than in women(46.46+/-14.98 degrees). We hope that the angles determined by our study will serve as an important indicator for detecting SMAS.
Angiography ; Aorta, Abdominal* ; Duodenum ; Hope ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted* ; Mesenteric Arteries ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior* ; Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

SMAS(Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome) is a disease caused by a chronic obstruction of the duodenum(transverse portion), which is hardly detectable. However, it is known that when the superior mesenteric artery and abdominal aorta form a narrow angle, that the transverse portion of the duodenum is pressed down between the superior mesenteric artery and the abdominal aorta, and that this can lead to obstruction of the duodenum. Measuring this angle is a complicated job using conventional angiography, and results often turns out to be inaccurate. In addition, no attempt has been made to determine the value of this angle in Koreans. In this study, we conducted abdominal CT angiography using MIP(maximum intensity projection) on patients with no clinical evidence of SMAS in order to determine the angle at which the superior mesenteric artery branches from the abdominal aorta by using PC based software(Rapidia ver. 1.2) for the image reconstruction. Accordingly, we found that the mean angle between the abdominal aorta and the superior mesenteric artery was 50.05+/-15.87 degrees on average, and that the angle in men(53.64+/-16.57 degrees) is higher than in women(46.46+/-14.98 degrees). We hope that the angles determined by our study will serve as an important indicator for detecting SMAS.
Angiography ; Aorta, Abdominal* ; Duodenum ; Hope ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted* ; Mesenteric Arteries ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior* ; Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

We investigated the effects of the oral administration of Korean red ginseng (KRG) on morphologic change and function of liver in dogs. Fifteen adult mongrel dogs (n=15) were divided into three groups: a control group (40% hepatectomy, untreated), a 250 group (40% hepatectomy, 250 mg/kg of KRG, PO), and a 500 group (40% hepatectomy, 500 mg/kg of KRG, PO). The liver regeneration, histologic findings, CBC (WBC, RBC, PCV, and PLT), and liver function tests (AST, ALT, GGT, ALP, LDH, and T-bil) were examined during experiment. The liver regeneration rates were higher in treated groups than in the control group. But, there were no significant differences. All hematological values were within normal ranges except leukocyte counts for 3 days postoperatively. The levels of AST and ALT in the treated groups were significantly decreased compared to that in the control group (p<0.05). The numbers of degenerative cells and area of connective tissue were significantly decreased in the liver of the dog with KRG administration (p<0.01). On the basis of these results, we could conclude that KRG accelerate the liver regeneration and ameliorate the liver injury after hepatectomy in dogs.
Animals ; Blood/drug effects ; Dogs ; Female ; Hepatectomy/*veterinary ; Liver/*drug effects/*surgery ; Liver Regeneration/*drug effects ; Male ; *Panax ; Plant Extracts/*pharmacology ; Plant Roots/chemistry

No abstract available.
Skin Neoplasms* ; Skin*

Relapsing polychondritis is a rare inflammatory disorder affecting the cartilaginous structures throughout the body. Although there is no pathognomonic laboratory tests, clinical features, when coupled with histopathologic findings, enable one to make a diagnosis of relapsing polychondritis. A 26-year-old man presented with purplish, swollen, and tender auricles and injected eyes. His symptoms had developed eight months ago and fluctuated irrespective of various medications such as corticosteroids and antibiotics. Histopathologic examination revealed loss of basophilic staining of the cartilage with some dissolution of its structures. Treatment was initiated with dapsone, However, the remission was too immediate to be considered as a effect of dapsone.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Basophils ; Cartilage ; Dapsone ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Polychondritis, Relapsing*

Calvarium protects the brain, the most important organ. The defect of calvarium results in not only deformity but also fatal injury from the trauma. The cranial bone defects result from 1) removal of bone flap for intracranial decompression or infection 2) fracture 3) excision of tumor 4) craniectomy for craniosynostosis. The goals of cranioplasty are to protect the brain from trauma and make the aesthetically acceptable contour. From 1990 to 1995, we experienced twelve cases of cranioplasty using autogenous bone graft; 5 cases with rib bone, 3 cases with iliac bone, 2 cases with calvarial bone, and 2 cases with rib and calvarial bones. The result was very excellent without any significant complications.
Brain ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Craniosynostoses ; Decompression ; Ribs ; Skull ; Transplants*

graft as a successful procedure that provides functional stabiIity. Complications reported include arthro5brosis, patellofemoral joint pain, patellar tendinitis, patellar tendon rupture, recurrent laxity, posterolateral instabi5ty, medial subluxation of the patella, chronic knee pain and painful neuroma. Among them, anterior knee pain was the rnost frequent eomplication. Authors performed arthroscopy assisted one tunnel technique for reconsction of the ACL using autogenous Bone Patellar tendon-Rone (BPTB) in 87 patients. Patients were divid@d into two groups based on the harvested side (knee) of the BPTB. Group 1 consisted of 45 cases of ipsilateral side and group 2 consisted of 42 cases of contralsteral side in harvesting the BPTB. The patients were foll4wed up for at least 12 months to determine whether using the BPTB harvested from the contralateral knee wguld reduce the anterior knee pain at the ACL reconstructed knee. Althaugh there were no statistically signifiqant differences between group 1 and 2 with regard to anterior knee pain, the prevalence of the anterior knee pain was less frequent in group 2 than group 1. This study showed that using the contralateral side harvested autogenous patellar tendon would be a possible protector for anterior knee pain and assists for early rehabilitation.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction* ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Arthroscopy ; Humans ; Knee ; Neuroma ; Patella ; Patellar Ligament* ; Patellofemoral Joint ; Prevalence ; Rehabilitation ; Rupture ; Tendinopathy ; Transplants

In general. femoral neck fracture in young adult presents poor prognosis due to the high velocity injury, high angle shear fracture, and poor candidate for arthroplasty. In addition to the relative rarity of the injury, the high incidence of aseptic necrosis and nonunion have been reported in the management of these fractures. 25 cases of femoral neck fracture in young adult were treated with multiple pinning and analyzed at Sung-Ae general hospital from 1987 to 1994 after 28 months follow up in average with review of charts, X-ray and clinical result. There were 18 male and 7 female, 5 cases of them had significant polytrauma to other organs or skeletal system, authors tried to treat them as soon as possible to decrease the interval time between fracture and fixation (the average time was 39.7 hours.) Union occurred in all of Garden stage I (4 cases) and II (4 cases), but in Garden stage III (7 among 8 cases) and IV (7 among 9 cases) the union rate was lower. Average union time was 16.5 weeks. The incidence of complications (12%, 3 among 25 cases) was higher in displaced fractures group (Garden stage III, IV) and also in poorly reduced group of Garden’s alignment index. In conclusion, the prognosis of femoral neck fractures in young adult was related with mainly initial reduction and rigid fixation than the initial injury.
Agriculture ; Arthroplasty ; Female ; Femoral Neck Fractures ; Femur Neck ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Multiple Trauma ; Necrosis ; Prognosis ; Young Adult

Development of acetabulum and epiphysis of the femoral head following reduction in seventy-four patients with ninty-one congenitally dislocated hips were assessed radiologically. Acetabular index, CE angle of Wiberg, neck-shaft angle of the femur and overgrowth of the pelvis and femur were measured according to the various treatment. To evaluate results, the method of treatment was divided into four groups; closed reduction, open reduction, open reduction combined with pelvic osteotomy and modified Klisic operation (open reduction, pelvic osteotomy, femoral osteotomy and so on). Each treatment was compared with three subgroups according to ages; first subgroup was belong to patients under one year of age, second from one year to three years, third over three years. This paper agrees to Harris (1976) and Lindstrom (1979) about improvement of acetabular index and CE angle of Wiberg that showed a rapid rate of repair in the first 6 months and thereafter slowly progressed to normal range of degree. Overgrowth of pelvis and femur was also noticed in cases of hips treated pelvic and/or femoral osteotomy, moreover even in cases of open reduction only. The goal of this preliminary investigation may be supposed to propose the idea which method of treatment to the first visiting patient will approach the most satisfactory final result.
Acetabulum ; Dislocations ; Epiphyses ; Femur ; Head ; Hip ; Humans ; Methods ; Osteotomy ; Pelvis ; Reference Values

Atlanto-axial instability is an important condition that may threaten the integrity of spinal cord, leading to tetraplegia or sudden death. Many of these require operative stability, and several different operations have been advocated. Among these methods, Brooks and Jenkins posterior fusion for eleven cases of atlanto-axial instability (fresh fracture of odontoid process in nine, nonunion of odentoid fracture in one, Cl-2 rotary subluxation in one) was performed in Baik Hospital from July 1978 to June 1987, and the following results were obtained. l. Accurate reduction and immediate rigid stability were obtained with Brooks and Jenkins posterior fusion, so early ambulation with simple external support was begun within 2 weeks after operation. 2. Radiological fusion of atlanto-axial instability were seen in average 12 weeks after operation. Therefore posterior atlanto-axial fusion by Brooks and Jenkins method is an excellent method for operative treatment of atlanto-axial instability.
Death, Sudden ; Early Ambulation ; Methods ; Odontoid Process ; Quadriplegia ; Spinal Cord