Because changes in rat and dog hematological parameters according to storage conditions have been poorly documented, we sought to examine such changes. Blood analysis was performed using two hematology analyzers (ADVIA 2120i and Sysmex XN-V) after storage at room temperature and in cold storage for 5, 24, and 48 h, respectively. Interassay coefficients of variation for hematological parameters analyzed with the ADVIA 2120i and the XN-V showed similar. The levels of hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and platelet (PLT) showed significant variations with time in blood samples of rats and dogs. The leukocyte subpopulation showed high variation with storage conditions. The data for leukocyte differential counts obtained using the ADVIA 2120i, XN-V, and a manual differential counting procedure showed good agreement for neutrophils and lymphocyte counts, but monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils showed differences between the procedures. In conclusions, most rat and dog hematological parameters showed minimal changes; however, some showed high variation with storage time and temperature, especially PLT and leukocyte subpopulations. In conclusion, when performing hematological analysis in dogs and rats, it will be exactitude to analyze blood samples in fresh condition and at least within 24 h in the cold storage.
Animals ; Basophils ; Blood Platelets ; Dogs* ; Eosinophils ; Erythrocyte Indices ; Hematocrit ; Hematology ; Leukocytes ; Lymphocyte Count ; Monocytes ; Neutrophils ; Rats*

The approach we suggest was developed for cases in which the fourth and fifth lumbar and first sacral spinal nerves were affected in lumbar degenerative disc disease. Retrodiscal transforaminal epidural injection is known to be very effective for lumbar radiculopathy because of excellent access to primary pathology; however, access below L5 is often restricted by the anatomic characteristics of the L5–S1. In the translateral recess approach (TLR), proper final needle placement (i.e., in the axillary portion between the exiting and traversing nerve roots) can be achieved by setting the direction of the needle laterally and superiorly from the distal tip of the infra-adjacent spinous process toward the medial wall of the pedicle and neural foramen of the given level without neural injury. This approach is possible because of the wide interlaminar space in the L5–S1. Preganglionic epidural injection through TLR is an effective and safe spinal intervention for lumbosacral radiculopathy.
Injections, Epidural ; Needles ; Pathology ; Radiculopathy ; Spinal Nerves

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

Candida vertebral osteomyelitis (CVO) is a rare disease that is a complication of intravenous drug use, but recently it has been recognized as mostly an opportunistic infection. Because CVO appears to mimic pyogenic spondylodiscitis in terms of the clinical and radiologic presentations, it is often neglected in a usual clinical setting. The clinical, radiological, and biological characteristics of CVO are often used to make a differential diagnosis with vertebral osteomyelitis from other etiologies. Once an initial proper diagnosis was performed, the treatment relies on the prompt initiation of appropriate pharmacotherapy and serial monitoring of the clinical progress. This paper report late-onset CVO in two young patients who underwent a heart transplant surgery and had postoperative systemic candidiasis. These two cases are a good reminder of the potential of CVO in immunosuppressive patients treated with anti-fungal agents. This paper presents these two cases with a review of the relevant literature.
Candida ; Candidiasis ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Discitis ; Drug Therapy ; Heart Transplantation ; Heart ; Humans ; Opportunistic Infections ; Osteomyelitis ; Population Characteristics ; Rare Diseases

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Perfluorocarbon exposed sonicated dextrose albumin (PESDA) microbubbles has been suggested to facilitate thrombus disruption under the transcutaneous ultrasound (US). Thus, we investigated whether such a noninvasive approach could augment thrombolytic effect of fibrinolytic agent in an experimental thrombotic model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thrombus formation was induced with electrical injury in the rabbit iliofemoral arteries (n=20): Thrombus occlusion was documented by angiography in all arteries. In the control group, only tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA, 3 mg/kg) was administered intrav-enously in five rabbits. In the Group 1 (n=9), injured arteries were exposed to transcutaneous US (20 kHz, 30 W/cm2, continuous mode) with t-PA (3 mg/kg). In the Group 2 (n=6), the same treatment was given while administering PESDA continuously (10 ml/min, intravenous). Angiographic results were evaluated at 10 minute interval for 1 hour respectively. RESULTS: In the control group, two of five iliofemoral arteries (40.0%) were recanalized and one of nine iliofemoral arteries (11.1%) was recanalized in Group 1. In contrast, four of six iliofemoral arteries (66.7%) were recanalized angiographically in Group 2 (p=0.392 vs. control group: p=0.047 vs. Group 1). However, late reocclusion occurred in all iliofemoral arteries of Group 2. CONCLUSION: Although PESDA with transcutaneous US significantly enhanced initial angiographic patency rate of t-PA, it was associated with high rate of reocclusion. Further studies will be necessary for clinical application of this noninvasive method in acute arterial occlusion.
Angiography ; Arteries ; Glucose* ; Microbubbles ; Rabbits ; Thrombolytic Therapy* ; Thrombosis ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator ; Ultrasonography*

PURPOSE: To describe a case of nasolacrimal duct obstruction after two-jaw surgery. CASE SUMMARY: A 22-year-old woman presented with a 1-year history of epiphora after two-jaw surgery. Orbital CT showed 5 mm of focal soft tissue at the level of the distal nasolacrimal duct. Dacryocystography showed complete obstruction at the nasolacrimal duct level. Thus a nasolacrimal duct obstruction was diagnosed by physical and radiologic examination. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with epiphora who have undergone two-jaw surgery, precise examination and treatment is required in order to exclude nasolacrimal duct obstruction.
Female ; Humans ; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases ; Nasolacrimal Duct ; Orbit

We report a cace of 69-year-old man who developed massive pulmonary hemorrhage and subsuquent adult respiratory distress syndrome following intravenous urokinase for acute myocardial infarction. Pulmonary hemorrhage is a rare but a potentially life-threatening complication after thrombolytic therapy and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary infiltrates of falling hemoglobin after thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction with no obvious site of bleeding.
Adult* ; Aged ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult* ; Thrombolytic Therapy* ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

The safety and efficacy of cardiac rehabilitation or exercise training in patients with heart failure (HF) have been investigated during the decades. Because exercise intolerance and easy fatigue are important symptoms in these patients, the potential role of cardiac rehabilitation program including regular exercise has been emerged. In the current guideline for patients with HF due to reduced systolic function, regular exercise program is Class I or IIa recommendation. Recently, a randomized prospective trial (Heart Failure-A Controlled Trial Investigating Outcome of Exercise Training, HF-ACTION) demonstrated that aerobic exercise modestly reduces the risk for clinical events in HF patients. However, cardiac rehabilitation program should be individualized and more research for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) needed because approximately on half of patients with HF have preserved ejection fraction. There, this article provides the effects of regular exercise on clinical outcomes of HF patients and a brief practical guide for prescribing exercise in these patients.
Exercise ; Fatigue ; Heart ; Heart Failure ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Epinephrine used in surgery to provide hemostasis may elicit ventricular arrhythmias. A desirable anesthetic would not sensitize the myocardium to exogenously administered epinephrine. So the effect of sevoflurane, which was introduced to clinical anesthesia recently, on cardiac arrhythmias induced by the infusion of epinephrine was compared with those of halothane which was already known to epinephrine-induced arrhythmia in the 14 mongrel dogs. METHODS: The authors compared the arrhythmogenicity (three or more premature ventricular contractions, PVCs)of intravenously administered epinephrine in 14 mongrel dogs who were randomly assigned to receive sevoflurane (1.7 vol%) or halothane (0.75 vol%) anesthesia equipotently. The arrhythmogenic doses of epinephrine determined in this comparative study were expressed by both infusion rates of epinephrine during sevoflurane and halothane anesthesia. RESULTS: The mean values of the arrythmogenic infusion rates of epinephrine were 27.1 7.6 g/kg for sevoflurane and 2.7 0.8 g/kg for halothane. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that the arrythmogenic doses of epinephrine during sevoflurane were significantly higher than those during halothane anesthesia.
Anesthesia* ; Animals ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Dogs* ; Epinephrine* ; Halothane* ; Hemostasis ; Myocardium ; Ventricular Premature Complexes