No abstract available.
Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Cesarean Section* ; Emergencies* ; Female ; Humans ; Neurofibromatosis 1* ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; Pregnancy

Candida species inhabit the skin and mucous membranes of healthy individuals with low virulence, and osteomyelitis due to candida is very rare. However, the incidence of invasive candidal infection caused by intravenous drug use, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and indwelling central venous catheter is increasing. A 73-year old man visited the outpatient clinic complaining of right shoulder pain that radiated to the right acromioclavicular joint. He had undergone multiple injection procedures followed by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug therapy for several weeks. The ultrasonographic findings showed a heterogeneous mass around the right acromioclavicular joint, while the right shoulder MRI and the overall findings of the body bone scan were suggestive of osteomyelitis. Pathologic findings of ultrasonographically guided joint aspiration fluid showed acute and chronic nonspecific inflammation, while the tissue culture and staining revealed Candida parapsilosis.
Acromioclavicular Joint ; Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Arthritis, Infectious ; Candida ; Central Venous Catheters ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Joints ; Mucous Membrane ; Osteomyelitis ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Joint ; Shoulder Pain ; Skin

Stump neuroma is a common cause of pain from disorganized proliferation of nerve fascicles occurring after limb amputation. Ultrasound guided alcohol injection in painful stump neuroma has been tried as a new treatment approach. Herein, we report 2 male patients, who had traumatic amputation and claimed severe and diffuse burning pain in the stump area. Neuroma at the distal end of an amputated nerve was clearly identified on sonography. The patients gradually developed increasing severe pain that could not be managed with conservative care. They were treated with neurolysis using alcohol solution. Using ultrasonographical guidance, 1.2 ml of 100% dehydrated alcohol was injected into the nerves proximal to neuroma. No complications occurred. The patients were initially pain free. After a few months, however, their stump pain recurred slightly. Repeat neurolysis was performed using 0.3 ml of 100% dehydrated alcohol. During the three months follow-up period, mild stump pain occurred but the patients did not require any analgesics.
Amputation ; Amputation, Traumatic ; Analgesics ; Burns ; Extremities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Neuroma

The purpose of this research was to investigate whether pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) stimulation applied to the rabbit cranial defects grafted with beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) could affect the new bone formation. With 16 New Zealand white rabbits under the same condition, bilateral calvarial bone defects were formed around the sagittal suture line. The defect on the left side was grafted with beta-TCP, while on the right side was grafted by harvested autogenous bone. PEMF was applied to 8 rabbits for 8 hours per day. The bony specimen were divided into 3 groups, the group 1 was autogenous bone grafted specimen, the group 2 was beta-TCP grafted with PEMF, and the group 3 was beta-TCP grafted without PEMF. We investigated the bone regeneration and growth factor expression at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks. As a result, BMP 2 was expressed in the group 1 from 2 weeks, the group 2 from 4 weeks, and the group 3 from 6 weeks. BMP 4 was expressed in the group 1 from 2 weeks, in the group 2 and the group 3 from 4 weeks. 4. There was no significant difference in expression pattern of BMP 7, PDGF, VEGF, and TGF-beta1 during grafted bone regeneration in group 1, 2, and 3. According to our results, PEMF stimulation could be effective on the new bome formation in animal study, and have a feasibility of clinical use.
Animals ; Bone Regeneration ; Electromagnetic Fields* ; Magnets* ; Osteogenesis ; Rabbits ; Sutures ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Transplants* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

OBJECTIVE: The Purpose of the study was to investigate the bone morphogenic protein expression of rhBMP-2(recombinant human bone morphogenic protein-2) as singnaling molecule and beta-TCP(Tricalcium phosphate) as a bone substitute and carrier medium of rhBMP-2. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 16 rabbits divided into 2 group of each 8 rabbit. Two standardized bone defect, round bilateral defect was made in the cranium of the 8 rabbit of first group, and was grafted with 150~500micrometer diameter beta-TCP 0.25g in one side, which was soaked with rhBMP-2, and autogenous bone was grafted on another side as a positive control. Second group of 8 rabbit, only beta-TCP was grafted with same size and same manner. After 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks, specimen was taken for microscopic immunohiostochemical and histomorphometric analysis. RESULT: Grafting beta-TCP with rhBMP show the early formation of the bone regenerative factor (BMP-4) and more quantity of new bone formation than only use of beta-TCP (8,12 week), even show less new bone formation than autogenous bone. CONCLUSION: The experimental study result that beta-TCP graft combination with rhBMP-2 as a delivery system is an effective with osteoinductive capacity and biodegradable properties, so that provide clinical availibility of composite use in reconstruction of bony defect.
Bone Substitutes ; Calcium Phosphates ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Osteogenesis ; Rabbits ; Skull ; Transplants

Animal Experimentation ; Animals ; Bone Regeneration ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Osteogenesis ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Rabbits ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Transforming Growth Factor beta2 ; Transplants ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

BACKGROUND: Since 2001, the Korean Red Cross has performed malaria antibody test for blood donors in malaria-risk areas to prevent transfusion-transmitted malaria. However, due to insufficient sensitivity and specificity the malaria antibody assay is not considered an efficient screening method. Therefore, we have considered discontinuing malaria antibody testing for blood donors. METHODS: We analyzed the results of malaria antibody test from 2001 to 2014 utilizing data from the Blood Information Management System of the Korean Red Cross. RESULTS: Among 16,650,812 donations tested from 2001 to 2014, 50,143 donations (0.30%) showed positive results. However, there was no truly infected case at the time of donation. The positive rate among blood donations was between 34 and 39 per 10,000 in 2001, but between 9 and 10 per 10,000 in 2014. There was no interregional disparity in the positive rate of blood donations. CONCLUSION: Korea is in a malaria elimination phase and malaria antibody testing in limited areas is not effective, therefore we propose discontinuing the malaria antibody test.
Blood Donors* ; Humans ; Information Management ; Korea ; Malaria* ; Mass Screening* ; Red Cross ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy is characterized by 1) early contractures of the elbows, Achilles tendons, and postcervical muscles, 2) slowly progressive muscle wasting and weakness with a humeroperoneal distribution in the early stages, and 3) cardiomyopathy with conduction defects and risk of sudden death. The inheritance is usually X-linked recessive but can be autosomal dominant and recessive. We report a case of 28-year old woman who presented with dizziness, palpitation, and progressive muscular weakness. Her ECG revealed high degree AV block and muscle biopsy demonstrated diffuse degenerative change consistent with Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy. She was diagnosed as autosomal dominant Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy by characteristic clinical features, and findings of ECG, nerve conduction test, electromyography and muscle biopsy findings. A VVI-type permanent pacemaker was implanted.
Achilles Tendon ; Adult ; Atrioventricular Block* ; Biopsy ; Cardiomyopathies ; Contracture ; Death, Sudden ; Dizziness ; Elbow ; Electrocardiography ; Electromyography ; Female ; Humans ; Muscle Weakness ; Muscles ; Muscular Dystrophy, Emery-Dreifuss* ; Neural Conduction ; Wills

PURPOSE: Ethylenediamine-tetramethylenephosphonic acid (EDTMP) has widely used chelator for the labeling of bone seeking radiopharmaceuticals complexed with radiometals. 153Sm can be produced by the HANARO reactor at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Taejon, Korea. 153Sm has favourable radiation characteristics T1/2=46.7 h, beta max=0.81 MeV (20%), 0.71 MeV (49%), 0.64 MeV (30%) and gamma=103 keV (30%) emission which is suitable for imaging purposes during therapy. We investigated the labeling condition of 153Sm-EDTMP and imaging of 153Sm-EDTMP in normal rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: EDTMP 20 mg was solved in 0.1 mL 2 M NaOH. 153SmCl3 was added to EDTMP solution and pH of the reaction mixtures was adjusted to 8 and 12, respectively. Radiochemical purity was determined with paper chromatography. After 30 min. reaction, reaction mixtures were neutralized to pH 7.4, and the stability was estimated upto 120 hrs. Imaging studies of each reaction were perfomed in normal rats (37 MBq/0.1 mL). RESULTS: The labeling yield of 153Sm-EDTMP was 99%. The stability of pH 8 reaction at 60, 96 and 120 hr was 99%, 95%, 89% and that of pH 12 at 36, 60, 96 and 120 hr was 99%, 95%, 88%, 66%, respectively. The 153Sm-EDTMP showed constantly higher bone uptake from 2 to 48 hr after injection. CONCLUSION: 153Sm-EDTMP, labeled at pH 8 reaction condition, has been stably maintained. Image of 153Sm-EDTMP at 2, 24, 48 hr after injection, demonstrate that 153Sm-EDTMP is a good bone seeking radiopharmaceuticals.
Academies and Institutes ; Animals* ; Chromatography, Paper ; Daejeon ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Korea ; Nuclear Energy ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; Rats

Brucellosis is a systemic, infectious disease caused by the bacterial genus Brucella and a common zoonosis that still remains a major health problem in certain parts of the world such as the Mediterranean region, the Middle East, and Latin America. It may involve multiple organs and tissues. Osteoarticular involvement is the most frequent complication of brucellosis, in which the diagnosis of brucellar spondylitis is often difficult since the clinical presentation may be obscured by many other conditions. There are only a few reports on brucellar spondylitis in Korea. Here, we report a case of spondylitis due to brucella in an elderly male.
Aged ; Back Pain ; Brucella ; Brucellosis ; Communicable Diseases ; Humans ; Korea ; Latin America ; Lumbosacral Region ; Male ; Mediterranean Region ; Middle East ; Spondylitis