PURPOSE: To analyze the characteristies of traumatic brainstem injury by CT and MR MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT and MR studies of 10 patients with traumatic brainstem lesion in MR were retrospectively reviewed, particularly attended to location, signal intensity and associated lesions. RESULTS: CT failed to depict 8 of 10 brainstem lesions. All lesions were detected in MR images with T2-weighted images showing higher detection rate (n=10) (100%) than Tl-weighted images (n=3) (30%) or CT (n=2) (20%). The brainstem lesions located in the dorsolateral aspects of the rostral brainstem(mid brain and upper pons)in 7 (70%) cases, in ventral aspects of rostral brain in 2 (20%) cases and in median portion of pons in 1 (10%) case. Corpus callosal (n=5), Iobar white matter(n=5) diffuse axonal injury, and 2 hemorrhagic lesions in basal ganglia were the associated findings. CONCLUSION: MR imaging is more helpful than CT in the detection of brainstem injury, especially T2 weighted images. Primary brainstem lesions were typically located in the dorsolateral aspect of rostral brainstem(midbrain and upper pons). Corpus callosum and white matter lesions were frequently associated.
Basal Ganglia ; Brain ; Brain Stem* ; Corpus Callosum ; Diffuse Axonal Injury ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pons ; Retrospective Studies

Antiseptics are substances that kill or prevent the growth of microorganisms when applied to living tissue. They must be effective against microorganisms but must also retain their activity in presence of body fluids without being harmful locally or systemically. Among many antiseptics, Betadine(R) has been widely used because of its low toxicity and high germicidal efficacy. We reported 2 cases of allergic contact dermatitis to Betadine(R) in surgical patients. They had eczematous eruption along the Betadine(R) applying sites. Path tests Betadine(R) confirmed the diagnosis.
Anti-Infective Agents, Local ; Body Fluids ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; Diagnosis ; Humans

The microform cleft lip is the mildest expression of cleft lip and nose deformity, but it has no specific definition, classification, and few methods have been reported for its correction. It is characterized by deformity of the nostril, skin striae of the upper lip, notching of peaked Cupid's bow, deformity of the vermilion, and anomaly of the upper lateral incisior and alveolar ridge on the affected region. Sixty-three microform cleft lip patients were operated on between Dec. 1993 and Sep. 1998 in our department(29 males and 34 females). The age of the patients ranged from 5 months to 30 years(Mean 9 years). We classified and treated the microform cleft lip as follows: Class I: Cleft lip nose with very slight lip deformity Class II: Minimal lip deformity without vermilion notching Class III: Mild lip deformity with slight vermilion notching. The goals in the correction of a microform cleft lip are to obtain an esthetically pleasing upper lip and nose, and to reestablish muscle continuity for improved function. To attain these goals, we used the above classification and satisfactory results were obtained by treating the microform cleft according to the classification.
Alveolar Process ; Classification* ; Cleft Lip* ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Humans ; Lip ; Male ; Microfilming* ; Nose ; Skin

No abstract available.
Facial Nerve* ; Paralysis*

No abstract available.
Angiography ; Arterial Occlusive Diseases ; Lower Extremity

No abstract available.
MicroRNAs* ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle* ; Vascular Diseases*

The majority of the crab louse is found in pubic hairs, but some of them will colonize axillary hairs, eyelashes, eyebrows and occasionally scalp hairs. In children crab louse may colonize the eyelashes and scalp hairs. The authors found a crab louse, Phthirus pubis and their nits on the eyelashes and scalp hiars of 25-months-old female who complained of foreign body and itching sensation of her right upper lid. Treatment is accomplished by careful mechanical removal of the louse and nits followed by the epilation and application of antibiotic eyedrops or ointments. We report a case of Phthiriasis palpebrarum in children.
Child* ; Colon ; Eyebrows ; Eyelashes ; Female ; Foreign Bodies ; Hair ; Hair Removal ; Humans ; Ointments ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; Pediculus ; Phthiraptera ; Phthirus ; Pruritus ; Scalp ; Sensation

PURPOSE: Ca2+ homeostasis plays an important role in myocardial cell injury induced by hypoxia-reoxygenation, and prevention of intracellular Ca2+ overload is key to cardioprotection. Even though thiopental is a frequently used anesthetic agent, little is known about its cardioprotective effects, particulary in association with Ca2+ homeostasis. We investigated whether thiopental protects cardiomyocytes against hypoxia-reoxygenation injury by regulating Ca2+ homeostasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were isolated. Cardiomyocytes were exposed to different concentrations of thiopental and immediately replaced in the hypoxic chamber to maintain hypoxia. After 1 hour of exposure, a culture dish was transferred to the CO2 incubator and cells were incubated at 37degrees C for 5 hours. At the end of the experiments, the authors assessed cell protection using immunoblot analysis and caspase activity. The mRNA of genes involved in Ca2+ homeostasis, mitochondrial membrane potential, and cellular Ca2+ levels were examined. RESULTS: In thiopental-treated cardiomyocytes, there was a decrease in expression of the proapoptotic protein Bax, caspase-3 activation, and intracellular Ca2+ content. In addition, both enhancement of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and activation of Erk concerned with survival were shown. Furthermore, thiopental attenuated alterations of genes involving Ca2+ regulation and significantly modulated abnormal changes of NCX and SERCA2a genes in hypoxia-reoxygenated neonatal cardiomyocytes. Thiopental suppressed disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential (Delta Psi m) induced by hypoxia-reoxygenation. CONCLUSION: Thiopental is likely to modulate expression of genes that regulate Ca2+ homeostasis, which reduces apoptotic cell death and results in cardioprotection.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Calcium/*metabolism ; Cell Hypoxia/*physiology ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; GABA Modulators/*pharmacology ; Homeostasis/drug effects ; Immunoblotting ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial/drug effects ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Myocytes, Cardiac/*drug effects/*metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Thiopental/*pharmacology

BACKGROUNDS: The purpose of this study is to clarify therapeutic efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty(PVP) using polymethylmethacrylate(PMMA) for the osteoporotic compression fractures of the spine and to define the complications following the procedures. METHODS: The authors retrospectively analyzed the clinical outcome of 51 consecutive patients with recent osteoporotic compression fractures undergone PVP between January, 2000 and December, 2001. We reviewed medical records, radiographic findings, and telephone questionaires. The clinical outcomes were categorized by visual analogue scale(VAS). RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 70.2 years old(range, 60~84) and the male/female ratio was 9:42(17.6%:82.4%). Mean duration of symptom was 2.75 months(0.25~12). Mean follow up periods were 12.2 months(5~27). Among the 63 treated segments, most of them were thoracolumbar junction(69.8%, 44/63) and treated via bipedicular route(bipedicular/unipedicular: 47/16). Thirty-eight patients showed complete or partial relief of pain(82.6%). Age, sex, duration of symptom, number of involved segments, and approach(uni-/bipedicular) had no statistical significance to clinical outcome. Nonetheless leakage of acrylic cement was noted in 37 patients(72.5%), most of them were asymptomatic. The complications were 4 symptomatic leakages(4 transient radicular pain), 1 pulmonary embolisms, and 1 fractured acrylic cement. CONCLUSION: PVP using PMMA is a minimally invasive, safe and effective treatment modality providing primary stability and prompt pain relief for the osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. As most of the complications are related with leakage of acrylic cement, preoperative CT scan, vertebral phlebography and fluoroscopic guidance are mandatory as well as cautious injection of adequate amount of PMMA.
Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Compression* ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Phlebography ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine ; Telephone ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome* ; Vertebroplasty*

No abstract available.
Brain* ; Hydrocephalus*