Four thoroughbred horses showing lameness, ataxia, circling, depression, recumbency, and seizures, were examined. The horses had gross, pale- to dark-red manifestations and foci in the central nervous system (CNS). Multifocal to coalescing eosinophilic necrotizing encephalomyelitis was observed histologically in the CNS along with intact or degenerated nematodes. Nematodes had polymyarian-coelomyarian musculature, a smooth thin cuticle, and intestines lined by multinucleated cells with microvilli. These traits suggested the nematodes belonged to the family Protostrongylidae, which includes Parelaphostrongylus tenuis. It was concluded that the horses were infected by nematodes, presumably Parelaphostrongylus tenuis, resulting in eosinophilic necrotizing encephalomyelitis.
Ataxia ; Central Nervous System ; Depression ; Encephalomyelitis* ; Eosinophils* ; Horses* ; Humans ; Intestines ; Microvilli ; Parasites* ; Seizures

The functional knee hrace has been used to provide or to assist knee stahility in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficient knee, Nowadays, it is more indicated in the postoperative care of ACL injury to protect the reconstructed or repaired ligament, but eontroversies still exist regarding the effectiveness and the selection of an appropriate model. For successful application, it must restrict the knee motion within the range of certain arc, especially hyperextension, during weight bearing together with convenience and comfort.. The six commercial functional knee braces, which were introduced in Korea, were ehecked to detect the angle discrepancy between angle of brace and knee joint motion. The purpose of this study was to guide correct application of the functional knee brace in preventing hyperextension of the knee joint. Each brace was grouped into small, medium and large by size, and fixed with the arc of motion 30 to 90. The brace was applied to 3 healthy volunteers whose size was just fit mth the brace size small, rnedium and large, respectively. True lateral X-ray of the knee joint was taken in active flexion and extension state under the fluoroscopic control and measured the lateral intershaft angle of femur and tibia. Average angle discrepancy between the brace and the intershaft ang]e of femur and tibia in active extension was 22 and 3 in acTive flexion. In active extension at 30, angle discrepancy of Denzo brace was the large:st recording 26, that of Sentry hrace was the smallest recording 17. In active flexion at 90', angle discrcyancy of Sentry hrace was the largest recording 13, that of ACL brace (custom made modified Sentry brace) was the smallest recording 2. There was no statistically significant difference of the angle discrepancy among each size of brace. This study suggests that, at least 20 of angle discrepancy must be considered in appling the knee brace for prevention of hyperextension of the knee joint and careful selection of the brace, which may be affected by the design of hrace and the soft tissue compliance, is mandatory.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; Braces* ; Compliance ; Femur ; Healthy Volunteers ; Knee Joint ; Knee* ; Korea ; Ligaments ; Postoperative Care ; Tibia ; Weight-Bearing

OBJECTIVE: The rat middle cerebral artery thread-occlusion model has been widely used to investigate the pathophysiological mechanisms of stroke and to develop therapeutic treatment. This study was conducted to analyze energy metabolism, apoptotic signal pathways, and genetic changes in the hippocampus of the ischemic rat brain. METHODS: Focal transient cerebral ischemia was induced by obstructing the middle cerebral artery for two hours. After 24 hours, the induction of ischemia was confirmed by the measurement of infarct size using 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. A cDNA microarray assay was performed after isolating the hippocampus, and was used to examine changes in genetic expression patterns. RESULTS: According to the cDNA microarray analysis, a total of 1,882 and 2,237 genes showed more than a 2-fold increase and more than a 2-fold decrease, respectively. When the genes were classified according to signal pathways, genes related with oxidative phosphorylation were found most frequently. There are several apoptotic genes that are known to be expressed during ischemic brain damage, including Akt2 and Tnfrsf1a. In this study, the expression of these genes was observed to increase by more than 2-fold. As energy metabolism related genes grew, ischemic brain damage was affected, and the expression of important genes related to apoptosis was increased/decreased. CONCLUSION: Our analysis revealed a significant change in the expression of energy metabolism related genes (Atp6v0d1, Atp5g2, etc.) in the hippocampus of the ischemic rat brain. Based on this data, we feel these genes have the potential to be target genes used for the development of therapeutic agents for ischemic stroke.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Brain ; Brain Ischemia* ; Energy Metabolism ; Gene Expression* ; Hippocampus* ; Ischemia ; Ischemic Attack, Transient ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Oxidative Phosphorylation ; Rats* ; Signal Transduction ; Stroke

PURPOSE: Low-birth-weight(LBW) neonates often need multiple transfusions during their neonatal period. The routine use of the 500ml mono-bag system in Korea, even in neonatal transfusions, results in a great waste of blood and exposes the neonate to multiple blood donors. To reduce the waste of blood and the number of exposures, we used quadruple blood bags in the transfusion of LBW neonates. METHODS: From November 1995 to April 1997, 86 neonates weighing less than 2,000gm were enrolled in this study. Forty-four of those neonates needed blood transfusions. Using quadruple blood bags, we were able to safely make 3 units of packed red blood cell(RBC) from each directed donors. RESULTS: Seventy-seven units of packed RBC could be made from 29 directed donors and 58 of those units were actually transfused to the 25 neonates. Blood age of the directed donor blood prepared in the quadruple blood bags were relatively older than those of bank bloods at the time of transfusion, thus, K+ concentration was higher but the total K+ amounts infused through transfusions were within tolerable ranges in both groups. CONCLUSION: Using quadruple blood bag in the transfusion of LBW neonates, we could reduce the number of donor exposures and also the waste of blood. K+ loads to the neonates through the transfusion of directed donor blood were within tolerable range in the neonatal physiology.
Blood Donors ; Blood Transfusion ; Humans ; Infant, Low Birth Weight* ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Newborn* ; Korea ; Physiology ; Tissue Donors

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the lifestyle associated with weight gain and persistent overweight for 2 years. METHODS: The subjects were 580 workers (109 men, 471 women) at one university affiliated hospital. Their height and weight were measured twice in 2000 and 2002. A questionnaire, about lifestyle was filled out in 2000. The questionnaire included the average amount of alcohol intake and the number of days per week in which alcohol was consumed, smoking status, and the number of days per week in which exercise was done. Their weight change in 2 years was calculated and their weight status was classified into two groups: persistent normal weight (BMI <23 kg/m2) and persistent overweight (BMI> or =23 kg/m2). RESULTS: Among the total, 54.3% of men and 10.0% of women had persistent overweight over 2 years. Overall 93.4% of overweight men and 68.7% of overweight women remained overweight after 2 years. Compared with male non-smokers and male ex- smokers, current male smokers gained weight as much as 1.17 kg over 2 years after adjusting for age and initial BMI (P=0.033). Compared with females who exercised less than 3 per week, those who exercised 3 or more per week lost weight as much as 1.21 kg over 2 years after adjusting for age and initial BMI (P=0.005). Compared with males who consumed alcohol an average of< or =30 g per consumption, those who consumed an average of > 30 g were 4.1 times (95% C.I. 1.04~16.21) more likely to maintain persistent overweight over 2 years after adjustment for age and frequency of alcohol use. However no particular lifestyle was shown to predict the risk of persistent overweight for women. CONCLUSION: Regular exercise of moderate intensity and modest alcohol consumption seemed to prevent weight gain and persistent overweight. Such lifestyle may be encouraged to maintain healthy weight.
Alcohol Drinking ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Life Style* ; Male ; Overweight* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Weight Gain*

Acupuncture appears to be a clinically effective treatment for acute and chronic pain. A considerable amount of research has been conducted to evaluate the role that acupuncture plays in pain suppression; however, few studies have been conducted to evaluate the side effects of the acupuncture procedure. This case report describes a suspected postdural puncture headache following acupuncture for lower back pain. Considering the high opening pressure, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, and the patient's history of acupuncture in the lower back area, our diagnosis was iatrogenic postdural puncture headache. Full relief of the headache was achieved after administration of an epidural blood patch.
Acupuncture ; Blood Patch, Epidural ; Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure ; Chronic Pain ; Headache ; Low Back Pain ; Needles ; Post-Dural Puncture Headache

Tumors of the pineal area are a small proportion of neoplasm of the brain and the majority of these tumor are pathologically classified as pinealoma, Until recently, ventriculography was the most useful diagnostic methods in suspected cases of pineal tumor. However, the diagnosis of posterior third ventricular tumor may be established easily with computed tomography(CT) and its size, shape, component of tumor and the direction of expansion may be visualized. Authors had experienced nine cases of the pineal tumor during about two years from October 1977 to July 1979, which were diagnosed with CT, EMI-5005 in type. We presented a clinical findings for our cases and attempted to assess clinically. The result were summarized as following; 1. The age range was from 5 months after birth to 39 years. Of 9 cases, 6 cases were below age of 20 years and 3 over age of 20 years. All but one were found in males. 2. The duration of symptoms varied from two weeks to eighteen months. The average was approximately 7 months. 3. The symptoms and signs depend on the route taken by the expanding tumors. In our series, headache found in all cases initially, vomiting in 7 cases, and papilledema in 7 cases on admission. Parinaud's sign showed in 5 cases of all patients and papillary change in 3 cases. Of 9 cases, 3 cases had a transient DI symptoms and 2 cases manifested cerebellar dysfunction in corresponding to CT findings. 4. We had performed CT scan on all cases and diagnosed pineal tumor. In pre-enhancement CT, increased density around pineal area showed in 5 cases, isodensity in 2 cases and low density in 2 cases. Among the 9 cases, 5 cases, showed well outlined a lesion by contrast enhancement. All of the cases showed symmetrical dilatation of lateral ventricles with variable degree and distortion and compression defect to the posterior third ventricle disclosed in 6 cases. 5. We had treated 8 cases with V-P shunt following irradiation therapy ranged 3000-600 Rad. in total amount for 5-6 weeks. A case of the pineal tumor had treated with V-P shunt alone because of full coma at admission. We performed biopsy through the infratentorial supracerebellar approach in one case only and confirmed pineocytoma histopathologically. 6. The result of treatment obtained as follows with excellent in 3 cases, good in 4, poor in one, and death in one case. Two cases with exellent result of treatment spend their life happily without any symptoms and follow up CT disclosed no evidence of previous tumor shadow and normal sized ventricles. A poor case developed quadriplegia during irradiation therapy due to tumor seeding to cervical cord probably.
Biopsy ; Brain ; Cerebellar Diseases ; Coma ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Headache ; Humans ; Lateral Ventricles ; Male ; Papilledema ; Parturition ; Pinealoma* ; Quadriplegia ; Third Ventricle ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vomiting

Lipoleiomyoma is an uncommon neoplasm of the uterus, composed of smooth muscles intermixed with mature adipocytes. These tumors are considered a benign variant of uterine leiomyomas. Herein, we report six cases of lipoleiomyoma experienced in our institution from January 2005 to March 2015. The patients ranged in age from 45 to 70 years; the etiology may be related to estrogen deficiency occurring after menopausal transition. Except for one lipoleiomyoma in the broad ligament, all others were found in the uterine corpus. The presenting symptoms were nonspecific, and most cases were incidentally diagnosed during surgery for other reasons. We performed preoperative imaging studies, including abdominal and pelvic computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Preoperatively, four patients were diagnosed as having a pelvic mass and one patient was diagnosed as having a right ovarian mature teratoma. In one case, we found a gynecologic malignancy (cervical cancer 1A1). Histologically, there was no gross or microscopic contiguity between the lipoleiomyoma and the malignancy. Lipoleiomyomas seem to have a benign clinical course. In our study, there were no recurrences of or deaths attributed to the lipoleiomyomas during a mean follow-up period of 16.17 +/- 23.80 months.
Adipocytes ; Broad Ligament ; Estrogens ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leiomyoma ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Muscle, Smooth ; Myofibroma ; Perimenopause ; Postmenopause ; Recurrence ; Teratoma ; Uterus

Trichiasis is usually associated with congenital entropion or conjunctival destruction from disease or injuries. Cicatricial entropion follows scarring of the palpebral conjunctiva, which may be caused by chemical injuries, surgical procedures, trauma and infections. Numerous surgical procedures have been described for correction of trichiasis and cicatricial entropion in accordance with the severity and location of the condition. We have treated partial trichiasis in 2 cases(4 lids),(one involving nasal one forth of the upper lid with corrected congenital ptosis and the other in temporal one forth of the upper lid with narrow palpebral fissure) and cicatricial entropion on the middle one forth of the upper lid in 3 cases(3 lids) with transposition of skin flaps. The resuits were satisfactory.
Cicatrix ; Conjunctiva ; Entropion* ; Intraoperative Complications ; Skin* ; Trichiasis*

Objectives: The objective of this study was to develop models for predicting obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) based on easily obtainable clinical information of patients using various machine learning techniques. Methods: We used a data set that included the records of 1,368 patients, in which 1,074 patients were male (78.5 %), and 294 patients were female (21.5 %). We randomly divided the data into a training set (1,000) and test set (368). Five machine learning methods, i.e., support vector machine model, lasso logit model, naïve bayes, discriminant analysis, and K-nearest neighbor (KNN), with a 10-cross fold technique were used with the proposed model to predict OSA. We evaluated the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and precision of each model for three thresholds [Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI)≥5, AHI≥15, and AHI≥30]. Results: Among the machine learning techniques, KNN showed the best results compared to the other techniques. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and precision of OSA prediction were 87.0%, 91.0%, 74.4%, and 91.9%, respectively, based on AHI≥5. When the threshold of OSA was AHI≥15 or AHI≥30, KNN provided lower accuracy (79.6% each) and precision (79.0% and 68.7%), which were still higher than those of the other techniques. Conclusions The model derived from the KNN technique exhibited the best performance based on its highest level of accuracy. We demonstrate that this model is a useful tool for predicting OSA.