BACKGROUND: The prognostic value of motor evoked potentials(MEP) by transcranial magnetic timulations(TMS) in acute stroke has not been well established. To determine the value of MEP as predictors of motor and functional recovery we examined correlations of neurophysiological measurements of central motor conduction time(CMCT) and functional assessments. METHOD: A longitudinal study was performed on 32 first-ever acute ischemic stroke patients. The cortical and cervical motor evoked potentials(MEPs) along with the degree of extremity weakness, the NIH stroke scale, and the Barthel index were performed in the period immediately following stroke and after 3-4 months of the onset. RESULTS: Five groups of patients were divided on the basis of MEP responses following the cortical stimulation; initial normal response following the normal one (group I; 11), initial delayed response following a normal or still delayed one (group II; 3/group III; 0), and an initial absent response with the reappearance of CMCT or still absent one (group IV; 8/group V; 10). Patients in group I,II and IV had consistently lower scores in motor weakness degree and NIH scale and higher scores in the Barthel index both at initial and follow-up studies, and achieved significantly better functional recovery(p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Discordant results of MEP in predicting the prognosis of stroke may result from the disregard of group IV, which had previously been considered as a poor outcome group solely because no cortical MEP responses were recorded at the initial study. As the MEP alone during the acute stage could not differentiate group IV from group V which had a persistent absence of cortical MEP responses, the evaluation of the neurological deficit at the same time is needed for better prediction of prognosis.
Evoked Potentials ; Evoked Potentials, Motor* ; Extremities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Longitudinal Studies* ; Prognosis ; Stroke*

No abstract available.
Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome*

Epidermal cysts are intradermal or subcutaneous cystic tumors that frequently occur in the face, scalp, neck, and body trunk. Acquired cases of epidermal cyst commonly occur as a result of various surgical operations, chronic irritation, or trauma, all of which may trigger the occurrence of the invagination of squamous epithelium. A 57-year-old man presented with a palpable mass 7 cm×2 cm in size in the upper lip. The patient had a 3-year history of wearing a denture to restore missing bilateral maxillary central and lateral incisors, accompanied by inflammatory findings on the buccal mucosa due to chronic lip irritation. The resected oval-shaped cyst had a size of 5.5 cm×3.0 cm×2.5 cm, and it was an encapsulated mass with a well-defined margin. The histopathology was typical of epidermal cyst. This case of a rare giant upper lip epidermal cyst in a patient wearing a denture may be of interest to clinicians.
Dentures* ; Epidermal Cyst* ; Epithelium ; Humans ; Incisor ; Lip* ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Mucosa ; Neck ; Scalp

We report two cases of malignant schwannoma of skin in association with non-familial neurofibromatosis. Case 1, a 47 year old man, had a large subcutaneous tumor on the sacral area and case 2, a 62 year old woman, a painful, ulcerating tumor on the posterior aspect of the left arm. Both cases were histopathologically confirmed as malignant schwannomas and immunohistochemical studies showed 5-100 protein in the tumor cells. After surgical excision of the tumors, case 1 was lost to follow up, while case 2 remained without evidence of disease for more than one and half years.
Arm ; Female ; Humans ; Lost to Follow-Up ; Neurilemmoma* ; Neurofibromatoses* ; Skin ; Ulcer

Short nose is characterized by decreased distance from the nasion to tip defining point and increased nasolabial angle with increased nostril show. Lengthening the short nose is arguably the most difficult operation in aesthetic rhinoplasty. We have described here a simple and easy technique that lengthen the short nose by using silicone implant has been popular among Asian for augmentation rhinoplasty. Through open rhinoplastic approach, wide undermining of the nasal skin is performed to allow redraping of the skin over the lengthened skeletal framework without excessive tension. Alar cartilage is released from upper lateral cartilage and relocated caudally. After relocation of alar cartilage, silicone implant is inserted in subperiosteal pocket and immobilized by nonabsorbable suture material at dorsal aspect of septal cartilage. Narrow caudal end of implant is sutured between medial crura of alar cartilage which were caudally rotated. This implant not only raise the nasion but can move the tip-defining point caudally by keeping the alar cartilage in new position. Tip graft is done with conchal cartilage. We have got the satisfactory result in cosmetic aspect without any complications.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cartilage ; Humans ; Nose* ; Rhinoplasty ; Silicones* ; Skin ; Sutures ; Transplants

PURPOSE: Detrusor instability (DI) is a main cause of persistent voiding difficulty after TURP in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). So we retrospectively estimated the effect of TURP in BPH patients with DI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of the 81 patients who had undergone TURP due to prostatism, 35 patients with BPH were followed at 3 weeks and 6 months postoperatively (21 without DI cases vs. 14 with DI; 6 persistent DI, 7 resolved DI, 1 missing case at 3 weeks and 4 persistent DI, 7 resolved DI, 2 missing cases at 6 months). We compared each group using symptom score (IPSS) and urodynamic parameters. RESULTS: Each irritative and obstructive symptoms were significantly improved in both group (p<0.05). The maximal flow rate (from 12.2 to 25.4ml/sec), average flow rate (from 8.9 to 15.2ml/ sec), residual urine volume (from 135.9 to 39.1ml) in patients without DI and maximal bladder volume (from 150.0 to 203.7ml), maximal flow rate (from 12.5 to 18.6ml/sec), residual urine volume (from 65.7 to 26.0ml) in patients with DI were improved significantly (p<0.05) after TURP, but other parameters were not improved (p>0.05). There were no significant differences in all parameters between 3 weeks and 6 months postoperative period (p>0.05). The amplitude of improvement had no significant difference between two group. There were no significant differences in IPSS and urodynamic parameters between persistent and resolved DI group. CONCLUSION: We suggest that TURP is good therapeutic option even in BPH patients with DI at short term postoperative period, but attempt to predict which patients would have persistent DI following TURP was failed.
Humans ; Postoperative Period ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Prostatism ; Retrospective Studies ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate* ; Urinary Bladder ; Urodynamics*

No abstract available.
Blotting, Western ; Cells, Cultured ; Connective Tissue Cells/drug effects/metabolism ; Endothelin-1/*biosynthesis ; Fibroblasts/*drug effects/metabolism ; Humans ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1/*pharmacology

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Printing, Three-Dimensional*

No abstract available.
Printing, Three-Dimensional*