This study tested how S/N (Signal to Noise Ratio) ratios and ADC (apparent diffusion coefficient) values vary with different T-scores in a group of patients with osteoporosis. Based on DEXA (Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) T-scores for L1?L4 for two groups of subjects consisting of 30 healthy people without osteoporosis and 30 patients who came for treatment of waist (lumbar or low back) pain and were suspected to have osteoporosis as judged from the simple X-ray findings, this study classified every spine into two groups of osteoporosis and osteopenia. Signal intensity measurements were made in the four regions of L1 to L4 on diffusion-weighted MR images obtained using 1.5T MR scanner, while ADC measurements were obtained from ADC map images. As an approach for quantitative analysis, the comparison of the variances in S/N ratios and ADC values for varying T-scores in the selected regions of interest was carried out based on averaged T-scores, S/N ratios, and ADC values. Also, the variances in S/N ratios and ADC values for each of the groups of osteoporosis and osteopenia, which were classified into by T-scores, were compared. For qualitative analysis, a careful naked eye examination of signal intensity differences in the area of L4 was made on T1-weighted sagittal images for each of the healthy (normal), osteopenia, and osteoporosis groups. In the qualitative analysis, it was found that for both the osteopenia group and the osteoporosis group, as T-scores deceased, the S/N ratios on diffusion-weighted MR images also decreased, with the greatest decrease in the S/N ratio found in the osteoporosis group. Additionally, among the three groups, the lowest S/N ratio was found in the osteoporosis group. With respect to ADC map, it was found that for both the osteopenia group and the osteoporosis group, as T-scores deceased, the ADC values on diffusion-weighted MR images also decreased, with the greatest decrease in the ADC values found in the osteoporosis group. Additionally, among the three groups, the lowest ADC value was found in the osteoporosis group. On the other hand, in the qualitative analysis, the osteoporosis group showed the highest signal intensity. Additionally, among the three groups, the lowest signal intensity was found in the healthy (normal) group. It was found that as osteoporosis progressed, S/N ratio and ADC decreased, whereas signal intensity increased on T1-weighted images. Also, in diagnosing osteoporosis, MRI tests turned out to be (more) effective.
Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Diffusion ; Eye ; Hand ; Humans ; Noise ; Osteoporosis ; Porphyrins ; Spine

We rotated the nucleus up to 270 degree and dislocated it into anterior chamber through the diameter of capsulorhexis after hydrodissection by using the planned extracapsular cataract extraction. And later on we delivered the nucleus with hydroexpression using the irrigating Vectis or with rotation using a lens spatuala. As a result of this procedure, the nucleus was safely delivered in all cases without zonular rupture and vitreous prolapse.
Anterior Chamber ; Capsulorhexis* ; Cataract Extraction* ; Cataract* ; Prolapse ; Rupture

No abstract available.
Heart Failure ; Heart

Ureterosciatic hernia is extremely rare. In ureteral herniation, ureter prolapses occur through either the greater or lesser sciatic foramen. Atrophy of the piriformis muscle, hip joint diseases, and defects in the parietal pelvic fascia are predisposing factors for the development of ureterosciatic hernia. Most symptomatic patients have been treated surgically, with conservative treatment reserved only for asymptomatic patients. To the best of our knowledge, long-term follow-up outcomes after ureterosciatic hernia management are sparse. In this paper, we report the case of a 68-year-old woman who presented with colicky left abdominal pain. After computed tomography (CT) scan and anterograde pyelography, she was diagnosed ureterosciatic hernia with obstructive uropathy. We performed ureteral balloon dilatation and double-J ureteral stent placement. After this minimally invasive procedure, CT scan demonstrated that the left ureter had returned to its normal anatomical position without looping into the sciatic foramen. The patient remained asymptomatic with no adverse events 7 years after the minimally invasive procedures. This brief report describes ureterosciatic hernia successfully managed with minimally invasive procedures with long-term follow-up outcomes.

Fibular fractures that begin proximal to the tibial plafond are assumed to include an injury of the syndesmosis. Many surgeons have treated this injuries by rigidly repairing the medial and lateral malleoli with trans-syndesmotic fixation. However, recently, some demonstrated that a trans-syndesmotic screw places biomechanical restrictions on the tibiotalar joint and is not required to maintain the integrity of the distal tibiofibular joint in cadava models. Thirty eight patients of ankle fracture with syndesmotic injury treated at Sun General Hospital from January 1989 to June 1994 week analyzed in clinical and radiologic aspect. The results obtained from this study were as followings. 1. If rigid anatomic medial and lateral joint fixation was obtained, syndesmotic screw fixation was not required to maintain the integrity of the syndesmotic. 2. Repairting the deltoid ligament did not enhance treatment results when fibular fracture and syndesmotic had been fixed anatomically. Therefore, we believe that syndesmotic screw fixation was indicated only when medial and lateral stabilization could not be achieved adequately.
Ankle Fractures ; Ankle Injuries ; Ankle ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Joints ; Ligaments ; Solar System ; Surgeons

No abstract available.
Hepatolenticular Degeneration*

The visual loss owing to acute optic nerve injury after blunt head trauma has been reported about 5% at the incidence. But it has been real circumstances that we still don`t have the exact knowlege about surgical indication, operation time and steroid dosage for this candidate. Lately, endoscopic surgery was introduced for treatment of orbital disease instead of classic external approach and we have performed and report endoscoic endonasal optic canal decompression followed by megadose steroid injection in 5 patients who experienced visual loss due to optic canal fracture following trauma.
Craniocerebral Trauma ; Decompression* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Optic Nerve Injuries ; Orbital Diseases

The index on myocardial contractility of pure mitral regurgitation(MR) after mitral valve replacement is believed to be useful in determining proper operation time before irreversible myocardial damage by volume overload. Thus the authors examined pre and post-operative echocardiographic results of 20 cases of pure MR patients who had been admitted to Pusan National University hospital and compared the usefulness of each index. Pre and post-operative echocardiographic results were as follows respectively ; 1) Left ventricular internal dimension in diastole(LVIDd) were 6.49+/-0.19cm and 5.51+/-0.17cm. 2) Left ventricular internal dimension in systole(LVIDs) were 4.26+/-0.12 and 3.79+/-0.18cm. 3) Ejection fraction were 71.28+/-1.57% and 59.24+/-3.05%. 4) Fractional shortening(FS) were 34.09+/-1.18% and 27.21+/-1.84%. 5) Mean Vcf were 1.53+/-0.08cm/sec and 1.18+/-0.09cm/sec. 6) Left ventricular end-diastolic volume index(EDVI) were 196.35+/-18.33cc/m2 and 98.46+/-9.96cc/m2. 7) Left ventricular end-systolic volume index(ESVI) were 55.28+/-5.12cc/m2 and 41.88+/-6.07cc/m2. 8) Left ventricular end-systolic wall stress/ESVI(ESS/ESVI) were 2.3+/-0.21 and 3.91+/-0.83. ESS/ESVI showed significantly(p<0.05) elevated postoperative change, LVIDd, LVIDs, EF, FS, EDVI, ESVI revealed significantly(p<0.05) reduced postoperative change whereas Mean Vcf had no postoperative change. After examining correlation between preoperative and postoperative results of each index, it is believed that LVIDd, LVIDs, and ESS/ESVI were useful prognostic indices but were unrelated to postoperative ejection phase indices such as EF, FS, and MEan Vcf. Especially in case of LVIDd>6cm, LVIDs>4cm, and ESS/ESVI<2, the prognosis was poor due to myocardial damage by mitral regurgitation.
Busan ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency* ; Mitral Valve* ; Prognosis ; Stroke Volume

Restenosis and stent thrombosis remain major concerns after percutaneous coronary intervention for the treatment of coronary artery disease. The present review was undertaken in order to highlight the various coronary stents that have been investigated in our Heart Research Center, and how far we have come from the first heparin-coated stent first used in the late 1990s. Thereafter, from the abciximab-coated stent to the current gene-delivery stent and other newer agents, our group has applied a range of techniques in this field. However, in groups similar to ours, the restenosis rates of such stents are still high for second-generation drug-eluting stents (DESs). Moreover, our nation imports almost all of these types of stents from other countries. Thus, we need to develop domestic coronary stents. Research into newer DESs are warranted in Korea so as to achieve improved safety and efficacy outcomes.
Coronary Artery Disease ; Heart ; Korea ; Myocardial Infarction ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Stents ; Thrombosis