The author has observed the gross reactions of surrounding maxillary sutures to the widening of midpalatal suture in comparison of young dog with adult dog. Experimental animals used was two young dog and two adult dog with normal palate. After midpalatal suture was seperated with rapid palatal expansion device, experimental animals were sacrificed to observe the surrounding maxillary sutures. The following results were obtained. 1. In adule dog, nasoincisive suture was not expanded, while in young dog it was espanded. 2. In adult dog, pterygopalatine suture was hardly espanded, while in young dog it was expanded unilaterally. 3. In adult dog, frontomaxillary suture was not expanded, while in young dog it was expanded unilaterally. 4. In adult dog, palatoethmoidal suture was not expanded, while in young dog it was expanded unilaterally.
Adult* ; Animals ; Dogs* ; Humans ; Palate ; Sutures*

PURPOSE: Botulinum toxin (BTX) acts by inhibiting acetylcholine (ACh) release at the presynaptic cholinergic neuromuscular junction, and is applied in various urethral and bladder dysfunctions, including detrusor external sphincter dyssynergia (DESD). We investigated the use of BTX in DESD patients as a reversible chemical sphincterotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 6 patients (male 3, female 3) with DESD were included. Their mean age was 45.5 years. The underlying diseases were multiple sclerosis (1), meningomyelocele (1), spinal cord injury (1), multiple systemic atrophy (1) and transverse myelitis (2). All the patients had severe voiding symptoms and large residual urine, despite anticholinergics and alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists with clean intermittent catheterization (CIC). Urodynamic studies were performed before and 1 month after treatment. A total of 100 units of BTX-A (Botox(R)) were injected at 4 sites, 3, 6, 9 and 12 o'clock relative to the external sphincter, under anesthesia, on an outpatient basis. The alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist medication was discontinued for evaluation after surgery. RESULTS: At 1 month after the injection, the mean maximal flow rate was increased (from 8.4 to 12.2ml/sec) and mean residual urine was decreased (from 258 to 120ml) compared to the baseline values. The external sphincter pressure was decreased. All patients were able to discontinue the CIC. There were no systemic complications, such as respiratory distress or myasthenic crisis. CONCLUSIONS: Transurethral BTX-A injections were safe and effective for releasing or ameliorating a lower urinary tract obstruction due to DESD, and a safe and valuable therapeutic option in DESD patients not desiring surgery or CIC, and who are resistant to medications. (Korean J Urol 2005;46:604-609)
Acetylcholine ; Anesthesia ; Ataxia* ; Atrophy ; Botulinum Toxins* ; Cholinergic Antagonists ; Female ; Humans ; Intermittent Urethral Catheterization ; Meningomyelocele ; Multiple Sclerosis ; Myelitis, Transverse ; Neuromuscular Junction ; Outpatients ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Urethra* ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Tract ; Urodynamics

The spontaneous regression of herniated cervical discs is not a well established phenomenon. However, we encountered the 3 cases of spontaneous regression of severe radiculopathic herniated cervical discs that were treated using a non-surgical method. Each of the patients were treated with a combination of manipulation, dry needling and analgesics. In each case, the symptoms improved within 12 months of treatment and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) conducted at that time revealed marked regression of the herniated disc in all cases. These cases provide additional examples of spontaneous regression of herniated cervical discs documented by MRI following non-surgical treatment.
Analgesics ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

To investigate the seroprevalence of the Orientia tsutsugamushi infection of Apodemus peninsulae and genomic variations in O. tsutsugamushi isolates, 246 A. peninsulae were trapped in 14 mountainous areas approximately 500 meter above sea level in Korea during the period of 1997 and 2000. Seropositive rate of O. tsutsugamushi among A. peninsulae was 31.8% in Kyunggi, 8.2% in Chunbuk and 7.1% in Kangwon provinces by microimmunofluorescent test. The 56 kDa protein gene was amplified by PCR in the spleens of seropositive A. peninsulae. Two amplicons from seropositive A. peninsulae were sequenced and their phylogeny was analysed on the basis of sequence homology. The 56 kDa genes of A. peninsulae 98-12 strain and A. peninsulae 98-16 strain showed 98.7% nucleotide homology and 96.6% amino acid similarity. A. peninsulae 98-12 and A. peninsulae 98-16 strain were related to Kuroki, Boryong and Karp strains showing 93.3~92.2%, and 87.1~84.6% homologies in nucleotide and amino acids levels, respectively. In the phylogenetic analysis, A. peninsulae 98-12 and A. peninsulae 98-16 strain formed a distinct group with Boryong, Kuroki and Nishino strains and were clearly distinguished from other genetic groups. The results suggest that A. peninsulae might be an important reservoir of O. tsutsugamushi in Korea.
Amino Acids ; Animals ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Gangwon-do ; Gyeonggi-do ; Korea* ; Murinae* ; Orientia tsutsugamushi* ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Homology ; Seroepidemiologic Studies* ; Spleen

OBJECTIVES: Diabetic autonomic neuropathy is a common complication of long standing diabetes mellitus and is well known to induce the motor dysfunction of cardiovascular system, genitourinary system and diges tive system. Although many studies have done to eval uate the diabetic autonomic neuropathy, gallbladder motor function and biliary dynamic study to evaluate the change of gallbladder function in diabetic patients is relatively rare. This study was performed to measure the gall bladder ejection fraction using Tc- 99m-DISIDA with fatty meal in order to evaluate the gallbladder motor func tion in diabetic patients and to examine the usefulness of it in analyzing diabetic autonomic neuropathy. METHODS: 51 diabetic patients(males 31, females 18, mean age 57yr(39-77yr)) and 18 control subjects(males 14, females 4, mean aged 47yr(31-70yr)) without gall stone and impaired liver function were enrolled in our study. Also the diabetic patients were categorized by age, disease duration, body weight and diabetic complications such as retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy and cardiovas cular autonomic neuropathy accompanying with or not. RESULTS: 1) Median value and interquartile range of gallbladder ejection fraction(%) were 66%(48-79%) in diabetic pa tients group and 75%(64-80%) in control subjects. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups, but the mean value of diabetic patients was slightly lower than that of control subjects. 2) There was no significant difference between the two groups in mean value of gallbladder ejection fraction in every age group(P>0.05). 3) Median value of gallbladder ejection fraction in diabetic groups with less than 10 years of duration (both under 5 years and 5 to 10 years groups) was similar to that of control subjects. However in patients whose diabetic conditions last more than 10 years, the median range of gallbladder ejection fraction was significantly lower than that of control subjects(p<0.05). 4) Median range of gallbladder ejection fraction in obese diabetic patients group was significant lower than those of control subjects and non-obese diabetic pa tients(p<0.05). 5) Median value of gallbadder was lower in diabetic patients group with complications like retinopathy, periph eral neuropathy or cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (p<0.05) in comparison with those of control subjects and diabetic patients group without diabetic complication (p>0.05). Also seven diabetic patients whose gallbladder ejection fraction was reduced under 35% have had at least two diabetic complications. CONCLUSION: We observed that gallbladder ejection fraction of diabetic patients was reduced compared with that of control subjects. This is due to the reduced gallbladder muscle contractility resulting from diabetic autonomic dysfunction. These results suggest that the assessment of gallbladder ejection fraction using 99m- Tc-DISIDA would be useful to diagnose diabetic auto nomic neropathy.
Body Weight ; Cardiovascular System ; Diabetes Complications ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; Female ; Gallbladder* ; Gallstones ; Humans ; Liver ; Meals ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Radionuclide Imaging* ; Urinary Bladder ; Urogenital System

Background :The incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD)is increasing recently, but medical management for GERD has many limitations.Therefore,variable surgical treatments have been introduced. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective study was done in 10 patients who underwent the Belsey Mark IV operation at Korea university Guro hospital between 1996 and 2001.Preoperative diagnoses were hiatal hernia with gasroesophageal reflux in 8 patients and achalasia in 2 patients. RESULT: Mean age of the patients was 54.3 +/- 19.0 years.Belsey Mark IV operation was performed on patients where preoperative medical failed and mean hospital days were 13.1 +/- 2.6 days.We routinely practiced follow-up endoscopy on postoperative 3rd,6th,9th,and 12th months.After remission for reflux and esophagitis,they were transferred to internal medicine department.Six patients of hiatal hernia with reflux (one patient who lost follow-up and the other patient who didn't practice the follow-up endoscopy due to short postoperative follow-up period were excluded)had lowered endoscopic gradings and two patients of achalasia did not complained of reflux symptoms,postoperatively.We experienced 10%operation failure rate. CONCLUSION: We experienced satisfactory operation results with Belsey Mark IV in hiatal hernia with GERD and achalasia patients.
Diagnosis ; Endoscopy ; Esophageal Achalasia* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastroesophageal Reflux* ; Hernia, Hiatal* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Internal Medicine ; Korea ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term efficacy of laparoscopic Burch colposuspension, we reviewed the success rate and subjective satisfaction rate of this operation for female patients with stress incontinence. Materials and Methods: Between Sep. 1995 and Aug. 1999, 126 patients underwent laparoscopic Burch colposuspension. We reviewed 88 patients who had been followed up for more than 3 years. The mean patient age was 51.1 years and 26 of the 88 patients complained of urge incontinence. All were preoperatively assessed with voiding cystourethrography (VCUG), urodynamic study, cystoscopy and stress, emptying, anatomic, protection, and instability (SEAPI) score. Colposuspension was performed with 2 non- absorbable sutures (n=70) or polyprophylene mesh and Tacker (n=18) by the retroperitoneal approach. RESULTS: At the mean follow-up of 56 months, 58 patients (66%) were cured, and 19 patients (22%) showed significant improvements. Sixty one (94.4%) out of 66 patients who had previously required pad protection attained a pad-free status. Urge incontinence disappeared in 15 out of 26 patients, but 8 (9.1%) patients complained of de novo urge incontinence. The pre- operative factors (age, symptom periods, symptom score, abdominal leak point pressure (ALPP) and VCUG findings) made no difference for the success rate. The subjective satisfaction rate was 93%. The mean operation time was 88 minutes and it decreased to 67 minutes after 50 cases. The mean hospital stay was 3.5 days and mean duration of catheterization was 3.7 days. We had 5 (5.68%) cases of complications: two port site bleeding, one peritoneal injury, one respiratory acidosis and one obturator venous bleeding. However, all of them eventually recovered. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic colposuspension revealed good results on the long-term follow-up, as well the operation as being a minimally invasive procedure. There was a 88% success rate, a 93% subjective satisfaction rate and 94% of the patients became pad free.
Acidosis, Respiratory ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Cystoscopy ; Female* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Sutures ; Urinary Incontinence* ; Urinary Incontinence, Stress ; Urinary Incontinence, Urge ; Urodynamics

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term efficacy of laparoscopic Burch colposuspension, we reviewed the success rate and subjective satisfaction rate of this operation for female patients with stress incontinence. Materials and Methods: Between Sep. 1995 and Aug. 1999, 126 patients underwent laparoscopic Burch colposuspension. We reviewed 88 patients who had been followed up for more than 3 years. The mean patient age was 51.1 years and 26 of the 88 patients complained of urge incontinence. All were preoperatively assessed with voiding cystourethrography (VCUG), urodynamic study, cystoscopy and stress, emptying, anatomic, protection, and instability (SEAPI) score. Colposuspension was performed with 2 non- absorbable sutures (n=70) or polyprophylene mesh and Tacker (n=18) by the retroperitoneal approach. RESULTS: At the mean follow-up of 56 months, 58 patients (66%) were cured, and 19 patients (22%) showed significant improvements. Sixty one (94.4%) out of 66 patients who had previously required pad protection attained a pad-free status. Urge incontinence disappeared in 15 out of 26 patients, but 8 (9.1%) patients complained of de novo urge incontinence. The pre- operative factors (age, symptom periods, symptom score, abdominal leak point pressure (ALPP) and VCUG findings) made no difference for the success rate. The subjective satisfaction rate was 93%. The mean operation time was 88 minutes and it decreased to 67 minutes after 50 cases. The mean hospital stay was 3.5 days and mean duration of catheterization was 3.7 days. We had 5 (5.68%) cases of complications: two port site bleeding, one peritoneal injury, one respiratory acidosis and one obturator venous bleeding. However, all of them eventually recovered. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic colposuspension revealed good results on the long-term follow-up, as well the operation as being a minimally invasive procedure. There was a 88% success rate, a 93% subjective satisfaction rate and 94% of the patients became pad free.
Acidosis, Respiratory ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Cystoscopy ; Female* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Sutures ; Urinary Incontinence* ; Urinary Incontinence, Stress ; Urinary Incontinence, Urge ; Urodynamics

Cast formation of biliary sludge leading to obstruction and cholangitis have been reported in patients who received orthotopic liver transplantation. The pathogenesis of biliary cast after orthotopic liver transplantation appeared to be multifactorial. Cold ischemic damage, immunologic attack to the bile duct and bile stasis may have played a role. On the other hand, only three cases of biliary cast have been reported in non-transplanted patients. We described the successful endoscopic removal of this complication in a 70-year-old man whose biliary sludge aggregated into firm casts occupying the extrahepatic ducts which has been developed after cholecystectomy and segmentectomy for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. We speculated on the hemolysis and prolonged fasing as the initiating events but the exact pathogenesis of biliary cast remains to be clarified.
Aged ; Bile ; Bile Ducts ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde* ; Cholangitis ; Cholecystectomy ; Hand ; Hemolysis ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Cholangiocarcinoma

Cast formation of biliary sludge leading to obstruction and cholangitis have been reported in patients who received orthotopic liver transplantation. The pathogenesis of biliary cast after orthotopic liver transplantation appeared to be multifactorial. Cold ischemic damage, immunologic attack to the bile duct and bile stasis may have played a role. On the other hand, only three cases of biliary cast have been reported in non-transplanted patients. We described the successful endoscopic removal of this complication in a 70-year-old man whose biliary sludge aggregated into firm casts occupying the extrahepatic ducts which has been developed after cholecystectomy and segmentectomy for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. We speculated on the hemolysis and prolonged fasing as the initiating events but the exact pathogenesis of biliary cast remains to be clarified.
Aged ; Bile ; Bile Ducts ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde* ; Cholangitis ; Cholecystectomy ; Hand ; Hemolysis ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Cholangiocarcinoma