Limited therapeutic options are available for vancomycin intermediate-resistant Staphylococcus Epidermidis (VISE) infections and no optimum therapy has been established. We report a case of VISE skull osteomyelitis that was successfully treated with linezolid. The patient was a 53-year-old man who presented with headache, nausea and dysphasia. Brain computerized tomography (CT) demonstrated a subdural hematoma in the left hemisphere. Craniotomy and hematoma evacuation was performed and he showed good recovery despite a scalp wound infection caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The organism isolated from the scalp wound was sensitive to vancomycin. The patient was treated with intravenous vancomycin for 44 days. However, he showed a high fever, persistent positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Epidermidis (MRSE) blood cultures, and a deteriorating clinical status. He underwent infected skull bone flap removal and linezolid treatment for 35 days. During one year of follow up, he has not had any further episodes of osteomyelitis or fever. Linezolid has shown to be effective agent to eradiate osteomyelitis caused by VISE.
Acetamides ; Aphasia ; Brain ; Craniotomy ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Headache ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural ; Humans ; Methicillin Resistance ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Middle Aged ; Nausea ; Osteomyelitis ; Oxazolidinones ; Scalp ; Skull ; Staphylococcus ; Staphylococcus epidermidis ; Vancomycin ; Wound Infection ; Linezolid

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze significant motion factors that affected the outcome of medial branch blocking(MBB) in patients with low back pain(LBP) after trivial trauma. METHODS: Twenty-four patients(10men and 14 women; 70 vertebrae) complained of LBP after trivial trauma and under went bilateral MBB in the lumbar spine between January 2007 and August 2008. Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) scores of discomfort were measured before and after MBB. The motion factors considered were sitting, standing, flexion, extension and rotation. RESULTS: Sitting-, standing- and rotation-related LBPs were identified in 11 patients(44.5%, 11/24), 10 patients(41.7 %, 10/24) and 8 patients(33.3%, 8/24), respectively. The ratios of flexion- and extension-related LBPs in the enrolled patients were 66.7%(16/24) and 54.2%(13/24), respectively. The reduction in VAS score after treatment in the patients with sitting-related LBP was less than that of patients without sitting-related LBP(3.2+/-2.27 and 5.2+/-2.87, p=0.169). There was no difference between patients with standing-related LBP and those without(4.3+/-2.75 and 4.3+/-2.86). Although the mean VAS score improvement of the patients with extension- and rotation-related LBP(4.4+/-2.99 and 5.4+/-2.67) was higher than that of patients without extension and rotation LBP(4.1+/-2.59 and 3.7+/-2.71), the difference was not significant(p=0.721 and p=0.552, respectively). The mean VAS score improvement of the patients with flexion- related LBP was significantly higher than that of patients without it(6.1+/-1.81 vs 2.8+/-2.59, p=0.042). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with LBP after trivial trauma, flexion- and extension-related LBP was more common than sitting-, standing- and rotation-related LBP. Flexion was a significant motion factor affecting the outcome of MBB after trivial trauma.
Humans ; Low Back Pain ; Spine

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the incidence and risk factors of subsequent vertebral fracture after percutaneous vertebral augme- ntation(PVA) in patients with osteoporotic compression fractures(OCF). METHODS: The authors reviewed 27 patients(20 women and 7 men, 39 vertebrae) who underwent vertebral augmentation for the treatment of osteoporotic compression fracture at a single institute between January 2000 and January 2009. The patients were divided into 2 groups: Group I included patients without subsequent fracture and Group II included those with subsequent fracture. Subsequent fractures, including adjacent-level and nonadjacent-level vertebral fractures, were confirmed with radiographs or MRI. Factors such as smoking, diabetes mellitus(DM), previous bisphosphonate use, body mass index(BMI), bone mineral density(BMD), the amount of polymethylmethacrylate(PMMA), intradiscal leakage of PMMA and unilateral approach were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Nine patients(33.3%, Group II) sustained 16 subsequent vertebral fractures(9 adjacent-level vertebral fractures and 7 nonadjacent-level vertebral fractures). Subsequent vertebral fractures at the lumbar level(81.3%) were more fre- quent than those at thoracic level(18.8%). BMI, BMD, smoking, DM, amount of PMMA, unilateral approach, and bis- phosphonate use did not correlate with the risk of subsequent fracture. Intradiscal leakage of PMMA was the only signifi- cant risk factor(P=0.027). CONCLUSIONS: The high rate of subsequent vertebral fracture should be considered before vertebral augmentation with PMMA. The intradiscal leakage of PMMA could increase the risk of subsequent fracture.
Female ; Fractures, Compression ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Osteoporosis ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Vertebroplasty

BACKGROUND:In this study, a distribute characteristics on the bispectral coupling of EEG were examined according to the depth of anesthesia by using bispectum analysis a type of nonlinear signal processing. METHODS: 25 patients during the general anesthesia were studied. In the preprocess, base line correction and linear detrend was used. During the awakening state, preoperatively and postoperatively, appearance rate of bispectral coupling was observed that a strong appearance rate was represented in major frequency zone such as (15, 15) Hz but weak appearance rate investigated in the other minor frequency zone. Whilst anesthetized, a strong appearance rate revealed the low frequency range below (10, 10) Hz and a weak appearance rate viewed in the other frequency range. As such was compared with the delta ratio and spectrum edge frequency (SEF). RESULTS: The delta ratio showed significantly lower values at induction (3.60 +/- 0.98) and during the maintenance (5.0+/-1.74) of anaesthesia than preoperatively (10.30 +/- 2.44) and postoperatively (13.03 +/- 2.29)(P < 0.05). These results were consistent with the trend of delta ratio, namely that the index of evaluation for the depth of anesthesia, known as the reflex of the conscious level of patient's during anesthesia. While these results were not consistent with SEF analysis results that the index of evaluation for suppression level of patient's during recovery stage of anesthesia. SEF shows lower values at maintenance (17.00 +/- 1.22) and postoperatively (12.20 +/- 1.53) than preoperatively (22.50 +/- 1.75) and at the induction (22.40 +/- 1.18) of anesthesia(P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The bispectrum analysis method provided useful information about the index of evaluation according to the level of unconsciousness and suppression among other evaluation factor on depth of anesthesia.
Anesthesia* ; Anesthesia, General ; Electroencephalography* ; Humans ; Reflex ; Unconsciousness

PURPOSE: In our experience, post-LT persistent isolated unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia (IUH) has been frequently observed even after liver transplantation (LT) from normal donors. The present study was performed to evaluate the incidence and clinical significance of post-LT IUH. METHODS: Eighty-five patients were enrolled, and they had undergone adult-to-adult living donor LT between Jan 1999 and Jun 2003 and they had been followed-up for more than 2 years. Persistent post-LT IUH was defined as the case that showed repeated IUH 3 times or more per year. We excluded those cases that had other liver function abnormality, biliary complication, active infection or hemolysis. The donor's condition and the long-term prognosis of the post-LT IUH patients were investigated. RESULTS: Sixteen patients (18.8%) showed post-LT IUH. Seven of them underwent LT from donors who had IUH preoperatively. Nine (10.6%) of them, however, underwent LT from normal donors, that is, there was newly developed IUH postoperatively. There was no clinical factor associated with post-LT IUH for those nine patients, yet they developed no graft failure and major complications. A gradual increasing tendency of the bilirubin level during follow-up duration was observed for 3 of these 9 patients. CONCLUSION: Although about 10% patients developed post-LT IUH from normal donors, they all showed a good prognosis. Therefore, post-LT IUH was likely to be benign. However, close observation may be required because a gradual increasing tendency of bilirubin level was observed in some patients.
Bilirubin ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gilbert Disease ; Hemolysis ; Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia* ; Incidence ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Living Donors ; Prognosis ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Bone loss after liver transplant (LT) is a long-term problem associated with an increased morbidity due to pathologic fractures. We reviewed our management of post-LT bone loss. METHODS: We collected retrospective data from 82 adult LT recipients between January 2006 and December 2009 who had preoperative and postoperative (12 to 24 months) bone mineral density (BMD) data measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). BMD was decreased in 52 out of 82 patients before LT. These patients were managed with calcium plus alendronate, calcium only, or no treatment. We compared the efficacy of these three modalities and the factors influencing BMD changes and investigated the incidence of pathologic fractures. RESULTS: In decreased BMD patients (n=52), the postoperative spinal BMD was increased with all three treatment modalities. A more significant increase was found with ALN treatment (+0.103) compared to NO treatment (+0.029) (P-value: 0.016). However, femoral BMD decreased despite ALN treatment. Alendronate use was a significant factor for post-LT spinal BMD improvement in the univariate and multivariate analysis. There were significant newly-developed pathologic fractures after LT especially in osteoporotic patients (28%). CONCLUSIONS: Weekly alendronate with daily calcium may be helpful for the spinal bone mineral protection in preoperative patients with decreased BMD.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Adult ; Alendronate ; Bone Density ; Calcium ; Fractures, Spontaneous ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver ; Liver Transplantation ; Multivariate Analysis ; Osteoporosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Bone loss after liver transplant (LT) is a long-term problem associated with an increased morbidity due to pathologic fractures. We reviewed our management of post-LT bone loss. METHODS: We collected retrospective data from 82 adult LT recipients between January 2006 and December 2009 who had preoperative and postoperative (12 to 24 months) bone mineral density (BMD) data measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). BMD was decreased in 52 out of 82 patients before LT. These patients were managed with calcium plus alendronate, calcium only, or no treatment. We compared the efficacy of these three modalities and the factors influencing BMD changes and investigated the incidence of pathologic fractures. RESULTS: In decreased BMD patients (n=52), the postoperative spinal BMD was increased with all three treatment modalities. A more significant increase was found with ALN treatment (+0.103) compared to NO treatment (+0.029) (P-value: 0.016). However, femoral BMD decreased despite ALN treatment. Alendronate use was a significant factor for post-LT spinal BMD improvement in the univariate and multivariate analysis. There were significant newly-developed pathologic fractures after LT especially in osteoporotic patients (28%). CONCLUSIONS: Weekly alendronate with daily calcium may be helpful for the spinal bone mineral protection in preoperative patients with decreased BMD.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Adult ; Alendronate ; Bone Density ; Calcium ; Fractures, Spontaneous ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver ; Liver Transplantation ; Multivariate Analysis ; Osteoporosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplants

Pretransplant alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a useful tumor marker predicting recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Little is known, however, about the relationship between changes in AFP concentration and prognosis. This study investigated the clinical significance of change in peri-transplant AFP level as a predictor of HCC recurrence. Data from 125 HCC patients with elevated pretransplant AFP level who underwent liver transplantation (LT) between February 2000 and December 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with AFP normalization within 1 month after LT were classified into the rapid normalization group (n = 97), with all other patients classified into the non-rapid normalization group (n = 28). Tumor recurrence was observed in 17 of the 97 patients (17.5%) with rapid normalization; of these, 11 patients had high AFP levels and six had normal levels at recurrence. In contrast, tumor recurrence was observed in 24 of the 28 patients (85.7%) without rapid normalization, with all 24 having high AFP levels at recurrence. Multivariate analysis showed that non-rapid normalization (harzard ratio [HR], 4.41, P < 0.001), sex (HR, 3.26, P = 0.03), tumor size (HR, 1.15, P = 0.001), and microvascular invasion (HR, 2.65, P = 0.005) were independent risk factors for recurrence. In conclusion, rapid normalization of post-LT AFP level at 1 month is a useful clinical marker for HCC recurrence. Therefore, an adjuvant strategy and/or intensive screening are needed for patients who do not show rapid normalization.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biomarkers, Tumor/analysis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/blood/mortality/*pathology/therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Liver Neoplasms/blood/mortality/*pathology/therapy ; *Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Severity of Illness Index ; alpha-Fetoproteins/analysis

The indication for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is expanding in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Early detection and effective management of recurrence has become an important issue in LDLT for HCC. This study aimed to find an optimal screening protocol in terms of screening interval and screening tools by analyzing recurrence pattern after LDLT for HCC. A total of 205 LDLT patients in two centers from February 1999 to October 2010 was reviewed. Recurrence appeared in 55 cases. Six risk factors for recurrence were identified: preoperative alpha-fetoprotein >400, Edmonson grade 3 or 4, tumor size >7 cm, tumor number > or =7, minimal tumor necrosis in the transarterial chemoembolization group and positive micro-vascular invasion. Four groups with different ranges of index scores showed different recurrence-free survival and median time to recurrence. Group I showed low and late recurrence. Groups II and III showed linearly increased rate of recurrence until 18 months. Group IV showed very early recurrence within 6 months. Across the groups, extra-hepatic recurrence developed in more than 40% of cases and multi-organ recurrence rate was 20%. The screening interval should be different based on the risk of recurrence. Screening should include work-up for extra-hepatic recurrence as well as intra-hepatic recurrence.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology/*surgery ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic/adverse effects ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/pathology/*surgery ; *Liver Transplantation ; Living Donors ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/*pathology ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There is increasing evidence to suggest that trimetazidine (TMZ) has the ability to improve ischemic heart failure by way of optimizing the heart's energy metabolism. The aim of this study was to examine the changes of the myocardial enhancement pattern by using two-phase, contrast enhanced, ECG-gated, multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) after the administration of TMZ in a porcine myocardial infarction model. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The porcine myocardial infarction model was created by balloon occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. We randomized the swine into two groups: group I (n=7: aspirin only) and group II (n=7: aspirin plus 1 mg/kg TMZ for 4 weeks). Echocardiography and MDCT were performed and the ejection fraction (EF, %), end-systolic volume (ESV, mL) and end-diastolic volume (EDV, mL) were measured at 28 days after induction of myocardial infarction. Three enhancement patterns, including the early arterial phase defect (ED), the 4-min late enhancement (LE) and the residual defect (RD), were also investigated and those were described as class I [ED (-), RD (-), LE (+/-)], class II [ED (+), RD (-), LE (+)], and class III [ED (+), RD (+), LE (+)]. We performed histopathologic examination after sacrificing the animals. RESULTS: The baseline and follow-up echocardiography at 4 weeks after the induction of MI demonstrated no significant differences between the two groups. The LV indices by MDCT were also similar between the two groups (group I: EF, ESV and EDV=46.0+/-12.5%, 35.9+/-23.0 mL and 69.0+/-40.2 mL, respectively, group II: EF, ESV and EDV=49.8+/-13.2%, 43.8+/-23.1 mL and 82.8+/-24.6 mL, respectively, p=NS). The percent wall thickness was similar (69.1+/-19.6% vs. 64.9+/-10.5%, respectively, p=NS), but the enhancement pattern was different between the two groups (group I: class I, II and III=0 (0%), 0 (0%): and 7 (100%) respectively, group II: class I, II and III=0 (0%), 2 (28.6%) and 5 (71.4%), respectively, p<0.001). The volume of tissue that lacked triphenyl tetrazolium chloride was similar between two groups (8.4+/-1.9% vs. 7.3+/-2.6%, respectively, p=NS). CONCLUSION: TMZ administration produced different enhancement patterns on MDCT. This result suggests that TMZ administration can reduce the residual defect in a porcine myocardial infarction model. Although further experiments are needed for determining the effect of TMZ on reducing the irreversible area of infarcted myocardium, this is the first report that proved the beneficial effect of TMZ by performing MDCT.
Animals ; Aspirin ; Balloon Occlusion ; Coronary Vessels ; Echocardiography ; Energy Metabolism ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Failure ; Infarction ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Myocardium ; Swine ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Trimetazidine*