No abstract available.
Cryptococcus neoformans* ; Cryptococcus* ; Interleukin-2* ; Lymphocytes*

The first author as a medical doctor has elaborated four-frame comic strips on health information. The comic strips can be easily converted into the animations by means of PowerPoint (animation function) and additional software. The first purpose of the present study was to enhance national health by distributing the animations on health information. The second purpose was to help the interested people make their own animations with minimal technology.The comic strips in Adobe Illustrator file were imported to PowerPoint. Using animation tools of PowerPoint, sequential appearance of the figures and texts was arranged; the various movements of the figures were adjusted. On Vocalware homepage, Korean texts were changed into voices, which were recorded using Gomrecoder; the voices were inserted into PowerPoint file. On PowerPoint, animation displaying the figures, texts, and voices was carried out and recorded using Bandicam. As the final products, the animations of 42 episodes (MP4 files) were uploaded to YouTube.The presented method to make the animation on PowerPoint, etc. has the advantage: to learn the method easily, to perform the method at inexpensive cost, to expand the method for further applications.

The first author as a medical doctor has elaborated four-frame comic strips on health information. The comic strips can be easily converted into the animations by means of PowerPoint (animation function) and additional software. The first purpose of the present study was to enhance national health by distributing the animations on health information. The second purpose was to help the interested people make their own animations with minimal technology.The comic strips in Adobe Illustrator file were imported to PowerPoint. Using animation tools of PowerPoint, sequential appearance of the figures and texts was arranged; the various movements of the figures were adjusted. On Vocalware homepage, Korean texts were changed into voices, which were recorded using Gomrecoder; the voices were inserted into PowerPoint file. On PowerPoint, animation displaying the figures, texts, and voices was carried out and recorded using Bandicam. As the final products, the animations of 42 episodes (MP4 files) were uploaded to YouTube.The presented method to make the animation on PowerPoint, etc. has the advantage: to learn the method easily, to perform the method at inexpensive cost, to expand the method for further applications.

OBJECTIVES: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical efficacy of postganglionic nerve block in symptomatic Schmorl nodules (SNs).SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: SNs are common lesions that are often asymptomatic. In certain cases, SNs have been reported to cause severe axial back pain, thereby considerably impacting patients' quality of life. No consensus currently exists on the treatment of symptomatic SNs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From October 2015 to October 2017, a total of 21 patients with symptomatic SNs diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that did not respond to conservative treatment after 4 weeks were included in the study. All patients received postganglionic nerve block. We evaluated effective pain relief (improvement of back pain of more than 50% compared with before the intervention) and functional improvements, assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index scores obtained at 4 hours, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after the procedure. RESULTS: Symptomatic SNs were more common at the L2-3 level, and the lower end plate was more commonly involved than the upper end plate. Eighteen of the 21 patients (85.7%) showed effective pain relief, and no deterioration was observed within the follow-up period. Throughout the follow-up period, the VAS remained significantly improved compared to before the procedure (p < 0.05). Complications were not reported in any cases. CONCLUSIONS Postganglionic nerve block for symptomatic SNs that do not respond to conservative treatment is a non-invasive modality for pain relief.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. OBJECTIVES: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical efficacy of postganglionic nerve block in symptomatic Schmorl nodules (SNs). SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: SNs are common lesions that are often asymptomatic. In certain cases, SNs have been reported to cause severe axial back pain, thereby considerably impacting patients' quality of life. No consensus currently exists on the treatment of symptomatic SNs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From October 2015 to October 2017, a total of 21 patients with symptomatic SNs diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that did not respond to conservative treatment after 4 weeks were included in the study. All patients received postganglionic nerve block. We evaluated effective pain relief (improvement of back pain of more than 50% compared with before the intervention) and functional improvements, assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index scores obtained at 4 hours, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after the procedure. RESULTS: Symptomatic SNs were more common at the L2-3 level, and the lower end plate was more commonly involved than the upper end plate. Eighteen of the 21 patients (85.7%) showed effective pain relief, and no deterioration was observed within the follow-up period. Throughout the follow-up period, the VAS remained significantly improved compared to before the procedure (p < 0.05). Complications were not reported in any cases. CONCLUSIONS: Postganglionic nerve block for symptomatic SNs that do not respond to conservative treatment is a non-invasive modality for pain relief.
Back Pain ; Consensus ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Nerve Block ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

No abstract available.
Interleukin-6* ; Lymphocytes*

Stabilization of the unstable spine created by the posterior decompression is as important as the decompression itself in the treatment of spinal stenosis. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of C-D pedicle screw fixation in stabilization after lumbar decompression, in reduction of spondylolisthesis and in restoration of the lumbar sagittal curvature. C-D pedicle screw fixation was performed in 102 spinal stenosis patients after posterior lumbar decompression and fusion during the period from March 1987 to December 1988. Their age ranged from 15 to 72 years with an average of 49.1 years. There were 34 males and 68 females. The follow up was from 6 to 21 months with an average of 12.5 months. The causes of spinal stenosis were degenerative in 50 patients, spondylolisthesis in 39, iatrogenic in 9 and degenerative lumbar scoliosis in 4. Objective clinical results showed significant improvement of claudication, SLR limitation, motor weakness, sensory and DTR changes in most patients. Following results were obtained from the study of C-D pedicle screw fixation after posterior decompression in lumbar spinal stenosis.1. C-D pedicle screws provide the secure fixation that allows early ambulation and shorter hospital stay. 2. C-D pedicle screws enable the reduction of spodylolisthesis at the time of posterior stabilization. 3. C-D pedicle screw fixation is successful in the restoration and maintenance of sagittal curvature of the lumbar spine. 4. C-D pedicle screw fixation enables the correction of scoliosis at the time of posterior decompression.
Decompression ; Early Ambulation ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Pedicle Screws ; Scoliosis ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spine ; Spondylolisthesis

PURPOSE: To evaluate the risk factors related to the development of new fractures in adjacent vertebrae after vertebroplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 46 patients in whom 296 patients were performed during last 9 years. We were especially concerned with the restoration rate of vertebral height and kyphotic angle and estimated them on simple X-ray films. RESULTS: In patients experienced subsequent vertebral fractures and no subsequent vertebral fractures after vertebroplasty, the mean height restoration rate of treated vertebra were 16.7% and 7.07%, and the kyphotic angle difference were 2.53 degree and 4.2 degree. The greater degree of height restoration of the vertebral body, especially in middle vertebral height and the lesser degree of kyphotic angle difference increased the risk of adjacent vertebral fracture risk. This results were available statistically (all p<0.05, Logistic regression test, SPSS 13.0). CONCLUSION: It may be thought that the vertebral body height restoration rate will become risk factor of adjacent vertebral fractures.
Body Height ; Fractures, Compression* ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Risk Factors* ; Spine* ; Vertebroplasty* ; X-Ray Film

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection(SCD) is a rare entity that is infrequently diasnosed antemortem. The majority of patients have presented with acute myocardial infaction or sudden death. the etiology, prognosis and treatment of this entity remain ill-defined. We report two cases of SCD which were diagnosed by coronary agniogram and intracoronary ultrasound.
Coronary Vessels* ; Death, Sudden ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical analysis of intermittent exotropia patients who required more than three reoperations and to investigate the factors leading to situations that require more than three reoperations. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the results of 13 patients who underwent more than three reoperations for recurrence after the second operation, as well as for 29 patients who had successful results for operation at least 1 year after the second operation. We investigated the factors associated with surgical outcomes of the second operation using multiple logistic regression analysis, which included; onset of symptom, primary, secondary, tertiary, and fourth ages of surgery, stereopsis before and after surgery, distance and near deviation before and after surgery, and constancy of exotropia. RESULTS: There were more cases in which symptoms occurred before 1 year of age (p = 0.011) and which had constant exotropia (p = 0.023), with a large deviation at first operation (p = 0.003) after more than three operations compared to patients who only had two operations. There were less cases that achieved initial overcorrection after first operation (p = 0.003) and successful postoperative stereopsis after second operation (p = 0.043) in the three operations group than in the two operations group. Among these factors, the most important factor affecting reoperation and success after second operation was related to successful recovery of stereopsis using multiple regression analysis (odds ratio [OR] = 50.00, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.392–569.224, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: In cases of intermittent exotropia occurring before 1 year of age, constant exotropia with a large deviation at first operation, and insufficient initial overcorrection after operation, it may be necessary for patients to receive more than three operations because of recurrence. Further, recovery of postoperative stereopsis after the second operation was the most important predictor for postoperative results.
Depth Perception ; Exotropia* ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Recurrence ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies