The fashion of vascular anastomosis, end-to-end or end-to-side (E-to-S), are depended upon surgeon's preference or surgical situations. In E-to-S anastomosis two different methods of arteriotomy are applicable but it has been suggested the type, either elliptical or slit arteriotomy, play a different role in the flow hemodynamics. We thought that the difference is more considerable in microvascular surgery. This study examines the effects of elliptical versus slit arteriotomy on morphologic vessel patency. Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups of ten rats each. Both carotid arteries were selected as a experimental model. During the procedures the rat brain was tolerable to ischemia and all animals were survived after operations. The morphologic analysis of anastomosis site was through resin-casting method with scanning electromicroscopic examination. The results showed notable difference between two groups in three-dimensional morphology at two-month of operation. This difference may affect the flow hemodynamics and long-term vessel patency. In microvascular anastomosis, the mortpologic difference of the elliptical arteriotomy is worse than slit arteriotomy which compromises the vessel circumference.
Animals ; Brain ; Carotid Arteries ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Male ; Models, Theoretical ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Bacterial meningitis results in significant neurologic dificits despite in spite of much effort in the treatment of the disease. This study was performed to determine the incidence of caustive organisms and to correlate between the organisms and computed tomographic (CT) findings with clinical outcome of bacterial meningitis in newborns and infants. We analyzed the brain CT and clinical records of 15 infants who had been diagnosed as bactrial meningitis by CSF culture. We found that the most common organisms were Group B streptococcus in neonates withou no neurologic complications in all but one and Hemophilus influenza in infants whose clinical outomes were poor in all except one. CT findings related with poor prognosis in this study were cerebral edema, basal cistermal obliteration & enhancement, and cerebral infarction on initial CT and ventriculomegaly on follow-up CT. We concluded that CT diagnosed intracranial complications of bacterial meningitis well and could contributed to better treatment of bacterial meningitis.
Brain ; Brain Edema ; Cerebral Infarction ; Follow-Up Studies ; Haemophilus ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn* ; Influenza, Human ; Meningitis ; Meningitis, Bacterial* ; Prognosis ; Streptococcus

Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor(DNET) is a recently described rare tumor that occurs most frequently in the temporal lobe of the brain and is characterized by long-standing, intractable complex partial seizures in children. The authors experienced one case of DNET occurring in a 13-year old boy, who had refractory complex partial seizure for 7 years. CT scan revealed nonenhancing low density mass in the left temporal lobe. MR images demonstrated a well-marginated cortical mass with very low signal intensity on TIWI and multinodular appearance of high signal intensity on T2WI. A few small enhancing foci within the mass were noted on contrast enhanced MR images. DNET, a rare tumor, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of neoplasm which causes seizure and is distinguished from other tumors because of its benign course. Differentiation between DN ETand other tumors by CT and MR findings is very difficult. But, our case showed the multinodular pattern on T2W image, which may be helpful feature in the differential diagnosis.
Adolescent ; Brain ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial* ; Seizures ; Temporal Lobe ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Autonomic Agents* ; Autonomic Nervous System*

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of hepatitis C in blood donors have been reported to be 1.5% to 2.0% and 85 90% of post transfusion hepatitis patients show anti HCV positive results. Most agree that hepatitis C is readily spread by way of contact with blood, but a discernible history of parenteral exposure is identified in only 40% to 50% of cases. Thus other possible nonparenteral routes of transmission such as vertical, sexual and intrafamilial contact transmission need to be explored. In this study, we investigated the clinical characteristics of anti HCV seropositives and the infection patterns of hepatitis C in their families not only by anti HCV but also by HCV PCR to explore the possibility of HCV infection through nonparenteral household contact. METHODS: Past history, physical examination, liver function tests, HCV PCR, hepatitis B viral markers, abdominal ultrasonography and liver biopsy were done in 161 anti HCV seropositives from May, 1991 to August, 1996. Of the 161 seropositives, 42 seropositives' family members, 98 subjects, were available for investigation by anti HCV, HCV PCR and liver function tests to document intrafamilial HCV infection;their respective relationships to the index seropositive were noted. RESULTS: The 161 anti HCV seropositives were classified as follows:34 in the carrier group(21.1%), 41 in the acute hepatitis group (25.5%), 32 in the chronic hepatitis group(19.9%), 24 in the liver cirrhosis group(14.9%) and 30 in the hepatoma group(18.6%). The positive rates of HCV PCR were 55.2% in total, 46.1% in the carrier group, 55.0% in the acute hepatitis group, 76.4% in the chronic hepatitis group, 40.0% in the liver cirrhosis group, and 42.8% in the hepatoma group. The 98 family members were all anti HCV seronegative. The positive rates of HCV PCR in these family members were 10.2% in total, 7.1% in spouses, 28.6% in siblings, and 8.3% in children. CONCLUSION: Anti HCV seropositives were in various clinical states of liver disease due to HCV infecton. Although none of the family members showed anti HCV positive results, HCV PCR was positive in 10.2% of the family members indicating the need to perform HCV PCR to detect HCV infection.
Biomarkers ; Biopsy ; Blood Donors ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Child ; Family Characteristics ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Diseases ; Liver Function Tests ; Physical Examination ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Prevalence ; Siblings ; Spouses ; Ultrasonography

The authors have recently experienced 2 cases of ocular texoplasmosis which had poor vision. These cases were presumptive diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis by typical ocular lesion and hemmagglutinin test for toxoplasmosis. In addition to clinical observations, a brief review of literature has been described.
Diagnosis ; Toxoplasmosis ; Toxoplasmosis, Ocular*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this research was to provide baseline data by utilizing solutions to health problems caused by work-related stress and to examine a way of treatment by comparing and analyzing how the stresses link to fatigue and quality of researchers' life. METHODS: A survey was conducted with 50 researchers working for in H research institute in Daejeon Metropolitan City from April 10th to May 10th, 2012 to examine the correlation of work stress, fatigue and quality of life. The data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test to look into examine the difference in work stress, fatigue, and quality of life. Also, the correlation of work stress, fatigue and quality of life was measured through by the Pearson correlation coefficient. The data collected through the questionnaires was were analyzed by SPSS 21.0 based on the significant level with a p-value, 0.05. RESULTS: The results showed that fatigue was caused by work stresses in researchers and quality of life was ranked in a relatively low level. Correlation of work stresses, quality of life and fatigue and work stresses against mental health index was negative and fatigue against physical index was also negative. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to maintain more detailed provisions in order to improve mental health and stress level of researchers. Moreover, systematic, in-depth evaluation should be done to reduce researcher's work-related stress and fatigue. In addition, stress management and prevention program should be implemented for these researchers.
Academies and Institutes ; Fatigue* ; Humans ; Mental Health ; Quality of Life* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Research Personnel

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of psychosocial distress, intention to quit and nursing performance. METHODS: The data were collected through structured questionnaires from 210 registered nurses in a general hospital. They were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, scheffe test, Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple regression with the SPSS WIN program. RESULTS: The results of the analysis showed that the mean of the psychosocial distress was 25.38+/-7.26, intention to quit was 3.51+/-0.78, and nursing performance was 3.67+/-0.46. In the correlation analysis, the nursing performance had negative correlation with psychosocial distress(r=-.371, p=.000) and intention to quit(r=-.211, p=.002). There were statistically significant differences in nursing performance depending on age, marital status, position and work experience. The psychosocial distress and age explained 15.1% of nursing performance. CONCLUSION: This study showed psychosocial distress and intention to quit affects the nursing performance. Therefore, nursing executives and unit managers need to concern on the significance of the stress management programs so that these can be organizational support.
Hospitals, General ; Intention ; Marital Status ; Patients' Rooms ; Questionnaires

PURPOSE: We performed this study to describe the findings of MR Myelography(MRM) of herniated disc disease, spinal stenosis and spinal tumor and to evaluate the usefulness of the MRM in comparison to MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MRI and MRM were performed in 31 patients with herniated disc disease(12 patients), spinal stenosis(11 patients) and spinal tumor(8 patients). MRI and MRM were done with 1.5-T Signa MR, using fat suppressed heavily T2-weighted fast spin echo technique. We retrospectively analyzed MRM images about the thecal sac indentation, compression or displacement of the nerve root, extent and degree of narrowing of spinal canal, relationship between spinal tumor and spinal cord. MRM findings were compared with MRI in all cases. RESULTS: In 18 herniated disc cases of 12 patients, focal filling defect with cutoff or displacement of the nerve root in eight cases of paracentral herniated disc was seen. Cutoff and displacement of the nerve root were more clearly delineated on MRM than rvlRI. In the patients of spinal stenosis(11 cases), hourglass deformity of the thecal sac or complete spinal block of the subarachnoid space was clearly demonstrated. The extent and severity of spinal stenosis were more accurately evaluated on MRM than MRI. MRM finding of intramedullary tumor(3 cases) was enlargement of spinal cord. Five cases of intradural extramedullary tumor showed intradural filling defect, which caused contralateral displacement of the spinal cord with meniscus sign on inferior margin of the mass. CONCLUSION: MRM shows characteristic findings of herniated disc disease, spinal stenosis and spinal tumor. MRM yields excellent definition of the thecal sac, nerve roots and nerve root sleeves in relation to herniated disc and may be more accurate in evaluation of the degree and extent of spinal stenosis than MRI.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Myelography* ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Diseases ; Spinal Stenosis ; Subarachnoid Space

No Abstract Available.
Astrocytes* ; Humans*