The hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome is a primary immunodificiency disorder characterized by recurrent staphylococcal infections and markedly elevated serum IgE level. Clinical features are coarse face and severe infections of the skin-furunculosis or chronically pruritic dermatitis and sinopulmonary tract infection from infancy by coagulase positive Staphylococcus aureus, or Candida albicans etc. The patients's serum IgE level is elevated but the basic immunologic pathogenesis not fully understood. We have experienced a case of hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome in a 26/12-year-old who had suffered from recurrent staphylococcal pneumonias and abscesses and chronically pruritic dermatitis from 1 month of age with elevated serum IgE level. A brief review of the related literature is presented.
Abscess ; Candida albicans ; Coagulase ; Dermatitis ; Immunoglobulin E ; Pneumonia, Staphylococcal ; Staphylococcal Infections ; Staphylococcus aureus

The treatment of massive bone and soft tissue defect in the lower leg has a high complication rate of nonunion, chronic infection, and amputation without well-vascularized tissue coverage of the open fracture. Despite adequate free soft tissue coverage, massive skeletal defect may result in segmental bone defects, angulation deformity, and limb length discrepancies. In the last decade, major advances have occurred in the Ilizarov method of distraction osteogenesis in lower leg salvage as a delayed procedure or simultaneous distraction after free-tissue transfer. The authors have performed Ilizarov transport in conjunction with muscle and musculocutaneous flap coverage in nine cases of lower leg salvage. The flaps consist of rectus, gracilis, latissimus dorsi, parascapular, and serratus muscle or musculocutaneous fashioning using ipsilateral or contralateral pedicle in consideration of vessel condiation. Revision, recorticotomy and flap elevation were also used as a secondary procedure for satisfactory results. The conclusions, were as follows: 1) Multidisciplinary team approach with conjoining departments at the time of preoperative evaluation, postoperative care and rehabilitation care; 2) Muscle flap covered with split-thickness skin graft was preferred to musculocutaneous flap; 3) To reduce the total reconstructive period, simultaneous free tissue transfer with Ilizarov distraction should be considered.
Amputation ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Extremities ; Fractures, Open ; Ilizarov Technique ; Leg* ; Myocutaneous Flap ; Osteogenesis* ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Postoperative Care ; Rehabilitation ; Skin ; Superficial Back Muscles ; Transplants

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

To evaluate effect of coronary collateral circulation on left ventricular function in patients with acute myocardial infarction, global ejection fraction(EF), left ventricular end distolic pressure(LVEDP), peak creatine kinase(CK) level and regional wall motion were analysed and compared in 30 patients with acute myocardial infarction according to grade of coronary collateral circulation. Patients with total or near total(above 95% of diameter) occlsion of left anterior descending coronary artery without significant lesion in right coronary artery or left circumflex artery were selected and divided into 3 groups according to the degree of collateral circulation on coronary angiography, to be compared by the index of ejection fraction, peak creatine kinase level, left ventricular and diastolic pressure and regional wall motion. The result are as following : 1) There were no statistically significant differences in ejection fraction, peak creatine kinase level, left ventricualr and diastolic pressure among the groups. 2) Regional wall motion of infarct related area of G2+3 group(adequate collateral) were better than that of G0(no collateral) group(p<0.05). Therefore, adequate coronary collateral circulation in acute myocardial infarction is thought to have beneficial effect on left ventricular function especially in regional wall motion of infarct related area.
Arteries ; Blood Pressure ; Collateral Circulation* ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels ; Creatine ; Creatine Kinase ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Ventricular Function, Left*

PURPOSE: Gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD) is known as one of the most common causes of chronic cough, especially in children. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of parameters from proximal esophageal 24-hr pH monitoring through its comparison with those of distal esophageal 24-hr pH monitoring that we generally use for diagnosis of GERD. METHODS: We performed chest CT scans to find out the cause of chronic cough in infants with no clinical manifestation suggesting GERD. Then, in case that they had air space consolidation in posterior segment of both upper lobes and superior segment of both lower lobes(dependent position), we performed proximal and distal esophageal 24-hr pH monitoring. RESULTS: The proximal and distal pH monitoring were performed in 17 infants(male 12; female five). The patients with positive pathologic reflux in proximal esophagus were 15 of 17(88.2%) and in distal esophagus were four of 17(23.5%). Reflux index and the total number of reflux episodes were statistically significantly lower in the proximal than in the distal esophagus(P<0.05). There was no correlation between each parameters of proximal and distal esophageal 24-hr pH monitoring. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that proximal esophageal 24-hr pH monitoring can be used as a very useful diagnostic tool in infants with chronic cough in which there are suspicions that it resulted from aspiration due to GERD.
Child ; Cough* ; Diagnosis ; Esophagus ; Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration* ; Infant* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Aortic Coarctation/complications/physiopathology/*ultrasonography ; Aortography/methods ; Collateral Circulation ; Humans ; Hypertension/etiology/physiopathology/*ultrasonography ; Male ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Regional Blood Flow ; Renal Artery/physiopathology/*ultrasonography ; *Renal Circulation ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; *Ultrasonography, Doppler ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) with 2D echocardiography (2DE) is one of the time-consuming procedures in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD). Moreover, the accuracy of DSE with 2DE depends on the operator's skill or bias during the image acquisition. This study was conducted to determine the feasibility and accuracy of DSE with real-time 3D echocardiography (RT3DE) for the diagnosis of CAD. SUBJECT AND METHODS: 62 patients (RT3DE: 36, 2DE: 26), suspected of angina pectoris and post-revascularization ischemia, underwent DSE and coronary angiography (CAG). Image acquisition was performed at the baseline, and at 4 times during the dobutamine infusion and recovery stages. The procedure time (from the baseline to the end of the peak dose stage) was recorded. Off-line analyses of the volumetric images acquired with RT3DE were performed using 3D computer software (TomTec, Co.). Digitized quad-screen images acquired with 2DE were analyzed using the 2DE review system (ProSolv 4.0). >50% luminal diameter stenosis of any coronary artery on CAG was defined as significant coronary artery stenosis. RESULTS: The procedure time of DSE with RT3DE was significantly shorter than that of DSE with 2DE (25+/-4 vs. 37+/-4 mins, p<0.001). There was no significant difference in the sensitivity (p>0.05) or specificity (p>0.05) between the two procedures. CONCLUSION: DSE with RT3DE seems to be a feasible and less time consuming diagnostic procedure, probably providing comparable sensitivity and specificity for the detection of coronary artery stenosis, than DSE with 2DE.
Angina Pectoris ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Stenosis ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diagnosis* ; Dobutamine* ; Echocardiography* ; Echocardiography, Stress* ; Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional* ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Phenobarbital ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Despite of its many advantages, application of the classic lateral arm flap has been limited due to its small skin paddle size, thick subcutaneous tissue, a short vascular pedicle, and inconsistent sensory innervation and recovery. The flap has been used for small to medium sized defects. Keuk and Chuan (1991) reported arterial mapping of the lateral arm through the dye injection study, and the posterior lateral collateral atery passed below the lateral epicondyle an average of 7.9 cm and then anastomosed with rich vascular plexus of the proximal forearm. From March 1997 to April 1998, we have performed 8 extended lateral arm free flaps successfully at various sites such as the face, hand, forefoot, and the heel. All flaps completely survived. We found out the extended lateral arm free flap could be suitable for resurfacing the face, hand and foot because of its long pedicle, very thin and pliable skin paddle. We present diversity for its use and its safety.
Arm* ; Foot ; Forearm ; Free Tissue Flaps* ; Hand ; Heel ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Tissue

Microvascular surgery now plays an increasingly important role in head and neck reconstruction. When compared to local or regional flaps, free flaps are more effective in complex or extensive defects, have better blood supply and are not restricted by the territory of the pedicle. Recently, not only coverage of the defect but restoration of both function and aesthetics with rapid recovery and minimal morbidity have become the interest of many surgeons. A retrospective study was conducted including 180 microvascular free tissue transfer for reconstruction of surgical defects in the head and neck region by the plastic & reconstructive surgery department at Yonsei Medical Center. The flap survival rate was 95.5 percent. Complications developed in 46 cases(25.5%). In our study, the radial forearm free flap was most commonly used(75%) and the primary location of tumors were the tonsils(18.3%), oral tongue(17.8%) and pyriform sinus (17.2%). Analysis in this study shows obesity as the only independent factor for development of complications while the number of risk factors of the patient were associated with an increased risk. With our analysis, many factors were found not to have a significant effect on flap outcome, including flap transfer in smokers, diabetics and preoperative radiation status. In our opinion, accumulation effect of the risk factors seems to be more important in determining the flap outcome and complications than that of independent risk factors.
Esthetics ; Forearm ; Free Tissue Flaps* ; Head* ; Humans ; Neck* ; Obesity ; Plastics ; Pyriform Sinus ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVE: Whereas fusion with pedicle screw fixation has shown satisfactory clinical results, solid fusion has been reported to accelerate degenerative changes in adjacent unfused levels. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of bone/ligament/bone integrity after subtotal or total laminectomies on the development of adjacent segment instability (ASI). The hypothesis that total laminectomy would increase ASI more than would subtotal laminectomy was analyzed. Material and METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 316 patients who were treated with posterior fusion and pedicle screw fixation between 1996 and 2001. After attempts to review all 316 patients and radiologic files, 36 patients who were diagnosed with ASI were carefully reviewed, including follow-up periods of 2-8 years. The medical records were carefully reviewed for recurrence of low back pain or neurologic symptoms after a period of postoperative relief, and the radiologic files were evaluated to determine instability. All patients had undergone single-level or multilevel instrumented posterior lumbar interbody fusion for intractable pain related to degenerative conditions of the spine. RESULTS: Patients over the age of 60 were at a higher risk of developing clinical ASI however,fusion length, level and gender were not associated with ASI. The ASI was noted to occur most commonly in the cranial segment prior to fusion. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed more frequent ASI after total laminectomy than after subtotal laminectomy, especially in elderly patients. The ideal procedure will be one combining maximal canal and foraminal decompressions with minimal resection of bony structures and supporting ligaments.
Aged ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Ligaments ; Low Back Pain ; Medical Records ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Pain, Intractable ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine