PURPOSE: Kissing contusion between the posterolateral tibial plateau and lateral femoral condyle is frequently found in association with a tear of the anterior cruciate liagment (ACL). The purpose of this study was to determine which ligamentous and meniscal tears are associated with kissing contusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the findings depicted by 323 consecutive MR images of the knee and confirmed at arthroscopy. For the diagnosis of disruption, ligaments, medial menisci (MM) and lateral menisci (LM) were evaluated using accepted criteria. We compared the prevalence and location of meniscal and ligamentous tears between group I (44 knees with kissing contusion) and group II (279 knees without kissing contusion). For statistical analysis the chi-square test was used. RESULTS: ACLs were torn in all 44 knees (100%) with kissing contusion, and 78 (28%) of 279 without kissing contusion. There were ten medial collateral ligament (MCL) tears (23%) in group I, and 17 MCL tears (6%), five lateral collateral ligament (LCL) tears (2%) and ten posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tears (4%) in group II. In group I, meniscal tears were found in 22 MM (50%) and in 19 LM (43%), while in group II, they occurred in 128 MM (46%) and 128 LM (46%). In group I, 17 (77%) of 22 MM tears and 13 (68%) of 19 LM tears were located in the posterior horn, while in group II, the corresponding figures were 97/128 (76%) and 60 of 128 (47%). The differing prevalence of ACL and MCL tears between the groups was statistically significant (p<0.05), but differences in the prevalence and location of meniscal tears were not (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Although kissing contusion was a highly specific sign of ACL tears, its presence was also significant among MCL tears. There was no signifficant difference in meniscal tears with or without kissing contusion.
Animals ; Arthroscopy ; Collateral Ligaments ; Contusions* ; Diagnosis ; Horns ; Knee ; Lateral Ligament, Ankle ; Ligaments* ; Menisci, Tibial ; Posterior Cruciate Ligament ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To determine the usefulness of the fat-suppressed (FS) conventional spin-echo (CSE) sequence for the diagnosis of meniscal tears. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 323 MR images of the knee, the standard of reference being the findings of arthroscopy. In all knees, fast SE proton density-weighted and T2-weighted sagittal and coronal images and double-echo in steady state (DESS) sagittal images were obtained, and during 202 MR Procedures, FS-CSE T1-weighted sagittal images were also obtained. The results of MR imaging were then correlated with those of arthroscopy, the accuracy with which meniscal tears were diagnosed being compared between two groups: group I (202 knees for which FS-CSE T1-weighted sagittal images were obtained), and group II (121 knees for which these images were not obtained). For statistical analysis the chi-square test was used. RESULTS: In group 1, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 94.7%, 92.4% and 93.5%, respectively, for the medial meniscus, and 83.3%, 95.7% and 90.5% for the lateral meniscus. In group II, the corresponding findings were 92.5%, 94% and 93.3%; and 87.3%, 98.2% and 92.5%. The differences between the groups were not statistically significant (p>0.05) CONCLUSION: For meniscal tears of the knee, the addition of FS-CSE T1-weighted MR imaging to the fast SE proton density-weighted, T2-weighted and DESS sequences does not enhance diagnostic accuracy.
Arthroscopy ; Diagnosis ; Knee* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Menisci, Tibial ; Protons ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: It has been reported that exposure of the testicles to high temperature through frequent saunas or hot baths causes impairment of spermatogenesis, however, there are few studies which offer ways to prevent it. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of a cold bath in preventing impaired spermatogenesis caused by exposure to a hot bath in the rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five white male Sprague-Dawley rats (200-230gm) were divided into 3 groups; control, hot bath, hot followed by cold bath groups. The hot bath group was assigned to the hot bath (41-43oC) for 10 minutes and then exposed to the room temperature (23-24oC) for 3 minutes, whereas the hot followed by cold bath group was assigned to the cold bath (18-20oC) after the hot bath. Each procedure was repeated twice daily and 3 days a week for 4 weeks. Five randomly selected rats from each group were sacrified just after baths, and 4 and 8 weeks later. The testicular weight, the mean numbers of mature spermatids, Sertoli cells, spermatid to Sertoli cell ratio and tubular diameter were measured in each group. Two way analyses of variance (ANOVA) were performed for a statistical analysis. RESULTS: Just after completion of baths, the weight of testicle, the number of mature spermatid cells, the spermatid to Sertoli cell ratio and the tubular diameter significantly decreased in the hot bath group (0.71 +/- 0.08g, 0 +/- 0, 0 +/- 0, 0.20 +/- 0.01mm) compared to the control group (1.57 +/- 0.67g, 139.85 +/- 29.70, 7.24 +/- 1.36, 0.32 +/- 0.02mm), re spectively (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the hot followed by cold bath group (1.36 +/- 0.20g, 127.00 +/- 26.14, 6.30 +/- 1.14, 0.31 +/- 0.01mm) and the control group, respectively. On the other hand, there was no significant dif ference between the hot bath group and the control group in the number of Sertoli cells per seminiferous tubules (p=0.110). After 4 and 8 weeks, the number of mature spermatids improved in the hot bath group despite showing significantly decreased findings compared with the control and hot followed by cold bath groups. CONCLUSIONS: The hot bath treatment significantly decreased spermatogenesis in the testicles of the male rat, whereas it was preserved in the cold bath after the hot bath. This result suggests that a cold bath is recommanded immediately after a hot bath to help impaired spermatogenesis caused by frequent hot baths.
Animals ; Baths* ; Fever ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Scrotum ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Sertoli Cells ; Spermatids ; Spermatogenesis* ; Steam Bath ; Testis*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the accuracy of a magnetic resonance(MR) imaging strategy that primarily uses fast spinecho(SE) sequences for the diagnosis of meniscal tears. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The original clinical interpretations of MR images in 316 patients who underwent imaging for suspected internal derangement of a knee joint were correlated with results from subsequent arthroscopy (mean interval : 48.9 days). In all patients, MR examinations included double-echo fast SE T2- weighted sagittal and coronal imaging and double-echo steady state (DESS) sequence sagittal imaging. In 199 patients fat-suppressed conventional SE T1-weighted sagittal imaging was used. In cases in which interpretation was erroneous, imaging findings and arthroscopy reports were reviewed. RESULTS: For ISO confirmed tears of the medial meniscus, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 94 %, 93 %, and 94 %, respectively, while respective values for 147 confirmed tears of the lateral meniscus were 85%, 97 %, and 91%. These values are within the ranges recently reported for imaging strategies relying predominantly on conventional SE sequences. Of the 12 false-positive tears of the medial meniscus, five menisci showed a high signal contacting the surface on only one image and seven, that in all cases were located in the periphery of the posterior horn, showed such signal on more than one image. Of the six false-positive tears of the lateral meniscus, three menisci showed a high signal contacting the surface on only one image. Of the nine false-negative tears of the medial meniscus, eight menisci showed an abnormal signal that did not demonstrate definitive contact with the surface. Of the 22 false-negative tears of the lateral meniscus, 18 menisci showed this same type of signal. CONCLUSION: Fast SE imaging of the knee can be an alternative to conventional SE imaging for the detection of meniscal tears. Most errors in our series were due to either an abnormal signal that failed to show definitive contact with the surface, a high signal which contacted the surface on only one image, or a signal of this type that was located in peripheral posterior horn of the medial meniscus, on more than one image.
Animals ; Arthroscopy ; Diagnosis* ; Horns ; Humans ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Menisci, Tibial ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of three-dimensional(3D) short-range MR angiography(MRA) andmultiplanar reconstruction(MPR) imaging in hemifacial spasm(HS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundreds patientswith HS were studied using a 1.5T MRI system with a 3D time-of-flight(TOF) MRA sequence. To reconstructshort-range MRA, 6-10 source images near the 7-8th cranial nerve complex were processed using a maximum-intensityprojection technique. In addition, an MPR technique was used to investigate neurovascular compression. We observedthe relationship between the root-exit zone(REZ) of the 7th cranial nerve and compressive vessel, and identifiedthe compressive vessels on symptomatic sides. To investigate neurovascular contact, asymptomatic contralateralsides were also evaluated. RESULTS: MRI showed that in 197 of 200 patients there was vascular compression orcontact with the facial nerve REZ on symptomatic sides. One of the three remaining patients was suffering fromacoustic neurinoma on the symptomatic side, while in two patients there were no definite abnormal findings. Compressive vessels were demonstrated in all 197 patients; 80 cases involved the anterior inferior cerebellarartery(AICA), 74 the posterior cerebellar artery(PICA), 13 the vertebral artery(VA), 16 the VA and AICA, eight theVA and PICA, and six the AICA and PICA. In all 197 patients, compressive vessels were reconstructed on one 3Dshort-range MRA image without discontinuation from vertebral or basilar arteries. 3D MPR studies providedadditional information such as the direction of compression and course of the compressive vessel. In 31 patientsthere was neurovascular contact on the contralateral side at the 7-8th cranial nerve complex. CONCLUSION: Inpatients with HS, 3D short-range MRA and MPR images are excellent and very helpful for the investigation ofneurovascular compression and the identification of compressive vessels.
Angiography* ; Basilar Artery ; Cranial Nerves ; Facial Nerve ; Hemifacial Spasm* ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neurilemmoma ; Pica

The aconite root has been used in oriental medicine to improve metabolism of debilitated patient and to cure acute dysuria, cardiac weakness, gout, neuralgias and rheumatism. The crude drug "bu-shi" or "cho-oh", which is obtained from the Aconitum roots, contains the potent poisons aconitine, mesaconitine, jesaconitine, and hypaconitine, which are C
Aconitine ; Aconitum* ; Adult ; Alkaloids ; Animal Experimentation ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac* ; Dizziness ; Dysuria ; Gout ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional ; Metabolism ; Nausea ; Neuralgia ; Poisons ; Rheumatic Diseases ; Shock* ; Tachycardia ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Torsades de Pointes ; Ventricular Fibrillation ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography(CT) and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)in the staging of rectosigmoid carcinoma according to the new AJCC classification. MATERIALS AND METHODS: BetweenAugust 1997 and October 1998, 36 patients with pathologically proven rectosigmoid carcinoma who underwent preoperative CT and MRI were evaluated. CT scans were performed with spiral CT in 27 cases and with conventional CT in nine. In all cases, MR images were obtained using a 1.5T unit and a body arrayed coil. T1- and T2-weightedimages were obtained in axial, sagittal, and coronal planes. On the basis of the results of CT scanning and MRI,tumor stage was determined by two radiologists using the AJCC cancer staging manual(1997). They reached aconsensus and compared their results with the pathologic stage. The T-stage was T1 in three cases, T2 in two, T3in 26, and T4 in five. The N-stage was N0 in 16 cases, N1 in seven, and N2 in 13. RESULTS: In the case of CT, thediagnostic accuracy of T-staging was 67%, and that of N-staging, 44%. For MRI, the corresponding figures were 83%and 67%. For T-staging, MRI was more accurate than CT(P=0.006), but for N-staging, the diagnostic accuracy of CT and MRI was statistically equivalent (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: MRI using a body arrayed coil is a useful preoperative diagnostic tool for the local staging of rectosigmoid carcinoma.
Classification* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neoplasm Staging ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: Perianal lesions are common in Crohn disease, but their clinical course is unpredictable. Nevertheless, predicting the clinical course after surgery for perianal Crohn disease (PCD) is important because repeated operations may decrease patient's quality of life. The aim of this study was to predict the risk of reoperation in patients with PCD. METHODS: From September 1994 to February 2010, 377 patients with PCD were recruited in twelve major tertiary university-affiliated hospitals and two specialized colorectal hospitals in Korea. Data on the patient's demographics, clinical features, and surgical outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 377 patients, 227 patients were ultimately included in the study. Among the 227 patients, 64 patients underwent at least one reoperation. The median period of reoperation following the first perianal surgery was 94 months. Overall 3-year, 5-year, and 10-year cumulative rates of reoperation-free individuals were 68.8%, 61.2%, and 50.5%, respectively. In multivariate analysis (Cox-regression hazard model), reoperation was significantly correlated with an age of onset less than 20 years (hazard ratio [HR], 1.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-3.48; P = 0.03), history of abdominal surgery (HR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.08-3.64; P = 0.03), and the type of surgery. Among types of surgery, fistulotomy or fistulectomy was associated with a decreased incidence of reoperation in comparison with incision and drainage (HR, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.09-0.42; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Young age of onset and a history of abdominal surgery were associated with a high risk of reoperation for PCD, and the risk of reoperation were relatively low in fistulotomy or fistulectomy procedures.
Age of Onset ; Crohn Disease ; Demography ; Drainage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* ; Korea ; Multivariate Analysis ; Quality of Life ; Recurrence ; Reoperation* ; Risk Factors*

A clinical observation was done on random 42 cases of acute and uncomplicated bacterial pyelonephritis. The following results were obtained: 1. All cases were female. 2. The most common age group was 2nd decade (47.6%). 3. All isolated organisms were Gram negative bacteria and E. coli was most common (90%). 4. On excretory urogram, 3 cases (7%)were abnormal and one of them showed acute segmental pyelonephritis. 5. The right side was affected 3 times more than left and 8 cases were bilateral.
Female ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; Humans ; Pyelonephritis*

PURPOSE: Bridge anticoagulation therapy is mostly utilized in patients with mechanical heart valves (MHV) receiving warfarin therapy during invasive dental procedures because of the risk of excessive bleeding related to highly vascular supporting dental structures. Bridge therapy using low molecular weight heparin may be an attractive option for invasive dental procedures; however, its safety and cost-effectiveness compared with unfractionated heparin (UFH) is uncertain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study investigated the safety and cost-effectiveness of enoxaparin in comparison to UFH for bridge therapy in 165 consecutive patients (57+/-11 years, 35% men) with MHV who underwent invasive dental procedures. RESULTS: This study included 75 patients treated with UFH-based bridge therapy (45%) and 90 patients treated with enoxaparin-based bridge therapy (55%). The bleeding risk of dental procedures and the incidence of clinical adverse outcomes were not significantly different between the UFH group and the enoxaparin group. However, total medical costs were significantly lower in the enoxaparin group than in the UFH group (p<0.001). After multivariate adjustment, old age (> or =65 years) was significantly associated with an increased risk of total bleeding independent of bridging methods (odds ratio, 2.51; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-5.48; p=0.022). Enoxaparin-based bridge therapy (beta=-0.694, p<0.001) and major bleeding (beta=0.296, p=0.045) were significantly associated with the medical costs within 30 days after dental procedures. CONCLUSION: Considering the benefit of enoxaparin in cost-effectiveness, enoxaparin may be more efficient than UFH for bridge therapy in patients with MHV who required invasive dental procedures.
Aged ; Anticoagulants/*therapeutic use ; Dentistry, Operative/*methods ; Enoxaparin/therapeutic use ; Female ; *Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight/*therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged