No abstract available.
Glomerular Basement Membrane*

STUDY DESIGN: Case report OBJECTIVES: To report a case of video-assisted thoracoscopic (VAT) minimally invasive anterior interbody fusion of the T11-T12 level using direct lateral interbody fusion (DLIF) devices. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Interbody fusion of the thoracolumbar junction (especially T11-T12) is technically challenging from anterior, lateral, or posterior approaches. A VAT anterior interbody fusion approach using DLIF devices is a safe, minimally invasive alternative approach to the thoracolumbar spine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 37-year-old male pedestrian was struck by a car sustaining fracture-dislocation at the T11-T12 level. The accident resulted in complete paraplegia of both lower extremities and multiple lower extremity fractures. A classical instrumented posterolateral fusion from T8 to L3 and staged VAT anterior interbody fusion at the T11-T12 level were performed. RESULTS: At one year postoperatively, he was capable of independent ambulation using a wheelchair without back pain, and plain radiographs and CT scans showed a solid fusion at the T11-T12 level. CONCLUSIONS: VAT anterior interbody fusion using DLIF devices provides excellent access to the anterior spinal column with the added benefits of an improved field of view and can be a safe and effective alternative to open thoracotomy in the management of various thoracolumbar junction problems.
Adult ; Back Pain ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Paraplegia ; Spine ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Thoracotomy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Walking ; Wheelchairs

No abstract available.
Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell

No abstract available.
Blepharoplasty*

No abstract available.
Brain* ; Meningitis* ; Tuberculoma*

Methods: Thirty-six patients with calcific tendinitis of the shoulder treated by US-guided barbotage with a spinal needle and subacromial steroid injection were included in the study. We evaluated clinical outcomes based on American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, Constant score, and visual analog scale (VAS) for pain score. Radiological outcomes were assessed by X-ray imaging at each visit. Results: Our results showed that US-guided barbotage and subacromial steroid injection produced good clinical and radiological outcomes in patients with calcific tendinitis of the shoulder. Of the 36 patients, only one required surgical treatment, while the others showed improvement without any complications. Compared to values before the procedure, calcific deposit size and VAS, ASES, and Constant scores showed significant improvement 6 weeks after the procedure. No significant correlation was found between the initial calcific deposit size and clinical outcomes at each time point. Conclusions In patients with calcific tendinitis of the shoulder, US-guided barbotage using a spinal needle and subacromial steroid injection can yield satisfactory clinical and radiological results.

PURPOSE: Pedestrian traffic accident (TA) deaths account for 40% of Korea's annual TA fatalities. With that in mind, we reviewed the cases of traumatic pedestrian TA patients admitted to emergency medical centers in Korea. We analysed factors affecting the severity of injury in order to investigate risk factors for subsequent traumatic threats. METHODS: Prospective methods were applied using a prepared trauma recording format. Trauma records included patient factors (age, gender, occupation, underlying disease), accident factors (time of accident, weather conditions, transportation time, vehicle type causing the accident, influence of alcoholic on both drivers and victims, accident location), and other factors (means of initial hospital admittance transportation). We reviewed medical records to obtain data for vital signs, Glasgow coma scale (GCS), abbreviated injury scale (AIS), injury severity score (ISS), and trauma and injury severity score (TRISS). We divided subjects into 3 groups according to their ISS scores: mild (1-8 points), moderate (9-15 points), severe (>==16 points). These groups were compared with each other regarding degree of severity? RESULTS: We analyzed data for 23,392 traumatized patients that presented at an EMC. Of the 23,392, 252 (3.1%) were pedestrian TA patients. Among this pedestrian cohort, males 156 patients (male 61.9% and female 38.1%; p=0.332). Mean age was 43.1 (+/-19.9). Severity was greater in those over 40 years of age compared those under 40 (p=0.000). Farmer's had the greatest severity than patients in other occupations (p=0.004). Those with an underlying disease showed a higher degree of severity (p=0.028). The most common accident site was city roads (85.7%) but the degree of severity at such sites did not was not significantly greater (p=0.052). Sports utility vehicle (SUV) had the highest rate of accident severity (p=0.004). Cases involving drunken drivers had victims with higher severity (p=0.005). CONCLUSION: Factors that increase the rate of fatalities pedestrian TAs are: older age, underlying illness, working in the agricultural sector, driving an SUV, the patient being in a drunken state.
Abbreviated Injury Scale ; Accidents, Traffic ; Alcoholics ; Cohort Studies ; Emergencies ; Female ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Humans ; Injury Severity Score ; Korea ; Male ; Medical Records ; Occupations ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sports ; Transportation ; Vital Signs ; Weather

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the CT findings of phytobezoar associated with small bowel obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 19 patients with phytobezoar associated with small bowel obstruction, two of whom had underlying small bowel disease, we analyzed the morphological characteristics of phytobezoars and changes in the bowel and perienteric regions, as revealed by abdominal Ct imaging. RESULTS: On CT, phytobezoars appeared as single or multiple, gas-containing masses in 17 patients (89%) and as a solid mass without gas in the remaining two (11%). An encapsulating wall was noted in six patients (32%). Among the 17 without underlying small bowel disease, the bowel wall was thickened in 13 (76%) at the obstructed site and/or the bowel proximal to the obstruction. Mesenteric vascular engorgement and haziness were seen in 18 patients (95%) and a small amount of ascites in six (32%). MR images of one patient showed the phytobezoar as a hypointense mass on all sequences. CONCLUSION: CT imaging is useful for the diagnosis of phytobezoar associated with small bowel obstruction.
Ascites ; Bezoars ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Proteasomes are the primary degradation machinery for oxidatively damaged proteins that compose a class of misfolded protein substrates. Cellular levels of reactive oxygen species increase with age and this cellular propensity is particularly harmful when combined with the age-associated development of various human disorders including cancer, neurodegenerative disease and muscle atrophy. Proteasome activity is reportedly downregulated in these disease conditions. Herein, we report that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a major dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, mediates intermolecular protein cross-linkages through oxidation, and the resulting protein aggregates potently reduce proteasomal activity both in vitro and in cultured cells. Cellular models overexpressing aggregation-prone proteins such as tau showed significantly elevated levels of tau aggregates and total ubiquitin conjugates in the presence of DHA, thereby reflecting suppressed proteasome activity. Strong synergetic cytotoxicity was observed when the cells overexpressing tau were simultaneously treated with DHA. Antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine significantly desensitized the cells to DHA-induced oxidative stress. DHA significantly delayed the proteasomal degradation of muscle proteins in a cellular atrophy model. Thus, the results of our study identified DHA as a potent inducer of cellular protein aggregates that inhibit proteasome activity and potentially delay systemic muscle protein degradation in certain pathologic conditions.
Atrophy ; Cells, Cultured ; Cysteine ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques* ; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal* ; Muscle Proteins ; Muscular Atrophy* ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Oxidative Stress ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex* ; Protein Aggregates* ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Ubiquitin

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to assess the growth of neo-aorta and its implication to neo-aortic insufficiency in children with complete transposition of great arteries (TGA) after arterial switch operation (ASO). METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed medical records, echocardiograms and cardiac catheterization of 40 patients who had underwent ASO at Samsung Medical Center from 1995 through 2001. Pulmonary artery and aorta were evaluated regarding its stenosis and regurgitation, respectively. The growth of the neo-aortic valve, sinus of neo-aortic Valsalva, and the site of aortic anastomosis were evaluated by measuring the change of the diameter. RESULT: The mean duration of follow-up after ASO was 17.2+/-12.4 months (range 1.2-67 months). Aortic insufficiency (AI) developed in 45%, in which all were mild. The neo-aortic annulus (originally pulmonary annulus) had grown as normal pulmonic valve does do (diameter of pulmonary valve annulus preoperatively, 8.9+/-1.22 mm; postoperatively at more than 6 months, 12.8+/-2.2mm). The anastomotic site of neo-aorta showed a growth curve equivalent to that of sinotubular junction of normal aorta (preoperative diameter, 7.7+/-1.4 mm; postoperatively at more than 6months, 12.7+/-3.1mm). However, the growth rate of sinus of Valsalva showed a extremely higher compared to that of normal aorta (preoperative diameter, 10.5+/-1.2 mm; postoperatively at more than 6 months, 18.8+/-2.6 mm). No significant relations could be revealed between the change of dimension of aortic root and aortic insufficiency. CONCLUSION: Aortic insufficiency was not uncommon but mild aortic dilatation was not significantly associated with AI. Although the short term result is encouraging, long-term surveillance for aortic root dilatation and aortic insufficiency remains necessary.
Aorta ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Child ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Dilatation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Valve ; Retrospective Studies ; Sinus of Valsalva ; Transposition of Great Vessels*