BACKGROUND: Information on the long-term fate of patients with prosthetic valve is limited. Cerebral embolism is a major cause of late morbidity and mortality in patients with prosthetic valves even though recent prostheses are less thrombogenic and anticoagulants are administered. We investigated the long-term risk of the first ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke and effect of presumed risk factors on the development of stroke in patients with prosthetic valves. METHODS: In a retrospective study, 554 patients who survived the 30-days after cardiac valve replacement between June, 1985 and May, 1995 were included. End points were attacks of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Risk of stroke at end points was calculated according to Kaplan-Meier method. The influence of several clinical variables on these stroke events was analyzed by univariate and mutivariate analyses. RESULTS: Thirty seven of 554 patients had 42 stroke events(34 ischemic stroke, 8 hemorrhagic stroke) during follow-up periods(mean: 52.9months). Six of these patients died from stroke. The cumulative stroke-free probability was 92.4% at 5years and 87.7% at 10years. The cumulative ischemic stroke-free probability was 93.7% at 5years and 89.4% at 10years. No or irregular use of anticoagulants was the only significant independent predictor(RR:4.99, 95%CI:2.01-12.41, p<0.01) of ischemic stroke. The cumulative hemorrhagic stroke-free probability was 98.7% at 5years and 98.1% at 10years. CONCLUSION: Regardless of the type of prostheses, patients with prosthetic valves, notably those without anticoagulants, are at high risk for ischemic stroke.
Anticoagulants ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Valves ; Humans ; Intracranial Embolism ; Mortality ; Prostheses and Implants ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stroke* ; Thromboembolism

Scalp and calvarium defects are caused by trauma, burn, tumor resection, or congenital diseases. We experienced a few cases of severe electrical burn of scalp and calvarium, but fourth-degree contact burn of scalp and calvarium is a rare case. A 67 years old man was presented with a 25% total body surface area contact burn. A 20 cm×15 cm thick eschar on the patient's scalp was observed. Among various techniques for scalp reconstruction, we planned fasciocutaneous transposition flap with split thickness skin graft for coverage of large defect. Considering aesthetically satisfactory outcome, we designed a fasciocutaneous transposition flap including the hair-bearing areas. We additionally used skin graft for uncovered surrounding areas. There were no flap necrosis, graft loss, or any other surgical complications after the surgical flap and skin graft. At 6-month follow-up, the operation site was stable. The patient satisfied with functional and aesthetical outcomes, so we report this case.
Body Surface Area ; Burns* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Scalp* ; Skin ; Skull* ; Surgical Flaps ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis, one of the most common metabolic bone disease, might be influenced by the severity of Parkinson's disease (PD). Objectives : We investigated the relationship between the Bone Mineral Density (BMD) and the severity of PD in postmenopausal and senile women. METHODS: We measured BMD of lumbar spine (L1-L4) by Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA; Hologic QDR-4500A). We compared BMD between patient group (30 patients with PD) and control (183 postmenopausal and senile health women). The patients were divided into two groups according to osteoporosis and analyzed the following potential factors influencing BMD in PD; age, duration of symptom, age of onset, Hoehn and Yahr stage (H-Y stage), UPDRS motor score, duration of treatment, body mass index (BMI), dominant symptom such as tremor or rigidity. RESULTS: 1. BMD was significantly decreased with aging (p <0.01) in control group, but BMD tend to decreased with aging in PD (p=0.08). 2. BMD of patient group was significantly lower than that of control group (p<0.001). 3. BMD of osteoporosis group was significantly related to BMI (p<0.05) and conversely related to H-Y staging(p <0.05), UPDRS motor score (p <0.01). 4. However, BMD of osteoporosis group were not related to age, duration of symptom, age of onset, dominant symptom and duration of treatment (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Osteoporosis is related to H-Y stage, UPDRS motor score and BMI as well as aging in PD.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Age of Onset ; Aging ; Body Mass Index ; Bone Density* ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Female ; Humans ; Osteoporosis ; Parkinson Disease* ; Spine ; Tremor

No abstract available.
Gastrointestinal Tract* ; Radionuclide Imaging*

PURPOSE: Skin graft is useful treatment in burn wound. The major disadvantage of traditional skin graft is related to recipient site scarring and donor site morbidity. Then we present our successful experience of using skin graft after advancement flap. METHODS: The study is based on 22 patients who has deep 2nd burn wound with eschar and 3rd degree burn wound. We performed split-thickness skin graft in 17 patients, and fullthickness skin graft in 5 patients. After undermining of wound margin about 1.3 cm~4 cm, we performed suture of wound marginal skin and subcutaneous tissue with absorbable suture materials. Then we harvested skin according to reduced wound size, and we applied donor skin in recipient area. RESULTS: The skin graft area of the 17 patients who had split skin-thickness graft showed a decline of 25% compared with that of the initial burn wound. 5 patents who had full-thickness skin graft also showed a decrease of 10% in the skin graft area compared with that of the initial burn wound. All Grafts were well taken in 22 patients without skin loss. By observing the progress 12 to 15 months after the operation, minor hypertrophic scar on the boundary of grafted skin area was observed in the 2 patents and hypertrophic scar or contracture was not seen in all 22 patients. CONCLUSION: Skin graft after advancement flap can be used as a treatment in deep 2nd degree and 3rd degree burn wound. Compared with traditional skin graft, the result seems to be good cosmetically and functionally.
Burns* ; Cicatrix ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; Contracture ; Humans ; Skin* ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Sutures ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants* ; Wounds and Injuries

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: There are few reports of affecting factors of the longterm prognosis after acute ischemic stroke. The aim of this prospective study was to determine which variables, of those easily measurable during the first 24 hours after stroke onset, would be predictors of longterm outcome. METHOD: Ninety-eight patients with an acute ischemic stroke were evaluated within 24 hours after symptom onset. The following potential affecting factors of outcome were prospectively collected : demographic datas, socioeconomic factors, risk factors of cerebrovascular accidents, clinical f indings as measured by the National Institute of Health (NIH) scale, laboratory findings and premorbid varibles rated according to modified Rankin score (mRS). We evaluated the outcome, assessed with mRS as good (mRS 3 or less) and poor (mRS 4, 5 or death) and follow up was undertaken at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after onset. The statistical analysis was performed by means of SPSS/PC+package to determine the longterm prognostic factors. RESULTS: The multiple stepwise regression analysis revealed that the outcome depend on NIH scale(p<0.001), age (p<0.01), previous stroke(p<0.01), loss of consciousness (LOC) at onset (p Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Paresis ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Stroke ; Unconsciousness

PURPOSE: Skin graft may fail for a number of reasons. Hematoma or seroma formation prevents graft adherence. Traditionally tie-over dressing has been used in skin graft fixation, but skin graft in convex and narrow place like fingers or toes, tie-over dressing is hard to be applied. And Vaseline gauze over graft often adheres to graft by exudate into gauze fibers and hardening, and may cause damage to graft in dressing change. We report successful results of using silicone net dressing in fixation of split thickness skin graft over these place. METHODS: After skin graft, the silicone net, Mepitel(R) (Molnlycke Health Care, Box 13080, SE-402 52 Goteborg, Sweden) was applied over the graft followed saline wet gauze dressing in 25 patients. 13 cases were on finger, 8 cases were on foot or toes, 4 cases were on anterior chest. RESULTS: In 22 cases, there were no hematoma or seroma formation, Mepitel(R) maintained 5 days after skin graft. And then, Mepitel(R) was removed from the graft. In 3 cases, there were hematoma formation, Mepitel(R) was removed at 3 days after skin graft. In all cases, grafts were taken well without maceration or skin eruption. CONCLUSION: The silicone net, Mepitel(R), is dressing material made of silicone gel bound to a pliable polyamide net, and it can provide uniform pressure to the graft, even in convex and narrow place. And net like structure allows the exudates of the wound to pass freely into the secondary absorbent dressing and easier to remove from the grafts than Vaseline gauze. We think that the use of a Mepitel(R) is a efficient tool for securing skin grafts.
Bandages* ; Delivery of Health Care ; Exudates and Transudates ; Fingers ; Foot ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Nylons ; Petrolatum ; Seroma ; Silicone Gels* ; Skin* ; Thorax ; Toes ; Transplants* ; Wounds and Injuries

The usefulness of a nondepolarizing muscle relaxant for endotracheal intubation is limited by its relatively slow onset of neuromuscular block compared to that achieved with succinylcholine. Several attempts have been made to produce a more rapid onset of muscle relaxation for endotracheal intubation. A large dose of nondepoarizing muscle relaxant may produce rapid onset but cauae undesirable side effects and a prolonged duration of neuromuscular block. The authors observed the degree of vocal cord relaxation and intubation condition 2 minutes after administration of atracurium and measured changes in mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate at the time of arrival in the operating room, just before abministration of atracurium, 2minutes after administration, and 5mins after intubation. The 40 of patients in this observation were divided into four groups. Group 1; 10patients, received 0.3 mg/kg of atracurium Group 2; 10patients, received 0.4 mg/kg of atracurium Group 3; 10patients, received 0.5 mg/kg of atracurium Group 4; 10patients, received 0.6 mg/kg of atracurium The results were as follows; 1) There were better intubating conditions in Group 3 and 4 than in Group 1 and 2(p<0.001). 2) Mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate did not change significantly after administration of atracurium in all four groups. From the above results we conclude that 0.5~0.6 mg/kg of atracurium provides satisfactory intubation condition 2 minutes after administration without hemodynamic changes.
Arterial Pressure ; Atracurium* ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal* ; Muscle Relaxation ; Neuromuscular Blockade ; Operating Rooms ; Relaxation ; Succinylcholine ; Vocal Cords

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the this study was to compare the effects of clonidine (a alpha2-adrenoceptor and imidazoline receptor agonist), yohimbine (a selective alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist) and idazoxan (a alpha2-adrenoceptor and imidazoline receptor antagonist) on extracellular monoamines and their metabolites by using the awakening animal microdialysis and high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD) in brain regions, which are suggested to have regulatory role in depression. METHODS: We used intracerebral microdialysis in awakening rats by inserting probe through the dorsal hippocampus and occipital cortex especially in primary visual cortex, We studied respective effects of 2.0 mg/kg of clonidine, 5.0 mg/kg of yohimbine, and 5.0 mg/kg of idazoxan on the release of MHPG (a major metabolite of norepinephrine), norepinephrine (NE), DOPAC (a major metabolite of dopamine), and 5-HIAA (a main metabolite of serotonin) by intraperitoneal administration. RESULTS: Clonidine decreased the release of MHPG, NE, DOPAC, and 5-HIAA in both dorsal hippocampus and occipital cortex regions, and there were no significant differences in releasing pattern of all monoamines and their metabolites. Both yohimbine and idazoxan enhanced the release of MHPG, NE, DOPAC, and 5-HIAA in both brain regions, but there were significant differences in releasing pattern of NE and 5-HIAA. Idazoxan induced the delayed and higher efflux of NE and 5-HIAA in the primary visual cortex than yohimbine, but not in the hippocampus. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the selective alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonists increase basal monoamine output and enhance the metabolism of them in the hippocampus and primary visual cortex, and the imidazoline receptor has modulatory role in the regulation of monoamine release in primary visual cortex than hippocampus. It also suggests that high turnover rate of serotonin and norepinephrine in primary visual cortex may contribute to the pathophysiological role in depression.
3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid ; Animals ; Brain ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Clonidine ; Depression ; Hippocampus* ; Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid ; Idazoxan ; Metabolism ; Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol ; Microdialysis ; Norepinephrine ; Rats* ; Serotonin ; Visual Cortex* ; Yohimbine

The nuclear and infranuclear pathway of eye movement begins from the ocular mo-tor nuclei situated in thebrain stem, where the axons originate and form three ocular motor nerve s. Although each of the ocular motornerves follows a distinct route to reach the end organ, the extraocular muscles, they also have common housings inthe cavernous sinus and at the orbital apex, where part or all of them are frequently and simultaneously affectedby a common disease process. Since the fine details of normal and diseased structures can frequently be seen onradiologic imaging, especially mag-netic resonance (MR) imaging, a knowledge of the basic anatomy invo l ved innuclear and infranuclear eye movement is important. In this description, in addition to the normal nuclear andinfranuclear pathway of eye movement, we have noted the radio-logic findings of typical diseases involving eachsegment of the nuclear and infranu-clear pathway, particularly as seen on magnetic resonance images. Briefcomments on ocular motor pseudopalsy, which mimics ocular motor palsy, are also included.
Axons ; Brain ; Cavernous Sinus ; Cranial Nerves ; Eye Movements ; Muscles ; Ocular Motility Disorders* ; Orbit ; Paralysis