No abstract available.
Angiocardiography* ; Contrast Media* ; Electrolytes* ; Osmolar Concentration* ; Plasma* ; Renin*

The incidence of distal anterior cerebral artery(ACA) aneurysm is relatively rare, and only a few cases of bilateral symmetrical distal ACA aneurysms which were adhered together have been reported. They are also called kissing aneurysms. We treated bilateral symmetrical distal ACA kissing aneurysms in a 44-year-old woman. We successfully clipped the double aneurysmal sacs individually by interhemispheric approach in spite of intraoperative aneurysmal rupture. The patient was discharged without any neurological deficits two weeks after the operation.
Adult ; Aneurysm* ; Anterior Cerebral Artery* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Rupture

The facet joints are a common source of chronic spinal pain. Blocks of the nerves supplying the facet joints are validated tools in the diagnosis and treatment for facet joint pain. These interventions are typically performed with fluoroscopic guidance. However, the target, which is the nerve, is radiolucent and cannot be identified with fluoroscopy. Recently, several ultrasound guided techniques in the domain of spinal pain have been emerging because ultrasound is useful in visualization of the inner structures, is portable, and is not associated with the radiation exposure. This paper reviews a variety of techniques for ultrasound guided interventions for the medial branch block which has been reported in treating axial pain originating from the facet joint.

Shoulder pain is one of the common symptoms that pain physicians frequently encounter in outpatient settings. Historically, the diagnosis of shoulder pain relied on clinical presentation and physical examination. However, with the advancement of ultrasound technology, physicians can now better diagnose and treat shoulder pain. When administering injection therapy for shoulder pain, the target may vary depending on the structure causing the pain. Furthermore, even when injecting the same structure, different approaches can be employed based on the practitioner’s preference, patient’s anatomical variations, or capability of maintaining specific positions for intervention. This review describes various ultrasound-guided injection techniques used in the treatment of shoulder pain.

BACKGROUND: The association of osteoporotic vertebral fracture or osteoporosis with coronary artery disease (CAD) was investigated in Korean men and women. METHODS: Four hundred consecutive postmenopausal women and men aged 50 years and older, undergoing coronary angiography, were enrolled for the evaluation of established or suspected coronary artery disease. CAD was diagnosed if there was narrowing of > 50% diameter in one or more major coronary artery. Morphometric vertebral fracture was assessed using lateral thoracic and lumbar spine radiographs. Bone mineral density was performed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: Of the 400 subjects in the study (mean age of 61.9 +/- 11.6 years), 256 patients had CAD. Vertebral fracture was observed in 94 (23.5%) patients. There was no difference in vertebral fracture according to the presence or absence of CAD. In logistic regression analysis, vertebral fracture was not significantly associated with CAD after adjustment for multiple risk factors. Although women had lower BMD at any given site than men, BMD was not associated with the presence or absence of CAD among 191 patients. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that osteoporotic vertebral fracture or osteoporosis was not associated with coronary artery disease in Korean men and women.
Aged ; Atherosclerosis ; Bone Density ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Osteoporosis ; Risk Factors ; Spine

Ectopic salivary gland tissue represents an uncommon lesion, usually presenting as a discharging fistula in the anterior lower neck. Though the origin of this entity still remains unclear, it is thought to be a heteroplasia of the epithelium of the precervical sinus of His. We have experienced a case of ectopic salivary gland with cervical fistula in a 10-year-old. This was thought clinically to be the second branchial cleft cyst, but the pathology showed an ectopic salivary gland. This should be considered as one of the causes of a cystic neck mass or fistula in children.
Branchioma ; Child ; Cutaneous Fistula ; Epithelium ; Fistula ; Humans ; Neck ; Salivary Gland Fistula ; Salivary Glands

Objective: To assess the accuracy of recently commercialized wearable devices in heart rate (HR) measurement during cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPX) under gradual increase in exercise intensity, while wearable devices with HR monitors are reported to be less accurate in different exercise intensities. Methods: CPX was performed for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Twelve lead electrocardiograph (ECG) was the gold standard and Apple watch 7 (AW7), Galaxy watch 4 (GW4) and Bio Patch Mobicare 200 (MC200) were applied for comparison. Paired absolute difference (PAD), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were evaluated for each device. Results: Forty-four participants with CAD were included. All the devices showed MAPE under 2% and ICC above 0.9 in rest, exercise and recovery phases (MC200=0.999, GW4=0.997, AW7=0.998). When comparing exercise and recovery phase, PAD of MC200 and AW7 in recovery phase were significantly bigger than PAD of exercise phase (p<0.05). Although not significant, PAD of GW4 tended to be bigger in recovery phase, too. Also, when stratified by HR 20, ICC of all the devices were highest under HR of 100, and ICC decreased as HR increased. However, except for ICC of GW4 at HR above 160 (=0.867), all ICCs exceeded 0.9 indicating excellent accuracy. Conclusion The HR measurement of the devices validated in this study shows a high concordance with the ECG device, so CAD patients may benefit from the devices during high-intensity exercise under conditions where HR is measured reliably.

Objective: To examine whether patients who participated in a cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program after hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome maintained cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in the community. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study including 78 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass graft surgery at our hospital’s cardiovascular center and participated in a CR program and a 5-year follow-up evaluation. Patients were divided into a center-based CR (CBCR) group, participating in an electrocardiography-monitored exercise training in a hospital setting, and a home-based CR (HBCR) group, receiving aerobic exercise training and performed self-exercise at home. Results: No significant differences were found between groups (p>0.05), except the proportion of non-smokers (CBCR 59.5% vs. HBCR 31.7%; p=0.01). In both groups, the maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) increased significantly during the first 12 weeks of follow-up and remained at a steady state for the first year, but it decreased after the 1-year follow-up. Particularly, VO2max at 5 years decreased below the baseline value in the HBCR group. In the low CRF group, the CRF level significantly improved at 12 weeks, peaked at 1 year, and was still significantly different from the baseline value after 5 years. The high CRF group did not show any significant increase over time relative to the baseline value, but most patients in the high CRF group maintained relatively appropriate CRF levels after 5 years. Conclusion Continuous support should be provided to patients to maintain optimal CRF levels after completing a CR program.

Objective: To examine whether patients who participated in a cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program after hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome maintained cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in the community. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study including 78 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass graft surgery at our hospital’s cardiovascular center and participated in a CR program and a 5-year follow-up evaluation. Patients were divided into a center-based CR (CBCR) group, participating in an electrocardiography-monitored exercise training in a hospital setting, and a home-based CR (HBCR) group, receiving aerobic exercise training and performed self-exercise at home. Results: No significant differences were found between groups (p>0.05), except the proportion of non-smokers (CBCR 59.5% vs. HBCR 31.7%; p=0.01). In both groups, the maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) increased significantly during the first 12 weeks of follow-up and remained at a steady state for the first year, but it decreased after the 1-year follow-up. Particularly, VO2max at 5 years decreased below the baseline value in the HBCR group. In the low CRF group, the CRF level significantly improved at 12 weeks, peaked at 1 year, and was still significantly different from the baseline value after 5 years. The high CRF group did not show any significant increase over time relative to the baseline value, but most patients in the high CRF group maintained relatively appropriate CRF levels after 5 years. Conclusion Continuous support should be provided to patients to maintain optimal CRF levels after completing a CR program.

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical effects and side effects of Tacrolimus for ocular Behcet's disease. METHODS: Eight patients (male: 5, age: 35+/-7.5 (25-48) years) with Behcet's uveitis, refractory posterior uveitis unresponsive to combination treatment with cyclosporine, azathioprine, and oral steroid or significant cyclosporine-related adverse effects were recruited prospectively, and cyclosporine was switched to Tacrolimus. Visual acuity, degree of anterior chamber, and vitreous haze were compared before the conversion and three months after. Oral glucose tolerance, plasma insulin, cholesterol, creatinine, and aspartate (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured to monitor systemic effects. RESULTS: Visual acuity did not change significantly after conversion to Tacrolimus. Anterior chamber (seven patients) and vitreous (four patients) inflammation were found before conversion and decreased or disappeared after conversion. Overall plasma levels of glucose, insulin, creatinine, and AST/ALT were similar before and after conversion. However, cholesterol was significantly decreased after conversion (p=0.028). One patient developed diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSIONS: Tacrolimus may be effective for Behcet's uveitis unresponsive to or intolerable of traditional treatments. In addition, periodic monitoring for side effects, such as hyperglycemia and diabetes mellitus, may be necessary.
Anterior Chamber ; Aspartic Acid ; Azathioprine ; Cholesterol ; Creatinine ; Cyclosporine ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Glucose ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Inflammation ; Insulin ; Plasma ; Prospective Studies ; Tacrolimus* ; Uveitis* ; Uveitis, Posterior ; Visual Acuity