For the evaluation of the clinical and radiologicaI result in the surgical reduction and internal stabilization of the fracture-dislocations in the thoracic and lumbar area, the authors analysed the 39 patients who were treated with Harrington instrumentation supplemented by segmental sublaminar wiring and were follow up 24 months in average. l. Indications for the operation were: compression type with more than 50% of body wedging, bursting type with less than 30% of canal involvement without cord injury, fracture-dislocation type with instability and any type with complete cord injury. 2. Amount of fusion were 6 segments in 25 cases, 7 segments in 11 cases, 5, 8 and 10 segments in 1 case each. 3. Among 31 cases whose lumbar segment were involved in fusion, numbers of movable lumbar motion segments were three or less in 26 and two or less in 8. 4. Angular deformity were changed from 27 preoperatively to 8 postoperatively and to 12 at the end of follow up. Wedging amount of anterior vertebral height were 53% preoperatively, 23% postoperatively and 27% at the end of follow up. 5. External support were applied for 4 months in 35 cases; Taylor brace in 22, TLSO in 10 and body cast in 3. Ambulation was started within a week according to the general status. 6. Solid bony union were observed in 38 cases within 4 months period. Dislodgement of instrumentation and deep infection in one each patient were observed as operative complications. 7. Among 21 cases with cord injury symptoms, 18 cases with complete type showed no neurological recovery, but 3 cases with incomplete type showed complete recovery. It is concluded that the Harrington instrumentation with sublaminar wiring is an effective method of reduction and stabilization for the fracture and dislocations of the thoracic and lumbar spine. On the other hand, the operation is an extensive procedure with significant involvement of lumbar motion segments.
Braces ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Dislocations ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand ; Humans ; Methods ; Spine ; Walking

No abstract available.
Sleep Apnea Syndromes*

"Idiopathic long QT syndrome" is characterized by prolongation of the QT interval due to unusual electrocardiographic repolarization abnormality and associated with variable clinical manifestations from no specific symptoms in lifetime to syncope or even sudden death. The prognosis of this syndrome is very grave and motality is approximately 50% within 10 years among untreated symptomatic patients after the initial syncope. But this sudden onset syncope may be misdiagnosed as epilepsy, being treated with antiepileptic drug for many years. However, this high mortality has been significantly reduced to less than 5% by the effective therapy. Therefore, it is crucial to make an early and accurate dianosis. We exprienced a case of 34 months old male who presented with recurrent syncopal attacks. He had no specific neurological abnomal finding except congenital deafness. He had normal EEG and brain MRI findings but ECG showed prolonged QT interval (QTc= 0.5), findings of which were compatible with long QT syndrome. He is currently being followed at OPD, but the pateint is still experiencing syncopal attack despite of treatment with beta-blocker, atenolol. Therefore, we are considering an insertion of pacemaker or performing thoracic sympathectomy.
Atenolol ; Brain ; Child, Preschool ; Deafness ; Death, Sudden ; Electrocardiography ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy* ; Humans ; Long QT Syndrome* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mortality ; Prognosis ; Sympathectomy ; Syncope

Two patients with clinical and biochemical evidences of islet cell hyperfunction underwent percutaneous transhepatic portal and pancreatic vein catheterization and hormone assays. Local step-ups of insulin level in the protal venous system, found in two patients with insulinoma, corresponded to tumor sites at surgery. One patients had single insulinoma and the other had malignant insulinoma and liver metastasis. Percutaneous transhepatic protal and pancreatic vein catheterization with measurement of radioimmunoactive insulin concentration is a safe and reliable method, and may play an important role in the localization of adenoma in patients with hyperinsulinism.
Adenoma ; Adenoma, Islet Cell* ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Hyperinsulinism ; Insulin ; Insulinoma ; Islets of Langerhans* ; Liver ; Methods ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Veins

Two patients with clinical and biochemical evidences of islet cell hyperfunction underwent percutaneous transhepatic portal and pancreatic vein catheterization and hormone assays. Local step-ups of insulin level in the protal venous system, found in two patients with insulinoma, corresponded to tumor sites at surgery. One patients had single insulinoma and the other had malignant insulinoma and liver metastasis. Percutaneous transhepatic protal and pancreatic vein catheterization with measurement of radioimmunoactive insulin concentration is a safe and reliable method, and may play an important role in the localization of adenoma in patients with hyperinsulinism.
Adenoma ; Adenoma, Islet Cell* ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Hyperinsulinism ; Insulin ; Insulinoma ; Islets of Langerhans* ; Liver ; Methods ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Veins

No abstract available.
Narcolepsy*

BACKGROUND: Alterations in ventricular loading conditions lead to changes in action potential duration via mechanoelectrical feedback. A decrease in load immediately leads to prolongation of repolarization. QT interval and QT dispersion were measured to determine the long-term effect of changes in ventricular systolic load on the ventricular repolarization. METHOD: Corrected QT interval and QT dispersion were measured in 26 patients before and 3-6 months after valvuloplasty for pulmonary stenosis. To determine the effect of ventricular load on ventricular repolarization, patients were divided in 2 groups; Group 1 was those patients with a greater than 30 mmHg and Group 2 was those patients with a less than 30 mmHg decrease in right ventricular systolic pressure. RESULTS: Corrected QT interval (412.6+/-14.5 msec vs 426.4+/-16.8 msec, p < 0.05) and QT dispersion (35.0+/-7.3 msec vs 45.7+/-14..1 msec, p < 0.05)were increased significantly only in Group 1 after vlavuloplasty. CONCLUSION: It suggested that mechanoelectrical interactions are operative for long duration in humans that changes in ventricular load after successful pulmonary valvuloplasty showed long-term effect on the ventricular repolarization.
Action Potentials ; Balloon Valvuloplasty* ; Blood Pressure ; Humans ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis*

No abstract available.
Abscess* ; Drainage*

The term malignant mesenchymoma has been applied to those tumors of the soft tissue of mesenchymal origin which are composed of tumor cells differentiating into two or more unrelated malignant forms in addition to the fibrosarcomatous element. Recently authors experienced a case of malignant mesenchymoma in the right axillary area. Microscopically the sarcoma revealed multiple pattern of differentiation, including liposarcoma, malignant schwannoma, fibrosarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma and rhabdomyoblastoma. The presence of rhabdomyblastic cells were proved by immunochemical study utilizing desmin. This patient was treated with surgical excision and radiation.

Membranous obstruction of the hepatic inferior vena cava(MOVC)is one of the common causes of Budd-Chiari syndrome. The aim of this study is to ascertain and compare the characteristic sonographic and CT findings of Budd-Chiari syndrome caused by MOVC. We studied 10 patients of Budd-Chiari syndrome caused by MOVC through sonography and CT. MOVC was confirmed by operation and/or inferior vena cavography. The cases included 9 men and one woman. With sonography. IVC obstruction was diagnosed in 9 cases. The cause of IVC obstruction was web in 5 cases and fibrous cord in 3 cases. The cause was unspecified in on case. Obliteration of the hepatic veins and intrahepatic collateral vessels were delineated in 9 cases. With color doppler sonography, the directions of blood flow of the hepatic veins through the intervenous communication were fairly well demonstrated in all 5 cases. With CT, IVC obstruction was diagnosed in 7 cases. The obliteration of the hepatic segment of the IVC were segmental in 6 cases and diffuse in one case. Ct demonstrated communicating vessels between the hepatic veins in 3 cases. Furthermore. Systemic collateral vessls(azygos and hemiazygos veins. Veins along the abdominal wall, and internal mammary veins)were demonstrated in all cases. Liver cirrhosis was combined in all cases and hepatoma developed in 4 cases. Sonography is useful to detect the MOVC and to demonstrate hepatic venous obstruction and intrahepatic collateral vessels. Color doppler sonography is easily performed to show the direction of the blood flow through interconnecting vessels. CT shows the obliterated segment of the IVC clearly and multiple prominent systemic coliaterals. In conclusion, and Budd-Chiai syndrome caused by MOVC is accurately diagnosed by combined color doppler sonography and CT.
Abdominal Wall ; Budd-Chiari Syndrome* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Female ; Hepatic Veins ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Male ; Ultrasonography ; Veins ; Vena Cava, Inferior*