BACKGROUND: Peak expiratory flow (PEF) provides a simple, quantitative, and reproducible measure of the existence and severity of airflow obstructions. Peak flow meters are designed to monitor the condition asthma patients. There are many reports showing the normal predicted value of PEF in other countries. studies on healthy Korean adults have been performed in a relatively small sample number and a lower limit for the normal value was not reported. therefore, an attempt to provide normal predictive PEF value with a lower limit was made. METHOD: The PEF(Mini-Wright peak Flow Meter) measurements and spirometry were done in 233 men and 631 woman without history of respiratory disease. all subjects were non-smokers with no respiratory symptoms. the normal predictive value and its lower limit were developed by multiple regression analysis. The result was compared with regression equations in other reports. RESULTS: The regression equation for the normal PEF predictive value(L/min) is 25.117+4.587×Age(year)-0.064×Age2+2.931×Height(cm) in men in men(R2=0.25), and 146.942-0.011×Age2+1.795×Height(cm)+0.836×Weight (kg) in women(R2=0.21). The regression equation for the lower limit of this value (L/min) is 25.117+4.587×Age(year)-0.064×Age2+1.936×Height (cm) in men, and 146.942-0.011×Age2+1.232× Height (cm)+0.481×Weight (kg) in women. The residuals were normally distributed. The PEF in Korean males was similar to those reported in British and Japanese subjects. The PEF in Korean females was similar to that in British subjects, But higher than the PEF in Japanese subjects. The lower limit of normal value was 71% of normal predictive PEF value in men and 76% in women. CONCLUSION: The normal predictive PEF value and its lower limit was measured from 233 male and 631 female asymptomatic, lifelong non-smoking participants. The normal predictive value was different from those of other studies on Korean subjects. Therefore, further studies are required.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Asthma ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Reference Values ; Spirometry

No abstract available.
Angioplasty*

OBJECTIVE: Treatment of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) remains a challenge. However, after introduction of Onyx, transarterial approach is the preferred treatment option in many centers. We report our experience of dAVFs embolization with special emphasis on transarterial approach. METHODS: Seventeen embolization procedures were performed in 13 patients with dAVFs between Jan 2009 and Oct 2014. Clinical symptoms, location and type of fistulas, embolization methods, complications, radiological and clinical outcomes were evaluated using charts and PACS images. RESULTS: All 13 patients had symptomatic lesions. The locations of fistulas were transverse-sigmoid sinus in 6, middle fossa dura in 4, cavernous sinus in 2, and superior sagittal sinus in 1 patient. Cognard types were as follows : I in 4, IIa in 2, IIa+IIb in 5, and IV in 2. Embolization procedures were performed > or =2 times in 3 patients. Nine patients were treated with transarterial Onyx embolization alone. One of these required direct surgical puncture of middle meningeal artery. Complete obliteration of fistulas was achieved in 11/13 (85%) patients. There were no complications except for 1 case of Onyx migration in cavernous dAVF. Modified Rankin scale score at post-operative 3 months were 0 in 11, and 3 in 2 patients. CONCLUSION: Transarterial Onyx embolization can be a first line therapeutic option in patients with dAVFs. However, transvenous approach should be tried first in cavernous sinus dAVF because of the risk of intracranial migration of liquid embolic materials. Furthermore, combined surgical endovascular approach can be considered as a useful option in inaccessible route.
Cavernous Sinus ; Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations* ; Fistula ; Humans ; Meningeal Arteries ; Punctures ; Superior Sagittal Sinus

Cerebral vasospasm associated with hyperthyroidism has not been reported to cause cerebral infarction. The case reported here is therefore the first of cerebral infarction co-existing with severe vasospasm and hyperthyroidism. A 30-year-old woman was transferred to our hospital in a stuporous state with right hemiparesis. At first, she complained of headache and dizziness. However, she had no neurological deficits or radiological abnormalities. She was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism 2 months ago, but she had discontinued the antithyroid medication herself three days ago. Magnetic resonance imaging and angiography showed cerebral infarction with severe vasospasm. Thus, chemical angioplasty using verapamil was performed two times, and antithyroid medication was administered. Follow-up angiography performed at 6 weeks demonstrated complete recovery of the vasospasm. At the 2-year clinical follow-up, she was alert with mild weakness and cortical blindness. Hyperthyroidism may influence cerebral vascular hemodynamics. Therefore, a sudden increase in the thyroid hormone levels in the clinical setting should be avoided to prevent cerebrovascular accidents. When neurological deterioration is noticed without primary cerebral parenchyma lesions, evaluation of thyroid function may be required before the symptoms occur.
Adult ; Angiography ; Angioplasty ; Blindness, Cortical ; Cerebral Infarction ; Dizziness ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Headache ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Paresis ; Stroke ; Stupor ; Thyroid Gland ; Vasospasm, Intracranial* ; Verapamil

Cranioplasty-related reperfusion injury has rarely been reported. Although there are several hypotheses, particularly regarding the mechanisms of the event, clear evidence is lacking. Here, we report the case of an 84-year-old man with traumatic intracranial hemorrhage and subdural hematoma who underwent decompressive craniectomy and hematoma evacuation in the right hemisphere. After 45 days, cranioplasty was performed using titanium. A preoperative perfusion study with 99m-Tc-HMPAO brain single-photon emission tomography revealed diffuse hypoperfusion in the left cerebral hemisphere with decreased vascular reserve. After cranioplasty, multiple cerebral hemorrhages were observed on immediate postoperative computed tomography. Cerebral hemorrhage eventually improved without surgery. Here, we report a case with findings revealed through perfusion studies before and after surgery.

Although many patients with infective endocarditis (IE) complain of joint, muscle, and back pain, infections at these sights are rare. The incidence of spinal abscess in cervical spine complicating endocarditis is very rare. Although the surgical management is the mainstay of treatment, conservative treatment can get success in selected patients. We report a patient with cervical epidural abscess due to Streptococcus viridans endocarditis. Both epidural abscess and IE were managed conservatively with intravenous antibiotics for 8 weeks, with recovery. It is important to remind spinal epidural abscess can occur in those patients with bacterial endocarditis.
Abscess ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Back Pain ; Endocarditis ; Endocarditis, Bacterial* ; Epidural Abscess* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Joints ; Spine ; Spondylitis ; Viridans Streptococci*

Fractures in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are often difficult to identify and treat. If combined with osteoporosis, the spine becomes weaker and vulnerable to minor trauma. An 83-year-old woman with a history of chronic AS and severe osteoporosis developed paraparesis and voiding difficulty for 4 days prior. She had been placed in the lateral decubitus position in a bedridden state in a convalescent hospital due to the progressive paraparesis. The laboratory findings showed CO₂ retention in the arterial blood gas analysis. After the patient was transferred to the computed tomography (CT) room, a CT was taken in the supine position. Approximately half an hour later, the resident in our neurosurgical department checked on her, and the neurological examination showed a complete paraplegic state. She was treated conservatively and finally expired 20 days later.
Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Female ; Hospitals, Convalescent ; Humans ; Neurologic Examination ; Osteoporosis ; Paraparesis ; Spinal Fractures* ; Spine ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing* ; Supine Position

OBJECTIVE: Preinjection gelfoam embolization during percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) has been thought alternative technique to prevent the leakage of bone cement. The goal of this study was to evaluate whether the gelfoam techniques are useful to reduce bone cement leakage. METHODS: Total 100 PVPs of osteoporotic spine compression fractures were performed by 1 spine surgeon who experienced more than 500 PVP cases under prospective control study. Operation was done in T-L junction (T10-L2) fractures with bi-transpedicular approach. Preinjection gelfoam PVP was done in the 50 levels. As control group, PVP without gelfoam was done in the 50 levels. We did not perform preoperative venography. We inserted normal saline-mixed gelfoam to the anterior third of vertebral body via PVP needle, and then 3mL of polymethylmetacrylate (PMMA) was injected. We prospectively evaluated the incidence and leakage pattern of PMMA by postoperative computed tomography. RESULTS: Between gelfoam and control groups, there were 11 leaks (22%) versus 12 leaks (26%). The mean operation time was 7.00 minutes versus 6.30 minutes. In gelfoam group, there were 6 spinal canal leaks, 4 paravertebral venous leaks, and 1 soft tissue leaks. In control group, there were 4 spinal canal leaks, 8 paravertebral venous leaks, and 1 disc space leak. In spite of cement leakage, there was no symptomatic case in both groups. Statistically, gelfoam technique was not related to decrease the incidence of leakage (p=0.64). CONCLUSION: Our prospective study showed that it did not significantly decrease cement leakage when vertebroplasty is performed by experienced spine surgeon.
Fractures, Compression ; Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable* ; Incidence ; Needles ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; Phlebography ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; Prospective Studies* ; Spinal Canal ; Spine ; Vertebroplasty

OBJECTIVE: Interhemispheric subdural hematoma (IHSDH) is uncommon, because of their unusual location. However, it is a distinct lesion with its unique characteristics. We investigated clinical features and outcomes of consecutive 42 patients with IHSDH, retrospectively. METHODS: From 2006 to 2015, we treated 105 patients with IHSDH. All patients were diagnosed by computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging. We selected 42 patients with thick (3 mm or more) IHSDH. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiological findings, management and outcomes. RESULTS: The male to female ratio was 2:1. Two thirds of the patients were over 60 years old. Slip or fall was the most common cause of trauma. The level of consciousness on admission was Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) 13 to 15 in 25 patients. The most common symptom was headache. All IHSDH was hyperdense in CT at the time of diagnosis. IHSDH frequently accompanied convexity subdural hematoma. The outcome was favorable in 27 patients, however, six patients were expired. Twenty-two patients were managed conservatively. Surgery was performed in ten patients to remove the concurrent lesion. The outcome was poor in spontaneous one, patients with low GCS, and patients with conservative treatment. CONCLUSION: IHSDH is rare especially the isolated one. The outcome was dependent to the severity of injury. Surgery may be helpful to remove the concurrent mass lesion, however, conservative treatment is generally preferred.
Consciousness ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Glasgow Outcome Scale ; Headache ; Hematoma, Subdural* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Symptom Assessment

OBJECTIVE: Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a condition mostly present in older people. Men are more commonly affected than women. Several theories about male predominance could not enough to explain the reason for male predominance on CSDH. The purpose of this study is to find out whether there were any differences in the anatomy of cranium, which may contribute the pathogenesis or risk factors of CSDH. METHODS: The study population was consisted of 87 patients with CSDH and 100 patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) from 2006 to 2013. We classified into four groups; group A (CSDH male 47), group B (CSDH female 40), group C (TIA male 50), and group D (TIA female 50). We measured the size of the cranium in the computed tomography scans, retrospectively. We define the difference of cranium (Dc), which is difference between the right and left radiuses. RESULTS: The Dc was significantly higher in patients with CSDH (group A and B)(p=0.03). The mean Dc was 3.49 mm in CSDH group (group A and B) and 2.14 mm in TIA group (group C and D). The mean Dc of CSDH group was significantly larger than that of TIA group (by t-test, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Size and asymmetry of the cranium may be a risk factor of CSDH. Gender differences in the anatomy of cranium may contribute pathogenesis of CSDH.
Craniocerebral Trauma ; Female ; Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic* ; Humans ; Ischemic Attack, Transient ; Male ; Radius ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Skull