OBJECTIVE: To determine the 9 month period effect of botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) injection into the salivary gland in children with neurologic disorders and sialorrhea by qualified parent/caregiver-administered questionnaires. METHOD: A total of 17 patients (age 7.6+/-4.24 years) were enrolled in this study. The degree of sialorrhea was assessed at the baseline, 2 weeks, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 9 months after injection. The Drooling Count (DC) was assessed as an objective measurement. The Drooling Frequency and Severity Scale (DFS) and the Teacher Drooling Scale (TDS) were evaluated as a subjective measurement. BoNT-A (0.5 unit/kg) was injected into each submandibular and parotid gland under ultrasonography-guidance. RESULTS: DC, DFS and TDS showed significant improvement at 2 weeks, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 9 months follow-up (p<0.05). Twelve of 17 cases (70.5%) showed more than 50% reduction in DC from the baseline value. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography-guided BoNT-A injection into the submandibular and parotid gland was a safe and effective method to treat sialorrhea in children with neurologic disorders.
Botulinum Toxins ; Botulinum Toxins, Type A ; Child ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Nervous System Diseases ; Parotid Gland ; Salivary Glands ; Sialorrhea ; Sorbitol ; Tyramine

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It has been suggested that the indices based on tissue doppler and color M-mode echocardiography reflect the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. These include the early diastolic transmitral velocity (E) to early myocardial velocity ratio measured by tissue doppler (E') and the E to the wave propagation velocity (Vp) ratio measured from color M-mode images. However, these indices have not been well validated in congestive heart failure patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS:Thirty one congestive heart failure patients who underwent simultaneous cardiac catheterization and echocardiography, and had normal sinus rhythm were enrolled in this study. The left ventricular end-diastolic pressure obtained from the left heart catheterization was compared with the diastolic indices using pulsed doppler, tissue doppler and color M-mode echocardiography. RESULTS: The left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) ranged from 3.3 to 23 mmHg. Some parameters showed a significant correlation with the LVEDP. The propagation velocity showed a significant correlation with the LVEDP (r=0.382, p=0.034), and the E to propagation velocity ratio (E/Vp) showed a good correlation with the LVEDP(r=0.408, p=0.023). In addition, the E to early diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus (E') ratio had an insignificant correlation with the LVEDP(r=0.322, p=0.078). Among the patients with ischemic congestive heart failure, the E to the propagation velocity ratio (E/Vp) showed a marginal correlation with the LVEDP (r=0.461, p=0.047). CONCLUSION: In patients with congestive heart failure, the Vp and E/Vp showed a good correlation with the LVEDP. In the subgroup of patients with ischemic congestive heart failure, only the E/Vp showed a significant correlation with the LVEDP.
Blood Flow Velocity ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Echocardiography* ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; Ventricular Pressure

Postoperative infections following spine surgery are usually attributable to bacterial organisms. Staphylococcus aureus is known to be the most common single pathogen leading to this infection, and the number of infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is increasing. However, there is a paucity of literature addressing postoperative infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We encountered a case of tuberculous spondylitis after spine surgery. A man had fever with low back pain three weeks after posterior interbody fusion with instrumentation for a herniated intervertebral disc at the L4-L5 level. He had been treated with antibiotics for an extended period of time under the impression that he had a bacterial infection, but his symptoms and laboratory data had not improved. Polymerase chain reaction for Mycobacterium tuberculosis turned out to be positive. The patient's symptoms finally improved when he was treated with antituberculosis medication.
Adult ; Humans ; Low Back Pain/etiology ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery ; Male ; Postoperative Complications/*microbiology ; Spondylitis/etiology/*microbiology ; Thoracic Vertebrae/*microbiology/pathology ; Tuberculosis/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Tuberculosis, Spinal/complications/drug therapy/*microbiology

BACKGROUND: Coronary anomalies are found incidentally, in which anatomy is altered but physiology is normal; that is, coronary blood flow is normal. However, certain anomalies are associated with myocardial ischemia or infarction, heart failure, and sudden death. METHODS: From February 1988 to February 2000, 3534 cases have been catheterized, among them we experienced 28 cases of coronary anomalies. The incidence of coronary anonalies and clinical characteristic were evaluated. RESULTS: The incidence of coronary anomalies was 0.79% and in 28 cases of coronary anomalies, 5 cases of anomalous origin from the aorta (0.14%), 2 cases of coronary artery aneurysm (0.16%) and 21 cases of coronary arteriovenous fistula (CAVF,0.59%) were found. In 5 cases of anomalous origin from the aorta, 4 cases showed that right coronary artery originated from left coronary sinus of Valsalva, 1 case showed that left circumflex coronary artery originated from right coronary sinus of Valsalva. All of coronary artery aneurysm were found in right coronary artery. In 21 cases of CAVF, 28 sites of fistula were found and 14 sites originated from right coronary artery (50%), 6 sites from left circumflex coronary altery (21.5%), 6 sites from left anterior-descending coronary artery, 2 sites from left main coronary artery (7%). 13 sites of CAVF drained into pulmonary artery (46%), 10 sites into right atrium (36%), 5 sites into right ventricle (18%). In 7 cases which had double CAVF, 4 cases were originated from bilateral coronary artery, 3 cases were originated from single coronary artery. In 10 cases CAVF without other cardiac lesion, 4 cases confirmed ischemic heart disease. CONCLUSION: In our study, CAVF is most common coronary anomaly and without other cardiac disease CAVF may develope ischemic cardiac disease.
Aneurysm ; Aorta ; Arteriovenous Fistula ; Catheters ; Coronary Aneurysm ; Coronary Angiography* ; Coronary Sinus ; Coronary Vessel Anomalies ; Coronary Vessels ; Death, Sudden ; Fistula ; Heart Atria ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Failure ; Heart Ventricles ; Incidence* ; Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Physiology ; Pulmonary Artery

BACKGROUND: Coronary anomalies are found incidentally, in which anatomy is altered but physiology is normal; that is, coronary blood flow is normal. However, certain anomalies are associated with myocardial ischemia or infarction, heart failure, and sudden death. METHODS: From February 1988 to February 2000, 3534 cases have been catheterized, among them we experienced 28 cases of coronary anomalies. The incidence of coronary anonalies and clinical characteristic were evaluated. RESULTS: The incidence of coronary anomalies was 0.79% and in 28 cases of coronary anomalies, 5 cases of anomalous origin from the aorta (0.14%), 2 cases of coronary artery aneurysm (0.16%) and 21 cases of coronary arteriovenous fistula (CAVF,0.59%) were found. In 5 cases of anomalous origin from the aorta, 4 cases showed that right coronary artery originated from left coronary sinus of Valsalva, 1 case showed that left circumflex coronary artery originated from right coronary sinus of Valsalva. All of coronary artery aneurysm were found in right coronary artery. In 21 cases of CAVF, 28 sites of fistula were found and 14 sites originated from right coronary artery (50%), 6 sites from left circumflex coronary altery (21.5%), 6 sites from left anterior-descending coronary artery, 2 sites from left main coronary artery (7%). 13 sites of CAVF drained into pulmonary artery (46%), 10 sites into right atrium (36%), 5 sites into right ventricle (18%). In 7 cases which had double CAVF, 4 cases were originated from bilateral coronary artery, 3 cases were originated from single coronary artery. In 10 cases CAVF without other cardiac lesion, 4 cases confirmed ischemic heart disease. CONCLUSION: In our study, CAVF is most common coronary anomaly and without other cardiac disease CAVF may develope ischemic cardiac disease.
Aneurysm ; Aorta ; Arteriovenous Fistula ; Catheters ; Coronary Aneurysm ; Coronary Angiography* ; Coronary Sinus ; Coronary Vessel Anomalies ; Coronary Vessels ; Death, Sudden ; Fistula ; Heart Atria ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Failure ; Heart Ventricles ; Incidence* ; Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Physiology ; Pulmonary Artery

BACKGROUND: The manifestation of Membranoproliperative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) is variable from asymptomatic hematuria, nephrotic syndrome to advanced chronic kidney disease. The etiology, pathogenesis, and treatment of MPGN are unclear. The incidence of idiopathic MPGN is also rare in Korea, and the clinical course was rarely studied. So we investigated clinical course of idiopathic MPGN type 1. METHODS: From March 1990 to November 2004, renal biopsy was done in about 1500 patients in Dong-A universty hospital. Among them, 16 patients were diagnosed as idiopathic MPGN. Fourteen patients were observed over 6 months. We analyzed clinical data of these patients retrospectively. RESULTS: Male to female ratio of total 16 patients is 2.2:1. Mean age of patients was 37.6 years (14-76 years) at the time of diagnosis. Thirteen cases (81%) had nephrotic range proteinuria, 8 cases (50%) had hypertention, 12 cases (75%) had edema, and 4 cases (25%) had decreased renal fuction (serum creatinine>1.2 mg/dL) at the time of diagnosis. Average observation time was 55.7+/-37.4 (6-122)months. Six cases ended up with progressive renal failure. Three cases achieved complete remission. Renal survival time for 50% of cases was 92 months. In our study, edema and decreased renal fucntion at the time of diagnosis were related with later development of progressive renal failure (p<0.05). Of the total 14 cases, 4 cases ware treated conservatively, 6 cases were treated with anti-platelet agents, and 4 cases were treated with anti-platelet agents and prednisone. In conservative treatment group, 1 case ended up with progressive renal failure and 1 case achieved complete remission. In anti-platelet agents treatment goup, 4 cases ended up progressive renal failure. In combined anti-platelet agents and prednisone treatment group, 1 case ended up progressive renal failure and 2 cases achieved complete remission. However, the effect of each treatment is inconclusive because the number of the patients are too small. CONCLUSIONS: We suspect that deceased renal function and edema at the time of diagnosis may be risk factor predicting progressive renal failure in patients with idiopathic MPGN type 1.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Edema ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative* ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Prednisone ; Proteinuria ; Renal Insufficiency ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors