June-Kyu Lee

Methotrexate suppresses the interleukin-6 induced generation of reactive oxygen species in the synoviocytes of rheumatoid arthritis.

Various cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a fundamental role in the inflammatory and immunologic processes of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methotrexate (MTX) is one of the disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and its effect may be partly due to the modulation of immunologic or inflammatory reactions by some cytokines. In the present study, we investigated the effects of MTX on the gene expression and synthesis of interleukin-6 (IL-6), and the proliferative activity and the production of ROS in the fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) obtained from the patient of RA. The expression or production of IL-6 was induced spontaneously, and augmented by the addition of recombinant human IL-6 or recombinant human IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha in FLSs. These spontaneous and augmented IL-6 expressions or productions were suppressed by treatment with low-concentration of MTX (1 microg/ml). Also, IL-6 stimulated the proliferation of FLSs, and this IL-6 driven proliferation was inhibited with the treatment of MTX or N-acetylcysteine (NAC, 1 mM). Furthermore, ROS production in FLSs was increased significantly by IL-6, and its effect was also abrogated in the presence of MTX or NAC. These results suggest that inflammatory reaction in the synovium of RA patients could be augmented by the autocrine or other cytokine-induced production of IL-6 with subsequent generation of ROS in the synoviocytes, and the modulations of IL-6 synthesis and ROS production may contribute to the therapeutic effects of MTX for RA.

The Impact of Adjacent Segment Degeneration on the Clinical Outcome After Lumbar Spinal Fusion

Study Design. A retrospective study. Objective. To determine the impact of the adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) on the clinical outcome after lumbar fusion. Summary of Background Data. Few studies have analyzed correlation between clinical outcomes and ASD. Methods. From January 2000 to December 2004, 217 patients who underwent lumbar fusion and have more than 2 years of follow-up were evaluated. The patients were divided into 3 groups: fusion was carried out on 1 (A), 2 (B), and more than 3 segments (C). UCLA grading scale was used to evaluate the ASD on radiograph preoperative, postoperative, and last follow-up. The clinical outcome was evaluated and the association between clinical outcome and ASD was evaluated by the Spearman correlation. Results. ASD occurred 11.6% (13/112 cases) in group A, 14.5% (9/62 cases) in group B, and 16.3% (7/43 cases) in group C. Among them, the cases which had progressed more than 2 level of degenerative grade were 0 in group A, 7 cases (77.8%) in group B, and 6 cases (85.7%) in group C. In group A, 5 cases with ASD had down graded 1 level in clinical outcome. In group B, all 9 cases with ASD had down graded more than 1 level in clinical outcome; 1 level aggravation in 1, 2 level in 5, and 3 level in 1 case. In group C, all 7 cases with ASD also had down graded more than 1 level in clinical outcome; 1 level aggravation in 2, 2 level in 5 cases. Finally, the more the change of the degenerative grade is severe, the more the clinical outcome is worse (P < 0.05). Conclusion. The impact of ASD on clinical outcome after fusion showed a significant correlation, especially with the ASD after multiple-segments fusion. Careful attention is needed in multiple-segments fusion such as degenerative lumbar deformity.

Provisional Unicortical Plating With Reamed Intramedullary Nailing in Segmental Tibial Fractures Involving the High Proximal Metaphysis

This simple procedure for treating segmental tibial fractures involving the high proximal petaphysis decrease complications such as malalignement, nonunion, and postoperative infection by avoiding latrogenic devascularization of the fracture site.

Percutaneous reduction during intramedullary nailing in comminuted tibial shaft fractures.

Percutaneous reduction with a reduction clamp during intramedullary nailing without reaming is a simple, easily reproducible, and minimally invasive method.

Incomplete discoid glenoid labrum combined with a ganglion cyst of the spinoglenoid notch

In a 41-year-old man, right-sided infraspinatus muscle weakness was associated with compression of the suprascapular nerve caused by a spinoglenoid ganglion cyst. The lesion was confirmed using electromyography and MRI. In addition, arthroscopy showed an incomplete discoid labrum. The free inner edge of the labrum was removed as in a meniscectomy of a discoid meniscus in the knee joint. Arthroscopic decompression of the cyst was performed through a juxtaglenoid capsulotomy which was left open. Neurological function recovered completely.

Psoas Abscess Caused by Spontaneous Rupture of Colon Cancer

Spontaneous rupture of colon cancer, combined with psoas abscess formation, is rare. A 44-year-old male visited for back pain and left buttock mass. Abdominal computed tomography and magnetic resonance image revealed a large abscess in the left psoas muscle and in the left lower quadrant area. Ten days after incision and drainage, a skin defect around the left anterior superior iliac spine remained. A local flap was performed using a superficial skin graft. Ten days after the stitches had been removed, fecal discharge was observed around the anterior superior iliac spine at the flap site. An operation was performed by a general surgeon who had diagnosed this as a case of enterocutaneous fistula. Operative findings included a ruptured tumor mass in the descending colon, which was connected to a retroperitoneal abscess. Pathologic report findings determined adenocarcinoma of the resected colon. Herein, we report a case of psoas abscess resulting from perforating colon cancer.