STUDY DESIGN: Experimental study. PURPOSE: To determine whether epidural fat (EF) tissue contains mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Spine surgeons are unaware of the contents of EF tissue and the reason for its presence between the ligamentum flavum and the dura mater; therefore, EF tissues are routinely eliminated during surgical procedures. However, EF removal causes certain postoperative problems, such as post-laminectomy syndrome. We hypothesized that the EF tissue may play a significant supportive role for the neural structures and other nearby conditions. METHODS: EF tissues were obtained from consenting patients (n=3) during posterior decompression surgery of the lumbar spine. The primary cells were isolated and cultured as per previously described methods with some modifications, and the cell morphology and cumulation were examined. Thereafter, reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), a fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis, and differentiation potency for differentiation into osteoblasts, chondroblasts, and adipocytes were investigated to identify whether the cells derived from EF are MSC. RESULTS: The cells from the EF tissue had a fibroblast or neuron-like morphology that persisted until the senescence at p18. MSC-specific genes, such as OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, MYC, and GAPDH were expressed in the RT-PCR study, while MSC-specific surface markers such as CD105, CD90, and CD73 were exhibited in the FACS analysis. The differentiation properties of EF-MSC for differentiation into the three types of cells (osteoblast, chondroblast, and adipocyte) were also confirmed. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the cell culture, FACS analysis, RT-PCR analysis, and differentiation potent outcomes, all the features of the cells corresponded to MSC. This is the first study to identify EF-MSC derived from the EF tissue.
Adipocytes ; Aging ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Chondrocytes ; Decompression ; Dura Mater ; Fibroblasts ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Ligamentum Flavum ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Osteoblasts ; Spine ; Surgeons

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a highly prevalent disorder that affects millions of men and considered to be an early symptom of atherosclerosis and a precursor of various systemic vascular disorders. The aim of the present study was to prepare ginsenoside Re enriched fraction (GS-F3K1, ginsenoside Re 10%, w/w) from ginseng berries flesh and to investigate the enhanced activities of GS-F3K1 on alcohol-induced ED. GS-F3K1 was prepared by the continuous liquid and solid separating centrifugation and circulatory ultrafiltration from ginseng berries flesh. GS-F3K1 was administered for 5 weeks in ethanol-induced ED rat by oral administration of 20% ethanol. To investigate the effects of GS-F3K1 on ED model, the levels of nitrite expression, cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and erectile response of the penile corpus cavernosum of rat were measured. The erectile response of the corpus cavernosum was restored after GS-F3K1 administration, to a level similar to the normal group. The level of nitrite and cGMP expression in the corpus cavernosum of GS-F3K1-administered male rats was increased significantly compared to positive control group. GS-F3K1 from ginseng berries should effectively restore ethanol-induced ED in male rats and could be developed as a new functional food for the elderly men.
Administration, Oral ; Aged ; Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; Centrifugation ; Erectile Dysfunction* ; Ethanol ; Fruit* ; Functional Food ; Guanosine Monophosphate ; Humans ; Male ; Panax* ; Rats ; Ultrafiltration

OBJECTIVE: Obturator neuropathy is a rare condition. Many neurosurgeons are unfamiliar with the obturator nerve anatomy. The purpose of this study was to define obturator nerve landmarks around the obturator foramen. METHODS: Fourteen cadavers were studied bilaterally to measure the distances from the nerve root to relevant anatomical landmarks near the obturator nerve, including the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS), the pubic tubercle, the inguinal ligament, the femoral artery, and the adductor longus. RESULTS: The obturator nerve exits the obturator foramen and travels infero-medially between the adductors longus and brevis. The median distances from the obturator nerve exit zone (ONEZ) to the ASIS and pubic tubercle were 114 mm and 30 mm, respectively. The median horizontal and vertical distances between the pubic tubercle and the ONEZ were 17 mm and 27 mm, respectively. The shortest median distance from the ONEZ to the inguinal ligament was 19 mm. The median inguinal ligament lengths from the ASIS and the median pubic tubercle to the shortest point were 103 mm and 24 mm, respectively. The median obturator nerve lengths between the ONEZ and the adductor longus and femoral artery were 41 mm and 28 mm, respectively. CONCLUSION: The obturator nerve exits the foramen 17 mm and 27 mm on the horizontal and sagittal planes, respectively, from the pubic tubercle below the pectineus muscle. The shallowest area is approximately one-fifth medially from the inguinal ligament. This study will help improve the accuracy of obturator nerve surgeries to better establish therapeutic plans and decrease complications.
Cadaver ; Femoral Artery ; Ligaments ; Obturator Nerve* ; Spine

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to analyze the gender factors associated with good or bad prognosis after return of spontaneous circulation after out-of hospital cardiac arrest. METHODS: The patients admitted to the intensive care unit after successful resuscitation after out-of hospital cardiac arrest were retrospectively identified and evaluated. Thirty days mortality after admission, and neurologic outcome at 6 months after hospital discharge (cerebral performance category [CPC]) were evaluated. RESULTS: One hundred forty-two patients were evaluated in this study; there were 101 males (71.1%). The median age was 52 years old (43-63). Thirty days after admission, 85 patients (59.9%) survived, 40 patients had a good neurologic outcome (CPC 1-2). The factors associated 30 days mortality were cause of arrest (non-cardiac, p = 0.03), lactate in emergency department (p = 0.05) and the factors associated with good neurologic outcome were males (p = 0.007), young age (p = 0.01), body weight and height (p = 0.001), cause of death (cardiac, p = 0.000). Alcohols and smoking were not associated with mortality and neurologic outcome. In multiple logistic regression analysis, men had a 8-fold increased good neurologic outcome (CPC 1-2) (odds ratio [OR] 8.038, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.079-59.903). Other factors associated with good neurologic outcome were cardiac cause of death (OR 5.523, 95% CI 1.562-19.533) and young age (OR 1.055, 95% CI 1.009-1.103). CONCLUSIONS: Men had a good neurologic outcome after return of spontaneous circulation after out-of hospital cardiac arrest in one emergency center. Other additional factors including gonadal hormones should be evaluated.
Alcohols ; Body Weight ; Cause of Death ; Emergencies ; Gonadal Hormones ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Lactic Acid ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest ; Prognosis ; Resuscitation ; Retrospective Studies ; Smoke ; Smoking

Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection caused by the soil fungus, Coccidioides immitis, which is endemic to the south-western United States. However, the incidence of coccidioidomycosis has recently increased due to the increase in overseas travel to endemic areas. We report a case of pulmonary coccidioidomycosis diagnosed in an immunocompetent person. A 28-year-old female, who had lived in Phoenix, Arizona, USA for 2 years, was admitted for an evaluation of persistent cough with fever lasting for 2 weeks. The chest X-ray and Chest CT revealed multifocal patchy consolidation and ground-glass opacity in both lungs as well as multiple enlarged right hilar and paratracheal lymph nodes. A percutaneous needLe biopsy of the main mass-like consolidation confirmed mature spherules of Coccidioides immitis in lung tissue. Pulmonary coccidioidomycosis should be considered in patients presenting with persistent cough with fever and a history of travel to or immigration from an endemic area.
Adult ; Arizona ; Biopsy, Needle ; Coccidioides ; Coccidioidomycosis ; Cough ; Emigration and Immigration ; Female ; Fever ; Fungi ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Soil ; Thorax ; United States

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the musculoskeletal cause of hemiplegic shoulder pain using ultrasonographic evaluation of hemiplegic shoulder. METHOD: Thirty-six hemiplegic patients admitted to rehabilitation department were enrolled. Ultrasonographic investigation of shoulder and physical examinations including range of motion (ROM), muscle power, spasticity and subluxation of shoulders were performed. RESULTS: Eighteen (55.6%) patients reported pain in hemiplegic shoulder. The abnormal sonographic findings, ROM, muscle power, spasticity, and subluxation of hemiplegic shoulder were not significantly different between subjects with painful hemiplegic shoulder and those without. The presence of ultrasonographic abnormality combined with focal tenderness, however, was significantly related with the painfulness of hemiplegic shoulder (p-value = 0.03). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that ultrasonographic evaluation is useful to investigate the musculoskeletal component of painful hemiplegic shoulder, when collaborated with physical examination of focal tenderness.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The ability to study microvessels of a beating heart in real time at the level of the capillary is essential for research. However, there are no proven methods currently available to achieve this. The conventional absorption-contrast agents have limitations for studying capillaries. Microangiography with using synchrotron phase-contrast X-ray technology and no contrast agent has recently been reported on. We tried to verify this previous report, and we wanted to visualize the microvessels of a rat heart using air as a contrast agent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We made the Langendorff apparatus in a hutch of the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory. The images were obtained with a white beam and a monochromatic beam. The visual images were magnified using 3x and 20x optical microscope lenses, and the images were captured with a charge-coupled device camera. RESULTS: We could not duplicate the previously reported findings in which microvessels were visualized without the use of contrast agent. But with using air as a contrast agent, the microvasculature of rat hearts was clearly identified at a spatial resolution of 1.2 microm. Air being absorbed inside a capillary was also observed. Vessels under 10 microm diameter were unable to be visualized with using iodine as a contrast agent. CONCLUSION: Phase contrast imaging already allows spatial resolution of 1 microm, which is enough to inspect capillaries. We were able to obtain images of cardiac capillaries with using air as a contrast agent. Yet air has the fatal limitations in that it causes embolism and ischemia. A more suitable contrast agent or imaging method needs to be developed in order to study the microvessels of a beating heart.
Animals ; Capillaries ; Contrast Media ; Embolism ; Heart ; Humans ; Iodine ; Ischemia ; Microvessels ; Rats ; Synchrotrons

Between 2001 and 2006, 3 neonates that had multilevel left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and a ventricular septal defect underwent the Norwood-Rastelli procedure. The body weights ranged from 2.9 to 3.1 kg. The patients had a near normal sized mitral valve and left ventricle. We simultaneously performed a modified Norwood procedure with native tissues-to-tissue anastomosis without circulatory arrest, and a Rastelli type procedure using a non-valved conduit from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery and intracardiac patch baffling from the left ventricle to the pulmonary valve via the ventricular septal defect. The postoperative courses were uneventful. During follow-up, there was one late mortality caused by a cardiac catheterization related complication at 7 months after surgery. One patient required a Rastelli conduit change. Two patients are doing well during a follow-up period of 1 and 5 years, respectively.
Body Weight ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular* ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Mitral Valve ; Mortality ; Norwood Procedures ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Valve

The patient was an eight-year-old female. She was diagnosed as dilated cardiomyopathy. She was supported with bi-ventricular assist because of heart failure for 15 days. After 7 days, she was suffered from prerenal type ARF and support with continuous veno-veno hemodyalisis (CVVHD). And then heart transplantation was performed, heart donor's blood type was A. Immune suppressants were used after due consideration for renal toxicity. ARF was resolved on post operative 14th day. She was discharged on post operative 52nd day without any specific post operative complication. She has been followed up without any immune rejection reaction upto 14 months.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; Female ; Heart Failure ; Heart Transplantation* ; Heart* ; Heart-Assist Devices ; Humans

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is characterized by inappropriate hypertrophy of the myocardium and is associated with various clinical presentations ranging from complete absence of symptoms to sudden, unexpected death. These are caused by dynamic obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract and surgical approaches were initiated. But, the complete resection of hypertrophied midventricular septum is impossible by standard, transaortic approach, because of narrow vision and limited approach. And it leads to inadequate excision, will leave residual left vetnricular outflow tract obstruction or systolic anterior motion of mitral leaflet, and limit symptomatic improvement and patient's survival. We report a case of extended septal myectomy for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy of mid-septum in a child. The extended septal myectomy was performed by aortotomy and left ventricular apical incision, and made possible the complete resection of mid-ventricular septum, abnormal papillary muscles and chordae. The patient's symptom was improved and the postoperative course was uneventful.
Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic* ; Child ; Heart Septum ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Myocardium ; Papillary Muscles