No abstract available.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Female* ; Humans ; Urethra*

OBJECTIVE: To present the profiles of spinal cord tumors that can be removed through a unilateral hemilaminectomy and to demonstrate its usefulness for benign spinal cord tumors that significantly occupy the spinal canal. METHODS: From June 2004 to October 2010, 25 spinal cord tumors were approached with unilateral hemilaminectomy. We calculated the cross-sectional occupying ratio (CSOR) of tumor to spinal canal before and after the operations. RESULTS: The locations of the tumors were intradural extramedullary in 20 cases, extradural in 2, and intramedullary in 3. The levels of the tumors were lumbar in 12, thoracic 9, and cervical 4. In all cases, the tumor was removed grossly and totally without damaging spinal cord or roots. The mean height and width of the lesions we195re 17.64 mm (3-47.5) and 12.62 mm (4-32.7), respectively. The mean CSOR was 69.40% (range, 27.8-96.9%). Postoperative neurological status showed improvement in all patients except one whose neurologic deficit remained unchanged. Postoperative spinal stability was preserved during the follow-up period (mean, 21.5 months) in all cases. Tumor recurrence did not develop during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Unilateral hemilaminectomy combined with microsurgical technique provides sufficient space for the removal of diverse spinal cord tumors. The basic profiles of the spinal cord tumors which can be removed through the unilateral hemilaminectomy demonstrate its role for the surgery of the benign spinal cord tumors in various sizes.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Microsurgery ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Recurrence ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms*

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the degree of wear of periodontal curet's cutting edges made by three different manufacturers. In the first case of the experiment, this study was done with each new curett in the following three experiment. Twelve new double-ended No. 11/12 Gracy curettes from three different manufacturers (A, B and C) was randomly selected from our stock at first test. They were weared by wear tester with fixed pressure and limited distance. This study measured the width of worn curettes'cutting edge. The results were as follows; 1) In 50 times experiment, this study discoverd that each manufacturer's curette was appeared with different degree of wear (p<0.01) 2) In 100 times experiment, this study result similarly to the 50 times experiment(p<0.01). 3) In 150 times experiment, the result of this study were alike as the X50 experiment and X100 experiment. In the second case of the experiment, the study was done with a curett of a manufacturer in the following three experiment. Two double-ended No. 11/12 Gracy curette from three different manufactures (A, B and C) was randomly selected from our stock at second test. 1) In 50 times experiment, this study discovered that each manufacturer's curette was appeared with different degree of wear (p<0.05). 2) In 100 times experiment, the result was same, compared with the 50 times experiment. 3) In 150 times experiment, this study also discovered that the result was same with the result of the upper two cases. In conclusion, this study discovered that the two cases of experimental were shown with a same result.

No abstract available.
Enbucrilate*

OBJECTIVE: The intracranial pathologies after head trauma should be usually progressed. It is clearly visualized in the non-invasive brain CT. The invasive monitor such as intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring may be accompanied with the complications. This study aims whether the patients with severe head injury could be managed with serial CT scans. METHODS: The medical records of 113 patients with severe head injury in the prospectively enrolled trauma bank were retrospectively analyzed. After the emergency care, all the patients were admitted to the intensive care unit for the aggressive medical managements. Repeat brain CT scans were routinely taken at 6 hours and 48 hours after the trauma. ICP monitoring was restrictively applied for the uncertain intracranial pressure based on the CT. The surgical intervention and the mortality rate were analyzed. RESULTS: Immediate surgical intervention after the initial CT scan was done in 47 patients. Among the initially non-surgical patients, 59 patients were managed with the serial CT scans and 7 with the ICP monitoring. Surgical interventions underwent eventually for 10 patients in the initially non-surgical patients; 1 in the ICP monitoring and 9 in the serial CT. The mortality rate was 23.7% in the serial brain CT and 28.6% in the ICP monitoring. There was no statistical difference between two groups in the aspect of mortality (p=0.33). CONCLUSION: Serial CT scans in time could be a good way to monitor the intracranial progression in the severe head injury and reduce the implantation of an invasive ICP probe.
Brain* ; Craniocerebral Trauma* ; Emergency Medical Services ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Intracranial Pressure* ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Pathology ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

As most infections by the helminth parasite elicit the recruitment of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T (T(reg)) cells, many scientists have suggested that these cells could be used for the treatment of immune-mediated inflammation and associated diseases. In order to investigate the distribution and alteration of activated T(reg) cells, we compared the expression levels of T(reg) cell activation markers in the ileum and gastrocnemius tissues 1, 2, and 4 weeks after infection. The number of T(reg) cells was monitored using GFP-coded Foxp3 transgenic mice. In mice at 1 week after Trichinella spiralis infection, the number of activated T(reg) cells was higher than in the control group. In mice at 2 weeks after infection, there was a significant increase in the number of cells expressing Foxp3 and CTLA-4 when compared to the control group and mice at 1 week after infection. At 4 weeks after infection, T. spiralis was easily identifiable in nurse cells in mouse muscles. In the intestine, the expression of Gzmb and Klrg1 decreased over time and that of Capg remained unchanged for the first and second week, then decreased in the 4th week. However, in the muscles, the expression of most chemokine genes was increased due to T. spiralis infection, in particular the expression levels of Gzmb, OX40, and CTLA-4 increased until week 4. In addition, increased gene expression of all chemokine receptors in muscle, CXCR3, CCR4, CCR5, CCR9, and CCR10, was observed up until the 4th week. In conclusion, various chemokine receptors showed increased expressions combined with recruitment of T(reg) cells in the muscle tissue.
Animals ; Gene Expression ; Helminths ; Ileum ; Inflammation ; Intestines ; Mice* ; Mice, Transgenic ; Muscles ; Parasites ; Receptors, Chemokine ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory* ; Trichinella spiralis ; Trichinella*

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of 99mTc-HMPAO-labelled leucocyte scintigraphy for diagnosing prosthetic infection after total knee replacement arthroplasty without the aid of following bone marrow scintigraphy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study subjects were 25 prostheses of 17 patients (one man and 16 women, mean age: 65 years) who had total knee replacement arthroplasty. After injection of 99mTc-HMPAO-labelled leucocyte, the whole body planar and knee SPECT images were obtained in all patients. The subjects were classified into three groups according to clinical suspicion of prosthetic infection: Group A (n=11) with high suspicion of infection; Group B (n=6) with equivocal suspicion of infection, and Group C (n=8) with asymptomatic contralateral prostheses. Final diagnosis of infection was based on surgical, histological and bacteriological data and clinical follow-up. RESULTS: Infection was confirmed in 13 prostheses (11 in Group A and 2 in Group B). All prostheses in Group A were true positive. There were two true positives, one false positive and three true negatives in Group B, and six true negatives and two false positives in Group C. Overall sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for diagnosis of the infected knee prosthesis were 100%, 75% and 88%, respectively. CONCLUSION: 99mTc-HMPAO-labelled leucocyte scintigraphy is a sensitive method for the diagnosis of infected knee prosthesis. However, false positive uptakes even in asymptomatic prosthesis suggest that bone marrow scintigraphy may be needed to achieve improved specificity.
Arthroplasty* ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee* ; Bone Marrow ; Diagnosis* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Knee ; Knee Prosthesis ; Prostheses and Implants ; Radionuclide Imaging* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

Metastasis of choroid from prostate cancer is not common and has not been reported before in Korea. We report a case of decreased vision in a patient with prostate cancer. After external beam radiotherapy, patient had complete response in the choroidal metastasis. Metastasis of choroid secondary to prostate is not common. There have been only 8 cases reported. In this case, we demonstrated that external beam radiotherapy showed a therapeutic effect.
Choroid* ; Humans ; Korea ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Radiotherapy

PURPOSE: To compare the success rate of two procedures frontalis sling operation and maximal levator resection for recurred congenital ptosis. METHODS: In the 44 eyes in 30 patients who had recurrence after frontalis sling using banked fascia lata, 21 eyes received frontalis sling operation using autogenous fascia lata (Group I), and the other 23 eyes received maximal levator resection with aponeurotic approach (Group II). Follow up was made at one month, three months, six months and one year after the operation. RESULTS: Six months after the operation, Group I showed 81.0% while Group II showed 78.3% in success rate. One year after the operation, Group I had 76.2%, while Group II had 73.9% in success rate. There were no significant statistical difference between the two groups (p=0.744, 0.707). CONCLUSIONS: In cases of recurrence after frontalis sling using banked fascia lata in treating congenital ptosis patients, we found the frontalis sling using autogenous fascia lata to be effective. The maximal levator resection may be used as an alternative procedure.
Fascia Lata ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Recurrence*

PURPOSE: To analyze the effects of the aspheric rigid gas permeable (RGP) lens on the corneal topography and endothelial cells in eyes with keratoconus. METHODS: Sixty five eyes of 35 keratoconic patients who had follow-up of more than 6 months were included in the study. Thirty eyes of 16 patients wore aspheric RGP lens, and the remaining control eyes did not wear any lens. After aspheric RGP lens fitting, visual acuity and manifest refractive error were evaluated, Slit lamp examination and corneal topography were also done. Mean cell area and density of corneal endothelial cell were measured by specular microscopy at first visit and 6 months after lens fitting. RESULTS: After lens fitting, the percentage of best corrected visual acuity of better than 20/25 was 93.3% (28 eyes). The change of astigmatism, the Steepest Simulated keratometry reading, Surface asymmetry index, Surface regularity index, and apical corneal power were significantly increased in the keratoconic cornea in aspheric lens fitting group compared to the control group (p<0.05) There was no significant difference in corneal endothelial cell counts and mean cell areas between the two groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Short-term wearing of aspheric RGP lens in keratoconic patients showed no effect on corneal endothelial cells. However, it increased the irregularity and steepening of the keratoconic cornea. It may indicate that mid-peripheral corneal-to-lens relationship may be inappropriate when keratoconus is fitted with aspheric lens.
Astigmatism ; Cornea ; Corneal Topography* ; Endothelial Cells* ; Endothelium, Corneal ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Keratoconus* ; Microscopy ; Refractive Errors ; Visual Acuity