Cluster headache is a unique primary headache disorder characterized by unilateral severe orbital pain with ipsilateral autonomic symptoms. Symptomatic cluster headache can be caused by variable diseases, such as cerebral aneurysm, arteriovenous malformation, cerebral venous thrombosis, carotid dissection, pituitary tumor, and meningioma. We report a 33-year-old woman with parasellar meningioma mimicking cluster headache. After Novalis stereotactic radiosurgery, pain attacks disappeared.
Adult ; Cluster Headache* ; Female ; Headache Disorders, Primary ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations ; Meningioma* ; Orbit ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Radiosurgery* ; Venous Thrombosis

OBJECTIVE: Morphometric data on dorsal cervical anatomy were examined in an effort to protect the nerve root near the lateral mass during posterior foraminotomy. METHODS: Using 25 adult formalin-fixed cadaveric cervical spines, measurements were taken at the lateral mass from C3 to C7 via a total laminectomy and a medial one-half facetectomy. The morphometric relationship between the nerve roots and structures of the lateral mass was investigated. Results from both genders were compared. RESULTS: Following the total laminectomy, from C3 to C7, the mean of the vertical distance from the medial point of the facet (MPF) of the lateral mass to the axilla of the root origin was 3.2-4.7 mm. The whole length of the exposed root had a mean of 4.2-5.8 mm. Following a medial one-half facetectomy, from C3 to C7, the mean of the vertical distance to the axilla of the root origin was 2.1-3.4 mm, based on the MPF. Mean vertical distances from the MPF to the medial point of the root that crossed the inferior margin of the intervertebral disc were 1.2-2.7 mm. The mean distance of the exposed root was 8.2-9.0 mm, and the mean angle between the dura and the nerve root was significantly different between males and females, at 53.4-68.4degrees. CONCLUSION: These data will aid in reducing root injuries during posterior cervical foraminotomy.
Adult ; Axilla ; Cadaver ; Female ; Foraminotomy ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Laminectomy ; Male ; Spinal Nerve Roots ; Spine

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to determine the anatomical landmarks and optimal dissection points of the facial nerve (FN) and the hypoglossal nerve (HGN) in the submandibular region to provide guidance for hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis (HFNA). METHODS: Twenty-nine specimens were obtained from 15 formalin-fixed adult cadavers. Distances were measured based on the mastoid process tip (MPT), common carotid artery bifurcation (CCAB), and the digastric muscle posterior belly (DMPB). RESULTS: The shortest distance from the MPT to the stylomastoid foramen was 14.1+/-2.9 mm. The distance from the MPT to the FN origin was 8.6+/-2.8 mm anteriorly and 5.9+/-2.8 mm superiorly. The distance from the CCAB to the crossing point of the HGN and the internal carotid artery was 18.5+/-6.7 mm, and that to the crossing point of the HGN and the external carotid artery was 15.1+/-5.7 mm. The distance from the CCAB to the HGN bifurcation was 26.6+/-7.5 mm. The distance from the digastric groove to the HGN, which was found under the DMPB, was about 35.8+/-5.7 mm. The distance from the digastric groove to the HGN, which was found under the DMPB, corresponded to about 65.5% of the whole length of the DMPB. CONCLUSION: This study provides useful information regarding the morphometric anatomy of the submandibular region, and the presented morphological data on the nerves and surrounding structures will aid in understanding the anatomical structures more accurately to prevent complications of HFNA.
Adult ; Cadaver ; Carotid Artery, Common ; Carotid Artery, External ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Facial Nerve ; Humans ; Hypoglossal Nerve ; Mastoid ; Muscles

Stem cells are the foundational cells for every organ and tissue in our body. Cell-based therapeutics using stem cells in regenerative medicine have received attracting attention as a possible treatment for various diseases caused by congenital defects. Stem cells such as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) as well as embryonic stem cells (ESCs), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and neuroprogenitors stem cells (NSCs) have recently been studied in various ways as a cell-based therapeutic agent. When various stem cells are transplanted into a living body, they can differentiate and perform complex functions. For stem cell transplantation, it is essential to determine the suitability of the stem cell-based treatment by evaluating the origin of stem, the route of administration, In vivo bio-distribution, transplanted cell survival, function, and mobility. Currently, these various stem cells are being imaged In vivo through various molecular imaging methods. Various imaging modalities such as optical imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound (US), positron emission tomography (PET), and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) have been introduced for the application of various stem cell imaging. In this review, we discuss the principles and recent advances of In vivo molecular imaging for application of stem cell research.

Postoperative venous thromboembolism is one of the most serious complications following total joint arthroplasty. Pharmacological and mechanical prophylaxis methods are used to reduce the risk of postoperative symptomatic deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Use of pharmacological prophylaxis requires a fine balance between the efficacy of the drug in preventing deep vein thrombosis and the adverse effects associated with the use of these drugs. In regions with a low prevalence of deep vein thrombosis such as Korea, there might be a question whether the benefits of using pharmacological prophylaxis outweigh the risks involved. The current article reviews the need for thromboprophylaxis, guidelines, problems with the guidelines, pharmacological prophylaxis use, and the current scenario of deep vein thrombosis, and discusses whether the use of pharmacological prophylaxis should be mandatory in low incidence populations.
Arthroplasty ; Incidence ; Joints ; Korea ; Prevalence ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Venous Thromboembolism ; Venous Thrombosis

Objective: Predicting the incidence of emergency patients can be very important for the efficient use of emergency medical resources and the deployment of 119 centers in a pre-hospital setting. The study was conducted to analyze the occurrence of emergency patients using geographic information systems in a pre-hospital setting in Korea. Methods: The basic data used in this study were collected from the 119 centers in Chuncheon-si, Korea, under the firefighting headquarters in Gangwon-do from January 2012 to December 2016. Results: The total number of patients transferred by 119 paramedics was 72,362. Of these, 9,904 (14.7%) were emergency patients; 519 (0.7%) had cardiovascular diseases; 383 (0.5%) had cerebrovascular diseases; 3,043 (4.2%) were trauma patients; 58,413 (80.7%) were non-emergency patients. The occurrence of emergency diseases was slightly lower in the Hyoja-dong area, and it was slightly higher in the area of the outskirts of the city. The incidence of heart disease was low in the Hyoja-dong and Nam-myeon areas, but the incidence of heart disease was highly observed in other areas. The number of trauma patients was 1,265 (41.6%) in the outskirts of the city, a suburban area, showing a relatively higher incidence than other emerging diseases. Conclusion The deployment of ambulances in Chuncheon-si should be carried out considering demographic characteristics and patient occurrence.

Objective: Easy-to-understand information on emergency patient transportation and emergency medical resources is required to operate emergency medical resources appropriately. This study evaluated emergency patient transport routes using a geographic information system (GIS) and converted them into visual information to understand the current status of emergency medical resource use in the region. Methods: The basic data used in this study were collected from the 119 safety centers in Gangwon-do, South Korea, under the fire-fighting headquarters in Gangwon-do from January 2017 to December 2020. The data were analyzed using the geographic information system and converted to visual information. Results: The number of patients with cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, and traffic accidents was 12,944. Of these, 9,393 patients (72.6%) were transported from Chuncheon city, and 3,551 patients (27.4%) were transported out of Chuncheon city. The number of patients with cardiovascular diseases during the study period was 1,219 (9.4%); 782 patients (64.2%) were transported to the K-EMC (emergency medical center), and 437 patients (35.8%) were transported to the H-EMC. For cerebrovascular disease, 913 patients (7.1%) were transported to the EMC of Chuncheon city, with 585 (64.1%) K-EMC and 328 (35.9%) H-EMC patients. The number of traffic accident patients was 1,266 (9.8%). Five hundred and forty (42.7%) and 726 (57.3%) patients were transported to the K-EMC and H-EMC, respectively. Conclusion The adequacy of facilities, equipment, and human resources required to treat cardiac and cerebrovascular diseases in K-EMC and severe trauma in H-EMC needs to be reviewed.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy with intravenous adenosine has proved efficacy for the diagonosis and risk stratification of coronary artery disease. To determine the safety of adenosine infusion in conjunction with radionuclide imaging, we evaluated prospectively 1,093 patients who underwent myocardial perfusion study. METHODS: Informations on safety and adverse events during and immediately after adenosine infusion were collected and statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: The adverse events were reported in 730 patients (66.8%), but no death or myocardial infarction. There asverse events were well tolerated and no prolonged effect was noted. Chest pain occured in 223 patients(20.4%) and facial flushing and dyspnea were reported by 246 patients(22.5%) and 253 patients(23.1%), respectively. ECG changes, such as mild arrhythmia, ST depression and AV block were checked in 230 patients(21.0%). The infusion was prematurely terminated in 32 patients(2.9%), due to serve chest pain, serve brochospasm, or third degree AV block. Higher frequency of chest pain was reported in women compare to men(p<0.05), and ST segment depression was more frequent in patients with abnormal myocardial perfusion scitigraphic findings(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that intravenous infusion of adenosine is relatively safe, and myocardial perfusion scintigraphy with intravenous ademosine is feasible technique in the evaluation of the coronary artery disease patients unable to exercise.
Adenosine* ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Atrioventricular Block ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Depression ; Dyspnea ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Flushing ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Perfusion Imaging* ; Perfusion ; Perfusion Imaging ; Prospective Studies ; Radionuclide Imaging

BACKGROUND: Since 2001, the Ministry of Health and Welfare in Korea has designated muscular dystrophy (MD) to be a rare and intractable disease, and has ensured that patients with this condition obtain support from the National Health Insurance Corporation for their medical expenditure. However, the health-related and socioeconomic status of Korean patients with MD has yet to be established. METHODS: We selected 441 patients with MD who received medical services at 17 neuromuscular centers during 2005. The medical records of selected patients were analyzed, and the subtype of MD was classified by its clinical course and diagnostic tests. A total of 95 patients or their family members participated in this health-related and socioeconomic status survey. RESULTS: Medical record analysis showed similar clinical and diagnostic characteristic data to those published previously in other countries: male predominance, being young at onset, and muscular weakness of the extremities as a predominant symptom in most patients. The diagnostic tests for MD were based on laboratory and electrophysiological studies. The most frequent form of MD among our cohort was Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy (42%). Our survey revealed the effect of the patients' profound disability on their activities of daily living. One-half of the patients were dissatisfied with the medical expenditure support service that was made available to them, and most patients suffered from a financial burden. The most important medical services to be developed in the future are expansion of the public health service or development of a rehabilitation hospital. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first multicenter-based epidemiologic study on the health-related and socioeconomic status of patients with MD in Korea. The findings indicate that medical coverage and public health service are currently inadequate and hence should be expanded in the future.
Activities of Daily Living ; Cohort Studies ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Extremities ; Health Expenditures ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Medical Records ; Morphinans ; Muscle Weakness ; Muscular Dystrophies ; National Health Programs ; Social Class ; United States Public Health Service