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

Primary tumors of the heart are rare, three quarter of the tumors are benign, and nearly half of the benign heart tumors are myxomas. Cardiac myxoma usually originate in the left atrium about 75 percent, however, only 3 to 4 percent of myxoma are detected in the left ventricle. We report on a 32 years old woman with left ventricular myxoma who presented with shortness of breath, chest tightness, and general weakness. Acute pulmonary embolism and left ventricular myxoma were found on a perfusion lung scan and echocadiogram. A mass located on septal wall of left ventricle was excised en bloc. The patient recovered uneventfully and careful follow up has be performed periodically.
Adult ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart ; Heart Atria ; Heart Neoplasms ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Lung ; Myxoma* ; Perfusion ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Thorax

No abstract available.

The authors describe a technique consisting of subfascial temporalis dissection and performing a pedicled bone flap in pterional craniotomy. This technique provides reliable preservation of the frontalis nerve, does not necessitate the reconstruction of the temporalis muscle at the end of the surgery, and does not compromise the operative exposure.
Craniotomy

No abstract available.
Follow-Up Studies* ; Hydronephrosis*

Tissue engineering and stem cell transplantation are two important options that may help overcome limitations in the current treatment strategy for bladder dysfunction. Stem cell therapy holds great promise for treating pathophysiology, as well as for urological tissue engineering and regeneration. To date, stem cell therapy in urology has mainly focused on oncology and erectile dysfunction. The therapeutic potency of stem cells (SCs) was originally thought to derive from their ability to differentiate into various cell types including smooth muscle. The main mechanisms of SCs in reconstituting or restoring bladder function are migration, differentiation, and paracrine effects. Nowadays, paracrine effects of stem cells are thought to be more prominent because of their stimulating effects on stem cells and adjacent cells. Studies of stem cell therapy for bladder dysfunction have been limited to experimental models and have been less focused on tissue engineering for bladder regeneration. Bladder outlet obstruction is a representative model. Adipose-derived stem cells, bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs), and skeletal muscle-derived stem cells or muscle precursor cells are used for transplantation to treat bladder dysfunction. The aim of this study is to review stem cell therapy and updated tissue regeneration as treatments for bladder dysfunction and to provide the current status of stem cell therapy and tissue engineering for bladder dysfunction including its mechanisms and limitations.
Bone Marrow ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Male ; Models, Theoretical ; Muscle, Smooth ; Regeneration ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Stem Cells* ; Tissue Engineering* ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction ; Urinary Bladder* ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive ; Urology

The author has examined the effect of cortical spreading depression(CSD) on the changes in extracellular concetration of aspartate and glutamate in the neocortex of anesthetized rats using microdialysis and high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). The rats were prepared by halothane anesthesia and artificial ventilation. Rats were placed in a stereotaxic frame, and craniotomies were performed over the frontal and parietal cortexes on one side. The CSD was elicited by local application of KCI-soaked small pellets to the frontal cortex. The CSD was monitored by the changes of direct current(DC) potential in the parietal cortex. The microdialysis probe was implanted in the anterior part of the parietal cortex. Amino acids were analyzed by HPLC and fluorescence detection. Baseline concentration of the aspartate was 34.9+/-15.9nM and that of glutamate was 189.8+/-29.1nM(mean standard deviation). The perfusate for analysis was obtained 30 minutes after the beginning of the 300mM KCl induced CSD. Aspartate was found to increase to 146+/-55% baseline, glutamate up to 173+/-30% baseline(mean standard deviation). The increment of glutamate was statistically significant(p<0.05). Then 2M KCI-doaked pellets were applied for more frequent CSD amd the samples were collected. Aspartate increased up to 258+/-97% baseline, glutamate up to 174+/-57% baseline(mean standard deviation), The increment of glutamate and aspartate accompanying 2M KCI induced CSD were also statistically significant(p<0.05). These data suggest that the excitatory amino acids were released during the CSD and this may explain the various aspects of CSD that could contribute to the secondary neuronal damage in the compromised nerve cell.
Amino Acids ; Anesthesia ; Animals ; Aspartic Acid* ; Cerebral Cortex* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cortical Spreading Depression* ; Craniotomy ; Excitatory Amino Acids ; Fluorescence ; Glutamic Acid* ; Halothane ; Microdialysis ; Neocortex ; Neurons ; Rabeprazole ; Rats* ; Ventilation

The author has performed an experimental study in order to investigate the effect of nimodipine on the production of CSF in 12 cats. The cats were divided into 2 groups, one for nimodipine intravenous infusion and the other for its vehicle infusion group. Using ventriculo-cisternal perfusion method, nimodipine and its vehicle were examined for their effects on CSF formation rate respectively. Baseline CSF formation rate was 22.5+/-2.9 microliter/min(S.E.) and it gradually reduced to 17.0+/-3.4 microliter/min(S.E.) after final infusion of nimodipine at 60 microgram/kg/min. Vehicle infusion revealed no significant change in CSF formation rate. Although the nimodipine insuion revealed declining tendency in CSF formation rate along with increment of nimodipine concentration, it was not statistically different from that of vehicle infusion group. Systolic blood pressure was significantly reduced after nimodipine infusion(133+/-31.8mmHg at baseline, 93.9+/-19.1mmHg at the end of the experiment) on oneway ANOVA test and it was significantly different from that in vehicle infusion group(p<0.01).
Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Cats ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Nimodipine* ; Perfusion

Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH) is one of the most common neurosurgical disorders associated with high morbidity and mortality. However, the treatment of the disease remains controversial. While aggressive removal of the blood clot is advocated by some, supportive care without clot removal is recommended by others. This dichotomy in therapeutic approaches undoubtedly derives from a poor understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms that result in brain injury following intracerebral hematoma. Thus, effective animal model of intracerebral hematoma is necessary so that the injury mechanisms can be identified and the specific therapy developed. In an attempt to establish the highly reliable and reproducible experimental model of intracerebral hematoma, various amount(sham. 25microliter, 50microliter and 100microliter) of autologous blood was injected stereotactically into the left basal ganglia of the anesthetized rats. 16 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups. The sham operation and injections of 25microliter, 50microliter and 100microliter of autologous arterial blood were performed on each group. The animals were assessed for the size and pattern of the hematoma and the neurological outcome at 24 hours after the formation of intracerebral hematomas. The 25microliter-injection group showed the more reproducible size and shape of the hematoma confined to the basal ganglia with better neurological outcome, Additionally, the perihematomal ischemic zone was observed after intracardiac perfusion with 2% 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride(TTC). Another 18 rats were assessed for the histopathological changes during the hyperacute stage of the intracerebral hematoma with Hematoxylin-Eosin staining. Finally another 24 rats were divided into 6 groups and injected with 25microliter of blood. They underwent intravenous infusion of Evans blue and were sacrificed at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 72 hours after the formation intracerebral hematomas. The Evans blue extra asation was noted around the needle tract and hematoma that meant disruption of the blood-brain barrier. Significant increment of the water content with resultant brain edema was noted on the ipsilateral brain 6-12 hours after the formation of the intracerebral hematoma.
Animals ; Basal Ganglia ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; Brain ; Brain Edema ; Brain Injuries ; Evans Blue ; Hematoma* ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Models, Animal ; Models, Theoretical* ; Mortality ; Needles ; Perfusion ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVE: The variable operative methods are underwent as a treatment of tuberculous spondylitis. We propose hemilaminectomy and debridement as a one of operative method at a certain circumstance. METHODS: From July 1998 to June 2002, 13 consecutive patients with spinal tuberculosis were treated surgically in our institution. Among them, the authors analysed 7 patients in whom posterior approach were performed. The lumbar spine was involved in 6 patients, the thoracic in 1. The hemilaminectomy with debridement was done in all cases. The changes in the Kyphotic angle and the height of involved vertebras retrospectively measured from lateral spinal radiographs obtained preoperatively and postoperatively. Mean follow up periods were 16 months. RESULTS: Clinical symptoms and signs were improved in all cases. One patient (14%) was needed anterior fusion because of aggravation of lesion. Another one needed reoperation because of relapse of epidural abscess. The arithmethical average of kyphotic angle was worsened about 2 degrees and that of height loss was lesser than 5% postoperatively. CONCLUSION: The hemilaminectomy with debridement for spinal spondylitis can be a first therapeutic modality in a mild neurologic deficit and minor lesions with extended epidural abscess and granulation tissue to the adjacent vertebras in radiologic finding. Especially if epidural abscess and granulation tissue involve the multiple vertebras, we recommend this operative method.
Debridement ; Epidural Abscess ; Follow-Up Studies ; Granulation Tissue ; Humans ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Recurrence ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine ; Spondylitis ; Tuberculosis, Spinal*