The SPECT radiopharmaceuticals labeled with I-123 for dopamine transporter imaging have been used to measure dopamine transporters in patients with movement disorders. However, a cyclotron produced I-123 limits its availiability and ease of use as a radioisotope to be labeled with pharmaceuticals in routine clinical diagnostic procedures. Recently, new radiopharmaceuticals for Tc-99m which has optimal characteristic for SPECT imaging have been developed to overcome the limits of using I-123. The purpose of this study was to compare the quality of [Tc-99m]TRODAT-1 with [I-123]IPT SPECT data and then to evaluate the usefulness of [Tc-99m]TRODAT-I SPECT by using three noninvasive simplified quantitative methods. TRODAT-1 labeled with Tc-99m(15.93+/-0.82 mCi) and IPT labeled with I-123(6.60+/-0.11 mCi) were injected into five normal controls. Dynamic [Tc-99m] TRODAT-I SPECT scans of brain were performed for 10 minutes each over 180 minnutes, and for 20 minutes at 4 hrs and 5 hrs. [I-123IPT SPECT scans were performed for 5 minutes each over 120 minutes. Time activity curves were generated for the left basal ganglia(LBG), right basal ganglia(RBG), and occipital cortex(OCC). Dopamine transporter parameters were obtained using (BG-OCC)/OCC, graphical method(Rv), and area ratio method(RA). TRODAT-1 and IPT SPECT imaging showed high uptake at the level of the basal ganglia. (BG-OCC)/OCC ratios for TRODAT-1 and IPT were 0.80+/-0.14, and 3.22+/-0.81, Rvs were 0.62+/-0.12, and 2.30+/-0.35, and RAs were 0.37+/-0.08 and 1.73+/-0.31, respectively. In conclusion, further improvement of [Tc-99m]TRODAT-I imaging characteris- tics may be required to estimate the dopamine transporter concentrations in human brains although it shows clear BG localization.
Basal Ganglia ; Brain ; Cyclotrons ; Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins* ; Dopamine* ; Humans ; Movement Disorders ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; Tics ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

No abstract available.
Subclavian Artery* ; Thoracic Outlet Syndrome* ; Thromboembolism*

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. Unfortunately, the frequency of breast cancer and mastectomy are increasing in Korea. The purpose of the study is to analyze the results of breast reconstruction using free transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous(TRAM) flap and to suggest the operative technique for more satisfactory results. 19 patients underwent immediate breast reconstruction from 1990 to 1998, and we experienced 2 cases of bilateral immediate reconstruction of breasts following mastectomy. We have performed the free TRAM flaps based on the deep inferior epigastric vessels using microvascular technique. TRAM flap included very small portion of rectus sheath and muscle-so called muscle sparing technique. So it reduced markedly donor site morbidity. The postoperative course of these cases was uneventful with minor complication. The free TRAM flap was an excellent method of immediate breast reconstruction using autogenous tissue and provided satisfactory outcome. The goals of the immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy are to restore body image, to achieve near normal shape of breast, and to reduce the complications. This paper represents our experience of immediate breast reconstruction using free TRAM flap, and technical options to get more satisfactory result and reduce the complications. We think this method could be regarded as the first choice for immediate breast reconstruction.
Body Image ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Mammaplasty* ; Mastectomy ; Rectus Abdominis* ; Tissue Donors

BACKGROUND: We postulated that loss of epidural negative pressure might affect on the sensory blockade level of spinal anesthesia. METHODS: Thirty nine patients were involved in our study; group 1, spinal anesthsia with 23G spinal needle (n=20): group 2, spinal anesthesia with 27G spinal needle through the 18G Weiss epidural needle (n=19). Sensory blockade level was checked by pinprick test at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 60 and 90 minutes after spinal anesthesia. RESULTS: There was no difference of sensory blockade level between group 1 and 2. CONCLUSION: From above result, there was no evidence of loss of epidural negative pressure affecting on the spinal sensory blockade level.
Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Humans ; Needles

Neurofibromatosis is an autosomal dominant abnormality that may affect multiple organ systems. The eyelids, the orbits, the adjacent tissues and bones may be involved with varying frequency and severity. The management of orbitotemporal neurofibromatosis depends very much on the type and severity of the orbital involvement and on the functional state of the eye. Experience with surgical management of orbitotemporal neurofibromatosis involved in the orbit, the temporal soft tissue and bone with blind eye is reported. The goal of surgery is tumor resection, reconstruction of the orbital socket, aesthetic eyelids, and insertion of the artificial prosthesis. A two stage approach is recommended. In the first stage, tumor is resected and the orbital socket is reconstructed with titanium mesh plate and cranial bone graft. After reconstruction of the orbital socket, galeal flap is rotated posteriorly to cover the mesh plate and canthopexy is accomplished. Mask lift is performed to enhance aesthetics. In the second stage, correction of the bulky eyelids is achieved and orbital space for insertion of the artificial prosthesis is reconstructed. Authors have managed a orbitotemporal neurofibromatosis with blind eye of a 41-year-old male using titanium mesh plate and bone graft with satisfactory results.
Adult ; Esthetics ; Eyelids ; Humans ; Male ; Masks ; Neurofibromatoses* ; Neurofibromatosis 1 ; Orbit ; Prostheses and Implants ; Titanium ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Combined spinal epidural anesthesia (CSE) is used for obtaining adventages of both spinal and epidural anesthesia. But it might be suspected that epidural volume load affect spinal sensory blockade level during CSE. METHODS: Eighty patients undergoing lower abdominal and lower extremity operation were involved in our study. Subarachnoid block with 12mg of tetracaine was established in all patients. Four groups were studied. Group 1 (n=20), the control, received only spinal anesthesia. Group 2 (n=20), group 3 (n=20) and group 4 (n=20) received 10, 15 and 20 ml of epidural saline immediately after spinal anesthetic administration. Sensory blockade level was checked by pinprick test at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 60 and 90 minutes. Blood pressure, heart rate and incidence of complications such as hypotension, bradycardia, nausea and high block were measured. RESULTS: The sensory blockade level of groups 3 and 4 was higher than group 1 (p<0.05). Blood pressure and heart rate were not different compared with each other. The incidence of complications, except that higher block above T4 in group 4 was more than in group 1 (p<0.05), were not different when compared with each other. CONCLUSIONS: Epidural saline above 15 ml may affect sensory blockade level of spinal anesthesia during CSE.
Anesthesia, Epidural* ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Blood Pressure ; Bradycardia ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Incidence ; Lower Extremity ; Nausea ; Tetracaine

No abstract available.
Anesthesia* ; Humans ; Outpatients*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Prednisolone* ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Neoplasms*

Epiderniologic description of the tinea capitis of adults was made for the cases detected in Taegu city for 11 years from January 1978 to December 1988. 1. Totalnumber of adult patients(20 years or older) were 41(2.0%) out of 2,029 cases of all tiena capitis. Among 41 patients, 34 cases were detected between 1983 and 1988. 2. Clinically 24 patients were superficial tinea capitis and 17 patients were kerion celsi. 3. Age of the patients ranged from 21 to 85 years with an average of 58.5 years and mode interval of 61-70 years. Patients over 50 years of age accounted for 70.7% of all csses. 4. Sex distribution of the cases was 39 females(95.1%) and 2 males(4.9%). 5. Causative agents isolated from the patients were Microsporum canis in 36 cases, Trichophyton verrucosum in 2 cases, T. mentagrophytes, T. ferrugineum and T. rubrum in 1 case, respectively. 6. Solitary lesion was most common and alopecia was not prominent in most of the cases. The most frequent site of involvement was frontal and posterior scalp. At initial exarnination, 5 cases were misdiagnosed as seborreic dermatitis and 1 case as multiple folliculitis. 7. Sources of infection were presurned to be cat in ll cases, cattle in 2 cases and the rests were unidentified. Interfarnilial infection was observed in 5 cases.
Adult* ; Alopecia ; Animals ; Cats ; Cattle ; Daegu* ; Dermatitis ; Folliculitis ; Humans ; Microsporum ; Scalp ; Sex Distribution ; Tinea Capitis* ; Tinea* ; Trichophyton

During the period from January 1980 to September 1988, 59 patients suffering from brachial plexus injury, have admitted to Seoul National University Hospital. Fifty-four patients were male and 5 patients were female, and age ranged from 6 to 58 years (mean:26.8 years). The most common cause of injury was traffic accident accounting for 66% (39patient), and among them 24 patients(62%) had the motor cycle accident. Birth injury, stab or gun shot wound, fall down and industrial hazard were following causes. Fracture and dislocation of involved limb accompanied in 19 patients(32%) and 2 patients of arterial injury were also found. EMG and cervicsl myelography with or without CT were performed in almost all the patients and MRI was performed in selected patients. Forty-five patients(76%) had supra-clavicular lesion and 14 patients (24%) had infra-clavicular lesion. In supra-clavicular lesion, upper roots or whole roots were involved in most of cases. Forty-nine cases were treated with conservative treatment for more than 8 months and operative procedures were performed in 36 cases. In operative cases, 30 patients were followed up for more than 1 year (average 24.3 months). Signs of root avulsion were found in 25 out of 31 cases of cervical myelography. MRI was performed in 7 cases, but it was inconclusive in diagnosis of root involvement. Infra-clavicular lesion showed better prognosis than supra-clavicular lesion. In supra-clavicular lesion, upper root involvement had the best prognosis. A pseudocyst detected by myelography usually precluded recovery in the root at the level of pseudocyst. Result of reparative treatment was better than that of conservative treatment. Overall satisfactory result in reparative treatment was 36%. However, if we include neurological improvement, positive result was 53%. Complete recovery was gained in half cases of neurolysis and other half showed no recovery, but all the cases of neurotization showed poor result. Reconstructive surgery including arthrodesis or muscle transfer can be effective treatment method, if it is performed properly on a selective patient.
Accidents, Traffic ; Arthrodesis ; Birth Injuries ; Brachial Plexus ; Diagnosis ; Dislocations ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Methods ; Myelography ; Nerve Transfer ; Prognosis ; Seoul ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Wounds and Injuries