BACKGROUND: Aseptic meningitis is a common illness of children. It seems that viruses are the usual etiologic agents. The distribution of these agents mainly depends on the isolated time and region area. This study was performed to isolate the causative viruses from patients with aseptic meningitis in Gwangju area during recent one year. METHODS:A total of 130 patients with aseptic meningitis were evaluated. Stool and/or cerebrospinal fluid specimens from patients were inoculated into rhabdomyosarcoma (RD), HEp2 and Vero cell lines. The virus propagation was examined by the presence of cytopathic effects. Neutralizing tests using enterovirus serum pool were done on each viral isolates. RESULTS: The isolation rate of enterovirus was 24.6% (32/130). The enterovirus isolates were obtained mostly from stool specimens (29/32). Twenty-two isolates were identified by neutralizing test. Ten isolates disclosed 'untyping' by neutralizing test. The distribution of isolates was coxsackievirus group B2 (11 stains, 34.4%), echovirus 30 (4 strains, 12.5%), echovirus 6 (3 strains, 9.4%), echovirus 9, 11, 25 and coxsackievirus group A16 (1 strain, respectively). These strains were predominantly isolated during summer season (June to July). CONCLUSIONS: The causative viruses from patients with aseptic meningitis in Gwangju area during recent 1 year were coxsackievirus group B2, echovirus 30, 6, 9, 11, 25 and coxsackievirus group A16 which were mostly isolated from stool specimens in summer season.
Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Child ; Coloring Agents ; Echovirus 6, Human ; Echovirus 9 ; Enterovirus ; Enterovirus B, Human ; Gwangju* ; Humans ; Meningitis, Aseptic* ; Rhabdomyosarcoma ; Seasons ; Vero Cells

PURPOSE: Despite the fact that the number of elderly in the population has increased due to the improvement in medical skills and equipment and an increased interest in health, there is a view common among patients, guardians, and even the surgeons that the prognosis after surgery in the elderly is not optimistic. We examined the effect of old age on the prognosis after surgery in patients who were to undergo surgery after being diagnosed with gastric cancer. The effect of old age on the development of postoperative complications was evaluated. METHOD: Five hundred and seventy three patients, who underwent surgery for gastric cancer from January 1994 to December 1998 at Wonju Christian Hospital under Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into those older and younger 70 years of age. The presence of an underlying disease, the physical condition according to ASA(American Society of Anesthesiologist) classification, the extent of the resection, the TNM stage according to the AJCC (American Joint Committee on Cancer), and the operation time were examined. The effects of age on the postoperative complications in the study and control groups were also evaluated. RESULTS: Among the 573 patients, 515 were under 70 years and 58 were older than 70. Those older than 70 years, showed significant differences with physical condition (P<0.001), the presence of an underlying disease (P=0.043), M stage of TNM staging (P=0.001), hospital days (P<0.001), and operation time (P=0.026). CONCLUSION: Age itself did not correlate with the development of postoperative complications (P=0.193). The presence of an underlying disease affected the development of postoperative complications regardless of age or gender. Therefore, surgery can be performed safely when the patient's condition is evaluated thoroughly before surgery and the operation is carried out as scheduled.
Aged ; Classification ; Gangwon-do ; Humans ; Joints ; Neoplasm Staging ; Postoperative Complications* ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms

BACKGROUND: Vertebroplasty is not free from cement related complications. If an allograft is used as a filler, most of them can be averted. METHODS: Forty consecutive cases of osteoporotic vertebral fracture were divided into two groups by self-selection. The study and the control groups underwent vertebroplasty with fresh frozen allogeneic bone chips and bone cement, respectively. Clinical results were assessed at preoperation, postoperative day 1 and months 3, 6, and 12 by 10-grade visual analog scale (VAS), and radiological results were assessed at the same time by vertebral kyphotic angle (VKA) and local kyphotic angle (LKA). The results were compared within and between the groups. Survival function was analyzed. The criteria of an event were clinical or radiological deterioration versus pre-index surgery state. RESULTS: VAS was improved in the study group from 8.4 +/- 0.8 to 5.2 +/- 1.4, 6.4 +/- 1.2, 5.5 +/- 2.7, and 3.7 +/- 1.4 at postoperative day 1 and months 3, 6, and 12, respectively, and in the control group from 8.4 +/- 1.2 to 3.2 +/- 1.1, 3.2 +/- 1.7, 3.2 +/- 2.7, and 2.5 +/- 1.7, respectively (within group, p < 0.001; between groups, p < 0.001). VKA was improved in the study group from 18.9degrees +/- 8.0degrees to 15.2degrees +/- 6.1degrees (p = 0.046) and in the control group from 14.7degrees +/- 5.2degrees to 10.3degrees +/- 4.7degrees (p < 0.001) at postoperative day 1. LKA was not improved in the study group but was improved in the control group from 16.8degrees +/- 11.7degrees to 14.3degrees +/- 9.6degrees (p = 0.015). Correction angle was 2.7degrees +/- 4.6degrees, -7.9degrees +/- 5.3degrees, -7.2degrees +/- 5.2degrees, and -7.4degrees +/- 6.3degrees at postoperative day 1 and months 3, 6, and 12, respectively, in the study group and 4.3degrees +/- 3.7degrees, 0.7degrees +/- 3.6degrees, 0.7degrees +/- 4.2degrees, and 0.1degrees +/- 4.4degrees, respectively, in the control group. Correction loss was significant in both groups (p < 0.001) and more serious in the study group (p < 0.001). The 6-month survival rate was 16.7% in the study group and 64.3% in the control group (p = 0.003; odds ratio, 5.250). CONCLUSIONS: In treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fracture, fresh frozen allogeneic bone chips are not recommendable as a filler for its worse results than bone cement.
Aged ; Bone Cements/adverse effects ; Bone Substitutes/adverse effects ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Osteoporotic Fractures/epidemiology/*surgery ; Pain Measurement ; Transplantation, Homologous/adverse effects/instrumentation/*methods ; Vertebroplasty/adverse effects/instrumentation/*methods

Central pontine myelinolysis (CPM) is well-recognized osmotic demyelination syndrome that is related to various conditions such as rapid correction of hyponatremia and chronic alcoholism. Acute ataxia as a sole clinical sign in CPM is rare. We report a case of a 59-year-old man with dysarthria, intention tremor, and a significant gait ataxia starting after alcohol withdrawal, with radiological evidence of CPM. CPM should be included in the differential diagnosis of alcoholic patients who develop a sudden ataxia. Chronic alcohol abuse is one of the most commonly encountered predisposing factors. Alcohol withdrawal represents an additional vulnerability factor, being responsible for electrolyte imbalances which are not always demonstrable but are certainly involved in the development of CPM.
Alcoholics* ; Alcoholism ; Ataxia ; Causality ; Demyelinating Diseases ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Dysarthria ; Gait Ataxia ; Humans ; Hyponatremia ; Middle Aged ; Myelinolysis, Central Pontine* ; Tremor

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Sinusitis is frequently accompanied by severe orbital or intracranial complication which require a fast multidisciplinary therapy because a diagnostic delay may cause the patient's sequeles. We aim to evaluate the clinical features, radiologic findings, disease courses and therapy of sinogenic orbital complication. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 34 patients with sinogenic orbital complications from January, 2002 to December, 2007. The clinical features of the complication, the radiologic findings, admission duration and treatment given to the patients were evaluated. The prognosis of each case was set according to the Chandler's classification. RESULTS: Periorbital cellulitis is the most common complication and it is found more frequently in children (54.5%) than in adult (21.7%). The most common symptom of sinogenic orbital complication is periorbital edema. In addition, facial and orbital pain is a common symptom. We identified the frequency of involved sinus in sinogenic orbital complications as follows;maxillary sinus (85.3%), anterior ethmoid sinus (82.4%), posterior ethmoid sinus (64.7%), frontal sinus (50.0%) and sphenoid sinus (35.3%). In terms of treatment, endoscopic surgery was needed in most cases except for periorbital cellulitis. CONCLUSION: Rhinosinusitis patients who have headache and ocular pain in spite of medical treatment need to consider the possibility of sinogenic complications. And early diagnosis and adequate treatment are important to prevent severe orbital complications.
Adult ; Cellulitis ; Child ; Early Diagnosis ; Edema ; Ethmoid Sinus ; Frontal Sinus ; Headache ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Orbit ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sinusitis ; Sphenoid Sinus

Hemangiopericytoma is uncommon vascular neoplasm that arises from pericytes arround the capillary walls. It was first described as a distinct vascular neoplasm by Stout and Murray in 1942 The anatomic distribution is widespread throughout the body, with approximately one third occur in the head and neck. No sex predilection has been found. Although middle age appears to be the most prevalent time of onset, this neoplasm has been found in all age groups. The differentiation between benign and malignant hemangiopericytoma can be difficult. Although the majority of these tumors are benign, there are malignant variants that can metastasize. Metastasis of seemingly benign tumors may appear year of decade later, so long term close follow-up is needed The treatment of choice is complete surgical excision of the tumor. Despite their vascular origin, these tumors are relatively radioresistant. Radiation therapy is reserved for inoperable metastases or treatment of postoperative surgical fields. Here we present a case of hemangiopericytoma occuring on the Lt. buccal mucosa.
Capillaries ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head ; Hemangiopericytoma* ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Mucosa* ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pericytes ; Vascular Neoplasms

Among several diagnostic tests, a Helicobacter pylori stool antigen (HpSA) test may offer a useful noninvasive method for diagnosing infection without sacrificing animals. In this study, male C57BL/6 mice (n=6) were infected with H. pylori ATCC 49503 (1x10(8) CFU/mouse) by intragastric inoculation three times at 2-day intervals, and H. pylori infected stool specimens were collected 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21 days after infection to assess reliability of the HpSA test. Five of six specimens were positive at 5-21 days after infection, and the sensitivity of the HpSA test was 83.33%. The presence of H. pylori infection was confirmed by the rapid urease test and genomic DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and showed the same results as the HpSA. However, the rapid urease test and genomic DNA PCR are invasive tests and require animal sacrifice to detect H. pylori in gastric biopsy samples. We suggest that an HpSA test kit would be useful and effective for monitoring H. pylori in various laboratory animals, as H. pylori can be easily monitored without sacrificing animals.
Animals ; Animals, Laboratory ; Biopsy ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; DNA ; Helicobacter ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Urease

High tibial osteotomy is one of established methods in the treatment for medial knee osteoarthritis with varus deformity in younger patients. Infections after high tibial osteotomy are rare. Infection management is difficult, but there is no definitely standardized treatment. We report the case of infection after high tibial osteotomy that was treated clinically and radio-graphically with literature reviews.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Humans ; Knee* ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; Osteotomy*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the surgical outcomes of olecranon fracture dislocation in accordance with the direction of the dislocation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From December 2006 to February 2016, the surgical outcome in patients who had been followed-up for a minimum of 6 months accompanied with olecranon fracture and elbow instability were reviewed retrospectively. We classified olecranon fracture as either the anterior type or the posterior type. Moreover, we evaluated the clinical results by the Mayo elbow performance scores (MEPS) and checked for any associated injury, age, injury mechanism, and complication. RESULTS: Fourteen patients had anterior transolecranon fracture dislocation, with an average age of 46 years. The associated lesions were radial head fractures found in 2 patients (14.3%) and coronoid process fracture found in 5 patients (35.7%). Patients with anterior transolecranon fracture showed an average MEPS of 93.2 (70–100). Eight patients with posterior olecranon fracture dislocation had an average age of 66 years (22–87 years). The associated lesions were radial head fractures in 6 patients (75.0%) and coronoid process fracture in 8 patients (100%). Patients with posterior olecranon fracture dislocation showed an average MEPS of 94.4 (80–100). In comparison with the anterior type, posterior type occurred more frequently in elders and showed a greater association with injuries, such as radial head fracture and coronoid process fracture. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups with respect to the clinical outcome. CONCLUSION: There were differences in frequency of associated injuries and age in accordance with the direction of olecranon fracture dislocation. Moreover, good clinical outcomes were achieved by surgical treatment.
Dislocations* ; Elbow* ; Head ; Humans ; Olecranon Process* ; Retrospective Studies ; Ulna

Epiphyseal fractures in neonates are rare and difficult to diagnose on simple radiographic images and objective guidelines for treatment have not yet been established. Authors performed conservative treatment for displaced distal femoral epiphyseal fracture detected on 5th day after cesarean section delivery. At 10 years of follow-up, satisfactory functional recovery was observed. Herein, we report on a case of displaced distal femoral epiphyseal birth fracture with literature reviews.
Cesarean Section ; Epiphyses* ; Female ; Femur* ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Parturition* ; Pregnancy