Malignant neuroepithelioma is a rare neoplasm arising within the peripheral nervous system and usually occurs in the lower extremities. It may involve patients in any age group and have no gender predisposition. In adolescents and adults the tumor must be distinguished from other malignant round-cell tumors. The poor prognosis and the need for aggressive, combined surgical and chemotherapeutic modalities in treating this tumor necessitate a prompt and accurate diagnosis. Authors have experienced a case of malignant neuroepithelioma developed in left sciatic nerve. The diagnosis was confirmed by CT scan, M.R.I., light and electron microscopic findings.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive, Peripheral ; Peripheral Nervous System ; Prognosis ; Sciatic Nerve ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Monitoring fetal movement serves as an indirect rneasure of fetal well-being, especially for central nervous system integrity and function. Methods to monitor fetal movement vary from the simple approach of having the mother chart perceived movement to highly specialized methods. However there were no reliable objective monitoring methods in Korea. For development of objective method for evaluating fetal movement, during pregnancy, one-hundred and two pregnant patients were entered to this study. All patients were divided into following 3 groups and each type of monitoring methods were applied. Group 1(N=20): Type I using portable FHR Doppler unit(IFD-100 model, Intermed, Korea). Group 2(N=20): Type II using FHR Microphone(Prenatal Listening Kit, Model FS002, Unisar Inc., US). Group 3(N=62): Type III using conventional ultrasound transducer(Corometric 115 Model, US). In this study, accurate counting of the fetal movementutus were best performed using Type III, because of monitoring fetal movements has its greatest efficiency when using conventional ultrasound transducer of fetal monitor. It was also attractive to doctors and nurses as a convenient methods because it needed only single transducer when compared to Type I and II. Although monitoring fetal body movement permits a general assessment of well-being, no perfect technique is still reliable. Futher techniques would be developed using the results of this study for improvement of several factors such as accuracy and objectiveness
Central Nervous System ; Fetal Monitoring ; Fetal Movement* ; Humans ; Korea ; Mothers ; Pregnancy* ; Transducers ; Ultrasonography

Spinal instrumentation using pedicle screws offers several advantages such as 1) achievement of rigid fixation through the pedicles which is the strongest structure of spine, 2) nearly anatomic reduction by direct force on the deformed sites of fracture and 3) preservation of mobile segments by short segment fixation. The authors analysed 14 cases of unstable thoracolumbar and lumbar fracture treated by pedicle screw fixation from May 1988 to June 1989. Mean follow up was 14 months(8M.-20M.) and following results were obtained. 1. Most of the cases were male(13 cases) and their age ranged from 26 to 55 with an average of 36. 2. According to Denis classification, there were 7 cases of burst fracture, 5 cases of fracture-dislocation, 1 case of seat belt injury and unclassified one case. 3. After operation, the height of anterior column was reduced from 61% to 86%, posterior column, from 134% to 105%, local kyphosis, from 17.4% degrees to 3.4 degrees and anterior translation, from 6mm to 1.2mm. 4. In comparision of preoperative and postoperative moter index between fracture-dislocation and burst fracture, the former changed from 3.2 to 21.8 and the latter, from 40.2 to 48.6. 5. Significant neurologic recoveries were observed in all cases except one complete paraplegia. 6. There was no significant complication and minimal loss of correction was noted.
Classification ; Follow-Up Studies ; Kyphosis ; Paraplegia ; Pedicle Screws ; Seat Belts ; Spine

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to investigate whether 1) progestogens induce changes of vascular tone in endothelium-denuded smooth muscles of human uterine artery, 2) endothelium-independent vascular reactivity is mediated by intracelluar calcium ion modulation through 2 types of calcium channel, both voltage- and receptor-dependent and 3) 3 kinds of progestogen such as a progesterone, C19 nortestosterone(norethindrone acetate ; NETA) and C21 progestogen(medroxyprogesterone acetate ; MPA), have a different vasoreactivity. METHODS: The uterine arteries were obtained at the time of hysterectomy from 24 women who had no cardiovascular disease risk factors and the endothelium was denuded. Vascular reactivity was monitored by using isometric force transducer and recorded by physiograph. Endothelial integrity was assessed by adding 10micrometer acetylcholine(endothelium-dependent vasorelaxant) to the specimens, which were pretreated with 1micrometer norepinephrine(alpha-adrenergic stimulant). The integrity of smooth muscle was assessed by adding 10micrometer sodium nitroprusside(endotelium -independent vasorelaxant) and 10micrometer tamsulosin(alpha-adrenergic blocker) to the specimens, pretreated with 1micrometer norepinephrine. The uterine smooth muscles were pretreated with 35mM and 70mM potassium chloride and 10-7M and 10-6M norepinephrine. Three kinds of progestogen - progesterone, NETA and MPA - each at 5 different concentrations(10-9g/ml, 10-8g/ml, 10-7g/ml, 10-6g/ml and 10-5g/ml) were used. RESULTS: The loss of endothelial function and adequacy of smooth muscle function were confirmed. Three kinds of progestogen had concentration-dependent inhibitory effects on vascular smooth muscle contr action induced by high potassium solution and norepinephrine, respcetively. There were no siginificant differences noted among the inhibitory effects of three progestogens in 35mM concentration of potassium solution and 10-6M norepinephrine induced muscular contraction. In 70mM potassium solution, there were significant differences among the three progestogens-induced inhibitory effects. Progesterone showed the most potent inhibitory effect, NETA was intermediate, and MPA had the mildest effect. In 10-7M norepinephrine, progesterone had more potent inhibitory effect than NETA or MPA. The difference between progesterone and NETA/MPA was statistically siginificant, with no significance between NETA and MPA. CONCLUSION: The results of this study revealed that progestogens have a concentration-dependent vaso-relaxant effect on endothelium-denuded vasular smooth muscles via a calcium antagonistic mechanism of direct inhibitory effects on receptor- and voltage-dependent calcium ion channels. This vaso-relaxant effect of progestogens differed among a variety of progestogens. In conclusion, the progestogens combined with estrogens have not antagonistic effect on vaso-relaxation at least and maybe have synergistic effect with estrogens, in vivo.
Calcium ; Calcium Channels ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Endothelium ; Estrogens ; Female ; Humans* ; Hysterectomy ; Muscle Contraction ; Muscle, Smooth ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular* ; Norepinephrine ; Potassium ; Potassium Chloride ; Progesterone ; Progestins* ; Risk Factors ; Sodium ; Transducers ; Uterine Artery

Possible mechanisms of neurologic recovery in spinal cord injury were postulated by Ditunno Jr. JF in 1987. The first window encompasses recovery from neurapraxia within 6 to 8 weeks. The second window covers the period from 2 to 8 months after the injury. Recovery during this period might be due to peripheral sprouting of intact nerves to denervated muscle and hypertrophy of functioning muscles. The third window of recovery happens usually beyond 8 to 12 months when axonal regeneration may play a role in further increases in strength. On the basis of these possible mechanisms, we measured the neurological and functional recovery rate according to the periods of these possible mechanisms of motor recovery through 12 months following injury in 21 traumatic spinal cord injury patients. The results were as follows: 1) Neurologically, the most rapid recovery was shown within 6 to 8 weeks after injury, during the phase of recovery from neurapraxia. 2) Most of functional recovery occured in the period between 2 month and 8 month of the compensatory phase. 3) Statistically significant correlation between motor and functional recovery was shown among the incomplete spinal cord injury group. These data would be helpful in planning a timely appropriate rehabilitation program by understanding the time-course of neurologic recovery and prognostication of neurologic and functional recovery in the spinal-cord injured.
Axons ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Muscles ; Regeneration ; Rehabilitation ; Spinal Cord Injuries* ; Spinal Cord*

No abstract available.
Female ; Fetal Heart* ; Hearing* ; Heart Rate, Fetal* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy*

Glycogen storage disease type Ia (GSD-Ia) is an autosomal recessive disorder that has defects in glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) in liver, kidney and intestinal mucosa. The defect leads to inadequate conversion of glucose-6-phospate to glucose in the liver and thus makes affected individuals susceptible to fasting hypoglycemia, hyperuricemia, lactic acidemia and hyperlipidemia. Hyperuricemia has been observed in a considerable number of patients and in some of those, clinical gout has occurred. Inhibited tubular secretion of uric acid due to hyperlacticacidemia and ketonemia, and overproduction of uric acid have been postulated as a mechanism for hyperuricemia in patients with GSD-Ia. A 30-year-old male was admitted with fatigue, foot pain and multiple gouty tophi on knee, ankle, and elbow. GSD-Ia and gout were confirmed by analysis of the G6Pase gene and tophi aspiration respectively. He was treated with allopurinol and uncooked cornstarch. After treatment, foot pain improved and the number and size of tophi were decreased.
Adult ; Allopurinol ; Ankle ; Elbow ; Fatigue ; Foot ; Glucose ; Glucose-6-Phosphatase ; Glycogen Storage Disease* ; Glycogen* ; Gout* ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hyperuricemia ; Hypoglycemia ; Intestinal Mucosa ; Ketosis ; Kidney ; Knee ; Liver ; Male ; Starch ; Uric Acid

BACKGROUND: Recently, there has been an increase in acute poisonings in the elderly, which may be associated with attempts at suicide. The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the clinical aspects and outcomes of acute poisonings in aged individuals with those of younger individuals. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 207 patients seen in the emergency department (ED) with acute poisoning from January 2009 to December 2010. Two groups were created, >65 years and <65 years. The following were carefully compared-annual frequency, gender distribution, cause of poisoning, poisoning substance, motive for suicide, past psychiatric history, psychiatric interview, psychiatric diagnosis, disposition after ED visit, disposition after admission, poisoning severity score (PSS), duration of hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admission rate, and mortality. RESULTS: The annual frequency was 0.1% in the >65 group and 0.3% in the <65 group, 0.4% in total. The cause of poisoning was accidental more often in those >65 years than in those <65 years. As motive for suicide, health problem was cited more often in the older group (p=0.000). The older group had fewer interviews with psychiatrists and were more often diagnosed with depressive disorder (p=0.010, p=0.041, respectively). PSS and mortality were higher in the older group (p=0.002, p=0.010, respectively). CONCLUSION: A better understanding for the cause of poisonings and the poisonous substance used in the aged population is needed. And because of the more serious effects of acute poisonings to the elderly patient, they should readily receive regular comprehensive care including psychiatric care.
Aged ; Depressive Disorder ; Emergencies ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Mental Disorders ; Psychiatry ; Retrospective Studies ; Suicide

To evaluate the clinical usefulness of radionuclide(RI) cisternography in patients with hydrocephalus, we retrospectively analyzed RI cisternographic findings of 47 patients by using our classification which was modified from Baum's. and correlated them with CT(n=37) or MRI(n=10) findings and clinical outcome in selected patients with hydrocephalus(n=37). Modified RI cisternographic patterns of 37 patients were type I in three cases(8%), type II in seven(18%), type III-A in six(16%), no case of type III-B, type IV-A in 12(32%), and type IV-B in nine(24%). RI cisternography enabled to differentiate communicating hydrocephalus(27 cases, 73%) from noncommunicating hydrocephalus (10 cases, 27%). There was marked clinical improvement in 17 patients(46%), slight improvement in 11 patients(30%), and no improvement in nine patients(24%). The clinical outcome of patients with RI cisternographic type IV-B was worse than that of other types. CT and MRI could neither predict the clinical outcome nor differentiate type IV-B from Type IV-A(p>.05). Ventricular size index (VSI( was significantly higher in patients with type IV than that with other types(p<.001). RI cisternographic patterns of communicating hydrocephalus were relatively correlated with clinical outcome (r=-0.53, P=.001), VIS(r=0.59, p=.001), and dilatation of fourth ventricle(r=0.41, p<.05). We suggest that our modified classification of RI cisternographic patterns can provide more strict physiological assessment of the CSF dynamics and RI cisternography may be still useful to differentiate communicating hydrocephalus from noncommunicating hydrocephalus and to predict the clinical outcome in conjunction with CT/MR findings and clinical presentation.
Classification ; Dilatation ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: The International Classification of Headache Disorders, an essential tool in the diagnosis of headache disorders, has been revised as its 3rd edition, beta (ICHD-IIIbeta). The clinical application in practice is needed to test the feasibility and usefulness of the Korean version of ICHD-IIIbeta. METHODS: Neurologists enrolled consecutive first-visit headache patients from February to March 2014. The classification of headache disorder was done by each investigator according to ICHD-IIIbeta based on the initial structured questionnaire, clinical evaluation, and neuroimaging studies, if needed. A consensus meeting dealt with the cases that were difficult to diagnose. The feasibility and usefulness of this version was assessed by the proportion of unclassified headache disorders using ICHD-IIIbeta compared to the previous version. RESULTS: A total of 207 patients were enrolled: the mean age was 41 years (16-87 years) and women constituted 63.3%. Primary headache disorders were diagnosed in 167 patients (80.7%): 82 migraines, 37 tension-type headaches, 3 cluster headaches, and 45 other primary headache disorders. Thirty-five patients (16.9%) had secondary headache disorders or painful cranial neuropathies/other facial pain and 5 patients (2.4%) could not be classified by ICHD-IIIbeta. The diagnoses differed as compared to the previous version in 32 patients (15.5%): 14.5% differed due to the mitigation of the previous strict criteria and 1% differed due to the introduction of a new diagnostic category. CONCLUSIONS: Classifications by ICHD-IIIbeta are possible in more than 97% of the first-visit headache patients and ICHD-IIIbeta has proved to be more useful than its previous version.
Classification* ; Cluster Headache ; Consensus ; Diagnosis ; Facial Pain ; Female ; Headache ; Headache Disorders* ; Headache Disorders, Primary ; Headache Disorders, Secondary ; Humans ; Migraine Disorders ; Neuroimaging ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Research Personnel ; Tension-Type Headache