No abstract available.
Gemfibrozil* ; Humans ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory*

Authors experienced two cases of torsion of spermatic cord recently and reviewed the literatures. The patients were 12 and 20 years old with chief complaints of sudden onset on left scrotal swelling and testicular pain. Physical examination was not significant except positive Prehn's sign on the involving side of testicle. Under the diagnosis. of torsion of spermatic cord. One was performed of left orchiectomy and the opposite side orchiopexy. The other man was performed of both orchiopexy. We reported 2 cases with review of the literature.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Orchiectomy ; Orchiopexy ; Physical Examination ; Spermatic Cord* ; Testis ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: The prompt and accurate diagnosis of acute aortic dissection is decisive for the prognosis of the patient, since an effective surgical and medical therapy can improve the high rate of mortality due to this pathology. Among the various diagnostic methods, transesophageal echocardiography can provide a rapid and accurate method of diagnosing and evaluating dissecting aortic aneurysm and permits prompt initiation of appropriate treatment. Thus we performed transesophageal echocardiography in patients supected to dissecting aortic aneurysm, as a preliminary examination, and now we reported the result. METHODS: We have studied 4 case of dissecting aortic aneurysms among the patient received examination of cardiovascular system by transesophageal echocardiography, since January 1991 at Keimyung University hospital. In these 4 cases, 3 cases had CT scan, 2 cases had MRI scan, and all cases had transthoracic echocardiography simultaneously as a adjuvant diagnostic method. RESULTS: All 4 cases could be promptly and accuratoly diagnosed and typed by transesophageal echocardiography. As a consequence, patients could receive the early medical treatment and good clinical results. CONCLUSION: Transesophageal echocardiography is fast, inexpensive and accurate method in diagnosis of dissecting aortic aneurysm. So we recommend transesophageal echocardiography, as a preliminary examination in case of suspecting dissecting aortic aneurysm.
Aortic Aneurysm* ; Cardiovascular System ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mortality ; Pathology ; Prognosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: To report the clinical results of opening wedge osteotomy graft in the volarly malunited distal radius. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients with volarly malunited distal radius fractures treated by opening wedge osteotomy were included in this study. Grip power, range of motion of the wrist, radiographic parameter and Mayo wrist scores were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: At the final follow-up, the rotation of the forearm, the range of motion of wrist, and the grip power were improved. The average radial inclination improved to 22.2degrees, the average volar tilting improved to 5.6degrees, and the average ulnar variance improved to 0.8 mm. The average Mayo wrist score was improved to 85.6. CONCLUSION: Opening wedge osteotomy for volarly malunited distal radius was considered as one of the good treatments to restore anatomy of the distal radius and distal radioulnar joint and also to improve the function of the wrist joint.
Follow-Up Studies ; Forearm ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Joints ; Osteotomy* ; Radius Fractures ; Radius* ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplants ; Wrist ; Wrist Joint

BACKGROUND: In vitro study, normal cardiac prosthetic valve has functional regurgitation due to structural characteristics of prosthetic valve. To evaluate functional regurgitant characteristics of prosthetic valves, we examined patients who had clinically normal mitral prosthesis. METHODS: Transesophageal two-dimensional and color doppler echocardiography were performed to 25 patients who had the clinically normal mitral prosthesis. RESULTS: Seven patients had the mitral bioprosthesis and 18 patients had the mitral mechanical prosthesis. Regurgitation was found in 4 patients(57%) with bioprosthetic valve, and the pattern of regurgitation was central in three patients and unilateral in one patient. But regurgitation was detected in 17 patients(94%) with mechanical prosthesis, and the pattern of regurgitation was bilateral in twelve patients, unilateral in four patients and central in one patient(p=0.0035). The length of regurgitant jets were 22.00+/-6.73(mm) in bioprosthetic valve and 28.65+/-7.33(mm) in mechanical valve. The regurgitant jets were detected in systolic period in most of patients. But in 4 patients who had tachycardia during TEE, regurgitation was detected in systolic and early diastolic period. CONCLUSION: Regurgitation was found in clinically normal cardiac prosthetic valves by TEE. These findings may be useful to differentiate between normal and abnormal cardiac prosthesis.
Bioprosthesis ; Echocardiography, Doppler, Color ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal* ; Humans ; Prostheses and Implants* ; Tachycardia

PURPOSE: We reported the clinical results of Palmer class 1A triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) injuries treated with arthroscopic partial resection. METHODS: This study included eighteen patients with Palmer class 1A TFCC injury. The results of arthroscopic partial resection were analyzed based on the preoperative and postoperative evaluation of visual analogue scale pain scale, range of motion, grip strength, Mayo wrist score, ulna grind test, ulna stress test and ulnocarpal tenderness. RESULTS: According to the Mayo wrist score, the results were excellent in 10 patients, good in 4, fair in 2, and poor in 2. There was no correlation among the worker's compensation, interval from injury to surgery, age and the treatment results. Patients with complication and scapholunate interosseous ligament tears had a poor clinical outcome. CONCLUSION: The arthroscopic TFCC partial resection is considered as an useful and effective treatment in Palmer class 1A TFCC injuries.
Exercise Test ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Ligaments ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Triangular Fibrocartilage ; Ulna ; Workers' Compensation ; Wrist

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine differential findings between Type I degenerative endplate changes and diskitis on MR images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR images(T1, T2 weighted or Gradient echo) of L-spine in twelve patients with a Type I degenerative endplate change and nine patients with diskitis were reviewed for the morphologic and signal intensity changes of intervertebral disc, vertebral endplate and vertebral body. RESULTS: involvement of the marrow of one side of intervertebral disk was noted in 33%(4/12) of Type I endplate changes, and 11%(1/9) of diskitis. Decreased signal intensity of intervertebral disc was seen in 92% (11/12) of Type I endplate changes, and 11%(1/9) of diskitis on T2 weighted or Gradient echo image. Loss of intranuclear cleft signal was noted in 17%(2/12) of Type I endplate changes, and 78%(7/9) of diskitis. Even disc space narrowing was seen in all cases of Type I endplate changes, but uneven narrowing was seen in 44%(4/9) of diskitis. Only partial cortical disruption was noted in 42%(5/12) of Type I endplate changes, while partial or total cortical disruption was noted in 89%(8/9) of diskitis. The extent of marrow involvement more than 2/3 was noted in 8%(1/12) of Type I endplate changes, but 56%(5/9) of diskitis. The margin of signal intensity change was well defined in 33%(4/12) of Type I endplate changes, but that of diskitis was ill defined in all cases(9/9). Gadolinium enhancement was homogeneous in all cases(5/5) of Type I endplate changes, and 63%(5/8) of diskiris. CONCLUSION: We conclude that involvement of one side of endplate, decreased signal intensity of intervertebral disc on T2 weighted or gradient echo image, even narrowing of disc space, lesser extent of marrow involvement, well defined margin and homogeneous enhancement pattern are the findings of Type I degenerative endplate changes on MR images.
Bone Marrow ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Discitis* ; Gadolinium ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging*

AIM: Several injectable materials have been used in the application of osteogenic bone substitute; however, nothing has won universal acceptance. This study was performed to investigate whether chitosan-alginate gel/MSCs/BMP-2 composites are potentially injectable materials for new bone formation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The composites were injected into the subcutaneous space on the dorsum of the nude mouse to investigate whether new bone would be tissue engineered in the mouse. The composites were examined histologically over a 12-week period. RESULTS: The composites implanted in the mouse were able to tissue engineer new bone, and the newly formed bone consisted of trabecular bone and calcified bone matrix. CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that chitosan-alginate gel/MSCs/BMP-2 composites have the potential to become real injectable materials for new bone formation.
Animals ; Bone Matrix ; Bone Regeneration ; Bone Substitutes ; Chitosan ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Osteogenesis* ; Tissue Engineering

Writer's cramp is one of the most frequent type of task-related dystonia. It is primarily defined by the appearance of involuntary muscle contractions soon after one begins to write and often co-exists with postural tremor. The cause of writer's cramp as well as other focal dystonia is still a matter of debate. Although the genetic background of some dys-tonia was well known, there have been few cases of writer's cramp that involve other family members. We experienced one family with writer's cramp and postural tremor. A 42-year-old man noted handwriting difficulty of gradual onset which began with postural tremor at the age of 25. When he wrote certain letters or numbers, he automatically had to press hard or hold the pen tightly, experiencing tremor as well as dystonia. His mother and four siblings also had simi-lar disabilities. All were right-handed, and had a postural tremor, prominent in their right hands. They noted the onset of symptoms between the age of 20 and 40. The symptoms had slowly progressed over a period of years and no patient described a remission of symptoms. Two of them eventually no longer attempted to write due to writer's cramp. Two members could write but barely readable and the other two had minimal distress. Alcohol somewhat relieved the cramp in only one of them. Levodopa was no beneficial to the cramp and baclofen relieved the cramp minimally. We report this rare case with familial writer's cramp and postural tremor that suggests autosomal dominant inheritance.
Adult ; Baclofen ; Dystonia ; Dystonic Disorders* ; Hand ; Handwriting ; Humans ; Levodopa ; Mothers ; Muscle Cramp ; Muscle, Smooth ; Siblings ; Tremor ; Wills

The role of cultured bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) in peripheral nerve regeneration was examined using an established rabbit peroneal nerve regeneration model. A 15-mm peroneal nerve defect was bridged with a vein filled with BMSCs (1 x 10(6)), which had been embedded in collagen gel. On the contralateral side, the defect was bridged with a vein filled with collagen gel alone. When the regenerated tissue was examined 4, 8 and 12 weeks after grafting, the number and diameter of the myelinated fibers in the side with the BMSCs were significantly higher than in the control side without the BMSCs. This demonstrates the potential of using cultured BMSCs in peripheral nerve regeneration.
Bone Marrow* ; Collagen ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells* ; Myelin Sheath ; Peripheral Nerves* ; Peroneal Nerve ; Regeneration* ; Transplants ; Veins