Negative myoclonus (NM) is a jerky, shock-like involuntary movement caused by a sudden, brief interruption of muscle contraction. An 80-year-old man presented with multifocal NM and confusion. Two days before the onset of NM, he commenced the intake of pregabalin at a dose of 150 mg/day for neuropathic pain. His NM resolved completely and mental status improved gradually after the administration of lorazepam intravenously and the discontinuation of pregabalin. Our study suggests that pregabalin can cause NM even in patients without a history of seizures.
Aged, 80 and over ; Dyskinesias ; Humans ; Lorazepam ; Muscle Contraction ; Myoclonus ; Neuralgia ; Pregabalin ; Seizures

Negative myoclonus (NM) is a jerky, shock-like involuntary movement caused by a sudden, brief interruption of muscle contraction. An 80-year-old man presented with multifocal NM and confusion. Two days before the onset of NM, he commenced the intake of pregabalin at a dose of 150 mg/day for neuropathic pain. His NM resolved completely and mental status improved gradually after the administration of lorazepam intravenously and the discontinuation of pregabalin. Our study suggests that pregabalin can cause NM even in patients without a history of seizures.

We have undertaken this study to identify the usefulness of two variable dinucleotide tandem repeats within the factor VIII gene for carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis of hemophilia A in the Korean population. We have analyzed these polymorphisms in 50 unrelated Korean mothers of patients with severe hemophilia A, using polymerase chain reaction. The expected heterozygosity rates of the intron 13 and intron 22 dinucleotide repeats were 56% and 40%, respectively. Analysis of the intron 13 and intron 22 dinucleotide repeats revealed heterozygous patterns in 29(58%) and 17(34%) of 50 mothers studied, respectively. The combined overall informativity of the intron 13 and intron 22 dinucleotide repeats was 68%. Using linkage analysis with the intron 13 dinucleotide repeats, we have attempted three cases of carrier detection and two cases of prenatal diagnosis in two families of patients with severe hemophilia A. Two pregnant women were diagnosed as carriers, and the other patients as non-carrier Prenatal diagnosis revealed an unaffected male in one fetus, and an unaffected female in another fetus. This data demonstrated that the analysis of the intron 13 and intron 22 dinucleotide repeats very useful in the carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis of hemophilia A in the Korean population.
Dinucleotide Repeats ; Factor VIII* ; Female ; Fetus ; Hemophilia A* ; Humans ; Introns ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Mothers ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnant Women ; Prenatal Diagnosis* ; Tandem Repeat Sequences*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the phototoxic effects of blue light exposure on periodontal pathogens in both planktonic and biofilm cultures. METHODS: Strains of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Porphyromonas gingivalis, in planktonic or biofilm states, were exposed to visible light at wavelengths of 400.520 nm. A quartz-tungsten-halogen lamp at a power density of 500 mW/cm2 was used for the light source. Each sample was exposed to 15, 30, 60, 90, or 120 seconds of each bacterial strain in the planktonic or biofilm state. Confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM) was used to observe the distribution of live/dead bacterial cells in biofilms. After light exposure, the bacterial killing rates were calculated from colony forming unit (CFU) counts. RESULTS: CLSM images that were obtained from biofilms showed a mixture of dead and live bacterial cells extending to a depth of 30-45 microm. Obvious differences in the live-to-dead bacterial cell ratio were found in P. gingivalis biofilm according to light exposure time. In the planktonic state, almost all bacteria were killed with 60 seconds of light exposure to F. nucleatum (99.1%) and with 15 seconds to P. gingivalis (100%). In the biofilm state, however, only the CFU of P. gingivalis demonstrated a decreasing tendency with increasing light exposure time, and there was a lower efficacy of phototoxicity to P. gingivalis as biofilm than in the planktonic state. CONCLUSIONS: Blue light exposure using a dental halogen curing unit is effective in reducing periodontal pathogens in the planktonic state. It is recommended that an adjunctive exogenous photosensitizer be used and that pathogens be exposed to visible light for clinical antimicrobial periodontal therapy.
Bacteria ; Biofilms ; Curing Lights, Dental ; Dermatitis, Phototoxic ; Fusobacterium nucleatum ; Homicide ; Light ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Plankton ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; Sprains and Strains ; Stem Cells

Tracheopathia osteoplastica is a rare benign disorder of the trachea and major bronchi. It is characterized by multiple cartilaginous or osseous submucosal nodules that project into the tracheobronchial lumen. Awareness of the condition is important to avoid unnecessary surgery. We report here on the CT and bronchoscopic findings of tracheopathia osteoplastica associated with anthracofibrosis in a 67-year old woman, and we will then discuss our findings.
Aged ; Bronchi ; Female ; Humans ; Trachea ; Unnecessary Procedures

PURPOSE: To determine a method to improve the efficacy and accuracy of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) - polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we compared hot start PCR and conventional multiplex nested PCR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was performed with single lymphocyte isolated from whole blood samples that were obtained from two couples with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). We proceeded with conventional multiplex nested PCR and hot start PCR in which essential reaction components were physically removed, and we compared the amplification rate, allele dropout rate and nonspecific products. Afterward, we used selective method for PGD. RESULTS: In the two couples, the respective amplification rate were 93.5% and 80.0% using conventional multiplex nested PCR and 95.5% and 92.0% using hot start PCR. The respective mean allele dropout rates for the two couples were 42.0% and 14.0% with conventional multiplex nested PCR and 36.0% and 6.0% with hot start PCR. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that the hot start PCR procedure provides higher amplification rates and lower allele dropout rate than the conventional method and that it decreased the nonspecific band in multiplex nested PCR. The hot start method is more efficient for analyzing a single blastomere in clinical PGD.
Alleles ; Blastomeres ; Family Characteristics ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Osteogenesis Imperfecta ; Patient Dropouts ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Preimplantation Diagnosis ; Prostaglandins D

PURPOSE: To assess the causes of periportal low attenuation, as seen on CT, in patients with blunt abdominaltrauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From among 812 patients who underwent abdominal CT after blunt abdominal trauma,we retrospectively analysed the findings in 124 with evidence of periportal low attenvation. Among these, hepaticinjury was noted in only 87. The presence or absence, and extent of hepatic injury, and of periportal lowattenuation, as seen on CT, were carefully evaluated. In each case, the ratio of the transverse diameter of theinferior vena cava(IVC) to the aorta at the level of the right adrenal gland provided an indirect measurement ofcentral venous pressure; for control purposes, the ratio was also obtained in 21 non-traumatic patients with noabnormal abdominal CT findings. RESULTS: Of the 87 patients with hepatic injury, 46 showed no periportal lowattenuation, and the average value of the ratio between the IVC and aorta was 1.16+/-0.12, while the remaining 41patients showed periportal low attenuation with a ratio of 1.51+/-0.21(p<0.05). In the 37 patients with periportallow attenuation but no evidence of concomitant hepatic injury, the average ratio was 1.52+/-0.25, while in 21non-traumatic patients it was 1.15+/-0.16. For resustication, all patients had received 0.5-5.0l of IV fluidtherapy before CT, and at the time of CT, were normotensive. CONCLUSION: Rapidly elevated central venous pressurefollowing massive IV infusion therapy in patients with blunt abdominal trauma can be one of the causes ofperiportal low attenuation, as seen on CT.
Adrenal Glands ; Aorta ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Venous Pressure

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the CT findings of nasolacrimal fossa and their clinical significance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine of 116 patients who underwent facial CT scanning after trauma showed evidenceof nasolacrimal fracture. We retrospectively analyzed CT findings to evaluate fracture patterns of thenasolacrimal fossa and canal and associated facial fractures. To determine the frequency of associatedcomplications, clinical records were reviewed were reviewed. RESULTS: Three types of fracture were identified:avulsion, comminuted, and linear Forty-one nasolacrimal fractures, 20 of which involved the nasolacrimal fossa and21 the nasolacrimal canal, were found in the 29 patients. Of the 20 fractures involving the nasolacrimal fossa,ten were avulsion, eight were linear, and two were comminuted. Seventeen of 21 fractures involving thenasolacrimal canal were comminuted and four were linear ; all nasolacrimal fractures were associated with otherfacial fractures. Twenty-five of 29 fractures were the complex midfacial-type (naso-ethmoid) ; the remaining fourwere simple and unilateral. Nasolacrimal sac and dvct-related complications were documented in only two patients ;they experienced epiphora associated with avulsion fracture of the nasolacrimal fossa, though the problem wasresolved by conservative treatment without surgery. CONCLUSION: Fractures of the nasolacrimal fossa and canalwere accompanied by simple or complex facial fractures. Injury-associated complications were rare, and all wereassociated with avulsion fractures of the nasolacrimal fossa.
Humans ; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to radiographically evaluate marginal bony changes in relation to different vertical positions of dental implants. METHODS: Two hundred implants placed in 107 patients were examined. The implants were classified by the vertical positions of the fixture-abutment connection (microgap): 'bone level,' 'above bone level,' or 'below bone level.' Marginal bone levels were examined in the radiographs taken immediately after fixture insertion, immediately after second-stage surgery, 6 months after prosthesis insertion, and 1 year after prosthesis insertion. Radiographic evaluation was carried out by measuring the distance between the microgap and the most coronal bone-to-implant contact (BIC). RESULTS: Immediately after fixture insertion, the distance between the microgap and most coronal BIC was 0.06 +/- 0.68 mm; at second surgery, 0.43 +/- 0.83 mm; 6 months after loading, 1.36 +/- 0.56 mm; and 1 year after loading, 1.53 +/- 0.51 mm (mean +/- SD). All bony changes were statistically significant but the difference between the second surgery and the 6-month loading was greater than between other periods. In the 'below bone level' group, the marginal bony change between fixture insertion and 1 year after loading was about 2.25 mm, and in the 'bone level' group, 1.47 mm, and in 'above bone level' group, 0.89 mm. Therefore, the marginal bony change was smaller than other groups in the 'above bone level' group and larger than other groups in the 'below bone level' group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated that marginal bony changes occur during the early phase of healing after implant placement. These changes are dependent on the vertical positions of implants.
Alveolar Bone Loss ; Dental Implants ; Humans ; Nitrogen Mustard Compounds ; Prostheses and Implants

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of implant shape and bone preparation on the primary stability of the implants using resonance frequency analysis. METHODS: Sixty bovine rib blocks were used for soft and hard bone models. Each rib block received two types of dental implant fixtures; a straight-screw type and tapered-screw type. Final drilling was done at three different depths for each implant type; 1 mm under-preparation, standard preparation, and 1 mm over-preparation. Immediately after fixture insertion, the implant stability quotient (ISQ) was measured for each implant. RESULTS: Regardless of the bone type, the ISQ values of the straight-screw type and tapered-screw type implants were not significantly different (P > 0.05). Depth of bone preparation had no significant effect on the ISQ value of straight-screw type implants (P > 0.05). For the tapered-screw type implants, under-preparation significantly increased the ISQ value (P < 0.05), whereas overpreparation significantly decreased the ISQ value (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this study, it is concluded that bone density seemed to have a prevailing effect over implant shape on primary stability. The primary stability of the tapered-screw type implants might be enhanced by delicate surgical techniques.
Bone Density ; Dental Implants ; Mandrillus ; Ribs