Two cases of cavernous hemangioma of the cauda equina are presented. Cavernous hemangioma of the cauda equina is rare vascular malformation. This is the fifth and sixth case of cavernous hemangioma of the cauda equina in the literature. These cases are female patients. MRI is more sensitive method than spinal myelography and CT in diagnosis of cavernous hemangioma of the cauda equina. Total removal was possible without immediate post-operative complication.
Cauda Equina* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Hemangioma, Cavernous* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Myelography ; Vascular Malformations

STUDY DESIGN: We have studied prospectively the clinical and radiological results after unilateral pedicle screw fixation in degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical significance of unilateral pedicle screw fixation. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: The use of pedicle screw fixation has significantly increased fusion rate in degenerative lumbar spinal surgery. However, the rigid spinal fixation may result in deterioration of the juxta-fusion segments and lead to the stress-shielding of vertebral bodies within the stabilized segments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 1997 to October 1998, we had performed bilateral posterolateral fusion and unilateral pedicle screw fixation for degenerative spinal stenosis in nign cases. The main indications for unilateral pedicle screw fixation included patients undergoing decompressive laminectomies, which preserved the facet joints. One of the patients was initially scheduled for bilateral pedicle screw fixation. However, during the application of the instrumentation, loosening of a pedicle screw was occurred. Only unilateral pedicle screw fixation on the contralateral side was kept. The clinical results were assessed the back pain, radiating pain and claudicaion. We assessed the radiologic results such as fusion status and maintenance of disc height. RESULTS: The back pains were improved in 6 cases , and the radiating pain and claudication were improved in eight cases after the operation. According to Lenke's grade, fusion status were showed grade A in nign segments and grade B in four segments at the last follow-up radiograph. The loss of disc height averaged 7.8(1-25)% in thirteen segments. CONCLUSION: Unilateral pedicle screw fixation is one of the useful methods for patients undergoing decompressive laminec-tomies, which preserve the facet joints in degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis.
Back Pain ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Prospective Studies ; Spinal Stenosis* ; Zygapophyseal Joint

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the effects of smoking on alcohol cravings in alcoholdependent individuals. METHODS: Study participants were 123 male smokers, 18 to 65 years of age, diagnosed with alcohol dependence. The study questionnaire consisted of demographic characteristics, alcohol drinking habits, smoking habits, the Korean Obsessive-Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS), the 12-item Tobacco Craving Questionnaire (12-item TCQ), and the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND). We divided the subjects into high-OCDS score and low-OCDS score groups. RESULTS: The high-OCDS group had a higher alcohol drinking frequency and greater average amount of alcohol consumed than did the low-OCDS group. Also, the high-OCDS group smoked a higher average number of cigarettes per day and had higher 12-item TCQ scores and FTND scores. Logistic regression analysis showed scores of the 12-item TCQ and the FTND were the most significant variables for predicting alcohol cravings. CONCLUSION: This study shows that alcohol cravings are significantly related to cigarette cravings and to severity of nicotine dependence.
Alcohol Drinking ; Alcoholism ; Drinking ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Nicotine ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tobacco ; Tobacco Products ; Tobacco Use Disorder

BACKGROUND: We performed the study on the changes of beta2-microglobulin(beta2M) clearance and urea reduction ratio after reuse of dialyzers with three different membranes. METHODS: 9 patients who had received regular hemodialysis more than five years were enrolled. Three kinds of dialyzer membrane were used; i.e. : Two of them were high-flux and the other was low-flux. Dialyzer reprocessing was performed by an automated machine using glutaraldehyde and bleach. Each dialyzer was reused 10 times. Solute clearance was determined for each dialyzer after the 1st, 5th, 8th and 10th reuse. RESULTS: Urea clearance was well maintained after reuse with both high-flux and low-flux membrane but beta2M clearance was significantly greater with high-flux dialyzers than low-flux dialyzer. Effects of each dialyzer reuse on beta2M clearance showed no significant decrease until the 10th reuse and no significant difference in beta2M clearance between the two high-flux dialyzers(polyamide vs PEPA membrane, p= 0.197). CONCLUSION: Reuse of dialyzers was cost-effective. After reuse of dialyzer, clearance of solute was maintained in both small and large solutes until the 10 th reuse. Further study is needed regarding the maintenance of solute clearance with increased number of reuses.
Blood Urea Nitrogen* ; Cellulose ; Glutaral ; Humans ; Membranes* ; Nylons ; Renal Dialysis ; Urea

Absorptiometry, Photon ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Density ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Female ; Humans ; Ilium ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis ; Tibia ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants ; Volunteers

Branchioma ; Carotid Body Tumor ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Head ; Hemangioma ; Hodgkin Disease ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphangioma, Cystic ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Oropharynx ; Parotid Gland ; Parotid Region ; Rare Diseases ; Retrospective Studies ; Tongue