It has been known that CT scan shows only a few abnormalities within the first hours of acute ischemic stroke. We investigated the frequency and the predictive value of early CT scan signs of ischemia for late infarct locations In acute middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory stroke. Precontrast CT (PCT) scans were performed in the 35 consecutive patients with cerebral anterior circulation infarction within 6 hours after the onset of stroke. We confirmed MCA territory infarction on follow-up PCT or MRI within 3 to 7 days. The locations of infarction were classified deep, superficial, and total (deep and superficial) infarction on follow-up PCT or MRI. The initial PCT was abnormal in 74.3% (26/3s). The locations of infarction were deep in 10, superficial in 8, and total in 14. Abnormal findings of the initial PCT were attenuation of lentiform nucleus (ALN) in 18 patients, loss of insular ribbon (LIR) in 11, hemispheric sulcus effacement (HSE) in 10, hyperdense MCA sign (HMCAS) in 2, and small subcortical low attenuation in 2. Of 24 patients with late infarction in basal ganglia 18 (75%) had ALN on initial PCT. Of 17 patients with late infarction in insular cortex 11 (65%) had LIR. Of IS patients with late infarction in cerebral cortex 10 (67%) had HSE. Early PCT signs were correlated with late locations of MCA territory infarction : ALN - deep infarct, HSE - superficial infarct, LIR - superficial infarct, HMCAS - total infarction. Our findings suggest that PCT frequently discloses abnormalities during the first hours of ischemic stroke. Early signs of ischemia on the initial PCT scan may predict the late infarct locations on follow-up study.
Basal Ganglia ; Cerebral Cortex ; Corpus Striatum ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infarction ; Ischemia ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Cerebral Artery* ; Stroke* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

No abstract available.
Female ; Lactation*

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to evaluate the recurrence rate of a giant cell tumor (GCT) of the bone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of fifty four patients who were diagnosed with a giant cell tumor of the bone between March 1980 and December 2008 were analysed retrospectively. Among 54 patients, 27 were men, remaining 27 were women with the mean age of 33.1 years (range, 13-67 years). The mean duration of follow-up was 67.1 months. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients (38.9%) had a local recurrence. The mean time to recurrence was 21.5 months (range, 2-59 months). The local recurrence rate of the upper extremities was higher than that of lower extremities. According to Campanacci classification, patients with a grade I diseae had lower recurrence rate than those with grade II or III disease. There was no significant differences in the recurrence rates based on cryotherapy, the filling of bone cement or bone grafts and surgical margin. CONCLUSION: To prevent local recurrence of GCT of bone, curettage of the tumor and elimination of the remaining cells are more important than adjuvant therapy.
Cryotherapy ; Curettage ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Giant Cell Tumors ; Giant Cells ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Medical Records ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplants ; Upper Extremity

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Small Cell* ; Female ; Ovary*

Gelastic epilepsy characterized by paroxysmal involuntary laughing episodes is a relatively rare type of seizure which may occur singly or, more frequently, with other types of convulsions. Gelastic seizures have been observed in many different conditions, mainly hypothalamic hamartomas. We report a 21-year-old woman whose uncontrollable laughter was the only neurologic disturbance since 20 years of age. Physical and neurological examination did not reveal any abnormality. Neuropsychologic test was also normal. Brain magnetic resonance imaging was normal. During video-EEG monitoring, the clinical events usually consisted of aura of undescriable sensation lasting 1-2seconds followed by ictal laughter, without loss of consciousness and postictal manifestation. Ictal EEG showed bilateral interruption of background activity lasting 2-3seconds, followed by semirhythmic theta frequency activities over right frontotemporal region. Interictal EEG showed intermittent sharp waves or spike activities at right anterior temporal area. After Oxcarbamazepine treatment, she has never experienced the laughing seizures.
Brain ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsies, Partial* ; Epilepsy ; Female ; Hamartoma ; Humans ; Laughter ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neurologic Examination ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Seizures ; Sensation ; Unconsciousness ; Young Adult

Atypical absence is less understood than typical absence. Several conditions that produce atypical absence are known including Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, myoclonic astatic epilpsy and epileptic encephalopathy with continuous spike and waves in slow wave sleep. A 17-year-old girl with mental retardation had developed frequent loss of consciousness and occasional falling attack with traumatic facial injury for 2 years. The interictal EEG showed 2 Hz slow spike-and-wave complex with maximum over right frontotemporal area and the brain MRI was normal. Carbamazepin was prescribed initially but the drug seemed to worsen the seizures. Long term video-EEG monitoring showed very frequent atypical absence seizures consisting of sudden hypotonia of head and oral automatism with or without secondary generalization. Generalized 2 to 2.5 Hz slow spike-and-wave complexes with duration of 10 to 40 seconds were seen during ictal period. About 10% to 20% of the non REM sleep was occupied with generalized slow spike-and-wave complex and/or polyspikes or polyspikes-and-wave complex with duration of within 1 second. Valprorate monotherapy had failed, then lamotrigin was added. In spite of polytherapy, the seizure was intractable. We think this intractable atypical absence might be associated with juvenile onset Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
Adolescent ; Automatism ; Brain ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy, Absence ; Facial Injuries ; Female ; Generalization (Psychology) ; Head ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Muscle Hypotonia ; Seizures ; Sleep, REM ; Unconsciousness

PURPOSE: The analgesic efficacy and side-effects of continuous intravenous infusion of Butorphanol for postoperative pain relief after evisceration were evaluated. METHODS: We evaluated the postoperative pain using Numerical Rating Scale in 19patients undergoing evisceration under general anesthesia. One group (group2, 9patients) received continuous intravenous injection of Butorphanol 14 mg mixed with 5% D/W 100ml using silicone balloon infuser for 2days. The other group (group1, 10patients) was not received it. RESULTS: The second group patients reported less pain compared to the first group patients in the first and second post operative day. The total NRS value of pain was 28.1+/-4.73 (group1) vs 11.22+/-0.99 (group2). CONCLUSIONS: For 48hr post operative pain relief in patients undergoing evisceration, the analgesic efficacy of the continuous intravenous injection of Butorphanol is useful.
Anesthesia, General ; Butorphanol* ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous* ; Injections, Intravenous ; Pain, Postoperative* ; Silicones*

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the tibial fixation strength provided by different intraosseous soft tissue graft lengths within the tibial tunnel. METHODS: Porcine tibial bones and digital flexor tendons were used for testing. Bone mineral densities of proximal tibial medial condyles were measured, and two-strand tendon bundles of 8 mm diameter were used. An intraosseous graft length of 2 cm was used in group 1 (n = 10), and a graft length of 4 cm was used in group 2 (n = 10). Tunnels were 4 cm in length and 8 mm in diameter. Tibial fixation was performed using a suture tied around a screw post with a washer and an additionally inserted 7 x 20 mm bioabsorbable screw. After applying preconditioning loading of 10 cycles, 1,000 cycles between 70-220 N were applied at a frequency of 1 Hz. Graft slippage and total graft movement were recorded. Ultimate tensile strength was measured by pull-out testing at an Instron crosshead speed of 1,000 mm/min. RESULTS: No significant intergroup difference was found for total graft movement after cyclic loading (slippage in group 1, 1.2 mm and group 2, 1.2 mm, respectively, p = 0.917; and total graft movement in group 1, 3.3 mm and group 2, 2.7 mm, respectively, p = 0.199). However, mean ultimate tensile strength in group 2 was significantly higher than that in group 1 (group 1, 649.9 N; group 2, 938 N; p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: In a porcine model, ultimate tensile strength was greater for a 4 cm long intraosseous flexor tendon in the tibial tunnel. However, no intergroup difference in graft slippage or total graft movement was observed. The results show that a 2 cm intraosseous graft length in the tibial tunnel is safe and has sufficient strength (> 450 N) for adequate rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
Animals ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament/injuries/*physiopathology/surgery ; *Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone Density ; Models, Animal ; Swine ; Tendons/*transplantation ; Tensile Strength ; Tibia/*surgery

No abstract available.
Humans ; Perfusion* ; Prenatal Diagnosis*

It is important to follow strict indications for surgery and recognize prognostic factors in order to get good results in the surgical treatment of herniated nucleus pulposus. 55 patients with herniated nucleus pulposus were studied who had had laminectomy and discectomy and were followed up for more than 1 year in order to analyze the correlation between various factors including history, physical examination and radiologic finding and surgical results. Age, sex, symptom duration, location of the herniation, smoking, occupation, physical examination, disc height change, MRI findings, operation time and bleeding volume were evaluated as prognostic factors that seemed to influence surgical result. The results are as follow 1. Female had significantly better surgical results than male (P<0.05). 2. Non-smokers had significantly better surgical result than smokers (P<0.01). 3. In MRI finding, protruded disc had significantly better surgical result when it had involved spinal canal posterolaterally than centrally (P<0.01). 4. The less bleeding volume, the better surgical result (P<0.05).
Diskectomy ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Occupations ; Physical Examination ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Spinal Canal