No abstract available.
Carotid-Cavernous Sinus Fistula*

BACKGROUND: Glycolic acid is currently reported to have beneficial effects on the photoaged skin. These effects may be through the modulatory action of glycolic acid in the production of dermal extracellular matrix proteins of fibroblast. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the specific effect of glycolic acid on the collagen and elastic fiber gene expression in vitro. METHODS: Human skin fibroblasts were cultured from normal skins of excised specimens and glycolic acid (75 µg/ml) was treated. After 24 hours of treatment, six each cell lines were processed for extraction of RNA and subjected to Northern analysis. RESULTS: Type I collagen mRNA expression was significantly increased in the glycolic acid-treated fibroblasts. Elastin mRNA expression did not show any significant change. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that glycolic acid induced the increase of type I collagen mRNA expression and had the specific biologic effect on fibroblast.
Cell Line ; Collagen Type I ; Collagen* ; Elastic Tissue ; Elastin ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins ; Fibroblasts* ; Gene Expression* ; Humans* ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin*

The ligamentum nuchae is a midline structure extending from the occiput to the spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra. Radio-opaque formations in the soft tissues behind the processes of the cervical spine has been known to radiologists since Barsony's description in 1929. It may actually be a normal sesamoid, or it may have developed as a result of previous trauma. But this remains hypothetical in that histological endochondral ossification sequence has not yet been demonstrated. These are generally asymptomatic and of clinical significance only in so far as they may be confused with fracture or tumors. Two patients who had clinical symptoms with or without previous trauma visited and they were relieved of their clinical symptoms by surgical excision. Then, we report on two unusual cases which were symptomatic.
Humans ; Spine

No abstract available.
Decompression* ; Spinal Stenosis*

No abstract available.
Paralyses, Familial Periodic*

No abstract available.
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome*

BACKGROUND: Most surgical patients experience preoperative anxiety. This anxiety can effect the amount of preanesthetic medication and anesthetic agents needed, and contribute to postoperative pain. Music has been recognized as a way to reduce anxiety and fear. The effect of hymn and sutra-chanting on the preanesthetic patient's anxiety in the operating room were studied. METHODS: 98 patients were divided into two groups according to the religionist or atheism. Group I(n=50, religionist) and Group II(n=48, atheism) listened to hymn or sutra-chanting according to the patient's religion and choice. At ward, hemodynamic variables including systolic and diastolic blood pressure and pulse rate were measured as control values. Hemodynamic variables and measurements of anxiety score with Hamilton anxiety rating scale were made at pre-music and post-music in the operating room. Also, patient's response to the music was measured on the postoperative 5-6th day. RESULTS: There were no difference between ward, pre-music, and post-music in terms of systolic pressure, diastolic pressure and pulse rate except the systolic pressure at pre-music that is grater than that of controls in both groups. Both group, anxiety score at post-music was significantly lower than that of pre-music (10.2+/-3.4 vs 4.4+/-2.9, 11.0+/-3.2 vs 5.7+/-3.1). At post-music, anxiety score in Group I showed significant reduced compaired with Group II (p<0.05). Patients showed relatively good satisfaction with music in both groups. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that music with hymn and Sutra-chanting were effective to reduce preanesthetic anxiety in both religionist group and atheism group.
Anesthesia ; Anesthetics ; Anxiety* ; Blood Pressure ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Music ; Operating Rooms* ; Pain, Postoperative ; Preanesthetic Medication ; Premedication

PURPOSE: Although percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) has been accepted as a standard method for the management of large renal stones, the incidence of renal hemorrhage is relatively high. This study investigated the variables that affect bleeding during PCNL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of 370 patients who underwent PCNL by a single surgeon from January 2005 to December 2010 were reviewed retrospectively. All patients were divided into two groups according to median blood loss (lesser bleeding group and higher bleeding group). Various clinical and perioperative factors including age, sex, stone size and position, degree of hydronephrosis, operative time, underlying disease, history of anticoagulant medication, presence of previous nephrostomy catheter, stone composition, and thickness of the renal cortex were assessed. For statistical assessment, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 48.8 years (range, 22 to 75 years). Forty-three patients (11.6%) received a transfusion and 9 patients (2.4%) underwent angioembolization after surgery. The mean blood loss was 511.8+/-341.3 mL. Body mass index (BMI), stone size, stone position, operation time, and degree of preoperative hydronephrosis were predictive factors for severe bleeding during PCNL. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the results achieved by a single surgeon, staghorn stones, high BMI, large stones, prolonged operation time, and absence of hydronephrosis were significantly associated with the risk of severe bleeding during PCNL.
Body Mass Index ; Catheters ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Incidence ; Kidney Calculi ; Logistic Models ; Medical Records ; Nephrostomy, Percutaneous ; Operative Time ; Retrospective Studies

The distribution of GABA and/or glycine like immunoreactive nerve terminals on the soma of the masseteric gamma motoneurons were investigated using retrograde tracing of WGA-HRP (wheat germ agglutinin conjugated horseradish peroxidase) and postembedding immunogold labeling methods in serial ultrathin sections. Quantitative analysis of 140 nerve terminals apposing on somata of gamma motoneuron size less than 21 mm in average diameter was performed. The results obtained were as follows. 1. Synaptic covering % of apposing nerve terminals was 21.45+/-11.48% and packing density was 12.85+/-6.17. 2. Nerve terminals immunoreactive (IR) to GABA or glycine were F type containing pleomorphic vesicles with round shape predominant. Majority of nerve terminals immunonegative to GABA or glycine were S type containing spherical vesicles and few of them were F type. 3. 11.42+/-10.00% of examined nerve terminals were IR to GABA only, and 12.71+/-9.85% were IR to GABA and glycine, and 15.21+/-9.58% were IR to glycine only. 4. Synaptic covering % of nerve terminals IR to glycine only was highest (4.58+/-4.50%), followed in order by GABA and glycine (3.18+/-2.77%), and GABA only (2.38+/-2.06%). 5. Among all terminals, immunonegative nerve terminals (60.66+/-14.65%) were much more than nerve terminals immunoreactive to GABA and/or glycine (39.34+/-14.65%) These results show that inhibitory synaptic input and synaptic organization of the masseteric gamma motoneurons reveal characteristic features in contrast to that of alpha motoneurons and which may correlated to the electrophysi-ological characteristics of masseteric gamma motoneurons.
Animals ; Armoracia ; Carisoprodol ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid* ; Glycine* ; Jaw* ; Presynaptic Terminals* ; Rats* ; Wheat Germ Agglutinin-Horseradish Peroxidase Conjugate

PURPOSE: To evaluate the plain radiographic and CT findings of the necrotizing fasciitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the radiologic findings of 4 cases with necrotizing fasciitis. Three cases were proven pathologically. We evaluated pattern and extent of the gas shadows in plain films. CT findings were analysed, with emphasis on : (a) gas pattern, (b) extent, (c) location and involved site, (d) associated focal abscess, and (e) swelling of the adjacent muscles. RESULTS: On plain radiographs, four cases showed streaky or mottled gas densities in the pelvis, three cases in the perineum, one case in the abdomen, and two cases in the thigh. On CT images, gas pattern was mottled and streaky appearance with swelling of the adjacent muscles. Gasshadows located in the extraperitoneal space in four cases, fascial layer in four cases, and subcutaneous layer infour cases. There were gas shadows in pelvic wall, perineum, abdominal wall, buttock, thigh, and scrotum. Focallow density lesion suggestive of focal abscess was not visualized. CONCLUSION: Plain radiography is useful forearly diagnosis of the necrotizing fasciitis and CT is very useful for detection of precise location and extent of the disease. CT is also useful for differentiation of necrotizing fasciitis from focal abscess and cellulitis.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Wall ; Abscess ; Buttocks ; Cellulitis ; Diagnosis ; Fasciitis, Necrotizing* ; Muscles ; Pelvis ; Perineum ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Scrotum ; Thigh