Many reports of changes in cervical alignment after posterior occipitocervical (O-C) fusion causing dysphagia are available. The clinical course can range from mild discomfort to severe aspiration. However, the underlying pathogenesis is not well known. We report an 80-year-old female with videofluoroscopic swallowing study evidence of aspiration that developed after occiput-C3/4 posterior fusion. Pharyngeal pressure was analyzed using high resolution manometry (HRM). Impaired upper esophageal sphincter opening along with diminished peristalsis and pharyngeal pressure gradient were revealed by HRM to be the main characteristics in such patients. The patient fully recovered after a revision operation for cervical angle correction. Distinct pressure patterns behind reversible dysphagia caused by a change in cervical alignment were confirmed using HRM analysis.
Aged, 80 and over ; Cervical Vertebrae ; Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders* ; Esophageal Sphincter, Upper ; Female ; Humans ; Manometry* ; Neurosurgery ; Peristalsis

No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Polycystic Kidney Diseases*

Clinical presentation of supplementary motor area (SMA) syndrome includes complete akinesia of the contralateral side of the body and mutism, with secondary recovery of neurologic deficit. Multi-joint coordination is frequently impaired following the development of a brain lesion and is generally restricted by abnormal patterns of muscle activation within the hemiparetic limb, clinically termed muscle synergies. However, no work to date has confirmed this observation with the aid of objective methods, such as gait analysis, and the development of reflex pattern has not been suggested as a possible cause. We describe two unusual cases of flexor synergy after tumor resection of SMA lesions.
Brain ; Brain Neoplasms ; Extremities ; Gait ; Lower Extremity* ; Motor Cortex ; Muscles ; Mutism ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Reflex

Although commercialization of mobile phones has raised much concerns about the effects of radiofrequency radiation on the human body, few experimental studies have been conducted on the effects of radiofrequency radiation on physiological homeostasis, immune and inflammatory responses. Therefore, we presently investigated the effect of 835 MHz radiofrequency radiation on spontaneous wheel exercise, hormone and cytokines levels in the plasm of mice. Mice were divided into 4 groups as control, exercise, radiofrequency radiation, radiofrequency radiation & exercise group. The body weight, corticosterone and blood cytokine levels were checked for 10 weeks. Followed by the exposure to radiofrequency radiation for 6 hours a day, the more increase in body weight was observed in the radiofrequency radiation & exercise group than in the spontaneous exercise group. When the amount of spontaneous exercise was measured for 10 weeks, the amount of exercise was increased in the both control and spontaneous exercise group, while the amount of exercise was decreased in the radiofrequency radiation group. To determine whether the homeostasis, immune and inflammatory responses are indirectly affected by radiofrequency radiation exposure, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12 (p70), TNF-α, IFNγ, and GM-CSF were measured by ELISA kit, respectively. As a result, the blood levels of IL-6, IL-12 (p70) and TNF-α in the spontaneous exercise group were higher than that of control group, and each cytokine levels in the radiofrequency radiation & exercise group were lower than that of control group. However, the corticosterone, IL-1β, IFNγ and GM-CSF didn't show statistically significant differences in all groups. It has been confirmed that exposure to high frequency electromagnetic waves for a long time can affect the amount of exercise, body weight, and some inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, IL-12 (p70) and TNF-α.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Cell Phones ; Corticosterone* ; Cytokines* ; Electromagnetic Radiation ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Homeostasis ; Human Body ; Interleukin-12 ; Interleukin-6 ; Mice* ; Radiation Exposure

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the activation of the paraspinalis muscles (multifidus and erector spinae) at different walking velocities and slope with surface electromyography. METHODS: This study was a prospective experimental study involving ten healthy male participants. Surface electrodes were placed over the multifidus and erector spinae muscles at the L5 and L3 level. After the electrode was placed at the lumbar paraspinalis muscles, electromyography signals were recorded over 20 seconds. Data were collected three times during the walking exercise at a 0degrees gradient with the speed from 3 to 6 km/hr. At 7degrees gradient and 15degrees gradient, data were also collected three times but a walking speed of 4 km/hr. The area under the curve was calculated for quantitative measurement of muscle activation. RESULTS: While the muscle activation was increased at higher walking velocities at the L5 and L3 levels of the multifidus, the erector spinae muscle activation did not show any change at higher walking velocities. At L3 level of the multifidus and erector spine muscles, the muscle activation was significantly increased in 15degrees gradient compared to those seen in at 0degrees gradient. At L5 level, the multifidus and erector spinae muscle activation in 0degrees gradient was not significantly different from that those seen in 7degrees or 15degrees gradient. CONCLUSION: Fast walking exercise activates lumbar multifidus muscles more than the slow walking exercise. Also, the mid lumbar muscles are comparatively more activated than low lumbar muscles when the walking slope increases.
Electrodes ; Electromyography ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; Male ; Muscles ; Paraspinal Muscles* ; Prospective Studies ; Spine ; Walking*

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Temporary soft relining materials are used in a diverse clinical situations such as tissue conditioner, relining material, functional impression by varying its viscoelasticity. However, reproduction of consistent viscoelasticity has been not possible. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Considering setting mechanism of this material, this study has measured the effect of varying amount of void in dynamic viscoelasticity of soft relining material, with three different mixing methods. In each methods 10 specimens were made and subjected to dynamic viscoelastic test which were measured at specific times over period of 72 hours. RESULTS: The analysis of the result shown that there was no statistically significant differences between different mixing methods. CONCLUSION: Different mixing methods had no effect over control of viscoelasticity of soft lining material. Further research is recommended for under similar oral environmental condition.
Reproduction

The prognosis of gastric cancer with hepatic metastasis is very poor, even though several treatment modalities exist, such as surgical resection. Indeed, a standard therapy has not been established in such patients. Recently, attempts were made to treat hepatic metastasis of gastric cancer with radiofrequency (RF), which was originally used in primary or metastatic liver cancer. RF has been reported to show similar survival compared to surgical resection and is emerging as a new treatment modality even though it is still not conclusive with respect to efficacy and safety due to the paucity of reports. A prospective study is warranted to evaluate the efficacy of RF in the treatment of gastric cancer with hepatic metastasis compared with conventional modalities.
Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Stomach Neoplasms

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of vulnerable blood vessels around cervical nerve roots before cervical nerve root block in the clinical setting. METHODS: This retrospective study included 74 patients with cervical radiculopathy who received an ultrasonography-guided nerve block at an outpatient clinic from July 2012 to July 2014. Before actual injection of the steroid was performed, we evaluated the vulnerable blood vessels around each C5, C6, and C7 nerve root of each patient's painful side, with Doppler ultrasound. RESULTS: Out of 74 cases, the C5 level had 2 blood vessels (2.7%), the C6 level had 4 blood vessels (5.45%), and the C7 level had 6 blood vessels (8.11%) close to each targeted nerve root. Moreover, the C5 level had 2 blood vessels (2.7%), the C6 level 5 blood vessels (6.75%), and the C7 level had 4 blood vessels (5.45%) at the site of an imaginary needle's projected pathway to the targeted nerve root, as revealed by axial transverse ultrasound imaging with color Doppler imaging. In total, the C5 level had 4 blood vessels (5.45%), the C6 level 9 blood vessels (12.16%), and the C7 level 10 had blood vessels (13.51%) either at the targeted nerve root or at the site of the imaginary needle's projected pathway to the targeted nerve root. There was an unneglectable prevalence of vulnerable blood vessels either at the targeted nerve root or at the site of the needle' projected pathway to the nerve root. Also, it shows a higher prevalence of vulnerable blood vessels either at the targeted nerve root or at the site of an imaginary needle's projected pathway to the nerve root as the spinal nerve root level gets lower. CONCLUSION: To prevent unexpected critical complications involving vulnerable blood vessel injury during cervical nerve root block, it is recommended to routinely evaluate for the presence of vulnerable blood vessels around each cervical nerve root using Doppler ultrasound imaging before the cervical nerve root block, especially for the lower cervical nerve root level.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Blood Vessels ; Humans ; Injections, Epidural ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Nerve Block ; Prevalence ; Radiculopathy ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Nerve Roots ; Ultrasonography* ; Ultrasonography, Doppler

Neurogenic bladder is common in most spinal cord injury patients. Voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) is recommended in these patients to detect urinary tract complications. However, rare but serious complications may occur during VCUG, although VCUG is generally safe. There are several case reports of bladder rupture occurring in pediatric patients. Here, we report the first case of iatrogenic bladder rupture in an adult spinal cord injury patient in Korea. Particularly, extravasation of contrast without manual instillation has hardly ever been reported. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of bladder rupture without manual instillation during VCUG. We report a case of a 59-year-old female with paraplegia due to tuberculous spondylitis who underwent VCUG as a part of routine evaluation of neurogenic bladder. Extravasation of the contrast media during VCUG developed as a complication and the patient recovered spontaneously without any intervention. Therefore, VCUG should be performed properly in chronic spinal cord injury patients.
Adult ; Contrast Media ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Paraplegia ; Rupture ; Spinal Cord Injuries* ; Spinal Cord* ; Spondylitis ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic ; Urinary Tract

PURPOSE: To analyze the biomechanical effects of different frame configurations of the hybrid external fixators for distal tibial fractures on the frame stiffness and stress distribution with a finite element method (FEM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five configurations were simulated: Group I: two wires with convergence angle of 60degrees, Group II: 3rd wire on a bisector axis of the group I. Group III: two wires with 30degrees. Group IV: 3rd wire on a bisector axis. Group V: two wires with 30degree and a half pin on the distal articular fragment. Each group was simulated under compression, torsion, anterior-posterior and lateral-medial bending load. Stiffness, stress and deformation values were calculated. RESULTS: The overall stiffness was increased by 15~30% with the addition of a third wire, and by 150~400% with a anteromedial half pin on the articular fragment. The half pin decreased the stress level of the frame by about 43% and the deformation of the 5/8 ring by about 30%. CONCLUSION: The addition of a half pin on the articular fragment is not only a method of increasing the stiffness but also a way of decreasing the stress concentration and the deformation of the frame.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; External Fixators ; Tibial Fractures*