No abstract available.
Endometriosis* ; Female

Itching is a rare symptom in neurological disease. Paroxysmal symptom is uncommon in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) or multiple sclerosis. We describe a 45-year-old woman who presented with paroxysmal pruritus in association with relapse of NMO on two separate occasions. Cervical MRI showed a lesion at a level corresponding to the dermatomal site of the itching. Paroxysmal pruritus could be a predictive symptom of relapse in NMO unless there are other comorbid causes such as systemic diseases, allergy, drug reaction, or emotional stress responsible for the itching.

BACKGROUND: It is well known that neuronal degeneration can occur after a brief deprivation of energy source. To investigate whether glial astrocyte can induce a phenomenon of delayed cell death after transient energy loss and to see how different are the effects of nifedipine, lidocaine, carnosine and hypothermia on delayed toxicity in astrocyte. METHODS: Human astrocytoma cells (U1242MG) were used in this study. To assess the astrocyte survival during post-ischemic period after transient histotoxic hypoxia, 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl]-2,5, diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) test was used. Compared to MTT test, tryphan blue test was also used to demonstrate membrane damage of affected cells. Studies on intracellular calcium dynamics during ischemic and post-ischemic period were carried out with fluo-3 and flow cytometry system. RESULTS: The percentage survival of astrocyte during post-ischemic period was decreasing with time. Calcium channel blocker nifedipine, sodium and calcium channel blocker lidocaine and free radical scavenger carnosine could not prevent post-ischemic cell damage. But, hypothermia was only an effective method in ameliorating post-ischemic cell death. Intracellular calcium increase during ischemia and post-ischemia was dependent on extracellular calcium influx. CONCLUSIONS: Only hypothermia was effective in reducing astrocyte death during post-ischemia after transient energy depletion. Intracellular calcium alterations during post-ischemia was from extracellular space.
Anoxia* ; Astrocytes* ; Astrocytoma ; Calcium ; Calcium Channels ; Carnosine ; Cell Death ; Extracellular Space ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Hypothermia* ; Ischemia ; Lidocaine ; Membranes ; Neurons ; Nifedipine ; Sodium

No abstract available.
Fingers* ; Replantation* ; Transplants*

No abstract available.
Fingers* ; Replantation* ; Transplants*

Ganglion is the most common soft tissue tumor which occurs mainly in hand, but it can also occur in any part of the extremity. It is not always necessary to excise the tumor because it seldom cause symptoms severe enough to take operation. We reviewed the patients with ganglion treated surgically. Exculding the cases which were operated under local anesthesia and Bakers cyst, 42 patients were treated surgically from 1983 to 1992. Females were 33, and males 9. Average age at the time of operation, was 40 years (16 to 67). All the cases were analysed retrospectively in terms of surgical indication, anatomical location, size, duration of symptoms, relationship between recurrence and size, and complication. The average duration of follow-up was 1 year 7 months, ranging from 1 year to 4 years. The causes of operation were, cosmetic problem in 6996 (29 cases); pain in 19% (8 cases); and both comesis and pain in 12% (5 cases). The locations were, wrist in 4696 (19 cases); knee 29% (12 cases); foot 12% (5 cases); hand 7% (3 cases); forearm 2% (1 case); ankle 2% (1 case); and elbow 296 (1 case). The size of mass was less than 2.5 cm in 30 cases (71%), and more than 2.5 cm in 12 (29%). (Total average of size was 2.4 cm)The average duration of symptoms were 28 months (1 month 15 years). The recurrence was found in 7 cases: 3 of them (10%) occurred among 30 cases the diameter of which was less than 2.5 cm, and other four (33%) occurred among 12 cases, larger than 2.5 cm. There were no other complications.
Anesthesia, Local ; Ankle ; Elbow ; Extremities ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Forearm ; Ganglion Cysts ; Hand ; Humans ; Knee ; Male ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Wrist

The purpose of this study is to confirm the effectiveness of stay-suture which is commonly used in the procedure of end to end anastomosis, to find out general biomechanical properties of peripheral nerve with gradual stretching and to evaluate the histological difference after breakage of the nerve. The sciatic nerves of adult rabbits were excised and they were grouped by I and II. Group I was composed of 14 normal sciatic nerves and group II, 14 sciatic nerves sutured with 5-0 nylon after transection. They were stretched on the "Instron" universal testing machine at a constant rate of 200mm/min until breakage took place and the results were compared. The mean maximal tensile strength was 13.6N in group I and 2.1N in group II, representing about one seventh value. The mean ultimate tensile strength was 4.2MPa in group I and 0.9MPa in group II, representing about one fifth value. In load-elongation curve of group I, viscoelastic property was noted as all other biological tissues have. The mean modulus of elasticity was 19 in normal sciatic nerves, which is somewhat lower value than other tissues, indicating superior elastic property of peripheral nerves. Transverse histologic examination showed that epineurium lost its continuity earlier than perineurium, implying perineurium is a more resistant structure than epineurium. However, to confirm this, it is thought to be necessary to examine the nerves serially during distraction at each different status. In conclusion, stay-suture provided about one fifth of ultimate tensile stress, implying its usefullness of resisting excessive tension in end to end anastomosis of peripheral nerves. Normal sciatic nerves showed viscoelastic property with mean modulus of elasticity of 19.
Adult ; Elastic Modulus ; Humans ; Nylons ; Peripheral Nerves ; Rabbits ; Sciatic Nerve ; Tensile Strength

Congenital dislocation of the knee is a very rare condition and was first described by Chatelaine in 1822. The etiology of this condition is unknown. It is generally subclassified as simple hyperextension, subluxation, and dislocation, depending on the degree of the joint displacement and the severity of disease. There are a large of associated conditions that have been described, the most common of which are congenital dislocation of the hip, club foot, arthrogryposis, and Larsen's syndrome. The mainstay of treatment is early serial rnanipulation and splinting. Operative treatment was indicated whenever conservative treatment did not lead to satisfactory reduction. The authors experienced a case of congenital hyperextension of left knee associated with the calcaneovalgus deformity of both foot. Early closed treatment obtanied a successful reduction and satisfactory knee motion.
Arthrogryposis ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Dislocations ; Foot ; Hip ; Joints ; Knee* ; Splints

No abstract available.
Sarcoma, Ewing*

No abstract available.