To observe the role of oxygen free radical and enzymatic scavengers in cerebral ischemia, an infarction model was made using transorbital occlusion of the middle cerebral artery in cats. The changes of the superoxide radical production and the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase were measured. The results were as follows ; 1) The infarction of the left middle cerebral artery(MCA) territory was identified with intracardiac perfusion of a TTC solution after transorbital occlusion. 2) The superoxide radical activities after occlusion of the left MCA were not changed in all groups except for the decrease in 6 hours group of the right side compared to the control group(p<0.05). 3) The Mn-superoxide dismutase activities of the left side in the 12 hours group were significantly higher than those of the right side(p<0.01) and those in the control group(p<0.05). 4) The Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase activities of the left side in the 3 hours group after occlusion of the left MCA were significantly higher than those in the control group(p<0.05). 5) The catalase activities of the left side in the 3 hours, 6 hours and 12 hours groups after occlusion of the left MCA were significantly higher than those of the right side(p<0.05). 6) The catalase activities of the left side in the 12 hours group after occlusion of the left MCA were significantly higher than those in the control group(p<0.05). The authors suggest that the enzymatic scavangers such as Mn-SOD, Cu, Zn-SOD and catalase increased in the infarcted brain, which means an involvement of free radicals in cerebral infarction.
Animals ; Brain ; Brain Ischemia ; Catalase* ; Cats ; Cerebral Infarction* ; Free Radicals ; Infarction ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Oxygen ; Perfusion ; Superoxide Dismutase* ; Superoxides*

OBJECTIVE: We present an evaluation of the safety and effectiveness of anterior reduction and stabilization of unilateral locked facet of the cervical spine. METHODS: Nine patients with unilateral locked facet of the cervical spine were treated with anterior decompression, reduction and stabilization from January 1997 through December 2000. There were six male and three female patients who ranged in age from 22 to 59 years (average 37.4 years). The level of facet dislocation was C4-5 in one, C5-6 in four, and C6-7 in four patients. One patient presented with complete spinal cord injury, two patients with incomplete spinal cord injury, four patients with radioculopathy, and two patients were neurologically intact. All patients underwent plain radiogram, computed tomogram scan, and magnetic resonance imaging. All patients underwent surgery for anterior open reduction, decompression and stabilization using bone graft and anterior cervical plate fixation systems. The mean follow-up periods was 11.9 months. RESULTS: All patients showed good decompression, reduction and stabilization without postoperative complications. Two patients showed vertebral artery thrombosis at facet locked side, but no cerebral ischemic symptoms. Follow-up neurological status was unchanged in two patients and improved in 7 patients. No patient experienced neurological deterioration or complications after this procedure. All patients showed good bony fusion without instability at follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Our results show that anterior decompression, reduction and stabilization procedure are safe and effective method in unilateral locked facet of the cervical spine without significant complications.
Decompression ; Dislocations ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Spine* ; Thrombosis ; Transplants ; Vertebral Artery

An 11-year-old child presented with left hemiparesis and a seizure caused by fibromuscular dysplasia of the right internal carotid artery with cerebral infarction is presented. On conventional angiography, the authors found the classical `beaded' lesions. These pathognomic changes were most important to diagnosis. On brain single-photon emission computed tomography, we found the impaired vascular reserve of right basal ganglia, frontal and temporal area. We tried an antiplatelet agent and an encephaloduroarterio-synangiosis on the right hemisphere.
Angiography ; Basal Ganglia ; Brain ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Cerebral Infarction* ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Fibromuscular Dysplasia* ; Humans ; Paresis ; Seizures ; Tomography, Emission-Computed

This is a case report of systemic lupus erythematosus presented as a transverse myelitis. Central nervous system involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus is a relatively common complication. But the transverse myelitis as a central nervous system involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus is rare and the transverse myelitis as the first manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus has not been reported in Korea. Thus we report a case of the transverse myelitis as a first manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus with the literature review.
Central Nervous System ; Korea ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Myelitis, Transverse*

PURPOSE: Congenital spinal dermal sinus tract is a rare lesion connecting skin to deeper structures including neural tissue. It results from the failure of the neuroectoderm to separate from the cutaneous ectoderm in the third to fifth week of gestation. The common locations are the lumbosacral and occipital regions. Sometimes it extends to spinal canal. In this paper we report a case of congenital spinal dermal sinus tract in the coccyx. METHODS: A 21-month-old male child born after an uncomplicated full-term pregnancy was admitted to our institute with a midline dermal sinus and a cartilaginous protrusion in the coccygeal region. There were no signs of infection. Neurologic examination showed no functional deficit in both lower limbs. He was treated with complete excision of the tract and an underlying accessory cartilage. RESULTS: The spinal dermal sinus tract was extended from the skin to the coccyx. The stalk was loosely attached to the accessory cartilage of coccyx. At that point, it was dissected from the accessory cartilage and resected. The accessory cartilage was also resected at the bone and cartilage junction. During the follow-up period of 6 months, the wound healed well without any complication nor recurrence. CONCLUSION: Congenital spinal dermal sinus tract is known as a form of spinal dysraphism. In order to prevent complications, timely surgical intervention including complete resection of sinus tract with correction of associated abnormalities is of utmost importance.
Cartilage ; Child ; Coccyx ; Ectoderm ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Neural Plate ; Neurologic Examination ; Pregnancy ; Recurrence ; Sacrococcygeal Region ; Skin ; Spina Bifida Occulta ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Dysraphism

Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation may be induced by coronary spasm presenting with typical angina-like pain and palpitations. It is typically treated using rate or rhythm control strategies, although sustained coronary spasm can induce sinus bradycardia with dizziness and syncope. In the present case, we reached a diagnosis of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and sinus bradycardia due to coronary artery spasm using the methyl-ergonovine provocation test during angiography. While the treatment of coronary spasm can resolve paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, sinus bradycardia, and variant angina, the mechanism remains unclear, although it may be associated with sinus node ischemia. Similar symptoms, particularly chest discomfort, should be carefully considered in cases of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
Angiography ; Atrial Fibrillation* ; Bradycardia* ; Coronary Vasospasm ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diagnosis ; Dizziness ; Ischemia ; Sinoatrial Node ; Spasm* ; Syncope ; Thorax

A 56 year old female was admitted because of the right upper quadrant mass for 4 days. She complained of intermittent colicky RUQ pain, fever and chills. So diagnostic procedures was performed: Blood chemistry testings. Ultrasonography. Barium enema, Liver scan, Hepatobiliary scan, ERCP and Abdomen CT, which diagnosed as gall bladder carcinoma. So explolaparotomy was performed and gross operative finding was gall bladder carcinoma with metastatic lymph node and cystic duct stone. So cholecystectomy, hemigastrectomy and anterior segmentectomy of right liver was done. But the biopsy result was cystic duct stone, cholecystitis and gall bladder empyema.
Abdomen ; Barium ; Biopsy ; Chemistry ; Chills ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystitis* ; Cystic Duct* ; Enema ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Liver ; Lymph Nodes ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Bladder

No abstract available.
Glomerulonephritis, Membranous* ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma*

Toxic megacolon is a devastating complication of colitis, which is commonly caused by inflammatory bowel disease. Frequently reported complications of toxic megacolon are bleeding, sepsis, colon perforation, and shock. Herein, we report a rare case of cardiac arrest that was likely caused by toxic megacolon in a 49-year-old male, who experienced 3 months of intermittent dyspnea and abdominal distension that abruptly worsened before presentation. Our case suggests that severe colon dilation complicated by toxic megacolon, especially accompanied by cardiopulmonary symptoms and signs, has the potential to progress to an abdominal compartment syndrome, which is a rare but life-threatening complication.
Colitis ; Colon* ; Critical Care ; Dyspnea ; Heart Arrest* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Intra-Abdominal Hypertension ; Male ; Megacolon ; Megacolon, Toxic ; Middle Aged ; Sepsis ; Shock

Isometric tension recording was performed in the transverse strips of porcine coronary arteries and rabbit aorta to observe the effects of the endothelium and endothelium-derived relaxing factor(EDRF) on vasomotor tone and to test the hypothesis that alcohol may have the deleterious effect on endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation. Tension-development by vasoconstrictor was markedly attenuated in the endothelium-intact strips compared to the endothelium denuded strips. Administration of hemoglobin(10-5M) to inhibit the action of EDRF increased tension selectively in the endothelium-infarct strips, which is suggestive of basal EDRF secretion. Nitro L-arginine(10-5M). an analogue of L-arginine(10-4M) partially reversed the inhibitory effect of nitro L-arginine. Ethyl alchol inhibited bradykinin-induced endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation of porcine coronary artery in dose dependent manner. These data suggest that the protective effect of vascular endothelium to the action of vasoconstirctor can be explained by exercise of basal EDRF release and damaged endothelium would be a great risk of induction of vasospasm. Also we believe that there is a relationship of competive inhibition between L-arginine. a precursor of EDRF, and its analogues on the action of EDRF and alcohol intake would be hazardous to the patients with coronary artey disease because its inhibitory action on endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation may evoke myocardial ischemia.
Aorta ; Arginine ; Coronary Vasospasm ; Coronary Vessels* ; Endothelium* ; Endothelium, Vascular ; Ethanol* ; Humans ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Spasm* ; Vasodilation