OBJECTIVE: So called "lumbar dorsal ramus syndrome(LDRS)" is known to have low back pain(LBP) with buttock and/or leg pain, and considered one of the causes of chronic LBP. The radiofrequency facet rhizotomy (RFFR) is known to be effective treatment for the selected patients with chronic LBP. The goal of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of RFFR in patients with LDRS. METHODS: LDRS is mainly diagnosed by way of blocking the lumbar dorsal ramus with local anesthetics. Their accompanied spinal conditions are sprain, stenosis, HNP, and fracture. These patients underwent unilateral or bilateral RFFR at L4, L5, and S1 levels, from August, 1999 to May, 2000. Results were graded at the end of follow up as excellent, good, fair, and poor. Successful result was considered when excellent or good grades were obtained. RESULTS: Total number of patients received RFFR was 75. The number of LDRS with sprain was 46(8.5% of patients with sprain). Mean age and male to female ratio were 51.8+/-16.7 and 1:1.4, respectively. Mean follow up period was 340.0+/-232.2 days(1month - 2years). Characteristic tender points were posterior superior iliac crest, anterolateral aspect of inferior thigh, posterior aspect of femoral head, and medial side of heel. The success rate at the last follow-up in total patients and patients with sprain were 73.3% and 87.0%, respectively. Other combined spinal conditions except sprain seemed to have undesirable influence on the result of RFFR(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: RFFR is fairly effective treatment for LDRS, especially for the patient with sprain. Combined spinal conditions other than sprain are poor prognostic factors.
Anesthetics, Local ; Buttocks ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head ; Heel ; Humans ; Leg ; Male ; Rhizotomy* ; Sprains and Strains ; Thigh

The benign mesenchymoma, in which fibrous tissue is accompanied by two or more mesencymal components, occurs very rarely in the head and neck area. The majority appear in patients under 25 years of age, most commonly in the subcutaneous scalp, cheek, or tongue. There is a 20% recurrence rate. Wide surgical excision is the treatment of choice. We report a case of mesenchymoma in the nasopharynx which was removed by transpalatine approach with a brief review of literature.
Cheek ; Head ; Humans ; Mesenchymoma* ; Nasopharynx ; Neck ; Recurrence ; Scalp ; Tongue

Subacute sensory neuropathies associated with primary Sjogren's syndrome have been reported rarely. We describe a woman with primary Sjogren's syndrome who developed a widespread, pure sensory neuropathy with a subacute onset. An electrophysiological study showed the typical absence or decreased amplitude of sensory nerve action potentials (SNAPs). A sural nerve biopsy showed a loss of large myelinated fibers and axonal degeneration without inflammation. The clinical course of long-standing subacute sensory neuropathy, the biopsy-documented axonal degeneration, and the neurophysiological findings suggest involvement of the dorsal root ganglia.
Action Potentials ; Axons ; Biopsy ; Female ; Ganglia, Spinal ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Myelin Sheath ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Sjogren's Syndrome* ; Sural Nerve

A 7 year-old girl presented with generalized muscle weakness and delayed motor development. She was able to stand up at 15 months and began to walk at 4 years of age. A nerve conduction study showed severe demyelinating neuropa-thy .There was no family history of peripheral neuropathy, and her parents and younger brother were clinically and electrophysiologically normal. A sural nerve biopsy showed moderate loss of myelinated fibers with onion-bulb forma-tions. Many teased nerve fibers revealed typical tomaculous changes. However the molecular genetic study of the patient confirms the duplication of 17p11.2-p22 on a polymerase chain reaction using D17S261 as a primer but not in her parents.
Biopsy ; Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease ; Child ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Molecular Biology ; Muscle Weakness ; Myelin Sheath ; Nerve Fibers ; Neural Conduction ; Parents ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Siblings ; Sural Nerve

No abstract available.
Humans ; Long QT Syndrome ; Postoperative Period ; Torsades de Pointes

The patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) have abnormal cerebral auto-regulation and preexisting DM is one of the major factors related to adverse postoperative neurological deficits. New onset hemiparesis is a rare and devastating event in a patient awakening from general anesthersia. We report a case of transient hemiparesis after general anesthesia in a patient underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy with uncontrolled DM.
Anesthesia, General ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Paresis

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the surgical outcomes of the clavicle lateral end fracture fixed with an oblique T locking compression plate (LCP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen clavicle lateral end fractures were fixed with the oblique T-LCP and followed up for at least 1 year after the surgery. Thirteen cases were unstable Neer type II fractures and one case was nonunion of the Neer type I fracture. The mean age was 46 years of age (range, 26~70). In ten cases, augmenting sutures with the absorbable suture material were placed in the coraco-clavicular ligament and around the plate and the clavicle to improve the stability of fracture fixation. Autogenous iliac bone graft was done in four cases. The clinical outcomes were evaluated by using UCLA scoring system and KSS (Korean Shoulder Score). RESULTS: The mean UCLA score was 33.5 and the mean KSS was 94.9. Average time of bone union was 11.9 weeks (range, 6~28), including 1 case with a delayed union. There was no complication such as loss of fixation or nonunion. CONCLUSION: Fixation with the oblique T-LCP is a good option providing reliable functional results in clavicle lateral end fractures.
Clavicle ; Fracture Fixation ; Ligaments ; Shoulder ; Sutures ; Transplants

PURPOSE: While performing clean intermittent catheterization(CIC), atraumatic and non-infecting techniques are important in preventing long-term complications secondary to CIC. The aim of this study is to characterize several essential technical aspects of CIC in patients with neurologically stable spinal cord injury or diseases(SCI/D). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between July 2002 and March 2003, a prospective questionnaire survey was undertaken in 106 neurologically stable SCI/D patients who were performing CIC as primary bladder emptying methods. Structured questionnaire was administered with the interview. Questionnaire items included key technical CIC steps and related questions. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients(74 males and 32 females) were 35.9(+/-1.3, SE) years and the duration of CIC was 17.3(+/-2.3) months. Levels of SCI/D were: cervical in 45 patients(42.4%), followed by thoracic in 43(40.6%), lumbar in 16(15.1%), and sacral in 2(1.9%). Omitting hand washing before CIC was found in 16 patients(15.1%), meatal cleansing before CIC in 13(12.3%), using lubricants in 12(11.3%), and performing CIC as a timed basis in 36(34.0%). The most preferred posture to perform CIC were: sitting(63.0%), followed by lying(19.1%) and standing(14.6%) in men, while sitting(45.6%), followed by the squatting(33.3%) and lying(15.8%) in women. Majority of the patients performed CIC five times a day with spending about ten minutes for each CIC. Omitting key elements were not significantly associated with the sex, age, level of SCI/D, duration of CIC, level of education, socioeconomic status. However, omitting meatal cleaning before CIC were significantly associated with the patients with shorter duration of performing CIC, lower educational level, and lower socioeconomic status(p<0.05). 57.6% of the patients were satisfied with the current CIC methods. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that some patients do omit key elements of the CIC steps. These elements should be emphasized during the initial CIC education and also must be screened during long-term followup in the SCI/D patients performing CIC.
Catheterization ; Education ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand Disinfection ; Humans ; Intermittent Urethral Catheterization* ; Lubricants ; Male ; Posture ; Prospective Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Social Class ; Spinal Cord Diseases* ; Spinal Cord Injuries* ; Spinal Cord* ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Various sodium reduction policies have been implemented.However, there are limitations in the aspect of actual field applicability and efficiency. For effective sodium reduction, cooperation with the field is required and consumer preference must be considered. Thus, this study aimed to develop a low-sodium burger considering field applicability and consumer preference.MATERIALS/METHODS: Focus group interviews and in-depth interviews on the sodium reduction measures were conducted with nine professionals in related fields to discuss practical methods for sodium reduction from September 7 to 21, 2018. By reflecting the interview results, a burger using a low-sodium sauce was developed, and preference analysis for sodium in the burger sauces and finished products was performed. The consumer preference for low-sodium burgers was evaluated on 51 college students on November 12, 2018. RESULTS: The results of the professional interview showed that it is desirable to practice sodium reduction gradually, and by reflecting this, the burger sauce was prepared by adjusting the ratio of refined salt to 15%, 30%, and 50%. The sodium content of the burger using lowsodium sauce was 399 mg/100 g in the control group, 362 mg/100 g in the H1 group, and 351.5 mg/100 g in the H2 group, showing a 9.3–11.9% decrease in sodium in the H1 and H2 groups. The preference evaluation on the low-sodium burgers showed a higher preference for burgers with 9.3–11.9% sodium reduction, which did not affect the overall taste. CONCLUSIONS This study examined the potential for sodium reduction in the franchise foodservice industry. An approximate 10% sodium reduction resulted in an increase in consumer preference without affecting the strength of the taste. Thus, if applied gradually, sodium reduction at practical levels could increase the consumer preference without changing the taste or quality and could be applied in the franchise foodservice industry.

PURPOSE: Male nipple hypertrophy is a rare condition but is a social embarrassment for individual. The currently available techniques of nipple reduction already described in the literature for female patients are discussed, but the goal of treatment is different in male patients. In male patient, the diameter as well as vertical height should be reduced simultaneously to achieve better aesthetic results. Our new technique can reduce the diameter of the hypertrophic nipple as well as the vertical height efficiently and simply. METHODS: A 19-years-old man with nipple hypertrophy on the right chest presented. The flap is designed based on the site of left nipple, symmetry, the diameter, and the projection desired. The widths of the V flaps determine projection, whereas the diameter of the C flap determines the diameter of the nipple and top of the new nipple. Unnecessary hypertrophic tissues are extirpated and the V flaps are elevated. The nipple base is reduced by purse-string suture technique. The V flaps are wrapped around, and C flap is used as a cap. RESULTS: No complication including nipple necrosis or sensory loss were found during follow-up period. The normal symmetry of the nipple contour was restored. CONCLUSION: We describe a simple technique for male nipple reduction using a C-V flap with purse-string suture. In our experience, this technique has provided good aesthetic result and patient satisfaction.
Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Male ; Necrosis ; Nipples ; Patient Satisfaction ; Suture Techniques ; Sutures ; Thorax