No abstract available.
Caroli Disease*

PURPOSE: Recent studies show that chorioamnionitis has an important role in the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD) and it induces thymic involution. The purpose of this study is to test the usefulness of thymic size at birth as a predictor of BPD. METHODS: This study was conducted on 91 very low birth weight infants of <1, 500 g with mean gestational age of 29.3 weeks and mean birth weight of 1, 161 g who were admitted at NICU of Dong Kang General Hospital for past 4 years of whom 21 infants had BPD. Thymic size was measured on routine chest radiographs taken in the first 3 hours after birth and measured as the ratio between the width of the cardiothymic shadow at the level of the carina and that of the thorax at the costophrenic angles (CT/ T). RESULTS: Correlation of thymic size with gestational age was statistically significant (P=0.003). CT/T of BPD group was smaller than that of non-BPD group (0.27+/-0.06, 0.33+/-0.07, respectively, P<0.01). A significant positive correlation between small thymus at birth and BPD was detected (P=0.003, odds ratio, 21.7), but not in other disease groups. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that a small thymus at birth on the chest radiograph could be used as an early predictive parameter of the BPD.
Birth Weight ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia* ; Chorioamnionitis ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Odds Ratio ; Parturition* ; Pregnancy ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Thorax ; Thymus Gland

PURPOSE: We assessed and compared the clinical and radiologic outcomes of treatment in periprosthetic fractures of the femur after total knee arthroplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We compared 22 knees, 22 patients of femoral periprosthetic fractures which had been fixed with absolute stabilization such as plate or screw fixation in 16 cases (group A), and with relative stabilization such as retrograde intramedullary nailing or Ender nailing in six cases (group B) from November 2004 to March 2013; the mean follow-up period was 51.9 months. RESULTS: The mean tibio femoral angle and the mean mechanical axis showed statistically significant change in group B, between before fracture and last follow-up. The mean bone union time and the mean hospital for special surgery score were not significantly different between group A and B. Nonunion was demonstrated in one case in each group, malunion was demonstrated in one case in group B. CONCLUSION: In the treatment of periprosthetic fractures of the femur after total knee arthroplasty, absolute stabilization had an advantage for regain of limb alignment. Among the complications, more cases of refracture and infection were observed in the absolute stabilization group, while more cases of nonunion and malunion were observed in the relative stabilization group.
Arthroplasty* ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Extremities ; Femur ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Knee* ; Periprosthetic Fractures*

OBJECTIVE: The prefabrication of customized cranioplastic implants has been introduced to overcome the difficulties of intra-operative implant molding. The authors present a new technique, which consists of the prefabrication of implant molds using three-dimensional (3D) printers and polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) casting. METHODS: A total of 16 patients with large skull defects (>100 cm2) underwent cranioplasty between November 2009 and April 2011. For unilateral cranial defects, 3D images of the skull were obtained from preoperative axial 1-mm spiral computed tomography (CT) scans. The image of the implant was generated by a digital subtraction mirror-imaging process using the normal side of the cranium as a model. For bilateral cranial defects, precraniectomy routine spiral CT scan data were merged with postcraniectomy 3D CT images following a smoothing process. Prefabrication of the mold was performed by the 3D printer. Intraoperatively, the PMMA implant was created with the prefabricated mold, and fit into the cranial defect. RESULTS: The median operation time was 184.36+/-26.07 minutes. Postoperative CT scans showed excellent restoration of the symmetrical contours and curvature of the cranium in all cases. The median follow-up period was 23 months (range, 14-28 months). Postoperative infection was developed in one case (6.2%) who had an open wound defect previously. CONCLUSION: Customized cranioplasty PMMA implants using 3D printer may be a useful technique for the reconstruction of various cranial defects.
Computer-Aided Design ; Decompressive Craniectomy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fungi ; Humans ; Methylmethacrylate ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Skull ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

PURPOSE: Radionuclide cisternography may be helpful in understanding pathophysiology of postural headache and low CSF pressure in patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension. The purpose of this study was to characterize radionuclide cisternographic findings of spontaneous intracranial hypotension. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population consists of 15 patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension. Diagnosis was based on their clinical symptoms and results of lumbar puncture. All patients underwent radionuclide cisternography following injection of 111 to 222 MBq of Tc-99m DTPA into the lumbar subarachnoid space. Sequential images were obtained between 1/2 hour and 24 hour after the injection of Tc-99m DTPA. Radioactivity of the bladder, soft tissue uptake, migration of radionuclide in the subarachnoid space, and extradural leakage of radionuclide were evaluated according to the scan time. RESULTS: Radionuclide cisternogram showed delayed migration of radionuclide into the cerebral convexity (14/15), increased soft tissue uptake (11/15), and early visualization of bladder activity at 30 min (6/10) and 2 hr (13/13). Cisternography also demonstrated leakage site of CSF in 4 cases and 2 of these were depicted at 30 min. Epidural blood patch was done in 11 patients and headache was improved in all cases. CONCLUSION: The characterstic findings of spontaneous intracranial hypotension were delayed migration of radionuclide and early visualization of the soft tissue and bladder activity. These scintigraphic findings suggest that CSF leakage rather than increased CSF absorption or decreased production may be the main pathophysiology of spontaneous intracranial hypotension. Early and multiple imaging including the bladder and soft tissue is required to observe the entire dynamics of radionuclide migration.
Absorption ; Blood Patch, Epidural ; Diagnosis ; Headache ; Humans ; Intracranial Hypotension* ; Pentetic Acid ; Radioactivity ; Spinal Puncture ; Subarachnoid Space ; Urinary Bladder

Burn patients basically go through the sequential stages of physiological, psychological and social emergency after the burn injury. In the present study, 88 burn patients were classified into three groups according to the stages as mentioned above. Then, we observed the states of anxiety, depression, inward activities, various psychological responses measured by SCL-90-R, and body image changes in each stage. The study results were as follows: 1) We found that depressive symptoms increased as the stage advanced. They were correlated with family conflicts and low level of education. The state of anxiety was not correlated with the staging. 2) There were differences between stages I and III in ANX, DEP, SOM, PHOB axes of SCL-90-R. 3) The mood of burn patients and the patients' cooperation to the treatment observed by the nurse was partially correlated with depression and anxiety, while the patients' relation to others and interpersonal relationship were not. 4) Variables such as the size of burned area, duration of hospitalization and darkening skin affected the patients' body image. 5) We found that burn patients have psychological difficulties. Therefore, the treatment of burn injury should be done in parallel with the psychological treatment by professionals.
Anxiety ; Body Image ; Burns* ; Depression ; Education ; Emergencies ; Family Conflict ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Skin

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The distribut ion of HCV genotypes varies with geographical area, and genot ypes can affect t he nat ur al course of HCV infection, but adequate genot yping data were not accumulat ed in Korea. This study was des igned to det ermine the pattern of distribution of HCV genotypes in Korea and it's clinical implications. METHODS: 100 cons ecut ive anti- HCV( +), RT-PCR(+) cases were recruited. Genotype specific oligonucleotide primers were made according to the sequence variation of NS5 region of HCV genome. Heminested PCR with mixed primersets was per formed, and genotype specific PCR products of different size were verified. Sequencing of cloned PCR products was done in cases with representative genotypes. Clinical profiles of genotype 1b and 2a were compared. RESULTS: Genotyping was done in 78 among 100 cases. Genotype 1b (48/ 78, 57.7%) and 2a (25/ 78, 32.1%) were most prevalent , and 1a (1/ 78, 1.3%) and mixed form (7/ 78, 9.0%) were also found. Milder cases with persistent normal ALT levels were more frequently seen in genotype 2a ( 9/ 25, 36.0%) than in genot ype 1b (3/ 45, 6.7%) (p< 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Genotype 1b and 2a were major ones in anti- HCV( +) Korean adults, and the tendency of milder clinical course of genotype 2a was suggested.
Adult ; Clone Cells ; DEET ; DNA Primers ; Genome ; Genotype ; Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Korea ; Polymerase Chain Reaction*

No abstract available.
Arteriovenous Fistula*

Traumatic optic neuropathy (TON) is an important cause of severe visual loss after blunt or penetrating head and facial trauma. High-dose steroids and surgical interventions have been applied in the indirect TON. However, there is no convincing evidence that results of the treatment have any strong benefits in terms of improvement of visual acuity. Nevertheless, surgical decompression should be considered in the case of a direct bony compression to the optic nerve and a progressive visual loss in indirect TON. Neurosurgeon should be aware the surgical indication, optimal timing and relevant technique for the optic canal (OC) decompression. In this review article, we will focus on the surgical approaches to the OC and how to decompress it.
Decompression ; Decompression, Surgical ; Head ; Neurosurgeons ; Optic Nerve ; Optic Nerve Injuries* ; Steroids ; Visual Acuity

No abstract available.
Muscle, Skeletal* ; Tibial Nerve*