STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study OBJECTIVES: To compare the radiological and clinical outcomes of three surgical methods SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: There were many proposed surgical treatments for lumbar degenerative kyphosis but the best treatment is still controversial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty three patients (all female) had undergone surgery. The mean age at surgery was 61.2. The average follow-up period was 34.7 months. The patients were divided into three groups. Group A included 7 cases with a correction by a posterior osteotomy, Group B included 15 with a posterior correction without an osteotomy, and Group C included 11 with combined anterior-posterior surgery. The radiographic measurements of lumbar lordosis, upper lumbar lordosis, lower lumbar lordosis, and pelvic tilt were performed before surgery, after surgery, and at the final follow-up visit. The loss of correction, complication rates and the clinical results were also compared. RESULTS: Postoperative correction of the lumbar and lower lumbar lordosis were significantly higher in group A and C than group B. The correction of upper lumbar lordosis was significantly higher in group A than group C. On the final follow-up, there was no significant difference in the loss of correction and clinical results between the three groups. The number of cases with complications in groups A, B and C was 4 (57%), 2 (13.3%) and 2 (18.2%), respectively. Two patients in group A required additional surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Groups A and C were more effective than posterior-only correction. There was no significant difference in the clinical results between the three groups but complication rate was higher in Group A than the other groups. Combined anterior and posterior surgery can be a safe and effective method for correction.
Animals ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; Lordosis ; Osteotomy ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: Cardiovascular diseases are a common cause of mortality in patients with end stage renal disease and are associated with vascular calcification (VC) and arterial stiffness. In addition to high turnover bone disease, there is substantial evidence that low levels of serum intact PTH (iPTH) are associated with vascular calcium deposition. The objective was to evaluate the association of iPTH levels with VC, arterial stiffness, and to identify risk factors contributing to VCs and arterial stiffness. METHODS: One hundred five hemodialysis (HD) patients were divided into three groups according to iPTH levels: A, <150 pg/mL; B, 150< or =and< or =400 pg/mL; and C, >400 pg/mL. The simple vascular calcification score (SVCS) was obtained by X-ray; the brachial ankle-pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV) and the serum fetuin-A level was mesured. RESULTS: Patients in group A were older and had a higher SVCS, a prevalence of diabetes, and an increased arterial stiffness. Severe VCs (SVCS> or =3) were associated with the low iPTH group (iPTH<150)/a higher CRP/a lower diastolic blood pressure (DBP)/diabetes/ increased arterial stiffness/older age and a lower serum fetuin-A level. The log [ba-PWV] had a positive correlation with age, systolic blood pressure (SBP)/DBP/PP/CRP/presence of diabetes and low iPTH and a negative correlation with serum albumin. Based on multivariate analysis, the low iPTH group and diabetes were identified as independent risk factors of severe VC and age/SBP/CRP and diabetes were risk factors for arterial stiffness. CONCLUSION: Low iPTH levels and/or diabetes had a greater risk of developing VCs and age/SBP/CRP/diabetes were associated with increased arterial stiffness in HD patients.
alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Vessels ; Bone Diseases ; Calcium ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Multivariate Analysis ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Prevalence ; Renal Dialysis ; Risk Factors ; Serum Albumin ; Vascular Calcification ; Vascular Stiffness

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to describe the experience of teaching emergency management and cardiopulmonary resuscitation to medical students in Busan. METHODS: Study participants were 59 medical students in Busan. An eight-day curriculum in the emergency management and cardiopulmonary resuscitation was developed. They completed all class sessions and two drill/practical examinations taught by our interdisciplinary team from July 21 through 30, 2003. Each class is approximately 2 hours and reading assignments are given at the end of each class. Also included are practical, table-top and team-building exercises. The participants completed self-reported questionnaires for the education. RESULTS: About establishment and environment of the education, respondents answered with `very good' were 14%. About overall theoretical lecture, respondents answered with `very helpful' were lower than 40%. Especially, favorable evaluation for the medical lectures was lower than that of other lectures. Students generally enjoyed their emergency medicine experience as it is often their first opportunity to assume primary responsibility for patient care. About overall practices, respondents answered with 'very helpful' were higher than 60%. CONCLUSION: The authors found that medical students prefer opportunities to hone procedural skills than to hear theoretical lectures. Also, medical students are welcome to hear theoretical lectures that consists of emergency management related contents, not academically medical contents. This curriculum should be tailored to fulfill learner's requirements.
Busan* ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation* ; Curriculum ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Education ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Medicine ; Exercise ; Humans ; Lectures ; Patient Care ; Students, Medical*

No abstract available.
Amines ; Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; Hiccup

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura(TTP) is a clinical syndrome of unknown etiology and characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, fluctuating neurological status, renal dysfunction and fever. Systemic lupus erythromatosus(SLE) is also multisystemic disease that some of clinical features may mimic TTP. Therefore both diseases have led to diagnostic confusion. We experienced two cases with SLE who subsequently or initially developed TTP. In case 1, a 44-year old woman had 1-year previous history of SLE and presented with dyspnea. After diagnosis of thrombotic microangiopathy by renal biopsy, she was managed with steroid, cyclophosphamide pulse therapy, fresh frozen plasma infusion and plasmapheresis. She was treated by aggressive treatment; nevertheless, she died on 15th admission day. In case 2, a 22-year old man was admitted because of nausea and vomiting. SLE with TTP was diagnosed by ARA criteria and the finding of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia. He was treated with plasmapheresis, fresh frozen plasma infusion and steroid therapy. He showed clinical response to the therapy, and has shown no recurrence of disease until now on. In conclusion, we suggest that early diagnosis and prompt therapy such as plasmapheresis and plasma infusion are very important in SLE with TTP.
Adult ; Anemia, Hemolytic ; Biopsy ; Cyclophosphamide ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Nausea ; Plasma ; Plasmapheresis ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic* ; Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic ; Recurrence ; Thrombocytopenia ; Thrombotic Microangiopathies ; Vomiting ; Young Adult

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to prove the effectiveness of the open medial (glenoid-based) anteriorinferior capsular shift in patients with multidirectional shoulder instability. Materials and Methods: We reviewed 19 patients treated by medial anterior-inferior capsular shift for multidirectional shoulder instability from March, 1998 to December, 2003. 15 patients of them have experienced recurrent dislocation. 8 patients(42%) showed bilateral laxity and 11 patients(58%) generalized ligamentous laxity, and 2 patients(10.5%) voluntary subluxation. An average follow-up was 24 months (range : 9~32 months). Results: Pain improved in 18 patients of all. There was an average loss of 10 degree of external rotation, but no limitation of activity of daily living. There was no redislocation and subluxation, but two patients had some apprehension in sports activity. With Rowe score, the result was excellent or good in all patients. There were hematoma and local skin problem in 1 patient, but all had healed up. Conclusion: Medial anterior-inferior capsular shift in multidirectional shoulder instability provided satisfactory results in pain relief, patient's satisfactions and stability of glenohumeral joint. Though some of them have anterior gleniod deformities and large Hill-Sachs lesions, we could get good stabilities.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Dislocations ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Ligaments ; Shoulder Joint ; Shoulder* ; Skin ; Sports

We examined the renal responsiveness to ACE inhibitor in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) patients according to the grouping of ACE gene polymorphism. Sixty one patients diagnosed as IgAN by renal biopsy and prescribed with ACE inhibitors were enrolled. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood and PCR was performed. The I/D polymorphism was determined by the presence of the 287 bp fragment in intron 16 of chromosome 17. During the follow-up period (mean+ADs- 44.6 months, median: 44.5 months, 5 to 113 months), the blood pressure of 61 patients was controlled below 130/80 mmHg. The renal responsiveness was determined by the degree of changes of proteinuria at 12 months after initiation of ACE inhibitors and by the slope of reciprocal variation of the serum creatinine against follow-up duration ?(1/Cr2-1/Cr1)/durations?. The distribution of the II, ID and DD genotype among 61 patients was 21, 16 and 24 patients, respectively. There were no differences among three genotypes in age, sex, the number of patients with initial blood pressure over 140/90 mmHg, initial serum creatinine level, the number of patients with initial azotemia (+AD4- 1.4 mg/dL) and with initial 24-hr proteinuria amount over 2.0 g. Significant anti-proteinuric effect of ACE inhibitor was found in IgAN (p +AD0- 0.001), but no significant difference was found among genotypes. Significant difference (p +AD0- 0.011) was noticed between II type and DD type in the slope of reciprocal variation of the serum creatinine against follow-up duration. In conclusion, efficacy of ACE inhibitors on renal function preservation in IgAN was more pronounced in DD genotype than II genotype.
Adolescence ; Adult ; Analysis of Variance ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/administration +ACY- dosage+ACo- ; Comparative Study ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA/genetics+ACo- ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA/drug therapy+ACo- ; Human ; Kidney Function Tests ; Male ; Middle Age ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/genetics+ACo- ; Polymorphism (Genetics)+ACo- ; Probability ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Myoma is the most common tumor in gynecologic field. As ultrasonography because popular in antenatal care, the more cases of myoma and those adverse effects during pregnancy are more frequently detected. The management of myoma during pregnancy is conservative, but in rare circumstances, surgical intervention including myomectomy may be required. We have experienced a case of protruded subserosal myoma with the uterine cervix in midtrimester of pregnancy. The patient was managed surgically by transvaginal myomectomy and had successfully maintained pregnancy. We report a case of protruded subserosal myoma through pelvic floor in pregnancy with brief review of literatures.
Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Humans ; Myoma* ; Pelvic Floor* ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Pregnancy* ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: A decreased level of serum arginine vasopressin(AVP) and an increased sensitivity to an exogenous AVP is expected in patients with septic shock who often require a high infusion rate of catecholamines. The goal of the study was to determine whether an exogenous AVP infusion to the patients with septic shock would achieve a significant decrement in infusion rate of catecholamine vasopressors while maintaining hemodynamic stability and adequate urine output. METHODS: Eight patients with septic shock who require a high infusion rate of norepinephrine had received a trial of 4-hour AVP infusion with simultaneous titration of norepinephrine. Hemodynamic parameters and urine output were monitored during the AVP infusion and the monitoring continued up to 4 hours after the AVP infusion had stopped. RESULTS: Mean arterial pressure showed no significant changes during the study period(p=0.197). Norepinephrine infusion rate significantly decreased with concurrent AVP administration(p=0.001). However, beneficial effects had disappeared after the AVP infusion was stopped. In addition, hourly urine output showed no significant changes throughout the trials(p=0.093). CONCLUSION: Concurrent AVP infusion achieved the catecholamine vasopressor sparing effect in the septic shock patients, but there was no evidence of the improvement of renal function. Further study may be indicated to determine whether AVP infusion would provide an organ-protective effect to the septic shock patients.
Arginine* ; Arterial Pressure ; Catecholamines ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Norepinephrine ; Shock, Septic*

OBJECTIVE: The authors evaluated the effect of direct bypass (superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery bypass) in the prevention of rebleeding episodes in patients suffering from hemorrhagic moyamoya disease by comparing this method with indirect bypass. METHODS: Fifteen patients who had hemorrhagic moyamoya without aneurysm comprised the study group. The mean age of patients was 44.4 years and follow up period ranged from 0.8 to 7.1 years (mean; 3.61 years). Revascularization surgery was performed in 21 sides in 15 patients. Direct bypass was performed in 17 sides and indirect bypass in the other 4 sides. RESULTS: During the follow-up period after the revascularization surgery, three sides (14.3%) of the 21 sides presented with rebleeding episode, one of 17 sides (mean follow-up periods; 2.94 years) treated with direct method and 2 of 4 sides (mean follow-up periods; 6.45 years) treated with indirect method. Kaplan-Meier analysis of rebleedingfree survival showed quite different between direct and indirect method but statistically insignificant (p=0.0541). CONCLUSION: Direct bypass may reduce the risk of hemorrhage more effectively than indirect bypass. However, direct bypass cannot always prevent rebleeding.
Aneurysm ; Cerebral Arteries ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Moyamoya Disease*