No abstract available.
Arthroplasty* ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip* ; Head* ; Hemiarthroplasty* ; Necrosis*

PURPOSE: Refractory status epilepticus refers to patients who do not respond properly to adequate first-line drug treatment such as diazepam, phenytoin, phenobaribital, lorazepam and show longer than 60 minute seizure. This study was designed to determine the efficacy and safety of midazolam given as a continuous infusion in the treatment of status epilepticus in children. METHODS: Midazolam was infused to twelve children with seizures, for whom two time repeated doses of 0.3mg/kg of diazepam, 20mg/kg of phenobarbital, and 20mg/kg of phenytoin failed to bring the episode under control. All patients received a bolus of midazolam(0.15mg/kg) followed by a continuous infusion at 1microgram/kg/min. The dose was increased every 15 min until the episode of seizure was brought under control. Time required to control seizures, infusion rate, and side-effects were monitored. RESULTS: The mean age of the patient population was 6.06 yrs(range 2 months to 16 yrs; 6 females and 6 males). In 11 patients, seizures were controlled in a mean time of 60.1 min(range 15-180 min). The mean infusion rate was 8.5microgram/kg/min(range 1-20). The total treatment duration was 17.6 days(range 1-54 days). One patient who was confirmed to have cortical dysplasia failed to respond. Two of the patients showed respiratory depression and bradycardia. CONCLUSION: Midazolam is an effective and safe drug to control refractory seizures in children with status epilepticus.
Bradycardia ; Child* ; Diazepam ; Female ; Humans ; Lorazepam ; Malformations of Cortical Development ; Midazolam* ; Phenobarbital ; Phenytoin ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Seizures ; Status Epilepticus*

Open carpal tunnel release has been the standard method of sumical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. Recently endoscopic carpal tunnel release has been introduced and is heing used by many authors. The advantages of this new technique are less postoperative pain, rapid restoration of power and rapid return-to-work. However many considerate authors, in spite of these advantages. insist that the inevitahle risk of neurovascular injury during the endoscopic procedure should not he underestimated. The purpose of our study is to compare the clinical results of endoscopic carpal tunnel release with those of open release. 20 open carpal tunnel releases in 16 patients and 15 endoscopic carpal tunnel reieases (single-portal technique) in 11 patients were performed hy the first author. Preoperative conditions of both groups are not different. Authors compared the clinical results between the two groups with some parameters. The overall clinical results were not different significantly hetween two groups. Rapid return-to-work(36 days in endoscopic group versus 60 days in open group) and less postoperative scar and pillar pain in endoscopic group were demonstrated. However, the major complication of one median nerve injury in endoscopic group seemed to overweigh these some benefits. We suggest that the standard operative technique for carpal tunnel syndrome should be open carpal tunnel release and more considerations should be takcn in choosing endoscopic method because of its inherent risk.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ; Cicatrix ; Humans ; Median Nerve ; Pain, Postoperative ; Return to Work

BACKGROUND: Vascular lesions can be diagnosed by biopsy, simple x-ray, ultrasound, CT, MRI, venography and MR angiography. These diagnostic tools can identify the detailed structure and abnormalities in the peri-lesional area of vascular lesions. Color Doppler ultrasound (CDU) can demonstrate the hemodynamic features, distribution of veins and arteries, shunts and structures of vascular lesions. Authors have tried to categorize vascular lesions with CDU and also applied this to the selection of treatment methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-seven vascular lesions were evaluated by means of CDU. All patients underwent a complete clinical evaluation as well as peak systolic velocity (PSV), peak diastolic velocity (PDV), resistive index (RI) of feeding arteries. In particular, we evaluated the hemodynamic features and structures of vascular lesions. We categorized the vascular lesions and then treated them with systemic steroid, compression, SPTL1 Dye laser, steroid intralesional injection and sclerotherapy. We evaluated the clinical improvement and objective effects of treatments by CDU. RESULTS: There were 37 hemangiomas and 10 vascular malformations. Vascular lesions were classified by the hemodynamic features and structures: category Ia (infantile hemangioma, regressed infantile hemangioma), Ib (RICH), Ic (deep hemangioma, mixed hemangioma), II (arteriovenous malformation), III (venous malformation, verrucous hemangioma). The clinical improvement after treatment was associated with the decrease of PSV and RI values. The clinical improvement above 50% resolution of the lesion showed 70.9% in category Ia, 50% in Ib, 66.6% in Ic, 83.3% in II and 50% in III. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of hemodynamic feature and structures by CDU can be helpful in the study of vascular lesions. These processes suggest CDU be a useful modality in differential diagnosis of vascular lesions and a more advantageous tool in the decision of treatment policy than the conventional modalities. And it is also useful for the evaluation of treatment effects.
Angiography ; Arteries ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hemangioma ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Injections, Intralesional ; Lasers, Dye ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Phlebography ; Sclerotherapy ; Ultrasonography* ; Vascular Malformations ; Veins

Hemangioma is the most common tumor occuring in infancy as a well-circumscribed, strawberry-like mass. Hemangiomas evolve in three phases ; postnatal endothelial proliferation (about 12 months), variable stability, and slow involution(around 18 months to 10 years). In most instances, the diagnosis of common hemangioma can be established on the basis of the history and physical examination. Ultrasound, when combined with color doppler imaging and doppler spectral analysis of vascular channels, can be so much useful to predict the exact nature of tissue content and the characteristics of vascular flow in hemangiomas. This technique has many advantages such as non-invasiveness, relatively low cost, no need for heavy sedation. Doppler ultrasound can reflect the changes in echogenecities and flow patterns according to the respective evolutional phases of hemangiomas. Color doppler ultrasound were performed to 20 infants and children with clinical hemangiomas. We investigated the peak systolic velocity(PSV) and resistive index(RI) of feeder arteries in hemangiomatous lesions. PSVs and RIs showed differences in their mean values between the patients under 1 year old and those older than 1 year old of age. The compression therapy and/or oral steroid therapy were applied to 10 patients, who showed high PSVs and low RIs, on the purpose of reducing in-flow. After at least 6 months' treatment, we noticed the decreased PSVs together with increased RIs in 7 patients showing clinical improvement. Color doppler ultrasound should be one of the optional imaging modalities for various items; assessment of evolutional phases in hemangiomas, decision of treatment modalities and evaluation of treatment effects to hemangiomas.
Arteries ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Hemangioma* ; Humans ; Infant ; Physical Examination ; Ultrasonography*

Neurodegenerative diseases are the hereditary and sporadic conditions which are characterized by progressive neuronal degeneration. Neurodegenerative diseases are emerging as the leading cause of death, disabilities, and a socioeconomic burden due to an increase in life expectancy. There are many neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease, and multiple sclerosis, but we have no effective treatments or cures to halt the progression of any of these diseases. Stem cell-based therapy has become the alternative option to treat neurodegenerative diseases. There are several types of stem cells utilized; embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, and adult stem cell (mesenchymal stem cells and neural progenitor cells). In this review, we summarize recent advances in the treatments and the limitations of various stem cell technologies. Especially, we focus on clinical trials of stem cell therapies for major neurodegenerative diseases.
Adult Stem Cells ; Alzheimer Disease ; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ; Cause of Death ; Cell Transplantation ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; Huntington Disease ; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells ; Life Expectancy ; Multiple Sclerosis ; Neurodegenerative Diseases* ; Neurons ; Parkinson Disease ; Stem Cells*

No abstract available.
Melanosis*

No abstract available.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship of serum uric acid to cardiovascular risk factors in Korean male workers. METHODS: We screened 522 male workers at an electrical manufacturing company by a periodic health examination and a questionnaire survey in 2000. We collected data relating to age, smoking status, alcohol drinking status, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, serum lipid, fasting blood glucose and serum uric acid. The data were analyzed using a variety of methods, including ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and multivariate regression analyses, to examine the association between uric acid and cardiovascular risk factors with a cross-sectional study design. RESULTS: The concentration of serum uric acid showed positive associations with BMI, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL-cholesterol; it was also significantly correlated to systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Life-style characteristics, such as smoking and alcohol drinking showed no significant association. From the multivariate regression analyses, BMI, total cholesterol and fasting blood glucose levels were found to be independent positive predictors of uric acid; while age, blood pressure and smoking status give no independent contribution explaining the variability of serum uric acid levels. Conclusions : This study demonstrates that serum uric acid level have a significant association with cardiovascular risk factors, such as BMI, total cholesterol and blood glucose in some Korean male workers.
Alcohol Drinking ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Fasting ; Humans ; Male* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Risk Factors* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Triglycerides ; Uric Acid*

A case of multiple hamartomas of the unilateral chest wall in a four month old infant is presented. There have been a few reports on the CT findings of the chest wall hamartoma in infancy. We describe bone changes of the ribs and mineralization of this rare tumor on the CT scan, and the locations of two separate masses.
Hamartoma ; Humans ; Infant ; Miners ; Ribs ; Thoracic Wall* ; Thorax* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed