No Abstract Available.
Electrophysiology* ; Neuroendocrine Cells*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the accompanying abnormal findings of Schmorl's nodes(SN), a normal variants of thelumbar spine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-five patients with one or more SN, as seen on lumbar spine MRI werestudied. Using a 1.5T MR unit, the number and location of SN, their site of the end plate, adjacent disc changesand lesion associated and not associated with SN, and accompanying associated bony spinal stenosis wereretrospectively investigated. RESULTS: Among the 75 patients, 230 SN were noted in 375 vertebral bodies; theywere relatively frequently located on the second(65, 28.2%) and third(65, 28.2%) lumbar vertebrae. The most commonend-plate site of SN was the posterior one-third portion(160;69.6%). In 450 discs of these 75 patients, 172lesions were noted;those associated with SN(76/167, 45.5%) was more common than those not thus associated (96/283,33.9%)(p <0.05), and those associated with SN were relative frequently located on intervertebral disc L2-3 orL3-4(p <0.05). Thirty-seven SN (16.1%) were associated with bony spinal stenosis. CONCLUSION: Because it isfrequently associated with disc lesions and bony spinal stenosis, SN of the lumbar spine may be a pathologiccondition rather than a normal variant.
Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spine*

The reliability of emergency ultrasonographic(US) detection of hemoperitoneum and solid organ injury in blunt abdominal trauma was evaluated retrospectively. From October 1,1995 to August 31,1996,90 patients were included in the study. Ultra- sonographic findings showed a sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 97.6%, 97.9%, and 98.1%, respectively, in detecting intraabdominal fluid collection. We believe that US in an emergency center is a quick, safe screening method in the evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma. In our department, US has replaced diagnostic peritonaeal lavage(DPL) and computed tomography(CT) as the screening study of first choice.
Emergencies* ; Hemoperitoneum* ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography*

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mobility and ratio of the bone-implant contact (BIC) of a sandblasted, large grit and acid-etched (SLA) orthodontic micro-implant. METHODS: Ninety-six micro-implants (48 SLA and 48 machined) were implanted in the upper and lower buccal alveolar bone, and palatal bone of four beagle dogs. Two weeks after surgery, orthodontic force (150 - 200 g) was applied. Two beagles were sacrificed at 4-weeks and the other two at 12-weeks. Histomorphometric comparisons were made between the SLA experimental group and the machined micro-implant as a control group to determine the ratio of contact between the bone and implant. Micro-implant mobility was also evaluated using Periotest(R). RESULTS: Periotest values showed no statistically significant difference in the upper alveolar and palatal bone between groups except for the lower buccal area. BIC in the upper buccal area showed no significant difference between groups both at 4-weeks and 12-weeks. However, both the groups showed a significant difference in BIC ratio in the rest of the experimental areas between 4 weeks and 12 weeks. The experimental group showed active bone remodeling around the bone-implant interface compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: There were significant differences in the BIC and the Periotest values between the surface-treated and machined micro-implants according to bone quality in the early stage.
Animals ; Bone Remodeling ; Dogs ; Nitrogen Mustard Compounds ; Osseointegration

Central venous catheters provide long-term available vascular access. They are useful for central venous pressure monitoring, rapid fluid management, massive transfusion and direct cardiovascular medication, especially in operation. Central venous catheterization is usually performed by the landmark bedside technique without imaging guidance. The complications of central venous catheterization are frequent, which include malposition, pneumothorax, hemothorax, chylothorax, arterial puncture, hematoma, air embolism and infection. Malposition of a central venous catheter is not rare and may cause several complications such as malfunction of the catheter, default measurement of central venous pressure, catheter erosion, thrombophlebitis and cardiac tamponade. In this case, we report a malposition of central venous catheter with 9-Fr introducer sheath which is located in the right subclavian vein via ipsilateral internal jugular vein and the correction of this misplacement assisted by mobile type diagnostic X-ray apparatus (C-arm fluoroscope).
Cardiac Tamponade ; Catheterization ; Catheterization, Central Venous ; Catheters ; Central Venous Catheters* ; Central Venous Pressure ; Chylothorax ; Embolism, Air ; Hematoma ; Hemothorax ; Jugular Veins ; Pneumothorax ; Punctures ; Radiography* ; Subclavian Vein ; Thrombophlebitis

Intracardiac thrombus during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with full heparinization is very rare but fatal. A 60-year-old woman was scheduled for aortic and mitral valve repairs with a maze procedure for mixed aortic and mitral valvular heart disease with atrial fibrillation. Preoperative transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac computed tomography showed moderate aortic regurgitation and moderate mitral stenosis with regurgitation. There was no intracardiac thrombus. Aortic and mitral valve repairs with the maze procedure were successfully performed without unexpected events. During CPB weaning, a mobile hyper-echogenic mass in the left atrium was detected on transesophageal echocardiography. After cardiac arrest, it was surgically removed. On completion of the operation, weaning from CPB was accomplished uneventfully. The patient fully recovered and was discharged from the intensive care unit on her third postoperative day.
Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Female ; Heart Arrest ; Heart Atria ; Heart Valve Diseases ; Heparin ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; Thrombosis ; Weaning

One of the authors' name was misspelled.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the capability of the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a diagnostic tool to discriminate between poorly differentiated thyroid cancer (PDTC) and anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) from well differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC). METHODS: The NLR of 3,870 patients with benign and malignant thyroid tumors were analyzed. There were 436 benign, 3,364 papillary, 15 medullary, 34 follicular or hurthle type, 14 PDTC, and 7 ATC type neoplasms. Patients were divided into two groups: a high NLR group and a low NLR group. RESULTS: The NLR of all 3,870 patients was a normal distribution, and the median value was 1.57. Advanced stage cancer, such as T3 or T4 was high (30.4% vs. 26.5%, P = 0.027), and cancer-specific deaths were also high (1.2% vs. 0.4%, P = 0.018) in the high NLR group. The proportion of PDTC (0.6% vs. 0.1%) and ATC (0.3% vs. 0.1%) was higher in the high NLR group. The NLR can discriminate between PTC, PDTC, and ATC (P = 0.035, P = 0.002, and P = 0.025, respectively), and the cutoff value was 3.8 between PDTC versus ATC. None of the NLR of PDTC exceeded the cutoff value of 3.8. CONCLUSION: NLR can play a relevant role as a discriminating tool and may be considered as a new diagnostic criterion in discriminating as well as in selecting therapeutic approaches to these aggressive forms of thyroid cancer.
Humans ; Inflammation ; Lymphocytes* ; Neutrophils* ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms*

Wear of polyethylene liner and osteolysis appear to be topical problems after long-term follow-up in total hip arthroplasty(THA). Age and activity of patients, manufacturing procedure of polyethylene liner, thickness of the liner, position of acetabular cup, and material of artificial femoral head have of effects on the degree of wear. In addition, conformity, congruency and micromotion between liner and metal cup are likely to be related to the wear. The purpose of this study is 1) to determine the stress caused by contact between metal and polyethylene components, 2) to evaluate the effects of conformity, congruency, and fixation between metal and polyethylene components, on contact stress in acetabular cups and 3) to identify the design parameters of the commercial acetabular cup within the constraints imposed by the overall functional requirements of total joint replacement. The specimens applied to six different commercial cups made in five companies. The methods was performed on dynamic test and static test to rely on load conditions, estimated the gap between the components through LM. The results showed H-G II cup had the most excellent congruency because of the narrowest interval between two components.
Acetabulum ; Head ; Hip ; Humans ; Joints ; Osteolysis ; Polyethylene*

Typhlitis is one of the most ominous complications in immunocompromised patients. Neutropenic enterocolitis or typhlitis is a clinical syndrome characterized by fever, diarrhea and abdominal pain that occurs in neutropenic patients. It has been reported as a complication of childhood leukemia, but is now known to occur in adults with solid malignancies, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The association of typhlitis and propylthiouracil has not been previously reported. We report a case of a 42-year-old female patient with typhlitis due to propylthiouracil patient with hyperthyroidism.
Abdominal Pain ; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Adult ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Diarrhea ; Enterocolitis, Neutropenic ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism* ; Immunocompromised Host ; Leukemia ; Propylthiouracil* ; Typhlitis*