No abstract available.
Myasthenia Gravis*

No abstract available.
Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroiditis*

No abstract available.
Colonoscopy* ; Humans ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Peritonitis*

Chronic paranasal sinusitis is one of the most common disease in the field of otolaryngology, and endoscopic sinus surgery(ESS) is efficient and safe operative method of chronic paranasal sinusitis. We employed socalled symptom score to quantify the common sinusitis related symptoms before and after endoscopic sinus surgery which followed up to 6 months. A prospective study of 50 patients all having undergone ESS from June, 1995 to February, 1996 was performed and we analyzed the surgical results using questionaires which focused on six common sinusitis related symptoms-nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, olfactory disturbance, postnasal drip, headache and sneezing. Postoperative symptom relief was apparent in all six common symptoms(p value<0.001) and the higher sinusitis stage, the more relief of sinusitis related symptoms(p value=0.029). It seems to be helpful to employ a symptom score in predicting and analyzing the surgical results in the treatment of chronic sinusitis.
Headache ; Humans ; Otolaryngology ; Prospective Studies* ; Sinusitis ; Sneezing

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the effects of body mass index (BMI) on intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) and intraoperative blood loss (IBL) during lumbar spinal surgery. METHODS: Thirty patients scheduled for single level posterior lumbar interbody fusion were allocated equally to a normal group (Group 1, BMI;18.5-22.9 kg/m2), an overweight group (Group 2, BMI; 23-24.9 kg/m2), and an obese group (Group 3, BMI; 25.0-29.9 kg/m2) according to BMI. IAP was measured using a urinary bladder catheter; 1) supine after anesthesia induction, 2) prone at skin incision, 3) prone at the end of surgery. In addition, IBL was also measured in the three groups. RESULTS: IAP in the supine position was not significantly different in groups 1, 2, and 3 (2.7 mm Hg, 3.0 mm Hg, and 4.2 mm Hg, respectively) (p=0.258), and IAP in the prone position at incision increased to 7.8 mm Hg, 8.2 mm Hg, and 10.4 mm Hg, respectively, in the three groups, and these intergroup differences were significant, especially for Group 3 (p=0.000). IAP at the end of surgery was slightly lower (7.0 mm Hg, 7.7 mm Hg, and 9.2 mm Hg, respectively). IBLs were not significantly different between the three groups. However, IBLs were found to increase with IAP in the prone position (p=0.022) and BMI (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results show that BMI affects IAP in the prone position more than in the supine position during lumbar spinal surgery. In addition, IBLs were found to increase with IAP in the prone position and with BMI. Thus, IBLs can be expected to be higher in morbidly obese patients due to an increased IAP.
Anesthesia ; Body Mass Index ; Humans ; Overweight ; Prone Position ; Prospective Studies ; Skin ; Spine ; Supine Position ; Urinary Bladder

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the diagnostic value of the open biopsy technique and the percutaneous biopsy techniques in lumbar spondylodiscitis. METHODS: Between January 2004 and December 2009, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 57 patients with infectious lumbar spondylodiscitis. The etiologic diagnosis of the infectious spondylodiscitis was obtained by two methods. Of 57 cases, twenty-seven patients underwent open biopsy and thirty patients underwent percutaneous needle biopsy including computed tomography (CT) - guided and fluoroscopy-guided needle aspiration. All biopsies were performed by experienced two neurosurgeons and one interventional radiologist. RESULTS: Of the 57 cases radiologically consistent with spinal infection, 29 (50.9%) biopsy specimens resulted in positive cultures and 28 (49.1%) returned negative cultures. According to the type of biopsy techniques, the culture-positive rate was higher (p=0.005) in the open biopsy group than the percutaneous needle biopsy group. 19 (70.4%) of 27 biopsy specimens were positive in the open biopsy group, and 10 (33.3%) of 30 biopsy specimens were positive in the percutaneous needle biopsy group. Furthermore, the open biopsy showed higher positive culture rate than the percutaneous needle biopsy in cases with administration of empirical antibiotics although there was no statistically significant (p=0.137). CONCLUSIONS: Open biopsy should be considered for administration of organism-specific antibiotics for the successful treatment when percutaneous needle yield negative result. Furthermore, empirical antibiotics should be delayed until results of cultures unless the patient is severely septic, critically ill, neutropenic or neurologically compromised.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Biopsy ; Biopsy, Needle ; Critical Illness ; Discitis ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Needles ; Retrospective Studies

The periodontal health has been evaluated clinically by various epidemiological indices, and in researches by measurement of gingival crevicular fluid. Laser Doppler flowmetry is a reliable and objective method that allows immediate measurement of erythrocyte flux in approximately one cubic mm of the capillary bed without disturbing the tissues. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether human gingival blood flow was different according to measuring area, measuring time, and sex or not. Forty volunteers with good general and periodontal health, aged early twenties and unmarried, were selected. Laser Doppler flowmetry(floLAB(R), Moor Instruments Ltd., England) was applied to measure the gingival blood flow of marginal gingiva, interdental papilla, attached gingiva and alveolar mucosa. The blood flow of interdental papilla was measured at 9-10 AM, 1-2 PM, and 5-6 PM. The difference of blood flow according to measuring area and measuring time was statistically analyzed by one way ANOVA and Dunkan test, and the difference of blood flow between men and women was statistically analyzed by t-test. (1) Mean blood flow was significantly higher in alveolar mucosa than in the gingiva(p<0.05), and there was no significant difference in blood flow between marginal gingiva and interdental papilla(p>0.1). (2) Mean blood flow was significantly higher at 5-6 PM than at 9-10 AM and 1-2 PM(p<0.05). But there was no significant difference in gingival blood flow between 9-10 AM and 1-2 PM(p>0.1). (3) There was no significant difference in gingival blood flow between men and women(p>0.1). The above results suggest that the measurment of gingival blood flow using laser Doppler flowmetry may be clinically applicable to early determination of gingival inflammation and evaluation of healing status, but further studies are necessary to standardize and simplify the measuring procedure.
Capillaries ; Erythrocytes ; Female ; Gingiva ; Gingival Crevicular Fluid ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Laser-Doppler Flowmetry* ; Male ; Mucous Membrane ; Single Person ; Volunteers

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the CT features of second branchial cleft cysts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the computed tomographic images in nine cases of second branchial cleft cyst which was confirmed pathologically. Emphasis was on localization of the masses to fascial spaces as defined by the deep cervical fasica. RESULTS: In all nine cases, the lerions were located in the submandibular and carotid spaces. Among these cases, six(67%) had simultaneous involvement of the other contiguous spaces, such as anterior and posterior cervical spaces. All cases had round or oval, unilocular, cystic masses with partial or complete rim enhancement. In eight cases(89%), smooth and thin walls were observed. In one case, thick wall and septations were noted. No definite calcifications were noted in all cases. The internal contents of cystic masses showed relatively homogeneous appearance, and CT number ranged from 20 to 35.2 Hounsfield unit(HU)(mean, 28.4HU). CONCLUSION: CT diagnosis of second branchial cleft cyst would be easily obtained from recognition of frequent simultaneous involvement of the other contiguous spaces, along with a typical location and characteristic morphology.
Branchial Region* ; Branchioma* ; Diagnosis ; Retrospective Studies