With an aging population, osteoporotic vertebral collapse is an increasingly common condition. This compression fractures has been considered a benign entity, quite responsive to conservative treatment. In a rare patients, however, a major neurologic complication and painful kyphosis despite conservative treatment can develop. Therefore, the purpose of this present study is to analyze the surgical results of 14 patients with severe back pain, an increasing kyphosis and neurologic deficits caused hy osteoporotic vertebral collapse following minor trauma, who were treated surgically. Presenting signs and symptoms included severe back pain with progression of kyphosis in 6 patients and increasing neural deficit in 8 patients. Of 14 patients, eight patients had an intravertebral cleft sign (vacuum sign). Indications for surgery included increasing kyphotic deformity, intractable pain, or increasing neurologic deficit. There was no correlation between intravertebral cleft sign and neurologic deficit. However, patients who had intravertebral cleft sign had not well respond to conservative treatment. As treatments, combined anterior and posterior fusion in 8, anterior fusion in 4, posterior instrumentation, and wide decompressive laminectomry in one patient, respectively, were carried out. The final correction of the deformity averaged 0.3 degrees. Therefore. correction of kyphosis was not favorably maintained because of variable surgical methods, and sinking of graft bone or instrumentation into the osteoporotic vertebral bodies. However, pain was reduced significantly in all patients. In addition neurological symptoms improved in 7 patients. One patient underwent reoperation with nnterior inierbody tusion together with anterior instrument because of an increasing kyphosis, neurologic. iymptoms and scvcre hack pain following wide decompressive laminectomy. There was no complication relatecl to instruments. The authors strongly helieved that surgical intervention has highly satisfactory results in patients who have intravertehral cleft sign with persistent back pain despite conservative treatment, and proressive or persistent neurologic deficits following osteoporotic vertebral collapse.
Aging ; Back Pain ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Fractures, Compression ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; Laminectomy ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Osteoporosis ; Pain, Intractable ; Reoperation ; Transplants

The VATER syndrome is a group of congenital anomalies with a nonrandom tendency for concurrence. Defects include vertebral, anorectal malformation, tracheoesophageal fisutla with esophageal atresia, radial-limb, vascular, and renal abnormalities. The critical period of organogenesis is at or before the sixth or seventh week of gestation. We experienced one case of VATER syndrome in a 1 day old male neonate having vertebral anomalies, esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula to the distal esophageal segment, imperforated anus, left renal dysplasia with hydronephrosis of the right kidney and both hydroureter, patent ductus arteriosus. We report a case of VATER syndrome with brief review of related literature.
Anal Canal ; Critical Period (Psychology) ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Esophageal Atresia ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Infant, Newborn ; Kidney ; Male ; Organogenesis ; Pregnancy ; Tracheoesophageal Fistula

Inferior alveolar nerve block obtained maximum anesthetic effect using a small dose of local anesthetic agent, which also has low a complication incidence. Complications of an inferior alveolar nerve block include direct nerve damage, bleeding, trismus, temporary facial nerve palsy, and etc. Among them, the major iatrogenic complication is dental needle fracture. A fragment that disappears into the soft tissue would be hard to remove, giving rise to a legal problem. A 31-year-old woman was referred for the removal of a broken needle, following an inferior alveolar nerve block. Management involved the removal of the needle under local anesthesia with pre- and peri-operative computed tomography scans.
Adult ; Anesthesia, Local ; Anesthetics ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Facial Nerve ; Female ; Foreign-Body Migration ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mandibular Nerve ; Needles* ; Paralysis ; Trismus

No abstract available.
Hypersensitivity, Delayed* ; Ranitidine* ; T-Lymphocytes*

BACKGROUND: As an antihypertensive drug, Nifedipine, a calcium channel blocker was introduced recently, which also has antianginal effect. But due to the relatively short duration of action, another antihypertensive agents having longer duration of action and stronger hypertensive effect were under investigation. Nilvadipine, a new calcium channel blocker, was introduced to have more prologned duration of action and to act more specifically on vascular smooth muscle. So the efficacy and safety of oral Nilvadipine on essestial hypertension was investigated and represented by our institute. METHODS: In order to investigate the efficacy and safety of oral Nilvadipine, daily doses of 4mg twice a day were administered in 30 hypertensive patients whose states were compatible to the criteria : 1) severity of hypertension rated in Stage I and Stage II according to the classification by WHO, 2) ages ranging from 30 to 74 years regardless of sex, 3) blood pressure with 95mmHg or higher but less than 115mmHg in diastolic pressure which was the mean in a sitting position at the last two out of not less three consultations in the 2 week observation period, 4) outpatients with informed consent for 6 weeks. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured every 2 weeks. The complete with blood count with platelet, uronalysis and the electrocardiography were performed at the beginning period and the 6th weeks of therapy. And kinds of side effects were questioned by examining physicians. RESULTS: The following results were obtained : 1) Blood pressure fell significantly in 6 weeks of treatment with Nilvadipine(Mean pressure+/-S.D., 6.00mmHg vs 108.90+/-9.68mmHg p<0.05), 2) There was no significant change in EKG in 6 weeks of treatment with Nilvadipine, 3) Pulse rate was decreased in 6 weeks of treatment with Nilvadipine(80.14+/-11.90/min vs 75.39+/-6.47/min, p<0.05). 4) No significant chsange in body weight was observed(64.50+/-8.7kg vs 63.50+/-10.25kg, p<0.05). 5) There were no significant changes in blood chemistry including blood sugar, cholesterol, electrolytes, serum creatinine and alkaline phosphatase values, 6) Hematologic findings and urinalysis findings reamained unchanged, 7) Total 10 patients(33.30%) had various side effects;facial flushing 30.00%, palpitation 23.33%, headache 20.00%, nausea 10.00%, drowsiness 3.33%, heaviness 3.33% and indigestion 3.33%. But there was no serious side effect that requires to discontinue the medication of the test drug. And there was no need to reduce the dosage due to the side effect, 8) The antihypertensive effect was judged to decrease markedly in 76.70%, decrease 20.00%, unchange 3.30% and increase 0.00%, 9) The utility which was assessed with the data from the overall safety and antihypertensive effect, the drug was judged to be very useful in 60.00%, useful 33.30%, useless 6.67% and inhibited 0.00%. CONCLUSION: From the above results, Nilvadipine in doses of 4mg twice a day was effective and useful in most cases without severe side effects in essential hypertensive patients with diastolic blood pressure of 95 to 115mmHg.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Antihypertensive Agents ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Platelets ; Blood Pressure ; Body Weight ; Calcium Channels ; Chemistry ; Cholesterol ; Classification ; Creatinine ; Dyspepsia ; Electrocardiography ; Electrolytes ; Flushing ; Headache ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Informed Consent ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; Nausea ; Nifedipine ; Outpatients ; Referral and Consultation ; Sleep Stages ; Urinalysis

PURPOSE: To evaluate protective mechanism of melatonin against radiation damage and its relationship with apoptosis in mouse jejunum. MATERIALS AND METHODS:' 168 mice were divided into 28 groups according to radiation dose and melatonin treatment. To analysis crypt survival, microcolony survival assay was done according to Withers an (l Elkind's method. To analysis apoptosis, TUNEL assay was done according to Labet-Moleur's method. RESULTS: Radiation protection effect of melatonin was demonstrated by crypt survival assay and its effect was stronger in high radiation dose area. Apoptosis index with 8 Gy irradiation was 18.4% in control group and 16.5% in melatonin treated group. After 18 Gy, apoptosis index was 17.2% in control group and 15.4% in melatonin treated group. Apoptosis index did not show statistically significant difference between melatonin treated group and control group. CONCLUSION: Melatonin shows clear protective effect in mouse jejunum against radiation damage but it.', protective effect seems not to be related with apoptosis protection effect.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Cell Survival* ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Jejunum ; Melatonin* ; Mice* ; Radiation Protection

BACKGROUND: Combined spinal epidural anesthesia (CSE) often produces a more extensive spinal block than expected. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of CSE on subarachnoid block in patients undergoing lower extremity surgery. METHODS: Thirty-three patients who undergone lower extremity surgeries were randomly allocated to three groups of 11 patients each. Using needle through needle technique, all patients received a subarachnoid injection of hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine 1.6~2.0 ml through a 25G Whitacre spinal needle. Group 1 received no extradural injection for 25min, but group 2 and 3 received extradural saline 10 ml and bupivacaine 10 ml 5min after the subarachnoid injection, respectively. Levels of sensory and motor block were assessed at 4, 6, 8, 10, 15, 20, and 25 min after subarachnoid injection. RESULTS: The median values of maximum sensory block level were T7 in all groups. Levels of sensory blockade and the time to onset of maximum sensory blockade were similar among the three groups. There was no significant difference in the degree of motor block among three groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that extradural saline 10 ml or 0.5% bupivacaine 10 ml which injected 5min after subarachnoid injection does not significantly influence the level of subarachnoid block in lower extremity surgical patients. However, further study is required to declare the safety or optimal dose of extradural injection during CSE.
Anesthesia, Epidural* ; Bupivacaine ; Humans ; Injections, Epidural ; Lower Extremity* ; Needles

No abstract available.
Rickets, Hypophosphatemic*

BACKGROUND: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the accuracy of reduction based on postoperative computed tomography (CT) images after arthroscopic stabilization using tightrope system for unstable distal clavicle fracture. METHODS: Twelve patients with distal clavicle fracture combined with coracoclavicular (CC) ligament injury (type II, V) who received arthroscopically assisted fixation using a flip button device were evaluated for accuracy of reduction using 3-dimensional postoperative CT scan by measuring the degree of distal clavicular angulation and clavicular shortening. RESULTS: Immediate postoperative plain radiograph confirmed restoration of the CC distance (CCD) in 10 patients. At final follow-up, the CCD remained reduced anatomically on plain radiographs in these patients. All patients showed excessive posterior angulation and shortening compared to the opposite side. The average Constant score recovered to 94.8 at final follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Indirect reduction and arthroscopic subacromial approach with flip button fixation of unstable distal clavicle fractures demonstrated favorable clinical results despite unavoidable posterior angulation of distal clavicle and shortening the total length of clavicle.
Arthroscopy ; Clavicle ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ligaments ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in the newborn infants remains a major cause of mortality and morbidity in the newborn period despite much improvements in neonatal intensive care and artificial ventilatory techniques. Gastric fluid was obtained from 151 patients within 6 hours after delivery. The sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of the simple shake test (133 cases) and stable microbubble rating (SMR) test (151 cases) were assessed in the diagnosis of RDS, as well as the relation between both tests and RDS. We carried out both tests of on gastric aspirates all newborn who admitted to NICU of Presbyterian Medical Center from June 1991 to August 1992. The results were summarized as follows: 1) Among the total 151 cases, RDS were found in 41 cases(27.2%). 2) RDS occurence rate of the simple shake test was 11/11 in 0 group, 17/26 in +1 group, 8/28 in +2 group, 2/41 in +3 group, and 2/27 in +4 group. RDS occurence rate was high the 0 and +1 group. 3) RDS occurence rate of the SMR test was 4/4 in very weak group, 32/36 in weak group, 1/33 in medium group, and 4/78 in strong group. RDS occurence rate was high in the very weak and weak group. 4) Among the positive group of the SMR test 95 cases, positive group of the shake test were found in 87 cases. Among negative group of the SMR test 38 cases, negative of the shake test were found in 29 cases (correlation coefficient=0.763). 5) Sensitivity of the shake test and SMR test were 70%, 87.8% respectively. Specificity of the shake test and SMR test were 93.3%, 96.4% respectively. Positive predictability were 75.7%, 90% respectively and negative predictability were 87.5%, 95.5% respectively. The shake test, as Well as SMR test, has significant value to diagnosis of the RDS. We predict RDS occurence rate of the SMR test was significantly higher than shake test.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Microbubbles* ; Mortality ; Protestantism ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn* ; Sensitivity and Specificity