No abstract available.
Humans ; Twins*

Distal hereditary motor neuropathy (dHMN) is a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by weakness and wasting of distal limb muscles without overt sensory abnormalities. Recently, autosomal dominant dHMN has been mapped to chromosome 12q24 and 7q11-q21. We present a family with autosomal dominant adult onset dHMN type II consisting of fi ve affected individuals spanning three generations. They developed mild symmetrical distal lower limb weakness, muscle wasting, and severe foot deformity after the third decade. Genetic analysis showed no support for linkage to chromosome 12q24 and 7q11-q21 in our family. These fi ndings further demonstrate a genetic heterogeneity within dHMN type II.

BACKGROUND: The Mega Acer Kit(R) (MAK) is a newly designed heated and humidified breathing circuit that warms fluid passing through the circuit lumen. In this study, we investigated the system's efficacy for the perioperative prevention of hypothermia and fluid warming. METHODS: Ninety patients undergoing spinal surgery were enrolled in this study and randomly assigned to 3 groups based on the fluid warming device used: no fluid warming system (Group C, n = 30), via a Standard Ranger (Group R, n = 30), or via the MAK (Group M, n = 30). Distal esophageal temperatures (Teso) and infusion fluid temperature (TF) were recorded at 15 min intervals for duration of 180 min during surgery. If Teso was < 35.0degrees C, a forced-air convective warming device was used. RESULTS: Final Teso values were 34.8 +/- 0.3degrees C, 35.1 +/- 0.1degrees C, and 35.8 +/- 0.3degrees C in groups C, R, and M, respectively (P < 0.01). Teso was significantly higher in group M when compared with that in groups C and R throughout the study period (P < 0.05). The number of patients requiring a forced-air convective warming device was significantly lower in group M (n = 0) when compared with that in groups R (n = 17) and C (n = 30) (P < 0.05). The final infusion fluid temperature was higher in group M when compared with that in groups C and R throughout the study period (35.4 +/- 1.0 vs. 23.0 +/- 0.3 and 32.8 +/- 0.6degrees C; P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The MAK is more effective for preventing hypothermia and for warming fluid than the Standard Ranger.
Acer ; Esophagus ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Hypothermia* ; Respiration

No abstract available.
Thrombosis* ; Veins*

The aim of this study was to investigate the susceptibility of mutans streptococci (S. mutans and S. sobrinus) and Streptococcus anginosus, for seven antibiotics, penicillin G, amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, cefuroxime, erythromycin, bacitracin, and vancomycin. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of seven antibiotics against 3 species (type strains) of mutans streptococci and S. anginosus, 10 strains (wild type) of S. mutans, 7 strains (wild type) of S. sobrinus, and 11 strains (wild type) of S. anginosus, were measured by broth dilution method. All of the type strains of mutans streptococci and S. anginosus had the same susceptibility for penicillin G, amoxicillin, cefuroxime and bacitracin. Type strain of S. anginosus was sensitive in ciprofloxacin, but those of mutans streptococci were not. All of the clinical isolates of mutans streptococci and S. anginosus had the same susceptibility for the seven antibiotics. Our data reveal that mutans streptococci and S. anginosus have similar antibiotic-resistant character. In addition, these results may offer the basic data to verify the antibiotic-resistant mechanism of mutans streptococci and S. anginosus.
Amoxicillin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacitracin ; Cefuroxime ; Ciprofloxacin ; Dental Plaque* ; Erythromycin ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Penicillin G ; Penicillins ; Streptococcus anginosus* ; Streptococcus* ; Vancomycin

An ovarian sex cord tumor with annular tubules(SCTAT) in an 18-year-old woman who had secondary amenorrhea but not Peutz-Jeghers syndrome was studied by light and electron microscopy. Her clinical features were consistent with those of Turner's syndrome, i.e, shortness of stature, webbing of the neck, scanty or absent axillary and pubic hairs, lower hair line with streak gonad. Chromosomal analysis revealed 45, X/46, XX karyotype. The patient has been well and disease free for a period of 2 years after surgical removal of tumor. Histologically, the tumor was composed of nests of cells arranged in simple and complex annular tubules with central acidophilic hyaline bodies. Ultrastructurally, the cells had deeply indented nuclei and the cells were joined by specialized intercellular junctions along their lateral adjacent borders. Central acidophilic hyaline body consisted of concentric lamellae of basal lamina, but Charcot-Boettcher filaments were not observed.
Female ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Minimal flow anesthesia preserves the moisture content of CO2 absorbents and seems to be a factor inhibiting carbon monoxide generation. In order to assess the safety of minimal flow anesthesia, we studied carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) level in minimal flow anesthesia. METHODS: Forty women, ASA physical status I or II, undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy were randomly allocated to one of two groups with N2O-enflurane anesthesia. Anesthesia was maintained with O2 2 l/min and N2O 2 l/min (group 1) or O2 0.3 l/min and N2O 0.2 l/min (group 2). The arterial COHb levels were measured immediately after induction (T1), 45 min after induction (T2), 75 min after induction (T3), and after recovery from anesthesia (T4). RESULTS: Although there was no statistically significant change in both groups, the COHb level at T3 and T4 increased more than that at T1 in group 1, and that at T3 and T4 decreased more than that at T1 in group 2. There was a significant difference in the COHb level at T4 between group 1 (0.93 0.31%) and 2 (0.68 0.36%) (P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results show that minimal flow anesthesia does not increase the COHb level and may be performed safely.
Anesthesia* ; Carbon Monoxide ; Carboxyhemoglobin* ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy

No abstract available.

Spasticity is common stroke in patients, and its management has been considered as one of the major problems in stroke rehabilitation. The goal of this study was to determine if transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation(TENS) and acupuncture would reduce the muscle spasticity. To estimate the efficacy of electrical stimulation for the treatment of spasticity TENS(100 Hz, asymmetric bipolar pulse current) was applied to the skin over the extensor muscles of spastic limbs for 20 minutes, once a day in six stroke patients. In addition, acupuncture was also applied to the acupoints of extensor muscles of all extremities and face for 20 minutes twice a day to determine the efficacy of acupuncture for the treatment of spasticity in six stroke patients. As controls subjects, six stroke patients were examined without TENS or acupuncture treatment. In experimental groups, the efficacy of treatment was measured 1, 5, 10, 15 days and 20 days after treatment with either TENS or acupuncture using the spasticity measurement methods (modified Ashworth scale, ankle clonus score, and H/M ratio). Based on the results from the present study, we have concluded that the H/M ratios of affected spastic limbs were significantly higher than those of unaffected limbs (p<0.05). TENS and acupuncture therapies lessened the spasticity of affected limbs of stroke patients when measured with the modified Ashworth scale however not with the H/M ratios nor with the ankle clonus scores.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture* ; Ankle ; Electric Stimulation ; Extremities ; Humans ; Muscle Spasticity ; Muscles ; Rehabilitation ; Skin ; Stroke* ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation*

Objectives: We performed this study to review the clinical availability of the classical intrafascial SEMM hysterectomy (CISH), and report our experience for 2 years restrospectively. METHODS: From March 1999 to February 2001, 100 cases of CISH were performed at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym university. We performed this procedure by 3 steps. The dissection of uterus was done by classical suture methods (including extracorporeal and intracorporeal suture techniques) to uterine isthmic portion. And then transvaginal cylindrical coring out of the cervical tissue was done using a cervix corer, the Calibrated Uterine Resection Tools (CURT) for resection of cervical tissue especially transformation zone. Finally, the dissected uterus was extracted by using a Serrated Edged Macro-Morcellator (SEMM) without colpotomy. We reviewed the patient's data retrospectively and made phone calls to each patients. RESULTS: The indications for CISH, based on the pre-and intraoperative diagnosis, were leiomyoma, adenomyosis, endometrial hyperplasia and chronic pelvic inflammatory disease or pelvic pain, in order of frequency. The mean operative time was 126 minutes and the mean hemoglobin change was 1.27 gm/dL. The mean hospital days were 5.7 days and the mean age of the patients was 44.6 years old. There were no definite intra- and postoperative complications except for 3 cases of CO2 retentions and 2 cases of delayed bleeding on cervical stump. The mean days to first sexual contact after surgery were 34.5 days. In view of sexual feeling, 86% of the patients didn't feel any difference and only 13% felt worse than before. During postoperative follow-up, the cervical cytologic study were found no endocervical cells at all of 44 checked patients. CONCLUSION: The CISH procedures can be safely performed by well-trained laparoscopists, and this technique minimally alters the anatomy and integrity of the pelvic floor and vagina. Therefore the reductions of surgical morbidity, blood loss, hospitalization and postoperatve discomfort were obtained. Through the preservation of the anatomical relations of the pelvic floor and the function of female sexuality, this technique is the new proposal in gynecologic surgery.
Adenomyosis ; Cervix Uteri ; Colpotomy ; Diagnosis ; Endometrial Hyperplasia ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures ; Gynecology ; Heart ; Hemorrhage ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Leiomyoma ; Obstetrics ; Operative Time ; Pelvic Floor ; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease ; Pelvic Pain ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Sexuality ; Sutures ; Uterus ; Vagina