PURPOSE: To compare the clinical? results and stability of acute and chronic reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who had ACL reconstruction with a quadruple hamstring tendon and ligament anchor (LA) screw with a minimum 2-year follow-up were included in this study. Acute (within 4 weeks) reconstruction group was composed of 27 knees and chronic (over 3 months) group was 44 knees. We compared the two groups with regard to Lysholm knee score, range of motion, thigh circumference, Lachman test, Tegner activity scale, associated meniscal injuries, and anterior laxity difference by Telos stress arthrometer. RESULTS: At last follow-up, no significant differences were found between the acute and chronic groups for Lysholm score, range of motion, Lachman test, Tegner activity scale, and instrumental laxity. 16 cases (59%) of acute and 33 cases (75%) of chronic patients had a meniscal injuries of which were reparable in 5 cases (28%) and 7 cases (17%). CONCLUSIONS: Acute reconstruction of ACL had excellent clinical and radiologic results as good as the chronic group without motion problem.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee ; Ligaments ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Tendons ; Thigh

No abstract available.
Heart* ; Thoracic Surgery*

Background and Objectives: Menkes disease (MNK) is a rare X-linked recessive disease, caused by mutations in the copper transporting ATP7A gene that is required for copper homeostasis. MNK patients experience various clinical symptoms including neurological defects that are closely related to the prognosis of MNK patients. Neural stem cells (NSCs) in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) produce new neurons throughout life, and defects in DG neurogenesis are often correlated with cognitive and behavioral problems. However, neurodevelopmental defects in the DG during postnatal period in MNK have not been understood yet. Methods: and Results: Mottled-brindled (Mo Br/y ) mice (MNK mice) and littermate controls were used in this study. In vivo microCT imaging and immunohistochemistry results demonstrate that blood vasculatures in hippocampus are abnormally decreased in MNK mice. Furthermore, postnatal establishment of NSC population and their neurogenesis are severely compromised in the DG of MNK mice. In addition, in vitro analyses using hippocampal neurosphere culture followed by immunocytochemistry and immunoblotting suggest that neurogenesis from MNK NSCs is also significantly compromised, corresponding to defective neurogenic gene expression in MNK derived neurons. Conclusions Our study is the first reports demonstrating that improper expansion of the postnatal NSC population followed by significant reduction of neurogenesis may contribute to neurodevelopmental symptoms in MNK. In conclusion, our results provide new insight into early neurodevelopmental defects in MNK and emphasize the needs for early diagnosis and new therapeutic strategies in the postnatal central nerve system damage of MNK patients.

Hemobilia is a cause of obscure gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Most cases have an iatrogenic or traumatic origin but cases of hemobilia with non-traumatic causes are rare. The non-traumatic causes of hemobilia are inflammation, gallstones, neoplasm and vascular lesions. Currently, various therapeutic options are available for hemobilia, and transarterial embolization is now the first line of intervention used to stop the bleeding of hemobilia, which shows a high success rate of approximately 80% to 100% with a lower morbidity and mortality rate than with surgery. We report a rare case of non-traumatic hemobilia caused by a pseudoaneurysm of the hepatic artery that was successfully treated with transarterial embolization.
Aneurysm, False* ; Gallstones ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hemobilia* ; Hemorrhage ; Hepatic Artery* ; Inflammation ; Mortality

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is an autosomal dominant inherited disease that manifests as a combination of mucocutaneous pigmentation and gastrointestinal hamartomatous polyps that usually cause intussusception and intestinal hemorrhage. We report the case of a 40-year-old male patient who was diagnosed 20 years ago and had previously undergone 3 intestinal resection surgeries. This time, with the use of combined operative and endoscopic polypectomy, more than 100 polyps were removed. This technique is useful for providing a "clean" small intestine that allows the patient a long interval between laparotomies and reduces the complications associated with multiple laparotomies and resections.
Adult ; Endoscopy ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intestine, Small ; Intussusception ; Laparotomy ; Male ; Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome* ; Pigmentation ; Polyps*

Diarrhea-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome(D+ HUS) is induced by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli(EHEC) and is characterized by the triad of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute renal failure. The disease is usually transmitted by meat and water contaminated by excreta of domestic animals. We report a son and his mother with diarrhea-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome that spread within the family.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Anemia, Hemolytic ; Animals, Domestic ; Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli ; Escherichia ; Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome* ; Humans ; Meat ; Mothers ; Thrombocytopenia

OBJECTIVES: Diabetic autonomic neuropathy is a common complication of long standing diabetes mellitus and is well known to induce the motor dysfunction of cardiovascular system, genitourinary system and diges tive system. Although many studies have done to eval uate the diabetic autonomic neuropathy, gallbladder motor function and biliary dynamic study to evaluate the change of gallbladder function in diabetic patients is relatively rare. This study was performed to measure the gall bladder ejection fraction using Tc- 99m-DISIDA with fatty meal in order to evaluate the gallbladder motor func tion in diabetic patients and to examine the usefulness of it in analyzing diabetic autonomic neuropathy. METHODS: 51 diabetic patients(males 31, females 18, mean age 57yr(39-77yr)) and 18 control subjects(males 14, females 4, mean aged 47yr(31-70yr)) without gall stone and impaired liver function were enrolled in our study. Also the diabetic patients were categorized by age, disease duration, body weight and diabetic complications such as retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy and cardiovas cular autonomic neuropathy accompanying with or not. RESULTS: 1) Median value and interquartile range of gallbladder ejection fraction(%) were 66%(48-79%) in diabetic pa tients group and 75%(64-80%) in control subjects. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups, but the mean value of diabetic patients was slightly lower than that of control subjects. 2) There was no significant difference between the two groups in mean value of gallbladder ejection fraction in every age group(P>0.05). 3) Median value of gallbladder ejection fraction in diabetic groups with less than 10 years of duration (both under 5 years and 5 to 10 years groups) was similar to that of control subjects. However in patients whose diabetic conditions last more than 10 years, the median range of gallbladder ejection fraction was significantly lower than that of control subjects(p<0.05). 4) Median range of gallbladder ejection fraction in obese diabetic patients group was significant lower than those of control subjects and non-obese diabetic pa tients(p<0.05). 5) Median value of gallbadder was lower in diabetic patients group with complications like retinopathy, periph eral neuropathy or cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (p<0.05) in comparison with those of control subjects and diabetic patients group without diabetic complication (p>0.05). Also seven diabetic patients whose gallbladder ejection fraction was reduced under 35% have had at least two diabetic complications. CONCLUSION: We observed that gallbladder ejection fraction of diabetic patients was reduced compared with that of control subjects. This is due to the reduced gallbladder muscle contractility resulting from diabetic autonomic dysfunction. These results suggest that the assessment of gallbladder ejection fraction using 99m- Tc-DISIDA would be useful to diagnose diabetic auto nomic neropathy.
Body Weight ; Cardiovascular System ; Diabetes Complications ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; Female ; Gallbladder* ; Gallstones ; Humans ; Liver ; Meals ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Radionuclide Imaging* ; Urinary Bladder ; Urogenital System

BACKGROUND: Many reports with hypnotics and opiates have been published for nonrelaxant tracheal intubation.In addition to its immediate onset and short duration time, remifentanil can well prevent responses against short and strong stimulation like tracheal intubation.However, the high concentration of remifentanil for nonrelaxant tracheal intubation can cause hemodynamic instability, thus we tried to estimate the predicted effect-site concentration of remifentanil for smooth intubation and provoking hypotension. METHODS: Forty three ASA I and II patients were randomly selected to receive an effect-site-controlled infusion of remifentanil 0, 2, 4, 6 ng/ml and propofol 2 mg/kg.Trachea was intubated after 3 minutes of manual breathing support with desflurane 6 vol%. The vital signs, end-tidal concentration of desflurane and responses of patients were recorded before intubation for 3 minutes and until 2 minutes after intubation every minute.The effective effect-site concentration (ECe) was calculated at 95% successful rate of smooth intubation and at 50% of provoking hypotension (equal to or under 55 mmHg). RESULTS: The estimation results of the logistic regression stated that 95% ECe of remifentanil for smooth intubation was 8.0 (5.0-14.3) ng/ml and 50% ECe for provoking hypotension equal to or under 55 mmHg before intubation was 5.0 (2.6-9.7) ng/ml. CONCLUSIONS: Remifentanil at 8.0 ng/ml provided good conditions for smooth intubation without muscle relaxants but could provoked hypotension.Consequently, we recommend the careful observation of the blood pressure with the use of remifentanil and the evaluation of the suitable measures to maintain the blood pressure for nonrelaxant tracheal intubation.
Anesthesia ; Blood Pressure ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Hypotension ; Intubation ; Isoflurane ; Logistic Models ; Muscles ; Piperidines ; Propofol ; Respiration ; Vital Signs

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It has been well known that the Braunwald classification is an appropriate clinical parameter in the prediction of the outcome in patients with unstable angina. However, the ability of the classification to predict prognosis of unstable angina according to treatment strategy is not established. We evaluated the relation between severity of angina on admission and outcome of primary unstable angina with early invasive strategy. MATERIALS AND METHOD: 148 patients (M 85, F 63, age 61+/-10) with suspected unstable angina were divided into three subgroups on the basis of the Braunwald classification on admission. The patients were followed up to 6 months prospectively if the final diagnosis was primary unstable angina. Early invasive strategy was used for the treatment of unstable angina. Major cardiac events were assessed during hospitalization and 6 months follow-up period according to the Braunwald classification. RESULTS: Unstable angina was diagnosed in 95 patients (64%). Among these patients, 89 patients with primary unstable angina were followed up to 6 months. Clinical characteristics including number of patients, mean age, sex ratio, risk factors, coronary angiographic findings and revascularization rate during hospitalization were not different in three subgroups of these patients. Among these patients, early coronary revascularizations was performed in 67 patients (75%) and 2 (2%) deaths/myocardial infarctions occurred during hospitalization. During the follow-up period, 1 (1%) myocardial infarction/death and 12 (13%) revascularizations occurred. Cardiac event rate (death, myocardial infarction or revascularization) was not different during hospitalization and 6 months follow-up period among subgroups of severity class. CONCLUSION: Clinical outcome should be reevaluated after early coronary intervention to predict cardiac event in patients with unstable angina.
Angina, Unstable* ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Infarction ; Myocardial Infarction ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sex Ratio

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS) provides passive support of gas exchange and perfusion, allowing the use of other methods of care for organ recovery, and saves lives of patients with severe cardiopulmonary failure in a wide variety of clinical settings with a minimal risk of bleeding and need for chest reexploration. We summarized a single center's experiences with PCPS in patients with cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest due to the ischemic heart disease. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Among the 20 consecutive patients with cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest from May 1999 to June 2005, Biopump(r) (Medtronic, Inc, Minneapolis, MN) was used in 7 patients and the self-priming, heparin-coated circuit of EBS(r) (Terumo, Japan) was applied to remaining 13 patients. Most of cannulations were performed percutaneously via femoral arteries and veins. The long venous cannulas of DLP(r) (Medtronic inc. Minneapolis, MN) or the RMI(r) (Edwards's lifescience LLC, Irvine, CA) were used with the arterial cannulae from 17 Fr to 21 Fr and the venous cannula from 21 Fr to 28 Fr. RESULT: The 20 consecutive patients who were severely compromised and received PCPS for the purpose of resuscitation were comprised of 13 cardiac arrests and 7 cardiogenic shocks in which by-pass surgery was performed in 11 patients and 9 ongoing PCIs under the cardiopulmonary support. The mean support time on the PCPS was 38+/-42 hours. Of the 20 patients implanted with PCPS, 11 patients (55%) have had the PCPS removed successfully; overall, 8 of these patients (40%) were discharged from the hospital in an average surviving time for 27+/-17 days after removing the PCPS and survived well with 31+/-30 months of follow-up after the procedure. CONCLUSION: The use of PCPS appears to provide the hemodynamic restoration, allowing the survival of patients in cardiac arrest or cardiogenic shock who would otherwise not survive, and patients receiving PCPS had a relatively long-term survival.
Catheterization ; Catheters ; Emergencies* ; Femoral Artery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Arrest* ; Hemodynamics ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Myocardial Ischemia* ; Perfusion ; Resuscitation ; Shock, Cardiogenic* ; Thorax ; Veins