No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Electrodes* ; Humans ; Neural Conduction*

Raynaud's phenomenon manifests as triphasic color change episodes of blanching, cyanosis, and reddening of the digits, induced by exposure to low temperature or emotional stress. It is a relatively common disorder, estimated to affect 5-10% of the general population and 20-30% of otherwise healthy women. Most cases of primary Raynaud's phenomenon also called Raynaud's disease, are mild and self-limited. Secondary Raynaud's phenomenon presents as a secondary manifestation of an underlying disease and are complicated by ulcerations and tissue necrosis. From March 1996 to August 1998, we experienced 4 patients with Raynaud's phenomenon. Two patients were diagnosed Raynaud's disease and the other two were secondary. Raynaud's disease responded to drug therapy and sympatetic ganglion block. Secondary Raynaud's syndrome was treated with vein graft and free tissue transfer. During postoperative follow-up of 33-49 months, both severity and symptomatic intervals were improved.
Cyanosis ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Ganglion Cysts ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Raynaud Disease ; Stress, Psychological ; Transplants ; Ulcer ; Veins

We report four cases of spontaneous intracranial hypotension that were investigated by radionuclide cisternography Tc-99m-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid radionuclide cisternography of all our patients showed direct sign of cerebrospinal fluid leakage as well as indirect signs of less activity than expected over the cerebral convexities and rapid appearance of bladder activity. The headache of all patients was eventually controlled with bed rest and hydration.
Bed Rest ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Headache ; Humans ; Intracranial Hypotension* ; Urinary Bladder

No abstract available.
Animals ; Baths* ; Blood Glucose* ; Insulin* ; Rats*

The prognostic factors for extrahepatic biliary atresia (EHBA) after Kasai portoenterostomy include the patient's age at portoenterostomy (age), size of bile duct in theporta hepatis (size), clearance of jaundice after operation (clearance) and the surgeon's experience. The aim of this study is to examine the most significant prognostic factor of EHBA after Kasai portoenterostomy. This retrospective study was done in 51 cases of EHBA that received Kasai portoenterostomy by one pediatric surgeon. For the statistical analysis, Kaplan-Meier method, Logrank test and Cox regression test were used. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered to be significant. Fifteen patients were regarded as dead in this study, including nine cases of liver transplantation. There was no significant difference of survival to age. The age is also not a significant risk factor for survival in this study (Cox Regression test; p = 0.63). There was no significant difference in survival in relation to the size of bile duct. However, bile duct size was a significant risk factor for survival (Cox Regression test; p = 0.002). There was a significant difference in relation to survival and clearance (Kaplan-Meier method; p = 0.02). The clearing was also a significant risk factor for survival (Cox Regression test; p = 0.001). The clearance of jaundice is the most significant prognostic factor of EHBA after Kasai portoenterostomy.
Bile Ducts ; Biliary Atresia* ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Liver Transplantation ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

Acquired bilateral nevus of Ota-like macules is representative among acquired dermal melanocytoses. In contrast to the blue nevus commonly occuring at birth, it can occur in childhood and adulthood. We report a 44-year-old woman, who had developed the acquired bilateral nevus of Ota-like macules and the common blue nevus on the left forearm concurrently for approximately 7 years. The characteristics of late onset and the distribution of sun exposure areas seems to imply a common pathological origin in their development.
Child ; Adult ; Male ; Female ; Humans

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of five-layered reinforced amniotic membrane (AM) transplantation for treating deep corneal ulcer or perforation. CASE SUMMARY: We performed a five-layered reinforced AM transplant in three cases of corneal ulceration or perforation using mechanical compressed lyophilized AMs. In all cases, the perforated cornea healed with re-epithelization within 2 weeks and the ocular surface was stabilized for more than 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: Five-layered reinforced AM transplantation may be an alternative method for treating deep corneal ulcers or perforations.
Amnion ; Cornea ; Corneal Perforation ; Corneal Ulcer ; Transplants ; Ulcer

OBJECTIVE: This consecutive retrospective study was designed to analyze and to compare the efficacy and outcomes of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) using a fibular and femur allograft with anterior cervical plating. METHODS: A total of 88 consecutive patients suffering from cervical degenerative disc disease (DDD) who were treated with ACDF from September 2007 to August 2010 were enrolled in this study. Thirty-seven patients (58 segments) underwent anterior interbody fusion with a femur allograft, and 51 patients (64 segments) were treated with a fibular allograft. The mean follow-up period was 16.0 (range, 12-25) months in the femur group and 19.5 (range, 14-39) months in the fibular group. Cage fracture and breakage, subsidence rate, fusion rate, segmental angle and height and disc height were assessed by using radiography. Clinical outcomes were assessed using a visual analog scale and neck disability index. RESULTS: At 12 months postoperatively, cage fracture and breakage had occurred in 3.4% (2/58) and 7.4% (4/58) of the patients in the femur group, respectively, and 21.9% (14/64) and 31.3% (20/64) of the patients in the fibular group, respectively (p<0.05). Subsidence was noted in 43.1% (25/58) of the femur group and in 50.5% (32/64) of the fibular group. No difference in improvements in the clinical outcome between the two groups was observed. CONCLUSION: The femur allograft showed good results in subsidence and radiologic parameters, and sustained the original cage shape more effectively than the fibular allograft. The present study suggests that the femur allograft may be a good choice as a fusion substitute for the treatment of cervical DDD.
Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane ; Diskectomy ; Femur ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neck ; Retrospective Studies ; Stress, Psychological ; Transplantation, Homologous

No abstract available.
Brain* ; Child* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging*