OBJECTIVE: To report our experience with pyogenic spondylitis treated with anterior radical debridement and insertion of a titanium mesh cage and to demonstrate the effectiveness and safety of the use of a titanium mesh cage in the surgical management of pyogenic spondylitis. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics of 19 patients who underwent surgical treatment in our department between January 2004 and December 2008. The average follow-up period was 11.16 months (range, 6-64 months). We evaluated risk factors, cultured organisms, lab data, clinical outcomes, and radiographic results. Surgical techniques for patients with pyogenic spondylitis were anterior radical debridement and reconstruction with titanium mesh cage insertion and screw fixation. All patients received intravenous antibiotics for at least 6 weeks postoperatively, and some patients received oral antibiotics. RESULTS: The infections resolved in all of the patients as noted by normalization of their erythrocyte sedimentation rates and C-reactive protein levels. The mean pain score on a Visual Analog Scale was 7.8 (range, 4-10) before surgery and 2.4 (range, 1-5) after surgery. The Frankel grade was improved by one grade in seven patients. After surgery, the average difference of the angle was improved about 6.96degrees in all patients. At the last follow-up, the mean loss of correction was 4.86degrees. CONCLUSION: Anterior radical debridement followed by the placement of instrumentation with a titanium mesh cage may be a safe and effective treatment for selected patients with pyogenic spondylitis. This surgical therapy does not lead to recurrent pyogenic spondylitis.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; Debridement ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Pyridines ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Spondylitis ; Thiazoles ; Titanium

Mycosis fungoides(MF) is representative of cutaneous lymphoma and over many years progresses to plaques and tumors steadily. The extent and type of skin lesions at initial diagnosis and the presence of extracutaneous involvement are predictive indicators of survival in MF patients. Patients with limited plaque lesions are the least likely to have extracutaneous involvement and thus have the longest survival similar to the control population. We report a case of 45-year-old woman, who developed multiple subcutaneous nodules in normally appearing skin during photochemotherapy (PUVA). She had been treated with PUVA for the limited pre-mycotic skin lesions (T1 stage), which themselves showed good response to the treatment. She experienced the insidious course of early stage, but thereafter rapidly progressed to the tumor stage unusually during treatment.
Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; Middle Aged ; Mycosis Fungoides* ; Photochemotherapy ; Skin

PURPOSE: To evaluate the axial displacement of implant-abutment assembly after cyclic loading in internal tapered connection system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: External butt-joint connection implant and internal tapered connection implant were connected with three types of abutment for cement-retained prostheses, i.e. external type abutment (Ext group), internal tapered 1-piece abutment (Int-1 group), and internal tapered 2-piece abutment (Int-2 group). For each group, 7 implants and abutments were used. The implantabutments assemblies were clamped into the implant holder for vertical loads. A dynamic cyclic loading was applied for 150 +/- 10 N at a frequency of 4 Hz. The amount of axial displacement of the abutment into the implant was calculated at each cycle of 0, 5, 10, 50, 100, 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000. A repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) for the overall effect of cyclic loading and the pattern analysis by linear mixed model were used for statistical analysis. Differences at P<.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The mean axial displacement after 10,000 cycles were 0.714 +/- 0.488 microm in Ext group, 5.286 +/- 1.604 microm in Int-1 group, and 11.429 +/- 1.902 microm in Int-2 group. In the pattern analysis, Int-1 and Int-2 group showed continuous axial displacement at 10,000 cycles. There was no declining pattern of axial displacement in the Ext group. CONCLUSION: The pattern of linear mixed model in Ext group showed no axial displacement. There were continuous axial displacements in abutment-implant assemblies in the Int-1 and Int-2 group at 10,000 cycles. More axial displacement was found in Int-2 group than in Int-1 group.
Dental Implant-Abutment Design ; Pilot Projects* ; Prostheses and Implants*

OBJECTIVE: A dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) of the anterior cranial fossa is rare. We report a case of a DAVF of the anterior cranial fossa which was treated surgically, following endovascular treatment failure. METHODS & RESULTS: The subject was a 53-year-old male with a headache caused by a hematoma in the right frontal lobe. A vascular abnormality of the anterior cranial fossa was suspected on brain computed tomographic angiography. The subsequent transfemoral cerebral angiography revealed that the AVF of the anterior cranial fossa was mainly fed by the left anterior ethmoidal artery. Endovascular therapy using N-butyl cyanoacrylate was attempted. However, the procedure failed to occlude the fistula due to the existing feeding artery (the right anterior ethmoidal artery). Consequently, a surgical approach was undertaken and the lesion was successfully obliterated. CONCLUSION: We report a rare case of an intracerebral hematoma caused by a DAVF, which was successfully managed surgically following, endovascular treatment failure.
Angiography ; Arteries ; Arteriovenous Fistula ; Brain ; Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations ; Cerebral Angiography ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Cranial Fossa, Anterior ; Cyanoacrylates ; Fistula ; Frontal Lobe ; Headache ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Failure

BACKGROUND: Although physical activity is known to be beneficial to lung function, few studies have been conducted to investigate the correlation between physical activity and lung function in dusty areas. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation between physical activity and lung function in a Korean cohort including normal and COPD-diagnosed participants. METHODS: Data obtained from the COPD in dusty areas (CODA) cohort was analyzed for the following factors: lung function, symptoms, and information about physical activity. Information on physical activity was valuated using questionnaires, and participants were categorized into two groups: active and inactive. The evaluation of the mean lung function, modified Medical Research Council dyspnea grade scores, and COPD assessment test scores was done based on the participant physical activity using a general linear model after adjusting for age, sex, smoking status, pack-years, height, and weight. In addition, a stratification analysis was performed based on the smoking status and COPD. RESULTS: Physical activity had a correlation with high forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁) among CODA cohort (p=0.03). While the active group exhibited significantly higher FEV₁ compared to one exhibited by the inactive group among past smokers (p=0.02), no such correlation existed among current smokers. There was no significant difference observed in lung function after it was stratified by COPD. CONCLUSION This study established a positive correlation between regular physical activity in dusty areas and lung function in participants.

BACKGROUND: Although physical activity is known to be beneficial to lung function, few studies have been conducted to investigate the correlation between physical activity and lung function in dusty areas. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation between physical activity and lung function in a Korean cohort including normal and COPD-diagnosed participants. METHODS: Data obtained from the COPD in dusty areas (CODA) cohort was analyzed for the following factors: lung function, symptoms, and information about physical activity. Information on physical activity was valuated using questionnaires, and participants were categorized into two groups: active and inactive. The evaluation of the mean lung function, modified Medical Research Council dyspnea grade scores, and COPD assessment test scores was done based on the participant physical activity using a general linear model after adjusting for age, sex, smoking status, pack-years, height, and weight. In addition, a stratification analysis was performed based on the smoking status and COPD. RESULTS: Physical activity had a correlation with high forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁) among CODA cohort (p=0.03). While the active group exhibited significantly higher FEV₁ compared to one exhibited by the inactive group among past smokers (p=0.02), no such correlation existed among current smokers. There was no significant difference observed in lung function after it was stratified by COPD. CONCLUSION: This study established a positive correlation between regular physical activity in dusty areas and lung function in participants.
Cohort Studies ; Dyspnea ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Linear Models ; Lung ; Motor Activity ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Smoke ; Smoking

Schwannoma is a benign solitary neoplasm emerging from the Schwann cells of the peripheral, cranial and autonomic nerves. Approximately 25 to 45% of schwannomas occur in the head and neck region. However, schwannoma in the subfrontal area, nasal cavity or paranasal sinus is very rare and accounts for only 4% of these neoplasms. We experienced a case of schwannoma in the subfrontal area and left nasal cavity in a 74-year-old man who complained of recurrent rhinorrhea. We report this unusual case of schwannoma with a review of the literature.

Schwannoma is a benign solitary neoplasm emerging from the Schwann cells of the peripheral, cranial and autonomic nerves. Approximately 25 to 45% of schwannomas occur in the head and neck region. However, schwannoma in the subfrontal area, nasal cavity or paranasal sinus is very rare and accounts for only 4% of these neoplasms. We experienced a case of schwannoma in the subfrontal area and left nasal cavity in a 74-year-old man who complained of recurrent rhinorrhea. We report this unusual case of schwannoma with a review of the literature.

Biphenotypic sinonasal sarcoma (BSNS) is a newly recognized, very rare malignant tumor of nose and paranasal sinuses, which usually occurs in women. This tumor contains both neural and muscle tissue in the tumor tissue. It is an invasive disease occuring locally in the nasal cavity. However, if not found early, it can spread along the facial structure, for instance, the orbit, skull base, intracranium, and the oropharynx. This tumor is an uncommon disease that has not been reported in Korea to date. We report a case of a 35-year-old female recently diagnosed with BSNS with a review of the literature.

Background: This study was designed to evaluate characters of the rotator cuff tear (RCT) recognized after primary shoulder dislocation in patients older than 40. Methods: From 2008 to 2019, patients who visited two hospitals after dislocation were retrospectively reviewed. Inclusion criteria were patients over 40 who had dislocation, with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) undergone. Exclusion criteria were patients who lost to follow-up, combined with any proximal humerus fracture, brachial plexus injury, and previous operation or dislocation history in the ipsilateral shoulder. Also patients who had only bankart or bony bakart lesion in MRI were excluded. We evaluated RCTs that were recognized by MRI after the primary shoulder dislocation with regard to tear size, degree, involved tendons, fatty degeneration, the age when the first dislocation occurred, and the duration until the MRI was evaluated after the dislocation. Results: Fifty-five RCTs were included. According to age groups, the tear size was increased in coronal and sagittal direction, the number of involved tendons was increased, and the degree of fatty degeneration was advanced in infraspinatus muscle. Thirty-two cases (58.2%) conducted MRI after 3 weeks from the first shoulder dislocation event. Conclusions This group showed that the retraction size of the coronal plane was increased significantly and the fatty accumulation of the supraspinatus muscle had progressed significantly. Age is also a strong factor to affect the feature of RCT after the shoulder dislocation in patients over 40. And the delay of the MRI may deteriorate the degree of tear size and fatty degeneration.