No abstract available.
Animals ; Cryopreservation* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Mice* ; Ovum*

OBJECTIVE: To determine the sensitivity of electrodiagnostic parameters in the patients with asymptomatic diabetic neuropahty. METHOD: The subjects were 26 patients with asymptomatic diabetic neuropathy and 40 healthy adults as control group. All subjects underwent electrodiagnostic evaluation of the following motor nerves: median, ulnar, tibial, and peroneal. Sensory nerves included: median, ulnar, radial, superficial peroneal, sural, lateral dorsal cutaneous branch of the sural nerve (LDSN) and medial plantar. And other studies were the sural/radial amplitude ratio, LDSN/sural amplitude ratio, peroneal and tibial F-responses, and H-reflex recorded from the soleus muscle. The frequency of abnormal parameters in the patients with asymptomatic diabetic neuropathy was obtained by comparison with the normative limits obtained from the control group. RESULTS: The most frequent abnormal electrodiagnostic parameters were the LDSN onset latency and the amplitude ratio of LDSN/sural (84.6%, respectively) followed by the LDSN peak latency, LDSN amplitude, and medial plantar onset and peak latency (80.8%, respectively). CONCLUSION: We concluded that the LDSN and medial plantar nerve conduction studies are useful for early detection of neuropathy in diabetes mellitus.
Adult ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetic Neuropathies* ; H-Reflex ; Humans ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Sural Nerve ; Tibial Nerve

Cutaneous angiosarcorriias occur most commonly on the face and scalp of elderly individuals and are characterized by poor prognosis. We present a case of angiosarcoma in a 17-year-old boy not associated with any predisposing factors. The patient had three, ill-defined, 3 to 5 cm sized, erythematous, indurated subcutaneous nodules on the right upper extremity with a duration of 3 months. On histological examination, there were extravasated erythrocytes and irregular vascular channels lined by atypical endothelial cells in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. The tumor cells appeared to dissect the collagen bundles. The patient was treated by wide surgical excision and post operative radiation therapy. However, 16 months after the operation, local recurrence was found to involve the close areas to the excision site on the right upper extremity and right axillary lymph nodes.
Adolescent* ; Aged ; Causality ; Collagen ; Dermis ; Endothelial Cells ; Erythrocytes ; Hemangiosarcoma* ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Scalp ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Upper Extremity*

Purpose: To evaluate changes in central macular thickness (CMT) and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) after phacovitrectomy over a 2-year period in idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM) patients. Methods: The records of 52 idiopathic ERM patients (52 eyes) who underwent phacovitrectomy, without recurrence of the condition over a 2-year follow-up period, were reviewed retrospectively. Changes in CMT and SFCT, as measured by optical coherence tomography, were analyzed and compared with those of a normal control group over a 2-year period. Results: The mean preoperative CMT and SFCT were 425.67 ± 84.67 and 257.56 ± 90.13 μm, respectively. Postoperative CMT was reduced significantly to 372.17 ± 45.26 μm at 1 year and 363.15 ± 47.35 μm at 2 years (p < 0.001). SFCT at 1 and 2 years postoperatively was significantly reduced to 238.85 ± 84.85 and 230.31 ± 87.95 μm, respectively (p < 0.001). In the control group, there was no significant change in CMT; however, the SFCT decreased by 11.09 ± 22.36 μm during the 2-year follow-up (p = 0.007). In contrast, in the patient group, CMT and SFCT decreased by 62.52 ± 71.45 and 27.25 ± 41.97 μm, respectively, showing a significant difference from the control group (p < 0.001 and p = 0.043, respectively). Both before surgery and at 1 year postoperatively, the thinner the CMT, the better the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (p = 0.010 and p = 0.018, respectively). A better postoperative BCVA at 2 years was associated with a thinner CMT and better BCVA before surgery (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusions Following a phacovitrectomy procedure, ERM patients showed significant reductions in both the CMT and SFCT at the 2-year follow-up.

The purpose of this study was to analyse the magnetic resonance (MR) appearance of the patellar tendon autograft for anterior cruciate ligament injury. Among 35 patients of ACL reconstructions with central 1/3 of the patellar tendon autograft and interference screw fixation, 13 patients underwent MRI examination. All examination were performed on 1.5 T magnet(Signa;GE medical system). T1WI, PDI, T2WI Sagittal and coronal images were obtained together with T2WI MPGR and oblique sagittal images. A four-level grading system based on the MR appearance of the ACL graft was developed. A grade I was indiscernible in graft course, Grade II; incomplete in its course, grade III; complete but thin and grade IV; complete and thick. 2 out of 13 patients showed grade I, 3; grade II, 4; grade III and 4 grade IV. Five patients of grade I and II had a finding of roof impingement. However, only one out of 8 grade III and IV revealed such finding. In summary reconstructed ACL had various appearance in MRI, which was considered to be closely related with roof impingement.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; Autografts ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Patellar Ligament ; Transplants

Histiocytosis X patients present with a variety of clinical manifestations and outcomes. The principal difficulty in the establishment of a definite protocol for treatment is based on the poor understanding of the basic nature of this disease, the absence of reliable prognostic criteria, and the problems with nomenclature. The objectives of this study were to analysis the course of the disease and the results of treatment in patients who had Langerhans cell histiocytosis and to suggest prognostic factors and guidelines for management. We reviewed the thirty patient who had Langerhans cell histiocytosis for past ten years. These patients were followed for an average 4.8 years (range, excluding patients who died of the disease, two to eleven years). The patients were divided into tow group; eighteen patients who Langerhans cell histiocytosis localized in skeleton (group I) and twelve patients who had Langerhans cell histiocytosis disseminate in both skeleton and extra-skeleton (group II). Methods of treatment included curettage with or without bone graft, radiotherapy, or watchful observation alone in group I; chemotherapy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, or curettage in group II. All eighteen patients in group I had a complete response to the therapy. Seventeen of these eighteen patients had not a recurrence by the time of the latest follow-up examination; one had a recurrence. Four of twelve patients in group II had a complete response to the therapy, four had a partial response, and four had no response. Eight of these twelve patients had a recurrence; four did not. Two patients in group II died of the disease. The significant prognostic factor was the extent of the disease, limited to the skeleton or not, and the age of onset was an indirect prognostic factor predictin multiple organ involvement.
Age of Onset ; Curettage ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell ; Humans ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Skeleton ; Transplants

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in the plasma level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) after Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) for the treatment of meningioma. METHODS: Fourteen patients with meningiomas had peripheral venous blood collected at the time of GKRS and at 1 week, 1 month, 3 month and 6 month visits. Plasma VEGF levels were measured using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. For controls, peripheral blood samples were obtained from 20 healthy volunteers. RESULTS: The mean plasma VEGF level (29.6 pg/mL) in patients with meningiomas before GKRS was significantly lower than that of the control group (62.4 pg/mL, p=0.019). At 1 week after GKRS, the mean plasma VEGF levels decreased to 23.4 pg/mL, and dropped to 13.9 pg/mL at 1 month, 14.8 pg/mL at 3 months, then increased to 27.7 pg/mL at 6 months. Two patients (14.3%) with peritumoral edema (PTE) showed a level of VEGF 6 months after GKRS higher than their preradiosurgical level. There was no significant association found in an analysis of correlation between PTE and tumor size, marginal dose, age, and sex. CONCLUSION: Our study is first in demonstrating changes of plasma VEGF after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for meningioma. This study may provide a stimulus for more work related to whether measurement of plasma level has a correlation with tumor response after SRS for meningioma.
Edema ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Meningioma* ; Plasma* ; Radiosurgery* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

Most craniosynostoses are sporadic, but may have an underlying genetic basis. Secondary and syndromic craniosynostosis accompanies various systemic diseases or associated anomalies. Early detection of an associated disease may facilitate the interdisciplinary management of patients and improve outcomes. For that reason, systematic evaluation of craniosynostosis is mandatory. The authors reviewed systematic evaluation of craniosynostosis with an emphasis on genetic analysis.
Craniosynostoses* ; Diagnosis ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Several studies have been performed to evaluate the efficacy of dietary n-3 fatty acid for patients with renal dysfunction. While about 40% to 80% of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) complain about pruritus and xerosis, there are few reports on the effects of topical n-3 fatty acid on these symptoms. OBJECTIVE: In order to investigate the possible beneficial effects of topical n-3 fatty acid, oils extracted from chia (Salvia hispanica) seed were formulated into topical products, the effects of which were measured. METHODS: Five healthy volunteers having xerotic pruritus symptoms and 5 patients with pruritus caused by either ESRD or diabetes were involved in this study. A topical formulation containing 4% chia seed oils were applied for an 8-week duration. Subjective itching symptoms were assessed on a 6-point scale, as were other skin functions, namely transepidermal water loss and skin capacitance. RESULTS: After the 8 weeks of application, significant improvements in skin hydration, lichen simplex chronicus, and prurigo nodularis were observed in all patients. A similar improvement was also observed among healthy volunteers with xerotic pruritus. Improvement of epidermal permeability barrier function and skin hydration, represented by trans-epidermal water loss and skin capacitance, respectively, were also observed. No adverse effects were observed in all the tested patients and volunteers. CONCLUSION: Chia seed oil can be used as an adjuvant moisturizing agent for pruritic skin, including that of ESRD patients.
alpha-Linolenic Acid ; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Methylmethacrylates ; Neurodermatitis ; Oils ; Permeability ; Polystyrenes ; Prurigo ; Pruritus ; Seeds ; Skin ; Water Loss, Insensible

OBJECTIVE: Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt complication is a major obstacle in the management of hydrocephalus. To study the differences of VP shunt complications between children and adults, we analyzed shunt revision surgery performed at our hospital during the past 10 years. METHODS: Patients who had undergone shunt revision surgery from January 2001 to December 2010 were evaluated retrospectively by chart review about age distribution, etiology of hydrocephalus, and causes of revision. Patients were grouped into below and above 20 years old. RESULTS: Among 528 cases of VP shunt surgery performed in our hospital over 10 years, 146 (27.7%) were revision surgery. Infection and obstruction were the most common causes of revision. Fifty-one patients were operated on within 1 month after original VP shunt surgery. Thirty-six of 46 infection cases were operated before 6 months after the initial VP shunt. Incidence of shunt catheter fracture was higher in younger patients compared to older. Two of 8 fractured catheters in the younger group were due to calcification and degradation of shunt catheters with fibrous adhesion to surrounding tissue. CONCLUSION: The complications of VP shunts were different between children and adults. The incidence of shunt catheter fracture was higher in younger patients. Degradation of shunt catheter associated with surrounding tissue calcification could be one of the reasons of the difference in facture rates.
Adult ; Age Distribution ; Catheters ; Child ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Incidence ; Retrospective Studies* ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt*