No abstract available.
HLA-DR Antigens*

Five medical students in the fourth-year took anatomy as their elective courses for 1 month. They dissected one cadaver, and investigated Digital Report, under the course subjects as follows; (1) the shape of thyroid gland and the location of its isthmus, (2) the branches of left and right coronary arteries, (3) the number of blood vessels and bronchi on the hilum of lung, (4) topographical relationship of the renal vessels and ureter, and the shape of the renal pelvis, (5) the location and attachment of the appendix, (6) the penetration of median nerve through the pronator teres, (7) the sensory nerves and the extensor tendons on the dorsum of hand, (8) the branches of deep femoral artery. The pancreatic and live samples were processed and stained with H&E, for LM observation, since the individual had suffered from pancreatic cancer and got a Pylorus preserving pancreatico-duodenectomy (PPPD). At the last step of the elective course, students wrote small articles following the conventional method for writing manuscript. From the viewpoint of professor, the anatomy course for the fourth-year students were definitely different from that for first-year students, and had many positive effects in terms of anatomy education.
Appendix ; Blood Vessels ; Bronchi ; Cadaver ; Coronary Vessels ; Education ; Femoral Artery ; Hand ; Humans ; Kidney Pelvis ; Lung ; Median Nerve ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Pylorus ; Students, Medical* ; Tendons ; Thyroid Gland ; Ureter ; Writing

No abstract available.
Hypothyroidism* ; Myasthenia Gravis*

OBJECTIVE: The occurrence of acute cerebral infection following deep brain stimulation (DBS) is currently being reported with elevation of C-reactive protein (CRP) level. The aim of the present study was to establish normal range of the magnitude and time-course of CRP increases following routine DBS procedures in the absence of clinical and laboratory signs of infection. METHODS: A retrospective evaluation of serial changes of plasma CRP levels in 46 patients undergoing bilateral, two-staged DBS was performed. Because DBS was performed as a two-staged procedure involving; implantation of lead and internal pulse generator (IPG), CRP was measured preoperatively and postoperatively every 2 days until normalization of CRP (post-lead implantation day 2 and 4, post-IPG implantation day 2, 4, and 6). RESULTS: Compared with preoperative CRP levels (0.12+/-0.17 mg/dL, n=46), mean CRP levels were significantly elevated after lead insertion day 2 and 4 (1.68+/-1.83 mg/dL, n=46 and 0.76+/-0.38 mg/dL, n=16, respectively, p<0.001). The mean CRP levels at post-lead implantation day 2 were further elevated at post-IPG implantation day 2 (3.41+/-2.56 mg/dL, n=46, respectively, p<0.01). This elevation in post-IPG day 2 rapidly declined in day 4 (1.24+/-1.29 mg/dL, n=46, p<0.05) and normalized to preoperative value at day 6 (0.42+/-0.33 mg/dL, n=46, p>0.05). Mean CRP levels after IPG implantation were significantly higher in patients whose IPGs were implanted at post-lead day 3 than those at post-lead day 5-6 (3.99+/-2.80 mg/dL, n=30, and 2.31+/-1.56 mg/dL, n=16, respectively, p<0.05). However, there was no difference in post-IPG day 2 and 4 between them (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The mean postoperative CRP levels were highest on post-IPG insertion day 2 and decreased rapidly, returning to the normal range on post-IPG implantation day 6. The duration of post-lead implantation period influenced the magnitude of CRP elevation at post-IPG insertion day 2. Information about the normal response of CRP following DBS could help to avoid unnecessary diagnostic and therapeutic efforts.
C-Reactive Protein* ; Deep Brain Stimulation* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Plasma ; Reference Values ; Retrospective Studies

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. PURPOSE: To evaluate the radiological and clinical results of three different methods in the deformity correction of a degenerative flat back. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: There are no comparative studies about different procedures in the treatment of degenerative flat back. METHODS: Sixty-four patients who consecutively underwent corrective surgery for degenerative flat back were reviewed. The operations were performed by three different methods: posterior-only (group P, n=20), one-stage anterior-posterior (group AP, n=12), and two-stage anterior-posterior with iliac screw fixation (group AP-I, n=32). Medical and surgical complications were examined and radiological and clinical results were compared. RESULTS: The majority of medical and surgical complications were found in group AP (5/12) and group P (7/20). The sagittal vertical axes were within normal range immediately postoperatively in all groups, but only group AP-I showed normal sagittal alignment at the final follow-up. Postoperative lumbar lordosis was also significantly higher in group AP-I than in group P or group AP and the finding did not change through the last follow-up. The Oswestry disability index was significantly lower in groups AP and AP-I than in group P at the final follow-up. Meanwhile, the operating time was the longest in group AP-I, and total amount of blood loss was larger in group AP-I and group AP than in group P. CONCLUSIONS: Anterior-posterior correction showed better clinical results than posterior-only correction. Two-staged anterior-posterior correction with iliac screw fixation showed better radiological results than posterior-only or one-staged anterior-posterior correction. Two-staged anterior-posterior correction with iliac screw fixation also showed a lower complication rate than one-staged anterior-posterior correction.
Animals ; Congenital Abnormalities* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; Lordosis ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Reference Values ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. PURPOSE: To investigate influence of bone mineral density (BMD) on the surgical correction of lumbar degenerative kyphosis (LDK). OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: No studies so far have reported the influence of BMD on the surgical correction of LDK. METHODS: Forty LDK patients with more than 2 years follow-up were studied. Pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt, sacral slope, sagittal vertical axis (SVA), lumbar lordosis (LL), and thoracic kyphosis were measured preoperatively, immediate postoperatively and at final follow-up. Adverse outcomes: proximal adjacent fractures, sagittal decompensation, pseudoarthrosis, and cage subsidence were documented. RESULTS: There were 37 females and 3 males. Average age was 65.1+/-4.5 years and mean follow-up was 34.2+/-16.7 months. 42.5% were Takemitsu type 3 curves, 27.5% type 2, 20.0% type 4 and 10.0% type 1. 37.5% had osteopenia, 40.0% osteoporosis and 22.5% had severe osteoporosis. SVA improved from 237.0+/-96.7 mm preoperatively to 45.3+/-41.8 mm postoperatively (p=0.000). LL improved from 10.5degrees+/-14.7degrees to -40.6degrees+/-10.9degrees postoperatively (p=0.000). At final follow-up SVA deteriorated to 89.8+/-72.2 mm and LL to 34.7degrees+/-15.8degrees (p=0.000). The association between late sagittal decompensation, pseudoarthrosis, or proximal adjacent fractures and osteoporosis was insignificant. The difference between immediate postoperative LL and PI (PIDiff) had a significant association with sagittal decompensation and pseudoarthrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Osteoporosis did not influence the degree of correction, late sagittal decompensation, proximal adjacent fractures, and pseudoarthrosis in LDK. PIDiff had a significant association with sagittal decompensation and pseudoarthrosis.
Animals ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Bone Density* ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kyphosis* ; Lordosis ; Male ; Osteoporosis ; Pseudarthrosis ; Retrospective Studies

We performed L1 posterior vertebral columnar resection and posterior correction for Andersson's lesion and thoracolumbar kyphosis in an ankylosing spondylitis patient during motor evoked potential (MEP) monitoring. We checked MEP intra-operatively, whenever a dangerous procedure for neural elements was performed, and no abnormal findings were seen during surgery. After the operation, we examined neurologic function in the recovery room; the patient showed a progressive neurologic deficit and no response to MEP. After emergency neural exploration and decompression surgery, the neurologic deficit was recovered. We questioned whether to acknowledge the results of this case as a false negative. We think the possible reason for this result may be delayed development of paralysis. So, we recommend that MEP monitoring should be performed not only after important operative steps but also after all steps, including skin suturing, for final confirmation.
Decompression ; Emergencies ; Evoked Potentials, Motor ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Paralysis ; Skin ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing

PURPOSE: The objective of this study is to ascertain whether the positive relationship exists among the frenum length, the tongue movement and the speech and to present the normal range of tongue movement and guidelines for the choice of surgery, observation if necessary. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 180 patients were evaluated. We divided 180 patients into 6 groups by age. Each group was separated as follows; the age of 2.5-4, 5-6, 7-9, 10-12, 13-15, 16-18. We measured the frenal length, the range of tongue motion and evaluated the speech so that we really questioned about the positive relationship between the tongue-tie and speech. We let the patient exercise the protrusive, both(right, left) laterotrusive, superior movement of the tongue. During these movements, we measured the distance between the vermilion border and the tongue tip. We also measured the distance from the tongue tip to the point contacting the upper lip with dorsum of the tongue during the maximal protrusive movement of the tongue. Three linear measurements of the anterior, inferior segment of the tongue, including the lingual frenum, are made. These measurements are as follows: 1. Distance A. Free anterior portion of the tongue from the point of frenular insertion to the tongue tip. 2. Distance B. The distance from the initiating point of the lingual frenum to the point connecting the two sublingual caruncles to the lingual frenum perpendicularly. 3. Distance C. The distance from the point contacting the line crossing the sublingual caruncles with the lingual frenum to the terminating point of the lingual frenum. We transform three linear measures into a statistical ratio, A/(A+B+C), representing the length of the free portion of the tongue compared with the total sublingual dimensions. In addition, we assessed the speech through Picture Consonant Articulation Test (PCAT) and tried to find out the relationship between the length of the lingual frenum and speech. CONCLUSION: As people are born, they have small and restricted tongue. As people grow old, tongue motions are more liberate, and unrestricted and they can speak so freely. Therefore we suggest that until age 5, oral and maxillofacial surgeons postpone the surgery if not urgent, evaluate the maximal lingual motions and PCAT according to this article and observe their changes.
Humans ; Linear Energy Transfer ; Lingual Frenum* ; Lip ; Reference Values ; Tongue*

The histology of herpes virus infection of the skin is characterized as an intraepidermal vesicle formed as the result of acantholysis and ballooning degeneration of kerationocytes. Dermal changes is limited to polymorphous inflammatory cells infiltrate, leukocytoclastic vasculitis, and herpetic folliculitis. Involvement of eccrine epithelium is very rare finding. We report two cases of herpes zoster with prominent viral infection of the eccrine sweat glands.
Acantholysis ; Eccrine Glands ; Epithelium ; Folliculitis ; Herpes Zoster ; Skin ; Sweat Glands ; Vasculitis

Solar urticaria can be defined as an idiopathic photodermatosis characterized by the occurrence of itchy erythematous or urticarial lesions that are provoked only by sunlight and disappear nearly within 24 hours after avoidance of sun exposure. A 25-year-old male patient was presented with a 7-year history of recurrent wheals and itching, which developed after sunlight exposure. Cutaneous lesions and itching completely subside within 2 hours after avoidance of sunlight. Phototesting for UVB, UVA and visible light were all negative. But provocative test with natural sunlight showed positive result. Histopathologically, edema of papillary dermis and mild perivascular inflammatory infiltrations were seen.
Adult ; Dermis ; Edema ; Humans ; Light ; Male ; Pruritus ; Solar System ; Sunlight ; Urticaria*